Finding and characterizing Partially Methylated Domains in human haematopoietic cells

DNA cytosine methylation has been demonstrated to be a central epigenetic modification that has essential roles in a myriad of cellular processes. Some examples of these include gene regulation, DNA-protein interactions, cellular differentiation, X-inactivation, maintenance of genome integrity by suppressing transposable elements and viruses, embryogenesis, genomic imprinting and tumourigenesis. This list is increasingly growing thanks to recent advances in genome-wide technologies, like Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing (WGBS-Seq). The development of this technology in research has allowed the identification of new features of the DNA methylation landscape that was not possible using previous technologies, like Partially Methylated Domains (PMDs). PMDs have been found in several cell lines, as well as in both healthy and cancer primary samples. They have been described as regions with high variability in methylation levels across individual CpG sites and intermediate methylation levels on average with respect to the genome. Here, we performed an extensive search of PMDs in a big dataset of different haematopoietic primary cells from both myeloid and lymphoid lineages. We found and characterized significant PMDs in plasma B cells, confirming that PMDs are a phenomenon that is restricted to certain differentiated cells. Additionally, we found loci aberrantly hypomethylated in a myeloma sample which overlapped with plasma B cell PMDs. Genome-wide comparison of the myeloma and plasma B cell sample revealed that this is probably also the case for other loci.

Circulating progenitor cells during exercise, muscle electro-stimulation and intermittent hypobaric hypoxia in patients with traumatic brain injury. A pilot study

BACKGROUND: Circulating progenitor cells (CPC) treatments may have great potential for the recovery of neurons and brain function. OBJECTIVE: To increase and maintain CPC with a program of exercise, muscle electro-stimulation (ME) and/or intermittent-hypobaric-hypoxia (IHH), and also to study the possible improvement in physical or psychological functioning of participants with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). METHODS: Twenty-one participants. Four groups: exercise and ME group (EEG), cycling group (CyG), IHH and ME group (HEG) and control group (CG). Psychological and physical stress tests were carried out. CPC were measured in blood several times during the protocol. RESULTS: Psychological tests did not change. In the physical stress tests the VO2 uptake increased in the EEG and the CyG, and the maximal tolerated workload increased in the HEG. CPC levels increased in the last three weeks in EEG, but not in CyG, CG and HEG. CONCLUSIONS: CPC levels increased in the last three weeks of the EEG program, but not in the other groups and we did not detect performed psychological test changes in any group. The detected aerobic capacity or workload improvement must be beneficial for the patients who have suffered TBI, but exercise type and the mechanisms involved are not clear.

Greek de Steven Berkoff (1980): L’arriscada conversió de l’Èdip rei de Sòfocles en una love story

[cat] ¿Podem convertir l’Èdip rei de Sòfocles en una història d’amor com ho fa Berkoff a Greek?. Tot i que alguns crítics llegeixen Greek només com un drama provocador que de cap manera intenta justificar l’incest, directors, actors i crítics resten finalment captivats per la impactant història d’amor entre Eddy i la seva esposa-mare. Això demostraria que l’adaptació de Berkoff, pensada per a il·lustrar la degradació social de la Gran Bretanya dels 80s, esdevé una proposta arriscada, car significa negar de fet la consciència tràgica dels homes i dones contemporanis. Tanmateix, si aquest és el cas, lectors i espectadors, a banda de l’indubtable plaer d’assistir a la representació de Greek, poden preguntar-se, fins i tot des d’una perspectiva no fonamentalista de la tradició clàssica, si té sentit inspirar-se en el text de Sòfocles, el qual mostra precisament la gran consciència tràgica dels grecs.

Guia temàtica Biblioteca ETSAB: La capella d'en Marcús

Postprint (author’s final draft)

Guia temàtica Biblioteca ETSAB: Museu Marès (Antic Tribunal de la Inquisició)

Postprint (author’s final draft)