Altered Brain Functional Connectivity in Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients after Chemotherapy Treatment: A Resting-State fMRI Study

Previous studies in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients have mainly focused on exploring neurocognitive deficits associated with prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). Little is known about functional brain alterations that might occur due to chemotherapy treatment in this population before PCI is administered. For this reason, we used resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to examine potential functional connectivity disruptions in brain networks, including the Default Mode Network (DMN), the Sensorimotor Network, and the Task-Positive Network (TPN). Nineteen SCLC patients after platinum-based chemotherapy treatment and thirteen controls were recruited in the current study. ROI-to-ROI and Seed-to-Voxel analyses were carried out and revealed functional connectivity deficits in patients within all the networks investigated demonstrating the possible negative effect of chemotherapy in cognitive functions in SCLC populations

Application of next generation sequencing in cardiology: current and future precision medicine implications

Inherited cardiovascular diseases are highly heterogeneous conditions with multiple genetic loci involved. The application of advanced molecular tools, such as Next Generation Sequencing, has facilitated the genetic analysis of these disorders. Accurate analysis and variant identification are required to maximize the quality of the sequencing data. Therefore, the application of NGS for clinical purposes should be limited to laboratories with a high level of technological expertise and resources. In addition, appropriate gene selection and variant interpretation can result in the highest possible diagnostic yield. Implementation of genetics in cardiology is imperative for the accurate diagnosis, prognosis and management of several inherited disorders and could eventually lead to the realization of precision medicine in this field. However, genetic testing should also be accompanied by an appropriate genetic counseling procedure that clarifies the significance of the genetic analysis results for the proband and his family. In this regard, a multidisciplinary collaboration among physicians, geneticists, and bioinformaticians is imperative. In the present review, we address the current state of knowledge regarding genetic analysis strategies employed in the field of cardiogenetics. Variant interpretation and reporting guidelines are explored. Additionally, gene selection procedures are accessed, with a particular emphasis on information concerning gene-disease associations collected from international alliances such as the Gene Curation Coalition (GenCC). In this context, a novel approach to gene categorization is proposed. Moreover, a sub-analysis is conducted on the 1,502,769 variation records with submitted interpretations in the Clinical Variation (ClinVar) database, focusing on cardiology-related genes. Finally, the most recent information on genetic analysis's clinical utility is reviewed

The association between sleeping time and metabolic syndrome features among older adults living in Mediterranean region. The MEDIS study.

Background: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) as a combination of features has been known to significantly increase Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) risk, whilst MetS presence is linked to lifestyle parameters including physical activity and dietary habits; recently, the potential impact of sleeping habits has also become an issue under consideration. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of sleep quantity in several MetS components. Methods: Design:Cross-sectional observational study. Setting: 26 Mediterranean islands and the rural Mani region (Peloponnesus) of Greece. Participants: during 2005-2017, 3130 older (aged 65-100 years) Mediterranean residents were voluntarily enrolled. Measurements: Dietary habits (including MedDietScore assessment), physical activity status, socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle parameters (sleeping and smoking habits) and clinical profile aspects including Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) components (i.e., waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglycerides, LDL and HDL-cholesterol) were derived through standard procedures. Results: The number of daily hours of sleep was independently associated with greater waist circumference (b coefficient per 1 hour=0.91, 95% Confidence Interval (CI); 0.34, 1.49), higher LDL-cholesterol levels (b per 1 hour=3.84, 95%CI; 0.63, 7.05) and lower diastolic blood pressure levels (b per 1 hour=-0.98, 95%CI; - 1.57, -0.39) after adjusting for participants’ age, gender, body mass index, daily walking time, level of adherence to Mediterranean diet and smoking status. No association was revealed between hours of sleep per day and fasting glucose, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and systolic blood pressure. Conclusions: Increased hours of sleep is an indicator of metabolic disorders among elderly inviduals, and further research is needed to identify the paths through which sleep quantity is linked to MetS features in different age-groups

Experimental determination of the permeability of engineering textiles: Benchmark II

In this second international permeability benchmark, the in-plane permeability values of a carbon fabric were studied by twelve research groups worldwide. One participant also investigated the deformation of the tested carbon fabric. The aim of this work was to obtain comparable results in order to make a step toward standardization of permeability measurements. Unidirectional injections were thus conducted to determine the unsaturated in-plane permeability tensor of the fabric. Procedures used by participants were specified in the guidelines defined for this benchmark. Participants were asked to use the same values for parameters such as fiber volume fraction, injection pressure and fluid viscosity to minimize sources of scatter. The comparison of the results from each participant was encouraging. The scatter between data obtained while respecting the guidelines was below 25%. However, a higher dispersion was observed when some parameters differed from the recommendations of this exercise.The authors are grateful to J.M. Beraud from Hexcel Fabrics for his support that made possible this exercise. The contributions of J.B. Alms, N.C. Correia, S. Advani, E. Ruiz and P.C.T. Goncalves to the preparation of the guidelines document and templates are acknowledged by the participants of this benchmark.Vernet, N.; Ruiz, E.; Advani, S.; Alms, JB.; Aubert, M.; Barburski, M.; Barari, B.... (2014). Experimental determination of the permeability of engineering textiles: Benchmark II. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. 61:172-184. doi:10.1016/j.compositesa.2014.02.010S1721846

Genetic origins of the Minoans and Mycenaeans

The origins of the Bronze Age Minoan and Mycenaean cultures have puzzled archaeologists for more than a century. We assembled genome-wide data from nineteen ancient individuals, including Minoans from Crete, Mycenaeans from mainland Greece, and their eastern neighbours from southwestern Anatolia. We show that Minoans and Mycenaeans were genetically similar, having at least three quarters of their ancestry from the first Neolithic farmers of western Anatolia and the Aegean1,2, and most of the remainder from ancient populations like those of the Caucasus3 and Iran4,5. However, the Mycenaeans differed from Minoans in deriving additional ancestry from an ultimate source related to the hunter-gatherers of eastern Europe and Siberia6–8, introduced via a proximal source related to either the inhabitants of either the Eurasian steppe1,6,9 or Armenia4,9. Modern Greeks resemble the Mycenaeans, but with some additional dilution of the early Neolithic ancestry. Our results support the idea of continuity but not isolation in the history of populations of the Aegean, before and after the time of its earliest civilizations