78 research outputs found
Mathematical Modelling as a Proof of Concept for MPNs as a Human Inflammation Model for Cancer Development
<p><b>Left:</b> Typical development in stem cells (top panel A) and mature cells (bottom panel B). Healthy hematopoietic cells (full blue curves) dominate in the early phase where the number of malignant cells (stipulated red curves) are few. The total number of cells is also shown (dotted green curves). When a stem cell mutates without repairing mechanisms, a slowly increasing exponential growth starts. At a certain stage, the malignant cells become dominant, and the healthy hematopoietic cells begin to show a visible decline. Finally, the composition between the cell types results in a takeover by the malignant cells, leading to an exponential decline in hematopoietic cells and ultimately their extinction. The development is driven by an approximately exponential increase in the MPN stem cells, and the development is closely followed by the mature MPN cells. <b>Right:</b> B)The corresponding allele burden (7%, 33% and 67% corresponding to ET, PV, and PMF, respectively) defined as the ratio of MPN mature cells to the total number of mature cells.</p
Genetic and environmental transactions underlying the associationbetween physical fitness/physical exercise and body composition
Cross-sectional association between soda consumption and body mass index in a community-based sample of twins
Teaching and learning about dementia in UK medical schools: a national survey
Background: Dementia is an increasingly common condition and all doctors, in both primary and secondary care
environments, must be prepared to competently manage patients with this condition. It is unclear whether medical
education about dementia is currently fit for purpose. This project surveys and evaluates the nature of teaching and
learning about dementia for medical students in the UK.
Methods: Electronic questionnaire sent to UK medical schools.
Results: 23/31 medical schools responded. All provided some dementia-specific teaching but this focussed more
on knowledge and skills than behaviours and attitudes. Only 80% of schools described formal assessment of
dementia-specific learning outcomes. There was a widespread failure to adequately engage the multidisciplinary
team, patients and carers in teaching, presenting students with a narrow view of the condition. However, some
innovative approaches were also highlighted.
Conclusions: Although all schools taught about dementia, the deficiencies identified represent a failure to
sufficiently equip medical students to care for patients with dementia which, given the prevalence of the condition,
does not adequately prepare them for work as doctors. Recommendations for improving undergraduate medical
education about dementia are outline
Gene-environment interplay between physical fitness and exercise and depression symptomatology
Microarray and Proteomic Analyses of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms with a Highlight on the mTOR Signaling Pathway
The gene and protein expression profiles in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) may reveal gene and protein markers of a potential clinical relevance in diagnosis, treatment and prediction of response to therapy. Using cDNA microarray analysis of 25,100 unique genes, we studied the gene expression profile of CD34(+) cells and granulocytes obtained from peripheral blood of subjects with essential thrombocythemia (ET), polycythemia vera (PV) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). The microarray analyses of the CD34(+) cells and granulocytes were performed from 20 de novo MPN subjects: JAK2 positive ET, PV, PMF subjects, and JAK2 negative ET/PMF subjects. The granulocytes for proteomic studies were pooled in 4 groups: PV with JAK2 mutant allele burden above 80%, ET with JAK2 mutation, PMF with JAK2 mutation and ET/PMF with no JAK2 mutation. The number of differentially regulated genes was about two fold larger in CD34(+) cells compared to granulocytes. Thirty-six genes (including RUNX1, TNFRSF19) were persistently highly expressed, while 42 genes (including FOXD4, PDE4A) were underexpressed both in CD34(+) cells and granulocytes. Using proteomic studies, significant up-regulation was observed for MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling regulators that control myeloid cell apoptosis and proliferation: RAC2, MNDA, S100A8/9, CORO1A, and GNAI2. When the status of the mTOR signaling pathway related genes was analyzed, PI3K/AKT regulators were preferentially up-regulated in CD34(+) cells of MPNs, with down-regulated major components of the protein complex EIF4F. Molecular profiling of CD34(+) cells and granulocytes of MPN determined gene expression patterns beyond their recognized function in disease pathogenesis that included dominant up-regulation of PI3K/AKT signaling
Dietary factors impact on the association between CTSS variants and obesity related traits.
Cathepsin S, a protein coded by the CTSS gene, is implicated in adipose tissue biology--this protein enhances adipose tissue development. Our hypothesis is that common variants in CTSS play a role in body weight regulation and in the development of obesity and that these effects are influenced by dietary factors--increased by high protein, glycemic index and energy diets
Multivariate modelling of endophenotypes associated with the metabolic syndrome in Chinese twins
Nicotine pre-exposure reduces stroke-induced glucose transporter-1 activity at the bloodâbrain barrier in mice
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