The Fundamental Planes of E+A galaxies and GALEX UV-excess early-type galaxies: Revealing their intimate connection

Strong Balmer absorption lines and the lack of Ha and [OII] emission lines signify that E+As are post-starburst systems. Recent studies suggest that E+As may undergo the transition from the `blue cloud' to the `red sequence' and eventually migrate to red sequence ETGs. An observational validation of this scenario is to identify the intervening galaxy population between E+As and the red-sequence. Motivated by recent findings with GALEX that a large fraction of ETGs exhibit UV-excess as a sign of RSF, we investigate the possible connection of the UV-excess galaxies to E+As. In particular, we examine the FP scaling relations of the largest sample of ~1,000 E+As selected from the SDSS and ~20,000 morphologically-selected SDSS ETGs with GALEX UV data. The FP parameters, combined with stellar population indicators, reveal a certain group of UV-excess ETGs that bridges between E+As and quiescent red galaxies. The newly identified galaxies are the post-starburst systems characterized by UV-excess but no Ha emission. This is a conceptual generalisation of "E+A", in that the Balmer absorption line in the "E+A" definition is replaced with UV-optical colours that are far more sensitive to RSF than the Balmer lines. We refer to these UV-excess galaxies as "E+a" galaxies, which stands for elliptical ("E") galaxies with a minority of A-type ("a") young stars. The species are either (1) galaxies that experienced starbursts weaker than those observed in E+As (1~10% of E+As, "mild E+As") or (2) the products of passively evolved E+As after quenching star formation quite a while ago (~1 Gyr, "old E+As"). We suggest that the latter type of E+a galaxies represents the most recent arrival to the red sequence in the final phase of the "E+A" to "red early-type" transition. (Abridged)Comment: 15 pages, 15 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRA

MHC class II engagement inhibits CD99-induced apoptosis and up-regulation of T cell receptor and MHC molecules in human thymocytes and T cell line

AbstractMajor histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II surface levels on thymocytes increase after CD99 ligation. The functional implication of the up-regulated MHC class II was assessed by engaging MHC class II on CD99-ligated cells. MHC class II engagement down-modulated surface levels of T cell receptor and MHC molecules, and inhibited apoptosis of CD99-ligated thymocytes and CEM tumor cells, antagonistic effects on the previously reported CD99 functions. The results were reproducible regardless of the order of ligation of MHC class II and CD99. We suggest that signaling via MHC class II on CD99-engaged cells might be involved in the thymic maturation process by damping CD99 ligation effects

HIP1–ALK, a Novel Fusion Protein Identified in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Introduction:The most common mechanism underlying overexpression and activation of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) in non–small-cell lung carcinoma could be attributed to the formation of a fusion protein. To date, five fusion partners of ALK have been reported, namely, echinoderm microtubule associated protein like 4, tropomyosin-related kinase-fused gene, kinesin family member 5B, kinesin light chain 1, and protein tyrosine phosphatase, nonreceptor type 3.Methods:In this article, we report a novel fusion gene huntingtin interacting protein 1 (HIP1)–ALK, which is conjoined between the huntingtin-interacting protein 1 gene HIP1 and ALK. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analysis were used to detect this fusion gene’s transcript and protein expression, respectively. We had amplified the full-length cDNA sequence of this novel fusion gene by using 5′-rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The causative genomic translocation t(2;7)(p23;q11.23) for generating this novel fusion gene was verified by using genomic sequencing.Results:The examined adenocarcinoma showed predominant acinar pattern, and ALK immunostaining was localized to the cytoplasm, with intense staining in the submembrane region. In break-apart, fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis for ALK, split of the 5′ and 3′ probe signals, and isolated 3′ signals were observed. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction revealed that the tumor harbored a novel fusion transcript in which exon 21 of HIP1 was fused to exon 20 of ALK in-frame.Conclusion:The novel fusion gene and its protein HIP1–ALK harboring epsin N-terminal homology, coiled-coil, juxtamembrane, and kinase domains, which could play a role in carcinogenesis, could become diagnostic and therapeutic target of the lung adenocarcinoma and deserve a further study in the future

Correction: triple-negative, basal-like, and quintuple-negative breast cancers: better prediction model for survival

After the publication of this work [1], we found that there were some mistakes in calculating the percentage of composition in Table 1(1). Clinicopathologic characteristics of breast cancer subtypes. We are therefore providing the revised Table 1, with the updated data for rows Mucinous carcinoma, Metaplastic carcinoma and Others. In the sub-content of Table 1, Histological type, the total number of Others was corrected from 18 to 16, and the composition of Others type was slightly changed according to breast cancer subtypes. For IHC-Her2 subtype, the number of Others was changed from 4 to 3, and 6 cases which were previously unidentified were assigned to corresponding subtypes. One case to IHC-BLBC, 2 cases to IHC-QNBC/5NP and 3 cases to IHC-TNCB. There was no effect on statistical analysis with the correction.

Correction: triple-negative, basal-like, and quintuple-negative breast cancers: better prediction model for survival

After the publication of this work [1], we found that there were some mistakes in calculating the percentage of composition in Table 1(1). Clinicopathologic characteristics of breast cancer subtypes. We are therefore providing the revised Table 1, with the updated data for rows Mucinous carcinoma, Metaplastic carcinoma and Others. In the sub-content of Table 1, Histological type, the total number of Others was corrected from 18 to 16, and the composition of Others type was slightly changed according to breast cancer subtypes. For IHC-Her2 subtype, the number of Others was changed from 4 to 3, and 6 cases which were previously unidentified were assigned to corresponding subtypes. One case to IHC-BLBC, 2 cases to IHC-QNBC/5NP and 3 cases to IHC-TNCB. There was no effect on statistical analysis with the correction.

Favorable response to doxorubicin combination chemotherapy does not yield good clinical outcome in patients with metastatic breast cancer with triple-negative phenotype

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We analyzed the responses to first line treatment and clinical outcomes of metastatic breast cancer patients treated with palliative doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (AC) according to molecular cancer subtype.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A retrospective analysis was performed for 110 metastatic breast cancer patients selected on the basis of palliative AC treatment and the availability of immunohistochemical data for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2/neu) status.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 110 patients analyzed, 71 (64.5%) were hormone receptor positive (HR+), 14 (12.7%) were HER2+, and 25 (22.7%) were triple negative (TN). There were no differences in age, stage at diagnosis, total number of cycles of palliative chemotherapy, incidence of visceral metastasis, and metastatic sites with the exception of liver among breast cancer subtypes. The overall response rates to AC were 55.9% for the HR+ subgroup, 42.9% for the HER2+ subgroup, and 56.5% for the TN subgroup. The progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with HER2+ and TN were significantly shorter than in the HR+ (median PFS, 9.1 <it>vs </it>8.1 <it>vs </it>11.5 months, respectively; p = 0.0002). The overall survival (OS) was 25.4 months in the TN subgroup and 27.3 months in HER2+ subgroup. The median OS for these two groups was significantly shorter than for patients in the HR+ subgroup (median, 38.5 months; 95% CI, 30.1-46.9 months; p < 0.0001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The response to palliative AC chemotherapy did not differ among breast cancer subtypes. Despite chemosensitivity for palliative AC, the TN subtype has a shorter overall survival than non-TN subtypes. Innovative treatment strategies should be developed to slow the course of disease.</p

Lung cancer in never-smoker Asian females is driven by oncogenic mutations, most often involving EGFR

The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of known oncogenic driver mutations in female never-smoker Asian patients with lung adenocarcinoma. We analyzed 214 mutations across 26 lung cancer-associated genes and three fusion genes using the MassARRAY® LungCarta Panel and the ALK, ROS1, and RET fusion assays in 198 consecutively resected lung adenocarcinomas from never-smoker females at a single institution. EGFR mutation, which was the most frequent driver gene mutation, was detected in 124 (63%) cases. Mutation of ALK, KRAS, PIK3CA, ERBB2, BRAF, ROS1, and RET genesoccurred in 7%, 4%, 2.5%, 1.5%, 1%, 1%, and 1% of cases, respectively. Thus, 79% of lung adenocarcinomas from never-smoker females harbored well-known oncogenic mutations. Mucinous adenocarcinomas tended to have a lower frequency of known driver gene mutations than other histologic subtypes. EGFR mutation was associated with older age and a predominantly acinar pattern, while ALK rearrangement was associated with younger age and a predominantly solid pattern. Lung cancer in never-smoker Asian females is a distinct entity, with the majority of these cancers developing from oncogenic mutations

The Clinical Usefulness of the SD Bioline Influenza Antigen Test® for Detecting the 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) Virus

Though the 2009 worldwide influenza A (H1N1) pandemic has been declared to have ended, the influenza virus is expected to continue to circulate from some years as a seasonal influenza. A rapid antigen test (RAT) can aid in rapid diagnosis and allow for early antiviral treatment. We evaluated the clinical usefulness of RAT using SD Bioline Influenza Antigen Test® kit to detect the influenza virus, considering various factors. From August 1, 2009 to October 10, 2009, a total of 938 patients who visited the outpatient clinic at Korea University Guro Hospital with influenza-like illnesses were enrolled in the study. Throat or nasopharyngeal swab specimens were obtained from each of the patients. Using these specimens, we evaluated the influenza detection rate by rapid antigen test based on the real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) method. In comparison with rRT-PCR, the sensitivity and specificity of the RAT were 44.0% and 99.9%, respectively. The cyclic threshold values of RAT negative specimens were higher than RAT positive specimens (30.1±3.1 vs. 28.3±3.9, p=0.031). The sensitivity of the RAT kit was higher in patients who visited clinics within two days of symptom onset (60.4% vs. 11.1%, p=0.026). The results of this study show that the RAT cannot be recommended for general use in all patients with influenza-like illness because of its low sensitivity. The RAT may be used, only in the settings with limited diagnostic resources, for patients who visit a clinic within two days of symptom onset