A comment on pluripotent stem cells in next-generation biomedical theranostics.

New developments in DNA sequencing platforms and the advancements in GWAS studies (genome-wide association studies) are changing the understanding of human pathologies. Such developments will ultimately result in a deeper understanding of how genomic variations contribute to diseases. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are currently entering clinical research phases, allowing the investigation of disease pathways and the identification of new targets and potentially druggable biomarkers.

Crystal optimization and preliminary diffraction data analysis of the SCAN domain of Zfp206.

Zfp206 (also named Zscan10) is a transcription factor that plays an important role in maintaining the pluripotent state of embryonic stem cells. Zfp206 is a member of the SCAN-domain family of C(2)H(2) zinc-finger transcription factors. The SCAN domain is a highly conserved motif of 84 residues which mediates the self-association of and heterodimerization between SCAN-domain family transcription factors.

Non-Coding RNAs in Neural Networks, REST-Assured.

In the nervous system, several key steps in cellular complexity and development are regulated by non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and the repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor/neuron-restrictive silencing factor (REST/NRSF). REST recruits gene regulatory complexes to regulatory sequences, among them the repressor element-1/neuron-restrictive silencer element, and mediates developmental stage-specific gene expression or repression, chromatin (re-)organization or silencing for protein-coding genes as well as for several ncRNAs like microRNAs, short interfering RNAs or long ncRNAs. NcRNAs are far from being just transcriptional noise and are involved in chromatin accessibility, transcription and post-transcriptional processing, trafficking, or RNA editing.

Small non-coding RNAs as novel therapeutics.

RNA interference (RNAi), an evolutionarily conserved sequence-specific post-transcriptional gene silencing mechanism, is triggered by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that results in the degradation of homologous mRNA or in the inhibition of mRNA translation. The naturally occurring triggers for the RNAi pathway are small regulatory RNAs, including small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), processed from longer dsRNAs by the RNAse III enzyme Dicer, and microRNAs (miRNAs), generated in a regulated multistep process from endogenous primary transcripts (pri-miRNA). These primary transcripts are capped, polyadenylated and spliced, thus resembling conventional mRNAs.

Determination of k0-values for the reactions 94Zr (n, gamma) 95Zr and 96Zr (n, gamma) 97Zr-97mNb by irradiation in highly thermalized neutron flux.

Determination of k(0)-factors for zirconium isotopes was performed by co-irradiation of Zr and Au-Al. Due to the highly thermalized irradiation position at FRM-II, interferences from epithermal neutrons were found largely decreased for (96)Zr (n, gamma) (97)Zr-(97m)Nb, the reaction with the highest Q(0)-value in all (n, gamma) reactions. Results showed that, the (95)Zr k(0)-values from this work were the same as the recommended ones.

The transcription factor Zfp281 controls embryonic stem cell pluripotency by direct activation and repression of target genes.

Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog are key components of a core transcriptional regulatory network that controls the ability of embryonic stem cells to differentiate into all cell types. Here we show that Zfp281, a zinc finger transcription factor, is a key component of the network and that it is required to maintain pluripotency. Zfp281 was shown to directly activate Nanog expression by binding to a site in the promoter in very close proximity to the Oct4 and Sox2 binding sites.

Zfp206 is a transcription factor that controls pluripotency of embryonic stem cells.

Zfp206 (ZNF206 in human) encodes a zinc finger- and SCAN domain-containing protein that is highly expressed in pluripotent ESC. Upon differentiation of human and mouse ESC, Zfp206 expression is quickly repressed. Zfp206 was found to be expressed throughout embryogenesis but absent in adult tissues except testis.

[Development and evaluation of an ADHD teacher group training--a pilot study].

In the introduction is shown that no controlled studies of teacher training programs in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have been published in German research literature as yet in spite of high demand for educational inservice training. The aim of the present study is the development and evaluation of a two-step ADHD teacher group training. In step 1 a group training (12 h) was performed with 18 advisory teachers.

Crystal structure of THEP1 from the hyperthermophile Aquifex aeolicus: a variation of the RecA fold.

Background: aaTHEP1, the gene product of aq_1292 from Aquifex aeolicus, shows sequence homology to proteins from most thermophiles, hyperthermophiles, and higher organisms such as man, mouse, and fly. In contrast, there are almost no homologous proteins in mesophilic unicellular microorganisms. aaTHEP1 is a thermophilic enzyme exhibiting both ATPase and GTPase activity in vitro.

Thermophile-specific proteins: the gene product of aq_1292 from Aquifex aeolicus is an NTPase.

Background: To identify thermophile-specific proteins, we performed phylogenetic patterns searches of 66 completely sequenced microbial genomes. This analysis revealed a cluster of orthologous groups (COG1618) which contains a protein from every thermophile and no sequence from 52 out of 53 mesophilic genomes. Thus, COG1618 proteins belong to the group of thermophile-specific proteins (THEPs) and therefore we here designate COG1618 proteins as THEP1s.

Assessment of element-specific homogeneity in reference materials using microanalytical techniques.

The IAEA established in 1994 a co-ordinated research programme (CRP) on "Reference Materials for Microanalytical Nuclear Techniques" as part of its efforts to promote and strengthen the use of nuclear analytical technologies in member states with the specific aim of improving the quality of analysis of nuclear, environmental, and biological materials. The objectives of this initiative were: to identify suitable biological reference materials which could serve the needs for quality control in microanalytical techniques; to evaluate existing CRMs for use in microanalytical investigations; to evaluate appropriate sample pretreatment procedures for materials being used for analysis with microanalytical techniques; to identify analytical techniques which can be used for characterisation of homogeneity determination, and to apply such techniques to the characterization of candidate reference materials for use with microanalytical techniques. The CRP lasted for 4 years and seven laboratories and the Agency's Laboratories in Seibersdorf participated.

The telomerase-associated protein p43 is involved in anchoring telomerase in the nucleus.

Telomere replication of eukaryotic chromosomes is achieved by a specialized enzyme, the telomerase. Although the biochemistry of end-replication is well understood, little is known about the organization of the end-replication machinery, its regulation throughout the cell cycle or the biological function of the telomerase-associated proteins. Here we investigate the function of the telomerase-associated protein p43 within the macronucleus of the ciliated protozoa Euplotes.

Representative sampling and sample preparation in biological environmental monitoring using spruce shoots.

The design of sampling and sample processing has a tremendous effect on the analytical results from which conclusions are drawn with respect to the quality of the environment and any possible impact on human health. Large scale environmental surveys need rigorous planning and extensive screening experiments to evaluate their boundary conditions. Representativeness and sample homogeneity are highlighted here in the context of a long-term biological monitoring survey for trace elements using spruce shoots.

Large scale air monitoring: lichen vs. air particulate matter analysis.

Biological indicator organisms have been widely used for monitoring and banking purposes for many years. Although the complexity of the interactions between organisms and their environment is generally not easily comprehensible, environmental quality assessment using the bioindicator approach offers some convincing advantages compared to direct analysis of soil, water, or air. Measurement of air particulates is restricted to experienced laboratories with access to expensive sampling equipment.

Testing neonate-infant membrane oxygenators with the University of Texas neonatal pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass system in vitro.

Neurologic complications are already well documented after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedures in neonates and infants. Physiologic pulsatile flow CPB systems may be the alternative to the currently used steady-flow CPB circuits. In addition to the pulsatile pump, a membrane oxygenator should be chosen carefully, because only a few membrane oxygenators are suitable for physiologic pulsatile flow.

Management of major tracheobronchial injuries: a 28-year experience.

Background: Tracheobronchial injuries are rare but potentially life threatening. Their successful diagnosis and treatment often require a high level of suspicion and surgical repairs unique to the given injury.

Methods: We reviewed our experience with 32 patients with tracheobronchial injuries treated over the past 28 years.

Concepts of marine specimen banking.

For more than a decade environmental specimen banking (ESB) has been an established approach for monitoring and retrospective environmental survey purposes in a number of developed countries. Specimen banking is carried out on regional or national scales for various environmental materials. The ecological or problem-oriented approach, as pursued e.

Dual-inflow great vessel aneurysm: delayed presentation after penetrating trauma.

Aneurysms constitute uncommon sequelae of injuries to the thoracic outlet. Most such aneurysms are secondary to blunt trauma and usually involve the great vessels at their take-off from the aortic arch. Penetrating injuries are more often identified in the more distal vessels and only very rarely present as pseudoaneurysms.

Use of seaweeds for monitoring trace elements in coastal waters.

Concentrations of a wide range of trace elements: arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, nickel, thorium, uranium, zinc and the rare earth elements, cerium, europium, samarium, terbium and ytterbium were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis in the brown alga,Fucus vesiculosus from Eckwarder Hörne, North Sea and from Rügen, Baltic Sea. Another brown alga,Sargassum filipendula from Sri Lanka, Indian ocean (representing an unpolluted control station) was similarly investigated. Cobalt, chromium and nickel concentrations were highest inF.

Background levels of heavy metals in plants of different taxonomic groups from a montane rain forest in Sri Lanka.

An undisturbed natural reserve area iocated in a tropical montane rain forest at about 1800 m altitude in Sri Lanka served as a study site to investigate and assess the natural background concentration levels of As, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in plants representing different taxonomic groups (divisions) in the plant kingdom. The plants selected were: the lichen,Usnea barbata (old man's beard);Pogonatum sp. (a moss);Lycopodium selago (epiphytic lycopod);Polypodium lanceolatum (epiphytic fern);Bulbophyllum elliae (epiphytic orchid) andActinodaphne ambigua (dicotyledonous large tree).

Preliminary studies on arsenic species in some environmental samples.

Arsenic compounds have been determined in some environmental samples from the German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) (marine mussels, freshwater mussel and fish, sea-gull eggs) and certified reference materials (DORM-1, DOLT-1, NBS Oyster Tissue) after separation by open column cation and anion exchange chromatography by two different methods of total arsenic determination in separated fractions (instrumental neutron activation analysis or hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry). Arsenobetaine has been identified as the major species in all the different materials.