Multiple Myeloma: Genetic and Epigenetic Biomarkers with Clinical Potential.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells and accounts for approximately 10% of all hematologic malignancies. The clinical outcomes of MM can exhibit considerable variability. Variability in both the genetic and epigenetic characteristics of MM undeniably contributes to tumor dynamics.

Genes Containing Long Introns Occupy Series of Bands and Interbands In polytene Chromosomes.

The polytene chromosomes are the best model for studying the genome organization during interphase. Despite of the long-term studies available on genetic organization of polytene chromosome bands and interbands, little is known regarding long gene location on chromosomes. To analyze it, we used bioinformatic approaches and characterized genome-wide distribution of introns in gene bodies and in different chromatin states, and using fluorescent in situ hybridization we juxtaposed them with the chromosome structures.

Circulating DNA in rheumatoid arthritis: pathological changes and association with clinically used serological markers.

Background: Early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is crucial to providing effective therapy and often hampered by unspecific clinical manifestations. Elevated levels of extracellular circulating DNA (cirDNA) in patients with autoimmune disease were found to be associated with etiopathogenesis. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the putative diagnostic use of cirDNA in RA and its association with disease activity.

Chromatin Heterogeneity and Distribution of Regulatory Elements in the Late-Replicating Intercalary Heterochromatin Domains of Drosophila melanogaster Chromosomes.

Late-replicating domains (intercalary heterochromatin) in the Drosophila genome display a number of features suggesting their organization is quite unique. Typically, they are quite large and encompass clusters of functionally unrelated tissue-specific genes. They correspond to the topologically associating domains and conserved microsynteny blocks.