Search

Background and Purpose: Wrist arthroscopy is used increasingly, but its benefits and harms are unclear. This systematic review aimed to identify all published randomized controlled trials on wrist arthroscopy and synthesize the evidence of the benefits and harms of wrist arthroscopic procedures., Methods: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Embase for randomized controlled trials comparing wrist-arthroscopic surgery with corresponding open surgery, placebo surgery, a non-surgical treatment, or no treatment. We estimated the treatment effect with a random effect meta-analysis using patient reported outcome measure (PROM) as primary outcome where several studies assessed the same intervention., Results: Of 7 included studies, none compared wrist arthroscopic procedures with no treatment or placebo surgery. 3 trials compared arthroscopically assisted reduction with fluoroscopic reduction of intra-articular distal radius fractures. The certainty of evidence was low to very low for all comparisons. The benefit of arthroscopy was clinically unimportant (smaller than what patients may consider meaningful) at all time points. 2 studies compared arthroscopic and open resection of wrist ganglia, finding no significant difference in recurrence rates. 1 study estimated the benefit of arthroscopic joint debridement and irrigation in intra-articular distal radius fractures, showing no clinically relevant benefit. 1 study compared arthroscopic triangular fibrocartilage complex repair with splinting in distal radioulnar joint instability in people with distal radius fractures, finding no evidence of benefits for repair at the long-term follow-up but the study was unblinded, and the estimates imprecise., Conclusion: The current limited evidence from RCTs does not support benefits of wrist arthroscopy compared with open or non-surgical interventions.

Background: Genes involved in epigenetic regulation are central for chromatin structure and gene expression. Specific mutations in these might promote carcinogenesis in several tissue types., Methods: We used exome, whole-genome and Sanger sequencing to detect rare variants shared by seven affected individuals in a striking early-onset multi-cancer family. The only variant that segregated with malignancy resided in a histone demethylase KDM4C. Consequently, we went on to study the epigenetic landscape of the mutation carriers with ATAC, ChIP (chromatin immunoprecipitation) and RNA-sequencing from lymphoblastoid cell lines to identify possible pathogenic effects., Results: A novel variant in KDM4C, encoding a H3K9me3 histone demethylase and transcription regulator, was found to segregate with malignancy in the family. Based on Roadmap Epigenomics Project data, differentially accessible chromatin regions between the variant carriers and controls enrich to normally H3K9me3-marked chromatin. We could not detect a difference in global H3K9 trimethylation levels. However, carriers of the variant seemed to have more trimethylated H3K9 at transcription start sites. Pathway analyses of ChIP-seq and differential gene expression data suggested that genes regulated through KDM4C interaction partner EZH2 and its interaction partner PLZF are aberrantly expressed in mutation carriers., Conclusions: The apparent dysregulation of H3K9 trimethylation and KDM4C-associated genes in lymphoblastoid cells supports the hypothesis that the KDM4C variant is causative of the multi-cancer susceptibility in the family. As the variant is ultrarare, located in the conserved catalytic JmjC domain and predicted pathogenic by the majority of available in silico tools, further studies on the role of KDM4C in cancer predisposition are warranted., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

One in four women suffers from uterine leiomyomas (ULs)-benign tumours of the uterine wall, also known as uterine fibroids-at some point in premenopausal life. ULs can cause excessive bleeding, pain and infertility 1 , and are a common cause of hysterectomy 2 . They emerge through at least three distinct genetic drivers: mutations in MED12 or FH, or genomic rearrangement of HMGA2 3 . Here we created genome-wide datasets, using DNA, RNA, assay for transposase-accessible chromatin (ATAC), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and HiC chromatin immunoprecipitation (HiChIP) sequencing of primary tissues to profoundly understand the genesis of UL. We identified somatic mutations in genes encoding six members of the SRCAP histone-loading complex 4 , and found that germline mutations in the SRCAP members YEATS4 and ZNHIT1 predispose women to UL. Tumours bearing these mutations showed defective deposition of the histone variant H2A.Z. In ULs, H2A.Z occupancy correlated positively with chromatin accessibility and gene expression, and negatively with DNA methylation, but these correlations were weak in tumours bearing SRCAP complex mutations. In these tumours, open chromatin emerged at transcription start sites where H2A.Z was lost, which was associated with upregulation of genes. Furthermore, YEATS4 defects were associated with abnormal upregulation of bivalent embryonic stem cell genes, as previously shown in mice 5 . Our work describes a potential mechanism of tumorigenesis-epigenetic instability caused by deficient H2A.Z deposition-and suggests that ULs arise through an aberrant differentiation program driven by deranged chromatin, emanating from a small number of mutually exclusive driver mutations., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Dissolution of elemental gold in organic solutions is a contemporary approach to lower the environmental burden associated with gold recycling. Herein, we describe fundamental studies on a highly efficient method for the dissolution of elemental Au that is based on DMF solutions containing pyridine-4-thiol (4-PSH) as a reactive ligand and hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. Dissolution of Au proceeds through several elementary steps: isomerization of 4-PSH to pyridine-4-thione (4-PS), coordination with Au 0 , and then oxidation of the Au 0 thione species to Au I simultaneously with oxidation of free pyridine thione to elemental sulfur and further to sulfuric acid. The final dissolution product is a Au I complex bearing two 4-PS ligands and SO 4 2- as a counterion. The ligand is crucial as it assists the oxidation process and stabilizes and solubilizes the formed Au cations., (© 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

This report describes an efficient procedure for the generation and isolation of various thymine and thymidine 5,6-epoxides from the corresponding trans-5,6-bromohydrins by reaction with triethylamine. The quantitative isolation of the epoxides, accomplished by solvent precipitation of triethylamine hydrobromide, enabled their regiospecific ring-opening at C6 position by organometallic nucleophiles. The reaction was amenable to a broad range of alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, and alkynyl organomagnesium, -zinc, -aluminum, or -boron reagents, although the reactivity was strongly affected by the electronic effects of N3 protecting group. Additionally, the reaction featured excellent cis-diastereoselectivity providing access to C6-carbon-functionalized dihydrothymidine cis-alcohols, which are synthetic derivatives of UV-induced DNA lesions, namely, thymidine (6-4) photoproducts.

A non-heme, iron(III)/THA(thymine-1-acetate) catalyst together with H2O2 as an oxidant is efficient in oxidative C-H activation of alkanes. Although having a higher preference for tertiary C-H bonds, the catalyst also oxidizes aliphatic secondary C-H bonds into carbonyl compounds with good to excellent conversions. Based on the site selectivity of the catalyst and our mechanistic studies the reaction proceeds via an Fe-oxo species without long lived carbon centered radicals.

Dimethylamino-(+)-camphorenamine reacted with an equimolar amount of Piers' borane, HB(C6F5)2, to give the corresponding iminium-hydroborate zwitterionic salt. Being in equilibrium with the parent enamine-HB(C6F5)2 N-B pair, this salt was able to split hydrogen heterolytically, hydrogenating the iminium group in the molecule. Detailed studies revealed that the hydrogen splitting in this reaction proceeded through an intermolecular pathway leading to a bornylamine-HB(C6F5)2 adduct. When the starting enamine is present in excess over HB(C6F5)2, the produced bornylamine-HB(C6F5)2 adduct breaks up, eliminating free bornylamine and forming the initial camphorenamine-HB(C6F5)2 pair. This results in hydrogenation of the camphorenamine framework in a catalytic fashion., (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Anaerobically digested and composted sewage sludge (CSS) has been suggested to be a slow-release fertilizer in forestry and an alternative to quick-release inorganic fertilizers. The effects of CSS with or without added carbohydrate on inorganic nitrogen availability and on soil animals were tested in two Norway spruce plantations. Half of the seedlings were individually fertilized with CSS, and the rest were left as controls. Solid sucrose was added to half of the fertilized and untreated seedlings. Soil samples were taken in the autumn in the first and the second year after the treatments. CSS increased soil NH4-N (2100%), the proportion of soil NO3-N, and the N concentration of spruce needles. CSS greatly reduced the abundances of enchytraeids, tardigrades and collembolans, but increased the proportion and abundance of bacterial-feeding nematodes irrespective of carbohydrate addition. A better stabilization method needs to be developed before CSS can be used as a forest fertilizer., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The protonation of the dinuclear phosphinito bridged complex [(PHCy2)Pt(mu-PCy2){kappa(2)P,O-mu-P(O)Cy2}Pt(PHCy2)] (Pt-Pt) (1) by Brønsted acids affords hydrido bridged Pt-Pt species the structure of which depends on the nature and on the amount of the acid used. The addition of 1 equiv of HX (X = Cl, Br, I) gives products of formal protonation of the Pt-Pt bond of formula syn-[(PHCy2)(X)Pt(mu-PCy2)(mu-H)Pt(PHCy2){kappaP-P(O)Cy2}] (Pt-Pt) (5, X = Cl; 6, X = Br; 8, X = I), containing a Pt-X bond and a dangling kappa P-P(O)Cy2 ligand. Uptake of a second equivalent of HX results in the protonation of the P(O)Cy2 ligand with formation of the complexes [(PHCy2)(X)Pt(mu-PCy2)(mu-H)Pt(PHCy2){kappaP-P(OH)Cy2}]X (Pt-Pt) (3, X = Cl; 4, X = Br; 9, X = I). Each step of protonation is reversible, thus reactions of 3, 4, with NaOH give, first, the corresponding neutral complexes 5, 6, and then the parent compound 1. While the complexes 3 and 4 are indefinitely stable, the iodine analogue 9 transforms into anti-[(PHCy2)(I)Pt(mu-PCy2)(mu-H)Pt(PHCy2)(I)] (Pt-Pt) (7) deriving from substitution of an iodo group for the P(OH)Cy2 ligand. Complexes 3 and 4 are isomorphous crystallizing in the triclinic space group P1 and show an intramolecular hydrogen bond and an interaction between the halide counteranion and the POH hydrogen. The occurrence of such an interaction also in solution was ascertained for 3 by (35)Cl NMR. Multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (including (31)P-(1)H HOESY) and density-functional theory calculations indicate that the mechanism of the reaction starts with a prior protonation of the oxygen with formation of an intermediate (12) endowed with a six membered Pt(1)-X...H-O-P-Pt(2) ring that evolves into thermodynamically stable products featuring the hydride ligand bridging the Pt atoms. Energy profiles calculated for the various steps of the reaction between 1 and HCl showed very low barriers for the proton transfer and the subsequent rearrangement to 12, while a barrier of 29 kcal mol(-1) was found for the transformation of 12 into 5.

Road dust forms an important component of airborne particulate matter in urban areas. In many winter cities the use of anti-skid aggregates and studded tires enhance the generation of mineral particles. The abrasion particles dominate the PM10 during springtime when the material deposited in snow is resuspended. This paper summarizes the results from three test series performed in a test facility to assess the factors that affect the generation of abrasion components of road dust. Concentrations, mass size distribution and composition of the particles were studied. Over 90% of the particles were aluminosilicates from either anti-skid or asphalt concrete aggregates. Mineral particles were observed mainly in the PM10 fraction, the fine fraction being 12% and submicron size being 6% of PM10 mass. The PM10 concentrations increased as a function of the amount of anti-skid aggregate dispersed. The use of anti-skid aggregate increased substantially the amount of PM10 originated from the asphalt concrete. It was concluded that anti-skid aggregate grains contribute to pavement wear. The particle size distribution of the anti-skid aggregates had great impact on PM10 emissions which were additionally enhanced by studded tires, modal composition, and texture of anti-skid aggregates. The results emphasize the interaction of tires, anti-skid aggregate, and asphalt concrete pavement in the production of dust emissions. They all must be taken into account when measures to reduce road dust are considered. The winter maintenance and springtime cleaning must be performed properly with methods which are efficient in reducing PM10 dust.

Background: Effects of cooling rates on bud frost hardiness have been studied but there is little information on bud responses to thawing. Since the cell wall pore size has been found to increase with boron (B) deficiency, B deficiency may affect the supercooling ability of buds in winter., Methods: The effects of duration of thawing time and rate of cooling on bud frost hardiness of Norway spruce (Picea abies) were studied in a B fertilization trial in February 2003 and March 2005. Frost hardiness of apical buds was determined by differential thermal analysis (DTA) and visual scoring of damage., Key Results: In 2003, the freezing point of primordial shoots of buds (T(f)), i.e. the low-temperature exotherm (LTE), was, on average, -39 degrees C when buds were thawed for less than 3 h and the T(f) increased to -21 degrees C after 18 h of thawing. During the first 4 h of thawing, the rate of dehardening was 6 degrees C h(-1). In 2005, buds dehardened linearly from -39 degrees C to -35 degrees C at a rate of 0.7 degrees C h(-1). In 2003, different cooling rates of 1-5 degrees C h(-1) had a minor effect on T(f) but in 2005 with slow cooling rates T(f) decreased. In both samplings, at cooling rates of 2 and 1 degrees C h(-1), T(f) was slightly higher in B-fertilized than in non-fertilized trees. By contrast, at very short thawing times in 2003, T(f) was somewhat lower in B-fertilized trees., Conclusions: There was little evidence of reduced frost hardiness in trees with low B status. This study showed that buds deharden rapidly when exposed to above-freezing temperatures in winter, but if cooled again they reharden more slowly. According to this study, rapid dehardening of buds has to be taken into account in assessments of frost hardiness.

Mineral matter is an important component of airborne particles in urban areas. In northern cities of the world, mineral matter dominates PM10 during spring because of enhanced road abrasion caused by the use of antiskid methods, including studded tires and traction sanding. In this study, factors that affect formation of abrasion components of springtime road dust were assessed. Effects of traction sanding and tires on concentrations, mass size distribution, and composition of the particles were studied in a test facility. Lowest particle concentrations were observed in tests without traction sanding. The concentrations increased when traction sand was introduced and continued to increase as a function of the amount of aggregate dispersed. Emissions were additionally affected by type of tire, properties of traction sand aggregate, and driving speed. Aggregates with high fragmentation resistance and coarse grain size distribution had the lowest emissions. Over 90% of PM10 was mineral particles. Mineralogy of the dust and source apportionment showed that they originated from both traction sand and pavement aggregates. The remaining portion was mostly carbonaceous and originated from tires and road bitumen. Mass size distributions were dominated by coarse particles. Contribution of fine and submicron size ranges were approximately 15 and 10% in PM10, respectively.

•  Boron (B) has been found to be phloem mobile in species that translocate polyols, whereas it is almost immobile in other species. The objectives of the present study were to survey B mobility in deciduous trees, and to relate it to the presence of polyols. •  The stable isotope 10 B was applied as a tracer to mature leaves of seedlings, and growing leaves were subsequently harvested for B isotope analysis. •  Extensive B mobility was found in Sorbus aucuparia and Prunus padus, species with high sorbitol content, but also in Ulmus glabra, with only trace amounts of B-complexing polyols. Alnus incana, Fraxinus excelsior, Betula pubescens and Larix sibirica also translocated 10 B into new leaves. Mannitol in Fraxinus and pinitol in Larix probably explain this. A. glutinosa did not remobilize B, although the polyol concentrations were almost identical to A. incana, a closely related species. •  B mobility was not as closely related to the presence of polyols as expected, and it appears that to some degree remobilization occurs in many plant species.

Traffic causes enhanced PM(10) resuspension especially during spring in the US, Japan, Norway, Sweden and Finland, among other countries. The springtime PM(10) consists primarily of mineral matter from tyre-induced paved road surface wear and traction sand. In some countries, the majority of vehicles are equipped with studded tyres to enhance traction, which additionally increases road surface wear. Because the traction sand and the mineral matter from the pavement aggregate can have a similar mineralogical composition, it has been difficult to determine the source of the mineral fraction in the PM(10). In this study, homogenous traction sand and pavement aggregate with different mineralogical compositions were chosen to determine the sources of PM(10) particles by single particle analysis (SEM/EDX). This study was conducted in a test facility, which made it possible to rule out dust contributions from other sources. The ambient PM(10) concentrations were higher when traction sand was used, regardless of whether the tyres were studded or not. Surprisingly, the use of traction sand greatly increased the number of the particles originating from the pavement. It was concluded that sand must contribute to pavement wear. This phenomenon is called the sandpaper effect. An understanding of this is important to reduce harmful effects of springtime road dust in practical winter maintenance of urban roads

We previously reported that violent offenders with paranoid symptoms or whose violent actions had been directed against family members had higher urinary levels of bufotenin than other violent offenders. In the present study, patients were evaluated with the Karolinska Scales of Personality (KSP), and urinary levels of bufotenin were determined by mass spectrometry. In drug-free patients suspiciousness was positively correlated, and socialization was negatively correlated, with urinary bufotenin excretion. These two personality variables were strongly interdependent. In drug users, bufotenin excretion was correlated positively with social desirability and negatively with irritability, but not with suspiciousness. Bufotenin excretion was not found to be associated with violence toward family members in the present study. The results are in keeping with the earlier finding that violent offenders with paranoid personality traits have higher urinary levels of bufotenin than other violent offenders.

Nialamide, an MAO inhibitor, was given per os (PO) to a normal man who volunteered in two separate trials (total intake 300 mg and 1000 mg, respectively), and his bufotenin excretion was followed by consecutive urine samples. In both experiments the excretion rose well above the values measured from the same test subject when not taking nialamide (median 0.089 nmol/mmol creatinine, range 0.002-1.78). At its highest, the excretion was 16.5 nmol/mmol creatinine, and the maximum urinary output was 495 nmoles (56 micrograms) in 24 hr. The levels of bufotenin in plasma required for the excretion of the latter amounts are not far from those that produce psychic symptoms in man.

The N,N-dimethylated derivative of serotonin, bufotenin , is excreted into normal human urine as a free amine. Conjugation of bufotenin is, however, possible because of the phenolic hydroxyl group on the molecule. In the present study the urinary excretion of free and conjugated bufotenin of ten healthy, drug free subjects was examined. Acid as well as enzymatic hydrolysis was used to liberate the amine from its conjugate. Quantification was achieved by isotope dilution mass fragmentography. Of total urinary bufotenin a relatively constant amount, 59.9 - 69.0%, was excreted in conjugated form. The conjugate was tentatively identified as a glucuronide.