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Hepatic tissue has two pathways for phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis, i.e., the cytidinediphosphocholine (CDP-choline) pathway and the methylation pathway, which utilizes phosphatidylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PEMT). Fatal liver damage occurs in [Pemt.sup.-/-]mice fed a choline-deficient (CD) diet. We investigated whether liver damage can be reversed by the addition of dietary choline. Mice (8 wk old) were fed the CD purified diet for 4 d, a choline-supplemented (CS) diet (CD diet + 0.4% choline chloride) for 4 d, or the CD diet for 3 d and a CS diet for 1 d (CD/CS). [Pemt.sup.-/-]mice fed the CD diet for 3 d exhibited liver damage as assayed by plasma aminotransferase levels. The livers appeared normal after subsequent feeding of the CS diet for 1 d (CD/CS). The activities of plasma aminotransferases of CD/CS fed mice were comparable to [Pemt.sup.-/-]mice fed the CS diet. Hepatic PC and triacylglycerol levels as well as plasma PC levels in the CD/CS-fed [Pemt.sup.-/-]mice were lower than those of mice fed the CD diet and began to approach normal levels. Although the CD diet induces liver damage in [Pemt.sup.-/-]mice, this damage can be rapidly reversed by the addition of dietary choline. KEY WORDS: * phosphatidylcholine * choline deficiency * phosphatidylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase knockout mice

Characterizes the role of Ha-Ras in the transcription regulation of the CTα gene. Stimulation of the CTγ and CTβ2 proteins and mRNA in murine fibroblasts expressing oncogenic Ha-Ras; Transfection of fibroblasts with CTα promoter-luciferase constructs; Indication of enhanced binding of the Sp3 transcription factor through electromobility shift assays.

Background The Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Cancer Institute (NCI), is the largest aggregation of histopathology-specific population-based data for primary brain and other central nervous system (CNS) in the US. CBTRUS publishes an annual statistical report which provides critical reference data for the broad neuro-oncology community. Here, we summarize the key findings from the 2022 CBTRUS annual statistical report for healthcare providers. Methods Incidence data were obtained from the CDC's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and NCI's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program for 52 central cancer registries (CCRs). Survival data were obtained from 42 NPCR CCRs. All rates are per 100 000 and age-adjusted using the 2000 US standard population. Overall median survival was estimated using Kaplan–Meier models. Survival data for selected molecularly defined histopathologies are from the National Cancer Database. Mortality data are from the National Vital Statistics System. Results The average annual age-adjusted incidence rate of all primary brain and other CNS tumors was 24.25/100 000. Incidence was higher in females and non-Hispanics. The most commonly occurring malignant and predominately non-malignant tumors was glioblastoma (14% of all primary brain tumors) and meningioma (39% of all primary brain tumors), respectively. Mortality rates and overall median survival varied by age, sex, and histopathology. Conclusions This summary describes the most up-to-date population-based incidence, mortality, and survival, of primary brain and other CNS tumors in the US and aims to serve as a concise resource for neuro-oncology providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: Develop a cancer-specific machine learning (ML) model that accurately predicts 30-day unplanned readmissions in patients with solid tumors. METHODS: The initial cohort included patients 18 years or older diagnosed with a solid tumor. Two distinct cohorts were generated: one with and one without detailed social determinants of health (SDOHs) data. For each cohort, data were temporally partitioned in 70% (training), 20% (validation), and 10% (testing). Tree-based ML models were developed and validated on each cohort. The metrics used to evaluate the model's performance were receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), area under the ROC curve, precision, recall (R), accuracy, and area under the precision-recall curve. RESULTS: We included 13,717 patients in this study in two cohorts (5,059 without SDOH data and 8,658 with SDOH data). Unplanned 30-day readmission occurred in 21.3% of the cases overall. The five main non-SDOH factors most highly associated with an unplanned 30-day readmission (R, 0.74; IQR, 0.58-0.76) were: number of previous unplanned readmissions; higher Charlson comorbidity score; nonelective index admission; discharge to anywhere other than home, hospice, or nursing facility; and higher anion gap during the admission. Neighborhood crime index, neighborhood median home values, annual income, neighborhood median household income, and wealth index were the main five SDOH factors important for predicting a high risk for an unplanned hospital readmission (R, 0.66; IQR, 0.56-0.72). The models were not directly comparable. CONCLUSION: Key drivers of unplanned readmissions in patients with cancer are complex and involve both clinical factors and SDOH. We developed a cancer-specific ML model that with reasonable accuracy identified patients with cancer at high risk for an unplanned hospital readmission. New cancer-specific ML models accurately predict 30-day unplanned readmissions in patients with solid tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Context: Primary malignant non-osseous spinal tumors are relatively rare and this has led to a paucity of studies specifically examining the epidemiology of malignant spinal tumors.Purpose: To provide an updated and more comprehensive study examining the epidemiology and relative survival of these rare tumors.Study Design/setting: Data was retrospectively acquired from the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS).Patient Sample: Primary malignant non-osseous spinal tumor cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2017 in the United States.Outcome Measures: Incidence rates (IRs), relative survival rates, and hazard ratios (HR) were measured.Methods: IRs were calculated only for histologically-confirmed cases between 2000 and 2017. Relative survival estimates were calculated from survival information on malignant spinal tumors between 2001 and 2016 for death from any cause. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were constructed to control for age, sex, race, and ethnicity.Results: From 2000 to 2017, approximately 587 new cases of malignant non-osseous spinal tumors were diagnosed every year in the United States. The overall IR was 0.178 per 100,000 persons. Ependymomas were the most commonly diagnosed tumor in all age groups. The 10-year relative survival rates were 94.1%, 62.1%, 62.0%, and 13.3% for ependymomas, lymphomas, diffuse astrocytomas, and high-grade astrocytomas, respectively. Females have a significantly lower risk of death as compared with males for ependymomas (HR: 0.74, p<.001) and diffuse astrocytomas (HR: 0.70, p=.005). African-Americans have a significantly higher risk of death compared with Caucasians when diagnosed with ependymomas (HR: 1.52, p=.009) or lymphomas (HR: 1.55, p=.009).Conclusion: Primary malignant non-osseous spinal tumors are primarily diagnosed in adulthood or late adulthood. Ependymal tumors are the most commonly diagnosed primary malignant non-osseous spinal tumors and have the highest 10-year relative survival rates. High-grade astrocytomas are rare and portend the worst prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]