T regulatory lymphocytes and endothelial function in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea.

BackgroundObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a low-grade inflammatory disease affecting the cardiovascular and metabolic systems. Increasing OSA severity reduces T-regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs) in OSA children. Since Tregs modulate endothelial activation, and attenuate insulin resistance, we hypothesized that Tregs are associated with endothelial and metabolic dysfunction in pediatric OSA.Methods50 consecutively recruited children (ages 4.8-12 years) underwent overnight polysomnography and fasting homeostatic model (HOMA) of insulin resistance was assessed. Percentage of Tregs using flow cytometry, and endothelial function, expressed as the time to peak occlusive hyperemia (Tmax), were examined. In a subgroup of children (n = 21), in vitro Treg suppression tests were performed.ResultsCirculating Tregs were not significantly associated with either BMI z score or HOMA. However, a significant inverse correlation between percentage of Tregs and Tmax emerged (p<0.0001, r = -0.56). A significant negative correlation between Tregs suppression and the sleep pressure score (SPS), a surrogate measure of sleep fragmentation emerged (p = 0.02, r = -0.51) emerged, but was not present with AHI.ConclusionsEndothelial function, but not insulin resistance, in OSA children is strongly associated with circulating Tregs and their suppressive function, and appears to correlate with sleep fragmentation. Thus, alterations in T cell lymphocytes may contribute to cardiovascular morbidity in pediatric OSA

Role of eEF2K in DNA damage response

Many of the DNA damage inducing chemotherapeutic drugs preferentially kill cancer cells but they also have a negative impact on normal cells in the body. Having a better understanding of how tumors respond to the DNA damage caused by chemotherapeutic agents can improve the chemotherapy regimen and reduce the harm done on the patient. Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) is a regulator of mRNA translation which is over-expressed in medulloblastoma, gliomas, and some breast cancer patients with poor prognosis. Under stress conditions, such as nutrient deprivation or DNA damage, eEF2K inhibits mRNA translation elongation by phosphorylating and inhibiting the activity of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2). It was reported that eEF2K increases cellular sensitivity to inducers of DNA damage, including hydrogen peroxide and doxorubicin. The goal of this thesis work was to define the mechanistic role of eEF2K in DNA damage response (DDR) and its role in sensitizing cells to genotoxic agents. To this aim, we used cisplatin to study the DDR in the presence and absence of eEF2K expression. We found that eEF2K enhances the overall DDR in response to cisplatin treatment and the sensitivity phenotype depends on the level of cisplatin that the cells are exposed to. When cells are treated with high levels of cisplatin, eEF2K enhances the activity of the ATM and ATR DDR pathways that lead to higher apoptosis through p53 activity. However, when treated with low levels of cisplatin, eEF2K enhances the DNA repair pathways and prevents cell death. In summary, our findings show that eEF2K boosts the DNA damage response to help repair the damaged DNA, or helps to kill the cell if the damage cannot be repaired. Overall, these results reinforce the role of eEF2K as a stress response protein.Medicine, Faculty ofPathology and Laboratory Medicine, Department ofGraduat

Symphyllia radians Milne-Edwards & Haime 1849

Symphyllia radians Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1849 (Fig. 37) Material: ZUTC Cnid. 1030, colony fragment, Larak Island, 26 ° 53 ' 0.7 " N, 56 ° 20 ' 51.3 " E, Coll. J. Vajed Samiei, November 2010. Identification guide: Veron (2000) Notes for local identification: Septal teeth less exserted than in S. recta which make the valleys more visible in living colonies. Valleys are also wider and less sinuous. Abundance: Uncommon. Depth of occurrence: About 3 m.Published as part of Samiei, Jahangir Vajed, Dab, Koosha, Ghezellou, Parviz & Shirvani, Arash, 2013, Some scleractinian corals (Scleractinia: Anthozoa) of Larak Island, Persian Gulf, pp. 101-143 in Zootaxa 3636 (1) on pages 138-139, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3636.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/24943

Goniopora

Genus Goniopora de Bainville 1830Published as part of Samiei, Jahangir Vajed, Dab, Koosha, Ghezellou, Parviz & Shirvani, Arash, 2013, Some scleractinian corals (Scleractinia: Anthozoa) of Larak Island, Persian Gulf, pp. 101-143 in Zootaxa 3636 (1) on page 118, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3636.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/24943

FIGURE 4 in Some scleractinian corals (Scleractinia: Anthozoa) of Larak Island, Persian Gulf

FIGURE 4. Montipora cf. aequituberculata, a, exoskeleton; b & d, close ups of corallites; c & e, underwater photographs of different colonies; f, underwater photograph of polyps.Published as part of Samiei, Jahangir Vajed, Dab, Koosha, Ghezellou, Parviz & Shirvani, Arash, 2013, Some scleractinian corals (Scleractinia: Anthozoa) of Larak Island, Persian Gulf, pp. 101-143 in Zootaxa 3636 (1) on page 105, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3636.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/24943

Echinopora Lamarck 1816

Genus Echinopora Lamarck, 1816Published as part of Samiei, Jahangir Vajed, Dab, Koosha, Ghezellou, Parviz & Shirvani, Arash, 2013, Some scleractinian corals (Scleractinia: Anthozoa) of Larak Island, Persian Gulf, pp. 101-143 in Zootaxa 3636 (1) on page 123, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3636.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/24943

Plesiastrea versipora Lamark 1816

Plesiastrea versipora (Lamark, 1816) (Fig. 34) Material: ZUTC Cnid. 1029, colony fragment, Larak Island, 26 ° 53 ' 0.7 " N, 56 ° 20 ' 51.3 " E, Coll. J. Vajed Samiei, November 2010. Identification guide: Veron (2000) Notes for local identification: Colonies are massive to sub-massive, light brown or green. Polyps are often extended during the day. Abundance: uncommon. Depth of occurrence: About 3 m.Published as part of Samiei, Jahangir Vajed, Dab, Koosha, Ghezellou, Parviz & Shirvani, Arash, 2013, Some scleractinian corals (Scleractinia: Anthozoa) of Larak Island, Persian Gulf, pp. 101-143 in Zootaxa 3636 (1) on page 135, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3636.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/24943

Porites Link 1807

Genus Porites Link, 1807Published as part of Samiei, Jahangir Vajed, Dab, Koosha, Ghezellou, Parviz & Shirvani, Arash, 2013, Some scleractinian corals (Scleractinia: Anthozoa) of Larak Island, Persian Gulf, pp. 101-143 in Zootaxa 3636 (1) on page 114, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3636.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/24943

Montipora

Genus Montipora de Blainville, 1830Published as part of Samiei, Jahangir Vajed, Dab, Koosha, Ghezellou, Parviz & Shirvani, Arash, 2013, Some scleractinian corals (Scleractinia: Anthozoa) of Larak Island, Persian Gulf, pp. 101-143 in Zootaxa 3636 (1) on page 105, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3636.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/24943

Acropora arabensis Hodgson & Carpenter 1995

Acropora arabensis Hodgson & Carpenter, 1995 (Fig. 3) Material: ZUTC Cnid. 1002, colony fragment, Larak Island, 26 ° 53 ' 0.7 " N, 56 ° 20 ' 51.3 " E, Coll. J. Vajed Samiei, November 2010. Identification guide: Wallace (1999) Notes for local identification: Colonies are arborescent (tree like). Abundance: Common. Depth of occurrence: About 3 to 9 m.Published as part of Samiei, Jahangir Vajed, Dab, Koosha, Ghezellou, Parviz & Shirvani, Arash, 2013, Some scleractinian corals (Scleractinia: Anthozoa) of Larak Island, Persian Gulf, pp. 101-143 in Zootaxa 3636 (1) on page 104, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3636.1.5, http://zenodo.org/record/24943