Genetic and chromosomal alterations in Kenyan Wilms Tumor.

Wilms tumor (WT) is the most common childhood kidney cancer worldwide and poses a cancer health disparity to black children of sub-Saharan African ancestry. Although overall survival from WT at 5 years exceeds 90% in developed countries, this pediatric cancer is alarmingly lethal in sub-Saharan Africa and specifically in Kenya (36% survival at 2 years). Although multiple barriers to adequate WT therapy contribute to this dismal outcome, we hypothesized that a uniquely aggressive and treatment-resistant biology compromises survival further.

Evaluation of quantitative miRNA expression platforms in the microRNA quality control (miRQC) study.

MicroRNAs are important negative regulators of protein-coding gene expression and have been studied intensively over the past years. Several measurement platforms have been developed to determine relative miRNA abundance in biological samples using different technologies such as small RNA sequencing, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and (microarray) hybridization. In this study, we systematically compared 12 commercially available platforms for analysis of microRNA expression.

Dietary strawberries increase the proliferative response of CD3/CD28-activated CD8⁺ T cells and the production of TNF-α in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocytes from obese human subjects.

Obesity increases the risk of developing bacterial and viral infections compared with normal weight. In a 7-week double-blind, randomised, cross-over trial, twenty obese volunteers (BMI between 30 and 40 kg/m²) were fed freeze-dried strawberry powder or strawberry-flavoured placebo preparations to determine the effects of dietary strawberries on immune function. Blood was collected at six time points during the study and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated at each time point and activated with CD3 plus CD28 antibodies (T-lymphocyte activation) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS, monocyte activation).

Global gene expression in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (fluoxetine and sertraline) reveals unique expression profiles and potential biomarkers of exposure.

Larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed (96 h) to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) fluoxetine and sertraline and changes in transcriptomes analyzed by Affymetrix GeneChip Zebrafish Array were evaluated to enhance understanding of biochemical pathways and differences between these SSRIs. The number of genes differentially expressed after fluoxetine exposure was 288 at 25 μg/L and 131 at 250 μg/L; and after sertraline exposure was 33 at 25 μg/L and 52 at 250 μg/L. Same five genes were differentially regulated in both SSRIs indicating shared molecular pathways.

Effects of dietary stearidonic acid on biomarkers of lipid metabolism.

Stearidonic acid (SDA), a highly unsaturated (n-3) PUFA, is effectively metabolized to EPA with a bioequivalence of ~5:1 as determined by the omega-3 index, a biomarker for risk of cardiovascular disease. The AHA has recommended that individuals increase their consumption of highly unsaturated (n-3) PUFA, particularly EPA and DHA, but there are concerns about achieving the recommendations through fish consumption. SDA is considered a biological surrogate for EPA.

Differential gene expression in mice infected with distinct Toxoplasma strains.

Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis in human and animals. In a mouse model, T. gondii strains can be divided into three groups, including the virulent, intermediately virulent, and nonvirulent.

Global gene expression profiling in larval zebrafish exposed to microcystin-LR and microcystis reveals endocrine disrupting effects of Cyanobacteria.

Microcystis blooms occur worldwide and threaten aquatic ecosystems and human health. Sublethal effects on early developmental stages of fish are largely unknown, and research has mainly focused on microcystin toxins (such as MC-LR) rather than Microcystis cells. We exposed (96 h) zebrafish larvae to purified MC-LR (0-1000 μg/L) or lyophilized Microcystis aeruginosa containing 4.

The effects of dairy components on energy partitioning and metabolic risk in mice: a microarray study.

Background/aim: High-calcium diets modulate energy metabolism and suppress inflammatory stress. These effects are primarily mediated by calcium suppression of calcitriol. We have now investigated the effect of additional components in dairy products [branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi)] on adipocyte and muscle metabolism in an animal model of diet-induced obesity.

Phytoremediation and phytosensing of chemical contaminants, RDX and TNT: identification of the required target genes.

High explosives such as hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) are important contaminants in the environment and phytoremediation has been viewed as a cost-effective abatement. There remains, however, an insufficient knowledge-base about how plants respond to explosives, especially in the steady state. Microarray analysis was conducted on Arabidopsis thaliana that were grown in Murashige and Skoog media containing steady-state levels of 0.

Changes in hepatic gene expression in dogs with experimentally induced nutritional iron deficiency.

Background And Objective: We investigated hepatic gene expression in dogs with experimentally induced nutritional iron deficiency (ID). Our hypothesis was that ID would result in decreased hepcidin gene expression, and possibly in altered expression of other genes associated with iron metabolism.

Methods: Liver biopsies were collected from each of 3 dogs before induction of ID, at the point of maximal ID, and after resolution of ID.