The genetic control of herkogamy.

Herkogamy is the spatial separation of anthers and stigmas within complete flowers, and is a key floral trait that promotes outcrossing in many angiosperms. The degree of separation between pollen-producing anthers and receptive stigmas has been shown to influence rates of self-pollination amongst plants, with a reduction in herkogamy increasing rates of successful selfing in self-compatible species. Self-pollination is becoming a critical issue in horticultural crops grown in environments where biotic pollinators are limited, absent, or difficult to utilise.

Study protocol for a Randomised controlled trial of EArly transjugular intrahepatiC porTosystemic stent-shunt in Acute Variceal Bleeding (REACT-AVB trial).

Introduction: In liver cirrhosis, acute variceal bleeding (AVB) is associated with a 1-year mortality rate of up to 40%. Data on early or pre-emptive transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPSS) in AVB is inconclusive and may not reflect current management strategies. Randomised controlled trial of EArly transjugular intrahepatiC porTosystemic stent-shunt in AVB (REACT-AVB) aims to investigate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of early TIPSS in patients with cirrhosis and AVB after initial bleeding control.

Overexpression of increases fruit skin and flesh carotenoid content and reveals associated transcription factors in apple ( × ).

Knowledge of the transcriptional regulation of the carotenoid metabolic pathway is still emerging and here, we have misexpressed a key biosynthetic gene in apple to highlight potential transcriptional regulators of this pathway. We overexpressed phytoene synthase (), which controls the key rate-limiting biosynthetic step, in apple and analyzed its effects in transgenic fruit skin and flesh using two approaches. Firstly, the effects of PSY overexpression on carotenoid accumulation and gene expression was assessed in fruit at different development stages.

Professionalism development and assessment in the pre-registration pharmacist placement in England: transformative moments and maturation periods.

Objectives: Development of new patient-facing roles for pharmacists and reports of poor patient care in the UK has led to questions concerning how pharmacists develop professionalism. This study explored how professionalism is developed and assessed during the post-graduation year in practice or pre-registration placement. The perspectives of two staff at the professional regulator UK (General Pharmaceutical Council), eight service users, seven pre-registration trainees, and 12 pre-registration tutors were recruited.

Transposon insertions regulate genome-wide allele-specific expression and underpin flower colour variations in apple (Malus spp.).

Allele-specific expression (ASE) can lead to phenotypic diversity and evolution. However, the mechanisms regulating ASE are not well understood, particularly in woody perennial plants. In this study, we investigated ASE genes in the apple cultivar 'Royal Gala' (RG).

The role of social capital in women's sexual and reproductive health and rights in humanitarian settings: a systematic review of qualitative studies.

Background: Social capital is an important social determinant of women's sexual and reproductive health and rights. Little research has been conducted to understand the role of social capital in women's sexual and reproductive health and how this can be harnessed to improve health in humanitarian settings. We synthesised the evidence to examine the nexus of women's sexual and reproductive health and rights and social capital in humanitarian contexts.

The Gillenia trifoliata genome reveals dynamics correlated with growth and reproduction in Rosaceae.

The Rosaceae family has striking phenotypic diversity and high syntenic conservation. Gillenia trifoliata is sister species to the Maleae tribe of apple and ~1000 other species. Gillenia has many putative ancestral features, such as herb/sub-shrub habit, dry fruit-bearing and nine base chromosomes.

Clinical Outcomes of Ablation Compared with Resection for Single Hepatocellular Carcinoma Lesions, as a Primary Treatment or Bridging to Liver Transplantation: A Retrospective Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND Ablative therapies (AT) are widely utilized as bridging treatment for liver transplantation (LT) candidates with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are on the transplant waiting list to minimize dropout rate. We aimed to investigate whether AT could be considered a primary treatment modality for LT candidates with single, small HCC lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively investigated the outcomes of patients with AT for single HCC lesions as primary treatment or bridging to LT between 2010 and 2017, compared with surgical resection (SR) during the same time period as control.

A chromosome-scale assembly of the bilberry genome identifies a complex locus controlling berry anthocyanin composition.

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) belongs to the Vaccinium genus, which includes blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) and cranberry (V.

Diaphragmatic hernia: a rare complication of hepatic ablation.

Introduction: Ablation has become an effective treatment for small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Whilst ablation is a safe and effective technique, diaphragmatic injury is a rarely associated but significant complication. We present a case of a 67 year old patient who developed a diaphragmatic defect following microwave ablation (MWA) for HCC.

Randomised clinical trial: standard of care versus early-transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt (TIPSS) in patients with cirrhosis and oesophageal variceal bleeding.

Background: Early-transjugular intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt (TIPSS) has been recommended in international guidelines for high-risk patients with oesophageal variceal bleeding.

Aim: To validate the results of a previous randomised control trial which supports use of early-TIPSS.

Methods: In a two-centre open-label parallel-group randomised control trial, patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding were recruited following haemostasis with vaso-active drugs and endoscopic band ligation.

A phase 2 randomised controlled trial of serelaxin to lower portal pressure in cirrhosis (STOPP).

Background: In preclinical models, recombinant human relaxin-2 (serelaxin) had anti-fibrotic effects and ameliorated portal hypertension (PH). A small exploratory study in patients with cirrhosis also suggested that serelaxin could reduce portal pressure.

Methods: In a phase 2, double-blind, randomised controlled study conducted in a single centre (Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK), male and female adult participants with cirrhosis and clinically significant PH (CSPH; hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) > 10 mmHg) were enrolled.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt in the management of portal hypertension.

These guidelines on transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPSS) in the management of portal hypertension have been commissioned by the Clinical Services and Standards Committee (CSSC) of the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) under the auspices of the Liver Section of the BSG. The guidelines are new and have been produced in collaboration with the British Society of Interventional Radiology (BSIR) and British Association of the Study of the Liver (BASL). The guidelines development group comprises elected members of the BSG Liver Section, representation from BASL, a nursing representative and two patient representatives.

A manually annotated Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis (kiwifruit) genome highlights the challenges associated with draft genomes and gene prediction in plants.

Background: Most published genome sequences are drafts, and most are dominated by computational gene prediction. Draft genomes typically incorporate considerable sequence data that are not assigned to chromosomes, and predicted genes without quality confidence measures. The current Actinidia chinensis (kiwifruit) 'Hongyang' draft genome has 164 Mb of sequences unassigned to pseudo-chromosomes, and omissions have been identified in the gene models.

Ectopic expression of the homologous inhibits fruit tissue growth and changes fruit shape in apple.

Fruit shape represents a key trait that consumers use to identify and select preferred cultivars, and although the manipulation of this trait is an opportunity to create novel, differentiated products, the molecular mechanisms regulating fruit shape are poorly understood in tree fruits. In this study, we have shown that ectopic expression of the apple ortholog of the floral organ identity gene regulates apple fruit tissue growth and shape. is a single-copy gene, and its expression is high during flower development but barely detectable soon after pollination.

The survey on cellular and tissue-engineered therapies in Europe and neighboring Eurasian countries in 2014 and 2015.

Background Aims: With the support of five established scientific organizations, this report, the seventh of its kind, describes activity in Europe for the years 2014 and 2015 in the area of cellular and tissue-engineered therapies, excluding hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) treatments for the reconstitution of hematopoiesis.

Methods: In 2015 [respectively 2014], 205 [276] teams from 32 countries responded to the cellular and tissue-engineered therapy survey; 178 [126] teams reported treating 3686 [2665] patients.

Results: Indications were musculoskeletal/rheumatological disorders (32% [33%]), cardiovascular disorders (12% [21%]), hematology/oncology (predominantly prevention or treatment of graft versus host disease and HSC graft enhancement; 20% [20%]), neurological disorders (4% [6%]), gastrointestinal disorders (<1% [1%]) and other indications (31% [20%]).

Launching biosimilar rituximab: an industry opinion on biosimilar uptake in Europe.

Richard Trollope and Sue Johnson talk with Henry Ireland, Senior Editor about the recent approval of biosimilar rituximab (Truxima) & the current state of biosimilar uptake across Europe Richard Trollope, Head of Biosimilars, Mundipharma International Limited, qualified as a biochemist before joining Wyeth's commercial operations, prior to its acquisition by Pfizer. Richard later joined Yamanouchi Pharmaceuticals (now Astellas Pharma). His fascination with oncology led him to join Mundipharma in Europe and after joining the company's UK arm (Napp Pharmaceuticals Limited), Richard began his journey in biosimilars.

The Survey on Cellular and Engineered Tissue Therapies in Europe in 2013.

Following the coordinated efforts of five established scientific organizations, this report, the sixth of its kind, describes activity in Europe for the year 2013 in the area of cellular and engineered tissue therapies, excluding hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) treatments for the reconstitution of hematopoiesis. Three hundred eighteen teams from 31 countries responded to the cellular and engineered tissue therapy survey; 145 teams from 25 countries reported treating 2187 patients, while a further 173 teams reported no activity. Indications were musculoskeletal/rheumatological disorders (45%; 89% autologous), cardiovascular disorders (20%; 99% autologous), hematology/oncology, predominantly prevention or treatment of graft versus host disease (GvHD) and HSC graft enhancement, (19%; <1% autologous), neurological disorders (3%; 100% autologous), gastrointestinal disorders (2%; 32% autologous), and other indications (11%; 67% autologous).

The survey on cellular and engineered tissue therapies in Europe in 2012.

Following the coordinated efforts of five established scientific organizations, this report describes activity in Europe for the year 2012 in the area of cellular and engineered tissue therapies, excluding hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) treatments for the reconstitution of hematopoiesis. Three hundred thirteen teams from 33 countries responded to the cellular and engineered tissue therapy survey: 138 teams from 27 countries provided data on 2157 patients, while a further 175 teams reported no activity. Indications were musculoskeletal/rheumatological disorders (36%; 80% autologous), cardiovascular disorders (25%; 95% autologous), hematology/oncology, predominantly prevention or treatment of graft versus host disease and HSC graft enhancement (19%; 1% autologous), neurological disorders (3%; 99% autologous), gastrointestinal disorders (1%; 71% autologous), and other indications (16%; 79% autologous).

Association of TLL1 gene polymorphism (rs1503298, T > C) with coronary heart disease in PREDICT, UDACS and ED cohorts.

Objective: To determine the sequence variant of TLL1 gene (rs1503298, T > C) in three British cohorts (PREDICT, UDACS and ED) of patients with type-2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in order to assess its association with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Study Design: Analytical study.

Place And Duration Of Study: UCL, London, UK.