Predetermining glenoid dimensions using the scapular dimensions

European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology - Variations of morphology of the glenoid cavity have been previously reported. These influence the surgical reconstruction or...     

Potential Function of Granulysin,Other Related Effector Molecules and Lymphocyte Subsets in Patients with TB and HIV/TB Coinfection

Background: Host effector mechanism against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection is dependent on innate immune response by macrophages and neutrophils and the alterations in balanced adaptive immunity. Coordinated release of cytolytic effector molecules from NK cells and effector T cells and the subsequent granule-associated killing of infected cells have been documented; however, their role in clinical tuberculosis (TB) is still controversy.Objective: To investigate whether circulating granulysin and other effector molecules are associated with the number of NK cells, iNKT cells, Vγ9⁺Vδ2⁺ T cells, CD4⁺ T cells and CD8⁺ T cells, and such association influences the clinical outcome of the disease in patients with pulmonary TB and HIV/TB coinfection.Methods: Circulating granulysin, perforin, granzyme-B and IFN-γ levels were determined by ELISA. The isoforms of granulysin were analyzed by Western blot analysis. The effector cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.Results: Circulating granulysin and perforin levels in TB patients were lower than healthy controls, whereas the granulysin levels in HIV/TB coinfection were much higher than in any other groups, TB and HIV with or without receiving HAART, which corresponded to the number of CD8⁺ T cells which kept high, but not with NK cells and other possible cellular sources of granulysin. In addition, the 17kDa, 15kDa and 9kDa isoforms of granulysin were recognized in plasma of HIV/TB coinfection. Increased granulysin and decreased IFN-γ levels in HIV/TB coinfection and TB after completion of anti-TB therapy were observed.Conclusion: The results suggested that the alteration of circulating granulysin has potential function in host immune response against TB and HIV/TB coinfection. This is the first demonstration so far of granulysin in HIV/TB coinfection.     

Environmental surface chemistries and adsorption behaviors of metal cations (Fe3+, Fe2+, Ca2+ and Zn2+) on manganese dioxide-modified green biochar

The facile preparation and modification of low-cost/efficient adsorbents or biochar (CP) derived from the carbonization of palm kernel cake (lignocellulosic residue) has been studied for the selective adsorption of various metal cations, such as Fe³⁺, Fe²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺, from aqueous solution. The CP surface was modified with KMnO₄ (CPMn) and HNO₃ (CPHNO₃) in order to improve the adsorption efficiency. The physicochemical properties of the as-prepared adsorbents were investigated via BET, pH_pzc, FT-IR, Boehm titration, TG-DTG, XRD and SEM-EDS techniques. The surfaces of all adsorbents clearly demonstrated negative charge (pH_pzc > pH of the mixture solution), resulting in a high adsorption capacity for each metal cation. Fe²⁺ was found to be more easily adsorbed on modified CP than the other kinds of metal cations. Synergistic effects between the carboxylic groups and MnO₂ on the surface of CPMn resulted in better performance for metal cation adsorption than was shown by CPHNO₃. The maximum adsorption capacities for Fe³⁺, Fe²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺ using CPMn, which were obtained from a monolayer adsorption process via Langmuir isotherms (R² > 0.99), were 70.67, 68.60, 5.06 and 22.38 mg g⁻¹, respectively. The adsorption behavior and monolayer-physisorption behavior, via a rapid adsorption process as well as single-step intra-particle diffusion, were also verified and supported using Dubinin–Radushkevich, Redlich–Peterson and Toth isotherms, a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Weber–Morris model. Moreover, the thermodynamic results indicated that the adsorption process of metal cations onto the CPMn surface was endothermic and spontaneous in nature. This research is expected to provide a green way for the production of low-cost/efficient adsorbents and to help gain an understanding of the adsorption behavior/process for the selective removal of metal ions from wastewater pollution.

Manganese dioxide-modified green biochar exhibited excellent capacity for adsorption of Fe³⁺, Fe²⁺, Ca²⁺ and/or Zn²⁺.     

Characterization Based on the 56-Kda Type-Specific Antigen Gene of Orientia tsutsugamushi Genotypes Isolated from Leptotrombidium Mites and the Rodent Host Post-Infection

Characterization of the 56-kDa type-specific antigen (TSA) genes of Orientia tsutsugamushi (OT) from three naturally infected, laboratory-reared mite colonies comprising three species (Leptotrombidium deliense [Ld], Leptotrombidium imphalum [Li], and Leptotrombidium chiangraiensis [Lc]) has revealed the presence of single and coexisting OT genotypes found in individual chiggers. The Karp genotype was found in all of the chiggers examined, whereas Gilliam and UT302 genotypes were only observed in combination with the Karp genotype. From analysis of these OT genotypes after transmission from chiggers to mice it was determined that with the Lc and Li mites, the OT genotype composition in the rodent spleens post-infection had not changed and therefore resembled that observed in the feeding chiggers. However, only the Karp genotype was found in rodents after feeding by Ld chiggers carrying Karp and Gilliam genotypes. The current findings reveal a complex association among the host, pathogen, and vector.     

Hypotension,renal failure,and pulmonary complications in leptospirosis

During a recent outbreak of leptospirosis in northeastern Thailand, 148 patients with serologically diagnosed leptospirosis were seen in Loei hospital. The common serotypes were L. pyrogenes, and L. sejroe. Hypotension with a mean arterial pressure less than 70 mmHg upon admission or within 24 h after admission was observed in 94 patients or 64%. 30 patients had normal renal function; 30 patients had prerenal azotemia with mild pulmonary complication in 2; and 34 patients had acute renal failure. 29 patients with acute renal failure had pulmonary complications including pulmonary hemorrhage in 8, pulmonary edema in 3, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in 14 and interstitial pneumonitis in 4. 54 patients had normal blood pressure. In this group 5 patients had acute renal failure; 16 had prerenal azotemia and 33 had normal renal function. Interstitial pneumonitis was noted in one patient with prerenal azotemia. Less renal complication and minimal pulmonary complication were seen in leptospirosis patients with normal blood pressure. The patients with normal renal function had no pulmonary complication. Good association existed between hypotension, renal failure and pulmonary complications.     

Croblongifolin, a new anticancer clerodane from Croton oblongifolius

A new furoclerodane, croblongifolin, together with one known clerodane, crovatin and one known labdane, nidorellol, were isolated from the stem bark of Croton oblongifolius. Structures were established based on spectroscopic and X-ray analysis. Croblongifolin showed a significant cytotoxicity against various human tumor cell lines including HEP-G2, SW620, CHAGO, KATO3 and BT474.     

Natural history of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea in Thai school-age children

In 1999, a survey was carried out in 1,008 Thai children aged 7 years, which found that 85 (8.5%) children were habitual snorers, and 7 (0.69%) children had mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Since the natural history of snoring and untreated mild OSAS is still largely unknown, this study was undertaken in 2002 in the same group of children to determine the natural history of snoring and OSAS. Questionnaires, consisting of questions about snoring, were sent to the parents of the 1,008 children. Polysomnography was performed in 1) the 7 children who had OSAS in the previous survey, and 2) other habitual snorers who had sleep-related symptoms in this survey. Seventy-five percent of the questionnaires were returned. The prevalence of habitual snoring had decreased slightly, from 8.5% in 1999 to 6.9% in 2002. Sixty-five percent of the children who had snored habitually in the previous survey no longer did so, whereas 4.5% of the children who previously never snored or snored sometimes had become habitual snorers. Of the 7 children who had OSAS previously, 5 had persistent snoring, and polysomnographic studies revealed more severe OSAS, with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 1.5-9.2 per hour of sleep. Five children were newly diagnosed with OSAS in this survey, with an AHI of 1.5-7.5. The overall prevalence of OSAS in this survey was 10/755 (1.3%). In conclusion, 65% of children who snored habitually no longer did so when they got older, while 9% of children had developed OSAS. We suggest that regular follow-up in children with habitual snoring may be needed, and additional research is required to determine the indications for polysomnography and neurobehavioral and cardiovascular assessment. We also showed that children with mild OSAS could develop more severe disease if left untreated, suggesting that deferment of treatment may have negative consequences.     

Structural studies of the scrapie prion protein by electron crystallography

Because the insolubility of the scrapie prion protein (PrP(Sc)) has frustrated structural studies by x-ray crystallography or NMR spectroscopy, we used electron crystallography to characterize the structure of two infectious variants of the prion protein. Isomorphous two-dimensional crystals of the N-terminally truncated PrP(Sc) (PrP 27-30) and a miniprion (PrP(Sc)106) were identified by negative stain electron microscopy. Image processing allowed the extraction of limited structural information to 7 A resolution. By comparing projection maps of PrP 27-30 and PrP(Sc)106, we visualized the 36-residue internal deletion of the miniprion and localized the N-linked sugars. The dimensions of the monomer and the locations of the deleted segment and sugars were used as constraints in the construction of models for PrP(Sc). Only models featuring parallel beta-helices as the key element could satisfy the constraints. These low-resolution projection maps and models have implications for understanding prion propagation and the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration.     

Headache in Brain Tumor: A Cross-Sectional Study

SYNOPSIS
Headache is one of the cardinal features of intracranial neoplasm. However, there is little published information on the prevalence and clinical profiles of headache in patients with brain tumor. This cross-sectional study recruited 171 cases of brain tumor. The average age was 39 years (range from 4 to 75 years). The female to male ratio was 1.2:1. The prevalence of headache was 71%. The duration of headache ranged from 3 days to 10 years with an average of 15.7 months. Most prominent headache profiles in this series were intermittent, nocturnal and early morning headache as well as headache upon arising. Most of the patients had mild to moderately severe headache. Headache is more common with tumors below the tentorium cerebelli. It is more prevalent in primary and intracerebral tumor than in metastatic and extracerebral tumor. Headache has lateralizing value, especially in patients with supratentorial lesions who have no obvious increased intracranial pressure.