Correlation between sagittal balance and thoracolumbar elastic energy parameters in 42 spines subject to spondylolisthesis or spinal stenosis and 21 normal spines.

The curvature of the lumbar spine plays a critical role in maintaining spinal function, stability, weight distribution, and load transfer. We have developed a mathematical model of the lumbar spine curve by introducing a novel mechanism: minimization of the elastic bending energy of the spine with respect to two biomechanical parameters: dimensionless lumbosacral spinal curvature and dimensionless curvature increment along the spine CI. While most of the biomechanical studies focus on a particular segment of the spine, the distinction of the presented model is that it describes the shape of the thoracolumbar spine by considering it as a whole (non-locally) and thus includes interactions between the different spinal levels in a holistic approach.

Size Matters: Rethinking Hertz Model Interpretation for Cell Mechanics Using AFM.

Cell mechanics are a biophysical indicator of cell state, such as cancer metastasis, leukocyte activation, and cell cycle progression. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a widely used technique to measure cell mechanics, where the Young modulus of a cell is usually derived from the Hertz contact model. However, the Hertz model assumes that the cell is an elastic, isotropic, and homogeneous material and that the indentation is small compared to the cell size.

Does Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution Affect Gestational Age and Newborn Weight?-A Systematic Review.

Current evidence suggests that airborne pollutants have a detrimental effect on fetal growth through the emergence of small for gestational age (SGA) or term low birth weight (TLBW). The study's objective was to critically evaluate the available literature on the association between environmental pollution and the incidence of SGA or TLBW occurrence. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across Pubmed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Google Scholar using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Caveolin-1 affects early mycobacterial infection and apoptosis in macrophages and mice.

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains one of the deadliest infections in humans. Because Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) share genetic similarities with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, it is often used as a model to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of more severe tuberculosis infection. Caveolin-1 has been implied in many physiological processes and diseases, but it's role in mycobacterial infections has barely been studied.

Investigation of nano- and microdomains formed by ceramide 1 phosphate in lipid bilayers.

Biological membranes are renowned for their intricate complexity, with the formation of membrane domains being pivotal to the successful execution of numerous cellular processes. However, due to their nanoscale characteristics, these domains are often understudied, as the experimental techniques required for quantitative investigation present significant challenges. In this study we employ spot-variation z-scan fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (svzFCS) tailored for artificial lipid vesicles of varying composition and combine this approach with high-resolution imaging.