Article
Refine
Year of publication
Document Type
- Article (15208) (remove)
Language
- English (15208) (remove)
Has Fulltext
- yes (15208)
Keywords
- taxonomy (402)
- new species (172)
- morphology (96)
- inflammation (91)
- COVID-19 (73)
- distribution (72)
- biodiversity (63)
- SARS-CoV-2 (60)
- phylogeny (52)
- Englisch (50)
Institute
- Medizin (4760)
- Physik (1628)
- Biowissenschaften (1009)
- Biochemie und Chemie (744)
- Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS) (692)
- Geowissenschaften (534)
- Informatik (381)
- Senckenbergische Naturforschende Gesellschaft (330)
- Institut für Ökologie, Evolution und Diversität (328)
- Gesellschaftswissenschaften (288)
The p63 gene encodes a master regulator of epidermal commitment, development, and differentiation. Heterozygous mutations in the DNA binding domain cause Ectrodactyly, Ectodermal Dysplasia, characterized by limb deformation, cleft lip/palate, and ectodermal dysplasia while mutations in in the C-terminal domain of the α-isoform cause Ankyloblepharon-Ectodermal defects-Cleft lip/palate (AEC) syndrome, a life-threatening disorder characterized by skin fragility, severe, long-lasting skin erosions, and cleft lip/palate. The molecular disease mechanisms of these syndromes have recently become elucidated and have enhanced our understanding of the role of p63 in epidermal development. Here we review the molecular cause and functional consequences of these p63-mutations for skin development and discuss the consequences of p63 mutations for female fertility.
Despite recent advances in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), patient’s individual response and clinical follow-up vary considerably with tumor intrinsic factors to contribute to an enhanced malignancy and therapy resistance. Among these markers, upregulation of members of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family effects on tumorigenesis and radiation- and chemo-resistance by multiple pathways, covering a hampered induction of apoptosis/autophagy, regulation of cell cycle progression and DNA damage response. These mechanisms are tightly controlled by the tumor suppressor p53 and thus transcriptional and post-translational regulation of IAPs by p53 is expected to occur in malignant cells. By this, cellular IAP1/2, X-linked IAP, Survivin, BRUCE and LIVIN expression/activity, as well as their intracellular localization is controlled by p53 in a direct or indirect manner via modulating a multitude of mechanisms. These cover, among others, transcriptional repression and the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 pathway. In addition, p53 mutations contribute to deregulated IAP expression and resistance to therapy. This review aims at highlighting the mechanistic and clinical importance of IAP regulation by p53 in CRC and describing potential therapeutic strategies based on this interrelationship.
The estimation of the minimum time since death is one of the main applications of forensic entomology. This can be done by calculating the age of the immature stage of necrophagous flies developing on the corpse, which is confined to approximately 2–4 weeks, depending on temperature and species of the first colonizing wave of flies. Adding the age of the adult flies developed on the dead body could extend this time frame up to several weeks when the body is in a building or closed premise. However, the techniques for accurately estimating the age of adult flies are still in their beginning stages or not sufficiently validated. Here we review the current state of the art of analysing the aging of flies by evaluating the ovarian development, the amount of pteridine in the eyes, the degree of wing damage, the modification of their cuticular hydrocarbon patterns, and the increasing number of growth layers in the cuticula. New approaches, including the use of age specific molecular profiles based on the levels of gene and protein expression and the application of near infrared spectroscopy, are introduced, and the forensic relevance of these methods is discussed.
This article explores the liturgical functions of cross-shaped staurothekes, reliquaries of the True Cross, in twelfth-century Sicily. These luxurious objects were once at the centre of the devotion of the growing Christian communities on an island undergoing dramatic social changes. This contribution examines the figuration of these crosses and the messages they conveyed to their audiences, focusing on documented processions as displays of public piety. To this end, the contents of two liturgical manuscripts from Palermo, evidence in contemporary pictorial arts and coinage, and the urban layout of the Norman capital will shed light on the reception of the symbol of the cross in the cosmopolitan, yet increasingly intolerant Sicilian kingdom.
COPD and asthma are two distinct but sometimes overlapping diseases exhibiting varying degrees and types of inflammation on different stages of the disease. Although several biomarkers are defined to estimate the inflammatory endotype and stages in these diseases, there is still a need for new markers and potential therapeutic targets. We investigated the levels of a phytohormone, abscisic acid (ABA) and its receptor, LANCL2, in COPD patients and asthmatics. In addition, PPAR-γ that is activated by ABA in a ligand-binding domain-independent manner was also included in the study. In this study, we correlated ABA with COPD-propagating factors to define the possible role of ABA, in terms of immune regulation, inflammation, and disease stages. We collected blood from 101 COPD patients, 52 asthmatics, and 57 controls. Bronchoscopy was performed on five COPD patients and 29 controls. We employed (i) liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and HPLC to determine the ABA and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase levels, respectively; (ii) real-time PCR to quantify the gene expression of LANCL2 and PPAR-γ; (iii) Flow cytometry to quantify adipocytokines; and (iv) immunoturbidimetry and ELISA to measure CRP and cytokines, respectively. Finally, a multinomial regression model was used to predict the probability of using ABA as a biomarker. Blood ABA levels were significantly reduced in COPD patients and asthmatics compared to age- and gender-matched normal controls. However, PPAR-γ was elevated in COPD patients. Intriguingly, ABA was positively correlated with immune-regulatory factors and was negatively correlated with inflammatory markers, in COPD. Of note, ABA was increased in advanced COPD stages. We thereby conclude that ABA might be involved in regulation of COPD pathogenesis and might be regarded as a potential biomarker for COPD stages.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of acupuncture and medical training therapy alone and in combination with those of usual care on the pain sensation of patients with frequent episodic and chronic tension-type headache.
Design: This was a prospective single-centre randomised controlled trial with four balanced treatment arms. The allocation was carried out by pre-generated randomisation lists in the ratio 1:1:1:1 with different permutation block sizes.
Setting: The study was undertaken in the outpatient clinic of Rehabilitation Medicine of the Hannover Medical School.
Participants and interventions: Ninety-six adult patients with tension-type headache were included and randomised into usual care (n = 24), acupuncture (n = 24), medical training (n = 24), and combination of acupuncture and medical training (n = 24). One patient was excluded from analysis because of withdrawing her/his consent, leaving 95 patients for intention to treat analysis. Each therapy arm consisted of 6 weeks of treatment with 12 interventions. Follow-up was at 3 and 6 months.
Main outcome measures: Pain intensity (average, maximum and minimum), frequency of headache, responder rate (50% frequency reduction), duration of headache and use of headache medication.
Clinical results: The combination of acupuncture and medical training therapy significantly reduced mean pain intensity compared to usual care (mean = −38%, standard deviation = 25%, p = 0.012). Comparable reductions were observed for maximal pain intensity (−25%, standard deviation = 20%, 0.014) and for minimal pain intensity (−35%, standard deviation = 31%, 0.03). In contrast, neither acupuncture nor medical training therapy differed significantly from usual care. No between-group differences were found in headache frequency, mean duration of headache episodes, and pain medication intake. At 3 months, the majority of all patients showed a reduction of at least 50% in headache frequency. At 6 months, significantly higher responder rates were found in all intervention groups compared to usual care.
Conclusions: In contrast to monotherapy, only the combination of acupuncture and medical training therapy was significantly superior in reduction of pain intensity compared to usual care.
Centris xanthomelaena Moure & Castro, 2001 is a relict species, endemic to northeastern Brazil and broadly recorded within the semiarid region of Caatinga xerophilous open vegetation. It was originally included in the subgenus Paracentris Cameron, 1903 but posteriorly interpreted as remotely related to it or to the subgenus Centris s. str. Fabricius, 1804. In this paper it is proposed to recognize this species as the single member of the monotypic Relicthemisia, a new subgenus which belongs to the ‘Centris group’, one of the main internal lineages of the genus. The proposition of this new subgenus is based on both, morphological and molecular data which indicate its long history as a distinct lineage. Distribution records, floral hosts as well as photographs of both sexes of C. xanthomelaena are also provided.
Representatives of several genera of the family Miraciidae (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) were found in sediment samples taken in the year 2019 from a coastal system in north-western Mexico. The subfamily Diosaccinae (Miraciidae) was by far the most diverse taxon followed by the subfamily Stenheliinae (Miraciidae). Here we report on a new miraciid species, Typhlamphiascus medici sp. nov., and provide a new amended diagnosis for Typhlamphiascus Lang, 1944 along with a key to its species. Additionally, Typhlamphiascus lamellifer lamellifer (Sars, 1911) and T. l. capensis Kunz, 1975 are considered as distinct species and the latter is given full species rank. Upon preliminary inspection, another diosaccin species was thought to be a derived form of Bulbamphiascus Lang, 1944. This promoted us to perform a more in-depth phylogenetic analysis. Our results showed that the new presumed derived form of Bulbamphiascus represents a new genus, Spinodiosaccus gen. nov. and that the genus Bulbamphiascus, which we propose a new amended diagnosis for, could be split into different genera. Also, the possible relationships amongst the different diosaccin clades found during our analyses are commented. We give a brief ecological analysis on the distribution of T. medici sp. nov. and S. primus gen. et sp. nov. in the Urías system.
Iberia has one of the richest bee faunas in the world, and the genus Andrena is no exception with around 200 species known from the Peninsula. The fauna of Andrena was largely revised in the 1970s, but since then, it has received little attention. Molecular investigation of the taxonomically challenging subgenus Taeniandrena has revealed that the situation is more complicated than previously thought with several cryptic and overlooked species. From the species allied to Andrena (T. ) gelriae van der Vecht, 1927, Andrena (T. ) gredana Warncke, 1975 stat. nov. from Spain and Portugal is raised to species status, and Andrena (T. ) levante Wood & Praz sp. nov. from southeastern Spain is newly described. Furthermore, Andrena (T. ) benoisti Wood & Praz sp. nov. is described, having previously been referred to as Andrena (T. ) wilkella beaumonti Benoist, 1961. Andrena (T. ) beaumonti stat. rev. is itself distinct and restricted to the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Outside of the subgenus Taeniandrena, Andrena (Euandrena) fortipunctata Wood sp. nov. and Andrena (Charitandrena) hattorfiana nigricauda Wood subsp. nov. are described from Spain, and Andrena (Notandrena) juliana Wood sp. nov. is described from Spain and Portugal. The male of Andrena (Lepidandrena) baetica Wood, 2020 is also described. Andrena (Euandrena) impressa Warncke, 1967 stat. nov. is raised to species status, displaying a West Mediterranean distribution. Finally, a further two species of Andrena are newly recorded for Spain, Andrena laurivora Warncke, 1974 and Andrena confinis Stoeckhert, 1930. Altogether, these findings reinforce the fact that our understanding of the taxonomy and distribution of Andrena in southern Europe remains incomplete.