Impact of a Cancer-Associated Mutation on Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase1 Inhibition.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase1 (PARP1) plays a vital role in DNA repair and its inhibition in cancer cells may cause cell apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the effects of a PARP1 variant, V762A, which is strongly associated with several cancers in humans, on the inhibition of PARP1 by three FDA approved inhibitors: niraparib, rucaparib and talazoparib. Our work suggests that these inhibitors bind to the V762A mutant more effectively than to the wild-type (WT), with similar binding free energies between them.

Microstructure, Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Performance of Laser-Welded NiTi Shape Memory Alloy in Simulated Body Fluid.

Laser-welding is a promising technique for welding NiTi shape memory alloys with acceptable tensile strength and comparable corrosion performance for biomedical applications. The microstructural characteristics and localized corrosion behavior of NiTi alloys in a simulated body fluid (SBF) environment are evaluated. A microstructural examination indicated the presence of fine and equiaxed grains with a B2 austenite phase in the base metal (BM), while the weld metal (WM) had a coarse dendritic microstructure with intermetallic precipitates including TiNi and NiTi.

Remote Diagnosis of Retinal Detachment in an Emergency Department Using Nonmydriatic Hybrid Ocular Imaging.

Ocular emergencies are commonly evaluated in general emergency departments (ED) where ophthalmologists are rarely available. Nonmydriatic ocular imaging combining color fundus photographs and optical coherence tomography (NMFP-OCT) can help with rapid remote triage by ophthalmologists. We evaluated the rate at which retinal detachments (RDs) can be diagnosed with NMFP-OCT in the ED.

Long-Term Amino Acid Homeostasis, Neurodevelopmental and Growth Profiles Following Liver Transplantation in Maple Syrup Urine Disease.

Introduction: Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is caused by the deficiency of branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKAD) and, it is well described that BCKAD contributed by an allograft following liver transplantation (LT) phenotypically normalizes this inborn error of metabolism (IEM). There is, however, a paucity of data especially with regards to the neurodevelopmental aspects and catch-up growth profiles after LT in a resource-challenged setting. We present our series of children under 6 years of age who underwent LT for MSUD particularly focusing on their amino acid homeostasis, neurodevelopmental and somatic growth profiles.