The impact of operative approach and intraoperative imaging on leg length discrepancy and acetabular component angle in total hip arthroplasty: a retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Operative approach in total hip arthroplasty (THA) has long been a topic of debate with each approach having unique benefits and disadvantages. One purported benefit of an anterior approach to THA is that it allows for intraoperative positioning using fluoroscopy rather than manual positioning. Proper positioning allows for improved outcomes including leg length discrepancy and acetabular component angle. This study aims to examine if operative approach and use of imaging in intraoperative positioning impact LLD and cup angle post-operatively. METHODS: A total of 300 hips were enrolled in the study with 100 hips per approach (anterior with fluoroscopy, lateral, and posterior). Retrospective chart review was conducted to assess patient demographics and radiographic analysis used to determine LLD and acetabular cup angle. RESULTS: Of the three groups, those receiving anterior approach THAs were on average older than those in the posterior group. Analysis comparing the LLD and acetabular angle across the three groups showed no statistically significant difference in LLD (p=0.091); this was also reflected when comparing hips that received fluoroscopy with those that did not (p=0.91). For acetabular angle, while no difference existed when comparing hips that received imaging versus those that did not, statistically significant differences were observed when comparing the three intraoperative approaches (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Neither intraoperative approach nor the use of intraoperative imaging in THA has a statistically significant effect on LLD post-operatively. However, approach did impact the acetabular cup angle across all three distinct approaches.

Dyspnoea and respiratory muscle ultrasound to predict extubation failure.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated dyspnoea intensity and respiratory muscle ultrasound early after extubation to predict extubation failure. METHODS: The study was conducted prospectively in two intensive care units in France and Canada. Patients intubated for at least 48 h were studied within 2 h after an extubation following a successful spontaneous breathing trial. Dyspnoea was evaluated by a dyspnoea visual analogue scale (Dyspnoea-VAS) ranging from 0 to 10 and the Intensive Care Respiratory Distress Observational Scale (IC-RDOS). The ultrasound thickening fraction of the parasternal intercostal and the diaphragm was measured; limb muscle strength was evaluated using the Medical Research Council (MRC) score (range 0-60). RESULTS: Extubation failure occurred in 21 out of 122 enrolled patients (17%). The median (interquartile range (IQR)) Dyspnoea-VAS and IC-RDOS were higher in patients with extubation failure versus success: 7 (4-9) versus 3 (1-5) (p<0.001) and 3.7 (1.8-5.8) versus 1.7 (1.5-2.1) (p<0.001), respectively. The median (IQR) ratio of parasternal intercostal muscle to diaphragm thickening fraction was significantly higher and MRC was lower in patients with extubation failure compared with extubation success: 0.9 (0.4-2.1) versus 0.3 (0.2-0.5) (p<0.001) and 45 (36-50) versus 52 (44-60) (p=0.012), respectively. The thickening fraction of the parasternal intercostal and its ratio to diaphragm thickening showed the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for an early prediction of extubation failure (0.81). AUCs of Dyspnoea-VAS and IC-RDOS reached 0.78 and 0.74, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory muscle ultrasound and dyspnoea measured within 2 h after extubation predict subsequent extubation failure.

Oxyhemoglobin changes in the prefrontal cortex in response to cognitive tasks: a systematic review.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: the aim of this study was to synthesize PFC fNIRS outcomes on the effects of cognitive tasks compared to resting/baseline tasks in healthy adults from studies utilizing a pre/post design. MATERIAL AND METHODS: original research studies were searched from seven databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, SCOPUS, PEDro and PubMed). Subsequently, two independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts followed by full-text reviews to assess the studies' eligibility. RESULTS: eleven studies met the inclusion criteria and had data abstracted and quality assessed. Methodology varied considerably and yet cognitive tasks resulted in the ΔO2Hb increasing in 8 of the 11 and ΔHHb decreasing in 8 of 8 studies that reported this outcome. The cognitive tasks from 10 of the 11 studies were classified as "Working Memory" and "Verbal Fluency Tasks". CONCLUSIONS: although, the data comparison was challenging provided the heterogeneity in methodology, the results across studies were similar.

Cryoprotectant agents and cooling effect on embryos of Macrobrachium amazonicum.

SummaryThere are few reports of cryopreservation and injuries in Macrobrachium amazonicum embryos. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the effects of cryoprotectants agents and cooling on stage VIII of this species. Fertilized eggs from ovigerous females were removed from the incubation chamber, then placed in 10 ml Falcon tubes with a cryoprotectant solution and saline-free calcium solution. Thus, the embryos underwent a cooling curve of 1°C per min until reaching 5°C, and then were stored for 2 h. The tubes containing the embryos were washed to remove the cryoprotectant, acclimated for 5 min and then transferred to 50 ml incubators. At the end of the 24-h period, living embryos from each tube were counted and tabulated. A pool of embryos was fixed with 4% formaldehyde and then subjected to histology using 3-mm thick sections and stained with haematoxylin/eosin. Another pool was used for biometric analysis in which length, width and volume were analyzed. The cryoprotectants agents used were: dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), methyl alcohol, ethylene glycol at 1, 5 and 10% and sucrose (0.5 M). Variance analysis was performed followed by Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) test at 5% significance level. DMSO cryoprotectant affected embryo survival the least with rates of 71.8, 36.2 and 0% for concentrations of 1, 5 and 10%, respectively. Ethylene glycol caused 100% mortality at all the concentrations used. It was not possible to observe the interference of cooling and cryoprotectants on embryonic structures in this study.

Helping students to understand physiological aspects of regional distribution of ventilation in humans: a experience from the electrical impedance tomography.

Undergraduate biomedical students often have difficulties in understanding basic concepts of respiratory physiology, particularly respiratory mechanics. In this study, we report the use of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) to improve and consolidate the knowledge about physiological aspects of normal regional distribution of ventilation in humans. Initially, we assessed the previous knowledge of a group of medical students ( n = 39) about regional differences in lung ventilation. Thereafter, we recorded the regional distribution of ventilation through surface electrodes on a healthy volunteer adopting four different decubitus positions: supine, prone, and right and left lateral. The recordings clearly showed greater pulmonary ventilation in the dependent lung, mainly in the lateral decubitus. Considering the differences in pulmonary ventilation between right and left lateral decubitus, only 33% of students were able to notice it correctly beforehand. This percentage increased to 84 and 100%, respectively ( P < 0.01), after the results of the ventilation measurements obtained with EIT were examined and discussed. A self-assessment questionnaire showed that students considered the practical activity as an important tool to assist in the understanding of the basic concepts of respiratory mechanics. Experimental demonstration of the physiological variations of regional lung ventilation in volunteers by using EIT is feasible, effective, and stimulating for undergraduate medical students. Therefore, this practical activity may help faculty and students to overcome the challenges in the field of respiratory physiology learning.

Decellularized Bovine Skeletal Muscle Scaffolds: Structural Characterization and Preliminary Cytocompatibility Evaluation.

Skeletal muscle degeneration is responsible for major mobility complications, and this muscle type has little regenerative capacity. Several biomaterials have been proposed to induce muscle regeneration and function restoration. Decellularized scaffolds present biological properties that allow efficient cell culture, providing a suitable microenvironment for artificial construct development and being an alternative for in vitro muscle culture. For translational purposes, biomaterials derived from large animals are an interesting and unexplored source for muscle scaffold production. Therefore, this study aimed to produce and characterize bovine muscle scaffolds to be applied to muscle cell 3D cultures. Bovine muscle fragments were immersed in decellularizing solutions for 7 days. Decellularization efficiency, structure, composition, and three-dimensionality were evaluated. Bovine fetal myoblasts were cultured on the scaffolds for 10 days to attest cytocompatibility. Decellularization was confirmed by DAPI staining and DNA quantification. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis attested to the preservation of main ECM components. SEM analysis demonstrated that the 3D structure was maintained. In addition, after 10 days, fetal myoblasts were able to adhere and proliferate on the scaffolds, attesting to their cytocompatibility. These data, even preliminary, infer that generated bovine muscular scaffolds were well structured, with preserved composition and allowed cell culture. This study demonstrated that biomaterials derived from bovine muscle could be used in tissue engineering.

Single-spore germination analyses reveal that calcium released during Clostridioides difficile germination functions in a feedforward loop.

Clostridioides difficile infections begin when its metabolically dormant spores germinate in response to sensing bile acid germinants alongside amino acid and divalent cation co-germinants in the small intestine. While bile acid germinants are essential for C. difficile spore germination, it is currently unclear whether both co-germinant signals are required. One model proposes that divalent cations, particularly Ca2+, are essential for inducing germination, while another proposes that either co-germinant class can induce germination. The former model is based on the finding that spores defective in releasing large stores of internal Ca2+ in the form of calcium dipicolinic acid (CaDPA) cannot germinate when germination is induced with bile acid germinant and amino acid co-germinant alone. However, since the reduced optical density of CaDPA-less spores makes it difficult to accurately measure their germination, we developed a novel automated, time-lapse microscopy-based germination assay to analyze CaDPA mutant germination at the single-spore level. Using this assay, we found that CaDPA mutant spores germinate in the presence of amino acid co-germinant and bile acid germinant. Higher levels of amino acid co-germinants are nevertheless required to induce CaDPA mutant spores to germinate relative to WT spores because CaDPA released by WT spores during germination can function in a feedforward loop to potentiate the germination of other spores within the population. Collectively, these data indicate that Ca2+ is not essential for inducing C. difficile spore germination because amino acid and Ca2+ co-germinant signals are sensed by parallel signaling pathways. IMPORTANCE Clostridioides difficile spore germination is essential for this major nosocomial pathogen to initiate infection. C. difficile spores germinate in response to sensing bile acid germinant signals alongside co-germinant signals. There are two classes of co-germinant signals: Ca2+ and amino acids. Prior work suggested that Ca2+ is essential for C. difficile spore germination based on bulk population analyses of germinating CaDPA mutant spores. Since these assays rely on optical density to measure spore germination and the optical density of CaDPA mutant spores is reduced relative to WT spores, this bulk assay is limited in its capacity to analyze germination. To overcome this limitation, we developed an automated image analysis pipeline to monitor C. difficile spore germination using time-lapse microscopy. With this analysis pipeline, we demonstrate that, although Ca2+ is dispensable for inducing C. difficile spore germination, CaDPA can function in a feedforward loop to potentiate the germination of neighboring spores.

Prefrontal cortex activation during incremental inspiratory loading in healthy participants.

We aimed to investigate whether changes in prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxyhemoglobin (O2Hb) and deoxyhemoglobin (HHb) associates with inspiratory muscle effort during inspiratory threshold loading (ITL) in healthy participants. Participants performed an incremental ITL. Breathing pattern, partial pressure of end-tidal CO2 (PETCO2), mouth pressure and O2Hb and HHb over the right dorsolateral PFC, sternocleidomastoid (SCM), and diaphragm/intercostals (Dia/IC) were monitored. Fourteen healthy participants (8 men; 29 ± 5 years) completed testing. Dyspnea was higher post- than pre-ITL (5 ± 1 vs. 0 ± 1, respectively; P<0.05). PFC O2Hb increased (P < 0.001) and HHb decreased (P = 0.001) at low loads but remained stable with increasing ITL intensities. PFC total hemoglobin increased at task failure compared to rest. SCM HHb increased throughout increasing intensities. SCM and Dia/IC total hemoglobin increased in the at task failure compared to rest. PETCO2 did not change (P = 0.528). PFC is activated early during the ITL but does not show central fatigue at task failure despite greater dyspnea and an imbalance of SCM oxygen demand and delivery.

A Comparison of Acute Complications and Mortality Between Geriatric Knee and Hip Fractures: A Matched Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: To compare acute complication and mortality rates for operatively treated, closed, isolated, low-energy geriatric knee fractures (distal femur [DFF] or tibial plateau [TPF]) with hip fractures (HFs). METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. We identified all patients ≥ 70 years from 2011 to 2016 who underwent surgery for DFF, TPF, or HF. We recorded patient demographics, functional status, complications, and mortality. We matched DFF:TPF:HF patients on a 1:1:10 ratio based on age, sex, body mass index, baseline functional status, and comorbidity. We used the chi square, Fisher exact, and Mann Whitney U tests to compare unadjusted differences between groups and multivariable logistic regression to compare the risk of complications, readmission, or death while adjusting for relevant covariates. RESULTS: When compared with HF, patients in the DFF and TPF groups had longer length of stay and time to index surgery and were more likely to be discharged home. The rate of deep vein thrombosis was significantly higher in the TPF group (TPF = 3.9%, DFF = 1.3%, and HF = 1.2%, P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Geriatric knee fractures pose a similar risk of acute complications, mortality, and readmission compared with patients with HF. Future studies investigating strategies to decrease risk in this patient cohort are warranted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III.

Mortality Rate of Geriatric Acetabular Fractures Is High Compared With Hip Fractures. A Matched Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: Compare acute complication and mortality rates of geriatric patients with acetabular fractures (AFs) matched to hip fractures (HFs). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project. PATIENTS: Using Current Procedural Terminology codes, the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project registry was used to identify all patients ≥60 years from 2011 to 2016 treated for AFs undergoing open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) and HFs (undergoing ORIF, hemiarthroplasty, or cephalomedullary nail). OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Patient characteristics, comorbidities, functional status, acute complications, and mortality rates were recorded. Patients were matched 1:5 (AF:HF). Chi-square, Fisher exact, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare groups, and multivariable logistic regression was used to compare the risk of complications or death while adjusting for relevant covariates. RESULTS: A total of 303 AF patients (age: 78.2 ± 9.2 years/59.7% females/27.1% wall, 28.4% one column and 45.2% 2 columns ORIF) were matched to 1511 HF patients (age: 78.3 ± 9.1 years/60.2% females/37.2% hemiarthroplasty, 16.3% ORIF and 47.4% cephalomedullary nail). Length of stay (8.4 ± 7.1 vs. 6.4 ± 5.9 days) and time to surgery [(TS) 2.3 ± 1.8 versus 1.2 ± 1.4 days] were longer in the AF group (P < 0.01). Unadjusted mortality rates were nonsignificantly higher for AFs versus HFs (6.6% vs. 4.6%, P = 0.14). After covariable adjustment, the risk of mortality was significantly higher for AFs versus HFs (odds ratio: 1.89, 95% confidence interval: 1.07-3.35). CONCLUSION: Geriatric AFs pose a significantly higher adjusted mortality risk when compared with HF patients. Strategies to mitigate risk factors in this population are warranted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Wear Rates of XLPE Nearly 50% Lower Than Previously Thought After Adjusting for Initial Creep: An RCT Comparing 4 Bearing Combinations.

BACKGROUND: The ideal bearing combination for total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains debatable. Highly cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) is widely used, but long-term wear rates are not fully known, nor is how much the initial "creep," if any, affects overall wear. Additionally, the use of oxidized zirconium (OxZir) is purported to lower polyethylene wear rates, but this has not been proven. We present the 10-year data of a cohort of patients who underwent THA. Patients were prospectively randomized to 1 of 4 bearing combinations: a conventional ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) or XLPE acetabular liner coupled with either a cobalt-chromium (CoCr) or OxZir femoral head. The aims of the study were to (1) assess the extent to which creep affected overall wear rates and (2) assess wear rates between OxZir and CoCr with polyethylene. METHODS: A total of 92 hips (92 patients) between the ages of 22 and 65 years (mean, 52.2 ± 9.3 years) were randomized to 4 groups. At 10 years, 70 (76%) of the hips were available for analysis; patients who had undergone revision, had died, or were lost to follow-up were excluded from final analysis. Radiographic analysis was performed using a validated digital assessment program to determine linear, volumetric, and directional wear of the polyethylene for all 4 bearing couples. Radiographic assessments were performed immediately postoperatively, at 6 and 12 weeks, and then annually for a minimum of 10 years. RESULTS: XLPE had significantly lower wear rates than UHMWPE. Once creep was eliminated, annual and overall wear rates were nearly 50% lower than have been previously reported. This was proportionally more important in the XLPE group than in the UHMWPE group. There was a nonsignificant trend toward a lower wear rate with OxZir heads. CONCLUSIONS: Creep plays a notably more important role than first thought. Once creep was eliminated, the overall wear rate was even lower than previously assumed. This has important implications for the overall survivorship of hip arthroplasty implants. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Anemia at Presentation Predicts Acute Mortality and Need for Readmission Following Geriatric Hip Fracture.

There is a paucity of research regarding the relationship between anemia and postoperative morbidity and mortality among geriatric patients presenting with hip fracture. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of anemia at presentation on 30-day morbidity and mortality among geriatric patients with hip fracture. METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database was queried for all hip fracture patients ≥60 years old from 2011 to 2016. Included were all emergency unilateral, nonpathological hip fractures (femoral neck, intertrochanteric, or subtrochanteric) treated with arthroplasty, intramedullary nailing, or open reduction and internal fixation. Anemia was classified as a hematocrit (HCT) level of <0.41 and <0.36 for male and female patients, respectively. Age, body mass index (BMI), race, comorbidities, smoking status, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, baseline functional status, time to surgery, operative time, anesthesia type, need for transfusion, fixation method, length of stay (LOS), and discharge destination were collected. Our primary outcome of interest was 30-day postoperative mortality, with all-cause readmission and any postoperative ischemic events (cerebrovascular accident [CVA] and myocardial infarction [MI]) analyzed as secondary outcomes. A multivariable regression analysis was performed and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated while controlling for confounding variables. RESULTS: Of 34,805 patients identified, 22,469 (65%) were anemic at presentation (63% female; mean age, 80 ± 8 years), while 12,336 (35%) were non-anemic (85% female; mean age, 79 ± 8 years). Anemia at presentation was independently associated with higher odds of mortality (OR,1.3 [95% CI, 1.1 to 1.5]) and readmission (OR, 1.2 [95% CI, 1.1 to 1.3]), while no relationship was observed for MI (OR, 1.1 [95% CI, 0.9 to 1.4]) or CVA (OR, 0.8 [95% CI, 0.6 to 1.1]). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that anemia at presentation is associated with greater 30-day postoperative morbidity and mortality in geriatric hip fracture patients. Additional research should focus on elucidating this modifiable risk factor and advancing the preoperative optimization of hip fracture patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Neck and Inspiratory Muscle Recruitment during Inspiratory Loading and Neck Flexion.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare muscle activation of the diaphragm (DIA), scalenes (SA), parasternal intercostals (PS), and sternomastoid (SM) during submaximal intermittent neck flexion (INF) versus submaximal inspiratory threshold loading (ITL) until task failure in healthy adults. METHODS: Twelve healthy adults performed submaximal ITL or INF tests in random order for 2 d. Surface electromyography was monitored to acquire root mean square (RMS) and median power frequency (MPF) from the SA, PS, SM, and DIA. Maximal inspiratory pressures and maximal voluntary contraction for neck flexion were determined. Next, participants performed the first submaximal test-ITL or INF-targeting 50% ± 5% of the maximal inspiratory pressure or maximal voluntary contraction, respectively, until task failure. After a rest, they performed the other test until task failure. Two days later, they performed ITL and INF but in the opposite order. The Borg scale assessed breathlessness and perceived exertion. RESULTS: Endurance times for ITL and INF were 38.1 and 26.3 min, respectively. INF activated three of four inspiratory muscles at higher average RMS (PS, SM, and SA) and at different MPF (PS, SM, and DIA but not SA) compared with ITL. During ITL, RMS did not change in the four inspiratory muscles over time, but MPF decreased in PS, SM, and SA (P < 0.04). In contrast, RMS increased in three of four inspiratory muscles (SM, PS, and SA) during INF, but MPF did not change throughout its duration. Borg rating was 3.9-fold greater than ITL compared with INF. CONCLUSION: At a similar percentage of maximal load, INF evokes greater activation of primary muscles of inspiration (PS and SA) and a major accessory muscle of inspiration (SM) compared with ITL during a prolonged submaximal protocol.

The effects of hypoxia on muscle deoxygenation and recruitment in the flexor digitorum superficialis during submaximal intermittent handgrip exercise.

BACKGROUND: Decreased oxygenation of muscle may be accentuated during exercise at high altitude. Monitoring the oxygen saturation of muscle (SmO2) during hand grip exercise using near infrared spectroscopy during acute exposure to hypoxia could provide a model for a test of muscle performance without the competing cardiovascular stresses that occur during a cycle ergometer or treadmill test. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare acute exposure to normobaric hypoxia versus normoxia on deoxygenation and recruitment of the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) during submaximal intermittent handgrip exercise (HGE) in healthy adults. METHODS: Twenty subjects (11 M/9 F) performed HGE at 50% of maximum voluntary contraction, with a duty cycle of 2 s:1 s until task failure on two occasions one week apart, randomly assigned to normobaric hypoxia (FiO2 = 12%) or normoxia (FiO2 = 21%). Near-infrared spectroscopy monitored SmO2, oxygenated (O2Hb), deoxygenated (HHb), and total hemoglobin (tHb) over the FDS. Surface electromyography derived root mean square and mean power frequency of the FDS. RESULTS: Hypoxic compared to normoxic HGE induced a lower FDS SmO2 (63.8 ± 2.2 vs. 69.0 ± 1.5, p = 0.001) and both protocols decreased FDS SmO2 from baseline to task failure. FDS mean power frequency was lower during hypoxic compared to normoxic HGE (64.0 ± 1.4 vs. 68.2 ± 2.0 Hz, p = 0.04) and both decreased mean power frequency from the first contractions to task failure (p = 0.000). Under both hypoxia and normoxia, HHb, tHb and root mean square increased from baseline to task failure whereas O2Hb decreased and then increased during HGE. Arterial oxygen saturation via pulse oximetry (SpO2) was lower during hypoxia compared to normoxia conditions (p = 0.000) and heart rate and diastolic blood pressure only demonstrated small increases. Task durations and the tension-time index of HGE did not differ between normoxic and hypoxic trials. CONCLUSION: Hypoxic compared to normoxic HGE decreased SmO2 and induced lower mean power frequency in the FDS, during repetitive hand grip exercise however did not result in differences in task durations or tension-time indices. The fiber type composition of FDS, and high duty cycle and intensity may have contributed greater dependence on anaerobiosis.

Genomic characterisation of a multidrug-resistant TEM-52b extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-positive Escherichia coli ST219 isolated from a cat in France.

OBJECTIVES: TEM-52 extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBLs) have been detected in members of the Enterobacteriaceae isolated from human and non-human reservoirs, mainly in European countries. Here we report the first draft genome of a multidrug-resistant TEM-52b-positive Escherichia coli isolated from a companion animal in France. METHODS: Whole genomic DNA from E. coli 39590 was extracted and was sequenced using an Illumina NextSeq platform. De novo genome assembly was performed using Velvet v.1.2.10 and the draft genome was annotated using the NCBI Prokaryotic Genome Annotation Pipeline v.3.2. Genomic analyses were performed through bioinformatics tools from the Center for Genomic Epidemiology. RESULTS: The genome size was calculated as 5362108bp, with 5268 protein-coding sequences and a GC content of 50.5%. E. coli strain 39590 belonged to ST219, serotype O4:H34 and phylogroup E. The antimicrobial resistome consisted of genes encoding resistance to ß-lactams (blaTEM-52b), aminoglycosides [aph(3″)-Ib, aph(6)-Id, aadA2, aadA24], phenicols (catA1), sulfonamides (sul1, sul2), trimethoprim (dfrA1, dfrA14), lincosamides (lnuG) and tetracycline (tetA) as well as mutations in gyrA (Ser83Leu, Asp87Asn) and parC (Ser80Ile) conferring resistance to quinolones. Virulome analysis revealed iss, astA and eilA genes, and IncQ1, IncX4, IncX1, IncFIB and IncFIC plasmid incompatibility groups were identified. CONCLUSION: This draft genome can be used as a reference sequence for comparative studies using human and non-human E. coli isolates to identify genetic events that have contributed to pathogenicity and adaptation of TEM-52-producing E. coli clones at the human-animal interface as well as to elucidate dynamics of the spread of blaTEM-52 ESBL genes.

Decellularized bovine skeletal muscle scaffolds: structural characterization and preliminary cytocompatibility evaluation

Skeletal muscle degeneration is responsible for major mobility complications, and this muscle type has little regenerative capacity. Several biomaterials have been proposed to induce muscle regeneration and function restoration. Decellularized scaffolds present biological properties that allow efficient cell culture, providing a suitable microenvironment for artificial construct development and being an alternative for in vitro muscle culture. For translational purposes, biomaterials derived from large animals are an interesting and unexplored source for muscle scaffold production. Therefore, this study aimed to produce and characterize bovine muscle scaffolds to be applied to muscle cell 3D cultures. Bovine muscle fragments were immersed in decellularizing solutions for 7 days. Decellularization efficiency, structure, composition, and three-dimensionality were evaluated. Bovine fetal myoblasts were cultured on the scaffolds for 10 days to attest cytocompatibility. Decellularization was confirmed by DAPI staining and DNA quantification. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis attested to the preservation of main ECM components. SEM analysis demonstrated that the 3D structure was maintained. In addition, after 10 days, fetal myoblasts were able to adhere and proliferate on the scaffolds, attesting to their cytocompatibility. These data, even preliminary, infer that generated bovine muscular scaffolds were well structured, with preserved composition and allowed cell culture. This study demonstrated that biomaterials derived from bovine muscle could be used in tissue engineering.

Surface electromyography (sEMG) of extradiaphragm respiratory muscles in healthy subjects: A systematic review.

The aim of this systematic review was to examine procedures used and outcome measures reported from surface EMG (sEMG) of extradiaphragm inspiratory muscles in healthy people. Relevant articles were searched using the concepts "electromyography (EMG)", "respiratory muscles (sternocleidomastoid [SM], scalene, intercostal [IC] and parasternal)" and "healthy" in the electronic databases: MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL and Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, LILACS, and PEDro. Twenty-five papers were included and quality assessment was performed using an adapted Downs and Black checklist. Twenty-eight percent of included papers were classified as moderate quality and the rest were low quality. The SM was the muscle most often investigated. Description of EMG techniques were often incomplete for features such as the procedure before electrode placement, description of the surface electrodes, the EMG detection mode and amplification. Of note, descriptions of the IC muscle electrode positioning varied widely. Comparison of outcomes among studies was challenging because of the very diverse EMG outcomes reported. There are many controversies regarding methods and technique used to assess sEMG of extradiaphragm inspiratory muscles. Therefore, studies with higher methodological quality utilizing standardized EMG procedures including electrode positioning will enable accurate and reliable comparison among studies of the extradiaphragm inspiratory muscles.