Histologic similarities in children with eosinophilic esophagitis and proton pump inhibitor-responsive esophageal eosinophilia.

The EPX histologic scoring system can be used to differentiate children with EoE and PPI-REE relative to GERD, supporting the relationship between these 2 groups and enhancing current diagnostic and treatment approaches.

Febuxostat improves outcome in a rat model of cancer cachexia.

Background: Activity of xanthine oxidase is induced in cancer cachexia, and its inhibition by allopurinol or oxypurinol improves survival and reduces wasting in the Yoshida hepatoma cancer cachexia model. Here, we tested the effects of the second-generation xanthine oxidase inhibitor febuxostat compared with placebo in the same model as used previously by our group.

Methods: Wistar rats (~200 g) were treated daily with febuxostat at 5 mg/kg/day or placebo via gavage for a maximum of 17 days.

TWIST1 regulates the activity of ubiquitin proteasome system via the miR-199/214 cluster in human end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy.

Background: The transcription factor TWIST1 has been described to regulate the microRNA (miR)-199/214 cluster. Genetic disruption of TWIST1 resulted in a cachectic phenotype and early death of the knock-out mice. This might be connected to the activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome-system (UPS), as miR-199a has been suggested to regulate the ubiquitin E2 ligases Ube2i and Ube2g1.