Expression of the INK4b/ARF/INK4a tumor suppressor locus in normal and cancerous cell growth is controlled by methylation of histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27me) as directed by the Polycomb group ...proteins. The antisense noncoding RNA ANRIL of the INK4b/ARF/INK4a locus is also important for expression of the protein-coding genes in cis, but its mechanism has remained elusive. Here we report that chromobox 7 (CBX7) within the polycomb repressive complex 1 binds to ANRIL, and both CBX7 and ANRIL are found at elevated levels in prostate cancer tissues. In concert with H3K27me recognition, binding to RNA contributes to CBX7 function, and disruption of either interaction impacts the ability of CBX7 to repress the INK4b/ARF/INK4a locus and control senescence. Structure-guided analysis reveals the molecular interplay between noncoding RNA and H3K27me as mediated by the conserved chromodomain. Our study suggests a mechanism by which noncoding RNA participates directly in epigenetic transcriptional repression.
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► CBX7 and its interacting ncRNA ANRIL are upregulated in prostate cancer tissues ► CBX7 chromodomain binds H3K27me3 and ANRIL with overlapping sites ► Both interactions are required for the INK4b/ARF/INK4a locus repression by CBX7 ► Disruption of either interaction results in premature growth arrest
Despite extensive research on the chemical composition of elderberries and their numerous uses in pharmaceutical, beverage, and food production, there is still a lack of knowledge about
leaves and ...flowers' antimicrobial activity against plant pathogens. In this study, the phytoconstituents of their aqueous ammonia extracts were first characterized by infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major phytocompounds identified in the flower extract were octyl 2-methylpropanoate; 3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-2,3-dihydropyran-4-one; propyl malonic acid; adenine; and 1-methyl-2-piperidinemethanol. Concerning the leaf extract, 1,6-anhydro-β-D-glucopyranose; oleic acid; 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole; 2,3-dihydro-benzofuran; and 4-((1E)-3-hydroxy-1-propenyl)-2-methoxyphenol and other phenol derivatives were the main constituents. The potential of the extracts to act as bioprotectants was then investigated against three almond tree pathogens:
,
, and
. In vitro tests showed higher activity of the flower extract, with EC
values in the 241-984 μg·mL
range (depending on the pathogen) vs. 354-1322 μg·mL
for the leaf extract. In addition, the flower extract led to full protection against
at a dose of 1875 μg·mL
in ex situ tests on artificially-infected excised almond stems. These inhibitory concentrations were lower than those of commercial fungicides. These findings suggest that
aerial organs may be susceptible to valorization as an alternative to synthetic fungicides for the protection of this important crop.
Solution-processed near-infrared organic light-emitting diodes (NIR-OLEDs) with structure glass/indium–tin oxide/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonate)/Er-complex/Ca/Al based on a ...novel Er(III) complex, Er(tfnb)3(bipy) (Htfnb = 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-naphthyl)-1,3-butanedione and bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine) have been manufactured and their properties have been studied. A complete quenching of the organic ligand visible emission is shown, and only the sensitized 1.5 μm electroluminesce from Er(III) results. From the electrical characteristic we present the mobility dependence on applied voltage using a numerical model, comparing it to poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene), a commercial semiconducting polymer with optical properties close to those of the molecular ligands. The synthesis of the novel complex together with a detailed analysis of its structure elucidated by XRD, 1H NMR, Raman, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopies is presented. A wide-ranging characterization of its photophysical properties in terms of absorption and steady and transient photoluminescence is used to investigate the energy-transfer process from the organic ligand to the central Er(III) ion.
Somatic cells can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells by overexpressing combinations of factors such as Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc. Reprogramming is slow and stochastic, ...suggesting the existence of barriers limiting its efficiency. Here we identify senescence as one such barrier. Expression of the four reprogramming factors triggers senescence by up-regulating p53, p16(INK4a), and p21(CIP1). Induction of DNA damage response and chromatin remodeling of the INK4a/ARF locus are two of the mechanisms behind senescence induction. Crucially, ablation of different senescence effectors improves the efficiency of reprogramming, suggesting novel strategies for maximizing the generation of iPS cells.
► Graphitic carbon nitrides by CVD of melamine and uric acid on alumina. ► The building blocks of carbon nitrides are heptazine nuclei. ► Composite particles with alumina core and carbon nitride ...coating.
Graphitic carbon nitrides were synthesized starting from melamine and uric acid. Uric acid was chosen because it thermally decomposes, and reacts with melamine by condensation at temperatures in the range of 400–600
°C. The reagents were mixed with alumina and subsequently the samples were treated in an oven under nitrogen flux. Alumina favored the deposition of the graphitic carbon nitrides layers on the exposed surface. This method can be assimilated to an
in situ chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Infrared (IR) spectra, as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, are in accordance with the formation of a graphitic carbon nitride with a structure based on heptazine blocks. These carbon nitrides exhibit poor crystallinity and a nanometric texture, as shown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. The thermal degradation of the graphitic carbon nitride occurs through cyano group formation, and involves the bridging tertiary nitrogen and the bonded carbon, which belongs to the heptazine ring, causing the ring opening and the consequent network destruction as inferred by connecting the IR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results. This seems to be an easy and promising route to synthesize graphitic carbon nitrides. Our final material is a composite made of an alumina core covered by carbon nitride layers.
Abstract Background The term “post-COVID-19 condition” refers to the symptomatology that appears between four to twelve weeks after Covid-19 infection. These symptoms can persist for weeks or even ...months, significantly diminishing the quality of life for affected individuals. The primary objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation programs and/or respiratory muscle training on respiratory sequelae in patients with post-COVID condition. Methods The literature search was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, PEDro, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science. Randomized clinical trials were included in which participants were aged 18 years or older. Articles were excluded if at least one of the therapies did not involve pulmonary rehabilitation or respiratory muscle training, if the participants were COVID positive, if studies lacked results, and finally, if interventions were conducted without supervision or at home. This review only encompasses supervised non-virtual interventions. This study adheres to the PRISMA statement and has been registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023433843). Results The outcomes obtained in the included studies are assessed across the following variables: Exercise capacity using the 6-minute walk test, Dyspnea, fatigue, Pulmonary function, Maximum inspiratory pressure, and Quality of life. Conclusion Despite the absence of a specific treatment at present, it was evident from this review that a well-structured pulmonary rehabilitation program that incorporates both aerobic and muscular strength exercises along with techniques and inspiratory muscle exercises was the most effective form of treatment.
Holm oak (Quercus ilex subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp.) bark is a commonly used remedy to treat gastrointestinal disorders, throat and skin infections, hemorrhages, and dysentery. It has also been ...previously reported that its methanol extracts possess antibacterial activity, which can be related to the richness of Quercus spp. extracts in phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids and tannins. However, there is no information on the antifungal (including oomycete) properties of the bark from Q. ilex or its subspecies (ilex and ballota). In this work, we report the characterization of the aqueous ammonia extract of its bark by FTIR and GC-MS and the results of in vitro and ex situ inhibition tests against three phytopathogens. The main phytochemical components identified were inositols (19.5%), trans-squalene (13%), 4-butoxy-1-butanol (11.4%), gulopyranose (9.6%), lyxose (6.5%), 2,4-dimethyl-benzoHquinoline (5.1%), catechol (4.5%), and methoxyphenols (4.2%). The efficacy of the extract in controlling forest phytopathogens was tested in vitro against Fusarium circinatum (responsible for pitch canker of Pinus spp.), Cryphonectria parasitica (which causes chestnut blight), and Phytophthora cinnamomi (which causes ‘root and crown rot’ in a variety of hosts, including Castanea, conifers, Eucalyptus, Fagus, Juglans, Quercus, etc.), obtaining EC90 values of 322, 295, and 75 μg·mL−1, respectively, much lower than those attained for a commercial strobilurin fungicide (azoxystrobin). The extract was further tested ex situ against P. cinnamomi on artificially inoculated, excised stems of ‘Garnem’ almond rootstock, attaining complete protection at a dose of 782 μg·mL−1. The results suggest that holm oak bark extract may be a promising source of bioactive compounds against invasive forest pathogens, including the oomycete that is causing its decline, the so-called ‘seca’ in Spain.
Background
The usefulness of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in staging cutaneous melanoma has been proven. Therefore, different tracers have been used to identify the sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). ...The use of isotopic tracers together with radioactivity detectors allowed a much more precise and direct approach to the SLNs. However, not all centres have access to a Nuclear Medicine department hindering sentinel lymph node detection (SLND) and consequently, other markers such as ferromagnetic tracers have been evaluated looking for the same advantages and effectiveness as isotopic tracers. Ferromagnetic tracers have proven their usefulness in other cancer entities such as breast, prostate and thyroid cancer. The objective was to assess the detection and concordance rates between isotopic and ferromagnetic techniques for SLNB in cutaneous melanoma.
Method
Isotopic SLNB technique and ferromagnetic tracer were compared for cutaneous melanoma in a non‐inferiority multicentre prospective study carried out in six Spanish hospitals.
Results
A total of 60 patients were recruited and 133 lymph nodes removed. The detection rate was slightly higher with ferromagnetic tracer in head‐neck and trunk melanomas, and with isotopic tracer in limbs. The patients' and nodes' concordance rates between both techniques for ex vivo samples were 95% and 86% for head‐neck and trunk tumours and 97% and 93% for limbs tumours, respectively. The concordance rates for involved nodes were 100% and 88.2% for patients and nodes, respectively.
Conclusion
The intraoperative detection and biopsy of SLN in cutaneous melanoma using a ferromagnetic was a reliable alternative method to the isotopic technique in cutaneous melanomas.
Throughout prehistoric times it was common to smear red pigment on the bodies of the dead. Iron oxide was the most common pigment, but other pigments were also used. In this work, two red‐stained ...bones from the megalithic tomb of El Moreco were characterized by SEM‐EDS, FTIR, and GC–MS. The results provide evidence for the usage of a pigment obtained from Rubia spp. This finding constitutes one of the oldest evidences of the use of madder red in Western Europe (IV‐III millennium BC) and, without ruling out other functions, suggests that it could have been used as a textile dye.
The cliff rose (
), like other halophytes, has a phenolics-based antioxidant system that allows it to grow in saline habitats. Provided that antioxidant properties are usually accompanied by ...antimicrobial activity, in this study we investigated the phytochemicals present in a hydromethanolic extract of
flowers and explored its antifungal potential. The main phytocompounds, identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, were: hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, 9-octadecenoic acid, 3-(3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-acrylic acid ethyl ester, and benzeneacetaldehyde. The antifungal activity of the extract and its main constituents-alone and in combination with chitosan oligomers-was tested against six pathogenic taxa associated with soil-borne diseases of plant hosts in the family Cucurbitaceae:
,
f. sp.
,
,
,
, and
. In in vitro tests, EC
effective concentrations in the 166-865 μg·mL
range were obtained for the chitosan oligomers-
extract conjugate complexes, lower than those obtained for fosetyl-Al and azoxystrobin synthetic fungicides tested for comparison purposes, and even outperforming mancozeb against
. In ex situ tests against
conducted on artificially inoculated cucumber slices, full protection was achieved at a dose of 250 μg·mL
. Thus, the reported results support the valorization of
as a source of biorationals for Cucurbitaceae pathogens protection, suitable for both organic and conventional agriculture.
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