The importance of thyroid hormone signaling during early development: Lessons from the zebrafish model

The zebrafish is an optimal experimental model to study thyroid hormone (TH) involvement in vertebrate development. The use of state-of-the-art zebrafish genetic tools available for the study of the effect of gene silencing, cell fate decisions and cell lineage differentiation have contributed to a more insightful comprehension of molecular, cellular, and tissue-specific TH actions. In contrast to intrauterine development, extrauterine embryogenesis observed in zebrafish has facilitated a more detailed study of the development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. This model has also enabled a more insightful analysis of TH molecular actions upon the organization and function of the brain, the retina, the heart, and the immune system. Consequently, zebrafish has become a trendy model to address paradigms of TH-related functional and biomedical importance. We here compilate the available knowledge regarding zebrafish developmental events for which specific components of TH signaling are essential.

Clinical and genetical diagnosis of a case of Meretoja syndrome and frontotemporal lifting procedure

A 56-year-old male with family background of corneal dystrophy presents with poor subjective vision. Biomicroscopy reveals bilateral reticular stromal dystrophy and facial inspection shows signs of muscle dysfunction, such as eyebrow ptosis, weakness and sagging of the frontal muscles, redundant skin on the forehead and skin hyperelasticity. The patient is referred to Plastic Surgery for evaluation of the frontal muscle involvement, undergoing a frontotemporal lifting procedure. On the other hand, genetics confirms the pathogenic variant c.640G>A (p.Asp214Asn) in the GSN gene, encoding gelsolin, a mutation associated with Finnish-type familial amyloidosis or Meretoja syndrome.

Textural properties, sensory acceptance and fatty acid profile of cooked meat batters employing pumpkin seed paste or soybean oil oleogel as fat replacers

Oleogel from soybean oil and pumpkin seed paste were proposed as full replacements for pork backfat to decrease the saturated fat contents and improve the PUFA/SFA ratio in meat batters. Textural compression, along with shear and penetration tests provided similar information related to meat batter structure according to the type of fat, showing that a tougher but brittle texture was produced. Meat batters with fat replacers were darker and less red, but more yellow due to the incorporation of vegetable oil. Both hue angle (H) and saturation index (S) values increased due to changes in color components, in addition to a higher total color difference compared to the control sample. Soybean oil oleogel increased the PUFA content considerably, maintaining a total fat content close to the control sample. Pumpkin seed paste increased PUFA but also reduced to caloric content due lower fat content. Consumers preferred pumpkin seed paste samples regardless of the color difference and lower fat content. Fat replacers employed to replace pork backfat substantially modified the fatty acid profile and decreased lipid oxidation with no detrimental effects on texture or acceptance.

Review of catastrophic hand diagnosis over 15 years in a tertiary hospital: do we make proper use of the term?

OBJECTIVE

To describe the characteristics of patients diagnosed with 'catastrophic hand' by the plastic surgery department in a tertiary hospital in the period between 2000-2015, analyse the evolution of the use of the term 'catastrophic hand' and conduct a review of the literature with a view to proposing the optimal definition for said expression.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

We conducted a descriptive and retrospective study of patients diagnosed with 'catastrophic hand' who required hospital care by the plastic surgery department of a tertiary hospital in the period between 2000-2015. We conducted a literature review on the use of the term 'catastrophic hand' and we applied the classifications proposed in the publications consulted to our results.

RESULTS

The number of 'catastrophic hand' diagnoses was 133. We observed a downward trend in the use of the term over the years. Applying classifications based on the impossibility of recovery of an acceptable hand (presence of three long fingers and thumb) by reconstructive procedures, only 9 out of 133 patients could be considered to have 'catastrophic hands', constituting 6.7% of the total cases.

DISCUSSION

The term 'catastrophic hand' has different meanings, and this generates ambiguity. The use of a classification based on the possibility of obtaining an acceptable hand diminishes its use and improves the approach for such injuries.

CONCLUSION

We advocate limiting the use of 'catastrophic hand' to cases that meet criteria of 'mutilated hand' and 'metacarpal hand' to avoid indiscriminate use of the term and optimise therapeutic management.