Nationwide randomised trial evaluating elective neck dissection for early stage oral cancer (SEND study) with meta-analysis and concurrent real-world cohort.

Background: Guidelines remain unclear over whether patients with early stage oral cancer without overt neck disease benefit from upfront elective neck dissection (END), particularly those with the smallest tumours.

Methods: We conducted a randomised trial of patients with stage T1/T2 N0 disease, who had their mouth tumour resected either with or without END. Data were also collected from a concurrent cohort of patients who had their preferred surgery.

The SECONDI MAPZ(©) system: new approach for the classification of oncological defects of the midface.

The appearance and function of the midface are crucial physiologically, psychologically, and aesthetically, and defects in the region can be devastating. Most of these defects are caused by operations for cancer, for which surgical access and rehabilitation can be challenging. Clinical evidence in midfacial ablative surgery is limited because differences between existing classifications do not allow a uniform approach to data recording, which makes comparison difficult.

An integrated genomics approach to identify genetic regions associated with neonatal growth trait in mice.

Neonatal growth during the early post-partum period is closely associated with lactation performance. Neonatal growth reflects milk output and is a complex variable trait among inbred mouse strains, but few studies have compared this trait systematically across more than a few strains. In the present study, 11 inbred strains of mice were measured for a neonatal growth phenotype during the first eight days of lactation.

Identification of gene sets and pathways associated with lactation performance in mice.

Mammary transcriptome analyses across the lactation cycle and transgenic animal studies have identified candidate genes for mammogenesis, lactogenesis and involution; however, there is a lack of information on pathways that contribute to lactation performance. Previously we have shown significant differences in lactation performance, mammary gland histology, and gene expression profiles during lactation [lactation day 9 (L9)] between CBA/CaH (CBA) and the superior performing QSi5 strains of mice. In the present study, we compared these strains at midpregnancy [pregnancy day 12 (P12)] and utilized these data along with data from a 14th generation of intercross (AIL) to develop an integrative analysis of lactation performance.

An integrative genomic analysis of the superior fecundity phenotype in QSi5 mice.

Laboratory inbred mouse models are a valuable resource to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for complex reproductive performance traits. Advances in mouse genomics and high density single nucleotide polymorphism mapping has enabled genome-wide association studies to identify genes linked with specific phenotypes. Gene expression profiles of reproductive tissues also provide potentially useful information for identifying genes that play an important role.

Transcriptome analysis identifies pathways associated with enhanced maternal performance in QSi5 mice.

Background: Highly fecund mouse strains provide an ideal model to understand the factors affecting maternal performance. The QSi5 inbred strain of mice was selected for high fecundity and low inter-litter interval, and is very successful at weaning large numbers of offspring when compared to other inbred strains.

Results: Post-natal pup weight gain was used to estimate mammary gland output and to compare the performance of QSi5 mice to CBA mice.

Quantitative trait loci modifying cardiac atrial septal morphology and risk of patent foramen ovale in the mouse.

Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a common congenital heart disease (CHD) occurring in 5 to 7 per 10,000 live births. Mutations in 5 human genes (NKX2.5, TBX5, GATA4, MYHC, ACTC) are known to cause dominant ASD, but these account for a minority of cases.

Development of a highly fecund inbred strain of mice.

A highly fecund inbred mouse line has been established from the Quackenbush Swiss (QS) outbred strain by full-sib inbreeding combined with selection for high number of pups born alive (NBA) and low interlitter interval (ILI). After more than 50 generations of inbreeding and selection, this line, named QSi5, has an NBA of 13.4 and an ILI of 29 days, averaged over the first four parities, and a total productivity of 50.

Quantitative trait loci for steady-state platelet count in mice.

Platelet count in humans is a strongly genetically regulated trait, with approximately 85% of the interindividual variance in platelet numbers attributable to genetic factors. Inbred mouse strains also have strain-specific platelet count ranges. As part of a project to identify novel factors that regulate platelet count, we identified two inbred mouse strains, CBA/CaH and QSi5, with substantial differences in platelet count (mean values of 581 vs.