A review of pediatric macromastia etiology and indications for reduction mammaplasty.

Background: Macromastia in adolescents is both physically and psychologically debilitating during a period in life when individuals are particularly vulnerable to peer pressure and social norms. Early recognition and intervention by both pediatricians and surgeons are critical to avoid unnecessary suffering. While reduction mammaplasty is the gold standard for the management of symptomatic macromastia in adults, the management of macromastia in pediatric patients remains controversial.

Eomes function is conserved between zebrafish and mouse and controls left-right organiser progenitor gene expression via interlocking feedforward loops.

The T-box family transcription factor Eomesodermin (Eomes) is present in all vertebrates, with many key roles in the developing mammalian embryo and immune system. Homozygous Eomes mutant mouse embryos exhibit early lethality due to defects in both the embryonic mesendoderm and the extraembryonic trophoblast cell lineage. In contrast, zebrafish lacking the predominant Eomes homologue A (Eomesa) do not suffer complete lethality and can be maintained.

3 -5 crosstalk contributes to transcriptional bursting.

Background: Transcription in mammalian cells is a complex stochastic process involving shuttling of polymerase between genes and phase-separated liquid condensates. It occurs in bursts, which results in vastly different numbers of an mRNA species in isogenic cell populations. Several factors contributing to transcriptional bursting have been identified, usually classified as intrinsic, in other words local to single genes, or extrinsic, relating to the macroscopic state of the cell.

Nicotinamide Nucleotide Transhydrogenase as a Novel Treatment Target in Adrenocortical Carcinoma.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is an aggressive malignancy with poor response to chemotherapy. In this study, we evaluated a potential new treatment target for ACC, focusing on the mitochondrial reduced form of NAD phosphate (NADPH) generator nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT). NNT has a central role within mitochondrial antioxidant pathways, protecting cells from oxidative stress.

Promoting Limb Salvage through Multi-Disciplinary Care of the Diabetic Patient.

Despite an explosion in the number of options available for helping diabetic patients heal wounds, major amputation remains a critical issue for these persons. Since diabetes prematurely ages tissues and no organ system is immune to its presence, it makes inherent sense that multi-disciplinary team approaches to these patients is necessary to make significant strides forward. Here, we present literature from the fields of podiatric surgery/medicine, vascular and plastic surgery and introduce the successes that a multi-disciplinary limb salvage center can have on the lives and limbs of patients with diabetes.

Modeling Enzyme Processivity Reveals that RNA-Seq Libraries Are Biased in Characteristic and Correctable Ways.

Experimental procedures for preparing RNA-seq and single-cell (sc) RNA-seq libraries are based on assumptions regarding their underlying enzymatic reactions. Here, we show that the fairness of these assumptions varies within libraries: coverage by sequencing reads along and between transcripts exhibits characteristic, protocol-dependent biases. To understand the mechanistic basis of this bias, we present an integrated modeling framework that infers the relationship between enzyme reactions during library preparation and the characteristic coverage patterns observed for different protocols.

Scrotal abscess as initial presentation of squamous cell carcinoma.

We report a case of scrotal squamous cell carcinoma in a 67-year-old man that presented as a recurrent nonhealing scrotal abscess. Radical scrotectomy and bilateral simple orchiectomy were performed. A pudendal thigh flap was used for wound closure.

Meta-analysis of inter-patient pharmacokinetic variability of liposomal and non-liposomal anticancer agents.

Unlabelled: A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the inter-patient pharmacokinetic (PK) variability of liposomal and small molecule (SM) anticancer agents. Inter-patient PK variability of 9 liposomal and SM formulations of the same drug was evaluated. PK variability was measured as coefficient of variance (CV%) of area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC) and the fold-difference between AUCmax and AUCmin (AUC range).

Plasma, tumor and tissue pharmacokinetics of Docetaxel delivered via nanoparticles of different sizes and shapes in mice bearing SKOV-3 human ovarian carcinoma xenograft.

Unlabelled: The particle fabrication technique PRINT® was used to fabricate monodisperse size and shape specific poly(lactide-co-glycolide) particles loaded with the chemotherapeutic Docetaxel. The pharmacokinetics of two cylindrical shaped particles with diameter=80nm; height=320nm (PRINT-Doc-80×320) and d=200nm; h=200nm (PRINT-Doc-200×200) were compared to Docetaxel in mice bearing human ovarian carcinoma SKOV-3 flank xenografts. The Docetaxel plasma exposure was ~20-fold higher for both particles compared to docetaxel.

Complex abdominal wall hernias: a new classification system and approach to management based on review of 133 consecutive patients.

Background: Plastic surgeons are increasingly involved in the repair of complex ventral hernias. Although this typically involves recurrent incisional hernias, operative strategies can be applied to most abdominal wall defects, including chronic wounds with or without exposed mesh, enterocutaneous fistulas, or hernias associated with significant pannus formation.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of a single institution/single surgeon experience of complex ventral hernia repair performed over a 5-year period.

The role of intrathoracic free flaps for chronic empyema.

Background: The management of chronic empyema associated with a bronchopleural fistula can be a particularly challenging problem. Successful eradication may not occur without interposition of healthy vascularized tissue. Pedicled muscle flaps for coverage on the thorax have been well described.

Exportin 1 inhibition attenuates nuclear factor-kappaB-dependent gene expression.

Activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB is mediated by signal-induced phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha, subsequent IkappaBalpha degradation, and then translocation of unbound NF-kappaB to the nucleus. Termination of gene expression occurs when IkappaBalpha binds NF-kappaB subunits (Rel A) in the nucleus. Leptomycin B specifically inhibits export of IkappaBalpha and the inactive IkappaBalpha/Rel A complex via the nuclear export protein exportin 1.

Polymerized hemoglobin induces heme oxygenase-1 protein expression and inhibits intercellular adhesion molecule-1 protein expression in human lung microvascular endothelial cells.

Background: Our clinical trials using a polymerized hemoglobin solution (PolyHb) as a red cell substitute in severely injured patients suggested that this hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier has a systemic antiinflammatory effect. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has recently been shown to be cytoprotective, and is known to be induced by heme moieties. We investigated the effects of this hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier on HO-1 induction and proinflammatory activation of pulmonary endothelium.

Melanoma inhibits macrophage activation by suppressing toll-like receptor 4 signaling.

Background: Activated macrophages defend against tumors by secreting cytokines to recruit secondary immune cells, presenting antigen to T cells, and by direct tumor cytotoxicity. Peritoneal macrophages harvested from melanoma-bearing mice are less cytotoxic to melanoma cells, and produce less superoxide, nitric oxide, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) than those from nontumor-bearing mice. Similar impairment of macrophage activation occurs in vitro using media harvested from cultured melanoma cells.