A native antibody-based mobility-shift technique (NAMOS-assay) to determine the stoichiometry of multiprotein complexes

Characterization of multiprotein complexes (MPCs) is an important step toward an integrative view of protein interaction networks and prerequisite for a molecular understanding of how a certain MPC functions. Here, we present a technique utilizing monoclonal subunit-specific antibodies for an electrophoretic immunoshift assay in Blue Native-gels (NAMOS-assay), which allows the determination of the stoichiometry of MPCs. First, we use the B cell antigen receptor as a model MPC whose stoichiometry is known, confirming the HC(2)LC(2)Igalpha/beta(1) stoichiometry. Second, we demonstrate that the digitonin-extracted T cell antigen receptor (TCR) extracted from T cells has a stoichiometry of alphabetaepsilon(2)gammadeltazeta(2). We then show that the NAMOS-assay does not require purified MPCs, since it can determine the stoichiometry of an MPC in cell lysates. The NAMOS-assay is also compatible with use of epitope tags appended to the protein of interest, as e.g. the widely used HA-tag, and anti-epitope antibodies for the assay. Given its general applicability, this method has a wide potential for MPC research.     

HIV-1 prophylactic vaccine comprised of topical DermaVir prime and protein boost elicits cellular immune responses and controls pathogenic R5 SHIV162P3

Topical DNA vaccination (DermaVir) facilitates antigen presentation to naive T cells. DermaVir immunization in mice, using HIV-1 Env and Gag, elicited cellular immune responses. Boosting with HIV-1 gp120 Env and p41 Gag augmented Th1 cytokine levels. Intramuscular DNA administration was less efficient in priming antigen-specific cytokine production and memory T cells. In rhesus macaques, DermaVir immunization induced Gag- and Env-specific Th1 and Th2 cytokines and generation of memory T cells. Boosting of DermaVir-primed serum antibody levels was noted following gp140(SHIV89.6P)/p27(SIV) immunization. Rectal challenge with pathogenic R5-tropic SHIV162P3 resulted in control of plasma viremia (4/5 animals) that was reflected in jejunum, colon and mesenteric lymph nodes. An inverse correlation was found between Gag- and Env-specific central memory T cell responses on the day of challenge and plasma viremia at set point. Overall, the topical DermaVir/protein vaccination yields central memory T cell responses and facilitates control of pathogenic SHIV infection.     

A predictive model of anxiety and depression symptoms after a lower limb amputation

Background

Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU) show high levels of depression and anxiety symptoms. The loss of a limb is undoubtedly a devastating experience and several studies have shown that anxiety and depression symptoms are a common reaction after a lower limb amputation (LLA). However, no study has focused on the immediate emotional reactions to LLA as a personal factor based on the ICF Model.

Questioning the Dietary Acculturation Paradox: A Mixed-Methods Study of the Relationship between Food and Ethnic Identity in a Group of Mexican-American Women

Background

Epidemiological studies have described an “acculturation paradox.” Increased acculturation to the United States is associated with increased consumption of dietary fat and decreased consumption of fruits/vegetables.

Priorities and challenges for a palliative approach to care for rural indigenous populations: A scoping review

We carried out a scoping review to identify key priorities and challenges relevant to rural Indigenous palliative care stated in existing literature. Our scoping review activities followed Arskey and O'Malley's principles for conducting a scoping review. We included peer‐reviewed literature from MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE that included a discussion of Indigenous populations, palliative care, and rural settings, and did not use date limits. The literature search was conducted in April 2016, and the retrieved literature was screened for relevance and appropriateness April 2016–March of 2017. In addition to the academic literature, a scan of the grey literature was conducted in March 2017. The retrieved grey literature was screened for relevance and reviewed by a team from a provincial health authority serving Indigenous peoples to ensure relevance in a rural BC setting. Once reviewed for relevance and appropriateness, we added four reports to supplement our analysis. Ultimately, 44 peer‐reviewed articles and 4 pieces of grey literature met our inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Our analysis revealed several challenges and priorities relevant to rural Indigenous palliative care. Key challenges included: (i) environmental and contextual issues; (ii) institutional barriers; and (iii) interpersonal dynamics challenging client/clinician interactions. Priorities included: (i) family connections throughout the dying process; (ii) building local capacity for palliative care to provide more relevant and culturally appropriate care; and (iii) flexibility and multi‐sectoral partnerships to address the complexity of day‐to‐day needs for patients/families. These findings point to several areas for change and action that can improve the relevance, access and comprehensiveness of palliative care programming for rural Indigenous communities in Canada and elsewhere. Taking into account of the diversity and unique strengths of each Indigenous community will be vital in developing sustainable and meaningful change.     

Distributed health literacy among people living with type 2 diabetes in Portugal: Defining levels of awareness and support

This study embraces a patient‐centred and narrative‐oriented notion of health literacy, exploring how social networks and personal experiences constitute distributed health literacy (DHL) by mapping out health literacy mediators of each individual and how they enable self‐management skills and knowledge of health conditions. Semi‐structured interviews with 26 patients with type 2 diabetes were conducted in a Primary Care Center of Porto (Portugal) from October 2014 to December 2015. Data were collected based on McGill Illness Narrative Interview (MINI). Following the grounded theory, interviews were analysed as case‐based and process‐tracing‐oriented. Three awareness narratives emerged: (i) a narrative of minimisation revealing minimal impact of diabetes in patients’ lives and daily routines, resignation towards “inevitable” consequences of the diagnosis and dependence of a large network of health literacy mediators; (ii) a narrative of empathy, where patients tended to mention readjustments in their lives by following medical recommendations regarding medication without criticism and with few health literacy mediators; (iii) a narrative of disruption, with patients highlighting the huge impact of diabetes on their lives and their individual responsibility and autonomy with respect to the management of diabetes and the search for alternatives to medication, relying on a very restrictive network of mediators. Exploring meanings given to diagnosis, identifying health mediators and analysing the structure of social networks can contribute to understand the distributed nature of health literacy. Assessing DHL can assist health professionals and those providing care in the community in promoting health literacy and providing models for a more patient‐centred health system.     

Prostatic adenocarcinoma with mandibular metastatic lesion: case report

Metastatic lesions of primary tumors, which originate in different parts of the body, comprise almost 1 % of different types of oral cancers. These lesions can affect either bones or soft tissues in the maxillofacial region. Whenever the maxillofacial area is affected, the most common location is in the molar region of the mandible. The clinical presentation of mandibular metastasis follows a clinical pattern characterized by irradiated dental pain in the third molar region. The most frequent sign is parethesia of the area innervated by the mandibular alveolar dental nerve. Differential diagnosis and treatment of these patients can be extremely difficult because there a number of pathologic conditions with similar symptoms and because diagnostic examination can be highly confusing. The aim of this article is to present a case of prostatic adenocarcinoma where the only metastasis was found in the jaw. A literature review will be presented, hoping to contribute to the scarce information regarding this lesion, due to its low frequency and atypical expression of this type of metastasis in terms of etiology, biological behavior and treatment.     

Gingival margin alterations and the pre-orthodontic treatment amount of keratinized gingiva

The purpose of this retrospective study was to associate the amount of keratinized gingiva present in adolescents prior to orthodontic treatment to the development of gingival recessions after the end of treatment. The sample consisted of the intra-oral photographs and orthodontic study models from 209 Caucasian patients with a mean age of 11.20 +/- 1.83 years on their initial records and 14.7 +/- 1.8 years on their final records. Patients were either Angle Class I or II and were submitted to non-extraction orthodontic treatment. Gingival recession was evaluated by visual inspection of the lower incisors and canines as seen in the initial and final study models and intra-oral photographs. The amount of recession was quantified using a digital caliper and the observed post-treatment gingival margin alterations were classified as unaltered, coronal migration of the gingival margin or apical migration of the gingival margin. The width of the keratinized gingiva was measured from the mucogingival line to the gingival margin on the pre-treatment photographs. The teeth that developed gingival recession and those that did not have their gingival margin position changed did not differ in relation to the initial amount of keratinized gingiva (3.00 +/- 0.61 and 3.5 +/- 0.86 mm, respectively). Paradoxically, teeth that presented a coronal migration of the gingival margin had a smaller initial amount of keratinized gingiva (2.26 +/- 0.31 mm). The mean amount of initial keratinized gingiva did not predispose lower incisors and canines to gingival recession.     

Shear bond strength between metal alloy and a ceramic system, submitted to different thermocycling immersion times

The aim of this study was to evaluate the shear bond strength of Co-Cr and Ni-Cr metal alloys and a specific ceramic, submitted to different thermocycling immersion times. Sixty metal-ceramic specimens were confectioned and standardized in cylindricalformat. Three thermocycling conditions were evaluated: without thermocycling, 3,000 cycles (5 degrees C/55 degrees C+/-1) with 30s of immersion time and 3,000 cycles (5 degrees C/55 degrees C+/-1) with 60s. The shear bond strength was performed in a universal testing machine, using a special device to concentrate the tension at the metal/ceramic interface during the test. The load was applied until fracture of the specimens. The data was statistically analyzed by ANOVA (two-way) and Tukey (p<0.05) test. The results didn't show significant statistic differences between the metal-porcelain combinations. Nevertheless, both metal-ceramic systems submitted to 60s of immersion time showed lower values compared to specimens without thermocycling. It was concluded that the thermocycling immersion time of 1 minute affect the shear bond strength values for the Ni-Cr/porcelain and Cr-Co/porcelain systems.