CHEK2 C1100del mutation associated with papillary renal cell carcinoma type II.

CHEK2 mutations have been noted in bone, brain, breast, colon, lung, thyroid, and prostate cancer. Although now reported in both clear cell and non-clear cell renal cancer, we have not found CHEK2 2 mutations reported in the papillary type II subtype (PRCC). Here, we report a 63-year-old female with a PRCC type II with a concomitant CHEK2 C1100del mutation, who is currently in complete remission three years post tumor resection.

On the use of wavelets to reveal oscillatory patterns in stellar flare emission.

Wavelet analysis is a powerful tool to investigate non-stationary signals such as amplitude modulated sinusoids or single events lasting for a small percentage of the observing time. Wavelet analysis can be used, for example, to reveal oscillations in the light curve of stars during coronal flares. A careful treatment of the background in the wavelet scalogram is necessary to determine robust confidence levels required to distinguish between patterns caused by actual oscillations and noise. This work describes the method using synthetic light curves and investigates the effect of background noise when determining confidence levels in the scalogram. The result of this analysis shows that the wavelet transform is able to reveal oscillatory patterns even when frequency-dependent noise is dominant. However, their significance in the wavelet scalogram may be reduced, depending on the assumed background spectrum. To show the power of wavelet analysis, the light curve of a well-known flaring star is analysed. It shows two oscillations overlapped. The lower-frequency oscillation is not mentioned in previous works in the literature. This result demonstrates the need for correctly characterizing the background noise of the signal.This article is part of the theme issue 'Redundancy rules: the continuous wavelet transform comes of age'.

Fundamental Factors Impacting the Stability of Phosphonate-Derivatized Ruthenium Polypyridyl Sensitizers Adsorbed on Metal Oxide Surfaces.

A series of 18 ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes were synthesized and evaluated under electrochemically oxidative conditions, which generates the Ru(III) oxidation state and mimics the harsh conditions experienced during the kinetically limited regime that can occur in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and dye-sensitized photo-electrosynthesis cells, to further develop fundamental insights into the factors governing molecular sensitizer surface stability in aqueous 0.1 M HClO4. Both desorption and oxidatively induced ligand substitution were observed on planar fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) electrodes, with a dependence on the E1/2 Ru(III/II) redox potential dictating the comparative ratios of the processes. Complexes such as RuP4OMe ( E1/2 = 0.91 vs Ag/AgCl) displayed virtually only desorption, while complexes such as RuPbpz ( E1/2 > 1.62 V vs Ag/AgCl) displayed only chemical decomposition. Comparing isomers of 4,4'- and 5,5'-disubstituted-2,2'-bipyridine ancillary ligands, a dramatic increase in the rate of desorption of the Ru(III) complexes was observed for the 5,5'-ligands. Nanoscopic indium-doped tin oxide thin films (nanoITO) were also sensitized and analyzed with cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, allowing for further distinction of desorption versus ligand-substitution processes. Desorption loss to bulk solution associated with the planar surface of FTO is essentially non-existent on nanoITO, where both desorption and ligand substitution are shut down with RuP4OMe. These results revealed that minimizing time spent in the oxidized form, incorporating electron-donating groups, maximizing hydrophobicity, and minimizing molecular bulk near the adsorbed ligand are critical to optimizing the performance of ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes in dye-sensitized devices.

[Response to presurgical stress in outpatient surgery: effects on lymphocyte populations of psychological treatment to prevent surgical anxiety]. / Respuesta al estrés prequirúrgico en la cirugía sin ingreso: efectos sobre las poblaciones linfocitarias de un procedimiento de psicoprofilaxis quirúrgica.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a psychological stress control intervention on lymphocyte populations in patients preparing for outpatient surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled trial enrolling 74 patients scheduled for major outpatient surgery at the Hospital Universitario de Albacete in Spain. The patients were randomized to a control (n = 37) or experimental group (n = 37). Measurements were recorded at baseline (preoperative visit) and before entering the operating room (just before surgery). The experimental group received treatment in a psychological stress control program consisting of an interview, watching a video, provision of informative literature about the operation and techniques for controlling anxiety. Anxiety was measured with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The General Health Questionnaire (Goldberg) was applied, and lymphocyte populations were assessed (total white cell count; CD3, CD4, CD4RA, CD4RO, CD8, CD56, CD19, and CD56 lymphocyte counts). Values were expressed as means (SD). RESULTS: The group that received psychological stress prevention therapy had significantly lower CD19 (B lymphocyte) cell counts than did the control group just before surgery. No differences were found between the groups for any other variables. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological stress control therapy prevents a decrease in B cell populations before outpatient surgery.

Respuesta al estrés prequirúrgico en la cirugía sin ingreso: efectos sobre las poblaciones linfocitarias de un procedimiento de psicoprofilaxis quirúrgica / Response to presurgical stress in outpatient surgery: effects on lymphocyte populations of psychological treatment to prevent surgical anxiety

OBJETIVO: Estudio prospectivo randomizado para averiguar el efecto de un programa de psicoprofilaxis quirúrgica sobre las poblaciones linfocitarias en sujetos que van a ser tratados con cirugía sin ingreso. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se estudiaron 74 pacientes que iban a ser tratados en la Unidad de Cirugía Mayor Ambulatoria del Hospital Universitario de Albacete. Los pacientes se asignaron de forma aleatoria a un grupo control (n=37) o a un grupo experimental (n= 37). Se consideraron dos momentos: basal (consulta preoperatoria) y antequirófano (antes de comenzar la cirugia). En el grupo experimental se realizó un procedimiento de psicoprofilaxis que consistía en una entrevista, un video y un boletín de información peroperatoria y entrenamiento en habilidades para controlar la ansiedad. Se midieron con pruebas psicométricas los niveles de ansiedad de estado (STAI) y salud general (Goldberg), así como las poblaciones linfocitarias (linfocitos totales, CD 3, CD 4, CD 4RA, CD 4RO, CD 8, CD 56, CD 19 y CD 57). Los valores observados se expresaron como media aritmética y su desviación estándar. RESULTADOS: En el grupo con psicoprofilaxis quirúrgica los niveles de CD 19 (linfocitos B) disminuyeron significativamente menos respecto al control en el antequirófano. No se encontraron diferencias en las demás variables estudiadas entre ambos grupos. CONCLUSIONES: La psicoprofilaxis en pacientes de cirugía ambulatoria previene la disminución de las células B antes de la cirugía

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a psychological stress control intervention on lymphocyte populations in patients preparing for outpatient surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled trial enrolling 74 patients scheduled for major outpatient surgery at the Hospital Universitario de Albacete in Spain. The patients were randomized to a control (n=37) or experimental group (n=37). Measurements were recorded at baseline (preoperative visit) and before entering the operating room (just before surgery). The experimental group received treatment in a psychological stress control program consisting of an interview, watching a video, provision of informative literature about the operation and techniques for controlling anxiety. Anxiety was measured with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The General Health Questionnaire (Goldberg) was applied, and lymphocyte populations were assessed (total white cell count; CD3, CD4, CD4RA, CD4RO, CD8, CD56, CD19, and CD56 lymphocyte counts). Values were expressed as means (SD). RESULTS: The group that received psychological stress prevention therapy had significantly lower CD19 (B lymphocyte) cell counts than did the control group just before surgery. No differences were found between the groups for any other variables. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological stress control therapy prevents a decrease in B cell populations before outpatient surgeryOBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a psychological stress control intervention on lymphocyte populations in patients preparing for outpatient surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective randomized controlled trial enrolling 74 patients scheduled for major outpatient surgery at the Hospital Universitario de Albacete in Spain. The patients were randomized to a control (n=37) or experimental group (n=37). Measurements were recorded at baseline (preoperative visit) and before entering the operating room (just before surgery). The experimental group received treatment in a psychological stress control program consisting of an interview, watching a video, provision of informative literature about the operation and techniques for controlling anxiety. Anxiety was measured with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The General Health Questionnaire (Goldberg) was applied, and lymphocyte populations were assessed (total white cell count; CD3, CD4, CD4RA, CD4RO, CD8, CD56, CD19, and CD56 lymphocyte counts). Values were expressed as means (SD). RESULTS: The group that received psychological stress prevention therapy had significantly lower CD19 (B lymphocyte) cell counts than did the control group just before surgery. No differences were found between the groups for any other variables. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological stress control therapy prevents a decrease in B cell populations before outpatient surgery