The alterations in carbohydrate metabolism that fuel tumor growth have been extensively studied. However, other metabolic pathways involved in malignant progression, demand further understanding. Here we describe a metabolic acyl-CoA synthetase/stearoyl-CoA desaturase ACSL/SCD network causing an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program that promotes migration and invasion of colon cancer cells. The mesenchymal phenotype produced upon overexpression of these enzymes is reverted through reactivation of AMPK signaling. Furthermore, this network expression correlates with poorer clinical outcome of stage-II colon cancer patients. Finally, combined treatment with chemical inhibitors of ACSL/SCD selectively decreases cancer cell viability without reducing normal cells viability. Thus, ACSL/SCD network stimulates colon cancer progression through conferring increased energetic capacity and invasive and migratory properties to cancer cells, and might represent a new therapeutic opportunity for colon cancer treatment.

The Klotho protein is a β-glucuronidase, and its overexpression is associated with life extension. Its mechanism of action is not fully understood, although it has been recently reported that αKlotho improves synaptic and cognitive functions, and it may also influence a variety of structures and functions during CNS maturation and aging. The αKlotho gene has two transcripts, one encoding a transmembrane isoform (m-KL), and the other a putative secreted isoform (s-KL). Unfortunately, little is known about the secreted αKlotho isoform, since available antibodies cannot discriminate s-KL from the KL1 domain cleaved from the transmembrane isoform. This study shows, for the first time, that the klotho transcript produced by alternative splicing generates a stable protein (70 kDa), and that in contrast to the transmembrane Klotho isoform, it is ten times more abundant in the brain than in the kidney suggesting that the two isoforms may have different functions. We also studied whether klotho expression in the CNS was influenced by aging, Alzheimer's disease (AD), or a healthy lifestyle, such as voluntary moderate continuous exercise. We observed a strong correlation between high expression levels of the two klotho transcripts and the healthy status of the animals. Expression of Klotho in brain areas decayed more rapidly in the 3xTg-AD model of AD than in healthy animals, whilst moderate continuous exercise in adulthood prevents the decline in expression of both klotho transcripts.

Objectives To ascertain whether screening for pre-eclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) by uterine artery ( (relative risk (RR), 1.79 (95% CI,3)) and induction of labor for IUGR (RR, 1.36 (95% CI,). In women developing PE or IUGR, there was a trend towards fewer maternal complications (RR, 0.46 (95% CI,

Brain injury is a medical emergency that needs to be diagnosed and treated promptly. Several proteins have been studied as biomarkers of this medical condition. The aims of this study were to: 1) evaluate the selectivity and precision of a commercial ELISA kit for neurofilament medium polypeptide (NFM) protein; and 2) evaluate the concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of healthy individuals and patients with brain damage.An ELISA from Elabscience was used. The selectivity was evaluated using size-exclusion chromatography and mass spectrometry. Intra- and inter-batch coefficients of variation (CV) were also studied. Fifty-one CSF samples from 36 age-matched patients with hemorrhagic stroke (HS) (n=30), ischemic stroke (IS) (n=11) and healthy individuals (n=10) were assayed. In addition, serum samples from healthy volunteers (n=47), 68 serum samples from seven patients with HS, 106 serum samples from 12 patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and 68 serum samples from 68 patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) were also analyzed.NFM was identified in the chromatographic fraction with highest immunoreactivity. The intra- and inter-batch CVs were ≤10% and ≤13%, respectively. The CSF-NFM concentration in HS was significantly higher (p<0.0001) than in IS and controls. Serum NFM concentration ranged from 0.26 to 8.57 ng/mL in healthy individuals (median=2.29), from 0.97 to 42.4 ng/mL in HS (median=10.8) and from 3.48 to 45.4 ng/mL in TBI (median=14.7). Finally, 44% of patients with mTBI had increased NFM concentration, with significantly higher levels (p=0.01) in patients with polytrauma.To our knowledge this is the first study describing increased NFM levels in CSF and serum from patients with brain damage.

ObjectivesWe investigated the natural history of patients after a first episode of acute heart failure (FEAHF) requiring emergency department (ED) consultation, focusing on: the frequency of ED visits and hospitalisations, departments admitting patients during the first and subsequent hospitalisations, and factors associated with difficult disease control.We included consecutive patients diagnosed with FEAHF (either with or without previous heart failure diagnosis) in four EDs during 5 months in three different time periods (2009, 2011, 2014). Diagnosis was adjudicated by local principal investigators. The clinical characteristics of the index event were prospectively recorded, and all post-discharge ED visits and hospitalisations [related/unrelated to acute heart failure (AHF)], as well as departments involved in subsequent hospitalisations were retrospectively ascertained. 'Uncontrolled disease' during the first year after FEAHF was considered if patients were attended at ED (≥ 3 times) or hospitalised (≥ 2 times) for AHF or died. Overall, 505 patients with FEAHF were included and followed for a mean of 2.4 years. In-hospital mortality was 7.5%. Among 467 patients discharged alive, 288 died [median survival 3.9 years, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.5-4.4], 421 (90%) revisited the ED (2342 ED visits; 42.4% requiring hospitalisation, 34.0% AHF-related) and 357 Ò. Miró et al.(77%) were hospitalised (1054 hospitalisations; 94.1% through ED, 51.4% AHF-related). AHF-related hospitalisations were mainly in internal medicine (28.0%), short-stay unit (26.3%), cardiology (20.8%), and geriatrics (14.1%). Only 47.4% of AHF-related hospitalisations were in the same department as the FEAHF, and internal medicine involvement significantly increased with subsequent hospitalisations (P = 0.01). Uncontrolled disease was observed in 31% of patients, which was independently related to age > 80 years [odds ratio (OR) 1.80, 95% CI 1.17-2.77], systolic blood pressure < 110 mmHg at ED arrival (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1. 26-5.38) and anaemia (OR 2.39, 95% CI

Scope The increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases has been hypothesized to be the result of an increased exposure to a host of atherogenic environmental factors, paramount among them being unhealthy dietary habits. Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been shown to have cardio protective effects, partially due to their ability to regulate gene expression. In this regard, increasing attention has been devoted to the role of miRNAs as regulators of multiple metabolic pathways whose deregulation has been associated with CVD risk. In this work we investigated whether miRNA expression was regulated by docosahexanoic acid (DHA), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and cholesterol in Caco-2 cells. Results Among the modulated miRNAs, miR-107 was differentially expressed by all treatments and this modulation was independent of its hosting gene, PANK1, possibly through its own promoter, which contains binding sites for metabolically relevant transcription factors. Among the putative target genes of miR-107, we found some genes with key roles in circadian rhythm. Specifically, we demonstrated that binding of miR-107 to the CLOCK gene results in the deregulation of the circadian rhythm of the cells. Conclusions Since chronodisruption has been linked to metabolic disorders such as Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), atherosclerosis, obesity and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), our findings suggests that miR-107 could represent a new approach for pharmacological treatment of these diseases.

BACKGROUND Inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs) are caused by a defect in a metabolic pathway, leading to malfunctioning metabolism and/or the accumulation of toxic intermediate metabolites. To date, hundreds of IMDs have been identified. Many of these diseases are potentially fatal conditions that are not apparent at birth. Newborn screening (NBS) programs involve the clinical and laboratory examination of neonates who exhibit no health problems, with the aim of discovering those infants who are, in fact, suffering from a treatable condition. CONTENT In recent years, the introduction of tandem mass spectrometry has allowed the expansion of screening programs. However, this expansion has brought a high degree of heterogeneity in the IMDs tested among different NBS programs. An attempt to harmonize the metabolic conditions recommended to be screened has been carried out. Two uniform screening panels have been proposed in the US and European Union, by knowledgeable organizations. Here, we review current evidence-based processes to assess and expand NBS programs. We also discuss the IMDs that have recently been introduced in some screening programs, such as severe combined immunodeficiencies, lysosomal storage disorders, and adrenoleukodystrophy. SUMMARY NBS programs have been an established public health function for more than 50 years to efficiently and cost-effectively identify neonates with severe conditions. However, NBS is not yet optimal. This review is intended to elucidate the current degree of harmonization of NBS programs worldwide as well as to describe the major controversial points and discuss the multiple challenges that must be confronted in expanded NBS strategies.

Scope:The increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has been hypothesized to be the result of an increased exposure to a host of atherogenic environmental factors, paramount among them being unhealthy dietary habits. Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been shown to have cardio protective effects, partially due to their ability to regulate gene expression. In this regard, increasing attention has been devoted to the role of miRNAs as regulators of multiple metabolic pathways whose deregulation has been associated with CVD risk. In this work we investigated whether miRNA expression was regulated by docosahexanoic acid, conjugated linoleic acid and cholesterol in Caco-2 cells. Results: Among the modulated miRNAs, miR-107 was differentially expressed by all treatments and this modulation was independent of its hosting gene, panthothenate kinase 1, possibly through its own promoter, which contains binding sites for metabolically relevant transcription factors. Among the putative target genes of miR-107, we found some genes with key roles in circadian rhythm. Specifically, we demonstrated that binding of miR-107 to the circadian locomotor output cycles kaput gene results in the deregulation of the circadian rhythm of the cells. Conclusion: Since chronodisruption has been linked to metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, obesity, and CVD, our findings suggest that miR-107 could represent a new approach for pharmacological treatment of these diseases.