Using vibration controlled transient elastography and FIB-4 to assess liver cirrhosis in a hepatitis C virus infected population.

We assessed the performance characteristics of the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score in a veteran population with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and used vibration controlled transient elastography (VCTE) as the gold standard.All VCTE studies were performed by a single operator on United States veterans with HCV infection presenting for care at the Atlanta VA Medical Center (AVAMC) over a 2 year period. VCTE liver stiffness measurements (LSM) were categorized as cirrhotic if LSM was >12.

Unusual cause of Fournier's gangrene: colorectal-genitourinary tract fistulae status post brachytherapy.

There are few reports of radiation associated colorectal-genitourinary tract (CRGU) fistulae causing Fournier's gangrene (FG). We describe a case of FG in a patient with possibly two CRGU fistulae in the context of previous high-dose brachytherapy and external beam radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Unfortunately, CRGU fistulae are not well classified as significant risk factors for the development of FG.

Generation and characterization of Kctd15 mutations in zebrafish.

Potassium channel tetramerization domain containing 15 (Kctd15) was previously found to have a role in early neural crest (NC) patterning, specifically delimiting the region where NC markers are expressed via repression of transcription factor AP-2a and inhibition of Wnt signaling. We used transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) to generate null mutations in zebrafish kctd15a and kctd15b paralogs to study the in vivo role of Kctd15. We found that while deletions producing frame-shift mutations in each paralog showed no apparent phenotype, kctd15a/b double mutant zebrafish are smaller in size and show several phenotypes including some affecting the NC, such as expansion of the early NC domain, increased pigmentation, and craniofacial defects.

The transcription factor, Nuclear factor, erythroid 2 (Nfe2), is a regulator of the oxidative stress response during Danio rerio development.

Development is a complex and well-defined process characterized by rapid cell proliferation and apoptosis. At this stage in life, a developmentally young organism is more sensitive to toxicants as compared to an adult. In response to pro-oxidant exposure, members of the Cap'n'Collar (CNC) basic leucine zipper (b-ZIP) transcription factor family (including Nfe2 and Nfe2-related factors, Nrfs) activate the expression of genes whose protein products contribute to reduced toxicity.