A rare variant in human fibroblast activation protein associated with ER stress, loss of enzymatic function and loss of cell surface localisation.

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a focus of interest as a potential cancer therapy target. This membrane bound protease possesses the unique catalytic activity of hydrolysis of the post-proline bond two or more residues from the N-terminus of substrates. FAP is highly expressed in activated fibroblastic cells in tumours, arthritis and fibrosis.

Mechanical performance of hybrid Ilizarov frames containing full-threaded Schanz screws.

Modification of circular Ilizarov frames is necessary to overcome the difficulties in pin positioning due to unfavorable anatomic site or local soft-tissue conditions. Hybrid frame configurations consisting of half pins or full-threaded schanz screws are widely used in clinical practice. This study compared the mechanical performance of hybrid frames and a standard system.

Overgrowth after radial shortening for Kienböck's disease in a teenager: case report.

A 16-year-old boy was treated by a radial-shortening procedure for symptomatic stage IIIB Kienböck's disease with 4 mm negative ulnar variance. The osteotomy corrected the ulnar variance to negative 1 mm after surgery, but further negative ulnar variance of 9 mm occurred at follow-up evaluation as a result of radial overgrowth. The functional outcome was excellent with remodeling of the lunate.

Clinical analysis of the trigger thumb of childhood.

Trigger thumb of childhood, termed congenital trigger thumb, is a pathology of the flexor pollicis longus tendon with an unknown etiology. In this study, treatment outcomes of 47 trigger thumbs of 36 children were evaluated. There were 18 males and 18 females with a mean age of 34 months (9 months-13 years).

99mTc-tetrofosmin scintigraphy in musculoskeletal tumours: the relationship between P-glycoprotein expression and tetrofosmin uptake in malignant lesions.

The aims of this study were to assess the role of (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin scintigraphy in the diagnosis of malignant vs. benign musculoskeletal tumours and to determine the relationship between P-glycoprotein expression and tetrofosmin uptake in malignant lesions. Forty-six patients (32 malignant, 14 benign) with various musculoskeletal lesions were studied.

Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis. A case report.

We present a five-year-old girl with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis. A skeletal radiographic survey revealed several old fractures. Application of pilocarpine showed anhidrosis and nerve biopsy revealed a significant decrease in the number of myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibres.

Central acetabular fracture-dislocation following electroconvulsive therapy: report of two similar cases.

Acetabular fracture-dislocations usually occur as a result of high velocity trauma. Such fractures following electroconvulsive therapy are extremely rare. In this report, two similar cases of acetabular fractures and central fracture-dislocations following ECT are presented.

Fibular dimelia and mirror foot without associated anomalies.

Fibular dimelia with mirror foot is a rare anomaly that may be associated with additional anomalies such as ulnar dimelia, facial abnormalities and sacrococcygeal teratoma. We report a female child with unilateral tibial aplasia, ipsilateral duplication of fibula and calcaneus, and mirror polydactyly of the foot without associated abnormalities.