Molecular detection of Orientia tsutsugamushi strains circulating in Nagaland

The antigenic heterogeneity of Orientia in India is still unknown in many disease endemic areas. The present study aims to characterize the strains of O. tsutsugamushi circulating in Nagaland, Northeast India. Two patients clinically diagnosed with ST and hospitalized in Mon district hospital, Nagaland were identified from whom eschar tissues were collected. Both patients demonstrated antibodies against O. tsutsugamushi along with positive PCR amplification for 56 ?kDa gene. The prototype strain TA763 shared 90.4% homology with the sequences. Both the sequences formed a distinctive cluster demonstrating 100% similarity with strains identified from Thailand, Vietnam, China and southern parts of India.     

Association of genetic polymorphisms and autoimmune Addison’s disease

Autoimmune Addison’s disease (AAD) is a complex genetic disease that results from the interaction of a predisposing genetic background with as yet unknown environmental factors. The disease is marked by the appearance of circulating autoantibodies against steroid 21-hydroxylase. Mutations of the autoimmune regulator gene are responsible for the so-called autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I (APS I), of which AAD is a major disease component. Among genetic factors for isolated AAD and APS II, a major role is played by HLA class II genes: HLA-DRB1^*0301-DQA1^*0501-DQB1^*0201 and DRB1^*04-DQA1^*0301-DQB1^*0302 are positively, and RB1^*0403 is negatively, associated with a genetic risk for AAD. The MHC class I chain-related gene A allele 5.1 is strongly and positively associated with AAD. Other gene polymorphisms contributing to genetic risk for AAD are MHC2TA, the gene coding for class II transactivator, the master regulator of class II expression, cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4, PTPN22 and the vitamin D receptor.     

颈胸段脊柱全脊椎切除术后不同重建方式的有限元分析

目的 基于CT图像对人体颈胸段脊柱C5~T2节段进行三维模型重建,采用有限元方法探究椎弓根螺钉、钛网和钢板等不同内固定器械组合对颈胸段脊柱全脊椎切除（total spondylectomy, TS）术后稳定性的影响及内固定器械的应力分布。方法 建立颈胸段脊柱C5~T2节段健康完整模型,并通过与体外实验关节活动度（range of motion, ROM）结果对比验证模型有效性。在健康完整模型基础上,建立颈椎C7节段行TS后的4种重建模型：TM+AP+DPS模型（钛网+前路钢板+后路双节段椎弓根螺钉固定）,TM+AP+SPS模型（钛网+前路钢板+后路单节段椎弓根螺钉固定）;TM+DPS模型（钛网+后路双节段椎弓根螺钉固定）;AP+DPS模型（前路钢板+后路双节段椎弓根螺钉固定）,并分析各重建模型在前屈、后伸、左右侧弯和左右扭转时的ROM及内固定器械的应力分布情况。结果 TS术后重建会大幅度降低重建节段ROM,模型的重建节段ROM均下降超过93%,后路单节段螺钉固定时,钛网出现应力集中现象。结论 4种模型重建节段固定效果相近,后路双节段螺钉固定的3种模型中内固定器械应力分布较为平均,模型整体稳定性优于后路单节段固定模型。     

Effectiveness of Conservative,Surgical, and Postsurgical Interventions for Trigger Finger,Dupuytren Disease,and De Quervain Disease: A Systematic Review

Objectives

To provide an evidence-based overview of the effectiveness of conservative and (post)surgical interventions for trigger finger, Dupuytren disease, and De Quervain disease.

Does tunica anatomy matter in penile implant?

Background

Overall prosthesis survival is important in penile implant, which remains the final viable solution to many patients with refractory erectile dysfunction (ED). This paper is to retrospectively study the role of the anatomy of tunica albuginea (TA).

Methods

From March 1987 to March 1991 while the TA was regarded as a circumferential single layer, 21 organically ED men, aged from 27 to 77, received penile prosthesis implantation and were allocated to conventional group. From August 1992 to March 2013 while the tip of Hegar’s dilator was categorically directed medial-dorsally during corporal dilatation derived from newfound TA as a bi-layered structure with a 360° complete inner circular layer and a 300° incomplete outer longitudinal coat, 196 ED males, aged from 35 to 83, underwent penile implant and were categorized to advanced group. The model of prosthesis was recorded. Prosthesis loss rate and survival time were analyzed and the follow up period ranged from 22.4-26.4 (average 24.3) years and 0.4-20.6 (average 15.8) years to the conventional and advanced group respectively.

Results

To the conventional and advanced group, the number of inflatable and rigid type prosthesis used were 2, 19 and 15, 181 respectively, whereas the prosthesis loss was encountered in 50.0% (1/2), 15.8% (3/19) and 0.0% (0/15), 0.6% (1/181) respectively. And the prosthesis survival time were 5.1-6.3 (5.7) years, 1.3-26.4 (15.2) years and 6.1-16.2 (11.2) years, 0.4-20.6 (15.3) years to the conventional and advanced group respectively. Statistical significance was noted on prosthesis loss in groups (P=0.01) while the Mentor Acuform stood out in prosthesis survival.

Conclusions

Anatomy-based managing maneuver appears to deliver better surgery success in penile implant. Tunica anatomy is significant in performing implant surgery.     

比较不同冲洗技术去除老年人根管玷污层效果

目的：应用60℃NaOCl配合不同的冲洗技术对老年人离体牙根管进行冲洗,评估玷污层的清除效果。方法：将40颗取自老年人(60周岁以上)的完整上颌离体前牙,应用60℃NaOCl进行根管冲洗。按照不同的冲洗技术随机分为4组(n=10)：侧方开口冲洗器组、被动超声组(PUI组)、EndoActivator组、对照组,并评估玷污层清除情况。结果：比较4组不同的冲洗技术对老年人根管玷污层的去除情况：EndoActivator组、PUI组和对照组之间差异无统计学意义,且优于侧方开口冲洗器组(P<0.05)。分别比较4组组内不同的根管水平玷污层的去除情况：各组根上1/3优于根中1/3,根中1/3优于根尖1/3(P<0.05)。结论：60℃3%NaOCl作为基础冲洗液,17%EDTA作为最终冲洗液,不使用任何冲洗设备与辅助被动超声或EndoActivator对老年人根管进行冲洗玷污层清除效果相似,且均优于侧方开口冲洗器。     

A C-terminal truncated mutation of licC attenuates the virulence of Streptococcus pneumoniae

LicC has been identified as a virulence factor of Streptococcus pneumoniae. However, its role in virulence is still not fully understood because deletion of licC is lethal for the bacterium. In this study, a mutant with 78-bp truncation at the C-terminus of licC was obtained from a signature-tagged mutagenesis (STM) library. The mutant was viable with a large reduction in enzymatic activity as CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase detected in vitro using a firefly luciferase assay. The mutation attenuated the adhesion and invasion of S. pneumoniae ST556 (serotype 19F) to epithelial cells by 72% and 80%, respectively, and increased the phagocytosis by macrophages for 16.5%, compared to the parental strain. When the mutation was introduced into the encapsulated D39 strain (serotype 2), it led to attenuated virulence in mouse models either by intranasal colonization or by intraperitoneal infection. In addition, the phosphocholine (PCho) on cell surface was decreased, and the choline binding proteins (CBPs) were impaired, which may explain the attenuated virulence of the mutant. These observations indicate that C-terminus of licC is accounted for the main activity of LicC in PCho metabolism and is essential for the virulence of S. pneumoniae, which provides a novel target for drug design against pneumococcal infection.     

Platelet‐rich plasma protects rotator cuff‐derived cells from the deleterious effects of triamcinolone acetonide

Triamcinolone acetonide (TA) injections are widely used to treat enthesopathy, but they may induce adverse effects such as tendon impairment and rupture. Platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) is a blood fraction containing high platelet concentrations and various growth factors that play a role in tissue repair processes. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether TA has deleterious effects on human rotator cuff‐derived cells, and if PRP can protect these cells from the effects of TA. Human rotator cuff‐derived cells were cultured with and without TA and PRP, and the culture without any additive served as the control. Cell morphology was assessed at days 7 and 21. Cell viability was evaluated at days 1, 7, 14, and 21 by a water‐soluble tetrazolium salt assay. Induction of apoptosis was measured by immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry at day 7. Induction of cleaved caspase‐3 was measured by immunofluorescence staining at day 7. The cells cultured with TA had a flattened and polygonal shape at day 7. The cells cultured with both TA and PRP were similar in appearance to control cells. Exposure to TA also significantly decreased cell viability, but cell viability did not decrease when PRP was added along with TA. The number of apoptotic cells increased with TA exposure, while addition of PRP prevented cell apoptosis. In conclusion, the deleterious effect of TA was prevented by PRP, which can be used as a protective agent for patients receiving local TA injections. © 2012 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31: 976–982, 2013