Predictive biomarkers for the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have great benefit in the selection of treatment options, including liver transplantation (LT), for HCC. The purpose of this ...study was to identify specific microRNAs (miRs) in exosomes from the serum of patients with recurrent HCC and to validate these molecules as novel biomarkers for HCC recurrence.
We employed microarray-based expression profiling of miRs derived from exosomes in the serum of HCC patients to identify a biomarker that distinguishes between patients with and without HCC recurrence after LT. This was followed by the validation in a separate cohort of 59 HCC patients who underwent living related LT. The functions and potential gene targets of the recurrence-specific miRs were analysed using a database, clinical samples and HCC cell lines.
We found that miR-718 showed significantly different expression in the serum exosomes of HCC cases with recurrence after LT compared with those without recurrence. Decreased expression of miR-718 was associated with HCC tumour aggressiveness in the validated cohort series. We identified HOXB8 as a potential target gene of miR-718, and its upregulation was associated with poor prognosis.
Circulating miRs in serum exosomes have potential as novel biomarkers for predicting HCC recurrence.
Expanding the Goddard CSH Algorithm for GPM Tao, W.-K.; Iguchi, T.; Lang, S.
Journal of applied meteorology and climatology,
05/2019, Letnik:
58, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The Goddard convective–stratiform heating (CSH) algorithm has been used to retrieve latent heating (LH) associated with clouds and cloud systems in support of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission ...and Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. The CSH algorithm requires the use of a cloud-resolving model to simulate LH profiles to build lookup tables (LUTs). However, the current LUTs in the CSH algorithm are not suitable for retrieving LH profiles at high latitudes or winter conditions that are needed for GPM. The NASA Unified-Weather Research and Forecasting (NU-WRF) Model is used to simulate three eastern continental U.S. (CONUS) synoptic winter and three western coastal/offshore events. The relationship between LH structures (or profiles) and other precipitation properties (radar reflectivity, freezing-level height, echo-top height, maximum dBZ height, vertical dBZ gradient, and surface precipitation rate) is examined, and a new classification system is adopted with varying ranges for each of these precipitation properties to create LUTs representing high latitude/winter conditions. The performance of the new LUTs is examined using a self-consistency check for one CONUS and one West Coast offshore event by comparing LH profiles retrieved from the LUTs using model-simulated precipitation properties with those originally simulated by the model. The results of the self-consistency check validate the new classification and LUTs. The new LUTs provide the foundation for high-latitude retrievals that can then be merged with those from the tropical CSH algorithm to retrieve LH profiles over the entire GPM domain using precipitation properties retrieved from the GPM combined algorithm.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
BFBNIB, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
A method of estimating the propagation delay between two remote sites using a wireless communication module that is compatible with IEEE 802.15.4g is proposed. In our previous paper, we reported that ...propagation delay due to water vapor can be estimated using digital terrestrial broadcasting waves, which is a passive method from the user's view point. In this paper, we propose an active method that allows the propagation delay between two remote sites of the user's choice to be monitored, as long as a line of sight exists. A real‐time propagation delay monitoring system with wireless communication modules, (wireless two‐way interferometry Wi‐Wi modules,) is developed and tested. The data obtained using Wi‐Wi modules separated by 4.25 km show about 14‐cm variation of propagation delay in 1 day, in good agreement with values obtained by ground‐based meteorological observation. This study shows that this technique enables measurement of the surface propagation delay in the horizontal direction with millimeter precision and high spatial and temporal resolution at a low cost.
Key Points
A method of estimating the propagation delay due to water vapor using a device with wireless two‐way interferometry (Wi‐Wi) is proposed
The propagation delay measured by this method shows good agreement with that estimated by ground‐based meteorological observation
The module is low in cost, power consumption, and volume as it is based on a commercial wireless communication chip
Summary
The purpose of this study was to help provide data to help to implement effective rehabilitation following surgery for oral cancer by comparing tongue pressure production for water and ...thickened water from the anterior and posterior parts of the tongue during swallowing. Ten healthy volunteers (7 men, 3 women; age 27.6 ± 1.5 years) participated in the experiments. Tongue pressure during 3 mL water and 3 mL thickened water at the anterior and posterior tongue during swallowing was measured using a sensor sheet system with five measuring points on the hard palate. The sequential order of the points, maximal magnitude and duration of tongue pressure at each point were compared based on water viscosity and tongue ingestion site. There was a common pattern in the sequential order of tongue pressure generation among the two swallowing conditions. The maximal magnitude of tongue pressure was significantly higher when swallowing thickened water than when swallowing water at all points except for the anterior‐median and mid‐median part. Moreover, the pressure at all sites during posterior ingestions was significantly lower than that during anterior ingestion. The present results provide mean values of tongue pressure during voluntarily triggered swallowing in anterior ingestion and posterior ingestion in young, healthy dentate individuals; these values can be clinically referenced for tongue pressure measurement in the evaluation of patients with dysphagia. The use of reference values may help streamline the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of dysphagia.
Winter precipitation (PR) characteristics in western United States (WUS) related to atmospheric river (AR) landfalls are examined using the observation-based PRISM data. The observed AR-related ...precipitation characteristics are in turn used to evaluate model precipitation data from the NASA MERRA2 reanalysis and from seven dynamical downscaling simulations driven by the MERRA2. Multiple metrics including mean bias, Taylor diagram, and two skill scores are used to measure model performance for three climatological sub-regions in WUS, Pacific Northwest (PNW), Pacific Southwest (PSW) and Great Basin (GB). All model data well represent the winter-mean PR with spatial pattern correlations of 0.8 or higher with PRISM for the three sub-regions. Higher spatial resolutions and/or the use of spectral nudging generally yield higher skill scores in simulating the geographical distribution of PR for the entire winter. The PRISM data shows that the AR-related fraction of winter PR and associated daily PR PDFs in each region vary strongly for landfall locations; AR landfalls in the northern WUS coast (NC) affect mostly PNW while those in the southern WUS coast (SC) affect both PSW and GB. NC (SC) landfalls increase the frequency of heavy PR in PNW (PSW and GB) but reduce it in PSW (PNW). All model data reasonably represent these observed variations in the AR-related winter PR fractions and the daily PR PDFs according to AR landfall locations. However, unlike for the entire winter period, no systematic effects of resolution and/or spectral nudging are identified in these AR-related PR characteristics. Dynamical downscaling in this study generally yield positive added values to the MERRA2 PR in the AR-related PR fraction for most sub-regions and landfall locations, most noticeably for PSW by NU-WRF. The downscaling also generate positive added value in p95 for PNW, but negative values for PSW and GB due to overestimation of heavy precipitation events.
Numerous studies support a role of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted from chromosome 10 (Pten) as a tumor suppressor gene that controls epithelial cell homeostasis to prevent tumor formation. ...Mouse vaginal epithelium cyclically exhibits cell proliferation and differentiation in response to estrogen and provides a unique model for analyzing homeostasis of stratified squamous epithelia. We analyzed vaginal epithelium-specific Pten conditional knockout (CKO) mice to provide new insights into Pten/phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt function. The vaginal epithelium of ovariectomized (OVX) mice (control) was composed of 1-2 layers of cuboidal cells, whereas OVX CKO mice exhibited epithelial hyperplasia in the suprabasal cells with increased cell mass and mucin production. This is possibly due to misactivation of mammalian target of rapamycin and mitogen-activated protein kinase. Intriguingly, estrogen administration to OVX Pten CKO mice induced stratification and keratinized differentiation in the vaginal epithelium, as in estrogen-treated controls. We found that Pten is exclusively expressed in the suprabasal cells in the absence of estrogens, whereas estrogen administration induced Pten expression in the basal cells. This suggests that Pten acts to prevent excessive cell proliferation as in the case of other squamous tissues. Thus, Pten exhibits a dual role on the control of vaginal homeostasis, depending on whether estrogens are present or absent. Our results provide new insights into how Pten functions in tissue homeostasis.
Background
The effect of splenomegaly in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension is not fully understood. This study was designed to determine the effect of laparoscopic splenectomy on ...portal haemodynamics in these patients.
Methods
Patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy in Kyushu University Hospital from January 2006 to March 2009 were evaluated retrospectively. Correlations between splenic size and portal haemodynamics, and changes in portal haemodynamics and in levels of the vasoactive agents endothelin (ET) 1 and nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) before and 7–10 days after laparoscopic splenectomy were analysed.
Results
Portal venous (PV) blood flow, PV cross‐sectional area and PV congestion index correlated significantly with splenic size (P < 0·050). All three were significantly reduced following splenectomy in 59 patients. The hepatic venous pressure gradient, measured in 18 patients, decreased by 25 per cent after splenectomy (P < 0·001). Portal vascular resistance was also reduced, by 21 per cent (P = 0·009). The peripheral blood concentration of ET‐1 decreased from 2·95 to 2·11 pg/ml (P < 0·001), and that of NOx tended to decrease (from 29·2 to 25·0 pg/ml; P = 0·068). In hepatic venous blood, the level of ET‐1 decreased from 2·37 to 1·83 pg/ml (P = 0·006), whereas NOx concentration tended to increase (from 24·5 to 30·9 pg/ml; P = 0·067).
Conclusion
In patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension, splenectomy reduced portal venous pressure. A decrease in splanchnic blood flow, by eliminating splenic blood flow, and reduction in intrahepatic vascular resistance, by normalizing hepatic concentrations of ET‐1 and NOx, may both have contributed.
Splenectomy improves splanchnic haemodynamics
•Image-guided percutaneous biopsy of renal tumors≤2 cm is technically feasible.•Image-guided percutaneous biopsy of renal tumors≤2 cm is and safe.•Image-guided percutaneous biopsy of renal tumors≤2 ...cm has a high diagnostic yield.
The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate diagnostic yield, risk factors for diagnostic failure, and safety of image-guided core biopsy of renal tumors≤2cm.
Eighty-four biopsies of 84 renal tumors (mean size, 1.5±0.4SD cm; range, 0.6–2.0cm) from 84 patients (53 men, 31 women; mean age, 61.7±12.7 SD years; age range, 34–87 years) were included. All adverse events (AEs) were evaluated based on the CIRSE classification. The 84 procedures were classified as diagnostic or nondiagnostic. Multiple variables related to the patients, tumors, and procedures were assessed to identify variables associated with diagnostic failure.
All 84 biopsies (100%) were technically successful, defined as penetration of the target and acquisition of some specimens. Eighty (80/84; 95.2%) biopsy procedures were diagnostic and four (4/84; 4.8%) procedures were nondiagnostic. Among 80 diagnosed renal tumors, 71/80 (88.8%) tumors were malignant (49 clear cell renal cell carcinomas RCCs, 14 papillary RCCs, 3 chromophobe RCCs, 3 metastatic renal cancers, 1 lymphoma, and 1 unclassified RCC) and 9/80 (11.2%) lesions were benign (5 angiomyolipomas, 3 oncocytomas, and 1 inflammatory lesion). No significant differences existed in any variables between the two groups. A total of 57 (57/84; 67.9%) procedures resulted in 56 Grade 1, 2 Grade 2, and 1 Grade 3 AEs.
Image-guided biopsy of renal tumors≤2cm is safe and has a high diagnostic yield.
PDF
