IGF1 Is a Common Target Gene of Ewing's Sarcoma Fusion Proteins in Mesenchymal Progenitor Cells

The EWS-FLI-1 fusion protein is associated with 85-90% of Ewing's sarcoma family tumors (ESFT), the remaining 10-15% of cases expressing chimeric genes encoding EWS or FUS fused to one of several ets transcription factor family members, including ERG-1, FEV, ETV1 and ETV6. ESFT are dependent on insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) for growth and survival and recent evidence suggests that mesenchymal progenitor/stem cells constitute a candidate ESFT origin. To address the functional relatedness between ESFT-associated fusion proteins, we compared mouse progenitor cell (MPC) permissiveness for EWS-FLI-1, EWS-ERG and FUS-ERG expression and assessed the corresponding expression profile changes. Whereas all MPC isolates tested could stably express EWS-FLI-1, only some sustained stable EWS-ERG expression and none could express FUS-ERG for more than 3-5 days. Only 14% and 4% of the total number of genes that were respectively induced and repressed in MPCs by the three fusion proteins were shared. However, all three fusion proteins, but neither FLI-1 nor ERG-1 alone, activated the IGF1 promoter and induced IGF1 expression. Whereas expression of different ESFT-associated fusion proteins may require distinct cellular microenvironments and induce transcriptome changes of limited similarity, IGF1 induction may provide one common mechanism for their implication in ESFT pathogenesis

Imaging strategies in intramuscular haemangiomas: an analysis of 20 cases

The purpose of this study was to review the correlation between the imaging studies and the histological findings in the diagnosis of this disease. We retrospectively reviewed 21 lesions in 20 patients (median age, 23.7 years old) who had been diagnosed with cavernous haemangiomas (n=11), capillary (n=6), and mixed (n=3) types. The imaging studies were obtained with plain film radiography (n=20), Tc-99 m bone scans (n=5), angiography (n=7) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; n=20). All the patients underwent marginal to wide excision. Based on the imaging studies, the rate of accurate prediction of intramuscular haemangioma using MRI in our study was 90%. Using the preoperative imaging studies and surgical excisions, only one (5%) local recurrence happened 2 years after marginal excision. The remaining patients were free of disease. For the avoidance of recurrence, wide excision is necessary with the help of the imaging studies, which can provide more specific information, making possible the preoperative identification of characteristic features of the tumuor

Effects of probiotics supplementation on gastrointestinal permeability, inflammation and exercise performance in the heat

This study aimed to investigate the effects of multi-strain probiotics supplementation on gastrointestinal permeability, systemic markers of inflammation and running performance when exercising in the heat