Editorial Material
Genetics & Heredity
Dov Greenbaum, Mark Gerstein
Summary: GATTACA, a film released 25 years ago, portrays a credible near future where societal inequalities based on race and class have been replaced by new prejudices arising from genetic determinism. This article compares the fictional technologies in GATTACA with the current state of the art, examining the legal protections against the dystopian future portrayed in the film, where personal freedom and privacy rights are greatly curtailed by genomic innovations. It further discusses the continued relevance of GATTACA's prescient warnings in light of the ongoing advancements in genomic science and technology.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Josefien Van Landuyt, Kankana Kundu, Sven Van Haelst, Marijke Neyts, Koen Parmentier, Maarten De Rijcke, Nico Boon
Summary: This study reveals that historic shipwrecks can have a significant impact on the surrounding sediment chemistry and microbial ecology, with PAHs and sulfate reducing bacteria being key factors.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
H. Kruckenberg
Summary: After the call for preservation of the threatened landscape and avifauna in Emsland by Atkinson-Willes in the late 1960s, the area has regained importance for waterbirds in the past 20 years. Although not reaching pre-war significance, it now holds international and national importance for various bird species.
Article
Forestry
Kristine Vander Mijnsbrugge, Marc Schouppe, Stefaan Moreels, Yorrick Aguas Guerreiro, Laura Decorte, Marie Stessens
Summary: Longer periods of intensified droughts in Western Europe are predicted due to ongoing climate change. Studying the responses of woody species during intense drought events can help toward understanding the consequences for forest ecosystems. This study focused on the effects of an intense summer water limitation on reproductive traits of Frangula alnus Mill. shrubs. The results showed a resource re-allocation towards reproduction rather than growth even two years after the drought, and a higher germination success, suggesting potential adaptations for survival in stressful growth conditions.
Article
Hematology
Eleonora Petito, Paolo Gresele
Summary: Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a rare but life-threatening complication of adenoviral vector vaccines, which was recognized around 2 years ago at the beginning of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaign. Despite the abandonment of VITT-provoking vaccines in most high-income countries, it is still important to study VITT due to the unvaccinated population in low/middle-income countries and the use of adenoviral vector platform for other vaccines. This review aims to provide an overview of VITT, including its clinical presentation, pathophysiology, diagnosis, management strategies, and future research needs.
THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
M. Wronski, K. Wierzbanowski, R. Malik, S. Wronski, D. Wojtas, A. Baczmanski, J. Tarasiuk
Summary: The study focused on the microstructure parameters of severely deformed 1050 aluminum after a 5-year recovery period at ambient temperature. It found significant changes in microstructure parameters and textures during this time, emphasizing the importance of these modifications for long-term use of mechanical parts produced by severe plastic deformation techniques.
METALS AND MATERIALS INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Antonio Naranjo, Amparo Molina, Adrian Quevedo, Francisco J. Rubino, Fernando Sanchez-Alonso, Carlos Rodriguez-Lozano, Soledad Ojeda
Summary: The study analyzed the long-term persistence of treatment in fracture liaison service (FLS) and found that most patients started treatment within five years, although the persistence rate decreased over time.
ARCHIVES OF OSTEOPOROSIS
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Stewart B. Wuest
Summary: Different carbon sources have different effects on soil organic carbon content. Municipal biosolid had the largest impact, followed by manure and alfalfa foliage. Wheat straw, sucrose, and wood sawdust had no significant effect compared to no addition. These effects were additive and independent from the difference between fallow soil and cropped soil. Soil cropped to winter wheat had an increase in organic carbon comparable to biosolid application or plots planted to perennial grass. Measurements taken 4, 6, and 12 years after returning to normal farming practices showed no change in relative or quantitative differences, indicating the durability of above- and below-ground contributions to soil carbon.
SOIL SCIENCE SOCIETY OF AMERICA JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Allergy
Shabtai Varsano, Lilach Israeli, David Shitrit
Summary: This study reevaluated a community sample of patients previously considered as having severe-controlled asthma, finding that while most patients had good drug compliance, there were still issues with asthma-related quality-of-life and control. Formal education was found to be related to asthma control and quality-of-life.
Review
Cell Biology
Yahir A. Loissell-Baltazar, Svetlana Dokudovskaya
Summary: The SEA complex was first described in yeast and its human homologue, the GATOR complex, two years later. Over the past decade, significant advances have been made in understanding the multiple functions of the SEA/GATOR complex in different organisms, highlighting its role as an essential upstream regulator of the mTORC1 pathway. Additionally, the consequences of GATOR mutations in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases have been emphasized.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Lukasz Mizera, Jowita Halupczok-Zyla, Katarzyna Kolackov, Agnieszka Zembska, Jedrzej Grzegrzolka, Diana Jedrzejuk, Marek Bolanowski, Jacek Daroszewski
Summary: The study found that irisin levels were significantly lower in acromegaly patients compared to controls, suggesting impaired hormonal muscle function contributing to metabolic complications in this disorder. On the other hand, myostatin does not appear to play a critical role in regulating muscle mass in acromegaly. Further studies are needed to better understand the relationship between myostatin and growth hormone in acromegaly.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Michael J. LaMonte, Christopher A. Andrews, Kathleen M. Hovey, Michael J. Buck, Lu Li, Daniel I. McSkimming, Hailey R. Banack, Jane Rotterman, Yijun Sun, Keith L. Kirkwood, Jean Wactawski-Wende
Summary: This study aimed to quantify the association between subgingival microbiota and periodontal disease progression in older women. The findings showed that certain microbiota were significantly elevated several years before progression of alveolar bone loss, indicating potential early markers for disease progression.
JOURNAL OF PERIODONTOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emeline Recazens, Etienne Mouisel, Dominique Langin
Summary: Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) is a key neutral lipase with broad substrate specificity and unique structural features, making it distinct from other mammalian lipases. Dysregulation of HSL expression and activity can lead to various diseases, including obesity and diabetes. The development of specific inhibitors targeting HSL positions it as a pharmacological target for the treatment of metabolic complications.
PROGRESS IN LIPID RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Archibold Mposhi, Jonathan D. D. Turner
Summary: Exposure to stressors during the first 1000 days of life can shape an individual's health and disease trajectory. The underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear, but previous data suggests that early-life stress reduces the immune system's capacity and impairs neuronal stem cell proliferation. This leads to the stem cell hypothesis, proposing that adversity during a sensitive period programs tissue resident progenitor cells and may alter mitochondria in stem cells, ultimately affecting the destiny of fully differentiated cells.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
R. Steven Esworthy, James H. Doroshow, Fong-Fong Chu
Summary: GPX2 is a selenoenzyme with glutathione peroxidase activity. It is closely related to GPX1 in terms of structure, substrate specificities, and subcellular localization. GPX2 is widely expressed in epithelial tissues, with concentration in stem cell and proliferative compartments. Its expression is regulated by many pathways, but its significance needs to be evaluated in the context of other peroxidase activities.
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2022)
