Discovery of a Small Molecule with an Inhibitory Role for RAB11.

RAB11, a pivotal RabGTPase, regulates essential cellular processes such as endocytic recycling, exocytosis, and autophagy. The protein was implicated in various human diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, viral infections, and podocytopathies. However, a small-molecular inhibitor is lacking.

microRNA-Mediated Encoding and Decoding of Time-Dependent Signals in Tumorigenesis.

microRNAs, pivotal post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, in the past decades have caught the attention of researchers for their involvement in different biological processes, ranging from cell development to cancer. Although lots of effort has been devoted to elucidate the topological features and the equilibrium properties of microRNA-mediated motifs, little is known about how the information encoded in frequency, amplitude, duration, and other features of their regulatory signals can affect the resulting gene expression patterns. Here, we review the current knowledge about microRNA-mediated gene regulatory networks characterized by time-dependent input signals, such as pulses, transient inputs, and oscillations.

Focal hole versus screw stimulation to prevent false negative results in detecting pedicle breaches during spinal instrumentation.

Objective: We describe a stimulus-evoked EMG approach to minimize false negative results in detecting pedicle breaches during lumbosacral spinal instrumentation.

Methods: In 36 patients receiving 176 lumbosacral pedicle screws, EMG threshold to nerve root activation was determined using a focal probe inserted into the pilot hole at a depth, customized to the individual patients, suitable to position the stimulating tip at the point closest to the tested nerve root. Threshold to screw stimulation was also determined.

Inter-species competition-facilitation in stochastic riparian vegetation dynamics.

Riparian vegetation is a highly dynamic community that lives on river banks and which depends to a great extent on the fluvial hydrology. The stochasticity of the discharge and erosion/deposition processes in fact play a key role in determining the distribution of vegetation along a riparian transect. These abiotic processes interact with biotic competition/facilitation mechanisms, such as plant competition for light, water, and nutrients.

Non-invasive high voltage electrical stimulation as a monitoring tool of nerve root function in lumbosacral surgery.

Objective: To verify the safety and clinical use of non-invasive high-voltage electrical stimulation (HVES) in patients with compressive radiculopathy. To test the feasibility of HVES to survey nerve root function during lumbosacral surgery.

Methods: In 20 patients undergoing lumbosacral surgery for degenerative spinal diseases, compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) evoked by maximal HVES were bilaterally recorded throughout surgery from L3 to S2 radicular territories.

Multiple post-traumatic spinal meningocele. Case report.

The Authors refer the case of a man who was successfully operated for a meningocele, consisting of two separate sacs in the right iliopsoas muscle. Etiopathogenetic features of the two sacs are discussed.

Thermal effects on nervous human tissues under electro or laser surgery.

A series of experiments has been carried out with the aim of determining the temperature distribution in nervous tissues after coagulation, vaporization and cutting, using electrosurgical unit (monopolar mode and bipolar mode) and laser beam (CO2, Argon and Nd:YAG). It was found that, at a surface distance of 2 mm from the heated point, the superficial temperature reaches different values, ranging from 100 degrees C, to 15 degrees C, 8 degrees C, 6 degrees C, 10 degrees C using monopolar mode, bipolar mode, CO2 laser, Argon laser and Nd:YAG, respectively. At a depth of 2 mm below the target point, however, the temperature increase is drastically reduced.