Altered levels of placental miR-338-3p and miR-518b are associated with acute chorioamnionitis and IL6 genotype.

Placental-derived miRNAs are attractive candidates as biomarkers of placental health, but their associations with specific pathologies, such as acute chorioamnionitis (aCA), are not well explored. Samples of chorionic villi from 57 placentas (33 aCA and 24 non-aCA) were analyzed. Expression was quantified for six candidate miRNAs (miR-146a, miR-210, miR-223, miR-338-3p, miR-411, and miR-518b), using quantitative real-time PCR.

Review: placental biomarkers for assessing fetal health.

The placenta is a multifunctional organ that regulates key aspects of pregnancy maintenance and fetal development. As the placenta is in direct contact with maternal blood, cellular products (DNA, RNA, proteins, etc.) from the placenta can enter maternal circulation by a variety of ways.

Cell-Free Placental DNA in Maternal Plasma in Relation to Placental Health and Function.

Background: While cell-free placental DNA (cfp-DNA) increases in response to certain pathological conditions, confounding variables, such as placental size, may also contribute to its release. Furthermore, the relationship between cfp-DNA and maternal serum proteins has not been well investigated.

Objective: To analyze plasma cfp-DNA levels and correlate with measurable placental parameters, maternal serum proteins, or pathologic conditions reflecting placental dysfunction.

A Preliminary Genome-Wide Association Study of Acute Mountain Sickness Susceptibility in a Group of Nepalese Pilgrims Ascending to 4380 m.

There is significant interindividual variation in acute mountain sickness (AMS) susceptibility in humans. To identify genes related to AMS susceptibility, we used a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to simultaneously test associations between genetic variants dispersed throughout the genome and the presence and severity of AMS. DNA samples were collected from subjects who ascended rapidly to Gosainkunda, Nepal (4380 m), as part of the 2005, 2010, and 2012 Janai Purnima festivals.

Informational Theory of Aging: The Life Extension Method Based on the Bone Marrow Transplantation.

The method of lifespan extension that is a practical application of the informational theory of aging is proposed. In this theory, the degradation (error accumulation) of the genetic information in cells is considered a main cause of aging. According to it, our method is based on the transplantation of genetically identical (or similar) stem cells with the lower number of genomic errors to the old recipients.

Noninvasive nucleic acid-based approaches to monitor placental health and predict pregnancy-related complications.

During pregnancy, the placenta releases a variety of nucleic acids (including deoxyribonucleic acid, messenger ribonucleic acid, or microribonucleic acids) either as a result of cell turnover or as an active messaging system between the placenta and cells in the maternal body. The profile of released nucleic acids changes with the gestational age and has been associated with maternal and fetal parameters. It also can directly reflect pathological changes in the placenta.

[Comparative analysis of syngeneic and allogeneic transplantation without irradiation of the EGFP+ mice bone marrow cells with microspectral fluorescence method].

The experimental results on syngeneic and allogeneic transplantation of whole fraction of mice bone marrow cells without irradiation have been presented. Data on the dynamics of the donor cell colonization of bone marrow, spleen, thymus and blood of the recipient mice were obtained. The degree of immunogenicity of donor cells with syngeneic and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation based on the microspectral fluorescence method was evaluated.

[Use of fluorescence microspectral method for studying bone marrow EGFP+ cells transplantation in 5-fluorouracil-treated mice].

In this paper the experimental results of bone marrow transplantation from C57BL/6-Tg(ACTB-EGFP)1Osb/J transgenic mice into C57BL/6 mice subjected to 5-fluorouracil treatment are represented. It has been shown that EGFP+ cells engraftment in bone marrow, spleen and thymus of host mice after 5-Fu treatment significantly increased. More long-term engraftment was recorded after transplantation between closely related donors and 5-fluorouracil treatment hosts.

Recurrent triploidy due to a failure to complete maternal meiosis II: whole-exome sequencing reveals candidate variants.

Triploidy is a relatively common cause of miscarriage; however, recurrent triploidy has rarely been reported. A healthy 34-year-old woman was ascertained because of 18 consecutive miscarriages with triploidy found in all 5 karyotyped losses. Molecular results in a sixth loss were also consistent with triploidy.

Quantification of cell-free DNA in normal and complicated pregnancies: overcoming biological and technical issues.

The characterization of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) originating from placental trophoblast in maternal plasma provides a powerful tool for non-invasive diagnosis of fetal and obstetrical complications. Due to its placental origin, the specific epigenetic features of this DNA (commonly known as cell-free fetal DNA) can be utilized in creating universal 'fetal' markers in maternal plasma, thus overcoming the limitations of gender- or rhesus-specific ones. The goal of this study was to compare the performance of relevant approaches and assays evaluating the amount of cfDNA in maternal plasma throughout gestation (7.

A DNA-based method for detecting homologous blood doping.

Homologous (or allogeneic) blood doping, in which blood is transferred from a donor into a recipient athlete, is the easiest, cheapest, and fastest way to increase red cell mass (hematocrit) and therefore the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Although thought to have been rendered obsolete as a doping strategy by the increased use of rhEPO to increased hematocrits, there is evidence that athletes are still using this potentially dangerous method to improve endurance performance. Current testing for homologous blood doping is based on identification of mixed populations of red blood cells by flow cytometry.

Twin studies in altitude and hypoxia research.

Humans exhibit high individual variation in response to acute hypoxia exposure. A number of published studies have used a classic 'twin study' model, comparing responses within pairs of monozygotic and dizygotic twins, to separate genetic from environmental contributions to the variation in altitude acclimatization. Available data suggest that some aspects of acclimatization have a heritable component.

Maternal NLRP7 and C6orf221 variants are not a common risk factor for androgenetic moles, triploidy and recurrent miscarriage.

Maternal effect genes control early events of embryogenesis. Maternal homozygous and compound mutations in two such genes, NLRP7 and c6orf221, have been detected in the majority of women experiencing recurrent biparental hydatidiform moles. It was suggested that other forms of reproductive wastage, including diploid androgenetic moles, partial moles, polyploidy, recurrent spontaneous abortions and stillbirths of uncertain etiology, may be caused by NLRP7 or c6orf221 mutations in the mother.

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome in sibs discordant for IC2 methylation.

Genetically heterogeneous imprinting disorders include Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) and multiple maternal hypomethylation syndrome (MMHS). Using DNA sequencing, quantitative PCR, SNuPE, pyrosequencing, and hybridization to the Illumina GoldenGate Methylation Cancer Panel 1 array, we characterized the genomic DNA of two brothers with BWS who were discordant for loss of methylation at several differentially methylated regions (DMR), including imprinting center 2 (IC2) on chromosome band 11p15.5, which is often hypomethylated in BWS.

[Study of radioprotective effect of "Soma" preparate].

Changes in the functional activity of the synthesis apparatus of rat blood lymphocytes under different scheme in application of bioadditive Soma after acute X-irradiation by fluorescent microspectrometry. Some metabolic indices in animals were investigated too. It has been shown the bioadditive Soma using in norm reliably increased the synthetic activity on days 13 and 20.

Isolation and characterization of Escherichia coli strains producing microcins of B and C types.

A screening of 11956 enterobacteria isolates resulted in selection of seven active microcin-producing strains. The microcins were shown to be peptides or their derivatives with a rather broad spectrum of activity, mainly against Gram-negative bacteria. According to cross-immunity criteria, the microcins studied belonged to two of the previously suggested types, B (five strains) and C (two strains).

[Characterization of enterobacteria producing the broad-spectrum antibiotics microcins].

As a result of screening among 11956 enterobacteria strains isolated from feces of normal children, grown-ups and lambs, seven active microcin-producing strains were obtained. The microcins were shown to be peptides or their derivatives with a low molecular weight (less than 10,000) and a broad spectrum of activity, mainly against gram-negative bacteria. According to cross immunity criteria the microcins studied belonged to two different types.