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Proper connectivity between type I spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) and inner hair cells (IHCs) in the cochlea is necessary for conveying sound information to the brain in mammals. Previous studies have shown that type I SGNs are heterogeneous in form, function and synaptic location on IHCs, but factors controlling their patterns of connectivity are not well understood.During development, cochlear supporting cells and SGNs express Semaphorin-3A (SEMA3A), a known axon guidance factor. Mice homozygous for a point mutation that attenuates normal SEMA3A repulsive activity (Sema3aContrary to the canonical view of SEMA3A as a guidance ligand, our results suggest SEMA3A may regulate SGN excitability in the cochlea, which may influence the morphology and synaptic arrangement of type I SGNs.

Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) is a rapidly growing malignancy with a propensity for extensive local invasion. Multimodal therapy, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, is the standard approach to treatment, but the optimal sequence and combination of these modalities are uncertain. Induction chemotherapy is being increasingly utilized based on recent reports that show better outcomes for patients who respond to chemotherapy and the ability to determine further course of treatment. We present a unique case of a patient with locally advanced SNUC that did not respond to induction chemotherapy and a review of the available literature relating to the management of this rare malignancy.

To analyze clinical outcomes in a series of indeterminate thyroid nodules (ITNs) with repeat fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy and results of genomic classifier.Historical chart review.Tertiary care center.We reviewed FNA samples from subjects with Bethesda III or IV diagnoses from January 2015 to December 2018 at a single institution and selected those with repeat FNA and ThyroSeq testing of the same nodule. Patient demographics, Bethesda classifications, ThyroSeq results, treatment detail, and surgical pathology, when available, were analyzed.Ninety-six patients with cytologic diagnosis of ITN, repeat FNA, and ThyroSeq testing were identified. Following repeat FNA, 55 nodules (57%) remained ITN; 40 (42%) were reclassified as benign; and 1 (1%) was reclassified as suspicious for malignancy. In 31 patients with ThyroSeq analysis accompanying initial and repeat FNA, 26 (84%) had the same result on each, while 5 (16%) tested ThyroSeq positive following an initially negative result (κ = 0.24). Most nodules that were downgraded to Bethesda II on repeat FNA (37/40, 93%) were managed nonsurgically. Patients with ThyroSeq-positive results were treated with surgery more often (25/28, 89%) than patients with ThyroSeq-negative results (11/68, 16%;In this case series, repeat FNA helped patients with ITNs avoid diagnostic surgery through reclassification to benign cytology. The risk of high-risk malignancy in ThyroSeq-positive nodules with repeat indeterminate cytology was low.

All malignant testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) of adult men are preceded by an in situ stage (CIS) of protracted evolution. Theadult CIS is well characterized, but there is debate on the phenotype of infantile CIS, its distinction from delayed maturation of germcells and prognostic potential. A large series of 43 patients with Disorders of Sex Development (DSD) and dysgenetic testes (90%ranging from neonates to 12 years, mean age 4.7 years), was studied by quantifying dysgenetic features, degree of germ cell abnormalities/atypia (GCA), expression of OCT 3/4 (a pluripotency-undifferentiation marker), germ cell ploidy and evolution to CIS andinvasive TGCT. Findings were compared with those of normal testes. The type of gonads present defined three groups of patients:bilateral testes (BT-DSD, n = 21), one testis and one streak gonad (CT-DSD, C for combined, n = 13), and ovarian-testicular combinations(OT-DSD, n = 9). There were 5 boys with infantile CIS, bilateral in 3 (total of 8 infantile CIS) and two patients with adult CIS,bilateral in one (total of 3 adult CIS). Two patients had bilateral seminomas one at 12?17 and the other at 23 years. Histological dysgenesiswas significantly higher in CT-DSD (p < 0.05), that had only 1 CIS. The highest frequency of GCA was in BT-DSD (p < 0.05),which coincided with a total of 11CIS + Seminomas. In all patients, aneuploidy was significantly higher (63%) than diploidy(p < 0.02), and GCA were more frequent in aneuploid than in diploid samples (p < 0.02). All CIS and TGCT were OCT 3/4 positive.Finally, there was a significant association between the triad Aneuploidy + GCA + OCT 3/4 positivity and the incidence of CIS (FisherExact test p < 0.002, relative risk 7.0). The degree of testicular dysgenesis (derived from abnormal organization of Sertoli cells in fetaltesticular cords) is inversely related to the incidence of CIS. Our data demonstrate that the combined use of OCT 3/4 expression,quantification of germ cell abnormalities-atypia and ploidy in dysgenetic testes can satisfactorily identify infantile CIS with high riskof malignant evolution and set it aside from delayed germ cell maturation with lower or nil neoplastic potential. Fil: Chemes, Hector Edgardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas; Argentina Fil: Venara, Marcela Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas; Argentina Fil: del Rey, Graciela Monica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas; Argentina Fil: Arcari, A. J.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutierrez"; Argentina Fil: Musse, Mariana Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas; Argentina Fil: Papazian, R.. Hospital Nacional “Prof. Dr. Alejandro Posadas”; Argentina Fil: Forclaz, V.. Hospital Nacional “Prof. Dr. Alejandro Posadas”; Argentina Fil: Gottlieb, Silvia Elisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas; Argentina

An ultra high-density hybrid integration for micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) mirror chips with several thousand inputs/outputs has been developed. The integration scheme involving flip-chip assembly provides electrical signal to individual mirrors, which is compatible with postprocessing steps of selectively removing the silicon handle and releasing the MEMS mirrors. For the first time, to our knowledge, solder deposition and flip-chip bonding of 3-mum bumps on 5-mum centers of a large array has been demonstrated.

Compact parallel transmitters and receivers with an aggregate capacity of 107 Gb/s are built through hybrid integration of arrays of ten 100-GHz spaced directly modulated lasers, arrays of ten avalanche photodiodes, and high-index contrast silica arrayed waveguide grating multi- and demultiplexers. Unamplified transmission over 75 km of standard single-mode fiber and 155-km amplified links is demonstrated in the C-band, by using a modulation format based on spectral offset filtering and electronic dispersion compensation.

Bell's palsy is defined as an idiopathic paresis or pa­ ralysis of the facial nerve. The name was ascribed to Sir Charles Bell, who in 1821, demonstrated the sep­ aration of the motor and sensory innervation of the face. The incidence ranges from 15 to 40 cases per . 100,000, with an equal distribution between the sexes.' There is no racial predilection and advancing age may be a risk factor, although this remains controversial. The disease involves the right and left nerves in equal proportions and is recurrent in approximately 10% of cases; it occurs bilaterally less than 1% of the time. About 8% of patients report a positive family history of Bell's palsy, with a higher incidence in those with bilateral disease. Because many conditions may mimic idiopathic fa­ cial nerve dysfunction (Table 1), an early diagnosis is essential to guide therapeutic decisions. This article presents current philosophies ofdiagnostic testing and therapy for patients presenting with facial nerve weak­ ness.

A 1296-port MEMS transparent optical crossconnect with 5.1dB/spl plusmn/1.1dB insertion loss at 1550 nm is reported. Measured worst-case optical crosstalk in a fabric was n38 dB and nominal switching rise/fall times were 5 ms. A 2.07 petabit/s switch capacity was verified upon cross-connecting a forty-channel by 40 Gb/s DWDM data stream through a prototype fabric.

The functional and cosmetic outcome of 11 patients who had anterior arch mandibulectomy for stage II–IV oral cavity carcinoma and were reconstructed with AO stainless-steel or titanium plates was retrospectively analyzed. Although the complication rate was high, plate removal was uncommon. Patients were afforded good function and cosmesis. Severity of postoperative infection corresponded to a low preoperative absolute lymphocyte count, which suggests that increased preoperative diet supplementation may decrease the incidence of early infections. Improved mandibular function and esthetics may allow future patients to be offered early reconstruction routinely.

(1991). Armenia: The Survival of a Nation. History: Reviews of New Books: Vol. 19, No. 4, pp. 174-175.

(1997). Empires in Conflict: Armenia and the Great Powers, 1895–1920. History: Reviews of New Books: Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 131-131.

Because parents have a major impact on their preschool children's development, the study of parental attitudes is crucial to understanding substance abuse behavior. This study examined the reliability of an instrument to measure attitudes of parents with preschool children regarding substance use and abuse. The sample consisted of a lower to middle socioeconomic, racially diverse population of 101 parents of preschool children. The Parent Attitude Assessment Instrument (PAAI) measured parents' attitudes toward substance use and abuse, parental role modeling, and substance abuse prevention with preschool children.