Unsupervised clustering of free-living human activities using ambulatory accelerometry.

This paper investigates unsupervised pattern recognition approaches to segment raw accelerometer signals into a sequence of events, for activity monitoring in a free-living environment. Ambulatory devices, such as accelerometers, have made it possible to classify movement, measure long-term trends in activity, and detect unexpected events such as falls. While such technologies are gaining acceptance for use in controlled clinical settings, their use in varying and unrestricted environments is still problematic.

Wnt pathway-related gene expression in inflammatory bowel disease.

The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of Wnt pathway-related genes in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). RNA from colonoscopic biopsies from noninflammatory bowel disease (non-IBD) subjects and UC patients were obtained and examined with a Wnt-specific microarray for the expression of Wnt pathway-related genes. Paired samples from uninflamed and inflamed areas of the colon were obtained for the UC patients.

Collection of cancer stage data by classifying free-text medical reports.

Cancer staging provides a basis for planning clinical management, but also allows for meaningful analysis of cancer outcomes and evaluation of cancer care services. Despite this, stage data in cancer registries is often incomplete, inaccurate, or simply not collected. This article describes a prototype software system (Cancer Stage Interpretation System, CSIS) that automatically extracts cancer staging information from medical reports.

Regulation of norrin receptor frizzled-4 by Wnt2 in colon-derived cells.

Background: Norrin is a potent Wnt pathway ligand. Aberrant activation of this signaling pathway can result in colon tumors but the role of norrin-based signaling in the genesis of colon cancer, and its relationship to activation of the pathway by traditional Wnt ligands, is not defined.

Results: Fresh normal human colon tissue and all the cell lines studied expressed mRNA for Fz4, LRP5 and norrin, except Colo205 which lacked Fz4 expression.

Transforming growth factor-beta differentially regulates oval cell and hepatocyte proliferation.

Unlabelled: Oval cells are hepatocytic precursors that proliferate in late-stage cirrhosis and that give rise to a subset of human hepatocellular carcinomas. Although liver regeneration typically occurs through replication of existing hepatocytes, oval cells proliferate only when hepatocyte proliferation is inhibited. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a key inhibitory cytokine for hepatocytes, both in vitro and in vivo.

Sorting nexin 1 down-regulation promotes colon tumorigenesis.

Purpose: Colon cancer is one of the most common human malignancies, yet studies have only begun to identify the multiple mechanisms that underlie the development of this tumor. In this study, we have identified a novel mechanism, dysregulation of endocytic sorting, which promotes colon cancer development.

Experimental Design: Immunohistochemical and microarray analyses were done on human colon cancer tissue specimens to determine the levels of one endocytic protein, sorting nexin 1 (SNX1).

Wnt pathway component LEF1 mediates tumor cell invasion and is expressed in human and murine breast cancers lacking ErbB2 (her-2/neu) overexpression.

This study examines the role of LEF1, a component of the Wnt signaling pathway, in human breast and murine mammary carcinoma and its relationship to ErbB2 (her-2/neu) expression. Mammary tissue and tumors from 5 different Wnt pathway-activated transgenic mouse strains and 5 different ErbB2 pathway-activated transgenic mouse strains were studied for the amount and distribution of expression of beta-catenin and LEF1. Fourteen samples of human infiltrating ductal breast cancer arising from a background of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) were analyzed for LEF1, estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER and PR) and her-2/neu expression.

Expression of Wnt genes and frizzled 1 and 2 receptors in normal breast epithelium and infiltrating breast carcinoma.

The Wnt genes encode a family of related, secreted proteins which initiate a signal cascade upon binding to cell surface receptor molecules. The signaling pathway has been shown to be critical for normal growth and development in model organisms and is implicated in the genesis of numerous human cancers. Wnt proteins regulate mammary development in the mouse but their precise role in normal breast development and malignant transformation in humans remains poorly defined.

Bilateral breast reconstruction with the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap: an experience with 280 flaps.

Bilateral prophylactic mastectomy can reduce the incidence of breast cancer by 87 to 93% in high-risk individuals and is an appealing option for many patients if reconstruction can be provided with acceptable morbidity and outstanding esthetic results. Autogenous breast reconstruction techniques have evolved over the last 20 years to meet this goal. Familiarity with the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap led us to carry out simultaneous bilateral breast reconstruction with acceptable morbidity and superior esthetic outcome in 3 patient groups: (1) after bilateral prophylactic mastectomy, (2) after therapeutic and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy, and (3) after explantation of bilateral implant failures.

The bare area of the upper conjunctiva: a closer look at the anatomy of transconjunctival upper blepharoplasty.

Transconjunctival upper blepharoplasty is a novel technique for which the overall experience has been limited. The authors have used this technique in 42 patients for eyelid rejuvenation, with predictable results and low morbidity. The authors previously described the "bare" area in the medial upper conjunctiva, which was initially noted during their clinical series.

HuD, a neuronal-specific RNA-binding protein, increases the in vivo stability of MYCN RNA.

MYCN amplification and consequent deregulated expression plays a crucial role in determining the clinical behavior of neuroblastoma. Enhanced expression of MYCN confers growth potential to neuroblastoma cells, and a direct link between MYCN expression and the development of neuroblastoma has been demonstrated in transgenic mice studies. Although the molecular pathways underlying the regulation of MYCN have not been fully elucidated, post-transcriptional mechanisms appear to be important.