Publications by authors named "Blanke K"

Three water isolates were previously identified as promising antibiotic producers from freshwater sources in Wisconsin, United States. Each isolate produced effective antibiotics against three or more bacterial relatives of antibiotic resistant pathogens. The isolates were identified as , , and through 16S rRNA sequencing and further characterized with biochemical tests to verify the genus and species of each isolate.

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Antibiotics are produced by microorganisms as defense mechanisms against bacteria and have treated bacterial infections for decades. Most of the current antibiotics are extracted from soil bacteria, and no new antibiotic class has been found in nearly 40 years. However, antibiotic-producing bacteria were discovered on tree bark, emphasizing that other environments should be explored for these bacteria.

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Soil is a common source for identifying antibiotic-producing bacteria; however, other ecosystems in nature may contain novel bacteria capable of producing antibiotics. Bark from seven tree species was collected as a new source to culture bacterial isolates that were screened against nine tester bacteria related to antibiotic resistant pathogens. Five of the seven tree species contained isolates that showed antibiotic production against at least one of the tester bacteria.

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Background: The current two-stage study focused on work integration and quality of life of patients in an acute psychiatric day care unit. There is evidence that a longer absence from work due to illness negatively affects job retention, life satisfaction and clinical prognosis. Furthermore, there are individual supportive methods that proved to be effective in work integration.

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Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for distal adding on (AO) or distal junctional kyphosis (DJK) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) treated by posterior spinal fusion (PSF) to L3 with a minimum 2-year follow-up.

Methods: AIS patients undergoing PSF to L3 by two senior surgeons from 2000-2010 were analyzed. Distal AO and DJK were deemed poor radiographic results and defined as >3 cm of deviation from L3 to the center sacral vertical line (CSVL), or >10° angle at L3-4 on the posterior anterior- or lateral X-ray at ultimate follow-up.

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Objective: To compare and identify risk factors for distal adding-on (AO) or distal junctional kyphosis (DJK) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) treated by anterior- (ASF) and posterior spinal fusion (PSF) to L3.

Methods: AIS patients undergoing ASF versus PSF to L3 from 2000-2010 were analyzed. Distal AO and DJK were deemed poor radiographic results.

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Background: The selection of the lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is still controversial. Although multiple radiographic methods have been proposed, there is no universally accepted guideline for appropriate selection of the LIV. We developed a simple and reproducible method for selection of the LIV in patients with Lenke type-1 (main thoracic) and 2 (double thoracic) curves and investigated its effectiveness in producing optimal positioning of the LIV at 5 years of follow-up.

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Solute-solvent interactions and in particular hydrogen bonding can significantly influence the appearance of vibrational spectra due to band shifts, intensity changes and band broadening. In VCD spectroscopy, solvation may also lead to sign changes and thus an overall drastic change in the spectral pattern. As the VCD spectral analysis relies heavily on the comparison with computed spectra, such solvent effects have to be accounted for in the calculations.

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Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and analyze the trends of surgeon-reported complications following surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) over a 13-year period from the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) Morbidity and Mortality database.

Methods: All patients with AIS between ten and 18 years of age, entered into the SRS Morbidity and Mortality database between 2004 and 2016, were analyzed. All perioperative complications were evaluated for correlations with associated factors.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of 43 patients who underwent posterior-only spinal fusion for thoracic and thoracolumbar kyphosis over a 5-12.2 year follow-up period.
  • The results showed an average correction of 44.3° post-surgery, and the loss of correction was minimal, with only one degree lost at the final follow-up.
  • Complications were noted in 11 patients, primarily proximal junctional kyphosis, but no permanent neurological deficits or pseudarthroses occurred, and patients experienced significant improvement in their functioning and quality of life post-treatment.
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Study Design: Retrospective cohort of pediatric patients (younger than 21 years) with severe spinal deformities who underwent vertebral column resection (VCR) surgery.

Objective: To compare patients who underwent single- versus multilevel VCR surgery in terms of radiographic correction and perioperative complications.

Summary Of Background Data: There are few studies comparing single- to multilevel VCR surgery regarding the efficacy and safety of the procedures.

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Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To determine if severe sagittal malalignment (SM) patients without fixed deformities require a three-column osteotomy (3CO) to achieve favorable clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Summary Of Background Data: 3CO performed for severe SM has significantly increased in the last 15 years.

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Background: Short-term studies have shown improved outcomes and alignment after posterior vertebral column resection for severe spinal deformity. Our goal was to report long-term changes in radiographic and health-related quality-of-life measures in a consecutive series of pediatric and adult patients undergoing posterior vertebral column resection with a minimum follow-up of 5 years.

Methods: We reviewed all patients undergoing posterior vertebral column resection by a single surgeon prior to January 1, 2010, at a single institution.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focused on assessing postoperative complications in neuromuscular scoliosis surgeries over a 12-year timeframe, given that these patients are at higher risk for complications due to their conditions.
  • Using the Scoliosis Research Society's Morbidity and Mortality database, the research analyzed 29,019 cases and found a notable decrease in overall complication rates, from 6.3% in 2004-2015.
  • Specifically, the study highlighted a significant reduction in wound infections, respiratory issues, and complications related to surgical implants, indicating improvements in surgical management strategies over the years.
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Introduction: Members of the Scoliosis Research Society are required to annually submit complication data regarding deaths, visual acuity loss, neurological deficit and infection (2012-1st year for this measure) for all deformity operations performed. The purpose of this study is to report the 2012 results and the differences in these complications from the years 2009-2012.

Methods: The SRS M&M database is a self-reported complications registry of deformity operations performed by the members.

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Purpose: Our study aimed to confirm the correlation between the Cranial Sagittal Vertical Axis (CrSVA) and patient-reported outcomes and to compare clinical correlation between CrSVA and C7 SVA in adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients.

Methods: 108 consecutive ASD patients were evaluated using the EOS 2D/3D radio-imaging device. A vertical plumb line from the cranial center was utilized to measure the distance to the posterior corner of S1 (CrSVA-S), and to the centers of the hip (CrSVA-H), the knee (CrSVA-K), and ankle (CrSVA-A), as well as measuring the standard C7 SVA.

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Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate radiographic and patient-reported outcomes at minimum 2 years after revision surgery for proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK), correlating these results with PJK etiology.

Summary Of Background Data: There are no studies detailing the results of revision surgery for PJK following posterior segmental instrumentation.

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Study Design: Retrospective review of prospectively collected data.

Objective: To assess the value of the deformity angular ratio (DAR, maximum Cobb measurement divided by number of vertebrae involved) in evaluating the severity of spinal deformity, and predicting the risk of neurologic deficit in posterior vertebral column resection (PVCR).

Summary Of Background Data: Although the literature has demonstrated that PVCR in spinal deformity patients has achieved excellent outcomes, it is still high risk neurologically.

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Aim: Obesity is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Recently it was shown that overexpression of the Mas-receptor antagonist angiotensin(1-7) could prevent from diet-induced obesity. However, it remained unclear whether diet-induced obesity and angiotensin(1-7) overexpression might also have effects on the cardiovascular system in these rats.

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Purpose: Introduction of complementary food usually leads to decreasing intakes of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA), compared to full breastfeeding. In the randomised controlled PINGU intervention trial, we tested the effects of complementary foods with different contents of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on term infant LC-PUFA status.

Methods: Healthy infants born at term were randomised to receive from the introduction of complementary feeding at the age of 4 to 6 months until age of 10 months ready-made complementary meals either with ALA-rich rapeseed oil (intervention group (IG)-R), with salmon twice weekly to provide preformed DHA (IG-F), or with linoleic acid-rich corn oil (control group, CG).

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Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluate long-term effectiveness of central hook-rod constructs for posterior spinal osteotomy closure.

Summary Of Background Data: During osteotomy site closure various techniques are used, including patient positioning, rod cantilevering, extending fixation points, and compressing through pedicle fixation points.

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Study Design: Retrospective.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the amount of correction achieved (K°) and extent of vertebral column shortening (mm) with posterior vertebral column resection (PVCR).

Summary Of Background Data: There is no scientific reference to the correlation between K° and column shortening (mm) with PVCR.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study compared the outcomes of using a standard 2-rod construct (2-RC) versus a multiple-rod construct (multi-RC) in treating severe spinal deformities via 3-column osteotomies over a minimum of 2 years.
  • While both constructs had similar preoperative characteristics, the multi-RC showed significantly lower rates of rod breakage and revision surgeries due to pseudarthroses.
  • The findings suggest that the multi-RC method enhances stability and reduces complications compared to the 2-RC method in this patient population.
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Purpose: Cytochrome b 5 (encoded by CYB5A) and NADH cytochrome b 5 reductase (encoded by CYB5R3) detoxify aromatic and heterocyclic amine mammary carcinogens found in cigarette smoke. We hypothesized that CYB5A and CYB5R3 polymorphisms would be associated with breast cancer risk in women.

Methods: We characterized the prevalence of 18 CYB5A and CYB5R3 variants in genomic DNA from African American (AfrAm) and Caucasian (Cauc) women from the Carolina Breast Cancer Study population (1,946 cases and 1,747 controls) and determined their associations with breast cancer risk, with effect modification by smoking.

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Study Design: Retrospective review of pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) cases.

Objective: To report our results, radiographic and clinical outcomes at a minimum 5 years following revision surgery for pseudarthrosis after a PSO.

Summary Of Background Data: To our knowledge, there is no report on the results of revision surgery for pseudarthrosis after a PSO.

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