A hepatic stellate cell gene expression signature associated with outcomes in hepatitis C cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection.

OBJECTIVE: We used an informatics approach to identify and validate genes whose expression is unique to hepatic stellate cells and assessed the prognostic capability of their expression in cirrhosis. DESIGN: We defined a hepatic stellate cell gene signature by comparing stellate, immune and hepatic transcriptome profiles. We then created a prognostic index using a combination of hepatic stellate cell signature expression and clinical variables. This signature was derived in a retrospective-prospective cohort of hepatitis C-related early-stage cirrhosis (prognostic index derivation set) and validated in an independent retrospective cohort of patients with postresection hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We then examined the association between hepatic stellate cell signature expression and decompensation, HCC development, progression of Child-Pugh class and survival. RESULTS: The 122-gene hepatic stellate cell signature consists of genes encoding extracellular matrix proteins and developmental factors and correlates with the extent of fibrosis in human, mouse and rat datasets. Importantly, association of clinical prognostic variables with overall survival was improved by adding the signature; we used these results to define a prognostic index in the derivation set. In the validation set, the same prognostic index was associated with overall survival. The prognostic index was associated with decompensation, HCC and progression of Child-Pugh class in the derivation set, and HCC recurrence in the validation set. CONCLUSIONS: This work highlights the unique transcriptional niche of stellate cells, and identifies potential stellate cell targets for tracking, targeting and isolation. Hepatic stellate cell signature expression may identify patients with HCV cirrhosis or postresection HCC with poor prognosis.

Candida Parapsilosis associated rice bodies in the extensor compartment of the wrist--an emerging finding.

Candida parapsilosis has been considered an emerging pathogen with increasing incidence reported in the literature. As a normal commensal of human skin, it is likely that Candida species could gain access to soft tissues of the hand and wrist by direct inoculation, resulting in an infectious tenosynovitis. With the increased prevalence of intravenous drug use (IVDU), users are at increasing risk for musculoskeletal infections including soft tissue abscesses, cellulitis, tenosynovitis, and septic arthritis. Chronic tenosynovitis, with rice body formation in particular, is a comparatively rare musculoskeletal infection. Knowledge of this entity, the related pathogens, imaging findings, and the treatment plan is important not only to the treating clinician, but also to radiologists as the physiological and anatomic consequences can be detrimental to patient recovery.