Multiscale quantification of morphological heterogeneity with creation of a predictor of longer survival in glioblastoma

Intratumor heterogeneity is a main cause of the dismal prognosis of glioblastoma (GBM). Yet, there remains a lack of a uniform assessment of the degree of heterogeneity. With a multiscale approach, we addressed the hypothesis that intratumor heterogeneity exists on different levels comprising traditional regional analyses, but also innovative methods including computer-assisted analysis of tumor morphology combined with epigenomic data. With this aim, 157 biopsies of 37 patients with therapy-naive IDH-wildtype GBM were analyzed regarding the intratumor variance of protein expression of glial marker GFAP, microglia marker Iba1 and proliferation marker Mib1. Hematoxylin and eosin stained slides were evaluated for tumor vascularization. For the estimation of pixel intensity and nuclear profiling, automated analysis was used. Additionally, DNA methylation profiling was conducted separately for the single biopsies. Scoring systems were established to integrate several parameters into one score for the four examined modalities of heterogeneity (regional, cellular, pixel-level and epigenomic). As a result, we could show that heterogeneity was detected in all four modalities. Furthermore, for the regional, cellular and epigenomic level, we confirmed the results of earlier studies stating that a higher degree of heterogeneity is associated with poorer overall survival. To integrate all modalities into one score, we designed a predictor of longer survival, which showed a highly significant separation regarding the OS. In conclusion, multiscale intratumor heterogeneity exists in glioblastoma and its degree has an impact on overall survival. In future studies, the implementation of a broadly feasible heterogeneity index should be considered.     

A Reproducible Technique for Arthroscopic Acromioclavicular Joint Excision

Arthroscopic acromioclavicular joint excision is a commonly performed but technically demanding procedure. Incomplete excision can leave residual symptoms. We present a simple, reproducible technique ensuring satisfactory excision of the joint.     

Insight towards Nucleation Mechanism and Change in Morphology for Nanostructured Platinum Thin Film Directly Grown on Carbon Substrate via Electrochemical Deposition

Nanocrystalline platinum with different morphologies is synthesized via electrochemical deposition technique. The nucleation mechanism and its structural effect over the electrodeposited Pt on carbon electrodes have been systematically studied. Powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy are employed to study nucleation, oxidation states, and Pt structure growth on a carbon electrode. This study reports significant development of Pt metal nanoparticles with different morphologies such as a sphere, flower, core-flower, and rod-like structure directly fabricated on carbon electrode while tuning the deposition parameters such as current density, time, temperature, pH during the deposition process. The proposed electrochemical route represents a superior fabrication procedure for large-scale electrode fabrication compared to a conventional method for preparing membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cell stacks.     

Cardiac-type total anomalous pulmonary venous return is not benign

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate the association between morphological variation and postsurgical pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis (PPVS) in patients with cardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC).MethodsThis single-center, retrospective study included 168 pediatric patients who underwent surgical repair of cardiac TAPVC from 2013 to 2019 (connection to the coronary sinus [CS], n = 136; connection directly to the right atrium [RA], n = 32). Three-dimensional computed tomography modeling and geometric analysis were performed to investigate the morphological features; their relevance to the PPVS was examined.ResultsThe connection type had no association with PPVS (CS type: 18% vs right atrial type: 19%; P = .89) but there was a higher incidence of PPVS in patients with a single PV orifice than > 1 orifice (P < .001). Confluence-to-total PV area ratio (hazard ratio, 4.78, 95% CI, 1.86-12.32; P = .001) and length of drainage route (hazard ratio, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.14-1.31; P < .001) had a 4- and 1-fold increase in the risk for PPVS in the CS type after adjustment for age and preoperative pulmonary venous obstruction. In the right atrial type, those with anomalous PV return to the RA roof were more likely to develop PPVS than to the posterior wall of the RA (P < .001).ConclusionsThe number of inter-junction PV orifice correlated with PPVS development in cardiac TAPVC. The confluence-to-total PV ratio, length of drainage route, and anomalous PV return to the RA roof are important predictors for PPVS. Morphological subcategorization in this clinical setting can potentially assist in surgical decision-making.     

Effect of contralateral cane use on hip moment impulse in the frontal plane during the stance phase

BackgroundRecent reports have shown that the daily cumulative moment in the frontal plane (i.e., product of hip moment impulse in the frontal plane during the stance phase and mean steps per day) is a risk factor for hip osteoarthritis. This study aimed to clarify the effect of contralateral cane use on hip moment impulse in the frontal plane of the stance limb.MethodsThis study included 15 healthy subjects who walked under four experimental conditions: (1) without a cane and (2–4) contralateral cane use with 10%, 15%, and 20% body weight support (BWS), respectively. To maintain the same walking speed in all conditions, the cadence was set to 80 steps/min, and the step length was fixed. The hip moment impulses in the frontal plane (i.e., area under the hip ab-adduction moment waveform) and peak hip adduction moments in all conditions were calculated.ResultsContralateral cane use significantly decreased the hip moment impulse in the frontal plane and peak hip adduction moment compared to non-cane use. Moreover, the hip moment impulse in the frontal plane and peak hip adduction moment decreased significantly with increased cane BWS. There were no significant differences in walking speed, cadence, and step length between the four conditions.ConclusionContralateral cane use decreases the hip moment impulse in the frontal plane and peak hip adduction moment in the stance limb. These findings may help clarify how to delay the progression of hip osteoarthritis.     

针灸联合关节松动术治疗肩周炎的网状Meta分析＊

目的 运用网状Meta分析方法评价针灸联合关节松动术治疗肩周炎的疗效。方法 运用计算机检索Web of Science、PubMed、Cochrane Library、EMbase、维普（VIP）、中国知网（CNKI）、万方（Wanfang）、中国生物医学文献数据库（CBM），搜寻有关针灸联合关节松动术治疗肩周炎的随机对照试验。所有研究人员均独立纳排文献、提录资料、风险评估，对符合质量标准的RCT研究采用Stata16.0和Review Manager 5.4软件进行分析。结果 共检索出6561篇文献，最终纳入37项研究，涉及10种针灸联合关节松动术方法。总样本量2890例，其中试验组1432例，对照组1458例。网状Meta分析所得结果表明：①在总有效率方面，最好的3种治疗方法为内热针联合组、温针联合组、动筋针联合组；②在降低VAS评分方面，最好的3种治疗方法为内热针联合组、动筋针联合组、针刀联合组。结论 针灸联合关节松动术治疗肩周炎疗效总体优于单独使用，且内热针联合组具有最佳的疗效。     

Embryonic skull development in the gecko,Tarentola annularis (Squamata: Gekkota: Phyllodactylidae)

Tarentola annularis is a climbing gecko with a wide distribution in Africa north of the equator. In the present paper, we describe the development of the osteocranium of this lizard, from the first appearance of the cranial elements up to the point of hatching. This is based on a combination of histology and cleared and stained specimens. This is the first comprehensive account of gekkotan pre-hatching skull development based on a comprehensive series of embryos, rather than a few selected stages. Given that Gekkota is now widely regarded as representing the sister group to other squamates, this account helps to fill a significant gap in the literature. Moreover, as many authors have considered features of the gekkotan skull and skeleton to be indicative of paedomorphosis, it is important to know whether this hypothesis is supported by delays in the onset of cranial ossification. In fact, we found the sequence of cranial bone ossification to be broadly comparable to that of other squamates studied to date, with no significant lags in development.