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Tuesday, January 27, 2015
11 comments:
- Gina said...
Looks like a lot of fun! You are lucky to have such a large & beautiful kitchen to make memories like this in!
- January 27, 2015 at 10:14 AM
- Amy Burzese said...
What a wonderful kitchen to have!
- January 27, 2015 at 1:13 PM
- Pamela Gordon said...
That is one beautiful and big kitchen. I guess you need lots of space when the family gets together for a big cook. I bet those perogies tasted great too!
- January 27, 2015 at 4:34 PM
- Decor To Adore said...
How wonderful that you kitchen has room for so many happy cooks making wonderful memories.
Have a beautiful day!
- January 28, 2015 at 9:19 AM
- Amy at love made my home said...
A great fun way to spend the day and very tasty results at the end of it!! Your kitchen is so much nicer and more open now! xx
- January 29, 2015 at 1:21 PM
- Kim said...
And that's exactly what your kitchen was made for...family, food, fun! Gorgeous!
- January 31, 2015 at 6:51 AM
- A Joyful Cottage said...
How wonderful! And I agree completely with Kim. This is why you need a big kitchen! It's a beauty, Dawna.
- February 2, 2015 at 6:09 PM
- Judy ~ My Front Porch said...
What a beautiful kitchen...being well-used!
- February 23, 2015 at 2:56 PM
- Erin Hunter said...
Beautiful! Love the white cupboards with the grey countertop... Can I ask what kind of countertop you chose?
- February 24, 2015 at 5:08 PM
- Dawna Motz said...
Hi Erin...sorry it took me a little bit to find the info you were asking about. Countertop is Formica 180fx
and the color/pattern is Soapstone Sequoia
- March 1, 2015 at 9:23 PM
- Amy Pugh said...
Love the kitchen! Looks fantastic. We have an island in our house currently that is very similar to your old island and I can't wait until we can re-do it. It's top on my list! Thanks for sharing your kitchen with us.
- April 1, 2015 at 7:25 AM


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Forged in Fire >> First Look, Initial Thoughts
A little while ago I mentioned that for some unknown reason, I've found myself interested in wargaming more than any virtually any point in my gaming life (with the exception of college, during which I played quite a bit of ASL with one of my roommates). I recently special-ordered a series of wargames from my FLGS, including A House Divided, and Crusader Rex.
Sadly, they're having a hard time tracking these games down, since they fall outside their normal purview. I could just order them online, but I'm really trying to "train" the hobby shop so I have a reliable brick n' mortar place to go.
Oddly enough, though, despite the spartan collection of wargames they carry, they had a copy of Worthington Games' Forged in Fire, an American Civil War game based on the peninsula campaigns in Virginia in 1862. There's very little information on the game on BGG, since it's so new, but that didn't deter me. Essentially, it's a "block game" using the same sort of block system like Wizard Kings or Hammer of the Scots, but with a small battle map for zoomed in conflict during combat resolution.
I've read the rules, downloaded a great player aids from BoardGameGeek, and am really psyched for this. I really enjoy the American Civil War setting for wargames, before aircraft, armored units and massive (reliable) guns. I find it a more visceral and personal timeframe.
For a full "first look" synopsis, read my initial reaction review over on BGG.
Forged in Fire has a much more interesting supply chain mechanic than Gettysburg 1863 or Sam Grant had, two other American Civil War games I played which just fizzled horribly. The Confederates have a strong supply chain stemming from Richmond, while the Union has to maneuver a supply depot and supply train to help provide a mobile source from which to trace their supply chain.
While the Union juggles its supply chain, the Confederacy has its ironclad, the Virginia, parked off-shore, ready to disrupt any Union amphibious landings or assaults they may be planning. It's the only ship physically represented in the game by a unit, and it creates an interesting game of "chicken" between the Union forces and the Virginia... The Virginia slowly repairs damage from turn to turn, but is removed permanently if destroyed. But the Union may end up wasting precious actions trying to activate amphibious movement, only to be thwarted by the Virginia showing up and making the way impassable.
My favorite element so far is probably the "confidence track" for McClellan. It's a long track denoting McClellan's confidence in himself, as well as the Union's confidence in the success of his campaign. Different game elements will make his confidence rise or fall (such as winning a battle, losing the supply train, sinking the Virginia, etc.) Different confidence levels may trigger the availability of certain reinforcements, or endgame conditions. For example, in one scenario, the Confederacy can win if they can drive McClellan's confidence to -4 or less on the chart.
I'm eager to try Forged in Fire out with a live opponent. The rules are interesting and lightweight enough to keep from being intimidating, while still detailed enough to provide what appears to be a nice, tactical experience. I really like the Confidence track dynamic, and the Union's need to keep its supply chain mobile. Forged in Fire looks like it might offer just the right balance of complexity and accessibility I'm looking for in a wargame.
Gut Reaction Rating: 7/10 -- hopefully moving up after a few plays.

subset: commoncrawl


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text: More exciting ranked battle play. My Ognevoi takes C and then moves to B as our Minekaze gets driven off by cruiser fire. I arrive just in time to set a fire on a Cleveland and drive it off. But as my smoke screen dissipates leaving me visible, an enemy U.S. Nicholas destroyer charges into B to challenge me. Watch the video to see how this gun boat match up ends!


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|Andrus: 3-run HR, 5 RBI
American League
Texas topped Tampa Bay, 9-5, remaining tied with the Angels for second place in the AL West, 11 games behind the Astros, winners of their sixth straight, a 7-2 win at Minnesota.
The play of shortstop Elvis Andrus was key to the Texas victory. Andrus started the Rangers off on the right path, following Shin-Soo-Choo's leadoff homer with a double, scoring on Nomar Mazara's single to right.
The Rays countered with four runs in the third and another in the fifth before Andrus tied the game at five with a three-run blast with two outs in the seventh inning, his seventh homer of the season. Texas tacked on two more runs in the eighth, and Andrus completed the scoring, singling home two teammates in the ninth. Andrus finished the game 3-for-5, with five RBI and two runs. Batting primarily from the two hole, Andrus is batting .288 with 27 RBI.
The Rangers had been gaining some ground through the middle of May when they won 10 straight, but ran into trouble on the road, dropping three in Boston and two of three in Toronto.
Back in Arlington, their Tuesday win evened the series at a game apiece, the rubber game scheduled for Wednesday at 8:05 pm ET.
|Ray: 4-hit Shutout
National League
The race in the NL West is really heating up. With the Dodgers topping St. Louis, 9-4, for their sixth straight win, and Seattle clubbing Colorado, 10-4, the Dodgers have caught and passed the Rockies, leading the division by 1/2 game.
But, this is a three-team race. Arizona won at Pittsburgh, 3-0, Tuesday, on the strength of Robbie Ray's four-hit shutout at Pittsburgh.
Ray (5-3, 3.00) was solid throughout, out-dueling Pittsburgh's Ivan Nova, who kept the Diamondbacks scoreless until the sixth inning. Throwing 76 of 115 pitches for strikes, Ray fanned 10 without issuing a walk. An equal-opportunity hurler, Ray fanned all nine starters once each, excepting #8 hitter Gift Ngoepe, who struck out twice.
Ray upped his strikeout total to 84, tied for third in the NL with Jeff Samardzija and Zack Greinke. Max Scherzer leads the league with 89. The Mets' Jacob deGrom is second with 86.
Arizona, which dropped the first game of the series, looks to walk the Pirates off the plank in game three, Wednesday at 12:35 pm ET.


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Event details
- Sunday | January 7, 2018
- 9:30 am
- Berean Community Church, Youth Group Common Area (2nd Floor)
BCC is an important class that covers not only the foundational doctrines of Christian faith but also the core beliefs and practices of our church. This 10-week class also serves as our required membership course. To sign up, please visit the welcome table or email Pastor Mark at firstname.lastname@example.com. The next session begins on January 7th. Classes are held on Sundays from 9:30-10:30am on the 2nd floor in the youth common area. Babysitting available upon request.


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Somatic genetic CDKN2A, TP53, and DNA content abnormalities are common in many human cancers and their precursors, including esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) and Barrett's esophagus (BE), conditions for which aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been proposed as possible chemopreventive agents; however, little is known about the ability of a biomarker panel to predict progression to cancer nor how NSAID use may modulate progression. We aimed to evaluate somatic genetic abnormalities with NSAIDs as predictors of EA in a prospective cohort study of patients with BE.
Methods and Findings
Esophageal biopsies from 243 patients with BE were evaluated at baseline for TP53 and CDKN2A (p16) alterations, tetraploidy, and aneuploidy using sequencing; loss of heterozygosity (LOH); methylation-specific PCR; and flow cytometry. At 10 y, all abnormalities, except CDKN2A mutation and methylation, contributed to EA risk significantly by univariate analysis, ranging from 17p LOH (relative risk [RR] = 10.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.2–21.3, p < 0.001) to 9p LOH (RR = 2.6; 95% CI 1.1–6.0, p = 0.03). A panel of abnormalities including 17p LOH, DNA content tetraploidy and aneuploidy, and 9p LOH was the best predictor of EA (RR = 38.7; 95% CI 10.8–138.5, p < 0.001). Patients with no baseline abnormality had a 12% 10-y cumulative EA incidence, whereas patients with 17p LOH, DNA content abnormalities, and 9p LOH had at least a 79.1% 10-y EA incidence. In patients with zero, one, two, or three baseline panel abnormalities, there was a significant trend toward EA risk reduction among NSAID users compared to nonusers (p = 0.01). The strongest protective effect was seen in participants with multiple genetic abnormalities, with NSAID nonusers having an observed 10-y EA risk of 79%, compared to 30% for NSAID users (p < 0.001).
Citation: Galipeau PC, Li X, Blount PL, Maley CC, Sanchez CA, Odze RD, et al. (2007) NSAIDs Modulate CDKN2A, TP53, and DNA Content Risk for Progression to Esophageal Adenocarcinoma. PLoS Med 4(2): e67. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0040067
Academic Editor: Edison T. Liu, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore
Received: May 17, 2006; Accepted: January 4, 2007; Published: February 27, 2007
Copyright: © 2007 Galipeau et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Funding: This study was funded by the US National Institutes of Health (P01 CA91955, R01 CA61202, and R01 CA78828) with interim support from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Abbreviations: BE, Barrett's esophagus; CI, confidence interval; EA, esophageal adenocarcinoma; HGD, high-grade dysplasia; LOH, loss of heterozygosity; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; RR, relative risk
Editors' Summary
Normally, the cells in the human body divide only when extra cells are needed, after an injury, for example. Sometimes, however, cells accumulate genetic changes (mutations) that allow them to divide uncontrollably to form a disorganized mass or tumor. If these altered cells also acquire mutations that allow them to spread around the body, a malignant tumor or cancer results. Scientists have identified numerous genetic changes that occur in tumors and are now investigating whether these molecular abnormalities can be used as "biomarkers" to choose the best treatments for patients, to identify who will benefit from cancer-prevention strategies, to detect cancer early, and to predict which cancers are most likely to become life-threatening. This last application is particularly important for cancers with a well-defined premalignant stage. Because the cells in premalignant tissues have acquired some of the genetic changes required for cancer development, they are more likely to become malignant than normal cells. Barrett's esophagus, for example, is a premalignant disorder of the muscular tube that takes food from the mouth to the stomach. People with Barrett's esophagus are much more likely to develop esophageal cancer than the general population.
Why Was This Study Done?
Esophageal cancer is often incurable by the time it is detected, so it would be helpful to know which people with Barrett's esophagus are most likely to develop esophageal cancer—only 1 in 200 of them develop cancer each year. In this study, the researchers evaluated whether a panel of genetic alterations could identify this subset of patients. They also investigated whether the regular use of aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) affects the risk of developing esophageal cancer in people with Barrett's esophagus—other evidence suggests that NSAIDs may help to prevent several types of cancer, including esophageal cancer.
What Did the Researchers Do and Find?
The researchers took esophageal tissue samples from patients with Barrett's esophagus and looked for alterations in the genes encoding the tumor-suppressor proteins TP53 and CDKN2A. These proteins normally stop cells dividing but are often inactivated in cancer cells by mutation of one of the two gene copies that encode each of them and also loss of the other copy (so-called "loss of heterozygosity" or LOH). The researchers also looked for changes in the cellular DNA content of the samples (tumor cells often contain unusual amounts of DNA) and asked the study participants about their NSAID use before waiting to see which participants developed esophageal cancer. After 10 y, the participants whose tissue samples had LOH of the short arms (p) of Chromosome 17 or 9 (the sites of the genes encoding TP53 and CDKN2A, respectively), or an altered DNA content, were more likely to have developed esophageal cancer than those without these abnormalities; those whose samples contained all three abnormalities had the highest risk of developing esophageal cancer. Overall, just 12% of patients with no abnormalities but nearly 80% of patients with three abnormalities developed esophageal cancer. NSAID use reduced the risk of cancer development in all the participants, but its effect was greatest in those with three genetic abnormalities.
What Do These Findings Mean?
These findings suggest that the combined measurement of 17pLOH, 9pLOH, and cellular DNA content might be a powerful way to identify those patients with Barrett's esophagus who are most likely to develop esophageal cancer. They also suggest that NSAID use is associated with a reduced risk of esophageal cancer, particularly in patients with multiple genetic abnormalities. Because very few participants developed cancer during the study, these results need confirming in more patients. Also, the ability of NSAIDs to prevent the progression of Barrett's esophagus to esophageal cancer needs testing in multicenter randomized trials; the use of the panel of abnormalities described here to identify the people with Barrett's esophagus most at risk of developing esophageal cancer should facilitate such studies.
Additional Information.
Please access these Web sites via the online version of this summary at http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0040067.
- CancerQuest information from Emory University (Atlanta, Georgia, United States) on cancer biology, including the role of tumor suppressor proteins
- US National Cancer Institute patient and physician information on esophageal cancer and its prevention
- MedlinePlus encyclopedia pages on Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer
- Cancerbackup (UK charity) patient information on esophageal cancer and Barrett's esophagus
Rapid advances in understanding the molecular pathogenesis of neoplasia have raised the possibility that molecular abnormalities may be used as "biomarkers" for cancer risk stratification and early detection as well as possible entry criteria for cancer-prevention trials [1–4]. Identification of inherited, highly penetrant mutations in some cancer-susceptibility genes is being incorporated into clinical practice as well as cancer-prevention strategies for patients with many familial cancer syndromes, including inherited breast cancer, hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer, and adenomatous polyposis coli [5–10]. Although progress in developing predictive biomarkers from common somatic genetic abnormalities in at-risk tissues has been less striking, there is some evidence that this approach may be successful. Based on a genetic progression model for head and neck cancer [11,12], a series of retrospective, longitudinal studies have been performed on patients with the premalignant condition oral leukoplakia, resulting in potential biomarker panels for risk stratification [13–16]. Some of these biomarkers have been proposed as entry criteria for a randomized cancer-prevention trial using cyclo-oxygenase-2 and epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors [4]. Understanding how modifiable exposures interact with the somatic genetic composition of a neoplasm will be important for individualized interventions and cancer prevention.
Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a premalignant condition that predisposes to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA). The incidence of this cancer has risen dramatically in the United States, Western Europe, Australia, and other developed countries over the past three decades, with little sign of abating [17,18]. Unfortunately, EA is typically lethal unless detected early, having an overall survival rate of only 13.7% [19]. Endoscopic surveillance is recommended for early detection in BE [20], and there has been recent interest in the potential for cancer prevention using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) based on data from case control and cohort studies [21–25], as well as preclinical models [26,27]. Analysis of genetic progression of BE has identified abnormalities in the tumor-suppressor genes TP53 and CDKN2A, as well as DNA content abnormalities (tetraploidy and aneuploidy) as critical events in the evolution of EA [28–40]. Several prospective studies have suggested that individual somatic genetic abnormalities derived from this progression model may identify those patients with BE who are at increased risk for progression to EA, but no study has evaluated the combined contributions of genetic abnormalities for EA risk prediction [34,41–45].
Using data collected prospectively over a 10-y period from a long-standing cohort study of patients with BE, we investigated the role of host factors in combination with somatic genetic abnormalities in the development of EA. The aims of the study were to determine whether somatic genetic abnormalities involving TP53, CDKN2A, and DNA content were predictors of progression to EA and whether regular NSAID use modulates risk of these abnormalities for future EA.
Study Design
This was a prospective, longitudinal study of the Seattle Barrett's Esophagus Study cohort. It constituted a phase 4 study according to the National Cancer Institute's Early Detection Research Network classification [3]. The Seattle Barrett's Esophagus Study was approved by the Human Subjects Division of the University of Washington in 1983 and was renewed annually thereafter with reciprocity from the Institutional Review Board of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center from 1993 to 2001. Since 2001, the study has been approved annually by the Institutional Review Board of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center with reciprocity from the Human Subjects Division of the University of Washington.
Two hundred and seventy-four participants were eligible as defined by a diagnosis of metaplastic columnar epithelium with intestinal metaplasia in esophageal biopsies, the absence of esophageal malignancy at or prior to baseline endoscopy, and having had at least one follow-up endoscopy. Two hundred and forty-three participants had sufficient tissue for flow cytometry, mutation, and LOH analysis in the same DNA samples and represented the final study cohort. Study participants entered surveillance from 1983 to 1999 (Table 1). The baseline endoscopy was defined as the first endoscopy from 5 January 1995 to 2 December 1999. Since this is a long-standing cohort, we assessed the enrollment-time effect by performing statistical analyses with all patients, and also with the subset of 211 patients, excluding the 32 patients who entered the cohort before 1990, and found no change in the conclusions of the study. This study was conducted at a specialty research and referral center, and thus our cohort is considered a high-risk patient population. We included all cancers that developed subsequent to the baseline evaluation so that accurate risk-stratification models could be developed based on findings at a single baseline endoscopy [44].
Cohort Characteristics
All research participants were counseled concerning the risks and benefits of endsocopic biopsy surveillance for BE. Patients with high-grade dysplasia (HGD) were also counseled concerning the risks and benefits of esophagectomy and endoscopic therapies. Endoscopic biopsy protocols used in the Seattle Barrett's Esophagus Study have been published previously [46]. Briefly, all patients had one biopsy evaluated for biomarkers every 2 cm in the Barrett's segment regardless of histologic diagnosis. In patients without HGD, four-quadrant biopsies were obtained for histologic evaluation every 2 cm in the Barrett's segment. If, after fully informed consent, participants with HGD opted for endoscopic biopsy surveillance reserving intervention for cancer if detected, they were evaluated by an intensive protocol of four-quadrant biopsies every 1 cm in the Barrett's epithelium at closely timed intervals for 4 mo, after which time endoscopies were typically repeated approximately every 6 mo [47]. Exclusion of patients who were diagnosed with EA that developed within 4 mo of their baseline procedure (n = 4) did not alter the conclusions of the study. Participants with maximum baseline diagnosis of HGD had an average of 7.3 endoscopies (median = 6.5, range 2–18), compared to those with less HGD at baseline, who had an average of 4.8 endoscopies (median = 4, range 2–20).
The cohort is typical for gender, age, and Barrett's segment length compared to other specialty research centers (Table 1) [48–51]. The cohort included 189 males and 54 females with a mean age of 62 y (median = 64 y, range 30–87 y) at entry into the study. This cohort was comprised of participants with maximum baseline histologic diagnoses including negative for dysplasia (n = 67), indefinite (n = 78), low-grade dysplasia (n = 48), and HGD (n = 50) using previously published pathology criteria [43,52]. The mean Barrett's segment length, defined by total centimeters between the ora serrata and the distal end of the tubular esophagus proximal to the flattening of the gastric folds, was 5.6 cm (median = 5 cm, range 0–20 cm). Participants were followed for a total of 17,139 patient-months with a mean of 71 mo (median = 80.5 mo, range 2.3–130.8 mo).
Endoscopy and Biopsy
Endoscopy and biopsy were performed using a standard protocol [43]. Participants with a history of HGD (n = 50) had histologic evaluation of four-quadrant biopsies at 1-cm intervals in the Barrett's segment, whereas those without a history of HGD (n = 193) had histologic analysis of four-quadrant biopsies at 2-cm intervals. Histologic analyses were evaluated in biopsies obtained at the baseline evaluation and at all follow-up endoscopies, whereas TP53, CDKN2A, and DNA content analyses were evaluated at a single baseline endoscopy. For each baseline endoscopy, samples were characterized for 17p LOH spanning TP53, TP53 mutations, DNA content abnormalities including tetraploidy and aneuploidy, 9p LOH spanning the CDKN2A (p16) locus, CDKN2A promoter methylation, and CDKN2A mutation in one biopsy every 2 cm in the Barrett's segment (average = 3.2, range 1–11 biopsies analyzed per study participant). For a participant to be counted as having a molecular abnormality at baseline, the abnormality must have been detected in more than one flow-purified DNA fraction or in a single sample that has been confirmed in a second, independent reaction.
Flow Cytometry
Biopsies were processed by DNA content (DAPI) and Ki67/DNA content flow cytometry to determine 4N fraction and ploidy, and to purify proliferating cells using previously validated techniques [43,45,53]. Flow-purified fractions are defined as Ki67-positive (proliferating) 2N, 4N, increased 4N/tetraploid (cells with DNA content between 3.85 and 4.10N that comprise >6% of the total cells), and aneuploid populations (distinct DNA content peak representing >2.5% of cells). Cell-cycle analysis was performed on 1,569 flow-purified fractions with a median of 6.5 (range 1–29) cell-cycle fractions depending on Barrett's segment length.
DNA Extraction, Whole-Genome Amplification and LOH Analysis
DNA was extracted from flow-purified cell populations using either standard phenol/chloroform or the Puregene DNA Isolation Kit as recommended by the manufacturer (Gentra Systems, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States). Whole-genome amplification using primer extension preamplification was performed with each sorted fraction and three constitutive controls per participant [53]. LOH data was obtained from 1,331 and 1,284 flow-purified fractions at 17p and 9p loci, respectively, as detailed previously [34,44,53]. Thirteen microsatellite loci were evaluated, including the 17p loci D17S1298 (3.87 Mbp), D17S1537 (6.10 Mbp), TP53-ALU (AAAAT)n in intron 1 (7.77 Mbp), TP53 (CA)n (7.77 Mbp), D17S786 (9.01 Mbp), D17S974 (10.72 Mbp), D17S1303 (11.06 Mbp), and Chromosome 9p loci D9S2169 (5.19 Mbp), D9S935 (5.19 Mbp), D9S925 (18.28 Mbp), D9S932 (24.43 Mbp), D9S1121 (25.39 Mbp), and D9S1118 (31.92 Mbp). Physical map locations were determined from the University of California, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, California, United States) version hg16 July 2003 assembly (http://genome.cse.ucsc.edu). LOH was defined as QLOH ≤ 0.4 or ≥ 2.5 for loss which spanned TP53 or CDKN2A [34,44,53]. For convenience, we used the nomenclature of 17p LOH and 9p LOH to describe LOH events spanning these genes. LOH was not scored for rare telomeric or centomeric loss events that did not span TP53 or CDKN2A. 17p LOH for all participants and 9p LOH in HGD patients have been previously published [34,44].
CDKN2A Promoter Methylation Analysis
Genomic DNA from flow-purified Barrett's epithelium was evaluated for CDKN2A promoter methylation in 175 flow-purified fractions from 121 participants. Only a subset (n = 121) of the patients had CDKN2A methylation tested because the bisulfite treatment assays used required large amounts of DNA, and the DNA from our flow-purified fractions was insufficient for all molecular assays to be performed. This patient subset was representative of the entire 243-patient cohort with no statistically significant difference in follow-up time, sex, age, segment length, and cancer outcome between the methylation-assayed group and the non-assayed group. DNA was bisulfite treated and methylation-specific PCR was performed with modifications as detailed previously [31,54,55]. Human genomic DNA treated in vitro with Sss I methyltransferase (New England Biolabs, Beverly, Massachusetts, United States) was used as the methylated control. In a subset of cases, promoter methylation was determined and/or verified by directly sequencing PCR products of bisulfite-treated genomic DNA using published primers and methods [31]. Methylation data from a subset of patients has been previously reported [31].
DNA Sequencing
Genomic or primer extension preamplification DNA was sequenced using either BigDye or BigDyeV3 Terminator cycle sequencing (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, California, United States) on either an ABI 377, ABI 3730, or ABI 3700 DNA sequencer. Wild-type sequences for each participant were confirmed using constitutive samples. All mutations were confirmed by at least two independent PCR and sequencing reactions and, in cases of ambiguity, by direct sequencing of genomic DNA. Evaluation of mutation of exons 5–9 of the TP53 gene was performed on 1,118 flow-purified fractions under conditions described previously [56]. TP53 mutations from patients with HGD were reported by Prevo et al. [56], and additional new TP53 mutations not previously reported are available from the corresponding author (PCG). Mutation analysis of exon 2 of the CDKN2A gene was performed in 1,109 flow-purified fractions, detailed by Paulson 2006 (unpublished data) and with methods described previously [31].
Use of Aspirin and Other NSAIDs
Questionnaires and methods for determining host variables were as described previously [25] and were available for 241 participants. Use of aspirin and other NSAIDs in the current study was defined in the same way as NSAID use, including NSAID use in follow-up, as described in Vaughan et al. [25]. Briefly, duration and frequency of regular aspirin and NSAID use were assessed, with "regular" defined by use at least once per week for ≥6 mo. The NSAID variable took into account changes in aspirin and NSAID medication use during the follow-up period. It has been shown previously that there are no significant differences between the protective associations of aspirin and other NSAIDs in this cohort [25]. Patients were classified as being users (including patients who were regular aspirin or other NSAID users within 1 y of the baseline interview or at any time during follow-up, n = 157), or nonusers (former users or those who had never used NSAIDs, n = 84).
Statistical Analysis
We sought to evaluate the extent to which specific tissue-based, mechanistically derived molecular markers, both alone and in combination, predict risk of progression to EA in patients with BE. The analytic approach is summarized as follows. (1) Univariate Cox proportional hazard analyses (not adjusted for host variables or other markers) were used to determine the EA risk of patients with each marker, measured at baseline at 2-, 6-, and 10-y follow-up time points (Table 2). (2) Stepwise multivariate Cox regression was used to select, from among all of the available molecular markers, a subset which independently contributes to EA risk prediction (Table 3). (3) Cumulative EA incidence and relative risk (RR) of progression to EA at 10 y were calculated for patients with different numbers of the selected markers at baseline relative to patients with no abnormalities (Table 4). To determine the contribution of known or suspected nongenetic host factors to EA risk prediction, we incorporated these host factors together with all molecular markers in a multivariate Cox model. Only NSAID use showed significant independent prediction in combination with molecular markers in this multivariate model. The predictive ability of the selected molecular markers was evaluated among NSAID users and nonusers (Figures 1 and 2).
Univariate Analysis of RR for EA during Follow-up
Stepwise Selection for Molecular Markers and RR for EA of Final Selected Markers
Cumulative EA Incidence and RR of Different Baseline Abnormality Combinations
Two hundred and forty-one patients are classified according to whether they have (A) baseline 17p LOH (n = 46), (B) baseline DNA content abnormalities (aneuploidy and/or tetraploidy) (n = 41), (C) baseline 9p LOH (n = 144), or (D) more than one baseline abnormality (top two curves) or one or less abnormality (lower two curves). Shown are Kaplan-Meier curves of cancer incidence rates in patients who are NSAID nonusers (former or never users, red curves) or NSAID users (current or user during follow-up, black curves).
Cancer incidence rates are shown for participants with no selected abnormalities (17p LOH, DNA content abnormalities [aneuploidy and/or tetraploidy], or 9p LOH) at baseline (red), any one abnormality (green), any combination of two abnormalities (blue), or all three abnormalities (black). (A) All participants. When comparing NSAID nonusers (B) and NSAID users (C) there is a strong significant trend toward EA risk reduction in the NSAID users group for all abnormality combinations (Mantel-Haenszel test p = 0.01).
Two hundred and forty-three patients had informative data for all of the molecular markers (17p LOH, TP53 mutation, tetraploidy, aneuploidy, 9p LOH, and CDKN2A mutation). Except for CDKN2A methylation, all markers in the analysis were binary variables coded as 0 (no), 1 (yes) for each participant. CDKN2A methylation status was coded as yes, no, or no data in the statistical model because only 121 patients had sufficient quantity of DNA to be evaluated for this marker. In the Cox regression models for molecular marker selection, the statistical significance levels used in the initial process of stepwise selection for variable entry and removing were 0.25 and 0.15, respectively. Based on initial selection results, p = 0.05 was used as the significance threshold for the final selection (second Cox model). Association relationship among binary markers was also assessed using coefficient Φ. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the probability of EA in different stratified groups. The Gehan-Wilcoxon test was used to test differences in the cancer incidence curves. The Grambsch-Therneau test was used to examine the significance of a change in RR ratio over time for all markers. We adjusted p-values for multiple comparisons in Figure 2 using the Benjamini and Hochberg method [57]. All of the analyses were performed with Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software Version 9.0; (SAS Institute, http://www.sas.com).
Univariate Analysis of LOH, Mutation, Methylation, Tetraploidy, and Aneuploidy for EA Risk Prediction
The cohort characteristics for participants used for molecular and DNA content analysis are shown in Table 1. During the follow-up period of this study, 34 participants developed EA. The number of participants with each genetic abnormality at baseline and the cumulative number who developed cancer at 2, 6, and 10 y are shown in Table 2. The risk of EA during follow-up in patients with each molecular and DNA content abnormality was assessed with univariate analysis using Cox regression models (2, 6, and 10 y presented to show general trend, Table 2). The RRs presented in Table 2 were not adjusted for host variables, but the significance of the results does not change when such adjustments are performed. At 10 y, each molecular and DNA content abnormality, when analyzed alone in a patient at baseline, made a significant contribution to prediction of EA risk, with the exception of CDKN2A mutation (10-y RR = 1.8; 95% CI 0.8–4.1, p = 0.13) and CDKN2A methylation (RR = 2.1; 95% CI 0.8–4.1, p = 0.09). For example, the univariate RRs ranged from a high for 17p LOH (10-y RR = 10.6; 95% CI 5.2–21.3, p < 0.001) to that for 9p LOH (10-y RR = 2.6; 95% CI 1.1–6.0, p = 0.03). Although RRs at intermediate time points may be unstable owing to small numbers, 9p LOH had a higher RR at early follow-up intervals. The RR in univariate analysis for 9p LOH was 8.9 (95% CI 1.2–67.9, p = 0.04) at 2-y follow-up, but decreased to RR = 2.6 by 10 y. With the current dataset, 9p LOH was the only abnormality that showed a statistically significant change in RR over time (nonproportional hazard over time, p = 0.004, Grambsch-Therneau test for global trend at 10 y).
Comprehensive Analysis of Relationships among the Multiple Molecular Abnormalities for EA Risk Prediction
To determine a set of biomarkers that are independent predictors of EA risk, baseline molecular markers were evaluated using multivariate Cox models with backward and forward stepwise selection. Starting with all molecular abnormalities for selection, 17p LOH was the most significant abnormality selected by the statistical model, and remained a strong predictor when accounting for TP53 mutation status in a step-wise analysis process. Although TP53 mutation was highly significant in univariate analysis, it became nonsignificant for EA risk prediction when 17p LOH was included in the model. Tetraploidy was the next selected marker, followed by aneuploidy. Finally, 9p LOH improved the model for risk prediction significantly in combination with 17p LOH and DNA content abnormalities (likelihood ratio test p = 0.03). CDKN2A methylation provided marginal additional risk but was not statistically significant in the multivariate model (p = 0.28). CDKN2A mutation did not provide significant additional contribution to EA risk prediction. The final selected molecular markers that independently contributed to EA risk prediction included 17p LOH, tetraploidy, aneuploidy, and 9p LOH (Table 3). To further evaluate the associations among the markers, we calculated the association coefficient (Φ) for all binary markers. TP53 mutation showed strong association with 17p LOH (Φ = 0.63) and aneuploidy (Φ = 0.56). 17p LOH is also strongly associated with aneuploidy (Φ = 0.56). No other strong associations were observed by this method. Although TP53 mutation was significantly related to EA risk in univariate analysis, it was strongly associated with 17p LOH and aneuploidy, which may explain why it was not retained in the model selection. The adjusted RRs for future EA at 10 y, using the final selected model with 17p LOH, tetraploidy, aneuploidy, and 9p LOH, were RR = 5.4 (95% CI 2.5–12.0), RR = 2.9 (95% CI 1.4–5.9), RR = 3.4 (95% CI 1.6–7.1), and RR = 2.4 (95% CI 1.0–5.5), respectively (Table 3).
Effect of Combinations of Selected Panel Abnormalities on Cumulative EA Incidence
Each study participant had the potential to have any combination of selected panel abnormalities at baseline. Stratification by all possible combinations of the selected abnormalities was limited by an inadequate number of patients for analysis in some strata, and we therefore grouped participants based on the number of abnormalities at baseline. Table 4 lists the cumulative EA incidence at 2, 6, and 10 y, and the RR at maximum follow-up (10 y) for future development of EA for participants with no panel abnormalities, a single abnormality (either 17p LOH, any DNA content abnormality, or 9p LOH), any two selected abnormalities, or all three selected abnormalities at baseline. Tetraploidy and aneuploidy are two measures of DNA content and were treated as a single variable in this section (Figures 1 and 2; Table 4). Study participants with no baseline abnormalities (85/243) remained cancer free to almost 8 y (95 mo) and had a relatively low 10-y cumulative cancer incidence of 12%. In participants with only a single baseline abnormality (104/243), the 6-y EA incidence was 5.65%, with an overall 10-y EA incidence of 19.88%. It is of note that 9p LOH was the single abnormality in 98/104 of those participants, indicating that it was rare for 17p LOH or a DNA content abnormality to be detected alone. Participants with two abnormalities detected at baseline (32/243) had increasing cumulative EA incidence of 16.83%, 28.4%, and 35.56% at 2, 6, and 10 y, respectively, showing a significantly higher EA risk than for patients with no abnormalities at baseline (RR = 9.0; 95% CI 2.4–33.3, p < 0.001). Participants (22/243) with all three abnormalities (17p LOH, DNA content abnormality, and 9p LOH) had EA incidence rates of 40.2% and 79.12% at 2 and 6 y, respectively. Owing to sample size, the EA incidence rate at the 10-y time point was not estimated. These patients had the highest risk of cancer relative to those with a no baseline abnormalities (RR = 38.7; 95% CI 10.8–135.5, p < 0.001). Of these cancer cases, 80% occurred within 36 mo, and all cancers that developed in patients with three baseline abnormalities did so within a 55-mo follow-up period.
Association of NSAID Use with Reduction of EA Risk in Participants with 17p LOH, DNA Content Tetraploidy and Aneuploidy, and 9p LOH
Multiple nongenetic host factors and demographic variables have been previously suggested as potential modifiers of EA progression including age, gender, waist-to-hip ratio, smoking status, segment length, and NSAID use [24,58–67]. To determine the host variables that provide independent prediction for EA when combined with molecular markers, we incorporated these nongenetic host factors with all molecular markers into a new Cox model for variable selection. The selected independent variables were 17p LOH, DNA content abnormalities (tetraploidy and aneuploidy), 9p LOH, and NSAID use. In combination with the selected molecular abnormalities, NSAID use was associated with a statistically significant reduction of EA risk (p < 0.001). Thus, NSAID use was evaluated as a potential modulator of cancer risk in combination with selected genetic abnormalities. For a given selected molecular marker, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that NSAID use during follow-up provided a significant association with protection against development of EA, relative to participants who were NSAID nonusers (former or never) (Figure 1). This protective effect was significant in patients with baseline 17p LOH (p = 0.004, Gehan-Wilcoxon test), DNA content abnormalities (tetraploidy and/or aneuploidy) (p = 0.01), and 9p LOH (p <0.001) (Figure 1A–C). For patients with more than one panel abnormality at baseline, NSAID use was associated with a significant reduction in EA incidence (p = 0.001): NSAID nonusers had an observed cumulative EA risk of 68%, compared to 30% for NSAID users at 6 y, and 79% compared to 30% for NSAID users at 10 y (Figure 1D). In participants with either no abnormalities or one abnormality at baseline (predominantly 9p LOH, Table 4), cancer risk was low, and the protective effect of NSAIDs for future EA was not significant (p = 0.28 at 10-y follow-up).
EA Incidence in NSAID Nonusers and NSAID Users Stratified by Combinations of Baseline Abnormalities
Cancer incidence of all participants based on the overall number of select panel abnormalities at baseline is shown in Kaplan-Meier curves (Figure 2A). When comparing NSAID nonusers (Figure 2B, n = 84) and NSAID users (Figure 2C, n = 157) within all categories (zero, one, two, or three abnormalities at baseline), there was a strong significant trend toward EA risk reduction in the NSAID user's group (Mantel-Haenszel test p = 0.01). NSAID nonusers with two or three abnormalities at baseline had a highly significant increased EA incidence compared to NSAID nonusers with zero or one lesion (two versus zero p < 0.001; two versus one p <0.001; three versus zero p < 0.001; three versus one p < 0.001; adjusted for multiple comparisons with Benjamini and Hochberg method [57] [Figure 2B]). All other comparisons for NSAID nonusers, for example between participants with two versus three abnormalities, were nonsignificant. Participants who used NSAIDs regularly (Figure 2C) and had all three abnormalities at baseline had a significantly increased cumulative EA incidence compared to NSAID users with zero, one, and two abnormalities (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.045, respectively). NSAID users with two baseline abnormalities had a significant or marginally significant increased cancer incidence relative to NSAID users with zero or one abnormality (p = 0.013 and p = 0.07, respectively).
This investigation reports the results of a prospective cohort study of mechanistic-based genetic abnormalities evaluated as predictors of EA and demonstrates the modulating effect of NSAIDs on EA risk in patients with BE. We hypothesized that a panel of somatic genetic abnormalities involving TP53, CDKN2A, and DNA content could improve prediction of progression to EA and that NSAID use may modulate EA risk. In this longitudinal study spanning more than a decade, we showed that a combination of 17p LOH, 9p LOH, and DNA content tetraploidy and aneuploidy provide significant, independent EA risk prediction. NSAID use is associated with reduction of EA risk, and the protective effect was highly significant for patients who have multiple high-risk molecular abnormalities at baseline. These analyses include 34 EA endpoints, which is second only to our previous 15-y report of histology and flow cytometry (42 EAs) and substantially larger than most other longitudinal studies of biomarkers in BE from other centers, which have typically reported 12 or fewer incident cancers [41,42,68,69]. This prospective study has been conducted in a single center with a high-risk cohort; studies in other centers will be required to determine whether our results can be generalized to other patient populations and to validate the results for clinical application. Our results are consistent, however, with previous longitudinal studies of single biomarkers from other centers, including TP53 abnormalities and flow cytometry [41,42,70]. To our knowledge, no previous studies in patients with BE or any other human premalignant condition have prospectively evaluated the contributions of TP53 and CDKN2A gene inactivation (methylation, mutation, and LOH) and DNA content abnormalities in combination with candidate interventions to assess their potential utility as biomarkers for future cancer risk and cancer prevention.
The mechanisms by which TP53 and CDKN2A regulate the cell cycle under normal and abnormal conditions have been investigated extensively in elegant molecular studies in vitro and in model organisms. Perturbations of these genes and the pathways in which they act have profound, mechanistic associations with human cancer based upon evidence accumulated in numerous laboratories [1,71–75]. In BE, neoplastic progression is characterized by clonal evolution in which genetic instability generates variants on which natural selection acts, resulting in waves of clonal expansion, generation of new variants, and further selection [76,77]. TP53 abnormalities typically arise in clones with CDKN2A abnormalities [78], creating a condition permissive for clonal variants, including tetraploid and aneuploid populations, to survive and expand [79]. Thus, the abnormalities in this biomarker panel assess viable clones that undergo expansion (CDKN2A) and survive chromosomal instability (TP53, DNA content). Assessment of multiple stages of clonal evolution may be the basis for improved risk stratification compared to single biomarkers.
We simultaneously measured DNA content abnormalities (tetraploidy and aneuploidy), inactivation of TP53 (mutation and LOH), and inactivation of CDKN2A (mutation, methylation, and LOH), all of which have been shown to be mechanistically related to neoplastic progression in BE [28,29,34,80–82]. TP53 abnormalities have been shown in numerous studies to be predictive of EA [41,70,83–85]. In the present study, TP53 mutations were strongly associated with 17p LOH and aneuploidy and were not selected in the multivariate analysis. Selection of LOH over methylation or mutation in the Cox model could occur because LOH is a common manifestation of the chromosomal instability that is characteristic of neoplastic progression in BE [29]. LOH could also be selected as the "second hit" for inactivating TP53 and CDKN2A. Alternatively, LOH events often span large chromosomal regions that could include other genes such as HIC1 (17p13.3) [86] and p14ARF (9p21) [72,87] that may confer additional selective advantages over mutational or methylation events that affect only TP53 and CDKN2A. Recently, Maley et al. reported that clonal diversity measures derived from evolutionary biology retained significant independent EA risk prediction with 17p (TP53) LOH and abnormal ploidy, but 9p LOH became nonsignificant when incorporating evolutionary variables [88]. The nonproportional hazard varying with time that we found for 9p LOH in the present study may reflect the genetic background of the CDKN2A clone. For example, expansion of a CDKN2A abnormal clone that is otherwise genetically stable may homogenize the neoplasm, minimizing diversity on which natural selection might act to promote progression [76,77]. In contrast, expansion of a CDKN2A abnormal clone predisposed to genetic instability through either environmental or somatic genetic factors would result in increased diversity that could promote progression.
Although this study had a large number of EA endpoints for published studies of BE, the number of cancers was relatively small compared to studies in breast and colon, for example. Therefore, estimates of RR over time showing the 9p LOH nonproportional hazard over time need to be further investigated in future studies. In addition, RR for EA presented in Table 2 at intermediate follow-up times should be treated with caution. We do not recommend that clinicians manage patients on these data alone. Within the BE research field, there is a paucity of data concerning progression to EA in patients with different molecular abnormalities. We present the intermediate time points to inform design of future intervention and multicenter studies, while maintaining statistical rigor in our analyses.
Identification of host genetic factors, including inherited, highly penetrant mutations in cancer susceptibility for hereditary breast cancer (BRCA1, BRCA2), familial polyposis coli (APC), and those predisposing to hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer, among others, in combination with knowledge of environmental factors, have the potential to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality by early detection and prevention [5,6,9,10,89–91]. In contrast to inherited mutations in relatively uncommon susceptibility genes, less is known concerning temporal progression of somatic genetic abnormalities in more prevalent sporadic premalignant conditions. Genetic progression models have been proposed for many types of cancers based largely on cross-sectional data [11,13,14,92–104]. TP53, CDKN2A, and DNA content (tetraploidy and aneuploidy) abnormalities are among the most common abnormalities in cancers and premalignant conditions affecting multiple organs, including head and neck, lung, breast, bladder, and pancreas, among others [1,71–73]. Few data exist as to their ability to predict future cancer or how these lesions can be modulated by chemoprevention efforts. Advances have been made in cancer risk prediction for patients with oral premalignant lesions in multiple retrospective, longitudinal studies [13–16]. Lee et al. combined multiple biomarkers and patient characteristics in Cox regression analysis and found that chromosome polyploidy, together with high p53 expression, LOH, and histology was the best predictor of cancer risk in a 10-y study of 70 patients with 22 cancer outcomes [13]. Thus, genetic progression models may be a rich source of hypotheses for retrospective longitudinal and prospective biomarker validation studies.
In experimental model systems and observational studies, aspirin and other NSAIDs have been reported to inhibit cyclo-oxygenase 2, increase apoptosis, decrease inflammation, decrease proliferation, and inhibit angiogenesis [4,26,27,105–111]. It has recently been shown that the absolute size of aneuploid clones and clones with TP53 lesions is a risk factor for progression to EA [79]. NSAIDs may act by reducing clone size through increasing apoptosis and decreasing angiogenesis and proliferation. By increasing apoptosis, NSAIDs may decrease the generation of viable clones, thus decreasing diversity and limiting the pool of genetic variants on which natural selection may act. In addition, NSAIDs function to reduce inflammation, which may in turn reduce the mutation rate in evolving clones and decrease the number of cellular variants. The cohort analyzed in the present report is a subset of that described in Vaughan et al. [25]. Of the molecular cohort described in the present study, 65% were current NSAID users—including use in follow-up—and this proportion is comparable with the 63% regular NSAID users (including use in follow-up) in the total cohort. About half of the users took aspirin for reasons concerning cardiovascular health, and the vast majority of the other users primarily took ibuprofen for pain relief. In a previous paper, we reported a strong protective association for EA with current NSAID use (at baseline or during follow-up), a rather rapid diminution of the association among former users, and no evidence of a stronger association with increasing frequency and/or duration of use. Furthermore, we did not find significant differences in risk of EA or aneuploidy according to type of NSAID. Thus for the present report, our patients were classified simply as NSAID user or nonuser (former or never) based on use at least once per week for ≥6 mo any time during follow-up, regardless of daily frequency, duration, or type. By focusing on the salient results from the previous analyses of a larger dataset regarding NSAIDs, we avoided multiple comparisons and could focus on the relationship of NSAID use with the status of molecular abnormalities.
Our results show a protective association between NSAID use and progression to EA in all participants, and particularly among those with multiple somatic genetic abnormalities. The vast majority of patients in this cohort had gastroesophageal reflux disease and were undergoing therapy, predominately using proton pump–inhibitors, to reduce reflux symptoms. It is unclear as to how the frequency or severity of symptoms may affect NSAID use by participants. However, to our knowledge, symptoms from reflux are not associated with intermediate endpoints or cancer in BE, so it is unlikely that symptoms could explain the association of NSAID use with reduced risk of EA. None of the patients had endoscopically visible concomitant conditions of the stomach, such as ulcers, at the baseline endoscopy that could have conceivably altered NSAID use. Given the experimental evidence provided in model systems and in previous studies, we propose that NSAIDs act within the BE tissue to modulate progression to EA. Our study is early translational research, as defined by the National Cancer Institute Translational Research Working Group (http://www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/trwg/presentations). These results advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of neoplastic progression as well as the mechanisms by which aspirin and other NSAIDs may prevent cancer. As such, these results are consistent with the National Institutes of Health goals of prevention, prediction, and personalized medicine. Several other types of research will be essential for these results to reach the clinic: multicenter randomized trials with a mechanistic focus to determine the effects of aspirin or other NSAIDs on progression to EA and intermediate endpoints (high-risk biomarkers), health services research to evaluate the effect of the interventions as well as the cost effectiveness of biomarkers that reduce frequencies of endoscopy and numbers of biopsies, and establishment of reimbursement mechanisms to support dissemination and adoption (National Cancer Institute's translational continuum; http://www.cancer.gov/trwg/TRWG-definition-and-TR-continuum).
Our study builds on a body of observational research, a recent meta-analysis, and supportive data in other cancers, most notably colon cancer where several clinical trials have reported a protective association of aspirin and other NSAIDs, although some findings have been inconsistent [9,10,21–25,89–91,112–116]. The present study extends these findings by evaluating the association of NSAID use with somatic genetic events that define progression in BE and demonstrates the benefits of NSAID use in patients at high risk of progressing to EA. Our results are consistent with previous results showing a protective effect on the part of NSAIDs in patients with HGD [25], and with computer models indicating that high-risk patients are the most likely to benefit from NSAID intervention [117]. The incidence of EA is sufficiently low in BE that designing statistically rigorous, adequately powered prevention studies with cancer as an endpoint is not feasible for most research cohorts. Thus, knowledge of the interaction of NSAIDs and somatic genetic abnormalities will help define entry criteria for randomized intervention trials with a cancer endpoint. The combination of a somatic genetic biomarker panel that identifies those patients with BE who are at high risk of progression to EA, combined with an inexpensive, widely available, and relatively safe means of preventing neoplastic progression in such high-risk patients, could have significant public health and economic benefits.
Supporting Information
Accession Numbers
The GenBank (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Genbank) accession numbers for the genes discussed in this paper are TP53 (p53) (7157), CDKN2A (p16, p16-INK4a)/p14ARF (1029), and HIC1 (3090).
We thank foremost the study participants who have made this study possible. We thank Janine Kikuchi, Terri Watson, and David Cowan for database support; Christine Karlsen for patient care coordination; Valerie Cerera for research biopsy coordination and flow cytometry; Laura Prevo, Jessica Arnaudo, and Heather Kissel for molecular assays; and Tricia Christopherson for interview management.
Author Contributions
PCG, PLB, CAS, TLV, and BJR contributed to conception and design of the study. PCG, PLB, CAS, KA, TLV, and BJR collected data or did experiments for the study. PCG, XL, CCM, CAS, RDO, PSR, TLV, and BJR contributed to analysis and interpretation of the data. PLB and BJR enrolled patients. PCG, XL, PLB, CCM, CAS, RDO, KA, PSR, TLV, and BJR contributed to drafting the article or revising it critically. All authors approved the final accepted version of the manuscript.
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text:
It's a long way to the Top
What They Stole From My Private Sector PC
My Privacy
Why It Should Concern You
Not me the Author of this content
I Know People In High Places That Want To Know Why Rick Perry is not behind bars this moment
Beginning in 2006, NSA's domestic security program started to go completely out-of-control by reacting to bogus reports from private security firms, who get rewarded for producing negative intelligence about United States citizens. Positive intelligence does not pay.
The best example, Private Security Firms hired by billionaire Donald Trump. Donald Trump did not get what he wanted when he visited the White House and hired a Private Security Firm to dig up bogus dirt about our President of the United States to discredit him.
Positive, valid and sound intelligence reports of a person of interest, just does not pay. If anyone knows, how I and others feel, who have been targeted by Private Firms, which includes the bi-lateral co-operation with sworn law enforcement officers, agents, and covert intelligence officers is President Barack Obama. Not long ago, these mercenaries were commonly referred to by many names such as pencil dics, hotel dics, or private dics.
While living in Thailand, a restaurant owner established behind my bungalow, was debating if he really could afford twenty-four hour armed personnel security protection, and had given the company reasonable notice. A once peaceful quite Island beach resort, overnight became let up with gun fire, break in attempts, and the owner received many anonymous threats to himself and family!
I wish I could have told him what was happening; as I watch the scams take place by his own paid security personnel, out my back window in the early morning hours. Successful expatriates, those that live to a ripe old age to write their memoirs, learn quickly to keep their nose out of other people's business. Positive intelligence just does not pay when you're in the private security business.
'Eight Pages of Hate'
Is All Criminal Programmers Had Written
I could of quoted eight pages of biblical versus or the first eight pages of Moby Dick, but what they were after was this from "Why we are losing the war on drugs"
"Contact your congressional representative for a more open and decisive plan on the "war on drugs" before we have another loss of American lives on American Soil- Billions of Federal dollars wasted on domestic surveillance that can only report the destruction and never predict or stop a single criminal act."
Like I said, all the money in world invested in domestic surveillance could not prevent this criminal act upon me and the passenger of the vehicle! [These helicopters are operated by the State of Texas and trigger by Military Intelligence upon command of Texas Governor Rick Perry RP08.]
Reference: In a 1993 U.S. Air Command and Staff College paper entitled Non Lethal Technology and Air Power, authors Maj. Jonathan W. Klaaren (USAF) and Maj. Ronald S. Mitchell (USAF) outlined selected NLT weapons. These included "Acoustic" (pulsed/attenuated high-intensity sound, infrasound (very low frequency) and Polysound (high volume, distracting) as well as high-power microwaves (HPM) that possessed the ability to deter or incapacitate human beings.
The Citation was Removed By Hackers
Reference: In a 1993 U.S. Air Command and Staff College paper entitled Non Lethal Technology and Air Power, authors Maj. Jonathan W. Klaaren (USAF) and Maj. Ronald S. Mitchell (USAF) outlined selected NLT weapons. These included "Acoustic" (pulsed/attenuated high-intensity sound, infrasound (very low frequency) and Polysound (high volume, distracting) as well as high-power microwaves (HPM) that possessed the ability to deter or incapacitate human beings.
The Citation was Removed By Hackers
In November 2012, Human Rights Watch published 2012, "Ban 'Killer Robots' before It's Too Late." Governments should preemptively ban fully autonomous weapons because of the danger they pose to civilians in armed conflict,
Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. These future weapons, sometimes called "killer robots," would be able to choose and fire on targets without human intervention. The 50-page report, "Losing Humanity: The Case against Killer Robots," outlines concerns about these fully autonomous weapons, which would inherently lack human qualities that provide legal and non-legal checks on the killing of civilians.
In addition, the obstacles to holding anyone accountable for harm caused by the weapons would weaken the law's power to deter future violations.
A. Where would I start or who would I report the experience?
B. Will people think I am crazy or mentally disturbed?
Number 1 – Don't worry if people think you are crazy, because the law looks at you as if you have a valid allegation, and assists you if you are disabled. Which you are not, or you did not say so [The person in this particular case and most cases].
Maybe, my experience will help you? The VA tried to pull that on me, I had the privilege to talk with a patient advocate, who straighten the whole thing out, and they gave me a new doctor, who look at my record, found that I have a traumatic brain injury; however, I have several degrees that support the fact that I am a logical, reasonable, and rational human being. In other words, I am not crazy or what I am saying is true or I am lying.
So, tell the truth, do not lie or stretch the truth, because that will be the 2nd hurtle if you lie – you lose all your credibility. People will no longer believe what you say. Do you remember the story "The little boy who cried Wolf"?
Maybe the details of my experience will help you at this link:
1 a. You need to show empirical (physical) evidence that such devices exist and are used. You can fine the Burden of Proof at these links:
That They Exist:
That They Have Been Used:
1 b. You need to report each and every event to your local police office. It is not unusual for them to laugh you out of their office, but ask for a Police Report Number and the business card of the Officer that took down the report. A good video to watch before you go to the station, which will build your confidence, so you know what to expect, at this
link: http://youtu.be/YFdHSzoAiKQ
1 c. If they do not take you seriously, don't call, go down to your local FBI Office and sign in to talk to an FBI Investigate Special Agent. Again, ask for a report number and the business card of the Agent. To locate your home town FBI offices go to this link: http://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field/listing_by_state
Note: Do not lie to the FBI because it is a Federal Criminal Offense.
1 d. After you have talked to the FBI, make copies of the information. Write a simple letter to the Secret Service and email them on the web and copy the page that says "Thank you we received your message." Go to this link: http://www.secretservice.gov/
Don't expect a reply because that is why they call them the "Secret" Service; however, they respond professionally, you just do not know about it or should you care. Your only reasonability is to report and keep the documentation that you did so.
1 e. Look up all your (entire) Representatives, State and Federal by going to this link: http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
Send them all an email stating the same thing, short and sweet. Be respectful first, by stating "Your Honorable So and So of District so and so." Next, write down their physical address and mail them the long version with copies of all the reports, or just the report numbers, you submitted to law enforcement.
1 f. Wait for a response, no more than two weeks, then go physically to your local Congressional Representative Office and fill out a complaint. Ask for a congressional investigation, because all other means of due process (going to the police and ect..) have failed. Again, to find the office locations go to this link:
2. Communication is key – Documentation, Documentation, Documentation. If you follow the steps above, you will have satisfied that criteria. Also, get your family, friends and those that are supportive involved. They will be your best supportive help; especially, those that are a witness to such events. Ignore those that are insensitive or like you stated, "Think I am crazy."
3. If you believe that you have been a victim of a Bio, Electronic non-lethal weapon experimentation such as an EMF Attack, you should see a Psychologist and discuss the matter with him or her. You may need some psychiatric help, because it is a traumatic experience, but the psychologist will know best, and refer you to a doctor if that is the case.
What is the difference between a Psychiatrist and Counseling Psychologists? Psychiatrists are medical doctors who treat mental illness with medicine such as my brain injury. A Psychologist sits with you and talks with you, over a period of time like a sounding board, to help you get over a traumatic event, real or perceived.
Your visit will be added documentation to your case, which will help your case. In most states this is the case but be cautious about some states such as Texas.
I wrote the article concerning people being falsely accused of mental illness in Texas titled "The Lunar Virus Pandemic" to exploit those that have no defense or legal representation, which is the point of law concerning the case in the Western District Court:
The State of Texas vs The Honorable Rick Perry
G. N. O'Dell 04/26/2012
What Happened after I filed so there was movement on the case but they stopped
Now There was Bowl Movement
ii. 03/25/2015 Somethings Take a Real Cowboy
To Be Nice and not scare people 'Is just a model airplane' wrong!


text:
The Guardian Angel Animal Series
A forthcoming illustrated chapter-book series exploring the social issues, as well as physical and emotional challenges, encountered by children today. Each book has a child facing a problem and an endangered animal friend appears who helps them resolve or adapt to their problem.
Book One introduces eight-year-old Timmy Hawkins, new to the town of Angels Harbor, missing his friends from his old school and feeling like an outcast. The school bully makes Timmy's life unbearable until he is able to face the bully down with the help of his new-found friend, Rin. Timmy and Rin are active throughout the series, helping each new friend successfully resolve their issue.
Book Two continues the series with Timmy's best friend, Allison. Timmy notices that Allison seems to be having a tough time and she confesses that she's finding life at home difficult. Since her mother was killed in a car accident, and her dad remarried, she has two step-sisters who like nothing better than to make her life miserable.
Timmy, and of course our favorite monkey, Rin, help Allison to ask for help in dealing with her situation. Allison then finds a baby Madame Berthe's mouse lemur hiding in the magnolia trees and she suddenly has an ally at home. Ella, named after Allison's favorite fairy tale, helps Allison open her heart and brings the family together.
LK Griffie * Luke Mathews * Olivia Claire
Created by Luke Matthews
Illustrated by Marie Beschorner
Book 1:
Timmy and the Golden Lion Tamarin
Issue: School Bullying
Guardian Angel Animal: Baby Golden Lion Tamarin (Character name: Rin)
Note: This year, over 5 million American kids will be bullied at school, online, on the bus, at home, through their cell phones and on the streets of their towns, making it the most common form of violence young people in this country experience.
Before moving to Angels Harbor, eight-year-old Timmy Hawkins loved going to school. He had friends, teachers who cared, and enjoyed learning. But all that changed because of a bully named Zeke McGee who has made it his mission to terrorize Timmy. None of the other kids will help because they're afraid they will be next. Timmy doesn't know how he's going to make it through the school year, when a baby Golden Lion Tamarin shows up in his backyard. Timmy quickly befriends the little animal and names him Rin. When the critter sneaks into Timmy's backpack one day and goes to school with him, Zeke finds out he has bullied the wrong boy. Timmy gains confidence from having his "guardian angel animal" around, and for the first time makes a stand against Zeke and his bullying friends.
Book 2:
A CinderELLA Tail
(A Timmy and the Golden Lion Tamarin book)
Issue: New step-family
Guardian Angel Animal: Baby Mouse Lemur (Character name: Ella)
Allison's mother is killed in a car accident on her sixth birthday, and her dad recently remarried. Not only does she have a demanding stepmother to adjust to, but twin step-sisters who seem to thrive on making her life miserable. Allison feels like the family outcast and wishes she had a mouse to help her like Cinderella did. Soon after, a baby mouse lemur appears that no one can see but Allison, and she names her Ella. The critter helps Allison avert a near tragedy and works to bring the family together, healing the pain and hurt.
Book 3: Luna and the Sloth in Shining Armor
(Has potential to be a spin-off series)
Issue: Autism
Guardian Angel Animal: Pygmy Three-toed Sloth (Character name: Sergio)
When Luna Reyna first steps foot on the Angels Harbor Elementary play yard, her dream has come true. Though autistic, Luna is smart and has worked hard to attend a regular school. But her dream swiftly becomes a nightmare when she has a difficult time adjusting to the new environment. The school bully, Zeke McGee, gleefully torments her until Timmy and Rin come to her rescue.
Though trying her hardest to remain calm, Luna is unable to control her outbursts in class and the school gives her one last chance—follow the rules, or she has to go back to her old school. Saddened at the thought, Luna pulls out the book she carries with her everywhere. When she reaches the prettiest picture, the creature hanging in the tree winks at her, then crawls out of the book to give her a hug. Sergio, a pygmy three-toed sloth, becomes Luna's "guardian angel animal" and soothes her so she can stay at Angels Harbor. For Luna, life with Sergio has become an adventure, one that exceeds all her dreams.
Book 4: Danny and Jagger the Wolverine (Working title)
Issue: Child abuse by parent
Guardian Angel Animal: Baby Wolverine
Timmy and Rin discover their friend Danny and his mom are being abused by Danny's dad.
Book 5: The Blue-Footed Miracle
Issue: Illness/Cancer
Guardian Angel Animal: Blue Footed Booby (Character name: Bobo)
When Michael falls ill and loses his hair from the treatment needed to get well, his biggest loss is his sense of humor. He shuts himself off from friends until Bobo, a funny, blue-footed booby, mysteriously appears out of nowhere, restoring the laughter in his life and helping him on his path to heal.
Book 6: When a Stuffed Animal Comes to Life (Working title)
Issue: Poverty
Guardian Angel Animal: Fennec Fox (name: Finn)
When 7-year-old Lindsay's dad returns home from the Middle East, their family falls on hard times. Injured in the war, her dad is disabled and cannot work. Bullied for being on food stamps and wearing ill-fitting, hand-me-down clothes, Lindsay is sad and afraid. Then after a chance encounter with Timmy and Rin, Lindsay's beloved stuffed animal, a small, white Fennec Fox, comes to life, helping her cope as the family struggles to survive.
Book 7: Sandy the Sand Cat Lends a Paw (Working Title)
Issue: Parental Kidnapping
Guardian Angel Animal: Sand Cat (Character name: Sandy)
Timmy and Rin must help a new friend at Angels Harbor Elementary when they discover their friend has been kidnapped by their father and enrolled under a false identity.
Book 8: Tizzy, the Tasmanian Devil (Working Title)
Issue: ADHD
Guardian Angel Animal: Tasmanian Devil (Character name: Tizzy)
A child suffering from ADHD needs help focusing and Timmy and Rin help them find their guardian angel animal.


text:
MediaTek is ready to compete with Qualcomm in high-end processor market
by Feb 11, 2014 6:42 pm0
The one of Taiwan chipset manufacturer, MediaTek has been get a big wave this year, after they successfully to produce "true" octa-core processor, and now MediaTek is ready to make a new processor.
MediaTek is ready to start sampling a new octa-core high-end chipset that consists of four 2.2-2.5GHz A17 cores and four 1.7GHz A7s, and comes with a Rogue PowerVR Series6 GPU to take care of any graphical needs you might have.
The new MediaTek processor is MT6595 that using core ARM Cortex 17 that already areleased officially. And it's new chipset is using big.LITTLE architecture inside.
The new octa-core processor is built from four core of ARM Cortex 17 with 2,2 – 2,5 GHz clock-speed, and four core of ARM Cortext A7 with 1.7Ghz clock-speed. The device with these processor can recording and playback of 4K2K video. MediaTek is also claimed its octa-core solution will be faster and more power efficient than Samsung's Exynos chipset.