Search results for "rame"
showing 10 items of 18055 documents
Evolutionary distances corrected for purifying selection and ancestral polymorphisms.
2019
Abstract Evolutionary distance formulas that take into account effects due to ancestral polymorphisms and purifying selection are obtained on the basis of the full solution of Jukes–Cantor and Kimura DNA substitution models. In the case of purifying selection two different methods are developed. It is shown that avoiding the dimensional reduction implicitly carried out in the conventional model solving is instrumental to incorporate the quoted effects into the formalism. The problem of estimating the numerical values of the model parameters, as well as those of the correction terms, is not addressed.
Insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism drive steatosis and fibrosis risk in young females with PCOS
2017
Background and aims Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) recognize obesity and insulin resistance (IR) as common pathogenic background. We assessed 1) whether PCOS is a risk factor for steatosis, and 2) the impact, in PCOS patients, of IR and hyperandrogenism on steatosis and fibrosis. Methods We considered 202 consecutive Italian PCOS nondiabetic patients and 101 age-matched controls. PCOS was diagnosed applying the Rotterdam diagnostic criteria. Steatosis was diagnosed if hepatic steatosis index (HSI) >36, while fibrosis by using the FIB-4 score. As surrogate estimate of insulin sensitivity we considered the insulin sensitivity index (ISI). Free an…
Enteric bacteria of food ice and their survival in alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
2017
This study aimed to evaluate the levels of enteric bacteria in ice cubes produced in different environments (home-made, prepared in bars and pubs with ice machines and produced in industrial plants) and to determine their survival in different alcoholic beverages and soft drinks. Members of the Enterobacteriaceae family were found in almost all samples analysed. All industrial and the majority of home-made samples did not contain coliforms. Enterococci were not identified in domestic samples while they were detected in two industrial and three bar/pub samples. The samples collected from bars and pubs were characterized by the highest levels of enteric bacteria. Fourteen strains representing…
3-dimensional Analysis and Literature Review of the Root Canal Morphology and Physiological Foramen Geometry of 125 Mandibular Incisors by Means of M…
2019
Abstract Introduction The aim of this study was to examine the root canal system morphology of mandibular incisors by means of micro–computed tomographic imaging. Methods The root canal configuration, physiological foramina, frequency of accessory and connecting canals, and the size and shape of the physiological foramina of 125 mandibular incisors were investigated by means of micro-CT and 3-dimensional imaging software. Root canal configuration of the coronal, middle, and apical thirds and the physiological foramina number are described by a 4-digit system code. Results The most frequent root canal configurations were 1-1-1/1 (56%), 1-2-1/1 (17.6%), and 1-1-1/2 (10.4%); 9 additional diffe…
Identification of transcribed protein coding sequence remnants within lincRNAs
2018
Abstract Long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) are non-coding transcripts >200 nucleotides long that do not overlap protein-coding sequences. Importantly, such elements are known to be tissue-specifically expressed and to play a widespread role in gene regulation across thousands of genomic loci. However, very little is known of the mechanisms for the evolutionary biogenesis of these RNA elements, especially given their poor conservation across species. It has been proposed that lincRNAs might arise from pseudogenes. To test this systematically, we developed a novel method that searches for remnants of protein-coding sequences within lincRNA transcripts; the hypothesis is that we can t…
Development of novel 1,4-benzodiazepine-based Michael acceptors as antitrypanosomal agents
2016
Novel 1,4-benzodiazepines, endowed with a Michael acceptor moiety, were designed taking advantage of a computational prediction of their pharmacokinetic parameters. Among all the synthesized derivatives, we identified a new lead compound (i.e., 4a), bearing a vinyl ketone warhead and endowed with a promising antitrypanosomal activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei (IC50 = 5.29 µM), coupled with a lack of cytotoxicity towards mammalian cells (TC50>100 µM).
Evolutionary conserved mechanisms pervade structure and transcriptional modulation of allograft inflammatory factor-1 from sea anemone Anemonia virid…
2017
Gene family encoding allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) is well conserved among organisms; however, there is limited knowledge in lower organisms. In this study, the first AIF-1 homologue from cnidarians was identified and characterised in the sea anemone Anemonia viridis. The full-length cDNA of AvAIF-1 was of 913 bp with a 5' -untranslated region (UTR) of 148 bp, a 3'-UTR of 315 and an open reading frame (ORF) of 450 bp encoding a polypeptide with149 amino acid residues and predicted molecular weight of about 17 kDa. The predicted protein possesses evolutionary conserved EF hand Ca2+ binding motifs, post-transcriptional modification sites and a 3D structure which can be superimposed …
The 5′ Untranslated Region of the EFG1 Transcript Promotes Its Translation To Regulate Hyphal Morphogenesis in Candida albicans
2018
ABSTRACTExtensive 5’ untranslated regions (UTR) are a hallmark of transcripts determining hyphal morphogenesis inCandida albicans.The major transcripts of theEFG1gene, which are responsible for cellular morphogenesis and metabolism, contain a 5’ UTR of up to 1170 nt. Deletion analyses of the 5’ UTR revealed a 218 nt sequence that is required for production of the Efg1 protein and its functions in filamentation, without lowering the level and integrity of theEFG1transcript. Polysomal analyses revealed that the 218 nt 5’ UTR sequence is required for efficient translation of the Efg1 protein. Replacement of theEFG1ORF by the heterologous reporter geneCaCBGlucconfirmed the positive regulatory i…
A Single-sensor High-resolution Panoramic Optical Mapping Configuration for Simultaneous Non-overlapped Complete Atrial and Ventricular Parametric Im…
2017
Nowadays optical mapping (OM) is the primary method for imaging electrophysiologically relevant parameters from the outer surface of Langendorff-perfused hearts. This technique has become essential for comprehensively understanding mechanisms of cardiac propagation during physiological activation, arrhythmia, and therapeutic antiarrhythmic interventions in translational hearts. Panoramic whole heart optical mapping systems, using either multiple cameras, plane mirrors or a combination of both, have been developed to overcome intrinsic visualization limitations to traditional single-sensor designs. However current panoramic OM systems are financially challenging for physiology and engineerin…
Assessment of genetic variation for pathogen-specific mastitis resistance in Valle del Belice dairy sheep
2016
Background: Mastitis resistance is a complex and multifactorial trait, and its expression depends on both genetic and environmental factors, including infection pressure. The objective of this research was to determine the genetic basis of mastitis resistance to specific pathogens using a repeatability threshold probit animal model. Results: The most prevalent isolated pathogens were coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS); 39 % of records and 77 % of the animals infected at least one time in the whole period of study. There was significant genetic variation only for Streptococci (STR). In addition, there was a positive genetic correlation between STR and all pathogens together (ALL) (0.36 ±…