Triple network activation causes tinnitus in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A model-based volume-entropy analysis.

Tinnitus can be defined as the conscious perception of phantom sounds in the absence of corresponding external auditory signals. Tinnitus can develop in the setting of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), but the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. Using electroencephalography, we investigated differences in afferent node capacity between 15 SSNHL patients without tinnitus (NT) and 30 SSNHL patients with tinnitus (T).

Network Analysis of Cardiac Remodeling by Primary Mitral Regurgitation Emphasizes the Role of Diastolic Function.

Background: Topological data analysis (TDA) can generate patient-patient similarity networks by analyzing large, complex data and derive new insights that may not be possible with standard statistics.

Objectives: The purpose of this paper was to discover novel phenotypes of chronic primary mitral regurgitation (MR) patients and to analyze their clinical implications using network analysis of echocardiographic data.

Methods: Patients with chronic moderate to severe primary MR were prospectively enrolled from 11 Asian tertiary hospitals (n = 850; mean age 56.

The Risk of Colorectal Adenoma in Nonalcoholic or Metabolic-Associated Fatty Liver Disease.

Unlabelled: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver disease associated with various metabolic disorders. Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) emphasizes metabolic dysfunction in NAFLD. Although the relationship between NAFLD and colorectal adenomas has been suggested, the effect of MAFLD on colorectal adenoma has yet to be investigated.

The balance between Bayesian inference and default mode determines the generation of tinnitus from decreased auditory input: A volume entropy-based study.

Along with phantom pain, tinnitus, a phantom auditory perception occurring in the absence of an external acoustic stimulus, is one of the most representative phantom perceptions that develops in subjects with decreased peripheral sensory input. Although tinnitus is closely associated with peripheral hearing loss (HL), it remains unclear why only some individuals with HL develop tinnitus. In this study, we investigated the differences between 65 HL with tinnitus (HL-T) and 104 HL with no tinnitus (HL-NT) using a resting-state electroencephalography data-based volume entropy model of the brain network, by comparing the afferent node capacities, that quantify the contribution of each node to the spread of information, of all Brodmann areas.

Topological Data Analysis of Coronary Plaques Demonstrates the Natural History of Coronary Atherosclerosis.

Objectives: This study sought to identify distinct patient groups and their association with outcome based on the patient similarity network using quantitative coronary plaque characteristics from coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA).

Background: Coronary CTA can noninvasively assess coronary plaques quantitatively.

Methods: Patients who underwent 2 coronary CTAs at a minimum of 24 months' interval were analyzed (n = 1,264).

Maturational delay and asymmetric information flow of brain connectivity in SHR model of ADHD revealed by topological analysis of metabolic networks.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complex brain development disorder characterized by hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention. A major hypothesis of ADHD is a lag of maturation, which is supported mainly by anatomical studies evaluating cortical thickness. Here, we analyzed changes of topological characteristics of whole-brain metabolic connectivity in twelve SHR rats selected as ADHD-model rats by confirming behavior abnormalities using the marble burying test, open field test, and delay discounting task and 12 Wistar Kyoto rats as the control group, across development from 4 weeks old (childhood) and 6 weeks old (entry of puberty).

Volume entropy for modeling information flow in a brain graph.

Brain regions send and receive information through neuronal connections in an efficient way. In this paper, we modelled the information propagation in brain networks by a generalized Markov system associated with a new edge-transition matrix, based on the assumption that information flows through brain networks forever. From this model, we derived new global and local network measures, called a volume entropy and the capacity of nodes and edges on FDG PET and resting-state functional MRI.

The role of Slit2 as a tumor suppressor in thyroid cancer.

Slits, representative axon guidance molecules, and their Roundabout (Robo) transmembrane receptors play roles in the progression of many cancers. We investigated the effects of Slit2 on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of thyroid cancer cells, and on the prognosis of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Slit2 overexpression inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of thyroid cancer cells by inhibiting transcriptional activity of beta-catenin and regulating Rho GTPase activity.

A case of myeloid sarcoma presenting with an orbital mass, hearing loss, and multiple cranial neuropathies.

Lim SH, Nam HN, Lim KI, Jeon IS. A case of myeloid sarcoma presenting with an orbital mass, hearing loss, and multiple cranial neuropathies. Turk J Pediatr 2018; 60: 322-325.

Integrated multimodal network approach to PET and MRI based on multidimensional persistent homology.

Finding underlying relationships among multiple imaging modalities in a coherent fashion is one of the challenging problems in multimodal analysis. In this study, we propose a novel approach based on multidimensional persistence. In the extension of the previous threshold-free method of persistent homology, we visualize and discriminate the topological change of integrated brain networks by varying not only threshold but also mixing ratio between two different imaging modalities.

Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis and Polymorphisms of the ADRB2, AR, and GABRA3 Genes in Men with Graves Disease.

Background: Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (TPP) is a rare complication of thyrotoxicosis characterized by acute attacks of muscle weakness and hypokalemia. Recently, variation in several genes was suggested to be associated with TPP. This study evaluated the genetic predisposition to TPP in terms of the β2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2), androgen receptor (AR), and γ-aminobutyric acid receptor α3 subunit (GABRA3) genes.

Low Prevalence of Somatic TERT Promoter Mutations in Classic Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Background: Transcriptional activating mutations of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) are associated with more aggressive thyroid cancer. We evaluated the significance of TERT promoter mutations in Korean patients with classic papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).

Methods: Genomic DNA was isolated from four thyroid cancer cell lines and 35 fresh-frozen PTC tissues.

Alpha lipoic acid inhibits proliferation and epithelial mesenchymal transition of thyroid cancer cells.

The naturally occurring short-chain fatty acid, α-lipoic acid (ALA) is a powerful antioxidant which is clinically used for treatment of diabetic neuropathy. Recent studies suggested the possibility of ALA as a potential anti-cancer agent, because it could activate adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibit transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) pathway. In this study, we evaluate the effects of ALA on thyroid cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion.

Effects of N(2)-alkylguanine, O(6)-alkylguanine, and abasic lesions on DNA binding and bypass synthesis by the euryarchaeal B-family DNA polymerase vent (exo(-)).

Archaeal and eukaryotic B-family DNA polymerases (pols) mainly replicate chromosomal DNA but stall at lesions, which are often bypassed with Y-family pols. In this study, a B-family pol Vent (exo(-)) from the euryarchaeon Thermococcus litoralis was studied with three types of DNA lesions-N(2)-alkylG, O(6)-alkylG, and an abasic (AP) site-in comparison with a model Y-family pol Dpo4 from Sulfolobus solfataricus, to better understand the effects of various DNA modifications on binding, bypass efficiency, and fidelity of pols. Vent (exo(-)) readily bypassed N(2)-methyl(Me)G and O(6)-MeG, but was strongly blocked at O(6)-benzyl(Bz)G and N(2)-BzG, whereas Dpo4 efficiently bypassed N(2)-MeG and N(2)-BzG and partially bypassed O(6)-MeG and O(6)-BzG.

Translesion synthesis across abasic lesions by human B-family and Y-family DNA polymerases α, δ, η, ι, κ, and REV1.

Abasic (apurinic/apyrimidinic, AP) sites are the most common DNA lesions formed in cells, induce severe blocks to DNA replication, and are highly mutagenic. Human Y-family translesion DNA polymerases (pols) such as pols η, ι, κ, and REV1 have been suggested to play roles in replicative bypass across many DNA lesions where B-family replicative pols stall, but their individual catalytic functions in AP site bypass are not well understood. In this study, oligonucleotides containing a synthetic abasic lesion (tetrahydrofuran analogue) were compared for catalytic efficiency and base selectivity with human Y-family pols η, ι, κ, and REV1 and B-family pols α and δ.

Kinetic analysis of base-pairing preference for nucleotide incorporation opposite template pyrimidines by human DNA polymerase iota.

DNA polymerase (pol) iota, a member of the mammalian Y-family of DNA polymerases involved in translesion DNA synthesis, has been previously suggested to peculiarly utilize Hoogsteen base pairing for DNA synthesis opposite template purines, unlike pols eta and kappa, which utilize Watson-Crick (W-C) base pairing. To investigate the possible roles of Hoogsteen, W-C, and wobble base-pairing modes in the selection of nucleotides opposite template pyrimidines by human pol iota, we carried out kinetic analyses of incorporation of modified purine nucleoside triphosphates including 7-deazapurines, inosine, 2-aminopurine, 2,6-diaminopurine, and 6-chloropurine, which affect H-bonding in base-pair formation opposite template pyrimidines. Carbon substitution at the N7 atom of purine nucleoside triphosphates, which disrupts Hoogsteen base pairing, only slightly inhibited DNA synthesis opposite template pyrimidines by pol iota, which was not substantially different from human pols eta and kappa.

Gastrin regulates the TFF2 promoter through gastrin-responsive cis-acting elements and multiple signaling pathways.

Trefoil family factor 2 (TFF2) is expressed in gastrointestinal epithelial cells where it serves to maintain mucosal integrity and promote epithelial repair. The peptide hormone, gastrin, stimulates acid secretion but also induces proliferation of the acid-secreting mucosa. Because the relationship between these peptides of overlapping function is not understood, we chose to investigate the regulatory effect of gastrin on TFF2 expression.

Characterization of a CCAAT-enhancer element of trefoil factor family 2 (TFF2) promoter in MCF-7 cells.

Trefoil factors family 2 (TFF2), also known as spasmolytic polypeptide, is primarily expressed in the mucus neck cells of gastrointestinal tracts. It has been proposed that TFF2 plays an important physiological role in protection, repair, and healing of gastrointestinal mucosa. To investigate the cis-acting regulatory element that control TFF2 tissue-specific expression, we studied the basal TFF2 promoter activity through transient transfection in several human cancer cell lines.