Prognostic Factors Improving ATA Risk System and Dynamic Risk Stratification in Low- and Intermediate-Risk DTC Patients.

Context: American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines do not consider age at diagnosis as a prognostic factor on the estimation of the risk of persistent/recurrent disease in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) patients. While age at diagnosis has already been assessed in high-risk patients, it remains to be established in low- and intermediate-risk patients.

Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the role of age as a prognostic factor in the short- and long-term outcome of DTC patients classified at low and intermediate risk according to the ATA stratification risk system.

B3 lesions of the breast and cancer risk. A single-centre experience.

Background: Breast lesions of uncertain malignant potential, also known as B3 lesions, represent a heterogeneous group of tumors with variable malignancy risk. Surgical excision should be considered depending on clinical, radiological and histological features, family history and following informed consent. The aim of the present paper is to evaluate the positive predictive value (PPV) of diagnosis of malignancy in surgically excised B3 lesions in order to identify possible predictive upgrade criteria.

Gonadal vein leiomyosarcoma, from clinical practice to a literature review: surgical, oncological and histopathologic correlation.

Background And Aim: Vascular leiomyosarcomas are rare and generally originate from the muscular wall of the inferior vena cava. Leiomyosarcomas originating from the wall of the gonadal veins are rare and just about ten cases are described in literature. In the present paper, we have described a case of a LMS originating from the left gonadal vein.

Apo and ligand-bound high resolution Cryo-EM structures of the human Kv3.1 channel reveal a novel binding site for positive modulators.

Kv3 ion-channels constitute a class of functionally distinct voltage-gated ion channels characterized by their ability to fire at a high frequency. Several disease relevant mutants, together with biological data, suggest the importance of this class of ion channels as drug targets for CNS disorders, and several drug discovery efforts have been reported. Despite the increasing interest for this class of ion channels, no structure of a Kv3 channel has been reported yet.

Colocalized targeting of TGF-β and PD-L1 by bintrafusp alfa elicits distinct antitumor responses.

Background: Bintrafusp alfa (BA) is a bifunctional fusion protein designed for colocalized, simultaneous inhibition of two immunosuppressive pathways, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), within the tumor microenvironment (TME). We hypothesized that targeting PD-L1 to the tumor by BA colocalizes the TGF-β trap (TGF-βRII) to the TME, enabling it to sequester TGF-β in the tumor more effectively than systemic TGF-β blockade, thereby enhancing antitumor activity.

Methods: Multiple technologies were used to characterize the TGF-β trap binding avidity.

Cryo-EM structures of a LptDE transporter in complex with Pro-macrobodies offer insight into lipopolysaccharide translocation.

Lipopolysaccharides are major constituents of the extracellular leaflet in the bacterial outer membrane and form an effective physical barrier for environmental threats and for antibiotics in Gram-negative bacteria. The last step of LPS insertion via the Lpt pathway is mediated by the LptD/E protein complex. Detailed insights into the architecture of LptDE transporter complexes have been derived from X-ray crystallography.

Artificial Neural Networks for Forecasting Passenger Flows on Metro Lines.

Forecasting user flows on transportation networks is a fundamental task for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITSs). Indeed, most control and management strategies on transportation systems are based on the knowledge of user flows. For implementing ITS strategies, the forecast of user flows on some network links obtained as a function of user flows on other links (for instance, where data are available in real time with sensors) may provide a significant contribution.

A central cavity within the holo-translocon suggests a mechanism for membrane protein insertion.

The conserved SecYEG protein-conducting channel and the accessory proteins SecDF-YajC and YidC constitute the bacterial holo-translocon (HTL), capable of protein-secretion and membrane-protein insertion. By employing an integrative approach combining small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), low-resolution electron microscopy and biophysical analyses we determined the arrangement of the proteins and lipids within the super-complex. The results guided the placement of X-ray structures of individual HTL components and allowed the proposal of a model of the functional translocon.

Management of Snapping Scapula Syndrome.

Snapping scapula syndrome is a rare condition caused by the disruption of the gliding articulation between the anterior scapula and the posterior chest wall. The etiology of snapping scapula syndrome is multifactorial, and contributing factors include scapular dyskinesis, bursitis from repetitive use or trauma, and periscapular lesions. Although the majority of cases are initially treated with nonoperative modalities, recalcitrant snapping scapula syndrome can warrant surgical management.

Cell-Free Synthesis of Macromolecular Complexes.

Cell-free protein synthesis based on E. coli cell extracts has been described for the first time more than 50 years ago. To date, cell-free synthesis is widely used for the preparation of toxic proteins, for studies of the translation process and its regulation as well as for the incorporation of artificial or labeled amino acids into a polypeptide chain.

Fusobacterium nucleatum Osteomyelitis of the Femur in a Patient with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: A Case Report.

Case: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, is an often overlooked cause of orthopaedic-related infections despite a well-accepted association in the literature. We present the case of a forty-seven-year-old man with HHT who developed femoral osteomyelitis and a subsequent pathologic femoral fracture from a rare bacterial species associated with HHT.

Conclusion: Patients with HHT and extremity pain should be carefully evaluated for orthopaedic infections.

Advances and challenges of membrane-protein complex production.

Most membrane-proteins exist in complexes rather than isolated entities. To fully understand their biological function it is essential to study the intact membrane-protein assemblies. The overexpression and purification of many essential membrane-protein complexes is still a considerable and often unsurmountable challenge.

ACEMBLing a multiprotein transmembrane complex: the functional SecYEG-SecDF-YajC-YidC Holotranslocon protein secretase/insertase.

Membrane proteins constitute about one third of the proteome. The ubiquitous Sec machinery facilitates protein movement across or integration of proteins into the cytoplasmic membrane. In Escherichia coli post- and co-translational targeting pathways converge at the protein-conducting channel, consisting of a central pore, SecYEG, which can recruit accessory domains SecDF-YajC and YidC, to form the holotranslocon (HTL) supercomplex.

Membrane protein insertion and proton-motive-force-dependent secretion through the bacterial holo-translocon SecYEG-SecDF-YajC-YidC.

The SecY/61 complex forms the protein-channel component of the ubiquitous protein secretion and membrane protein insertion apparatus. The bacterial version SecYEG interacts with the highly conserved YidC and SecDF-YajC subcomplex, which facilitates translocation into and across the membrane. Together, they form the holo-translocon (HTL), which we have successfully overexpressed and purified.

Acute afferent loop obstruction treated by endoscopic decompression. Case report and review of literature.

Afferent loop syndrome (ALS) is a rare complication of Billroth-II gastrojejunostomy. Most cases of ALS are caused by obstruction from adhesions, kinking at the anastomosis, internal hernia, stomal stenosis, malignancy, or inflammation surrounding the anastomosis. A 61-years old man, who had undergone gastric resection 30 years before, was admitted at emergency room with severe abdominal pain in acute onset, nausea and vomiting.

Imaging the ligaments of the trapeziometacarpal joint: MRI compared with MR arthrography in cadaveric specimens.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to compare the normal ligamentous anatomy of the trapeziometacarpal joint in cadavers on conventional MRI and MR arthrography and review the most common diseases and abnormalities that affect this articulation.

Materials And Methods: MR images of seven trapeziometacarpal joints of seven fresh cadaveric hands were obtained before and after arthrography. The MR appearances of the ligaments around the trapeziometacarpal joint were analyzed and correlated with corresponding anatomic sections.

Controversies in carpal tunnel syndrome.

Compression of the median nerve at the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome) is the most common compression neuropathy of the upper extremity. Surgical decompression has become one of the most frequently performed peripheral nerve procedures. Despite the popularity of the procedure, and the volume of clinical and basic science information available, differences of opinion exist as to diagnosis and management.

Efficacy of surgical preparation solutions in foot and ankle surgery.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated higher infection rates following orthopaedic procedures on the foot and ankle as compared with procedures involving other areas of the body. Previous studies also have documented the difficulty of eliminating bacteria from the forefoot prior to surgery. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of three different surgical skin-preparation solutions in eliminating potential bacterial pathogens from the foot.

Elbow instability: the orthopedic approach.

In recent years significant progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of elbow instability. Elbow instability represents a spectrum from the acute traumatic dislocation to chronic laxity resulting in transient joint subluxation. In general, acute elbow dislocations represent the second most common joint dislocation in the adult population and the most common joint dislocation in the pediatric age group.

Vascularity and osteonecrosis of the wrist.

This article outlines the vascular anatomy of the carpus, describing the extraosseous and intraosseus vascular systems and emphasizing the carpal bones at risk for osteonecrosis. Separate discussions of etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of osteonecrosis of the commonly involved carpal bones are included.

[Pacemaker syndrome after dual-chamber implantation: consequence of a very long atrial activation delay].

Many circumstances, generally occurring in inappropriate device's adjustment or in specific myocardial conduction's disturbances, can result in dual chamber indications in pace maker syndromes. Our case report is about a man implanted with a dual chamber device with a dilated right atrium and intra atrial conduction delay resulting in a delayed post pacing atrial activation time. The consequence was an atrial contraction occurring during closed atrioventricular valves.

Outcomes in open tibia fractures: relationship between delay in treatment and infection.

Background: Emergent irrigation and debridement has been accepted as a mainstay of open fracture treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the infectious outcome of open tibia fractures relative to the time from injury to operative irrigation and debridement.

Methods: One hundred seventy-eight patients with 191 consecutive fractures were retrospectively reviewed.

Fractures of proximal portion of fifth metatarsal bone: anatomic and imaging evidence of a pathogenesis of avulsion of the plantar aponeurosis and the short peroneal muscle tendon.

Purpose: To evaluate the normal anatomy of the structures supporting the proximal portion of the fifth metatarsal bone and investigate the pathogenesis of fractures in this region.

Materials And Methods: In two cadaveric feet, the region of the lateral component of the plantar aponeurosis (PAL), short peroneal muscle (SPM) tendon, and third peroneal muscle (TPM) tendon was dissected. These two foot specimens and four nondissected foot specimens were studied at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Bacterial skin contamination after surgical preparation in foot and ankle surgery.

An effective presurgical preparation is an important step in limiting surgical wound contamination and preventing infection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate residual bacterial skin contamination after surgical skin preparation in foot and ankle surgery to determine if current techniques are satisfactory in eliminating harmful pathogens. Fifty consecutive patients having surgical procedures of the foot and ankle were studied.