Hindfoot motion through helical axis image-based on dynamic CT scan using an original simulated weightbearing device.

BACKGROUND: Determining the treatment of subtalar joint (STJ) instability requires a better understanding of the biomechanical principles underlying the condition and, a proper diagnosis. This study aimed to analyze "in vivo" the range of motion of the subtalar joint (STJ) measured on two (2D) and three dimensions (3D) image-based on CT Scan using an original device that maintains a simulated weightbearing. The secondary goal was to correlate the 2D and 3D measurement. METHODS: An observational study was conducted, using an original Dynamic Simulated Weightbearing Device. Asymptomatic ankles were included. Each subject underwent a CT scan under mechanical stress and simulated weightbearing conditions, maintaining maximum eversion and inversion hindfoot positions. The images were obtained, combining both inversion and eversion positions in a single model, which allows for to calculation of the motion vector as well as the helical axis. The helical axis (rotation angle and translation distance), subtalar tilt, anterior drawer, and, subtalar and calcaneocuboid uncoverage were the determinations. RESULTS: Forty asymptomatic ankles were included. The average range of motion of the STJ amounts to 31.5° ± 9.1° of rotation and 1.56 ± 0.8 mm of translation distance. The anterior drawer and subtalar uncoverage variables were statistically significantly related to each other (r = 0.57; P = 0.00001). However, these 2-D measured variables were not related to kinematic measures of rotation through the helical axis (3D) (p = 0.14; p = 0.19) CONCLUSIONS: The average range of motion of the STJ amounts to 31.5° ± 9.1° of rotation and 1.56 ± 0.8 mm of translation distance. We found no significant correlation between 2D and 3D measurements. In our opinion, the rotation angle and translation distance should be considered the most accurate measurements and should be calculated on every STJ instability for comparison with the asymptomatic population LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Observational study.

Treponema peruense sp. nov., a commensal spirochaete isolated from human faeces.

A Gram-stain-negative, obligatory anaerobic spirochaete (RCC2812T) was isolated from a faecal sample obtained from an individual residing in a remote Amazonian community in Peru. The bacterium showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the pig intestinal spirochete Treponema succinifaciens (89.48 %). Average nucleotide identity values between strain RCC2812T and all available Treponema genomes from validated type strains were all <73 %, thus clearly lower than the species delineation threshold. The DNA G+C content of RCC2812T was 41.24 mol%. Phenotypic characterization using the API-ZYM and API 20A systems confirmed the divergent position of this bacterium within the genus Treponema. Strain RCC2812T could be differentiated from the phylogenetically most closely related T. succinifaciens by the presence of alkaline phosphatase and α -glucosidase activities. Unlike T. succinifaciens, strain RCC2812T grew equally well with or without serum. Strain RCC2812T is the first commensal Treponema isolated from the human faecal microbiota of remote populations, and based on the collected data represents a novel Treponema species for which the name Treponema peruense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RCC2812T (=LMG 31794T=CIP 111910T).

High-Resolution Thermal Imaging and Analysis of TIG Weld Pool Phase Transitions.

Tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding is a well-established joining process and offers the user flexibility to weld a large range of materials. Ultra-thin turbine tipping is an important application for TIG welding that is exceptionally challenging due to the wide range of variables needed to accurately control the process: slope times, arc control, travel speed, etc. We offer new insight into weld pool characteristics, utilizing both on- and off-line measurements of weld tracks. High-resolution thermal imaging yields spatially and temporally resolved weld pool phase transitions coupled with post-weld photographs, which gives a novel perspective into the thermal history of a weld. Our imaging system is filtered to measure a 10 nm window at 950 nm and comprises a commercial Sigma lens to produce a near-infrared (NIR) camera. The measured near-infrared radiance is calibrated for temperature over the range of from 800 to 1350 °C.

Personal Guides: Heterogeneous Robots Sharing Personal Tours in Multi-Floor Environments.

GidaBot is an application designed to setup and run a heterogeneous team of robots to act as tour guides in multi-floor buildings. Although the tours can go through several floors, the robots can only service a single floor, and thus, a guiding task may require collaboration among several robots. The designed system makes use of a robust inter-robot communication strategy to share goals and paths during the guiding tasks. Such tours work as personal services carried out by one or more robots. In this paper, a face re-identification/verification module based on state-of-the-art techniques is developed, evaluated offline, and integrated into GidaBot's real daily activities, to avoid new visitors interfering with those attended. It is a complex problem because, as users are casual visitors, no long-term information is stored, and consequently, faces are unknown in the training step. Initially, re-identification and verification are evaluated offline considering different face detectors and computing distances in a face embedding representation. To fulfil the goal online, several face detectors are fused in parallel to avoid face alignment bias produced by face detectors under certain circumstances, and the decision is made based on a minimum distance criterion. This fused approach outperforms any individual method and highly improves the real system's reliability, as the tests carried out using real robots at the Faculty of Informatics in San Sebastian show.

Citroniella saccharovorans gen. nov. sp. nov., a member of the family Peptoniphilaceae isolated from a human fecal sample from a coastal traditional community member.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming coccus-shaped obligately anaerobic bacterium was recovered from a fecal sample obtained from an individual from a traditional community located on the southern coast of Peru. The results of analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated the novel bacterium to be phylogenetically distinct from other genera of members of the Peptoniphilaceae family, sharing a loose affinity with the genera Ezakiella, Finegoldia, Gallicola and Parvimonas. The major cellular fatty acids of the novel isolate were determined to be C16:0, C17:1ω8c, and C18:1ω9c. The DNA G+C content was 29.9 mol%. End products of metabolism from peptone yeast glucose broth (PYG) were determined to be acetate and methyl succinate. The diagnostic diamino acid present in the cell wall was lysine. On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic results the organism is a member of a novel genus belonging to the family Peptoniphilaceae for which the name Citroniella saccharovorans gen nov. sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is M6.X9T (DSM 29873T=CCUG 66799T).

Efecto cardiometabólico de los inhibidores del cotransportador sodio glucosa tipo 2 (SGLT2) / Cardiometabolic effect of inhibitors of sodium glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT2)

Resumen: El advenimiento de nuevos fármacos para el tratamiento de los distintos componentes del síndrome metabólico, que por su farmacocinética y farmacodinamia tengan un efecto pleiotrópico, ha tomado auge. Hace poco los inhibidores del cotransportador sodio glucosa tipo 2 (SGLT2) prescritos para el tratamiento de la diabetes mellitus 2 han demostrado tener un efecto protector cardiorrenal. Éstos actúan en el segmento S1 del túbulo proximal disminuyendo la filtración de glucosa e incrementando su excreción urinaria; con efecto glucosúrico y natriurético. Este último es el principal mecanismo de protección cardiovascular. Modelos experimentales y estudios, entre los que destacan el estudio EMPAREG y el programa CANVAS, han demostrado que los inhibidores de SGLT2 permiten disminuir la progresión de la miocardiopatía hipertrófica, fibrosis, remodelamiento, disfunción sistólica e insuficiencia cardiaca, por su efecto en la precarga y poscarga. Los resultados de estos estudios reconocen a este grupo de fármacos (específicamente a la empagliflozina y canagliflozina) como tratamiento de protección cardiovascular en pacientes con diabetes mellitus 2, recomendados actualmente por la FDA, ACC/AHA, la Sociedad Europea de Cardiología y recientemente por la Asociación Americana de Diabetes (ADA) en su reciente publicación de 2018.

Abstract: There is an increase in the use of new drugs for the treatment of the different elements that integrate the metabolic syndrome; that, by their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics have a pleiotropic effect. Recently, the inhibitors of sodium glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT2) used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2 have demonstrated a cardio-renal protector effect. They function at the S1 segment of the proximal tube, lowering the filtration of glucose and enhancing its excretion; resulting in a glycosuric and natriuretic effect. This is the main mechanism of cardiovascular protection. Experimental essays and different studies, such as the EMAREG study and the CANVAS program, have established that the inhibitors of SGLT2 reduce the progression of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, fibrosis, cardiac remodeling, systolic dysfunction and heart failure. The results of these studies recognize this group of drugs (empaglifozine and canaglifozine) as a valid treatment for cardiovascular protection in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2, and which is recommended by the FDA, the ACC/AHA, the European Society of Cardiology and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in its last publication in 2018.

Peptoniphilus catoniae sp. nov., isolated from a human faecal sample from a traditional Peruvian coastal community.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, coccus-shaped, obligately anaerobic bacterium was isolated from a faecal sample obtained from an individual in a traditional community located off the southern coast of Peru. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed the novel bacterium belonged to the genus Peptoniphilus but showed no particular relationship with any species, demonstrating less than 91 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with all members of the genus. The major cellular fatty acids of the novel isolate were determined to be C10 : 0, C14 : 0, C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and C18 : 2ω6,9c/anteiso-C18 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 34.4 mol%. End-products of metabolism from peptone-yeast-glucose broth (PYG) were determined to be acetate and butyrate. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic results, the organism represents a novel species of the genus Peptoniphilus, for which the name Peptoniphilus catoniae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M6.X2DT ( = DSM 29874T = CCUG 66798T).

Selective Immunoglobulin M Deficiency Among Clozapine-Treated Patients: A Nested Case-Control Study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the presence of selective immunoglobulin M immunodeficiency (SIgMD) among long-term clozapine-treated outpatients in a nested case-control study. METHOD: We investigated 33 patients who took clozapine and found 6 patients with SIgMD. These patients were compared with 67 patients not taking clozapine, of whom 2 had SIgMD. Of these 6 and 2 patients, we made a group of 8 case-patients with SIgMD. This group was compared with 92 (27 + 65) patients without SIgMD matched to cases on age, sex, weight, mental health unit, diagnosis, and psychiatric medication. In both groups there were patients who had taken clozapine: 6 of 8 in the SIgMD group (75%) and 27 of 92 in the non-SIgMD group (29%). SIgMD was defined by mean IgM values ≤ 30 mg/dL. IgM measurements were performed every 6 months, and the data were averaged for each subject. The study was conducted from January 2009 to December 2013. RESULTS: We found a statistical association between clozapine use and the presence of SIgMD (OR = 7.2222; 95% CI, 1.3704-38.0623; Z = 2.332; P = .0197). CONCLUSIONS: Due to the high incidence of SIgMD observed in schizophrenic patients treated with clozapine, clinicians should pay particular attention to not only granulocyte counts but also patterns of IgM decline to prevent drug iatrogenesis.

Luxación inveterada anterior de hombro tratada mediante artroplastia invertida en paciente anciana. A propósito de un caso / Anterior inveterate dislocation of the shoulder in an elderly patient treated by reverse arthroplasty. Case report

Objetivos: se presenta un caso de luxación anterior inveterada de hombro derecho y su tratamiento mediante implantación de prótesis invertida. Material y métodos: Paciente de 69 años que se diagnostica de luxación anterior inveterada de hombro con antecedentes de luxación anteroinferior postraumática 6 meses antes, tratada conservadoramente. Mediante pruebas de imagen se objetivó la existencia de un voluminoso Bankart óseo, así como rotura masiva del manguito rotador. Se optó por realizar cirugía abierta, reconstruyendo el defecto glenoideo con autoinjerto y osteosíntesis mediante tornillos canulados. Se decidió tratamiento definitivo en un mismo acto quirúrgico con la implantación de prótesis invertida con técnica de aumentación del offset. Resultados: Se consiguió una adecuada congruencia y estabilidad articular con excelente función global a los 6 meses de la intervención, libre de dolor. Conclusiones: La luxación anterior inveterada de hombro es una patología infrecuente en la práctica clínica habitual de la que no se dispone mucha información en la literatura. El tratamiento quirúrgico mediante artroplastia invertida de hombro puede ser adecuado para el tratamiento de la misma, debido a los buenos resultados clínicos, radiológicos y funcionales que proporciona

Objective: We present the case of an inveterate anterior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint and following treatment by reverse artrhoplasty. Materials and methods: 69 years-old female patient, diagnosed of anterior inveterate dislocation of the shoulder with a history of traumatic dislocation, treated conservatively 6 months earlier. The existence of a large bony Bankart and a massive rotator cuff tear was observed by imaging studies. Open surgery was performed,filling the glenoid defect with autograft and internal fixation using cannulated screws. Final treatment was decided in the same surgery performing bony increased-offset reverse shoulder arthroplasty (BIO-RSA) technique. Results: proper articular congruency and painfree stability with excellent overall function at 6months after surgery was achieved. Conclusions: The anterior inveterate glenohumeral dislocation is a rare condition in clinical practice from which much information is not available in the literature. Surgical treatment by reverse shoulder arthroplasty may be an appropriate therapeutic option to treat it, due to the good clinical, radiological and functional results it provides

Subsistence strategies in traditional societies distinguish gut microbiomes.

Recent studies suggest that gut microbiomes of urban-industrialized societies are different from those of traditional peoples. Here we examine the relationship between lifeways and gut microbiota through taxonomic and functional potential characterization of faecal samples from hunter-gatherer and traditional agriculturalist communities in Peru and an urban-industrialized community from the US. We find that in addition to taxonomic and metabolic differences between urban and traditional lifestyles, hunter-gatherers form a distinct sub-group among traditional peoples. As observed in previous studies, we find that Treponema are characteristic of traditional gut microbiomes. Moreover, through genome reconstruction (2.2-2.5 MB, coverage depth × 26-513) and functional potential characterization, we discover these Treponema are diverse, fall outside of pathogenic clades and are similar to Treponema succinifaciens, a known carbohydrate metabolizer in swine. Gut Treponema are found in non-human primates and all traditional peoples studied to date, suggesting they are symbionts lost in urban-industrialized societies.

Ezakiella peruensis gen. nov., sp. nov. isolated from human fecal sample from a coastal traditional community in Peru.

A novel Gram-stain positive, non-motile, non-sporeforming coccus-shaped, obligately anaerobic bacterium was isolated from a fecal sample of an individual residing in a traditional Peruvian community. The organism was characterized using biochemical, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic methods. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses and phenotypic characteristics demonstrated that the organism was biochemically and phenotypically related, but distinct, from a group of organisms referred to as the Gram-stain positive anaerobic cocci (GPAC). The major cellular fatty acids of the novel isolate were determined to be C16:0 (18.3%), C18:1ω9c (39.8%), C18:2ω6,9c/C18:0 ANTE (13.2%). Fermentation end products from PYG are acetate and formate. Cell-wall peptidoglycan was found to be A4α (L-Lys-L-Ala-L-Glu) and the G + C content was determined to be 38.4 mol%. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic results, Ezakiella peruensis gen. nov., sp. nov., is now proposed. The type strain is M6.X2(T) (DSM 27367(T) = NBRC 109957 (T) = CCUG 64571(T)).