New Prothrombin Mutation (Arg596Trp, Prothrombin Padua 2) Associated With Venous Thromboembolism.

Objective: Two different prothrombin variants, p.Arg596Leu and p.Arg596Gln, conferring antithrombin resistance to patients with venous thromboembolism have been recently reported.

Subtotal parathyroidectomy versus total parathyroidectomy with autotransplant in secondary hyperparathyroidism — a single-centre prospective cohort of 43 patients.

Introduction: The need for parathyroidectomy remains high in the group of patients on long-term dialysis with medically refractory secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT). We aim to compare the results after subtotal parathyroidectomies (sPtx) and total parathyroidectomies with autotransplant (tPtx + AT) performed for sHPT at a single referral centre.

Material And Methods: This prospective study comparatively analysed sPtx and tPtx + AT performed in our department between February 2010 and December 2014.

Dynamics of circulating microparticles in obesity after weight loss.

A definitive relationship between adiposity and MP production is yet to be demonstrated. The aim of our study was to prospectively evaluate the levels of microparticles (MP) in a group of 20 III degree obese patients before and after weight loss. Plasma levels of annexin V-MP, endothelial-derived MP, platelet-derived MP (CD61+ and P-Selectin+), leukocyte-derived MP, tissue factor-bearing (TF+) and CD36+MP were prospectively measured in 20 patients with III degree obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m(2)) before (T0) and 3 (T3) and 12 (T12) months after sleeve gastrectomy (SLG).

Applications of cyclodextrins in medical textiles - review.

This paper presents data on the general properties and complexing ability of cyclodextrins and assessment methods (phase solubility, DSC tests and X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectra, analytical method). It focuses on the formation of drug deposits on the surface of a textile underlayer, using a cyclodextrin compound favoring the inclusion of a drug/active principle and its release onto the dermis of patients suffering from skin disorders, or for protection against insects. Moreover, it presents the kinetics, duration, diffusion flow and release media of the cyclodextrin drug for in vitro studies, as well as the release modeling of the active principle.

Causes and Consequences of Longitudinal LV Dysfunction Assessed by 2D Strain Echocardiography in Cardiac Amyloidosis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare left ventricular longitudinal strain (LS) evaluated by 2-dimensional echocardiography with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in cardiac amyloidosis (CA), establish correlations between histological and imaging findings, and assess the prognostic usefulness of LS measurement and CMR.

Background: CA is a condition with a poor prognosis due chiefly to 3 forms of amyloidosis: light-chain amyloidosis (AL), hereditary transthyretin (M-TTR), and wild-type transthyretin (WT-TTR). Two-dimensional echocardiography measurement of LS has been reported to detect early left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

[Reconstruction of Defects after Oncologic Resection and Radiation - Indications for Microsurgical Reconstruction].

The surgical treatment of soft tissue sarcomas in the extremities frequently requires radiation therapy to achieve local tumour control. However, both adjuvant and neoadjuvant radiation are associated with significant morbidity caused by impaired wound healing, ulcers or osteonecrosis with subsequent fractures. This is due to altered local cell mediator levels, fibrosis occurring simultaneously with decreased cell division rates and diminished vascularity.

Phase I study of cetuximab in combination with 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin C and radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced anal cancer.

Background: 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and mitomycin C (MMC)-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is standard treatment for anal squamous cell carcinoma. In this phase I study cetuximab was added and the primary aim was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of 5FU and MMC in this combination.

Methods And Materials: Patients with locally advanced anal cancer, T2 (≥4 cm)-4N0-3M0, received weekly standard doses of cetuximab starting 1 week before CRT.

Local administration of Mitomycin-C-Treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) prolongs allograft survival in vascularized composite allotransplantation.

Background: VCA offers a potential treatment for extensive tissue defects. First results of systemic administration of Mitomycin C-treated PBMCs in VCA demonstrated a significant prolongation of allograft survival. The aim of this study is to evaluate if local administration of MMC-PBMCs prolongs allograft survival in allogeneic hind limb transplantations of the rat.

Domestic bioethanol-fireplaces--a new source of severe burn accidents.

Background: Bioethanol-fueled fireplaces are popular interior home decoration accessories. Although their safety is promoted frequently, actual presentations of severe burn injuries in our burn intensive care unit (ICU) have focused the authors on safety problems with these devices. In this article we want to explore the mechanisms for these accidents and state our experiences with this increasingly relevant risk for severe burn injuries.

A high-throughput screen of inactive X chromosome reactivation identifies the enhancement of DNA demethylation by 5-aza-2'-dC upon inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase.

Background: DNA methylation is important for the maintenance of the silent state of genes on the inactive X chromosome (Xi). Here, we screened for siRNAs and chemicals that reactivate an Xi-linked reporter in the presence of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-2'-dC), an inhibitor of DNA methyltransferase 1, at a concentration that, on its own, is not sufficient for Xi-reactivation.

Results: We found that inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) induced expression of the reporter.

Circulating microparticles and the risk of thrombosis in inherited deficiencies of antithrombin, protein C and protein S.

Many subjects carrying inherited thrombophilic defects will never experience venous thromboembolism (VTE) while other individuals developed recurrent VTE with no known additional risk factors. High levels of circulating microparticles (MP) have been associated with increased risk of VTE in patients with factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A mutation, suggesting a possible contribution of MP in the hypercoagulability of mild genetic thrombophilia. The role of MP as additional risk factor of VTE in carriers of natural clotting inhibitors defects (severe thrombophilia) has never been assessed.

Monte Carlo Simulations of the Magnetic Behavior, Ordering Temperature and Magnetocaloric Effects in 1D, 2D and 3D Ferrimagnetic Systems.

As for the systematic investigations of magnetic behaviors and its related properties, computer simulations in extended quantum spin networks have been performed in good conditions via the generalized Ising model using the Monte Carlo-Metropolis algorithm with proven efficiencies. The present work, starting from a real magnetic system, provides detailed insights into the finite size effects and the ferrimagnetic properties in various 1 D, 2D and 3D geometries such as the magnetic moment, ordering temperature, and magnetocaloric effects with the different values of spins localized on the different coordinated sites.

Comparison of 2-Dimensional, 3-Dimensional, and Surgical Measurements of the Tricuspid Annulus Size: Clinical Implications.

Background: Associated tricuspid annuloplasty is recommended during left-heart valve surgery when the tricuspid annulus (TA) is dilated but methodology for the measurement of TA size and thresholds for TA enlargement are not clearly defined.

Methods And Results: Measurement of the TA diameter (TAD) was prospectively performed using 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2D-TTE) in 282 patients in 4 different views (parasternal long axis, parasternal short axis, apical 4-chamber [A4C], and subcostal). TAD was also measured using 3D-transesophageal echocardiography in 183 patients (long axis), peroperatively in 120 patients who underwent a tricuspid valve surgery and using TTE (A4C) in 66 healthy volunteers.

Synergistic antitumour activity of RAF265 and ZSTK474 on human TT medullary thyroid cancer cells.

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is an aggressive malignancy responsible for up to 14% of all thyroid cancer-related deaths. It is characterized by point mutations in the rearranged during transfection (RET) proto-oncogene. The activated RET kinase is known to signal via extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), leading to enhanced proliferation and resistance to apoptosis.

Regulation of nucleotide metabolism by mutant p53 contributes to its gain-of-function activities.

Mutant p53 (mtp53) is an oncogene that drives cancer cell proliferation. Here we report that mtp53 associates with the promoters of numerous nucleotide metabolism genes (NMG). Mtp53 knockdown reduces NMG expression and substantially depletes nucleotide pools, which attenuates GTP-dependent protein activity and cell invasion.

Origin and levels of circulating microparticles in normal pregnancy: A longitudinal observation in healthy women.

Objective: Microparticles (MP) are actively involved in the hypercoagulable state reported both in normal pregnancies and in pregnancy diagnosed with placenta-mediated complications. In this study the origin and the levels of plasma MP as well as MP activity were evaluated in a group of healthy women during the three trimesters of a normal pregnancy.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-five healthy normotensive pregnant women were enrolled and blood samples were prospectively collected at three different time points corresponding to 1st trimester, 2nd trimester, 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

Circulating microparticles in umbilical cord blood in normal pregnancy and pregnancy with preeclampsia.

Introduction: Placenta microthrombi being one of the prevalent recurrent histological findings in women with preeclampsia (PE), it is reasonable to think that the study of coagulation alterations in cord blood could be more informative than that observed in maternal blood. The aim of the present study was to measure different subtypes of microparticles (MP) plasma levels in the maternal peripheral blood at labour and in the venous cord blood of pregnant women with PE compared to those in a group of women without PE.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-two pregnant women in labour, 16 with and 16 without PE, were enrolled.

Accessory spleen.

An accessory spleen (AS), or splenunculus, is a small nodule of splenic tissue found outside of the spleen. Post-mortem examinations, also known as autopsies, are carried out to identify a cause of death, and to assess the state of the organs of the deceased. We present two incidental cases of splenunculi, one localized in greater omentum and a second one localized in the hilum of the spleen, diagnosed during a histopathological examination.

The metabolic syndrome is not correlated with the short-term risk of decompensation in patients with cirrhosis.

Background And Aims: Obesity proved to favor clinical decompensation in patients with cirrhosis. Our aim was to investigate if metabolic syndrome (MS) in cirrhotic patients represents a risk factor for decompensation.

Methods: 704 cirrhotics, included in a MS prevalence study were considered for evaluation; 121 patients were excluded because they did not complete the follow-up and 303 because they were decompensated at the start of the study.

Cutaneous leiomyosarcoma - Case report.

Cutaneous leiomyosarcoma (CLM) is a very rare smooth muscle tumor arising from the dermis or subcutaneous tissue in the skin. Superficial leiomyosarcoma originates in the superficial dermis or subcutaneous tissue and represents about 3% of the soft tissue sarcomas. CLM presents in persons of all ages but with a peak between 60-70 years old.

Structure-guided development of deoxycytidine kinase inhibitors with nanomolar affinity and improved metabolic stability.

Recently, we have shown that small molecule dCK inhibitors in combination with pharmacological perturbations of de novo dNTP biosynthetic pathways could eliminate acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells in animal models. However, our previous lead compound had a short half-life in vivo. Therefore, we set out to develop dCK inhibitors with favorable pharmacokinetic properties.