CRISPR/dCas9 DNA methylation editing is heritable during human hematopoiesis and shapes immune progeny.

Aging is associated with an abnormal increase in DNA methylation (DNAm) in human gene promoters, including in bone marrow stem cells. DNAm patterns are further perturbed in hematological malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemia but the physiological significance of such epigenetic changes is unknown. Using epigenetic editing of human stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), we show that p15 methylation affects hematopoiesis in vivo.

A pilot trial of microplasmin in patients with long-term venous access catheter thrombosis.

Background: Microplasmin, a truncated form of plasmin, degrades fibrin and reacts with the circulating inhibitor alpha(2)-antiplasmin. We investigated the safety and efficacy of intra-catheter microplasmin bolus administration for the restoration of catheter function in long-term venous access catheter thrombosis.

Methods: This open-label, ascending-dose, pilot study enrolled 31 subjects.

Protocol for assessing brain function in fish and the effectiveness of methods used to stun and kill them.

A method for the evaluation of brain function in fish has been developed which is based on assessments of self-initiated behaviours, responses to stimulation, and reflexes. These assessments were validated in several freshwater and marine species and applied to evaluate the brain function of fish while they were anaesthetised and while they were being killed by a variety of methods. The results of these investigations were compared with published neurophysiological observations and it is concluded that some of the tests can be used to identify, with reasonable confidence, the state of awareness, and thus the capacity to experience suffering of several species of fish.