Daniel

https://dh.howard.edu/prom_corres/1025/thumbnail.jp

Insights into Environmental Drivers on the Reproductive Cycle of Diopatra neapolitana (Polychaeta: Onuphidae)

Data are available in a publicly accessible repository: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7081249 (accessed on 14 September 2022).[Abstract] The reproductive cycle of Diopatra neapolitana was studied over two years in Redondela (NW Spain), considering both the monthly evolution of the percentage of individuals with oocytes and the variation of the mean oocyte size. Moreover, since three other species of Diopatra have recently been documented in regions geographically close to NW Spain, we first confirmed the identity of this species by carrying out a morphological identification of a representative number of the specimens collected. Our data showed a discontinuous reproductive season, with a period of proliferation and maturation of oocytes from January to September and asynchronous spawning events between July and October. Then, a resting period in the months of November and December was observed. We also explored the influence of some relevant environmental factors (namely, water temperature, photoperiod, salinity, primary production and upwelling index) on the observed reproductive cycle. The results suggest that water temperature is one of the most important drivers of the reproductive cycle for this species. Particularly, in Ría de Vigo, the reproductive cycle seems to be influenced by upwelling events of deep cold water that occur frequently between March and September, and that could act as a spawning-inducing switch.This study was funded by the Galician Regional Government (Xunta de Galicia), through a collaboration agreement between the Galician Regional Ministry of the Sea (Consellería do Mar) and the University of A Coruña (UDC) for the research action: Basic aspects of the biology of polychaetes exploited in the coasts of Galicia. Criteria for the management of exploited populations (reference: CIMA 18/05). Morphological identification analysis was conducted at the Universidade de Aveiro (Portugal) through the pre-doctoral fellowship programme “Ayudas para estancias predoctorales Inditex-UDC 2021”. SEM work was performed at the EMSO-PT Laboratory of Biodiversity and Connectivity & COBI, Universidade de Aveiro. EMSO-PT is funded by Portugal 2020, in the framework of COMPETE2020 (Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização-POCI), and FEDER (Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional, ref. 01/SAICT/2016) and by national funds (OE), through FCT/MCTES (ref. PINFRA/22157/2016 EMSO-PT).Portugal. Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia; PINFRA/22157/2016 EMSO-PThttps://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.708124

Déterminants des adhérences péritonéales dans une population féminine congolaise : étude cas-témoin: Determinants of peritoneal adhesions in a female Congolese population: a case-control study

Context and objective. Peritoneal adhesions are a major health concern worldwide. However little is known about their risk factors in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to assess the determinants of peritoneal adhesions in female subjects. Methods. A case-control study, aiming to identify correlates of peritoneal adhesions, compared two groups of patients with and without adhesions after gynecological surgery in 2 hospitals of Kinshasa. Odds ratio calculation and multivariate logistic regression were used to assess the strength of associations and to identify independent determinants of peritoneal adhesions. Results. Cases (105) were compared to controls (112) and were not different regarding age (p = 0.244), parity (p = 0.380), educational level (0.061), economic status (0.481), history of miscarriages (0.546), presence or absence of keloid scar (0.233) and anti-MOMP (0.499) and anti-HSP-60 (0.230) Chlamydia trachomatis serological status. The patients with hypertrophic scar had twice as many adhesions and those with a history of laparotomy had 8 times more adhesions than the others. Women who underwent surgery for uterine leiomyoma had 2 times more adhesions. In multivariate analysis, uterine leiomyoma and history of laparotomy had emerged as major independent determinants of adhesions. Conclusion. The study highlighted uterine leiomyoma as major risk factors of adherences apart from the history of laparotomy and not chlamydia infection. Additional evidenced surveys are nned to determine relevant guidelines. Contexte and objectif. Les adhérences péritonéales sont un problème mondial majeur de santé publique. Cependant, les données sur leurs déterminants restent fragmentaires en Afrique subsaharienne. L’objectif de la présente étude était de rechercher les facteurs associés aux adhérences péritonéales chez la femme. Méthodes. Nous avons conduit une étude cas-témoin identifiant les sujets avec adhérences péritonéales parmi les opérés (au cours de laparotomie ou laparoscopie) et appariés à ceux indemnes (témoins) pour l’âge, la parité et le niveau socioéconomique aux Départements de Gynécologie et Obstétrique des Cliniques Universitaires de Kinshasa et de l’Hôpital Saint Joseph de Limete/Kinshasa, du 1er juin 2015 au 20 mars 2016. Le Odds ratio a permis de mesurer la force d’association entre la présence des adhérences et les facteurs associés. L’analyse de régression logistique multivariée a recherché les déterminants indépendants des adhérences. Le test était statistiquement significatif pour une valeur de p ‹ 0,05. Résultats. Au total, 105 cas et 112 témoins ont été inclus. Les cas et les témoins n’étaient pas différents en ce qui concerne leur âge (p=0,244), leur parité (p=0,380), leur niveau d’instruction (0,061), leur niveau économique (0,481), la présence ou non d’une chéloïde (0,233) et leur sérologie anti-MOMP (0,499) et anti-HSP-60 (0,230) du Chlamydia trachomatis. Les opérées qui avaient une cicatrice hypertrophique avaient 2 fois plus d’adhérences et celles avec antécédent de laparotomie avaient 8 fois plus d’adhérences. En plus, les opérées avec une myomatose utérine avaient 2 fois plus d’adhérences. En analyse de régression logistique multi variée, seuls la myomatose utérine actuelle ou dans le passé et l’antécédent de laparotomie avaient émergé comme facteurs majeurs indépendants associés aux adhérences péritonéales et multipliant respectivement le risque par 7,75 et 2,2. Conclusion. L’étude illustre la valeur prédictive des adhérences de la myomatose utérine en dehors de l’antécédent de laparotomie et non de l’infection à Chlamydia. Des études ultérieures sont nécessaires en vue d’établir des recommandations adéquates

Establishing the precise evolutionary history of a gene improves prediction of disease-causing missense mutations

PURPOSE: Predicting the phenotypic effects of mutations has become an important application in clinical genetic diagnostics. Computational tools evaluate the behavior of the variant over evolutionary time and assume that variations seen during the course of evolution are probably benign in humans. However, current tools do not take into account orthologous/paralogous relationships. Paralogs have dramatically different roles in Mendelian diseases. For example, whereas inactivating mutations in the NPC1 gene cause the neurodegenerative disorder Niemann-Pick C, inactivating mutations in its paralog NPC1L1 are not disease-causing and, moreover, are implicated in protection from coronary heart disease. METHODS: We identified major events in NPC1 evolution and revealed and compared orthologs and paralogs of the human NPC1 gene through phylogenetic and protein sequence analyses. We predicted whether an amino acid substitution affects protein function by reducing the organism’s fitness. RESULTS: Removing the paralogs and distant homologs improved the overall performance of categorizing disease-causing and benign amino acid substitutions. CONCLUSION: The results show that a thorough evolutionary analysis followed by identification of orthologs improves the accuracy in predicting disease-causing missense mutations. We anticipate that this approach will be used as a reference in the interpretation of variants in other genetic diseases as well. Genet Med 18 10, 1029–1036

Characterization of In Vivo Keratin 19 Phosphorylation on Tyrosine-391

Keratin polypeptide 19 (K19) is a type I intermediate filament protein that is expressed in stratified and simple-type epithelia. Although K19 is known to be phosphorylated on tyrosine residue(s), conclusive site-specific characterization of these residue(s) and identification potential kinases that may be involved has not been reported.In this study, biochemical, molecular and immunological approaches were undertaken in order to identify and characterize K19 tyrosine phosphorylation. Upon treatment with pervanadate, a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, human K19 (hK19) was phosphorylated on tyrosine 391, located in the 'tail' domain of the protein. K19 Y391 phosphorylation was confirmed using site-directed mutagenesis and cell transfection coupled with the generation of a K19 phospho (p)-Y391-specific rabbit antibody. The antibody also recognized mouse phospho-K19 (K19 pY394). This tyrosine residue is not phosphorylated under basal conditions, but becomes phosphorylated in the presence of Src kinase in vitro and in cells expressing constitutively-active Src. Pervanadate treatment in vivo resulted in phosphorylation of K19 Y394 and Y391 in colonic epithelial cells of non-transgenic mice and hK19-overexpressing mice, respectively.Human K19 tyrosine 391 is phosphorylated, potentially by Src kinase, and is the first well-defined tyrosine phosphorylation site of any keratin protein. The lack of detection of K19 pY391 in the absence of tyrosine phosphatase inhibition suggests that its phosphorylation is highly dynamic

Intestinal microbiome analyses identify melanoma patients at risk for checkpoint-blockade-induced colitis

The composition of the intestinal microbiota influences the development of inflammatory disorders. However, associating inflammatory diseases with specific microbial members of the microbiota is challenging, because clinically detectable inflammation and its treatment can alter the microbiota's composition. Immunologic checkpoint blockade with ipilimumab, a monoclonal antibody that blocks cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) signalling, is associated with new-onset, immune-mediated colitis. Here we conduct a prospective study of patients with metastatic melanoma undergoing ipilimumab treatment and correlate the pre-inflammation faecal microbiota and microbiome composition with subsequent colitis development. We demonstrate that increased representation of bacteria belonging to the Bacteroidetes phylum is correlated with resistance to the development of checkpoint-blockade-induced colitis. Furthermore, a paucity of genetic pathways involved in polyamine transport and B vitamin biosynthesis is associated with an increased risk of colitis. Identification of these biomarkers may enable interventions to reduce the risk of inflammatory complications following cancer immunotherapy

Social Marketing: Planning Before Conceiving Preconception Care

Social marketing approaches can help to shape the formation of and to create demand for preconception care services. This article describes four components of social marketing, often referred to as the 4 P’s, that should be carefully researched and set in place before a national effort to launch and sustain preconception care services is pursued. First, the product or package of services must be defined and adapted using the latest in scientific and health care standards and must be based on consumer needs and desires. Second, the pricing of the services in financial or opportunity costs must be acceptable to the consumer, insurers, and health care service providers. Third, the promotion of benefits must be carefully crafted to reach and appeal to both consumers and providers. Fourth, the placement and availability of services in the marketplace must be researched and planned. With the application of market research practices that incorporate health behavior theories in their exploration of each component, consumer demand for preconception care can be generated, and providers can take preconception care to the market with confidence