Aneurysmal bone cyst of the calcaneum: an expansile locally destructive lesion.

Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a benign but locally destructive lesion affection of which in the calcaneum has rarely been reported in the literature. We report an unusual case of ABC of the calcaneum in a 17-year-old-male, who presented with painful ankle swelling with difficulty in walking. Radiology revealed benign cystic calcaneal lesion, without any evidence of fracture.

Management of the neck in metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Purpose Of Review: This article reviews the predictors, prognosis, and treatment of nodal metastases in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Recent Findings: There is a better understanding of the risk factors that predict metastatic disease in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Recent data has simplified the relationship between the site of the primary tumour and nodal disease, allowing for a more selective approach to the neck, in terms of both surgery and radiotherapy.

MicroRNA expression in maturing murine megakaryocytes.

MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that regulate cellular development by interfering with mRNA stability and translation. We examined global microRNA expression during the differentiation of murine hematopoietic progenitors into megakaryocytes. Of 435 miRNAs analyzed, 13 were up-regulated and 81 were down-regulated.

miR-451 protects against erythroid oxidant stress by repressing 14-3-3zeta.

The bicistronic microRNA (miRNA) locus miR-144/451 is highly expressed during erythrocyte development, although its physiological roles are poorly understood. We show that miR-144/451 ablation in mice causes mild erythrocyte instability and increased susceptibility to damage after exposure to oxidant drugs. This phenotype is deeply conserved, as miR-451 depletion synergizes with oxidant stress to cause profound anemia in zebrafish embryos.

Longitudinal evaluation of restricted mouth opening (trismus) in patients following primary surgery for oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Trismus is a serious problem for some patients after oral and oropharyngeal cancer, and it has a detrimental impact on quality of life and function. We know of few published papers that include preoperative assessment in reports on the longitudinal outcomes of mouth opening after oral and oropharyngeal surgery. We prospectively measured mouth opening in patients who had primary surgery for oral and oropharyngeal cancer from baseline to six months to find out the characteristics at baseline and at discharge of those who develop trismus at six months.

Spoken language can have its impact on the respiratory passage.

Spoken language, due its chronic impact, could be looked upon as one of the factors for its role, either in prevention or causation of respiratory illnesses. There will be variations in articulatory-aerodynamics and respiratory system dynamics among the spoken languages. Geographic variation of disease patterns and uncertain etiologies of some respiratory illnesses, which occur due to insult to the mucosal barrier or the defense mechanism of the respiratory passage, may be explained by the hypothesis of unhealthy language.

Inculcating safe sex attitudes in South African adolescents: a directive for the government's anti-HIV/AIDS policy.

South Africa has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the world. Much blame for this has been laid on the apathy of the South African government and the cultural traits of South Africans. AIDS prevention research calls for early childhood education to raise awareness of the causes, dangers, and prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Update experience of surgery for acute limb ischaemia in a district general hospital - are we getting any better?

Introduction: The aims of this study were to audit results of a 10-year experience of surgery for acute limb ischaemia (ALI) in terms of limb salvage and mortality rates, and to compare results with a historical published series from our unit.

Patients And Methods: All emergency operations performed during the period 1993-2003 were identified from theatre registers and patient notes reviewed to determine indications for, and outcome of, surgery. Data were compared to a similar cohort who underwent surgery from 1980 to 1990.

Aldose reductase inhibitors in the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a review.

Purpose: The purpose of this article was to examine how aldose reductase (AR) inhibitors are used in the prevention and treatment of peripheral neuropathy in diabetes, specifically focusing on efficacy.

Methods: Medline searches were used to identify clinical trials investigating AR inhibitors and their proposed mechanism of action, efficacy, and adverse effects. Additionally, the references of the articles returned by the Medline search were examined for pertinent publications.

The role of genetic variation in the lamin a/c gene in the etiology of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: We performed this study to test the hypothesis that variation in the lamin a/c gene (LMNA) contributes to milder phenotypes of insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, and/or metabolic syndrome associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Research Design And Methods: We resequenced the coding region, flanking intronic, and proximal promoter regions of the lamin a/c gene in 43 women with PCOS with evidence of upper-body obesity (waist circumference >88 cm) and identified 56 variants, two of which were nonsynonymous substitutions (lmna11 exon1 E98D; lmna24 exon 7 R455C). We genotyped 53 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (44 identified through resequencing and nine included to maximize informativeness of the entire gene) in 624 index (PCOS) cases and 544 controls of European ancestry.

Hard times: the effects of financial strain on home care services use and participant outcomes in Michigan.

Purpose: When government funding for long-term care is reduced, participant outcomes may be adversely affected. We investigated the effect of program resources on individuals enrolled in the Michigan Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver program for elderly and disabled adults.

Design And Methods: Using dates of major policy and budget changes, we defined 4 distinct time periods between October 2001 and December 2005.

Cancer surveillance behaviors in women presenting for clinical BRCA genetic susceptibility testing.

Purpose/objectives: To investigate cancer surveillance behaviors of women at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) who presented for clinical BRCA cancer susceptibility testing, specifically to describe cancer surveillance behaviors and reasons for not engaging in behaviors, compare surveillance behaviors with existing surveillance guidelines, and evaluate associations of cancer surveillance behaviors with BRCA results.

Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive.

Setting: Genetic risk-assessment programs in a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and a community cancer center, both in the southwestern region of the United States.

Flagella-generated forces reveal gear-type motor in single cells of the green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Optically trapped single cells of the biflagellated, green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, rotate. The rotational dynamics of trapped wild-type and mutant cells show that functional flagella play a decisive role: the entire flagellar apparatus (central microtubules, radial spokes, and dynein arms) is involved. Any aberration in this apparatus leads to non-functionality, indicating a gear-type mechanism.

Lacosamide: pharmacology, mechanisms of action and pooled efficacy and safety data in partial-onset seizures.

Lacosamide is an antiepileptic drug approved in the USA and Europe as adjunctive therapy for partial-onset seizures. Studies suggest that lacosamide selectively enhances slow inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels and possibly interacts with collapsin response mediator protein-2. The efficacy of lacosamide has been shown in animal models of epilepsy and Phase II/III clinical trials.

Management of cardiovascular risk factors by primary care physicians in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Background: Patients with significant coronary artery disease (CAD) are now intensively treated by primary care physicians predominantly because of government pressure and remuneration to prescribe anti-platelet and anti-hyperlipidaemic drugs. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) with the identical risk factors appeared to us to be less intensively investigated and treated by primary care physicians.

Objective: To review the treatment of risk factors in all patients referred to two vascular clinics with a diagnosis of suspected PAD.

Prioritisation of vascular outpatient appointments cannot be based on referral letters alone.

Background: Vascular referrals include patients with conditions varying from varicose veins of cosmetic nuisance to patients with critical ischaemia, transient ischaemic attacks and abdominal aortic aneurysms. A large number of such referrals are received each week from general practitioners. It is important to prioritise patients with conditions that need to be dealt with quickly.

The effectiveness of a home care program for supporting caregivers of persons with dementia in developing countries: a randomised controlled trial from Goa, India.

Objectives: To develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a home based intervention in reducing caregiver burden, promoting caregiver mental health and reducing behavioural problems in elderly persons with dementia.

Methodology And Principal Findings: This was a randomised controlled trial in which the person with dementia-caregiver dyad was randomly allocated either to receive the intervention immediately or to a waiting list group which received the intervention after 6 months. It was carried out in communities based in two talukas (administrative blocks) in Goa, India.

Distributions of personal VOC exposures: a population-based analysis.

Information regarding the distribution of volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations and exposures is scarce, and there have been few, if any, studies using population-based samples from which representative estimates can be derived. This study characterizes distributions of personal exposures to ten different VOCs in the U.S.

Oxcarbazepine in migraine headache: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of oxcarbazepine (1,200 mg/day) vs placebo as prophylactic therapy for patients with migraine headaches.

Methods: This multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial consisted of a 4-week single-blind baseline phase and a 15-week double-blind phase consisting of a 6-week titration period, an 8-week maintenance period, and a 1-week down-titration period, after which patients could enter a 13-week open-label extension phase. During the 6-week titration period, oxcarbazepine was initiated at 150 mg/day and increased by 150 mg/day every 5 days to a maximum tolerated dose of 1,200 mg/day.