Incidentally discovered severe hypercalcaemia from a functioning parathyroid cyst: the limitations of intraoperative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) monitoring.

Parathyroid cysts (PCs) are rare pathologies and are typically non-functional (do not secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH)). The aetiology of PCs is highly debated, and management is complex. We present a unique case of a parathyroid adenoma contained within a functional PC and highlight the limitations of intraoperative PTH monitoring during the surgical resection of functional PCs.

Review of otitis media microbiome studies: What do they tell us?

Objectives: To provide a state of the art review on accruing studies focused on defining the middle ear microbiome, highlighting the relationship of the microbiome to disease pathophysiology.

Data Sources: Pubmed indexed peer-reviewed articles and published textbooks.

Review Methods: Comprehensive review of the literature using the following search terms: "microbiome" "bacterial pathogens" with the term "otitis media," and "middle ear.

Optimizing Protonation States for Selective Double-Strand DNA Photocleavage in Hypoxic Tumors: pH-Gated Transitions of Lysine Dipeptides.

We report pH-switching properties of the new family of dipeptide-acetylene conjugates where pH-gated light-activated double-strand (ds) DNA cleavage is controlled by variations in electronic and geometric parameters. The conjugates have higher activities at the slightly acidic pH values that separate normal and cancerous tissue (pH < 7). This favorable pH dependence originates from several elements of structural design.