Medical Specialties Commons^™

Brain Herniation Through The Cribriform Plate: Review And Comparison To Encephaloceles In The Same Region., Rabjot Rai, Joe Iwanaga, Marios Loukas, Rod J Oskouian, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Herniations of the brain and/or meninges through an opening of the skull often occur through the foramen magnum, e.g., Chiari malformations and encephaloceles. The herniation of brain matter through the cribriform plate is a rare incident and has not been reported frequently. The presence of such an occurrence still requires attention and anatomical understanding. This review will examine the potential causes of cribriform plate herniation and its distinguishability to nasal encephaloceles. The sloping of brain tissue toward potential space/opening in response to elevated pressures in the cranium to accommodate for the added pressure are features seen in herniation. The presence …

A Case Report Of An Enlarged Suboccipital Nerve With Cutaneous Branch., Sasha Lake, Joe Iwanaga, Rod J Oskouian, Marios Loukas, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Variations of the suboccipital nerve are infrequently reported. This nerve derived from the C1 spinal nerve is usually a small branch that primarily innervates the short suboccipital muscles. During the routine dissection of the occipital region in an adult cadaver, a vastly enlarged left-sided suboccipital nerve was identified. The nerve innervated the short suboccipital muscles and overlying semispinalis capitis in normal fashion. However, it continued cranially to end in the overlying skin of the occiput. Although not normally thought to have a cutaneous branch, recalcitrant occipital neuralgia might be due to such a variant branch. Future studies are necessary to …

Superior Cerebellar Arteries Originating From The Posterior Cerebral Arteries But Normal Course Of The Oculomotor Nerves., Dominic Dalip, Joe Iwanaga, Marios Loukas, Rod J Oskouian, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

The posterior cerebral artery (PCA) is a branch of the terminal part of the basilar artery and perfuses the temporal lobes, midbrain, thalamus, and the posterior inferior portion of the parietal lobes. It is divided into P1-P4 segments. Variations in the P1 segment of the PCA are important to neurosurgeons when performing surgery, for example, on basilar tip aneurysms. We report bilateral superior cerebellar artery (SCA) arising from the P1 segment of the PCA. Such a configuration appears to be uncommon but should be kept in mind by neurosurgeons, neurointerventionalists, and neuroradiologists.

The Effect Of Abnormal Vitamin D Levels In Athletes., Jakub Sikora-Klak, Steven J Narvy, Justin Yang, Eric Makhni, F Daniel Kharrazi, Nima Mehran

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Vitamin D is a lipophilic prohormone integral to musculoskeletal, autoimmune, oncologic, cardiovascular, and mental health. Of particular importance to the orthopedic surgeon is the role of vitamin D in the regulation of bone mass, muscle strength, and physical performance. Although vitamin D-related skeletal pathologies are rare in industrialized nations, emerging research in the field has shown that most American adults have inadequate levels of vitamin D. Even among athletes, there is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, which may place competitors at risk of stress fractures, illness, and delayed muscle recovery. Adequately identifying vitamin D-deficient individuals in need of …

Digital Health Practices, Social Media Use, And Mental Well-Being Among Teens And Young Adults In The U.S., Victoria Rideout, Susannah Fox, Well Being Trust

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

A national survey of 14- to 22-year-olds provides new evidence on the growing mental health crisis affecting young people. The survey, sponsored by Hopelab and Well Being Trust (WBT), finds that large numbers of teens and young adults experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of depression are turning to the internet for help, including researching mental health issues online (90 percent), accessing other people’s health stories through blogs, podcasts, and videos (75 percent), using mobile apps related to well-being (38 percent), and connecting with health providers through digital tools such as texting and video chat (32 percent).

“This survey suggests that …

Comparative Effectiveness Of Secukinumab And Etanercept In Biologic-Naïve Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis Assessed By Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparison., Philip Mease, Ernest Choy, Peter Nash, Chrysostomos Kalyvas, Matthias Hunger, Luminita Pricop, Kunal K Gandhi, Steffen M Jugl, Howard Thom

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

OBJECTIVE: Matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) can be used to assess the comparative effectiveness of two treatments indirectly using data from randomized placebo-controlled trials. This MAIC assessed the comparative effectiveness of secukinumab (an anti-interleukin-17A) and etanercept (a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor) in a target population of biologic-naïve patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

METHODS: Individual patient data pooled from FUTURE 2 (NCT01752634), FUTURE 3 (NCT01989468), and FUTURE 5 (NCT02404350) (secukinumab: 150 mg, n=458 and 300 mg, n=461) were matched to data from the population in the NCT00317499 trial (etanercept 25 mg, n=101) using MAIC methodology, by adjusting for clinical and demographic baseline …

Cardiac Mri T2* In Liver Transplant Candidates: Application And Performance Of A Novel Imaging Technique To Identify Patients At Risk For Poor Posttransplant Cardiac Outcomes., Sara M Lewin, Kimberly Kallianos, M Ilan Nevah, Susan Zhao, Oren K Fix, Gabriel C Brooks, Teresa De Marco, Atif N Qasim, Karen G Ordovas, Neil Mehta

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Background: In end-stage liver disease, alterations in iron metabolism can lead to iron overload and development of iron overload cardiomyopathy. In liver transplant candidates, evaluation for cardiac iron overload and dysfunction can help to identify candidates at increased risk for peritransplant morbidity and mortality, though recommendations for pretransplant evaluation of cardiac iron overload are not standardized. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging T2* (CMRI-T2*) is a validated method to quantify cardiac iron deposition, with normal T2* value of 20 ms or greater. In this study, we sought to identify the incidence and predictors of iron overload by CMRI-T2* and to evaluate the …

Assessment Of Bulbar Function In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Validation Of A Self-Report Scale (Center For Neurologic Study Bulbar Function Scale)., R A Smith, E A Macklin, K J Myers, G L Pattee, K L Goslin, G D Meekins, J R Green, J M Shefner, E P Pioro

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Impaired bulbar functions of speech and swallowing are among the most serious consequences of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Despite this, clinical trials in ALS have rarely emphasized bulbar function as an endpoint. The rater-administered Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) or various quality-of-life measures are commonly used to measure symptomatic benefit. Accordingly, we sought to evaluate the utility of measures specific to bulbar function in ALS.

METHODS: We assessed bulbar functions in 120 patients with ALS, with clinicians first making direct observations of the degree of speech, swallowing and salivation impairment in these subjects. Clinical diagnosis …

Complement Factor D Protects Mice From Ethanol-Induced Inflammation And Liver Injury., Rebecca L Mccullough, Megan R Mcmullen, Megan M Sheehan, Kyle L Poulsen, Sanjoy Roychowdhury, Dian J Chiang, Michele T Pritchard, Juan Caballeria, Laura E Nagy

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Complement plays a crucial role in microbial defense and clearance of apoptotic cells. Emerging evidence suggests complement is an important contributor to alcoholic liver disease. While complement component 1, Q subcomponent (C1q)-dependent complement activation contributes to ethanol-induced liver injury, the role of the alternative pathway in ethanol-induced injury is unknown. Activation of complement via the classical and alternative pathways was detected in alcoholic hepatitis patients. Female C57BL/6J [wild type (WT)], C1q-deficient ( C1qa

Worsening Choreoathetosis In Huntington's Disease With Fluoxetine, Lisdexamfetamine, And Melatonin: A Case Report., Clayton J Hamilton, Tysen K Timmer, Robert C Munjal, Fernando Cardozo-Pelaez, Ian R Mcgrane

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Cognitive, affective, and sleep disturbances can be found in patients with Huntington's disease (HD), and medications used to treat these HD-related sequela can also impact HD-related movement disorders. We present the case of a 52-year-old Caucasian man with previously undiagnosed HD who exhibited significant choreoathetoid movements that improved with discontinuation of fluoxetine and lisdexamfetamine upon hospital admission. Following diagnosis of HD through genetic testing, he was administered 5mg of oral melatonin on two consecutive evenings, which resulted in worsening choreoathetosis. We calculated Naranjo adverse event scores of 5, 5, and 2 for fluoxetine, lisdexamfetamine, and melatonin, respectively, based on our …

Duplication Of The Alar Ligaments: A Case Report., Asad Rizvi, Joe Iwanaga, Rod J Oskouian, Marios Loukas, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

The alar ligament is one of the two strongest ligaments stabilizing the craniocervical junction. The literature describes many variations of the attachment, insertion, shape, and orientation of the alar ligament and an understanding of these variations is vital as they can lead to altered biomechanics or misinterpretation on imaging. Herein, we report, to our knowledge, the first case of duplication of the alar ligaments and discuss the anatomical variations present in the literature.

Correction To: First Results On Survival From A Large Phase 3 Clinical Trial Of An Autologous Dendritic Cell Vaccine In Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma., Linda M Liau, Keyoumars Ashkan, David D Tran, Jian L Campian, John E Trusheim, Charles S Cobbs, Jason A Heth, Michael Salacz, Sarah Taylor, Stacy D D'Andre, Fabio M Iwamoto, Edward J Dropcho, Yaron A Moshel, Kevin A Walter, Clement P Pillainayagam, Robert Aiken, Rekha Chaudhary, Samuel A Goldlust, Daniela A Bota, Paul Duic, Jai Grewal, Heinrich Elinzano, Steven A Toms, Kevin O Lillehei, Tom Mikkelsen, Tobias Walbert, Steven R Abram, Andrew J Brenner, Steven Brem, Matthew G Ewend, Simon Khagi, Jana Portnow, Lyndon J Kim, William G Loudon, Reid C Thompson, David E Avigan, Karen L Fink, Francois J Geoffroy, Scott Lindhorst, Jose Lutzky, Andrew E Sloan, Gabriele Schackert, Dietmar Krex, Hans-Jorg Meisel, Julian Wu, Raphael P Davis, Christopher Duma, Arnold B Etame, David Mathieu, Santosh Kesari, David Piccioni, Manfred Westphal, David S Baskin, Pamela Z New, Michel Lacroix, Sven-Axel May, Timothy J Pluard, Victor Tse, Richard M Green, John L Villano, Michael Pearlman, Kevin Petrecca, Michael Schulder, Lynne P Taylor, Anthony E Maida, Robert M Prins, Timothy F Cloughesy, Paul Mulholland, Marnix L Bosch

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported an error in the spelling of one of the author names. In this Correction the incorrect and correct author names are indicated and the author name has been updated in the original publication. The authors also reported an error in the Methods section of the original article. In this Correction the incorrect and correct versions of the affected sentence are indicated. The original article has not been updated with regards to the error in the Methods section.

A Variant Origin Of The Carotid Sinus Nerve., Kevlian Andrew, Joe Iwanaga, Marios Loukas, Rod J Oskouian, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

The carotid sinus nerve is known to convey baroreceptive fibers from the carotid sinus. Despite studies on the baroreflex pathway and the course and communications of the carotid sinus nerve with the surrounding nervous and vascular structures, there have been scant reports on variations in the origin of the carotid sinus nerve (CSN). We identified an unusual origin of the CSN. On the right side of a cadaveric specimen, the CSN was found to arise from two small rami extending from the external laryngeal nerve. Such a case can help better understand various pathways used to monitor the carotid sinus. …

A Variant Of The Sciatic Nerve And Its Clinical Implications., Graham Dupont, Florence Unno, Joe Iwanaga, Rod J Oskouian, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Variants of gluteal neural anatomy are important to consider, especially during surgical approaches to the hip. During the routine dissection of the gluteal region, a variant of the sciatic nerve was found where the nerve left the pelvis fully split into its tibial and common fibular components. Intrapelvically and extrapelvically, there was no splitting of the two components by the piriformis muscle. Distally, the two parts of the nerve were draped over the medial and lateral edges of the ischial tuberosity. To avoid iatrogenic injury to the sciatic nerve during invasive or surgical approaches to this region, all possible anatomical …

The Role Of The Axillary Arch Variant In Neurovascular Syndrome Of Brachial Plexus Compression., Rabjot Rai, Joe Iwanaga, Marios Loukas, Rod J Oskouian, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Axillary arch muscles are often found. In their course through this area, they might interfere with regional neurovascular structures. This case report will examine the presence of the axillary arch muscle and its implication in brachial plexus compression. During routine dissection of the left axilla and upper limb, a variant muscle (axillary arch muscle) was identified arising from the distal tendon of the latissimus dorsi and extending laterally to insert onto the deep surface of the tendon of insertion of the deltoid muscle. In adduction of the upper limb, the muscle was lax without compression of any underlying neurovascular structures. …

Comprehensive Review Of The Cardinal Ligament., Seif Eid, Joe Iwanaga, Rod J Oskouian, Marios Loukas, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

The cardinal ligament is thought to be one of the important structures in providing support and stabilization for the pelvic organs e.g., the uterus. However, many discrepancies exist in the literature regarding terminology, anatomy, and histology. The cardinal ligament attaches the lateral side of the vagina and cervix to the lateral pelvic wall, which provides support to the vagina and cervix. Studies have shown variable findings in the collagen content and distribution in the cardinal ligaments of women with a prolapsed uterus. Uterine vessels and the branches of the inferior hypogastric plexus travel in the cardinal ligament, which is of …

The Deep Fascia Of The Forearm And The Ulnar Nerve: An Anatomical Study., Paul J Choi, Chidinma Nwaogbe, Joe Iwanaga, Georgi P Georgiev, Rod J Oskouian, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Introduction A reoperation for a cubital tunnel syndrome is not uncommon. Patients often complain of sensorimotor symptoms in the ulnar nerve distribution after their primary surgery. The documented etiologies for such a phenomenon include a "new" kinking of the distal ulnar nerve and a "new" compression of the ulnar nerve by the fascial septum in between or tendinous bands over the muscles of the forearm. The deep fascial plane along which the ulnar nerve travels in the forearm has had scant attention. We present an anatomical study to provide a better understanding of such etiologies to aid physicians in performing …

Review Of The Variations Of The Superficial Veins Of The Neck., Dominic Dalip, Joe Iwanaga, Marios Loukas, Rod J Oskouian, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

The venous drainage of the neck can be characterized into superficial or deep. Superficial drainage refers to the venous drainage of the subcutaneous tissues, which are drained by the anterior and external jugular veins (EJVs). The brain, face, and neck structures are mainly drained by the internal jugular vein (IJV). The superficial veins are found deep to the platysma muscle while the deep veins are found encased in the carotid sheath. The junction of the retromandibular vein and the posterior auricular vein usually form the EJV, which continues along to drain into the subclavian vein. The anterior jugular vein is …

Ophthalmic Artery Aneurysm In A Cadaver: Case Report., Dominic Dalip, Joe Iwanaga, Marios Loukas, Rod J Oskouian, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

The ophthalmic artery arises from the supraclinoid segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and enters the orbit through the optic canal. It perfuses the orbit and the orbit apparatus. Ophthalmic artery aneurysms (OAA) account for 0.5% to 11% of all intracerebral aneurysms. Patients are usually asymptomatic but, in some cases, patients can present with ophthalmoplegia and total blindness if these aneurysms rupture. Aneurysms are usually diagnosed using computed tomography (CT) angiography but can also be seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and four-vessel digital subtraction angiography. Treatment of OAA entails either surgical or endovascular approaches with the mortality rate …

An Unusual Back Muscle Identified Bilaterally: Case Report., Juan J Altafulla, Mayank Patel, R Shane Tubbs, Joe Iwanaga, Zachary Litvack

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Most muscular structures in the human body are named based on their function, origin/insertion, or shape. During routine dissection of the back, an unusual muscle was found deep to the rhomboid muscles. The details of this case and a review of the extant literature are provided.

Pelvic Kidney: A Review Of The Literature., Seif Eid, Joe Iwanaga, Marios Loukas, Rod J Oskouian, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Kidney development is a complex process that begins during the sixth to eighth weeks of life. Failure of ascent of the kidney will cause the kidney to remain in the pelvis i.e., pelvic kidney. Here, we review this entity in detail and illustrate such embryological derailment. In most cases, a pelvic kidney is an incidental finding and is usually asymptomatic. Anatomic variations of the renal vasculature have been reported in cases of pelvic kidneys and these are highlighted in this review. Clinicians who treat patients for renal or pelvic disease or interpret images of the pelvis should be well informed …

An Unusual Variation Of The Accessory Nerve., Yusuf Alimi, Joe Iwanaga, Marios Loukas, Rod J Oskouian, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

The accessory nerve is an important nerve in the head and neck regions. Some variants of this nerve's anatomy have been reported. Herein, we present an unusual report and review the extant medical literature regarding other more commonly found derailments of this nerve's anatomy.

A Comprehensive Review Of The Fabella Bone., Dominic Dalip, Joe Iwanaga, Rod J Oskouian, R Shane Tubbs

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

The fabella is a sesamoid bone that is embedded in the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle and often articulates directly with the lateral femoral condyle. It is present in 10-30% of the general population with a higher incidence in Asians. The fabella can lead to various pathologies such as fabella pain syndrome and common fibular nerve palsy. Conservative treatment involves physical therapy or injecting local anesthetics or steroids around this bone. However, if symptoms persist, then a fabellectomy can be performed. Physicians should be aware of the fabella bone and the multiple pathologies associated with it in order to …

Evaluation Of A Digital Diabetes Prevention Program Adapted For The Medicaid Population: Study Design And Methods For A Non-Randomized, Controlled Trial., Sue E Kim, Cynthia M Castro Sweet, Eliza Gibson, Erica N Madero, Barbara Rubino, Janina Morrison, Debra Rosen, Wendy Imberg, Michael R Cousineau

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Previous studies have shown that lifestyle modification can successfully prevent or delay development of type 2 diabetes. This trial aimed to test if an underserved, low-income population would engage in a digital diabetes prevention program and successfully achieve lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes. Participants were recruited from three health care facilities serving low-income populations. The inclusion criteria were: a recent blood test indicating prediabetes, body mass index (BMI) > 24 kg/m

Using A Randomized Controlled Trial To Test Whether Modifications To Contingency Management Improve Outcomes For Heavy Drinkers With Serious Mental Illness., Oladunni Oluwoye, Jordan Skalisky, Ekaterina Burduli, Naomi S Chaytor, Sterling Mcpherson, Sean M Murphy, Jalene Herron, Katherine Hirchak, Mason Burley, Richard K Ries, John M Roll, Michael G Mcdonell

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

BACKGROUND: In contingency management (CM), individuals receive rewards for alcohol abstinence. CM is associated with reduced alcohol use in adults with co-occurring serious mental illnesses (SMI). Pre-treatment urine ethyl glucuronide (uEtG) levels equivalent to daily heavy drinking (uEtG >349ng/mL) are associated with poor response to CM. Modifications to CM are needed to improve outcomes for non-responders.

AIMS: To determine if pre-treatment heavy drinkers, defined by uEtG, with SMI achieve higher levels of alcohol abstinence when they receive an increased magnitude of reinforcement for abstinence (High-Magnitude CM) or reinforcers for reduced drinking, prior to receiving reinforcers for abstinence (Shaping CM), relative …

Secukinumab Improves Active Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms And Inhibits Radiographic Progression: Primary Results From The Randomised, Double-Blind, Phase Iii Future 5 Study., Philip Mease, Désirée Van Der Heijde, Robert Landewé, Shephard Mpofu, Proton Rahman, Hasan Tahir, Atul Singhal, Elke Boettcher, Sandra Navarra, Karin Meiser, Aimee Readie, Luminita Pricop, Ken Abrams

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of subcutaneous (s.c.) secukinumab, an interleukin-17A inhibitor, on clinical signs and symptoms and radiographic progression in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

METHODS: Adults (n=996) with active PsA were randomised 2:2:2:3 to s.c. secukinumab 300 mg or 150 mg with loading dose (LD), 150 mg without LD or placebo. All groups received secukinumab or placebo at baseline, weeks 1, 2 and 3 and then every 4 weeks from week 4. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving an American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) response at week 16.

RESULTS: Significantly more patients achieved an …

Erratum To Inequivalence Of Non-Aggressiveness In Clinically Diagnosed Lung Cancers And Overdiagnosis In Lung Cancer Screening Trials., Jerome M Reich, Jong S Kim

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.21037/jtd.2018.01.164.].

Trevo Stent-Retriever Mechanical Thrombectomy For Acute Ischemic Stroke Secondary To Large Vessel Occlusion Registry., Osama O Zaidat, Alicia C Castonguay, Raul G Nogueira, Diogo C Haussen, Joey D English, Sudhakar R Satti, Jennifer Chen, Hamed Farid, Candace Borders, Erol Veznedaroglu, Mandy J Binning, Ajit Puri, Nirav A Vora, Ron F Budzik, Guilherme Dabus, Italo Linfante, Vallabh Janardhan, Amer Alshekhlee, Michael G Abraham, Randall Edgell, Muhammad Asif Taqi, Ramy El Khoury, Maxim Mokin, Aniel Q Majjhoo, Mouhammed R Kabbani, Michael T Froehler, Ira Finch, Sameer A Ansari, Roberta Novakovic, Thanh N Nguyen

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

BACKGROUND: Recent randomized clinical trials (RCTs) demonstrated the efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy using stent-retrievers in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with large vessel occlusions; however, it remains unclear if these results translate to a real-world setting. The TREVO Stent-Retriever Acute Stroke (TRACK) multicenter Registry aimed to evaluate the use of the Trevo device in everyday clinical practice.

METHODS: Twenty-three centers enrolled consecutive AIS patients treated from March 2013 through August 2015 with the Trevo device. The primary outcome was defined as achieving a Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) score of ≥2b. Secondary outcomes included 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS), …

Serious Mental Illness In Heavy Drinkers Is Associated With Poor Treatment Outcomes In Outpatients With Co-Occurring Disorders., Oladunni Oluwoye, Emily Leickly, Jordan Skalisky, Sterling Mcpherson, Katherine Hirchak, Debra Srebnik, John M Roll, Richard K Ries, Michael G Mcdonell

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

The objective of this study was to determine whether the interaction between type of serious mental illness (SMI) and pre-treatment drinking severity, assessed by ethyl glucuronide (EtG), predicts EtG-positive urine samples submitted during treatment in outpatients with co-occurring alcohol dependence and SMI. Seventy-nine participants were randomized to treatment-as-usual or treatment-as-usual and contingency management (CM) targeting alcohol abstinence. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess the interaction of pre-treatment drinking (heavy drinking or light drinking) and SMI diagnosis (major depression, bipolar, or schizophrenia-spectrum disorders) across a 12-week treatment period. In the overall sample, the interaction of drinking severity and SMI diagnosis …

Targeting Twist1 Through Loss Of Function Inhibits Tumorigenicity Of Human Glioblastoma., Andrei M Mikheev, Svetlana A Mikheeva, Liza J Severs, Cory C Funk, Lei Huang, José L Mcfaline-Figueroa, Jeanette Schwensen, Cole Trapnell, Nathan D Price, Stephen Wong, Robert C Rostomily

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

TWIST1 (TW) is a bHLH transcription factor (TF) and master regulator of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In vitro, TW promotes mesenchymal change, invasion, and self-renewal in glioblastoma (GBM) cells. However, the potential therapeutic relevance of TW has not been established through loss-of-function studies in human GBM cell xenograft models. The effects of TW loss of function (gene editing and knockdown) on inhibition of tumorigenicity of U87MG and GBM4 glioma stem cells were tested in orthotopic xenograft models and conditional knockdown in established flank xenograft tumors. RNAseq and the analysis of tumors investigated putative TW-associated mechanisms. Multiple bioinformatic tools revealed significant …