Cytokine Response of Natural Killer Cells to Hepatitis B Virus Infection Depends on Monocyte Co-Stimulation.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major driver of chronic hepatic inflammation, which regularly leads to liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Immediate innate immune cell response is crucial for the rapid clearance of the infection. Here, natural killer (NK) cells play a pivotal role in direct cytotoxicity and the secretion of antiviral cytokines as well as regulatory function.

A Patient-Centered Website (Within Reach) to Foster Informed Decision-making About Upper Extremity Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation: Development and Usability Study.

Background: Upper extremity (UE) vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA; hand transplantation) is a reconstructive treatment option for patients with UE loss. Approximately 37 UE VCAs have been performed in the United States to date; thus, little is known about long-term psychosocial outcomes and whether the benefits outweigh the risks. To make an informed treatment decision, patients must understand the procedure, risks, and potential benefits of UE VCA.

Utilizing a Video-Based Learning Platform for Teaching Breastfeeding Medicine.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) supports exclusive breastfeeding of infants. However, conversations surrounding breastfeeding can be sensitive in nature and cause discomfort for both learners and parents. Additionally, bedside teaching of breastfeeding medicine is a relatively large time commitment which can be difficult for learners rotating through busy delivery centers.

Unexpected pain with electrocortical stimulation in a teenager with temporal encephalocele.

Temporal lobe encephalocele has emerged as a potentially unrecognized cause of drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) that can be effectively treated with epilepsy surgery. Here we present a case in which a 17-year-old male with drug-resistant epilepsy and left temporal encephalocele underwent workup for epilepsy surgery, and experienced unexpected pain with electrocortical stimulation. Stimulation of stereo-EEG electrodes in the left temporal pole resulted in severe, unilateral left-sided facial pain due to inadvertent stimulation of the trigeminal nerve.

Intramural pregnancy: A case report.

A 24-year-old woman, who had undergone neither fertility treatment nor uterine surgery other than a cesarean section, presented with an intramural ectopic pregnancy. A laparotomy with uterine wedge resection including the embryonic tissue was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, with falling βHCG levels.