Adaptive radiations are characterized by adaptive diversification intertwined with rapid speciation within a lineage resulting in many ecologically specialized, phenotypically diverse species. It has been proposed that adaptive radiations can originate from ancestral lineages with pronounced phenotypic plasticity in adaptive traits, facilitating ecologically driven phenotypic diversification that is ultimately fixed through genetic assimilation of gene regulatory regions. This study aimed to investigate how phenotypic plasticity is reflected in gene expression patterns in the trophic apparatus of several lineages of East African cichlid fishes, and whether the observed patterns support genetic assimilation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: CD28/T-cell receptor (TCR)/cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) complex controls T-cell tolerance and autoimmunity in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). In addition, CD45 protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) cooperatively interact with the TCR complex to affect autoimmune processes central to the pathogenesis of HT. Nevertheless, their role in HT aetiology has been less well established.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Lung cancer (LC) is still the most common cause of cancer related deaths worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85% of all LC cases but is not a single entity. It is now accepted that, apart from the characteristic driver mutations, the unique molecular signatures of adeno- (AC) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), the two most common NSCLC subtypes should be taken into consideration for their management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (TPOAbs) are frequently observed in Graves' disease (GD) and tend to persist in patients even after successful treatment with antithyroid drugs. However, there is a lack of consistent data regarding the prognostic significance of TPOAbs during and after non-ablative treatment for Graves' hyperthyroidism.
Aim: To assess the prognostic value of TPOAbs on the long-term outcome of GD patients, who were in remission after the use of antithyroid drugs (block-and-replace regimen).