Clerocidin-mediated DNA footprinting discriminates among different G-quadruplex conformations and detects tetraplex folding in a duplex environment

Background

G-quadruplexes are polymorphic non-canonical nucleic acid conformations involved both in physiological and pathological processes. Given the high degree of folding heterogeneity and comparable conformational stabilities, different G-quadruplex forms can occur simultaneously, hence rendering the use of basic instrumental methods for structure determination, like X-ray diffraction or NMR, hardly useful. Footprinting techniques represent valuable and relatively rapid alternative to characterize DNA folding. The natural diterpenoid clerocidin is an alkylating agent that specifically reacts at single-stranded DNA regions, with different mechanisms depending on the exposed nucleotide.

Methods

Clerocidin was used to footprint G-quadruplex structures formed by telomeric and oncogene promoter sequences (c-myc, bcl-2, c-kit2), and by the thrombin binding aptamer.

Results

The easy modulability of CL reactivity towards DNA bases permitted to discriminate fully and partially protected sites, highlights stretched portions of the G-quadruplex conformation, and discriminate among topologies adopted by one sequence in different environmental conditions. Importantly, CL displayed the unique property to allow detection of G-quadruplex folding within a duplex context.

Conclusions

CL is a finely performing new tool to unveil G-quadruplex arrangements in DNA sequences under genomically relevant conditions.

General significance

Nucleic acid G-quadruplex structures are an emerging research field because of the recent indication of their involvement in a series of key biological functions, in particular in regulation of proliferation-associated gene expression. The use of clerocidin as footprinting agent to identify G-quadruplex structures under genomically relevant conditions may allow detection of new G-quadruplex-based regulatory regions.     

New Insights into the Circadian Rhythm of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Subgroups

The aim of this study was to determine the existence of the circadian rhythm (CR) in the onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in different patient subgroups. Information was collected about 41,244 infarctions from the database of the ARIAM (Analysis of Delay in AMI) Spanish multicenter study. CR in AMI were explored in subgroups of cases categorized by age, gender, previous ischemic heart disease (PIHD), outcome in coronary care unit, infarction electrocardiograph (ECG) characteristics (Q wave or non‐Q wave), and location of AMI. Cases were classified according to these variables in the different subgroups. To verify the presence of CR, a simple test of equality of time series based on the multiple‐sinusoid (24, 12, and 8 h periods) cosinor analysis was developed. For the groups as a whole, the time of pain onset as an indicator of the AMI occurrence showed a CR (p<0.0001), with a morning peak at 10:10 h. All the analyzed subgroups also showed CR. Comparison between subgroups showed significant differences in the PIHD (p<0.01) and infarction ECG characteristics (p<0.01) groups. The CR of the subgroup with Q‐wave infarction differed from that of non‐Q wave subgroup (p<0.01) when the patients had PIHD (23% in Q wave infarction vs. 39.2% in non‐Q wave). AMI onset followed a CR pattern, which is also observed in all analyzed subgroups. Differences in the CR according to the Q/non‐Q wave infarction characteristics could be determined by PIHD. The cosinor model fit with three components (24, 12, and 8 h periods) showed a higher sensitivity than the single 24 h period analysis.     

Ships in Distress,Environmental Threats to Coastal States,and Places of Refuge: New Directions for an Ancien Regime ?

Places of refuge for ships in distress is a topic before the International Maritime Organization as a result of several recent well-publicized refusals by maritime authorities of coastal states to allow such ships to enter sheltered waters within national jurisdiction. The traditional right of refuge of the crew, ship, and cargo is pitted against threat perceptions held by coastal states resulting in a "not in my backyard" syndrome. Instances of modern state practice seem to restrict the right of refuge to a purely humanitarian dimension. There is a need to reevaluate the right of refuge and to establish a system of places of refuge on the basis of regional cooperation to counter the potential threat of stricken ships that are unable to effect necessary repairs in sheltered areas within national jurisdiction.     

The case in international law for Canada's extension of fisheries jurisdiction beyond 200 miles

In March 1995, Canadian fisheries authorities boarded and arrested the Spanish fishing vessel, Estai, outside the Canadian 200‐mile zone on the Grand Banks, an event that served to focus world attention on a dispute that had its origins in the failure of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to implement an effective conservation and management regime for fish stocks on the high seas, particularly with respect to fish stocks that straddle coastal states’ exclusive economic zones. This article examines the origins of the dispute, including the allegations relating to overfishing of North Atlantic Fisheries Organization‐recommended quotas, the background to the vessel's arrest, and the subsequent confrontation that occurred, both at diplomatic levels and on the high seas, between Canada and the European Union. An analysis is made of the case in international law for Canada's extension of jurisdiction beyond 200 miles pursuant to the provisions of Section 5 of the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act. Finally, the article examines the implications of the recently concluded Agreement on the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks for disputes of the kind that arose in the present case.     

Delayed post-conditioning reduces post-ischemic glutamate level and improves protein synthesis in brain

In the clinic delayed post-conditioning would represent an attractive strategy for the survival of vulnerable neurons after an ischemic event. In this paper we studied the impact of ischemia and delayed post-conditioning on blood and brain tissue concentrations of glutamate and protein synthesis. We designed two groups of animals for analysis of brain tissues and blood after global ischemia and post-conditioning, and one for analysis of blood glutamate after transient focal ischemia.     

Bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) mediates ischemic preconditioning-induced ischemic tolerance via attenuating apoptosis in rat brain

A mild cerebral ischemic insult, also known as ischemic preconditioning (IPC), confers transient tolerance to a subsequent ischemic challenge in the brain. This study was conducted to investigate whether bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) is involved in neuroprotection elicited by IPC in a rat model of ischemia. Ischemic tolerance was induced in rats by IPC (15 min middle cerebral artery occlusion, MCAO) at 48 h before lethal ischemia (2 h MCAO). The present data showed that IPC increased BMP-7 mRNA and protein expression after 24 h reperfusion following ischemia in the brain. In rats of ischemia, IPC-induced reduction of cerebral infarct volume and improvement of neuronal morphology were attenuated when BMP-7 was inhibited either by antagonist noggin or short interfering RNA (siRNA) pre-treatment. Besides, cerebral IPC-induced up-regulation of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and down-regulation of cleaved caspase-3 at 24 h after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury were reversed via inhibition of BMP-7. These findings indicate that BMP-7 mediates IPC-induced tolerance to cerebral I/R, probably through inhibition of apoptosis.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of pyrrolidine derivatives as novel and potent sodium channel blockers for the treatment of ischemic stroke

A novel series of pyrrolidine derivatives as Na⁺ channel blockers was synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory effects on neuronal Na⁺ channels. Structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies of a pyrrolidine analogue 2 led to the discovery of 5e as a potent Na⁺ channel blocker with a low inhibitory action against human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) channels. Compound 5e showed remarkably neuroprotective activity in a rat transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, suggesting that 5e would act as a neuroprotectant for ischemic stroke.     

尼莫地平在预防缺血性脑血管事件所引起的认知障碍中的作用

目的:观察尼莫地平治疗预防缺血性脑血管事件所引起的认知障碍中的临床效果。方法:将在我院进行治疗的120例缺血性脑血管事件患者随机分为观察组60例和对照组60例。对照组患者按照常规方法进行治疗,观察组患者在此基础上给予尼莫地平治疗,观察对比两组的治疗效果。结果:观察组总有效率显著高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。两组患者治疗后MOCA评分和MMSE评分均随着治疗时间的延长而逐渐增加。对照组患者治疗2个月及3个月后MOCA评分与治疗前比较,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);观察组治疗1个月后MOCA评分与治疗前比较,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。观察组每月治疗后MOCA评分显著高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。两组患者治疗2个月及3个月后MMSE评分与治疗前比较,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。观察组患者治疗3个月后MMSE评分显著高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。随访1年后,观察组MMSS、MOCA评分均显著高于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。两组患者治疗期间均未出现严重不良反应。结论:尼莫地平对于缺血性脑血管事件所引起的认知障碍的预防有较好疗效,安全性良好,值得推广应用。     

Monitoring population‐level responses of marine mammals to human activities

We provide guidance for monitoring whether human activities affect the physiology or behavior of marine mammals and, if so, whether those effects may lead to changes in survival and reproduction at the population level. We suggest that four elements be included in designing and implementing such a monitoring program. The first is development of a theory of change: a set of mechanistic hypotheses that outline why a given activity might be expected to have one or more measurable effects on individuals and populations, and ideally the magnitude, timing, and duration of the effects. The second element, definition of biologically meaningful effect sizes, ultimately facilitates the development of a monitoring program that can detect those magnitudes of effect with the desired levels of precision. The third element, selection of response variables for monitoring, allows inference to whether observed changes in the status of individuals or populations are attributable to a given activity. Visual observations, passive acoustic and tagging instruments, and direct physical measurements all can provide data that facilitate quantitative hypothesis testing. The fourth element is specification of the temporal sequence of monitoring. These elements also can be used to inform monitoring of the responses of other taxonomic groups to human activities.     

生脉注射液联合曲美他嗪治疗缺血性心肌病合并肾功能不全的临床疗效分析

目的:研究生脉注射液联合曲美他嗪治疗缺血性心肌病合并肾功能不全的临床疗效。方法:选取2015年3月至2017年3月我院收治的100例缺血性心肌病合并肾功能不全患者,按照随机数表法分为观察组(n=50)和对照组(n=50)。对照组采用曲美他嗪治疗,观察组采用生脉注射液联合曲美他嗪治疗。观察和比较两组的治疗疗效、治疗前后心功能指标(左心室射血分数(LVEF)、左室收缩末径(LVESD)、左室舒张末期内径(LVEDD))、肾功能指标(血肌酐(Scr),尿素氮(BUN))、心肌损伤标志物(血清胱抑素(Cys C)、同型半胱氨酸(HCY)、脑钠肽(BNP))水平的变化。结果:治疗后,观察组总有效率显著高于对照组[92.30%(48/52) vs.70.83%(34/48)](P0.05),LVEDD、LVESD水平均显著低于对照组[(51.21±8.54)mm vs.(56.63±10.83)mm,(42.91±6.30)mm vs.(45.86±7.32)mm](P0.05),LVEF水平均显著高于对照组[(46.02±7.85)%vs.(41.20±8.84)%](P0.05),Scr、BUN水平均显著低于对照组[(164.30±17.95)μmol/L vs.(211.75±19.31)μmol/L;(8.12±0.76)mmol/L vs.(11.74±1.72)mmol/L](P0.05)。血清Cys C、HCY、NT-Pro BNP水平均显著低于对照组[(0.90±0.21)mg/L vs 1.52±0.34)mg/L (12.34±3.89)μmol/L vs.(20.86±5.28)μmol/L,(298.47±78.41)ng/L vs.(402.35±92.76)ng/L](P0.05)。结论:生脉注射液联合曲美他嗪治疗缺血性心肌病合并肾功能不全的的临床疗效显著优于单用曲美他嗪治疗,其可有效改善患者心、肾功能,减轻心肌细胞损伤。