Blood-based analysis of type-2 diabetes mellitus susceptibility genes identifies specific transcript variants with deregulated expression and association with disease risk

Despite significant progress by genome-wide association studies, the ability of genetic variants to conduce to the prediction or prognosis of type-2 diabetes (T2D) is weak. Expression analysis of the corresponding genes may suggest possible links between single-nucleotide polymorphisms and T2D phenotype and/or risk. Herein, we investigated the expression patterns of 24 T2D-susceptibility genes, and their individual transcript variants (tv), in peripheral blood of T2D patients and controls (CTs), applying RNA-seq and real-time qPCR methodologies, and explore possible associations with disease features. Our data revealed the deregulation of certain transcripts in T2D patients. Among them, the down-regulation of CAPN10 tv3 was confirmed as an independent predictor for T2D. In patients, increased expression of CDK5 tv2, CDKN2A tv3 or THADA tv5 correlated positively with serum insulin levels, of CDK5 tv1 positively with % HbA1c levels, while in controls, elevated levels of TSPAN8 were associated positively with the presence of T2D family history. Herein, a T2D-specific expression profile of specific transcripts of disease-susceptibility genes is for the first time described in human peripheral blood. Large-scale studies are needed to evaluate the potential of these molecules to serve as disease biomarkers

L' immaginazione meditativa e il soggetto imprenditoriale: l' orientamento filofico dello sviluppo turistico

The meditative imagination and its evolution as a contemplative mental reality: It is the mental energy, the one that is enclosed at the moment when they meet the perishable with the infinite element in their interdependent ontology. It is the force that is inserted and created instantly where the two realities intersect, the two worlds according to Plato, that of the felt and that of the world of ideas. It is there that the beings and the meanings that are outside acquire quality during the process of their integration and competitive entrance into the interior, that is, within us, and acquire a new shape, a new form, of a higher quality, which in turn illuminates with abundant light "VIRTU"-VIRTUE, and gives us the opportunity to behave completely positive, peaceful and decisive. It is that radiance, which with its majestic reception in our "It",[M A S] allows us to pass into the universe of positive decision, through the river of inspiration, which is enclosed and created with the characteristic tendency to union and contact with the other "being" in all its manifestations. It is the blue of the sky and the sea, of the poet Elytis, who strives to unite the east with the west, overflowing his poetry with Greekness and light, creating the transparency of speech and existence to give the Greeks the "ambiguous Mind" who had the power to lubricate his western reflection with rays of light. This is where Aristotle discovers and identifies the last form of matter by calling it "the first", as "in action" now and not "potentially".Η στοχαστική φαντασία και η εξέλιξή της ως στοχαστική νοούσα πραγματικότητα: Είναι η νοούσα ενέργεια, εκείνη η οποία εγκλείεται κατά τη στιγμή που συναντώνται το περατό με το άπειρο στοιχείο μέσα στην αλληλοστοχευμένη οντολογία τους.Είναι η δύναμη εκείνη που παρεμβάλλεται και δημιουργείται ακαριαία εκεί που τέμνονται οι δύο πραγματικότητες, οι δύο κατά Πλάτωνα κόσμοι, αυτός του αισθητού και αυτός του κόσμου των ιδεών. Είναι εκεί, όπου τα όντα και τα νοήματα που βρίσκονται έξω αποκτούν ποιότητα κατά τη διαδικασία ένταξης και αγωνιστικής εισδοχής τους στην εσωτερικότητα, εντός μας δηλαδή, και αποκομίζουν νέο σχήμα, νέα μορφή, ανώτερης ποιότητας, που με την σειρά της φωτίζει με άπλετο φως την «V I R T U» την «Α Ρ Ε Τ Η» και μας δίνει τη δυνατότητα να φερθούμε ολωσδιόλου θετικά, γαλήνια και αποφασιστικά Είναι εκείνη η λάμψη, που με την μεγαλειώδη εισδοχή της στο «Είναι» μας, Μ Α Σ επιτρέπει να περάσουμε στο σύμπαν της θετικής απόφασης, διαμέσου του ποταμού της έμπνευσης, ο οποίος εγκλείεται και δημιουργείται με χαρακτηριστικό γνώρισμα την τάση προς ένωση και επαφή με το άλλο «ΟΝ» σε όλες του τις εκφάνσεις Είναι το γαλανό του ουρανού και της θάλασσας, του ποιητή Ελύτη, που αγωνίζεται να ενώσει την ανατολή με τη δύση, ξεχειλίζοντας την ποίησή του με ελληνικότητα και φως, δημιουργώντας τη διαφάνεια του λόγου και της ύπαρξης για να δώσει στους Έλληνες τον «αμφίσημο Νου» τους, που είχε τη δύναμη να λιπάνει με ακτίνες φωτός τη δυτική αντανάκλασή του. Είναι εκεί που ο Αριστοτέλης ανακαλύπτει και προσδιορίζει την έσχατη μορφή της ύλης αποκαλώντας την «πρώτη», ως «εν ενεργεία» πλέον και όχι «εν δυνάμει»

Monitoring wine aging with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR)

Oak wood has commonly been used in wine aging but recently other wood types such as Acacia and Chestnut, have attracted the interest of the researchers due to their possible positive contribution to wine quality. However, only the use of oak and chestnut woods is approved by the International Enological Codex of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine. In this study Fourier Transform (FT)-mid-infrared spectroscopy combined with Discriminant Analysis was used to differentiate wines aged in barrels made from French oak, American oak, Acacia and Chestnut and in tanks with oak chips, over a period of 12 months. Two red (Mandilaria, Kotsifali) and two white (Vilana, Dafni) native Greek grape varieties where used to produce four wines. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectra of the samples were recorded on a Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) window after incubation at 40 °C for 30 min. A complete differentiation of the samples according to both the type of wood used and the contact time was achieved based on their FT-IR spectra

Monitoring wine aging with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR)

Oak wood has commonly been used in wine aging but recently other wood types such as Acacia and Chestnut, have attracted the interest of the researchers due to their possible positive contribution to wine quality. However, only the use of oak and chestnut woods is approved by the International Enological Codex of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine. In this study Fourier Transform (FT)-mid-infrared spectroscopy combined with Discriminant Analysis was used to differentiate wines aged in barrels made from French oak, American oak, Acacia and Chestnut and in tanks with oak chips, over a period of 12 months. Two red (Mandilaria, Kotsifali) and two white (Vilana, Dafni) native Greek grape varieties where used to produce four wines. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectra of the samples were recorded on a Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) window after incubation at 40 °C for 30 min. A complete differentiation of the samples according to both the type of wood used and the contact time was achieved based on their FT-IR spectra