Intermittent Internal Fixation With a Locking Plate to Preserve Epiphyseal Growth Function During Limb-Salvage Surgery in a Child With Osteosarcoma of the Distal Femur: A Case Report

Limb shortening is a problem associated with surgery for osteosarcoma of the lower extremity in adolescents, as the tumors frequently occur near the epiphysis. Herein we report the use of a less invasive stabilization system (LISS) and an intermittent fixation method to preserve the growth function of epiphysis in an 11-year-old patient with an osteosarcoma of the distal femur.The 11-year-old male presented with left knee enlargement and pain for 2 weeks, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and biopsy were consistent with osteosarcoma of the left distal femur. After preoperative chemotherapy, en bloc tumor resection was performed with margins based on MRI findings preserving the epiphyseal growth plate, the tumor cavity was filled with inactivated bone and bone cement, and a LISS was used to stabilize the femur. Aggressive postoperative chemotherapy was given. Approximately 105 weeks after surgery radiography showed that the distal end of the plate had moved superior to the epiphysis along with bone growth. Locking screws were placed in the distal part of the LISS plate to stabilize the re-implanted bone, and external fixation was not needed.The patient was able to walk with the crutches 1 week postoperatively, and bear weight on the extremity 6 weeks postoperatively. At 6 years after surgery, the patient''s height had increased 52 cm, shortening of the affected limb was only 1 cm, and the circumference of the affected limb was 2 cm smaller than that of the contralateral limb. There was no significant discomfort in the affected limb, and there was no gait abnormality. The patient could jump and run, and could participate in sports including basketball and badminton to the same degree as his peers.In summary, the novel method of bone reconstruction and fixation provided good results in a child with an osteosarcoma of the distal femur. This fixation method preserves the osteogenic function of the epiphysis and restored bone integrity simultaneously, and provides good functional recovery.     

Monitoring Hepatocyte Dysfunction and Biliary Complication After Liver Transplantation Using Quantitative Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy

The significance of hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HBS) for hepatic graft function assessment was established mostly on retrospective studies and was not widely recognized due to the lack of quantitative data and variation in accuracy. This prospective study was performed to investigate the effectiveness of quantitative HBS for assessing hepatocyte dysfunction and biliary complication in liver transplant recipients.In 57 recipients who had undergone orthotopic liver transplantation, a total of 67 dynamic ^99mTc-EHIDA scans were performed and quantitative parameters including the hepatocyte extraction fraction (HEF), time to maximum hepatic radioactivity (T_max), and time for peak activity to decrease by 50% (T_1/2) were calculated. The scintigraphic results based on the 3 parameters were compared against the final diagnosis. A ROC curve analysis was carried out to identify the cutoff value of T_max for diagnosis of biliary stricture. Correlation between the parameters of postoperative HBS and conventional biochemical liver function indices were also analyzed.Quantitative ^99mTc-EHIDA HBS had an overall sensitivity of 94.12% (16/17), specificity of 93.33% (42/45), and diagnostic accuracy of 93.55% (58/62) for detecting hepatocyte dysfunction and biliary complication in liver transplant recipients. The recommended cutoff value of T_max for diagnosis of post-transplant biliary stricture was set at 15.75 min with a sensitivity of 100.0% and a specificity of 94.0%. The scintigraphic parameters (HEF, T_max) were statistically significantly associated with the conventional liver function parameters.Quantitative ^99mTc-EHIDA HBS offers a noninvasive imaging modality with high sensitivity and specificity to diagnose hepatocyte dysfunction as well as distinguish between patients with or without biliary stricture following liver transplantation. Furthermore, HEF and T_max values obtained from dynamic HBS show good correlation with conventional liver function parameters.     

Psychosocial mechanisms of a behavioral treatment for urinary incontinence of prostate cancer survivors

Abstract

Purpose: We examined underlying psychosocial processes of a behavioral treatment for urinary incontinence (UI) of prostate cancer survivors.

Design: Secondary analysis of data collected from a clinical trial.

Sample: Two hundred forty-four prostate cancer survivors who participated in a clinical trial of behavioral intervention to UI as intervention or control subjects.

Methods: The participants had a 3-month behavioral intervention or usual care and were followed up for an additional 3?months. They were assessed at baseline, 3, and 6?months. Latent growth curve models were performed to examine trajectories of each study variable and relationships among the variables.

Findings: Increasing self-efficacy and social support were significantly and independently associated with more reduction of urinary leakage frequency over time.

Implications for psychosocial oncology: Providing problem-solving skills and social support, including peer support, are essential for empowering patients to reduce UI.     

microRNA-613调控CDK14来抑制老年胶质瘤患者瘤细胞的增殖和侵袭作用

目的 探讨microRNA-613调控细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶14(CDK14)通路来抑制老年胶质瘤患者瘤细胞增殖和侵袭的机制。方法 购自上海北诺生物科技有限公司的人脑胶质瘤细胞株U251共24株,分为shNC组、shmicroRNA-613组、Vector组、microRNA-613组,每组各6株; Western Blotting法和qRT-PCR法检测敲减microRNA-613和过表达microRNA-613后的人脑胶质瘤细胞株U251中CDK14蛋白表达水平,CCK-8细胞增殖实验、Transwell小室实验验证敲除microRNA-613和过表达microRNA-613后U251细胞的增殖、侵袭能力。结果 人胶质瘤细胞株U251敲减microRNA-613后CDK14蛋白表达增加(P<0.05); 人胶质瘤细胞株U251过表达microRNA-613后CDK14蛋白表达减少(P<0.05); 转染第24、36、48 h microRNA-613组U251细胞增殖率P<0.05); microRNA-613组U251细胞侵袭能力>Vector组,shNC组>shmicroRNA-613组(P<0.05)。结论 microRNA-613可通过调控CDK14信号转导通路来抑制人脑胶质瘤细胞U251增殖、转移。     

Multi-day radon signals with a radioactive decay limb -- occurrence and geophysical significance.

Multi-day signals, generally with duration of 2-10 days, are a prominent temporal variation type of radon (Rn) in geogas in the unsaturated zone. Rare multi-day Rn signals have been found which are characterized by: (a) a declining limb lasting up to 10 days which conforms to the radioactive decay of Rn, (b) recurs at the same location and (c) is recorded in diverse situations-volcanic and seismogenic. It suggested that a Rn blob is injected at a lower level on a steady upward flow of geogas whereby the rise and final fall of the signal are attributed to the edges of the blob while the central Rn-decay segment records the passing of the decaying blob itself. Rn-decay signals are a small subset of multi-day Rn signals which are considered as highly irregular and unusable for the understanding of geophysical processes. In difference, it is concluded that multi-day Rn signals are probably proxies of subtle geodynamic processes at upper crustal levels and are therefore significant for studying such processes.     

Double germline mutations in the RET Proto-oncogene in MEN 2A and MEN 2B kindreds.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare form of thyroid cancer representing about 10% of all thyroid malignancies. It occurs mostly as a sporadic tumor or in association with autosomal dominant inherited cancer syndromes--multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) types 2A and 2B and familial MTC. Germline mutations in exons 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of the RET proto-oncogene are found in most of the familial cases. There are only a few published data reporting multiple germline mutations in the RET proto-oncogene. We have detected double germline mutations in 2 different exons on the same RET allele in two MEN 2 families. In the MEN 2A family, double germline mutation in exons 10 (Cys620Phe) and 13 (Tyr791Phe) was detected. In the MEN 2B family, beside the classical germline mutation in exon 16 (Met918Thr) a second germline mutation in exon 13 (Tyr791Phe) was found. This study revealed that MEN 2 syndromes can also be caused by double germline mutations in the RET proto-oncogene and these families can be added to small worldwide cohort of families with multiple germline mutations.