Optimal systemic treatment and real-world clinical application of ctDNA in patients with metastatic HER2-mutant lung cancer.

Introduction: No definitive answers currently exist regarding optimal first-line therapy for HER2-mutant NSCLC. Access to rapid tissue sequencing is a major barrier to precision drug development in the first-line setting. ctDNA analysis has the potential to overcome these obstacles and guide treatment.

Assessing responses to heat in a range-shifting, nocturnal, flying squirrel.

Over the last few decades North American flying squirrels ( spp.) have experienced dramatic northward range shifts. Previous studies have focused on the potential effects of warming winter temperatures, yet the hypothesis that rising summer temperature had a role in these range shifts remained unexplored.

A Review of the Clinical Features and Management of Systemic Congenital Mastocytosis through the Presentation of An Unusual Prenatal-Onset Case.

Mastocytosis is a heterogeneous group of rare hematological disorders that can occur in infancy. We report a 16-year-old girl who presented with an aggressive form of systemic congenital mastocytosis, associated with a significant global developmental delay, deafness, and multiple anomalies. At 4 years of age, she developed a germinoma presenting as an invasive spinal mass.

Whistle repertoire and structure reflect ecotype distinction of pantropical spotted dolphins in the Eastern Tropical Pacific.

The pantropical spotted dolphin in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) is found in two genetically and phenotypically diverged ecotypes, coastal and offshore. These habitats have distinct acoustic characteristics, which can lead to the evolution of distinct acoustic communication. Whistles are sounds widely used by dolphins to mediate species and individual recognition and social interactions.

Vesiculobullous eosinophilic annular erythema: A case report.

Eosinophilic annular erythema is a rare eosinophilic dermatosis, characterized by arcuate erythematous urticarial plaques of unclear etiology. Vesiculobullous forms are even rarer, with only few cases described in the English literature. We report a case of vesiculobullous eosinophilic annular erythema with extensive cutaneous involvement poorly responsive to prednisone but showing complete remission with dapsone.

Effect of Bow Camber and Mass Distribution on Violinists' Preferences and Performance.

Little is known about how bow mechanical characteristics objectively and quantitatively influence violinists' preferences and performance. Hypothesizing that the bow shape (i.e.

miR-378-3p Knockdown Recapitulates Many of the Features of Myelodysplastic Syndromes.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal neoplasms of the hematopoietic stem cell that result in aberrant differentiation of hematopoietic lineages caused by a wide range of underlying genetic, epigenetic, and other causes. Despite the myriad origins, a recognizable MDS phenotype has been associated with miRNA aberrant expression. A model of aberrant myeloid maturation that mimics MDS was generated using a stable knockdown of miR-378-3p.

Prevalence of the EGFR T790M and other resistance mutations in the Australian population and histopathological correlation in a small subset of cases.

We sought to review the prevalence of EGFR T790M and other EGFR mutations associated with either proven or probable tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance in the Australasian lung cancer population and to perform histopathological correlation in a subset of cases. Retrospective statistical analysis was performed on a set of targeted lung cancer gene mutation tests (FIND IT gene panel) performed at Sonic Healthcare during 2018 and early 2019. A total of 1833 lung adenocarcinoma tumour samples underwent somatic mutation testing.

Characteristics and outcomes of Canadian MD/PhD program graduates: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Combined MD/PhD programs provide a structured path for physician-scientist training, but assessment of their success within Canada is limited by a lack of quantitative data. We collected outcomes data for graduates of Canadian MD/PhD programs.

Methods: We developed and implemented a Web-based survey consisting of 41 questions designed to collect outcomes data for Canadian MD/PhD program alumni from 8 Canadian universities who had graduated before September 2015.

A Rare Case of Solitary Giant Congenital Juvenile Xanthogranuloma: A Case Report.

Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) is the most frequent form of non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis. We present a case of giant congenital JXG in a 7-week-old boy, who had a firm and incompressible lesion, measuring 3 × 4 cm in diameter, on his right flank. The clinical appearance of the lesion and the ultrasound results suggested a vascular tumor, such as a hemangioma.

Predictive factors for sentinel lymph nodes and non-sentinel lymph nodes metastatic involvement: a database study of 1,041 melanoma patients.

Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy may identify patients who may need completion lymphadenectomy and adjuvant therapy.

Methods: Univariate and multivariate analysis were conducted for SLN status in a prospective cohort of 1,041 patients. A biopsy was recommended for melanoma greater than or equal to 1 mm thick or greater than or equal to .

Primary Cutaneous Carcinosarcoma of the Basal Cell Subtype Should Be Treated as a High-Risk Basal Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Cutaneous carcinosarcoma is a rare primary tumor of the skin, characterized by biphasic epithelial and mesenchymal differentiation.

Objective: Due to the limited number of cases reported, there is no consensus regarding treatment and prognosis. Some authors suggest that cutaneous carcinosarcomas should be viewed as aggressive tumors, with ancillary imaging used to evaluate potential metastatic disease.

Molecular model of hemoglobin N from Mycobacterium tuberculosis bound to lipid bilayers: a combined spectroscopic and computational study.

A singular aspect of the 2-on-2 hemoglobin structures of groups I and II is the presence of tunnels linking the protein surface to the distal heme pocket, supporting the storage and the diffusion of small apolar ligands to/from the buried active site. As the solubility of apolar ligands is greater in biological membranes than in solution, the association of these proteins with biological membranes may improve the efficiency of ligand capture. As very little is known on this subject, we have investigated the interactions between hemoglobin N (HbN), a group I 2-on-2 hemoglobin from the pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), and biological membranes using both experimental techniques and MD simulations.

Recurrent 2,8-dihydroxyadenine nephropathy: a rare but preventable cause of renal allograft failure.

Adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive enzyme defect of purine metabolism that usually manifests as 2,8-dihydroxyadenine (2,8-DHA) nephrolithiasis and more rarely chronic kidney disease. The disease is most often misdiagnosed and can recur in the renal allograft. We analyzed nine patients with recurrent 2,8-DHA crystalline nephropathy, in all of whom the diagnosis had been missed prior to renal transplantation.

Dye-release assay for investigation of antimicrobial peptide activity in a competitive lipid environment.

A dye-release method for investigating the effect of a competitive lipid environment on the activity of two membrane-disrupting antimicrobial peptides (AMP), maculatin 1.1 and aurein 1.2, is presented.

Comparison of three agility tests with male servicemembers: Edgren Side Step Test, T-Test, and Illinois Agility Test.

Performance-based outcomes such as the T-Test, Edgren Side Step Test (ESST), and Illinois Agility Test (IAT) have been used to assess agility in athletes and nonathletes; however, the reliability and validity of these tests have not been established. The purpose of this study was to establish the reliability and convergent construct validity of the ESST, T-Test, and IAT in young, nondisabled, physically active male servicemembers (SMs). Ninety-seven male Active Duty U.

Temporal exposure of cryptic collagen epitopes within ischemic muscle during hindlimb reperfusion.

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia is a devastating disease with limited surgical options. However, inducing controlled angiogenesis and enhancing reperfusion holds therapeutic promise. To gain a better understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to limb reperfusion, we examined the temporal biochemical and structural changes occurring within the extracellular matrix of ischemic skeletal muscle.

Olmsted syndrome-palmoplantar and periorificial keratodermas: association with malignant melanoma.

Background: Olmsted syndrome is a rare congenital disorder with mutilating palmoplantar keratoderma, periorificial keratotic plaques, and other variable features.

Objective: We describe a 65-year-old woman with Olmsted syndrome complicated by the occurrence of a malignant melanoma inside the plantar keratoderma. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of such an occurrence in Olmsted syndrome.

Pyodermatitis-pyostomatitis vegetans: two cases and a review of the literature.

Background: Pyodermatitis-pyostomatitis vegetans (PD-PSV) is a rare vegetating, pustular, eosinophilic, mucocutaneous dermatosis characterized by mucocutaneous lesions of the genital, axillary, and oral regions, as well as on the scalp.

Objective: We report two patients who were diagnosed with PD-PSV. The published cases of this rare disorder are reviewed.

Calciphylaxis: seven new cases.

Background: Calciphylaxis is a rare condition occurring most frequently in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). It is characterized by vascular calcifications with a large variety of skin lesions. Even though this entity was first reported almost 50 years ago, the pathogenesis is still not well understood.

Characterization of the human peroxisome proliferator activated receptor delta gene and its expression.

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors regulating the expression of genes involved in lipid and glucose metabolism. Three different PPARs; alpha (PPARA), gamma (PPARG) and delta (PPARD) have been characterized and they are distinguished from each other by tissue distribution and cell activation. In this study, the structure and detailed chromosomal localization of the human PPARD gene was determined.