The frequency of transforming growth factor-TGF-B gene polymorphisms in a normal southern Iranian population

Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the transforming growth factor-β1 gene (TGFB1) have been reported. Determination of TGFB1 SNPs allele frequencies in different ethnic groups is useful for both population genetic analyses and association studies with immunological diseases. In this study, five SNPs of TGFB1 were determined in 325 individuals from a normal southern Iranian population using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. This population was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for these SNPs. Of the 12 constructed haplotypes, GTCGC and GCTGC were the most frequent in the normal southern Iranian population. Comparison of genotype and allele frequencies of TGFB SNPs between Iranian and other populations (meta-analysis) showed significant differences, and in this case the southern Iranian population seems genetically similar to Caucasoid populations. However, neighbour-joining tree using Nei's genetic distances based on TGF-β1 allele frequencies showed that southern Iranians are genetically far from people from the USA, Germany, UK, Denmark and the Czech Republic. In conclusion, this is the first report of the distribution of TGFB1 SNPs in an Iranian population and the results of this investigation may provide useful information for both population genetic and disease studies. © 2008 The Authors

A reference case for economic evaluations in osteoarthritis: An expert consensus article from the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis (ESCEO)

Background: General recommendations for a reference case for economic studies in rheumatic diseases were published in 2002 in an initiative to improve the comparability of cost-effectiveness studies in the field. Since then, economic evaluations in osteoarthritis (OA) continue to show considerable heterogeneity in methodological approach. Objectives: To develop a reference case specific for economic studies in OA, including the standard optimal care, with which to judge new pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. Methods: Four subgroups of an ESCEO expert working group on economic assessments (13 experts representing diverse aspects of clinical research and/or economic evaluations) were charged with producing lists of recommendations that would potentially improve the comparability of economic analyses in OA: outcome measures, comparators, costs and methodology. These proposals were discussed and refined during a face-to-face meeting in 2013. They are presented here in the format of the recommendations of the recently published Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) statement, so that an initiative on economic analysis methodology might be consolidated with an initiative on reporting standards. Results: Overall, three distinct reference cases are proposed, one for each hand, knee and hip OA; with diagnostic variations in the first two, giving rise to different treatment options: interphalangeal or thumb-based disease for hand OA and the presence or absence of joint malalignment for knee OA. A set of management strategies is proposed, which should be further evaluated to help establish a consensus on the "standard optimal care" in each proposed reference case. The recommendations on outcome measures, cost itemisation and methodological approaches are also provided. Conclusions: The ESCEO group proposes a set of disease-specific recommendations on the conduct and reporting of economic evaluations in OA that could help the standardisation and comparability of studies that evaluate therapeutic strategies of OA in terms of costs and effectiveness

Towards standards for human fecal sample processing in metagenomic studies

Technical variation in metagenomic analysis must be minimized to confidently assess the contributions of microbiota to human health. Here we tested 21 representative DNA extraction protocols on the same fecal samples and quantified differences in observed microbial community composition. We compared them with differences due to library preparation and sample storage, which we contrasted with observed biological variation within the same specimen or within an individual over time. We found that DNA extraction had the largest effect on the outcome of metagenomic analysis. To rank DNA extraction protocols, we considered resulting DNA quantity and quality, and we ascertained biases in estimates of community diversity and the ratio between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. We recommend a standardized DNA extraction method for human fecal samples, for which transferability across labs was established and which was further benchmarked using a mock community of known composition. Its adoption will improve comparability of human gut microbiome studies and facilitate meta-analyses

Physical Processes in Star Formation

© 2020 Springer-Verlag. The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-020-00693-8.Star formation is a complex multi-scale phenomenon that is of significant importance for astrophysics in general. Stars and star formation are key pillars in observational astronomy from local star forming regions in the Milky Way up to high-redshift galaxies. From a theoretical perspective, star formation and feedback processes (radiation, winds, and supernovae) play a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of the physical processes at work, both individually and of their interactions. In this review we will give an overview of the main processes that are important for the understanding of star formation. We start with an observationally motivated view on star formation from a global perspective and outline the general paradigm of the life-cycle of molecular clouds, in which star formation is the key process to close the cycle. After that we focus on the thermal and chemical aspects in star forming regions, discuss turbulence and magnetic fields as well as gravitational forces. Finally, we review the most important stellar feedback mechanisms.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Efficient transcription of an immunoglobulin kappa promoter requires specific sequence elements overlapping with and downstream of the transcriptional start site

The expression of immunoglobulin (Ig) genes depends on tissue-specific elements in the promoter and enhancer regions of light chain and heavy chain genes. In contrast to the complex modular character of Ig enhancers, the promoters appear to be simple, depending primarily on a conserved TATA box and octamer elements. We have analyzed the role of proximal sequences for Igkappa promoter function. Igkappa promoter transcription critically depends on initiator-like sequences and on a downstream element located at +24 to +39 relative to the start site. Replacement of these sequences resulted in strong reduction of promoter activity. In vitro, these elements were found to be more effective in extracts of lymphoid than of non-lymphoid origin. Deletion of the downstream and initiation site regions had a comparable effect on promoter activity to obliteration of the TATA box or octamer element. The downstream sequence was bound by two nuclear proteins, identical to the previously identified Ig-specific C5 and C6 complexes. Whereas C5 is found in HeLa cells and in lymphoid cells, C6 is lymphoid specific. Thus, further specific sequences in addition to the previously characterized elements, the octamer and the TATA box, are required for efficient kappa promoter expression in B lymphocytes

Control of Sertoli and germ cell populations in the cock and sheep testis.

International audienc

On the origin of some cubebene derivatives — Diels–Alder adducts and the diene structures of solidago compounds

International audienceAbstract: Two reactions, HCl addition and the thermal and (or) microwave assisted Diels–Alder condensation, were performed on α-cubebene (1), a vinylcyclopropane-containing tricyclic sesquiterpene. The diene structures originating from these reactions and from subsequent rearrangements of 1were identified. The stereochemistry of the resulting ad-ducts was established using mostly 2D high-resolution NMR.Résumé : Leα-cubébène (1), un sesquiterpène qui contient une unité vinylcyclopropane, a été soumis à une réaction d’addition de HCl et une de condensation de Diels–Alder thermique à l’aide de microondes. On a identifié les structures diéniques qui trouvent leur origine dans ces réactions et dans les réarrangements subséquents du composé 1. On a déterminé la stéréochimie des adduits qui en résultent en se basant principalement sur la RMN bidimensionnelle à haute résolution