Publications by authors named "J A Heaney"

Purpose: Corneal dysmorphologies (CDs) are typically classified as either regressive degenerative corneal dystrophies (CDtrs) or defective growth and differentiation-driven corneal dysplasias (CDyps). Both eye disorders have multifactorial etiologies. While previous work has elucidated many aspects of CDs, such as presenting symptoms, epidemiology, and pathophysiology, the genetic mechanisms remain incompletely understood.

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ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling protein ATRX is an essential regulator involved in maintenance of DNA structure and chromatin state and regulation of gene expression during development. ATRX was originally identified as the monogenic cause of X-linked α-thalassemia mental retardation (ATR-X) syndrome. Affected individuals display a variety of developmental abnormalities and skeletal deformities.

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Heterozygous pathogenic variants in are associated with oligodontia-colorectal cancer syndrome (ODCRCS), a disorder characterized by oligodontia, colorectal cancer, and in some cases, sparse hair and eyebrows. We have identified four individuals with one of two , heterozygous variants (NM_004655.4:c.

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Neutrophils, pivotal cells of innate and adaptive immune responses, employ reactive oxygen species (ROS) to combat pathogens and control gene expression. Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is widely used as an analgesic and antipyretic medication, yet its precise mechanisms of action are not yet fully understood. Here, we investigate the impact of both ingested and in-vitro paracetamol on neutrophil ROS activity, using flow cytometry and antioxidant assays.

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Article Synopsis
  • The International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC) creates and studies mouse lines with specific gene mutations to better understand gene functions, using advanced techniques such as the Cas9 nuclease for enhanced efficiency.
  • The IMPC has produced 3313 knockout mouse lines, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of factors that influence successful gene editing in living organisms.
  • The research highlights that the essentiality of genes significantly affects the success rates in producing null alleles, and offers best practice guidelines for using Cas9 in gene engineering linked to human diseases.
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