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BACKGROUND: Epidermoid cysts (ECs) are rare, benign lesions which comprise less than 1 % of all spinal tumors. Calcification of spinal ECs is rare, and EC ossification within the lumbar spine has never been documented. We report the only known congenital lumbar epidermoid tumor with ossification and a literature review of intradural lumbar ECs. METHODS: Studies meeting the following criteria were included: 1) EC as the primary tumor type, 2) intradural location, 3) involvement of the lumbar spinal level, and 4) primary presentation. Studies lacking individual patient data or published in a non-English language were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 172 studies were reviewed and 43 were included in analysis. Of the 83 total patients, 37 (45.1 %) were male and 45 (54.9 %) female, at an average age of 26 years. The L3 and L4 spinal levels were most frequently involved. Acquired etiology was reported in 49 (59.0 %) patients, and 24 (28.9 %) cases were congenital. Multivariate analyses demonstrated trends between decreased age and improved outcome, decreased delay in diagnosis and improved outcome, and increased extent of resection with reduced recurrence. Nine calcified spinal ECs were identified, with no previous report of EC ossification in the lumbar spine. CONCLUSION: We present a case report of the only known ossified epidermoid tumor of the lumbar spine and a comprehensive literature review of 83 patients with intradural lumbar ECs. This review demonstrated trends between reduced age and improved outcome, reduced delay in diagnosis and improved outcome, and increased extent of resection with reduced recurrence.

© 2016 Holger A. Russ et al.Current approaches in human embryonic stem cell (hESC) to pancreatic beta cell differentiation have largely been based on knowledge gained from developmental studies of the epithelial pancreas, while the potential roles of other

IntroductionAcid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3) is expressed in synoviocytes, activated by decreases in pH, and reduces inflammation in animal models of inflammatory arthritis. The purpose of the current study was to characterize potential mechanisms underlying the control of inflammation by ASIC3 in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS).MethodsExperiments were performed in cultured FLS from wild-type (WT) and ASIC3-/- mice, ASIC1-/- mice, and people with rheumatoid arthritis. We assessed the effects of acidic pH with and without interleukin-1β on FLS and the role of ASICs in modulating intracellular calcium [Ca(2+)](i), mitogen activated kinase (MAP kinase) expression, and cell death. [Ca(2+)](i) was assessed by fluorescent calcium imaging, MAP kinases were measured by Western Blots; ASIC, cytokine and protease mRNA expression were measured by quantitative PCR and cell death was measured with a LIVE/DEAD assay.ResultsAcidic pH increased [Ca(2+)](i) and decreased p-ERK expression in WT FLS; these effects were significantly smaller in ASIC3-/- FLS and were prevented by blockade of [Ca(2+)]i. Blockade of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) prevented the pH-induced decreases in p-ERK. In WT FLS, IL-1β increases ASIC3 mRNA, and when combined with acidic pH enhances [Ca(2+)](i), p-ERK, IL-6 and metalloprotienase mRNA, and cell death. Inhibitors of [Ca(2+)](i) and ERK prevented cell death induced by pH 6.0 in combination with IL-1β in WT FLS.ConclusionsDecreased pH activates ASIC3 resulting in increased [Ca(2+)](i), and decreased p-ERK. Under inflammatory conditions, acidic pH results in enhanced [Ca(2+)](i) and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase that leads to cell death. Thus, activation of ASIC3 on FLS by acidic pH from an inflamed joint could limit synovial proliferation resulting in reduced accumulation of inflammatory mediators and subsequent joint damage.

Ground-based surveys of three coal fires and airborne surveys of two of the fires were conducted near Sheridan, Wyoming. The fires occur in natural outcrops and in abandoned mines, all containing Paleocene-age subbituminous coals. Diffuse (carbon dioxide (CO(2)) only) and vent (CO(2), carbon monoxide (CO), methane, hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S), and elemental mercury) emission estimates were made for each of the fires. Additionally, gas samples were collected for volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis and showed a large range in variation between vents. The fires produce locally dangerous levels of CO, CO(2), H(2)S, and benzene, among other gases. At one fire in an abandoned coal mine, trends in gas and tar composition followed a change in topography. Total CO(2) fluxes for the fires from airborne, ground-based, and rate of fire advancement estimates ranged from 0.9 to 780mg/s/m(2) and are comparable to other coal fires worldwide. Samples of tar and coal-fire minerals collected from the mouth of vents provided insight into the behavior and formation of the coal fires.

Between July 18(th) and 24(th) 2010, 26 leading microbial ecology, computation, bioinformatics and statistics researchers came together in Snowbird, Utah (USA) to discuss the challenge of how to best characterize the microbial world using next-generation sequencing technologies. The meeting was entitled "Terabase Metagenomics" and was sponsored by the Institute for Computing in Science (ICiS) summer 2010 workshop program. The aim of the workshop was to explore the fundamental questions relating to microbial ecology that could be addressed using advances in sequencing potential. Technological advances in next-generation sequencing platforms such as the Illumina HiSeq 2000 can generate in excess of 250 billion base pairs of genetic information in 8 days. Thus, the generation of a trillion base pairs of genetic information is becoming a routine matter. The main outcome from this meeting was the birth of a concept and practical approach to exploring microbial life on earth, the Earth Microbiome Project (EMP). Here we briefly describe the highlights of this meeting and provide an overview of the EMP concept and how it can be applied to exploration of the microbiome of each ecosystem on this planet.

This report summarizes the proceedings of the 9th workshop of the Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC), held at the J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, MD, USA. It was the first GSC workshop to have open registration and attracted over 90 participants. This workshop featured sessions that provided overviews of the full range of ongoing GSC projects. It included sessions on Standards in Genomic Sciences, the open access journal of the GSC, building standards for genome annotation, the M5 platform for next-generation collaborative computational infrastructures, building ties with the biodiversity research community and two discussion panels with government and industry participants. Progress was made on all fronts, and major outcomes included the completion of the MIENS specification for publication and the formation of the Biodiversity working group.

Caries management is undergoing an evolution in dental education. This is part of a larger change in thinking focused on the person/patient as well as procedures to bring health to people. This perspective attempts to tell the story of the dental education culture regarding caries management from perspectives of evidence‐based care; caries as a disease of a person, not only a tooth; and the management of high‐risk and low‐risk individuals. Culturally and organizationally, the integration of basic, procedural, behavioral, and demographic perspectives for dental caries has happened at different rates for some decades. The involvement of students, teaching faculty, course directors, and administration is essential in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voice production is a complex process involving the coordination of various anatomical structures and physiologic systems. The Voice Range Profile (VRP) is an established acoustic measure for evaluating voice production that examines minimum and maximum intensity across the frequency range. This pilot study sought to establish a consistent, efficient, and accessible VRP elicitation method. One primary research question was addressed: Does the proposed Short method provide at least as much information as a full, discrete-steps method, which is generally accepted in the literature? In this quasi-repeated measures design, twenty-four singers completed a full VRP based on accepted methods from the literature, and the same participants returned within one to three weeks to complete the proposed Short VRP protocol. The full VRP consisted of steady state productions at every semitone within a participant's range for both minimum and maximum intensities. The Short VRP consisted of steady state productions at every octave and perfect fifth across the semitone range for both minimum and maximum intensities. Additional sampling was completed between points when a 7 dB or greater difference was found between consecutive points. Analysis compared each protocol's average elicitation time differences, average semitone range differences, visual examination of the average VRP graph, and examination of average intensity differences between protocols at specific semitone points. Male and female results were analyzed separately. The proposed Short protocol produced similar or better intensity ranges when compared with the accepted full elicitation method. The Short protocol produced intensities with 95% or greater similarity to the Full Protocol for male maximum intensity curve, female minimum intensity curve, and female maximum intensity curve. When compared with a Full VRP, a Short VRP protocol appears to generate similar minimum and maximum intensity curves allowing for a time-efficient substitute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many researchers have examined the effects of anxiety on second language learning in recent years, the specific sources and effects of language anxiety have not yet been clearly established. Moreover, few studies have specifically examined anxiety from the learner's perspective. Although previous interview and diary studies have pointed to a number of interesting relationships between anxiety and other variables, conclusions have been based on the researchers' personal interpretations of learner statements. The present study examines learners' perceptions of how students' anxiety works together with other variables in influencing language learning. Twenty-one students with varying levels of anxiety were interviewed for this study, a theoretical model was generated, and a sequential order of influence among the major affinities was indicated.

Patients with thrombophilia are underrepresented in studies evaluating outcomes after closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO). Real-world data on long term outcomes in this population are very limited. This study compared outcomes in patients with and without thrombophilia undergoing PFO closure, using data from a large, clinical database linked to population-based databases. This retrospective cohort study included consecutive patients who had a transcatheter PFO closure and had preprocedural thrombophilia screening. Data from a retrospective, clinical registry were linked to population-based administrative databases in Ontario Canada to evaluate outcomes. Outcomes were reported as rates per 100 person-years and compared using Poisson regression. We included 669 patients, with a mean age of 56.4 years, 97.9% of whom underwent PFO closure for a cryptogenic stroke. Thrombophilia was diagnosed among 174 (26.0%), of which 86% had inherited mutations. In-hospital, procedural complications were observed in 3.1% of patients with no difference by thrombophilia status. Similarly, no differences were observed in 30-day emergency department visits and readmissions. Over the median follow-up of 11.6 years, the most common adverse outcome was new-onset atrial fibrillation (1.0 per 100 person-years; 95% CI: 0.8-1.2), followed by recurrent cerebrovascular events (0.8 per 100 person-years; 95% CI: 0.6-1.1) with no differences between the groups (P > 0.05). After PFO closure, no differences were observed in long-term adverse outcomes between patients with and without thrombophilia. Though these patients have been excluded from randomized clinical trials of PFO closure in the past, real-world evidence supports their eligibility for the procedure. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]