Bone density changes in young women in Uganda using tenofovir-based HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate contraception.

Background: Injectable depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is the most common contraceptive choice among young women in Uganda, where HIV burden is high and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) may be offered. For young women who choose to use both agents concurrently, it is unknown whether they will experience declines in BMD beyond those elicited by either product singly.

Methods: From 2018-2022, we conducted a 2-year prospective study with women ages 16-25 years in Kampala, Uganda desiring pregnancy and HIV prevention.

The CECR2 bromodomain displays distinct binding modes to select for acetylated histone proteins versus non-histone ligands.

Unlabelled: The cat eye syndrome chromosome region candidate 2 (CECR2) protein is an epigenetic regulator involved in chromatin remodeling and transcriptional control. The CECR2 bromodomain (CECR2-BRD) plays a pivotal role in directing the activity of CECR2 through its capacity to recognize and bind acetylated lysine residues on histone proteins. This study elucidates the binding specificity and structural mechanisms of CECR2-BRD interactions with both histone and non-histone ligands, employing techniques such as isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and a high-throughput peptide assay.

ALIGNMENT OF PREP USE WITH POTENTIAL HIV EXPOSURE IN YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN IN UGANDA.

Background: Despite high oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake among young heterosexual cisgender women, early discontinuation is frequent. It is unclear whether this aligns with potential HIV exposure.

Methods: Young women 16-25 years and ≥1 of their male partners were enrolled in separate but linked longitudinal HIV PrEP studies in Kampala, Uganda from 2018-2021.

The effect of osteoclasts on epigenetic regulation by long non-coding RNAs in osteoblasts grown on titanium with nanotopography.

Titanium (Ti) implant osseointegration is regulated by the crosstalk among bone cells that are affected by epigenetic machinery, including the regulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Nanotopography Ti (Ti Nano) induces the differentiation of osteoblasts that are inhibited by osteoclasts through epigenetic mechanisms. Thus, we hypothesize that osteoclasts affect lncRNA expression in Ti Nano-cultivated osteoblasts.

Dynamic strain and β-catenin mediated suppression of interferon responsive genes in quiescent mesenchymal stromal/stem cells.

Multipotent bone marrow mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) respond to mechanical forces. MSCs perceive static and dynamic forces through focal adhesions, as well as cytoskeletal and intranuclear actin. Dynamic strain stimulates nuclear β-catenin (Ctnnb1) that controls gene expression and suppresses osteogenesis.