Canonical genetic signatures of the adult human brain.

The structure and function of the human brain are highly stereotyped, implying a conserved molecular program responsible for its development, cellular structure and function. We applied a correlation-based metric called differential stability to assess reproducibility of gene expression patterning across 132 structures in six individual brains, revealing mesoscale genetic organization. The genes with the highest differential stability are highly biologically relevant, with enrichment for brain-related annotations, disease associations, drug targets and literature citations.

Preference of endoscopic ablation over medical prevention of esophageal adenocarcinoma by patients with Barrett's esophagus.

Background & Aims: Endoscopic intervention or pharmacologic inhibition of cyclooxygenase might be used to prevent progression of Barrett's esophagus (BE) to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). We investigated whether patients with BE prefer endoscopic therapy or chemoprevention of EAC.

Methods: Eighty-one subjects with nondysplastic BE were given a survey that described 2 scenarios.

De novo malignancy post-liver transplantation: a single center, population controlled study.

Background: With the growing numbers of liver transplant recipients, it is increasingly important to understand the risks of de novo malignancy after liver transplantation.

Aim: To characterize the incidence of de novo malignancy after liver transplantation compared with a control non-transplant population.

Methods: We studied 534 Indiana state residents undergoing liver transplantation at our center between 1997 and 2004, followed through August 2010.

Gastroenterology trainees can easily learn histologic characterization of diminutive colorectal polyps with narrow band imaging.

Background & Aims: Little is known about how teaching gastroenterology trainees polyp patterns by using narrow band imaging (NBI) affects their ability to characterize the histology of diminutive colorectal polyps. We developed and tested a tool to teach trainees to characterize the histology of diminutive polyps by using NBI.

Methods: Twelve gastroenterology trainees with varying levels of colonoscopy experience watched a teaching tool that described the NBI criteria to distinguish polyp histology.

A vertex similarity-based framework to discover and rank orphan disease-related genes.

Background: A rare or orphan disease (OD) is any disease that affects a small percentage of the population. While opportunities now exist to accelerate progress toward understanding the basis for many more ODs, the prioritization of candidate genes is still a critical step for disease-gene identification. Several network-based frameworks have been developed to address this problem with varied results.

Hepatic and extrahepatic cancer in cirrhosis: a longitudinal cohort study.

Objectives: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in cirrhotic patients to understand (i) the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after an initial negative screening computed tomography (CT) scan and its relationship with underlying etiology and (ii) the risk of extrahepatic cancers (EHCs).

Methods: Our cohort consisted of 952 cirrhotics who had at least one contrast-enhanced CT scan over a 5-year period from 1997 to 2002. We assessed their risk of HCC and EHC until the study closure (31 December 2007).

Incidence and predictors of 30-day readmission among patients hospitalized for advanced liver disease.

Background & Aims: The rate of readmission to the hospital 30 days after discharge (30-day readmission rate) is used as a quality measure for hospitalized patients, but it has not been studied adequately for patients with advanced liver disease. We investigated the incidence and factors that predict this rate and its relationship with mortality at 90 days.

Methods: We analyzed data from patients with advanced liver disease who were hospitalized to an inpatient hepatology service at 2 large academic medical centers in 2008.

Multicentric outcome analysis of sirolimus-based immunosuppression in 252 liver transplant recipients.

The use of sirolimus (SRL) in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has been controversial after experimental data suggested an increased risk of hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT). To assess the safety and efficacy of SRL as de novo immunosuppression in OLT recipients. Outcomes of 252 OLT patients who received SRL were compared with outcomes of 291 OLT recipients who received calcineurin inhibitor in a retrospective study.

Boceprevir, an NS3 protease inhibitor of HCV.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease leading to death from liver failure or hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis C is the most common indication for liver transplantation worldwide and is a major cause of the increased incidence of hepatocellular cancer in the United States. The current paradigm for HCV treatment relies on pegylated interferon and ribavirin as agents that enhance endogenous mechanisms for viral clearance and are dependent on host factors.

Predictors of nonadherence to screening colonoscopy.

Background: Colonoscopy has become a preferred colorectal cancer (CRC) screening modality. Little is known about why patients who are referred for colonoscopy do not complete the recommended procedures. Prior adherence studies have evaluated colonoscopy only in combination with flexible sigmoidoscopy, failed to differentiate between screening and diagnostic procedures, and have examined cancellations/no-shows, but not nonscheduling, as mechanisms of nonadherence.