Papillary thyroid cancer: sporadic or inherited?

Background: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is one of the most common thyroid malignancies, with an increase in incidence rates over the past few decades. Although the exact cause of thyroid cancer in most patients is still unclear, the possibility of genetic predisposition to PTC cannot be overlooked. Here, we report a case study of PTC, in which the family was extensively affected, with each family member diagnosed with either benign or malignant thyroid neoplasms, or functional thyroid disorder.Method: A 57-year-old white female with a past medical history of hypothyroidism, and a significant family history of multiple thyroid cancers, was found to have new onset thyroid nodules during a routine screening ultrasound. Fine needle aspiration revealed suspicious papillary carcinoma (follicular variant). The patient underwent total thyroidectomy.Results: The histology report revealed total colloid nodules in the right lobe with focal calcification, lymphocytic thyroiditis, and two foci of papillary microcarcinoma. The patient subsequently underwent radioactive iodine ablation therapy, along with pilocarpine and thyrogen injection.Conclusion: This case study illustrates the need for awareness of the possibility of genetic predisposition to, as well female preponderance of, familial PTC.Keywords: papillary thyroid cancer, familial, sporadic, genetic associatio

Effect of Horizontal Joint Reinforcement on Shear Behaviour of RC Knee Connections

To investigate seismic performance of beam-column knee joints, four full-scale reinforced concrete beam-column knee joints, which were fabricated to simulate those in as-built RC frame buildings designed to ACI 318-14 and ACI-ASCE 352R-02, were tested under reversed cyclic loading. In the experimental programme, particular emphasis was given to the effect of horizontal reinforcement (in format of inverted U-shape bars) on the shear strength and ductility capacity of knee joints. Test results are compared with those predicted by four seismic design codes, including ACI 318-14, EC8, NZS3101 and GB50010. It is seen that the current design codes of practice cannot accurately predict the shear strength of seismically designed knee joints

RANS and DES Computations for a Wing with Ice Accretion

A computational investigation was performed to assess the effectiveness of Detached Eddy Simulation (DES) as a tool for predicting icing effects. The AVUS code, a public domain flow solver, was employed to compute solutions for an iced wing configuration using DES and steady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equation methodologies. The wing section considered here was a business jet airfoil (GLC305) with a 22.5-minute glaze ice accretion (944-ice shape). The section was extruded to form a rectangular planform. The model was mounted between two walls so no tip effects were considered. The numerical results were validated by comparison with experimental data for the same configuration. The time-averaged DES computations showed some improvement in lift and drag results near stall when compared to steady RANS results. However, comparisons of the flow field details did not show the level of agreement suggested by the integrated quantities. More validation is needed to determine what role DES can play as part of an overall icing effects prediction strategy

HIGH-RESOLUTION MASS SPECTROSCOPY (HRMS)-A REVIEW

High-resolution mass spectroscopy (HRMS) is a valuable method for evaluating complex and time-consuming matrices, such as human breath, and it's employed to determine the structure's precise mass and chemical structure and elemental composition and identify unknowns and a powerful analytical separation technique. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) detects sample matrix to within 0.001 unit of atomic mass. HRMS instrumentation's enhanced resolution allows it to produce fragmentation patterns, which enhances the precision of chemical formula prediction and database comparison for allows for the detection. TOF, Orbitrap, and FT-ICR mass detectors all seem to have a great mass high resolution which may be utilised to achieve maximum data. High-resolution mass spectrometry employs devices able to accurately detecting the density of substances towards the third or fourth significant digit. The Benefit of HR-MS the effectiveness of the approach in the evaluation of complicated mixtures to offer the high peak load required to deliver the accurate molecular weight of the subcomponents. The highest resolution is typically seen in FTICR mass spectrometers. HRMS has transformed how we approach the issue of identifying and monitoring pharmaceutical residues in sophisticated biological materials

A Computational Icing Effects Study for a Three-Dimensional Wing: Comparison with Experimental Data and Investigation of Spanwise Variation

Steady-state solutions of the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations were computed using the Colbalt flow solver for a constant-section, rectangular wing based on an extruded two-dimensional glaze ice shape. The one equation Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model was used. The results were compared with data obtained from a recent wind tunnel test. Computed results indicate that the steady RANS solutions do not accurately capture the recirculating region downstream of the ice accretion, even after a mesh refinement. The resulting predicted reattachment is farther downstream than indicated by the experimental data. Additionally, the solutions computed on a relatively coarse baseline mesh had detailed flow characteristics that were different from those computed on the refined mesh or the experimental data. Steady RANS solutions were also computed to investigate the effects of spanwise variation in the ice shape. The spanwise variation was obtained via a bleeding function that merged the ice shape with the clean wing using a sinusoidal spanwise variation. For these configurations, the results predicted for the extruded shape provided conservative estimates for the performance degradation of the wing. Additionally, the spanwise variation in the ice shape and the resulting differences in the flow fields did not significantly change the location of the primary reattachment

Do poor responders have poor perinatal outcomes? A retrospective analysis of 1386 assisted reproductive technology cycles

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether poor responder women have adverse perinatal outcomes compared to normo responders following assisted reproductive technology (ART). Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a university level infertility unit between January 2010 to December 2015. Women undergoing fresh IVF cycles were included. Poor responders (≤3 oocytes) and normo responders (4–15 oocytes) were analyzed. Perinatal outcomes such as preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), early preterm birth (early PTB) and very low birth weight (very LBW) were recorded. Results: A total of 1386 ART cycles were analyzed. Final analysis included 40 and 318 live births in poor and normo responders respectively. The risk of PTB (30.3% vs. 24.8%; OR 1.32, 95% CI: 0.59–2.9), LBW (33.3% vs. 20.1%; OR 1.99, 95% CI 0.90–4.4), early PTB (3% vs. 2.2%; OR 1.40, 95% CI 0.16–12.4) and very LBW (3% vs. 1.8%: OR 1.72, 95% CI 0.19–15.9) were not significantly different between poor and normo responders. The subgroup analysis within poor responders did not show any significant difference in perinatal outcomes in women aged less and more than 35 years. Conclusion: The current study findings suggest no increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in poor responders compared to normo responders following ART. These findings need to be further validated by larger studies. Keywords: Poor responder, Normo responder, Perinatal outcome

Compositional characterisation of metallurgical grade silicon and porous silicon nanosponge particles

Porous silicon is generally achieved through electro-chemical etching or chemical etching of bulk silicon in hydrofluoric acid based solutions. The work presented here explores the effect of a chemical etching process on a metallurgical grade silicon powder. It is found that the metallurgical grade silicon particles contain surface bound impurities that induce a porous structure formation upon reaction with the chemical etchant applied. The correlation between the resultant porous structure formed due to the material composition is examined in detail. The elemental composition is determined using a combination of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy. The porous structure is analysed using Transmission Electron Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Three samples of the silicon particles analysed for this study include an un-etched bulk silicon powder sample and two samples of chemically etched powder. Pore formation within the particles is found to be dependent on the presence, dispersion, and local concentration of surface bound impurities within the starting powder

Amyloidosis and 30-Day Outcomes Among Patients With Heart Failure: A Nationwide Readmissions Database Study.

BackgroundThe burden of amyloidosis among hospitalized patients is increasing over time. However, amyloidosis remains an underdiagnosed cause of heart failure (HF) hospitalization among older adults.ObjectivesWe investigated the prevalence and prognostic implications of amyloidosis among patients hospitalized with HF.MethodsAll hospitalizations for primary diagnosis of HF between January 1, 2010, and August 31, 2015, identified in the Nationwide Readmissions Database were categorized into those with and without a secondary diagnosis of amyloidosis. HF hospitalizations with amyloidosis were then matched in a 3:1 fashion to HF hospitalizations without amyloidosis using the year of admission, discharge quarter, age, sex, and Charlson comorbidity index. Primary outcomes were inpatient mortality and 30-day readmission. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the association between HF with amyloidosis and clinical outcomes.ResultsOf 1,593,360 HF hospitalizations that met inclusion criteria, 2,846 (0.18%) had HF with a secondary diagnosis of amyloidosis and were matched to 8,515 hospitalizations for HF without amyloidosis. Hospitalizations for HF with amyloidosis were associated with higher prevalence of kidney disease (56% vs. 45%), malignancy (20% vs. 4%), and higher inpatient mortality (6% vs. 3%) as compared with HF without amyloidosis. In adjusted analyses, HF with amyloidosis was associated with higher odds of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17 to 1.82), 30-day readmission (odds ratio: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.31), and longer mean length of stay (least-squares mean difference: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.80).ConclusionsIn patients hospitalized with decompensated HF, presence of amyloidosis was associated with higher risk of inpatient mortality and 30-day readmission

Reduced Mitochondrial Apoptotic Priming Drives Resistance to BH3 Mimetics in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Bhatt et al. demonstrate that resistance to BCL-2 and MCL-1 antagonists emerges via selection for reduced mitochondrial apoptotic priming. Rapid measurements of drug-induced apoptotic signaling measured by dynamic BH3 profiling identify targeted agents with in vivo efficacy. BCL-2 and MCL-1 antagonist combinations overcome resistance to either single agent. Acquired resistance to BH3 mimetic antagonists of BCL-2 and MCL-1 is an important clinical problem. Using acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of acquired resistance to BCL-2 (venetoclax) and MCL-1 (S63845) antagonists, we identify common principles of resistance and persistent vulnerabilities to overcome resistance. BH3 mimetic resistance is characterized by decreased mitochondrial apoptotic priming as measured by BH3 profiling, both in PDX models and human clinical samples, due to alterations in BCL-2 family proteins that vary among cases, but not to acquired mutations in leukemia genes. BCL-2 inhibition drives sequestered pro-apoptotic proteins to MCL-1 and vice versa, explaining why in vivo combinations of BCL-2 and MCL-1 antagonists are more effective when concurrent rather than sequential. Finally, drug-induced mitochondrial priming measured by dynamic BH3 profiling (DBP) identifies drugs that are persistently active in BH3 mimetic-resistant myeloblasts, including FLT-3 inhibitors and SMAC mimetics