Are Imaging Evaluations of Soft-Tissue Masses Before Referral to a Specialized Center Being Performed Properly? A Systematic Review.

Background/objectives: Since the initial approach towards the clinical presentation of soft-tissue masses is challenging for frontline physicians, some countries use clinical practice guidelines. Proper imaging work-up is crucial to differentiate between soft-tissue tumors. Recently, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been widely used.

Separation of full, empty, and partial adeno-associated virus capsids via anion-exchange chromatography with continuous recycling and accumulation.

The field of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) gene therapy has attracted increasing attention over decades. Within the ongoing challenges of rAAV manufacturing, the co-production of impurities, such as empty and partial capsids containing no or truncated transgenes, poses a significant challenge. Due to their potential impact on drug efficacy and clinical safety, it is imperative to conduct comprehensive monitoring and characterization of these impurities prior to the release of the final gene therapy product.

Decoding cellular mechanism of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) and engineering host-cell factories toward intensified viral vector manufacturing.

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) is one of the prominent gene delivery vehicles that has opened promising opportunities for novel gene therapeutic approaches. However, the current major viral vector production platform, triple transfection in mammalian cells, may not meet the increasing demand. Thus, it is highly required to understand production bottlenecks from the host cell perspective and engineer the cells to be more favorable and tolerant to viral vector production, thereby effectively enhancing rAAV manufacturing.

Feasibility of a Novel Local Tumor Ablation and Recycling Machine Based on Radiofrequency Dielectric Heating: In-depth Review on Research Background and Preliminary Report of an Experimental Study.

Background: In bone sarcomas, chemotherapy has improved the prognosis with advances in diagnostic and surgical technologies, which has led to attempts to save limbs. As early detection and multidisciplinary treatment have improved the survival rate, curative surgery is considered for selected patients with metastatic bone carcinomas. Limb salvage procedures may vary in relation to the reconstruction method, which is accompanied by different complications.

sp. nov., isolated from sea water.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated as DAU312, was isolated from the sea water of the eastern coast of the Republic of Korea. Optimal growth was observed at 25 °C, pH 7.0-8.

Marine plant-based biorefinery for sustainable 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid production: A review.

Marine plants, including macroalgae and seagrass, show promise as biorenewable feedstocks for sustainable chemical manufacturing. This study explores their potential in producing 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a versatile platform chemical for commodity polymers. FDCA-based polyethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate offers a sustainable alternative to petroleum-derived polyethylene terephthalate, commonly used in plastic bottles.

Measuring urban quality and change through the detection of physical attributes of decay.

The quality of the urban environment is crucial for societal well-being. Yet, measuring and tracking the quality of urban environment, their evolution, and spatial disparities is difficult due to the amount of on-the-ground data needed to capture these patterns. The growing availability of street view images presents new prospects in identifying urban features.

Development and Validation of a Convolutional Neural Network Model to Predict a Pathologic Fracture in the Proximal Femur Using Abdomen and Pelvis CT Images of Patients With Advanced Cancer.

Background: Improvement in survival in patients with advanced cancer is accompanied by an increased probability of bone metastasis and related pathologic fractures (especially in the proximal femur). The few systems proposed and used to diagnose impending fractures owing to metastasis and to ultimately prevent future fractures have practical limitations; thus, novel screening tools are essential. A CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis is a standard modality for staging and follow-up in patients with cancer, and radiologic assessments of the proximal femur are possible with CT-based digitally reconstructed radiographs.

Design space determination to optimize DNA complexation and full capsid formation in transient rAAV manufacturing.

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors are a promising platform for in vivo gene therapies. However, cost-effective, well-characterized processes necessary to manufacture rAAV therapeutics are challenging to develop without an understanding of how process parameters (PPs) affect rAAV product quality attributes (PQAs). In this work, a central composite orthogonal experimental design was employed to examine the influence of four PPs for transient transfection complex formation (polyethylenimine:DNA [PEI:DNA] ratio, total DNA/cell, cocktail volume, and incubation time) on three rAAV PQAs related to capsid content (vector genome titer, vector genome:capsid particle ratio, and two-dimensional vector genome titer ratio).

Transcriptomic features reveal molecular signatures associated with recombinant adeno-associated virus production in HEK293 cells.

The development of gene therapies based on recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) has grown exponentially, so the current rAAV manufacturing platform needs to be more efficient to satisfy rising demands. Viral production exerts great demand on cellular substrates, energy, and machinery; therefore, viral production relies heavily on the physiology of the host cell. Transcriptomics, as a mechanism-driven tool, was applied to identify significantly regulated pathways and to study cellular features of the host cell for supporting rAAV production.

Critical challenges and advances in recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) biomanufacturing.

Gene therapy is a promising therapeutic approach for genetic and acquired diseases nowadays. Among DNA delivery vectors, recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) is one of the most effective and safest vectors used in commercial drugs and clinical trials. However, the current yield of rAAV biomanufacturing lags behind the necessary dosages for clinical and commercial use, which embodies a concentrated reflection of low productivity of rAAV from host cells, difficult scalability of the rAAV-producing bioprocess, and high levels of impurities materialized during production.

Minimally Invasive Carpal Tunnel Release Using a Hook Knife through a Small Transverse Carpal Incision: Technique and Outcome.

Background: Compared to the classic open technique, limited exposure techniques have the advantages of less scar pain, more grip and pinch strength, and earlier return to daily life. We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of our novel method of minimally invasive carpal tunnel release using a hook knife through a small transverse carpal incision.

Methods: This study included 111 carpal tunnel decompressions in 78 patients who underwent carpal tunnel release from January 2017 to December 2018.

Retrodural space of Okada in the posterior ligamentous complex region: clinical and anatomical findings relevant to lumbar interlaminar epidural injection.

Background: The retrodural space of Okada is a potential space posterior to the ligamentum flavum that allows communication with the bilateral facet joints. However, the actual anatomy of this space has not been clearly visualized to date. We sought to investigate the characteristics of patients showing contrast spreading to the facet joint space during epidural injection and to clarify the anatomical structures of the retrodural space and adjacent ligamentous tissues in cadaveric specimens.

Strategic biomodification for raw plant-based pretreatment biorefining toward sustainable chemistry.

Plant-based pretreatment biorefining is the initial triggering process in biomass-conversion to bio-based chemical products. In view of chemical sustainability, the raw plant-based pretreatment biorefining process is more favorable than the fossil-based one. Its direct use contributes to reducing CO emissions and the production cost of the target products by eliminating costly steps, such as the separation and purification of intermediates.

Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Children with Fractures: Before and during the COVID-19 Outbreak.

Background: Although it is generally agreed that vitamin D is important for bone health, the role of vitamin D in preventing fractures in children and adolescents remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in healthy Korean children with fractures. Our secondary aim was to compare serum vitamin D levels before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

Secondary Malignancy in Giant Cell Tumor: A Single-Center Study.

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) undergoes a sarcomatous transformation. Secondary malignancy in giant cell tumor (MGCT) is associated with radiotherapy and has a dismal prognosis. We reviewed medical records to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of MGCT patients.

Sarcomas in Teachers Using Three-Dimensional Printers: A Report of Three Patients and Literature Review.

Background: While low-cost, small-scale, desktop three-dimensional (3D) printers are gaining popularity in the education sector, some studies have reported harmful emissions of particles and volatile organic compounds during the fused deposition modeling (FDM) process, posing a potential health risk. Sarcomas are rare tumors, constituting a group of diverse rare malignant tumors. While some genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of sarcomas, most cases are idiopathic and sporadic.

Effect of Preoperative Oral Carbohydrates on Insulin Resistance in Older Adults Who Underwent Total Hip or Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Randomized Trial.

Introduction: Preoperative carbohydrate drinks are recommended to reduce fasting time before surgery. Older adults are at risk of pulmonary aspiration and hyperglycemia after consuming carbohydrate drinks because of increased insulin resistance and delayed gastric emptying. We investigated the effects of oral carbohydrate drinks on perioperative insulin resistance, metabolic responses, and gastric volume in older adults.

Optimal location for continuous catheter analgesia among the femoral triangle, proximal, or distal adductor canal after total knee arthroplasty: a randomized double-blind controlled trial.

Background: Pain management after total knee arthroplasty is essential to improve early mobilization, rehabilitation, and recovery. Continuous adductor canal (AC) block provides postoperative analgesia while preserving quadriceps strength. However, there have been inconsistencies regarding the optimal location for continuous catheter block.

Effects of Anesthetic Techniques on the Risk of Postoperative Complications Following Lower Extremity Amputation in Diabetes Patients with Coagulation Abnormalities: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using Propensity Score Analysis.

Diabetic foot amputation is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. To prevent cardiovascular complications along with vasculopathy in the course of diabetes mellitus, a high number of patients receive anticoagulant therapy. However, anticoagulants are contraindicated in neuraxial anesthesia limiting available anesthetic modalities.

G-Knockdown Mutants Increase Extracellular pH in Batch Cultures.

ATPase, a key enzyme involved in energy metabolism, has not yet been well studied in . Here, we knocked down the gene encoding the ATPase gamma subunit in ATCC 824 using a mobile group II intron system and analyzed the physiological characteristics of the gene knockdown mutant, 824-2866KD. Properties investigated included cell growth, glucose consumption, production of major metabolites, and extracellular pH.

Conversion of inulin-rich raw plant biomass to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA): Progress and challenge towards biorenewable plastics.

The current commercial plastic manufactures have been produced using petroleum-based resource. However, due to concerns over the resource depletion and the environmental sustainability, bioresource-based manufacturing processes have been developed to cope against these concerns. Bioresource-derived 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) can be utilized as a building block material for plastic manufactures.

Adventitious agent detection methods in bio-pharmaceutical applications with a focus on viruses, bacteria, and mycoplasma.

Adventitious agents present significant complications to biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Adventitious agents include numerous lifeforms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, mycoplasma, and others that are inadvertently introduced into biological systems. They present significant problems to the stability of cell cultures and the sterility of manufacturing products.

Effect of iron addition on mAb productivity and oxidative stress in Chinese hamster ovary culture.

Trace metals play a critical role in the development of culture media used for the production of therapeutic proteins. Iron has been shown to enhance the productivity of monoclonal antibodies during Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell culture. However, the redox activity and pro-oxidant behavior of iron may also contribute toward the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).