| 1. |
- Edwards, David, et al.
(author)
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The biodistribution of NC100668 and the effect of excess NC100668 on the biodistribution and kidney retention of Tc-99m-NC100668 in the rat
- 2007
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In: Nuclear Medicine and Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0969-8051 .- 1872-9614. ; 34:3, s. 315-323
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: (99m)Tc-NC100668 is being developed to aid the diagnosis of thromboemboli. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the presence of excess NC100668 interferes with the biodistribution and blood clot uptake of (99m)Tc-NC100668. The secondary aim was to investigate the causes underlying the kidney retention of (99m)Tc-NC100668. METHODS: The uptake of a (14)C-labelled analogue of NC100668, as well as (99m)Tc-NC100668, into plasma (in vitro) and blood (in vivo) clots was determined. The biodistribution of (99m)Tc-NC100668 at a range of NC100668 doses was studied in normal Wistar rats and those bearing experimentally induced deep venous thrombosis. The biodistribution of a negative control peptide and (99m)Tc-NC100668 plus L-lysine was studied in healthy male Wistar rats. RESULTS: The biodistribution as well as plasma clot uptake of [Asn-U-(14)C]NC100668 and (99m)Tc-NC100668 was similar. Apart from some reduction in kidney retention, the biodistribution and uptake of radioactivity into the blood clot were not significantly affected by the presence of up to 1000 times the clinical dose of NC100668. Kidney retention of radioactivity could be more effectively reduced by coadministration of 889 microg/kg NC100668 than 450 mg/kg L-lysine. A negative control peptide with no affinity for FXIIIa demonstrated very little kidney retention. CONCLUSIONS: The biodistribution and blood clot uptake of (99m)Tc-NC100668 and [Asn-U-(14)C]NC100668 are similar. With the exception of the kidneys, (99m)Tc-NC100668 biodistribution and blood clot uptake are unaffected by the presence of unlabelled NC100668. The kidney retention of radioactivity is probably due to transglutaminase activity and, to a lesser extent, nonspecific charge-mediated endocytosis.
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| 2. |
- Evangelou, Evangelos, et al.
(author)
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Genetic analysis of over 1 million people identifies 535 new loci associated with blood pressure traits.
- 2018
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In: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 50:10, s. 1412-1425
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- High blood pressure is a highly heritable and modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We report the largest genetic association study of blood pressure traits (systolic, diastolic and pulse pressure) to date in over 1 million people of European ancestry. We identify 535 novel blood pressure loci that not only offer new biological insights into blood pressure regulation but also highlight shared genetic architecture between blood pressure and lifestyle exposures. Our findings identify new biological pathways for blood pressure regulation with potential for improved cardiovascular disease prevention in the future.
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| 3. |
- Abacan, MaryAnn, et al.
(author)
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The Global State of the Genetic Counseling Profession
- 2019
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In: European Journal of Human Genetics. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 1018-4813 .- 1476-5438. ; 27:2, s. 183-197
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The profession of genetic counseling (also called genetic counselling in many countries) began nearly 50 years ago in the United States, and has grown internationally in the past 30 years. While there have been many papers describing the profession of genetic counseling in individual countries or regions, data remains incomplete and has been published in diverse journals with limited access. As a result of the 2016 Transnational Alliance of Genetic Counseling (TAGC) conference in Barcelona, Spain, and the 2017 World Congress of Genetic Counselling in the UK, we endeavor to describe as fully as possible the global state of genetic counseling as a profession. We estimate that in 2018 there are nearly 7000 genetic counselors with the profession established or developing in no less than 28 countries.
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| 4. |
- Edwards, David, et al.
(author)
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99mTc-NC100668, an agent for imaging venous thromboembolism : The effect of anticoagulant or thrombolytic therapy on the uptake and retention of radioactivity in blood clots in vivo
- 2007
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In: Nuclear medicine communications. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0143-3636 .- 1473-5628. ; 28:1, s. 55-62
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the uptake of Tc-NC100668 into blood clots and elucidate the potential for medications commonly used to treat thromboembolism to interfere with the uptake and retention of Tc-NC100668. METHODS: Tc-NC100668 in vivo uptake and retention in a range of blood clot of various ages (up to 4 h old) and in the presence of anticoagulants or thrombolytic therapies was measured in a rat model of deep vein thrombosis. RESULTS: Tc-NC100668 was rapidly absorbed into and retained by blood clots and was not significantly affected by the presence of unfractionated or low molecular weight heparin or thrombin inhibitor. Tissue plasminogen activator reduced the uptake of Tc-NC100668 into blood clot by a factor of 3 when adjusted to allow for changes in the weight of the blood clot. CONCLUSIONS: This study has demonstrated that the uptake and retention of Tc-NC100668 into blood clots in the rat model of deep vein thrombosis is rapid and maintained over at least a 4 h post-injection period. It has been shown that Tc-NC100668 is retained in blood clots even in the presence of therapeutic doses of those anticoagulant and thrombolytic therapies typically used to treat pulmonary embolism and venous thrombosis.
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| 5. |
- Edwards, David, et al.
(author)
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Tc-99m-NC100668, a new tracer for imaging venous thromboemboli : pre-clinical biodistribution and incorporation into plasma clots in vivo and in vitro
- 2006
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In: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1619-7070 .- 1619-7089. ; 33:11, s. 1258-1265
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: Tc-99m-NC100668 is a new radiotracer being developed to aid the diagnosis of thromboembolism. The structure of NC100668 is similar to a region of human alpha(2)-antiplasmin, which is a substrate for factor XIIIa (FXIIIa). The purpose of this study was to confirm the uptake of Tc-99m-NC100668 into forming plasma clot and to establish the biodistribution of Tc-99m-NC100668 in Wistar rats. Methods: The in vitro plasma clot uptake of Tc-99m-NC100668 and other compounds with known affinities to FXIIIa was measured using a plasma clot assay. The biodistribution and blood clot uptake of radioactivity of Tc-99m-NC100668 in normal Wistar rats and those bearing experimentally induced deep vein thrombi were investigated. Results: The in vitro uptake of Tc-99m-NC100668 was greater than that for [C-14] dansyl cadaverine, a known substrate of FXIIIa in the plasma clot assay. The biodistribution of Tc-99m-NC100668 in male and female Wistar rats up to 24 h p.i. showed that radioactivity was rapidly excreted, predominantly into the urine, with very little background tissue retention. In vivo the uptake and retention of Tc-99m-NC100668 into the blood clot was greater than could be accounted for by non-specific accumulation of the radiotracer within the blood clot. Conclusion: Tc-99m-NC100668 was retained by plasma clots in vitro and blood clots in vivo. No significant tissue retention which could interfere with the ability to image thrombi in vivo was observed. This evidence suggests that Tc-99m-NC100668 might be useful in the detection of thromboembolism.
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| 6. |
- Suzuki, Toshiyasu, et al.
(author)
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b-Catenin Drives Butyrophilin-like Molecule Loss and gd T-cell Exclusion in Colon Cancer
- 2023
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In: CANCER IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH. - : AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH. - 2326-6066. ; 11:8, s. 1137-1155
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) expressing y8 T-cell receptors (y8TCR) play key roles in elimination of colon cancer. However, the precise mechanisms by which progressing cancer cells evade immu-nosurveillance by these innate T cells are unknown. Here, we investigated how loss of the Apc tumor suppressor in gut tissue could enable nascent cancer cells to escape immunosurveillance by cytotoxic y8IELs. In contrast with healthy intestinal or colonic tissue, we found that y8IELs were largely absent from the micro-environment of both mouse and human tumors, and that butyr-ophilin-like (BTNL) molecules, which can critically regulate y8IEL through direct y8TCR interactions, were also downregulated in tumors. We then demonstrated that 13-catenin activation through loss of Apc rapidly suppressed expression of the mRNA encoding the HNF4A and HNF4G transcription factors, preventing their binding to promoter regions of Btnl genes. Reexpression of BTNL1 and BTNL6 in cancer cells increased y8IEL survival and activation in coculture assays but failed to augment their cancer-killing ability in vitro or their recruitment to orthotopic tumors. However, inhibition of 13-catenin signaling via genetic deletion of Bcl9/Bcl9L in either Apc-deficient or mutant 13-catenin mouse models restored Hnf4a, Hnf4g, and Btnl gene expression and y8 T-cell infiltration into tumors. These observations highlight an immune-evasion mechanism specific to WNT-driven colon cancer cells that disrupts y8IEL immunosurveillance and furthers cancer progression.
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| 7. |
- Testor, Pierre, et al.
(author)
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OceanGliders: A component of the integrated GOOS
- 2019
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In: Frontiers in Marine Science. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-7745. ; 6
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The OceanGliders program started in 2016 to support active coordination and enhancement of global glider activity. OceanGliders contributes to the international efforts of the Global Ocean Observation System (GOOS) for Climate, Ocean Health and Operational Services. It brings together marine scientists and engineers operating gliders around the world: (1) to observe the long-term physical, biogeochemical, and biological ocean processes and phenomena that are relevant for societal applications; and, (2) to contribute to the GOOS through real-time and delayed mode data dissemination. The OceanGliders program is distributed across national and regional observing systems and significantly contributes to integrated, multi-scale and multi-platform sampling strategies. OceanGliders shares best practices, requirements, and scientific knowledge needed for glider operations, data collection and analysis. It also monitors global glider activity and supports the dissemination of glider data through regional and global databases, in real-time and delayed modes, facilitating data access to the wider community. OceanGliders currently supports national, regional and global initiatives to maintian and expand the capabilities and application of gliders to meet key global challenges such as improved measurement of ocean boundary currents, water transformation and storm forecast.
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| 8. |
- Warren, Wesley C, et al.
(author)
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The genome of a songbird
- 2010
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In: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 464:7289, s. 757-762
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The zebra finch is an important model organism in several fields with unique relevance to human neuroscience. Like other songbirds, the zebra finch communicates through learned vocalizations, an ability otherwise documented only in humans and a few other animals and lacking in the chicken-the only bird with a sequenced genome until now. Here we present a structural, functional and comparative analysis of the genome sequence of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), which is a songbird belonging to the large avian order Passeriformes. We find that the overall structures of the genomes are similar in zebra finch and chicken, but they differ in many intrachromosomal rearrangements, lineage-specific gene family expansions, the number of long-terminal-repeat-based retrotransposons, and mechanisms of sex chromosome dosage compensation. We show that song behaviour engages gene regulatory networks in the zebra finch brain, altering the expression of long non-coding RNAs, microRNAs, transcription factors and their targets. We also show evidence for rapid molecular evolution in the songbird lineage of genes that are regulated during song experience. These results indicate an active involvement of the genome in neural processes underlying vocal communication and identify potential genetic substrates for the evolution and regulation of this behaviour.
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