A holistic comparative analysis of diagnostic tests for urothelial carcinoma: a study of Cxbladder Detect, UroVysion® FISH, NMP22® and cytology based on imputation of multiple datasets.

Background: Comparing the relative utility of diagnostic tests is challenging when available datasets are small, partial or incomplete. The analytical leverage associated with a large sample size can be gained by integrating several small datasets to enable effective and accurate across-dataset comparisons. Accordingly, we propose a methodology for a holistic comparative analysis and ranking of cancer diagnostic tests through dataset integration and imputation of missing values, using urothelial carcinoma (UC) as a case study.

A segregation index combining phenotypic (clinical characteristics) and genotypic (gene expression) biomarkers from a urine sample to triage out patients presenting with hematuria who have a low probability of urothelial carcinoma.

Background: Hematuria can be symptomatic of urothelial carcinoma (UC) and ruling out patients with benign causes during primary evaluation is challenging. Patients with hematuria undergoing urological work-ups place significant clinical and financial burdens on healthcare systems. Current clinical evaluation involves processes that individually lack the sensitivity for accurate determination of UC.

Role of heterotypic tissue interactions in deer pedicle and first antler formation-revealed via a membrane insertion approach.

Heterotypic tissue interactions play an indispensable role in organ generation and regeneration. In contrast to the classic examples of tissue interactions prevailing in the formation of tetrapod limbs or pectoral fins that can only take place when the interactive tissues are in intimate contacts, the interactions in deer antler formation are novel in that the inducer and the responder are separated by a distance of 1-2 mm. This feature offers a unique opportunity to explore the mechanism underlying tissue interactions by permitting membrane insertion between the two interactive tissues.

Nerve growth factor mRNA expression in the regenerating antler tip of red deer (Cervus elaphus).

Deer antlers are the only mammalian organs that can fully regenerate each year. During their growth phase, antlers of red deer extend at a rate of approximately 10 mm/day, a growth rate matched by the antler nerves. It was demonstrated in a previous study that extracts from deer velvet antler can promote neurite outgrowth from neural explants, suggesting a possible role for Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in antler innervation.

Expression of VEGF and pleiotrophin in deer antler.

Deer antlers represent a unique model of mammalian regeneration in that they cast and fully regenerate every year. The deer antler thus provides a fascinating model of both rapid angiogenesis and chondrogenesis and the opportunity to investigate unique growth regulatory processes. One such phenomenon is the presence of vascularized cartilage in the growing antler tip-unlike other cartilage, which is typically avascular.

Vascular localization and proliferation in the growing tip of the deer antler.

The process of angiogenesis is of interest because of the significant clinical benefits associated with controlling vascular growth. Within the antler, chondrogenesis and antler elongation are occurring at the rate of 1-2 cm per day and thus blood vessels are growing at this same rapid pace. We demonstrate that the process of angiogenesis in the antler is controlled at various tissue locations.

Histological examination of antler regeneration in red deer (Cervus elaphus).

Annual antler renewal presents the only case of epimorphic regeneration (de novo formation of a lost appendage distal to the level of amputation) in mammals. Epimorphic regeneration is also referred to as a blastema-based process, as blastema formation at an initial stage is the prerequisite for this type of regeneration. Therefore, antler regeneration has been claimed to take place through initial blastema formation.

Morphological observation of antler regeneration in red deer (Cervus elaphus).

Deer antler offers a unique opportunity to explore how nature solves the problem of mammalian appendage regeneration. Annual antler renewal is an example of epimorphic regeneration, which is known to take place through initial blastema formation. Detailed examination of the early process of antler regeneration, however, has thus far been lacking.

Effect of deer velvet on sexual function in men and their partners: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

The use of alternative medicines and herbal remedies is an increasing trend in Western societies. For years, people have taken products made of deer velvet for their alleged beneficial effects on sexual function. There has been no scientific investigation of the effects of deer velvet powder on the sexual functioning of human males.

Sampling technique to discriminate the different tissue layers of growing antler tips for gene discovery.

The utilization of a deer antler model to study gene expression in tissues undergoing rapid growth has been hampered by an inability to sample the different tissue types. We report here a standardized procedure to identify different tissue types in growing antler tips and demonstrate that it can help in the classification of expressed sequence tags (ESTs). The procedure was developed using observable morphological markers within the unstained tissue at collection, and was validated by histological assessments and virtual Northern blotting.