Molecular Dynamics of Synthetic Flagelliform Silk Fiber Assembly.

In order to better understand the relationship between Flagelliform (Flag) spider silk molecular structural organization and the mechanisms of fiber assembly, it was designed and produced the Flag spidroin analogue rNcFlag2222. The recombinant proteins are composed by the elastic repetitive glycine-rich motifs (GPGGX/GGX) and the spacer region, rich in hydrophilic charged amino acids, present at the native silk spidroin. Using different approaches for nanomolecular protein analysis, the structural data of rNcFlag2222 recombinant proteins were compared in its fibrillar and in its fully solvated states.

Silkworms with Spider Silklike Fibers Using Synthetic Silkworm Chow Containing Calcium Lignosulfonate, Carbon Nanotubes, and Graphene.

Silkworm silk has become increasingly relevant for material applications. However, the industry as a whole is retracting because of problems with mass production. One of the key problems is the inconsistent properties of the silk.

Material Formation of Recombinant Spider Silks through Aqueous Solvation using Heat and Pressure.

Many spiders produce seven types of silks. Six of the silks are fiber in form when produced by the spiders. These fibers are not water soluble.

Importance of Heat and Pressure for Solubilization of Recombinant Spider Silk Proteins in Aqueous Solution.

The production of recombinant spider silk proteins continues to be a key area of interest for a number of research groups. Several key obstacles exist in their production as well as in their formulation into useable products. The original reported method to solubilize recombinant spider silk proteins (rSSp) in an aqueous solution involved using microwaves to quickly generate heat and pressure inside of a sealed vial containing rSSp and water.

More than just fibers: an aqueous method for the production of innovative recombinant spider silk protein materials.

Spider silk is a striking and robust natural material that has an unrivaled combination of strength and elasticity. There are two major problems in creating materials from recombinant spider silk proteins (rSSps): expressing sufficient quantities of the large, highly repetitive proteins and solvating the naturally self-assembling proteins once produced. To address the second problem, we have developed a method to rapidly dissolve rSSps in water in lieu of traditional organic solvents and accomplish nearly 100% solvation and recovery of the protein.

Individuals with hematological malignancies before undergoing chemotherapy present oxidative stress parameters and acute phase proteins correlated with nutritional status.

Hematological malignancies present abnormal blood cells that may have altered functions. This study aimed to evaluate nutritional status, acute phase proteins, parameters of cell's functionality, and oxidative stress of patients with hematological malignancies, providing a representation of these variables at diagnosis, comparisons between leukemias and lymphomas and establishing correlations. Nutritional status, C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, phagocytic capacity and superoxide anion production of mononuclear cells, lipid peroxidation and catalase activity in plasma were evaluated in 16 untreated subjects.

Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on regulatory T cells in hematologic neoplasms.

The development of leukemia and lymphomas is related to the increase in inflammatory process modulators. These, in turn, have divergent actions on the neoplastic process. Populations of T cells have different roles in the neoplastic environment; while interferon-gamma positive T cells have antitumor activity, the FoxP3+interleukin-10 positive population present a pro-tumor activity.

Patient with Down syndrome and implant therapy: a case report.

Patients with Down syndrome may not be cooperative during dental treatment and, in cases of complex treatment, it is necessary to use oral or inhaled sedation and/or general anesthesia, which represent safe and efficient treatment resources. There are few reports about oral rehabilitation with dental implants in patients with Down syndrome in the literature. This paper presents the case of a patient with Down syndrome and moderate mental retardation who suffered avulsion of the maxillary left central incisor after a fall, and was treated by means of a single dental implant with immediate load carried out under general anesthesia.

Correlation between miniscrew stability and bone mineral density in orthodontic patients.

Introduction: The aims of this study were to correlate the clinical and radiographic stability of titanium miniscrews when used as orthodontic anchorage for maxillary canine retraction and to assess bone quality.

Methods: Thirty titanium miniscrews were placed in 15 consecutive patients (8 male, 7 female; age range, 12 years 5 months-32 years 11 months) as orthodontic anchorage. Orthodontic loads were applied immediately after miniscrew placement (T1) with a nickel-titanium closing coil spring.