Bilateral suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome due to an anomalous transverse scapular ligament

A rare case is reported of a young woman who suffered from suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome (SNES) of the right side and two years later developed the same syndrome on the left. At the first operation an anomalous bifid transverse ligament was found and cut. The combination of pressure effect from the congenital defect together with frequent protraction of the shoulder due to her work as a physical education teacher caused triggering of the SNES. The clinical course, electromyographic findings, and differential diagnosis are reported. Cutting of the anomalous ligament on both sides brought relief from pain, weakness, and atrophy of the shoulder muscles, enabling the patient to return to work.     

Effects of Preemptive Analgesia on Pain and Cytokine Production in the Postoperative Period

Background: The postoperative period is associated with increased production of proinflammatory cytokines, which are known to augment pain sensitivity, among other effects. In a previous study, the authors found that patients treated with patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) exhibited attenuated proinflammatory cytokine response in the postoperative period. In the present study, the authors examined whether preemptive analgesia continued with PCEA may further attenuate the proinflammatory cytokine response and reduce pain sensitivity in the postoperative period. They compared cytokine production in two groups of patients, one receiving PCEA, the other receiving preemptive epidural analgesia continued by PCEA.

Methods: Female patients hospitalized for transabdominal hysterectomy were randomly assigned to one of two pain management techniques: PCEA or preemptive epidural analgesia followed by PCEA (PA + PCEA). Postoperative pain was assessed using the visual analog scale. Blood samples were collected before, 24, 48, and 72 h following surgery. Production of the following cytokines was assessed ex vivo in stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells: interleukin (IL)-1[beta], tumor necrosis factor [alpha], IL-6, IL-1ra, IL-10, and IL-2.

Results: Patients of the PA + PCEA group exhibited lower pain scores throughout the 72 h postoperatively, compared with patients of the PCEA group. In patients of the PA + PCEA group in the postoperative period, production of IL-1[beta], IL-6, IL-1ra, and IL-10 was significantly less elevated, while IL-2 production was significantly less suppressed.     

Secondary traumatization among wives of PTSD and post-concussion casualties: distress, caregiver burden and psychological separation

This study has two aims. First, it assesses the implication of husbands' post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-concussion syndrome (PC) on their wives' sense of burden and emotional distress. The second aim was to examine the implication of the women's separation-individuation on their adjustment. Sixty women participated in study: 20 women married to war veterans diagnosed as suffering to PTSD, 20 women married to war veterans suffering from PC, and 20 women married to healthy controls. Data was collected using self report questionnaires assessing psychiatric symptomatology, caregiver burden and psychological separation-individuation. Results indicate that women from both research groups suffer from higher levels of burden and distress than controls. The level of separation-individuation was found to be correlated to levels of burden and distress. The complex implications of living with a traumatized spouse are discussed.     

Targeted therapy aimed at cancer stem cells: Wilms’ tumor as an example

Wilms’ tumor (WT), a common renal pediatric solid tumor, serves as a model for a malignancy formed by renal precursor cells that have failed to differentiate properly. Here we review recent evidence showing that the tumors’ heterogeneous cell population contains a small fraction of cancer stem cells (CSC) identified by two markers: Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (NCAM1) expression and Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) enzymatic activity. In vivo studies show these CSCs to both self-renew and differentiate to give rise to all tumor components. Similar to other malignancies, the identification of a specific CSC fraction has allowed the examination of a novel targeted therapy, aimed at eradicating the CSC population. The loss of CSCs abolishes the tumor’s ability to sustain and propagate, hence, causing tumor degradation with minimal damage to normal tissue.     

Quantifying continuous-flow dielectrophoretic trapping of cells and micro-particles on micro-electrode array

An interdigitated electrode array embedded within a micro-channel with forced flow is shown to enable dielectrophoretic (DEP) characterization of particles and/or cells based on measurements of their trapping percentage over a continuous frequency range. A simplified model of the trapping percentage, using spatial averaging of the convective and DEP force, linearly correlated it to the effective DEP force (in its positive mode). Thus, the Clausius–Mossotti factor was fitted to the experimental data, yielding effective electrical characteristics of the particles and/or cells. Also, the generated trapping percentage curve response over a continuous range of frequencies facilitates sorting and detection based on differences other than just the cross-over frequencies.     

Selective degradation of cyclin B1 mRNA in rat oocytes by RNA interference (RNAi)

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) keeps oocytes in meiotic arrest, thereby preventing activation of the key regulators of meiosis, p34cdc2/cyclin B1, (known as maturation-promoting factor (MPF)) and Erk 1 and 2, members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family. The activity of MAPK in oocytes is upregulated by Mos. We previously demonstrated that Mos translation in rat oocytes is negatively regulated by a PKA-mediated cAMP action, which inhibits c-mos mRNA polyadenylation and is associated with the suppression of p34 cdc2 kinase. The goal of the present study was to provide definitive evidence that Mos translation is subjected to MPF regulation. In order to inhibit MPF activity, we employed the double-stranded (ds) RNA interference (RNAi) of gene expression. We demonstrated that the introduction of cyclin B1 dsRNA into rat oocytes selectively depleted the corresponding mRNA, further ablating its protein product. These oocytes, which exhibit low MPF activity, failed to elongate the c-mos mRNA poly(A) tail, did not accumulate Mos and were unable to activate MAPK. We conclude that an active MPF in rat oocytes is necessary for c-mos mRNA polyadenylation and Mos translation.     

Maternal psychological growth following childbirth

Although maternal postpartum mental health has been extensively studied, rather little is known regarding the factors that may facilitate psychological growth following childbirth. The present study set forth to examine various pre-birth, birth, and post-birth correlates of overall psychological growth and growth domains in postpartum women, assessed within the first months following childbirth. A sample of 428 women completed self-report measures pertaining to psychological growth, mental health, maternal attachment, and childbirth characteristics. We found that the majority of women reported psychological growth following childbirth, with those experiencing stressors in childbirth reporting the highest levels of appreciation for life. In regression analyses, postpartum factors were significantly associated with overall growth and growth domains, taking into account other factors. The more the childbirth was perceived as central to the mothers’ identity and the better the maternal attachment was to the child, the higher levels of growth. Growth was also negatively related to endorsement of childbirth PTSD. Background factors, such as maternal age, education, and prior mental health, were associated with specific growth domains, although the association was small and there was no association with overall growth. Post-birth factors are important in ensuing psychological growth in the first months following birth. Attention to opportunities of growth following childbirth is warranted in clinical care, in particular following traumatic childbirth.