Use of intraoperative isocentric C-arm 3D fluoroscopy for sextant percutaneous pedicle screw placement: case report and review of the literature.

Background Context: Three-dimensional (3D) fluoroscopy-based image guidance system using an isocentric C-arm (Iso-C) fluoroscope was shown to be as effective as computed tomography-based systems in guiding the accurate percutaneous placement of lumbar pedicle screws in cadavers. To date, however, no description is available of the intraoperative use of 3D fluoroscopy to guide lumbar pedicle screw placement in an actual spinal fusion procedure.

Purpose: We report a case in which isocentric 3D fluoroscopic images, along with image-guidance software, were used to guide the placement of percutaneous pedicle screws for fusion in a patient with degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Mass spectrometric analysis of the N terminus of translational initiation factor eIF4G-1 reveals novel isoforms.

In eukaryotes, translation initiation factor 4G (eIF4G) acts as the central binding protein for an unusually large number of proteins involved in mRNA metabolism. Several gene products homologous to eIF4G have been described, the most studied being eIF4G-1. By its association with other initiation factors, eIF4G-1 effects mRNA cap and poly(A) recognition, unwinding of secondary structure, and binding to the 43S initiation complex.