Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “disease”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 433 records · Page 24

Chromosome compartmentalization alterations in prostate cancer cell lines model disease progression

Prostate cancer aggressiveness and metastatic potential are influenced by gene expression and genomic aberrations, features that can be influenced by the 3D structure of chromosomes inside the nucleus. Using chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C), we conducted a systematic genome architecture comparison on a cohort of cell lines that model prostate cancer progression, from normal epithelium to bone metastasis. We describe spatial compartment identity (A-open versus B-closed) changes with progression in these cell lines and their relation to gene expression changes in both cell lines and patient samples. In particular, 48 gene clusters switch from the B to the A compartment, including androgen receptor, WNT5A, and CDK14. These switches are accompanied by changes in the structure, size, and boundaries of topologically associating domains (TADs). Further, compartment changes in chromosome 21 are exacerbated with progression and may explain, in part, the genesis of the TMPRSS2-ERG translocation. These results suggest that discrete 3D genome structure changes play a deleterious role in prostate cancer progression.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Viral Load Kinetics of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Hospitalized Individuals With Coronavirus Disease 2019

Abstract Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) kinetics remain understudied, including the impact of remdesivir. In hospitalized individuals, peak sputum viral load occurred in week 2 of symptoms, whereas viremia peaked within 1 week of symptom-onset, suggesting early systemic seeding of SARS-CoV-2. Remdesivir treatment was associated with faster viral decay.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

The loss or absence of minimal residual disease of <0·1% at any time after two cycles of consolidation chemotherapy in CBFB–MYH11 ‐positive acute myeloid leukaemia indicates poor prognosis

Summary No consensus has been reached on the relationship between CBFB‐MYH11 copies and prognosis. Of 1525 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, 58 with CBFB‐MYH11‐positive AML (16/58 patients with c‐kit mutation) were retrospectively analyzed with a median follow‐up duration of 29.8 (range: 4.8–74.4) months. Of these, 25/58 (43.1%) patients underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT), 10 of whom had the c‐kit mutation. Of the 33 patients who did not undergo allo‐HSCT, recurrence in patients with CBFB‐MYH11/ABL level >0.1% at any time after two consolidation cycles was significantly higher than in patients with CBFB‐MYH11/ABL level <0.1% (61.9% vs. 0%, P = 0.001); further, the 3‐year relapse‐free survival (RFS; 31.4% vs. 100%, P = 0.004) and event‐free survival (EFS; 33.1% vs. 100%, P = 0.004) were significantly decreased in patients with CBFB‐MYH11/ABL level >0.1% at any time after two consolidation cycles. The 3‐year RFS and EFS rates were lower in patients who did not receive allo‐HSCT than in those who did (31.4% vs 84.6%, P = 0.000; 31.4% vs. 80.8%, P = 0.001). CBFB‐MYH11‐positive AML patients with CBFB‐MYH11/ABL level >0.1% at any time after two cycles of consolidation had poor prognoses, and allo‐HSCT could improve their survival.

Duan, Wenbing↗

Switchgrass Steroidal Saponins Reduce Fungal Disease but Decrease Yeast Fermentation Yield

Increasing the production of bioproducts from lignocellulosic feedstocks requires improvement in both field production and biorefinery efficiency. When plant traits arise that improve field production but decrease biofuel yield, these trade-offs can represent challenges in the entire production process. To examine trade-offs between field and production traits, we examined factors underlying switchgrass resistance to fungal rust pathogens in field conditions and factors that impede yeast fermentation in the lab using repeated measurements on a switchgrass genetic diversity panel. We found that the same switchgrass genotypes that showed high fungal pathogen resistance also showed recalcitrance to yeast fermentation. These switchgrass genotypes were mostly from the Atlantic genetic group, which had high levels of specialized metabolites of the saponin class. Among 1589 metabolites identified through metabolomics, we found that saponins were among the most likely to explain variation in both rust infection and fermentation yield using random forest feature selection, and that only four of these were sufficient to explain 57.9% of the variation in rust susceptibility. Through follow-up testing in recalcitrant biomass, we found that the bacterium Zymomonas mobilis does not suffer the same inhibition as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and that the addition of ergosterol (thought to be the fungal cellular target of saponin inhibition) rescues yeast fermentation. Several lines of evidence point to a central role for saponins as key metabolites protecting switchgrass from fungal pathogens and interfering with yeast fermentation, underscoring an ongoing need for collaboration between plant breeders and biofuel production scientists.

VanWallendael, Acer [North Carolina State Universi↗

Immune checkpoint analysis of T‐cell responses to pp65 and IE‐1 antigens in end‐stage lung diseases

Abstract Lung transplant (LTX) patients are at high risk of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, which is often associated with high mortality and morbidity. Reactivation of CMV causes cell injury due to the cytopathic effect of viral replication and triggering of T cell immunity. The aim of this study was to compare expression of immune checkpoints (ICs) (PD‐1, CTLA‐4, LAG‐3 and TIGIT) in CD4, CD8 and CD56 and activation markers CD137, CD154 and CD69 of end‐stage patients awaiting lung transplant. Eighteen pre‐LTX positive for anti‐CMV IgG titres and 18 healthy subjects were enrolled. IC and activation markers have been evaluated through flow cytometric analysis in HC and pre‐LTX patients. Reactive (QF+) and unreactive (QF−) patients were stratified according to QuantiFERON‐CMV assays. ICs' and activation markers' expression were determined before and after in vitro stimulation with pp‐65 and IE‐1 antigens. Lower expression of PD‐1 was observed in CD4 and CD8 cells of pre‐LTX patients than controls, whereas CTLA4 appeared upregulated in CD56 and CD8 cells. TIGIT is increased on the surface of CD4, CD8 and NK cells after peptide stimulation in QF‐negative patients and PD‐1 is only downregulated after stimulation in the QF‐positive patients. This study provides new evidence of immune dysregulation in patients with end‐stage lung disorders, particularly in relation to immune checkpoint cell biology. The change in QF+ mostly happens on cytotoxic cells NK and CD8, while the changes in QF− were observed in adaptive immune cells, including CD4 and CD8.

Bergantini, Laura↗

Early initiation of prophylactic anticoagulation for prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 mortality in patients admitted to hospital in the United States: cohort study

Early initiation of prophylactic anticoagulation compared with no anticoagulation among patients admitted to hospital with covid-19 was associated with a decreased risk of 30 day mortality and no increased risk of serious bleeding events. These findings provide strong real world evidence to support guidelines recommending the use of prophylactic anticoagulation as initial treatment for patients with covid-19 on hospital admission.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Pharmacologic or genetic interference with atrogene signaling protects against glucocorticoid-induced musculoskeletal and cardiac disease

Despite their beneficial actions as immunosuppressants, glucocorticoids (GC) have devastating effects on the musculoskeletal and cardiac systems, as long-term treated patients exhibit high incidence of falls, bone fractures, and cardiovascular events. Herein, we show that GC upregulate simultaneously in bone, skeletal muscle, and the heart the expression of E3 ubiquitin ligases (atrogenes), known to stimulate the proteasomal degradation of proteins. Activation of vitamin D receptor (VDR) signaling with the VDR ligands calcitriol or eldecalcitol prevented GC-induced atrogene upregulation in vivo and ex vivo in bone/muscle organ cultures and preserved tissue structure/mass and function of the 3 tissues in vivo. Direct pharmacologic inhibition of the proteasome with carfilzomib also conferred musculoskeletal protection. Genetic loss of the atrogene MuRF1-mediated protein ubiquitination in ΔRING mice afforded temporary or sustained protection from GC excess in bone or skeletal and heart muscle. We concluded that the atrogene pathway downstream of MuRF1 underlies GC action in bone, muscle, and the heart, and it can be pharmacologically or genetically targeted to confer protection against the damaging actions of GC simultaneously in the 3 tissues.

Research & Experimental Medicine↗