The Library of Integrated Network-Based Cellular Signatures NIH Program: System-Level Cataloging of Human Cells Response to Perturbations.

The Library of Integrated Network-Based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) is an NIH Common Fund program that catalogs how human cells globally respond to chemical, genetic, and disease perturbations. Resources generated by LINCS include experimental and computational methods, visualization tools, molecular and imaging data, and signatures. By assembling an integrated picture of the range of responses of human cells exposed to many perturbations, the LINCS program aims to better understand human disease and to advance the development of new therapies. Perturbations under study include drugs, genetic perturbations, tissue micro-environments, antibodies, and disease-causing mutations. Responses to perturbations are measured by transcript profiling, mass spectrometry, cell imaging, and biochemical methods, among other assays. The LINCS program focuses on cellular physiology shared among tissues and cell types relevant to an array of diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. This Perspective describes LINCS technologies, datasets, tools, and approaches to data accessibility and reusability.

Data Portal for the Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) program: integrated access to diverse large-scale cellular perturbation response data.

The Library of Integrated Network-based Cellular Signatures (LINCS) program is a national consortium funded by the NIH to generate a diverse and extensive reference library of cell-based perturbation-response signatures, along with novel data analytics tools to improve our understanding of human diseases at the systems level. In contrast to other large-scale data generation efforts, LINCS Data and Signature Generation Centers (DSGCs) employ a wide range of assay technologies cataloging diverse cellular responses. Integration of, and unified access to LINCS data has therefore been particularly challenging. The Big Data to Knowledge (BD2K) LINCS Data Coordination and Integration Center (DCIC) has developed data standards specifications, data processing pipelines, and a suite of end-user software tools to integrate and annotate LINCS-generated data, to make LINCS signatures searchable and usable for different types of users. Here, we describe the LINCS Data Portal (LDP) (http://lincsportal.ccs.miami.edu/), a unified web interface to access datasets generated by the LINCS DSGCs, and its underlying database, LINCS Data Registry (LDR). LINCS data served on the LDP contains extensive metadata and curated annotations. We highlight the features of the LDP user interface that is designed to enable search, browsing, exploration, download and analysis of LINCS data and related curated content.

Technetium Tc 99m dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scintigraphy in diagnosis of urinary tract infections in children with negative culture.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of Technetium Tc 99m dimercaptosuccinic acid (99mTc-DMSA) renal scintigraphy in the diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI) in children with suspected infection but with a negative urine culture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of all children with suspected or definite diagnosis of UTI presented during a 2-year period were reviewed in this study. Abnormal findings on renal scintigraphy, voiding cystourethrography (VCUG), and ultrasonography were evaluated and compared between the patients with the definite diagnosis of UTI and those with suspected UTI and negative urine cultures. RESULTS: Of 210 patients, 86 had a definite diagnosis of UTI (group 1) and 124 had suspected UTI without a positive culture (group 2). Abnormal findings on DMSA scans were seen in 76 patients (88.4%) in group 1 and 84 (67.7%) in group 2. Vesicoureteral reflux was detected by VCUG in 50% and 32.3% of the patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively. In group 2, vesicoureteral reflux was seen in 40.5% of the patients with abnormal DMSA scan. Ultrasonography findings were abnormal in 51.3% and 39.8% of the patients with abnormal DMSA scan findings in groups 1 and 2, respectively. CONCLUSION: According to our findings, in children with a negative urine culture and abnormal urinalysis, 99mTc-DMSA renal scintigraphy is helpful in diagnosing UTI and vesicoureteral reflux; we recommend VCUG when DMSA scan supports UTI despite a negative urine culture and a normal ultrasonography.