Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

The “Butterfly” Wrap: A Simplified Technique for Consistent Prosthesis Coverage in Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction

Background:. Here, we describe our simple, systematic, reproducible, and effective method for prosthesis coverage in prepectoral breast reconstruction. Methods:. Our Butterfly Wrap is a simple technique, which provides prosthesis coverage with a single sheet of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) in a reproducible and elegant manner. The wrap design creates an anatomic tear-shaped pocket to guide expansion and encourage lower pole fullness, without ADM folding or bunching for optimal incorporation and minimal overlap. Further, it minimizes waste, allowing for smaller sheets of ADM to be used per breast, and can easily be performed in minimal time on the back table while the mastectomies are being performed, as a means of minimizing cost. Results:. Our technique can be applied to effectively cover all shapes and sizes of expanders and implants, both teardrop and round. As a result, the surgeon need only focus on the critical nuances of prosthesis-based prepectoral breast reconstruction, without the anxiety of how to wrap the prosthesis and what size of ADM to use. Conclusions:. The Butterfly Wrap is a simple, systematic, reproducible, and effective method for prosthesis coverage in prepectoral reconstruction

Patient-subjective cosmetic outcomes following the varying stages of tissue expander breast reconstruction: The importance of completion

a b s t r a c t Introduction: Tissue expander breast reconstruction consists of three major surgical steps: placement of the expander after mastectomy, exchange of the expander for an implant, and nipple-areola complex reconstruction. The evolution of patient satisfaction throughout this process has not been evaluated. Here we performed a stratified analysis of patient-subjective cosmetic outcomes during the stages of breast reconstruction. Methods: Twenty-eight consecutive tissue expander-implant reconstructions were performed by the senior author using human acellular dermis. Cosmetic outcomes were assessed after each reconstructive stage using a validated Breast Evaluation Questionnaire consisting of questions related to breast size, shape and firmness in three separate contexts: intimate or sexual activities, leisure or social activities, and professional or job-related activities. Results: Eighteen patients underwent unilateral reconstruction, while 10 underwent bilateral reconstruction. Satisfaction scores were statistically higher following Stage I and II procedures for bilateral reconstructions. For unilateral reconstructions, there was a statistically significant elevation in scores following Stage II. The addition of nipple-areola reconstruction resulted in the highest scores for both unilateral and bilateral reconstructions. These score elevations were significant (p < 0.05) in nearly every measured context for unilateral reconstructions and as such, the significant differences in scores between unilateral and bilateral cohorts after stages I and II were nearly eliminated after completion of the entire reconstructive process. Conclusion: Satisfaction with tissue expander reconstruction is significantly affected by the patients' stage during the reconstructive process. Completion of all three stages, including nipple-areolar complex reconstruction, achieves maximal patient satisfaction. For unilateral reconstructions, completion of the entire reconstructive process, including contralateral symmetry procedures and nipple-areolar complex reconstruction, results in cosmesis scores that are similar to those in bilateral cases

Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles 2018 (MISEV2018): a position statement of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles and update of the MISEV2014 guidelines

The last decade has seen a sharp increase in the number of scientific publications describing physiological and pathological functions of extracellular vesicles (EVs), a collective term covering various subtypes of cell-released, membranous structures, called exosomes, microvesicles, microparticles, ectosomes, oncosomes, apoptotic bodies, and many other names. However, specific issues arise when working with these entities, whose size and amount often make them difficult to obtain as relatively pure preparations, and to characterize properly. The International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) proposed Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles ("MISEV") guidelines for the field in 2014. We now update these "MISEV2014" guidelines based on evolution of the collective knowledge in the last four years. An important point to consider is that ascribing a specific function to EVs in general, or to subtypes of EVs, requires reporting of specific information beyond mere description of function in a crude, potentially contaminated, and heterogeneous preparation. For example, claims that exosomes are endowed with exquisite and specific activities remain difficult to support experimentally, given our still limited knowledge of their specific molecular machineries of biogenesis and release, as compared with other biophysically similar EVs. The MISEV2018 guidelines include tables and outlines of suggested protocols and steps to follow to document specific EV-associated functional activities. Finally, a checklist is provided with summaries of key points