Recovery activities during short breaks taken between work tasks are solutions for preventing the impairing effects of accumulated strain. No wonder then that a growing body of scientific literature ...from various perspectives emerged on this topic. The present meta-analysis is aimed at estimating the efficacy of micro-breaks in enhancing well-being (vigor and fatigue) and performance, as well as in which conditions and for whom are the micro-breaks most effective. We searched the existent literature on this topic and aggregated the existing data from experimental and quasi-experimental studies. The systematic search revealed 19 records, which resulted in 22 independent study samples (N = 2335). Random-effects meta-analyses shown statistically significant but small effects of micro-breaks in boosting vigor (d = .36, p < .001; k = 9, n = 913), reducing fatigue (d = .35, p < .001; k = 9, n = 803), and a non-significant effect on increasing overall performance (d = .16, p = .116; k = 15, n = 1132). Sub-groups analyses on performance types revealed significant effects only for tasks with less cognitive demands. A meta-regression showed that the longer the break, the greater the boost was on performance. Overall, the data support the role of micro-breaks for well-being, while for performance, recovering from highly depleting tasks may need more than 10-minute breaks. Therefore, future studies should focus on this issue.
Cervical cancer is among the highest-ranking types of cancer worldwide, with human papillomavirus (HPV) as the agent driving the malignant process. One aspect of the infection's evolution is given by ...epigenetic modifications, mainly DNA methylation and chromatin alteration. These processes are guided by several chromatin remodeling complexes, including NuRD. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the genome-wide binding patterns of the NuRD complex components (MBD2 and MBD3) in the presence of active HPV16 E6 and E7 oncogenes and to determine the potential of identified genes through an experimental model to differentiate between cervical precursor lesions, with the aim of establishing their utility as biomarkers.
The experimental model was built using the CaSki cell line and shRNA for E6 and E7 HPV16 silencing, ChIP-seq, qRT-PCR, and Western blot analyses. Selected genes' expression was also assessed in patients.
Several genes have been identified to exhibit altered transcriptional activity due to the influence of HPV16 E6/E7 viral oncogenes acting through the MBD2/MBD3 NuRD complex, linking them to viral infection and cervical oncogenesis.
The impacted genes primarily play roles in governing gene transcription, mRNA processing, and regulation of translation. Understanding these mechanisms offers valuable insights into the process of HPV-induced oncogenesis.
DNA methylation plays an important role in thyroid oncogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the connection between global and local DNA methylation status and to establish the levels of ...important DNA methylation regulators (TET family and DNMT1) in thyroid tumours: follicular adenoma-FA, papillary thyroid carcinoma-PTC (classic papillary thyroid carcinoma-cPTC and papillary thyroid carcinoma follicular variant fvPTC).
Global DNA methylation profile in thyroid tumours tissue (41 paired samples) was assessed by 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine levels evaluation (ELISA), along with TETs and DNMT1 genes expression quantification. Also, it was investigated for the first time TET1 and TET2 promoter's methylation in thyroid tumours. BRAF V600E mutation and RET/PTC translocation testing were performed on all investigated samples. In vitro studies upon DNA methylation in K1 thyroid cancer cells were performed with demethylating agents (5-AzaC and vitamin C).
TET1 and TET2 displayed a significantly reduced gene expression level in PTC, while DNMT1 gene presented a high level of expression. PTC samples presented increased levels of 5-methylcytosine and low levels of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. 5-methylcytosine levels were associated with TET1/TET2 expression levels. TET1 gene expression was significantly lower in patients positive for BRAF mutation and with RET/PTC rearrangement. TET2 gene was found hypermethylated in thyroid carcinoma patients overall, especially in PTC-follicular variant samples (p= 0.0002), where TET2 gene expression levels were significantly reduced (p= 0.0031). Furthermore, the data indicate for all thyroid cancer patients a good sensitivity (81.08%) and specificity (86.49%) regarding the use of TET1 (p< 0.0001), and TET2 (71.79%, 64.10%, p= 0.0001) hypermethylation as biomarkers for thyroid oncogenesis.
These results suggest that TET1/TET2 gene expression and methylation may serve as potential diagnostic tools for thyroid neoplasia. Our study showed that the methylation of TET1 increases in malignant thyroid tumours. fvPTC patients presented lower methylation levels compared to cPTC and could be a discriminatory factor between two cancer types and benign lesions. TET2 is a poorer discriminator between FA and fvPTC, but it can be useful for cPTC identification. K1-cells treated with demethylating agents showed a demethylation effect, especially upon TET2 gene. The cumulative effect of L-AA and 5-AzaC proved to have a potent combined demethylating effect on genes promoter's activation and could open new perspectives for thyroid cancer therapy.
Thyroid carcinoma is the most common endocrine malignancy worldwide. Changes in DNA methylation can cause silencing of normally active genes, especially tumour suppressor genes (TSG) or activation of ...normally silent genes.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the degree of promoter methylation for a panel of markers for thyroid neoplasms and to establish their relationship with thyroid oncogenesis.
To generate a comprehensive DNA methylation signature of TSGs involved in thyroid neoplasia, we use Human TSG EpiTect Methyl II Signature PCR Array-Qiagen for 24 samples (follicular adenomas and papillary thyroid carcinomas) compared with normal thyroid tissue. We extended the evaluation for three TSGs (TP73, WIF1, PDLIM4) using qMS-PCR. Statistical analysis was performed with GraphPad Prism.
We noted four important genes NEUROG1, ESR1, RUNX3, MLH1, which presented methylated promoter in tumour samples compared to normal. We found new characteristic of thyroid tumours: methylation of TP73, WIF1 and PDLIM4 TSGs, which can contribute to thyroid neoplasia. A significant correlation between BRAF V600E mutation and RET/PTC rearrangements with TIMP3 and CDH13, RARB methylation, respectively was observed.
TSGs promoter hypermethylation is a hallmark of cancer and a test that uses methylation quantification method is suitable for diagnosis and prognosis of thyroid cancer.
Romania has the highest incidence and mortality rate of cervical cancer in Europe. The objective was to estimate the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) genotypes and to evaluate the ...role of certain socio-behavioral factors in acquiring viral infection, in a cohort of Romanian women with negative Pap.
In a prevalence study 611 women (aged 17-58 years) with negative Pap, with no known history of atypical cytology and valid HPV test were included. Each participant completed a questionnaire containing data on socio-behavioral factors. From 344 women aged between 30-58 years, 63 were randomly selected for a second examination (conventional cytology and HPV detection and genotyping) after twelve months.
Of the 611 women, 19.80% were HPV positive, 14.73% infected with hrHPV. Differences in the prevalence of hrHPV (17.60% versus 12.50%) as single (13.01% vs 9.01%) and multiple infections (9.71% vs 3.49%) were noted between women under the age of 30 and above. Among socio-behavioral factors, marital status and multiple sexual partners correlate with HPV and hrHPV infection. At follow-up, from 34 HPV negative cases, 10 changed to positive (5 hrHPV), while 2 developed abnormal cytology. Out of the 29 HPV positive cases, 12 cleared the HPV infection and 17 retested positive of which 4 worsened their cytology.
In Romania, HPV infection is common in women with negative cytology. HPV genotyping is of epidemiological importance because the distribution of hrHPV types can determine the impact of prophylactic vaccines and the necessity of HPV testing as screening method.
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