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Histopathology Jan 2020Vulval squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) can arise through two distinct pathways [human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated and HPV-independent], and these VSCC variants are... (Review)
Review
Vulval squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) can arise through two distinct pathways [human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated and HPV-independent], and these VSCC variants are recognised as different disease entities on the basis of different aetiologies, morphological features, molecular events during oncogenesis, precursor lesions, prognosis, and response to treatment. The precursor of HPV-associated VSCC, variously referred to as high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) [vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) 2/3] or usual-type VIN, is morphologically identical to the more common HSIL (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3) of the cervix. The precursor lesions of HPV-independent VSCC include differentiated VIN, differentiated exophytic vulvar intraepithelial lesion, and vulvar acanthosis with altered differentiation; these have been under-recognised by pathologists in the past, leading to delays in treatment. This review will discuss the recent advances in diagnostic surgical pathology of VSCC and its precursors, and how these diagnoses can impact on patient management.
Topics: Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Female; Humans; Papillomaviridae; Papillomavirus Infections; Precancerous Conditions; Vulva; Vulvar Neoplasms
PubMed: 31846523
DOI: 10.1111/his.13989 -
Journal of Insect Physiology Jan 2022We compiled a comprehensive list of 67 precursor genes encoding neuropeptides and neuropeptide-like peptides using the Schistocerca gregaria genome and several...
We compiled a comprehensive list of 67 precursor genes encoding neuropeptides and neuropeptide-like peptides using the Schistocerca gregaria genome and several transcriptome datasets. 11 of these 67 precursor genes have alternative transcripts, bringing the total number of S. gregaria precursors identified in this study to 81. Based on this precursor information, we used different mass spectrometry approaches to identify the putative mature, bioactive peptides processed in the nervous system of S. gregaria. The thereby generated dataset for S. gregaria confirms significant conservation of the entire neuropeptidergic gene set typical of insects and also contains precursors typical of Polyneoptera only. This is in striking contrast to the substantial losses of peptidergic systems in some holometabolous species. The neuropeptidome of S. gregaria, apart from species-specific sequences within the known range of variation, is quite similar to that of Locusta migratoria and even to that of less closely related Polyneoptera. With the S. gregaria peptidomics data presented here, we have thus generated a very useful source of information that could also be relevant for the study of other polyneopteran species.
Topics: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Grasshoppers; Insecta; Locusta migratoria; Mass Spectrometry; Neuropeptides
PubMed: 34767790
DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2021.104326 -
Cancers Oct 2022Carcinomas and precursor lesions of the biliary tract belong to a spectrum of pancreatobiliary neoplasms that share common histology and cell lineages. Over the past two... (Review)
Review
Carcinomas and precursor lesions of the biliary tract belong to a spectrum of pancreatobiliary neoplasms that share common histology and cell lineages. Over the past two decades, preinvasive precursors to biliary tract carcinomas (BTCs) have been identified such as high-grade biliary intraepithelial neoplasm (high-grade BilIN), intraductal papillary neoplasm of bile duct (IPNB) and intracholecystic papillary neoplasm of the gallbladder (ICPN). While a majority of these precursors may arise from the biliary tract mucosa, some originate from the peribiliary glands and Rokitansky-Aschoff sinuses in the walls of the biliary tract. High-grade BilIN is a microscopically identifiable intraepithelial neoplasm of the biliary tract, whereas IPNB and ICPN are grossly visible intraductal or intraluminal preinvasive neoplasms in the bile duct and gallbladder, respectively. These neoplasms show characteristic histologic features according to four cell lineages and two-tiered grading, and show intraepithelial spreading to the surrounding mucosa and involve non-neoplastic glands in the walls of the biliary tract. These precursors are not infrequently associated with stromal invasion, and high-grade BilIN, in particular, are frequently identified in the surrounding mucosa of BTCs. Taken together, it seems likely that progression from these precursors to invasive carcinoma is a major process in biliary carcinogenesis.
PubMed: 36358777
DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215358 -
Clinical Pathology (Thousand Oaks,... 2020Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) develops through multistep carcinogenesis. During the past decades, 2 precursors have been proved to evolve to CCA. The 2 main precursor lesions... (Review)
Review
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) develops through multistep carcinogenesis. During the past decades, 2 precursors have been proved to evolve to CCA. The 2 main precursor lesions of CCA are biliary intraepithelial neoplasia and intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct. It is an interesting and relatively novel entity for the hepatobiliary surgeons, radiologists, oncologists, and pathologists. It worth being familiar with these 2 entities for better communication between pathologists, oncologists, and surgeons to improve the treatment and follow-up of these lesions, which can definitely decrease their evolvement to CCA as an aggressive, poor prognostic, and life-threatening cancer. In this narrative review, I collected and discussed all published studies about these 2 precursor lesions of CCA including radiologic, clinical, and pathological manifestation.
PubMed: 32596664
DOI: 10.1177/2632010X20925045 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2020Maintenance of adipocyte precursors is critical for regulating metabolism and preventing obesity related disease. These precursors have been immortalized and studied in... (Review)
Review
Maintenance of adipocyte precursors is critical for regulating metabolism and preventing obesity related disease. These precursors have been immortalized and studied in cellular models as well as-more recently-in animal models. However, little is known about adipocyte precursors from animals of different ages. Most research has focused on adipocyte precursors during obesity. This review goes over the most recent reports of adipocyte precursors during development and in adulthood. Some of these new analyses are due to new techniques such as single cell-RNA sequencing and temporally controlled lineage tracing. With these tools, we have been able to further our understanding of adipocyte precursor lineages and their different regulatory mechanisms. As we learn more about adipocyte precursor plasticity and regulation, we can hope to use this knowledge for future clinical applications.
Topics: Adipocytes; Adipogenesis; Adipose Tissue; Animals; Cell Differentiation; Humans; Obesity; Single-Cell Analysis
PubMed: 33679601
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.613606 -
Advances in Experimental Medicine and... 2021Autophagosome formation is a regulated membrane remodeling process, which involves the generation of autophagosomal membrane precursors (vesicles), the assembly of the...
Autophagosome formation is a regulated membrane remodeling process, which involves the generation of autophagosomal membrane precursors (vesicles), the assembly of the autophagosomal membrane precursors to form the phagophore, and phagophore elongation to complete the autophagosome. The sources of the autophagosomal membrane precursors are endomembrane compartments, such as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the ER-Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC), ER-exit sites (ERES), and endosomes. In response to stress, these structures are remodeled, to generate the early autophagosomal membrane precursors. The phagophore assembly site (PAS), which mainly localizes on the ER, harbors the site for autophagosomal membrane assembly, elongation, and completion. ATG proteins, membrane remodeling factors, and autophagic membranes follow a precise choreography to complete the overall process. In this chapter, we briefly discuss our current knowledge on the membrane origins of the autophagosome, as well as autophagosomal precursor generation, assembly, and expansion.
Topics: Autophagosomes; Autophagy; Autophagy-Related Proteins; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Golgi Apparatus
PubMed: 34260019
DOI: 10.1007/978-981-16-2830-6_2 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Oct 2023Precursor tRNAs are transcribed with flanking and intervening sequences known to be processed by specific ribonucleases. Here, we show that transcription complexes of...
Precursor tRNAs are transcribed with flanking and intervening sequences known to be processed by specific ribonucleases. Here, we show that transcription complexes of RNA polymerase III assembled on tRNA genes comprise RNase P that cleaves precursor tRNA and subsequently degrades the excised 5' leader. Degradation is based on a 3'-5' exoribonucleolytic activity carried out by the protein subunit Rpp14, as determined by biochemical and reverse genetic analyses. Neither reconstituted nor purified RNase P displays this magnesium ion-dependent, processive exoribonucleolytic activity. Markedly, knockdown of Rpp14 by RNA interference leads to a wide-ranging inhibition of cleavage of flanking and intervening sequences of various precursor tRNAs in extracts and cells. This study reveals that RNase P controls tRNA splicing complex and RNase Z for ordered maturation of nascent precursor tRNAs by transcription complexes.
Topics: Humans; Ribonuclease P; RNA Precursors; Endoribonucleases; RNA, Transfer; Ribonucleases; RNA Splicing
PubMed: 37831743
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307185120 -
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach,... Jun 2023Materials synthesis via liquid-like mineral precursors has been studied since their discovery almost 25 years ago, because their properties offer several advantages, for...
Materials synthesis via liquid-like mineral precursors has been studied since their discovery almost 25 years ago, because their properties offer several advantages, for example, the ability to infiltrate small pores, the production of non-equilibrium crystal morphologies or mimicking textures from biominerals, resulting in a vast range of possible applications. However, the potential of liquid-like precursors has never been fully tapped, and they have received limited attention in the materials chemistry community, largely due to the lack of efficient and scalable synthesis protocols. Herein, the "scalable controlled synthesis and utilization of liquid-like precursors for technological applications" (SCULPT) method is presented, allowing the isolation of the precursor phase on a gram scale, and its advantage in the synthesis of crystalline calcium carbonate materials and respective applications is demonstrated. The effects of different organic and inorganic additives, such as magnesium ions and concrete superplasticizers, on the stability of the precursor are investigated and allow optimizing the process for specific demands. The presented method is easily scalable and therefore allows synthesizing and utilizing the precursor on large scales. Thus, it can be employed for mineral formation during restoration and conservation applications but can also open up pathways toward calcium carbonate-based, CO -neutral cements.
PubMed: 36971032
DOI: 10.1002/adma.202300702 -
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023The fabrication of thin-film electrodes, which contain metal nanoparticles and nanostructures for applications in electrochemical sensing as well as energy conversion... (Review)
Review
The fabrication of thin-film electrodes, which contain metal nanoparticles and nanostructures for applications in electrochemical sensing as well as energy conversion and storage, is often based on multi-step procedures that include two main passages: (i) the synthesis and purification of nanomaterials and (ii) the fabrication of thin films by coating electrode supports with these nanomaterials. The patterning and miniaturization of thin film electrodes generally require masks or advanced patterning instrumentation. In recent years, various approaches have been presented to integrate the spatially resolved deposition of metal precursor solutions and the rapid conversion of the precursors into metal nanoparticles. To achieve the latter, high intensity light irradiation has, in particular, become suitable as it enables the photochemical, photocatalytical, and photothermal conversion of the precursors during or slightly after the precursor deposition. The conversion of the metal precursors directly on the target substrates can make the use of capping and stabilizing agents obsolete. This review focuses on hybrid platforms that comprise digital metal precursor ink printing and high intensity light irradiation for inducing metal precursor conversions into patterned metal and alloy nanoparticles. The combination of the two methods has recently been named Print-Light-Synthesis by a group of collaborators and is characterized by its sustainability in terms of low material consumption, low material waste, and reduced synthesis steps. It provides high control of precursor loading and light irradiation, both affecting and improving the fabrication of thin film electrodes.
PubMed: 37446431
DOI: 10.3390/nano13131915 -
Frontiers in Chemistry 2022Biomineralization is a typical interdisciplinary subject attracting biologists, chemists, and geologists to figure out its potential mechanism. A mounting number of... (Review)
Review
Biomineralization is a typical interdisciplinary subject attracting biologists, chemists, and geologists to figure out its potential mechanism. A mounting number of studies have revealed that the classical nucleation theory is not suitable for all nucleation process of biominerals, and phase-separated structures such as polymer-induced liquid precursors (PILPs) play essential roles in the non-classical nucleation processes. These structures are able to play diverse roles biologically or pathologically, and could also give inspiring clues to bionic applications. However, a lot of confusion and dispute occurred due to the intricacy and interdisciplinary nature of liquid precursors. Researchers in different fields may have different opinions because the terminology and current state of understanding is not common knowledge. As a result, our team reviewed the most recent articles focusing on the nucleation processes of various biominerals to clarify the state-of-the-art understanding of some essential concepts and guide the newcomers to enter this intricate but charming field.
PubMed: 35186885
DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.834503