University of Tennessee Health Science Center

About: University of Tennessee Health Science Center is a education organization based out in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Transplantation. The organization has 15716 authors who have published 26884 publications receiving 1176697 citations.

Genetic ancestry in lung-function predictions.

Abstract: Background Self-identified race or ethnic group is used to determine normal reference standards in the prediction of pulmonary function. We conducted a study to determine whether the genetically determined percentage of African ancestry is associated with lung function and whether its use could improve predictions of lung function among persons who identified themselves as African American. Methods We assessed the ancestry of 777 participants self-identified as African American in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study and evaluated the relation between pulmonary function and ancestry by means of linear regression. We performed similar analyses of data for two independent cohorts of subjects identifying themselves as African American: 813 participants in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (HABC) study and 579 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). We compared the fit of two types of models to lung-function measurements: models based on the covariates used in standard prediction equations and models incorporating ancestry. We also evaluated the effect of the ancestry-based models on the classification of disease severity in two asthma-study populations. Results African ancestry was inversely related to forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) and forced vital capacity in the CARDIA cohort. These relations were also seen in the HABC and CHS cohorts. In predicting lung function, the ancestry-based model fit the data better than standard models. Ancestry-based models resulted in the reclassification of asthma severity (based on the percentage of the predicted FEV1) in 4 to 5% of participants. Conclusions Current predictive equations, which rely on self-identified race alone, may misestimate lung function among subjects who identify themselves as African American. Incorporating ancestry into normative equations may improve lung-function estimates and more accurately categorize disease severity. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and others.)

Pathologic progression of autochthonous prostate cancer in the TRAMP model

Abstract: The ability to manipulate gene expression in specific cell types at specific times utilizing transgenic technology has allowed the development of novel mouse model systems that can mimic human disease. We have previously established the Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of Mouse Prostate (TRAMP) model for prostate cancer using the rat probasin promoter to direct expression of the SV40 early genes to prostate epithelium. Male TRAMP mice exhibit consistent prostate-specific patterns of expression and develop prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia that will become invasive and metastasize primarily to the lymph nodes and lungs. In this paper we report our continued experience with this model and present a standardized histologic grading system to designate low and high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and well, moderate, and poorly differentiated prostate adenocarcinoma. In addition, we demonstrate the persistence of androgen receptor expression during pathologic progression and characterize heterogeneous cytokeratin expression in localized and metastatic prostate cancer. Finally, we report on our observations that phenotypic variability in tumor and pathologic progression in TRAMP occurs as a function of genetic background.

Reference standards for flow cytometry and application in comparative studies of nuclear DNA content

Abstract: Nuclear DNA mass in cells from a reference species can be used to obtain high-resolution estimates of DNA mass from a target species. In our study of DNA mass in cells from 45 selected species, representing each of the major vertebrate classes, we have obtained values of from 1.5 to 110.0 pg of DNA. Because values in or near this range would be expected in the study of nuclear DNA mass in vertebrates and other organisms, the species in this report can provide a useful catalogue of references for comparative studies of DNA.

Evaluation and management of recurrent early pregnancy loss.

Abstract: Recurrent pregnancy loss affects up to 5% of couples trying to establish a family. Evaluation classically begins after 3 consecutive miscarriages of less than 10 weeks of gestation but may be warranted earlier if a prior miscarriage was found to be euploid, or if there is concomitant infertility and/or advancing maternal age. The evaluation begins with an extensive history and physical, followed by a diagnostic screening protocol. Management must be evidence-based; unproven treatments should be avoided. If no factor is identified, many couples will still eventually have a successful pregnancy outcome with supportive therapy alone.