Genetic and Functional Characterization of Novel Brown-Like Adipocytes Around the Lamprey Brain.

During the process of vertebrate evolution, many thermogenic organs and mechanisms have appeared. Mammalian brown adipose tissue (BAT) generates heat through the uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation of mitochondria, acts as a natural defense against hypothermia and inhibits the development of obesity. Although the existence, cellular origin and molecular identity of BAT in humans have been well studied, the genetic and functional characteristics of BAT from lampreys remain unknown.

Analysis of the lamprey genotype provides insights into caspase evolution and functional divergence.

The cysteine-containing aspartate specific proteinase (caspase) family plays important roles in apoptosis and the maintenance of homeostasis in lampreys. We conducted genomic and functional comparisons of six distinct lamprey caspase groups with human counterparts to determine how these expanded molecules evolved to adapt to the changing caspase-mediated signaling pathways. Our results showed that lineage-specific duplication and rearrangement were responsible for expanding lamprey caspases 3 and 7, whereas caspases 1, 6, 8, and 9 maintained a relatively stable genome and protein structure.

Comparison of Acoustic Structure Quantification, Transient Elastography (FibroScan) and Histology in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B and without Moderate to Severe Hepatic Steatosis.

The purpose of this study was to compare acoustic structure quantification (ASQ) with transient elastography for staging liver fibrosis. One hundred eighty-two patients with chronic hepatitis B and without moderate to severe hepatic steatosis scheduled for liver biopsy underwent ASQ and transient elastography examinations. All ASQ parameters, including total mode, total average, red mode, red average, red standard deviation, blue mode, blue average, blue standard deviation and focal disturbance (FD) ratio and liver stiffness obtained via transient elastography were found to correlate with fibrosis stage (Spearman's r = 0.

Noninvasive evaluation of liver fibrosis using real-time tissue elastography and transient elastography (FibroScan).

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess liver fibrosis with real-time tissue elastography and to compare the results with those of transient elastographic (FibroScan; Echosens, Paris, France) measurements by using liver biopsy as the reference standard.

Methods: Real-time tissue elastography and percutaneous liver biopsy were performed in 166 patients with chronic hepatitis B (estimation group). The relationship between the parameters obtained via real-time tissue elastography and the hepatic fibrosis stage was evaluated by a stepwise multiple linear regression, and the regression equation was used to calculate the liver fibrosis index.

Indirect prediction of liver fibrosis by quantitative measurement of spleen stiffness using the FibroScan system.

Objectives: To evaluate quantitative measurement of spleen stiffness for indirect assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B and to correlate spleen stiffness with liver stiffness using pathologic examination as a reference standard.

Methods: Sixty patients with clinically confirmed chronic hepatitis B (n = 54) and liver cirrhosis (n = 6) were enrolled. Quantitative stiffness measurements (kilopascals) were obtained from spleen and liver parenchyma with the FibroScan system (Echosens, Paris, France).