We assessed the diagnostic capacities of each method, as well as inter-observer agreement on AFI findings. We also looked at factors associated with having a positive AFI finding. The sensitivity and accuracy of AFI (77% and 67%, respectively) in detecting GERD were higher than those of WLI (21% and 52%, respectively), EGFR cancer although the specificity of AFI (53%) was lower than that of WLI (97%); McNemar test showed a significant difference (P = 0.000). Inter-observer reliability analysis of AFI findings indicated substantial agreement (Kappa = 0.630, P = 0.000).
Multivariate analysis showed that abnormal AFI findings significantly correlated with positive pH/impedance result (odds ratio = 0.242, 95% confidence interval = 0.087–0.673, check details P = 0.007). AFI can reveal GERD-related mucosal changes, invisible on conventional WLI, thus improve
the endoscopic diagnosis of GERD. “
“Deregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is common in advanced human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the ones involved in early carcinogenesis have not yet been investigated. By examining the expression of 22 HCC-related miRNAs between precancerous and cancerous liver tissues, we found miR-216a and miR-224 were significantly up-regulated, starting from the precancerous stage. Furthermore, the elevation of miR-216a was mainly identified in male patients. To study this gender difference, we demonstrated that pri-miR-216a is activated transcriptionally by the androgen pathway in a ligand-dependent manner and is further enhanced by the hepatitis B virus X protein. The transcription initiation site for pri-miR-216a was delineated, and one putative androgen-responsive selleck inhibitor element
site was identified within its promoter region. Mutation of this site abolished the elevation of pri-miR-216a by the androgen pathway. One target of miR-216a was shown to be the tumor suppressor in lung cancer-1 gene (TSLC1) messenger RNA (mRNA) through the three target sites at its 3′ untranslated region. Finally, the androgen receptor level increased in male liver tissues during hepatocarcinogenesis, starting from the precancerous stage, with a concomitant elevation of miR-216a but a decrease of TSLC1. Conclusion: The current study discovered the up-regulation of miRNA-216a by the androgen pathway and a subsequent suppression of TSLC1 as a new mechanism for the androgen pathway in early hepatocarcinogenesis. (HEPATOLOGY 2012) The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks fifth for cancers worldwide and causes about half a million deaths every year.1 HCC is usually the ultimate outcome of chronic hepatitis caused by persistent viral infection (hepatitis B or C virus [HBV/HCV]) or by alcoholic/metabolic etiologies.