Adult hippocampal neural progenitor cells: an Important In vitro tool for studying complex mechanisms regulating adult neurogenesis

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis (ahNG) is a peculiar form of neural plasticity involved in crucial brain functions including cognition, mood and stress response. Adult hippocampal neural progenitor cells (ahNPC) differentiation is modulated positively or negatively by several factors. Understanding the mechanisms regulating ahNG will shed light on its role in brain physiopathology. Astrocytes, one of the major component of the neurogenic niche, might regulate ahNPC fate specification. Little is known about the identity of astrocytes-secreted proteins and the subcellular mechanisms mediating their modulatory effect. Interestingly ahNG is deregulated in neuropsychiatric disorders such as major depression. The specific involvement of serotonin (5-HT) receptors family in mediating antidepressants (AD) effect add more complication into serotonin role in depression and is still not extensively described. Several studies documented a role of NF-\uf06bB signaling in ahNPC response to proneurogenic molecules. Yet scarce data described how the knockout of NF-\uf06bB p50 subunit (p50KO) could affect ahNG. In vitro analysis of astrocytes conditioned media (ACM) effect on ahNPC differentiation, showed that p50 absence induced intrinsic and extrinsic defects in both cell types. These results could explain earlier study published in our group showing that p50KO mice have reduced ahNG and severe deficits in hippocampal-dependent cognitive performance. Moreover, lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) was identified as a novel astrocyte-derived proneurogenic signal. In the second part of the study we showed that 5-HT2A/2C receptors antagonism and 5-HT7 activation are proneurogenic on ahNPC. Moreover NF-B p50 subunit presence was required for the multimodal AD induced increase of neurogenesis. In conclusion, ahNPC modulation by astrocyte-released factors and serotonin receptors might be future pharmacological targets for increasing ahNG specifically in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders

Traditional Medicine in Syria: Folk Medicine in Aleppo Governorate:

The use of Traditional Arabic Medicine (TAM) for various diseases has been popular but scarcely studied in Syria. In the present study, we carried out ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological research on the plants traditionally used to cure various diseases in northern Syria. The information was collected from the city and villages of the Aleppo governorate "Mohaafazah" in the north of Syria, collecting data directly on the basis of a detailed survey of inhabitants and herbalists. In this survey, we found that hundreds of plant species are still in use in TAM for the treatment of various diseases. We selected the most common 100 species, used in the treatment of more than 25 diseases. Among these plants, 53 are used for treating gastrointestinal disorders, 38 for respiratory system diseases, including asthma, bronchitis and cough, 34 for skin diseases, 21 for diabetes, 17 for kidney and urinary disorders, 16 for cardiac disorders, 14 for infertility and sexual impotency, 13 for treating liver diseases, 13 for several types of cancer, 9 for enhancing breast milk excretion, 8 for weight loss, 5 for reducing cholesterol, and three for weight gain. Plants were collected and identified: scientific Latin names, local names, the used parts of the plant, the herbal preparations and the local medical uses are described. Scientific literature concerning the activity of the investigated species is also reported and discussed according to their traditional uses

Betonok oldódásos korróziója – Szakirodalmi áttekintés 2. rész: A cement kötőanyagú betonok agresszív, szervetlen anyagok okozta oldódásos fizikai, kémiai korróziója

A megszilárdult betonnal, betontermékkel, vasbeton és feszített vasbeton szerkezeti elemmel érintkező lágyvizek és agresszív vizek, folyadékok, gázok, gőzök, permetek, erjedő anyagok a cement kötőanyagú betonok oldódásos korrózióját okozhatják. Cikksorozatunknak e folyóirat 2017. évi 3. számában megjelent 1. részében (Balázs et al., 2017) a vizek és folyadékok kémhatásának, a víz keménységének és széndioxid- (szénsav-) tartalmának fogalmát, valamint a betonoknak a vizek savassága és agresszív széndioxid- (szénsav)-tartalma okozta – olykor a karbonát-keménységgel (változó keménységgel) is befolyásolt – korrózióját elemeztük a szakirodalom alapján. Cikksorozatunk 2. részében a lágyvizek, a szervetlen anyagok okozta oldódásos betonkorrózió szakirodalmát tekintjük át

Assessing the carcinogenic potential of low-dose exposures to chemical mixtures in the environment: the challenge ahead.

Lifestyle factors are responsible for a considerable portion of cancer incidence worldwide, but credible estimates from the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) suggest that the fraction of cancers attributable to toxic environmental exposures is between 7% and 19%. To explore the hypothesis that low-dose exposures to mixtures of chemicals in the environment may be combining to contribute to environmental carcinogenesis, we reviewed 11 hallmark phenotypes of cancer, multiple priority target sites for disruption in each area and prototypical chemical disruptors for all targets, this included dose-response characterizations, evidence of low-dose effects and cross-hallmark effects for all targets and chemicals. In total, 85 examples of chemicals were reviewed for actions on key pathways/mechanisms related to carcinogenesis. Only 15% (13/85) were found to have evidence of a dose-response threshold, whereas 59% (50/85) exerted low-dose effects. No dose-response information was found for the remaining 26% (22/85). Our analysis suggests that the cumulative effects of individual (non-carcinogenic) chemicals acting on different pathways, and a variety of related systems, organs, tissues and cells could plausibly conspire to produce carcinogenic synergies. Additional basic research on carcinogenesis and research focused on low-dose effects of chemical mixtures needs to be rigorously pursued before the merits of this hypothesis can be further advanced. However, the structure of the World Health Organization International Programme on Chemical Safety 'Mode of Action' framework should be revisited as it has inherent weaknesses that are not fully aligned with our current understanding of cancer biology

IL4I1 Is a Metabolic Immune Checkpoint that Activates the AHR and Promotes Tumor Progression

Immune checkpoint blockade therapy induces the AHR-activating enzyme IL4I1, which promotes tumor progression, through its effects on tumor cell motility and adaptive immunity

Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): bluetongue

Non peer reviewe

Spatial dynamics and mixing of bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea revealed using next generation sequencing

The Atlantic bluefin tuna is a highly migratory species emblematic of the challenges associated with shared fisheries management. In an effort to resolve the species’ stock dynamics, a genomewide search for spatially informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was undertaken, by way of sequencing reduced representation libraries. An allele frequency approach to SNP discovery was used, combining the data of 555 larvae and young-of-the-year (LYOY) into pools representing major geographical areas and mapping against a newly assembled genomic reference. From a set of 184,895 candidate loci, 384 were selected for validation using 167 LYOY. A highly discriminatory genotyping panel of 95 SNPs was ultimately developed by selecting loci with the most pronounced differences between western Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea LYOY. The panel was evaluated by genotyping a different set of LYOY (n = 326), and from these, 77.8% and 82.1% were correctly assigned to western Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea origins, respectively. The panel revealed temporally persistent differentiation among LYOY from the western Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea (FST = 0.008, p = .034). The composition of six mixed feeding aggregations in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea was characterized using genotypes from medium (n = 184) and large (n = 48) adults, applying population assignment and mixture analyses. The results provide evidence of persistent population structuring across broad geographic areas and extensive mixing in the Atlantic Ocean, particularly in the mid-Atlantic Bight and Gulf of St. Lawrence. The genomic reference and genotyping tools presented here constitute novel resources useful for future research and conservation efforts

The genomic landscape of balanced cytogenetic abnormalities associated with human congenital anomalies

Despite the clinical significance of balanced chromosomal abnormalities (BCAs), their characterization has largely been restricted to cytogenetic resolution. We explored the landscape of BCAs at nucleotide resolution in 273 subjects with a spectrum of congenital anomalies. Whole-genome sequencing revised 93% of karyotypes and demonstrated complexity that was cryptic to karyotyping in 21% of BCAs, highlighting the limitations of conventional cytogenetic approaches. At least 33.9% of BCAs resulted in gene disruption that likely contributed to the developmental phenotype, 5.2% were associated with pathogenic genomic imbalances, and 7.3% disrupted topologically associated domains (TADs) encompassing known syndromic loci. Remarkably, BCA breakpoints in eight subjects altered a single TAD encompassing MEF2C, a known driver of 5q14.3 microdeletion syndrome, resulting in decreased MEF2C expression. We propose that sequence-level resolution dramatically improves prediction of clinical outcomes for balanced rearrangements and provides insight into new pathogenic mechanisms, such as altered regulation due to changes in chromosome topology