Circulating levels of both miRNAs were similar among healthy controls but were significantly lower in

MDS patients (P =.001 and P <.001, respectively). The distributions of these 2 miRNA levels were bimodal in MDS patients, and these levels were significantly associated with their progression-free survival and overall survival (both P <.001 for let-7a; P <.001 and P =.001 for miR-16). This association persisted even after patients were stratified according to the International Prognostic Scoring System. Multivariate analysis revealed that let-7a level was a strong independent predictor for overall survival in this patient cohort. These findings suggest that let-7a and miR-16 plasma selleck products levels can serve as noninvasive prognostic markers in MDS patients. (Blood. 2011; 118(2): 413-415)”
“Aconitases (Acn) are iron sulfur proteins that catalyse the reversible isomerization of citrate and isocitrate Mizoribine via the intermediate cis-aconitate in the Krebs cycle. Some Acn proteins are bifunctional and under conditions of iron starvation and oxidative stress lose their iron sulfur clusters and become post-transcriptional

regulators by binding specific mRNA targets. Many bacterial species possess two genetically distinct aconitase proteins, AcnA and AcnB. Current understanding of the regulation and functions of AcnA and AcnB in dual Acn bacteria is based on a model developed in Escherichia coli. Thus, AcnB is the major Krebs cycle enzyme expressed during exponential growth, whereas AcnA is a more stable, stationary phase and stress-induced enzyme, and both E. coli Acns are bi-functional. Here a second dual Acn bacterium, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium), has been analysed. Phenotypic traits of S. Typhimurium acn mutants were consistent with AcnB acting as the major Acn protein. Promoter fusion experiments indicated that acnB transcription was similar to 10-fold greater than that of acnA and that acnA expression was regulated by the cyclic-AMP receptor protein (CRP, glucose starvation), the fumarate nitrate reduction

regulator (FNR, oxygen starvation), the ferric uptake regulator (Fur, iron starvation) Selleckchem CT99021 and the superoxide response protein (SoxR, oxidative stress). In contrast to E. coli, S. Typhimurium acnA was not induced in the stationary phase. Furthermore, acnA expression was enhanced in an acnB mutant, presumably to partially compensate for the lack of AcnB activity. Isolated S. Typhimurium AcnA protein had kinetic and mRNA-binding properties similar to those described for E. coli AcnA. Thus, the work reported here provides a second example of the regulation and function of AcnA and AcnB proteins in a dual Acn bacterium.”
“Background: This paper reports findings from the prevalence survey conducted in Shandong China in 2010, a province with a population of 94 million.