ETV6 (TEL1) regulates embryonic hematopoiesis in zebrafish

Chromosomal translocations involving fusions of the human ETV6 (TEL1) gene occur frequently in hematologic malignancies. However, a detailed understanding of the normal function of ETV6 remains incomplete. This study has employed zebrafish as a relevant model to investigate the role of ETV6 during embryonic hematopoiesis. Zebrafish possessed a single conserved etv6 ortholog that was expressed from 12 hpf in the lateral plate mesoderm, and later in hematopoietic, vascular and other tissues. Morpholino-mediated gene knockdown of etv6 revealed the complex contribution of this gene toward embryonic hematopoiesis. During primitive hematopoiesis, etv6 knockdown resulted in reduced levels of progenitor cells, erythrocyte and macrophage populations, but increased numbers of incompletely differentiated heterophils. Definitive hematopoiesis was also perturbed, with etv6 knockdown leading to decreased erythrocytes and myeloid cells, but enhanced lymphopoiesis. This study suggests that ETV6 plays a broader and more complex role in early hematopoiesis than previously thought, impacting on the development of multiple lineages.     

Assessment of Wearing Off in Parkinson’s disease using objective measurement

Journal of Neurology - Development of “Wearing Off” (WO) of motor and non-motor function in Parkinson’s disease (PD) adversely affects quality of life. This suggest that...     

Enzymatic antioxidant and lipid peroxidation evaluation in the newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in Iran

Background: Breast cancer is caused by breast tissue malignant cells and it has become one of the main medical concerns with a socio-economic significance especially for women. Among the multiple factors involved in the initiation, progression, and invasion of breast cancer, oxidative stress plays an important role. Antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation, and oxidative stress in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients were determined to find a defined pattern of oxidative stress in these patients. Methods: The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (as an indicator of lipid peroxidation), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients (n=38) and controls (n=38) were assessed using blood samples. Results: MDA level and SOD activity were significantly higher in the breast cancer patients compared to the healthy subjects group (p     

Barriers to a healthy lifestyle among obese adolescents: a qualitative study from Iran

Purpose  

Existing data show a rising prevalence of overweight and obesity among Iranian adolescents. The current study investigates adolescents’ perceptions regarding overweight/obesity and explores barriers to a healthy life style among Iranian adolescents.