Publications by authors named "Frank Mo"

It has been presumed that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) joint pain is related to inflammation in the synovium; however, recent studies reveal that pain scores in patients do not correlate with synovial inflammation. We developed a machine-learning approach (graph-based gene expression module identification or GbGMI) to identify an 815-gene expression module associated with pain in synovial biopsy samples from patients with established RA who had limited synovial inflammation at arthroplasty. We then validated this finding in an independent cohort of synovial biopsy samples from patients who had early untreated RA with little inflammation.

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Unlabelled: It has been presumed that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) joint pain is related to inflammation in the synovium; however, recent studies reveal that pain scores in patients do not correlate with synovial inflammation. We identified a module of 815 genes associated with pain, using a novel machine learning approach, Graph-based Gene expression Module Identification (GbGMI), in samples from patients with longstanding RA, but limited synovial inflammation at arthroplasty, and validated this finding in an independent cohort of synovial biopsy samples from early, untreated RA patients. Single-cell RNA-seq analyses indicated these genes were most robustly expressed by lining layer fibroblasts and receptor-ligand interaction analysis predicted robust lining layer fibroblast crosstalk with pain sensitive CGRP+ dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons.

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Objective: We sought to develop computer vision methods to quantify aggregates of cells in synovial tissue and compare these with clinical and gene expression parameters.

Methods: We assembled a computer vision pipeline to quantify five features encompassing synovial cell density and aggregates and compared these with pathologist scores, disease classification, autoantibody status, and RNA expression in a cohort of 156 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 149 patients with osteoarthritis (OA).

Results: All five features were associated with pathologist scores of synovial lymphocytic inflammation (P < 0.

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Periodontal disease is more common in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have detectable anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs), implicating oral mucosal inflammation in RA pathogenesis. Here, we performed paired analysis of human and bacterial transcriptomics in longitudinal blood samples from RA patients. We found that patients with RA and periodontal disease experienced repeated oral bacteremias associated with transcriptional signatures of ISG15HLADR and CD48S100A2 monocytes, recently identified in inflamed RA synovia and blood of those with RA flares.

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We describe a patient haploinsufficient for the neuronal RNA binding protein NOVA1 who developed a behavioral motor hyperactivity disorder, suggesting a role of NOVA1 in postnatal motor inhibition. To investigate Nova1's action in adult Gad2 inhibitory neurons, we generated a conditional Nova1-null mouse (Nova1-cKO). Strikingly, the phenotypes of these mice show many similarities to the NOVA1 haploinsufficient patient and identify a function of Nova1 in the hypothalamus.

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To address the need for simple, safe, sensitive, and scalable SARS-CoV-2 tests, we validated and implemented a PCR test that uses a saliva collection kit use at home. Individuals self-collected 300 μl saliva in vials containing Darnell Rockefeller University Laboratory (DRUL) buffer and extracted RNA was assayed by RT-PCR (the DRUL saliva assay). The limit of detection was confirmed to be 1 viral copy/μl in 20 of 20 replicate extractions.

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Background: Rheumatoid arthritis, like many inflammatory diseases, is characterized by episodes of quiescence and exacerbation (flares). The molecular events leading to flares are unknown.

Methods: We established a clinical and technical protocol for repeated home collection of blood in patients with rheumatoid arthritis to allow for longitudinal RNA sequencing (RNA-seq).

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An increased risk of infections has been described after T cell-replete haploidentical cell transplantation (haploHCT). Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) after haploHCT is a known phenomenon, but the impact of CRS severity on the risk of infections remains unexplored. We retrospectively evaluated 78 consecutive adult haploHCT recipients from 2012 to 2018 for the development of CRS (graded based on the criteria of Lee et al) and examined the incidence and mortality due to infections in correlation with CRS severity.

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Objective: Morning stiffness is a hallmark symptom of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but its etiology is poorly understood. This study was undertaken to determine whether any histologic features of synovium are associated with this symptom.

Methods: Data on patient-reported morning stiffness duration and severity, and Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) were collected from 176 patients with RA undergoing arthroplasty.

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The tumor genome of a patient with advanced pancreatic cancer was sequenced to identify potential therapeutic targetable mutations after standard of care failed to produce any significant overall response. Matched tumor-normal whole-genome sequencing revealed somatic mutations in , , , and a focal deletion of The variant was an in-frame deletion mutation (ΔN486_P490), which had been previously demonstrated to be a kinase-activating alteration in the BRAF kinase domain. Working with the Novartis patient assistance program allowed us to treat the patient with the BRAF inhibitor, dabrafenib.

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Article Synopsis
  • The publication contained an error regarding the name of the fourteenth author.
  • The incorrect name was initially printed in the article.
  • The correct name has now been provided to clarify the mistake.
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Article Synopsis
  • A clinical study was conducted in New York City with 30 glioblastoma patients to compare the effectiveness of whole genome sequencing (WGS) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) against targeted panel sequencing in identifying treatment options.
  • WGS/RNA-seq uncovered significantly more actionable clinical results—90% of the time—with an average of 16 times more unique variants identified, leading to 84 calls for actionable treatments that targeted panels missed.
  • The study found good agreement between manual and automated variant identification, showing that clinicians modified treatment plans based on this data in 10% of cases, marking a significant advancement in cancer treatment analysis.
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Objective: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical remission may have subclinical synovial inflammation. This study was undertaken to determine the proportion of patients with RA in remission or with low disease activity at the time of arthroplasty who had histologic or transcriptional evidence of synovitis, and to identify clinical features that distinguished patients as having subclinical synovitis.

Methods: We compared Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) to synovial histologic features in 135 patients with RA undergoing arthroplasty.

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Objective: In this study, we sought to refine histologic scoring of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial tissue by training with gene expression data and machine learning.

Methods: Twenty histologic features were assessed in 129 synovial tissue samples (n = 123 RA patients and n = 6 osteoarthritis [OA] patients). Consensus clustering was performed on gene expression data from a subset of 45 synovial samples.

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In the course of modeling the naturally occurring tumor immunity seen in patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD), we discovered an unexpectedly high threshold for breaking CD8+ cytotoxic T cell (CTL) tolerance to the PCD autoantigen, CDR2. While CDR2 expression was previously found to be strictly restricted to immune-privileged cells (cerebellum, testes, and tumors), unexpectedly we have found that T cells also express CDR2. This expression underlies inhibition of CTL activation; CTLs that respond to epithelial cells expressing CDR2 fail to respond to T cells expressing CDR2.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to analyze a glioblastoma tumor specimen using three different methods to identify actionable variants.
  • Tumor DNA was assessed through targeted panel analysis, whole-genome sequencing (WGS), and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), with data evaluated by both human experts and IBM Watson Genomic Analytics (WGA).
  • Results showed that WGS and RNA-seq identified more variants than targeted panels, and WGA performed the analysis much faster than human analysts, highlighting the potential for improved patient care with human-machine collaboration.
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Objective: Most patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) harbor antibodies to citrullinated autoantigens such as citrullinated fibrinogen. Two isoforms of peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD), PAD type 2 (PAD2) and PAD4, which catalyze citrullination with different substrate specificities, can be detected in the synovium of RA patients. This study was undertaken to determine whether RA antibodies preferentially bind PAD2- or PAD4-citrullinated fibrinogen.

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Introduction: As the U.S. population ages, the incidence of chronic disease will rise.

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Aims And Objectives: The aim of this study was to report on an analysis of the concept of successful ageing in lesbian, gay and bisexual older people.

Background: Research indicates that lesbian, gay and bisexual older people experience significant health disparities. Yet there is a lack of understanding on what factors contribute to successful ageing in this population.

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