Infection after primary hip arthroplasty: A comparison of 3 Norwegian health registers

Background and purpose: The aim of the present study was to assess incidence of and risk factors for infection after hip arthroplasty in data from 3 national health registries. We investigated differences in risk patterns between surgical site infection (SSI) and revision due to infection after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and hemiarthroplasty (HA). Materials and methods: This observational study was based on prospective data from 2005–2009 on primary THAs and HAs from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register (NAR), the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register (NHFR), and the Norwegian Surveillance System for Healthcare–Associated Infections (NOIS). The Norwegian Patient Register (NPR) was used for evaluation of case reporting. Cox regression analyses were performed with revision due to infection as endpoint for data from the NAR and the NHFR, and with SSI as the endpoint for data from the NOIS. Results: The 1–year incidence of SSI in the NOIS was 3.0% after THA (167/5,540) and 7.3% after HA (103/1,416). The 1–year incidence of revision due to infection was 0.7% for THAs in the NAR (182/24,512) and 1.5% for HAs in the NHFR (128/8,262). Risk factors for SSI after THA were advanced age, ASA class higher than 2, and short duration of surgery. For THA, the risk factors for revision due to infection were male sex, advanced age, ASA class higher than 1, emergency surgery, uncemented fixation, and a National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) risk index of 2 or more. For HAs inserted after fracture, age less than 60 and short duration of surgery were risk factors of revision due to infection. Interpretation: The incidences of SSI and revision due to infection after primary hip replacements in Norway are similar to those in other countries. There may be differences in risk pattern between SSI and revision due to infection after arthroplasty. The risk patterns for revision due to infection appear to be different for HA and THA

Excess of serotonin affects neocortical pyramidal neuron migration

The serotonin transporter (SERT) is a key molecule involved in the homeostasis of extracellular levels of serotonin and is regulated developmentally. Genetic deletion of SERT in rodents increases extracellular levels of serotonin and affects cellular processes involved in neocortical circuit assembly such as barrel cortex wiring and cortical interneuron migration. Importantly, pharmacological blockade of SERT during brain development leads to phenotypes relevant to psychiatry in rodents and to an increased risk for autism spectrum disorders in humans. Furthermore, developmental adversity interacts with genetically-driven variations of serotonin function in humans and nonhuman primates to increase the risk for a variety of stress-related phenotypes. In this study, we investigate whether an excess of serotonin affects the migration of neocortical pyramidal neurons during development. Using in utero electroporation combined with time-lapse imaging to specifically monitor pyramidal neurons during late mouse embryogenesis, we show that an excess of serotonin reversibly affects the radial migration of pyramidal neurons. We further identify that the serotonin receptor 5-HT6 is expressed in pyramidal neuron progenitors and that 5-HT6 receptor activation replicates the effects of serotonin stimulation. Finally, we show that the positioning of superficial layer pyramidal neurons is altered in vivo in SERT knockout mice. Taken together, these results indicate that a developmental excess of serotonin decreases the migration speed of cortical pyramidal neurons, affecting a fundamental step in the assembly of neural circuits. These findings support the hypothesis that developmental dysregulation of serotonin homeostasis has detrimental effects on neocortical circuit formation and contributes to increased vulnerability to psychiatric disorders

Induction of Ran GTP drives ciliogenesis

The small GTPase Ran and the importin proteins regulate nucleocytoplasmic transport. New evidence suggests that Ran GTP and the importins are also involved in conveying proteins into cilia. In this study, we find that Ran GTP accumulation at the basal bodies is coordinated with the initiation of ciliogenesis. The Ran-binding protein 1 (RanBP1), which indirectly accelerates Ran GTP → Ran GDP hydrolysis and promotes the dissociation of the Ran/importin complex, also localizes to basal bodies and cilia. To confirm the crucial link between Ran GTP and ciliogenesis, we manipulated the levels of RanBP1 and determined the effects on Ran GTP and primary cilia formation. We discovered that RanBP1 knockdown results in an increased concentration of Ran GTP at basal bodies, leading to ciliogenesis. In contrast, overexpression of RanBP1 antagonizes primary cilia formation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that RanBP1 knockdown disrupts the proper localization of KIF17, a kinesin-2 motor, at the distal tips of primary cilia in Madin–Darby canine kidney cells. Our studies illuminate a new function for Ran GTP in stimulating cilia formation and reinforce the notion that Ran GTP and the importins play key roles in ciliogenesis and ciliary protein transport

Reuse of Sucrose Syrup in the Osmotic Dehydration of Peaches

The objective of this work was to determine the technical feasibility of reusing sucrose syrup during the osmotic dehydration of peaches combined with hot air drying (OD/HD). Two trials using different reconditioning methods were carried out over 15 OD/HD cycles, using new syrup in the first cycle and reconditioned syrup in the following ones. The first method consisted of sieving, vacuum concentration, and syrup replacement. The second included filtration through diatomaceous earth. After OD (65 degrees Brix/50 degrees C/4 h), the fruits were dried using a forced air dryer (65 degrees C). The OD parameters of water loss and solids incorporation were evaluated, and physical, chemical, and microbiological analyzes were carried-out on the raw material, syrup, and products. Sensory tests were carried-out using the difference from control method. For both methods, the syrup showed increases in titratable acidity, electrical conductivity, and reducing sugar content over the cycles, but the pH decreased. The syrup turbidity increased without filtration, but for both methods the reconditioning process had no effect on the OD parameters or microbiological load. Both reuse methods favored maintenance of the yellow color of the dried peach and did not influence the flavor and sensory texture.301415321540Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA)SigmagropesquisaHolambra Agro-industrial Cooperativ

The determination of dehydrated apple shelf-life using accelerated assays

preview a food shelf-life is essential to evaluate the kinetics of degradation reactions beyond the orientation of the more appropriate conservation conditions of the products. For the dehydrated apple shelf-life estimative, the product was packed in PE film of 140 and stored at 5 degrees C (control), 25 degrees C (room) and 35 degrees C (accelerated) temperatures and then evaluated based on objective color readings of L, a and b Hunter during 6 months at a 15-day interval. Experimental data showed that the color degradation follows the model of a zero order kinetic reaction. The Arrhenius model was applied to reaction rates (k) at each temperature and an activation energy (E-a) of 7.6 kcal.mol(-1) and Q(10) of = 2.0 was obtained. Shelf-life evaluation was based on subjective (Difference from Control Sensorial Discriminative Test) measurements over 4 months at 15 day intervals. The results suggest that the product stored at 35 T has 100 days shelf-life time; Since Q(10)= 2.0, the product stored at room temperature might be 200 days shelf-life time.27114114