DNA methylation status of interspersed repetitive sequences in patients with migraine.

Objective: To analyse the methylation status of the Long Interspersed Nuclear Element-1 (LINE-1) and Short Interspersed Nuclear Element Alu (Alu) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with migraine compared with healthy control subjects.

Methods: This case-control study recruited patients with migraine without aura and age-matched healthy control subjects. PBMCs were purified from peripheral blood samples.

DENTAL CLINICS: A RESERVOIR FOR HEPATITIS C VIRUS.

Nosocomial transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is well established, however the role of dental care in HCV transmission has been speculated but particularly difficult to quantify. This study investigated the potential for nosocomial transmission of HCV in dental clinics in a high HCV prevalence, middle-income country.  Dental health care workers (DHCWs) in 13 clinics in 3 cities were invited to participate.

Three Draft Genome Sequences of the Bacterial Plant Pathogen , Isolated in Georgia.

, the causative agent of bacterial wilt, is a devastating bacterial plant pathogen with a wide range of hosts. We report here the first draft genome sequences for three strains of isolated from infected potato, tomato, and pepper plants in Georgia.

GENOTYPIC DISTRIBUTION OF HPV AMONG WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE IN GEORGIA.

Of the 100 types of human papillomaviruses (HPV), approximately 35 infect the genital tract. The viruses are categorized as "high risk" and "low risk" depending on whether they are known to cause cancer or not. Cervical cancer is an important cause of cancer mortality in Georgia, and worldwide.

Short analogs and mimetics of human urocortin 3 display antidepressant effects in vivo.

Peptide analogs of urocortin 3[36–38] (Ucn 3[36–38]), obtained with deletion or replacement of amino acids of the original human urocortin 3 sequence, were designed, synthesized, and tested in vivo for treatment of depression. Based on the results of the biological tests of the peptide analogs, several new peptidomimetics of the above short analogs of urocortin 3, including urea- and azapeptides, were also designed and synthesized and found to preserve the antidepressant-like effect of the 38 amino acid long original neuropeptide. The molecular modifications of urocortin 3[36–38] led to an improved understanding of the relationship between molecular structure and biological activity of this peptide, and the novel peptidomimetics could be further tested for possible clinical treatment of depression.