Citations

We used a target-centric strategy to identify transporter proteins upregulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) as potential targets for a functional imaging probe to complement existing anatomical imaging approaches. We performed transcriptomic profiling (microarray and RNASeq) on histologically confirmed primary PDAC tumors and normal pancreas tissue from 33 patients, including five patients whose tumors were not visible on computed tomography. Target expression was confirmed with immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays from 94 PDAC patients. The best imaging target identified was SLC6A14 (a neutral and basic amino acid transporter). SLC6A14 was overexpressed at the transcriptional level in all patients and expressed at the protein level in 95% of PDAC tumors. Very little is known about the role of SLC6A14 in PDAC and our results demonstrate that this target merits further investigation as a candidate transporter for functional imaging of PDAC.

Context Assessment is central to medical education and the validation of assessments is vital to their use. Earlier validity frameworks suffer from a multiplicity of types of validity or failure to prioritise among sources of validity evidence. Kane's framework addresses both concerns by emphasising key inferences as the assessment progresses from a single observation to a final decision. Evidence evaluating these inferences is planned and presented as a validity argument. Objectives We aim to offer a practical introduction to the key concepts of Kane's framework that educators will find accessible and applicable to a wide range of assessment tools and activities. Results All assessments are ultimately intended to facilitate a defensible decision about the person being assessed. Validation is the process of collecting and interpreting evidence to support that decision. Rigorous validation involves articulating the claims and assumptions associated with the proposed decision (the interpretation/use argument), empirically testing these assumptions, and organising evidence into a coherent validity argument. Kane identifies four inferences in the validity argument: Scoring (translating an observation into one or more scores); Generalisation (using the score[s] as a reflection of performance in a test setting); Extrapolation (using the score[s] as a reflection of real‐world performance), and Implications (applying the score[s] to inform a decision or action). Evidence should be collected to support each of these inferences and should focus on the most questionable assumptions in the chain of inference. Key assumptions (and needed evidence) vary depending on the assessment's intended use or associated decision. Kane's framework applies to quantitative and qualitative assessments, and to individual tests and programmes of assessment. Conclusions Validation focuses on evaluating the key claims, assumptions and inferences that link assessment scores with their intended interpretations and uses. The Implications and associated decisions are the most important inferences in the validity argument.

This study's aims were to describe the spirituality of depressed elderly psychiatric inpatients and to examine associations among spirituality, depression, and quality of life (QOL). Forty-five persons participated. Most reported frequent, stable spiritual practices and experiencing spiritual comfort and guidance. Some reported spiritual distress and changes in spirituality. During hospitalization, participants demonstrated increased spiritual well-being (SWB) and peacefulness, and reduced hopelessness, worthlessness, and guilt. Positive associations were found between SWB and QOL and negative associations between SWB and depression.

Altered myocardial structure and function, secondary to chronically elevated blood pressure, are leading causes of heart failure and death. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), a guanylyl cyclase A agonist, is a cardiac hormone integral to cardiovascular regulation. Studies have demonstrated a causal relationship between reduced production or impaired BNP release and the development of human hypertension. However, the consequences of BNP insufficiency on blood pressure and hypertension-associated complications remain poorly understood. Therefore, the goal of this study was to create and characterize a novel model of BNP deficiency to investigate the effects of BNP absence on cardiac and renal structure, function, and survival. Genetic BNP deletion was generated in Dahl salt-sensitive rats. Compared with age-matched controls, BNP knockout rats demonstrated adult-onset hypertension. Increased left ventricular mass with hypertrophy and substantially augmented hypertrophy signaling pathway genes, developed in young adult knockout rats, which preceded hypertension. Prolonged hypertension led to increased cardiac stiffness, cardiac fibrosis, and thrombi formation. Significant elongation of the QT interval was detected at 9 months in knockout rats. Progressive nephropathy was also noted with proteinuria, fibrosis, and glomerular alterations in BNP knockout rats. End-organ damage contributed to a significant decline in overall survival. Systemic BNP overexpression reversed the phenotype of genetic BNP deletion. Our results demonstrate the critical role of BNP defect in the development of systemic hypertension and associated end-organ damage in adulthood.

Obective Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) receptor agonists are indicated for treatment of type 2 diabetes since they mimic the actions of native GLP‐1 on pancreatic islet cells, stimulating insulin release, while inhibiting glucagon release, in a glucose‐dependent manner. The observation of weight loss has led to exploration of their potential as antiobesity agents, with liraglutide 3.0 mg day −1 approved for weight management in the US on December 23, 2014, and in the EU on March 23, 2015. This review examines the potential nonglycemic effects of GLP‐1 receptor agonists. Methods A literature search was conducted to identify preclinical and clinical evidence on nonglycemic effects of GLP‐1 receptor agonists. Results GLP‐1 receptors are distributed widely in a number of tissues in humans, and their effects are not limited to the well‐recognized effects on glycemia. Nonglycemic effects include weight loss, which is perhaps the most widely recognized nonglycemic effect. In addition, effects on the cardiovascular, neurologic, and renal systems and on taste perception may occur independently of weight loss. Conclusions GLP‐1 receptor agonists may provide other nonglycemic clinical effects besides weight loss. Understanding these effects is important for prescribers in using GLP‐1 receptor agonists for diabetic patients, but also if approved for chronic weight management.

Background: Peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) have the potential to reduce postoperative pain. The use of ultrasound (US) to guide PNBs may be more beneficial than nerve stimulation (NS); however, very few studies have studied this technique in children. The objective of this study was to compare postoperative pain control in pediatric patients who had general anesthesia (GA) alone compared with those who had PNB performed by NS, or PNB with both NS and US guidance. Our hypothesis was that compared with NS, the US-guided PNB would result in reduced postoperative pain and opioid use, and that both PNB conditions would have improved outcomes compared with GA. Methods: A retrospective chart review of foot and ankle surgery included 103 patients who were stratified into 3 groups: GA, PNB with NS, and PNB with NS and US. Pain levels were measured with visual pain scales at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. Days of hospitalization, morphine and oxycodone use by weight, and time to first PRN opioid use were also recorded. A repeated measure analysis of variance was used to compare the groups, and the proportion of patients who reported a visual analog scale score of 0 was calculated for each time point. Results: There were no significant differences in pain levels between groups for the first 12 hours, but the US group had higher pain levels at 24 hours. Both US and NS groups had a longer time to PRN opioid use and used significantly less morphine compared with GA. The US group had a significantly greater proportion of pain-free patients than the other 2 groups for the first 6 hours. Conclusions: The use of US guidance is beneficial in postoperative pain control. Both US-guided and NS-guided PNB are preferable to GA alone for lower extremity orthopaedic surgery in the pediatric population. Level of Evidence: III, retrospective comparative study.

Abstract Background: Mammographic breast density (MBD) reflects the proportion of fibroglandular tissue in the breast, and is an established risk factor for breast cancer. Benign breast disease (BBD) is also a known risk factor for breast cancer. We previously showed an association between lobular involution (physiologic atrophy) and MBD in a large cohort study of women with BBD. We performed a comprehensive evaluation of the association of histologic features of BBD with MBD. Methods: The Mayo BBD cohort includes women, 18 to 85 years, who were diagnosed with BBD at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN between 01/01/1967 and 12/31/1991. For this study, we included women who had a mammogram within 6 months of BBD diagnosis, and diagnosed with BBD between 1985 and 1991 when parenchymal pattern of breast density was clinically recorded. Risk factor information such as age, and body mass index (BMI) was collected from medical records. Parenchymal pattern, assessed clinically and previously used in multiple studies of MBD and risk, classified breast density based on extent and type of density, into four categories: N1 (non-dense, no ducts visible); P1 (ductal prominence occupying <25% breast); P2 (prominent ductal pattern occupying >25% of the breast; DY (homogenous plaque-like areas of density). All assessments of benign breast tissue were performed by expert breast pathologists blinded to both MBD and BBD reports. Histologic characteristics included overall impression (non-proliferative disease (NPD), proliferative disease without atypia (PDWA), and atypical hyperplasia (AH)), proportion of normal lobules that were involuted (no (0%), partial (1 to 74%), or complete (≥75%)), type of AH (ADH or ALH), ductal and lobular hyperplasia, calcifications, sclerosing adenosis, columnar alteration, cyst, fibroadenoma, marked fibrosis, intra-ductal papilloma, radial scar (number and size), duct ectasia, and mucocele like tumors. Associations of parenchymal pattern with BBD characteristics were examined using multicategorical nominal logistic regression models. We first examined associations after adjustment for age and BMI. All variables statistically significant (p<0.05) in these models were then simultaneously included in a fully-adjusted model. Results: Of 2,257 women in the study, 14% were <40 years old, 52.7% between 40- 59 years, and 32.9% were ≥60 years. In this sample, 55.2% of women had NPD, 36% had PDWA, and AH in 8.8%. MBD was classified as N1 in 21.8%, P1 in 12.6%, P2 in 23.7% and DY in 41.9%. Age- and BMI-adjusted analyses showed that there was an association of parenchymal pattern with overall impression, lobular involution, ductal hyperplasia, sclerosing adenosis, columnar alteration, cyst, duct ectasia and fibrosis. Multivariate analyses found that women of younger age (p<0.001) and with lower BMI (p<0.001), presence of fibrosis (p<0.001) and no involution (p=0.016) were more likely to have P2 or DY parenchymal pattern than women without those characteristics. Conclusion: Among women with benign breast disease, higher MBD is associated with younger age, lower BMI, fibrosis, and lack of lobular involution. These findings, concordant with other studies of MBD, provide insight into underlying mechanisms by which MBD and BBD contribute to breast cancer risk. Citation Format: Karthik Ghosh, Robert A Vierkant, Ryan D Frank, Daniel W Visscher, Vernon S Pankratz, Christopher G Scott, Derek C Radisky, Marlene H Frost, Lynn C Hartmann, Amy C Degnim, Celine M Vachon. Association between mammographic breast density and histologic features of benign breast disease [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-10-14.

Abstract Introduction: Current models to predict breast cancer risk do not differentiate risk for estrogen receptor (ER) positive and negative breast cancer (BC), despite growing evidence that these tumors are biologically very different. We hypothesized that women with ER+ BC cancers have different clinical risk factors and histologic findings on prior benign breast biopsies than those with ER- BC. Methods: After IRB approval, we examined associations of age at benign biopsy and histologic features of the benign biopsy with ER status of incident BCs within the Mayo Benign Breast Disease Cohort. Benign biopsy slides were reviewed for extent of lobular involution and degree of epithelial proliferation by a single breast pathologist blinded to BC events. Invasive BCs occurring within 15 years after benign biopsy were classified as ER+ if ER staining was >1%. BC case-only associations with ER status were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression. Full-cohort hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for risk of ER-specific subtypes were estimated using Cox proportion hazards regression. Results: Among 13,410 women undergoing a benign breast biopsy from 1967-2001, 656 invasive BCs (459 ER+, 106 ER, 106 unknown) occurred within 15 years. Women who developed ER+ and ER- BCs were similar in age at the time of their prior benign breast biopsy (p=0.34). Although benign biopsies in women who later developed ER+ BC were more likely to show complete involution (23% vs 15% for ER- BC), this was not statistically significant (p=0.06). However, the degree of epithelial proliferation was significantly associated with ER status of later BCs (p=0.001), with ER+ BCs more likely than ER- BCs to have had a prior biopsy with atypical hyperplasia (16% vs 8%), and ER+ BCs less likely than ER- BCs to have had a prior biopsy with proliferative disease without atypia (33% vs 52%); this association remained after multivariate adjustment (p=0.003). We further pursued the association of epithelial proliferation with differential risk of ER+ and ER- BC in our overall cohort of 13,410 women (Table 1). Compared to women with non-proliferative disease, women with proliferative disease +/- atypia had ∼2-fold hazard ratios for ER- BC, whereas hazard ratios for ER+ BC were higher in women with atypical hyperplasia (∼4-fold) compared to proliferative disease. Hazard Ratio of ER+ and ER- BC within 15 years of BBD based upon degree of epithelial proliferation at benign biopsyCancer TypeGroupNN EventsHazard Ratio (95% CI)p-valueInvasive ER- ≤15 yearsNP8478421.00 (ref)<0.0001 PD4229542.63 (1.76, 3.93) AH70382.60 (1.22, 5.54) Invasive ER+ ≤15 yearsNP84782321.00 (ref)<0.0001 PD42291511.33 (1.09, 1.64) AH703744.41 (3.39, 5.73) NP=nonproliferative disease, PD=proliferative disease without atypia; AH=atypical hyperplasia Conclusion: ER+ and ER- breast cancers appear to have different features on prior benign breast biopsy, with atypical hyperplasia showing increased risk for both types of breast cancer, but a greater risk for ER+ tumors. Citation Format: Amy C Degnim, Derek C Radisky, Robert A Vierkant, Ryan D Frank, Marlene H Frost, Vernon S Pankratz, Celine M Vachon, Tanya L Hoskin, Julie M Cunningham, Chen Wang, Jean-Pierre Kocher, Teresa M Allers, Joanne L Johnson, Tina J Hieken, Karthik Ghosh, Lynn C Hartmann, Daniel W Visscher. Histologic features of benign breast biopsy tissue and association with ER positive and ER negative breast cancer in the Mayo BBD cohort study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-10-06.

Abstract Dysregulation of the intrinsic DNA methylation landscape is a ubiquitous feature of human carcinogenesis, manifested by global hypomethylation and promoter-specific hypermethylation, ultimately resulting in genome instability and tumor suppressor gene silencing, respectively. Alterations in DNA methylation are particularly apparent in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which afflicts roughly 750,000 new patients each year [1]. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that a variety of tumor suppressor genes (e.g. p53, E-cadherin) are hypermethylated and silenced in HCC [2-4]. Importantly, HCC is accompanied by the premalignant stage of cirrhosis in 80% of cases. One major roadblock to understanding the methylome in HCC is the presence of multiple etiologies such as Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), and chronic alcoholism. Therefore, we performed genome-wide methylation profiling to dissect the methylation patterns of more than 170 primary liver samples to stratify etiologic and stage-specific changes in the DNA methylation landscape. Our results profile the DNA methylation landscape across normal, cirrhotic, and HCC livers in the largest study of its kind to date. We unveil distinct locus-specific and large-scale effects of HCV, HBV, and chronic alcoholism in hepatocarcinogenesis. Furthermore, analysis indicates a specific methylation profile for individual etiologies as well as conserved patterns throughout cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Our study demonstrates that each etiology contains potential biomarkers and targets for downstream clinical therapeutics. This study is our first step toward defining the epigenome in cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and will be combined with future genomic and epimutational data (e.g. transcription, histone modifications, miRNA) to determine the true extent and interplay between epigenetic marks across different stages of liver cancer. Overall, this research has the potential to improve our understanding of epigenetics and result in diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic epigenetic signatures in cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, which are expected to allow for more timely and efficient detection of disease. 1. Jemal, A., et al., Global cancer statistics. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 2011. 61(2): p. 69-90. 2. Tischoff, I. and A. Tannapfe, DNA methylation in hepatocellular carcinoma. World journal of gastroenterology : WJG, 2008. 14(11): p. 1741-8. 3. Calvisi, D.F., et al., Mechanistic and prognostic significance of aberrant methylation in the molecular pathogenesis of human hepatocellular carcinoma. The Journal of clinical investigation, 2007. 117(9): p. 2713-22. 4. Lambert, M.P., et al., Aberrant DNA methylation distinguishes hepatocellular carcinoma associated with HBV and HCV infection and alcohol intake. Journal of hepatology, 2011. 54(4): p. 705-15. Citation Format: Ryan A. Hlady, Rochelle Tiedemann, William Puszyk, Chen Liu, Jeong-Hyeon Choi, Keith D. Robertson. Identification of common and unique epigenetic signatures of chronic hepatitis infection and alcohol abuse in human liver disease. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2309. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2309