Chain-Length Dependence of Peptide-Lipid Bilayer Interaction Strength and Binding Kinetics: A Combined Theoretical and Experimental Approach.

Physical interactions between polypeptide chains and lipid membranes underlie critical cellular processes. Yet, despite fundamental importance, key mechanistic aspects of these interactions remain elusive. Bulk experiments have revealed a linear relationship between free energy and peptide chain length in a model system, but does this linearity extend to the interaction strength and to the kinetics of lipid binding? To address these questions, we utilized a combination of coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CG MD) simulations, analytical modeling, and atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based single molecule force spectroscopy.

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) Correlates of Self-Reported Sleep Quality and Depression Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) are a significant social, sport, and military health issue. In spite of advances in the clinical management of these injuries, the underlying pathophysiology is not well-understood. There is a critical need to advance objective biomarkers, allowing the identification and tracking of the long-term evolution of changes resulting from mTBI.

A novel assessment of peripheral tissue microcirculatory vasoreactivity using vascular occlusion testing during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objective: Cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass are associated with release of inflammatory mediators and microcirculatory alterations that result in organ dysfunction. Near-infrared spectroscopic measurement of tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) and the vascular occlusion test (VOT) were utilized in a study of elective cardiac surgical patients as a novel, noninvasive method of assessing microcirculatory vasoreactivity during nonpulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The objective of this pilot study was to determine whether differences in microcirculatory function and vasoreactivity could be measured in cardiac surgery using StO2 and VOT.

Use of near infrared spectroscopy to detect impaired tissue oxygen saturation in patients with complex regional pain syndrome type 1.

Purpose: Deep tissue hypoxia has been hypothesized in the pathogenesis of complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS 1) for some patients. The purpose of this study was to determine if near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) could detect differences in deep tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) and microcirculatory function in the hands of patients with CRPS 1.

Methods: Tissue oxygen saturation was evaluated at baseline and during an ischemia reperfusion challenge using vascular occlusion testing (VOT) in affected vs unaffected hands of patients with unilateral upper limb CRPS 1.

Severe hypokalemia, paralysis, and AIDS-associated isospora belli diarrhea.

Background: Hypokalemia of clinical significance, severe enough to cause paralysis and cardiac dysrhythmias, is an uncommon life-threatening medical disorder. Hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HPP), where an abrupt intracellular shift of potassium has occurred, must be distinguished from hypokalemic non-periodic paralysis (non-HPP), where a total body potassium deficit exists. The challenge for emergency physicians is to swiftly and accurately differentiate disease etiology and institute prompt treatment.