Use of RNA-Seq and a Transgenic Mouse Model to Identify Genes Which May Contribute to Mutant p53-Driven Prostate Cancer Initiation.

We previously demonstrated that the mutation can drive prostate cancer (CaP) initiation using the FVB.129S4 (Trp53); FVB.129S (Nkx3-1) genetically engineered mouse model (GEM).

Predictive assessment of kidney functional recovery following ischemic injury using optical spectroscopy.

Functional changes in rat kidneys during the induced ischemic injury and recovery phases were explored using multimodal autofluorescence and light scattering imaging. The aim is to evaluate the use of noncontact optical signatures for rapid assessment of tissue function and viability. Specifically, autofluorescence images were acquired in vivo under 355, 325, and 266 nm illumination while light scattering images were collected at the excitation wavelengths as well as using relatively narrowband light centered at 500 nm.

Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of hepatic graft versus host disease (GVHD).

Graft versus host disease (GVHD) is a common complication following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) that typically manifests as injury to the skin, gastrointestinal mucosa, and liver. In some cases, hepatic GVHD may be histologically indistinguishable from other disorders such as infection and drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Additionally, clinical signs and symptoms are frequently confounded by the superimposed effects of pretransplant chemoradiotherapy, immunotherapy (IT) (targeted to the underlying malignancy), GVHD prophylaxis, and infection.

Clonogenically Culturing and Expanding CD34+ Liver Cancer Stem Cells in Vitro.

A large number of cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been isolated and identified; however, none has been cultured in an unlimited manner in vitro without losing tumorigenicity and multipotency. In this study, we successfully clonogenically cultured a newly identified CD34+ liver CSC (LCSC) on feeder cells up to 22 passages (to date) without losing CSC property. Cloned CD34+ LCSC formed a round packed morphology and it could also be cryopreserved and recultured.

Identification of cancer stem cell subpopulations of CD34(+) PLC/PRF/5 that result in three types of human liver carcinomas.

CD34(+) stem cells play an important role during liver development and regeneration. Thus, we hypothesized that some human liver carcinomas (HLCs) might be derived from transformed CD34(+) stem cells. Here, we determined that a population of CD34(+) cells isolated from PLC/PRF/5 hepatoma cells (PLC) appears to function as liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) by forming HLCs in immunodeficient mice with as few as 100 cells.

Is segmental enhancement inversion on enhanced biphasic MDCT a reliable sign for the noninvasive diagnosis of renal oncocytomas?

Objective: The objective of our study was to retrospectively determine whether segmental enhancement inversion or other CT patterns seen at enhanced biphasic MDCT are predictive for the diagnosis of renal oncocytoma.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-nine patients with 32 oncocytomas diagnosed by either biopsy or resection who had undergone enhanced biphasic CT between January 2004 and March 2010 were included in this study. Biphasic CT scans were analyzed for the presence of segmental enhancement inversion.

Knockout of toll-like receptor-2 attenuates both the proinflammatory state of diabetes and incipient diabetic nephropathy.

Objective: Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is a proinflammatory state and confers an increased risk for vascular complications. Toll-like receptors (TLR) could participate in diabetic vasculopathies. Whether TLR activation contributes to the proinflammatory state of T1DM and the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy remains unknown.

Increased soluble leptin receptor levels in morbidly obese patients with insulin resistance and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

The adipocyte hormone, leptin has been demonstrated to have profibrogenic actions in vitro and in animal models. However, no correlation was found between plasma leptin levels and fibrosis stage in humans. Thus, our aim was to study whether soluble leptin receptor (SLR) or free leptin index (FLI; calculated as the ratio of leptin to SLR), may correlate better with the features of metabolic syndrome and with the histological grade and stage of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Experience with tacrolimus in children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.

Children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) are at risk of developing renal failure. We report here the results of a single-center retrospective observational study of the remission rate in pediatric patients with SNRS receiving tacrolimus. Serial renal biopsies from children on tacrolimus therapy were evaluated for tubulointerstitial fibrosis and transforming growth factor-beta immunostaining.

A prospective, blinded trial of touch prep analysis versus frozen section for intraoperative evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has largely replaced axillary dissection (ALND) for axillary staging in early breast cancer. However, intense pathologic evaluation is not routinely available intraoperatively; therefore, patients with SLN metastasis may require a second surgery for completion ALND. We hypothesized that a single-section approach (by either frozen section [FS] or touch preparation analysis [TPA]) could be accurate for intraoperative SLN evaluation.

A phase II trial of image-guided radiofrequency ablation of small invasive breast carcinomas: use of saline-cooled tip electrode.

Background: Local ablative therapy of breast cancer represents the next frontier in the evolution of minimally-invasive breast conservation therapy. We performed this Phase II trial to determine the efficacy and safety of Radiofrequency (RF) ablation of small invasive breast carcinomas.

Methods: Seventeen patients with biopsy-proven invasive breast cancer, < or = 1.

Review of vascularized bone marrow transplantation: current status and future clinical applications.

In this review, we examine the applicability of the vascularized bone marrow transplant (VBMT) as an alternative to conventional bone marrow transplantation (BMT). As a new surgical approach, the VBMT is unique by transplantation of the stromal environment that eliminates the need for an engraftment period, provides critical signaling and modulatory functions, and may potentiate tolerance induction. Thus far, VBMT studies have demonstrated an absence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and robust engraftment into nonmanipulated as well as irradiated recipients with evidence of immunological tolerance.

De novo nonalcoholic fatty liver disease after liver transplantation.

Hepatic steatosis is a recognized problem in patients after orthotopic liver transplant (OLT). However, de novo development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not been well described. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of de novo NAFLD after OLT.

Vascularized lymph node transplantation induces graft-versus-host disease in chimeric hosts.

Background: The role of lymph nodes (LNs) in adaptive immune responses has been the subject of extensive research. In previous studies, the surgical removal of lymph nodes from rat hind limbs prevented the development of lethal graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hind limb transplantation to chimeric recipient rats. The purpose of this study was to establish the role of the cellular fraction versus the microenvironment of LNs in the development of GVHD in this model.

Liver hepcidin mRNA correlates with iron stores, but not inflammation, in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Purpose: Liver iron is frequently elevated in chronic hepatitis C and may contribute to liver injury. The pathophysiology behind this phenomenon may involve hepcidin, a gene that is up-regulated in the liver by inflammation and iron. Inappropriately low hepcidin is important to the pathophysiology of hereditary hemochromatosis.

Occult pretransplantation systemic inflammation and posttransplantation vascular changes in a primate arterial allograft model.

Background: Occult systemic inflammation, as manifested by increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), identify patients at increased risk for renal allograft rejection. The mechanisms linking occult systemic inflammation to these adverse outcomes remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the anatomic and physiologic effects of occult pretransplantation systemic inflammation on posttransplantation allograft outcome in a nonhuman primate model.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: reappraisal of wide local excision and impact of inadequate initial treatment.

Background: The extent of local invasion in dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is often clinically difficult to appreciate, and this leads to inadequate resections. We examined the effect of inadequate initial treatment and the efficacy of wide resection.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the records of 35 patients with DFSP treated at our institution (1985 and 2001).