Mechanical and Air Permeability Performance of Novel Biobased Materials from Fungal Hyphae and Cellulose Fibers

Novel biobased materials from fungal hyphae and cellulose fibers have been proposed to address the increasing demand for natural materials in personal protective equipment (PPE). Materials containing commercially available kraft fibers (KF), laboratory-made highly fibrillated hemp fibers (HF) and fungal fibers (FF) obtained from fruiting bodies of lignicolous basidiomycetes growing in nature were prepared using paper production techniques and evaluated for their mechanical and air permeability properties. SEM and microscopy revealed the network structure of materials. The tensile index of materials was in the range of 8–60 Nm/g and air permeability ranged from 32–23,990 mL/min, depending on the composition of materials. HF was the key component for strength; however, the addition of FF to compositions resulted in higher air permeability. Chemical composition analysis (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) revealed the presence of natural polysaccharides, mainly cellulose and chitin, as well as the appropriate elemental distribution of components C, H and N. Biodegradation potential was proven by a 30-day-long composting in substrate, which resulted in an 8–62% drop in the C/N ratio. Conclusions were drawn about the appropriateness of fungal hyphae for use in papermaking-like technologies together with cellulose fibers. Developed materials can be considered as an alternative to synthetic melt and spun-blown materials for PPE.     

Embryonic Stem Cell Marker Expression Pattern in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Bone Marrow, Adipose Tissue, Heart and Dermis

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been isolated from a variety of human tissues, e.g., bone marrow, adipose tissue, dermis, hair follicles, heart, liver, spleen, dental pulp. Due to their immunomodulatory and regenerative potential MSCs have shown promising results in preclinical and clinical studies for a variety of conditions, such as graft versus host disease (GvHD), Crohn’s disease, osteogenesis imperfecta, cartilage damage and myocardial infarction. MSC cultures are composed of heterogeneous cell populations. Complications in defining MSC arise from the fact that different laboratories have employed different tissue sources, extraction, and cultivation methods. Although cell-surface antigens of MSCs have been extensively explored, there is no conclusive evidence that unique stem cells markers are associated with these adult cells. Therefore the aim of this study was to examine expression of embryonic stem cell markers Oct4, Nanog, SOX2, alkaline phosphatase and SSEA-4 in adult mesenchymal stem cell populations derived from bone marrow, adipose tissue, dermis and heart. Furthermore, we tested whether human mesenchymal stem cells preserve tissue-specific differences under in vitro culture conditions. We found that bone marrow MSCs express embryonic stem cell markers Oct4, Nanog, alkaline phosphatase and SSEA-4, adipose tissue and dermis MSCs express Oct4, Nanog, SOX2, alkaline phosphatase and SSEA-4, whereas heart MSCs express Oct4, Nanog, SOX2 and SSEA-4. Our results also indicate that human adult mesenchymal stem cells preserve tissue-specific differences under in vitro culture conditions during early passages, as shown by distinct germ layer and embryonic stem cell marker expression patterns. Studies are now needed to determine the functional role of embryonic stem cell markers Oct4, Nanog and SOX2 in adult human MSCs.     

Ankle joint evertor-invertor muscle torque ratio decrease due to recurrent lateral ligament sprains

OBJECTIVE: To determine an ankle inversion-eversion movement range part where evertor/invertor muscles torque ratio is altered after recurrent ankle lateral ligament sprains. DESIGN: The ankle evertor/invertor muscles torque ratios were determined in the different range parts of angular positions by the muscle isokinetic movements. BACKGROUND: It is important to determine the movement range part where the evertor muscle weakness after the ankle lateral ligament sprains is more expressed and a repeated trauma of the lateral ligaments is more probable. METHODS: Twenty-eight male handball players participated in the tests using an ankle isokinetic inversion-eversion movement investigation dynamometer system. Thirty-three ankle joints were uninjured, but 23 underwent recurrent lateral ligament sprains. RESULTS: The ankle evertor/invertor muscles torque ratio for the sprained ankles was significantly lower in comparison with the uninjured joints in inversion positions at 50 degrees and 60 degrees of the range of movements in all applied velocities, except the slowest movement (30 degrees /s). CONCLUSIONS: The recurrent ankle lateral ligament sprains reduced the evertor/invertor muscles torque ratio in the inversion positions of the range of movements and therefore the evertor muscle weakness was more expressed in the beginning of the eversion movement.     

Perceived teacher unfairness and headache in adolescence: a cross-national comparison

Objectives

The present study examines the prevalence of headache in early adolescents in 21 European and North-American countries and the role of perceived teacher unfairness in predicting this health complaint across different countries.

Methods

Data were taken from the “Health Behaviour in School-aged Children” study (HBSC), a World Health Organization cross-national survey on health behaviors in 11-, 13- and 15-year-old students. Headache and perceived teacher unfairness were measured through a self-administered questionnaire filled out by 115,212 adolescents.

Results

The overall prevalence of frequent headaches (at least once a week) was 28.8%, ranging from 18.9% in Slovenia to 49.4% in Israel. After adjusting for gender, grade, family affluence, school achievement, being bullied and lifestyles (drinking, smoking, eating and physical activity), teacher unfairness showed a significant association with frequent headache in all but two countries (Ukraine and Luxembourg).

Conclusions

Our results show that headache is a common health symptom in European and North-American countries, even though there are substantial differences in its prevalence across countries. The study indicates that perceived teacher unfairness can be a significant predictor of frequent headache during adolescence, and this association is consistent across countries.     

Y‐Chromosomal Lineages of Latvians in the Context of the Genetic Variation of the Eastern‐Baltic Region

Variations of the nonrecombining Y‐chromosomal region were investigated in 159 unrelated Baltic‐speaking ethnic Latvians from four different geographic regions, using 28 biallelic markers and 12 short tandem repeats. Eleven different haplogroups (hgs) were detected in a regionally homogeneous Latvian population, among which N1c, R1a, and I1 cover more than 85% of its paternal lineages. When compared its closest geographic neighbors, the composition of the Latvian Y‐chromosomal gene pool was found to be very similar to those of Lithuanians and Estonians. Despite the comparable frequency distribution of hg N1c in Latvians and Lithuanians with the Finno‐Ugric‐speaking populations from the Eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, the observed differences in allelic variances of N1c haplotypes between these two groups are in concordance with the previously stated hypothesis of different dispersal ways of this lineage in the region. More than a third of Latvian paternal lineages belong specifically to a recently defined R1a‐M558 hg, indicating an influence from a common source within Eastern Slavic populations on the formation of the present‐day Latvian Y‐chromosome gene pool.     

Paraneoplastische neurologische Syndrome in der gynäkologischen Onkologie

Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) are rare neurological disorders that are associated with a tumor without being directly triggered by the tumor itself or its metastases. PNS can affect every level of the nervous system through an autoimmune reaction against neuronal cells. Neurological symptoms can even occur several years before the tumor is diagnosed. The diagnosis is based on tumor detection, clinical symptoms, and antibody detection, while simultaneously excluding other causes. In addition to symptomatic therapy, the specific tumor therapy is the treatment of choice and depends primarily on tumor type and stage, not on the PNS. The most common PNS-associated gynecological tumor entities are breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and ovarian germ cell tumors. The detection of the well-characterized paraneoplastic antibodies and the search for associated tumors play very important roles in diagnosis. In gynecologic tumors (especially ovarian cancer), paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) is the best-known PNS, which is usually associated with anti-Yo antibodies. Most patients show a progressive course despite the specific tumor therapy. Overall, the prognosis is relatively poor.