Project description:Esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) are relatively frequently occurring foregut malformations with a largely unknown etiology. EA/TEF is thought to have a strong genetic component and several genes have been proven to be involved in syndromic EA/TEF. However, it is not clear which biological processes or gene networks are disturbed. To gain more insight in the origin of the TEF, we aimed to examine and describe TEF composition using a combination of whole-genome transcription profiling and (immuno-) histochemical stainings. We hypothesized that such characterization of human TEFs provides insight in the molecular and mechanistic etiology of EA/TEF. Data analysis was carried out using BRB-array tools version 4.6.0 (October 2018) in combination with R version 3.5.1 (July 2018). For each probe set, the geometric mean of the hybridization intensities of all samples was calculated. The level of expression of each probe set was determined relative to this geometric mean and logarithmically transformed (on a base 2 scale) to ascribe equal weight to gene-expression levels with similar relative distances to the geometric mean.
Project description:Background: CrohnM-bM-^@M-^Ys disease is presently an incurable inflammatory bowel disease. Fistulae are extensions of the intestinal tract that may form connections with other organs. These are a common complication of CrohnM-bM-^@M-^Ys disease affecting up to 50% of patients with the most common including perianal and rectovaginal fistulae. The dysregulated growth observed in fistulae shares several major characteristics seen in the development of tumours. These similarities include epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasive cell growth, increased extracellular matrix production and remodelling, up-regulated local expression of growth factors such as IGF-1 and the down-regulation of apoptosis pathways. Although several susceptibility loci have been described within CrohnM-bM-^@M-^Ys disease there is no individual gene or mutation that identifies susceptibility or the subsequent formation of fistulae within all people. Copy-number variation (CNV) is one mechanism that may explain much of this genetic complexity. CNV may be caused by a variety of mechanisms such as cycles of chromosomal breakage/fusion/bridging that are typical within chronically inflamed tissue. Interestingly CNV shows locus-specific mutation rates between individuals higher than that of SNPs and has been associated with complex Mendelian traits including disease susceptibility. In this current study we performed array comparative genomic hybridisation (aCGH) analysis of active fistulae resected from patients as part of a previous surgical intervention. As the control for comparison we employed tissue taken from the same patient within the same surgery at an uninvolved site of the gastrointestinal tract. This matched control was employed to better investigate CNV specific to the fistula tissue of each individual avoiding complications associated with the large number of CNV present within the healthy population. Major question addressed by the work: What are the differences in genetic copy-number within localised intestinal fistula tissue of individuals with CrohnM-bM-^@M-^Ys disease compared to healthy intestinal tissue from the same individual? Samples were selected from patients presenting with CrohnM-bM-^@M-^Ys Disease fistulae at Eastern Health Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (Arnold Street, Box Hill, Victoria, Australia). The 8 samples used in this study were formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens following a surgical intervention to remove fistula tissue. To focus on changes within the individual patient we used tissue taken from the same surgery at an uninvolved region of the intestine as the matched control for CNV analysis.
Project description:The purpose of this study is to demonstrate, in patients treated with adalimumab, the efficacy of proctological surgery in anoperineal fistula healing after the removal of seton drain.
Project description:Prospective study of accuracy of colonic polyp characterisation in vivo using high resolution white light endoscopy, narrow band imaging and chromoendoscopy.