Histone H3.3 lysine 9 and 27 control repressive chromatin at cryptic enhancers and bivalent promoters.

Histone modifications are associated with distinct transcriptional states, but it is unclear whether they instruct gene expression. To investigate this, we mutate histone H3.3 K9 and K27 residues in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs).

Proline Metabolism Genes in Transgenic Plants: Meta-Analysis under Drought and Salt Stress.

The amino acid proline accumulates in plants during abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity and is considered a reliable marker of environmental stress. While its accumulation is well established, its precise role in stress tolerance and its underlying molecular mechanism remain less clear. To address these issues, we performed a meta-analysis-a robust statistical technique that synthesizes results from multiple independent studies while accounting for experimental differences.

Understanding Syrian migration in Lebanon: a methodological framework.

Background: Wars, crises, and climate change are just a few of the worldwide concerns that have resulted in the forced relocation of millions of people. After 12 years of conflict in Syria, millions of Syrians are still displaced in the neighbouring countries, and their conditions have worsened due to the economic and socio-political crisis of the region. This paper reports on a study conducted in Lebanon as part of the EU Horizon-funded project ADMIGOV - Advancing Alternative Migration Governance.

Antioxidant Defense Capacity Is Reduced in Thyroid Stem/Precursor Cells Compared to Differentiated Thyrocytes.

There is much evidence linking oxidative stress to thyroid cancer, and stem cells are thought to play a key role in the tumor-initiating mechanism. Their vulnerability to oxidative stress is unexplored. This study aimed to comparatively evaluate the antioxidant capacity of stem/precursor thyroid cells and mature thyrocytes.

A holistic and sustainable approach linked to drought tolerance of Mediterranean crops.

The rapid increase in average temperatures and the progressive reduction in rainfalls caused by climate change is reducing crop yields worldwide, particularly in regions with hot and semi-arid climates such as the Mediterranean area. In natural conditions, plants respond to environmental drought stress with diverse morphological, physiological, and biochemical adaptations in an attempt to escape, avoid, or tolerate drought stress. Among these adaptations to stress, the accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA) is of pivotal importance.

Medical Applications of Molecular Biotechnologies in the Context of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is a gender autoimmune disease that is manifested by chronic inflammation of the thyroid. Clinical trial studies (CTSs) use molecular biotechnologies (MB) to approach HT appearance. The aims of this study were to analyze the applications of MB in CTSs carried out in HT populations (HT-CTSs).

Nanostructures for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of viral respiratory infections: from influenza virus to SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Viruses are a major cause of mortality and socio-economic downfall despite the plethora of biopharmaceuticals designed for their eradication. Conventional antiviral therapies are often ineffective. Live-attenuated vaccines can pose a safety risk due to the possibility of pathogen reversion, whereas inactivated viral vaccines and subunit vaccines do not generate robust and sustained immune responses.

Booster Dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine in Kidney Transplanted Patients Induces Wuhan-Hu-1 Specific Neutralizing Antibodies and T Cell Activation but Lower Response against Omicron Variant.

Kidney transplanted recipients (KTR) are at high risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection due to immunosuppressive therapy. Although several studies reported antibody production in KTR after vaccination, data related to immunity to the Omicron (B.1.

Co-Delivery of the Human NY-ESO-1 Tumor-Associated Antigen and Alpha-GalactosylCeramide by Filamentous Bacteriophages Strongly Enhances the Expansion of Tumor-Specific CD8+ T Cells.

Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) represent attractive targets in the development of anti-cancer vaccines. The filamentous bacteriophage is a safe and versatile delivery nanosystem, and recombinant bacteriophages expressing TAA-derived peptides at a high density on the viral coat proteins improve TAA immunogenicity, triggering effective in vivo anti-tumor responses. To enhance the efficacy of the bacteriophage as an anti-tumor vaccine, we designed and generated phage particles expressing a CD8+ peptide derived from the human cancer germline antigen NY-ESO-1 decorated with the immunologically active lipid alpha-GalactosylCeramide (α-GalCer), a potent activator of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells.

Pathways from Trait Emotional Intelligence to factors of distress in Rosacea: The mediating role of Social Phobia and Self-Esteem.

Background: Rosacea is a skin disease characterized by facial erythema and inflammatory pustules that may result in emotional distress. Social Phobia and Self-Esteem appear to be linked to the development of higher levels of distress in dermatological conditions, while Trait Emotional Intelligence (Trait EI) has been consistently associated with greater levels of adaptation to one's chronic condition. Hence, it seems extremely relevant to observe the interplay between these dimensions in the context of Rosacea.

Light-Guided Percutaneous Neck Rejuvenation With Division of Platysma Bands and Suture Suspension: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: Traditional invasive suture suspension techniques have proven efficacy and durability. A previously described percutaneous placement of a neck suspension suture with light guidance has transformed this into a minimally invasive technique. This novel technique provides a major advance for minimally invasive neck rejuvenation.

Proline Affects Flowering Time in Arabidopsis by Modulating FLC Expression: A Clue of Epigenetic Regulation?

The recent finding that proline-induced root elongation is mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) prompted us to re-evaluate other developmental processes modulated by proline, such as flowering time. By controlling the cellular redox status and the ROS distribution, proline could potentially affect the expression of transcriptional factors subjected to epigenetic regulation, such as (). Accordingly, we investigated the effect of proline on flowering time in more detail by analyzing the relative expression of the main flowering time genes in proline-deficient mutants and found a significant upregulation of expression.

Acetylation-Specific Interference by Anti-Histone H3K9ac Intrabody Results in Precise Modulation of Gene Expression.

Among Histone post-translational modifications (PTMs), lysine acetylation plays a pivotal role in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression, mediated by chromatin modifying enzymes. Due to their activity in physiology and pathology, several chemical compounds have been developed to inhibit the function of these proteins. However, the pleiotropy of these classes of proteins represents a weakness of epigenetic drugs.

Interplay between Proline Metabolism and ROS in the Fine Tuning of Root-Meristem Size in .

We previously reported that proline modulates root meristem size in by controlling the ratio between cell division and cell differentiation. Here, we show that proline metabolism affects the levels of superoxide anion (O) and hydrogen peroxide (HO), which, in turn, modulate root meristem size and root elongation. We found that hydrogen peroxide plays a major role in proline-mediated root elongation, and its effects largely overlap those induced by proline, influencing root meristem size, root elongation, and cell cycle.

Update on International Medical Taxonomies of Biomarkers and Their Applications in Management of Thyroid Cancers.

Biomarkers (BMs) are medical signs which can be precisely measured and reproduced. Mainly, BMs provide information on the likely disease which can occur in an individual. On the other hand, BMs also signal disease recurrence in patients receiving therapy.

Multi-omic profiling of histone variant H3.3 lysine 27 methylation reveals a distinct role from canonical H3 in stem cell differentiation.

Histone variants, such as histone H3.3, replace canonical histones within the nucleosome to alter chromatin accessibility and gene expression. Although the biological roles of selected histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) have been extensively characterized, the potential differences in the function of a given PTM on different histone variants is almost always elusive.

Mesoporous Bioactive Glasses in Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy: Stimuli-Responsive, Toxicity, Immunogenicity, and Clinical Translation.

Cancer is one of the top life-threatening dangers to the human survival, accounting for over 10 million deaths per year. Bioactive glasses have developed dramatically since their discovery 50 years ago, with applications that include therapeutics as well as diagnostics. A new system within the bioactive glass family, mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs), has evolved into a multifunctional platform, thanks to MBGs easy-to-functionalize nature and tailorable textural properties-surface area, pore size, and pore volume.

Exploiting viral sensing mediated by Toll-like receptors to design innovative vaccines.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are transmembrane proteins belonging to the family of pattern-recognition receptors. They function as sensors of invading pathogens through recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns. After their engagement by microbial ligands, TLRs trigger downstream signaling pathways that culminate into transcriptional upregulation of genes involved in immune defense.

Heavy Metals in the Environment and Thyroid Cancer.

In recent decades, the incidence of thyroid cancer has increased more than most other cancers, paralleling the generalized worldwide increase in metal pollution. This review provides an overview of the evidence supporting a possible causative link between the increase in heavy metals in the environment and thyroid cancer. The major novelty is that human thyroid stem/progenitor cells (thyrospheres) chronically exposed to different metals at slightly increased environmentally relevant concentrations show a biphasic increase in proliferation typical of hormesis.

Acute Flaccid Myelitis.

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is an incompletely understood neurologic disorder occurring in epidemic fashion causing weakness ranging from mild paresis to devastating paralysis in children and some adults. This article reviews the case definition of AFM as well as its epidemiology and association with enteroviral infection. The clinical presentation, diagnostic investigation with particular attention to electrodiagnostics, acute management, and surgical options are described.