Search results for "Node"

Novel circulating microRNA signature as a potential non-invasive multi-marker test in ER-positive early-stage breast cancer:A case control study

2014

Introduction There are currently no highly sensitive and specific minimally invasive biomarkers for detection of early‐stage breast cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are present in the circulation and may be unique biomarkers for early diagnosis of human cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the differential expression of miRNAs in the serum of breast cancer patients and healthy controls. Methods Global miRNA analysis was performed on serum from 48 patients with ER‐positive early‐stage breast cancer obtained at diagnosis (24 lymph node‐positive and 24 lymph node‐negative) and 24 age‐matched healthy controls using LNA‐based quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR). A signature of miRNAs was…

On the Parameterization of Cartesian Genetic Programming

2020

In this work, we present a detailed analysis of Cartesian Genetic Programming (CGP) parametrization of the selection scheme ($\mu+\lambda$), and the levels back parameter l. We also investigate CGP’s mutation operator by decomposing it into a self-recombination, node function mutation, and inactive gene randomization operators. We perform experiments in the Boolean and symbolic regression domains with which we contribute to the knowledge about efficient parametrization of two essential parameters of CGP and the mutation operator.

2004

The objective of our study was to determine the regulatory effects that endogenous transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) exerts on T cells in the pathogenesis of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). CIA was induced in transgenic mice expressing a dominant negative TGFβ type II receptor in T cells under the control of the human CD2 promoter. Clinical and histological arthritis scores were determined and experiments on disease induction and the healing phase of disease were performed. The proliferation and cytokine production of draining lymph node cells in vitro were analyzed. Transgenic mice were more susceptible to induction of CIA. The overall incidence was higher in transgenic mice than in wi…

Immune characterization of the HBHA-specific response in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected patients with or without HIV infection.

2017

Introduction RD1-based Interferon-γ Release Assays (IGRAs) cannot distinguish latent from active tuberculosis (TB) disease. Conversely, a positive response to heparin-binding haemagglutinin (HBHA)-based IGRAs, among TB-infected subjects, correlates with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) containment and low risk of TB progression. The aim of this study was to characterize HBHA-immune responses in HIV-infected and uninfected subjects with active TB or latent TB infection (LTBI). Methods 49 subjects were prospectively enrolled: 22 HIV-uninfected (13 TB, 9 LTBI) and 27 HIV-infected (12 HIV-TB, 15 HIV-LTBI). Whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with HBHA and RD1 anti…

A novel methodology for large-scale phylogeny partition

2011

Understanding the determinants of virus transmission is a fundamental step for effective design of screening and intervention strategies to control viral epidemics. Phylogenetic analysis can be a valid approach for the identification of transmission chains, and very-large data sets can be analysed through parallel computation. Here we propose and validate a new methodology for the partition of large-scale phylogenies and the inference of transmission clusters. This approach, on the basis of a depth-first search algorithm, conjugates the evaluation of node reliability, tree topology and patristic distance analysis. The method has been applied to identify transmission clusters of a phylogeny …

Evolutionary plasticity of SH3 domain binding by Nef proteins of the HIV-1/SIVcpz lentiviral lineage

2021

ABSTRACTThe accessory protein Nef of human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV) is an important pathogenicity factor known to interact with cellular protein kinases and other signaling proteins. A canonical SH3 domain binding motif in Nef is required for most of these interactions. For example, HIV-1 Nef activates the tyrosine kinase Hck by tightly binding to its SH3 domain. An archetypal contact between a negatively charged SH3 residue and a highly conserved arginine in Nef (Arg77) plays a key role here. Combining structural analyses with functional assays, we here show that Nef proteins have also developed a distinct structural strategy - termed the “R-clamp” - that favors th…

Genotypic analysis at multiple loci across Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) DNA molecules: clustering patterns, novel variants and chimerism

2001

Abstract Background: the genomes of human Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) display several levels of DNA sequence heterogeneity and subgrouping that show distinctive clustering patterns in related human populations. The four major subtype patterns for the hypervariable ORF-K1 protein correlate closely with the principal diasporas resulting from the migration of modern humans out of East Africa and suggest that KSHV is an ancient human virus that is transmitted primarily in a familial fashion with consequent very low recombination rates. However, chimeric genomes have also been detected, especially with regard to the presence of P versus M alleles of the ORF-K15 gene. Objective…

Trends in HIV sexual prevention: Attitudinal beliefs and behavioral intention in Spanish young people over the past two decades (1999-2020).

2022

Abstract Despite preventive efforts, HIV exposure is still a concern for public health. The current prevalence is related to unsafe sex, which is based on socio-cognitive variables. Therefore, information about these variables is required to verify whether the past preventive strategies have been effective and improve the future ones. However, there is not updated information to adjust future preventive interventions. For this reason, this study analyzes trends by gender in Spanish young people over the past two decades in perceived susceptibility to HIV, severity perceived to HIV, condom confidence and the intention of condom use, from 1999 to 2020. For this purpose, 11,665 Spanish young p…

African and European HIV-positive women: psychological and psychosocial differences.

2000

The objectives were to study and compare the psychosocial and psychopathological aspects of HIV infection in African and European HIV-positive women living in France. All women included were seen in a semi-structured interview to assess personal history, history of their HIV infection, social and family relationships, preoccupation with childbearing and concerns about HIV infection and its prognosis. The comparison of psychological and psychosocial factors between HIV-positive African and European women showed certain significant differences. The demographic characteristics did not differ, except for current professional activity, with more African women being unemployed. The medical aspect…

El autoconcepto y la adaptación a la enfermedad en pacientes diabéticos pediátricos

2014

ResumenNuestro objetivo es estudiar el autoconcepto y la adaptación a la enfermedad en pacientes pediátricos diabéticos. Como instrumentos de evaluación se utilizaron el registro ad-hoc para las variables sociodemográficas y de enfermedad, el cuestionario de Autoconcepto Garley (CAG) y cuestionario de respuesta adaptativa a la enfermedad en pacientes diabéticos. La muestra constó de 23 sujetos evaluados en un único momento de medida, todos ellos niños y adolescentes entre 8 y 16 años de edad. Los resultados muestran cómo aproximadamente el 50% de niños y adolescentes con diabetes tipo I presentan un autoconcepto bajo en la mayoría de las dimensiones estudiadas, destacando cómo cerca del 30%…