Molecular epidemiology of influenza A (H5N1) viruses, Bangladesh, 2007-2011.

To investigate the origins, evolution and patterns of spread of HPAI H5N1 outbreaks in Bangladesh, we performed a phylogenetic reconstruction analysis using Bayesian methods. The analysis was conducted using 81 hemagglutinin (HA) gene sequences from the H5N1 viruses isolated in Bangladesh from 2007 to 2011, together with 264 publicly available HA sequences of clade 2.2, 2.

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 is a novel molecular therapeutic target for clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: We set out to identify Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) as a novel molecular target in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and examine its role in tumor cell growth and viability in vitro and in vivo independently as well as in combination with current U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved regimens.

Towards a metagenomic understanding on enhanced biomethane production from waste activated sludge after pH 10 pretreatment.

Background: Understanding the effects of pretreatment on anaerobic digestion of sludge waste from wastewater treatment plants is becoming increasingly important, as impetus moves towards the utilization of sludge for renewable energy production. Although the field of sludge pretreatment has progressed significantly over the past decade, critical questions concerning the underlying microbial interactions remain unanswered. In this study, a metagenomic approach was adopted to investigate the microbial composition and gene content contributing to enhanced biogas production from sludge subjected to a novel pretreatment method (maintaining pH at 10 for 8 days) compared to other documented methods (ultrasonic, thermal and thermal-alkaline).

Long-term repair of T-cell synapse activity in a phase II trial of chemoimmunotherapy followed by lenalidomide consolidation in previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Immunotherapy that facilitates endogenous T-cell activity has the potential to target therapy-resistant tumor clones. In vitro studies have demonstrated that lenalidomide repairs the T-cell immunologic synapse defect in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Pentostatin, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (PCR) in CLL is clinically active with modest toxicity, indicating suitability of this chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) platform for combination with immunotherapy.

A phase I/II trial of reduced intensity allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant for hematologic malignancies using cladribine, thiotepa and rabbit antithymocyte globulin.

We conducted a phase I/II trial to assess the efficacy of cladribine, thiotepa and antithymocyte globulin as a reduced-intensity conditioning regimen for refractory or high-risk hematologic malignancy. The preparative regimen consisted of cladribine 5 mg/m(2)/day for 5 days, thiotepa 200 mg/m(2)/day for 3 days and ATG 3 mg/kg/day (day - 5) followed by allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplant. Twelve patients were transplanted from a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matched family member.

Reexpression of tumor suppressor, sFRP1, leads to antitumor synergy of combined HDAC and methyltransferase inhibitors in chemoresistant cancers.

Metastatic solid tumors are aggressive and mostly drug resistant, leading to few treatment options and poor prognosis as seen with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Therefore, the identification of new therapeutic regimes for the treatment of metastatic disease is desirable. ccRCC and TNBC cell lines were treated with the HDAC inhibitor romidepsin and the methyltransferase inhibitor decitabine, two epigenetic modifying drugs approved by the U.

Foxo3a drives proliferation in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma through transcriptional regulation of cyclin A1: a paradigm shift that impacts current therapeutic strategies.

The Forkhead transcription factor, FoxO3a, is a known suppressor of primary tumor growth through transcriptional regulation of key genes regulating cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In many types of cancer, in response to growth factor signaling, FoxO3a is phosphorylated by Akt, resulting in its exclusion from the nucleus. Here we show that FoxO3a remains nuclear in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC).

Phylodynamics of H5N1 avian influenza virus in Indonesia.

Understanding how pathogens invade and become established in novel host populations is central to the ecology and evolution of infectious disease. Influenza viruses provide unique opportunities to study these processes in nature because of their rapid evolution, extensive surveillance, large data sets and propensity to jump species boundaries. H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) is a major animal pathogen and public health threat.

Primary central nervous system B cell lymphoma with features intermediate between diffuse large B cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma.

B cell lymphoma with features intermediate between diffuse large B cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma (DLBCL/BL) is a new lymphoma entity which is recognized in the current World Health Organization (WHO) classification (2008). We report a case of a primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) with findings consistent with DLBCL/BL. It is characterized by a very aggressive clinical course, and a widespread multifocal involvement of the CNS.

Gene-centric metagenomics analysis of feline intestinal microbiome using 454 junior pyrosequencing.

The feline gastrointestinal microbiota have direct influence on feline health and also human health as a reservoir for potential zoonotic pathogens and antibiotic resistant bacterial strains. In order to describe the feline gastrointestinal microbial diversity, fecal samples from cats have been characterized using both culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. However, data correlating total microbial composition and their functions are lacking.

Plasmacytoma-like posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder following orthotopic liver transplantation: a case report.

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) are among the most serious and potentially fatal complications of both stem-cell and solid-organ transplantation. Most monomorphic PTLDs are of B-cell origin and frequently associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in the setting of pharmacological immunosuppression posttransplantation. The majority of monomorphic PTLDs commonly resemble diffuse large B-cell or Burkitt's lymphoma; plasmacytoma-like PTLDs are very rare.

Hypoxia negatively regulates heparan sulfatase 2 expression in renal cancer cell lines.

Inactivation of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL), a tumor suppressor gene is often associated with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). VHL inactivation leads to multitude of responses including enhanced growth factor signaling such as bFGF2, SDF-1α, and HGF. Here, we have identified a novel VHL-inducible gene, heparan sulfatase 2 (HSulf-2) that attenuates heparan-binding growth factor such as bFGF2 signaling.

Genetic diversity and multiple introductions of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome viruses in Thailand.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is prevalent in Thailand, causing a huge impact on the country's swine industry. Yet the diversity and origin of these Thai PRRSVs remained vague. In this context, we collected all the Thai PRRSV sequences described earlier and incorporated them into the global diversity.

Selective central nervous system tropism of primary central nervous system lymphoma.

Primary Central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is most frequently a diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), which is confined to the Central nervous system (CNS). We performed an experiment in which lymphoma cells from a PCNSL patient were implanted subcutaneously in an athymic mouse. The lymphoma cells were shown to home to the CNS with histologic evaluations of the brain showing multiple large B cells in blood vessels consistent with intravascular large B cell lymphoma (IVL).

Pathway signature and cellular differentiation in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common kidney cancer. The purpose of this study is to define a biological pathway signature and a cellular differentiation program in ccRCC.

Methodology: We performed gene expression profiling of early-stage ccRCC and patient-matched normal renal tissue using Affymetrix HG-U133a and HG-U133b GeneChips combined with a comprehensive bioinformatic analyses, including pathway analysis.

Use of rituximab for periocular and intraocular mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.

The clinical efficacy of rituximab therapy in systemic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma with both periocular and intraocular involvement is described. Ophthalmic examination and radiologic imaging demonstrated tumor with bilateral periorbital, lacrimal, and subconjunctival infiltration, a pseudohypopyon in one eye, and extensive systemic lymph node involvement. Lymph node biopsy confirmed the pathologic findings of a low-grade MALT lymphoma.

Loss of type III transforming growth factor-beta receptor expression is due to methylation silencing of the transcription factor GATA3 in renal cell carcinoma.

Loss of transforming growth factor-beta receptor III (TbetaRIII) correlates with loss of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) responsiveness and suggests a role for dysregulated TGF-beta signaling in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) progression and metastasis. Here we identify that for all stages of ccRCC TbetaRIII expression is downregulated in patient-matched tissue samples and cell lines. We find that this loss of expression is not due to methylation of the gene and we define GATA3 as the first transcriptional factor to positively regulate TbetaRIII expression in human cells.

The physician-patient relationship and quality of life: lessons from chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

We evaluated patients' satisfaction with the physician caring for them as part of an international web-based survey of quality of life (QOL) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL; n=1482). Over half (55.9%) of patients thought about their diagnosis daily.

Platelet count is a sensitive predictor of autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell collection yield in previously treated plasma cell disease patients.

Background: It is often a clinical dilemma to determine when to collect autologous peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) in patients who received prior chemotherapy. It is also challenging to predict if the collected cells will be enough for one or two transplants.

Study Design And Methods: A total of 103 PBPC donors were followed to evaluate factors that predict poor autologous PBPC collection.

Pathway analysis of primary central nervous system lymphoma.

Primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma (PCNSL) is a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) confined to the CNS. A genome-wide gene expression comparison between PCNSL and non-CNS DLBCL was performed, the latter consisting of both nodal and extranodal DLBCL (nDLBCL and enDLBCL), to identify a "CNS signature." Pathway analysis with the program SigPathway revealed that PCNSL is characterized notably by significant differential expression of multiple extracellular matrix (ECM) and adhesion-related pathways.

Efficacy of conventional cytogenetics and FISH for EGR1 to detect deletion 5q in hematological disorders and to assess response to treatment with Lenalidomide.

In clinical practice, whether FISH for EGR1 in interphase nuclei has similar efficacy to detect deletion 5q anomalies as conventional cytogenetic studies is unknown. We compared conventional cytogenetics and FISH for 145 patients with deletion 5q and detected this anomaly by both methods in 144. Nine patients with myelodysplasia were studied before and after treatment with Lenalidomide and results were concordant for 28 of 29 specimens.

Etanercept therapy for late-onset idiopathic pneumonia syndrome after nonmyeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (IPS) is a noninfectious pulmonary complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT), which usually develops within the first 100 days after transplantation. Donor T-cell-derived tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of IPS, and inhibition of TNF-alpha has been used as a therapeutic option. We report two patients who had late-onset IPS about day 150 after nonmyeloablative AHSCT (NMA-AHSCT).

Hepatitis C-related posttransplant plasma cell proliferative disorder with hepatitis C virus in neoplastic plasma cells: a new posttransplant disease entity?

Plasma cell proliferative disorder (PCPD) developed in two patients with actively replicating hepatitis C virus (HCV) in neoplastic plasma cells after orthotopic liver transplantation for HCV-related end-stage liver disease. PCPD was confined to the transplanted liver and was associated with monoclonal proteins in blood. Bone marrow biopsy did not show any evidence of PCPD.