Promoter Score Research Articles

DNA Methylation Markers and Prediction Model for Depression and Their Contribution for Breast Cancer Risk.

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD) has become a leading cause of disability worldwide. However, the diagnosis of the disorder is dependent on clinical experience and inventory. At present, there are no reliable biomarkers to help with diagnosis and treatment. DNA methylation patterns may be a promising approach for elucidating the etiology of MDD and predicting patient susceptibility. Our overarching aim was to identify biomarkers based on DNA methylation, and then use it to propose a methylation prediction score for MDD, which we hope will help us evaluate the risk of breast cancer.MethodsMethylation data from 533 samples were extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, of which, 324 individuals were diagnosed with MDD. Statistical difference of DNA Methylation between Promoter and Other body region (SIMPO) score for each gene was calculated based on the DNA methylation data. Based on SIMPO scores, we selected the top genes that showed a correlation with MDD in random resampling, then proposed a methylation-derived Depression Index (mDI) by combining the SIMPO of the selected genes to predict MDD. A validation analysis was then performed using additional DNA methylation data from 194 samples extracted from the GEO database. Furthermore, we applied the mDI to construct a prediction model for the risk of breast cancer using stepwise regression and random forest methods.ResultsThe optimal mDI was derived from 426 genes, which included 245 positive and 181 negative correlations. It was constructed to predict MDD with high predictive power (AUC of 0.88) in the discovery dataset. In addition, we observed moderate power for mDI in the validation dataset with an OR of 1.79. Biological function assessment of the 426 genes showed that they were functionally enriched in Eph Ephrin signaling and beta-catenin Wnt signaling pathways. The mDI was then used to construct a predictive model for breast cancer that had an AUC ranging from 0.70 to 0.67.ConclusionOur results indicated that DNA methylation could help to explain the pathogenesis of MDD and assist with its diagnosis.

Study on serum level of HTR1A promoter methylation in manic episode of bipolar disorder type I

Objective To explore the correlation between the methylation level of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1A(HTR1A) gene promoter region and severity of symptom in the manic episode patients with bipolar disorder type Ⅰ(BD-Ⅰ). Methods Fifty six manic episode patients with BD-Ⅰ and fifty nine healthy controls were randomly included in the study.The level of HTR1A gene promoter methylation was measured with pyrosequencing technique in both manic episode patients with BD-Ⅰ and the healthy controls.The severity of symptoms was assessed with score of Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Rating Scale(BRMS) in patients with BD-Ⅰ.Pearson correlation analysis was employed to explore the correlation between the serum level of HTR1A promoter methylation and score of BRMS in BD-Ⅰgroup. Results Increased serum level of HTR1A gene promoter methylation was found in manic episode patients with BD-Ⅰ((66.55±10.55)%) compared with that in healthy controls((54.03±8.85)%)(P<0.01). Positive correlation was found between the serum level of HTR1A gene promoter methylation and total score of BRMS in manic patient with BD-Ⅰ(r=0.534, P<0.01). Conclusion The current findings suggest that the serum level of HTR1A gene promoter methylation can be an epigenetic indicator for severity of manic symptom in BD-Ⅰ. Key words: Bipolar disorder; Epigenetics; DNA methylation

Measuring Small Business Customer Satisfaction

Most family owned small businesses are so concerned about keeping the doors open on a daily basis that not a lot of time is spent on researching their customer satisfaction. As well, funds for such marketing research are often limited. Trying to keep personal bias out of such research is difficult. Thanks to the Ultimate Question/Net Promoter Score now there is a simple way to measure customer satisfaction by asking a single question. Can this work for a small dance business in mid-Michigan?

NPS and Online WOM: Investigating the Relationship Between Customers' Promoter Scores and eWOM Behavior.

The Net Promoter Score (NPS) is, according to Reichheld, the single most reliable indicator of company growth, and many companies use this recommendation-based technique for measuring customer loyalty. Despite its widespread adoption by many companies across multiple industries, the debate about NPS goes on. A major concern is that managers treat NPS as being equivalent across customers, which is often very misleading. By using a unique data set that combines customers’ promoter scores and online word-of-mouth (eWOM) behavior, this research studies how individual customers’ promoter scores are related to eWOM, including its relationship with the three categories of customers that are identified by the NPS paradigm (i.e., promoters, passives, and detractors). Based on a sample of 189 customers, their promoter scores and corresponding eWOM, the results show that there is a positive relationship between customers’ promoter scores and the valence of online messages. Further, while detractors and promoters are homogeneous with respect to the valence of the eWOM messages they spread, passives show message valence heterogeneity. Thus, although passives, the largest group of customers, have no weight in calculating the NPS, our results reveal that companies should flag passives for further attention and action.