The benefit of liver transplant beyond Milan criteria: An analysis using the National Cancer Database.

Background: Published studies examining the efficacy of liver transplantation in patients presenting with hepatocellular cancer beyond the traditional Milan criteria for liver transplantation have primarily been single institution series with limited ability to compare outcomes to alternative methods of management.

Methods: We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients presenting between 2004 and 2016 with histologically confirmed clinical stage III and IVA hepatocellular cancer. Multivariable regression was used to identify factors associated with liver transplantation.

Low and moderate grade retroperitoneal liposarcoma: Is adjuvant radiotherapy associated with improved survival in patients undergoing R1 resection?

Background: Few studies evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant radiotherapy (aXRT) in patients with retroperitoneal liposarcoma undergoing resection to histologically positive (R1) margins.

Methods: We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients undergoing R1 resection for localized, large (>5 cm) low and moderate grade retroperitoneal liposarcoma between 2004 and 2016. Kaplan Meier method was used to compare overall survival (OS) for patients receiving aXRT to a 1:2 propensity-matched cohort of patients undergoing resection alone.

Small-sized gastrointestinal stromal tumors: Is there an association between expectant management and overall survival?

Background: Small-sized gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) have limited malignant potential. Few studies evaluate the safety and efficacy of expectant management (EM) for patients presenting with small GIST.

Methods: We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients ≤65 years presenting with GISTs smaller than 3 cm in size between 2004 and 2015.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Is there a role for liver transplantation?

Background: Liver transplantation offers a potential for curative-intent treatment in patients presenting with non-metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma that is not amenable to partial hepatectomy. There is little empiric evidence evaluating the efficacy of liver transplantation in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Methods: We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients presenting with histologically confirmed clinical stage I to III intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma between 2004 and 2016.

Resectable intrahepatic and hilar cholangiocarcinoma: Is margin status associated with survival?

Background: Prior studies evaluating the effect of margin status on clinical outcome in patients undergoing resection for intrahepatic and extrahepatic hilar cholangiocarcinoma include small numbers of patients with histologically positive margins. The value of margin negative resection in these cases remains unclear.

Methods: We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients undergoing resection for clinical stage I to III intrahepatic and extrahepatic hilar between 2004 and 2015.

Is positive histologic surgical margin associated with overall survival in patients with resectable gallbladder cancer?

Background: Achieving microscopically negative (R0) surgical margins in gallbladder cancer often requires a partial hepatectomy with associated risk of morbidity and potential to delay adjuvant therapy. Prior studies on the importance of margin status in resectable gall bladder cancer include small numbers of patients with positive (R1) resection margins and are underpowered.

Methods: We queried the National Cancer Database to identify patients undergoing resection of gallbladder adenocarcinoma between 2004 and 2015.

Structural basis for IFN antagonism by human respiratory syncytial virus nonstructural protein 2.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) nonstructural protein 2 (NS2) inhibits host interferon (IFN) responses stimulated by RSV infection by targeting early steps in the IFN-signaling pathway. But the molecular mechanisms related to how NS2 regulates these processes remain incompletely understood. To address this gap, here we solved the X-ray crystal structure of NS2.

Nucleotide resolution mapping of influenza A virus nucleoprotein-RNA interactions reveals RNA features required for replication.

Influenza A virus nucleoprotein (NP) association with viral RNA (vRNA) is essential for packaging, but the pattern of NP binding to vRNA is unclear. Here we applied photoactivatable ribonucleoside enhanced cross-linking and immunoprecipitation (PAR-CLIP) to assess the native-state of NP-vRNA interactions in infected human cells. NP binds short fragments of RNA (~12 nucleotides) non-uniformly and without apparent sequence specificity.

Proposed Iraq/Afghanistan War-Lung Injury (IAW-LI) Clinical Practice Recommendations: National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine Burn Pits Workshop.

High rates of respiratory symptoms (14%) and new-onset asthma in previously healthy soldiers (6.6%) have been reported among military personnel post-deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan. The term Iraq/Afghanistan War-Lung Injury (IAW-LI) is used to describe the constellation of respiratory diseases related to hazards of war, such as exposure to burning trash in burn pits, improvised explosive devices, and sandstorms.

Factors controlling community structure in heterogeneous metacommunities.

1. Modern theories of species coexistence recognize the importance of environmental heterogeneity. 2.

Species' traits predict the effects of disturbance and productivity on diversity.

Disturbance is an important factor influencing diversity patterns. Ecological theory predicts that diversity peaks at intermediate levels of disturbance, but this pattern is not present in a majority of empirical tests and can be influenced by the level of ecosystem productivity. We experimentally tested the effects of disturbance on diversity and show that species' autecological traits and community relations predicted species loss.

L-arginine availability regulates inducible nitric oxide synthase-dependent host defense against Helicobacter pylori.

Helicobacter pylori infection of the stomach causes an active immune response that includes stimulation of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) expression. Although NO can kill H. pylori, the bacterium persists indefinitely, suggesting that NO production is inadequate.

Spermine causes loss of innate immune response to Helicobacter pylori by inhibition of inducible nitric-oxide synthase translation.

Helicobacter pylori infection of the stomach elicits a vigorous but ineffective host immune and inflammatory response, resulting in persistence of the bacterium for the life of the host. We have reported that in macrophages, H. pylori up-regulates inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and antimicrobial NO production, but in parallel there is induction of arginase II, generating ornithine, and of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), generating polyamines.