We have characterized previously the nuclear matrix protein/scaffold attachment factor (SAFB) as an estrogen receptor corepressor and as a potential tumor suppressor gene in breast cancer. A search of the human genome for other potential SAFB family members revealed that KIAA00138 (now designated as SAFB2) has high homology to SAFB (now designated as SAFB1). SAFB1 and SAFB2 are mapped adjacent to each other on chromosome 19p13.3 and are arranged in a bidirectional divergent configuration (head to head), being separated by a short (<500 bp) GC-rich intergenic region that can function as a bidirectional promoter. SAFB1 and SAFB2 share common functions but also have unique properties. As shown previously for SAFB1, SAFB2 functions as an estrogen receptor corepressor, and its overexpression results in inhibition of proliferation. SAFB1 and SAFB2 interact directly through a C-terminal domain, resulting in additive repression activity. They are coexpressed in a number of tissues, but unlike SAFB1, which is exclusively nuclear, SAFB2 is found in the cytoplasm as well as the nucleus. Consistent with its cytoplasmic localization, we detected an interaction between SAFB2 and vinexin, a protein involved in linking signaling to the cytoskeleton. Our findings suggest that evolutionary duplication of the SAFB gene has allowed it to retain crucial functions, but also to gain novel functions in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus.Scaffold attachment factor B (SAFB, 1 also named HET and HAP in the literature) was originally identified based on its ability to bind to scaffold/matrix attachment regions (1) and as a protein binding to the small heat shock protein hsp27 gene promoter (2). SAFB is a large protein (130 kDa) with a number of putative functional domains. The function of many of these domains is still unclear but can be inferred from the roles of similar domains in other proteins. The N terminus contains an SAF box (3) (also called an SAP domain (4)), which is a homeodomain-like DNA binding motif. This motif is believed to play a role in chromatin organization and specifically in organizing the interaction between nuclear matrix proteins and scaffold/ matrix attachment regions. SAF boxes are found in proteins involved in very diverse processes such as transcription, RNA processing, apoptotic chromatin degradation, and DNA repair (3). Amino acids 409 -484 harbor an RNA recognition motif (RRM), which is often found in mRNA-processing proteins. SAFB can interact with a number of proteins from the RNAprocessing machinery, such as AUF1/hnRNP D, hnRNP A1, htra2-␤1, ASF/SF2, SRp30c, and CLK2 (5-7). Consistent with this, SAFB is able to alter the splice site selection of an E1A minigene (7). Because SAFB was also shown to interact with the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II, it has been suggested to be part of a "transcriptosome" complex, coupling transcription and RNA processing (7). SAFB has a nuclear localization signal (NLS), and using biochemical fractionation experiments, we and others have shown that SAFB is a nuclear protei...

Among athletes, dancers sustain one of the highest rates of injury. Core muscle strength has been proposed as a factor for reducing injury incidence among athletic populations; however, dancers’ core strength and its relation to injury has not been well studied. This study hypothesized that during a pre-semester screening examination collegiate dancers who performed better during core strength assessments would report a lower prevalence of dance related injury. Thirty-six dancers (34 female, 2 male; mean age: 20.8 ± 1.8 years) were recruited from two college-level dance programs. Participants responded to a survey concerning their dance training (mean: 12.8 ± 4.3 years) and injury history. Hip joint passive range of motion testing was performed followed by dynamometer measurements of hip abduction (HAB) and hip external rotation (HER) strength. Dancers also underwent testing of anterior, lateral, and posterior core muscle strength. To assess functional integration of core strength, three pilot screening movements were performed. Thirty-one dancers (86.1%) reported a prior history of at least one dance related injury, and 15 (41.7%) had current injuries (mean: 1.8 ± 1.27 anatomic areas). More than half of the participants (51.4%) demonstrated significant (> 15%) side-to-side variability in HAB strength, and 32.4% demonstrated variability in HER, but neither these nor any of the other measurements of core strength (including both static and dance specific protocols) were significantly associated with current or previous dance injury. Asymmetric hip internal rotation was associated with prior but not current dance related injury, with previously injured dancers demonstrating a 10° difference between right and left limbs. While core strength remains an important component of dance training, this study was unable to show a significant correlation between the results on selected tests and current or prior dance related injuries. This may be due to limitations in study design. However, the authors continue to support medical providers in recommending core strengthening exercises as part of dancers’ overall fitness training to optimize injury prevention.

Dancers frequently experience lower-extremity injuries which require dance activity restriction, if not full “time off” and/or surgery. Recovering dancers are frequently over-eager to return to dance, but engaging in too high an activity level too soon can be detrimental. Currently, there are no formal guidelines for general physicians about advising injured or postoperative dancer-patients about when or how to return to dance activity. Socioeconomic hurdles further prohibit many dancers from seeking rehabilitative services from a dance physical therapist. Therefore, there is a need for physician education about general dance-rehabilitation principles, as well as access to a dance-specific structured rehabilitation program. We present here rehabilitation advice from an expert in dance orthopedic surgery and an example of a “preventive rehabilitation program” for injured or postoperative dancer-patients with lower-extremity injury.

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Thyroid cancer websites are out of date and incomplete, lacking important information sought by patients, particularly surgical information. An accurate, comprehensive, easily available, and patient-oriented thyroid cancer Internet resource is needed for patients.