Bespoke ctDNA for longitudinal detection of molecular residual disease in high-risk melanoma patients.

Background: Locally advanced melanoma has a variable prognosis. Currently, there are no reliable criteria to stratify the risk of disease relapse and identify those patients who will benefit the most from adjuvant therapies. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is an emerging biomarker measuring the presence of tumor-derived DNA in blood.

Synthesis, characterization and structural analysis of complexes from 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine derivatives with transition metals.

The synthesis and structural characterization of three families of coordination complexes synthesized from 4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (8, Ph-TPY), 4'-(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (9, ClPh-TPY) and 4'-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (10, MeOPh-TPY) ligands with the divalent metals Co, Fe, Mn and Ni are reported. The compounds were synthesized from a 1:2 mixture of the metal and ligand, resulting in a series of complexes with the general formula [M(R-TPY)](ClO) (where M = Co, Fe, Mn and Ni, and R-TPY = Ph-TPY, ClPh-TPY and MeOPh-TPY). The general formula and structural and supramolecular features were determinated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction for bis(4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine)nickel(II) bis(perchlorate), [Ni(CHN)](ClO) or [Ni(Ph-TPY)](ClO), bis[4'-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine]manganese(II) bis(perchlorate), [Mn(CHNO)](ClO) or [Mn(MeOPh-TPY)](ClO), and bis(4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine)manganese(II) bis(perchlorate), [Mn(CHN)](ClO) or [Mn(Ph-TPY)](ClO).

Using Quinolin-4-Ones as Convenient Common Precursors for a Metal-Free Total Synthesis of Both Dubamine and Graveoline Alkaloids and Diverse Structural Analogues.

The family is one of the most studied plant families due to the large number of alkaloids isolated from them with outstanding biological properties, among them the quinoline-based alkaloids Graveoline and Dubamine . The most common methods for the synthesis of alkaloids and and their derivatives involves cycloaddition reactions or metal-catalyzed coupling processes but with some limitations in scope and functionalization of the quinoline moiety. As a continuation of our current studies on the synthesis and chemical transformation of 2-aminochalcones, we are reporting here an efficient metal-free approach for the total synthesis of alkaloids and along with their analogues with structural diversity, through a two-step sequence involving intramolecular cyclization, oxidation/aromatization, -methylation and oxidative C-C bond processes, starting from dihydroquinolin-4-ones as common precursors for the construction of the structures of both classes of alkaloids.

Body composition and endometrial cancer outcomes.

Background: Obesity is a known risk factor for developing endometrial cancer. However, the association of obesity with endometrial cancer (EC) outcomes has not been clearly established. This study examined how outcomes in women with early stage EC vary with body composition measured via computed tomography (CT).

Integrated, Longitudinal Analysis of Cell-free DNA in Uveal Melanoma.

Unlabelled: Uveal melanomas are rare tumors arising from melanocytes that reside in the eye. Despite surgical or radiation treatment, approximately 50% of patients with uveal melanoma will progress to metastatic disease, most often to the liver. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) sequencing is a promising technology due to the minimally invasive sample collection and ability to infer multiple aspects of tumor response.

Collateral status, hyperglycemia, and functional outcome after acute ischemic stroke.

Background: Mixed data exist regarding the association between hyperglycemia and functional outcome after acute ischemic stroke when accounting for the impact of leptomeningeal collateral flow. We sought to determine whether collateral status modifies the association between treatment group and functional outcome in a subset of patients with large vessel occlusion enrolled in the Stroke Hyperglycemia Insulin Network Effort (SHINE) trial.

Methods: In this post-hoc analysis, we analyzed patients enrolled into the SHINE trial with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion who underwent imaging with CT angiography prior to glucose control treatment group assignment.

Sintering Analysis of Porous Ti/xTa Alloys Fabricated from Elemental Powders.

The present work is focused on developing Ti-xTa porous alloys processed by the space holder method and solid-state sintering. The volume fraction of Ta ranged between 20 and 30 wt.%.

Encapsulated eumycetoma caused by .

Eumycetoma is a chronic infection due to filamentous fungi. Herein, we report a case of eumycetoma presenting as a subcutaneous encapsulated lesion on the right leg with no previous traumatic implantation. From microscopic morphological characteristics and molecular analysis, the pathogenic fungal species were identified as .

Ti64/20Ag Porous Composites Fabricated by Powder Metallurgy for Biomedical Applications.

We present a novel Ti64/20Ag highly porous composite fabricated by powder metallurgy for biomedical applications and provide an insight into its microstructure and mechanical proprieties. In this work, the Ti64/20Ag highly porous composites were successfully fabricated by the space holder technique and consolidated by liquid phase sintering, at lower temperatures than the ones used for Ti64 materials. The sintering densification was evaluated by dilatometry tests and the microstructural characterization and porosity features were determined by scanning electron microscopy and computed microtomography.

A Case Report of Dacrystic Seizures in the Psychiatric Emergency Services Department.

Epileptiform syndromes are represented by a variety of clinical scenarios. In this context, dacrystic seizures (DS) are characterized by paroxysmal episodes of stereotyped crying and are considered a rare ictal phenomenon. Their neuroanatomical and pathophysiological findings tend to be nonspecific, and to date, there is no consensus on their treatment.

Metalworking Fluid Exposure and Stroke Mortality Among US Autoworkers.

Although air pollution is an important risk factor for stroke, few studies have considered the impact of workplace exposure to particulate matter (PM). We examined implications of exposure to PM composed of metalworking fluids (MWFs) for stroke mortality in the United Autoworkers-General Motors cohort. Cox proportional hazards models with age as the timescale were used to estimate the association of cumulative straight, soluble, and synthetic MWF exposure with stroke mortality, controlling for sex, race, plant, calendar year, and hire year.

CANDIED: A Pan-Canadian Cohort of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-induced insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a rare but potentially fatal immune-related adverse event (irAE). In this multicentre retrospective cohort study, we describe the characteristics of ICI-induced IDDM in patients treated across five Canadian cancer centres, as well as their tumor response rates and survival. In 34 patients identified, 25 (74%) were male and 19 (56%) had melanoma.

Membrane curvature and connective fiber alignment in guinea pig round window membrane.

The round window membrane (RWM) covers an opening between the perilymph fluid-filled inner ear space and the air-filled middle ear space. As the only non-osseous barrier between these two spaces, the RWM is an ideal candidate for aspiration of perilymph for diagnostics purposes and delivery of medication for treatment of inner ear disorders. Routine access across the RWM requires the development of new surgical tools whose design can only be optimized with a thorough understanding of the RWM's structure and properties.

Burr-Hole Evacuation of an Acute Epidural Hematoma using the Artemis Neuroevacuation Device With Flexible Endoscopic Visualization: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

Minimally invasive (MIS) endoscopic burr-hole evacuation of both acute and subacute subdural hematomas (SDHs) has been demonstrated as a way to avoid large craniotomies and additional morbidity, particularly for patients who are poor surgical candidates. Although generally safe and effective, there are risks of complications including SDH recurrence or new hemorrhage including epidural hematoma (EDH). Acute intraparenchymal hemorrhage has also been successfully treated using MIS endoscopic techniques with the assistance of aspiration devices; however, acute EDHs generally still necessitate a craniotomy for evacuation, nullifying many of the advantages of burr-hole craniostomy.

Biologic subtypes of melanoma predict survival benefit of combination anti-PD1+anti-CTLA4 immune checkpoint inhibitors versus anti-PD1 monotherapy.

Purpose: Anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1)±anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA4) immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are standard therapeutic options for metastatic melanoma. We assessed whether biologic subtype according to primary tumor type or genomic subtype can function as predictive biomarkers for anti-PD1±anti-CTLA4 ICI in patients with advanced melanoma.

Methods: We performed a single-center retrospective cohort analysis of patients who received anti-PD1±anti-CTLA4 ICI for advanced melanoma between 2012 and 2019.

Video-Based Facial Weakness Analysis.

Objective: Facial weakness is a common sign of neurological diseases such as Bell's palsy and stroke. However, recognizing facial weakness still remains as a challenge, because it requires experience and neurological training.

Methods: We propose a framework for facial weakness detection, which models the temporal dynamics of both shape and appearance-based features of each target frame through a bi-directional long short-term memory network (Bi-LSTM).

Assessing Physical Activity Using Accelerometers in Youth with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Background: Physical activity, assessed by accelerometers, has been proposed as a quantitative outcome measure for patients with DMD, but research is limitedObjective:To assess the total amount and patterns of physical activity in patients with DMD using accelerometers.

Methods: Physical activity was assessed in patients with DMD (n = 49, 13.6±4.

Anatomical and Functional Consequences of Microneedle Perforation of Round Window Membrane.

Hypothesis: Microneedles can create microperforations in the round window membrane (RWM) without causing anatomic or physiologic damage.

Background: Reliable delivery of agents into the inner ear for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes remains a challenge. Our novel approach employs microneedles to facilitate intracochlear access via the RWM.

Small molecule delivery across a perforated artificial membrane by thermoreversible hydrogel poloxamer 407.

Microperforations in the round window membrane have been suggested for enhancing the rate and reliability of drug delivery into the cochlea. Intratympanic injection, the most common delivery method, involves injecting therapy into the middle ear to establish a reservoir from which drug diffuses across the round window membrane into the cochlea. This process is highly variable because (i) the reservoir, if liquid, can lose contact with the membrane and (ii) diffusion across the membrane is intrinsically variable even with a stable reservoir.

Cerebral blood flow territory instability in patients with atherosclerotic intracranial stenosis.

Background: Stroke risk stratification in patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic arterial disease (ICAD) remains an important clinical objective owing to the high 14-19% recurrent stroke rate in these patients on standard-of-care medical management. There thus remains a need for hemodynamic markers that may allow for the selection of personalized therapies for high-risk symptomatic patients.

Purpose: To determine if shifting of cerebral blood flow (CBF) territories in response to changes in cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) may provide a marker for stroke risk in ICAD patients.