Project description:Contact lens-related ocular surface complications occur more often in teenagers and young adults. The purpose of this study was to determine changes in tear proteome of young patients wearing glasses (GL), orthokeratology lenses (OK), and soft contact lenses (SCL). Twenty-two young patients (10-26 years of age) who were established (> 3 years) GL (n=10), OK (n=6), and SCL (n=6) wearers were recruited. Tears were collected via Schirmer strips. Proteomic data were collected using a data-independent acquisition-parallel accumulation serial fragmentation (diaPASEF) workflow. Tear proteome composition and abundance were compared across different correction groups and between the children (age <18 years) and young adults (age 18 years) GL wearers. We identified 3406 protein groups in tears. Among proteins identified in 80% of tear samples, 8 proteins were upregulated, and 11 proteins were down-regulated in the SCL group compared to the OK group. Eighty-two proteins were differentially expressed in children and young adults GL wearers, among which 67 proteins were upregulated, and 15 proteins were downregulated in children. These 82 proteins were involved in 1 inflammation, 9 immune, and 1 glycoprotein metabolic biological processes. As teenagers and young adults have the highest risk of developing contact lens-related complications, this work highlights the importance of understanding ocular responses to contact lens wear across different ages.
Project description:We molecularly characterized a class of histologically aggressive childhood liver cancers and showed that these tumors are clinically aggressive and that their observed histological features are associated with underlying recurrent molecular features. We proposed a diagnostic algorithm to identify these cancers using a combination of histological and molecular features, and our analysis suggested that these cancers may benefit from specialized treatment strategies that may differ from treatment guidelines for hepatoblastomas and hepatocellular carcinomas.
Project description:We molecularly characterized a class of histologically aggressive childhood liver cancers and showed that these tumors are clinically aggressive and that their observed histological features are associated with underlying recurrent molecular features. We proposed a diagnostic algorithm to identify these cancers using a combination of histological and molecular features, and our analysis suggested that these cancers may benefit from specialized treatment strategies that may differ from treatment guidelines for hepatoblastomas and hepatocellular carcinomas.
Project description:Background: Ewing sarcoma, a highly aggressive tumor of children and young adults, is characterized most commonly by an 11;22 chromosomal translocation that fuses EWSR1 located at 22q12 with FLI1, coding for a member of the ETS family of transcription factors. Although genetic changes in Ewing sarcoma have been extensively researched, our understanding of the role of epigenetic modifications in this neoplasm is limited.
Project description:Genome wide DNA methylation profiling of isolated monocyte samples from healthy Kenyan children, the same children during an episode of acute malaria, healthy Kenyan adults, and healthy adults from the United States. The Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip microarray was used to obtain DNA methylation profiles across approximately 860,000 CpGs in negatively selected monocyte samples. Samples included monocytes from 8 children from western Kenya obtained while healthy and matching samples from the same 8 Kenyan children obtained during an episode of acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, 8 healthy malaria-immune adults from western Kenya, and 8 healthy malaria-naive adults from the US. Abstract -- Background: Age-related changes in adaptive and innate immune cells have been associated with a decline in effective immunity and chronic, low-grade inflammation. Epigenetic, transcriptional, and functional changes in monocytes occur with aging, though most studies to date have focused on differences between young adults and the elderly in populations with European ancestry; few data exist regarding changes that occur in circulating monocytes during the first few decades of life or in African populations. We analyzed DNA methylation profiles, cytokine production, and inflammatory gene expression profiles in monocytes from young adults and children from western Kenya. Results: We identified several hypo- and hyper-methylated CpG sites in monocytes from Kenyan young adults vs. children that replicated findings in the current literature of differential DNA methylation in monocytes from elderly persons vs. young adults across diverse populations. Differentially methylated CpG sites were also noted in gene regions important to inflammation and innate immune responses. Monocytes from Kenyan young adults vs. children displayed increased production of IL-8, IL-10, and IL-12p70 in response to TLR4 and TLR2/1 stimulation as well as distinct inflammatory gene expression profiles. Conclusions: These findings complement previous reports of age-related methylation changes in isolated monocytes and provide novel insights into the role of age-associated changes in innate immune functions.
Project description:Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone tumour in children and young adults, and the second highest cause of cancer-related death in this age group. In spite of aggressive chemotherapy, disease-free survival has not improved significantly in the past 20 years, and 50% of patients subsequently develop fatal pulmonary metastasis. We have performed gene expression profiling of primary osteosarcoma biopsies (i) to identify prognostic markers, and (ii) to identify novel therapeutic targets. Keywords: Comaprison between disease status (metastatic vs non-metastatic) and normal Two-colour experiment. 7 samples for non-metastatic patients, 6 of which are analyzed in duplicate (dye-swaps); 11 samples for metastatic patients, 10 of which are analyzed in duplicate (dye-swaps); 5 samples of non-malignant bone analyzed individualy, no dye-swaps (i.e. 5 biological replicates).
