9,477 results match your criteria Stiff Person Syndrome
Macromol Rapid Commun 2018 Dec 14:e1800819. Epub 2018 Dec 14.
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
In this study, a simple yet versatile method is introduced to prepare a hyperbranched supramolecular polymer hydrogel by utilizing Type II photoinitiated self-condensing vinyl polymerization of N-acryloyl glycinamide, which can serve not only as an inimer providing branching sites, but also as a hydrogen-bonding cross-linker. The hyperbranched poly(N-acryloyl glycinamide) (HB-PNAGA) hydrogels demonstrate excellent mechanical performances with a tensile strength of 0.793-2. Read More
Adv Mater 2018 Dec 14:e1805654. Epub 2018 Dec 14.
Hefei National Research Center for Physical Science at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion & Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China.
Although with an extremely high theoretical capacity (3860 mA h g ), the lithium (Li) metal anodes reported so far typically possess capacities of ≤5 mA h cm and cyclable at currents of ≤5 mA cm . In this work, a hierarchal carbon scaffold is designed with the self-growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in nickel-decorated melamine sponges via thermal annealing. It is found that the nitrogen-doped carbon obtained from the melamine sponge, coupled with CNTs, provides an overall strong yet internally flexible host which enables an areal capacity of up to 15 mA h cm cyclable at a charging/discharging current of 15 mA cm as Li metal anodes. Read More
Beilstein J Nanotechnol 2018 19;9:2893-2905. Epub 2018 Nov 19.
Mechanical Engineering, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-1021, USA.
Many organisms rely on densely packed, tilted and curved fibers of various dimensions to attach to surfaces. While the high elastic modulus of these fibers enables an extremely large number of fibers per unit area, where each fiber stands freely without sticking to its neighbors, the tilt/curvature provides them with the compliance and the directional adhesion properties to attach strongly and efficiently to a surface. Recent studies have revealed that many of such organisms also feature materials with a graded elastic modulus that is tailored towards improving the contact area without sacrificing the fiber density. Read More
Sci Rep 2018 Dec 13;8(1):17821. Epub 2018 Dec 13.
Science Department, Roma Tre University, Viale Marconi 446, 00146, Rome, Italy.
The general model presented here for the formation of chromatin domains, LADs and TADs, is primarily based on the 3-D structures of the corresponding DNA sequences, the GC-poor and GC-rich isochores. Indeed, the low-heterogeneity GC-poor isochores locally are intrinsically stiff and curved because of the presence of interspersed oligo-Adenines. In contrast, the high-heterogeneity GC-rich isochores are in the shape of peaks characterized by increasing levels of GC and of interspersed oligo-Guanines. Read More
Sci Rep 2018 Dec 13;8(1):17820. Epub 2018 Dec 13.
Science Department, Roma Tre University, Viale Marconi 446, 00146, Rome, Italy.
Recent investigations have shown that isochores are characterized by a 3-D structure which is primarily responsible for the topology of chromatin domains. More precisely, an analysis of human chromosome 21 demonstrated that low-heterogeneity, GC-poor isochores are characterized by the presence of oligo-Adenines that are intrinsically stiff, curved and unfavorable for nucleosome binding. This leads to a structure of the corresponding chromatin domains, the Lamina Associated Domains, or LADs, which is well suited for interaction with the lamina. Read More
Early Hum Dev 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.
Academic Department of Paediatrics, Mater Dei Hospital, Malta. Electronic address:
As an experienced writer, one is often asked the question "what can I publish" by younger and inexperienced colleagues who must publish. This paper will briefly review the reasons why academics publish and will then outline what kind of papers one may be able to publish with relative ease, using personal experience and citing first hand material as a practical guide. Potential authors must cultivate "a lean and hungry look" as competition from fellow writers is stiff, and editors are choosy. Read More
J Clin Oncol 2018 Dec 4:JCO1800053. Epub 2018 Dec 4.
Mitchell E. Horwitz and Joanne Kurtzberg, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Stephen Wease and Beth Blackwell, Emmes Corporation, Rockville, MD; David Valcarcel, University Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona; Pau Montesinos and Guillermo Sanz, Hospital Universitario y Politécnic de La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Francesco Frassoni, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa; Daniela Cilloni, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Jaap Jan Boelens, Stefan Nierkens, and Jurgen Kuball, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Madan Jagasia, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; John E. Wagner, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN; Liang Piu Koh, National University Health System; William Y.K. Hwang, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore; Navneet S. Majhail and Rabi Hanna, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH; Patrick J. Stiff, Loyola University Medical Center, Chicago, IL; Laurence S. Freedman, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Purpose: Increasing the number of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells within an umbilical cord blood (UCB) graft shortens the time to hematopoietic recovery after UCB transplantation. In this study, we assessed the safety and efficacy of a UCB graft that was expanded ex vivo in the presence of nicotinamide and transplanted after myeloablative conditioning as a stand-alone hematopoietic stem-cell graft.
Methods: Thirty-six patients with hematologic malignancies underwent transplantation at 11 sites. Read More
PLoS One 2018 12;13(12):e0208020. Epub 2018 Dec 12.
Ecology and Evolution, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
The extinct marsupial 'lion' Thylacoleo carnifex was Australia's largest mammalian carnivore. Despite being the topic of more discussion than any other extinct Australian marsupial (excepting perhaps the Thylacine), basic aspects of its palaeobiology, including its locomotory repertoire, remain poorly understood. Recent discoveries allowed the first reconstruction of an entire skeleton including the first complete tail and hitherto-unrecognised clavicles. Read More
Sports Med Int Open 2018 Apr 22;2(2):E35-E40. Epub 2018 May 22.
UT Health San Antonio, Department of Physical Therapy, San Antonio, United States.
The aim was to determine which three landing styles - stiff (ST), self-selected (SS), or soft (SF) - exhibit safer landing mechanics and greater jumping performance. Thirty participants (age: 26.5±5. Read More
Integr Blood Press Control 2018 23;11:81-91. Epub 2018 Nov 23.
Department of Cardiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular heart disease in the elderly and it causes significant morbidity and mortality. Hypertension is also highly prevalent in elderly patients with AS, and AS patients with hypertension have worse outcomes. Accurate assessment of AS severity and understanding its relationship with arterial compliance has become increasingly important as the options for valve management, particularly transcatheter interventions, have grown. Read More
Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2018 Dec 8. Epub 2018 Dec 8.
Loyola University Medical Center, Internal Medicine, 2160 S 1(st) Ave, IL, Maywood, Illinois 60153, United States.
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant disorder of plasma cells primarily affecting elderly patients and is the second most commonly diagnosed hematological neoplasm. With the recent influx of effective new agents available including proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulators, targeted monoclonal antibodies, and now chimeric antigen receptor t-cell therapy (CAR-T), the treatment landscape is evolving rapidly. While the role of consolidative autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in first remission is well established, in the relapsed setting following up front ASCT, the role of a second ASCT (SAT) following reinduction is less clear and understudied. Read More
Plant J 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.
Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
Maize(Zea mays L.), a model species for genetic studies, is one of the two most important crop species worldwide.The genome sequence of the reference genotype, B73, representative of the stiff stalk heterotic group was recently updated (AGPv4) using long-read sequencing and optical mapping technology. Read More
Biomaterials 2018 Nov 8;192:560-568. Epub 2018 Nov 8.
Department of Bioengineering, University of California - Los Angeles, 410 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Center for Minimally Invasive Therapeutics (C-MIT), University of California - Los Angeles, 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), University of California - Los Angeles, 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Centre, University of California - Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA; Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California - Los Angeles, 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California - Los Angeles, 5531 Boelter Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Bioindustrial Technologies, College of Animal Bioscience and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 143-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:
Naturally-derived proteins, such as collagen, elastin, fibroin, and gelatin (denatured collagen) hold a remarkable promise for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA), synthesized from the methacryloyl modification of gelatin, mimicking the structure of extracellular matrix, has widely been used as a universal multi-responsive scaffold for a broad spectrum of applications, spanning from cell therapy to bioprinting and organoid development. Despite the widespread applications of GelMA, coupled stiffness and porosity has inhibited its applications in 3D cellular engineering wherein a stiff scaffold with large pores is demanded (e. Read More
Echocardiography 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.
Department of Cardiology, Trabzon Ahi Evren Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Research and Application Center, Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi (University of Health Sciences), Trabzon, Turkey.
Introduction: Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), a direct marker of atherosclerosis, has emerged as a promising means for cardiovascular risk evaluation. Presystolic wave (PSW) is commonly detected by the Doppler interrogation of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). It is thought to be a result of a stiff left ventricle and impaired LV compliance. Read More
Nanoscale 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
Significant advances have been made towards the design, fabrication, and actuation of dynamic DNA nanorobots including the development of DNA origami mechanisms. These DNA origami mechanisms integrate relatively stiff links made of bundles of double-stranded DNA and relatively flexible joints made of single-stranded DNA to mimic the design of macroscopic machines and robots. Despite reproducing the complex configurations of macroscopic machines, these DNA origami mechanisms exhibit significant deviations from their intended motion behavior since nanoscale mechanisms are subject to significant thermal fluctuations that lead to variations in the geometry of the underlying DNA origami components. Read More
Nature 2018 Dec 5;564(7734):E1. Epub 2018 Dec 5.
Department of Mathematics, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Lancet Oncol 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Background: Axicabtagene ciloleucel is an autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. In the previous analysis of the ZUMA-1 registrational study, with a median follow-up of 15·4 months (IQR 13·7-17·3), 89 (82%) of 108 assessable patients with refractory large B-cell lymphoma treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel achieved an objective response, and complete responses were noted in 63 (58%) patients. Here we report long-term activity and safety outcomes of the ZUMA-1 study. Read More
Dig Endosc 2018 Dec 1. Epub 2018 Dec 1.
Department of Gastrointestinal and Pediatric Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
The efficacy of cholangioscopy-assisted lithotripsy for difficult stones such as huge stones, multiple large stones and an impacted stone in patients with non-altered anatomy have been reported. Herein, we describe peroral direct digital cholangioscopy (PDCS)-assisted electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) with a new technique in patients with surgically altered anatomy. Five patients received PDCS-assisted EHL with the monorail technique because of surgically altered anatomy, due to failed conventional stone extraction. Read More
Adv Funct Mater 2018 Feb 19;28(9). Epub 2017 Dec 19.
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
The production of structural and functional materials with enhanced mechanical properties through the integration of soft and hard components is a common approach to Nature's materials design. However, directly mimicking these optimized design routes in the lab for practical applications remains challenging. For example, graphene and silk are two materials with complementary mechanical properties that feature ultrahigh stiffness and toughness, respectively. Read More
Sci Rep 2018 Nov 30;8(1):17483. Epub 2018 Nov 30.
Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry (IOC), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Straße am Forum 7, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany.
The concept of sequence-definition in the sense of polymer chemistry is introduced to conjugated, rod-like oligo(phenylene ethynylene)s via an iterative synthesis procedure. Specifically, monodisperse sequence-defined trimers and pentamers were prepared via iterative Sonogashira cross-coupling and deprotection. The reaction procedure was extended to tetra- and pentamers for the first time yielding a monodisperse pentamer with 18% and a sequence-defined pentamer with 3. Read More
Dent Mater 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.
Department of Conservative Dentistry, Division of Biomaterials and Engineering, Showa University School of Dentistry, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan.
Objective: Tooth enamel has unsurpassed hardness and stiffness among mammalian tissue structures. Such stiff materials are usually brittle, yet mature enamel can survive for a lifetime. Understanding the nanoscale origin of enamel durability is important for developing advanced load-bearing biomaterials. Read More
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2018 Dec;28(12):967-969
Department of Anaesthesiology, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
We herein describe the successful anesthetic management of a patient with stiff person syndrome undergoing right total hip replacement under spinal anesthesia. We also describe the problems associated with general anesthesia. The advantage of using regional anesthesia in these patients is the avoidance of muscle relaxants. Read More
Biomed Res Int 2018 1;2018:4025083. Epub 2018 Nov 1.
Beijing Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Technical Aids for Old-Age Disability and Key Laboratory of Intelligent Control and Rehabilitation Technology of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, National Research Center for Rehabilitation Technical Aids, Beijing 100176, China.
Osteogenic differentiation of cells has considerable clinical significance in bone defect treatment, and cell behavior is linked to extracellular matrix stiffness. This study aimed to determine how matrix stiffness affects cell morphology and subsequently regulates the osteogenic phenotype of osteogenesis precursor cells. Four PDMS substrates were prepared with stiffness corresponding to the elastic modulus ranging from 0. Read More
Haematologica 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Survivorship care plans may facilitate long-term care for cancer survivors, but their effectiveness has not been established in hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients. We evaluated the impact of individualized survivorship care plans on patient-reported outcomes among transplant survivors. Adult (≥18 years at transplant) survivors who were 1-5 years post-transplantation, proficient in English, and without relapse or secondary cancers were eligible for this multicenter randomized trial. Read More
Materials (Basel) 2018 Nov 30;11(12). Epub 2018 Nov 30.
Institute for Paper-, Pulp- and Fibre Technology, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 23, 8010 Graz, Austria.
This study investigates flexible (polyamide 6.6 PA-6.6, polyethylene terephthalate PET, Cu, Al, and Ni foils) and, for comparison, stiff substrates (silicon wafers and glass) differing in, for example, in surface free energy and surface roughness and their ability to host cellulose-based thin films. Read More
Int J Nanomedicine 2018 8;13:7217-7227. Epub 2018 Nov 8.
Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea,
Background: Tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) are key factors associated with regeneration and healing in tendinopathy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mechanical stiffness and topographic signals on the differentiation of TDSCs depending on age and pathological conditions.
Materials And Methods: We compared TDSCs extracted from normal tendon tissues with TDSCs from tendinopathic Achilles tendon tissues of Sprague Dawley rats in vitro and TDSCs cultured on nanotopographic cues and substrate stiffness to determine how to control the TDSCs. Read More
ACS Nano 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.
Cells respond to both physical and chemical aspects of their substrate. Whether intracellular signals initiated by physical stimuli are fundamentally different from those elicited by chemical stimuli is an open question. Here we show that the requirement for a stiff substrate and therefore high cellular tension in order for cells to produce large focal adhesions and stress fibers is obviated when a soft substrate contains both hyaluronic acid (HA) and an integrin ligand (collagen I). Read More
ACS Chem Neurosci 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common neurodegenerative disorder is characterized by the extracellular deposition of dense amyloid beta plaques. Emerging evidence suggests that the production of these plaques is initiated by the intracellular uptake and lysosomal pre-concentration of the amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide. All previous endocytosis studies assess Aβ uptake with cells plated on traditional tissue culture plastic; however, brain tissue is distinctly soft with a low-kPa stiffness. Read More
Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao 2018 Nov;34(11):1850-1859
Key Laboratory of Soft Chemistry and Functional Materials of Education Ministry, Nanjing University of Science and Technology,Nanjing 210094, Jiangsu, China.
The two-dimensional (2D) cell culture model is currently used to study cellular processes and drug screening for human diseases. However, the growth of cells is affected by many factors. For conventional 2D cell culture, many of the difficulties are encountered in accurately replicating the cell function in three-dimensional (3D) tissues. Read More
Beilstein J Org Chem 2018 9;14:2812-2821. Epub 2018 Nov 9.
Department of Chemistry & IRIS Adlershof, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Straße 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany.
The electrochemical behavior of stiff dithienylethenes, undergoing double bond isomerization in addition to ring-closure, has been investigated. Electrochromism was observed in almost all cases, with the major pathway being the oxidatively induced cyclization of the open isomers. The influence of the ring size (to lock the reactive antiparallel conformation) as well as substituents (to modulate the redox potential) on the electrocyclization was examined. Read More
J Pediatr Surg 2018 Nov 7. Epub 2018 Nov 7.
Department of Paediatric Surgery, Addenbrookes Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK. Electronic address:
Aim: Buried Bumper (BB) is a complication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) that leads to tube dysfunction and major morbidity. Although many techniques have been described to manage BB, none are universally adopted, and laparotomy remains the mainstay. We introduce a novel endoscopic technique in paediatric surgery that avoids laparotomy. Read More
Med Sci (Basel) 2018 Nov 26;6(4). Epub 2018 Nov 26.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Shimane University, 89-1 Enya-cho, Izumo, Shimane Prefecture 693-8501, Japan.
OK-432, a preparation of a low-virulence strain (Su) of (Group A) killed by a penicillin and lyophilized, is a stiff inducer of Th1 cytokines, and exerts anti-cancer effects in tumor-bearing mice. OK-432 has been reported to consist of many bacterial components, such as peptidoglycan, M-protein, etc. However, it is yet to be ascertained which bacterial component induces T helper 1 (Th1) responses. Read More
J Investig Med High Impact Case Rep 2018 Jan-Dec;6:2324709618811370. Epub 2018 Nov 15.
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
In this article, we present an exceptional case of pituitary apoplexy in which a patient presented with meningeal symptoms of headache, stiff neck, and nausea rather than the classical findings of ophthalmoplegia and/or vision loss. The patient has had 2 similar presentations with cerebrospinal fluid showing neutrophilic pleocytosis, as well as a computed tomography scan showing a prominent pituitary gland. On current presentation, the patient's vital signs were stable and the physical examination was remarkable for nuchal rigidity. Read More
Adv Sci (Weinh) 2018 Nov 7;5(11):1800728. Epub 2018 Oct 7.
Engineering Design and Computing Laboratory ETH Zurich 8092 Zurich Switzerland.
To be of engineering relevance, it is essential for stiff and strong materials to possess also high toughness. However, as these properties are typically mutually exclusive, they are rarely found in nature and synthetic replications are extremely limited. Here, an elegant albeit simple physical principle that enables ligaments in cellular networks to possess these mechanical properties simultaneously is presented. Read More
BMC Biol 2018 Nov 26;16(1):142. Epub 2018 Nov 26.
Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Background: Mammalian cells are flexible and can rapidly change shape when they contract, adhere, or migrate. The nucleus must be stiff enough to withstand cytoskeletal forces, but flexible enough to remodel as the cell changes shape. This is particularly important for cells migrating through confined spaces, where the nuclear shape must change in order to fit through a constriction. Read More
IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2018 Nov 20. Epub 2018 Nov 20.
Wireless magnetoelastic sensors offer significant potential for measuring the accumulation of biomass within stents - enabling early detection prior to stent occlusion - but the encapsulation of these sensors remains a critical challenge. The encapsulation must allow the sensors to navigate the curvature and accommodate the contact forces imparted during and after the implantation procedure, while also leaving the sensor open to mechanical interaction with the biomass during the extended period of deployment. This paper is focused on the encapsulation of ribbon-like magnetoelastic sensors (12. Read More
J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2018 Nov 20. Epub 2018 Nov 20.
From the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, New York, NY.
The stiff digit may be a consequence of trauma or surgery to the hand and fingers and can markedly affect a patient's level of function and quality of life. Stiffness and contractures may be caused by one or a combination of factors including joint, intrinsic, extensor, and flexor tendon pathology, and the patient's individual biology. A thorough understanding of the anatomy, function, and relationship of these structures on finger joint range of motion is crucial for interpreting physical examination findings and preoperative planning. Read More
Trends Plant Sci 2018 Nov 21. Epub 2018 Nov 21.
UMR8227, CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Station Biologique, Place Georges Teissier, 29680 Roscoff, France.
In plants, cell growth is constrained by a stiff cell wall, at least this is the way textbooks usually present it. Accordingly, many studies have focused on the elasticity and plasticity of the cell wall as prerequisites for expansion during growth. With their specific evolutionary history, cell wall composition, and environment, brown algae present a unique configuration offering a new perspective on the involvement of the cell wall, viewed as an inert material yet with intrinsic mechanical properties, in growth. Read More
Soft Matter 2018 Dec;14(47):9528-9533
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China.
Tumor cells disseminate to distant organs mainly through blood circulation, where they experience considerable levels of fluid shear flow. However, its influence on circulating tumor cells remains less understood. This study elucidates the effects of hemodynamic shear flow on biophysical properties and functions of breast circulating tumor cells with metastatic preference to brain. Read More
J Appl Physiol (1985) 2018 Nov 21. Epub 2018 Nov 21.
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia.
The human foot is uniquely stiff to enable forward propulsion, yet also possesses sufficient elasticity to act as an energy store, recycling mechanical energy during locomotion. Historically this dichotomous function has been attributed to the passive contribution of the plantar aponeurosis. However, recent evidence highlights the potential for muscles to actively modulate the energetic function of the foot. Read More
Soft Matter 2018 Dec;14(47):9681-9692
Field of Theoretical & Applied Mechanics, Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
The common pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape is a composite consisting of a stiff backing layer and a soft adhesive layer. A simple and common way to test how adhesive tapes respond to large shear deformations is the zero degree peel test. Because the backing is very stiff compared to the adhesive layer, the region where the adhesive layer is subjected to large shear can be hundreds of times its thickness. Read More
Acta Biomater 2019 Jan 17;83:167-176. Epub 2018 Nov 17.
Center for Cellular and Molecular Engineering, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA. Electronic address:
Cell-loaded hydrogels are frequently applied in cartilage tissue engineering for their biocompatibility, ease of application, and ability to conform to various defect sites. As a bioactive adjunct to the biomaterial, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) has been shown to be essential for cell differentiation into a chondrocyte phenotype and maintenance thereof, but the low amounts of endogenous TGF-β in the in vivo joint microenvironment necessitate a mechanism for controlled delivery and release of this growth factor. In this study, TGF-β3 was directly loaded with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into poly-d,l-lactic acid/polyethylene glycol/poly-d,l-lactic acid (PDLLA-PEG) hydrogel, or PDLLA-PEG with the addition of hyaluronic acid (PDLLA/HA), and cultured in vitro. Read More
J Clin Neurosci 2018 Nov 16. Epub 2018 Nov 16.
Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India. Electronic address:
We aimed to study the proportion of patients with movement disorders in seropositive autoimmune encephalitis of non-neoplastic aetiology and also to describe the spectrum of movement disorders in them. We prospectively screened 362 patients of age >12 years with encephalitis of unknown aetiology for a panel of antibodies for autoimmune encephalitis. Demographic and clinical characteristics with focus on the movement disorders were recorded. Read More
J Am Chem Soc 2018 Nov 19. Epub 2018 Nov 19.
Multi-triggered DNA/bipyridinium-dithienylethene (DTE) hybrid carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) based hydrogels are introduced. DTE exhibits cyclic and reversible photoisomerization properties, switching between the closed state (DTE), the electron acceptor, and the open isomer (DTE) that lacks electron acceptor properties. One system includes the syn-thesis of CMC chains modified with electron donor dopamine sites and self-complementary nucleic acid tethers. Read More
Multiscale Model Simul 2018 21;16(3):1283-1304. Epub 2018 Aug 21.
Carolina Center for Interdisciplinary Applied Mathematics, Department of Mathematics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599.
Using particle-scale models to accurately describe property enhancements and phase transitions in macroscopic behavior is a major engineering challenge in composite materials science. To address some of these challenges, we use the graph theoretic property of rigidity to model mechanical reinforcement in composites with stiff rod-like particles. We develop an efficient algorithmic approach called (RGC) to describe the transition from floppy to rigid in disordered fiber networks ("rod-hinge systems"), which form the reinforcing phase in many composite systems. Read More
Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2018 Dec 4;11(12):1209-1218. Epub 2018 Dec 4.
a Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology , Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston-Salem , NC , USA.
Introduction: Psoriasis is a common chronic skin condition that is prevalent worldwide. Despite the numerous treatment options available, discrepancies exist between international guidelines. Areas covered: This review aims to evaluate the current international guidelines for the systemic treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Read More
Wiad Lek 2018 ;71(7):1289-1294
Sumy State University, Sumy, Ukraine.
Objective: Introduction: Herpesviruses (HVs) are ubiquitous pathogens that infect humans usually during childhood, followed by a life-long persistence in a latent state in many sites of a body including the nerve cells. After reactivation HVs can affect the Central Nervous System (CNS) becoming a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide as well as long-term neurological sequelae. Despite being an important public health problem very few population-based studies were conducted so far in the world and none in Ukraine. Read More
Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2018 Jul;2018:4599-4602
Obtaining multiple single-unit recordings in particular neural networks from behaving animals is crucial for the understanding of cognitive functions of the brain. Attaining stable, chronic recordings from the brain is also the foundation to develop effective cortical prosthetic devices. However, severe immune response caused by micromotion between stiff implants and surrounding brain tissue often limits the lifetime of penetrating, neural recording devices. Read More
Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2018 Jul;2018:1490-1493
This study presents and applies generalized angular phase space analysis to lower limb joint angles of specific subject during normal and modified gait for discrimination of gait and joint angular movements. Case study of an adult healthy male in-vivo and noninvasive kinematic assessment of skin surface adhesive markers at lower limb was performed at human movement lab during normal gait, stiff knee gait and slow running. Musculoskeletal modeling was performed using AnyGait v. Read More
Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2018 07;2018:1-4
We present the first invasive use of a stiff, multiLED optical probe for intramural optical stimulation of cardiac tissue. We demonstrate that optical pacing is possible with high spatial and temporal resolution in transgenic mice expressing channelrhodopsin-2. The technical implementation of this study builds on optical probes recently developed and tested ex vivo in cerebral tissue of mice. Read More