IL-6 mediated JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway in cancer patients with cachexia

CONCLUSION: STAT3 may be considered as a therapeutic target for cachectic patients with gastric, lung and breast cancer. Furthermore, IL-6 mediates STAT3 activation in cachectic gastric and breast cancer patients (Tab. 5, Fig. 2, Ref. 62)

A harmonized meta-knowledgebase of clinical interpretations of somatic genomic variants in cancer

Precision oncology relies on accurate discovery and interpretation of genomic variants, enabling individualized diagnosis, prognosis and therapy selection. We found that six prominent somatic cancer variant knowledgebases were highly disparate in content, structure and supporting primary literature, impeding consensus when evaluating variants and their relevance in a clinical setting. We developed a framework for harmonizing variant interpretations to produce a meta-knowledgebase of 12,856 aggregate interpretations. We demonstrated large gains in overlap between resources across variants, diseases and drugs as a result of this harmonization. We subsequently demonstrated improved matching between a patient cohort and harmonized interpretations of potential clinical significance, observing an increase from an average of 33% per individual knowledgebase to 57% in aggregate. Our analyses illuminate the need for open, interoperable sharing of variant interpretation data. We also provide a freely available web interface () for exploring the harmonized interpretations from these six knowledgebases

A Tribute to the Hazelnut Plant (Corylus spp.) - the Multiple Uses of Nature's Magnificent Gifts

8th International Congress on Hazelnut -- MAR 19-22, 2012 -- Temuco, CHILEOzman-Sullivan, Sebahat/0000-0001-5240-8110WOS: 000357660300051The hazelnuts (Corylus spp.) are some of the most useful plants known to humanity. Corylus avellana, the most common species, is naturally distributed from Britain to Russia, from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, and across to Iran in the east. It is now cultivated in Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Africa and Australia. Hazelnuts are supremely adapted to a wide range of soil types and environments. Their nuts and wood have been used for at least 9,000 years and mythologies have developed around these revered plants. Wild species have been selectively bred to produce edible nuts but almost every part of the plant, including bark, husks, leaves, nuts, roots, shells and wood, is utilized. Uses include aesthetics, alcoholic beverages, animal husbandry, biofuels, carbon sequestration, craftwork, farm implements, fertilizer, food, food production, health products, industrial chemicals and products, oils, pharmaceuticals and wildlife habitat.Int Soc Horticultural Sc

The effects of lithotripsy on adrenocortical hormones

In order to evaluate the effects of lithotripsy (ESWL) on adrenocortical hormone levels, we prospectively compared blood ACTH, cortisol, aldosterone and DHEA-S levels of patients treated by lithotripsy and with elective operative cholecystectomy for biliary stone disease, After surgery, blood cortisol and ACTH levels were increased significantly at 16 hours (p0.05), DHEA-S levels were elevated significantly at 16 hours after lithotripsy (p0.05). Aldosterone levels were elevated significantly in both groups (p0.05). In conclusion, ESWL induces trauma to the neuroendocrine system and the duration of the response is longer when compared with surgical trauma