Optimization of Lyophilized Hyperacute Serum (HAS) as a Regenerative Therapeutic in Osteoarthritis.

Hyperacute serum (HAS) is a blood derivative product that promotes the proliferation of various cell types and controls inflammation in vitro. The aim of this study is to investigate the regenerative potential of different formulations of HAS, including lyophilized and hyaluronic acid combined versions, to obtain a stable and standardized therapeutic in osteoarthritis (OA), which may be able to overcome the variability limitations of platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Primary human osteoarthritic chondrocytes were used for testing cellular viability and gene expression of OA-related genes. Moreover, a co-culture of human explants of cartilage, bone and synovium under inflammatory conditions was used for investigating the inflammatory control capacities of the different therapeutics. In this study, one formulation of lyophilized HAS achieved the high cell viability rates of liquid HAS and PRP. Gene expression analysis showed that HAS induced higher Col1a1 expression than PRP. Cytokine quantification from supernatant fluids revealed that HAS treatment of inflamed co-cultures significantly reduced levels of IL-5, IL-15, IL-2, TNFα, IL-7 and IL-12. To conclude, lyophilized HAS is a stable and standardized therapeutic with high potential in joint regeneration.

Ectopic papillary thyroid carcinoma within a thyroglossal duct cyst: A case report.

RATIONALE: Ectopic thyroid carcinoma within a thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDCCa) is an extremely rare entity. Thus, there is no unified appropriate therapeutic strategy, and individual approaches are controversial. PATIENTS CONCERNS: We report the case of a 21-year old woman who underwent Sistrunk procedure for a thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC). DIAGNOSES: During histological evaluation of the resected TGDC a papillary thyroid carcinoma was found. INTERVENTIONS: Due to a tumor size of 1cm and proximity to the surgical border, Sistrunk procedure was extended by total thyroidectomy, followed by radioiodine ablation. OUTCOMES: Except of minimal follicular hyperplasia, the histological examination of the resected thyroid gland was unsuspicious. LESSONS: Therapeutic management of TGDCCa is of interdisciplinary debate due to relative infrequence of the disease and consequently lack of unified therapeutic guidelines. We suggest a personalized therapeutic approach adjusted to individual risk stratification. In young patients with small tumor size and with confirmation of TGDCCa representing the primary tumor, Sistrunk procedure alone may reflect adequate treatment. In all other cases, total thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation should be evaluated. Overall TGDCCa have an excellent prognosis with a 5-year survival rate of more than 90%.

Preschoolers have better long-term memory for rhyming text than adults.

The dominant view of children's memory is that it is slow to develop and is inferior to adults'. Here we pitted 4-year-old children against adults in a test of verbatim recall of verbal material. Parents read a novel rhyming verse (and an integrated word list) as their child's bedtime story on ten consecutive days. A group of young adults listened to the verse, matching the exposure of children. All participants subsequently performed a free-recall of the verse, verbatim. (Parents and young adults knew they would be tested; children did not.) Four-year-olds significantly outperformed both their parents and the young adults. There were no significant differences in the ability to recall the gist of the verse, nor the integrated word list, allaying concerns about differences in engagement or motivation. Verbatim recall of verse is a skill amenable to practice, and children, we argue, by virtue of the prominence of verse in their culture and their reliance on oral transmission, have honed this skill to exceed adults'.