m6A RNA Methylation in marine plants: first insights and relevance for biological rhythms

Circadian regulations are essential for enabling organisms to synchronize physiology with environmental light-dark cycles. Post-transcriptional RNA modifications still represent an understudied level of gene expression regulation in plants, although they could play crucial roles in environmental adaptation. N6-methyl-adenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent mRNA modification, established by "writer" and "eraser" proteins. It influences the clockwork in several taxa, but only few studies have been conducted in plants and none in marine plants. Here, we provided a first inventory of m6A-related genes in seagrasses and investigated daily changes in the global RNA methylation and transcript levels of writers and erasers in Cymodocea nodosa and Zostera marina. Both species showed methylation peaks during the dark period under the same photoperiod, despite exhibiting asynchronous changes in the m6A profile and related gene expression during a 24-h cycle. At contrasting latitudes, Z. marina populations displayed overlapping daily patterns of the m6A level and related gene expression. The observed rhythms are characteristic for each species and similar in populations of the same species with different photoperiods, suggesting the existence of an endogenous circadian control. Globally, our results indicate that m6A RNA methylation could widely contribute to circadian regulation in seagrasses, potentially affecting the photo-biological behaviour of these plants.FCT: UIDB/04326/2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS): A report of two patients and review of literature

AbstractKlippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is an uncommon congenital condition, resulting in vascular malformations affecting capillary, venous, and lymphatic systems and bone and/or soft tissue hypertrophy. Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) may be useful in assessing the severity of the disease and for treatment planning. We present two cases of two white men with the typical clinical presentation of Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome i.e. vascular malformations (capillary, venous and lymphatic) and localized bone and/or soft tissues hypertrophy. Splenic hemangiomas were evidenced in both patients and MRA was helpful in assessing and delineating the abnormal venous drainage system. KTS is a complex disorder whose true prevalence and etiology are still unknown. In most cases the emblematic clinical manifestation consisting in vascular malformations and extremity overgrowth is represented. KTS may be associated with several different conditions including scoliosis and splenic hemangiomas. The presence of the lateral marginal vein (LMV) is pathognomonic. Imaging is fundamental in confirming the diagnosis and for therapeutic strategies. An effective treatment does not exist to date and a multidisciplinary approach is usually required to prevent complications

A highly-detailed anatomical study of left atrial auricle as revealed by in-vivo computed tomography

The left atrial auricle (LAA) is the main source of intracardiac thrombi, which contribute significantly to the total number of stroke cases. It is also considered a major site of origin for atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing ablation procedures. The LAA is known to have a high degree of morphological variability, with shape and structure identified as important contributors to thrombus formation. A detailed understanding of LAA form, dimension, and function is crucial for radiologists, cardiologists, and cardiac surgeons.This review describes the normal anatomy of the LAA as visualized through multiple imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and echocardi-ography. Special emphasis is devoted to a discussion on how the morphological characteristics of the LAA are closely related to the likelihood of developing LAA thrombi, including insights into LAA embryology

SENTINEL LYMPH NODE BIOPSY IN THE TREATMENT OF BREAST CANCER. EXPERIENCE IN 527 CASES

Knowledge of axillary lymph node status is a key aid to staging and prognosis and it represents a guideline for adjuvant therapy in breast cancer. Despite the morbidity it causes, complete axillary dissection was long the mainstay of treatment. Sentinel lymph node biopsy has proved so reliable in the evaluation of node involvement that axillary node dissection is now generally performed when sentinel node biopsy tests negative. METHODS: In this 3-phase study, 50 patients were enrolled to evaluate the learning curve of sentinel node biopsy (phase 1, September 1997-January 1998); 256 patients (age range 27-81 years) with infiltrative breast cancer (T <3 cm, clinical N0) underwent level 1 lymph node dissection when the sentinel node tested negative at histopathology (phase 2, February 1998-March 2001); 221 patients with T <3 cm underwent dissection of the sentinel node when it tested negative for metastasis (phase 3, April 2001-March 2005). RESULTS: The sentinel node was preoperatively detected in 98.6% of cases after peritumoral and intradermic injection of the radionuclide tracer and intraoperatively in 99% (90% with radio-guided surgery, 10% with vital staining). The sentinel node was positive in 15% of patients with T1 and metastatic in 65%. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are in line with the published data; therefore, the study will go forward to examine the role of the micrometastasis in the sentinel node and of in-transit tumoral cells

P values of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

<p>Values in italics refer to the dataset corrected for null alleles. See <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0149496#pone.0149496.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a> for abbreviations.</p

Characteristics of sampling sites, including geographic information and genetic diversity indices per geographic sample.

<p>N: number of individuals sampled in each site; N_pa: number of private alleles; A_r: allelic richness per geographic sample; H_e and H_o indicate expected and observed heterozygosity respectively; <i>F</i>_IS is the inbreeding coefficient calculated in each population sample. In italics values after correction for null alleles.</p

Matrix of pair-wise <i>F</i>_ST (below the diagonal) and pair-wise Jost’s D (above the diagonal).

<p>Matrix of pair-wise <i>F</i>_ST (below the diagonal) and pair-wise Jost’s D (above the diagonal).</p

<i>Octopus vulgaris</i> (Cuvier, 1797) in the Mediterranean Sea: Genetic Diversity and Population Structure

<div><p>The common octopus, <i>Octopus vulgaris</i> Cuvier 1797, is a largely exploited cephalopod species in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, as well as along the coasts of Africa, Brazil and Japan, where its taxonomic identity is still debated. The assessment of its genetic structure is a pressing need to correctly manage the resource and to avoid overfishing and collapsing of local stocks. Here we analysed genetic variation and population structure of <i>O</i>. <i>vulgaris</i> using thirteen microsatellite loci in seven sampling localities from the Mediterranean Sea and one from the Atlantic Ocean. We also used a DNA barcoding approach by COI gene fragment to understand the phylogenetic relationships among the specimens here investigated and the ones whose sequences are available in literature. Our results reveal high levels of allelic richness and moderate heterozygosity in all samples investigated, and a pronounced differentiation of the Atlantic and Sicilian specimens. This latter aspect seems to support the isolation of the biota within the Strait of Messina. A certain degree of differentiation was detected among the other geographic samples within the Mediterranean Sea, which is more compatible with an island model than isolation by distance. The occurrence of null alleles affected more genetic diversity indices than population structure estimations. This study provides new insights about the genetic diversity and structure of <i>O</i>. <i>vulgaris</i> in the area of interest, which can be used as guidelines for a fisheries management perspective.</p></div

<i>F</i>_IS estimations per locus with and without correction for null alleles.

<p><i>F</i>_IS estimations per locus with and without correction for null alleles.</p

The novel traction‐suturing technique in correction of caudal end deviation of the nasal septum

Background Caudal end correction is one of the main challenges during septoplasty that needs extra steps and skills. This complex area affects the shape of the nose. Moreover, the caudal end represents the medial boundary of the internal nasal valve. Thus, any deviation may disturb this critical area causing nasal obstruction. This study aimed to evaluate the novel traction-suture technique to correct septal caudal end deviation and its postoperative impact. Study design This prospective case-series study. Settings It was held in a tertiary referral university institute between January 2019 to February 2022. Methods We included 95 cases who suffered from nasal obstruction and a cosmetic problem because of mild or moder- ate caudal end deviation. Under general anesthesia, the caudal end was corrected by the novel traction-suturing technique (TST). To evaluate the surgical outcomes and patients' related quality of life, we used two validated questionnaires; the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation and the Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation before the surgery and 1 year after the surgery. Results NOSEandROEquestionnairesshowedstatisticallysignificantimprovementsafterthesurgery(Pvaluewas&lt;0.001). Complications occurred in seven patients (7.3%), all of which were minor complications. Conclusions Traction-suturing technique (TST) improved nasal breathing and patients’ satisfaction with their nasal con- figuration. Traction-suturing is a simple short maneuver that junior doctors can easily learn without distinct complications or recurrence