Mutational Profiling Can Establish Clonal or Independent Origin in Synchronous Bilateral Breast and Other Tumors.

Background: Synchronous tumors can be independent primary tumors or a primary-metastatic (clonal) pair, which may have clinical implications. Mutational profiling of tumor DNA is increasingly common in the clinic. We investigated whether mutational profiling can distinguish independent from clonal tumors in breast and other cancers, using a carefully defined test based on the Clonal Likelihood Score (CLS = 100 x # shared high confidence (HC) mutations/ # total HC mutations).

A new look at the genetic and environmental coherence of metabolic syndrome components.

Objective: Metabolic syndrome, a clustering of risk factors including insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, central obesity, and hypertension, increases risk for cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. The etiology of the risk factors' cohesion remains unclear. How genetic and environmental influences explained co-occurrence of metabolic syndrome components was examined.

Acute psychological stress induces short-term variable immune response.

In spite of advances in understanding the cross-talk between the peripheral immune system and the brain, the molecular mechanisms underlying the rapid adaptation of the immune system to an acute psychological stressor remain largely unknown. Conventional approaches to classify molecular factors mediating these responses have targeted relatively few biological measurements or explored cross-sectional study designs, and therefore have restricted characterization of stress-immune interactions. This exploratory study analyzed transcriptional profiles and flow cytometric data of peripheral blood leukocytes with physiological (endocrine, autonomic) measurements collected throughout the sequence of events leading up to, during, and after short-term exposure to physical danger in humans.

Mechanism of Bursting Taylor Bubbles at Free Surfaces.

Collapse of a Taylor bubble inside a pipe at the free surface of a liquid is studied experimentally using speed imaging camera and illumination and subsequent image analysis. Three different fluids, water, glycerin, and silicone oil, are employed in the experiments. For all conditions studied herein, the bubble punctures at the free surface to form two thin films, i.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-related Apoptosis-inducing Ligand (TRAIL)-Troglitazone-induced Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer Cells Involve AMP-activated Protein Kinase.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in men with limited treatment options for the hormone-resistant forms. Development of novel therapeutic options is critically needed to target advanced forms. Here we demonstrate that combinatorial treatment with the thiazolidinedione troglitazone (TZD) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) can induce significant apoptosis in various PCa cells independent of androgen receptor status.

Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) Impedes MLK3 Kinase Activity to Support Breast Cancer Cell Survival.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is amplified in ∼ 15-20% of human breast cancer and is important for tumor etiology and therapeutic options of breast cancer. Up-regulation of HER2 oncogene initiates cascades of events cumulating to the stimulation of transforming PI3K/AKT signaling, which also plays a dominant role in supporting cell survival and efficacy of HER2-directed therapies. Although investigating the underlying mechanisms by which HER2 promotes cell survival, we noticed a profound reduction in the kinase activity of a pro-apoptotic mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) in HER2-positive (HER2+) but not in HER2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer tissues, whereas both HER2+ and HER2- tumors expressed a comparable level of MLK3 protein.

Role of percutaneous mitral valve repair in the contemporary management of mitral regurgitation.

Percutaneous mitral valve (MV) repair has been performed in over 20,000 patients worldwide. As clinical experience in this technique grows indications for its use are being defined. Mitral regurgitation (MR) encompasses a complex heterogeneous group and its treatment is governed by determining a clear understanding of the underlying aetiology.

Ascariasis as a cause of hepatic abscess: A report of 3 cases.

We receive around 60 cases of hepatic abscess in a year. The commonest diagnosis reached at the time of discharge is amoebic liver abscess. The diagnosis of amoebic liver abscess is mostly presumptive and thus the patients are usually given a mixed treatment with injection ceftriaxone and tablet metronidazole.

Realization of a micrometre-scale spin-wave interferometer.

The recent development of spin dynamics opens perspectives for various applications based on spin waves, including logic devices. The first important step in the realization of spin-wave-based logics is the manipulation of spin-wave interference. Here, we present the experimental realization of a micrometre-scale spin-wave interferometer consisting of two parallel spin-wave waveguides.

Genetic and environmental architecture of changes in episodic memory from middle to late middle age.

Episodic memory is a complex construct at both the phenotypic and genetic level. Ample evidence supports age-related cognitive stability and change being accounted for by general and domain-specific factors. We hypothesized that general and specific factors would underlie change even within this single cognitive domain.

Pulmonary Functions are Impaired among Carpet Factory Workers: A Spirometric Evaluation.

Introduction: Carpet factory produces various types of dusts and workers occupationally get exposed to them continuously. It has adverse health effects and most notably to the pulmonary functions. Nepal is one of the carpet exporter developing countries and still does have many factories within Kathmandu valley.

Screening of Gestational Diabetes and Hypertension Among Antenatal Women in Rural West India.

Background: Hypertension and gestational diabetes are among the leading causes of maternal and perinatal mortality, especially in rural areas of developing countries with meager health facilities. With early diagnosis and timely treatment, these adverse events can be decreased. The primary aim of this study was to implement a screening program for gestational diabetes and hypertension, and to assess risk factors associated with these conditions among antenatal women in the rural area of the Gujarat province in India.

Probiotic VSL#3 reduces liver disease severity and hospitalization in patients with cirrhosis: a randomized, controlled trial.

Background & Aims: Little is known about whether probiotics can affect outcomes of patients with cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy (HE). We assessed the efficacy of a probiotic preparation in preventing the recurrence of HE (primary outcome) and reducing the number of hospitalizations and severity of liver disease in patients with cirrhosis.

Methods: We performed a double-blind trial at a tertiary care hospital in India.

IL-33-dependent type 2 inflammation during rhinovirus-induced asthma exacerbations in vivo.

Rationale: Rhinoviruses are the major cause of asthma exacerbations; however, its underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We hypothesized that the epithelial cell-derived cytokine IL-33 plays a central role in exacerbation pathogenesis through augmentation of type 2 inflammation.

Objectives: To assess whether rhinovirus induces a type 2 inflammatory response in asthma in vivo and to define a role for IL-33 in this pathway.

Switch from oral to inactivated poliovirus vaccine in Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia: summary of coverage, immunity, and environmental surveillance.

Background: Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) is rarely used in tropical developing countries. To generate additional scientific information, especially on the possible emergence of vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPVs) in an IPV-only environment, we initiated an IPV introduction project in Yogyakarta, an Indonesian province. In this report, we present the coverage, immunity, and VDPV surveillance results.

UK Cardiology Training in Core Echocardiography Symposium Report: the good the bad and the ugly.

Training in core echocardiography skills within the UK has been the focus of considerable discussion following recent national surveys. This article reports the proceedings of a joint meeting held by the British Society of Echocardiography and British Junior Cardiologists' Association. It considers the current issues impacting on high-quality training and presents potential solutions for the future.

Pharmacogenetics of the G protein-coupled receptors.

Pharmacogenetics investigates the influence of genetic variants on physiological phenotypes related to drug response and disease, while pharmacogenomics takes a genome-wide approach to advancing this knowledge. Both play an important role in identifying responders and nonresponders to medication, avoiding adverse drug reactions, and optimizing drug dose for the individual. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the primary target of therapeutic drugs and have been the focus of these studies.

Three-dimensional echocardiography and structural heart interventions.

This article looks at the role of three-dimensional echocardiography in the anatomical assessment of cardiac structures, how this complements standard methods of assessing structural cardiac lesions and the advantages of three-dimensional echocardiography in peri-procedural guidance in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Genetic complexity of episodic memory: a twin approach to studies of aging.

Episodic memory change is a central issue in cognitive aging, and understanding that process will require elucidation of its genetic underpinnings. A key limiting factor in genetically informed research on memory has been lack of attention to genetic and phenotypic complexity, as if "memory is memory" and all well-validated assessments are essentially equivalent. Here we applied multivariate twin models to data from late-middle-aged participants in the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging to examine the genetic architecture of 6 measures from 3 standard neuropsychological tests: the California Verbal Learning Test-2, and Wechsler Memory Scale-III Logical Memory (LM) and Visual Reproductions (VR).

Candidate SNP associations of optimism and resilience in older adults: exploratory study of 935 community-dwelling adults.

Objective: Optimism and resilience promote health and well-being in older adults, and previous reports suggest that these traits are heritable. We examined the association of selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with optimism and resilience in older adults.

Design: Candidate gene association study that was a follow-on at the University of California, San Diego, sites of two NIH-funded multi-site longitudinal investigations: Women's Health Initiative (WHI) and SELenium and vitamin E Cancer prevention Trial (SELECT).