50 research outputs found

    The RIF1-Long splice variant promotes G1 phase 53BP1 nuclear bodies to protect against replication stress

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    Acknowledgements Thanks to members of the Aberdeen Chromosome Biology Group for helpful comments, and Ronan Broderick and Wojciech Niedzwiedz for advice on mitotic bridge analysis. We thank Raif Yuecel and his team at the Iain Fraser Cytometry Centre for assistance, and Kevin Mackenzie and his team at the Microscopy and Histology Core Facility. Work was supported by Cancer Research UK Studentship Award C1445/A20596 and CRUK Programme Award C1445/A19059; by JSPS KAKENHI Grants Numbers 17K15068, 18H02170 and 18H04719; by research grants from the Daiichi Sankyo’s Foundation of Life Science and the Takeda Science Foundation; and by the UK Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00007/13). Collaboration was supported by a 2017 JSPS Summer Programme Fellowship. Funding Cancer Research UK (C1445/A20596) Anne D Donaldson Cancer Research UK (C1445/A19059) Anne D Donaldson Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (17K15068) Masato T Kanemaki Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (18H02170) Masato T Kanemaki Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (18H04719) Masato T Kanemaki Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00007/13) Nick GilbertPeer reviewedPublisher PD

    Clinical features of patients with homozygous complement C4A or C4B deficiency

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    Introduction Homozygous deficiencies of complement C4A or C4B are detected in 1-10% of populations. In genome-wide association studies C4 deficiencies are missed because the genetic variation of C4 is complex. There are no studies where the clinical presentation of these patients is analyzed. This study was aimed to characterize the clinical features of patients with homozygous C4A or C4B deficiency. Material and methods Thirty-two patients with no functional C4A, 87 patients with no C4B and 120 with normal amount of C4 genes were included. C4A and C4B numbers were assessed with genomic quantitative real-time PCR. Medical history was studied retrospectively from patients' files. Results Novel associations between homozygous C4A deficiency and lymphoma, coeliac disease and sarcoidosis were detected. These conditions were present in 12.5%, (4/32 in patients vs. 0.8%, 1/120, in controls, OR = 17.00, 95%Cl = 1.83-158.04, p = 0.007), 12.5% (4/32 in patients vs. 0%, 0/120 in controls, OR = 1.14, 95%Cl = 1.00-1.30, p = 0.002) and 12.5%, respectively (4/32 in patients vs. 2.5%, 3/120 in controls, OR = 5.571, 95%Cl = 1.79-2.32, p = 0.036). In addition, C4A and C4B deficiencies were both associated with adverse drug reactions leading to drug discontinuation (34.4%, 11/32 in C4A-deficient patients vs. 14.2%, 17/120 in controls, OR = 3.174, 95%Cl = 1.30-7.74, p = 0.009 and 28.7%, 25/87 in C4B-deficient patients, OR = 2.44, 95%Cl = 1.22-4.88, p = 0.010). Conclusion This reported cohort of homozygous deficiencies of C4A or C4B suggests that C4 deficiencies may have various unrecorded disease associations. C4 gene should be considered as a candidate gene in studying these selected disease associations.Peer reviewe

    Translating land cover/land use classifications to habitat taxonomies for landscape monitoring: A Mediterranean assessment

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    Periodic monitoring of biodiversity changes at a landscape scale constitutes a key issue for conservation managers. Earth observation (EO) data offer a potential solution, through direct or indirect mapping of species or habitats. Most national and international programs rely on the use of land cover (LC) and/or land use (LU) classification systems. Yet, these are not as clearly relatable to biodiversity in comparison to habitat classifications, and provide less scope for monitoring. While a conversion from LC/LU classification to habitat classification can be of great utility, differences in definitions and criteria have so far limited the establishment of a unified approach for such translation between these two classification systems. Focusing on five Mediterranean NATURA 2000 sites, this paper considers the scope for three of the most commonly used global LC/LU taxonomies—CORINE Land Cover, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) land cover classification system (LCCS) and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme to be translated to habitat taxonomies. Through both quantitative and expert knowledge based qualitative analysis of selected taxonomies, FAO-LCCS turns out to be the best candidate to cope with the complexity of habitat description and provides a framework for EO and in situ data integration for habitat mapping, reducing uncertainties and class overlaps and bridging the gap between LC/LU and habitats domains for landscape monitoring—a major issue for conservation. This study also highlights the need to modify the FAO-LCCS hierarchical class description process to permit the addition of attributes based on class-specific expert knowledge to select multi-temporal (seasonal) EO data and improve classification. An application of LC/LU to habitat mapping is provided for a coastal Natura 2000 site with high classification accuracy as a result

    Homology modelling and spectroscopy, a never-ending love story

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    Homology modelling is normally the technique of choice when experimental structure data are not available but three-dimensional coordinates are needed, for example, to aid with detailed interpretation of results of spectroscopic studies. Herein, the state of the art of homology modelling will be described in the light of a series of recent developments, and an overview will be given of the problems and opportunities encountered in this field. The major topic, the accuracy and precision of homology models, will be discussed extensively due to its influence on the reliability of conclusions drawn from the combination of homology models and spectroscopic data. Three real-world examples will illustrate how both homology modelling and spectroscopy can be beneficial for (bio)medical research

    Modulation of Genetic Associations with Serum Urate Levels by Body-Mass-Index in Humans

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    We tested for interactions between body mass index (BMI) and common genetic variants affecting serum urate levels, genome-wide, in up to 42569 participants. Both stratified genome-wide association (GWAS) analyses, in lean, overweight and obese individuals, and regression-type analyses in a non BMI-stratified overall sample were performed. The former did not uncover any novel locus with a major main effect, but supported modulation of effects for some known and potentially new urate loci. The latter highlighted a SNP at RBFOX3 reaching genome-wide significant level (effect size 0.014, 95% CI 0.008-0.02, P-inter= 2.6 x 10(-8)). Two top loci in interaction term analyses, RBFOX3 and ERO1LB-EDAR-ADD, also displayed suggestive differences in main effect size between the lean and obese strata. All top ranking loci for urate effect differences between BMI categories were novel and most had small magnitude but opposite direction effects between strata. They include the locus RBMS1-TANK (men, Pdifflean-overweight= 4.7 x 10(-8)), a region that has been associated with several obesity related traits, and TSPYL5 (men, Pdifflean-overweight= 9.1 x 10(-8)), regulating adipocytes-produced estradiol. The top-ranking known urate loci was ABCG2, the strongest known gout risk locus, with an effect halved in obese compared to lean men (Pdifflean-obese= 2 x 10(-4)). Finally, pathway analysis suggested a role for N-glycan biosynthesis as a prominent urate-associated pathway in the lean stratum. These results illustrate a potentially powerful way to monitor changes occurring in obesogenic environment.Peer reviewe

    Frequency of Iatrogenic Changes Caused from Overhang Restorations

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    Overhangs from different restorations are an iatrogenic error with different results, short and long term consequences related to bone changes and periodontal diseases. Amalgam “tattoos”, idiopathic subgingival hypertrophy, marginal periodontitis and bone reductions in the intradental septum are major problems. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the frequency of traumatic restorations in distal teeth and clinical criteria, related to the x-ray findings. Evaluating criteria, for repairing the overhangs or for replacement of the restorations, is also a goal. Three hundred and sixteen - 316 patients from both sexes, 632 dental x-rays with 948 distal teeth and 632 restorations, at least two radiographs for each patient, were analyzed. Overhangs are classified in three groups: small, middle and large. In the criteria bone changes from the overhangs are analyzed separately from the existing or nonexisting bone changes from a generalized periodontal diseases. The frequency of iatrogenic changes in this cohort group is 10.6% from 632 restored teeth. This is a relatively small number compared with the other published studies. These overhangs are on distal teeth in sound teeth arches which makes them difficult for corrections. The evaluated criteria for replacement based on x-ray findings and clinical experience includes: operative and nonoperative corrections, restoration replacement, perio- and endo-therapy and follow up terms for secondary caries

    An in vitro study of root caries of front teeth .

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    Address for correspondence:\ud Dr. E. Boteva;\ud Department of Conservative Dentistry;\ud Faculty of Dental Medicine;\ud Medical University – Sofia;\ud 1 G. Sofi iski str.;\ud 1000 Sofi a, Bulgaria;\ud e-mail: [email protected] carieses can occur on root surfaces exposed to bacteria. They\ud are typically diagnosed in patients with periodontal diseases and gingival recessions.\ud Frequencies are higher among elderly patients, although root caries can appear in\ud middle-aged and in young patients. The аim of the present study was to investigate\ud the frequency of root caries of front teeth with sound crowns and high resistance,\ud which has overcome the demineralization and the caries and were extracted due\ud to periodontal reasons. All teeth n = 123 were sound and matured, from the same\ud geographical region and dental practice area. After cleaning and draying, they were\ud observed under magnifi cation x5. The incisors and premolars were separated in six\ud groups. Root caries was observed under magnifi cation x5, diagnosed with probe and\ud registered by two examiners. The data was registered according to the criteria: Margins\ud (2/3-1/2) in dentine and cementum and origin of the lesion on root surface. The\ud size of the lesions observed varied from minimum 1 mm² to massive tissue losses\ud on two to three surfaces of the root surface. The general frequency of root caries\ud was 25%, which was symptomatic for all groups of teeth with generalized elderly and\ud pathological periodontal changes. Early prevention of root caries is essential. Dietary\ud restriction of erosive beverages and sticky sweeteners is an essential part of the\ud general treatment and preventive plan. The usual mouthrinsis, electric toothbrushes,\ud vitamin C, intradental brushes included in standard periodontal treatment must be\ud carefully revised in relation to patients DMFT
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