Epilepsy in very preterm infants: neonatal cranial ultrasound reveals a high-risk subcategory

Osteoporotic fractures, and in particular, hip fractures result in significant morbidity and mortality. Low bone mass is the main risk factor of enhanced bone fragility, resulting in an increased risk for hip fracture. Bone density of osteoporotic women with and without hip fractures show a considerable overlap. Therefore, other bone-independent factors also play an important role for the development of hip- and other osteoporotic fractures. One other important factor is falling. In 90% of hip fractures falling was involved [10-15], but only 5% or less of these falls resulted in a subsequent fracture. The view that adequate exercise is beneficial for skeletal health of children and for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in adults is supported primarily by two lines of evidence: longitudinal and cross-sectional trials in children and young adult athletes showing a significant increase of muscle- and bone mass after strenuous (children) or chronic exercise (athletes) as compared to normally active (children) or sedentary control subjects. What are the potential benefits and limits of specific exercise programs with respect to bone mass, prevention of falls and fractures? In this review these questions are discussed and a specific exercise program in osteoporotic patients with fractures is delineated.     

Mechanism of Rab geranylgeranylation: formation of the catalytic ternary complex

Rab proteins are geranylgeranylated on one or two C-terminal cysteines by Rab geranylgeranyl transferase (RabGGTase). The reaction is dependent on a Rab-binding protein, termed Rab escort protein (REP). Here, we studied the role of REP in the geranylgeranylation reaction. We first characterized the interaction between REP and ungeranylgeranylated Rab using analytical ultracentrifugation and a fluorescence-based assay. We measured an equilibrium dissociation constant of 0.2 microM for the formation of a 1:1 REP-Rab complex and showed that this interaction relies mostly on ionic bonds and does not involve the two C-terminal cysteine residues. Second, we show that REP is required for recognition of Rab by RabGGTase and therefore that the REP-Rab complex is the true substrate for RabGGTase. Third, we show that free REP inhibits the geranylgeranylation reaction, suggesting that the complex is recognized by RabGGTase primarily via a REP-binding site. Our data suggest a model whereby REP behaves kinetically as an essential activator of the reaction.     

Distraction osteogenesis for lengthening of the hard palate: Part I. A possible new treatment concept for velopharyngeal incompetence. Experimental study in dogs

Many procedures have been described to correct velopharyngeal incompetence. Significant complications can occur, and the results may not be satisfactory. If the short soft palate has satisfactory muscle function and if it could be moved toward the posterior pharyngeal wall by distraction osteogenesis of the hard palate, an entirely new concept of treatment for velopharyngeal incompetence would be available. The object of the present study was to explore the possibility of osteogenesis occurring in the hard palate in dogs after gradual distraction (callus distraction). Six adult, mix-bred dogs were anesthetized, and the palatal mucosa was elevated. A midpalatal transverse osteotomy and two lateral osteotomies were performed. Tantalum bone markers for cephalometric analysis were placed, and an individually fabricated, orthodontic-like distraction device with an expansion screw in the sagittal direction was inserted. The device was stabilized on the premolars and fixed to the palatal bone with titanium miniscrews. Gradual distraction began after a latency period of 10 to 18 days. The rate of the distraction varied from 0.25 to 0.75 mm per day. The device was left in place for 6 to 8 weeks after expansion to allow for bony consolidation. Assessment was by direct examination, cephalograms, computed tomography, and histology with bone labeling. Impressions of the jaws were taken preoperatively and after device removal to examine plaster cast changes in the dental occlusion. Cephalometric and computed tomographic scan analysis demonstrated a distraction of up to 8 mm. All gaps were filled with de novo osteogenesis. Comparison of the plaster casts revealed no change in the occlusion. At 1 month after distraction, the computed tomographic scan showed the first signs of ossification of the experimental gap from the anterior and posterior bone ends. After 4.5 months ossification was almost complete with a small translucent zone in the middle of the experimental gap. After 7 months ossification was complete.     

Characteristics,Stability, and Release of Peanut Sprout Extracts in Powdered Microcapsules by Spray Drying

This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of powdered microcapsules from peanut sprout extracts prepared by spray drying. The microcapsules were made from medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) as primary coating material and whey protein concentrate (WPC) or maltodextrin (MD) as selected secondary coating materials. The microcapsule studies conducted were microphotograph, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), particle size, moisture contents, sorption, zeta potential, storage stability, and in-vitro study. The surface of microcapsules coated with WPC were rough and smooth, and particle size ranged from 2.86 to 8.59 µm. An FT-IR study revealed that absorption bands at 1,537 and 1,657 cm^?1 of microcapsules can be attributed to the protein amide I and II bands of WPC overlapped by the conjugated C?C. The moisture content was 1.33% in the microcapsules coated with WPC. The moisture sorption increased until 18% at the 90% RH. The yield of peanut sprout extracts from microcapsules was 89.01%. In the in-vitro study, the microcapsules released 2.48 and 6.01% at pH 2.0 and 4.0, respectively, in simulated-gastric fluid, and 61.07 and 89.24% at pH 6.0 and 8.0, respectively, in simulated-intestinal fluid. The preservation rate of the microcapsules dropped down to 60.43% from 89.01% during six months of storage. The stability of peanut sprout extracts in the microcapsules was over 80% at 4 and 20°C during 10-day storage. The zeta-potential of microcapsules was stable with ?30 mV. Based on the data obtained from the present study, the powdered peanut-sprout-extract microcapsules coated with WPC exhibited high stability during storage. Therefore, the powdered microcapsules by spray drying may be useful as a functional ingredient.     

SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and Mouse Coronavirus Inhibit Biofilm Formation by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus

The presence of co-infections or superinfections with bacterial pathogens in COVID-19 patients is associated with poor outcomes, including increased morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 and its components interact with the biofilms generated by commensal bacteria, which may contribute to co-infections. This study employed crystal violet staining and particle-tracking microrheology to characterize the formation of biofilms by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus that commonly cause secondary bacterial pneumonia. Microrheology analyses suggested that these biofilms were inhomogeneous soft solids, consistent with their dynamic characteristics. Biofilm formation by both bacteria was significantly inhibited by co-incubation with recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike S1 subunit and both S1 + S2 subunits, but not with S2 extracellular domain nor nucleocapsid protein. Addition of spike S1 and S2 antibodies to spike protein could partially restore bacterial biofilm production. Furthermore, biofilm formation in vitro was also compromised by live murine hepatitis virus, a related beta-coronavirus. Supporting data from LC-MS-based proteomics of spike–biofilm interactions revealed differential expression of proteins involved in quorum sensing and biofilm maturation, such as the AI-2E family transporter and LuxS, a key enzyme for AI-2 biosynthesis. Our findings suggest that these opportunistic pathogens may egress from biofilms to resume a more virulent planktonic lifestyle during coronavirus infections. The dispersion of pathogens from biofilms may culminate in potentially severe secondary infections with poor prognosis. Further detailed investigations are warranted to establish bacterial biofilms as risk factors for secondary pneumonia in COVID-19 patients.     

Indentation properties of copper leadframe with hard coatings

Hardness and elastic modulus of a typical leadframe material which consists of a Cu alloy substrate with Ni and Pd bi-layer coatings were characterised using Vicker’s micro-hardness and nano-indentation tests. The two different testing methods produced similar results in that ‘composite’ hardness for all coated specimens decreased (except at very low loads in the nano-indentation test) with increasing indentation depth and tended to converge at sufficiently high loads due to the strong influence of the coating/substrate interaction. The hardness values of substrate and Ni and Pd coatings were successfully determined from the ‘composite’ hardness values based on the empirical linear relationship with the inverse of indentation diagonal and the rule of mixtures principle.     

The response of Golgi tendon organs to single motor unit contractions

1. Cross-correlation analysis has been used to quantify the responses of cat soleus tendon organs to repetitive twitch contractions of: (a) different motor units within the muscle, (b) single motor units at different muscle lengths, and (c) single motor units when the pulse-train pattern of stimulation delivered to the motor unit axon was altered. 2. Ib afferents were observed which responded to each of several hundred successive motor unit twitches with identical numbers of spikes and with relatively invariant latencies. 3. The present results show that tendon organs are sensitive to subtle alterations in motor unit twitch wave form and amplitude, and that this sensitivity is reflected in the precise timings of their afferent discharge. 4. Examination of these tendon organ responses indicates that the forces produced by single motor units couples to the receptor capsule are well above threshold. Calculations based on these results, and earlier soleus motor unit and muscle fibre data, suggest that the absolute force threshold for tendon organs may be as little as 4 mg, which is less than the estimated minimum twitch force generated by individual soleus muscle fibres. 5. Considering the number of tendon organs in a muscle, and the likelihood that every motor unit is connected with at least one receptor, the sensitivity of tendon organs ensures that every twitch of every motor unit will be reflected in the population of afferent signals projecting to the spinal cord.     

A new method for evaluation of intracellular inhibition of multiplication or killing by mononuclear phagocytes

A new method for evaluation of the capacity of mononuclear phagocytes to inhibit intracellular microorganisms is described. The system provides a means for assessing this effect of macrophages without concern for multiplication of extracellular organisms, effect of antibiotics, and the potential observer bias which may result from visual evaluation. It involves measurement of amount of [6-3H]UdR incorporated by Toxoplasma gondii. Differences between uptake of [6-3H]UdR by infected and uninfected macrophages can be augmented by cytosine arabinoside as this agent inhibits macrophage DNA synthesis but does not substantially alter DNA synthesis by the test organism, T. gondii.