The effect of age and chronotype on seasonality, sleep problems, and mood.

Seasonal affective disorder has been associated with sleep problems, young age, and an evening chronotype. A chronotype refers to an individual's preference in the timing of their sleep-wake cycle, as well as the time during the sleep-wake cycle when a person is most alert and energetic. Seasonality refers to season-dependent fluctuations in sleep length, social activity, mood, weight, appetite, and energy level.

Identified metabolic signature for assessing red blood cell unit quality is associated with endothelial damage markers and clinical outcomes.

Background: There has been interest in determining whether older red blood cell (RBC) units have negative clinical effects. Numerous observational studies have shown that older RBC units are an independent factor for patient mortality. However, recently published randomized clinical trials have shown no difference of clinical outcome for patients receiving old or fresh RBCs.

Comprehensive metabolomic study of platelets reveals the expression of discrete metabolic phenotypes during storage.

Background: Platelet (PLT) concentrates are routinely stored for 5 to 7 days. During storage they exhibit what has been termed PLT storage lesion (PSL), which is evident by a loss of hemostatic function when transfused into patients. The overall goal of this study was to obtain a comprehensive data set describing PLT metabolism during storage.

Familial predisposition to monoclonal gammopathies: deviations in B-cell biology.

Monoclonal gammopathies are associated with advancing age but a familial predisposition has been recognized for several decades. A functional phenotype, characterized by increased immunoglobulin (Ig) production after mitogen stimulation has been identified in healthy members of 4 families showing a predisposition toward IgM and IgG/IgA disorders. B cells from these hyperresponders do not show increased rates of Ig gene translocations and no aberrations were detected in an in vitro model of the germinal center reaction.

Genomic and phenotypic analysis of BRCA2 mutated breast cancers reveals co-occurring changes linked to progression.

Background: Inherited mutations in the BRCA2 gene greatly increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Consistent with an important role for BRCA2 in error-free DNA repair, complex genomic changes are frequently observed in tumors derived from BRCA2 mutation carriers. Here, we explore the impact of DNA copy-number changes in BRCA2 tumors with respect to phenotype and clinical staging of the disease.