14,656 research outputs found
Divergent mutational processes distinguish hypoxic and normoxic tumours.
Many primary tumours have low levels of molecular oxygen (hypoxia), and hypoxic tumours respond poorly to therapy. Pan-cancer molecular hallmarks of tumour hypoxia remain poorly understood, with limited comprehension of its associations with specific mutational processes, non-coding driver genes and evolutionary features. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we quantify hypoxia in 1188 tumours spanning 27 cancer types. Elevated hypoxia associates with increased mutational load across cancer types, irrespective of underlying mutational class. The proportion of mutations attributed to several mutational signatures of unknown aetiology directly associates with the level of hypoxia, suggesting underlying mutational processes for these signatures. At the gene level, driver mutations in TP53, MYC and PTEN are enriched in hypoxic tumours, and mutations in PTEN interact with hypoxia to direct tumour evolutionary trajectories. Overall, hypoxia plays a critical role in shaping the genomic and evolutionary landscapes of cancer
The European Large Area ISO Survey - ISOPHOT results using the MPIA-pipeline
The European Large Area ISO Survey (ELAIS) will provide Infrared observations
of 4 regions in the sky with ISO. Around 2000 Infrared sources have been
detected at 7 and 15 microns (with ISOCAM), 90 and 175 microns (with ISOPHOT))
over 13 square degrees of the sky. We present the source extraction pipeline of
the 90 microns ISOPHOT observations, describe and discuss the results obtained
and derive the limits of the ELAIS observational strategy.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, to appear in the ISO conference "The Universe as
seen by ISO", 1998, UNESCO, Pari
First results of the two square meters multilayer glass composite mirror design proposed for the Cherenkov Telescope Array developed at INFN
The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a future ground-based gamma-ray
astronomy detector that will consist of more than 100 Imaging Atmospheric
Cherenkov Telescopes of different sizes. The total reflective surface of
roughly 10 000 m requires unprecedented technological efforts towards a
cost-efficient production of light-weight and reliable mirror substrates at
high production rate. We report on a new mirror concept proposed for CTA
developed by INFN, which is based on the replication from a spherical convex
mold under low pressure. The mirror substrate is an open structure design made
by thin glass layers at the mirror's front and rear interspaced by steel
cylinders. A first series of nominal size mirrors has been produced, for which
we discuss the optical properties in terms of radius of curvature and focusing
power
Germline genetic variation in prostate susceptibility does not predict outcomes in the chemoprevention trials PCPT and SELECT
Background
The development of prostate cancer can be influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Numerous germline SNPs influence prostate cancer susceptibility. The functional pathways in which these SNPs increase prostate cancer susceptibility are unknown. Finasteride is currently not being used routinely as a chemoprevention agent but the long term outcomes of the PCPT trial are awaited. The outcomes of the SELECT trial have not recommended the use of chemoprevention in preventing prostate cancer. This study investigated whether germline risk SNPs could be used to predict outcomes in the PCPT and SELECT trial.
Methods
Genotyping was performed in European men entered into the PCPT trial (n = 2434) and SELECT (n = 4885). Next generation genotyping was performed using Affymetrix® Eureka™ Genotyping protocols. Logistic regression models were used to test the association of risk scores and the outcomes in the PCPT and SELECT trials.
Results
Of the 100 SNPs, 98 designed successfully and genotyping was validated for samples genotyped on other platforms. A number of SNPs predicted for aggressive disease in both trials. Men with a higher polygenic score are more likely to develop prostate cancer in both trials, but the score did not predict for other outcomes in the trial.
Conclusion
Men with a higher polygenic risk score are more likely to develop prostate cancer. There were no interactions of these germline risk SNPs and the chemoprevention agents in the SELECT and PCPT trials
The LMC+ SOFIA Legacy Program
With the goal of elucidating the effects of low metallicity on the star
formation activity, feedback and interstellar medium of low metallicity
environments, SOFIA has observed a 40' x 20' (60 pc x 30 pc) area of our
neighboring metal-poor Large Magellanic Cloud in 158 micron [CII] and 88 micron
[OIII], targeting the southern molecular ridge just south of 30Doradus. We find
extensive [CII] emission over the region, which encompasses a wide variety of
local physical conditions, from bright compact star forming regions to lower
density environments beyond, much of which does not correspond to CO
structures. Preliminary analyses indicates that most of the molecular hydrogen
is in a CO-dark gas component.Comment: Proceedings of the 7th Chile-Cologne-Bonn-Symposium "Physics and
Chemistry of Star Formation, The Dynamical ISM Across Time and Spatial
Scales", Puerto-Varas Chile, September 26-30, 2022 V. Ossenkopf-Okada, R.
Schaaf, I. Breloy (eds.
Brain structure in pediatric Tourette syndrome
Previous studies of brain structure in Tourette syndrome (TS) have produced mixed results, and most had modest sample sizes. In the present multicenter study, we used structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to compare 103 children and adolescents with TS to a well-matched group of 103 children without tics. We applied voxel-based morphometry methods to test gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volume differences between diagnostic groups, accounting for MRI scanner and sequence, age, sex and total GM+WM volume. The TS group demonstrated lower WM volume bilaterally in orbital and medial prefrontal cortex, and greater GM volume in posterior thalamus, hypothalamus and midbrain. These results demonstrate evidence for abnormal brain structure in children and youth with TS, consistent with and extending previous findings, and they point to new target regions and avenues of study in TS. For example, as orbital cortex is reciprocally connected with hypothalamus, structural abnormalities in these regions may relate to abnormal decision making, reinforcement learning or somatic processing in TS
Evidence of widespread selection on standing variation in Europe at height-associated SNPs.
Strong signatures of positive selection at newly arising genetic variants are well documented in humans(1-8), but this form of selection may not be widespread in recent human evolution(9). Because many human traits are highly polygenic and partly determined by common, ancient genetic variation, an alternative model for rapid genetic adaptation has been proposed: weak selection acting on many pre-existing (standing) genetic variants, or polygenic adaptation(10-12). By studying height, a classic polygenic trait, we demonstrate the first human signature of widespread selection on standing variation. We show that frequencies of alleles associated with increased height, both at known loci and genome wide, are systematically elevated in Northern Europeans compared with Southern Europeans (P < 4.3 × 10(-4)). This pattern mirrors intra-European height differences and is not confounded by ancestry or other ascertainment biases. The systematic frequency differences are consistent with the presence of widespread weak selection (selection coefficients ∼10(-3)-10(-5) per allele) rather than genetic drift alone (P < 10(-15))
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