University of Zagreb

About: University of Zagreb is a education organization based out in Zagreb, Grad Zagreb, Croatia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & European union. The organization has 21769 authors who have published 50267 publications receiving 783239 citations. The organization is also known as: Zagreb University & Sveučilište u Zagrebu.

Characterized Chondrocyte Implantation Results in Better Structural Repair When Treating Symptomatic Cartilage Defects of the Knee in a Randomized Controlled Trial Versus Microfracture

Abstract: BackgroundAs the natural healing capacity of damaged articular cartilage is poor, joint surface injuries are a prime target for regenerative medicine. Characterized chondrocyte implantation uses an autologous cartilage cell therapy product that has been optimized for its biological potency to form stable cartilage tissue in vivo.PurposeTo determine whether, in symptomatic cartilage defects of the femoral condyle, structural regeneration with characterized chondrocyte implantation is superior to repair with microfracture.Study DesignRandomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.MethodsCharacterized chondrocyte implantation was compared with microfracture in patients with single grade III to IV symptomatic cartilage defects of the femoral condyles in a multicenter trial. Patients aged 18 to 50 years were randomized to characterized chondrocyte implantation (n = 57) or microfracture (n = 61). Structural repair was blindly assessed in biopsy specimens taken at 1 year using (1) computerized histomorphometr...

Repurposing the CRISPR-Cas9 system for targeted DNA methylation

Abstract: Epigenetic studies relied so far on correlations between epigenetic marks and gene expression pattern. Technologies developed for epigenome editing now enable direct study of functional relevance of precise epigenetic modifications and gene regulation. The reversible nature of epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, has been already exploited in cancer therapy for remodeling the aberrant epigenetic landscape. However, this was achieved non-selectively using epigenetic inhibitors. Epigenetic editing at specific loci represents a novel approach that might selectively and heritably alter gene expression. Here, we developed a CRISPR-Cas9-based tool for specific DNA methylation consisting of deactivated Cas9 (dCas9) nuclease and catalytic domain of the DNA methyltransferase DNMT3A targeted by co-expression of a guide RNA to any 20 bp DNA sequence followed by the NGG trinucleotide. We demonstrated targeted CpG methylation in a ∼35 bp wide region by the fusion protein. We also showed that multiple guide RNAs could target the dCas9-DNMT3A construct to multiple adjacent sites, which enabled methylation of a larger part of the promoter. DNA methylation activity was specific for the targeted region and heritable across mitotic divisions. Finally, we demonstrated that directed DNA methylation of a wider promoter region of the target loci IL6ST and BACH2 decreased their expression.

A review of feature selection methods with applications

Abstract: Feature selection (FS) methods can be used in data pre-processing to achieve efficient data reduction. This is useful for finding accurate data models. Since exhaustive search for optimal feature subset is infeasible in most cases, many search strategies have been proposed in literature. The usual applications of FS are in classification, clustering, and regression tasks. This review considers most of the commonly used FS techniques. Particular emphasis is on the application aspects. In addition to standard filter, wrapper, and embedded methods, we also provide insight into FS for recent hybrid approaches and other advanced topics.

Adhesion and aggregation ability of probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus M92

Abstract: The ability of probiotic bacteria to adhere to the intestinal epithelium play an important role in colonization of the gastrointestinal tract, preventing their elimination by peristalsis and providing a competitive advantage in this ecosystem. To identify bacterial traits related to adhesion the probiotic strain L. acidophilus M92 was examined for autoaggregation ability and cell surface hydrophobicity L. acidophilus M92 exhibits a strong autoaggregation phenotype and also coaggregation with some pathogen microorganisms that may form a barrier that prevents their colonization. The examined probiotic strain manifests a good degree of hydrophobicity determined by microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons. Aggregation and hydrophobicity were abolished upon exposure of the cells to pronase, which suggests the possible role of cell surface layer (S-layer) proteins, approximated at 45 kDa, in a L. acidophilus M92. The relationship between autoaggregation and adhesion ability to intestinal tissue was investigated by observing the adhesivity of L. acidophilus M92 to porcine ileal epithelial cells. Removal of the S-layer proteins by extraction with 5 M LiCl reduced autaggregation and in vitro adhesion of this strain.

Evidence from d + Au measurements for final state suppression of high p(T) hadrons in Au+Au collisions at RHIC

Abstract: We report measurements of single-particle inclusive spectra and two-particle azimuthal distributions of charged hadrons at high transverse momentum (high p(T)) in minimum bias and central d+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV. The inclusive yield is enhanced in d+Au collisions relative to binary-scaled p+p collisions, while the two-particle azimuthal distributions are very similar to those observed in p+p collisions. These results demonstrate that the strong suppression of the inclusive yield and back-to-back correlations at high p(T) previously observed in central Au+Au collisions are due to final-state interactions with the dense medium generated in such collisions.