Transgenic αβ TCR tonic signaling is leukemogenic while strong stimulation is leukemia-suppressive.

The pre-T cell receptor (TCR) and TCR complexes are frequently expressed in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), an aggressive T cell precursor malignancy. Although mutations in TCR components are infrequent in T-ALL, earlier research indicated that transgenic αβ TCR expression in mouse T cell precursors promoted T-ALL development. However, we recently found that stimulation of TCR signaling in T-ALL induced leukemic cell apoptosis and suppressed leukemia.

Amyloid-Negative, Neurodegeneration-Negative Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Background: The concept of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) was developed to identify patients at an initial stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, some patients with aMCI do not present biomarkers of amyloid pathology or neuronal injury.

Objective: To know the natural history of amyloid-negative and neurodegeneration-negative patients with aMCI, namely to ascertain: 1) whether these patients remain cognitively stable or they present a slow decline in neuropsychological tests; 2) whether the memory complaints subside with the apparently benign clinical course of the disorder or if they persist along the time.

Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (H NMR) Metabolomics Study in Serum, Urine, and Cystic Fluid for Differentiating Fertility and Staging of Intra-abdominal Hydatid Cyst in Adults.

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic zoonosis caused by the tapeworm Over the past few years, a lot of research has been done on liver illnesses using metabolomics techniques to identify biomarkers which could identify the diseases in its early stages. The present study was done to explore biomarkers in serum, urine, and cystic fluid which would help in differentiating, staging, and assessing fertility of intra-abdominal hydatid cyst by using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H NMR) metabolomics.

Materials And Methods: In the study, 28 subjects (16 cases and 12 controls) were enrolled.

Mob4 is essential for spermatogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster.

Gamete formation is essential for sexual reproduction in metazoans. Meiosis in males gives rise to spermatids that must differentiate and individualize into mature sperm. In Drosophila melanogaster, individualization of interconnected spermatids requires the formation of individualization complexes that synchronously move along the sperm bundles.

Integration of Stemness Gene Signatures Reveals Core Functional Modules of Stem Cells and Potential Novel Stemness Genes.

Stem cells encompass a variety of different cell types which converge on the dual capacity to self-renew and differentiate into one or more lineages. These characteristic features are key for the involvement of stem cells in crucial biological processes such as development and ageing. To decipher their underlying genetic substrate, it is important to identify so-called stemness genes that are common to different stem cell types and are consistently identified across different studies.

Androgens and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol interplay in modulating prostate cancer cell fate and metabolism.

Background: Androgens, the known drivers of prostate cancer (PCa), have been indicated as important metabolic regulators with a relevant role in stimulating lipid metabolism. Also, the relationship between obesity and the aggressiveness of PCa has been established. However, it is unknown if the androgenic hormonal environment may alter the response of PCa cells to lipid availability.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Extracts From Sea Cucumbers and Tunicates Induce a Pro-osteogenic Effect in Zebrafish Larvae.

Bone metabolic disorders such as osteoporosis are characterized by the loss of mineral from the bone tissue leading to its structural weakening and increased susceptibility to fractures. A growing body of evidence suggests that inflammation and oxidative stress play an important role in the pathophysiological processes involved in the rise of these conditions. As the currently available therapeutic strategies are often characterized by toxic effects associated with their long-term use, natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds such as polyphenols promise to be a valuable alternative for the prevention and treatment of these disorders.

Coronal brain atlas in stereotaxic coordinates of the African spiny mouse, Acomys cahirinus.

The African spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) is an emerging model of mammalian epimorphic regeneration that has aroused the interest of the scientific community in the last decade. To date, studies on brain repair have been hindered by the lack of knowledge on the neuroanatomy of this species. Here, we present a coronal brain atlas in stereotaxic coordinates, which allows for three-dimensional identification and localization of the brain structures of this species.

The Outcome of Patients with Amyloid-Negative Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Background: Patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) are usually at an initial stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, some patients with aMCI do not present biomarkers of amyloid pathology characteristic of AD. The significance of amyloid-negative aMCI is not presently clear.

The Influence of Parental Perfectionism and Parenting Styles on Child Perfectionism.

Perfectionism is a significant transdiagnostic process related to the development and maintenance of several psychological disorders. The main models of the development of perfectionism focus on early childhood experiences and postulate that parental relation is an important factor for understanding this construct in children. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between child and parental perfectionism, seeking to evaluate the empirical support of the Social Learning Model and the Social Expectations Model and children's perception of parenting styles.

Screening Health-Promoting Compounds for Their Capacity to Induce the Activity of FOXO3.

Several chemical compounds including natural products have been suggested as being effective against age-related diseases or as beneficial for a healthy life. On the other hand, forkhead box O (FOXO) proteins are emerging as key cellular components associated with extreme human longevity. FOXO proteins are mainly regulated by posttranslational modifications and as these modifications are reversible, activation and inactivation of FOXO are attainable through pharmacological treatment.

Tribbles Pseudokinases in Colorectal Cancer.

The Tribbles family of pseudokinases controls a wide number of processes during cancer on-set and progression. However, the exact contribution of each of the three family members is still to be defined. Their function appears to be context-dependent as they can act as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes.

Stress granules, RNA-binding proteins and polyglutamine diseases: too much aggregation?

Stress granules (SGs) are membraneless cell compartments formed in response to different stress stimuli, wherein translation factors, mRNAs, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and other proteins coalesce together. SGs assembly is crucial for cell survival, since SGs are implicated in the regulation of translation, mRNA storage and stabilization and cell signalling, during stress. One defining feature of SGs is their dynamism, as they are quickly assembled upon stress and then rapidly dispersed after the stress source is no longer present.

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 promotes T cell lymphoma development and dissemination.

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) is a membrane-bound glycoprotein expressed in lymphoid and myeloid cells. It is a ligand of P-, E- and L-selectin and is involved in T cell trafficking and homing to lymphoid tissues, among other functions. PSGL-1 expression has been implicated in different lymphoid malignancies, so here we aimed to evaluate the involvement of PSGL-1 in T cell lymphomagenesis and dissemination.

Engineering of konjac glucomannan into respirable microparticles for delivery of antitubercular drugs.

Few medically-approved excipients are available for formulation strategies to endow microcarriers with improved performance in lung drug targeting. Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a novel, biocompatible material, comprising mannose units potentially inducing macrophage uptake for the treatment of macrophage-mediated diseases. This work investigated spray-dried KGM microparticles as inhalable carriers of model antitubercular drugs, isoniazid (INH) and rifabutin (RFB).

Functional analysis of two novel TBX5 variants present in individuals with Holt-Oram syndrome with different clinical manifestations.

Holt-Oram syndrome (HOS) is a rare disorder characterized by cardiac and upper-limb defects. Pathogenic variants in TBX5-a gene encoding a transcription factor important for heart and skeletal development-are the only known cause of HOS. Here, we present the identification and functional analysis of two novel TBX5 pathogenic variants found in two individuals with HOS presenting distinct phenotypes.

The History of Lentil ( subsp. ) Domestication and Spread as Revealed by Genotyping-by-Sequencing of Wild and Landrace Accessions.

Protein-rich legumes accompanied carbohydrate-rich cereals since the beginning of agriculture and yet their domestication history is not as well understood. Lentil ( Medik. subsp.

One-minute and green synthesis of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles assisted by design of experiments and high energy ultrasound: Application to biosensing and immunoprecipitation.

The present study is focused on the ultrafast and green synthesis, via the co-precipitation method, of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) based on iron oxides using design of experiments (DOE) and high energy sonochemical approach, considering two main factors: amplitude (energy) of the ultrasound probe and sonication time. The combination of these techniques allowed the development of a novel one-minute green synthesis, which drastically reduced the amount of consumed energy, solvents, reagents, time and produced residues. This green sonochemical synthesis permitted to obtain mean particle sizes of 11 ± 2 nm under the optimized conditions of amplitude = 40% (2826 J) and time = 1 min.

Memory awareness in patients with Major Depressive Disorder.

Background: Subjective Memory Complaints (SMC) along with cognitive deficits are frequently observed in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The relationship between SMC and objective memory performance in patients with MDD was evaluated, in comparison with patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer's Disease (MCI-AD) and healthy controls (HC).

Methods: Patients with MDD (n = 47), MCI-AD (n = 43) and HC (n = 45) were assessed with a self-report memory complaints scale (SMCS) and underwent a comprehensive clinical and neuropsychological assessment.

The Role of Hypoxia in Glioblastoma Radiotherapy Resistance.

Glioblastoma (GB) (grade IV astrocytoma) is the most malignant type of primary brain tumor with a 16 months median survival time following diagnosis. Despite increasing attention regarding the development of targeted therapies for GB that resulted in around 450 clinical trials currently undergoing, radiotherapy still remains the most clinically effective treatment for these patients. Nevertheless, radiotherapy resistance (radioresistance) is commonly observed in GB patients leading to tumor recurrence and eventually patient death.

Glutaminolysis is a metabolic route essential for survival and growth of prostate cancer cells and a target of 5α-dihydrotestosterone regulation.

Purpose: Resistance to androgen-deprivation therapies and progression to so-called castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) remain challenges in prostate cancer (PCa) management and treatment. Among other alterations, CRPC has been associated with metabolic reprogramming driven by androgens. Here, we investigated the role of androgens in regulating glutaminolysis in PCa cells and determined the relevance of this metabolic route in controlling the survival and growth of androgen-sensitive (LNCaP) and CRPC (DU145 and PC3) cells.

Combining Gamma With Alpha and Beta Power Modulation for Enhanced Cortical Mapping in Patients With Focal Epilepsy.

About one third of patients with epilepsy have seizures refractory to the medical treatment. Electrical stimulation mapping (ESM) is the gold standard for the identification of "eloquent" areas prior to resection of epileptogenic tissue. However, it is time-consuming and may cause undesired side effects.

Harmine and Piperlongumine Revert TRIB2-Mediated Drug Resistance.

Therapy resistance is responsible for most relapses in patients with cancer and is the major challenge to improving the clinical outcome. The pseudokinase Tribbles homologue 2 (TRIB2) has been characterized as an important driver of resistance to several anti-cancer drugs, including the dual ATP-competitive PI3K and mTOR inhibitor dactolisib (BEZ235). TRIB2 promotes AKT activity, leading to the inactivation of FOXO transcription factors, which are known to mediate the cell response to antitumor drugs.