Dataset of the livability performance of the city of Birmingham, UK, as measured by its citizen wellbeing, resource security, resource efficiency and carbon emissions.

This data article presents the UK City LIFE data set for the city of Birmingham, UK. UK City LIFE is a new, comprehensive and holistic method for measuring the livable sustainability performance of UK cities. The Birmingham data set comprises 346 indicators structured simultaneously (1) within a four-tier, outcome-based framework in order to aid in their interpretation (e.

Coregulated human globin genes are frequently in spatial proximity when active.

The organization of genes within the nucleus may influence transcription. We have analyzed the nuclear positioning of the coordinately regulated alpha- and beta-globin genes and show that the gene-dense chromatin surrounding the human alpha-globin genes is frequently decondensed, independent of transcription. Against this background, we show the frequent juxtaposition of active alpha- and beta-globin genes and of homologous alpha-globin loci that occurs at nuclear speckles and correlates with transcription.

Evidence for reduced B-cell progenitors in early (low-risk) myelodysplastic syndrome.

Early, low-risk International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a heterogeneous disorder where the molecular and cellular hematopoietic defects are poorly understood. To gain insight into this condition, we analyzed gene expression profiles of marrow CD34+ progenitor cells from normal-karyotype, low-blast-count MDS patients, age-matched controls, and patients with non-MDS anemia. Given the heterogeneity of early MDS, a surprisingly consistent finding was decreased expression of B-cell lineage-affiliated genes in MDS patients compared with healthy controls and 3 of 5 samples with non-MDS anemia.

Deletion of the alpha-globin gene cluster as a cause of acquired alpha-thalassemia in myelodysplastic syndrome.

Rarely, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is complicated by an acquired form of alpha-thalassemia (alpha-thalassemia in myelodysplastic syndrome [ATMDS]) characterized by hypochromic, microcytic, anisopoikilocytic red blood cells with hemoglobin H (HbH) inclusions. Acquired mutations in ATRX, a chromatin remodeling gene, have recently been found in 12 patients with typical features of ATMDS, though they have not been detected in MDS patients with similar red blood cell findings but little HbH. The alpha-globin genes themselves have appeared normal in all ATMDS patients studied to date.