12450 results for ""non-traditional+communal+storytelling+approach"+novel+segment+noted+in+critical+commentary"

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• NIDA Genetic Epidemiology of Opioid Dependence in Bulgaria (GEODB)

  The study was conducted in Bulgaria as a collaboration between the Molecular Medicine Center (Medical University, Sofia), the Bulgarian Addictions Institute (Sofia), the Initiative for Health Foundation (Sofia) and Washington University School of Medicine (Saint Louis, MO, USA). This is a case-population control study. Participants (N=2,499 interviews; N=1,995 with GWAS data) in our study are primarily active heroin users (78%) aged 18 and over, with a median 8.9 years of daily heroin use (minimum of 12 months). Virtually all participants (99.1%) qualified for a lifetime DSM-IV diagnosis of dependence, symptom endorsement probabilities ranging from 77% to 99.3%; and 61% endorsing all symptoms. 85% were heroin injectors and 97% reported using (or having used) heroin daily. Anonymized, population-representative control samples (no phenotypic data, N = 1,062 with GWAS data) were drawn from the MMC repository. Unlike other studies, where samples are clinically ascertained (e.g., from ORT programs), our participants are primarily untreated. PTSD, major depression, suicidality, mania, alcohol, nicotine and substance dependence (separating heroin and opioids) were assessed using the MAGIC (Todd et al., 2003, PMID: 14627881), a broad semi-structured psychiatric assessment tool with good reliability and prospective stability. The onset of (any) illicit drug use in this sample is not particularly remarkable (age~16), but the age of onset of heroin use is much lower than in the USA: 25% by age 16; 50% by age 19, with no differences between ethnicities or gender. This is consistent with findings from other studies in Bulgaria. In contrast, in 2008, SAMHSA estimated an average age of 23.4 for new heroin initiates in the USA. Further, progression from first use to regular use appears to be more rapid, with the majority of participants reporting onset of dependence problems within one year of initiation. Another unique aspect of this study population are the comparatively low levels of polysubstance use (outside of nicotine and alcohol). This early-use, fast-transition and monosubstance heroin pattern stands in sharp contrast to what is reported in many studies in the Western World. In our study, 47% of Ethnic Bulgarians and 66% of Roma used only opioids, even years after the onset of drug use. 15.4% of Ethnic Bulgarians and 66.2% of Roma reported heroin as the very first illicit drug used. Lifetime, 12.5% of Ethnic Bulgarians and 52.8% of Roma report never having used another illicit drug other than heroin more than five times. While both Roma and Ethnic Bulgarians certainly experiment with other drugs, abuse/dependence rates for these drugs are low in Ethnic Bulgarians (from 8.4% for inhalants to 28% for stimulants) and in the Roma population (from 1.3% for hallucinogens to 11.2% for stimulants).

  Study phs001804

• PE-CGS: Optimizing Engagement of Hispanic Colorectal Cancer Patients in Cancer Genomic Characterization Studies

  Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in the US. Hispanic/Latinos (H/L) are the largest and fasting growing ethnic group in the US, and cancer is the leading cause of death among H/L in the US. Therefore, we need to fully understand the full complexity of the molecular etiology of cancer in this ethnic group. For instance, although incidence rates of CRC are lower among Latinos as compared to Whites or African Americans, Hispanics with metastatic disease have shorter overall survival when adjusted for health care setting, demographics, disease characteristics and treatment factors. H/L also tend to be diagnosed at a younger age and with higher stage, and we have previously reported that Mexican H/L in California have the greatest proportion of young (The Cancer Genome Atlas has provided a deep overview of the molecular taxonomy of CRC in 594 cases, however, less than 1% of the cases (n=5) were H/L. Therefore, it is imperative for us to take more detailed assessment of the molecular genomic landscape of CRC in H/L. One of the major issues likely limiting our ability to perform these large genomic initiatives in minority patients is that Patient or Participant Engagement practices may not be investigated to identify best practices for accruing and consenting patients into clinical translational biomedical research studies. This concept of Participant Engagement is critically important for both the patients and the translational cancer research community. Optimizing and improving our approaches for directly engaging patients at initial contact, throughout the course of a translational genomic study, and during the time of return of results is likely to lead to stronger relationships between the medical community and patients, but could also lead to significant improvement in outcomes for patients and for the cancer care community as a whole. As such, we propose the creation of the USC Center for Optimization of Participant Engagement in Cancer Characterization (COPECC) with a focus on optimizing the engagement of Latinos in CRC Genomic Characterization research studies. USC COPECC would serve as a member of the NCI U2C Participant Engagement and Cancer Genome Sequencing (PE-CGS) Network. Our investigative team includes experts in all relevant areas of research for genomic characterization, participant engagement, and engagement optimization. We have an established platform for consenting patients into cancer genomics studies that will serve as a standard process. The overall goal of USC COPECC is to generate results on participant engagement optimization and CRC genomic research that will be shared with the broader community to distribute best practices for engaging Latinos in hopes of improving overall outcomes for CRC in this underserved population.

  Study phs003985

• Epigenomics Studies in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

  Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) remains a clinical challenge since most patients diagnosed with AML will die from the disease. Some patients harbor treatment-refractory disease and many others relapse with disease that in many cases is resistant to treatments. Our study was designed to understand the molecular basis of disease progression in AML through assessing genomics signatures in patient specimens collected through an international collaboration which assembled samples from 138 AML patients which experienced disease relapse and normal hematopoietic cells (n=15). It is hoped that this resource will help researchers understand mechanisms of disease relapse in AML and contribute to the general pool of data available for analyses for this disease and general research use.

  Study phs001027

• The Genomics of Pilocytic Astrocytoma Formation in Neurofibromatosis Type 1

  Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) inherited cancer predisposition syndrome is one of the most common autosomal dominant tumor predisposition syndromes in which affected individuals develop brain tumors. These low-grade glial neoplasms (pilocytic astrocytomas) typically arise in children younger than 7 years of age and are hypothesized to result from a combination of germline and acquired somatic NF1 tumor suppressor gene mutations. In this study, whole genome sequence analysis was performed on three NF1-associated pilocytic astrocytoma tumors (NF1-PA) and matched normal blood samples to establish the genomic landscape of NF1-PA. These data support the existence of multiple distinct mechanisms (mutation, LOH, and methylation) underlying somatic NF1 inactivation in NF1-PA tumors.

  Study phs000563

• Malnutrition and Enteric Disease Network (Mal-ED) Case-Control Study in Brazil

  The Malnutrition and Enteric Disease Network (Mal-ED) Case-Control Study enrolled children in the age range 6-24 months between 2010 and 2014 in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.The aim of the study was to understand the etiology and pathogenesis of malnutrition. Children were prospectively enrolled cases defined as weight for age Z Score (WAZ) <-2 and age and neighborhood matched controls defined as WAZ>-1.This submission includes genetic and associated phenotypic data on a subset of 336 participants. More information on this project and its related projects can be found here: Studies of diarrheal susceptibility, growth, and development, in pediatric populations in Northeastern Brazil

  Study phs003173

• Improved Detection and Identification of Microsatellite Instability Features in Colorectal Cancer

  In this study, we analyzed a series of colorectal cancers using a new sequencing technology that sequences more than 200 microsatellite regions in parallel. With this technology, we evaluated mono-, di- , tri- and tetranucleotide repeats to provide a broad spectrum of microsatellite instability (MSI) events. This deep sequencing technology provides greater than 2000X coverage and eliminates the need for PCR amplification. Because every read corresponds to a single DNA molecule, we eliminated artifacts introduced by PCR that obscured true MSI events. Also included in our analysis is a new method for detection of somatic copy number changes in 83 cancer genes, with which we can infer chromosomal instability (CIN) status.

  Study phs001914

• Genetic contributions of lupus nephritis in a multi-ethnic cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

  Lupus nephritis (LN) is a severe manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and it occurs at a much higher rate in patients that are not of European descent. The purpose of this study is to identify genetic variants contributing to the risk of LN in a multi-ethnic cohort of SLE patients. We used a comprehensive genome-wide screen and 1244 SLE patients from 5 different ethnic groups. In genome-wide gene-based and candidate SNP analyses, we found distinct genes and pathways, and established risk SNPs associated with lupus nephritis for each ethnic group. This study represents progress in elucidating the genetic underpinnings driving LN among SLE patients of different ethnic groups.

  Study phs001609

• Next-generation molecular analysis of surgical margins in oral squamous cell carcinoma for assessment of microscopic residual disease and personalized postoperative treatment decision

  Background : Patients operated for an early oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) with clear margins have a 5-year local relapse rate of around 15%. Assessing the microscopic residual disease (MRD) remains a challenge. In a phase II prospective trial, we evaluated the tetranucleotide microsatellite instability markers in the surgical margins in T1-T2 OSCC resected with pathologically clear margins. Goal : Detect MRD in surgical margins and adapt the postoperative decision-making Details : Whole exome sequencing (WES) on early oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) with clear margins, and on resection margins, 86 patients with a median follow-up of 58 months (range 30.4-83 months)

  Study EGAS50000000823

• Proteomic measurements in BioBank Japan

  The BioBank Japan (BBJ) is a biobank established in the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo to collect clinical information and biological materials (DNA and serum samples). It collected about 200 thousand participants of 47 diseases started in 2003 (BBJ 1st cohort), and 67 thousand participants of 38 diseases started in 2013 (BBJ 2nd cohort), both in collaboration with 12 medical centers through the MEXT and AMED's "The BioBank Japan Project." This project is aiming at further utilization of the materials, and clinical and genomic information managed by BBJ to contribute to precision medicine by storing, managing, and providing the materials and data, as well as identifying biomarkers associated with disease risk, prognosis, and drug sensitivity.

  Study JGAS000785

• The role of gut microbiota in metabolic diseases

  Diabetes is a major disease in the elderly and is responsible for increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. Recently, the relationship between microbiota and diabetes has been reported in animals and humans. In this study, blood, stool, and saliva samples were collected from examinees at the University of Tokyo Health Screening Center, and 16S rRNA and metagenomic analyses were performed to determine the variation of microbiota. Furthermore, metabolome analysis and transcriptome analysis (CAGE analysis) using blood were performed to reveal changes in host metabolites and gene expression. By comparing the host- and bacteria- derived information with the metabolic parameters, we analyzed whether microbiota can be a predictor of metabolic diseases.

  Study JGAS000569

• Diagnostic Exome Sequencing in Persons with Severe Intellectual Disability

  Intellectual disability is a common condition that carries lifelong severe medical and developmental consequences. The causes of intellectual disability (ID) remain unknown for the majority of patients due to the extensive clinical and genetic heterogeneity of this disorder. De novo mutations may play an important role in ID as most individuals with ID present as isolated cases without family history and/or clear syndromic indication. In addition, the involvement of such mutations have recently been demonstrated in a small number of individuals with ID. Here we evaluate the diagnostic potential and role of de novo mutations in a cohort of 100 patients with ID of unknown cause using family-based exome sequencing.

  Study EGAS00001000287

• Intra-prostatic tumour evolution, steps in metastatic spread and histogenomic associations revealed by integration of multi-region whole genome sequencing with histopathological features

  We performed whole genome sequencing on 42 prostate cancer samples from the prostate, seminal vesicles and regional lymph nodes of five treatment-naive patients with locally advanced disease who underwent radical prostatectomy. Using cancer cell fractions computed from single nucleotide variants and copy number alterations, we reconstructed the tumour phylogenies, which in turn allowed us to infer key molecular steps in the progression of prostate cancer in these individuals. We mapped the clonal composition of cancer sampled across the prostate in each individual and inferred the routes of spread of cancer cells within the prostate and to seminal vesicles and lymph nodes.

  Study EGAS00001007438

• Detection and genomic analysis of BRAF fusions in Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma through the combination and integration of multi-omic data

  Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma (JPAs) are highly vascular tumors and show pervasive immune infiltration, which can lead to low tumor cell purity in clinical samples. In some instances, this results in gene fusions that are difficult to detect with conventional omics approaches including RNA-Seq. To this effect, we applied RNA-Seq as well as linked-read whole-genome sequencing and in situ Hi-C as new approaches to detect and characterize low-frequency gene fusions at the genomic, transcriptomic and spatial level. Overall, we demonstrate the power of integrating multi-omic datasets to identify low frequency fusions and characterize the JPA genome at high resolution.

  Study EGAS00001006388

• Dual spatially resolved transcriptomics for human host-pathogen colocalization studies in FFPE tissue sections

  Technologies to study localized host-pathogen interactions are urgently needed. Here, we present a spatial transcriptomics approach to simultaneously capture host and pathogen transcriptome-wide spatial gene expression information from human formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections at a near single-cell resolution. We demonstrate this methodology in lung samples from COVID-19 patients and validate our spatial detection of SARS-CoV-2 against RNAScope and in situ sequencing. Host-pathogen colocalization analysis identified putative modulators of SARS-CoV-2 infection in human lung cells. Our approach provides new insights into host response to pathogen infection through the simultaneous, unbiased detection of two transcriptomes in FFPE samples.

  Study EGAS00001006186

• Exon4-mutations in KRAS in Multiple Myeloma

  Dac EGAC00001001432

• NHLBI TOPMed: Australian Familial Atrial Fibrillation Study

  In the Australian Familial AF Study, a cohort of probands with familial AF was recruited for genetics studies at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. Familial AF cases were identified from in-patient and out-patient populations at St. Vincent's Hospital and by referral from collaborating physicians throughout Australia. Study subjects underwent clinical evaluation with history, ECG and echocardiogram, and informed consent was obtained from all participants. 151 probands aged <66 years at the time of diagnosis were included in this analysis. The control cohort was comprised of age- and sex-matched individuals (n=151) who had no history of cardiovascular disease. In the current TOPMed study, we have performed whole genome sequencing in European Ancestry cases with early-onset atrial fibrillation (defined as atrial fibrillation onset prior to 61 years).

  Study phs001435

• The Mutational Landscape of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

  This study was the first-known large-scale effort to uncover the mutational spectrum of head and neck cancers. We analyzed whole-exome sequence from 92 tumor-normal pairs and retained 74 of them for significance analysis. The majority exhibited a mutational profile consistent with tobacco exposure; human papilloma virus sequence was detectable in 15% of cases. In addition to identifying previously known HNSCC genes (TP53, CDKN2A, PTEN, PIK3CA, and HRAS), the analysis revealed many genes not previously implicated in this malignancy. At least 30% of cases harbor mutations in genes (such as NOTCH1, IRF6, TP63) that regulate squamous differentiation, implicating alterations in this process as a major driver of HNSCC carcinogenesis. Altogether, the results suggest that large-scale exome sequencing may illuminate fundamental tumorigenic mechanisms with important therapeutic implications.

  Study phs000370

• Single Cell Transcriptomic Data from CD4+ T Cells from Children with MIS-C

  Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a severe complication of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the pediatric population characterized by fever, multi-organ involvement and systemic inflammation. Single-cell RNA sequencing was used to evaluate the transcriptomic signature of CD4+ T cells obtained from the peripheral blood of patients with MIS-C before (n=3) and after (n=5) immunomodulatory treatment, along with pediatric controls (n=4). Compared to controls and treated children with MIS-C, T cells obtained from pre-treatment MIS-C patients upregulated genes associated with activation, such as NF-kB signaling. This single-cell transcriptomic data was used in the context of a larger study entitled, "Notch1-CD22-Dependent Immune Dysregulation in the SARSCoV2-Associated Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children."

  Study phs003086

• Genomic and clinical characterization of a familial GIST kindred intolerant to imatinib

  Familial gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are rare. We present a kindred with multiple family members affected with multifocal GIST who underwent whole genome sequencing of the germline and tumor. Affected individuals with GIST harbored a germline variant found within exon 13 of the KIT gene, (c.1965T>G; p.Asn655Lys, p.N655K) and a variant in the MSR1 gene (c.877C>T; p.Arg293*, pR293X). Multifocal GISTs in the proband and her mother were treated with preoperative imatinib, and resulted in severe intolerance. The clinical features of multifocal GIST, cutaneous mastocytosis, allergies and gut motility disorders seen in the affected individuals may represent manifestations of the multifunctional roles of KIT in interstitial cells of Cajal or mast cells and/or may be suggestive of additional molecular pathways which can contribute to tumorigenesis.

  Study EGAS50000000372

• Adeno-associated virus in the liver: natural history and consequences in tumor development

  Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a defective mono-stranded DNA virus, endemic in human population (40-80%). AAV infection has long been considered as non-pathogenic1, however few years ago we reported for the first time recurrent clonal AAV2 insertion in the pathogenesis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developed on normal liver. These clonal viral insertions target cancer driver genes, including CCNA2, CCNE1, TERT, TNFSF10 and MLL4, leading to their overexpression. The viral inserted sequences involved in almost all the cases the 3’ inverse tandem repeat (ITR) of AAV2, which is important for virus integration in host DNA and exhibits a promoter/enhancer activity. Here, we used RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to investigate their functional impact on the tissue, such as fusion transcript generation events.

  Study EGAS00001003310

• Multiregional sequencing of IDH-WT glioblastoma reveals high genetic heterogeneity and a dynamic evolutionary history

  Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive primary brain malignancy in adults. In addi-tion to extensive inter-patient heterogeneity, glioblastoma shows intra-tumor extensive cellular and molecular heterogeneity, both spatially and temporally. This heterogeneity is one of the main reasons for the poor prognosis and overall survival. Moreover, it raises the important question of whether the molecular characterization of a single bioptic sample, as performed in standard di-agnostics, actually represents the entire lesion. In this study, we sequenced the whole-exome of nine spatially different cancer regions of three primary glioblastomas. We characterized their mutational profiles and copy number alterations, with implications for our understanding of tu-mor biology in relation to clonal architecture and evolutionary dynamics, as well as therapeuti-cally relevant alterations.

  Study EGAS00001005128

• Size-tagged preferred ends in maternal plasma DNAshed light on the production mechanism and showutility in noninvasive prenatal testing

  Cell-free DNA molecules in the plasma of pregnant women exhibit nonrandom fragmentation with preferred end sites. We studied if such preferred end sites might bear any re- lationship with fragment lengths of plasma DNA. Short and long plasma DNA molecules were associated with different preferred DNA end sites. Analysis of size-tagged preferred ends could be used for measuring fetal DNA fraction and for facilitating fetal trisomy 21 detection. Fetal preferred end sites were generally located in the nucleosome cores, while the maternal ones were located in the linker regions. This con- ceptual framework provides an explanation of the relative shortness of fetal DNA in maternal plasma and brings us closer to understanding the biological mechanisms that influence plasma DNA fragmentation.

  Study EGAS00001002831

• RNA-seq of Glioblastoma stem cells

  Chromatin accessibility discriminates stem from mature cell populations, enabling the identification of primitive stem-like cells in primary tumors, such as Glioblastoma (GBM) where self-renewing cells driving cancer progression and recurrence are prime targets for therapeutic intervention. We show, using single-cell chromatin accessibility, that primary GBMs harbor a heterogeneous self-renewing population whose diversity is captured in patient-derived glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). In depth characterization of chromatin accessibility in GSCs identifies three GSC states: Reactive, Constructive, and Invasive, each governed by uniquely essential transcription factors and present within GBMs in varying proportions. Orthotopic xenografts reveal that GSC states associate with survival, and identify an invasive GSC signature predictive of low patient survival. Our chromatin-driven characterization of GSC states improves prognostic precision and identifies dependencies to guide combination therapies.

  Study EGAS00001003070

• Radiation-induced gliomas represent H3-/IDH-wild type pediatric gliomas with recurrent PDGFRA amplification and loss of CDKN2A/B

  Long-term complications such as radiation-induced second malignancies occur in a subset of patients following radiation-therapy, particularly relevant in pediatric patients due to the long follow-up period in case of survival. Radiation-induced gliomas (RIGs) have been reported in patients after treatment with cranial irradiation for various primary malignancies such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and medulloblastoma (MB). We perform comprehensive (epi-) genetic and expression profiling of RIGs arising after cranial irradiation for MB (n=23) and ALL (n=9). Our study reveals a unifying molecular signature for the majority of RIGs, with recurrent PDGFRA amplification and loss of CDKN2A/B and an absence of somatic hotspot mutations in genes encoding histone 3 variants or IDH1/2, uncovering diagnostic markers and potentially actionable targets.

  Study EGAS00001005243

• Neuroblastoma tumor heterogeneity and cell plasticity (from PDX and cell lines)

  Two cell identities, noradrenergic and mesenchymal, have been characterized in neuroblastoma cell lines according to their epigenetic landscapes relying on specific core regulatory circuitries of transcription factors. Yet, their relationship and relative contribution in patient tumors remain to be defined. Here, we document a spontaneous plasticity between the noradrenergic and mesenchymal identities in a subset of cell lines. Strikingly, mesenchymal neuroblastoma cells revert to a noradrenergic phenotype in vivo. Consistently, tumor cells with a mesenchymal identity are detected in single-cell transcriptomic analyses of neuroblastoma tumors and PDX models. Our data also highlight neuroblastoma intra-tumor heterogeneity with the co-existence of distinct tumor populations, including sympathoblast-like and chromaffin-like cells suggesting that neuroblastoma cells arise from a common sympatho-adrenal progenitor.

  Study EGAS00001004781