Meta-Analysis of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Electromechanical Reconstruction of Myocardium

In developed countries, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which results from obesity, has become endemic and kills many adults annually. Health research centers in most countries are looking to examine the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and metabolic biomarkers. A bleeding-prone standard liver biopsy or costly magnetic resonance imaging scan is used to diagnose NAFLD. The present study aimed to analyze medical databases using various scientific articles; moreover, this experiment analyzed medical databases using published scientific articles related to NAFLD, endovascular treatment, cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disorders, changes in the geometry of atria and ventricles, changes in myocardial mass volume as well as diastolic flow left and right ventricular systolic functions, coronary blood flow, analysis of the dependence of epicardial fat tissue (EFT) thickness, and the presence of chronic heart failure (CHF). It is demonstrated that the index of EFT in NAFLD positively correlated with the criteria of cardiovascular health, values of the carotid intima-media thickness, and calcification of the coronary arteries on the coronary artery calcium scale (P<0.0001). The index of per EFT significantly correlated with the factor of the age of the NAFLD patients (P=0.04), hemoglobin A1C level (P<0.001), systemic inflammatory index (P=0.02), the index of impaired glucose tolerance (P=0.03), and especially, the patient's diabetes factor (P<0.001). In addition, adiponectin levels were significantly lower in individuals with NAFLD (P=0.001) and patients with MetS (P=0.02). NAFLD in association with an increase in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, CHF, as well as structural and electrophysiological myocardial remodeling. The study of pathogenetic mechanisms in the context of the role of EAT and clinical monitoring of its condition are urgent problems of modern medicine.

High-intensity UV laser ChIP-seq for the study of protein-DNA interactions in living cells

Genome-wide mapping of transcription factor binding is generally performed by chemical protein–DNA crosslinking, followed by chromatin immunoprecipitation and deep sequencing (ChIP-seq). Here we present the ChIP-seq technique based on photochemical crosslinking of protein–DNA interactions by high-intensity ultraviolet (UV) laser irradiation in living mammalian cells (UV-ChIP-seq). UV laser irradiation induces an efficient and instant formation of covalent “zero-length” crosslinks exclusively between nucleic acids and proteins that are in immediate contact, thus resulting in a “snapshot” of direct protein–DNA interactions in their natural environment. Here we show that UV-ChIP-seq, applied for genome-wide profiling of the sequence-specific transcriptional repressor B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) in human diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cells, produces sensitive and precise protein–DNA binding profiles, highly enriched with canonical BCL6 DNA sequence motifs. Using this technique, we also found numerous previously undetectable direct BCL6 binding sites, particularly in condensed, inaccessible areas of chromatin.

Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by DNA sequencing (ChIP-seq) can map transcription factor binding to a given genome. Here, Steube and colleagues devise a ChIP-seq technique based on photochemical crosslinking by high-intensity ultraviolet laser irradiation, and describe its utility.

Expression of the toxin-antitoxin genes yefM(Lrh), yoeB(Lrh) in human Lactobacillus rhamnosus isolates

Lactobacilli are important microorganisms in various activities, for example, diary products, meat ripening, bread and pickles, but, moreover, are associated directly with human skin and cavities (e.g., mouth, gut, or vagina). Some of them are used as probiotics. Therefore, the molecular biological investigation of these bacteria is important. Earlier we described several toxin antitoxin systems (type II) in lactobacilli. Here, we describe the structure and transcriptional regulation of genes, encoding TA system YefM-YoeB(Lrh) in three strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus comparing stationary and exponential growth phases, the influence of stress factors and mRNA stability. The same TA system is responding to physiological and stress conditions differently in related strains. Using primer extension and RLM-RACE methods we determined three transcription start sites of RNAs in the operon. The promoter region of the operon is preceded by a conserved BOX element occurring at multiple positions in the genomes of L. rhamnosus strains. Downstream of and partially overlapping with the 3' end of the yoeB(Lrh) toxin gene, a divergently transcribed unexpected RNA was detected.

Pharmacokinetics, antifolate activity and tissue distribution of PT523 in SCC VII tumor-bearing mice

PURPOSE

To monitor the pharmacokinetics of PT523 and methotrexate in C3H mice with transplanted SCC VII tumors; to compare the impact of PT523 and methotrexate on tumor and normal host 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate levels; and to synthesize [14C]PT523 and determine its time-dependent tissue distribution in tumor and host tissues.

METHODS

C3H mice bearing SCC VII tumors were given i.p. PT523 or methotrexate. Plasma drug levels and tumor, gut and marrow 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate were assayed. [14C]PT523 was synthesized and administered i.v. to tumor-bearing mice for tissue distribution analysis.

RESULTS

Areas under the curve, mean residence times, whole body clearances, apparent distribution volumes, and plasma protein binding of PT523 vs methotrexate were, respectively, 4311 vs 6472 microM x min(-1); 20 vs 16 min; 0.56 vs 0.36 ml min(-1); 532 vs 325 ml x kg(-1); and 70% vs 30%. Both PT523 and methotrexate caused time-dependent declines in 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate in tumor and marrow, but not in gut mucosa [corrected]. Gut levels began to recover within 4 h in the PT523-treated group only. [14C]PT523 distributed mainly into the liver, duodenum, kidneys, lungs, tumor, pancreas and muscle; less into the spleen, blood cells, heart, brain and testicles; and very little into gut [corrected. Only 35% of the dose was excreted, and 2.9-fold more in feces than urine.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite its more rapid clearance, accumulation of PT523 in extravascular tissues was greater than that of methotrexate. Consequently, less PT523 was recovered in feces and urine and its apparent volume of distribution was greater. PT523 selectively depleted 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate pools in tumor and, less persistently, in marrow, but spared the gut mucosa [corrected]. [14C]PT523 tissue distribution correlated with organ mass and blood supply.