Article
Genetics & Heredity
Bozena Bruhn-Olszewska, Hanna Davies, Daniil Sarkisyan, Ulana Juhas, Edyta Rychlicka-Buniowska, Magdalena Wojcik, Monika Horbacz, Marcin Jakalski, Pawel Olszewski, Jakub O. Westholm, Agata Smialowska, Karol Wierzba, Asa Torinsson Naluai, Niklas Jern, Lars-Magnus Andersson, Josef D. Jarhult, Natalia Filipowicz, Eva Tiensuu Janson, Sten Rubertsson, Miklos Lipcsey, Magnus Gisslen, Michael Hultstrom, Robert Frithiof, Jan P. Dumanski
Summary: The study reveals a correlation between loss of chromosome Y (LOY) and the severity of COVID-19, particularly in its impact on immune cell functions. This may explain the male bias for more severe cases of COVID-19.
Review
Cell Biology
Elmira Mahdinia, Nafiseh Shokri, Abdolkarim Talebi Taheri, Sahar Asgharzadeh, Mohammad Elahimanesh, Mohammad Najafi
Summary: This review summarizes the cellular, structural, and molecular dysfunctions involved in the formation, growth, and remodeling of atherosclerotic plaques. It discusses the recruitment, polarization, and accumulation of cells, as well as the communication between endothelial cells, macrophages, and vascular smooth muscle cells in the plaque microenvironment. Additionally, it elaborates on the structural components of plaques and the factors contributing to their rupture and erosion in the vessel.
CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Zhang, Jingbo Zhao, Qian Hu, Hongjun Mao, Ting Wang
Summary: PM2.5 exposure is a significant risk factor for atherosclerosis, and nitro-substituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) accelerate the occurrence and development of the disease through severe oxidative stress.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xuelian Li, Xianjie Zhu, Yumiao Wei
Summary: Atherosclerosis is a lipid-driven disease characterized by the imbalance between inflammatory and regressive processes. Recent studies have suggested a link between autophagy and vascular inflammation. This review summarizes the underlying mechanisms associated with different autophagic pathways and NLRP3 inflammasomes in vascular inflammation, aiming to provide additional evidence for atherosclerosis research.
Review
Immunology
Hongxia Li, Zhiqiang Cao, Lili Wang, Chang Liu, Hongkun Lin, Yuhan Tang, Ping Yao
Summary: Cardiovascular diseases are mainly caused by atherosclerosis, and macrophages play a crucial role in its progression. The polarization phenotypes and death pathways of macrophages have an impact on plaque formation and cardiovascular vulnerability.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaoxin Li, Yanyan Yang, Zhibin Wang, Shaoyan Jiang, Yuanyuan Meng, Xiaoxia Song, Liang Zhao, Lu Zou, Min Li, Tao Yu
Summary: Cardiovascular diseases caused by arteriosclerosis are a leading global cause of death, and regulating plaque stability is crucial for reducing mortality. Recent research suggests that non-coding RNAs play a significant role in regulating the pathophysiological process of atherosclerotic plaque formation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Xueyu Wang, Yahong Fu, Zulong Xie, Muhua Cao, Wenbo Qu, Xiangwen Xi, Shan Zhong, Minghui Piao, Xiang Peng, Ying Jia, Lingbo Meng, Jinwei Tian
Summary: The study utilized Fbn1(C1039G+/-)LDLR(-/-) mice as a model for atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques, showing that these mice exhibited numerous features of human advanced atherosclerotic unstable plaques after being fed a high-fat diet. This novel model provides insights into the pathological and physiological mechanisms of advanced atherosclerotic unstable plaques.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
David C. Rotzinger, Virginie Magnin, Allard C. van der Wal, Silke Grabherr, Salah D. Qanadli, Katarzyna Michaud
Summary: Multiphase postmortem CT angiography (PMCTA) can be used to detect plaque enhancement as a surrogate marker of inflammation, providing a noninvasive method for evaluating inflammation in coronary plaques.
EUROPEAN RADIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kathryn Demanelis, Dayana A. Delgado, Lin Tong, Farzana Jasmine, Alauddin Ahmed, Tariqul Islam, Faruque Parvez, Muhammad G. Kibriya, Joseph H. Graziano, Habibul Ahsan, Brandon L. Pierce
Summary: The study found an association between arsenic exposure and somatic loss of the Y chromosome (LoY) in Bangladeshi men, with LoY being linked to an increased risk of developing skin lesions. The percentage of cells with LoY increased with age, suggesting LoY may be a biomarker of susceptibility in populations exposed to arsenic.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Rui Lv, Liang Wang, Akiko Maehara, Xiaoya Guo, Jie Zheng, Habib Samady, Don P. Giddens, Gary S. Mintz, Gregg W. Stone, Dalin Tang
Summary: This article reviews the application of image-based computational modeling in quantifying plaque morphology and biomechanical conditions for understanding plaque evolution and rupture process. The progress made in plaque progression and vulnerability prediction studies is discussed. However, inconsistencies and differences in existing literature make direct comparison and analysis challenging.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rebecca R. Mackley, Steven Huband, Tara L. Schiller
Summary: Atherosclerosis is a complex disease with unique plaque morphology in each individual. Current techniques lack the ability to differentiate stable and unstable plaques, and identify those at risk of thromboembolic events. Small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) shows potential in identifying key materials in plaques. Improved protocols for preparing atherosclerotic tissue samples have enhanced the sample-to-noise ratio and background subtraction.
Review
Biology
Jeremie Subrini, James Turner
Summary: The mammalian Y chromosome is critical for male sex determination and spermatogenesis, but its functional studies have been challenging. Current research is focusing on identifying the minimum set of Y genes necessary for male reproduction.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Ming Zhang, Zhongjian Xie, Haijiao Long, Kun Ren, Lianjie Hou, Yu Wang, Xiaodan Xu, Weixing Lei, Zhicheng Yang, Shakeel Ahmed, Han Zhang, Guojun Zhao
Summary: Early delineation of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques is crucial for prevention and treatment of cardio-cerebral vascular accidents. However, currently available imaging technologies have limitations. Nanoparticle technology is a promising diagnostic strategy for detecting hallmarks of vulnerable plaques.
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Dongjia Chen, Guoqing Fan, Xianqing Zhu, Qinyun Chen, Xuren Chen, Feng Gao, Zexin Guo, Peng Luo, Yong Gao
Summary: This study is the largest epidemiological study on Y chromosome microdeletions in Chinese men with infertility. The study results highlight the necessity of detecting Y chromosome microdeletions in men with infertility, particularly those with severe sperm count abnormalities, especially in patients with cryptozoospermia. Among patients with AZFcd deletion and using ejaculated sperm for ICSI treatment, pregnancy outcomes are similar to those without AZFcd deletion.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY AND ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Atefeh Abdolmanafi, Luc Duong, Ragui Ibrahim, Nagib Dahdah
Summary: The study proposes a method combining spatial pyramid pooling module with dilated convolutions for semantic segmentation to extract atherosclerotic tissues regardless of their types. The results show high precision and reduced computational complexity, suitable for real-time analysis of OCT images. The model achieves high performance with accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity measurement of more than 93% at each step.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Konstantinos Voskarides
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EVOLUTION
(2020)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sean G. Byars, Konstantinos Voskarides
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EVOLUTION
(2020)
Letter
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Konstantinos Voskarides
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EVOLUTION
(2020)
Article
Immunology
Andria Hadjikou, Ioanna D. Pavlopoulou, Katerina Pantavou, Andrea Georgiou, Leslie D. Williams, Eirini Christaki, Konstantinos Voskarides, Giagkos Lavranos, Demetris Lamnisos, Enrique R. Pouget, Samuel R. Friedman, Georgios K. Nikolopoulos
Summary: The study focused on drug injection-related norms among PWID in Athens, Greece, and found that participants often recalled behaviors that can lead to HIV transmission as normative. Those who were encouraged by drug partners to use unclean syringes were more likely to engage in risky behaviors. Further research is needed on the determinants of norms in PWID social environments, and interventions should be developed to discourage sharing of injection equipment based on peer norms.
AIDS RESEARCH AND HUMAN RETROVIRUSES
(2021)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Aleksandra M. Zurowska, Olga Bielska, Patrycja Daca-Roszak, Maciej Jankowski, Maria Szczepanska, Dagmara Roszkowska-Bjanid, Elzbieta Kuzma-Mroczkowska, Malgorzata Panczyk-Tomaszewska, Anna Moczulska, Dorota Drozdz, Despina Hadjipanagi, Constantinos Deltas, Danuta Ostalska-Nowicka, Alina Rabiega, Janina Taraszkiewicz, Katarzyna Taranta-Janusz, Anna Wieczorkiewicz-Plaza, Katarzyna Jobs, Judyta Mews, Kinga Musial, Anna Jakubowska, Hanna Nosek, Anna E. Jander, Constantina Koutsofti, Anna Stanislawska-Sachadyn, Dominka Kuleszo, Ewa Zietkiewicz, Beata S. Lipska-Zietkiewicz
Summary: In a study of children with X-linked Alport Syndrome in Poland, a single variant in COL4A5 was identified as the predominant cause, dating back to a founder effect in the 12-13th century. This variant, known as G624D, was associated with a milder clinical course compared to other pathogenic variants, but still conferred a significant risk for kidney failure and deafness. Males with the G624D variant are candidates for both existing and emerging therapies for Alport Syndrome.
KIDNEY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Konstantinos Voskarides
Summary: The origin of SARS-CoV-2 is still uncertain, with evidence supporting a bat origin but remaining inconclusive. Studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 was present for many years prior to the pandemic, indicating the potential for other animal viruses to jump to humans. This is concerning due to increasing contact between humans and animals as ecosystems collapse. Additionally, the future adaptation of SARS-CoV-2 is a major concern as virus-host interactions are complex and predicting viral evolution remains challenging. However, the ongoing vaccination efforts provide hope for changing the evolutionary dynamics of the virus.
BMC MEDICAL GENOMICS
(2022)
Review
Rheumatology
Konstantinos Parperis, Avgoustina Kyriakou, Konstantinos Voskarides, Andreas Chatzittofis
Summary: This study conducted a systematic review on the suicidal behavior of patients with SLE and found that suicidal behavior was associated with depression, neuropsychiatric lupus, active disease, and damage. Furthermore, a possible genetic mechanism was identified, with a combination of SNP alleles in the chromosomal region 6p21.33 predisposing patients to both SLE and depression.
SEMINARS IN ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Konstantinos Voskarides, Constantina Koutsofti, Maria Pozova
Summary: In this study, an experimental protocol was developed to compare the survival rates of mutant and wild-type zebrafish larvae under extreme starvation conditions. The results showed that the pathogenic homozygous mutations in TP53 did not significantly alter the survival rates of the larvae. It was also observed that zebrafish larvae can survive up to 17 days without food, relying on their initial nutritional supplies. This study has developed an easy and affordable protocol for estimating the survival rates of zebrafish larvae under stressful conditions.
Editorial Material
Oncology
Konstantinos Voskarides
Summary: In a recent paper published in Nature, it is shown that cold exposure restricts tumor growth in mice by activating brown adipose tissue metabolism and inducing glucose starvation in cancer cells. Tumor growth inhibition of 80% was observed in multiple cancer types in mice exposed to 4 degrees C compared to those exposed to 30 degrees C. These findings are promising for the development of cost-effective protocols for future clinical trials targeting various forms of cancer. This commentary provides an extensive analysis of the potential implications of these results and discusses previous studies showing differences in tumor growth in mice housed at different ambient temperatures.
TRANSLATIONAL ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Despina Hadjipanagi, Gregory Papagregoriou, Constantina Koutsofti, Christiana Polydorou, Polichronis Alivanis, Aimilios Andrikos, Stalo Christodoulidou, Manthos Dardamanis, Athanasios A. Diamantopoulos, Anastasios Fountoglou, Eleni Frangou, Eleni Georgaki, Ioannis Giannikouris, Velissarios Gkinis, Pavlos C. Goudas, Rigas G. Kalaitzidis, Nikolaos Kaperonis, Georgios Koutroumpas, George Makrydimas, Grigorios Myserlis, Andromachi Mitsioni, Christos Paliouras, Fotios Papachristou, Dorothea Papadopoulou, Nikolaos Papagalanis, Aikaterini Papagianni, Garyfalia Perysinaki, Ekaterini Siomou, Konstantinos Sombolos, Ioannis Tzanakis, Georgios V. Vergoulas, Nicoletta Printza, Constantinos Deltas
Summary: Alport syndrome is the most frequent monogenic inherited glomerulopathy with genetic and clinical heterogeneity. Timely genetic diagnosis is important to avoid unnecessary diagnostic investigations and medications, delay kidney failure, and improve treatment outcomes.
Review
Cell Biology
Konstantinos Voskarides, Nefeli Giannopoulou
Summary: The TP53 gene is crucial in cancer formation and is considered the most important tumor suppressor gene. It functions as a transcription factor and is involved in various cellular processes. TP53 is also associated with fertility, aging, longevity, and environmental adaptation. Studies have shown that TP53 mutations are beneficial for animals living in specific environments, and multiple copies of TP53 in elephants may explain their low cancer incidence. This review provides an in-depth analysis of TP53's role in adaptation across different levels.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Konstantinos Voskarides, Nefeli Giannopoulou, Rasha Eid, Konstantinos Parperis, Andreas Chatzittofis
Summary: Several studies have confirmed the association between autoimmune diseases and psychiatric disorders, with genetic evidence supporting this link. This study aimed to investigate the genetic linkage between genetic variants predisposing to autoimmune diseases and psychiatric disorders by constructing common haplotypes. The results showed multiple chromosomal regions containing genetic variants associated with both diseases, and specific genetic haplotypes were identified. Notably, six autoimmune diseases shared a common haplotype with psychiatric diseases at the HLA locus 6p21-22.
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Konstantinos Voskarides
Summary: More than 10 studies have confirmed the association of antibiotic overuse with colorectal cancer. The exact cause is unknown, but the disturbance of colon microbiota is the main hypothesis. This commentary proposes an evolutionary explanation, suggesting that antibiotics may select for stress-resistant cancerous cells lacking DNA mismatch repair mechanisms, similar to the selection of antibiotic-resistant 'mutators' in microorganisms.
EVOLUTION MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Letter
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Konstantinos Voskarides
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Konstantinos Voskarides
Summary: This article comments on a paper by Frances Arnold and Kentaro Miyazaki from 1999, discussing the pros and cons of random and saturation mutagenesis, as well as important results from directed evolution. The author concludes that molecular evolution is finding new applications in science and is an integral part of the genomic era's revolution.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EVOLUTION
(2021)