Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) gene expression during infection is highly regulated, with sequential expression of immediate-early (IE), early (E), and late (L) gene transcripts. To explore the potential role of chromatin regulatory factors that may regulate HCMV gene expression and DNA replication, we investigated the interaction of HCMV with the cellular chromatin-organizing factor CTCF. Here, we show that HCMV-infected cells produce higher levels of CTCF mRNA and protein at early stages of infection. We also show that CTCF depletion by short hairpin RNA results in an increase in major IE (MIE) and E gene expression and an about 50-fold increase in HCMV particle production. We identified a DNA sequence (TTAACGGTGGAGGGCAG TGT) IMPORTANCEOur findings that CTCF binds to intron A of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) major immediate-early (MIE) gene and functions to repress MIE gene expression and viral replication are highly significant. For the first time, a chromatin-organizing factor, CTCF, has been found to facilitate human CMV gene expression, which affects viral replication. We also identified a CTCF-binding motif in the first intron (also called intron A) that directly binds to CTCF and is required for CTCF to repress MIE gene expression. Finally, we show that the CTCF-binding motif is conserved in CMV because a similar DNA sequence was found in murine CMV (MCMV) that is required for CTCF to bind to MCMV MIE gene to repress MCMV MIE gene expression. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a human betaherpesvirus that infects a large percentage of the human population and causes serious disease in immunocompromised individuals, especially in the setting of HIV-AIDS (1-3). CMV infection in permissive host cells consists of the following sequence of viral events (2): viral entry, immediate-early (IE) and early (E) gene expression, DNA replication, late gene expression, and finally, viral packaging and release. Major IE (MIE) gene expression is one of the earliest events during CMV infection. The MIE gene is the most abundantly expressed viral gene at the IE stage and gives rise to several nuclear phosphoproteins that are critical for the regulation of viral and cellular gene expression and viral DNA replication (4-14). Hence, the HCMV MIE gene has been the focus of much study.HCMV MIE gene expression is under the control of the MIE promoter (MIEP). MIEP activity is regulated predominantly by a long upstream DNA sequence referred to as the MIE enhancer. The MIE enhancer contains an array of cis-acting sites that bind cellular transcription factors such as NF-B, CREB/ATF, NF1, SP-1, AP1, RAR-RXR, ISG, YY1, Gfi-1, ETS, serum response factor, Elk-1, and CAAT/enhancer-binding protein (15). Many of these binding sites (BSs) are repetitive and have complex roles in regulating CMV IE gene transcription. Several transcriptional suppressor proteins can also regulate MIE gene expression, including members of the histone deacetylase family (16, 17), histone chaperone and chromatin remodeling factors (DAXX and ATRX) (18), and anti...

Background/Aims Public hospitals are the primary means of healthcare delivery in developing countries. Given the pressing need for efficient health services, it is imperative to know the extent to which a country's public healthcare institutions meet an ever increasing public demand. This study aimed to assess the state of hospital facilities among public health care institutions in a developing country. Methods Descriptive research methods were used, including needs analysis along with management and client satisfaction surveys, in order to analyse information on issues that related to the management of hospital facilities in the Philippines. Various members of the hospital community were selected to assess different aspects of hospital management. Results The results of this study show that most concerns stemmed from the lack of financial resources, materials, equipment and technological innovations; insufficient knowledge, skills and human resources; and problems that related to processes and methodologies. Conclusions Public hospitals are in dire need of facility upkeep to maintain their operations. This has become a more pressing concern because of the very limited resources at the disposal of public hospitals. This study also highlighted the crucial role played by the national government in finding effective and efficient ways to address these issues and concerns to ensure successful delivery of healthcare services in the country.

This study was conducted to analyse the influence of learning styles and teaching strategies on academic performance in mathematics. Surveys were conducted to 277 randomly selected grade 9 students and five purposively sample mathematics teachers. Findings reveal that most of the student-respondents have a combination of dependent, collaborative and independent learning styles. Multiple regression analysis indicates that among the learning styles, only the independent style has a significant influence on the academic performance of grade 9 students. Four teaching strategies including cooperative learning, deductive approach, inductive approach, and integrative approach, were found to have a significant influence on academic performance. By understanding the learning styles of students, teachers will be guided in designing different strategies to help students enhance learning for their improved performance in mathematics.

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This study used survey research design to determine the relevance of the National Higher Education Research Agenda (NHERA) to the research initiatives of a specific Higher Education Institution (HEI) in the Philippines. It employed universal sampling of faculty and administrative staff as well as students to analyse discrepancy in the perceptions regarding the degree of applicability, importance and urgency of the NHERA to the HEI’s research initiatives. Result of Mann-Whitney U Test revealed no significant difference between the ratings of the employees and students regarding the degree of relevance. This indicates that the respondents were all in agreement with the set of research agenda themes that should be prioritised by the institution. These themes include those related to the program curricular studies; institutional development studies; manpower demand/supply studies; policy-oriented studies on accreditation and quality assurance mechanisms, among others. These are the NHERA themes that need to be given much emphasis in the research agenda and initiatives of the institution as these are all for the sake of achieving their institutional learning outcomes towards developing skilled and competent manpower in the country’s aviation industry.