University of Virginia

About: University of Virginia is a education organization based out in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 52543 authors who have published 113268 publications receiving 5220506 citations. The organization is also known as: U of V & UVa.

microRNA-7 Inhibits the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and the Akt Pathway and Is Down-regulated in Glioblastoma

Abstract: microRNAs are noncoding RNAs inhibiting expression of numerous target genes, and a few have been shown to act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors. We show that microRNA-7 (miR-7) is a potential tumor suppressor in glioblastoma targeting critical cancer pathways. miR-7 potently suppressed epidermal growth factor receptor expression, and furthermore it independently inhibited the Akt pathway via targeting upstream regulators. miR-7 expression was down-regulated in glioblastoma versus surrounding brain, with a mechanism involving impaired processing. Importantly, transfection with miR-7 decreased viability and invasiveness of primary glioblastoma lines. This study establishes miR-7 as a regulator of major cancer pathways and suggests that it has therapeutic potential for glioblastoma. [Cancer Res 2008;68(10):3566–71]

Solar Forcing of Regional Climate Change During the Maunder Minimum

Abstract: We examine the climate response to solar irradiance changes between the late 17th-century Maunder Minimum and the late 18th century. Global average temperature changes are small (about 0.3° to 0.4°C) in both a climate model and empirical reconstructions. However, regional temperature changes are quite large. In the model, these occur primarily through a forced shift toward the low index state of the Arctic Oscillation/North Atlantic Oscillation as solar irradiance decreases. This leads to colder temperatures over the Northern Hemisphere continents, especially in winter (1° to 2°C), in agreement with historical records and proxy data for surface temperatures.

Shaping the Vertebrate Body Plan by Polarized Embryonic Cell Movements

Abstract: Polarized cell movements shape the major features of the vertebrate body plan during development. The head-to-tail body axis of vertebrates is elongated in embryonic stages by "convergent extension" tissue movements. During these movements cells intercalate between one another transverse to the elongating body axis to form a narrower, longer array. Recent discoveries show that these polarized cell movements are controlled by homologs of genes that control the polarity of epithelial cells in the developing wing and eye of the fruit fly, Drosophila.

Fluorouracil, Mitomycin, and Radiotherapy vs Fluorouracil, Cisplatin, and Radiotherapy for Carcinoma of the Anal Canal: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract: Context Chemoradiation as definitive therapy is the preferred primary therapy for patients with anal canal carcinoma; however, the 5-year disease-free survival rate from concurrent fluorouracil/mitomycin and radiation is only approximately 65%. Objective To compare the efficacy of cisplatin-based (experimental) therapy vs mitomycin-based (standard) therapy in treatment of anal canal carcinoma. Design, Setting, and Participants US Gastrointestinal Intergroup trial RTOG 98-11, a multicenter, phase 3, randomized controlled trial comparing treatment with fluorouracil plus mitomycin and radiotherapy vs treatment with fluorouracil plus cisplatin and radiotherapy in 682 patients with anal canal carcinoma enrolled between October 31, 1998, and June 27, 2005. Stratifications included sex, clinical nodal status, and tumor diameter. Intervention Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 intervention groups: (1) the mitomycin-based group (n = 341), who received fluorouracil (1000 mg/m 2 on days 1-4 and 29-32) plus mitomycin (10 mg/m 2 on days 1 and 29) and radiotherapy (45-59 Gy) or (2) the cisplatin-based group (n = 341), who received fluorouracil (1000 mg/m 2 on days 1-4, 29-32, 57-60, and 85-88) plus cisplatin (75 mg/m 2 on days 1, 29, 57, and 85) and radiotherapy (45-59 Gy; start day = day 57). Main Outcome Measures The primary end point was 5-year disease-free survival; secondary end points were overall survival and time to relapse. Results A total of 644 patients were assessable. The median follow-up for all patients was 2.51 years. Median age was 55 years, 69% were women, 27% had a tumor diameter greater than 5 cm, and 26% had clinically positive nodes. The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 60% (95% confidence interval [CI], 53%-67%) in the mitomycin-based group and 54% (95% CI, 46%-60%) in the cisplatin-based group (P = .17). The 5-year overall survival rate was 75% (95% CI, 67%-81%) in the mitomycin-based group and 70% (95% CI, 63%-76%) in the cisplatin-based group (P = .10). The 5-year local-regional recurrence and distant metastasis rates were 25% (95% CI, 20%-30%) and 15% (95% CI, 10%-20%), respectively, for mitomycin-based treatment and 33% (95% CI, 27%-40%) and 19% (95% CI, 14%-24%), respectively, for cisplatin-based treatment. The cumulative rate of colostomy was significantly better for mitomycin-based than cisplatin-based treatment (10% vs 19%; P = .02). Severe hematologic toxicity was worse with mitomycin-based treatment (P Conclusions In this population of patients with anal canal carcinoma, cisplatin-based therapy failed to improve disease-free-survival compared with mitomycin-based therapy, but cisplatin-based therapy resulted in a significantly worse colostomy rate. These findings do not support the use of cisplatin in place of mitomycin in combination with fluorouracil and radiotherapy in the treatment of anal canal carcinoma. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00003596

Infections of the Central Nervous System

Abstract: Part 1 Viral infections of the central nervous system and related disorders: pathogenesis and pathophysiology of viral infections of the central nervous system, M. Schlitt et al viral meningitis and the aseptic meningitis syndrom, H.A. Rotbart encephalitis caused by herpesviruses, including B virus, R.J. Whitley and M. Schlitt arthropod-borne encephalitides, R.J. Whitley meningitis and encephalitis caused by mumps virus, J.W. Gnann, Jr et al slow viral infections of the human nervous system, D.M. Asher perinatal viral infections R.J. Whitley and S. Stagno neurological manifestations of infection with the human immunodeficiency viruses, B.K. Evans et al viral vaccines that protect the central nervous system, M.F. Mangano and S.A. Plotkin Guillain-Barre syndrome, G. Tenorio et al. Part 2 Mycoplasmal infections of the central nervous system: mycoplasmal diseases of the central nervous system, W.A. Clyde, Jr. Part 3 Bacterial infections of the central nervous system: pathogenesis and pathophysiology of bacterial infections of the central nervous system, A.R. Tunkel and W.M. Scheld neonatal bacterial meningitis, A.L. Smith and J. Haas acute bacterial meningitis in children and adults, K.L. Roos et al rickettsiae and the central nervous system, J.H. Kim and D.T. Durack tuberculosis of the central nervous system, A. Zuger and F.D. Lowy brain abscess, B. Wispelwey et al subdural empyema, D.C. Hefgott et al epidural abscess, B.G. Gellin et al central nervous system complications of infective endocarditis, P. Francioli infections of the cerebrospinal fluid shunts, B.A. Kaufman and D.G. McLone. Part 4 Central nervous system syndromes mediated by bacterial toxins: botulism, J.M. Hughes tetanus, T.P. Bleck bordetella pertussis and the central nervous system, E.L. Hewlett. Part 5 Spriochetal infections of the central nervous system: central nervous system syphilis, E.W. Hook, III Lyme disease, L. Reik, Jr. Part 6 Fungal infections of the central nervous system: pathogenesis and pathophysiology of fungal infections, J. R. Perfect and D.T. Durack chronic meningitis, T. Tucker and J.J. Ellner diagnosis and treatment of fungal meningitis, J.R. Perfect space-occupying fungal lesions of the central nervous system, K. Sepkowitz and D. Armstrong. Part 7 Protozoal and helminthic infections of the central nervous system: protozoal infections, J.P. Cegielski and D.T. Durack toxoplasmosis, C.S. Dukes et al helminthic infections, M.L. Cameron and D.T. Durack.