Could circRNA be a new biomarker for pre-eclampsia?

Pre-eclampsia is a devastating complication of pregnancy which is characterized by hypertension and proteinuria in pregnant women. Pre-eclampsia is important as it is the leading cause of death. Moreover, untreated pre-eclampsia might lead to other lethal complications, for both fetus and mother. Pre-eclampsia can also affect the quality of life in affected women. Despite a large number of risk factors for pre-eclampsia, these risk factors are able to detect just 30 of women who are susceptible to pre-eclampsia. Heterogeneous manifestations of pre-eclampsia necessitate the discovery of potential biomarkers required for its early detection. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a type of RNA which are more abundant, specific, and highly organized compared with other types of RNA. Accordingly, circRNAs have been suggested as one of the potential biomarkers for different diseases. Recently, researchers have shown interest in the effects of circRNAs in pre-eclampsia, although the current evidence is limited. The majority of obstetricians are probably not aware of circRNAs as a useful biomarker. Here, we aimed to summarize recent supporting evidence and assess the mechanisms by which circRNAs are involved in pre-eclampsia. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

The influences of vitamin D and omega-3 co-supplementation on clinical, metabolic and genetic parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the co-administration of vitamin D and omega-3fatty acid on clinical, metabolic and genetic parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 60 subjects, aged 18–40 years old with PCOS. Subjects were randomly allocated to take either 50,000 IU vitamin D every 2 weeks plus 2000 mg/day omega-3 fatty acid from fish oil (n=30) or placebo (n=30) for 12 weeks. Gene expression analysis of inflammatory cytokines was conducted on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of PCOS women using RT-PCR method. Results: Vitamin D and omega -3 fatty acid co-supplementation significantly decreased serum total testosterone levels (−0.2 ± 0.5 vs.+0.1 ± 0.4 ng/mL, P=0.02) compared with the placebo. In addition, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid co-supplementation resulted in a significant improvement in beck depression inventory (−1.4 ± 1.6 vs. −0.5 ± 0.6, P=0.01), general health questionnaire scores (−4.5 ± 4.3 vs. −1.9 ± 2.3, P=0.005) and depression anxiety and stress scale scores (−5.0 ± 5.1 vs. −2.3 ± 3.5, P=0.01) compared with the placebo. Additionally, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid co-administration significantly decreased serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (−1.2 ± 1.9 vs.+0.1 ± 0.7 mg/L, P=0.001) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (−0.4 ± 0.4 vs.+0.2 ± 0.6 μmol/L, P<0.001), and significantly increased plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels (+ 114.6 ± 122.2 vs. -2.4 ± 168.2 mmol/L, P=0.003) compared with the placebo. Results of RT-PCR demonstrated that vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid co-supplementation significantly downregulated gene expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1) (P=0.03), and upregulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (P=0.004) in PBMCs of subjects with PCOS, when compared with placebo. Conclusions: Overall, the co-administration of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid for 12 weeks had beneficial effects on mental health parameters, serum total testosterone, hs-CRP, plasma TAC and MDA levels, and gene expression of IL-1 and VEGF among women with PCOS

Comparison of different multi-trait selection strategies for genetic improvement of economic traits in six Iranian commercial lines of the silkworm, Bombyx mori (Lep.: Bombycidae)

In this study, the genetic parameters and economic weights of some important economic traits in six Iranian commercial varieties (110, 107, 101433, Xinhong1, Koming1 and Y) of the silkworm were estimated and selection indices for these traits constructed. Individual recording of cocoon weight, shell weight and shell ratio were carried out during six generations. Heritabilities and genetic correlation between traits were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood method. The heritability of cocoon weight and shell weight were higher than that of shell ratio. Genetic improvement of cocoon weight and shell weight were high in the line 101433 due to higher heritability and genetic correlation between them. Therefore, the restriction of genetic gain of cocoon weight in this line is expected to cause a severe decrease in improvement of shell weight, and subsequently a decrease of selection efficiency. The genetic improvement of cocoon shell percentage increased in restricted indices due to low genetic correlation with cocoon weight, and selection accuracy in these indices decreased significantly compared to other indices. Considering the difference in genetic parameters and economic values of traits in commercial lines of the silkworm, it would be necessary to define a separate breeding goal and selection strategy in each line

Quantum information with structured light

We investigate structured photons as carriers of quantum information. We describe our implementation of quantum cryptography with orbital angular momentum, and present our results on efficient implementation of quantum state tomography for structured light fields

Emergent quantum confinement at topological insulator surfaces

Bismuth-chalchogenides are model examples of three-dimensional topological insulators. Their ideal bulk-truncated surface hosts a single spin-helical surface state, which is the simplest possible surface electronic structure allowed by their non-trivial $\mathbb{Z}_2$ topology. They are therefore widely regarded ideal templates to realize the predicted exotic phenomena and applications of this topological surface state. However, real surfaces of such compounds, even if kept in ultra-high vacuum, rapidly develop a much more complex electronic structure whose origin and properties have proved controversial. Here, we demonstrate that a conceptually simple model, implementing a semiconductor-like band bending in a parameter-free tight-binding supercell calculation, can quantitatively explain the entire measured hierarchy of electronic states. In combination with circular dichroism in angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) experiments, we further uncover a rich three-dimensional spin texture of this surface electronic system, resulting from the non-trivial topology of the bulk band structure. Moreover, our study reveals how the full surface-bulk connectivity in topological insulators is modified by quantum confinement.Comment: 9 pages, including supplementary information, 4+4 figures. A high resolution version is available at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~pdk6/pub_files/TI_quant_conf_high_res.pd

The effects of curcumin on glycemic control and lipid profiles among patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), were performed to determine the effects of curcumin intake on glycemic control and lipid profiles among patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and related disorders. Methods: We searched the following databases up until January 2018: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The relevant data were extracted and evaluated for quality of the studies in accordance with the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Data were pooled using the inverse variance method and expressed as standardized mean difference (MDs) with 95 confidence intervals (95 CI). Results: Twenty-six trials with 1890 participants were included in the current meta-analysis. The findings demonstrated the significant association between curcumin intake and reduced fasting glucose levels (SMD-0.78; 95 CI,-1.20,-0.37; P<0.001), homeostasis model of assessment-estimated insulin resistance (SMD-0.91; 95 CI,-1.52,-0.31; P=0.003) and HbA1c (SMD-0.92; 95 CI,-1.37,-0.47; P<0.001). In addition, curcumin supplementation was significantly associated with triglyceride (SMD-1.21; 95 CI,-1.78,-0.65; P<0.001) and total cholesterol reduction (SMD-0.73; 95 CI,-1.32,-0.13; P= 0.01). However, curcumin intake significantly increased insulin levels (SMD 0.92; 95 CI, 0.06, 1.78; P=0.036). We found no significant effect of curcumin supplementation on LDL-(SMD-0.52; 95 CI,-1.14, 0.11; P=0.10) and HDL-cholesterol levels (SMD 0.28; 95 CI,-0.22, 0.77; P=0.27). Conclusion: Overall, curcumin consumption was associated with a significant reduction in fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, triglycerides and total cholesterol levels among patients with MetS and related disorders, but did not affect LDL-and HDL-cholesterol levels. © 2018 Bentham Science Publishers

Nonlinear Optics: The Enabling Technology for Quantum Information Science

Nonlinear optical processes such as parametric down conversion and squeezed light generation are key elements of most quantum protocols, leading to crucial applications such as quantum imaging, sub-shot-noise metrology, and secure communication

Air pollution perception in ten countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

As largely documented in the literature, the stark restrictions enforced worldwide in 2020 to curb the COVID-19 pandemic also curtailed the production of air pollutants to some extent. This study investigates the perception of the air pollution as assessed by individuals located in ten countries: Australia, Brazil, China, Ghana, India, Iran, Italy, Norway, South Africa and the USA. The perceptions towards air quality were evaluated by employing an online survey administered in May 2020. Participants (N = 9394) in the ten countries expressed their opinions according to a Likert-scale response. A reduction in pollutant concentration was clearly perceived, albeit to a different extent, by all populations. The survey participants located in India and Italy perceived the largest drop in the air pollution concentration; conversely, the smallest variation was perceived among Chinese and Norwegian respondents. Among all the demographic indicators considered, only gender proved to be statistically significant

Evaluación estructural ante el cambio de destino del edificio Bioterio

Práctica Supervisada (IC)--FCEFN-UNC, 2018Presenta y asienta las verificaciones estructurales correspondiente al cambio del destino del edificio Bioterio bajo la acción de cargas y sobrecargas gravitatorias. En particular, la evaluación estructural se realizó en los siguientes componentes del edificio; losas, vigas, columnas, fundaciones, tabiques y escaler