Cutaneous Deciduosis: A Rare Cutaneous Lesion Mimicking Malignancy.

Cutaneous deciduosis is an extremely rare condition that clinically presents as a nodular lesion in the skin as a scar or neoplasm. Histologically, this may pose a diagnostic challenge simulating malignant epithelioid neoplasms including sarcoma. Histologically, a nodular growth pattern of large monomorphic epithelioid cells is observed.

Urine Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin and Kidney Injury Molecule-1 to Detect Pediatric Cisplatin-Associated Acute Kidney Injury.

Background: Few studies have described associations between the AKI biomarkers urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) with AKI in cisplatin-treated children. We aimed to describe excretion patterns of urine NGAL and KIM-1 and associations with AKI in children receiving cisplatin.

Methods: Participants (=159) were enrolled between 2013 and 2017 in a prospective cohort study conducted in 12 Canadian pediatric hospitals.

Severe cystic degeneration and intractable seizures in a newborn with molybdenum cofactor deficiency type B.

Newborns with cystic degeneration with or without intractable seizures should be investigated for inborn errors of metabolism, including molybdenum cofactor deficiency (MoCoD). MoCoD may present with non-specific hypoxic ischemic injury in the neonatal period with MRI showing extensive prenatally acquired cystic encephalomalacia involving grey and white matter. Most newborns with MoCoD will present with normal head size and brain appearance at birth and postnatally rapidly develop cystic encephalomalacia.

17β-estradiol vaginal tablet versus conjugated equine estrogen vaginal cream to relieve menopausal atrophic vaginitis.

Objectives: The efficacy and safety of 25-μg 17β-estradiol vaginal tablets (Vagifem) were assessed and compared with 1.25-mg conjugated equine estrogen vaginal cream (Premarin Vaginal Cream) for the relief of menopausal-derived atrophic vaginitis, resulting from estrogen deficiency.

Design: In a multicenter, open-label, randomized, parallel-group study, 159 menopausal women were treated for 24 weeks with either vaginal tablets or vaginal cream.

Approach to the interpretation of unexpected laboratory results arising in the care of patients with inborn errors of metabolism (IEM).

Endocrinologists may encounter abnormal results in routine laboratory tests while caring for patients with inborn errors of metabolism. This article provides a framework for understanding these abnormalities as: a) part of the pathophysiology of the exceptional disease, b) exceptional laboratory errors related to the exceptional disease, or c) routine laboratory errors to which any patient sample is susceptible.

β-Catenin/CBP-Dependent Signaling Regulates TGF-β-Induced Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition of Lens Epithelial Cells.

Purpose: Transforming growth factor-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the main causes of posterior capsular opacification (PCO) or secondary cataract; however, the signaling events involved in TGF-β-induced PCO have not been fully characterized. Here, we focus on examining the role of β-catenin/cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB)-binding protein (CBP) and β-catenin/T-cell factor (TCF)-dependent signaling in regulating cytoskeletal dynamics during TGF-β-induced EMT in lens epithelial explants.

Methods: Rat lens epithelial explants were cultured in medium M199 in the absence of serum.

Can cross-talk occur in human myelinated nerve fibers?

Introduction: The possibility that impulse cross-talk can occur between myelinated human nerve fibers was explored.

Methods: Instances of impulse conduction without decrement were found, and published recordings of compound action potentials of functionally homogeneous fibers were scrutinized.

Results: Both analytical approaches yielded results consistent with cross-talk occurring in some nerves after electrical stimulation.

Does treatment have an impact on incidence and risk factors for autism spectrum disorders in children with infantile spasms?

Objective: Infantile spasms (IS) are a severe form of childhood epilepsy associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in up to 35% of cases. The objective of this post hoc analysis of our randomized control trial was to determine whether rapid diagnosis and treatment of IS could limit the incidence of ASD while identifying risk factors related to ASD outcome.

Methods: Patients with IS were randomized in a standardized diagnostic and treatment protocol.

The effect of patient position during trauma surgery on fat embolism syndrome: An experimental study.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of supine versus lateral position on clinical signs of fat embolism during orthopedic trauma surgery. Dogs served as the current study model, which could be extended and/or serve as a basis for future in vivo studies on humans. It was hypothesized that there would be an effect of position on clinical signs of fat embolism syndrome in a dog model.

Access to specialist gastroenterology care in Canada: the Practice Audit in Gastroenterology (PAGE) Wait Times Program.

Background: Canadian wait time data are available for the treatment of cancer and heart disease, as well as for joint replacement, cataract surgery and diagnostic imaging procedures. Wait times for gastroenterology consultation and procedures have not been studied, although digestive diseases pose a greater economic burden in Canada than cancer or heart disease.

Methods: Specialist physicians completed the practice audit if they provided digestive health care, accepted new patients and recorded referral dates.

McMaster PLUS: a cluster randomized clinical trial of an intervention to accelerate clinical use of evidence-based information from digital libraries.

Background: Physicians have difficulty keeping up with new evidence from medical research.

Methods: We developed the McMaster Premium LiteratUre Service (PLUS), an internet-based addition to an existing digital library, which delivered quality- and relevance-rated medical literature to physicians, matched to their clinical disciplines. We evaluated PLUS in a cluster-randomized trial of 203 participating physicians in Northern Ontario, comparing a Full-Serve version (that included alerts to new articles and a cumulative database of alerts) with a Self-Serve version (that included a passive guide to evidence-based literature).

Irreversible unfolding of the neutral pH form of influenza hemagglutinin demonstrates that it is not in a metastable state.

The thermal denaturation of the proteins of influenza virus has been measured by differential scanning calorimetry in the presence and absence of lipids as a function of scan rate. We have applied theories of irreversible thermodynamics to obtain the activation energy. In the presence of liposomes of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine with the ganglioside, GD(1a), the denaturation temperature of the hemagglutinin protein is lowered.

Thermal denaturation of influenza virus and its relationship to membrane fusion.

The X-31 strain of influenza virus was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), CD and SDS/PAGE analysis as a function of both temperature and pH. A bromelain-treated virus was also studied by these methods. The major transition observed in the intact virus was a result of the denaturation of the haemagglutinin (HA) protein.

Effect of progressive incremental exercise and beta-adrenergic blockade on erythrocyte ion concentrations.

Ion concentrations in whole blood, plasma, and erythrocytes from arterialized venous blood were examined in eight healthy males performing incremental exercise tests to fatigue on an electrically braked cycle ergometer. Exercise was performed during control and low dose (LD) and high dose (HD) of propranolol (beta-blockade). The LD and HD resulted in a significant decrease in peak heart rate compared with control, while peak oxygen uptake during HD was significantly less than either control or LD.

Human neuromuscular adaptations that accompany changes in activity.

Neuromuscular adaptations probably occur at all levels of the motor pathway, following changes in muscular activity. Adaptations have been mostly investigated in muscle fibers after heavy-resistance and endurance training. In strength training the rapid improvement is due to poorly understood neural factors, with muscle fiber hypertrophy occurring rather later; fiber hyperplasia is probably unimportant.

Motor unit populations in healthy and diseased muscles.

The numbers of functioning motor units can be estimated in proximal and distal muscles of human limbs by an electrophysiological technique in which the mean sizes of the motor unit potentials are compared with the maximum M-waves of the same muscles. Although manual methods of estimation have been used successfully in the past, the introduction of automated techniques has brought considerable advantages, including greater objectivity and reduced contamination of the results by "alternation." In healthy subjects, the intrinsic muscles of the hand have approximately 100 motor units each, and the biceps brachii muscle has only slightly more.