Structured Tandem Repeats in Protein Interactions.

Tandem repeats (TRs) in protein sequences are consecutive, highly similar sequence motifs. Some types of TRs fold into structural units that pack together in ensembles, forming either an (open) elongated domain or a (closed) propeller, where the last unit of the ensemble packs against the first one. Here, we examine TR proteins (TRPs) to see how their sequence, structure, and evolutionary properties favor them for a function as mediators of protein interactions.

Nebulized myo-inositol increases mucus clearance in patients with Bronchiectasis: a retrospective study.

Objective: This retrospective study aimed at ascertaining the clinical usefulness of nebulized myo-inositol in the management of patients affected by bronchiectasis.

Patients And Methods: 19 patients, aged between 63 and 73 years old, with bronchiectasis, were treated for 15 days with nebulized myo-inositol or placebo. Lung functionality [forced expiratory volume in the 1st second (FEV1)], solid content of expectorate, and surfactant tension were analyzed.

Largest recent impact craters on Mars: Orbital imaging and surface seismic co-investigation.

Two >130-meter-diameter impact craters formed on Mars during the later half of 2021. These are the two largest fresh impact craters discovered by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter since operations started 16 years ago. The impacts created two of the largest seismic events (magnitudes greater than 4) recorded by InSight during its 3-year mission.

InSight Pressure Data Recalibration, and Its Application to the Study of Long-Term Pressure Changes on Mars.

Observations of the South Polar Residual Cap suggest a possible erosion of the cap, leading to an increase of the global mass of the atmosphere. We test this assumption by making the first comparison between Viking 1 and InSight surface pressure data, which were recorded 40 years apart. Such a comparison also allows us to determine changes in the dynamics of the seasonal ice caps between these two periods.

Soil Thermophysical Properties Near the InSight Lander Derived From 50 Sols of Radiometer Measurements.

Measurements from the InSight lander radiometer acquired after landing are used to characterize the thermophysical properties of the Martian soil in Homestead hollow. This data set is unique as it stems from a high measurement cadence fixed platform studying a simple well-characterized surface, and it benefits from the environmental characterization provided by other instruments. We focus on observations acquired before the arrival of a regional dust storm (near Sol 50), on the furthest observed patch of soil (i.

Mars Perihelion Cloud Trails as revealed by MARCI: Mesoscale Topographically Focussed Updrafts and Gravity Wave Forcing of High Altitude Clouds.

Daily, global wide angle imaging of Mars clouds in MARCI (MARs Color Imager, (Malin et al., 2008)) ultraviolet and visible bands reveals the spatial/seasonal distributions and physical characteristics of perihelion cloud trails (PCT); a class of high altitude (40-50 km), horizontally extended (200-1000 km, trending W to WSW) water ice clouds formed over specific southern low-to-mid latitude (5S-40S), mesoscale (~50 km) locations during the Mars perihelion, southern summer season. PCT were first reported in association with rim regions of Valles Marineris (Clancy et al.

Multi-model Meteorological and Aeolian Predictions for Mars 2020 and the Jezero Crater Region.

Unlabelled: Nine simulations are used to predict the meteorology and aeolian activity of the Mars 2020 landing site region. Predicted seasonal variations of pressure and surface and atmospheric temperature generally agree. Minimum and maximum pressure is predicted at and , respectively.

Inhibitory effects of Vitamin D on inflammation and IL-6 release. A further support for COVID-19 management?

The ongoing worldwide pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), raised the urgency to address knowledge gaps and to establish evidence for improving management and control of this viral infection. Throughout a keen analysis of the World Health Organization (WHO) most updated data, a gender-specific difference in the occurrence of infection was determined, which seems to correlate with patient's vitamin D status. Therefore, our purpose is to provide insights into the nutritional importance of vitamin D for its immunomodulatory effect, in order to help counteracting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scientific Observations With the InSight Solar Arrays: Dust, Clouds, and Eclipses on Mars.

Records of solar array currents recorded by the InSight lander during its first 200 sols on Mars are presented. In addition to the geometric variation in illumination on seasonal and diurnal timescales, the data are influenced by dust suspended in the atmosphere and deposited on the solar panels. Although no dust devils have been detected by InSight's cameras, brief excursions in solar array currents suggest that at least some of the vortices detected by transient pressure drops are accompanied by dust.

Geology of the InSight landing site on Mars.

The Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) spacecraft landed successfully on Mars and imaged the surface to characterize the surficial geology. Here we report on the geology and subsurface structure of the landing site to aid in situ geophysical investigations. InSight landed in a degraded impact crater in Elysium Planitia on a smooth sandy, granule- and pebble-rich surface with few rocks.

The planimetric Grothoff's criteria by cardiac magnetic resonance can improve the specificity of left ventricular non-compaction diagnosis in thalassemia intermedia.

We differentiated the left ventricle non-compaction (LVNC) from hypertrabeculated myocardium due to a negative remodeling in thalassemia intermedia (TI) patients applying linear and planimetric criteria and comparing the cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) findings. CMR images were analyzed in 181 TI patients enrolled in the Myocardial Iron Overload in Thalassemia Network and 27 patients with proved LVNC diagnosis. The CMR diagnostic criteria applied in TI patients were: a modified linear CMR Petersen's criterion based on a more restrictive ratio of diastolic NC/C > 2.

The effect of desferrioxamine chelation versus no therapy in patients with non transfusion-dependent thalassaemia: a multicenter prospective comparison from the MIOT network.

We prospectively assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) the advantages of desferrioxamine (DFO) with respect to the absence of chelation therapy in non transfusion-dependent thalassaemia (NTDT) patients. We considered 18 patients non-chelated and 33 patients who received DFO alone between the two MRI scans. Iron overload was assessed by the T2* technique.

Renal function in patients with β-thalassaemia major: a long-term follow-up study.

Background: Little information is available about the kidney's involvement in patients with β-thalassaemia major (TM). In particular, there are no studies reporting the outcome of renal function over time.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we evaluated the changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in 81 adult patients with TM followed for 10 years.

Haplotype affinities resolve a major component of goat (Capra hircus) MtDNA D-loop diversity and reveal specific features of the Sardinian stock.

Goat mtDNA haplogroup A is a poorly resolved lineage absorbing most of the overall diversity and is found in locations as distant as Eastern Asia and Southern Africa. Its phylogenetic dissection would cast light on an important portion of the spread of goat breeding. The aims of this work were 1) to provide an operational definition of meaningful mtDNA units within haplogroup A, 2) to investigate the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of diversity by considering the modes of selection operated by breeders and 3) to identify the peculiarities of Sardinian mtDNA types.

Case report: thalassemia intermedia patient with hypertension non-responsive to combined medical treatment.

Pheochromocytoma is a rare disease in the general population and, to the best of our knowledge, only one case has been reported so far in patients with hemoglobinopathies. We describe the occurrence of pheochromocytoma in a patient with thalassemia intermedia associated with Gilbert's disease and Crigler- Najjar Type 2 syndrome.

β-thalassemia and thyroid failure: is there a role for thyroid autoimmunity?

Autoimmunity is not believed to be involved in tissue damage of Β-Thalassemia (Β-Thal), although nonspecific triggering of autoimmunity by iron overload has been suggested. We recently re-evaluated thyroid function and autoimmunity in 132 Β-Thal patients born and living in Sardinia Island, where a high prevalence of both Β-Thal and autoimmune disease is well documented and in 1002 age and sex-matched euthyroid individuals from the general population. The prevalence of primary hypothyroidism in Β-Thal patients was 28.

Evidence for a proatherogenic biochemical phenotype in beta thalassemia minor and intermedia.

The purpose of this study was to focus on pathophysiological mechanisms linking β-thalassemia intermedia (β-TI) and minor (β-TMI) with cardiovascular risk. Iron status, prooxidant-antioxidant balance and lipid profiles in serum, and lipid content in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were evaluated in 20 β-TMI subjects, 22 β-TI patients and in 30 nonthalassemic blood donors. The mRNA levels of some genes involved in the regulation of iron and cholesterol metabolism were also determined.

Thalassemia intermedia is associated with a proatherogenic biochemical phenotype.

Objective: Unlike beta thalassemia major (β-TM) in which cardiac siderosis represents the leading cause of mortality and morbidity, in beta thalassemia intermedia (β-TI), pulmonary hypertension (PHT) and thrombosis seems to be the major cardiovascular complications. However, the mechanism underlying these complications in β-TI is still unclear. Endothelial dysfunction, the key early event in atherogenesis, is now emerging as an important cardiovascular risk determiner in β-TI patients.