Patient Goal-directed Care in an Orthopaedic Spine Specialty Clinic.

Introduction: Using health-related goals to direct care could improve quality and reduce cost of medical care; however, the effect of these goals for patients with spinal pathologies is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to describe patient-reported goals by provider type and to evaluate the effect of patient-provider goal awareness on patient satisfaction and treatment pathway.

Methods: A pilot program was instituted in which all new or existing patients scheduled with either a single spine surgeon or a nonsurgical spine nurse practitioner were asked to complete a paper survey instrument regarding their goals of care before their visit.

Order of concentric and eccentric muscle actions affects metabolic responses.

Background: Resistance exercise provides an effective stimulus for improving the metabolic plasticity of skeletal muscle, and the type of acute muscle contraction plays an important role in determining specific responses and adaptations. The purpose of the current investigation was to examine the effect of contraction order on metabolic responses by comparing monophasic concentric and eccentric squats versus a protocol incorporating alternated concentric and eccentric repetitions.

Methods: Twelve recreationally active men (21.

Leveraging Aging in Place Through Sensor-Enhanced In-Home Monitoring.

Seniors expect to age in place, which means living in their own homes as long as possible with familiar facilities and environments. Due to the capability of continuous and unobtrusive monitoring, the sensor-enhanced in-ho monitoring is regarded as a promising solution to support aging in place. In this paper, by reviewing three influential projects in this field of in-home monitoring for aging in place, we present our opinions and suggestions on the development of informatics-supported aging in place for its practical application in healthcare such as diagnosis and nursing in the era of data science.

Clinical Acquired Resistance to RAF Inhibitor Combinations in BRAF-Mutant Colorectal Cancer through MAPK Pathway Alterations.

Unlabelled: BRAF mutations occur in approximately 10% of colorectal cancers. Although RAF inhibitor monotherapy is highly effective in BRAF-mutant melanoma, response rates in BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer are poor. Recent clinical trials of combined RAF/EGFR or RAF/MEK inhibition have produced improved efficacy, but patients ultimately develop resistance.

Anchored multiplex PCR for targeted next-generation sequencing.

We describe a rapid target enrichment method for next-generation sequencing, termed anchored multiplex PCR (AMP), that is compatible with low nucleic acid input from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens. AMP is effective in detecting gene rearrangements (without prior knowledge of the fusion partners), single nucleotide variants, insertions, deletions and copy number changes. Validation of a gene rearrangement panel using 319 FFPE samples showed 100% sensitivity (95% confidence limit: 96.

Identification of oncogenic mutations and gene fusions in the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Background: The diagnosis of the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC) is increasingly common. Recent studies have suggested that FVPTC is heterogeneous and comprises multiple tumor types with distinct biological behaviors and underlying genetics.

Objectives: The purpose of this work was to identify the prevalence of mutations and gene fusions in known oncogenes in a panel representative of the common spectrum of FVPTC diagnosed at an academic medical center and correlate the clinical and pathological features obtained at the initial diagnosis with the tumor genotype.

Oxysterols synergize with statins by inhibiting SREBP-2 in ovarian cancer cells.

Objective: Determine mechanisms responsible for enhanced statin efficacy in a novel statin combination we name STOX (STatin-OXysterol).

Methods: Ovarian cancer cell lines were treated with combinations of statins and oxysterols. Cell viability was determined by a modified MTT assay.

VE1 antibody immunoreactivity in normal anterior pituitary and adrenal cortex without detectable BRAF V600E mutations.

Objectives: The VE1 monoclonal antibody was developed to recognize the V600E mutation in BRAF, which is found in various tumors.

Methods: We report that the VE1 antibody stains normal anterior pituitary gland and adrenal cortex, which lack detectable BRAF V600E mutations.

Results: Staining with the VE1 antibody was seen in the adenohypophysis and correlated well with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-positive cells.

Hobnail variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma: an institutional case series and molecular profile.

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is increasing in incidence while mortality is unchanged. Identifying patients with higher risk of recurrence and death is essential. Case series identify the hobnail variant of PTC (HVPTC), which is characterized by micropapillary architecture, apocrine features, and loss of cellular polarity.

Comparison of 2 monoclonal antibodies for immunohistochemical detection of BRAF V600E mutation in malignant melanoma, pulmonary carcinoma, gastrointestinal carcinoma, thyroid carcinoma, and gliomas.

BRAF mutation is seen in a variety of human neoplasms including cutaneous malignant melanoma, papillary thyroid carcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma, pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma, and others. Currently, there are 2 commercially available monoclonal antibodies for the detection of BRAF V600E mutation; however, a full and practical comparison of their performance in various tumor types on an automated staining platform has not been done. We investigated their sensitivity and specificity in detecting the BRAF V600E mutation in a series of 152 tumors including 31 malignant melanomas, 25 lung carcinomas, 32 gastrointestinal carcinomas, 23 thyroid carcinomas, 35 gliomas, and 6 other malignancies.

Effect of delayed auditory feedback on normal speakers at two speech rates.

This study investigated the effect of short and long auditory feedback delays at two speech rates with normal speakers. Seventeen participants spoke under delayed auditory feedback (DAF) at 0, 25, 50, and 200 ms at normal and fast rates of speech. Significantly two to three times more dysfluencies were displayed at 200 ms (p<0.