ADAP is a possible negative regulator of glucosinolate biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana based on clustering and gene expression analyses.

Glucosinolates (GSLs) are plant secondary metabolites consisting of sulfur and nitrogen, commonly found in Brassicaceae crops, such as Arabidopsis thaliana. These compounds are known for their roles in plant defense mechanisms against pests and pathogens. 'Guilt-by-association' (GBA) approach predicts genes encoding proteins with similar function tend to share gene expression pattern generated from high throughput sequencing data. Recent studies have successfully identified GSL genes using GBA approach, followed by targeted verification of gene expression and metabolite data. Therefore, a GSL co-expression network was constructed using known GSL genes obtained from our in-house database, SuCComBase. DPClusO was used to identify subnetworks of the GSL co-expression network followed by Fisher's exact test leading to the discovery of a potential gene that encodes the ARIA-interacting double AP2-domain protein (ADAP) transcription factor (TF). Further functional analysis was performed using an effective gene silencing system known as CRES-T. By applying CRES-T, ADAP TF gene was fused to a plant-specific EAR-motif repressor domain (SRDX), which suppresses the expression of ADAP target genes. In this study, ADAP was proposed as a negative regulator in aliphatic GSL biosynthesis due to the over-expression of downstream aliphatic GSL genes (UGT74C1 and IPMI1) in ADAP-SRDX line. The significant over-expression of ADAP gene in the ADAP-SRDX line also suggests the behavior of the TF that negatively affects the expression of UGT74C1 and IPMI1 via a feedback mechanism in A. thaliana.

Source and symptoms of COVID-19 among hospital workers in Milan.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are commonly infected by SARS-CoV-2 and represent one of the most vulnerable groups. Adequate prevention strategies are necessary to guarantee HCWs' safety, as well as to prevent dissemination of the infection among patients. AIMS: To describe a case series of SARS-CoV-2-positive HCWs in a large public healthcare organization in Milan (Italy) during the most devastating weeks of the epidemic and analyse the sources, symptoms and duration of SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: This study included 172 SARS-CoV-2-positive HCWs who were infected between the 25th of February and the 7th of April 2020. A nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) and RT-PCR were used to indicate. RESULTS: Initially, the most common sources of infection were other positive HCWs (49%). Medical doctors and nursing assistants were most frequently infected, with infection rates of 53/1000 and 50/1000, respectively. COVID-19 departments were less affected than internal medicine, surgery, intensive care, or emergency room. The most commonly reported symptom was mild cough, while loss of smell (anosmia) and loss of taste (ageusia) were reported as moderate and severe by 30-40% of HCWs. The time necessary for 50% of workers to recover from the infection was 23 days, while it took 41 days for 95% of HCWs to become virus-free. CONCLUSIONS: HCWs are commonly infected due to close contacts with other positive HCWs, and non-COVID departments were most affected. Most HCWs were asymptomatic or subclinical but contact tracing and testing of asymptomatic HCWs help identify and isolate infected workers.

A modification and validation of quantitative morphometry classification system for osteoporotic vertebral compressive fractures in mainland Chinese.

This study described a modified quantitative morphometry (mQM) system adapted to specific reference values for Mainland Chinese population. The mQM system is validated using the Genant Semiquantative system and is sensitive for detecting vertebral height changes and predicting cement leakage after percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compressive fracture (OVCF). INTRODUCTION: OVCF is a manifestation of osteoporosis. To improve clinical management of osteoporosis, the quantitative morphometry (QM) system has been widely used for the early diagnosis and precise classification of OVCF in developed countries. Here, we present an mQM system and validated its use in detecting OVCF in Mainland Chinese. METHODS: Using our mQM system, the pre- and post-operative values of vertebral heights were measured and evaluated in 309 Mainland Chinese who received percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) as OVCF treatment. Measurements and classification of fractures from the mQM system were validated by comparing to values obtained by the Genant semiquantative (SQ) method. Moreover, we evaluated the sensitivity of the mQM system by its ability to detect restoration of vertebral heights and predict cement leakage after PKP. RESULTS: The five classification of fractures, No deformity (ND), anterior wedge (AW), posterior wedge (PW), biconcavity (BC), and compression (CP), evaluated by the mQM method shared similar distribution characteristics compared to those obtained by the SQ method. In addition, mQM evaluation showed that the vertebra height of all fracture types showed significant restoration after PKP. The incidence of cement leakage was most common in CP (37.5%), followed by AW (31.6%), BC (26.5%), ND (23.7%), and PW (0.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Our mQM system is suitable for classification of fractures, detection of vertebral height restoration, and correlation of cement leakage after PKP in Mainland Chinese population.

Pressure-tuned quantum criticality in the antiferromagnetic Kondo semimetal CeNi2-δAs2.

The easily tuned balance among competing interactions in Kondo-lattice metals allows access to a zero-temperature, continuous transition between magnetically ordered and disordered phases, a quantum-critical point (QCP). Indeed, these highly correlated electron materials are prototypes for discovering and exploring quantum-critical states. Theoretical models proposed to account for the strange thermodynamic and electrical transport properties that emerge around the QCP of a Kondo lattice assume the presence of an indefinitely large number of itinerant charge carriers. Here, we report a systematic transport and thermodynamic investigation of the Kondo-lattice system CeNi2-δAs2 (δ ≈ 0.28) as its antiferromagnetic order is tuned by pressure and magnetic field to zero-temperature boundaries. These experiments show that the very small but finite carrier density of ~0.032 E-/formular unit in CeNi2-δAs2 leads to unexpected transport signatures of quantum criticality and the delayed development of a fully coherent Kondo-lattice state with decreasing temperature. The small carrier density and associated semimetallicity of this Kondo-lattice material favor an unconventional, local-moment type of quantum criticality and raises the specter of the Nozières exhaustion idea that an insufficient number of conduction-electron spins to separately screen local moments requires collective Kondo screening.

Differential dependencies on [Ca2+] and temperature of the monolayer spontaneous curvatures of DOPE, DOPA and cardiolipin: effects of modulating the strength of the inter-headgroup repulsion.

Biomembranes assume nonlamellar structures in many cellular events, with the tendency of forming a nonlamellar structure quantified by the monolayer spontaneous curvature, C(0), and with many of these events involving the acts of Ca(2+). Despite this biologically important intimacy, how C(0) is affected by [Ca(2+)] is unknown. In this study, we use the X-ray diffraction technique and the reconstruction of electron density profiles to measure the C(0)s of a zwitterionic phospholipid, DOPE, and two anionic phospholipids, DOPA and 18 : 1 (9Z) cardiolipin, at temperatures from 20 °C to 40 °C and [Ca(2+)]s from 0 mM to 100 mM; these phospholipids are chosen to examine the contributions of the electric charge density per molecule. While showing a strong dependence on temperature, C(0,DOPE) is nearly independent of [Ca(2+)]. In contrast, C(0,DOPA) and C(0),cardiolipin are almost unresponsive to the temperature change but affected by the [Ca(2+)] variation; and C(0,DOPA) varies with [Ca(2+)] ∼1.5 times more strongly than C(0,cardiolipin), with the phase preferences of DOPA and cardiolipin shifting to the H(II) phase and remaining on the Lα phase, respectively, at [Ca(2+)] = 100 mM. From these observations, we reveal the effects of modulating the strength of the inter-headgroup repulsion and discuss the mechanisms underlying the phase behaviour and cellular functions of the investigated phospholipids. Most importantly, this study recognizes that the headgroup charge density is dominant in dictating the phase behaviour of the anionic phospholipids, and that the unique molecular characteristics of cardiolipin are critically needed both for maintaining the structural integrity of cardiolipin-rich biomembranes and for fulfilling the biological roles of the phospholipid.

Order parameter fluctuations at a buried quantum critical point.

Quantum criticality is a central concept in condensed matter physics, but the direct observation of quantum critical fluctuations has remained elusive. Here we present an X-ray diffraction study of the charge density wave (CDW) in 2H-NbSe(2) at high pressure and low temperature, where we observe a broad regime of order parameter fluctuations that are controlled by proximity to a quantum critical point. X-rays can track the CDW despite the fact that the quantum critical regime is shrouded inside a superconducting phase; and in contrast to transport probes, allow direct measurement of the critical fluctuations of the charge order. Concurrent measurements of the crystal lattice point to a critical transition that is continuous in nature. Our results confirm the long-standing expectations of enhanced quantum fluctuations in low-dimensional systems, and may help to constrain theories of the quantum critical Fermi surface.

[Vascular age and cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients followed at the heart institute]. / Âge vasculaire et risque cardiovasculaire chez les patients hypertendus suivis à l'institut de cardiologie d'Abidjan.

OBJECTIVE: To calculate the vascular age of hypertensive patients and assess the risk at 10 years of occurrence of an absolute cardiovascular event in outpatient consultation of the Abidjan Heart Institute. PATIENTS AND METHODOLOGY: Cross-sectional study with descriptive and analytical purposes from June 2021 to September 2021, i.e. 4 months in patients at least 30 years of age followed in the outpatient department for arterial hypertension without cardiovascular complications. Data were collected using a questionnaire. We considered the parameters established in the D'Agostino chart for the calculation of vascular age. Each parameter was weighted and the total points obtained corresponded to the vascular age. The cardiovascular risk at 10 years was also obtained from another abacus established by D'Agostino by cross-referencing the total points of each patient with pre-established data. RESULTS: Three hundred hypertensive people were included in this study. The calendar average age was 62.0 ± 10 years with extremes of 30 and 95 years. The gender distribution showed female predominance and there was no significant difference in vascular age by sex. The mean vascular age of all patients was 73.4 ± 9.9 years. The mean difference between actual and vascular age was 11.4 years. Dyslipidemia (p = 0.0002), diabetes (p = 0.0004) and unstandardized BP (p = 0.0000) significantly influenced vascular age. There was no significant difference between smokers and non-smokers (p = 0.1349). All men had a greater than 30% risk of having a cardiovascular accident while women before the age of 35 had no risk. Over the age of 60, almost all patients (both men and women) had a greater than 30% risk of having a cardiovascular accident at 10 years. CONCLUSION: The calculation of vascular age made it possible to assess arterial aging and calculate the probability at 10 years of occurrence of a cardiovascular event. This study also highlights the importance of cardiovascular risk and vascular age assessment for management adaptation and therapeutic education.

Review of research pertaining to the effect of tumor-derived exosomes on natural killer cells.

Tumor-derived exosomes (TDEs) play critical roles in many aspects of cancer progression. There have been several advances in cancer immunotherapy in recent years. A major challenge, however, has been addressed to the role of TDEs in tumor cell immune escape through their influence on the antitumor immunity of natural killer (NK) cells, a key type of immune cell. In this review, we present our overview of the effects of different TDEs on NK cell activation and NK cell toxicity. Studies on mechanism suggest that TDEs mainly affect the immune response of NK cells by inhibiting activated receptors on the surface of NK cells and downregulating the NK recognition ligand MICA/B on the tumor cell surface. In addition, a summary was documented on how to restore the cytotoxicity of NK cells and improve the drug's ability to recognize tumor cells, and a detailed explanation was also provided on the mechanism of action of the drug.

Fermi surface nesting induced strong pairing in iron-based superconductors.

The discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in iron pnictides raised the possibility of an unconventional superconducting mechanism in multiband materials. The observation of Fermi-surface (FS)-dependent nodeless superconducting gaps suggested that inter-FS interactions may play a crucial role in superconducting pairing. In the optimally hole-doped Ba(0.6)K(0.4)Fe(2)As(2), the pairing strength is enhanced simultaneously (2Delta/T(c) approximately 7) on the nearly nested FS pockets, i.e., the inner hole-like (alpha) FS and the 2 hybridized electron-like FSs, whereas the pairing remains weak (2Delta/T(c) approximately 3.6) in the poorly nested outer hole-like (beta) FS. Here, we report that in the electron-doped BaFe(1.85)Co(0.15)As(2), the FS nesting condition switches from the alpha to the beta FS due to the opposite size changes for hole- and electron-like FSs upon electron doping. The strong pairing strength (2Delta/T(c) approximately 6) is also found to switch to the nested beta FS, indicating an intimate connection between FS nesting and superconducting pairing, and strongly supporting the inter-FS pairing mechanism in the iron-based superconductors.

Estradiol 1 mg and drospirenone 2 mg as hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal Chinese women.

OBJECTIVES: Drospirenone is a novel progestogen that, combined with 17ß-estradiol, reduces the frequency and severity of menopausal vasomotor symptoms (VMS) in different populations. This double-blind, multicenter study compared the efficacy, safety and tolerability of 2 mg drospirenone/1 mg estradiol (DRSP/E2) vs. placebo in Chinese postmenopausal women with moderate to severe VMS. METHODS: Women, aged 45-65 years, were randomized to DRSP/E2 (n=183) or placebo (n=61) once daily for four 28-day cycles. Changes in the frequency and severity of hot flushes were analyzed as primary variables, together with other climacteric and urogenital symptoms, clinical global improvement, adverse events and physical/gynecological parameters. RESULTS: Relative changes in numbers of hot flushes/week were -80.4% for DRSP/E2 vs. -51.9% for placebo (treatment difference -28.5%, p<0.0001). There were trends toward a greater reduction in severity of hot flushes with DRSP/E2 treatment. Patients treated with DRSP/E2 were more often free from sweating episodes (p<0.0001) and vaginal dryness (p=0.0008). Other climacteric symptoms, including nervousness and pollakisuria, followed a trend of greater response with DRSP/E2. Similar to other combination HRT regimens, DRSP/E2 increased occurrences of bleeding, but these decreased over time. Adverse events in patients treated with DRSP/E2 were mostly mild to moderate and withdrawal rates were low. CONCLUSIONS: Daily treatment of postmenopausal Chinese women with DRSP/E2 for 16 weeks significantly reduced the incidence of hot flushes and demonstrated advantages vs. placebo for other climacteric symptoms. These results indicate that DRSP/E2 is effective, safe and well tolerated in postmenopausal Chinese women.

Myrtus communis improves cognitive impairment in renovascular hypertensive rats.

Myrtus communis has anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and anticholinesterase activities yet there have been limited studies examining effects of Myrtus communis on cognitive functions. This study investigated the possible effects of Myrtus communis on changes in the cognitive functions of experimental renovascular hypertensive rats. Fifty-six Wistar-Albino rats were equally divided into 4 groups; sham-operated control, renovascular hypertension (RVH), ramipril (RVH + Ram) and Myrtus communis extract (RVH + MC) treatment groups. Goldblatt's 2-kidney 1-clip (2K1C) method was used to induce RVH. At the end of 9 weeks of treatment, after blood pressure recording, the animals underwent new object recognition test and Morris water maze (MWM) task. Following these tests, blood brain barrier (BBB) integrity was examined in 6 animals from each group. In the others after decapitation, osteopontin and interleukin (IL)-10 levels were measured in blood samples; while matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13, sodium potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na+,K+-ATPase), cluster of differentiation (CD) 36, amyloid beta (Aß), neprilysin levels, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were investigated in hippocampal tissues. In RVH group, high systolic blood pressure decreased serum IL-10 levels, increased serum osteopontin levels and also impaired BBB permeability. Hippocampal MMP-13, CD36, Aß, neprilysin levels and AChE activities were elevated, while there were decreases in Na+,K+-ATPase levels. In new objet recognition test, discrimination index (DI) was determined as lower in saline-treated RVH group compared to control animals. In MWM training trail, 4th day performance in finding platform was significantly reduced in saline-treated RVH group compared to control group. RVH also decreased the time spent in target quadrant in probe test of MWM task compared to control group. In both of the treatment groups, all biochemical parameters were restored in parallel with improvement in the behavioral test performances. The results of this study suggest that Myrtus communis extract may improve the cognitive dysfunctions in hypertension through antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory and anticholinesterase activities.

LINC01198 promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis via Notch signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression level of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1198 (LINC01198) in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues and cells, to investigate the effect of LINC01198 on the biological function of CRC cells through in vivo and in vitro experiments, and to explore its molecular mechanism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Tissue samples were collected from 32 patients with CRC. Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was utilized to detect the relative expression level of LINC01198 in CRC tissues and cells. In vitro experiments [Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry] were conducted to explore the effect of interfering with the expression of LINC01198 on the proliferation, cycle and apoptosis of CRC cells. Tumorigenesis assay was undertaken in nude mice to investigate the influence of LINC01198 on the tumorigenic ability of CRC cells in vivo. Besides, Western blotting was performed to determine the changes in the downstream signaling pathway of LINC01198. RESULTS: Among the 32 cases of tissue samples of CRC patients, 28 cases had an upregulated expression of LINC01198 compared with paracancerous tissues. The results of qRT-PCR indicated that LINC01198 expression was upregulated in CRC cells, and the interference efficiency of si-LINC01198 was measured via qRT-PCR. The results of in vitro experiments demonstrated that after interfering with the expression of LINC01198 in CRC cells, cell proliferation capacity was inhibited, cell cycle was arrested at G1/G0 phase, and the apoptosis rate was increased. The results of nude mice tumorigenesis experiments revealed that after interfering with the expression of LINC01198, the tumorigenic ability of CRC cells in vivo declined. Additionally, Western blotting assay results confirmed that after interfering with the expression of LINC01198, the expression of molecular markers in the Notch signaling pathway was inhibited. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of LINC01198 is upregulated in the case of CRC, which promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of CRC cells by regulating the Notch signaling pathway. Our findings provide a novel biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC patients and treatment strategies.

SIRT2 inhibits oxidative stress and inflammatory response in diabetic osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes mellitus is involved in inflammation, immunity, and metabolism during osteoarthritis (OA). It destroys the normal synthesis and degradation balance of chondrocytes (CHs) and extracellular matrix (ECM). The purpose of this study was to explore the possible way of SIRT2 influencing the progress of diabetic OA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Proteins of diabetic OA and normal OA cartilage samples were extracted from patients undergoing knee joint operation. CHs were also isolated from the cartilage exempted from diabetes for cell culture. Glucose was used to treat CHs for imitating the microenvironment of diabetes. The expressions of SIRT2, acetylated H3K9, H3K14, and H3K56 protein were determined by Western blotting. SIRT2, 8-hydroxy-2' deoxyguanosine (8-OH), and MMP-13 expressions were analyzed using immunofluorescence. RT-PCR was performed to measure the mRNA levels of SOD1, SOD2, CAT, MMP-13, ADAMTS-4, and ADAMTS-5. Total ROS level was performed by flow cytometry assay. RESULTS: SIRT2 expression was reduced, whereas acetylated H3K9, H3K14, and H3K56 were upregulated in diabetic cartilage compared to normal. High glucose suppressed the expression of SIRT2 but accelerated the acetylation of H3K9, H3K14, and H3K56. Besides, high glucose promoted the expression of 8-OH, and inhibited SOD1, SOD2, and CAT mRNA expressions, resulting in the up-regulated ROS level of CHs. In addition, high glucose activated the inflammatory response by upregulation of MMP-13, ADAMTS-4, and ADAMTS-5 expressions. SirReal2 suppressed SIRT2 and resulted in several acetylations of H3, more ROS, less antioxidant enzymes, and stronger inflammatory response caused by high glucose. However, supplied rh-SIRT2 reversed these negative effects of high glucose in CHs. CONCLUSIONS: SIRT2 expression is reduced along with the diabetic OA process with increased acetylation of H3, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response. Suppression of SIRT2 accelerates the progress of diabetic OA and upregulation of SIRT2 alleviates diabetic OA development by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammatory response that are likely to be related to the deacetylation of H3.

Bath-related thunderclap headache: a study of 21 consecutive patients.

We consecutively recruited 21 patients (all women, mean 54 +/- 8 years) with bath-related thunderclap headache (BRTH). Thirteen of them were in menopause, two had just ceased hormonal therapy, and one was at 3 months postpartum. Bathing was the initial trigger for thunderclap headaches in nine patients (43%). Many patients (n = 15, 71%) had other non-bath-related attacks. Most patients (n = 18, 86%) reported that the headache occurred immediately when water was sprayed over their body, with warm water (52%) as the most common. During the disease course [mean 14 days (6-34)], the mean number of BRTH was 5.1 +/- 3.6 attacks. Nineteen patients (90%) changed bathing habits to prevent attacks. Thirteen patients (62%) had magnetic resonance angiography vasoconstrictions, and two of them (15%) developed reversible posterior encephalopathy. None of the patients without vasoconstrictions had this complication. Nimodipine was effective in stopping further attacks in 84% (16/19) treated patients. No relapse was reported at a mean follow-up of 30 months. BRTH occurred exclusively in women and predominantly in middle age. Deficiency or fluctuation of female sex hormones may play a role. About 60% patients showed cerebral vasospasms, fulfilling the diagnosis of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome and indicating a risk of posterior encephalopathy.

Optimization method for ankle strength training during exercise / Método de otimização no treino de força do tornozelo durante o exercício / Método para optimizar el entrenamiento de la fuerza del tobillo durante el ejercicio

ABSTRACT Introduction Good ankle joint strength is a precondition for high-quality exercise and is an important factor in preventing joint injuries. Objective Explore the method of optimizing ankle strength training during exercise. Methods 40 volunteers were selected and randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group. The 20 athletes in the experimental group were trained three times a week for six weeks using a control variable method, while the control group performed only professional daily physical training. Pre-training and post-training methods were used to collect and investigate the data regarding the effect of strength training on the ankle joint and its impact on skill and strength tests submitted to the athletes. Results Ankle strength training can improve ankle muscle strength and athletes' ability to run and jump (P > 0.05). Conclusion Ankle joint strength training may improve athletes' baseline sporting ability, improve ankle joint muscle strength, reduce the likelihood of joint injuries, and contribute to improved outcomes of various abilities, meriting further study and replication. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMO Introdução A boa força articular do tornozelo é uma pré-condição para exercícios físicos de alta qualidade além de ser um fator importante na prevenção de lesões articulares. Objetivo Explorar o método de otimização do treino de força do tornozelo durante o exercício físico. Métodos 40 voluntários foram selecionados e aleatoriamente divididos em grupo experimental e grupo de controle. Os 20 atletas do grupo experimental foram treinados três vezes por semana durante 6 semanas usando um método de variáveis de controle enquanto o grupo controle efetuou apenas o treinamento físico diário profissional. Foram utilizados métodos pré-treino e pós-treino para coleta e investigação dos dados quanto ao efeito do treinamento de força sob a articulação do tornozelo e seu impacto em testes de habilidade e força submetidos aos atletas. Resultados O treinamento de força do tornozelo pode melhorar a força muscular do tornozelo e melhorar a capacidade dos atletas de correr e saltar (P > 0,05). Conclusão O treino de força articular do tornozelo pode melhorar a capacidade esportiva basal dos atletas, melhorar a força muscular da articulação do tornozelo, reduzir a probabilidade de lesões articulares e contribuir na melhoria dos resultados de várias habilidades, merecendo maiores estudos e replicação. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos desfechos do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción Una buena resistencia de la articulación del tobillo es una condición previa para la realización de ejercicio físico de alta calidad y un factor importante en la prevención de lesiones articulares. Objetivo Explorar el método para optimizar el entrenamiento de la fuerza del tobillo durante el ejercicio. Métodos Se seleccionaron 40 voluntarios y se dividieron aleatoriamente en grupo experimental y grupo de control. Los 20 atletas del grupo experimental se entrenaron tres veces a la semana durante 6 semanas con un método variable de control, mientras que el grupo de control sólo realizó un entrenamiento físico profesional diario. Se utilizaron métodos de pre-entrenamiento y post-entrenamiento para recoger e investigar los datos relativos al efecto del entrenamiento de fuerza bajo la articulación del tobillo y su impacto en las pruebas de habilidad y fuerza a las que se sometieron los atletas. Resultados El entrenamiento de la fuerza del tobillo puede mejorar la fuerza muscular del tobillo y mejorar la capacidad de los atletas para correr y saltar (P > 0,05). Conclusión El entrenamiento de la fuerza de la articulación del tobillo puede mejorar la capacidad deportiva de base de los atletas, mejorar la fuerza muscular de la articulación del tobillo, reducir la probabilidad de lesiones articulares y contribuir a mejorar los resultados de varias habilidades, mereciendo más estudios y réplicas. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapêuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Adenosine A2A receptor inactivation alleviates early-onset cognitive dysfunction after traumatic brain injury involving an inhibition of tau hyperphosphorylation.

Tau is a microtubule-associated protein, and the oligomeric and hyperphosphorylated forms of tau are increased significantly after neurotrauma and considered important factors in mediating cognitive dysfunction. Blockade of adenosine A2A receptors, either by caffeine or gene knockout (KO), alleviates cognitive dysfunction after traumatic brain injury (TBI). We postulated that A2AR activation exacerbates cognitive impairment via promoting tau hyperphosphorylation. Using a mouse model of moderate controlled cortical impact, we showed that TBI induced hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and spatial memory deficiency in the Morris water maze test at 7 days and 4 weeks after TBI. Importantly, pharmacological blockade (A2AR antagonist ZM241385 or non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist caffeine) or genetic inactivation of A2ARs reduced the level of tau phosphorylation at Ser404 and alleviated spatial memory dysfunction. The A2AR control of p-tau is further supported by the observations that a KO of A2AR decreased the activity of the tau phosphorylation kinases, glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß) and protein kinase A (PKA) after TBI, and by that CGS21680 (A2AR agonist) exacerbated okadaic acid-induced tau hyperphosphorylation in cultured primary hippocampal neurons. Lastly, CGS21680-induced neuronal tau hyperphosphorylation and axonal injury were effectively alleviated by individual treatments with ZM241385 (A2AR antagonist), H89 (PKA antagonist) and SB216763 (GSK-3ß antagonist), or by the combined treatment with H89 and SB216763. Our findings suggest a novel mechanism whereby A2AR activation triggers cognitive dysfunction by increasing the phosphorylation level of tau protein after TBI and suggest a promising therapeutic and prophylactic strategy by targeting aberrant A2AR signaling via tau phosphorylation.

MR findings of decerebrate rigidity with preservation of consciousness.

We describe a case of decerebrate rigidity, with preservation of consciousness, caused by a discrete pontine tegmentum lesion identified on MR imaging. Lesions within a certain brain stem region are responsible for decerebrate rigidity in animal studies, but there has been a lack of MR imaging evidence in humans. This report also implies that a discrete lesion was responsible for the decerebrate rigidity, while consciousness was preserved.

Functional inactivation of hypocretin 1 receptors in the medial prefrontal cortex affects the pyramidal neuron activity and gamma oscillations: An in vivo multiple-channel single-unit recording study.

The hypocretin signaling is thought to play a critical role in maintaining wakefulness via stimulating the subcortical arousal pathways. Although the cortical areas, including the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), receive dense hypocretinergic fibers and express its receptors, it remains unclear whether the hypocretins can directly regulate the neural activity of the mPFC in vivo. In the present study, using multiple-channel single-unit recording study, we found that infusion of the SB-334867, a blocker for the Hcrtr1, beside the recording sites within the mPFC substantially exerted an inhibitory effect on the putative pyramidal neuron (PPN) activity in naturally behaving rats. In addition, functional blockade of the Hcrtr1 also selectively reduced the power of the gamma oscillations. The PPN activity and the power of the neural oscillations were not affected after microinjection of the TCS-OX2-29, a blocker for the Hcrtr2, within the mPFC. Together, these data indicate that endogenous hypocretins acting on the Hcrtr1 are required for the normal neural activity in the mPFC in vivo, and thus might directly contribute cortical arousal and mPFC-dependent cognitive processes.

Magnetoencephalographic study of rhythmic mid-temporal discharges in non-epileptic and epileptic patients.

To evaluate the source location and clinical significance of rhythmic mid-temporal theta discharges (RMTD) by MEG in non-epileptic and epileptic patients, we conducted simultaneous MEG and EEG recordings with a whole-scalp 306-channel neuromagnetometer in three patients: one with right temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), one with right frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE), and one with tension headache. We visually detected the RMTD activity and interictal spikes, and then localised their generators by MEG source modelling. We repeated MEG measurement 3 months after right anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) in the TLE patient; 3 months after anticonvulsant medication in the FLE patient. In epileptic patients, RMTD activities were found during drowsiness over the left temporal channels of both MEG and EEG recordings, and their generators were localised to the left posterior inferior temporal region. In the patient with tension headache, RMTD was localised in the right inferior temporal area. When the epileptic patients became seizure free with disappearance of epileptic spikes, RMTD was still found over the left temporal channels. Besides, some bursts of RMTD appeared also in the right temporal channels in our TLE patient after ATL. Our results indicate that the source of RMTD activity is located in the fissural cortex of the posterior inferior temporal region. As a physiologic rhythm related to dampened vigilance, RMTD has no direct relation to epileptogenic activity.

Total hip replacement for high dislocated hips without femoral shortening osteotomy.

When performing total hip replacement (THR) in high dislocated hips, the presence of soft-tissue contractures means that most surgeons prefer to use a femoral shortening osteotomy in order to avoid the risk of neurovascular damage. However, this technique will sacrifice femoral length and reduce the extent of any leg-length equalisation. We report our experience of 74 THRs performed between 2000 and 2008 in 65 patients with a high dislocated hip without a femoral shortening osteotomy. The mean age of the patients was 55 years (46 to 72) and the mean follow-up was 42 months (12 to 78). All implants were cementless except for one resurfacing hip implant. We attempted to place the acetabular component in the anatomical position in each hip. The mean Harris hip score improved from 53 points (34 to 74) pre-operatively to 86 points (78 to 95) at final follow-up. The mean radiologically determined leg lengthening was 42 mm (30 to 66), and the mean leg-length discrepancy decreased from 36 mm (5 to 56) pre-operatively to 8.5 mm (0 to 18) postoperatively. Although there were four (5%) post-operative femoral nerve palsies, three had fully resolved by six months after the operation. No loosening of the implant was observed, and no dislocations or infections were encountered. Total hip replacement without a femoral shortening osteotomy proved to be a safe and effective surgical treatment for high dislocated hips.