Peripheral DNA Methylation of Cortisol- and Serotonin-Related Genes Predicts Hippocampal Volume in a Pediatric Population.

Background: Hippocampal volume increases throughout early development and is an important indicator of cognitive abilities and mental health. However, hippocampal development is highly vulnerable to exposures during development, as seen by smaller hippocampal volume and differential epigenetic programming in genes implicated in mental health. However, few studies have investigated hippocampal volume in relation to the peripheral epigenome across development, and even less is known about potential genetic moderators.

Patterns of Social Support and LGBTQ + Community Involvement Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in Australia and Their Effect on HIV-Related Outcomes: A Latent Class Analysis.

Peer support from social networks of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) has been recognised as a critical driver of engagement with HIV prevention. Using data from an online cross-sectional survey of 1,032 GBMSM aged 18 or over in Australia, a latent class analysis was conducted to categorise participants based on social support, LGBTQ + community involvement, and social engagement with gay men and LGBTQ + people. Comparisons between classes were assessed using multivariable multinomial logistic regression.

Improving Time to Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Patients with Acute Neurologic Dysfunction.

Background: Children presenting to the pediatric emergency department (PED) with neurologic dysfunction require prompt evaluation. Many PEDs successfully implement stroke alerts. However, most pediatric patients presenting with neurologic dysfunction have a non-stroke diagnosis better evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Multi-omics and biochemical reconstitution reveal CDK7-dependent mechanisms controlling RNA polymerase II function at gene 5'- and 3'-ends.

CDK7 regulates RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) initiation, elongation, and termination through incompletely understood mechanisms. Because contaminating kinases precluded CDK7 analysis with nuclear extracts, we completed biochemical assays with purified factors. Reconstitution of RNAPII transcription initiation showed CDK7 inhibition slowed and/or paused RNAPII promoter-proximal transcription, which reduced re-initiation.

CDK2 activity crosstalk on the ERK kinase translocation reporter can be resolved computationally.

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway integrates growth factor signaling through extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) to control cell proliferation. To study ERK dynamics, many researchers use an ERK activity kinase translocation reporter (KTR). Our study reveals that this ERK KTR also partially senses cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) activity, making it appear as if ERK activity rises as cells progress through the cell cycle.