Multi-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) reveals heterogeneity of Mycobacterium bovis strains and multiple genotype infections of cattle in Ethiopia

Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) remains a major threat to animal and human health, and obstructs international and inter-regional livestock trade in Ethiopia. Many aspects of epidemiology of BTB and its causative agent, Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) are not well known. Aims of the study were to elucidate molecular characteristics of M. bovis strains using MLVA typing method. Further aim was to determine infection pressure associated with occurrence of multiple genotypes in individual infected cattle. Data and samples were collected in the period July 2006–January 2007 in cattle slaughtered at five representative abattoirs across the country. Molecular investigation of the isolates was carried out using multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) of 28 variable numbers of tandem repeat (VNTR) loci, and the results were compared to spoligotyping. This study is believed to contribute to the knowledge of molecular genetics and epidemiology of M. bovis in Ethiopia and elsewhere with similar BTB epidemic situation and livestock production settings. Four-hundred and six tissue samples from 337 carcasses revealing gross pathologic lesions compatible with BTB were collected from five abattoirs. Fifty-eight isolates obtained from cultured samples were subjected to region of difference (RD) analysis and MLVA typing. RD confirmed all isolates as being M. bovis. MLVA revealed a high heterogeneity of M. bovis (19 genotypes) and the discriminatory power of MLVA was higher than for spoligotyping (Hunter–Gaston Diversity Index (HGDI) 0.92 vs. 0.82). Adoption of the nine VNTR loci with ⩾3 alleles provided good differentiation between the isolates. However, differentiation was optimized when MLVA was combined with spoligotyping (HGDI = 0.99). MLVA confirmed infections with multiple genotypes in 38.5% (10/26) of individual animals. In conclusion, the usefulness of MLVA for genotyping M. bovis in high prevalence settings was demonstrated. BTB in Ethiopia is caused by heterogeneous populations of M. bovis and individual carcasses were often infected with different genotypes, indicating a high infection pressure perhaps related to the absence of protective immunity conferred by infection.     

Incorporating uncertainty regarding applicability of evidence from meta-analyses into clinical decision making

ObjectivesJudging applicability (relevance) of meta-analytical findings to particular clinical decision-making situations remains challenging. We aimed to describe an evidence synthesis method that accounts for possible uncertainty regarding applicability of the evidence.Study Design and SettingWe conceptualized uncertainty regarding applicability of the meta-analytical estimates to a decision-making situation as the result of uncertainty regarding applicability of the findings of the trials that were included in the meta-analysis. This trial-level applicability uncertainty can be directly assessed by the decision maker and allows for the definition of trial inclusion probabilities, which can be used to perform a probabilistic meta-analysis with unequal probability resampling of trials (adaptive meta-analysis). A case study with several fictitious decision-making scenarios was performed to demonstrate the method in practice.ResultsWe present options to elicit trial inclusion probabilities and perform the calculations. The result of an adaptive meta-analysis is a frequency distribution of the estimated parameters from traditional meta-analysis that provides individually tailored information according to the specific needs and uncertainty of the decision maker.ConclusionThe proposed method offers a direct and formalized combination of research evidence with individual clinical expertise and may aid clinicians in specific decision-making situations.     

双链DNA生物膜弹性模量的蒙特卡罗模拟

目的 研究吸附于微悬臂梁基底上双链DNA生物膜的弹性模量。方法 采用基于中观连续介质液晶理论的Parsegian经验势,描述粗粒化DNA圆柱之间相互作用能;采用蒙特卡罗法模拟加载前后DNA链的微观分布模式;采用思想实验法和宏观连续介质压缩弹性杆模型,预测DNA生物膜弹性模量。结果 双链DNA生物膜的弹性模量约为0.1~80 MPa。结论对比随机分布模式,经典的六角形均匀分布假设低估了DNA生物膜的弹性模量;封装密度的增加和缓冲盐溶液浓度的减小均有助于提高DNA生物膜弹性模量。这些结果对进一步认识临床工作中相关DNA生物膜的力学性质及其调控规律具有重要意义。     

人体松质骨矿质密度与弹性模量关系

目的 测量人体多部位松质骨矿质密度、轴向弹性模量,建立矿质密度与轴向弹性模量相关关系的本构方程,为国人有限元材料属性赋值提供依据。方法 采取10例成人新鲜尸体作为样本源,选取胫骨近端、大转子、股骨颈、肱骨头和椎体5个部位的松质骨,加工成直径约6 mm、长约30或40 mm的准试样。测量尺寸并计算体积,CT扫描试样骨矿质密度。对松质骨试样进行力学性能测试,分析不同部位松质骨弹性模量。对矿质密度与轴向弹性模量关系进行线性与幂次回归分析。结果 测试成功的试样来自5个部位,共169枚,其中胫骨近端52枚,大转子31枚,股骨颈15枚,肱骨头17枚,椎体54枚;5个部位松质骨矿质密度、轴向弹性模量均有所差异,线性相关性均较好（0.850>r2>0.785）,3个部位（胫骨近端、大转子、椎体）的幂次相关性较好（0.871>r2>0.825）,2个部位（肱骨头、股骨颈）的幂次相关性较弱(0.671>r2>0.643)。结论 各个部位骨矿质密度与轴向弹性模量的线性和幂次回归的相关性均较高,且同部位两种回归的r2值之间无明显差异;可应用于体外检测患者的骨骼质量,准确分辨骨质变化的部位,配合有限元建模能够预测骨折的风险。     

Elastic modulus and collagen organization of the rabbit cornea: Epithelium to endothelium

The rabbit is commonly used to evaluate new corneal prosthetics and study corneal wound healing. Knowledge of the stiffness of the rabbit cornea would better inform the design and fabrication of keratoprosthetics and substrates with relevant mechanical properties for in vitro investigations of corneal cellular behavior. This study determined the elastic modulus of the rabbit corneal epithelium, anterior basement membrane (ABM), anterior and posterior stroma, Descemet’s membrane (DM) and endothelium using atomic force microscopy (AFM). In addition, three-dimensional collagen fiber organization of the rabbit cornea was determined using nonlinear optical high-resolution macroscopy. The elastic modulus as determined by AFM for each corneal layer was: epithelium, 0.57 ± 0.29 kPa (mean ± SD); ABM, 4.5 ± 1.2 kPa, anterior stroma, 1.1 ± 0.6 kPa; posterior stroma, 0.38 ± 0.22 kPa; DM, 11.7 ± 7.4 kPa; and endothelium, 4.1 ± 1.7 kPa. The biophysical properties, including the elastic modulus, are unique for each layer of the rabbit cornea and are dramatically softer in comparison to the corresponding regions of the human cornea. Collagen fiber organization is also dramatically different between the two species, with markedly less intertwining observed in the rabbit vs. human cornea. Given that the substratum stiffness considerably alters the corneal cell behavior, keratoprosthetics that incorporate mechanical properties simulating the native human cornea may not elicit optimal cellular performance in rabbit corneas that have dramatically different elastic moduli. These data should allow for the design of substrates that better mimic the biomechanical properties of the corneal cellular environment.     

Elastic modulus and flexural strength comparisons of high-impact and traditional denture base acrylic resins

Background

Fractures of acrylic resin dentures are a common occurrence in clinical dentistry. The denture may be fractured accidentally when dropped or while in service in the mouth due to flexural fatigue.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to compare the elastic modulus and the flexural strength between two heat-cured acrylic resins used in denture bases: a high-impact resin (Lucitone 199) and a traditional resin (Rodex).

Materials and methods

Rectangular strips of Lucitone 199 and Rodex (10 samples each) were fabricated and stored in artificial saliva at 37 °C for 2 weeks. The specimens were subjected to a three-point flexural test. The data were statistically analysed with Student’s t-test (p ⩽ .05).

Results

The high-impact acrylic resin had a lower elastic modulus (p = .000) and higher flexural strength (p = .001) compared to the traditional acrylic resin.

Conclusion

Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that the high-impact acrylic resin is a suitable denture base material for patients with clinical fracture of the acrylic denture.     

Heterogeneity of Glycosylation of Circulating Active and Inactive Renin

ABSTRACT

Concanavalin A chromatography was used to examine rat plasma and the incubation medium of rat renal cortical slices, the objective being to assess the heterogeneity of glycosylation of active and inactive renin. Inactive renin was measured by activation with trypsin. Concanavalin A chromatography could separate both active and inactive renin in the plasma into three forms, including the unbound form, the loosely-bound form and the tightly-bound form, thereby suggesting the presence of differently glycosylated forms of active and inactive renin in the plasma. Rat renal cortical slices secreted all these three forms of active and inactive renin, hence these forms are mainly of renal origin. These results suggest that differently glycosylated forms of active and inactive renin are released from the kidney into the blood circulation.     

手部多功能支具联合弹力手套在手部烧烫伤术后的康复治疗

目的探讨手部多功能支具联合弹力手套在手部烧烫伤术后康复中的临床疗效。方法2017年6月-2018年6月对手部烧烫伤术后住院治疗的40例患者,按1∶1的比例,随机分为观察组和对照组,分别予手部多功能支具联合弹力手套治疗和弹力手套治疗。于术后第3周(治疗前)、康复治疗12周后分别观察记录两组的明尼苏达手灵巧度测试(MMDT)、普渡钉板测验(PPBT)、疼痛程度评分(VAS),并在末次随访时,对手功能恢复情况进行总主动活动度(TAM)评定。结果两组均获得8~16周随访。治疗前两组基本资料及各观察指标比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。治疗12周后,两组MMDT、PPBT、VAS评分均有明显改善,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05);组间比较显示,观察组的MMDT、PPBT、VAS评分改善均较对照组显著,差异均有统计学意义(P <0.05);末次随访时,观察组和对照组TAM评定优良率分别为95%和65%,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05)。结论手部多功能支具联合弹力手套治疗方案能有效预防手部烧烫伤术后软组织粘连、瘢痕增生及挛缩的发生,对术后恢复手部功能安全有效,值得临床推广应用。