Molecular tools for typing and branding the tubercle bacillus.

During the past two decades, a number of variable genetic sequences have been uncovered that permit molecular typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) organisms. Since the determination of the M. tuberculosis, and later M.

In vitro resistance selection and in vivo efficacy of morpholino oligomers against West Nile virus.

We characterize in vitro resistance to and demonstrate the in vivo efficacy of two antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) against West Nile virus (WNV). Both PMOs were conjugated with an Arg-rich peptide. One peptide-conjugated PMO (PPMO) binds to the 5' terminus of the viral genome (5'-end PPMO); the other targets an essential 3' RNA element required for genome cyclization (3' conserved sequence I [3' CSI] PPMO).

[Pregnant woman and road safety: a numerical approach. Application to a restrained third trimester pregnant woman in frontal impact].

Objectives: The goal of our work is the development of a numerical model of pregnant woman in driving position. We present an application to the study of injury mechanisms during a frontal car crash for a seat belt restrained pregnant woman in driving position.

Materials And Methods: We integrated a digital representation of a pregnant uterus, foetus and placenta in a previous existing numerical model of non pregnant Human body in driving position, the Humos model.

Bayesian modelling of tuberculosis clustering from DNA fingerprint data.

A combination of continuous and categorical tests, none of which is a gold standard, is often available for classification of subject status in epidemiologic studies. For example, tuberculosis (TB) molecular epidemiology uses select mycobacterial DNA sequences to provide clues about which cases of active TB are likely clustered, implying recent transmission between these cases, versus reactivation of previously acquired infection. The proportion of recently transmitted cases is important to public health, as different control methods are implemented as transmission rates increase.

Mycobacterium avium in the postgenomic era.

The past several years have witnessed an upsurge of genomic data pertaining to the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). Despite clear advances, problems with the detection of MAC persist, spanning the tests that can be used, samples required for their validation, and the use of appropriate nomenclature. Additionally, the amount of genomic variability documented to date greatly outstrips the functional understanding of epidemiologically different subsets of the organism.

Fracture strength and bond capacities of electron irradiated fiber reinforced composites.

Objectives: The aim of this in vitro study was to determine the effect of electron irradiation on the fracture strength, elongation and bond capacities on different fiber reinforced composites (FRC).

Methods: Thirty-two bending bars (25mmx2mmx2mm) were fabricated per material (Construct: Kerr, Rastatt, Germany; everStick: StickTech, Turku, Finland; FibreKor: JenericPentron, Wallingford/CT, USA), divided into four irradiation groups (0kGy, 15kGy, 33kGy and 100kGy) and fracture loaded after irradiation. Forty-eight plates (20mmx10mmx2mm) of the FRC materials were made and divided into different pretreatment (Clearfil SE Bond Bond: Kuraray Europe, Düsseldorf, Germany; SRLink: Ivoclar-Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein; MetalPrimerII: GC, Tokio, Japan; Rocatec: 3M Espe, Seefeld, Germany) and irradiation (0kGy, 15kGy and 33kGy) groups.

Genome plasticity of BCG and impact on vaccine efficacy.

To understand the evolution, attenuation, and variable protective efficacy of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccines, Mycobacterium bovis BCG Pasteur 1173P2 has been subjected to comparative genome and transcriptome analysis. The 4,374,522-bp genome contains 3,954 protein-coding genes, 58 of which are present in two copies as a result of two independent tandem duplications, DU1 and DU2. DU1 is restricted to BCG Pasteur, although four forms of DU2 exist; DU2-I is confined to early BCG vaccines, like BCG Japan, whereas DU2-III and DU2-IV occur in the late vaccines.

How to decrease pedestrian injuries: conceptual evolutions starting from 137 crash tests.

Background: The improvement of vulnerable users' protection has become an essential objective for our society. Injury assessments observed in clinical traumatology have led researchers and manufacturers to understand the mechanisms involved and to design safe vehicles (to reduce the severity of pedestrian injuries).

Methods: In all, 137 crash tests between 1979 and 2004 with postmortal human subjects (PMHS) were performed at the Laboratory of Applied Biomechanics to access pedestrian protection.

Marginal integrity of CAD/CAM fixed partial dentures.

Objectives: Computer-aided design (CAD) and manufacturing (CAM) allows the milling of high strength zirconia fixed partial dentures (FPD), however bonding to an inert ZrO(2) ceramic surface may effect the marginal integrity of the FPDs. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the marginal adaptation of zirconia FPDs at the interfaces between zirconia, cement, and tooth.

Methods: 32 3-unit FPDs were fabricated of the CAD/CAM Y-TZP zirconia (Lava, 3M Espe, Germany) according to the manufacturers' instructions.

Modeling the pregnant woman in driving position.

Despite motor vehicle crashes being the leading cause of traumatic fetal morbidity, only a few researches have tried to study the automobile crashes on pregnant women. The possible negative effect of the restraint systems and the injuries mechanisms involved in car crashes with pregnant women are therefore still poorly understood. In this context, the aim of this study is to develop a numerical model of the whole human body with a gravid uterus, in order to investigate car crash scenarios and to evaluate alternative security systems to improve protection of both the woman and the fetus.

Contact investigation and genotyping to identify tuberculosis transmission to children.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) in young children is an indicator of ongoing community transmission. We examined contact investigations related to pediatric TB, yield for source case identifications and genotypes for relevant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in a low-incidence setting.

Methods: We reviewed public health data for all patients with TB aged <18 years reported to Montreal authorities during 1996 to 2000.

Mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv0444c, the gene encoding anti-SigK, explain high level expression of MPB70 and MPB83 in Mycobacterium bovis.

It has recently been advanced that Mycobacterium tuberculosis sigma factor K (SigK) positively regulates expression of the antigenic proteins MPB70 and MPB83. As expression of these proteins differs between M. tuberculosis (low) and Mycobacterium bovis (high), this study set out to determine whether M.

Mycobacteria in Crohn's disease: a persistent hypothesis.

Efforts to explore a mycobacterial origin for Crohn's disease typically have involved an epidemiological approach, searching for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in patient tissue. An alternative approach involves consideration of genetic and experimental data regarding host resistance to mycobacteria.

An experimental cadaveric study for a better understanding of blunt traumatic aortic rupture.

Background: Blunt traumatic aortic rupture (BTAR) is a common catastrophic injury leading to death. Considerable uncertainty remains regarding the pathogenic cause. This study examines the comportment of the heart and the aorta during a frontal deceleration.

Genetic analysis of Mycobacterium avium complex strains used for producing purified protein derivatives.

For over a century, purified protein derivatives (PPD) have been used to detect mycobacterial infections in humans and livestock. Among these, reagents to detect infections by Mycobacterium avium complex organisms have been produced, but the utility of these reagents has not been clearly established due in part to limited biologic and immunologic standardization. Because there is little information about the strains used to produce these reagents (avian PPD, intracellulare PPD, scrofulaceum PPD, and Johnin), we have performed genetic characterizations of strains used to produce these products.

Evidence for local transmission and reactivation of tuberculosis in the Toronto Somali community.

To further understand the molecular and clinical epidemiology of tuberculosis in the Toronto Somali community, molecular fingerprinting using IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism typing or spoligotyping was performed on M. tuberculosis isolates obtained from Somali-Canadians who developed active disease from 1997 to 2001. Molecular fingerprints were further compared with those obtained from Somalis residing in Denmark.

Dental resin materials in vivo - TEM results after one year: a pilot study.

Dental resins deteriorate clinically due to chewing forces, temperature changes, chemical agents or biological attack. Findings concerning these influences on the different components of a resin are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate an alternative method for assessing the influence of the oral cavity on dental materials and their individual components as well as analyzing degradation effects over time.

Evaluation of in situ methods used to detect Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in samples from patients with Crohn's disease.

In common with other diagnostic tests, detection of mycobacteria in tissue by microscopic examination is susceptible to spectrum bias. Since Crohn's disease is defined by the absence of detectable pathogenic organisms, the use of in situ techniques to search for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Crohn's disease samples requires validation of methods in a paucibacillary setting.

Hemolysis estimation in a centrifugal blood pump using a tensor-based measure.

Hemolysis in the GYRO centrifugal blood pump, under development at the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, is numerically predicted using the newly proposed tensor-based blood-damage model, as well as a traditional model. Three typical operating conditions for the pump are simulated with a special-purpose finite element-based flow solver, and a novel approach for tracing the pathlines in discretely represented time-varying flow in a complex domain is presented, and 271 pathlines are traced through the pump. Hemolysis is computed along the pathlines, and the accumulated hemolysis at the outflow is converted into standard clinical units.

Transcription factor STE12alpha has distinct roles in morphogenesis, virulence, and ecological fitness of the primary pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus gattii.

Cryptococcus gattii is a primary pathogenic yeast, increasingly important in public health, but factors responsible for its host predilection and geographical distribution remain largely unknown. We have characterized C. gattii STE12alpha to probe its role in biology and pathogenesis because this transcription factor has been linked to virulence in many human and plant pathogenic fungi.

Effect of variations from the recommended powder/liquid ratio on some properties of resin-modified cements.

Objectives: The powder and liquid contents of cements are mixed in accordance with the recommended mixing ratio, but discrepancies occur despite the use of proportioning scoops. Little is known about powder/liquid ratio variations on certain properties of resin-modified cements.

Methods: Two resin-modified glass ionomer cements (RMGIC) were mixed using various powder/liquid ratios: (a) Recommended ratio: Fuji Plus: powder/liquid 2:1; ProTecCEM p/l 2.

The influence of electron beam irradiation on the shear bond strength of glass-reinforced frameworks and veneer composites.

The bond between glass fibre framework and veneer composite can be achieved by silane coupling agents or by monomers that penetrate into a polymer network. However, it has been clinically demonstrated that his bond can fail. This study investigated whether electron beam irradiation improved the bond strength of fibre-frameworks and veneer composite with and without additional coupling agents.

The influence of electron beam irradiation on fibre-reinforced composite specimens.

This study investigated whether glass fibre-reinforced composite (FRC) specimens can benefit from post-curing using electron beam irradiation. Twenty-four frameworks of the Vectris and 24 of the Stick glass fibre-reinforced system were veneered with their correspondent veneer materials. Eight specimens of both systems were post-cured using electron beam irradiation (3 x 33 kGy, 10 MeV).

Tonic finite element model of the lower limb.

It is widely admitted that muscle bracing influences the result of an impact, facilitating fractures by enhancing load transmission and reducing energy dissipation. However, human numerical models used to identify injury mechanisms involved in car crashes hardly take into account this particular mechanical behavior of muscles. In this context, in this work we aim to develop a numerical model, including muscle architecture and bracing capability, focusing on lower limbs.