Search

Dega osteotomy has gained popularity for the acetabular reconstruction of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). A high-level Dega osteotomy combining the typical Dega procedure with an age limit of under 6 years and the higher pelvic cut height of the Salter osteotomy for walking DDH patients aged 6 or younger was advocated in our department. The purpose of this retrospective study is to introduce this modified Dega procedure and report the preliminary clinical and radiological results in DDH patients under 6. From September 2000 to September 2010, a total of 162 patients with 191 dysplastic hips between 1.5 and 6 years old were managed with this high-level Dega osteotomy. From each patient’s record, clinical status was retrospectively assessed using modified McKay criteria; radiological evaluations were assessed according to the modified Severin classification, the mean acetabular index (AI), Sharp angle and center-edge (CE) angle. Any occurrence of complications was recorded postoperatively. The average age at surgery was 3.6 years (range 1.5 to 6.0), mean duration of follow-up 11.3 years (range 5.0 to 16.9). The latest follow-up fineness (favorable and good) rate in clinical and radiological evaluations was 92.7 % and 91.1 % respectively. There was a marked trend toward normalization of radiographic indices during the follow-up period: the mean AI changed from 38.0° to 20.8°, the mean Sharp’s angle decreased from 59.9° to 39.2°, and the mean CE angle increased from −10.7° to 29.4°, preoperatively and at the latest follow-up respectively. No major complications were recorded during follow-up. The high osteotomy cut Dega procedure for patients between 1.5 and 6 years of age was found to be sufficient for improving clinical and radiographic outcomes and inducing little morbidity and few complications for late-detected pediatric walking DDH patients. Die Osteotomie nach Dega zur Acetabulumrekonstruktion bei entwicklungsbedingter Dysplasie der Hüfte („developmental dysplasia of the hip“, DDH) gewinnt an Zuspruch. Eine Dega-Osteotomie vom hohen Typ, bei der das typische Vorgehen nach Dega mit einer Altersgrenze unter 6 Jahren und einer Beckeninzisionshöhe wie bei der Salter-Osteotomie für DDH-Patienten im Alter von 6 Jahren oder weniger, die bereits laufen konnten, kombiniert wird, wurde in der Klinik der Autoren befürwortet. Ziel der vorliegenden retrospektiven Studie war es, dieses modifizierte Vorgehen nach Dega einzuführen und über vorläufige klinische und radiologische Ergebnisse bei DDH-Patienten unter 6 Jahren zu berichten. Von September 2000 bis September 2010 wurde bei insgesamt 162 Patienten zwischen 1,5 und 6 Jahren mit 191 dysplastischen Hüften diese Dega-Osteotomie vom hohen Typ durchgeführt. Retrospektiv wurde aus den einzelnen Krankenakten der klinische Zustand jedes Patienten anhand der modifizierten McKay-Kriterien ermittelt; eine radiologische Beurteilung erfolgte in Bezug auf die modifizierte Severin-Klassifikation, den mittleren acetabulären Index (AI), den Acetabulumwinkel nach Sharp und den Zentrum-Ecken(CE)-Winkel. Auch das postoperative Auftreten von Komplikationen wurde dokumentiert. Das Durchschnittsalter bei der Operation betrug 3,6 Jahre (Spannbreite: 1,5–6,0), die mittlere Dauer der Nachbeobachtung 11,3 Jahre (Spannbreite: 5,0–16,9). Die aktuellsten Erfolgsraten aus den Nachbeobachtungsdaten bezüglich der klinischen und radiologischen Beurteilung betrugen 92,7 % bzw. 91,1 %. Es bestand eine deutliche Tendenz zur Normalisierung der radiologischen Indizes während der Nachbeobachtungsphase: der mittlere AI änderte sich von 38,0° zu 20,8°, der mittlere Winkel nach Sharp nahm von 59,9° auf 39,2° ab, und der mittlere CE-Winkel stieg von −10,7° auf 29,4°, jeweils präoperativ und bei der letzten Nachuntersuchung. Es wurden keine schweren Komplikationen während der Nachbeobachtungsphase angegeben. Es stellte sich heraus, dass sich bei Patienten zwischen 1,5 und 6 Jahren mit der Dega-Osteotomie vom hohen Typ die klinischen und radiologischen Ergebnisse verbessern ließen und dieses Verfahren bei den bereits gehfähigen kindlichen Patienten mit spät erkannter DHH zu einer nur geringen Morbidität sowie lediglich wenigen Komplikationen führte.

The methods currently used for the design of reinforced earth walls with quasiinextensible metallic reinforcements are essentially based either upon the limit stress analysis concept or empirical relationships derived from observations on full scale structures. The development of an adequate working stress design method for these structures requires a fundamental understanding of the reinforcement effect on the loaddeformation behavior of the soil and a rational, yet relatively simple, load transfer model to simulate the soilreinforcement interaction. Furthermore, the response of the compositereinforced soil material to loading is highly dependent upon the initial state of stress and strain in the soil, and therefore the construction process and soil compaction can significantly affect the structure behavior under the expected working loads. A strain compatibility design approach which is fundamentally based on the analogy between the plane strain shear mechanism which develops along a potential failure surface in the actual structure and the response of the reinforced soil material to direct shearing is presented. The soilreinforcement load transfer model used in this analysis allows for the evaluation of the effect of soil dilatancy and extensibility of the reinforcement on the generated tension forces and on the probable location of the potential failure surface. In order to verify the modeldesign assumptions, numerical simulations of the construction process are compared with atfailure observations on reduced scale laboratory model walls as well as with tension forces measured in reinforcements of both reduced scale model walls and full scale structures.

We describe an ultrasensitive and quantitative immunochromatographic assay to determine the amount of clenbuterol (CLB) in swine urine. In this study, fluorescein isothiocyanate polystyrene fluorescent microspheres were used as probes. A sample preincubation strategy was introduced to this immunochromatographic assay. Results showed that the strategy evidently improved the sensitivity and accuracy of lateral flow assay. The method was completed in 20 min, and a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 0.13 μg liter−1was obtained. The limit of detection of the proposed method to determine CLB in swine urine was 0.01 μg liter−1, which was lower than the limit of detection of immunochromatographic assays without preincubation. Intra- and interday recoveries of spiked swine urine ranged from 85.0 to 107.5%. The relative standard deviation values of the preincubated test strip ranged from 2.7 to 12.5%. Analysis of the CLB in swine urine samples showed that the result obtained from the lateral flow assay is consistent with that obtained from a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Our results suggest that the developed fluorescent microsphere–based immunochromatographic assay may be useful as a rapid screening method to detect CLB quantitatively.

In this paper, two models for diffuse indoor cellular optical wireless communication (OWC) systems with and without a holographic light shaping diffuser (LSD) are presented. For both models, the power distribution, the impulse response of the channels and root mean square (RMS) delay are described and analyzed. We perform a computer simulation to compare the channel characteristics of the typical indoor cellular OWC systems with that employing the holographic LSD. The results show that the system with the holographic LSD provides a more uniform power distribution and a less RMS delay spread for the same divergence angles.

Various morphologies of ZnO nanostructures can be obtained through a novel method, incorporating electrochemical corrosion with three modes: liquid membrane and above and below the water line in partial immersion. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) are employed to characterize their structure. The mechanism of the growth of NRs is proposed as electrochemical corrosion and oriented attachment, which occur in a liquid membrane or partial immersion in a vapor membrane. The evolution of ZnO nanostructures such as nanorods, nanowires, nanopins, and nanodentrites is observed, and the influence of concentration, reaction time, additives, state of substrate, membrane thickness, and solvent on the morphology of ZnO is investigated. Optical properties of ZnO nanostructures are studied by using UV−visible absorption spectra and photoluminescence (PL). Their optical gaps vary from different morphologies. Among the studied samples, short nanorods show the largest optical gap, while big nanorods present the smallest value of optical gap. PL properties demonstrate that peaks of near-band emission and defect-related luminescence are basically in the same position. However, intensities for different morphologies are of different values, and short nanorods exhibit the best near-band emissions.

A study was conducted to investigate the influence of organic acid (citric acid, oxalic acid) and amino acid (histidine) on the desorption of cadmium and lead from artificial contaminated soil in north-east China. Results showed that when the concentration of organic acid and amino acid in desorption solution was relatively low, the presence of organic ligands inhibited the desorption behaviour of Cd. When organic acid and amino acid concentrations were higher (>2mmol/L), the presence of organic acid and amino acid obviously promoted Cd desorption. The increment of citric acid, oxalic acid, and histidine concentration significantly (P<0.01) accelerated the desorption of Pb. The influence of organic acid and amino acid on the desorption behaviour of Cd and Pb followed the same sequence: citric acid>oxalic acid>histidine. This revealed that the organic acids had stronger affinity with heavy metals than that of amino acids. Functional group positions and types were important in determining if an organic acid or an amino acid would complex metals and increase their potential leaching. The results of this work implicated that amendment of organic acid and amino acid would enhance conditionally the bioavailability of heavy metals adsorbed by soils, relying on the type and concentration of organic acid and amino acid in soil solution.

AbstractWe report on an ongoing study on modular Heavy Ion Fusion (HIF) drivers. The modular driver is characterized by ~20 nearly identical induction linacs, each carrying a single high current beam. In this scheme, one of the full size induction linacs can be tested as an “integrated Research Experiment” (IRE). Hence this approach offers significant advantages in terms of driver development path. For beam transport, these modules use solenoids, which are capable of carrying high line charge densities, even at low energies. A new injector concept allows compression of the beam to high line densities right after the source. The final drift compression is performed in a plasma in which the large repulsive space charge effects are neutralized. Finally, the beam is transversely compressed onto the target, using either external solenoids or current-carrying channels (in the assisted pinch mode of beam propagation). We report on progress towards a self-consistent point design from injector to target. Considerations of driver architecture, chamber environment as well as the methodology for meeting target requirements of spot size, pulse shape and symmetry are also described. Finally, some near-term experiments to address the key scientific issues are discussed.

N-acetylaspartate (NAA) in the medial temporal lobe (MTL) and parietal lobe gray matter (GM) is diminished in Alzheimer disease (AD). Because NAA is considered a marker of neuronal integrity, reduced medial temporal and parietal lobe NAA could be an early indication of dementia-related pathology in elderly individuals.

Abstract: Background: The main goals are to investigate the effects of chronic active heavy drinking on N‐acetylaspartate (NAA) and other metabolites throughout the brain and to determine whether they are affected by family history (FH) of alcoholism and long‐term drinking pattern.

Olmesartan medoxomil is a new angiotensin II receptor blocker. In this randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study, the efficacy and safety of olmesartan medoxomil was assessed in 334 patients with moderate to severe essential hypertension. Patients were randomized to receive placebo; 5, 20, or 80 mg olmesartan medoxomil q.d.; or 2.5, 10, or 40 mg olmesartan medoxomil b.i.d. Ambulatory and cuff blood pressure were measured prior to and after 8 weeks of treatment. Treatment with olmesartan medoxomil resulted in a significant placebo‐adjusted reduction of mean 24‐hour ambulatory diastolic blood pressure of 9.6 mm Hg, 12.2 mm Hg, and 10.6 mm Hg in the 5‐, 20‐, and 80‐mg q.d. groups, respectively. Corresponding reductions in mean ambulatory systolic blood pressure were 14.5 mm Hg, 16.5 mm Hg, and 15.4 mm Hg. Similar reductions of diastolic and systolic blood pressure were seen with b.i.d. dosing. The diastolic trough‐to‐peak ratios of the q.d. doses of olmesartan medoxomil ranged from 57%–70%, indicating 24‐hour effectiveness. The safety profile of olmesartan medoxomil was similar to that of placebo. Olmesartan medoxomil appears to be a safe and effective once‐a‐day treatment for hypertension.

The development of a Web site to enable nonmedical health professionals to screen skin potentially malignant skin lesions is described. A nurse assistant and a dermatologist tested the Web site. An electronic clinical form was developed to allow a nurse assistant to send case reports and photographs for remote diagnosis by a dermatologist. The nurse assistant photographed the lesions of 92 patients who presented some kind of dermatological condition. The images were then sent for evaluation by the dermatologist followed by in person examination by the same physician. The diagnoses, which resulted from the examination in person and, in some cases, the biopsy results, were compared with the diagnostic impressions of the nurse assistant and with the diagnostic hypothesis of the dermatologist at a distance. The lesions were classified as either malignant or nonmalignant. Kappa statistics showed a high association between the suspected malignity and nonmalignity of the lesions between the dermatologist (p= 6.01 × 10-9) and the nurse assistant and between the diagnosis at distance and in person (p< 1.0 × 10-14). The Web site allowed a nurse assistant to screen for potentially malignant skin lesions and, thus, proved to be appropriate for a large-scale test.

Kallistatin is a serpin with a unique P1 Phe, which confers an excellent inhibitory specificity toward tissue kallikrein. In this study, we investigated the P3-P2-P1 residues (residues 386-388) of human kallistatin in determining inhibitory specificity toward human tissue kallikrein by site-directed mutagenesis and molecular modeling. Human kallistatin mutants with 19 different amino acid substitutions at each P1, P2, or P3 residue were created and purified to compare their kallikrein binding activity. Complex formation assay showed that P1 Arg, P1 Phe (wild type), P1 Lys, P1 Tyr, P1 Met, and P1 Leu display significant binding activity with tissue kallikrein among the P1 variants. Kinetic analysis showed the inhibitory activities of the P1 mutants toward tissue kallikrein in the order of P1 Arg > P1 Phe > P1 Lys >/= P1 Tyr > P1 Leu >/= P1 Met. P1 Phe displays a better selectivity for human tissue kallikrein than P1 Arg, since P1 Arg also inhibits several other serine proteinases. Heparin distinguishes the inhibitory specificity of kallistatin toward kallikrein versus chymotrypsin. For the P2 and P3 variants, the mutants with hydrophobic and bulky amino acids at P2 and basic amino acids at P3 display better binding activity with tissue kallikrein. The inhibitory activities of these mutants toward tissue kallikrein are in the order of P2 Phe (wild type) > P2 Leu > P2 Trp > P2 Met and P3 Arg > P3 Lys (wild type). Molecular modeling of the reactive center loop of kallistatin bound to the reactive crevice of tissue kallikrein indicated that the P2 residue required a long and bulky hydrophobic side chain to reach and fill the hydrophobic S2 cleft generated by Tyr(99) and Trp(219) of tissue kallikrein. Basic amino acids at P3 could stabilize complex formation by forming electrostatic interaction with Asp(98J) and hydrogen bond with Gln(174) of tissue kallikrein. Our results indicate that tissue kallikrein is a specific target proteinase for kallistatin.

Abstract.: A fully automated configuration optimization system (ACOS) for two-dimensional structures is proposed. The first stage of this system employs homogenization or material distribution methods to create a grey level image of a structure with minimum compliance. The second stage involves image interpretation that converts the grey level image to a parameterized structural model ready to undergo shape optimization. Several basic geometric shape templates are used to match holes of varied size and shape inside a structure. Two unique shape characteristics are defined and matching formulae that assign an appropriate template to a hole are provided. In the final stage, shape parameters are treated as design variables in a shape optimization that seeks a fine-tuned configuration and ensures satisfaction of all design constraints. Since human-machine interaction is not needed, ACOS increases the efficiency of the integrated topology and shape optimization for configuration designs. Three configuration design examples are provided.

Abstract: Continuous wave (CW) back-scattered sum-frequency generation (SFG) and second harmonic generation (SHG) have been obtained from GaN and SiC. GaN samples were obtained from GaN films grown by molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE), metalorganic chemical-vapor deposition and hydride vapor-phase epitaxy. The SiC samples were obtained from 3C SiC/Si grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), 4H and 6H single crystal SiC substrates. The samples were optically excited with two CW lasers at the red (840 nm) and the infrared (1.0 µm). SHG at 420 nm and 500 nm and SFG at 455 nm were observed. SFG and SHG were verified by measuring their relative intensities against the pumping laser power. The SHG signals from GaN and SiC samples are compared with that from KH2PO4 (KDP).

We have isolated a Drosophila mutant, named pumpless, which is defective in food intake and growth at the larval stage. pumpless larvae can initially feed normally upon hatching. However, during late first instar stage, they fail to pump the food from the pharynx into the esophagus and concurrently begin moving away from the food source. Although pumpless larvae do not feed, they do not show the typical physiologic response of starving animals, such as upregulating genes involved in gluconeogenesis or lipid breakdown. The pumpless gene is expressed specifically in the fat body and encodes a protein with homology to a vertebrate enzyme involved in glycine catabolism. Feeding wild-type larvae high levels of amino acids could phenocopy the feeding and growth defects of pumpless mutants. Our data suggest the existence of an amino acid-dependent signal arising from the fat body that induces cessation of feeding in the larva. This signaling system may also mediate growth transition from larval to the pupal stage during Drosophila development.

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a cardiac hormone which exerts potent natriuretic and vasorelaxant activities. The aim of this study is to investigate potential protective effects of ANP gene delivery in gentamycin-induced nephrotoxicity.

A tissue kallikrein was purified from rat skeletal muscle. Characterization of the enzyme showed that it has alpha-N-tosyl-L-arginine methylesterase activity and releases kinin from purified bovine low-Mr kininogen substrate. The pH optimum (9.0) of its esterase activity and the profile of inhibition by serine-proteinase inhibitors are identical with those of purified RUK (rat urinary kallikrein). Skeletal-muscle kallikrein also behaved identically with urinary kallikrein in a radioimmunoassay using a polyclonal anti-RUK antiserum. On Western-blot analysis, rat muscle kallikrein was recognized by affinity-purified monoclonal anti-kallikrein antibody at a position similar to that of RUK (Mr 38,000). Immunoreactive-kallikrein levels were measured in skeletal muscles which have different fibre types. The soleus, a slow-contracting muscle with high mitochondrial oxidative-enzyme activity, had higher kallikrein content than did the extensor digitorum longus or gastrocnemius, both fast-contracting muscles with low oxidative-enzyme activity. Streptozotocin-induced diabetes reduced muscle weights, but did not alter the level of kallikrein (pg/mg of protein) in skeletal muscle, suggesting that insulin is not a regulator of kallikrein in this tissue. Although the role of kallikrein in skeletal muscle is unknown, its localization and activity in relation to muscle functions and disease can now be studied.

Adult male rabbits were immunized with normal saline (controls), sperm extracts from 2 autoimmune men, seminal plasmas from the same autoimmune men, sperm extract from a fertile nonautoimmune man, and seminal plasma from the same fertile nonautoimmune man. All the sperm donors were free from infections. Rabbits immunized with fertile men's sperm extract and seminal plasma had significantly elevated postimmunization hemagglutinating but not cytotoxic sperm antibodies and reproduced normally. Rabbits immunized with autoimmune men's sperm and seminal plasma antigens developed high titers of cytotoxic and hemagglutinating sperm antibodies in their serum and seminal plasma and their reproduction was markedly reduced. Their sera and seminal plasma reduced motility of sperm from a normal donor. The immune responses were confirmed by electron microscopic immunocyto-chemistry. This technique revealed membrane-bound endogenous IgG on sperm from only those rabbits immunized with sperm extracts from autoimmune men. These antisera reacted against a protein in the 58,000 D range; antisera to fertile man's sperm extract reacted against three proteins with molecular weights of 15,000, 18,400, 25,000, and 44,000 D, as judged by Western blot. Rabbit antisera to seminal plasma from autoimmune men reacted against several proteins; additionally, it detected two proteins with 43,000 and 68,000 molecular weight detected by antiserum to fertile man's seminal plasma. Sperm and seminal plasma antigens from autoimmune men are different in their elicited immunogenic responses from those of fertile nonautoimmune men. These responses are relevant to infertility. Key Words; Sperm antibodies; Seminal plasma antigens; Male infertility; Immunological infertility.