Brace for Impact: A Retrospective Analysis of the Modified Broström-Gould Procedure With and Without Internal Brace Augmentation.

Background Chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) is caused by lateral ankle ligament weakness or rupture secondary to recurrent sprains. The surgical management has traditionally involved a modified Broström-Gould (MBG) procedure with or without internal brace (IB) augmentation. This study aims to demonstrate the improved outcomes for patients undergoing an MBG procedure with IB augmentation for CLAI.

Nitric oxide regulates metabolism in murine stress erythroid progenitors to promote recovery during inflammatory anemia.

Unlabelled: Inflammation skews bone marrow hematopoiesis increasing the production of myeloid effector cells at the expense of steady-state erythropoiesis. A compensatory stress erythropoiesis response is induced to maintain homeostasis until inflammation is resolved. In contrast to steady-state erythroid progenitors, stress erythroid progenitors (SEPs) utilize signals induced by inflammatory stimuli.

Loss of selenoprotein W in murine macrophages alters the hierarchy of selenoprotein expression, redox tone, and mitochondrial functions during inflammation.

Macrophages play a pivotal role in mediating inflammation and subsequent resolution of inflammation. The availability of selenium as a micronutrient and the subsequent biosynthesis of selenoproteins, containing the 21 amino acid selenocysteine (Sec), are important for the physiological functions of macrophages. Selenoproteins regulate the redox tone in macrophages during inflammation, the early onset of which involves oxidative burst of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.

Semi-automated NMR Pipeline for Environmental Exposures: New Insights on the Metabolomics of Smokers versus Non-smokers.

Environmental exposure pathophysiology related to smoking can yield metabolic changes that are difficult to describe in a biologically informative fashion with manual proprietary software. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy detects compounds found in biofluids yielding a metabolic snapshot. We applied our semi-automated NMR pipeline for a secondary analysis of a smoking study (MTBLS374 from the MetaboLights repository) (n = 112).

CLARITE Facilitates the Quality Control and Analysis Process for EWAS of Metabolic-Related Traits.

While genome-wide association studies are an established method of identifying genetic variants associated with disease, environment-wide association studies (EWAS) highlight the contribution of nongenetic components to complex phenotypes. However, the lack of high-throughput quality control (QC) pipelines for EWAS data lends itself to analysis plans where the data are cleaned after a first-pass analysis, which can lead to bias, or are cleaned manually, which is arduous and susceptible to user error. We offer a novel software, CLeaning to Analysis: Reproducibility-based Interface for Traits and Exposures (CLARITE), as a tool to efficiently clean environmental data, perform regression analysis, and visualize results on a single platform through user-guided automation.

Ionized concentrations in Ca and Mg buffers must be measured, not calculated.

New Findings: What is the topic of this review? The [Ca ]/[Mg ] in buffers are usually calculated using one of eight programs. These all give different values, thus [Ca ]/[Mg ] must be measured. What advances does it highlight? The ligand optimization method (LOM) using electrodes is an accurate method to do this.

Ionised concentrations in calcium and magnesium buffers: Standards and precise measurement are mandatory.

In Ca and Mg buffer solutions the ionised concentrations ([X]) are either calculated or measured. Calculated values vary by up to a factor of seven due to the following four problems: The calculated [X] in buffers are so inconsistent that calculation is not an option. Until standards are available, the [X] in the buffers must be measured.

Ionised concentrations in calcium and magnesium buffers: Standards and precise measurement are mandatory.

In Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) buffer solutions the ionised concentrations ([X(2+)]) are either calculated or measured. Calculated values vary by up to a factor of seven due to the following four problems: 1) There is no agreement amongst the tabulated constants in the literature. These constants have usually to be corrected for ionic strength and temperature.

Spotlight on esophageal perforation: A multinational study using the Pittsburgh esophageal perforation severity scoring system.

Objective: The Pittsburgh group has suggested a perforation severity score (PSS) for better decision making in the management of esophageal perforation. Our study aim was to determine whether the PSS can be used to stratify patients with esophageal perforation into distinct subgroups with differential outcomes in an independent study population.

Methods: In a retrospective study cases of esophageal perforation were collected (study-period, 1990-2014).

Primary diffuse B-cell lymphoma presenting as a solitary chest-wall lesion.

Primary lymphoma presenting as a solitary lesion of the chest wall is extremely rare, as the majority of chest-wall tumours arise from metastasis. We demonstrate a case report of a 67-year-old male who underwent investigations for a chronic left-sided pleural effusion. A computed tomography scan demonstrated a large chest-wall lesion, without rib destruction.

An improvement to the ligand optimisation method (LOM) for measuring the apparent dissociation constant and ligand purity in Ca2+ and Mg2+ buffer solutions.

In Ca(2+)/Mg(2+) buffers the calculated ionised concentrations ([X(2+)]) can vary by up to a factor of seven. Since there are no defined standards it is impossible to check calculated [X(2+)], making measurement essential. The ligand optimisation method (LOM) is an accurate method to measure [X(2+)] in Ca(2+)/Mg(2+) buffers; independent estimation of ligand purity extends the method to pK(/) < 4.

Measuring Ca(2+) binding to short chain fatty acids and gluconate with a Ca(2+) electrode: role of the reference electrode.

Many organic anions bind free Ca(2+), the total concentration of which must be adjusted in experimental solutions. Because published values for the apparent dissociation constant (Kapp) describing the Ca(2+) affinity of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and gluconate are highly variable, Ca(2+) electrodes coupled to either a 3M KCl or a Na(+) selective electrode were used to redetermine Kapp. All solutions contained 130mM Na(+), whereas the concentration of the studied anion was varied from 15 to 120mM, replacing Cl(-) that was decreased concomitantly to maintain osmolarity.

Glomus tumor of the mediastinum.

Glomus tumors are rare benign myoepithelial neoplasms that can present with intractable pain. We report the case of a 59-year-old gentleman who presented with upper abdominal and chest pain caused by a posterior mediastinal glomus tumor arising from the spinal column, which required surgical resection. As glomus tumors usually develop in the limbs, this case highlights the complexity of diagnosis and treatment of glomus tumors when they present in rare locations.

The mediastinal staging accuracy of 18F-Fluorodeoxyglycose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in non-small cell lung cancer with variable time intervals to surgery.

Background: PET/CT scanning can determine suitability for curative therapy and inform decision making when considering radical therapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Metastases to central mediastinal lymph nodes (N2) may alter such management decisions. We report a 2 year retrospective series assessing N2 lymph node staging accuracy with PET/CT compared to pathological analysis at surgery.

Effect of simvastatin on physiological and biological outcomes in patients undergoing esophagectomy: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: To test whether simvastatin improves physiological and biological outcomes in patients undergoing esophagectomy.

Background: One-lung ventilation during esophagectomy is associated with inflammation, alveolar epithelial and systemic endothelial injury, and the development of acute lung injury (ALI). Statins that modify many of the underlying processes are a potential therapy to prevent ALI.

Endoscopic stent insertion versus primary operative management for spontaneous rupture of the esophagus (Boerhaave syndrome): an international study comparing the outcome.

Spontaneous rupture of the esophagus (Boerhaave syndrome) is an extremely rare, life-threatening condition. Traditionally surgery was the treatment of choice. Endoscopic stent insertion offers a promising alternative.

Calculated and measured [Ca(2+)] in buffers used to calibrate Ca(2+) macroelectrodes.

The ionized concentration of calcium in physiological buffers ([Ca(2+)]) is normally calculated using either tabulated constants or software programs. To investigate the accuracy of such calculations, the [Ca(2+)] in EGTA [ethylene glycol-bis(β-aminoethylether)-N,N,N|,N|-tetraacetic acid], BAPTA [1,2-bis(o-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N|,N|-tetraacetic acid], HEDTA [N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-ethylenediamine-N,N|,N|-triacetic acid], and NTA [N,N-bis(carboxymethyl)glycine] buffers was estimated using the ligand optimization method, and these measured values were compared with calculated values. All measurements overlapped in the pCa range of 3.

Long-term follow-up of immunocytochemical analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and its two receptors, VEGF-R1 (Flt-1) and VEGF-R2 (Flk-1/KDR), in oesophagogastric cancer.

Background: The prognostic significance of immunocytochemical analysis of tumour vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its 2 receptors, VEGF-R1 and VEGF-R2, remains incompletely investigated in patients with oesophagogastric cancer.


Methods: Patients undergoing surgical resection were prospectively recruited between February 1999 and August 2000. Immunocytochemical analysis of VEGF, VEGF-R1 (Flt-1) and VEGF-R2 (Flk-1/KDR) was undertaken using validated techniques.

Prognostic factors in malignant pleural mesothelioma: role of talc pleurodesis.

Objective: To examine baseline characteristics associated with survival in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Methods: 122 patients with histologically proven malignant pleural mesothelioma during the period 2000-2010 were studied. Survival was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method with the logrank test.

Quantification of tumour and circulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with oesophagogastric cancer: a long-term follow-up study.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic cytokine that regulates tumour angiogenesis. The prognostic significance of VEGF expression remains incompletely investigated for patients with oesophagogastric cancer. This study assesses the significance of tumour VEGF (T-VEGF) and circulating VEGF (C-VEGF) expression in a 10-year follow-up of patients with oesophagogastric cancer.

Bone marrow micrometastases in esophageal carcinoma: a 10-year follow-up study.

Detection of bone marrow micrometastases (BMMs) in patients with esophageal carcinoma may indicate a metastatic phenotype. We assessed if the presence of BMMs had adverse prognostic significance in a 10-year follow-up study. Patients undergoing surgery for esophageal cancer were prospectively recruited between February 1999 and August 2000.

Transection of the aerodigestive tract after blunt neck trauma.

Survival after blunt neck trauma resulting in combined tracheal and esophageal injury is uncommon. We present the case of a young boy who sustained complete transection of the trachea and subtotal transection of the esophagus after a clothes line type injury.

Impact of nutritional factors on survival in patients with inoperable oesophageal cancer undergoing self-expanding metal stent insertion.

Background: Undernutrition has been shown to be predictive of 30-day mortality in patients undergoing self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) insertion for inoperable oesophageal cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between nutritional factors and 30-day mortality in patients undergoing SEMS insertion for palliation of oesophageal cancer.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from April 2007 to June 2009.