A rare case of cervical myelopathy due to a bipartite atlas: degenerative complications and surgical outcome. Illustrative case.

Background: A bipartite atlas is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by incomplete fusion of the anterior and posterior arches of the first cervical vertebra (C1). While typically asymptomatic, this condition can result in cervical myelopathy when accompanied by degenerative changes. This report presents a rare case of cervical myelopathy caused by a bipartite atlas in an older patient that required surgical intervention.

Risk factor structure of heart failure in patients with cancer after treatment with anticancer agents' assessment by big data from a Japanese electronic health record.

As the prognosis of cancer patients has been improved, comorbidity of heart failure (HF) in cancer survivors is a serious concern, especially in the aged population. This study aimed to examine the risk factors of HF development after treatment by anticancer agents, using a machine learning-based analysis of a massive dataset obtained from the electronic health record (EHR) in Japan. This retrospective, cohort study, using a dataset from 2008 to 2017 in the Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) database in Japan, enrolled 140,327 patients.

Tenascin C protects aorta from acute dissection in mice.

Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is caused by the disruption of intimomedial layer of the aortic walls, which is immediately life-threatening. Although recent studies indicate the importance of proinflammatory response in pathogenesis of AAD, the mechanism to keep the destructive inflammatory response in check is unknown. Here, we report that induction of tenascin-C (TNC) is a stress-evoked protective mechanism against the acute hemodynamic and humoral stress in aorta.

Blood pressure variability activates cardiac mineralocorticoid receptor and induces cardiac remodeling in hypertensive rats.

Background:  Hypertensive patients with large blood pressure variability (BPV) have aggravated target organ damage. Because the aldosterone/mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) system is a possible mechanism of hypertensive organ damage, we investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) whether a specific MR blocker, eplerenone, would prevent BPV-induced aggravation of hypertensive cardiac remodeling.

Methods And Results:  A rat model of a combination of hypertension and large BPV was created by performing bilateral sinoaortic denervation (SAD) in SHRs.

New computer model for prediction of individual 10-year mortality on the basis of conventional atherosclerotic risk factors.

Background: Large cohort studies have revealed that subjects with atherosclerotic risk factors have high mortality. However, there has been no method to predict individual mortality based on these risk factors. Accordingly, we developed a computer model predicting the 10-year mortality of an individual with atherosclerotic risk factors.

Relation between serum levels of cell-free DNA and inflammation status in hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Our study revealed that the level of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is increased in the serum of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To gain insight into the mechanism underlying this phenomenon, we examined the association between cfDNA levels and various clinicopathological factors in 96 patients with HCV-related HCC and 99 non-HCC patients with HCV. Using pooled DNA microarray data, we profiled the expression patterns of inflammatory cytokine genes in 14 primary tumors from the group of HCC patients.

Glycolysis module activated by hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha is related to the aggressive phenotype of hepatocellular carcinoma.

An increased level of glycolysis, an intracellular hallmark of neoplasms, enables cancer cells to survive under various conditions. To elucidate the role of increased glycolysis in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we investigated the associations between the expression patterns of 14 glycolysis-related genes and clinicopathologic factors in 60 HCCs by using pooled transcriptome data. We then evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of the knockdown of ENO1, which is encoded by a glycolysis-related gene, in HCC cells.

A three-gene predictor for early intrahepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative hepatectomy.

We previously developed a DNA microarray-based system that out-performs traditionally used clinical parameters for prediction of early intrahepatic recurrence (IHR) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Because DNA microarray is too expensive for daily clinical use, we used a quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) to develop a lower-cost predictor for early IHR. From the 12 early IHR-related genes integrated in the previous predictor, we selected 6 genes whose levels showed the strongest association between data from the 2 distinct DNA microarray platforms with the same sample set.

Resampling based on geographic patterns of hepatitis virus infection reveals a common gene signature for early intrahepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The majority of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) correlated with infection by either hepatitis B or C virus (HBV or HCV) showing various geographic distributions, making it impossible to identify common gene signatures responsible for HCC recurrence. In this study we performed in silico resampling analysis of DNA microarray data that can reproduce virtually the geographic distribution pattern of HBV and HCV in 6 representative geographic regions. With the use of the Fisher ratio, genes associated with early intrahepatic recurrence of HCC within 1 year of surgery were identified in the 6 geographic virtual cohorts, each consisting of 1,000 virtual samples.

Identification of ID2 associated with invasion of hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma by gene expression profile.

Portal vein invasion (PVI) is a hallmark of metastatic potential of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is frequently found at a stage of moderately differentiated HCC. To identify genes involved in PVI of HCC associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV), we performed a comprehensive analysis of 12,600 genes in 35 moderately differentiated HCV-related HCCs by DNA microarray. Our supervised learning method identified 35 genes involved in PVI.

Different molecular pathways determining extrahepatic and intrahepatic recurrences of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Recent genome-wide screens have identified genes associated with the metastatic potential of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, there is little overlap between the identified genes, and interpretations of the results remain controversial. These inconsistencies may be related to differences in the sample populations, use of distinct microarray platforms and algorithms, and the complicated modes of HCC recurrence. We investigated the gene expression profiles of extrahepatic recurrence (EHR) and early intrahepatic recurrence (IHR), which are two representative modes of recurrence of HCC attributable to metastasis.

Involvement of c-myc-regulated genes in hepatocellular carcinoma related to genotype-C hepatitis B virus.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the molecular basis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) caused by genotype-C hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Methods: We compared molecular profiles of 15 HCCs and five non-tumorous livers, all of which were associated with genotype-C HBV infection, using DNA microarray technology.

Results: Our supervised learning identified 237 genes whose expression differed between HCCs and non-tumorous livers.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinomas with distinct invasive depth show different gene expression profiles associated with lymph node metastasis.

We examined the gene expression profiles of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) with respect to degree of invasive depth and lymph node (LN) involvement in a large cohort. We used high-density oligonucleotide microarrays to examine the expression of 22,115 genes in 54 ESCCs and 11 non-cancerous esophageal tissues. We found that 4,155 genes were biologically significant in both ESCC and non-cancerous esophageal tissue by analysis of Present Call (hybridization quality by Affymetrix) throughout all samples.

Patterns of expression of cytochrome P450 genes in progression of hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes are involved in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To examine changes in expression of CYPs in HCC arising from hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected liver, we used oligonucleotide array data of 27 CYPs from samples of 50 HCV-associated HCCs, five HCV-infected non-tumorous livers, and six HCV-negative normal livers. Progression of primary HCC can be characterized by decrease in the grade of tumor differentiation, increased frequency of venous invasion and increased tumor size.

Molecular dissection of a medicinal herb with anti-tumor activity by oligonucleotide microarray.

It is difficult to understand precisely the physiological actions of herbs because they contain a complex array of constituent molecules. In the present study we used DNA microarray data for 12600 genes to examine the anti-proliferative activity of the herb Coptidis rhizoma and eight constituent molecules against eight human pancreatic cancer cell lines. We identified 27 genes showing strong correlation with the 50% inhibitory dose (ID50) of C.

Self-organizing-map-based molecular signature representing the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Using high-density oligonucleotide array, we comprehensively analyzed expression levels of 12600 genes in 50 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples with positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) serology (well (G1), moderately (G2), and poorly (G3) differentiated tumors) and 11 non-tumorous livers (L1 and L0) with and without HCV infection. We searched for discriminatory genes of transition (L0 vs. L1, L1 vs.

Sex-based molecular profiling of hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

It has been suggested that sex affects not only the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but also the outcome after treatment. However, no sex-specific therapeutic targets for HCC have been identified. Identification of sex-specific genes will allow for the development of more personalized therapies.

Tumor HLA-DR expression linked to early intrahepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The outcome of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains poor because of the high frequency of intrahepatic recurrence (IHR), particularly early IHR within 1 year of hepatectomy. To search for genes involved in early IHR, we performed DNA microarray analysis in a training set of 33 HCCs and selected 46 genes linked to early IHR from approximately 6,000 genes by means of a supervised learning method. Gene selection was validated by a false discovery rate of 0.

Molecular signature in three types of hepatocellular carcinoma with different viral origin by oligonucleotide microarray.

Chronic infection with hepatitis B or C virus (HBV or HCV) is the most clearly established risk factor for hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC). One type of HCC (non-B, non-C HCC) also appears to develop in patients negative for both HBV and HCV. Using a supervised learning method, we investigated gene expression in 11 non-B, non-C HCCs with high-density oligonucleotide microarrays, and compared the patterns of gene expression with those of HBV-infected HCCs (B-type HCCs) and HCV-infected HCCs (C-type HCCs) in the previous dataset.

Altered Levels of Cytochrome P450 Genes in Hepatitis B or C Virus-infected Liver Identified by Oligonucleotide Microarray.

Background: Molecular pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be clarified. Many studies with DNA chip technology have revealed altered levels of several cytochrome P450 (CYP) family genes in human HCC. However, little is known about their alterations in hepatitis B virus (HBV)- and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected livers.

Gene expression profile linked to p53 status in hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

To clarify the role of p53 in 22 hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), we compared the gene expression profiles of HCCs with wild-type p53 (wt-p53) (n=17) and those with mutant-type p53 (mt-p53) (n=5) by oligonucleotide microarray analysis. Among 83 p53-related genes identified by a supervised learning method, 25 were underexpressed, and 58 were overexpressed in mt-p53 HCCs compared with wt-p53 HCCs. With a computer search, we identified consensus p53-binding sequences in the 3-kb region upstream of the translation initiation site in 59 of the 83 genes, suggesting that the in vivo p53-associated transcription system is very complicated.

Identification of common or distinct genes related to antitumor activities of a medicinal herb and its major component by oligonucleotide microarray.

Although the physiological actions of many herbs are gradually being elucidated at the molecular level, it remains unclear how individual components of herbs contribute to their biological activities. In the present study, the antiproliferative activity of Coptidis rhizoma, a medicinal herb, and the major component berberine was investigated in 8 human pancreatic cancer cell lines. Gene expression patterns associated with sensitivities to each agent were analyzed with oligonucleotide arrays that comprised approximately 11,000 genes.

Differential gene expression in distinct virologic types of hepatocellular carcinoma: association with liver cirrhosis.

Using oligonucleotide microarray data of 45 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples, we evaluated gene expression in hepatitis B virus-positive and hepatitis C virus-positive HCCs (HBV- and HCV-HCCs) for an association with liver cirrhosis (LC). In all, 89 genes were expressed differentially between HBV-HCCs associated with LC and those not associated with LC. Among them, tumors from LC patients showed significantly lower expression levels of 72 genes and significantly higher levels of 17 genes than the levels found in tumors from non-LC patients.

Oligonucleotide microarray for prediction of early intrahepatic recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma has a poor prognosis because of the high intrahepatic recurrence rate. There are technological limitations to traditional methods such as TNM staging for accurate prediction of recurrence, suggesting that new techniques are needed.

Methods: We investigated mRNA expression profiles in tissue specimens from a training set, comprising 33 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, with high-density oligonucleotide microarrays representing about 6000 genes.

Comparison of gene expression profiles between hepatitis B virus- and hepatitis C virus-infected hepatocellular carcinoma by oligonucleotide microarray data on the basis of a supervised learning method.

Gene expression profiles of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) were analyzed and compared. Oligonucleotide microarrays containing >6000 genes and subsequent gene selection by a supervised learning method yielded 83 genes for which expression differed between the two types of HCCs. Expression levels of 31 of these 83 genes were increased in HBV-associated HCCs, and expression levels of the remaining 52 genes were increased in HCV-associated HCCs.