This paper provides a primer of molecular genetics and will be fo

This paper provides a primer of molecular genetics and will be followed by a companion paper on the genetic

advances in migraine, the methodology of genome wide association studies, and the potential clinical implications. “
“Recent research has shown that affective changes associated EX-527 with the menstrual cycle may follow diverse patterns, including a classic premenstrual syndrome pattern, as well as the mirror opposite pattern, referred to as a mid-cycle pattern. Test for the presence of a mid-cycle pattern of headaches, in addition to a menstrual pattern and a noncyclic pattern; test for an association between experiencing a specific pattern of headaches and a specific (previously identified) pattern of depression/anxiety; and test for mean-level differences, across headache pattern groups, in average headache index and depression/anxiety scores (averaged across 2 menstrual cycles for each participant). A sample of 213 female university students completed daily questionnaires regarding symptoms of headaches and depression/anxiety for 2 menstrual cycles. Hierarchical linear modeling, polynomial multiple regression, analyses of variance, and chi-square

Gefitinib cell line analyses were used to test the hypotheses. Confirmed the existence of a mid-cycle pattern of headaches (16%), in addition to a menstrual pattern (51%), and a noncyclic pattern of headaches (33%). Patterns of headaches and affective change were significantly associated (χ2 = 21.33, P = .0003; 54% correspondence), as were the average headache index and depression/anxiety scores (r = .49; P < .0001). No significant mean-level differences were found between the headache pattern groups on the average headache index scores or depression/anxiety scores. A significant number of women experience a mid-cycle pattern of headaches during the menstrual cycle. Moreover, women often, but not always, demonstrate the same pattern of headaches

and depression/anxiety symptoms. “
“Multiple sclerosis (MS) and migraine headache coexist in many young female patients. Whether this is coincidental or causally linked remains unclear. The Uroporphyrinogen III synthase presenting symptoms and signs of MS relapse and migraine aura can be similar and should be differentiated by careful history and examination to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment. White matter lesions on magnetic resonance imaging have specific patterns for each entity and also need to be interpreted carefully. Although a clear link has not been established between migraine and MS, numerous studies have been reported assessing risks, prevalence, and causation. Complicating these assessments are the disease-modifying therapies used to treat MS which have been known to be implicated in causing headache.

1) It is known that UDCA not only improves cholestasis but also

1). It is known that UDCA not only improves cholestasis but also serum IgM concentrations.4, 6 The combination therapy of bezafibrate

and UDCA further reduced the IgM concentration from 306 ± 60 (UDCA alone) to 232 ± 41 mg/dL (UDCA + bezafibrate), consistent with the findings reported by Iwasaki et al.16 Furthermore, our results showed that the combination therapy significantly reduced serum total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations compared with UDCA alone. The mechanisms of the anticholestatic effect of bezafibrate remain unclear. Because MDR3 is a target gene of PPARα17 and bezafibrate is a ligand of PPARα, β/δ, and γ,18 stimulation of biliary phospholipid secretion due to the up-regulation of MDR3 has generally been believed to be the main mechanism of the action. In fact, our experiment using HepaRG cells showed significantly PARP inhibitor elevated expression of MDR3 mRNA following the addition of bezafibrate (Fig. 5B). However, MDR3 is activated by both bezafibrate as well as UDCA.7 Furthermore, recent reports have demonstrated that the expression of MDR3 was already markedly up-regulated

in PBC patients30 and it was not significantly affected by bezafibrate treatment.31 Therefore, the anticholestatic effect of bezafibrate may be caused by mechanisms independent of phospholipid secretion. Other possible anticholestatic mechanisms of bezafibrate by way of PPARα activation include MK-1775 in vivo Histidine ammonia-lyase down-regulation of NTCP,17 CYP7A1,32, 33 and CYP27A1.33 NTCP transports basolateral (sinusoidal) bile acids into hepatocytes, whereas CYP7A1 and CYP27A1 are key enzymes in the classic and alternative bile acid biosynthetic pathways, respectively. Coordinate down-regulation of these three proteins leads to a decrease in hepatic

bile acid concentration and may protect hepatocytes against cytotoxic bile acids. In addition, the reduction of hepatic bile acid levels attenuates the activity of FXR. It is known that deactivation of FXR up-regulates MRP4,34 one of the important basolateral transporters for the efflux of bile acids from hepatocytes to the sinusoid in cholestasis. The transcription of MRP4 is positively controlled by the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR; NR1I3)35 and a CAR responsive element is embedded within an FXR responsive element in the human MRP4 promoter. Therefore, activated FXR competes with CAR for binding to this overlapping binding site, which down-regulates MRP4.36 The most striking results among our serum biomarker analyses are the elevation of 4β-HC, as well as the reduction of C4 during treatment with bezafibrate. Serum 4β-HC concentration is considered a biomarker of CYP3A4/5 activity,37 whereas C4 is a marker of CYP7A1 activity or de novo bile acid synthesis.

These skills can then be adapted to more automated technology Ma

These skills can then be adapted to more automated technology. Many coagulation analyzers are provided as a package of instrument and reagent, and both components can influence the results obtained. This needs to be taken into account when evaluating and selecting

a system. Other important issues to consider are: type of tests to be performed and the workload, as well as workflow, in the laboratory operational requirements (power, space, humidity, temperature, etc.) service requirements and ICG-001 mw breakdown response throughput and test repertoire costs ability to combine with reagents from other manufacturers user-programmable testing comparability between results on primary analyzer and any back-up methods compatibility with blood sample tubes and plasma storage containers in local use safety assessment (mechanical,

electrical, microbiological) availability of suitable training Information is required in relation to the performance characteristics of the system. This can be obtained from a variety of sources including the published literature and manufacturers’ data, but may also require some form of local assessment. Aspects to consider include: precision of testing with a target of <3% of CV for screening tests and <5% for factor assays carry-over interfering substances reagent stability on board analyzer comparability with other methods sample identification data handling, software, and quality control training required reliability A number of published guidelines and recommendations describe the evaluation of coagulation analyzers [12, 13]. It is good practice to ensure continuity of supply of a chosen Small molecule library reagent, with attention paid to continuity of batches and long shelf-life.

This may be achieved by asking the supplier to batch hold for the laboratory, if possible. Changing to a different source of material is not recommended unless there are supply problems or because of questionable results. Different brands may have completely different sensitivities and should not be run side by side. Instructions supplied with the reagent should be followed. Particular attention should be paid to reagent stability. Once a reagent is reconstituted or thawed for daily use, there Resveratrol is potential for deterioration over time depending on the conditions of storage and use. Once an appropriate test and reagents have been decided upon, normal/reference ranges should ideally be defined, and must take account of the conditions used locally. Quality assurance (QA) is an umbrella term used to describe all measures taken to ensure the reliability of laboratory testing and reporting. QA covers all aspects of the diagnosis process from sample-taking, separation and analysis, and internal quality control through to reporting of the result and ensuring that it reaches the clinician. It is the responsibility of everyone involved to make sure that the procedures are followed in the correct manner.

Evaluation of these molecular tools represents an essential

Evaluation of these molecular tools represents an essential Ku-0059436 cost first step toward large-scale assessment, using next generation sequencing amongst other methods, of the biodiversity, biogeography, and eco-evolutionary dynamics of these key phytoplankton taxa. Clonal culture strains (Table S1 in the Supporting Information) from the Roscoff Culture Collection, the Plymouth culture collection, and the Provasoli-Guillard

Center for Culture of Marine Phytoplankton were maintained in K/2(-Si,-Tris,-Cu) medium (Keller et al. 1987) at 17°C with 50 μmol photons · m−2 · s−1 illumination provided by daylight neon tubes with a 14:10 h L:D cycle. For analysis of coccolith morphology by SEM, calcified cells were harvested at early exponential growth phase and filtered onto 0.22 μm nucleopore filters (Millipore, Molsheim, France), then dried for 2 h at 55°C. Small pieces of filters were gold/palladium sputter coating and observed with a FEI Quanta SEM (FEI, Hillsboro, OR, USA). Genomic DNA was extracted from cultures harvested in the exponential phase of growth using the DNeasy Plant mini kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). Partial 18S, 28S, 16S, rbcL, tufA (two fragments, one short and one long), petA, cox1 (two fragments, one

short, and one long), cox2, cox3, rpl16, and dam genes were amplified by PCR Seliciclib using the primer sets listed in Table S2 in the Supporting Information (primer maps are illustrated in Fig. S2 in the Supporting Information). PCRs were performed in a total reaction volume of 25 μL using the Phusion Polymerase kit (Finnzymes, Espoo, Finland).

A standard PCR protocol was used for all genes with a T1 thermal cycler (Biometra, Göttingen, Germany): 2 min initial denaturation at 98°C, followed by 35 cycles of 10 s at 98°C, 30 s annealing at 55°C, 30 s extension at 72°C. A final 10 min extension step at 72°C was conducted to complete the amplification. Amplification products were controlled by electrophoresis on a 1% agarose gel. The PCR products were sequenced directly on an ABI PRISM 3100 xl DNA auto sequencer (Perkin-Elmer, Foster City, CA, USA) using the ABI PRISM BigDye Terminator Loperamide Cycle Sequencing Kit (Perkin-Elmer). The sequences determined in this study were deposited in GenBank (Table S3 in the Supporting Information). The nucleotide sequence data sets of each gene were aligned using the online version of the multiple alignment program MAFFT (Katoh et al. 2007). Alignments were double-checked de visu in the sequence editor BIOEDIT (Hall 1999) and coding regions were determined for plastidial (Sanchez-Puerta et al. 2005) and mitochondrial (Sánchez Puerta et al. 2004) markers.

hepaticus colonization and its association with pathological feat

hepaticus colonization and its association with pathological features by establishing BALB/cCr Mice Model with H.hepaticus infection. Methods: SPF male BALB/c Cr mice were inoculated H.hepaticus standard strain ATCC51450. The

control group was fed with PBS. Mice were executed at 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th month after the last inoculation. Serum were taken for H.hepaticus-IgG and mice esophagus, stomach, jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon, liver and pancreas tissue were taken for histopathology examiantion, isolation culture and H.hepaticus specific 16S rRNA gene amplification. Results: The seroprevalance of H.hepaticus-IgG antibody in BALB/c Cr mice infected with H.hepaticus were all 100% from LY2109761 mw 1st months to 12th month. Antibody level reached peak value at 6th month, then gradually decline. The colonization rate of H.hepaticus in cecum at 1st month were 80%, then continued colonization in cecum, colonization rate in cecum from 3 to 12 months were 100%. H.hepaticus colonization in liver was detected at 3th month, and colonization rate varies between 20∼40%; Colonization of H.hepaticus in esophagus, stomach

and pancreas tissue were not detected; The colonization of H.hepaticus in digestive tract tissue in control Lumacaftor group were not detected. Liver histopathologic scores were gradually increased as infection time extended within 6 months. There were no significant differences in liver histopathologic scores from 6th month to 12th month. The histopathologic scores in cecum and colon at 3th month were higher than those at 1st month. Three were no significant differences in cecum and colon histopathologic scores from 3th month to 12th month. Conclusion: The colonization site of mice infected with H.hepaticus is lower digestive tract and liver, cecum is the site of initial colonization; H.hepaticus could

induced not only digestive tract diseases, but also liver injury. Histological scores were gradually increased as infection time extended. Key Word(s): 1. BALB/c mice; 2. Histopathology; 3. Colonization; 4. H.hepaticus-IgG; Presenting Author: ANJIANG WANG Additional Authors: JIAN WANG, BIMIN Phospholipase D1 LI, ZHIJIAN LIU, LU CHEN, HE WANG, FENG SHI, XUAN ZHU Corresponding Author: XUAN ZHU Affiliations: The first affiliated hospital of Nanchang University Objective: There is no study verifying the value of MELD-Na (model for end-stage liver disease and sodium) in predicting rebleeding and associated mortality in cirrhotic patients after cessation of initial esophageal variceal hemorrhage. This study was aimed to determine whether MELD-Na would be more accurate in predicting rebleeding and associated mortality than other models such as MELD or Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP).

6 per 10,000 person-years (95% CI, 00-77) (minimum estimate) to

6 per 10,000 person-years (95% CI, 0.0-7.7) (minimum estimate) to 7.2 per 10,000 person-years (95% CI, 1.3-13.0) (maximum estimate). The estimated risk per

sexual contact ranged from 1 per 380,000 (95% CI, 1/600,000-1/280,000) to 1 per 190,000 (95% CI, 1/1.03 million to 1/100,000). Concordantly infected couples were no more likely to share blood-contaminated objects, such as nail clippers, razors, and toothbrushes, than couples in which one partner remained uninfected (0.0% versus 10.1%, P = 1.00), but were more likely to have vaginal intercourse during menses (100.0% versus 65.6%, P = 0.55) and anal intercourse (66.7% versus 30.2%, P = 0.22), and were less likely to use condoms (0.0% p38 MAPK signaling pathway versus 30.4%, P = 0.56). These differences, however, were not statistically significant. Sexual transmission of HCV among monogamous heterosexual

couples is an extremely infrequent event. selleck chemical The maximum prevalence of HCV infection among sexual partners of subjects with chronic HCV infection was only 1.2%, and the maximum incidence of HCV transmission by sex was 0.07% per year or approximately one per 190,000 sexual contacts. Condom use was infrequent among the study participants and decreased over the duration of the sexual relationship, indicating that the very low rate of sexual transmission in our study population was not due to use of barrier methods during sexual activity. This estimate includes couples who were antibody-concordant by serotyping assays but without confirmation of HCV strain relatedness by phylogenetic

analysis because at least one of the partners was HCV RNA–negative. By including these couples, we minimized selection bias, but because couples with the same genotype/serotypes may not be infected with the same strain of HCV, we provided maximum (including aviremic serotype concordant couples) and minimum (based on viremic couples only) estimates of HCV prevalence and incidence. The minimum estimate of prevalence of HCV infection among viremic couples was 0.6% (95% CI, 0.0%-1.3%) and the incidence was 0.04% per Edoxaban year. Sexual transmission of HCV presumably occurs when infected serum-derived body fluids are exchanged across mucosal surfaces. Potential factors that may influence this exchange include the titer of virus, the integrity of the mucosal surfaces, and the presence of other genital infections (viral or bacterial). Studies to detect HCV RNA in semen (seminal fluid and cells), vaginal secretions, cervical smears, and saliva have yielded mixed results.14-20 Failure to detect HCV RNA in body secretions from chronically infected subjects may be due to technical factors (e.g., specimen collection and storage) and the inability to exclude cellular components and to overcome the presence of polymerase inhibitors in body fluids.

Learning Objectives: Explain the latest insights into the molecul

Learning Objectives: Explain the latest insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms

XL184 for ALD Define the current challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of ALD Identify different federal agencies interested in research on alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic liver disease Discuss the role of drug discovery and complementary medicine in ALD Session I: Clinical and Translational Research: Focus on Severe Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis MODERATORS: Craig J. McClain, MD Samir Zakhari, PRD 1:00 – 1:20 PM Development of Improved Scoring Methods for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis Philippe Mathurin, MD, PhD 1:20 -1:25 PM Q&A 1:25 – 1:45 PM Acute Complications in ASH: Role in Prognosis and Treatment Strategies Ramón Bataller, MD 1:45 – 1:50 PM Q&A 1:50 – 2:10 PM Towards

RXDX-106 purchase Personalized Medicine: Development of Biomarkers for Improved Therapeutics In ALD Christopher Leptak, MD, PhD 2:10 – 2:15 PM Q&A 2:15 – 2:45 PM Panel Discussion: Funding Opportunities to Support Research on ALD Gary J. Murray, PhD and Kenneth R. Warren, PhD 2:45 – 3:05 PM Break Session II: Basic Mechanisms: Focus on Inter-organ Interactions in ALD MODERATORS: Laura E. Nagy, PhD Ali Keshavarzian, MD 3:05 – 3:25 PM Dysregulation of the Gut Microbiome in ALD Bernd Schnabl, MD 3:25 – 3:30 PM Q&A 3:30 – 3:50 PM Monocyte Recruitment to the Liver and Adipose in ALD Cynthia Ju, PhD 3:50 – 3:55 PM Q&A Panel discussion: NIAAA Funded UO1 Translational Research in Alcoholic Hepatitis MODERATORS: Laura E. Nagy, PhD Craig J. McClain, MD 3:55 – 4:05 PM Goals and Structure of UO1 Translational Research in Alcoholic Hepatitis Gary J. Murray, PhD Brief overview: Aims by each of the funded

consortiums 4:05 – 4:15 PM David W. Crabb, MD 4:15 – 4:25 PM Gyongyi Szabo, MD, PhD 4:25 – 4:35 PM Ramón Bataller, MD 4:35 – 4:45 PM Timothy R. Morgan, MD 4:45 – 5:00 PM Q&A for NIAAA Panel/Consortia President’s Choice Sunday, November Fenbendazole 3 2:00 – 2:30 PM Hall E/General Session Random Germline Mutagenesis in the Analysis of Immunity SPEAKER: Nobel Laureat, Bruce A. Beutler, MD MODERATOR: J. Gregory Fitz, MD This lecture will describe how a classical genetic approach can be used to provide a list of the causes of inherited disease; how it has become practical to saturate the genome of the mouse with mutations and assigns cause and effect. Bruce Beutler is a Regental Professor and Director of the Center for the Genetics of Host Defense at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. In 2011, he shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for “discoveries concerning the activation of innate immunity. Dr. Beutler received his medical training at the University of Chicago, graduating in 1981.

The two asymptomatic carriers in this group showed thoracic cord

The two asymptomatic carriers in this group showed thoracic cord volumes of 15,548 mm3 and 15,362 mm3, well within the range of HVs, whereas the two possible HAM/TSP subjects demonstrated lower thoracic cord volumes of 12,308 mm3 and 7,933 mm3 that were close to or within the cord volume range of definite HAM/TSP subjects. These results suggest that the 3D volumetric measurements of the spinal cord may be a highly informative indicator of CNS involvement associated

with HTLV-I infection. To examine whether Smoothened Agonist chemical structure the spinal cord volumes correlate with measures of disability, the relationship between spinal cord 3D volumetric measurements and clinical parameters such as disease duration, EDSS, and IPEC were analyzed. The correlation between cervical cord volume and disease duration in definite HAM/TSP was significant at the P < .05 level (R2 = .77, P = .049; Pearson correlation), but was not statistically significant following correction for multiple comparisons. Otherwise no significant correlations were observed between spinal cord volumes and age, EDSS, or IPEC in this retrospective cross-sectional study. We have used a semiautomated technique for quantification of spinal cord volume from 3D MR images. Applied to subjects with HAM/TSP, an inflammatory myelopathy with a well-characterized progressive

clinical course resembling primary progressive multiple sclerosis, we showed that spinal cord atrophy distinguishes subjects with HAM/TSP from HVs. Thoracic cord volumes were over one third lower, and Lapatinib mw cervical cord volumes were substantially reduced in subjects with HAM/TSP, demonstrating, for the first time by MRI, substantial volume loss in the HAM/TSP cervical cord. In individuals with HTLV-I infection but not fulfilling ascertainment from criteria for definite HAM/TSP, the current technique appears to be informative with respect to distinguishing those who are asymptomatic from those who

demonstrate abnormalities on clinical examination. Thus the 3D MRI spinal cord volume quantification employed in this study is a sensitive tool for detecting spinal cord volume loss, and may be a sensitive indicator of CNS involvement in HTLV-I infection. Previous studies to characterize spinal cord volume by MRI in HAM/TSP have relied on measurement of midthoracic cross-sectional area ratios as a surrogate for cord volume and have not shown a clear relationship between atrophy and disease progression.2008 Although the 3D MRI quantification of spinal cord volume employed in this study captures the full extent of spinal cord involvement, spinal cord volumes did not correlate with measures of clinical disability such as EDSS and IPEC in this cross-sectional study of subjects with HAM/TSP. A positive correlation between cervical spine volume and disease duration was seen at the P < .

This study involved unrelated HCC and LC patients of Korean ethni

This study involved unrelated HCC and LC patients of Korean ethnicity treated at the Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Disease diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology. Previous clinical history, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based serum test results for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), and clinical laboratory data were collected for these individuals; 89% of the HCC cases and 76% of the LC cases were chronically infected with either HBV or HCV. Two sources of controls were used. The first set of controls for our study was unrelated individuals from

the Asan Medical MK-8669 Center. The viral infection status of controls was not ascertained. A second set of controls was HBV+ individuals of Chinese origin (described previously).6 The local ethics committees and all subjects gave informed consent before inclusion in the study. A total of 386 Korean HCC cases, 86 Korean LC cases, 587 Korean controls (Supporting Table S1), and 100 Chinese controls passed the quality control evaluations (DNA integrity measurement, STRP genotyping for assessment of identity, and high SNP call rate from the Affymetrix 6.0 platform) described below. We confirmed through molecular assays that there is no population stratification among the Korean samples (see Supporting Methods). Individuals from the Korean population set were assigned to the discovery

(Stage 1) or validation Selleck XL765 (Stage 2) group based on their order of enrollment in

the study. Stage 1 included 271 Sitaxentan controls, 180 HCC cases, and 66 LC cases; Stage 2 had 316 controls, 206 HCC patients, and 20 individuals with LC. Key findings from the two-stage analysis were further validated using the Chinese control samples. Peripheral blood DNA was extracted using the Blood DNA Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA). DNA integrity and quantity were assessed using the Quantifiler Human DNA Quantification kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were analyzed with an ABI 3130XL Automated DNA Sequencer and the GeneMapper ID v3.2 software (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA). The Affymetrix SNP6.0 assay was performed according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA). Assay runs were performed in 96-well plates containing equal numbers of case and control samples, two Asian HapMap samples (chosen from NA18954, NA18971, NA18603, and NA18995) for external genotype validation, the Affymetrix Affy103 control DNA, and a water blank. Cases were randomly selected for each plate one-by-one using a random-number generator. Each case in the discovery phase was paired with its best match in sex and age among the control samples. Processing each Stage 1 case along with a matched control was aimed at minimizing technical variation in experimental results.

These results

These results Pexidartinib mouse suggest that overexpression of DNMT3B4, which may lack DNA methyltransferase activity, results in DNA hypomethylation on pericentromeric satellite regions accompanied by chromosomal instability in human hepatocarcinogenesis.[44] THE N-TERMINAL TAILS of histones can undergo a variety of post-translational modifications including methylation and acetylation on specific residues. These histone modifications regulate transcription of genes which play important roles in cellular processes. Unlike DNA methylation, histone modifications can lead to either activation or repression depending upon which residues are modified and

the type of modifications present. For example, tri-methylation of lysine 4 on histone H3 (H3K4me3) is enriched at transcriptionally active gene promoters,[45] whereas di- and tri-methylation of H3K9 and tri-methylation of H3K27 Everolimus nmr is present at gene promoters that are transcriptionally

repressed.[46, 47] As shown in Figure 1, transcriptionally active chromatin in normal cells is characterized by acetylation of histone H3 and tri-methylation of H3K4. Epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes during carcinogenesis is generally mediated by two distinct histone modifications: methylation of H3K9 and tri-methylation of H3K27. The polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) mediates Idoxuridine epigenetic gene silencing by tri-methylating H3K27. Methylation of H3K9

works in concert with DNA methylation, whereas tri-methylation of H3K27 occurs independently of DNA methylation.[48] HDAC induces deacetylation of histone H3 in both of these pathways of epigenetic silencing. Recent studies have demonstrated that histone tails are aberrantly modified during human hepatocarcinogenesis. The level of H3K27 tri-methylation was significantly increased in HCC tissues relative to adjacent non-tumorous liver tissues. The increased level of H3K27 tri-methylation in HCC was significantly correlated with large tumor size, poor differentiation, advanced clinical stage, vascular invasion and shortened survival time of patients with HCC. These findings suggest that a high level of H3K27 tri-methylation is an independent molecular marker for a poor prognosis in patients with HCC.[49] In addition, there are several reports demonstrating that enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), which is a member of the polycomb group-protein family and a catalytic subunit of PRC2, was overexpressed in HCC.[14, 50] Yao and colleagues investigated histone modifications at the promoter regions of p16 (INK4a) during differentiation of embryonic stem cell–hepatoma hybrid cells. Tri-methylation of H3K27 at the p16 (INK4a) promoter region, occurring in the early onset of p16 (INK4a) silencing, was followed by di-methylation of H3K9 at later stages.