Properties of the major Zn-binding site of human alpha-fetoprotein, a potential foetal plasma zinc carrier.

The foetal plasma protein α-fetoprotein (AFP) harbours a high-affinity zinc binding site that is likely involved in transport and delivery of essential zinc during foetal development. Based on a recent electron microscopy structure of AFP and aided by biophysical studies on an AFP-derived peptide, we present a refined 5-coordinate model for this site.

The Surgical Pause: The Importance of Measuring Frailty and Taking Action to Address Identified Frailty.

Conceptual Framework: The Surgical Pause is a rapid, scalable strategy for health care systems to optimize perioperative outcomes for high-risk, frail patients considering elective surgery. The first and most important step is to screen for frailty, thereby identifying the 5% to 10% of patients at most risk for postoperative complications, loss of independence, institutionalization, and mortality. The second step is to take action to improve outcomes.

Clinicopathological Characteristics and Long-Term Outcomes of Cystic vs. Solid Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Multi-Institutional Experience with 1727 Patients.

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features and long-term outcomes of cystic and solid pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs).

Summary Background Data: PanNETs uncommonly present as cystic lesions. Whether cystic PanNETs represent a distinct clinical entity compared to solid PanNETs is controversial.