POLR3B is associated with a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy with myoclonic-atonic seizures and ataxia.

Objective: POLR3B encodes the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase III, which is essential for transcription of small non-coding RNAs. Biallelic pathogenic variants in POLR3B are associated with an inherited hypomyelinating leukodystrophy. Recently, de novo heterozygous variants in POLR3B were reported in six individuals with ataxia, spasticity, and demyelinating peripheral neuropathy.

Functional characterisation of a novel ovarian cancer cell line, NUOC-1.

Background: Cell lines provide a powerful model to study cancer and here we describe a new spontaneously immortalised epithelial ovarian cancer cell line (NUOC-1) derived from the ascites collected at a time of primary debulking surgery for a mixed endometrioid / clear cell / High Grade Serous (HGS) histology.

Results: This spontaneously immortalised cell line was found to maintain morphology and epithelial markers throughout long-term culture. NUOC-1 cells grow as an adherent monolayer with a doubling time of 58 hours.

Association of COMT Val108/158Met genotype with smoking cessation in a nicotine replacement therapy randomized trial.

We investigated the association of catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) genotype with abstinence following a smoking cessation attempt among a large cohort of smokers who attempted to quit using either the nicotine transdermal patch or placebo and were followed up over an 8-year period following their initial cessation attempt. In addition, we examined the possible moderating influence of sex on any association. The genotype x treatment interaction effect at 12-week follow-up indicated a greater benefit of active nicotine replacement treatment compared with placebo on likelihood of abstinence in the COMT Met/Met genotype group (33% versus 12%), in comparison to the Met/Val + Val/Val group (22% versus 16%).