Epigenome editing by CRISPR/Cas9 in clinical settings: possibilities and challenges

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Di Pei ◽  
Yan Zhang ◽  
Tai-Lang Yin ◽  
Yang Yu

Abstract Epigenome editing is a promising approach for both basic research and clinical application. With the convergence of techniques from different fields, regulating gene expression artificially becomes possible. From a clinical point of view, targeted epigenome editing by CRISPR/Cas9 of disease-related genes offers novel therapeutic avenues for many diseases. In this review, we summarize the EpiEffectors used in epigenome editing by CRISPR/Cas9, current applications of epigenome editing and progress made in this field. Moreover, application challenges such as off-target effects, inefficient delivery, stability and immunogenicity are discussed. In conclusion, epigenome editing by CRISPR/Cas9 has broad prospects in the clinic, and future work will promote the application of this technology.

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Joop Ouborg

As one of the final activities of the ESF-CONGEN Networking programme, a conference entitled ‘Integrating Population Genetics and Conservation Biology’ was held at Trondheim, Norway, from 23 to 26 May 2009. Conference speakers and poster presenters gave a display of the state-of-the-art developments in the field of conservation genetics. Over the five-year running period of the successful ESF-CONGEN Networking programme, much progress has been made in theoretical approaches, basic research on inbreeding depression and other genetic processes associated with habitat fragmentation and conservation issues, and with applying principles of conservation genetics in the conservation of many species. Future perspectives were also discussed in the conference, and it was concluded that conservation genetics is evolving into conservation genomics, while at the same time basic and applied research on threatened species and populations from a population genetic point of view continues to be emphasized.


2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 331-335
Author(s):  
Cristian Constantin Popa ◽  
Dumitru Cristinel Badiu ◽  
Liliana Florina Andronache ◽  
Radu Virgil Costea ◽  
Stefan Ilie Neagu ◽  
...  

Esophageal cancer represents a neoplasm that is thought to have both an increased incidence and prevalence in the following years. Although much progress has been made in the detection and the early treatment of esophageal cancer, the prognosis is still limited, and mortality remains very high. The most common histological types of esophageal cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, and, respectively, adenocarcinoma. Lately, there has been an accelerated increase in the incidence of adenocarcinoma, in the context of increased prevalence of gastro-esophageal reflux disease and obesity, but also of the current alimentary diet, especially in developed countries. The esophagus has its anatomical features. Moreover, it is located topographicallyin a complex cervico-thoraco-abdominal area, unique for a viscus. From the clinical point of view, the onset of symptoms of esophageal cancer is insidious. For these reasons, special attention should be pain in the early detection and differentiation of this neoplasm from other pathologies. These pathologies are very varied and may comprise other esophageal diseases, neighborhood pathologies such as cervical, thoracic, abdominal, systemic pathologies (immunologic, infectious) or other pathologies such as the oro-maxillo-facial, oculo-orbital, vascular, muscular, and cutaneous ones. Keywords: esophagus, cancer, differential diagnosis


Author(s):  
Petar Kazakov ◽  
Atanas Iliev ◽  
Emil Ivanov ◽  
Dobri Rusev

Significant technical progress has been made in recent years in the development of algae-based bioenergy, and much of industrial and academic R&D projects have diverged from the biofuels strategy. This report summarizes the conclusions of a recently concluded symposium analyzing the prospects for using micro- and macroalgae as a feedstock for biofuels and bioenergy. It discusses international activities for the development of bio-energy and non-energy algae bioproducts, advances in the use of macroalgae (both non-cultivated and cultivated algae). Applications for various biochemical and thermochemical uses, bio-refining capabilities for various products, as well as an in-depth review of the process from the point of view of economy and energy sustainability are also given.


1970 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
ERIK ERIKSSON

The term “stochastic hydrology” implies a statistical approach to hydrologic problems as opposed to classic hydrology which can be considered deterministic in its approach. During the International Hydrology Symposium, held 6-8 September 1967 at Fort Collins, a number of hydrology papers were presented consisting to a large extent of studies on long records of hydrological elements such as river run-off, these being treated as time series in the statistical sense. This approach is, no doubt, of importance for future work especially in relation to prediction problems, and there seems to be no fundamental difficulty for introducing the stochastic concepts into various hydrologic models. There is, however, some developmental work required – not to speak of educational in respect to hydrologists – before the full benefit of the technique is obtained. The present paper is to some extent an exercise in the statistical study of hydrological time series – far from complete – and to some extent an effort to interpret certain features of such time series from a physical point of view. The material used is 30 years of groundwater level observations in an esker south of Uppsala, the observations being discussed recently by Hallgren & Sands-borg (1968).


2021 ◽  
pp. 088506662199232
Author(s):  
Xiaojuan Zhang ◽  
Xin Li

Septic shock with multiple organ failure is a devastating situation in clinical settings. Through the past decades, much progress has been made in the management of sepsis and its underlying pathogenesis, but a highly effective therapeutic has not been developed. Recently, macromolecules such as histones have been targeted in the treatment of sepsis. Histones primarily function as chromosomal organizers to pack DNA and regulate its transcription through epigenetic mechanisms. However, a growing body of research has shown that histone family members can also exert cellular toxicity once they relocate from the nucleus into the extracellular space. Heparin, a commonly used anti-coagulant, has been shown to possess life-saving capabilities for septic patients, but the potential interplay between heparin and extracellular histones has not been investigated. In this review, we summarize the pathogenic roles of extracellular histones and the therapeutic roles of heparin in the development and management of sepsis and septic shock.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 56-71
Author(s):  
Janet van Niekerk ◽  
Haakon Bakka ◽  
Håvard Rue

The methodological advancements made in the field of joint models are numerous. None the less, the case of competing risks joint models has largely been neglected, especially from a practitioner's point of view. In the relevant works on competing risks joint models, the assumptions of a Gaussian linear longitudinal series and proportional cause-specific hazard functions, amongst others, have remained unchallenged. In this article, we provide a framework based on R-INLA to apply competing risks joint models in a unifying way such that non-Gaussian longitudinal data, spatial structures, times-dependent splines and various latent association structures, to mention a few, are all embraced in our approach. Our motivation stems from the SANAD trial which exhibits non-linear longitudinal trajectories and competing risks for failure of treatment. We also present a discrete competing risks joint model for longitudinal count data as well as a spatial competing risks joint model as specific examples.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 2333794X2199090
Author(s):  
Vilounna Sanaphay ◽  
Sourideth Sengchanh ◽  
Alongkone Phengsavanh ◽  
Anousavanh Sanaphay ◽  
Leelawadee Techasatian

Newborn skin disorders are quite common and happen to occur during the neonatal period. Most of the birthmarks are transient; however, worried parents often seek medical advice from their child’s physician regarding skin lesions. Thus, it is important to differentiate the skin lesions from pathologic ones to avoid unnecessary diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. This is the first published study in Lao neonates that carried out the data from 4 central hospitals in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR from September 2019 to February 2020. Among 500 neonates, Sebaceous gland hyperplasia (53%), Mongolian patches (46.6%), and Erythema toxicum neonatorum (30%) were the 3 most common cutaneous conditions found in the Lao newborns. From a clinical point of view, these findings are often a source of parental anxiety and medical concern for inexperienced clinicians.


2021 ◽  
pp. 089198872110361
Author(s):  
John T. Martin ◽  
Kimberly R. Chapman ◽  
Christopher Was ◽  
Mary Beth Spitznagel

The experience of dementia caregiver burden is multidimensional. Little is known about how different aspects of burden contribute to the consideration of moving a loved one to a structured living facility. In the present study, caregiver burden (Zarit Burden Interview; ZBI) and consideration of structured living arrangements (Desire to Institutionalize Scale; DIS) were self-reported by 339 caregivers. Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine the ZBI factor structure; these factors were then examined via hierarchical linear regression for prediction of DIS. Factor analysis indicated a 4-factor ZBI solution: Impact on Life, Guilt, Embarrassment/Frustration, and Escape/Uncertainty. Regression analyses indicated that only Escape/Uncertainty ( p < .001) was associated with DIS. Of the 4 identified factors of caregiver burden, desire to escape the caregiving role was most related to consideration of structured living arrangements. Future work should explore longitudinal contribution of this factor to determine its role in actual changes made in living arrangements.


2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin R. Stytz ◽  
Sheila B. Banks

The development of computer-generated synthetic environments, also calleddistributed virtual environments, for military simulation relies heavily upon computer-generated actors (CGAs) to provide accurate behaviors at reasonable cost so that the synthetic environments are useful, affordable, complex, and realistic. Unfortunately, the pace of synthetic environment development and the level of desired CGA performance continue to rise at a much faster rate than CGA capability improvements. This insatiable demand for realism in CGAs for synthetic environments arises from the growing understanding of the significant role that modeling and simulation can play in a variety of venues. These uses include training, analysis, procurement decisions, mission rehearsal, doctrine development, force-level and task-level training, information assurance, cyberwarfare, force structure analysis, sustainability analysis, life cycle costs analysis, material management, infrastructure analysis, and many others. In these and other uses of military synthetic environments, computer-generated actors play a central role because they have the potential to increase the realism of the environment while also reducing the cost of operating the environment. The progress made in addressing the technical challenges that must be overcome to realize effective and realistic CGAs for military simulation environments and the technical areas that should be the focus of future work are the subject of this series of papers, which survey the technologies and progress made in the construction and use of CGAs. In this, the first installment in the series of three papers, we introduce the topic of computer-generated actors and issues related to their performance and fidelity and other background information for this research area as related to military simulation. We also discuss CGA reasoning system techniques and architectures.


2021 ◽  
pp. 41-60
Author(s):  
Necmiye Merve Sahin ◽  
◽  
◽  
Merve Sena Uz

In this article, an algorithm has been introduced that enables judges to see the decisions that should be made in a way that is closest to the conscience and the law, without transferring the cases to the higher authorities, without anyone objecting to their decisions. This algorithm has been introduced depending on the generalized set-valued neutrosophic quadruple numbers and the Euclidean similarity measure in sets, what the decision is made by considering all the situations, regardless of which case the defendants come before the judge, how similar these decisions are to the legal decisions that should be made. In this way, we can easily see the decisions given to the accused in all kinds of cases, and we can arrange the decisions according to the similarity value. The closer the similarity value is to 1, the more correct the judge's decision from a legal point of view.


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