Formulation and exploration of novel, intramuscular pressure based, muscle activation strategies in a spine model.

Optimization models are often devised to assess spinal stability via estimating individual muscle forces. However, neglecting muscles' fluidic behavior remains an approximation due to the role of muscle pressure in force transmission. The purpose of this study was to leverage a validated Finite Element (FE) model of the spine, inclusive of Intra-Muscular Pressure (IMP), to explore muscle activation strategies towards maintaining equilibrium spinal stability.

The genotype of mice influences the autoimmune response to spliceosome proteins induced by cytomegalovirus gB immunization.

In previous studies we have established a link between cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and an autoimmune response to the U1-70 k protein of the spliceosome in man. This autoimmune response, generally referred to as the anti-RNP (ribonucleoprotein) antibodies, is observed in about 30% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We have also found that the CMV glycoprotein B (CMV gB) when expressed in a adenovirus vector (Ad) could induce a significant anti-U1-70 k antibody response in several strains of mice, such as C3H, MRL and BALB/c.