Management of Instability following Pyogenic Sacroiliitis: Technical Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Septic arthritis of the sacroiliac joint (SI-joint) is a rare and often delayed diagnosis. Management usually consists of intravenous antibiotics and debridement of infected tissue. However, very few reports consider the management of the secondary instability of the sacroiliac joint. Case Presentation. We report a case of a 16-year-old girl diagnosed with S. aureus pyogenic sacroiliitis who benefited from aggressive surgical debridement and primary arthrodesis for infection-related SI-joint instability in the acute infection phase. CONCLUSION: Diagnosis of pyogenic sacroiliitis is often delayed. Destruction of the joint can lead to chronic pain and instability. In cases of obvious intraoperative instability, primary arthrodesis could be considered in young patients.

Cavity ring-down spectroscopy to measure negative ion density in a helicon plasma source for fusion neutral beams.

Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) is used to measure the D- absolute density produced in the helicon plasma reactor RAID (Resonant Antenna Ion Device) at the Swiss Plasma Center. The birdcage geometry of the helicon antenna produces a homogeneous, high-density plasma column (n e ≅ 1.5 × 1018 m-3 in H2 and D2 at 0.3 Pa and 3 kW of input power) 1.4 m long. We present the CRDS experimental setup, its positioning on the RAID reactor, and how the mechanical and thermal effects of the plasma affect the measurement. First results in deuterium plasma confirm the production of negative ions (D-) with a significant density: an average value of 3.0 × 1016 m-3 of D- is obtained at 0.3 Pa and 5 kW of power input in Cs-free plasma. This result is in good agreement with calculations performed with the collisional radiative code YACORA.

Intraspecific competition between ectomycorrhizal Pisolithus microcarpus isolates impacts plant and fungal performance under elevated CO2 and temperature.

Root systems are simultaneously colonized by multiple individuals of mycorrhizal fungi. Intraspecific competitive interactions between fungal isolates are likely to affect both fungal and plant performance and be influenced by abiotic factors. Here, we assessed the impact of intraspecific competition between three Pisolithus microcarpus isolates on the establishment of, and benefit derived from, symbioses with Eucalyptus grandis seedlings. We investigated the outcomes of competition under ambient and elevated temperature and CO2 concentration ([CO2]) in a factorial design. We observed a reduction in mycelium growth, mycorrhiza formation and seedling mass when two P. microcarpus isolates were co-inoculated on a single E. grandis seedling. Isolates invested more in mycelium than in mycorrhizas in the presence of a competitor. All isolates responded negatively to elevated [CO2] and positively to elevated temperature, which led to no changes on the outcomes of the interactions with changing conditions. However, the presence of a competitor hindered the positive response of P. microcarpus isolates to warming, which resulted in larger negative effects of competition under elevated temperature than under ambient conditions. Our study highlights the need to consider how competition affects individual fungal responses as well as plant performance when trying to predict the impacts of climate change.

Cell signaling mechanisms of gustatory perception of lipids: can the taste cells be the target of anti-obesity agents?

It has been well propounded that there exists five basic taste modalities, e.g., sweet, sour, bitter, salty and umami. Recent compelling evidence from rodents and human beings raises the possibility for an additional sixth taste modality devoted to the perception of lipids. A number of studies have suggested that lingual CD36, a glycoprotein, mainly expressed by circumvallate papillae of the tongue, might be implicated in the perception of dietary fat taste. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are important signaling molecules for many aspects of cellular function. It has been recently shown that these receptors particularly GPR40 and GPR120 might also be involved in lipid taste perception. In this article, we highlight the cell activation mechanisms, responsible for the downstream cell signaling which might help understand the lipid-mediated regulation of feeding behavior, critically involved in the development of several diseases like obesity and other metabolic disorders. We also raise the question whether lipid gustatory cells can be the target of anti-obesity strategies.

Inherited epithelial transporter disorders--an overview.

In the late 1990s, the identification of transporters and transporter-associated genes progressed substantially due to the development of new cloning approaches such as expression cloning and, subsequently, to the implementation of the human genome project. Since then, the role of many transporter genes in human diseases has been elucidated. In this overview, we focus on inherited disorders of epithelial transporters. In particular, we review genetic defects of the genes encoding glucose transporters (SLC2 and SLC5 families) and amino acid transporters (SLC1, SLC3, SLC6 and SLC7 families).

N-3 fatty acids modulate antioxidant status in diabetic rats and their macrosomic offspring.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the role of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) in the modulation of total antioxidant status in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and their macrosomic offspring. DESIGN: Female wistar rats, fed on control diet or n-3 PUFA diet, were rendered diabetic by administration of five mild doses of STZ on day 5 and were killed on days 12 and 21 of gestation. The macrosomic (MAC) pups were killed at the age of 60 and 90 days. MEASUREMENTS: Lipid peroxidation was measured as the concentrations of plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and the total antioxidant status was determined by measuring (i) plasma oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), (ii) plasma vitamin A, E and C concentrations, and (iii) antioxidant enzymes activities in erythrocytes. The plasma lipid concentrations and fatty acid composition were also determined. RESULTS: Diabetes increased plasma triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations, whereas macrosomia was associated with enhanced plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which diminished by feeding n-3 PUFA diet. N-3 PUFA diet also reduced increased plasma TBARS and corrected the decreased ORAC values in diabetic rats and their macrosomic offspring. EPAX diet increased the diminished vitamin A levels in diabetic mothers and vitamin C concentrations in macrosomic pups. Also, this diet improved the decreased erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in diabetic and macrosomic animals. CONCLUSION: Diabetes and macrosomia were associated with altered lipid metabolism, antioxidant enzyme activities and vitamin concentrations. N-3 PUFA diet improved hyperlipidemia and restored antioxidant status in diabetic dams and MAC offspring.

[Arterial hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy: viewpoint of the cardiologist performing echocardiography]. / Hypertension artérielle et hypertrophie ventriculaire gauche: le point de vue de l'échocardiographiste.

Left-ventricular hypertrophy is the main cardiac consequence of systemic hypertension. Since it is an established, independent cardiovascular risk factor, its recognition is important. As the sensitivity of electrocardiography in this field is considered insufficient, echocardiography is the most widely used method for the determination of left-ventricular mass. In spite of its well-known limitations, we recommend applying the Penn convention using M-mode echo. In current practice we suggest including echocardiography in the diagnostic work-up of a hypertensive patient, provided that at least one additional cardiological argument is present-such as the suspicion of a structural or functional anomaly-since it generates not only left-ventricular mass but also a wealth of other information, particularly about the valvular as well as the systolic and diastolic left-ventricular function.