Epigenetics: What it is about?

Epigenetics has captured the attention of scientists in the past decades, yet its scope has been continuously changing. In this paper, we give an overview on how and why its definition has evolved and suggest several clarification on the concepts used in this field, in particular, on the notions of epigenetic information, epigenetic stability and epigenetic templating. Another issue that we address is the role of epigenetic information. Not only it is important in allowing alternative interpretations of genetic information, but it appears to be important in protecting the genetic information, moreover, we suggest that this function appeared first in evolution and only later on the epigenetic mechanisms were recruited to play a role in cell differentiation.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

It is important that we speak

It is not easy to come to voice. It is not easy to speak your piece. But it is our mission to encourage each member of Roger Williams University community to reach enlightenment, to use the visual metaphor, or to come to voice, to use the aural

“Environmental Racism! That’s What It Is.”

In this essay, Professor Lazarus discusses former NAACP director the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Chavis\u27s characterization of U.S. environmental policy as environmental racism. He first justifies this provocative topic choice and then suggests that Chavis\u27s allegation has transformed environmental law. Professor Lazarus next discusses the details of this transformation, arguing that Rev. Chavis has essentially reshaped the way environmental law and justice are conceived. He offers examples of various environmental programs and social and political effects traceable to Chavis\u27s environmental racism comment. Finally, the conclusion provides some of the author\u27s ruminations about the future of environmental law and policy

Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia: It Is Not Always As It Is Expected

Observation of Coincident arrhythmias is not uncommon but the co-existence of idiopathic verapamil sensitive left ventricular tachycardia (ILVT) with other arrhythmias is very rare. We hereby presented a 30 year old male patient with a history of frequent episodes of palpitations and sustained narrow complex tachycardia. During electrophysiologic study two arrhythmias, one with narrow complexes which was shown to be typical atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia and the other with wide QRS complexes and right bundle branch block and left axis morphology, compatible with ILVT, were inducible. Radiofrequency catheter ablation of both arrhythmias was done at two consecutive sessions. The patient has remained asymptomatic without antiarrhythmic therapy for the past six months