Resolving the design principles that control postnatal vascular growth and scaling.

After birth, tissues grow continuously until reaching adult size, with each organ exhibiting unique cellular dynamics, growth patterns, and (stem or non-stem) cell sources. Using a suite of experimental and computational multiscale approaches, we found that aortic expansion is guided by specific biological principles and scales with the vertebral column rather than animal body weight. Expansion proceeds via two distinct waves of arterial cell proliferation along blood flow that are spatially stochastic, yet temporally coordinated.

Altered platelet phenotype in patients with type II endoleaks following abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Background: Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a preferred surgery to prevent aneurysm sac enlargement and minimize the risk of life-threatening rupture in patients with AAA. Serious complications of type II endoleaks following EVAR can cause sac expansion and increase rupture risk. This study focused on evaluating clinical and blood characteristics in patients with type II endoleaks to refine our understanding of systemic fluctuations associated with unsuccessful EVAR.

Mapping the unicellular transcriptome of the ascending thoracic aorta to changes in mechanosensing and mechanoadaptation during aging.

Aortic stiffening is an inevitable manifestation of chronological aging, yet the mechano-molecular programs that orchestrate region- and layer-specific adaptations along the length and through the wall of the aorta are incompletely defined. Here, we show that the decline in passive cyclic distensibility is more pronounced in the ascending thoracic aorta (ATA) compared to distal segments of the aorta and that collagen content increases in both the medial and adventitial compartments of the ATA during aging. The single-cell RNA sequencing of aged ATA tissues reveals altered cellular senescence, remodeling, and inflammatory responses accompanied by enrichment of T-lymphocytes and rarefaction of vascular smooth muscle cells, compared to young samples.

Ginseng mediates its anticancer activity by inhibiting the expression of DNMTs and reactivating methylation-silenced genes in colorectal cancer.

Developing safe and effective therapeutic modalities remains a critical challenge for improving the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). In this regard, targeting epigenetic regulation in cancers has recently emerged as a promising therapeutic approach. Since several natural compounds have recently been shown to be important epigenetic modulators, we hypothesized that Ginseng might exert its anticancer activity by regulating DNA methylation alterations in CRC.

Sequence analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant isolated from Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Introduction: This study aimed to perform mutation and phylogenetic analyses of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta variants and analyze the characteristic signs and symptoms of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant originated from Makassar during the Delta outbreak.Methods: We collected samples from patients who were infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) between June and October 2021. We selected the Quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-positive samples with a cycle threshold value of <30 for whole genome sequencing.

Mechanosignals in abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Cumulative evidence has shown that mechanical and frictional forces exert distinct effects in the multi-cellular aortic layers and play a significant role in the development of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). These mechanical cues collectively trigger signaling cascades relying on mechanosensory cellular hubs that regulate vascular remodeling programs leading to the exaggerated degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), culminating in lethal aortic rupture. In this review, we provide an update and summarize the current understanding of the mechanotransduction networks in different cell types during AAA development.

Multiplexed shRNA-miRs as a candidate for anti HIV-1 therapy: strategies, challenges, and future potential.

The spread of HIV is on the rise and has become a global issue, especially for underdeveloped and developing countries. This is due to the fact that HIV majorly occurs asymptomatically and is implausible for early diagnosis. Recent advances in research and science have enabled the investigation of a new potential treatment involving gene-based therapy, known as RNA interference (RNAi) that will direct gene silencing and further compensate for natural variants and viral mutants.

Linking single nucleotide polymorphisms to signaling blueprints in abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is a multifactorial complex disease with life-threatening consequences. While Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the genome of individuals with AAA, the link between SNPs with the associated pathological signals, the influence of risk factors on their distribution and their combined analysis is not fully understood. We integrated 86 AAA SNPs from GWAS and clinical cohorts from the literature to determine their phenotypical vulnerabilities and association with AAA risk factors.

A blood-based circulating microbial metagenomic panel for early diagnosis and prognosis of oesophageal adenocarcinoma.

Background: Emerging evidence indicates the potential clinical significance of specific microbial signatures as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, in multiple cancers. However, to date, no studies have systematically interrogated circulating metagenome profiling in oesophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) patients, particularly as novel non-invasive, early detection, surveillance and prognostic classifiers.

Methods: Metagenome sequencing was performed on 81 serum specimens collected across EAC spectrum, with sequencing reads classified using Bracken and MetaPhlAn3.

The Nonproteolytic Intracellular Domain of Membrane-Type 1 Matrix Metalloproteinase Coordinately Modulates Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Atherosclerosis in Mice-Brief Report.

Background: MT1-MMP (membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase, MMP-14) is a transmembrane-anchored protein with an extracellular proteinase domain and a cytoplasmic tail devoid of proteolytic functions but capable of mediating intracellular signaling that regulates tissue homeostasis. MT1-MMP extracellular proteolytic activity has been shown to regulate pathological remodeling in aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis. However, the role of the nonproteolytic intracellular domain of MT1-MMP in vascular remodeling in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is unknown.

Biomarkers for the Detection and Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients Treated with Direct-Acting Antivirals.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth-most common type of cancer worldwide and chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents the main etiological factor in developed countries. HCV promotes hepatocarcinogenesis through persistent liver inflammation and dysregulation of cell signaling pathways. The introduction of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) resulted in a significant improvement in the eradication of the virus, with an expected reduction of HCC incidence.

HCV Proteins Modulate the Host Cell miRNA Expression Contributing to Hepatitis C Pathogenesis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome encodes for one long polyprotein that is processed by cellular and viral proteases to generate 10 polypeptides. The viral structural proteins include the core protein, and the envelope glycoproteins E1 and E2, present at the surface of HCV particles. Non-structural (NS) proteins consist of NS1, NS2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5a, and NS5b and have a variable function in HCV RNA replication and particle assembly.

The Role of microRNAs in the Cisplatin- and Radio-Resistance of Cervical Cancer.

Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide. The chemotherapeutical agent cisplatin, a small platinum-based compound, is considered as the standard therapy for locally advanced cervical cancer or recurrent cancers, sometimes in combination with radiotherapy or other drugs. However, drug resistance and radio-resistance phenomena could reduce the life expectancy of cervical cancer patients.

Weighted miRNA co-expression networks analysis identifies circulating miRNA predicting overall survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) has been used to explore gene expression datasets by constructing biological networks based on the likelihood expression profile among genes. In recent years, WGCNA found application in biomarker discovery studies, including miRNA. Serum samples from 20 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were profiled through miRNA 3.

Circulatory miRNA as a Biomarker for Therapy Response and Disease-Free Survival in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

The clinical outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment remains unsatisfactory, contributing to the high mortality of HCC worldwide. Circulating miRNAs have the potential to be a predictor of therapy response. Microarray profiling was performed in serum samples of 20 HCC patients before treatment.

Circulating microRNA Associated to Different Stages of Liver Steatosis in Prader-Willi Syndrome and Non-Syndromic Obesity.

Background: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare and poorly characterized disease. Recent genomic and transcriptomic studies contributed to elucidate the molecular bases of the syndrome. In this study, we characterized the expression of circulating miRNAs in patients with PWS compared to those with non-syndromic obesity in association with liver steatosis.

The Crosstalk between Tumor Cells and the Microenvironment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Role of Exosomal microRNAs and their Clinical Implications.

The communication between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and their microenvironment is an essential mechanism supporting or preventing tumor development and progression. Recent evidence has identified extracellular vesicles (EVs) as one of the mechanisms mediating paracrine signaling between cells. Exosomes, the most described class of EVs, deliver proteins, mRNAs, noncoding RNAs, DNA, and lipids to recipient cells, also at remote distances.

Selection and validation of miR-1280 as a suitable endogenous normalizer for qRT-PCR Analysis of serum microRNA expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Normalization procedures for the qRT-PCR analysis of miRNA in biological samples are recommended to reduce the variability caused by pre-analytical factors. Since there is no universal standardized normalization strategy for miRNA qRT-PCR studies, we conducted a throughout study to evaluate a panel of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) as reference gene candidate for biomarker studies in serum samples of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Five sncRNAs (miR-1280, miR-1275, SNORD-116, SNORD-68, and U6) were chosen as candidate of reference genes.

The role of microRNA in the resistance to treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related death with a limited efficacy of treatment for intermediate and advanced stages of the disease. Several therapeutic approaches such as trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) with anthracyclines, cisplatin and multikinase inhibitor sorafenib have been appealing choices of treatments yet failed to reach a satisfactory outcome mainly due to the numerous mechanisms that influence patient's response. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of many intracellular processes related to drug resistance.

Serum miRNA Are Promising Biomarkers for the Detection of Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Treatment with Direct-Acting Antivirals.

Direct antiviral agents (DAAs) have excellent efficacy against chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Despite this strength, recent studies raised concerns about an unexpected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurrence rate after DAA therapy. In this exploratory case-control study, we evaluated the potential use of miRNAs as serum biomarkers for the detection of early HCC in DAA-treated patients.

Evaluation of rapid GeneXpert MTB/RIF method using DNA tissue specimens of vertebral bones in patients with suspected spondylitis TB.

Purpose: To detect DNA and rifampicin resistance in vertebral bone tissue specimens from spondylitis TB suspects.

Methods And Results: The rapid GeneXpert MTB/RIF and MGIT 960 liquid culture methods have been used in the specimens. Results from 70 suspects with spondylitis TB shown that 31.