Recently non-coding RNA (ncRNA) genes have been found to serve many important functions in the cell such as regulation of gene expression at the transcriptional level.Potentially there are more ncRNA molecules yet to be found and their possible functions are to be revealed.The discovery of ncRNAs is a difficult task because they lack sequence indicators such as the start and stop codons displayed by protein-coding RNAs.Current methods utilize either sequence motifs or structural parameters to detect novel ncRNAs within genomes.Here,we present an ab initio ncRNA finder,named ncRNAscout,by utilizing both sequence motifs and structural parameters.Specifically,our method has three components:(i) a measure of the frequency of a sequence,(ii) a measure of the structural stability of a sequence contained in a t-score,and (iii) a measure of the frequency of certain patterns within a sequence that may indicate the presence of ncRNA.Experimental results show that,given a genome and a set of known ncRNAs,our method is able to accurately identify and locate a significant number of ncRNA sequences in the genome.The ncRNAscout tool is available for downloading at http://bioinformatics.njit.edu/ncRNAscout.

The non-structural 5B (NS5B) gene is the target region to identify hepatitis C virus (HCV) subtypes. However, it is not always possible to amplify this region because of inherently high sequence variability. Nucleotide sequences of the non-structural 5A (NS5A) and NS5B genes and its concordance were determined from patients infected with HCV genotype 1 (HCV-1). Among the 30 HCV-1 samples, 7 (23%) were identified as subtype 1a and 23 (77%) were identified as 1b by NS5A sequencing. Sequence analysis of the NS5B showed that 13 (43%) were identified as 1a and 17 (57%) were identified as 1b. Out of the 13 samples identified as 1a by NS5B, 6 (46%) were correctly identified by NS5A. Of the 17 samples identified as 1b by NS5B, 16 (94%) were correctly identified by NS5A. The presence of glutamic acid (E) or aspartic acid (D) at position 2225 in the NS5A differentiates 1a from 1b subtypes, respectively. This study showed that the NS5A sequencing can identify HCV-1a and 1b subtypes with predictive values of 86% and 70% of cases, respectively. The overall concordance with NS5B was 73%. NS5B sequence analysis remains to be the reference method to identify HCV-1 subtypes. NS5A sequencing may be used to complement NS5B sequencing in case the NS5B gene cannot be successfully amplified.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; ; Aspartic Acid ; Genotype ; Glutamic Acid ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C ; Nucleotides ; Sequence Analysis ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins

Hiccups are a benign physiological feature affecting almost everyone at one time or another. They tend to be short-lived and do not affect quality of life; however, there are various pathologies that may present with long-lasting hiccups. These are grouped into 3 categories according to their duration: acute, persistent and intractable or protracted hiccups. Intractable hiccups last longer than 2 months and are usually associated with more severe conditions. The association between intractable hiccups and reflux disease has not been previously documented by objective methods. This report describes the case of a 23-year-old female who presented with protracted hiccups; all other organic pathologies were ruled out, and endoscopy and conventional pH-metry confirmed a diagnosis of non-erosive reflux disease as the unique cause.
2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles ; Electric Impedance ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Hiccup ; Humans ; Proton Pump Inhibitors ; Young Adult

The global epidemic of diabetes and tuberculosis poses challenges to the control of both diseases. Patients with tuberculosis and diabetes experience worse clinical manifestations, increased risk of treatment failure, recurrence, and death. Diabetes is also associated with risk for latent tuberculosis infection. Management of hyperglycemia reduces the risk and improves the outcome of tuberculosis in diabetic patients. Recent epidemiological studies from Taiwan have provided new and important information on the benefits of metformin in tuberculosis. When addressing the issue of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, a shortened anti-tuberculous therapeutic regime seems a feasible approach for better cure rates, with less loss-to-follow.

Objective: This study investigated the effect of brimonidine on the anterior-chamber angle in eyes with narrow angles using noncontact three-dimensional anterior-segment analyzer Pentacam. Methods: Nine eyes with narrow angles were distributed to one of three treatment groups—single topical dose of 0.15% brimonidine tartrate, 0.5% timolol maleate (positive control), or balanced salt solution (negative control)—in a prospective, single-masked, crossover, comparative trial. The primary outcome measure was anterior-chamber angle at baseline, and 2 and 4 hours after instillation of the treatment drug. Secondary outcome measures were pupil diameter, intraocular pressure (IOP), and anterior-chamber depth and volume. After a two-week washout period, eyes were crossed over to the other treatment modes. All baseline and posttreatment measurements were taken. Repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for statistical analysis. Results: Anterior-chamber angle, depth, and volume did not differ significantly for all treatment groups. Brimonidine caused a significant decrease in pupil diameter, most notably 2 hours after instillation, from baseline of 2.36 ± 0.37 mm to 2.17 ± 0.35 mm. (p = 0.03). There was a significant decrease in IOP from baseline to hour 4 after treatment for both brimonidine (11.4 ± 2.2 to 9 ± 1.8 mm Hg, p < 0.001) and timolol (11.9 ± 2.3 to 9.4 ± 2.1 mm Hg, p = 0.003). Conclusions Brimonidine produced a miotic trend with no significant opening of the anterior-chamber angle in patients with narrow angles.
Brimonidine Tartrate ; Miosis ; Intraocular Pressure

The liver hanging maneuver (LHM), introduced by Belghiti et al. in 2001, has been widely adapted to various hepatectomy techniques to reduce blood loss and facilitate parenchymal transection. However, its primary limitation is the risk of vascular injury, particularly near the inferior vena cava (IVC). In this report, we describe a modified “Loop-Hanging” maneuver designed as an alternative to enhance exposure during parenchymal transection and improve the control of Glissonean pedicles. In this case, we employed the technique during an open right hemihepatectomy on a 47-year-old male patient with a complex bile duct injury following two unsuccessful Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomies (RYHJ). The patient was referred to our institution due to an RYHJ stricture. Imaging identified a right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm and a fistula to the biliary limb. After two failed attempts at endovascular embolization, a surgical approach was determined through multidisciplinary discussions. During the surgery, the liver was looped with a nasogastric tube positioned anterior to the IVC, allowing gentle upward traction that facilitated the transection, minimized bleeding, and enhanced pedicle control. The LHM is known to reduce blood loss but carries risks for patients with anatomical variations, scarring, or cirrhosis.Our “Loop-Hanging” technique retains the core advantages of LHM, simplifies the process, and diminishes the risk of vascular injury.Further research is required to assess its safety and broader applicability.

The liver hanging maneuver (LHM), introduced by Belghiti et al. in 2001, has been widely adapted to various hepatectomy techniques to reduce blood loss and facilitate parenchymal transection. However, its primary limitation is the risk of vascular injury, particularly near the inferior vena cava (IVC). In this report, we describe a modified “Loop-Hanging” maneuver designed as an alternative to enhance exposure during parenchymal transection and improve the control of Glissonean pedicles. In this case, we employed the technique during an open right hemihepatectomy on a 47-year-old male patient with a complex bile duct injury following two unsuccessful Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomies (RYHJ). The patient was referred to our institution due to an RYHJ stricture. Imaging identified a right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm and a fistula to the biliary limb. After two failed attempts at endovascular embolization, a surgical approach was determined through multidisciplinary discussions. During the surgery, the liver was looped with a nasogastric tube positioned anterior to the IVC, allowing gentle upward traction that facilitated the transection, minimized bleeding, and enhanced pedicle control. The LHM is known to reduce blood loss but carries risks for patients with anatomical variations, scarring, or cirrhosis.Our “Loop-Hanging” technique retains the core advantages of LHM, simplifies the process, and diminishes the risk of vascular injury.Further research is required to assess its safety and broader applicability.

The liver hanging maneuver (LHM), introduced by Belghiti et al. in 2001, has been widely adapted to various hepatectomy techniques to reduce blood loss and facilitate parenchymal transection. However, its primary limitation is the risk of vascular injury, particularly near the inferior vena cava (IVC). In this report, we describe a modified “Loop-Hanging” maneuver designed as an alternative to enhance exposure during parenchymal transection and improve the control of Glissonean pedicles. In this case, we employed the technique during an open right hemihepatectomy on a 47-year-old male patient with a complex bile duct injury following two unsuccessful Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomies (RYHJ). The patient was referred to our institution due to an RYHJ stricture. Imaging identified a right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm and a fistula to the biliary limb. After two failed attempts at endovascular embolization, a surgical approach was determined through multidisciplinary discussions. During the surgery, the liver was looped with a nasogastric tube positioned anterior to the IVC, allowing gentle upward traction that facilitated the transection, minimized bleeding, and enhanced pedicle control. The LHM is known to reduce blood loss but carries risks for patients with anatomical variations, scarring, or cirrhosis.Our “Loop-Hanging” technique retains the core advantages of LHM, simplifies the process, and diminishes the risk of vascular injury.Further research is required to assess its safety and broader applicability.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The development of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of cirrhosis has become an important focus for basic and clinical researchers. Adrenergic receptor antagonists have been evaluated as antifibrotic drugs in rodent models of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced cirrhosis. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of carvedilol and doxazosin on fibrosis/cirrhosis in a hamster animal model. METHODS: Cirrhotic-induced hamsters were treated by daily administration of carvedilol and doxazosin for 6 weeks. Hepatic function and histological evaluation were conducted by measuring biochemical markers, including total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and albumin, and liver tissue slices. Additionally, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) immunohistochemistry was analyzed. RESULTS: Biochemical markers revealed that hepatic function was restored after treatment with doxazosin and carvedilol. Histological evaluation showed a decrease in collagen type I deposits and TGF-beta-secreting cells. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results suggest that the decrease in collagen type I following treatment with doxazosin or carvedilol is achieved by decreasing the profibrotic activities of TGF-beta via the blockage of alpha1- and beta-adrenergic receptor. Consequently, a diminution of fibrotic tissue in the CCl4-induced model of cirrhosis is achieved.
Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists/*pharmacology ; Alanine Transaminase/blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases/blood ; Bilirubin/blood ; Carbazoles/*pharmacology ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Collagen Type I/drug effects/metabolism ; Cricetinae ; Doxazosin/*pharmacology ; Liver/metabolism/pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis/blood/chemically induced/*drug therapy ; Liver Function Tests ; Propanolamines/*pharmacology ; Serum Albumin/analysis ; Transforming Growth Factor beta/blood/*drug effects

Obesity, which underlies various metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, is a growing public health challenge for which established therapies are inadequate. Given the current obesity epidemic, there is a pressing need for more novel therapeutic strategies that will help adult individuals to manage their weight. One promising therapeutic intervention for reducing obesity is to enhance energy expenditure. Investigations into human brown fat and the recently discovered beige/brite fat have galvanized intense research efforts during the past decade because of their pivotal roles in energy dissipation. In this review, we summarize the evolution of human brown adipose tissue (hBAT) research and discuss new in vivo methodologies for evaluating energy expenditure in patients. We highlight the differences between human and mouse BAT by integrating and comparing their cellular morphology, function, and gene expression profiles. Although great advances in hBAT biology have been achieved in the past decade, more cellular models are needed to acquire a better understanding of adipose-specific processes and molecular mechanisms. Thus, this review also describes the development of a human brown fat cell line, which could provide promising mechanistic insights into hBAT function, signal transduction, and development. Finally, we focus on the therapeutic potential and current limitations of hBAT as an anti-glycemic, anti-lipidemic, and weight loss-inducing 'metabolic panacea'.
Adipose Tissue, Beige ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adipose Tissue, Brown ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Energy Metabolism ; Humans ; Mice ; Obesity ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy