Overview of Some Risk Factors in Cardiovascular Disease

Much more specialists are nowadays aligning themselves on the view according to which the prevalence of cardiovascular disease will reach epidemic levels in the near future due to the increase of hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Most epidemiological studies indicate that we are confronted with a multiplication of risk factors, with an emphasis on their genetic conditioning as well as an acceleration of the effects generated by non-genetic factors. According to WHO recommendations, the appropriate methods of reducing the cardiovascular risk are those that combine health policies with efficient education measures. Long-term results of these measures aim to decrease the incidence of complications and associated costs with their treatment at the same time with increasing the quality of life. Approximately 50% of deaths from heart disease could be prevented through sustained action on the main cause—hypertension—and by treating risk factors, primarily hyperlipidemia and elevated body weight. Atherosclerotic disease requires a rigorous approach because identifying predisposing risk factors with proven implications in the initiation and progression of this disease, as well as modulation of those with protective role, can have a significant impact in finding an appropriate treatment in order to improve cardiovascular diseases and their consequences

Structure and functional reselection of the Mango-III fluorogenic RNA aptamer

International audienc

Nerve compression due to benign tumors or ganglion cysts in the upper limb – case series

Tumor nerve compressions in the upper limb are relatively rare, usually involving ganglion cysts and benign tumors. We present a case series of five patients with peripheral nerve compression in the upper limb due to tumor or cystic masses- ulnar nerve compression in the Guyon’s tunnel due to a ganglion cyst, large median nerve schwannoma compressing anterior interosseous nerve and median nerve, voluminous lipoma compressing median nerve in the proximal forearm, superficial branch of radial nerve compression by a synovial cyst and elbow region lipoma compressing radial nerve. In the beginning, those benign lesions are asymptomatic but, as they continue to grow adjacent to a peripheral nerve clinical manifestations appear progressively as compressive neuropathies. After a preoperative imagistic analysis, tumor resection with careful dissection, in order to preserve the neurovascular structures, is the elective surgical procedure in order to obtain an optimal functional recovery

Genome-Wide Discovery of Somatic Regulatory Variants in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive cancer originating from mature B-cells. Prognosis is strongly associated with molecular subgroup, although the driver mutations that distinguish the two main subgroups remain poorly defined. Through an integrative analysis of whole genomes, exomes, and transcriptomes, we have uncovered genes and non-coding loci that are commonly mutated in DLBCL. Our analysis has identified novel cis-regulatory sites, and implicates recurrent mutations in the 3′ UTR of NFKBIZ as a novel mechanism of oncogene deregulation and NF-κB pathway activation in the activated B-cell (ABC) subgroup. Small amplifications associated with over-expression of FCGR2B (the Fcγ receptor protein IIB), primarily in the germinal centre B-cell (GCB) subgroup, correlate with poor patient outcomes suggestive of a novel oncogene. These results expand the list of subgroup driver mutations that may facilitate implementation of improved diagnostic assays and could offer new avenues for the development of targeted therapeutics.&nbsp

THE ANALYSIS OF CYTOCHROME B SEQUENCES FOR BISON BONASUS (ARTIODACTYLA: BOVIDAE) INDIVIDUALS FROM VÂNĂTORI-NEAMȚ AND NEAGRA-BUCȘANI NATIONAL PARKS

Mitochondrial DNA (mt-DNA) has proven to be a useful tool in molecular phylogenetic studies, because evolutionary relationships can be inferred in depth, between recently divergent groups, populations, species, and even individuals. In this experiment we investigated the genetic variability of Bison bonasus individuals from Vânători Neamț and Neagra Bucșani National Parks, by analyzing cyt b nucleotide sequences. The study allowed us to identify the haplotypes, the nucleotide frequencies, mt-DNA divergence and phylogenetic relationships within studied populations. In this study we observed 3 haplotypes at Vânători Neamț population and 2 haplotypes at Neagra Bucșani population

Prototyping Feedback for Technology Enhanced Learning

The development of new educational technologies, in the area of practical activities is the main aim of the FP7 PELARS project. As part of the constructivist learning scenarios, according to the project proposal, the development and evaluation of technology designs are envisaged, for analytic data generation for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, such as: technology solutions, infrastructure, activities, assessment, curricula, and classroom furniture and environment designs. Inside four EU national settings, three separate learning contexts are being dealt with - from secondary-level high school STEM learning environments to post-secondary level engineering classes and design studios. Given this experience and framework, the present paper provides a perspective on the importance of using such research experience and iterative prototyping in real learning environments for engineering students

Crystal Structures of the Mango-II RNA Aptamer Reveal Heterogeneous Fluorophore Binding and Guide Engineering of Variants with Improved Selectivity and Brightness

International audienc

Media 1: Phase measurement in long chirped pulses with spectral phase jumps

Originally published in Optics Express on 30 June 2014 (oe-22-13-15918