Multifunctional Supramolecular Hybrid Materials Constructed from Hierarchical Self-Ordering of In Situ Generated Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) Nanoparticles.

A synergistic approach is described to engineer supramolecular hybrid materials based on metal-organic frameworks, encompassing HKUST-1 nanoparticles formed in situ, coexisting with an electrically conducting gel fiber network. The following findings are made: i) multistimuli-responsive structural transformation via reversible sol-gel switching and ii) radical conversion of a soft hybrid gel into a mechanically malleable, viscoelastic matter.

Expression studies on NA+/K(+)-ATPase in gills of Penaeus monodon (Fabricius) acclimated to different salinities.

The decapod crustacean Penaeus monodon survives large fluctuations in salinity through osmoregulation in which Na+/K(+)-ATPase (NKA) activity in the gills plays a central role. Adult P. monodon specimens were gradually acclimatized to 5, 25 and 35 per thousand salinities and maintained for 20 days to observe long-term alterations in NKA expression.

Novel pegylated silver coated carbon nanotubes kill Salmonella but they are non-toxic to eukaryotic cells.

Background: Resistance of food borne pathogens such as Salmonella to existing antibiotics is of grave concern. Silver coated single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs-Ag) have broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and may be a good treatment alternative. However, toxicity to human cells due to their physico-chemical properties is a serious public health concern.

Advanced chronic kidney disease in non-valvular atrial fibrillation: extending the utility of R2CHADS2 to patients with advanced renal failure.

Background: The R2CHADS2 is a new prediction rule for stroke risk in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients wherein R stands for renal risk. However, it was created from a cohort that excluded patients with advanced renal failure (defined as glomerular filtration rate of <30 mL/min). Our study extends the use of R2CHADS2 to patients with advanced renal failure and aims to compare its predictive power against the currently used CHADS and CHA2DS2VaSc.

Titanium implants with modified surfaces: meta-analysis of in vivo osteointegration.

Titanium-based implants are widely used in modern clinical practice, but their "optimal" properties in terms of porosity and topology, roughness and hydrophilic parameters are being a subject of intensive discussions. Recent in vitro results have shown a possibility to optimize the surface of an implant with maximal repelling of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis) and improvement in human osteogenic and endothelial cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. In this work, these different grades titanium implants were tested in vivo using the same analytical methodology.

Pregnancy and skin.

Pregnancy is associated with complex of endocrinological, immunological, metabolic, and vascular changes that may influence the skin and other organs in various ways. Pregnancy is a period in which more than 90% women have significant and complex skin changes that may have great impact on the woman's life. The dermatoses of pregnancy represent a heterogeneous group of skin diseases related to pregnancy and/or the postpartum period.

Association between ball-handling versus defending actions and acute noncontact lower extremity injuries in high school basketball and soccer.

Background: High school-sponsored athletic programs currently provide more than 7.7 million students in the United States with health and societal benefits, but they also inherently increase the risk of students sustaining a sports injury. Understanding risk factors that predict injuries in sports is an essential first step to addressing the problem in this population.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebral Salt Wasting Syndrome With Cryptococcal Meningitis in HIV Patient.

Hyponatremia is one of the most common electrolyte imbalances in HIV patients. The differential diagnosis may include hypovolemic hyponatremia, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), and adrenal insufficiency. Here, we describe a case of hyponatremia secondary to cerebral salt wasting syndrome (CSWS) in an HIV patient with cryptococcal meningitis.

Knee joint loading during lineman-specific movements in American football players.

Linemen are at high risk for knee cartilage injuries and osteoarthritis. High-intensity movements from squatting positions (eg, 3-point stance) may produce high joint loads, increasing the risk for cartilage damage. We hypothesized that knee moments and joint reaction forces during lineman-specific activities would be greater than during walking or jogging.

Christ-siemens-touraine syndrome: case report of 2 brothers.

Ectodermal dysplasia is a rare disorder. Christ-Siemens-Touraine syndrome (Hypohidrotic Ectodermal dysplasia (HED)) is a diffuse, non-progressive disease present at birth and involves at least two tissues of ectodermal origin. It is caused by mutation in gene ectodysplasin (EDA, EDA1) located at Xq12-13.

Development and optimization of modified release IPN macromolecules of oxcarbazepine using natural polymers.

The study shows development and optimization of modified release interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) macromolecules (beads) of oxcarbazepine using sodium alginate-egg albumin prepared by ionotropic gelation method and CaCl2 as a cross-linker. Independent variables were identified based on preliminary study of investigation. The effect of amount of both polymers on drug entrapment efficiency (DEE,%), bead size (μm) and cumulative drug release at 8 h (Q8h, %) were optimized using 3(2) factorial design.

Safety and immunogenicity of dry powder measles vaccine administered by inhalation: a randomized controlled Phase I clinical trial.

Background: Measles is a highly infectious respiratory disease which causes 122,000 deaths annually. Although measles vaccine is extremely safe and effective, vaccine coverage could be improved by a vaccine that is more easily administered and transported. We developed an inhalable dry powder measles vaccine (MVDP) and two delivery devices, and demonstrated safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of the vaccine in preclinical studies.

Ileal Neobladder With Mucous Plugs as a Cause of Obstructive Acute Kidney Injury Requiring Emergent Hemodialysis.

Ileal neobladder is the preferred technique in the management of urinary diversion postradical cystectomy for bladder malignancy. The common complications associated with this procedure are atrophied kidney, chronic pyelonephritis, decreased renal function, ureteroileal or urethral anastomotic site stricture, urinary tract stones, incontinence, and hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. Mucous plugs are also seen in 2%-3% patients.

Asymptomatic Cecal Perforation in a Renal Transplant Recipient After Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate Administration.

Sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS) is a medication commonly used for the treatment of hyperkalemia. There have been many cases of colonic necrosis and perforation associated with administration of SPS. There are very few such cases reported in renal transplant patients.

Influenza and End-Stage Renal Disease: A Fatal Combination.

Influenza epidemics are a major health care problem in the United States causing significant morbidity and mortality. Influenza can occur in all individuals, but immunocompromized hosts and those with chronic diseases such as end-stage renal disease are more susceptible to its fatal complications. Influenza though is largely preventable with the availability of highly efficacious vaccines.

Using global illumination in volume visualization of rheumatoid arthritis CT data.

Proper lighting in rendering is essential for visualizing 3D objects, but most visualization software tools still employ simple lighting models. The advent of hardware-accelerated advanced lighting suggests that volume visualization can be truly usable for clinical work. Researchers studied how volume rendering incorporating global illumination impacted perception of bone surface features captured by x-ray computed-tomography scanners for clinical monitoring of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Detergent-compatible, organic solvent-tolerant alkaline protease from Bacillus circulans MTCC 7942: Purification and characterization.

Proteases are now recognized as the most indispensable industrial biocatalyst owing to their diverse microbial sources and innovative applications. In the present investigation, a thermostable, organic solvent-tolerant, alkaline serine protease from Bacillus circulans MTCC 7942, was purified and characterized. The protease was purified to 37-fold by a three-step purification scheme with 39% recovery.

Theoretical investigation of hydrogen bonding interaction in H3O(+)(H2O)9 complex.

Hydrogen bonding interaction of hydronium ion with water molecules in its first and second solvation shell is studied using density functional theory with B3LYP functional and aug-cc-pvtz basis set. The nature of interaction and contribution from various interaction energies to the binding energy of a complex is studied using many-body analysis approach. The hydrogen bonds between hydronium and water molecules in its first solvation shell are stronger than those between water molecules in its second solvation shell.

Guest-responsive function of a dynamic metal-organic framework with a π Lewis acidic pore surface.

A 3D dynamic coordination framework with an electron-deficient pore surface has been synthesized by using Zn(II) (having a variable coordination number) and a predesigned flexible π-electron-deficient core-based ligand, exhibiting chemical separations based on pore surface functionalization (π Lewis acidic pore surfaces and open metal sites) and framework flexibility, giving rise to a unique smart guest-responsive material.

Stimulation of titanium implant osseointegration through high-frequency vibration loading is enhanced when applied at high acceleration.

Low-magnitude high-frequency loading, applied by means of whole body vibration (WBV), affects the bone. Deconstructing a WBV loading stimulus into its constituent elements and investigating the effects of frequency and acceleration individually on bone tissue kinetics around titanium implants were aimed for in this study. A titanium implant was inserted in the tibia of 120 rats.

Extracellular biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Rhodococcus pyridinivorans NT2: multifunctional textile finishing, biosafety evaluation and in vitro drug delivery in colon carcinoma.

In this study, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were rapidly synthesized from zinc sulfate solution at room temperature using a metabolically versatile actinobacteria Rhodococcus pyridinivorans NT2. The morphology, structure and stability of the synthesized ZnO NPs were studied using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Zeta potential, and thermogravimetry. The data indicated that the synthesized nanoparticles were moderately stable, hexagonal phase, roughly spherical with average particle diameter in the range of 100-120 nm.

Complete nucleotide sequence of pRS218, a large virulence plasmid, that augments pathogenic potential of meningitis-associated Escherichia coli strain RS218.

Background: Escherichia coli is the most predominant Gram-negative bacterial pathogen associated with neonatal meningitis. Previous studies indicated that the prototypic neonatal meningitis E. coli (NMEC) strain RS218 (O18:K1:H7) harbors one large plasmid.

Lumbopelvic control and days missed because of injury in professional baseball pitchers.

Background: Recently, lumbopelvic control has been linked to pitching performance, kinematics, and loading; however, poor lumbopelvic control has not been prospectively investigated as a risk factor for injuries in baseball pitchers.

Hypothesis: Pitchers with poor lumbopelvic control during spring training are more likely to miss ≥30 days because of an injury through an entire baseball season than pitchers with good lumbopelvic control.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Quadriceps femoris strength and sagittal-plane knee biomechanics during stair ascent in individuals with articular cartilage defects in the knee.

Context: Few objective data are available regarding strength and movement patterns in individuals with articular cartilage defects (ACDs) of the knee.

Objectives: To test the following hypotheses: (1) The involved limb of individuals with ACDs would demonstrate lower peak knee-flexion angle, peak internal knee-extension moment, and peak vertical ground-reaction force (vGRF) than the contralateral limb and healthy controls. (2) On the involved limb of individuals with ACDs, quadriceps femoris strength would positively correlate with peak knee-flexion angle, peak internal knee-extension moment, and peak vGRF.