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1.
Nature ; 626(7997): 207-211, 2024 Feb.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38086418

RESUMO

Enhancers control gene expression and have crucial roles in development and homeostasis1-3. However, the targeted de novo design of enhancers with tissue-specific activities has remained challenging. Here we combine deep learning and transfer learning to design tissue-specific enhancers for five tissues in the Drosophila melanogaster embryo: the central nervous system, epidermis, gut, muscle and brain. We first train convolutional neural networks using genome-wide single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq) datasets and then fine-tune the convolutional neural networks with smaller-scale data from in vivo enhancer activity assays, yielding models with 13% to 76% positive predictive value according to cross-validation. We designed and experimentally assessed 40 synthetic enhancers (8 per tissue) in vivo, of which 31 (78%) were active and 27 (68%) functioned in the target tissue (100% for central nervous system and muscle). The strategy of combining genome-wide and small-scale functional datasets by transfer learning is generally applicable and should enable the design of tissue-, cell type- and cell state-specific enhancers in any system.


Assuntos
Aprendizado Profundo , Drosophila melanogaster , Embrião não Mamífero , Elementos Facilitadores Genéticos , Redes Neurais de Computação , Especificidade de Órgãos , Animais , Cromatina/genética , Cromatina/metabolismo , Conjuntos de Dados como Assunto , Drosophila melanogaster/embriologia , Drosophila melanogaster/genética , Embrião não Mamífero/embriologia , Embrião não Mamífero/metabolismo , Elementos Facilitadores Genéticos/genética , Especificidade de Órgãos/genética , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Análise de Célula Única , Transposases/metabolismo , Biologia Sintética/métodos
2.
EMBO J ; 42(3): e112100, 2023 02 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36545802

RESUMO

All multicellular life relies on differential gene expression, determined by regulatory DNA elements and DNA-binding transcription factors that mediate activation and repression via cofactor recruitment. While activators have been extensively characterized, repressors are less well studied: the identities and properties of their repressive domains (RDs) are typically unknown and the specific co-repressors (CoRs) they recruit have not been determined. Here, we develop a high-throughput, next-generation sequencing-based screening method, repressive-domain (RD)-seq, to systematically identify RDs in complex DNA-fragment libraries. Screening more than 200,000 fragments covering the coding sequences of all transcription-related proteins in Drosophila melanogaster, we identify 195 RDs in known repressors and in proteins not previously associated with repression. Many RDs contain recurrent short peptide motifs, which are conserved between fly and human and are required for RD function, as demonstrated by motif mutagenesis. Moreover, we show that RDs that contain one of five distinct repressive motifs interact with and depend on different CoRs, such as Groucho, CtBP, Sin3A, or Smrter. These findings advance our understanding of repressors, their sequences, and the functional impact of sequence-altering mutations and should provide a valuable resource for further studies.


Assuntos
Proteínas de Drosophila , Fatores de Transcrição , Animais , Humanos , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Drosophila/genética , Drosophila melanogaster/genética , Drosophila melanogaster/metabolismo , Proteínas Repressoras/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/genética , Proteínas de Drosophila/genética , Proteínas de Drosophila/metabolismo , Proteínas Correpressoras/metabolismo , DNA/metabolismo
3.
Genome Res ; 33(3): 346-358, 2023 03.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36941077

RESUMO

The information about when and where each gene is to be expressed is mainly encoded in the DNA sequence of enhancers, sequence elements that comprise binding sites (motifs) for different transcription factors (TFs). Most of the research on enhancer sequences has been focused on TF motif presence, whereas the enhancer syntax, that is, the flexibility of important motif positions and how the sequence context modulates the activity of TF motifs, remains poorly understood. Here, we explore the rules of enhancer syntax by a two-pronged approach in Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells: we (1) replace important TF motifs by all possible 65,536 eight-nucleotide-long sequences and (2) paste eight important TF motif types into 763 positions within 496 enhancers. These complementary strategies reveal that enhancers display constrained sequence flexibility and the context-specific modulation of motif function. Important motifs can be functionally replaced by hundreds of sequences constituting several distinct motif types, but these are only a fraction of all possible sequences and motif types. Moreover, TF motifs contribute with different intrinsic strengths that are strongly modulated by the enhancer sequence context (the flanking sequence, the presence and diversity of other motif types, and the distance between motifs), such that not all motif types can work in all positions. The context-specific modulation of motif function is also a hallmark of human enhancers, as we demonstrate experimentally. Overall, these two general principles of enhancer sequences are important to understand and predict enhancer function during development, evolution, and in disease.


Assuntos
Drosophila melanogaster , Elementos Facilitadores Genéticos , Animais , Humanos , Drosophila melanogaster/genética , Drosophila melanogaster/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição/genética , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Sítios de Ligação , Evolução Molecular
4.
Eur J Pediatr ; 182(2): 957-964, 2023 Feb.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36459226

RESUMO

During the COVID-19 pandemic, children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders experienced an exacerbation of their symptoms with more access to the emergency department (ED). However, little is known about the experience of somatic symptom disorders (SSDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic in children. Therefore, we aimed to compare the rates of pediatric ED admissions for SSDs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and to understand whether the relative risk of ED admissions for SSDs changed between the two periods. We retrospectively enrolled all children between 4 and 14 years admitted for SSDs in the pediatric ED of Santobono-Pausilipon Hospital, Naples, Italy, from March 11th, 2020, to March 11th, 2021 (pandemic period), and in the same time period of the previous year (pre-pandemic period). We identified 205/95,743 (0,21%) children with SSDs presenting in ED in the pre-pandemic year and 160/40,165 (0,39%) in the pandemic year (p < 0.05). Considering the accesses for age, we observed a relative decrease of the accesses for SSDs over 12 years old (IRR 0,59; CI 0,39-0,88), while we found no differences under 12 years old (IRR 0,87; CI 0,68-1,10).   Conclusion: In this study, we found that despite the massive decrease in pediatric admissions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, somatic symptom disorders' admissions to the pediatric ED increased, suggesting an impact of the pandemic also on pediatric psychiatric disorders. What is Known: • During the COVID -19 pandemic, children and adolescents with a psychiatric disorder experienced exacerbation of their symptoms with more accesses in Emergency Department. What is New: • We found that despite the massive decrease of the pediatric admissions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, somatic symptom disorders admissions in healthy children to the pediatric Emergency Department increased ,suggesting an impact of the pandemic also on the pediatric psychiatric disorders.


Assuntos
COVID-19 , Serviços Médicos de Emergência , Sintomas Inexplicáveis , Transtornos Mentais , Adolescente , Criança , Humanos , Pandemias , Estudos Retrospectivos , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência , Transtornos Mentais/epidemiologia
5.
Malar J ; 21(1): 283, 2022 Oct 05.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36199078

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Quantifying disease costs is critical for policymakers to set priorities, allocate resources, select control and prevention strategies, and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of interventions. Although malaria carries a very large disease burden, the availability of comprehensive and comparable estimates of malaria costs across endemic countries is scarce. METHODS: A literature review to summarize methodologies utilized to estimate malaria treatment costs was conducted to identify gaps in knowledge. RESULTS: Only 45 publications met the inclusion criteria. They utilize different methods, include distinct cost components, have varied geographical coverage (a country vs a city), include different periods in the analysis, and focus on specific parasite types or population groups (e.g., pregnant women). CONCLUSIONS: Cost estimates currently available are not comparable, hindering broad statements on the costs of malaria, and constraining advocacy efforts towards investment in malaria control and elimination, particularly with the finance and development sectors of the government.


Assuntos
Estresse Financeiro , Malária , Efeitos Psicossociais da Doença , Análise Custo-Benefício , Feminino , Custos de Cuidados de Saúde , Humanos , Malária/prevenção & controle , Gravidez
6.
Appetite ; 166: 105471, 2021 11 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34147567

RESUMO

Excessive sugar intake is one of the factors contributing to the alarming rates of childhood obesity and overweight in Portugal. Children's preferences and food consumption patterns are largely determined by the foods that are more familiar to them. Parents and caregivers are responsible for shaping children's eating habits since they are the ones who choose the food available in the household. The present study explores parental perceptions about sugar and sugar intake and its consequences on children's health. Moreover, we also examined the practices that parents use to regulate their children's diet, namely, to promote the consumption of desired foods (e.g., vegetables) and limit the intake of undesired food (e.g., sweets), and the perceived barriers and facilitators of sugar intake regulation. To this end, 42 interviews were conducted with parents of school-aged children (ages 6-10 years). A thematic analysis revealed that parents perceive sugar as highly negative (e.g., "evil", "poison", "addiction") and its consumption as harmful (e.g., hyperactivity; overweight). Nonetheless, the view that sugary food consumption is not necessarily problematic was also common. Indeed, most parents considered that sugar intake should be regulated but not forbidden. To control the intake of sugary foods (e.g., sodas, cookies), they reported using strategies such as restriction, explanation, or negotiation. Several barriers to sugar intake regulation were identified (e.g., birthday parties, parents' lack of knowledge), but also a few facilitators (e.g., bringing food from home to school). Our findings may inform the development of interventions or policies to promote healthier eating habits in school-age children.


Assuntos
Obesidade Infantil , Criança , Comportamento Alimentar , Humanos , Pais , Percepção , Portugal , Instituições Acadêmicas , Açúcares
7.
PLoS Comput Biol ; 15(3): e1006832, 2019 03.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30856170

RESUMO

Centrosome amplification (CA) is a common feature of human tumours and a promising target for cancer therapy. However, CA's pan-cancer prevalence, molecular role in tumourigenesis and therapeutic value in the clinical setting are still largely unexplored. Here, we used a transcriptomic signature (CA20) to characterise the landscape of CA-associated gene expression in 9,721 tumours from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). CA20 is upregulated in cancer and associated with distinct clinical and molecular features of breast cancer, consistently with our experimental CA quantification in patient samples. Moreover, we show that CA20 upregulation is positively associated with genomic instability, alteration of specific chromosomal arms and C>T mutations, and we propose novel molecular players associated with CA in cancer. Finally, high CA20 is associated with poor prognosis and, by integrating drug sensitivity with drug perturbation profiles in cell lines, we identify candidate compounds for selectively targeting cancer cells exhibiting transcriptomic evidence for CA.


Assuntos
Neoplasias da Mama/genética , Centrossomo , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Atlas como Assunto , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Neoplasias da Mama/terapia , Aberrações Cromossômicas , Feminino , Instabilidade Genômica , Humanos , Mutação , Prognóstico , Transcriptoma , Resultado do Tratamento , Regulação para Cima
8.
J Cell Sci ; 130(6): 1179-1193, 2017 03 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28193733

RESUMO

The flagellum and flagellum attachment zone (FAZ) are important cytoskeletal structures in trypanosomatids, being required for motility, cell division and cell morphogenesis. Trypanosomatid cytoskeletons contain abundant high molecular mass proteins (HMMPs), but many of their biological functions are still unclear. Here, we report the characterization of the giant FAZ protein, FAZ10, in Trypanosoma brucei, which, using immunoelectron microscopy, we show localizes to the intermembrane staples in the FAZ intracellular domain. Our data show that FAZ10 is a giant cytoskeletal protein essential for normal growth and morphology in both procyclic and bloodstream parasite life cycle stages, with its depletion leading to defects in cell morphogenesis, flagellum attachment, and kinetoplast and nucleus positioning. We show that the flagellum attachment defects are probably brought about by reduced tethering of the proximal domain of the paraflagellar rod to the FAZ filament. Further, FAZ10 depletion also reduces abundance of FAZ flagellum domain protein, ClpGM6. Moreover, ablation of FAZ10 impaired the timing and placement of the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis, resulting in premature or asymmetrical cell division.


Assuntos
Citocinese , Flagelos/metabolismo , Proteínas de Protozoários/metabolismo , Trypanosoma brucei brucei/citologia , Trypanosoma brucei brucei/metabolismo , Núcleo Celular/metabolismo , Proliferação de Células , Posicionamento Cromossômico , Segregação de Cromossomos , Proteínas do Citoesqueleto/metabolismo , Flagelos/ultraestrutura , Técnicas de Silenciamento de Genes , Trypanosoma brucei brucei/ultraestrutura
9.
BMC Cancer ; 19(1): 219, 2019 Mar 12.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30866861

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease resulting in diverse clinical behaviours and therapeutic responses. DNA methylation is a major epigenetic alteration that is commonly perturbed in cancers. The aim of this study is to characterize the relationship between DNA methylation and aberrant gene expression in breast cancer. METHODS: We analysed DNA methylation and gene expression profiles from breast cancer tissue and matched normal tissue in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Genome-wide differential methylation analysis and methylation-gene expression correlation was performed. Gene expression changes were subsequently validated in the METABRIC dataset. The Oncoscore tool was used to identify genes that had previously been associated with cancer in the literature. A subset of genes that had not previously been studied in cancer was chosen for further analysis. RESULTS: We identified 368 CpGs that were differentially methylated between tumor and normal breast tissue (Ƨ > 0.4). Hypermethylated CpGs were overrepresented in tumor tissue and were found predominantly (56%) in upstream promoter regions. Conversely, hypomethylated CpG sites were found primarily in the gene body (66%). Expression analysis revealed that 209 of the differentially-methylated CpGs were located in 169 genes that were differently expressed between normal and breast tumor tissue. Methylation-expression correlations were predominantly negative (70%) for promoter CpG sites and positive (74%) for gene body CpG sites. Among these differentially-methylated and differentially-expressed genes, we identified 7 that had not previously been studied in any form of cancer. Three of these, TDRD10, PRAC2 and TMEM132C, contained CpG sites that showed diagnostic and prognostic value in breast cancer, particularly in estrogen-receptor (ER)-positive samples. A pan-cancer analysis confirmed differential expression of these genes together with diagnostic and prognostic value of their respective CpG sites in multiple cancer types. CONCLUSION: We have identified 368 DNA methylation changes that characterize breast cancer tumor tissue, of which 209 are associated with genes that are differentially-expressed in the same samples. Novel DNA methylation markers were identified, of which cg12374721 (PRAC2), cg18081940 (TDRD10) and cg04475027 (TMEM132C) show promise as diagnostic and prognostic markers in breast cancer as well as other cancer types.


Assuntos
Biomarcadores Tumorais/genética , Neoplasias da Mama/genética , Metilação de DNA/fisiologia , Bases de Dados Genéticas , Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla/métodos , Biomarcadores Tumorais/metabolismo , Neoplasias da Mama/metabolismo , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Humanos , Prognóstico
10.
Bioorg Med Chem ; 27(12): 2531-2536, 2019 06 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30885569

RESUMO

We report the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of natural product-drug conjugates for treatment of prostate cancers over-expressing the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel. We validate the relevance of TRPV1 as a target in prostate cancer patients by using a bioinformatics approach and provide proof-of-concept for the drug delivery strategy through bioorthogonal chemistry and stability assays under simulated physiological conditions. In cell-based assays, the constructs displayed modest activity. Moreover, we serendipitously discover that a stoichiometric combination of a TRPV1 agonist with a small, positively charged cytotoxic may provide new research avenues in personalized medicines for prostate cancer.


Assuntos
Produtos Biológicos/química , Bibliotecas de Moléculas Pequenas/química , Canais de Cátion TRPV/metabolismo , Antineoplásicos/síntese química , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Capsaicina/química , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Sobrevivência Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Ligantes , Canais de Cátion TRPV/genética , Temozolomida/química
11.
Clin Genet ; 93(1): 138-143, 2018 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28456002

RESUMO

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) has long been considered a well-defined, recognizable monogenic disorder, with neurofibromas constituting a pathognomonic sign. This dogma has been challenged by recent descriptions of patients with enlarged nerves or paraspinal tumors, suggesting that neurogenic tumors and hypertrophic neuropathy may be a complication of Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines (NSML) or RASopathy phenotype. We describe a 15-year-old boy, whose mother previously received clinical diagnosis of NF1 due to presence of bilateral cervical and lumbar spinal lesions resembling plexiform neurofibromas and features suggestive of NS. NF1 molecular analysis was negative in the mother. The boy presented with Noonan features, multiple lentigines and pectus excavatum. Next-generation sequencing analysis of all RASopathy genes identified p.Ser548Arg missense mutation in SOS1 in the boy, confirmed in his mother. Brain and spinal magnetic resonance imaging scans were negative in the boy. No heart involvement or deafness was observed in proband or mother. This is the first report of a SOS1 mutation associated with hypertrophic neuropathy resembling plexiform neurofibromas, a rare complication in Noonan phenotypes with mutations in RASopathy genes. Our results highlight the overlap between RASopathies, suggesting that NF1 diagnostic criteria need rethinking. Genetic analysis of RASopathy genes should be considered when diagnosis is uncertain.


Assuntos
Mutação de Sentido Incorreto , Neurofibromatose 1/genética , Síndrome de Noonan/genética , Proteína SOS1/genética , Nervos Espinhais/metabolismo , Adolescente , Adulto , Saúde da Família , Feminino , Sequenciamento de Nucleotídeos em Larga Escala , Humanos , Masculino , Mães , Neurofibromatose 1/patologia , Síndrome de Noonan/patologia , Fenótipo , Nervos Espinhais/patologia
12.
Acta Anaesthesiol Scand ; 60(4): 485-91, 2016 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26482659

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary vascular dysfunction has been described in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) is a well-established treatment for these patients. We hypothesized that severe pulmonary vascular dysfunction and cor pulmonale identified by echocardiography before cannulation in these patients were associated with worse survival. METHODS: Echocardiography was used to identify pulmonary hypertension in 21 patients with refractory ARDS just before ECMO implantation. Survival was compared for those with and without cor pulmonale. RESULTS: In our series, the overall mortality rate was 57.1% (12/21). Echocardiographic exams were transthoracic in 5 patients (23.8%), transesophageal in 4 patients (19%), and both (transthoracic and transesophageal) in the remaining 12 patients (57.1%). In our series, six patients (28.5%) showed LV dysfunction. Acute cor pulmonale was detectable in 2 patients (9.5%), while the remaining 19 patients showed moderate pulmonary dysfunction. Survivors had a higher pre-cannulation LV ejection fraction (EF) (P = 0.02) and tricuspid annular plane excursion (P = 0.04), and lower peak systolic pulmonary artery pressures (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with refractory ARDS immediately before ECMO implantation, the prevalence of acute cor pulmonale is low (9.5%). Survival is associated with higher LVEF and lower systolic pulmonary arterial pressure. These findings support the idea that echocardiographic assessment of pulmonary artery pressure in patients with refractory ARDS before VV-ECMO implantation may have value for risk-stratification.


Assuntos
Oxigenação por Membrana Extracorpórea , Doença Cardiopulmonar/etiologia , Síndrome do Desconforto Respiratório/terapia , Adulto , Idoso , Ecocardiografia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Síndrome do Desconforto Respiratório/fisiopatologia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Disfunção Ventricular Esquerda/etiologia
13.
Ophthalmic Genet ; : 1-8, 2024 Apr 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38557281

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: To describe the phenotype and genotype of 10 Brazilian patients with variants in MFRP, posterior microphthalmos and retinal findings. METHODS: Complete ophthalmological evaluation was done at 4 different Brazilian centers. Genetic analysis was performed using commercial next generation sequencing panels for inherited retinal disorders. RESULTS: Ages of the patients ranged from 10 to 65 years and visual acuities from 0,05 to no perception of light. All were hyperopes (+4,25 to + 17,50) with a short axial length (14,4 mm to 18 mm). Common posterior segment features, though not present in all, were optic disc drusen (5/10), foveoschisis (5/10) and retinal pigmentary changes (8/10). Isolated patients presented with macular atrophy, serous retinal detachment, and chorioretinal folds. The most common variant in MFRP found in our patients was a deletion in exon 5 (c.498delC; p.Asn267Thrfs *25), present in all except 2 patients. Other variants found were c.523C>T (p.Gln175*), c.298delG (p.Ala100Argfs *37), c.666del (p.Thr223Argfs *83) and the novel variant c.257C>A (p.Ala86Asp). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of Brazilian patients with posterior microphthalmos and pathogenic variants in MFRP and the first describe of the variant p.Ala86Asp in literature. Our cases confirm the previously reported phenotype of high hyperopia, optic disc drusen, alterations in foveal architecture, retinal pigmentary changes with loss of photoreceptor function and visual field constriction. Report of such a rare condition is important to increase awareness to the phenotype of posterior microphthalmia with associated retinal conditions.

14.
J Hum Kinet ; 91(Spec Issue): 157-164, 2024 Mar.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38689581

RESUMO

For the ischemic preconditioning (IPC) intervention, the accuracy of the protocol is paramount for mediating its possible ergogenic effects. However, the lack of standardization and widespread use of arbitrary cuff pressures (ranging from 130 to >300 mmHg) have been predominantly observed, potentially affecting the results and compromising the reproducibility of findings. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine an appropriate cuff pressure during IPC. Seventeen healthy male participants were enrolled in the study. Anthropometric measurements were initially conducted, followed by systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements. Subsequently, we determined the individual thigh occlusion pressure (TOP) for the right leg using a hand-held Doppler device. Based on these findings, we developed an estimation equation for TOP, considering the current brachial systolic blood pressure (SBP) values. We then conducted a retrospective analysis of its capacity to mediate occlusion. We observed the ability to estimate TOP using the equation (p = 0.01; ES: 0.86), presenting ~6% superiority in absolute values for occlusion compared to direct measurement (TOP equation: 169.9 ± 9.1; TOP direct measured: 161.2 ± 11.1). However, TOP estimation was insufficient to produce complete occlusion in two out of 17 subjects (11.8%). In conclusion, the estimation of TOP incorporating SBP values may offer a valid and practical means for cuff administration during IPC protocols with potential to minimize adverse effects and maximize its positive effects.

15.
Cureus ; 15(7): e42478, 2023 Jul.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37637559

RESUMO

Grynfeltt hernia (GH) is extremely rare among all abdominal wall hernias, so both diagnosis and treatment can be challenging. Surgery, open or laparoscopic, is the only definitive treatment. We present a case of a 71-year-old woman with GH (initially misdiagnosed as a lipoma), its approach, and treatment. We performed a hernioplasty with two meshes (preperitoneal and subaponeurotic position) by an open approach: Sandwich technique. This technique is safe, feasible, and associated with no short-term complications or relapses.

16.
Am J Nephrol ; 35(3): 209-15, 2012.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22302011

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play important roles in the pathophysiology of renal diseases, and imbalanced MMP-2 and its endogenous inhibitor (the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2; TIMP-2) are implicated in the vascular alterations of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients. We have examined whether MMP-2 gene polymorphisms and haplotypes modify MMP-2 and TIMP-2 levels in ESKD patients as well as the effects of hemodialysis on the concentrations of these biomarkers. METHODS: We determined MMP-2 and TIMP-2 plasma levels by gelatin zymography and ELISA, respectively, in 98 ESKD patients and in 38 healthy controls. Genotypes for two relevant MMP-2 polymorphisms (C(-1306)T and C(-735)T in the promoter region) were determined by TaqMan(®) allele discrimination assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction. The software program PHASE 2.1 was used to estimate the haplotype frequencies. RESULTS: We found increased plasma MMP-2 and TIMP-2 levels in ESKD patients compared to controls (p < 0.05), and hemodialysis decreased MMP-2 (but not TIMP-2) levels (p < 0.05). The T allele for the C(-735)T polymorphism and the C-T haplotype were associated with higher MMP-2 (but not TIMP-2) levels (p < 0.05), whereas the C(-1306)T had no effects. Hemodialysis decreased MMP-2 (but not TIMP-2) levels independently of MMP-2 genotypes or haplotypes (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: MMP-2 genotypes or haplotypes modify MMP-2 levels in ESKD patients, and may help to identify patients with increased MMP-2 activity in plasma. Hemodialysis reduces MMP-2 levels independently of MMP-2 genetic variants.


Assuntos
Falência Renal Crônica/sangue , Falência Renal Crônica/genética , Metaloproteinase 2 da Matriz/sangue , Metaloproteinase 2 da Matriz/genética , Inibidor Tecidual de Metaloproteinase-2/sangue , Adulto , Biomarcadores , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Genótipo , Haplótipos , Humanos , Falência Renal Crônica/metabolismo , Masculino , Metaloproteinase 2 da Matriz/metabolismo , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Polimorfismo Genético , Diálise Renal , Inibidor Tecidual de Metaloproteinase-2/metabolismo
17.
Clin Neurol Neurosurg ; 213: 107121, 2022 02.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35030418

RESUMO

We report the case of a 12-years-old patient who subacutely developed a positive and negative myoclonus of limbs and face, drowsiness and memory deficits after getting infected by SARS-CoV-2. On admission, nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2, brain and spinal MRI with and without contrast, EEG, chest X-ray and abdominal ultrasound were negative. CSF physical-chemical examination, culture, PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens, and oligoclonal IgG bands were negative as well. A full panel blood test, including clotting, autoimmunity and paraneoplastic blood studies, did not show any alteration. The neuropsychological examination showed an impairment in memory, visual-motor coordination, inductive reasoning skills, attention, and concentration. The patient was first treated with clonazepam and then with intravenous methylprednisolone for five days, with poor response. For this reason, he then received a cycle of IVIG, thus reaching a gradual and complete recovery. To date, this is the first case of a COVID-19 associated myoclonus affecting a paediatric patient.


Assuntos
COVID-19/complicações , COVID-19/psicologia , Transtornos Mentais/virologia , Mioclonia/virologia , Atenção , COVID-19/fisiopatologia , Criança , Humanos , Imunoglobulinas Intravenosas/uso terapêutico , Fatores Imunológicos/uso terapêutico , Masculino , Transtornos Mentais/diagnóstico , Mioclonia/diagnóstico , Mioclonia/terapia , Testes Neuropsicológicos , Desempenho Psicomotor , Síndrome
18.
Nat Genet ; 54(5): 613-624, 2022 05.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35551305

RESUMO

Enhancer sequences control gene expression and comprise binding sites (motifs) for different transcription factors (TFs). Despite extensive genetic and computational studies, the relationship between DNA sequence and regulatory activity is poorly understood, and de novo enhancer design has been challenging. Here, we built a deep-learning model, DeepSTARR, to quantitatively predict the activities of thousands of developmental and housekeeping enhancers directly from DNA sequence in Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells. The model learned relevant TF motifs and higher-order syntax rules, including functionally nonequivalent instances of the same TF motif that are determined by motif-flanking sequence and intermotif distances. We validated these rules experimentally and demonstrated that they can be generalized to humans by testing more than 40,000 wildtype and mutant Drosophila and human enhancers. Finally, we designed and functionally validated synthetic enhancers with desired activities de novo.


Assuntos
Drosophila melanogaster , Elementos Facilitadores Genéticos , Animais , Sequência de Bases , Sítios de Ligação/genética , Drosophila/genética , Drosophila melanogaster/genética , Drosophila melanogaster/metabolismo , Elementos Facilitadores Genéticos/genética , Regulação da Expressão Gênica no Desenvolvimento , Fatores de Transcrição/genética , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo
19.
Cyberpsychol Behav Soc Netw ; 25(3): 194-199, 2022 Mar.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34986024

RESUMO

Computer-mediated communication allows people to communicate across several contexts (e.g., friends, professional settings) by using video-based or text-based channels. In the latter case, communication lacks nonverbal cues (e.g., tone of voice) that are critical to message interpretation. Including emoji can help express emotion and reinforce or clarify the meaning of a message. However, the benefits of using emoji are likely to depend on the context (e.g., the relationship between interlocutors) and the messages' features (e.g., the valence of the message). To date, studies have not systematically and empirically examined how the use of emoji is perceived across different communication scenarios. In the current study, we asked 175 participants (49.5 percent women; Mage = 36.32, SD = 12.22) to imagine receiving either a negative or a positive message from 22 senders (e.g., friend; bank manager) and to indicate, for each case, how much they would like to receive an emoji and how useful and appropriate they considered the use of emoji. These ratings were combined into a single index of emoji use adequacy. Based on factor analysis, the 22 scenarios were aggregated in distant and close scenarios. Overall, results showed that participants considered emoji use more inadequate in distant (vs. close) scenarios and for negative (vs. positive) messages. These findings suggest that the perceived benefits of emoji use for text-based communication may not be generalized to all text-based communication contexts, such that relationship proximity and message valence should not be overlooked. Implications for the fields of consumer psychology and communication are discussed.


Assuntos
Emoções , Envio de Mensagens de Texto , Adulto , Comunicação , Sinais (Psicologia) , Feminino , Humanos
20.
Transplant Proc ; 54(5): 1253-1261, 2022 Jun.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35750515

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Malignancy is a well-known complication in patients after kidney transplantation (KT), but its effect on posttransplant outcomes, allograft, and patient survival remains unexplored. The aim of this study is to report the impact of the comorbidity on clinical outcome, function, and failure of an allograft kidney. METHODS: This case-control study included 101 KT patients. Twenty-six patients who developed cancer (CA) were assigned to the case group and 75 to the control group. Statistical analysis was performed using logistic regression models, and graft survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier curve. RESULTS: Non-melanoma skin CA was the most common malignancy, accounting for almost 60% of cases, followed by stomach CA, prostate CA, and lymphoproliferative diseases (7.70% each). Difference in graft and patient survival was not significant between the two groups (P > .05). A tumor in nonfunctioning in the first nonfunctioning KT was identified in 1 KT patient with a second allograft and by anatomopathological was detect Fuhrman grade II renal cell carcinoma. This KT patient was in good clinical condition with serum creatinine level of 1.5 mg/dL. CONCLUSIONS: No association was observed between CA development and risk factors, including family history and smoking habit, and no differences in allograft and patient survival were found. Nevertheless, in our data, CA in KT patients occurred early after transplantation. Renal cell carcinoma in allograft failure was identified in a patient; that suggested that nephrectomy of kidney failure must be performed to avoid patient allosensitization and neoplasia. Thus, we suggest continuous screening of malignancy diseases for KT patients.


Assuntos
Carcinoma de Células Renais , Neoplasias Renais , Transplante de Rim , Aloenxertos , Carcinoma de Células Renais/etiologia , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Sobrevivência de Enxerto , Humanos , Neoplasias Renais/etiologia , Transplante de Rim/efeitos adversos , Masculino , Fatores de Risco , Resultado do Tratamento
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