Profiles of miRNAs in serum in severe acute drug induced liver injury and their prognostic significance.

Background & Aims: Drug induced liver injury (DILI) is challenging because of the lack of biomarkers to predict mortality. Our aim was to describe miRNA changes in sera of subjects with acute idiosyncratic DILI and determine if levels of miRNAs were associated with 6 month mortality.

Methods: Clinical data and sera were collected from subjects enrolled in the Drug Induced Liver Injury Network prospective study.

Fibroblast-like synoviocytes induce calcium mineral formation and deposition.

Calcium crystals are present in the synovial fluid of 65%-100% patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and 20%-39% patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study sought to investigate the role of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) in calcium mineral formation. We found that numerous genes classified in the biomineral formation process, including bone gamma-carboxyglutamate (gla) protein/osteocalcin, runt-related transcription factor 2, ankylosis progressive homolog, and parathyroid hormone-like hormone, were differentially expressed in the OA and RA FLSs.

A paradigm shift in the approach to families for organ donation: honoring patients' wishes versus request for permission in patients with Department of Motor Vehicles donor designations.

Background: Recently, we reported a donation consent rate of only 80% for patients designated as donors with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which equaled missed opportunities for 17 potential transplant recipients during 3 months. We undertook the current study to increase our donation consent rate in patients with prior DMV donor designations.

Methods: In October 2006, we modified our approach for donor consent by asking to honor the patient's wishes rather than asking for permission.