Evolution of diapause in the African turquoise killifish by remodeling the ancient gene regulatory landscape.

Suspended animation states allow organisms to survive extreme environments. The African turquoise killifish has evolved diapause as a form of suspended development to survive a complete drought. However, the mechanisms underlying the evolution of extreme survival states are unknown.

Diabetes Mellitus Is a Strong Independent Negative Prognostic Factor in Patients with Brain Metastases Treated with Radiotherapy.

Background: Brain metastases (BM) cause relevant morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. The presence of cerebrovascular diseases can alter the tumor microenvironment, cellular proliferation and treatment resistance. However, it is largely unknown if the presence of distinct cerebrovascular risk factors may alter the prognosis of patients with BM.

Long-term survival in patients with brain metastases-clinical characterization of a rare scenario.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess clinical, treatment, and prognostic features in patients with brain metastases (BM) from solid tumors achieving long-term survival (LTS). Further, the accuracy of diagnosis-specific Graded Prognostic Assessment scores (ds-GPA) to predict LTS was evaluated.

Methods: Patients admitted for radiotherapy of BM between 2010 and 2020 at a large tertiary cancer center with survival of at least 3 years from diagnosis of BM were included.

In-depth triacylglycerol profiling using MS Q-Trap mass spectrometry.

Total triacylglycerol (TAG) level is a key clinical marker of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. However, the roles of individual TAGs have not been thoroughly explored in part due to their extreme structural complexity. We present a targeted mass spectrometry-based method combining multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) and multiple stage mass spectrometry (MS) for the comprehensive qualitative and semiquantitative profiling of TAGs.

Predictors of psychiatric comorbidity in cancer patients at the time of their discharge from the hospital.

Purpose: A cancer diagnosis can have a substantial impact on one's mental health. The present study investigated the prevalence and predictors of psychiatric comorbidities in cancer patients at the time of their discharge from the hospital.

Methods: Psychiatric comorbidities were assessed shortly before hospital discharge and half a year after hospitalization using a structured clinical interview (SCID), based on the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-IV).

head-bent resistant Hsc70 variants show reduced Hsp40 affinity and altered protein folding activity.

The molecular chaperone Hsc70 performs essential tasks by folding proteins. Hsc70 is driven by the hydrolysis of ATP and tuned by the association with various co-chaperones. One such cofactor is the nematode nucleotide exchange factor UNC-23, whose mutation disrupts muscle attachment and induces a severe head-bent phenotype in C.

The association of socioeconomic status with quality of life in cancer patients over a 6-month period using individual growth models.

Purpose: Studies examining longitudinal associations between socioeconomic factors and quality of life (QoL) in cancer patients are rare. This study investigates changes in QoL over a 6-month period.

Methods: Four hundred forty-two cancer patients (mean age 64, SD = 11, 70% male) completed standardized questionnaires at the beginning (t1) and end (t2) of their hospital stay and 3 (t3) and 6 months (t4) thereafter.

Cross-Platform Comparison of Untargeted and Targeted Lipidomics Approaches on Aging Mouse Plasma.

Lipidomics - the global assessment of lipids - can be performed using a variety of mass spectrometry (MS)-based approaches. However, choosing the optimal approach in terms of lipid coverage, robustness and throughput can be a challenging task. Here, we compare a novel targeted quantitative lipidomics platform known as the Lipidyzer to a conventional untargeted liquid chromatography (LC)-MS approach.

Linking Lipid Metabolism to Chromatin Regulation in Aging.

The lifespan of an organism is strongly influenced by environmental factors (including diet) and by internal factors (notably reproductive status). Lipid metabolism is critical for adaptation to external conditions or reproduction. Interestingly, specific lipid profiles are associated with longevity, and increased uptake of certain lipids extends longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans and ameliorates disease phenotypes in humans.

Psychiatric co-morbidity, distress, and use of psycho-social services in adult glioma patients-a prospective study.

Background: Distress impacts the daily life of glioma patients. This study explored its course over time and the usage of psychosocial care.

Methods: A consecutive sample of glioma patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to assess distress levels at admission to the hospital (t1), before discharge (t2), after 3 months (t3), and after 6 months (t4).

The effects of multi-disciplinary psycho-social care on socio-economic problems in cancer patients: a cluster-randomized trial.

Purpose: We examined whether multi-disciplinary stepped psycho-social care decreases financial problems and improves return-to-work in cancer patients.

Methods: In a university hospital, wards were randomly allocated to either stepped or standard care. Stepped care comprised screening for financial problems, consultation between doctor and patient, and the provision of social service.

Effects of stepped psychooncological care on referral to psychosocial services and emotional well-being in cancer patients: A cluster-randomized phase III trial.

Objective: Emotional distress in cancer patients often goes unnoticed in daily routine; therefore, distress screening is now recommended in many national guidelines. However, screening alone does not necessarily translate into better well-being. We examined whether stepped psychooncological care improves referral to consultation-liaison (CL) services and improves well-being.

Construction and evaluation of yeast expression networks by database-guided predictions.

DNA-Microarrays are powerful tools to obtain expression data on the genome-wide scale. We performed microarray experiments to elucidate the transcriptional networks, which are up- or down-regulated in response to the expression of toxic polyglutamine proteins in yeast. Such experiments initially generate hit lists containing differentially expressed genes.

Factors associated with non-participation and dropout among cancer patients in a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

We investigated the impact of demographic and disease related factors on non-participation and dropout in a cluster-randomised behavioural trial in cancer patients with measurements taken between hospitalisation and 6 months thereafter. The percentages of non-participation and dropout were documented at each time point. Factors considered to be potentially related with non-participation and dropout were as follows: age, sex, marital status, education, income, employment status, tumour site and stage of disease.

Socio-economic disparities in long-term cancer survival-10 year follow-up with individual patient data.

Purpose: Reasons for the social gradient in cancer survival are not fully understood yet. Previous studies were often only able to determine the socio-economic status of the patients from the area they live in, not from their individual socio-economic characteristics.

Methods: In a multi-centre cohort study with 1633 cancer patients and 10-year follow-up, individual socio-economic position was measured using the indicators: education, job grade, job type, and equivalence income.

Impact of socio-economic position on cancer stage at presentation: Findings from a large hospital-based study in Germany.

We explored the relationship between socio-economic characteristics and cancer stage at presentation. Patients admitted to a university hospital for diagnosis and treatment of cancer provided data on their education, vocational training, income, employment, job, health insurance and postcode. Tumor stage was classified according to the Union International Contre le Cancer (UICC).

Polyglutamine toxicity in yeast induces metabolic alterations and mitochondrial defects.

Background: Protein aggregation and its pathological effects are the major cause of several neurodegenerative diseases. In Huntington's disease an elongated stretch of polyglutamines within the protein Huntingtin leads to increased aggregation propensity. This induces cellular defects, culminating in neuronal loss, but the connection between aggregation and toxicity remains to be established.

Effect of a structured psycho-oncological screening and treatment model on mental health in cancer patients (STEPPED CARE): study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: High levels of emotional distress in cancer patients often goes unnoticed in daily clinical routine, resulting in severe undertreatment of mental health problems in this patient group. Screening tools can be used to increase case identification, however, screening alone does not necessarily translate into better mental health for the patient. Doctors play a key role in providing basic emotional support and transferring the patients in need of such specific support to mental health professionals.

Protein folding, misfolding and quality control: the role of molecular chaperones.

Cells have to cope with stressful conditions and adapt to changing environments. Heat stress, heavy metal ions or UV stress induce damage to cellular proteins and disturb the balanced status of the proteome. The adjusted balance between folded and folding proteins, called protein homoeostasis, is required for every aspect of cellular functionality.

The balanced regulation of Hsc70 by DNJ-13 and UNC-23 is required for muscle functionality.

The molecular chaperone Hsc70 assists in the folding of non-native proteins together with its J domain- and BAG domain-containing cofactors. In Caenorhabditis elegans, two BAG domain-containing proteins can be identified, one of them being UNC-23, whose mutation induces severe motility dysfunctions. Using reporter strains, we find that the full-length UNC-23, in contrast to C-terminal fragments, localizes specifically to the muscular attachment sites.