Tracing the invisible mutant ADNP protein in Helsmoortel-Van der Aa syndrome patients.

Heterozygous de novo mutations in the Activity-Dependent Neuroprotective Homeobox (ADNP) gene underlie Helsmoortel-Van der Aa syndrome (HVDAS). Most of these mutations are situated in the last exon and we previously demonstrated escape from nonsense-mediated decay by detecting mutant ADNP mRNA in patient blood. In this study, wild-type and ADNP mutants are investigated at the protein level and therefore optimal detection of the protein is required.

Cytokine Expression in Cancer Survivors Suffering From Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review.

Background: Chronic cancer-related pain remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, although it affects 40% of cancer survivors. Recent insights suggest that cytokine signaling between immune, neuro, and glial cells contributes to chronic pain.

Objectives: This study systematically reviewed cytokine levels and their relation to chronic cancer-related pain and, additionally, investigated differences in cytokine levels between cancer survivors with and without chronic pain.

Aging and chronic inflammation: highlights from a multidisciplinary workshop.

Aging is a gradual, continuous series of natural changes in biological, physiological, immunological, environmental, psychological, behavioral, and social processes. Aging entails changes in the immune system characterized by a decrease in thymic output of naïve lymphocytes, an accumulated chronic antigenic stress notably caused by chronic infections such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), and immune cell senescence with acquisition of an inflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). For this reason, and due to the SASP originating from other tissues, aging is commonly accompanied by low-grade chronic inflammation, termed "inflammaging".

Functional Validation of the Putative Oncogenic Activity of .

Plasminogen activator, urokinase () is involved in cell migration, proliferation and tissue remodeling. upregulation is associated with an increase in aggressiveness, metastasis, and invasion of several cancer types, including breast cancer. In patients, this translates into decreased sensitivity to hormonal treatment, and poor prognosis.

Acquired non-thermal plasma resistance mediates a shift towards aerobic glycolysis and ferroptotic cell death in melanoma.

Aims: To gain insights into the underlying mechanisms of NTP therapy sensitivity and resistance, using the first-ever NTP-resistant cell line derived from sensitive melanoma cells (A375).

Methods: Melanoma cells were exposed to NTP and re-cultured for 12 consecutive weeks before evaluation against the parental control cells. Whole transcriptome sequencing analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed genes and enriched molecular pathways.

Cytoglobin inhibits non-thermal plasma-induced apoptosis in melanoma cells through regulation of the NRF2-mediated antioxidant response.

Melanoma arises from pigment-producing cells called melanocytes located in the basal layers of the epidermis of the skin. Cytoglobin (CYGB) is a ubiquitously expressed hexacoordinated globin that is highly enriched in melanocytes and frequently downregulated during melanomagenesis. Previously, we showed that non-thermal plasma (NTP)-produced reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) lead to the formation of an intramolecular disulfide bridge that would allow CYGB to function as a redox-sensitive protein.

For the Long-Term Prevention of Viral Respiratory Tract Infections During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Randomized, Open, Controlled, Exploratory Clinical Study.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is effective in preventing severe Covid-19, but efficacy in reducing viral load and transmission wanes over time. In addition, the emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants increases the threat of uncontrolled dissemination and additional antiviral therapies are urgently needed for effective containment. In previous studies demonstrated strong antiviral activity against enveloped viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.

Flavanol Consumption in Healthy Men Preserves Integrity of Immunological-Endothelial Barrier Cell Functions: Nutri(epi)genomic Analysis.

Scope: While cocoa flavanol (CF) consumption improves cardiovascular risk biomarkers, molecular mechanisms underlying their protective effects are not understood.

Objective: To investigate nutri(epi)genomic effects of CF and identify regulatory networks potential mediating vascular health benefits.

Methods And Results: Twenty healthy middle-aged men consume CF (bi-daily 450 mg) or control drinks for 1 month.

Prevalence of ABCB1 3435C>T polymorphism in the Cuban population.

Objectives: gene polymorphisms can modify P-glycoprotein function with clinical consequences.

Methods: The 3435C>T polymorphism prevalence was analyzed using oligonucleotide probes and next-generation sequencing in 421 unrelated healthy individuals living in Cuba. Data were stratified by gender, ethnic background and residence.

Awareness of, Willingness to Take PrEP and Its Actual Use Among Belgian MSM at High Risk of HIV Infection: Secondary Analysis of the Belgian European MSM Internet Survey.

We examined PrEP awareness, willingness to take it and early PrEP use among men who have sex with men (MSM) at increased risk of HIV acquisition in Belgium. This analysis of the Belgian EMIS online data of 2017-2018 adopts a cascade approach, with the following steps quantified as conditional probabilities: being eligible for, aware of, willing to take PrEP, and PrEP use. One out of three MSM was eligible to use PrEP according to the operationalized Belgian reimbursement criteria.

Immune checkpoint CD155 promoter methylation profiling reveals cancer-associated behaviors within breast neoplasia.

Background: CD155 immune checkpoint has recently emerged as a compelling immunotherapeutic target. Epigenetic DNA methylation changes are recognized as key molecular mechanisms in cancer development. Hence, the identification of methylation markers that are sensitive and specific for breast cancer may improve early detection and predict prognosis.

Covalent Cysteine Targeting of Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) Family by Withaferin-A Reduces Survival of Glucocorticoid-Resistant Multiple Myeloma MM1 Cells.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy characterized by plasma cells' uncontrolled growth. The major barrier in treating MM is the occurrence of primary and acquired therapy resistance to anticancer drugs Often, this therapy resistance is associated with constitutive hyperactivation of tyrosine kinase signaling. Novel covalent kinase inhibitors, such as the clinically approved BTK inhibitor ibrutinib (IBR) and the preclinical phytochemical withaferin A (WA), have, therefore, gained pharmaceutical interest.

Physical plasma-derived oxidants sensitize pancreatic cancer cells to ferroptotic cell death.

Despite modern therapeutic advances, the survival prospects of pancreatic cancer patients remain poor, due to chemoresistance and dysregulated oncogenic kinase signaling networks. We applied a novel kinome activity-mapping approach using biological peptide targets as phospho-sensors to identify vulnerable kinase dependencies for therapy sensitization by physical plasma. Ser/Thr-kinome specific activity changes were mapped upon induction of ferroptotic cell death in pancreatic tumor cells exposed to reactive oxygen and nitrogen species of plasma-treated water (PTW).

Process evaluation of a bio-behavioural HIV research combined with prevention among GBMSM in 13 European countries.

Comparative European data using Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS) are scarce among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. This study evaluated the implementation of Sialon II, a bio-behavioural HIV research combined with targeted HIV prevention in 13 European cities conducted in collaboration with community partners. A mixed-methods process evaluation assessed the project's coverage, outputs, quality, challenges and opportunities for improvement.

Aging of preleukemic thymocytes drives CpG island hypermethylation in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Cancer cells display DNA hypermethylation at specific CpG islands in comparison to their normal healthy counterparts, but the mechanism that drives this so-called CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) remains poorly understood. Here, we show that CpG island methylation in human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) mainly occurs at promoters of Polycomb Repressor Complex 2 (PRC2) target genes that are not expressed in normal or malignant T-cells and which display a reciprocal association with H3K27me3 binding. In addition, we revealed that this aberrant methylation profile reflects the epigenetic history of T-ALL and is established already in pre-leukemic, self-renewing thymocytes that precede T-ALL development.

Diagnosis and treatment of syphilis: 2019 Belgian National guideline for primary care.

Objectives: In the last 10 years, Belgium and countries of the European Economic Area and other high-income countries observed an increasing trend in syphilis diagnoses. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are the most affected population explained by high rates of unprotected sex, a greater number of sexual partners, and risk compensation as a result of pre-exposure prophylaxis use. The 2019 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) technical report on syphilis proposed interventions such as enhanced screening of specific populations at risk.

Diagnosis and treatment of gonorrhoea: 2019 Belgian National guideline for primary care.

Objectives: Gonorrhoea continues to be a public health concern in Belgium with pharyngeal and rectal infections increasing in persons with high-risk sexual behaviour. Belgian health care practitioners rely on international guidance when managing gonorrhoea resulting in non-adapted suboptimal care for the Belgian patient. This guideline will rectify this situation.

In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Oxidant, and Cytotoxic Activities of Four Species and the Isolation of Compounds from Rhizome.

The genus is part of the Zingiberaceae family, and many species have been used as traditional medicine and cosmetics in Thailand. To find new cosmeceutical ingredients, the in vitro anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and cytotoxic activities of four species as well as the isolation of compounds from the most active crude extract () were investigated. The crude extract of showed 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity with an IC value of 102.

Chemical Composition of Essential Oils from Different Parts of Craib and Their Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activities.

The essential oils of the fresh rhizomes; flowers; and leaves of Craib were investigated using different extraction techniques; including solid-phase microextraction (SPME), hydrodistillation (HD), and organic solvent (OS), and characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 37 SPME; 19 HD; and 36 OS compounds were identified from the rhizome extract of with the major components being α-pinene; β-pinene; and terpinen-4-ol; respectively. From the flower extract; 16 SPME; 2 HD; and 10 OS compounds were identified; ()-caryophyllene was found as a major compound by these techniques.

Being in the Closet. Correlates of Outness Among MSM in 13 European Cities.

Data for MSM continue to show a high risk of acquiring HIV-STIs. Within this population, outness seems to have an impact on both risk-taking and on health seeking behaviors. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between socio-demographic, behavioral characteristics, testing behaviors, and outness level among MSM using data from a multi-center bio-behavioral cross-sectional study carried out in 13 EU cities.

Natural Products Derived from the Mediterranean Diet with Antidiabetic Activity: from Insulin Mimetic Hypoglycemic to Nutriepigenetic Modulator Compounds.

Background: The Mediterranean diet is a healthy eating pattern that protects against the development of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a metabolic disease characterized by elevated blood sugar levels due to pancreatic beta-cell functional impairment and insulin resistance in various tissues. Inspired by the ancient communities, this diet emphasizes eating primarily plant-based foods, including vegetables, legumes, fruits, cereals, and nuts. Importantly, virgin olive oil is used as the principal source of fat.

Natural Products from Mediterranean Diet: From Anti-hyperlipidemic Agents to Dietary Epigenetic Modulators.

Background: Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) are, currently, the major contributor to global mortality and will continue to dominate mortality rates in the future. Hyperlipidemia refers to the elevated levels of lipids and cholesterol in the blood, and is also identified as dyslipidemia, manifesting in the form of different disorders of lipoprotein metabolism. These abnormalities may lead to the development of atherosclerosis, which can lead to coronary artery disease and stroke.

A systems biology network analysis of nutri(epi)genomic changes in endothelial cells exposed to epicatechin metabolites.

Although vasculo-protective effects of flavan-3-ols are widely accepted today, their impact on endothelial cell functions and molecular mechanisms of action involved is not completely understood. The aim of this study was to characterize the potential endothelium-protective effects of circulating epicatechin metabolites and to define underlying mechanisms of action by an integrated systems biology approach. Reduced leukocyte rolling over vascular endothelium was observed following epicatechin supplementation in a mouse model of inflammation.

Correction: Whole-Genome Saliva and Blood DNA Methylation Profiling in Individuals with a Respiratory Allergy.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.