MERTK Inhibition Induces Polyploidy and Promotes Cell Death and Cellular Senescence in Glioblastoma Multiforme.

Background: MER receptor tyrosine kinase (MERTK) is expressed in a variety of malignancies, including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Our previous work demonstrated that inhibition of MERTK using RNA interference induced cell death and chemosensitivity in GBM cells, implicating MERTK as a potential therapeutic target. Here we investigate whether a novel MERTK-selective small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor, UNC2025, has similar anti-tumor effects in GBM cell lines.

MerTK inhibition is a novel therapeutic approach for glioblastoma multiforme.

Glioblastoma is an aggressive tumor that occurs in both adult and pediatric patients and is known for its invasive quality and high rate of recurrence. Current therapies for glioblastoma result in high morbidity and dismal outcomes. The TAM subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases includes Tyro3, Axl, and MerTK.

Pediatric rhabdoid tumors of kidney and brain show many differences in gene expression but share dysregulation of cell cycle and epigenetic effector genes.

Background: Rhabdoid tumors (RTs) are aggressive tumors of early childhood that occur most often in brain (AT/RTs) or kidney (KRTs). Regardless of location, they are characterized by loss of functional SMARCB1 protein, a component of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex. The aim of this study was to determine genes and biological process dysregulated in common to both AT/RTs and KRTs.

Diffuse intrinsic pontine tumors: a study of primitive neuroectodermal tumors versus the more common diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas.

Object: The diagnosis of diffuse pontine tumors has largely been made on the basis of MRI since the early 1990 s. In cases of tumors considered "typical," as a rule, no biopsy specimen has been obtained, and the tumors have been considered diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs). There have been sporadic reports that primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) of the pons may not be distinguishable from the DIPGs by radiological imaging.

Pharmacologically dosed oral glutamine reduces myocardial injury in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a randomized pilot feasibility trial.

Background And Objective: Glutamine (GLN) has been shown to protect against in vitro and in vivo myocardial injury. In humans, perioperative ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury during cardiac surgery is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. The objective of this safety and feasibility pilot trial was to determine if pharmacologically dosed, preoperative oral GLN attenuates myocardial injury in cardiac surgery patients.

Relationship of vitamin D deficiency to clinical outcomes in critically ill patients.

Background: Despite the numerous disease conditions associated with vitamin D deficiency in the general population, the relationship of this deficiency to outcome in critically ill patients remains unclear. The objective of this study is to determine the burden of vitamin D deficiency in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and determine if it is associated with poor patient outcomes.

Methods: The authors conducted an analysis of samples collected from a prospective study of 196 patients admitted to a medical/surgical ICU in a tertiary care hospital.

Glutamine therapy improves outcome of in vitro and in vivo experimental colitis models.

Background: Pharmacologic doses of glutamine (GLN) can improve clinical outcome following acute illness and injury. Recent studies indicate enhanced heat shock protein (HSP) expression is a key mechanism underlying GLN's protection. However, such a link has not yet been tested in chronic inflammatory states, such as experimental inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Variant of TYR and autoimmunity susceptibility loci in generalized vitiligo.

Background: Generalized vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterized by melanocyte loss, which results in patchy depigmentation of skin and hair, and is associated with an elevated risk of other autoimmune diseases.

Methods: To identify generalized vitiligo susceptibility loci, we conducted a genomewide association study. We genotyped 579,146 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 1514 patients with generalized vitiligo who were of European-derived white (CEU) ancestry and compared the genotypes with publicly available control genotypes from 2813 CEU persons.