Ankle instability in pediatric and adolescent patients diagnosed with lateral malleolus avulsion fracture: Analysis of clinical and functional outcomes of ligament injury repair surgery.

Background: Some children and adolescents can develop persistent pain and instability following inversion injuries of the ankle. In these cases, imaging exams could reveal small bone fragments distal to the lateral malleolus. For these patients, regular conservative treatment may not be successful, requiring additional management, which can include surgical treatment.

W-doped Lanthanum Molybdenum Oxide/Lithium-Sodium-Potassium Carbonate Composite Membranes for Carbon Dioxide Permeation.

Single-phase tungsten-doped lanthanum molybdenum oxide (LaMoWO) ceramic powders were synthesized using the complex polymerization technique. Porous ceramic pellets were obtained by thermally removing graphite, which served as a pore former. The porous pellets were then impregnated with molten eutectic lithium-sodium-potassium carbonates.

A comparative analysis of clinical, functional and radiographic outcomes of patients with and without fusion between the first and second metatarsals after the lapidus procedure.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical, functional and radiographic outcomes in patients who underwent the original Lapidus procedure (OLP) with fusion and undesired non-fusion between the first (M1) and second (M2) metatarsals.

Methods: A retrospective and comparative analysis of 29 patients (38 feet) who underwent the OLP was performed. They were divided in two groups: (1) 23 feet in which fusion occurred and (2) 15 with undesired non-fusion.

Unmet Needs of CKD in Latin America: A Review from Expert Virtual Working Group.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a major challenge for Latin American (LatAm) because of its epidemic proportions. Therefore, the current status and knowledge of CKD in Latin America is not clearly understood. Moreover, there is a paucity of epidemiologic studies that makes the comparison across the countries even more difficult.

Staged reconstruction of the hallux for infected non-union using bulk autograft and a customized implant: Case report.

This case report illustrates the outcome of a deep infection following internal fixation of a fracture of the big toe. Hallux amputation could be avoided through staged salvage procedure. This paper can assist readers on how to effectively and safely recognize and treat this type of injury.

S-nitrosylation is required for βAR desensitization and experimental asthma.

The β-adrenergic receptor (βAR), a prototypic G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), is a powerful driver of bronchorelaxation, but the effectiveness of β-agonist drugs in asthma is limited by desensitization and tachyphylaxis. We find that during activation, the βAR is modified by S-nitrosylation, which is essential for both classic desensitization by PKA as well as desensitization of NO-based signaling that mediates bronchorelaxation. Strikingly, S-nitrosylation alone can drive βAR internalization in the absence of traditional agonist.

Direct Conversion of Methane to C Hydrocarbons in Solid-State Membrane Reactors at High Temperatures.

Direct conversion of methane to C compounds by oxidative and nonoxidative coupling reactions has been intensively studied in the past four decades; however, because these reactions have intrinsic severe thermodynamic constraints, they have not become viable industrially. Recently, with the increasing availability of inexpensive "green electrons" coming from renewable sources, electrochemical technologies are gaining momentum for reactions that have been challenging for more conventional catalysis. Using solid-state membranes to control the reacting species and separate products in a single step is a crucial advantage.

Staged salvage of diabetic foot with Chopart amputation and intramedullary nailing.

We present a stepwise surgical approach that can be used, in lieu of a transtibial amputation, to preserve the lower limb in the setting of severe diabetic foot infections. A 63-year-old male status post left midfoot (Lisfranc's) amputation presented to our hospital with a 4-year history of a left foot diabetic ulcer with associated purulent drainage and intermittent chills. On initial exam, the patient's left foot amputation stump was plantarflexed, grossly erythematous, and edematous.

Oxygen vacancy engineering of TaO-based resistive memories by Zr doping for improved variability and synaptic behavior.

Resistive switching (RS) devices are promising forms of non-volatile memory. However, one of the biggest challenges for RS memory applications is the device-to-device (D2D) variability, which is related to the intrinsic stochastic formation and configuration of oxygen vacancy (V) conductive filaments (CFs). In order to reduce the D2D variability, control over the formation and configuration of oxygen vacancies is paramount.

SAXS signature of the lamellar ordering of ionic domains of perfluorinated sulfonic-acid ionomers by electric and magnetic field-assisted casting.

At present, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies of perfluorinated sulfonic-acid ionomers (PFSAs) are unable to fully determine the true shape of their building blocks, as recent SAXS modelling predicts disk- and rod-like nanoionic domains as being equally possible. This scenario requires evidence-based findings to unravel the real shape of PFSA building blocks. Herein, a SAXS pattern signature for a lamellar nanophase separation of the ionic domains of Nafion is presented, backed by mid and far infrared spectroscopy (MIR and FIR) and wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) data of Nafion in different ionic forms, a broad range of ionic phase contents (EW ∼ 859-42 252 g eq-1) and temperatures.

Minimally invasive tenodesis for peroneus longus tendon rupture: A case report and review of literature.

Background: Peroneal tendon disorders are common causes of lateral hindfoot pain. However, total rupture of the peroneal longus tendon is rare. Surgical treatment for this condition is usually a side-to-side tenodesis of the peroneal longus tendon to the peroneal brevis tendon.

Interplay of α/β-Relaxation Dynamics and the Shape of Ionomer Building Blocks.

The relation between the α/β relaxations and the shape of the building blocks of ionomer materials is a key factor for programming an important temperature-dependent property: the memory of shape. However, the morphology of ionomers is indirectly obtained via modeling of small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data owing to the hardly accessible image characterization of the nanometric building blocks ‒ micelle-like cylindrical polymeric aggregates (radius ~2-6 nm and length >100 nm). Herein, broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) measurements, free from electrode polarization effects, allowed identifying the time and temperature dependence of the polarization of different length scales of the ionomer matrix, and more importantly, by directly providing the aspect ratio of the radius and length of the polymeric aggregates for each desired temperature.

Internal Fixation of Displaced Intra-articular Fractures of the Hallux Through a Dorsomedial Approach: A Technical Tip.

Unlabelled: Phalangeal fractures of the toes represent common injuries of the forefoot. In the hallux, most fractures occur at the distal phalanx and frequently result from a direct crushing type of injury. Intra-articular fractures of the hallux are usually treated nonoperatively, except when the fragments are displaced and the joint is incongruent.

Environmental aspects related to tuberculosis and intestinal parasites in a low-income community of the Brazilian Amazon.

We carried out a cross-sectional study from January to December 2015 on 1,425 inhabitants from a floating population in the Brazilian Amazon (Murinin district, Pará State) to describe the population-based prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) from 2011 to 2014, recent TB contacts (rCts) latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (LTBI) , the coverage of the local health network, socio-environmental factors, and frequency of intestinal parasitic infection (IPI). We found that the sanitary structure was inadequate, with latrines being shared with other rooms within the same accommodation; well water was the main source of water, and 48% of families had low incomes. The average rate of TB was 105/100, 000 inhabitants per year; one third of TB patients had been household contacts of infected individuals in the past, and 23% of rCts were LTBI.

New morphological data of Litomosoides chagasfilhoi (Nematoda: Filarioidea) parasitizing Nectomys squamipes in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Litomosoides chagasfilhoi, originally described by Moraes Neto, Lanfredi & De Souza (1997) parasitizing the abdominal cavity of the wild rodent, Akodon cursor (Winge, 1887), was found in the abdominal cavity of Nectomys squamipes (Brants, 1827), from the municipality of Rio Bonito, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. This study led to addition of new morphological data and a new geographical distribution for this filarioid in Brazil. Several characters were detailed and emended to previous records of L.

Polyglutamine Tract Expansion Increases S-Nitrosylation of Huntingtin and Ataxin-1.

Expansion of the polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in the huntingtin (Htt) protein causes Huntington's disease (HD), a fatal inherited movement disorder linked to neurodegeneration in the striatum and cortex. S-nitrosylation and S-acylation of cysteine residues regulate many functions of cytosolic proteins. We therefore used a resin-assisted capture approach to identify these modifications in Htt.

Ras, Rac1, and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling in nitric oxide induced endothelial cell migration.

The small GTP-binding proteins Ras and Rac1 are molecular switches exchanging GDP for GTP and converting external signals in response to a variety of stimuli. Ras and Rac1 play an important role in cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and cell migration. Rac1 is directly involved in the reorganization and changes in the cytoskeleton during cell motility.

Hemoglobin βCys93 is essential for cardiovascular function and integrated response to hypoxia.

Oxygen delivery by Hb is essential for vertebrate life. Three amino acids in Hb are strictly conserved in all mammals and birds, but only two of those, a His and a Phe that stabilize the heme moiety, are needed to carry O2. The third conserved residue is a Cys within the β-chain (βCys93) that has been assigned a role in S-nitrosothiol (SNO)-based hypoxic vasodilation by RBCs.

Circulating microparticles in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies: characterization and associations.

The antiphospholipid syndrome is characterized by venous or arterial thrombosis and/or recurrent fetal loss in the presence of circulating antiphospholipid antibodies. These antibodies cause activation of endothelial and other cell types leading to the release of microparticles with procoagulant and pro-inflammatory properties. The aims of this study were to characterize the levels of endothelial cell, monocyte or platelet derived, and tissue factor-bearing microparticles in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies, to determine the association of circulating microparticles with anticardiolipin and anti-β2-glycoprotein antibodies, and to define the cellular origin of microparticles that express tissue factor.

Protein engineering to develop a redox insensitive endothelial nitric oxide synthase.

The zinc tetrathiolate (ZnS4) cluster is an important structural feature of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). The cluster is located on the dimeric interface and four cysteine residues (C94 and C99 from two adjacent subunits) form a cluster with a Zn ion in the center of a tetrahedral configuration. Due to its high sensitivity to oxidants this cluster is responsible for eNOS dimer destabilization during periods of redox stress.

Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) activates the NO-epidermal growth factor receptor-mediated signaling pathway in bradykinin-stimulated angiogenesis.

Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in angiogenesis and stimulates the EGF-R signaling pathway. Stimulation of different endothelial cell lines with bradykinin (BK) activates the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and promotes EGF-R tyrosine phosphorylation. Increase in NO production correlated with enhanced phosphorylation of tyrosine residues and S-nitrosylation of the EGF-R.

Convergence of G protein-coupled receptor and S-nitrosylation signaling determines the outcome to cardiac ischemic injury.

Heart failure caused by ischemic heart disease is a leading cause of death in the developed world. Treatment is currently centered on regimens involving G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) or nitric oxide (NO). These regimens are thought to target distinct molecular pathways.

Cytokines expression in saliva and peri-implant crevicular fluid of patients with peri-implant disease.

Objective: This study aimed to measure the levels of GM-CSF, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-γ and TNF-α in peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) and saliva from patients with peri-implant disease.

Methods: Twenty two total edentulous patients were divided into two groups: Mucositis (MU) patients with bone loss around the implants until the first thread and pocket depth ≤3 mm, and Peri-implantitis (PI) patients with at least one implant with bone loss around two or more threads and pocket depth ≥4 mm. The clinical parameters evaluated were probing pocket depth, bleeding on probing, and percentage of plaque.

A novel pathway for human endothelial cell activation by antiphospholipid/anti-β2 glycoprotein I antibodies.

Antiphospholipid Abs (APLAs) are associated with thrombosis and recurrent fetal loss. These Abs are primarily directed against phospholipid-binding proteins, particularly β(2)GPI, and activate endothelial cells (ECs) in a β(2)GPI-dependent manner after binding of β(2)GPI to EC annexin A2. Because annexin A2 is not a transmembrane protein, the mechanisms of APLA/anti-β(2)GPI Ab-mediated EC activation are uncertain, although a role for a TLR4/myeloid differentiation factor 88-dependent pathway leading to activation of NF-κB has been proposed.