Hdac1 Regulates Differentiation of Bipotent Liver Progenitor Cells During Regeneration via Sox9b and Cdk8

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Clarithromycin suppresses IL-13-induced goblet cell metaplasia via the TMEM16A-dependent pathway in guinea pig airway epithelial cells

Background

Transmembrane protein 16A (TMEM16A) is associated with mucus secretion and ion transport in asthma. Clarithromycin (CAM) is reported to inhibit IL-13-induced goblet cell metaplasia. However, the effect of CAM on TMEM16A function and expression remains unclear.

Computer interpretation of pediatric frank vectorcardiograms in the evaluation of congenital heart disease

The evaluation of a new computer program for analysis and interpretation of pediatric Frank vectorcardiograms is reported. The program includes extensive age- and sex-dependent criteria based on tables of limits for numerous vectorcardiographic parameters. In 728 catheterized patients, the diagnostic performance for type A statements was tested against independent and objective evidence obtained from hemodynamic and angiographic data. The overall diagnostic accuracy ranged from 75 to 89% without difference between children < 2 years of age and those >- 2 years of age. Sensitivities and specificities of the various diagnoses did not differ much between the 2 age groups. In the younger children, the accuracy of a positive diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy, right ventricular hypertrophy, and biventricular hypertrophy was 20, 15, and 32% higher, respectively, than in the older children. The accuracy of the diagnosis “normal” was 28% lower in the younger children. These differences were explained by the higher proportion of pathologic findings in the younger children: 93% versus 74% in the older children.Given the strict methods of the evaluation, the diagnostic accuracy of this pediatric program was considered clinically satisfactory. Program performance appears to be dependent not on patient age but on prevalence of abnormalities in the population analyzed. Further improvement can be expected by making the criteria more adaptable to the composition of the population.     

Spectrum of congestive heart failure late after aortic valve or mitral replacement: Differentiation of valvular versus myocardial cause by radionuclide ventriculogram-ejection fraction

Heart failure (CHF) appearing late after aortic (AV) or mitral valve (MV) replacement (R) may be due to mechanical factors such as prosthetic or native valve dysfunction, or due to myocardial disease. We studied 41 patients who developed CHF late (6 weeks to 11 years) after AVR or MVR with gated blood pool scan (RNV) to analyze the spectrum of ejection fraction (EF) and its clinical correlates. Of the 17 patients who developed CHF after AVR, 10 had RNV EF greater than 0.5 (all of whom had severe valve or prosthetic dysfunction as the primary cause of CHF) and seven had EF less than 0.5 (five with severe myocardial disease and two with prosthetic dysfunction). Of the 24 with CHF after MVR, 13 had RNV EF greater than 0.5. In contrast to post-AVR patients, only 8 of the 13 patients had mechanical causes of CHF (seven prosthetic dysfunction and one constrictive pericarditis). Of the 11 patients after MVR with EF less than 0.5, nine had severe myocardial disease and two had prosthetic dysfunction. Thus (1) reduced EF in patients with CHF-after AVR or MVR suggests myocardial disease as the basis for CHF, and (2) normal EF implies a mechanical cause of CHF after AVR but may be associated with either myocardial or mechanical factors after MVR.     

Heterogeneity of hepatocellular carcinoma contributes to cancer progression

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly heterogeneous disease displaying differences in angiogenesis, extracellular matrix proteins, the immune microenvironment and tumor cell populations. Additionally, genetic variations and epigenetic changes of HCC cells could lead to aberrant signaling pathways, induce cancer stem cells and enhance tumor progression. Thus, the heterogeneity in HCC contributes to disease progression and a better understanding of its heterogeneity will greatly aid in the development of strategies for the HCC treatment.