The heterogeneous motility of the Lyme disease spirochete in gelatin mimics dissemination through tissue

The Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi exists in nature in an enzootic cycle that involves the arthropod vector Ixodes scapularis and mammalian reservoirs. To disseminate within and between these hosts, spirochetes must migrate through complex, polymeric environments such as the basement membrane of the tick midgut and the dermis of the mammal. To date, most research on the motility of B. burgdorferi has been done in media that do not resemble the tissue milieus that B. burgdorferi encounter in vivo. Here we show that the motility of Borrelia in gelatin matrices in vitro resembles the pathogen's movements in the chronically infected mouse dermis imaged by intravital microscopy. More specifically, B. burgdorferi motility in mouse dermis and gelatin is heterogeneous, with the bacteria transitioning between at least three different motility states that depend on transient adhesions to the matrix. We also show that B. burgdorferi is able to penetrate matrices with pore sizes much smaller than the diameter of the bacterium. We find a complex relationship between the swimming behavior of B. burgdorferi and the rheological properties of the gelatin, which cannot be accounted for by recent theoretical predictions for microorganism swimming in gels. Our results also emphasize the importance of considering borrelial adhesion as a dynamic rather than a static process.     

Structural characterization of mRNA-tRNA translocation intermediates

Cryo-EM analysis of a wild-type Escherichia coli pretranslocational sample has revealed the presence of previously unseen intermediate substates of the bacterial ribosome during the first phase of translocation, characterized by intermediate intersubunit rotations, L1 stalk positions, and tRNA configurations. Furthermore, we describe the domain rearrangements in quantitative terms, which has allowed us to characterize the processivity and coordination of the conformational reorganization of the ribosome, along with the associated changes in tRNA ribosome-binding configuration. The results are consistent with the view of the ribosome as a molecular machine employing Brownian motion to reach a functionally productive state via a series of substates with incremental changes in conformation.     

Two distinct overstretched DNA structures revealed by single-molecule thermodynamics measurements

Double-stranded DNA is a dynamic molecule whose structure can change depending on conditions. While there is consensus in the literature about many structures DNA can have, the state of highly-stretched DNA is still not clear. Several groups have shown that DNA in the torsion-unconstrained B-form undergoes an “overstretching” transition at a stretching force of around 65 pN, which leads to approximately 1.7-fold elongation of the DNA contour length. Recent experiments have revealed that two distinct structural transitions are involved in the overstretching process: (i) a hysteretic “peeling” off one strand from its complementary strand, and (ii) a nonhysteretic transition that leads to an undetermined DNA structure. We report the first simultaneous determination of the entropy (ΔS) and enthalpy changes (ΔH) pertaining to these respective transitions. For the hysteretic peeling transition, we determined ΔS ∼ 20 cal/(K.mol) and ΔH ∼ 7 kcal/mol. In the case of the nonhysteretic transition, ΔS ∼ -3 cal/(K.mol) and ΔH ∼ 1 kcal/mol. Furthermore, the response of the transition force to salt concentration implies that the two DNA strands are spatially separated after the hysteretic peeling transition. In contrast, the corresponding response after the nonhysteretic transition indicated that the strands remained in close proximity. The selection between the two transitions depends on DNA base-pair stability, and it can be illustrated by a multidimensional phase diagram. Our results provide important insights into the thermodynamics of DNA overstretching and conformational structures of overstretched DNA that may play an important role in vivo.     

Prevalence and location of maxillary sinus septa in the Taiwanese population and relationship to the absence of molars

Objectives: Understanding the septum structure of the sinus is necessary for correct implant placement in the maxilla if sinus encroachment is required. The exact mechanism that controls septum development is unclear, although a role for the irregular pneumatization of the sinus floor following tooth loss has been suggested. The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence and location of sinus septa in the Taiwanese population and to determine whether there is a relationship between the presence of septa and the absence of molars. Materials and methods: Using computed tomography (CT) scans of sinuses obtained from 423 subjects (216 women and 207 men, mean age 53.65 years), septum morphology and its correlation with the presence of molars was examined. Results: About 30% of subjects (124/423) had sinus septa, corresponding to 20.45% of all sinus segments detected (173/846). Fifty‐nine patients had multiple septa, giving a prevalence of septa of 22.93%. Septa were located most frequently in the regions of the first and second molars. The prevalence was not related to tooth loss (edentulous, partially edentulous, or dentate maxillary segments). Logistic regression analysis showed that men were significantly more likely to have septa than were women (OR=1.67; P=0.019). Conclusions: In the 423 Taiwanese subjects tested, the prevalence of septum was 29.31% according to the subjects and 22.93% according to the sinus segments. The most frequent location of septa was in the region of the first and secondary molars. No correlation was observed between the presence of septa and the absence of molars.     

Location of the supraorbital and infraorbital foramen with references to the soft tissue landmarks in a Chinese population

The purpose of the current study was to determine the supraorbital foramen (SOF) and infraorbital foramen (IOF) based on soft tissue landmarks, to facilitate prediction of the location of this structure during facial surgery. Forty-two hemispheres of 21 adult cadavers (16 men and 5 women; aged 30-75 years) were dissected to expose the SOF and IOF. The locations of the SOF and IOF were evaluated with direct and photographic measurements. The data gained were analyzed by statistical method. The SOF localized 23.11 ± 2.35 mm superior and 9.48 ± 3.06 mm lateral to the angulus oculi medialis (AOM). The vertical angle from AOM to SOF was 68.3 (SD, 6.44) degrees. The SOF localized 24.81 (SD, 3.39) mm inferior and 10.89 (SD, 2.78) mm lateral to the AOM on the front view. The vertical angle from AOM to IOF was 66.5 (SD, 5.18) degrees. The SOF localized 11.22 (SD, 2.01) mm inferior and 6.09 (SD, 2.32) mm lateral to the ala of the nose (AL) on the front view. The vertical angle from AL to IOF was 61.7 (SD, 7.61) degrees. These results were a little different from the results of some other populations. We found the IOFs located on the point of one-fifth proportion distant to the ALs along the vertical direction distance from AL to SOF, whereas the AOMs located on the point of three-fifths proportion distant from the AL. Our results may provide more detailed information to predict the location of the SOFs and IOFs and help to prevent nerve or vessel damage.     

前磨牙楔状缺损修复后的抗折裂强度研究

目的研究楔状缺损深及牙齿颊舌径的1/4或1/2的前磨牙采用不同材料充填后牙体的抗折裂强度及牙齿折裂模式。方法收集正畸拔除的新鲜前磨牙60颗,颊侧颈部设计颊舌径1/2和1/4楔状缺损,对1/2深度根管治疗后分别选择复合树脂、复合体或玻璃离子水门汀三种材料充填,运用万能材料试验机对前磨牙颊尖垂直向载力直至牙体断裂。记录牙断裂时的受力数值,并观察断裂模式。结果不同深度的楔状缺损其抗折裂强度不同,但各组间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。充填后前磨牙抗折裂强度显著增加(P<0.01),而不同充填材料对牙齿抗折裂强度无显著差异(P>0.05)。结论楔状缺损深及前磨牙颊舌径的1/4以上时容易导致前磨牙折裂。材料充填后可以提高前磨牙的抗折裂能力且与充填材料的种类无关。     

不同赋形剂氢氧化钙根管消毒效果的临床研究

目的比较生理盐水、碘甘油、樟脑对氯苯酚、樟脑对氯苯酚/碘甘油等赋形剂对氢氧化钙消毒根管效果的影响,以期为临床工作提供参考。方法选择单根管慢性根尖周炎患牙80颗,随机分成氢氧化钙加生理盐水、氢氧化钙加碘甘油、氢氧化钙加樟脑对氯苯酚、氢氧化钙加樟脑对氯苯酚/碘甘油等4组,观察封药1周后的临床疗效、封药1周前后的细菌学培养菌落数变化以及达到临床可充填的封药时间等评价指标。结果氢氧化钙加樟脑对氯苯酚/碘甘油组明显优于氢氧化钙加生理盐水、氢氧化钙加碘甘油、氢氧化钙加樟脑对氯苯酚组(P<0.01);在封药1周的临床疗效(评分差值)方面,氢氧化钙加生理盐水组、氢氧化钙加樟脑对氯苯酚组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);在达到临床可充填封药时间上,氢氧化钙加碘甘油组、氢氧化钙加樟脑对氯苯酚组差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论在生理盐水、碘甘油、樟脑对氯苯酚、樟脑对氯苯酚/碘甘油等赋形剂中,樟脑对氯苯酚/碘甘油可能是最为有效的赋形剂。