University of Zurich

About: University of Zurich is a education organization based out in Zurich, Switzerland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 50842 authors who have published 124042 publications receiving 5304521 citations. The organization is also known as: UZH & Uni Zurich.

CpG methylation of the cAMP-responsive enhancer/promoter sequence TGACGTCA abolishes specific factor binding as well as transcriptional activation.

Abstract: In mammals and other vertebrates, cytosine methylation in CpG sites is often negatively correlated with gene activity. Because methylation of the promoter region is most crucial for this effect, the simplest hypothesis is that CpG methylation interferes with the binding of specific transcription factors. We have examined this hypothesis with two different transcription factor-binding sites that contain a CpG dinucleotide, namely the cAMP-responsive element (CRE; 5'-TGACGTCA) and the Sp1-binding site (5'-GTGAGGCGGTGAGACT). We have reported previously that CpG methylation of the Sp1-binding site affected neither factor binding nor transcription in HeLa cells, which may be related to the fact that Sp1 is typically associated with promoters of housekeeping genes. In contrast, CREs are often associated with promoters of cell type-specific genes. A synthetic oligonucleotide containing two tandem CREs derived from the gene encoding the human glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit was cloned upstream of a reporter gene. Transcription of this gene was dependent on the CRE sequences in both PC12 and HeLa cells. Bandshift and methylation interference assays show that similar, if not the same, factor(s) bind to the CRE in both cell lines, even though induction by cAMP was only observed in PC12 cells. CpG methylation of the CRE consensus sequences (TGACGTCA) resulted in loss of specific factor binding, as well as loss of transcriptional activity in vitro and in vivo, in both cell types. This suggests that the inactivity of methylated promoters can, at least in some cases, be explained by their inability to bind specific transcription factors.

Microblogs in Higher Education - A chance to facilitate informal and process-oriented learning?

Abstract: Microblogging is one of the latest Web 2.0 technologies. The key elements are online communication using 140 characters and the fact that it involves ''following'' anyone. There has been a great deal of excitement about this in recent months. This paper reports on a research study that was carried out on the use of a microblogging platform for process-oriented learning in Higher Education. Students of the University of Applied Sciences of Upper Austria used the tool throughout their course. All postings were carefully tracked, examined and analyzed in order to explore the possibilities offered by microblogging in education. It can be concluded that microblogging should be seen as a completely new form of communication that can support informal learning beyond classrooms.

ESTS guidelines for intraoperative lymph node staging in non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract: The European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) organized a workshop dealing with lymph node staging in non-small cell lung cancer. The objective of this workshop was to develop guidelines for definitions and the surgical procedures of intraoperative lymph node staging, and the pathologic evaluation of resected lymph nodes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Relevant peer-reviewed publications on the subjects, the experience of the participants, and the opinion of the ESTS members contributing on line, were used to reach a consensus. Systematic nodal dissection is recommended in all cases to ensure complete resection. Lobe-specific systematic nodal dissection is acceptable for peripheral squamous T1 tumors, if hilar and interlobar nodes are negative on frozen section studies; it implies removal of, at least, three hilar and interlobar nodes and three mediastinal nodes from three stations in which the subcarinal is always included. Selected lymph node biopsies and sampling are justified to prove nodal involvement when resection is not possible. Pathologic evaluation includes all lymph nodes resected separately and those remaining in the lung specimen. Sections are done at the site of gross abnormalities. If macroscopic inspection does not detect any abnormal site, 2-mm slices of the nodes in the longitudinal plane are recommended. Routine search for micrometastases or isolated tumor cells in hematoxylin-eosin negative nodes would be desirable. Randomized controlled trials to evaluate adjuvant therapies for patients with these conditions are recommended. The adherence to these guidelines will standardize the intraoperative lymph node staging and pathologic evaluation, and improve pathologic staging, which will help decide on the best adjuvant therapy.

Standards of care for treatment of recurrent glioblastoma—are we there yet?

Abstract: Newly diagnosed glioblastoma is now commonly treated with surgery, if feasible, or biopsy, followed by radiation plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide. The treatment of recurrent glioblastoma continues to be a moving target as new therapeutic principles enrich the standards of care for newly diagnosed disease. We reviewed PubMed and American Society of Clinical Oncology abstracts from January 2006 to January 2012 to identify clinical trials investigating the treatment of recurrent or progressive glioblastoma with nitrosoureas, temozolomide, bevacizumab, and/or combinations of these agents. At recurrence, a minority of patients are eligible for second surgery or reirradiation, based on appropriate patient selection. In temozolomide-pretreated patients, progression-free survival rates at 6 months of 20%-30% may be achieved either with nitrosoureas, temozolomide in various dosing regimens, or bevacizumab. Combination regimens among these agents or with other drugs have not produced evidence for superior activity but commonly produce more toxicity. More research is needed to better define patient profiles that predict benefit from the limited therapeutic options available after the current standard of care has failed.

Screening for Quorum-Sensing Inhibitors (QSI) by Use of a Novel Genetic System, the QSI Selector

Abstract: With the widespread appearance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, there is an increasing demand for novel strategies to control infectious diseases. Furthermore, it has become apparent that the bacterial life style also contributes significantly to this problem. Bacteria living in the biofilm mode of growth tolerate conventional antimicrobial treatments. The discovery that many bacteria use quorum-sensing (QS) systems to coordinate virulence and biofilm development has pointed out a new, promising target for antimicrobial drugs. We constructed a collection of screening systems, QS inhibitor (QSI) selectors, which enabled us to identify a number of novel QSIs among natural and synthetic compound libraries. The two most active were garlic extract and 4-nitro-pyridine-N-oxide (4-NPO). GeneChip-based transcriptome analysis revealed that garlic extract and 4-NPO had specificity for QS-controlled virulence genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These two QSIs also significantly reduced P. aeruginosa biofilm tolerance to tobramycin treatment as well as virulence in a Caenorhabditis elegans pathogenesis model.