A revised textbook summarizing the latest research into geochemical processes in marine sediments. It provides a complete representation of the subject and includes the most recent findings following ...the considerable research carried out since 1980.
Phosphorite deposits in marine sediments are a long-term sink for an essential nutrient, phosphorus. Here we show that apatite abundance in sediments on the Namibian shelf correlates with the ...abundance and activity of the giant sulfur bacterium Thiomargarita namibiensis, which suggests that sulfur bacteria drive phosphogenesis. Sediments populated by Thiomargarita showed sharp peaks of pore water phosphate (</=300 micromolar) and massive phosphorite accumulations (>/=50 grams of phosphorus per kilogram). Laboratory experiments revealed that under anoxic conditions, Thiomargarita released enough phosphate to account for the precipitation of hydroxyapatite observed in the environment.
Colon cancer cells have previously been demonstrated to contain a subpopulation of CD133+ tumour cells that have the ability to initiate tumour growth and are thus referred to as colon ...cancer-initiating cells or colon cancer stem cells (CSCs). As CD133 is currently one of the best markers to characterise colon CSCs, we analysed CD133+ tumour cells in colorectal cancer specimens using immunohistochemistry. We show that CD133 detection is specific and that the CD133 antigen is localised on the glandular-luminal surface of colon cancer cells, whereas undifferentiated tumour cells at the front of invasion are CD133-. In addition, CD133+ cells are characterised in situ by lack of CK20 expression, whereas they are positive for EpCAM. Moreover, we show that CD133 expression in colorectal cancer is an independent prognostic marker that correlates with low survival in a stratified patient collective. Our results indicate that in colorectal cancer, the CD133+ tumour cells can be detected by immunohistochemistry, which facilitates their further characterisation in situ.
Opportunities offered by new neuro-technologies are threatened by lack of coherent plans to analyze, manage, and understand the data. High-performance computing will allow exploratory analysis of ...massive datasets stored in standardized formats, hosted in open repositories, and integrated with simulations.
Bouchard et al. propose that for the neuroscience field to be able to effectively leverage the advances in new neurotechnologies, it will require new high-performance computing platforms and practices for data management and analysis.
Abstract Aims The RNASE III endonuclease Dicer is one of the key enzymes of microRNA biogenesis. The influence of Dicer-expression in tumour cells on the prognosis of patients with several cancers ...has been studied with controversial results among different cancer types. To date no one has examined the effect of this biomarker on survival in colorectal carcinoma. Thus, we aimed to study the influence of Dicer expression on survival in colorectal cancer. Methods We performed immunohistochemical analyses on formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) cancer tissue with an antibody against the Dicer protein. Tumour material from 237 cases was available from patients with colorectal adeonocarcinomas with moderate differentiation (G2) and without evidence of lymph-node (N0) or distant metastasis (M0). Sixty-four cases were in T2 and 173 in T3 stages. A tissue microarray (TMA) was constructed with each tumour in triplicate. Each tumour was assigned to a scoring scale of 0–3, depending on the cytoplasmatic expression of Dicer. A Kaplan–Maier analysis was performed and the log-rank test was used for significance levels by using SPSS v.17 software. Results The expression of Dicer in colorectal carcinoma shows a strong association with poor survival (cancer specific survival = CSS, p < 0,001) as well as with reduced progression free survival (PFS, p < 0,001). In the group with no Dicer staining there was no recorded relapse (0/15) compared with 10/18 relapses in the group with the strongest staining of Dicer. Conclusions Strong expression of the central microRNA biosynthesis enzyme Dicer predicts poor prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer. This is in line with investigations on prostate cancer. Contradictory, in breast, lung and ovary cancer Dicer has been shown to be a marker of good prognosis. Further studies on the cellular functions of Dicer need to address these issues.
Regulation of innate immunity by Nrf2 van der Horst, D; Carter-Timofte, ME; van Grevenynghe, J ...
Current opinion in immunology,
October 2022, 2022-10-00, 20221001, Letnik:
78
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The transcription factor Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) has been mainly investigated as a regulator of redox homeostasis. However, research over the past years has implicated Nrf2 ...as an important regulator of innate immunity. Here, we discuss the role of Nrf2 in the innate immune response, highlighting the interaction between Nrf2 and major components of the innate immune system. Indeed, Nrf2 has been shown to widely control the immune response by interacting directly or indirectly with important innate immune components, including the toll-like receptors–Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) pathway, inflammasome signaling, and the type-I interferon response. This indicates an essential role for Nrf2 in diseases related to microbial infections, inflammation, and cancer. Yet, further studies are required to determine the exact mechanism underpinning the interactions between Nrf2 and innate immune players in order to allow a better understanding of these diseases and leverage new therapeutic strategies.
The global economy relies heavily on oil and gas resources. However, hydrocarbon exploitation projects can cause significant impacts on the environment. But despite the production of numerous ...Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) to identify/mitigate such impacts, no study has specifically assessed the quality of EISs for both onshore and offshore oil and gas projects, with tested hypotheses. To address this research gap, our paper, for the first time, develops a modified Lee and Colley evaluation model to assess the quality of 19 sampled oil and gas project EISs produced from 1998 to 2008 in Nigeria. Our findings show that Project Description and Communication of Results are the main areas of strength. However, Environmental Impact Prediction, and Project Decommissioning, were among the key areas requiring attention. A key finding, though, is that Mann-Whitney tests suggest that there is no evidence that the quality of EISs for the latter period (2004–2008) is higher than that of the earlier period (1998–2004). We suggest that periodic systematic review of the quality of submitted/approved EISs (c. every 3–5years) should be established to monitor trends in EIS quality and identify strong and weak areas. This would help to drive continual improvement in both the EIA processes and the resultant EISs of technical engineering projects. Such reviews have the potential to illuminate some of the underlying problems of, and solutions to, oil and gas exploration, production and transportation, and their related environmental impacts. This suggested change would also be useful internationally, including for the burgeoning exploration and production of unconventional hydrocarbon resources.
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•First study ever of the quality of EISs for both onshore and offshore oil & gas projects with tested hypothesis•We developed a modified Lee & Colley model & applied it to assess 19 EISs, across 5 review areas & 67 subcategories•47% of the EISs were unsatisfactory; in particular, the key impact prediction and decommissioning areas need to be improved•We found no statistically significant evidence (p<0.05) of improvement in the quality of EISs over time•We recommend systematic and independent periodic review of EIS quality every 3 to 5years
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•Visualizing patients’ individual outcome data over time can help to motivate patients in their treatment plans.•For effective use of a dashboard during consultations, prioritizing ...and aligning the topic-agenda together with patients is essential.•Patients and healthcare professionals reported that a consultation dashboard is more effective when patients can access it at home as well.•When developing a consultation dashboard, including end-users (healthcare professionals and patients) from the start is a prerequisite for successful development.
Reporting individual clinical and patient-reported outcomes to patients during consultations may add to patients’ disease knowledge and activation and stimulate Shared Decision Making (SDM). These outcomes can be presented over time in a clear way by the means of dashboarding. We aimed to systematically develop a Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) dashboard designed to support consultations, test its usability and explore conditions for optimal use in practice.
For development a participatory approach with patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) from three hospitals was used. Working groups and patient focus groups were conducted to identify needs and inform the dashboard’s design. Usability was tested in patient interviews. A focus group with HCPs was held to identify conditions for optimal use of the dashboard in daily practice.
A dashboard was developed for CKD patients stage 3b-4 visualizing both clinical and patient-reported outcomes over time for use during consultations and accessible for patients at home. Both HCPs and patients indicated that the dashboard can: motivate patients in their treatment by providing feedback on outcomes over time; improve consultation conversations by enhanced preparation of both HCPs and patients; better inform patients, thereby facilitating shared decision making. HCPs and patients both stated that setting a topic agenda for the consultation together is important in effectively discussing the dashboard during consultations. Moreover, the dashboard should not dominate the conversation. Lastly, findings of the usability tests provided design requirements for optimal user-friendliness and clarity.
Dashboarding can be a valuable way of reporting individual outcome information to patients and their clinicians as findings suggest it may stimulate patient activation and facilitate decision making. Co-creation with patients and HCPs was essential for successful development of the dashboard. Gained knowledge from the co-creation process can inform others wishing to develop similar digital tools for use in clinical practice.
This prospective trial was designed to compare the performance characteristics of five different screening tests in parallel for the detection of advanced colonic neoplasia: CT colonography (CTC), ...colonoscopy (OC), flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS), faecal immunochemical stool testing (FIT) and faecal occult blood testing (FOBT).
Average risk adults provided stool specimens for FOBT and FIT, and underwent same-day low-dose 64-multidetector row CTC and OC using segmentally unblinded OC as the standard of reference. Sensitivities and specificities were calculated for each single test, and for combinations of FS and stool tests. CTC radiation exposure was measured, and patient comfort levels and preferences were assessed by questionnaire.
221 adenomas were detected in 307 subjects who completed CTC (mean radiation dose, 4.5 mSv) and OC; 269 patients provided stool samples for both FOBT and FIT. Sensitivities of OC, CTC, FS, FIT and FOBT for advanced colonic neoplasia were 100% (95% CI 88.4% to 100%), 96.7% (82.8% to 99.9%), 83.3% (95% CI 65.3% to 94.4%), 32% (95% CI 14.9% to 53.5) and 20% (95% CI 6.8% to 40.7%), respectively. Combination of FS with FOBT or FIT led to no relevant increase in sensitivity. 12 of 45 advanced adenomas were smaller than 10 mm. 46% of patients preferred CTC and 37% preferred OC (p<0.001).
High-resolution and low-dose CTC is feasible for colorectal cancer screening and reaches sensitivities comparable with OC for polyps >5 mm. For patients who refuse full bowel preparation and OC or CTC, FS should be preferred over stool tests. However, in cases where stool tests are performed, FIT should be recommended rather than FOBT.
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