Urethral diverticulum as a cause for chronic genitourinary pain: a case report

A 53-year-old woman suffering for 20 years from chronic genitourinary pain was seen in our urogynecological unit. Quality of life assessment by King's Health Questionnaire showed a highly negative impact on quality of life. Clinical examination revealed a painful and swollen distal urethra, and a small fistula was seen located 12 mm proximal to the meatus externus. Perineal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple cystic formations bilaterally located in the suburethral and paraurethral regions. A diverticulectomy was performed using the vaginal approach. Twelve months after surgery the woman is completely satisfied and only complaining about slight alguria.     

Thrombosis associated with a large uterine myoma: case report

A case of a 49-year-old woman who presented with a large uterine myoma weighing 5000 g and was affected by unilateral deep vein thrombosis of the left leg and pulmonary embolism is presented. After anticoagulant therapy she successfully underwent laparotomic hyterectomy.     

BOOST: a phase 3 trial of sorafenib vs. best supportive care in first line treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with deteriorated liver function

Aim: Only patients with good liver function {[Child-Pugh (CP)] A class} were eligible for trials testing sorafenib as first-line treatment of hepatocellular car...     

A Low-Cost Wireless Bite Force Measurement Device

Assessing maximum voluntary bite force is important to characterize the functional state of the masticatory system. Due to several factors affecting the estimation of the maximum bite force, a unique solution combining desirable features such as reliability, accuracy, precision, usability, and comfort is not available. The aim of the present study was to develop a low-cost bite force measurement device allowing for subject-specific customization, comfortable bite force expression, and reliable force estimation over time. The device was realized using an inexpensive load cell, two 3D printed ergonomic forks hosting reusable subject-specific silicone molds, a read-out system based on a low-cost microcontroller, and a wireless link to a personal computer. A simple model was used to estimate bite force taking into account individual morphology and device placement in the mouth. Measurement reliability, accuracy, and precision were assessed on a calibration dataset. A validation procedure on healthy participants was performed to assess the repeatability of the measurements over multiple repetitions and sessions. A 2% precision and 2% accuracy were achieved on measurements of forces in the physiological range of adult bite forces. Multiple recordings on healthy participants demonstrated good repeatability (coefficient of variation 11%) with no significant effect of repetition and session. The novel device provides an affordable and reliable solution for assessing maximum bite force that can be easily used to perform clinical evaluations in single sessions or in longitudinal studies.     

Two novel loci,COBL and SLC10A2, for Alzheimer's disease in African Americans

Introduction

African Americans' (AAs) late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) genetic risk profile is incompletely understood. Including clinical covariates in genetic analyses using informed conditioning might improve study power.

Oxidative dehalogenation of trichlorophenol catalyzed by a promiscuous artificial heme-enzyme

The miniaturized metalloenzyme Fe(iii)-mimochrome VI*a (Fe(iii)-MC6*a) acts as an excellent biocatalyst in the H₂O₂-mediated oxidative dehalogenation of the well-known pesticide and biocide 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP). The artificial enzyme can oxidize TCP with a catalytic efficiency (k_cat/K^TCP_m = 150 000 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹) up to 1500-fold higher than the most active natural metalloenzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP). UV-visible and EPR spectroscopies were used to provide indications of the catalytic mechanism. One equivalent of H₂O₂ fully converts Fe(iii)-MC6*a into the oxoferryl-porphyrin radical cation intermediate [(Fe(iv) O)por˙⁺], similarly to peroxidase compound I (Cpd I). Addition of TCP to Cpd I rapidly leads to the formation of the corresponding quinone, while Cpd I decays back to the ferric resting state in the absence of substrate. EPR data suggest a catalytic mechanism involving two consecutive one-electron reactions. All results highlight the value of the miniaturization strategy for the development of chemically stable, highly efficient artificial metalloenzymes as powerful catalysts for the oxidative degradation of toxic pollutants.

The artificial metalloenzyme FeMC6*a is able to perform the H₂O₂-mediated dechlorination of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol with unrivalled catalytic efficiency, highlighting its potential application for the removal of toxic pollutants.     

COVID-19 vaccine-induced lymphadenopathies: incidence,course and imaging features from an ultrasound prospective study

Aimslymphadenopathy can occur after COVID-19 vaccination and when encountered at ultrasound examinations performed for other reasons might pose a diagnostic challenge. Purpose of the study was to evaluate the incidence, course and ultrasound imaging features of vaccine-induced lymphadenopathy.Methods89 healthy volunteers (median age 30, 76 females) were prospectively enrolled. Vaccine-related clinical side effects (e.g., fever, fatigue, palpable or painful lymphadenopathy) were recorded. Participants underwent bilateral axillary, supraclavicular and cervical lymph node stations ultrasound 1–4 weeks after the second dose and then again after 4–12 weeks in those who showed lymphadenopathy at the first ultrasound. B-mode, color-Doppler assessment, and shear-wave elastography (SWE) evaluation were performed. The correlation between lymphadenopathy and vaccine-related side effects was assessed using the Fisher’s exact test.ResultsPost-vaccine lymphadenopathy were found in 69/89 (78%) participants (37 single and 32 multiple lymphadenopathy). Among them, 60 presented vaccine-related side effects, but no statistically significant difference was observed between post-vaccine side effect and lymphadenopathy. Ultrasound features of vaccine-related lymphadenopathy consisted of absence of fatty hilum, round shape and diffuse or asymmetric cortical thickness (median cortical thickness of 5 mm). Vascular signal was mainly found to be increased, localized in both central and peripheral regions. SWE showed a soft cortical consistence in all cases (median value 11 Kpa). At follow-up, lymph-node morphology was completely restored in most cases (54/69, 78%) and in no case lymphadenopathy had worsened.ConclusionA high incidence of vaccine-induced lymphadenopathy was found in a population of healthy subjects, with nearly complete regression within 4–12 weeks.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40477-022-00674-3.