Tissue-specific gene expression templates for accurate molecular characterization of the normal physiological states of multiple human tissues with implication in development and cancer studies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To elucidate the molecular complications in many complex diseases, we argue for the priority to construct a model representing the normal physiological state of a cell/tissue.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>By analyzing three independent microarray datasets on normal human tissues, we established a quantitative molecular model GET, which consists of 24 tissue-specific <it>G</it>ene <it>E</it>xpression <it>T</it>emplates constructed from a set of 56 genes, for predicting 24 distinct tissue types under disease-free condition. 99.2% correctness was reached when a large-scale validation was performed on 61 new datasets to test the tissue-prediction power of GET. Network analysis based on molecular interactions suggests a potential role of these 56 genes in tissue differentiation and carcinogenesis.</p> <p>Applying GET to transcriptomic datasets produced from tissue development studies the results correlated well with developmental stages. Cancerous tissues and cell lines yielded significantly lower correlation with GET than the normal tissues. GET distinguished melanoma from normal skin tissue or benign skin tumor with 96% sensitivity and 89% specificity.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results strongly suggest that a normal tissue or cell may uphold its normal functioning and morphology by maintaining specific chemical stoichiometry among genes. The state of stoichiometry can be depicted by a compact set of representative genes such as the 56 genes obtained here. A significant deviation from normal stoichiometry may result in malfunction or abnormal growth of the cells.</p

Three adult cases of orbital hidrocystoma presenting with blepharoptosis

To report adult cases of superior orbital apocrine hidrocystoma. Retrospective case series of three patients with superior orbital apocrine hidrocystoma and blepharoptosis with review of the clinical aspects of each of the cases. All three cases presented with blepharoptosis. Two of the cases had occult hidrocystoma, and one was visibly subcutaneous at presentation. Although rare and more common along the eyelid margin, apocrine hidrocystomas may occur in the orbit leading to secondary blepharoptosis and should be included within the differential diagnosis of orbital cysts. Physicians should therefore be aware of this possibility

Quenching of the Haldane gap in LiVSi 2O 6 and related compounds

We report results of susceptibility χ and 7 Li NMR measurements on LiVSi 2O 6. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility χ(T) exhibits a broad maximum, typical for low-dimensional magnetic systems. Quantitatively it is in agreement with the expectation for an S=1 spin chain, represented by the structural arrangement of V ions. The NMR results indicate antiferromagnetic ordering below T N=24 K. The intra- and interchain coupling J and J p for LiVSi 2O 6, and also for its sister compounds LiVGe 2O 6, NaVSi 2O 6 and NaVGe 2O 6, are obtained via a modified random phase approximation which takes into account results of quantum Monte Carlo calculations. While J p is almost constant across the series, J varies by a factor of 5, decreasing with increasing lattice constant along the chain direction. The comparison between experimental and theoretical susceptibility data suggests the presence of an easy-axis magnetic anisotropy, which explains the formation of an energy gap in the magnetic excitation spectrum below T N, indicated by the variation of the NMR spin-lattice relaxation rate at T≪T N. Copyright EDP Sciences/Società Italiana di Fisica/Springer-Verlag 200776.60.-k Nuclear magnetic resonance and relaxation, 02.70.Ss Quantum Monte Carlo methods, 75.10.Pq Spin chain models, 75.30.Cr Saturation moments and magnetic susceptibilities,