6,207 research outputs found

    Gene Editing in pig models of inherited retinal diseases

    Get PDF

    Sociodemographic, nutritional and health status factors associated with adherence to Mediterranean diet in an agricultural Moroccan adult's population

    Get PDF
    Background. Numerous studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) on many chronic diseases, including chronic kidney disease (CKD). Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the adherence of a rural population to the Mediterranean diet, to identify the sociodemographic and lifestyle determinants and to analyze the association between adherence to MD and CKD. Material and Methods. In a cross-sectional study, data on sociodemographic, lifestyle factors, clinical, biochemical parameters and diet were collected on a sample of 154 subjects. Adherence to MD was assessed according to a simplified MD score based on the daily frequency of intake of eight food groups (vegetables, legumes, fruits, cereal or potatoes, fish, red meat, dairy products and MUFA/SFA), using the sex specific sample medians as cut-offs. A value of 0 or 1 was assigned to consumption of each component according to its presumed detrimental or beneficial effect on health. Results. According to the simplified MD score, the study data show that high adherence (44.2%) to MD was characterized by intakes high in vegetables, fruits, fish, cereals, olive oil, and low in meat and moderate in dairy. Furthermore, several factors such as age, marital status, education level, and hypertension status were associated with the adherence to MD in the study population. The majority of subjects with CKD have poor adherence to the MD compared to non-CKD with a statistically insignificant difference. Conclusions. In Morocco, maintaining the traditional MD pattern play crucial role for public health. More research is needed in this area to precisely measure this association

    Specificity of the innate immune responses to different classes of non-tuberculous mycobacteria

    Get PDF
    Mycobacterium avium is the most common nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) species causing infectious disease. Here, we characterized a M. avium infection model in zebrafish larvae, and compared it to M. marinum infection, a model of tuberculosis. M. avium bacteria are efficiently phagocytosed and frequently induce granuloma-like structures in zebrafish larvae. Although macrophages can respond to both mycobacterial infections, their migration speed is faster in infections caused by M. marinum. Tlr2 is conservatively involved in most aspects of the defense against both mycobacterial infections. However, Tlr2 has a function in the migration speed of macrophages and neutrophils to infection sites with M. marinum that is not observed with M. avium. Using RNAseq analysis, we found a distinct transcriptome response in cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction for M. avium and M. marinum infection. In addition, we found differences in gene expression in metabolic pathways, phagosome formation, matrix remodeling, and apoptosis in response to these mycobacterial infections. In conclusion, we characterized a new M. avium infection model in zebrafish that can be further used in studying pathological mechanisms for NTM-caused diseases

    2023-2024 academic bulletin & course catalog

    Get PDF
    University of South Carolina Aiken publishes a catalog with information about the university, student life, undergraduate and graduate academic programs, and faculty and staff listings

    2023-2024 Boise State University Undergraduate Catalog

    Get PDF
    This catalog is primarily for and directed at students. However, it serves many audiences, such as high school counselors, academic advisors, and the public. In this catalog you will find an overview of Boise State University and information on admission, registration, grades, tuition and fees, financial aid, housing, student services, and other important policies and procedures. However, most of this catalog is devoted to describing the various programs and courses offered at Boise State

    Understanding the Code of Life: Holistic Conceptual Modeling of the Genome

    Full text link
    [ES] En las últimas décadas, los avances en la tecnología de secuenciación han producido cantidades significativas de datos genómicos, hecho que ha revolucionado nuestra comprensión de la biología. Sin embargo, la cantidad de datos generados ha superado con creces nuestra capacidad para interpretarlos. Descifrar el código de la vida es un gran reto. A pesar de los numerosos avances realizados, nuestra comprensión del mismo sigue siendo mínima, y apenas estamos empezando a descubrir todo su potencial, por ejemplo, en áreas como la medicina de precisión o la farmacogenómica. El objetivo principal de esta tesis es avanzar en nuestra comprensión de la vida proponiendo una aproximación holística mediante un enfoque basado en modelos que consta de tres artefactos: i) un esquema conceptual del genoma, ii) un método para su aplicación en el mundo real, y iii) el uso de ontologías fundacionales para representar el conocimiento del dominio de una forma más precisa y explícita. Las dos primeras contribuciones se han validado mediante la implementación de sistemas de información genómicos basados en modelos conceptuales. La tercera contribución se ha validado mediante experimentos empíricos que han evaluado si el uso de ontologías fundacionales conduce a una mejor comprensión del dominio genómico. Los artefactos generados ofrecen importantes beneficios. En primer lugar, se han generado procesos de gestión de datos más eficientes, lo que ha permitido mejorar los procesos de extracción de conocimientos. En segundo lugar, se ha logrado una mejor comprensión y comunicación del dominio.[CA] En les últimes dècades, els avanços en la tecnologia de seqüenciació han produït quantitats significatives de dades genòmiques, fet que ha revolucionat la nostra comprensió de la biologia. No obstant això, la quantitat de dades generades ha superat amb escreix la nostra capacitat per a interpretar-los. Desxifrar el codi de la vida és un gran repte. Malgrat els nombrosos avanços realitzats, la nostra comprensió del mateix continua sent mínima, i a penes estem començant a descobrir tot el seu potencial, per exemple, en àrees com la medicina de precisió o la farmacogenómica. L'objectiu principal d'aquesta tesi és avançar en la nostra comprensió de la vida proposant una aproximació holística mitjançant un enfocament basat en models que consta de tres artefactes: i) un esquema conceptual del genoma, ii) un mètode per a la seua aplicació en el món real, i iii) l'ús d'ontologies fundacionals per a representar el coneixement del domini d'una forma més precisa i explícita. Les dues primeres contribucions s'han validat mitjançant la implementació de sistemes d'informació genòmics basats en models conceptuals. La tercera contribució s'ha validat mitjançant experiments empírics que han avaluat si l'ús d'ontologies fundacionals condueix a una millor comprensió del domini genòmic. Els artefactes generats ofereixen importants beneficis. En primer lloc, s'han generat processos de gestió de dades més eficients, la qual cosa ha permés millorar els processos d'extracció de coneixements. En segon lloc, s'ha aconseguit una millor comprensió i comunicació del domini.[EN] Over the last few decades, advances in sequencing technology have produced significant amounts of genomic data, which has revolutionised our understanding of biology. However, the amount of data generated has far exceeded our ability to interpret it. Deciphering the code of life is a grand challenge. Despite our progress, our understanding of it remains minimal, and we are just beginning to uncover its full potential, for instance, in areas such as precision medicine or pharmacogenomics. The main objective of this thesis is to advance our understanding of life by proposing a holistic approach, using a model-based approach, consisting of three artifacts: i) a conceptual schema of the genome, ii) a method for its application in the real-world, and iii) the use of foundational ontologies to represent domain knowledge in a more unambiguous and explicit way. The first two contributions have been validated by implementing genome information systems based on conceptual models. The third contribution has been validated by empirical experiments assessing whether using foundational ontologies leads to a better understanding of the genomic domain. The artifacts generated offer significant benefits. First, more efficient data management processes were produced, leading to better knowledge extraction processes. Second, a better understanding and communication of the domain was achieved.Las fructíferas discusiones y los resultados derivados de los proyectos INNEST2021 /57, MICIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, PID2021-123824OB-I00, CIPROM/2021/023 y PDC2021- 121243-I00 han contribuido en gran medida a la calidad final de este tesis.García Simón, A. (2022). Understanding the Code of Life: Holistic Conceptual Modeling of the Genome [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/19143

    In Vitro Diagnostic Test Procurement During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learnt and Recommendations

    Get PDF
    This White Paper examines the procurement of in vitro diagnostics (“IVDs”), specifically, commonly used test kits during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research has been commissioned by the British In Vitro Diagnostic Association (“BIVDA”). The White Paper examines key areas which include how test kits were procured, technical validation for use and regulatory approval for placement on the market. It identifies what lessons can be learnt from this experience and makes a number of recommendations to improve future emergency preparedness and diagnostics procurement generally, supported by a sustainable diagnostics industry

    Law, bioethics and society: Jewish and Islamic approaches to fertility treatments and human germline genome editing

    Get PDF
    In 2018, the Chinese biophysicist He Jiankui announced the birth of the first genetically modified babies; this broke an international moratorium. When the Russian biologist Denis Rebriko reported similar intentions, ethicists and legislators began working with an increased sense of urgency towards a global framework to define the limits of Human Germline Genome Editing (HGGE). This is because HGGE poses concerns for the safety of future generations, and reproductive tourism has the potential to undermine the legislation of any one country. Whilst secular international bioethics councils aim to find global consensus on this matter, religious jurists and bioethicists, though influential in their own communities, are not necessarily part of the same international debate. The thesis proposes that the influence of religious law is considerable on societies, legislation and on fertility practices, especially in Israel and the Muslim Middle East, so the inclusion of religious legal viewpoints is an important aspect of any global consensus on bioethical issues. In Judaism and Islam the field of bioethics is a subcategory of contemporary religious law. As the legal narratives of Jewish law (Halakha) and Islamic law (Shari’a) are complex, the legal reasoning and influence of religious jurists has to be understood within their religious paradigm if they are to be successful integrated in the international debate. The thesis investigates the process by which contemporary Orthodox Jewish and Muslim jurists engage with the bioethical questions of reproductive medicine in general in order to understand their specific response to the potential permissibility of HGGE. It enquires how the religious legal systems have already adapted to reproductive technologies and how the legislation of fertility treatments in Israel and the Muslim Middle East incorporates the values and legal guidelines of Halakha (Jewish law) and Shari’a (Muslim law). The thesis is divided into three parts. Parts I and II introduce the mechanisms by which Halakha and Shari’a respectively engage with new legal cases as a result of medical and scientific advancements and then explore the sociological context of applied Jewish and Muslim bioethics in the Middle East. Part III charts the development of the key legal debates concerning fertility treatments from the late twentieth century onwards in Orthodox Judaism and in Islam. It focuses on three reproductive technologies: 1.) Artificial Insemination with Donor sperm (AID) 2.) In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and 3.) Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). It finds that the legal opinions of prominent jurists in the late 20th century set precedents for all subsequent debates in both religious legal traditions including the current debate about the permissibility of HGGE. This evolving engagement of scientists and religious jurists demonstrates how Halakha and Shari’a both have normative legal principles that are rooted in the Torah, the Qur’an and in the wider scriptural tradition in both faiths. Legitimate conception and lineage retain their central importance in all debates about fertility treatments. However, the legal traditions have adapted significantly in the face of emerging reproductive medicine and the wider societal and ethical implications for the rights of the parent and the child. Finally, this research studies the rapid acceptance of genetic screening programs in Israel and the Middle East and highlights the different approaches to the genetic improvement of societies. It finds a religious narrative which endorses the deselection of pre-embryos as an ethical alternative to abortion and explores how this may impact future debates about the permissibility of HGGE. Given this context it becomes apparent how Jewish and Muslim jurists debate the fundamental questions about the creation of human life and why their divergent legal judgements, which are generated for the moral good of their respective societies, matter in the global debate

    Development of a porcine lactation model for the evaluation of mammary transfer of exogenous molecules - A contribution from the conception project

    Get PDF
    Around 5 million women give birth each year in Europe and, while breastfeeding, the majority of them may need to take medications, either occasionally or continuously. Unfortunately, there is often scarce evidence of trustworthy information about how a specific molecule might affect the physiology of lactation. This is the reason that brought a European public-private partnership to fund the development of a reliable platform to provide women and health-care professionals a helpful instrument to reduce uncertainty about the effects of medication used during breastfeeding. On April 1st 2019, the ConcePTION project (Grant Agreement n°821520) started to develop such envisaged platform. The 3rd Work Package was in charge of the validation of in vitro, in vivo and in silico lactation models. Between the numerous species currently used in preclinical studies, pigs’ similarities with humans’ anatomy, physiology and genomics make them extremely useful as translational models, when proper veterinary expertise is applied. The ASA team from the University of Bologna, went first to characterize the translational lactation model using the swine species, chosen upon literature review. The aim of this work was to lay the foundations of a porcine lactation model that could be suitable for application within pharmaceutical tests, to study drug transfer through milk prior approval and commercialization. The obtained results highlighted both strengths and critical points of the study design, allowing a significant improvement in the knowledge of pharmacokinetic physiology in lactating mammals. Lastly, this project allowed the assessment of microbial changes in gut resident bacteria of newborns through an innovative in vitro colonic model. Indeed, even if there were no evident adverse effects determined by drug residues in milk, possible alterations in the delicate microbial ecology of newborns’ gastrointestinal tract was considered pivotal, giving its possible impact on the individual health and growth
    corecore