| 51. |
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| 52. |
- Axelsson, Erik, et al.
(författare)
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Natural selection in protein-coding genes expressed in avian brain
- 2008
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Ingår i: Molecular Ecology. - 0962-1083 .- 1365-294X. ; 17:12, s. 3008-3017
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The evolution of birds from theropod dinosaurs took place approximately 150 million years ago, and was associated with a number of specific adaptations that are still evident among extant birds, including feathers, song and extravagant secondary sexual characteristics. Knowledge about the molecular evolutionary background to such adaptations is lacking. Here, we analyse the evolution of > 5000 protein-coding gene sequences expressed in zebra finch brain by comparison to orthologous sequences in chicken. Mean d(N)/d(S) is 0.085 and genes with their maximal expression in the eye and central nervous system have the lowest mean d(N)/d(S) value, while those expressed in digestive and reproductive tissues exhibit the highest. We find that fast-evolving genes (those which have higher than expected rate of nonsynonymous substitution, indicative of adaptive evolution) are enriched for biological functions such as fertilization, muscle contraction, defence response, response to stress, wounding and endogenous stimulus, and cell death. After alignment to mammalian orthologues, we identify a catalogue of 228 genes that show a significantly higher rate of protein evolution in the two bird lineages than in mammals. These accelerated bird genes, representing candidates for avian-specific adaptations, include genes implicated in vocal learning and other cognitive processes. Moreover, colouration genes evolve faster in birds than in mammals, which may have been driven by sexual selection for extravagant plumage characteristics.
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| 53. |
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| 54. |
- Blair, J. C., et al.
(författare)
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Standard and low-dose IGF-I generation tests and spontaneous growth hormone secretion in children with idiopathic short stature
- 2004
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Ingår i: Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). ; 60:2, s. 163-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Abnormalities in the GH-IGF-I axis, consistent with GH insensitivity (GHI), have been reported in some patients with idiopathic short stature (ISS). The standard IGF-I generation test (IGFGT) has not demonstrated mild GHI in subjects with ISS. The aim of this study was to investigate the GH-IGF-I axis in ISS by performing standard and novel low-dose IGFGTs together with determination of spontaneous GH secretion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-one (17 male) prepubertal children with ISS, mean age 8.3 years (4.5-12.2), mean height -3.48 SD (-5.40 to -1.79), mean peak GH to provocation with glucagon/clonidine 32.3 mU/l (14.1-66.0) were studied. Serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were measured during standard (GH 0.033 mg/kg/day x 4) and low (GH 0.011 mg/kg/day x 4) dose IGFGTs at 0, 12, 36 and 84 h. The low-dose IGFGT was performed in seven naive GH-deficient patients (4 male), mean age 8.5 years (range 4.1-11.1). Determination of spontaneous 24-h GH secretion was performed in the 21 ISS patients. RESULTS: Basal IGF-I and IGFBP-3 standard deviation scores (SDS) in ISS patients were -1.39 (-2.4-1.16) and -0.45 (-1.13-0.38), respectively, IGF-I being lower than IGFBP-3 (P < 0.0001). IGF-I increased in the standard IGFGT at 12 h (P < 0.005), 36 h (P < 0.001) and 84 h (P < 0.001); maximal increment 1.54 (-0.32-3.48), and in the low-dose test at 12 h (P < 0.005), 36 h (P < 0.001) and 84 h (P < 0.005); maximal increment 0.53 (0.08 to -1.23). IGFBP-3 SDS increased in the standard IGFGT at 36 h (P < 0.01) and 84 h (P < 0.001); maximal increment 0.72 (-0.44-1.96), and in the low-dose test at 84 h (P < 0.005); maximal increment 0.33 (-0.08-0.87). Five/19 patients with an IGF-I response > 2 x coefficient of variation (CV) of assay in the standard test failed to respond in the low-dose test, suggestive of mild GHI. In GH-deficient patients, IGF-I increased at each time point (P < 0.05) and IGFBP-3 at 36 h (P < 0.05). Mean GH secretion, expressed in SDS, compared with 66 normal stature controls was: basal GH -0.48 (-0.84-0.93), height of GH peaks compared with zero -0.36 (-1.26-1.51) (both P < 0.05), total GH secretion -0.76 (-1.22-0.42), total GH secretion above baseline -0.67 (-1.21-0.94) (both P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In children with ISS, basal IGF-I and IGFBP-3 SDS values were below the mean, IGF-I showing a greater response in both IGFGTs. In the standard IGFGT, the IGF-I increase at 36 h was equal to that at 84 h. The low-dose IGFGT, in combination with the standard test, may identify patients with mild GHI.
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| 55. |
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| 56. |
- Clayton, Aled, et al.
(författare)
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Summary of the ISEV workshop on extracellular vesicles as disease biomarkers, held in Birmingham, UK, during December 2017
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Extracellular Vesicles. - : Wiley. - 2001-3078. ; 7
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of The International Society for Extracellular Vesicles. This report summarises the presentations and activities of the ISEV Workshop on extracellular vesicle biomarkers held in Birmingham, UK during December 2017. Among the key messages was broad agreement about the importance of biospecimen science. Much greater attention needs to be paid towards the provenance of collected samples. The workshop also highlighted clear gaps in our knowledge about pre-analytical factors that alter extracellular vesicles (EVs). The future utility of certified standards for credentialing of instruments and software, to analyse EV and for tracking the influence of isolation steps on the structure and content of EVs were also discussed. Several example studies were presented, demonstrating the potential utility for EVs in disease diagnosis, prognosis, longitudinal serial testing and stratification of patients. The conclusion of the workshop was that more effort focused on pre-analytical issues and benchmarking of isolation methods is needed to strengthen collaborations and advance more effective biomarkers.
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| 57. |
- Clayton, Emma L., et al.
(författare)
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Early microgliosis precedes neuronal loss and behavioural impairment in mice with a frontotemporal dementia-causing CHMP2B mutation
- 2017
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Ingår i: Human Molecular Genetics. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0964-6906 .- 1460-2083. ; 26:5, s. 873-887
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)-causing mutations in the CHMP2B gene lead to the generation of mutant C-terminally truncated CHMP2B. We report that transgenic mice expressing endogenous levels of mutant CHMP2B developed late-onset brain volume loss associated with frank neuronal loss and FTD-like changes in social behaviour. These data are the first to show neurodegeneration in mice expressing mutant CHMP2B and indicate that our mouse model is able to recapitulate neurodegenerative changes observed in FTD. Neuroinflammation has been increasingly implicated in neurodegeneration, including FTD. Therefore, we investigated neuroinflammation in our CHMP2B mutant mice. We observed very early microglial proliferation that develops into a clear pro-inflammatory phenotype at late stages. Importantly, we also observed a similar inflammatory profile in CHMP2B patient frontal cortex. Aberrant microglial function has also been implicated in FTD caused by GRN, MAPT and C9orf72 mutations. The presence of early microglial changes in our CHMP2B mutant mice indicates neuroinflammation may be a contributing factor to the neurodegeneration observed in FTD.
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| 58. |
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| 59. |
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| 60. |
- Dahl, S., et al.
(författare)
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Gestures in Performance
- 2010
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Ingår i: Musical Gestures. - : Taylor and Francis. ; , s. 36-68
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- On occasion, one can observe a whole orchestra section moving and playing in unison. In such an instance, all violinists play the melody using the same type of bowing movements and lean forward in unison at a given time during a specific passage in the music. Thus, not only do the musicians use very similar movements to produce the same notes but they sometimes also coordinate bodily sways or other movements with the other players. The musical gesture seems to manifest itself in both sound and movement. Whether we are watching as audience, or participating and interacting in the actual performance itself, we receive a considerable amount of gestural information. The aim of this chapter is to give examples of gestures that may be observed during performance, and to consider the kind of information they might convey, either to other performers or to the audience.
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