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Characterization of a novel KCNJ2 sequence variant detected in Andersen-Tawil syndrome patients
(2017)
Background: Mutations in the KCNJ2 gene encoding the ion channel Kir2.1 have been linked to the Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS). Molecular genetic screening performed in a family exhibiting clinical ATS phenotypes unmasked a novel sequence variant (c.434A > G, p.Y145C) in this gene. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of this variant on Kir2.1 ion channel functionality.
Methods: Mutant as well as wild type GFP tagged Kir2.1 channels were expressed in HEK293 cells. In order to examine the effect of the new variant, electrophysiological measurements were performed using patch clamp technique. Cellular localization of the mutant in comparison to the wild type ion channel was analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy.
Results: The currents of cells expressing only mutant channels or a mixture of wild type and mutant were significantly reduced compared to those expressing wild type (WT) channels (p < 0.01). Whereas WT expressing cells exhibited at −120 mV an averaged current of −4.5 ± 1.9 nA, the mutant generates only a current of −0.17 ± 0.07 nA. A co-expression of mutant and WT channel generates only a partial rescue of the WT current. Confocal laser scanning microscopy indicated that the novel variant is not interfering with synthesis and/or protein trafficking.
Conclusions: The detected sequence variant causes loss-of-function of the Kir2.1 channel and explains the clinical phenotypes observed in Andersen-Tawil syndrome patients.
A recent report showed PINK1 transcript levels to be up- or down-regulated by the gain or loss of Ataxin-2 function, respectively, in human blood, in a human neural cell line and in mouse tissues. These observations may have profound implications for the regulation of cell growth and may be medically exploited for the treatment of cancer and neural atrophy...
As new generations of targeted therapies emerge and tumor genome sequencing discovers increasingly comprehensive mutation repertoires, the functional relationships of mutations to tumor phenotypes remain largely unknown. Here, we measured ex vivo sensitivity of 246 blood cancers to 63 drugs alongside genome, transcriptome, and DNA methylome analysis to understand determinants of drug response. We assembled a primary blood cancer cell encyclopedia data set that revealed disease-specific sensitivities for each cancer. Within chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), responses to 62% of drugs were associated with 2 or more mutations, and linked the B cell receptor (BCR) pathway to trisomy 12, an important driver of CLL. Based on drug responses, the disease could be organized into phenotypic subgroups characterized by exploitable dependencies on BCR, mTOR, or MEK signaling and associated with mutations, gene expression, and DNA methylation. Fourteen percent of CLLs were driven by mTOR signaling in a non–BCR-dependent manner. Multivariate modeling revealed immunoglobulin heavy chain variable gene (IGHV) mutation status and trisomy 12 as the most important modulators of response to kinase inhibitors in CLL. Ex vivo drug responses were associated with outcome. This study overcomes the perception that most mutations do not influence drug response of cancer, and points to an updated approach to understanding tumor biology, with implications for biomarker discovery and cancer care.
Die Herztransplantation ist die Goldstandardtherapie der Herzinsuffizienz [24]. Verglichen mit der konventionellen Therapie führt sie zu einer verbesserten Überlebensrate, Belastbarkeit und Lebensqualität [15b]. Diese werden durch die internationale Gesellschaft für Herz- und Lungentransplantation (ISHLT) mit ihrer weltweit größten Datenbank für Herz- und Lungentransplantationsdaten überprüft [45]. Aufgrund des hohen Stellenwerts und der umfassenden Arbeit der ISHLT findet in dieser Dissertation der Vergleich der Daten über das Outcome von 76 Herztransplantierten der Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universitätsklinik Frankfurt am Main (KGU) mit den Daten der ISHLT statt.
Es handelt sich bei dieser Arbeit um eine retrospektive Studie, die 60 Männer und 16 Frauen im Alter zwischen 18 und 68 Jahren einschließt, die an der Uniklinik Frankfurt zwischen dem 24.02.1997 und dem 04.05.2013 eine Herztransplantation erhielten. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, die Ergebnisse der Universitätsklinik Frankfurt a.M. mit den internationalen Werten zu vergleichen um genauere Informationen zur internationalen Positionierung zu erhalten. Die Resultate sollen dazu dienen, die eigenen Prozesse zu verbessern, Stärken auszubauen und Schwächen zu beheben und die Behandlung der Patienten den wissenschaftlichen Empfehlungen anzupassen.
Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie zeigten, dass die 1-Jahres-Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeit an der KGU mit 69% deutlich geringer war als international mit 81% [37a]. Dabei zeigte sich in genaueren Analysen, dass das schlechtere Kurzzeitüberleben vor allem von der Transplantationsära von Februar 1997 bis 2001, der zur Transplantation führenden Diagnose einer ischämischen Kardiomyopathie (ICM) und dem Vorhandensein eines Assist Devices vor der Transplantation verursacht wurde. Das Alter und das Geschlecht des Patienten dagegen schienen keinen Einfluss darauf zu nehmen. Im Langzeitüberleben lagen die Ergebnisse der KGU deutlich über den Werten der ISHLT. Unter der Bedingung, dass das erste postoperative Jahr überlebt wurde, ergab sich für KGU Patienten eine 10- bzw. 15-Jahres-Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeit von 74% (n=40) bzw. 60% (n=33). Die Wahrscheinlichkeit das 10. postoperative Jahr zu überleben lag für ISHLT Patienten bei 63,9%; für das 15. Jahr lag dieser Wert bei 42% [37g].
Die Langzeitkomplikationen der Malignität und der TVP traten an der KGU anteilig seltener auf als international. Die TVP-Freiheit nach 10 Jahren lag international bei 47% und an der KGU bei 75% [37e]. Für die Freiheit von Malignität lag die Wahrscheinlichkeit des 10. Jahres international bei 66% und an der KGU bei 74% [37c]. Die Wahrscheinlichkeit für die Freiheit von einem Kreatininwert über 2,5mg/dl bis zum 10. Jahr nach Transplantation war an der KGU mit 70% (n=26) ähnlich wie die internationalen Werte von 61,5% [37b]. Die Patienten der KGU erlitten des Weiteren deutlich mehr Abstoßungen im ersten Jahr. Während international zwischen 25 und 30% der Patienten eine Abstoßungsreaktion im ersten Jahr erlebten, waren es an der KGU mindestens 50%. Trotzdem war der Anteil an behandlungsbedürftigen Abstoßungen an der KGU anteilig geringer als bei dem Patientenkollektiv der ISHLT [37d]. Bei der Analyse der Immunsuppression zeigte sich, dass die KGU das Steroidweaning deutlich später und in wesentlich geringerem Ausmaß durchführt: während im 5. postoperativen Jahr 48% der ISHLT-Patienten Steroide erhalten, sind es an der KGU noch 83% (n=40) [37n]. Im Vergleich der verschiedenen Kombinationstherapien zeigte sich, dass in der Patientengruppe der KGU hauptsächlich Kombinationen mit Ciclosporin (Jahr 1 85,2%, n=46) angewendet wurden, während unter den ISHLT-Patienten hauptsächlich Tacrolimus (Jahr 1 57,5%, n=4053) eingesetzt wurde. Beide Gruppen haben gemeinsam, dass der Anteil an Sirolimus- bzw. Everolimus-Kombinationen von Jahr 1 auf Jahr 5 zunimmt. Dabei kommen diese Kombinationen prozentual gesehen international häufiger vor [37m].
Folglich konnte diese Studie nicht nur zeigen, wo die Stärken der Universitätsklinik Frankfurt liegen, sondern auch welche Punkte in naher Zukunft verbessert werden können. Somit werden konkrete Anpassungen an der Behandlung der HTx-Patienten der KGU erfolgen können.
Background: Previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) research suggests that, prior to the onset of psychosis, high risk youths already exhibit brain abnormalities similar to those present in patients with schizophrenia.
Objectives: The goal of the present study was to describe the functional organization of endogenous activation in young adolescents who report auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) in view of the “distributed network” hypothesis of psychosis. We recruited 20 young people aged 13–16 years who reported AVHs and 20 healthy controls matched for age, gender and handedness from local schools.
Methods: Each participant underwent a semi-structured clinical interview and a resting state (RS) neuroimaging protocol. We explored functional connectivity (FC) involving three different networks: 1) default mode network (DMN) 2) salience network (SN) and 3) central executive network (CEN). In line with previous findings on the role of the auditory cortex in AVHs as reported by young adolescents, we also investigated FC anomalies involving both the primary and secondary auditory cortices (A1 and A2, respectively).
Further, we explored between-group inter-hemispheric FC differences (laterality) for both A1 and A2. Compared to the healthy control group, the AVH group exhibited FC differences in all three networks investigated. Moreover, FC anomalies were found in a neural network including both A1 and A2. The laterality analysis revealed no between-group, inter-hemispheric differences.
Conclusions: The present study suggests that young adolescents with subclinical psychotic symptoms exhibit functional connectivity anomalies directly and indirectly involving the DMN, SN, CEN and also a neural network including both primary and secondary auditory cortical regions.
Nepal is highly vulnerable to global climate change, despite its negligible emission of global greenhouse gases. The vulnerable climate-sensitive sectors identified in Nepal's National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) to Climate Change 2010 include agriculture, forestry, water, energy, public health, urbanization and infrastructure, and climate-induced disasters. In addition, analyses carried out as part of the NAPA process have indicated that the impacts of climate change in Nepal are not gender neutral. Vector-borne diseases, diarrhoeal diseases including cholera, malnutrition, cardiorespiratory diseases, psychological stress, and health effects and injuries related to extreme weather are major climate-sensitive health risks in the country. In recent years, research has been done in Nepal in order to understand the changing epidemiology of diseases and generate evidence for decision-making. Based on this evidence, the experience of programme managers, and regular surveillance data, the Government of Nepal has mainstreamed issues related to climate change in development plans, policies and programmes. In particular, the Government of Nepal has addressed climate-sensitive health risks. In addition to the NAPA report, several policy documents have been launched, including the Climate Change Policy 2011; the Nepal Health Sector Programme – Implementation Plan II (NHSP-IP 2) 2010–2015; the National Health Policy 2014; the National Health Sector Strategy 2015–2020 and its implementation plan (2016–2021); and the Health National Adaptation Plan (H-NAP): climate change and health strategy and action plan (2016–2020). However, the translation of these policies and plans of action into tangible action on the ground is still in its infancy in Nepal. Despite this, the health sector's response to addressing the impact of climate change in Nepal may be taken as a good example for other low- and middle-income countries.
Both hemispheres contribute to motor control beyond the innervation of the contralateral alpha motoneurons. The left hemisphere has been associated with higher-order aspects of motor control like sequencing and temporal processing, the right hemisphere with the transformation of visual information to guide movements in space. In the visuomotor context, empirical evidence regarding the latter has been limited though the right hemisphere’s specialization for visuospatial processing is well-documented in perceptual tasks. This study operationalized temporal and spatial processing demands during visuomotor processing and investigated hemispheric asymmetries in neural activation during the unimanual control of a visual cursor by grip force. Functional asymmetries were investigated separately for visuomotor planning and online control during functional magnetic resonance imaging in 19 young, healthy, right-handed participants. The expected cursor movement was coded with different visual trajectories. During planning when spatial processing demands predominated, activity was right-lateralized in a hand-independent manner in the inferior temporal lobe, occipito-parietal border, and ventral premotor cortex. When temporal processing demands overweighed spatial demands, BOLD responses during planning were left-lateralized in the temporo-parietal junction. During online control of the cursor, right lateralization was not observed. Instead, left lateralization occurred in the intraparietal sulcus. Our results identify movement phase and spatiotemporal demands as important determinants of dynamic hemispheric asymmetries during visuomotor processing. We suggest that, within a bilateral visuomotor network, the right hemisphere exhibits a processing preference for planning global spatial movement features whereas the left hemisphere preferentially times local features of visual movement trajectories and adjusts movement online.
Functional imaging studies using BOLD contrasts have consistently reported activation of the supplementary motor area (SMA) both during motor and internal timing tasks. Opposing findings, however, have been shown for the modulation of beta oscillations in the SMA. While movement suppresses beta oscillations in the SMA, motor and non-motor tasks that rely on internal timing increase the amplitude of beta oscillations in the SMA. These independent observations suggest that the relationship between beta oscillations and BOLD activation is more complex than previously thought. Here we set out to investigate this rapport by examining beta oscillations in the SMA during movement with varying degrees of internal timing demands. In a simultaneous EEG-fMRI experiment, 20 healthy right-handed subjects performed an auditory-paced finger-tapping task. Internal timing was operationalized by including conditions with taps on every fourth auditory beat, which necessitates generation of a slow internal rhythm, while tapping to every auditory beat reflected simple auditory-motor synchronization. In the SMA, BOLD activity increased and power in both the low and the high beta band decreased expectedly during each condition compared to baseline. Internal timing was associated with a reduced desynchronization of low beta oscillations compared to conditions without internal timing demands. In parallel with this relative beta power increase, internal timing activated the SMA more strongly in terms of BOLD. This documents a task-dependent non-linear relationship between BOLD and beta-oscillations in the SMA. We discuss different roles of beta synchronization and desynchronization in active processing within the same cortical region.