This study presents the first results from the analysis of water mites collected in Portugal as part of the Biodiversity Genomics Europe project. 307 COI DNA barcodes clustered into 75 BINs are provided, with 38 BINs being unique and deposited for the first time in the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD). 65 species have been identified, of which 36 are new to the water mite fauna of Portugal.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe reorganization of the cell cytoskeleton and changes in the content of cell adhesion molecules are crucial during the metastatic spread of tumor cells. Colorectal cancer (CRC) cells express high SMAD7, a protein involved in the control of CRC cell growth. In the present study, we evaluated whether SMAD7 regulates the cytoskeleton reorganization and dynamics in CRC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aim: Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), one of the components of the bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) family, is a transcriptional and epigenetic regulator of cellular proliferation and cytokine production. In this study, we assessed whether BRD4 regulates the cytokine response in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).
Materials And Methods: BRD4 expression was analyzed in intestinal mucosal samples of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), patients with Crohn's disease (CD), normal controls (CTRs), and mice with chemically-induced colitis by real-time PCR, Western blotting, and confocal microscopy.
Taurine is a semi-essential micronutrient that acts as an anti-inflammatory molecule. The oral administration of taurine to colitic mice attenuates ongoing mucosal inflammation. This study aimed to determine whether inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are marked by changes in the circulating levels of taurine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSecondary structures formed by single-stranded DNA aptamers can allow for the binding of small-molecule ligands. Some of these secondary structures are highly stable in solution and are great candidates for use in the development of molecular tools for biomarker detection, environmental monitoring, and others. In this paper, we explored adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding aptamers for the simultaneous detection of two small-molecule ligands: adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and thioflavin T (ThT).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGabapentin is used for the treatment of many conditions, including seizures, pain, and anxiety. Increasing reports of nonprescribed use suggest that gabapentin may elicit positive subjective effects. The present study was conducted to examine the subjective effects of gabapentin using rats trained to discriminate either a 30.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Evidence of correlation between genome size, the nuclear haploid DNA content of a cell, environmental factors and life-history traits have been reported in many animal species. Genome size, however, spans over three orders of magnitude across taxa and such a correlation does not seem to follow a universal pattern. In squamate reptiles, the second most species-rich order of vertebrates, there are currently no studies investigating drivers of genome size variability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTransitions to physically different environments, such as the water-to-land transition, proved to be the main drivers of relevant evolutionary events. Brachyuran crabs evolved remarkable morphological, behavioral, and physiological adaptations to terrestrial life. Terrestrial species evolved new respiratory structures devoted to replace or support the gills, a multifunctional organ devoted to gas exchanges, ion-regulation and nitrogen excretion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA skull of Hippopotamus recovered from the area of Tor di Quinto, within the urban area of Rome (central Italy) is here redescribed. Despite being one of the most complete specimens of hippopotamuses of the European Pleistocene, the Tor di Quinto skull did not attract much research interest, due to long-standing uncertainties on its provenance. This work begun in 2021, when the skull was restored, within a large renovation project on the vertebrate exposed at the Earth Science University Museum of Sapienza University of Rome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCarotenoids and Tocols in six genotypes of Triticum turgidum ssp. durum, five of Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccum, four of Triticum aestivum ssp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the present study, the phytochemical content and the antioxidant activity in the inflorescences of the monoecious hemp cultivar Codimono grown in southern Italy were assessed, and their elicitation was induced by foliar spray application of 50 mg/L and 250 mg/L of chitosan (CHT) at three different molecular weights (low, CHT L; medium, CHT M; high CHT H). The analysis of the phytochemical profile confirmed that cannabinoids were the most abundant class (54.2%), followed by flavonoids (40.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA number of data indicate that the sources of different kinds of PDAC may be discovered at the transcription/transduction stage. RNA metabolism is manipulated at various steps by different RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and the deregulation or irregular activity of RBPs is known to contribute to tumor promotion and progression. The insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein family (IMPs), and IMP1 in particular, has been linked with a poor prognosis in PDAC patients; however, little is known about its contribution in PDAC carcinogenesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe order Isopoda contains both aquatic and terrestrial species, among which Hemilepistus reaumurii, which lives in arid environments and is the most adapted to terrestrial life. Olfaction has been deeply investigated in insects while it has received very limited attention in other arthropods, particularly in terrestrial crustaceans. In insects, soluble proteins belonging to two main families, Odorant Binding Proteins (OBPs) and Chemosensory Proteins (CSPs), are contained in the olfactory sensillar lymph and are suggested to act as carriers of hydrophobic semiochemicals to or from membrane-bound olfactory receptors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA complication of cancer-directed therapy that often goes undiscussed is infertility. Although guidelines recommend addressing the possibility of infertility and fertility preservation approaches before initiating treatment, an internal review at our institution showed only 49% of female patients had infertility risk counseling documented. As a result, a fertility assessment communication was added into all oncology treatment plans to improve rates of fertility discussion and documentation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroorganisms are ubiquitous in the environment and provide genetic and physiological functions to multicellular organisms. Knowledge on the associated microbiota is becoming highly relevant to understand the host's ecology and biology. Among invertebrates, many examples of endosymbiosis have been described, such as those in corals, ants, and termites.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aim: Type I interferons (IFNs) are highly expressed in the gut mucosa of celiac disease (CD) gut mucosa and stimulates immune response prompted by gluten ingestion, but the processes that maintain the production of these inflammatory molecules are not well understood. Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1), an RNA-editing enzyme, plays a crucial role in inhibiting self or viral RNAs from activating auto-immune mediated responses, most notably within the type-I IFN production pathway. The aim of this study was to assess whether ADAR1 could contribute to the induction and/or progression of gut inflammation in patients with celiac disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCRC cells evolve a variety of strategies to limit or circumvent apoptosis cell death. RNA binding proteins (RBPs) regulate many of the molecular mechanisms that underlie the development of cancer. The insulin-like growth factor II mRNA-binding proteins (IMP) family are oncofoetal RBPs, consisting of IMP1, IMP2 and IMP3, which have an important role in RNA metabolism.
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