Antiapoptotic Protein FAIM2 is targeted by miR-3202, and DUX4 via TRIM21, leading to cell death and defective myogenesis.

Inappropriate expression of DUX4, a transcription factor that induces cell death at high levels of expression and impairs myoblast differentiation at low levels of expression, leads to the development of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), however, the pathological mechanisms downstream of DUX4 responsible for muscle loss are poorly defined. We performed a screen of 1972 miR inhibitors for their ability to interfere with DUX4-induced cell death of human immortalized myoblasts. The most potent hit identified by the screen, miR-3202, is known to target the antiapoptotic protein FAIM2.

Correlation of levetiracetam concentration in peripheral blood mononuclear cells with clinical efficacy: A sensitive monitoring biomarker in patients with epilepsy.

Purpose: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is increasingly recommended in antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy, yet a complex relationship exists between the unbound-drug serum concentration (C) as a monitoring biomarker and clinical efficacy. The study was designed to investigate the validity of the intracellular unbound-drug concentration in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (C) as a feasible TDM tool in relation to levetiracetam (LEV).

Methods: Patients from epilepsy out-patient centre were included in a 4-month descriptive prospective study.

Suppression of connective tissue growth factor mediates the renoprotective effect of Sitagliptin rather than Pioglitazone in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aim: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease, and thus, the ability of antidiabetic drugs to ameliorate renal microvascular disease may be as important as their ability to control blood glucose. Therefore, we investigated the reno-protective effect of the antidiabetic drugs, Sitagliptin and Pioglitazone, versus combined Metformin/Enalapril in a rat model of type 2 diabetes.

Method: Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to be either normal control or diabetic.