Draft genome sequence of two "Candidatus Intestinicoccus colisanans" strains isolated from faeces of healthy humans.

Objectives: In order to provide a better insight into the functional capacity of the human gut microbiome, we isolated a novel bacterium, "Candidatus Intestinicoccus colisanans" gen. nov. sp.

Generating Mitochondrial-Nuclear Exchange (MNX) Mice to Identify Mitochondrial Determinants of Cancer Metastasis.

Understanding the contributions of mitochondrial genetics to disease pathogenesis is facilitated by a new and unique model-the mitochondrial-nuclear exchange mouse. Here we report the rationale for their development, the methods used to create them, and a brief summary of how MNX mice have been used to understand the contributions of mitochondrial DNA in multiple diseases, focusing on cancer metastasis. Polymorphisms in mtDNA which distinguish mouse strains exert intrinsic and extrinsic effects on metastasis efficiency by altering epigenetic marks in the nuclear genome, changing production of reactive oxygen species, altering the microbiota, and influencing immune responses to cancer cells.

Use of aircraft in ocean alkalinity enhancement.

Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) is a proposed Negative Emissions Technology (NET) to remove atmospheric CO through the dispersion of alkaline materials (e.g.: calcium hydroxide, slaked lime, SL) into seawater, simultaneously counteracting ocean acidification.

Functional characterization of NPM1-TYK2 fusion oncogene.

Gene fusions are known to drive many human cancers. Therefore, the functional characterization of newly discovered fusions is critical to understanding the oncobiology of these tumors and to enable therapeutic development. NPM1-TYK2 is a novel fusion identified in CD30 + lymphoproliferative disorders, and here we present the functional evaluation of this fusion gene as an oncogene.

Precision therapy with anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitor ceritinib in ALK-rearranged anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

Background: More than 80% of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) patients harbor the (nucleophosmin) NPM1-ALK fusion gene t(2;5) chromosomal translocation. We evaluated the preclinical and clinical efficacy of ceritinib treatment of this aggressive lymphoma.

Materials And Methods: We studied the effects of ceritinib treatment in NPM1-ALK+ T-cell lymphoma cell lines in vitro and on tumor size and survival advantage in vivo utilizing tumor xenografts.

Suppression of pancreatic cancer liver metastasis by secretion-deficient ITIH5.

Background: Previously, we identified ITIH5 as a suppressor of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) metastasis in experimental models. Expression of ITIH5 correlated with decreased cell motility, invasion and metastasis without significant inhibition of primary tumour growth. Here, we tested whether secretion of ITIH5 is required to suppress liver metastasis and sought to understand the role of ITIH5 in human PDAC.

Mitochondrial genetics cooperate with nuclear genetics to selectively alter immune cell development/trafficking.

The nuclear genome drives differences in immune cell populations and differentiation potentials, in part regulated by changes in metabolism. Despite this connection, the role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphisms (SNP) in this process has not been examined. Using mitochondrial nuclear exchange (MNX) mice, we and others have shown that mtDNA strongly influences varying aspects of cell biology and disease.

Mitochondrial Haplotype of the Host Stromal Microenvironment Alters Metastasis in a Non-cell Autonomous Manner.

Mitochondria contribute to tumor growth through multiple metabolic pathways, regulation of extracellular pH, calcium signaling, and apoptosis. Using the Mitochondrial Nuclear Exchange (MNX) mouse models, which pair nuclear genomes with different mitochondrial genomes, we previously showed that mitochondrial SNPs regulate mammary carcinoma tumorigenicity and metastatic potential in genetic crosses. Here, we tested the hypothesis that polymorphisms in stroma significantly affect tumorigenicity and experimental lung metastasis.

Mitochondrial polymorphisms contribute to aging phenotypes in MNX mouse models.

Many inbred strains of mice develop spontaneous tumors as they age. Recent awareness of the impacts of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) on cancer and aging has inspired developing a mitochondrial-nuclear exchange (MNX) mouse model in which nuclear DNA is paired with mitochondrial genomes from other strains of mouse. MNX mice exhibit mtDNA influences on tumorigenicity and metastasis upon mating with transgenic mice.

Roles of the mitochondrial genetics in cancer metastasis: not to be ignored any longer.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes for only a fraction of the proteins that are encoded within the nucleus, and therefore has typically been regarded as a lesser player in cancer biology and metastasis. Accumulating evidence, however, supports an increased role for mtDNA impacting tumor progression and metastatic susceptibility. Unfortunately, due to this delay, there is a dearth of data defining the relative contributions of specific mtDNA polymorphisms (SNP), which leads to an inability to effectively use these polymorphisms to guide and enhance therapeutic strategies and diagnosis.

Mandibular advancement for adult obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Patients with mandibular insufficiency can be predisposed to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The objective of this study was to systematically review the international literature for mandibular advancement surgeries (MAS) as treatment for adult OSA, and then to perform a meta-analysis.

Methods: Four authors searched five databases from the inception of each database through April 5, 2017.

Mitochondrial Haplotype Alters Mammary Cancer Tumorigenicity and Metastasis in an Oncogenic Driver-Dependent Manner.

Using a novel mouse model, a mitochondrial-nuclear exchange model termed MNX, we tested the hypothesis that inherited mitochondrial haplotypes alter primary tumor latency and metastatic efficiency. Male FVB/N-Tg(MMTVneu)202Mul/J (Her2) transgenic mice were bred to female MNX mice having FVB/NJ nuclear DNA with either FVB/NJ, C57BL/6J, or BALB/cJ mtDNA. Pups receiving the C57BL/6J or BALB/cJ mitochondrial genome (i.

Development of a recombinant yellow fever vector expressing a HIV clade C founder envelope gp120.

Development of a HIV-1 vaccine is a major global priority. The yellow fever virus (YFV) attenuated vaccine 17D is among the most effective of currently used vaccines. However, the stability of the YFV17D vector when carrying non-flavivirus genes has been problematic.

Mitochondrial Genomic Backgrounds Affect Nuclear DNA Methylation and Gene Expression.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations and polymorphisms contribute to many complex diseases, including cancer. Using a unique mouse model that contains nDNA from one mouse strain and homoplasmic mitochondrial haplotypes from different mouse strain(s)-designated Mitochondrial Nuclear Exchange (MNX)-we showed that mtDNA could alter mammary tumor metastasis. Because retrograde and anterograde communication exists between the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, we hypothesized that there are differential mtDNA-driven changes in nuclear (n)DNA expression and DNA methylation.

Anatomy of a decision III: Evaluation of national disposal at sea program action level efficacy considering 2 chemical action levels.

The potential performance (i.e., ability to separate nontoxic from toxic sediments) of a range of international Disposal at Sea (DaS) chemical Action Levels (ALs) was compared using a sediment chemical and toxicological database.

Microenvironmental Influences on Metastasis Suppressor Expression and Function during a Metastatic Cell's Journey.

Metastasis is the process of primary tumor cells breaking away and colonizing distant secondary sites. In order for a tumor cell growing in one microenvironment to travel to, and flourish in, a secondary environment, it must survive a series of events termed the metastatic cascade. Before departing the primary tumor, cells acquire genetic and epigenetic changes that endow them with properties not usually associated with related normal differentiated cells.

Biopsychosocial incapacity assessments: a survey of occupational physicians' opinions.

Background: Assessing incapacity (lack of fitness for work) is a core activity for occupational physicians (OPs). However, it is increasingly thought that biomedical approaches to this assessment are not ideal and there is a need to move to a biopsychosocial paradigm.

Aims: To seek the opinion of practising OPs about long-term fitness to work and assess the degree of consensus within the group surveyed.

Can the benefits of physical seabed restoration justify the costs? An assessment of a disused aggregate extraction site off the Thames Estuary, UK.

Physical and biological seabed impacts can persist long after the cessation of marine aggregate dredging. Whilst small-scale experimental studies have shown that it may be possible to mitigate such impacts, it is unclear whether the costs of restoration are justified on an industrial scale. Here we explore this question using a case study off the Thames Estuary, UK.

Macrophages promote polycystic kidney disease progression.

Renal M2-like macrophages have critical roles in tissue repair, stimulating tubule cell proliferation and, if they remain, fibrosis. M2-like macrophages have also been implicated in promoting cyst expansion in mouse models of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). While renal macrophages have been documented in human ADPKD, there are no studies in autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD).