Association of miRNA-145 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

Background/aim: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNA molecules that exert post-transcriptional gene expression regulation in response to cellular or environmental changes. Genetic variation affects their synthesis and cellular actions, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are one example of genetic variants studied in relation to various diseases. Literature indicates that the differentially expressed miRNA-145 in patients' serum is an essential biomarker for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

B-cell activating factor (BAFF) expression is associated with Crohn's disease and can serve as a potential prognostic indicator of disease response to Infliximab treatment.

Background: Several studies correlated elevated B-cell activating factor (BAFF) levels and its polymorphisms (SNPs) in patients with autoimmunity. Limited data existed regarding the role of BAFF in Crohn's Disease (CD) susceptibility and/or treatment response to infliximab.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate BAFF expression in CD patients, investigate if its expression can predict response to infliximab treatment, and examine the association of BAFF SNPs with CD susceptibility.

-Pyridinyl oxime carbamates: synthesis, DNA binding, DNA photocleaving activity and theoretical photodegradation studies.

A number of -pyridinyl oxime carbamate derivatives were prepared upon the reaction of the corresponding oximes with isocyanates. These novel compounds reacted photochemically in the presence of supercoiled plasmid DNA. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies revealed that the substituent on the imine group was not affecting the extend of the DNA damage, whereas the substituent of the carbamate group was critical, with the halogenated derivatives to be able to cause extensive single and double stranded DNA cleavages, acting as "synthetic nucleases", independently of oxygen and pH.