Amplified Genes May Be Overexpressed, Unchanged, or Downregulated in Cervical Cancer Cell Lines

Several copy number-altered regions (CNAs) have been identified in the genome of cervical cancer, notably, amplifications of 3q and 5p. However, the contribution of copy-number alterations to cervical carcinogenesis is unresolved because genome-wide there exists a lack of correlation between copy-number alterations and gene expression. In this study, we investigated whether CNAs in the cell lines CaLo, CaSki, HeLa, and SiHa were associated with changes in gene expression. On average, 19.2% of the cell-line genomes had CNAs. However, only 2.4% comprised minimal recurrent regions (MRRs) common to all the cell lines. Whereas 3q had limited common gains (13%), 5p was entirely duplicated recurrently. Genome-wide, only 15.6% of genes located in CNAs changed gene expression; in contrast, the rate in MRRs was up to 3 times this. Chr 5p was confirmed entirely amplified by FISH; however, maximum 33.5% of the explored genes in 5p were deregulated. In 3q, this rate was 13.4%. Even in 3q26, which had 5 MRRs and 38.7% recurrently gained SNPs, the rate was only 15.1%. Interestingly, up to 19% of deregulated genes in 5p and 73% in 3q26 were downregulated, suggesting additional factors were involved in gene repression. The deregulated genes in 3q and 5p occurred in clusters, suggesting local chromatin factors may also influence gene expression. In regions amplified discontinuously, downregulated genes increased steadily as the number of amplified SNPs increased (p<0.01, Spearman's correlation). Therefore, partial gene amplification may function in silencing gene expression. Additional genes in 1q, 3q and 5p could be involved in cervical carcinogenesis, specifically in apoptosis. These include PARP1 in 1q, TNFSF10 and ECT2 in 3q and CLPTM1L, AHRR, PDCD6, and DAP in 5p. Overall, gene expression and copy-number profiles reveal factors other than gene dosage, like epigenetic or chromatin domains, may influence gene expression within the entirely amplified genome segments

Omecamtiv mecarbil in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, GALACTIC‐HF: baseline characteristics and comparison with contemporary clinical trials

Aims: The safety and efficacy of the novel selective cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil, in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is tested in the Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure (GALACTIC‐HF) trial. Here we describe the baseline characteristics of participants in GALACTIC‐HF and how these compare with other contemporary trials. Methods and Results: Adults with established HFrEF, New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA) ≥ II, EF ≤35%, elevated natriuretic peptides and either current hospitalization for HF or history of hospitalization/ emergency department visit for HF within a year were randomized to either placebo or omecamtiv mecarbil (pharmacokinetic‐guided dosing: 25, 37.5 or 50 mg bid). 8256 patients [male (79%), non‐white (22%), mean age 65 years] were enrolled with a mean EF 27%, ischemic etiology in 54%, NYHA II 53% and III/IV 47%, and median NT‐proBNP 1971 pg/mL. HF therapies at baseline were among the most effectively employed in contemporary HF trials. GALACTIC‐HF randomized patients representative of recent HF registries and trials with substantial numbers of patients also having characteristics understudied in previous trials including more from North America (n = 1386), enrolled as inpatients (n = 2084), systolic blood pressure &lt; 100 mmHg (n = 1127), estimated glomerular filtration rate &lt; 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n = 528), and treated with sacubitril‐valsartan at baseline (n = 1594). Conclusions: GALACTIC‐HF enrolled a well‐treated, high‐risk population from both inpatient and outpatient settings, which will provide a definitive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of this novel therapy, as well as informing its potential future implementation

Diagnosis of Familial Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome due to a Paternal Cryptic Chromosomal Rearrangement by Conventional and Molecular Cytogenetic Techniques

The use of conventional cytogenetic techniques in combination with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarrays is necessary for the identification of cryptic rearrangements in the diagnosis of chromosomal syndromes. We report two siblings, a boy of 9 years and 9 months of age and his 7-years- and 5-month-old sister, with the classic Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) phenotype. Using high-resolution GTG- and NOR-banding karyotypes, as well as FISH analysis, we characterized a pure 4p deletion in both sibs and a balanced rearrangement in their father, consisting in an insertion of 4p material within a nucleolar organizing region of chromosome 15. Copy number variant (CNV) analysis using SNP arrays showed that both siblings have a similar size of 4p deletion (~6.5 Mb). Our results strongly support the need for conventional cytogenetic and FISH analysis, as well as high-density microarray mapping for the optimal characterization of the genetic imbalance in patients with WHS; parents must always be studied for recognizing cryptic balanced chromosomal rearrangements for an adequate genetic counseling

Magnetic properties of vanadium(IV)-based extended systems: [(VO)3(μ-PO4)2(2,2′-bpy)(μ-OH2)]*1/3H2O and (VO)2H4P2O9

International audienceThe magnetic properties of [(VO)3(μ-PO4)2(2,2′-bpy)(μ-OH2)]1/3H2O (1) and (VO)2H4P2O9 (2), a tubular and a layered vanadium(IV) phosphates containing triply oxido bridged VIV dimers, are analyzed considering the Bleaney-Bowers S = 1/2 dimer model. In compound 1 the presence of an additional VIV connected with the VIV dimers through μ1,2-PO43− bridges is described with a Curie-Weiss type correction. This model reproduces the magnetic properties of compound 1 with g = 1.956, Jdim = −102.1 cm−1, θ = −0.4 cm−1 and Nα = 278 × 10−6 emu mol−1. In compound 2, the presence of a small percentage of paramagnetic impurity has to be considered to account for the divergence of χm at low temperatures. This simple model reproduces the magnetic data of compound 2 with g = 1.99, J = −62.4 cm−1 and a 1.2% of monomeric impurity. The moderate antiferromagnetic coupling found in the triply oxido bridges VIV dimers is justified from the structural parameters of the bridge. These studies confirm that the coupling through -O-P-O- bridges is antiferromagnetic and relatively weak, as well as previous magneto-structural correlations in this kind of oxido bridges. DFT calculations on a dinuclear fragment model for the two systems gave the following values of Jcalc = −72.4 cm−1 for 1 and Jcalc = −5.2 cm−1 for 2. These values reproduce the antiferromagnetic nature of the superexchange interactions between the VIV centers

Mutations in the Human UBR1 Gene and the Associated Phenotypic Spectrum

Johanson-Blizzard syndrome (JBS) is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder characterized by exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, typical facial features, dental anomalies, hypothyroidism, sensorineural hearing loss, scalp defects, urogenital and anorectal anomalies, short stature, and cognitive impairment of variable degree. This syndrome is caused by a defect of the E3 ubiquitin ligase UBR1, which is part of the proteolytic N-end rule pathway. Herein, we review previously reported (n=29) and a total of 31 novel UBR1 mutations in relation to the associated phenotype in patients from 50 unrelated families. Mutation types include nonsense, frameshift, splice site, missense, and small in-frame deletions consistent with the hypothesis that loss of UBR1 protein function is the molecular basis of JBS. There is an association of missense mutations and small in-frame deletions with milder physical abnormalities and a normal intellectual capacity, thus suggesting that at least some of these may represent hypomorphic UBR1 alleles. the review of clinical data of a large number of molecularly confirmed JBS cases allows us to define minimal clinical criteria for the diagnosis of JBS. for all previously reported and novel UBR1 mutations together with their clinical data, a mutation database has been established at LOVD.German Research FoundationUniv Hosp Magdeburg, Inst Human Genet, D-39120 Magdeburg, GermanyUniv Hosp Erlangen, Inst Human Genet, Erlangen, GermanyHosp Nacl Ninos Dr Carlos Saenz Herrera, Dept Med, San Jose, Costa RicaKlinikum Bremen Mitte, Bremen, GermanyCHU Vaudois, Dept Med Genet, CH-1011 Lausanne, SwitzerlandUniv Hosp, Dept Pediat Surg, Poitiers, FranceHosp La Fe, Dept Pediat, E-46009 Valencia, SpainAMC Univ Hosp, Dept Pediat Genet, Amsterdam, NetherlandsVanderbilt Univ, Monroe Carell Jr Childrens Hosp, Div Pediat Gastroenterol Hepatol & Nutr, Nashville, TN 37235 USACleveland Clin, Genom Med Inst, Cleveland, OH 44106 USAGuys Hosp, London SE1 9RT, EnglandKariminejad Najmabadi Pathol & Genet Ctr, Tehran, IranGreenwood Genet Ctr, Greenwood, SC 29646 USAUmea Univ, Dept Med Biosci Med & Clin Genet, Umea, SwedenWomens & Childrens Hosp, SA Clin Genet Serv, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaStiftung Deutsch Klin Diagnost GmbH, Fachbereich Kinder & Jugendmed, Wiesbaden, GermanyUniv São Paulo, Dept Pediat, São Paulo, BrazilUniv British Columbia, Dept Pediat, Div Biochem Dis, BC Childrens Hosp, Vancouver, BC V6T 1W5, CanadaCtr Human Genet, Ingelheim, GermanyNanjing Med Univ, Nanjing Childrens Hosp, Dept Digest Dis, Nanjing, Jiangsu, Peoples R ChinaUniv Klinikum Bonn, Zentrum Kinderheilkunde, Bonn, GermanyUniv Tehran Med Sci, Childrens Med Ctr, Res Ctr Immunodeficiencies, Tehran, IranUniv Tehran Med Sci, Dept Immunol, Tehran, IranKing Faisal Specialist Hosp & Res Ctr, Dept Genet, Riyadh 11211, Saudi ArabiaOndokuz Mayis Univ, Dept Med, Samsun, TurkeyOndokuz Mayis Univ, Dept Pediat Genet, Samsun, TurkeyAl Thawra Teaching Hosp, Dept Pediat, Sanaa, YemenHosp Gen Mexico City, Fac Med, Dept Human Genet, Mexico City, DF, MexicoUniv Med Ctr Utrecht, Dept Med Genet, Utrecht, NetherlandsNatl Childrens Hosp, San Jose, Costa RicaSisli Etfal Res Hosp, Dept Med Genet, Istanbul, TurkeyNizams Inst Med Sci, Dept Med Genet, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, IndiaMaulana Azad Med Coll, Dept Pediat, New Delhi, IndiaDeenanath Mangeshkar Hosp & Res Ctr, Dept Genet, Erandawane, IndiaMinist Hlth, Dept Pediat, Manama, BahrainUniv Fed Bahia, Fac Med, Hosp Univ Prof Edgar Santos, Pediat Endocrinol Unit, Salvador, BA, BrazilErnst Moritz Arndt Univ Greifswald, Univ Med, Dept Med A, Greifswald, GermanyTech Univ Munich, Else Kroner Fresenius Zentrum Ernahrungsmed, Freising Weihenstephan, GermanyTech Univ Munich, Zent Inst Ernahrungs & Lebensmittelforsch, Freising Weihenstephan, GermanyTech Univ Munich, Klinikum Rechts Isar, Dept Pediat, D-80290 Munich, GermanyGerman Research Foundation: DFG ZE 524/2-3Web of Scienc

Essays on the pandemic

Este libro pretende seguir las preocupaciones de los primeros ejercicios de reflexión sobre la pandemia. Nos hemos propuesto estimular un debate público, que sea informado y original, sobre la experiencia actual, dotándolo de ideas, argumentos y algunas problematizaciones poco divulgadas. Porque creemos en la necesidad de exponer dilemas y problematizar realidades que, desde diferentes disciplinas y sensibilidades, permitan comprender el profundo y complejo impacto que esta pandemia tiene y podrá tener sobre las condiciones materiales, pero también subjetivas, de muchas y muy diferentes personas a lo largo de nuestras sociedades. Y porque creemos también, dicho lo anterior, en la necesidad de ayudar a crear −e insistir sobre− nuevas visiones del mundo actual, siempre críticas, nunca ingenuas, pero necesarias y posibles [Juan José Fernández Dusso].CONTENIDO: Presentación, Juan José Fernández Dusso -- Parte 1 : Un recuerdo recompuesto: entre realidad y memoria, Sasha Londoño Venegas -- Epidemias en la historia de Colombia: reflexiones para el presente, Katherine Bonil Gómez y Julián Velasco Pedraza -- ¿Es útil dudar durante una Pandemia?, Pedro Rovetto Villalobos -- Desde la pantalla o el papel, el libro universitario en tiempos de pandemia, Adolfo A. Abadía -- De los miasmas al COVID-19.Transformaciones del hábitat en tiempos de epidemia, Joaquín Llorca Franco -- Voz y con-tacto, María del Rosario Acosta -- Erótica y letalidad de las pantallas en la época del COVID-19, Miguel Gutiérrez-Peláez -- Sars-Cov-2 conoce Cuerpo20. Los rostros paradójicos de la pandemia, Santiago Martínez Medina y Paola A. Benavides Gómez -- El campo del alfarero. De lo separado, Diego Cagüeñas Rozo -- ‘Capas sobre capas’: Una reflexión desde el encierro sobre el uso del tapabocas, Raquel Díaz Bustamante -- Parte 2 : Capitalismo y pandemia. Seguimos en la prehistoria de la humanidad, Raúl Cuadros -- COVID-19: Freud, Aristóteles y la Falsopolítica, Javier Zúñiga Buitrago -- La pandemia del COVID-19: reflexiones sobre la disciplina y el control, Mateo Prada Quintero y Patricia Quintero Cusgúen -- La crisis del Pangolín: ¿infodemia o confusión?, José Gregorio Pérez -- “Sangre mala”. Sobre la memoria de las cosas, las pestes y las purgas, Rafael Silva Vega -- Tiempos de pandemia y justicia socio-ambiental, Kristina Lyons -- Ciudadanía, pandemia y globalización, Aristides Obando Cabezas -- El que espera desespera: enfermedades de alto costo en tiempos de pandemia, Diana Patricia Quintero M. -- Ocupar no es habitar. Cuestiones sobre arquitectura y ciudad en tiempos de la COVID-19, Erick Abdel Figueroa Pereira -- Afuera, Lina Buchely Ibarra -- Covid-19, campesinos y política pública: la necesidad de hacerse visible para acceder a la dotación de bienes públicos, Rocío del Pilar Peña Huertas -- Pandemia y cárceles, Omar Alejandro Bravo -- Cuidado de la vida y protesta social en tiempos de pandemia, Carlos A. Manrique -- Sobre la vida-sin-muerte (o los dilemas del progresismo actual), Juan José Fernández Dusso -- Cuanto más lejos… Discurso, sujeto y lazo social en tiempos de pandemia, Ximena Castro Sardi -- Parte 3: Cada uno cuenta: patógenos y políticas en la pandemia de COVID-19, Kirk C. Allison -- Un triaje social, la voluntad anticipada, los determinantes sociales de la salud: ¿se puede clasificar y anticipar lo urgente, lo grave, lo catastrófico?, Yuri Takeuchi -- El cuidado de sí mismo en profesionales de la salud en tiempos de Covid-19, un asunto ético, María Adelaida Arboleda Trujillo -- Tensiones constitucionales en tiempos de pandemia: desafíos éticos y jurídicos del uso de aplicaciones y desarrollos tecnológicos para enfrentar el COVID-19, Esteban Hoyos Ceballos y Julián Gaviria Mira -- Libertad de expresión en estados de emergencia, Diana Acosta Navas -- La soledad en el (tele)trabajo, Saryth Valencia -- Sobre el apocalipsis, la quietud y el hallazgo de sí, Daniela Díaz -- Comunidad, afectos e inmunización de la vida: una reflexión desde la actual pandemia, Ana María Ayala Román -- La ética de la auto-interrupción o cómo (no) actuar frente a la crisis, Nicolás Parra Herrera -- Sobre los autores -- Índice temático.Incluye referencias bibliográfica

PIAS4 is associated with macro/microcephaly in the novel interstitial 19p13.3 microdeletion/microduplication syndrome

Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) is a powerful genetic tool that has enabled the identification of novel imbalances in individuals with intellectual disability (ID), autistic disorders and congenital malformations. Here we report a \u27genotype first\u27 approach using aCGH on 13 unrelated patients with 19p13.3 submicroscopic rearrangement (11 deletions and 2 duplications) and review cases in the literature and in public databases. Shared phenotypic features suggest that these patients represent an interstitial microdeletion/microduplication syndrome at 19p13.3. Common features consist of abnormal head circumference in most patients (macrocephaly with the deletions and microcephaly with the duplications), ID with developmental delay (DD), hypotonia, speech delay and common dysmorphic features. The phenotype is associated with at least a ~0.113 Mb critical region harboring three strong candidate genes probably associated with DD, ID, speech delay and other dysmorphic features: MAP2K2, ZBTB7A and PIAS4, an E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in the ubiquitin signaling pathways, which we hypothesize for the first time to be associated with head size in humans