Aptamers against P. falciparum histidine rich protein 2 as a new approach to malaria diagnosis

Poster Presentation: abstract A08Malaria is a life‐threatening infectious disease caused by the protist Plasmodium, of which the species Plasmodium falciparum is the most severe. Approximately half of the world’s population is at risk of malaria and most of the malaria cases occur in the developing world, where inadequate access to diagnostic tools leads to misdiagnosis or overuse of anti‐malaria drugs. Although antibody‐based rapid diagnostic tests have been developed they continue to have a number of problems, therefore point of care malaria diagnostics is an ongoing challeng…postprin

Targeting glutamate synthase for tuberculosis drug development

1. The Mycobacterium tuberculosis glutamate synthase consisting of alpha and beta subunits can be purified in a heterologous Escherichia coli expression system. 2. The beta subunit can be expressed in the soluble protein fraction under low temperature conditions. 3. The alpha subunit enters inclusion bodies in E coli but can be refolded and subsequently purified.published_or_final_versio

The value of radiographs obtained during forced traction under general anaesthesia in predicting flexibility in idiopathic scoliosis with Cobb angles exceeding 60 degree

Our aim in this prospective radiological study was to determine whether the flexibility rate calculated from radiographs obtained during forced traction under general anaesthesia, was better than that of fulcrum-bending radiographs before corrective surgery in predicting the extent of the available correction in patients with idiopathic scoliosis. We evaluated 33 patients with a Cobb angle > 60 degrees on a standing posteroanterior radiograph, who had been treated by posterior correction. Pre-operative standing fulcrum-bending radiographs and those with forced-traction under general anaesthesia were obtained. Post-operative standing radiographs were taken after surgical correction. The mean forced-traction flexibility rate was 55% (SD 11.3) which was significantly higher than the mean fulcrum-bending flexibility rate of 32% (SD 16.1) (p 60 degrees in the standing position and may identify those patients for whom supplementary anterior surgery can be avoided.published_or_final_versio

A rare postoperative complication of anterior lower thoracic instrumentation: diaphragmatic laceration with hemothorax

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Electronic transitions of cobalt monoboride

Electronic transition spectrum of cobalt monoboride (CoB) in the visible region between 495 and 560 nm has been observed and analyzed using laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy. CoB molecule was produced by the reaction of laser-ablated cobalt atom and diborane (B 2H 6) seeded in argon. Fifteen vibrational bands with resolved rotational structure have been recorded, which included transitions of both Co 10B and Co 11B isotopic species. Our analysis showed that the observed transition bands are ΔΩ=0 transitions with Ω″ = 2 and Ω″ = 3 lower states. Four transition systems have been assigned, namely, the [18.1] 3Π 2-X 3Δ 2, the [18.3]φ 3φ 3-X 3Δ 3, the [18.6]3-X 3Δ 3, and the [19.0]2-X 3Δ 2 systems. The bond length, r o, of the X 3Δ 3 state of CoB is determined to be 1.705 Å. The observed rotational lines showed unresolved hyperfine structure arising from the nuclei, which conforms to the Hunds case (a β) coupling scheme. This work represents the first experimental investigation of the CoB spectrum. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.published_or_final_versio

Antimicrobial prophylaxis to prevent surgical site infection in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion: 2 doses versus antibiotics till drain removal

PURPOSE: There is much variation in the choice, timing and duration of antimicrobial prophylaxis for preventing surgical site infections (SSI) but no guideline exists for scoliosis surgery. The aim of study was to compare the efficacy of two antimicrobial prophylaxis (AMP) protocols with cephazolin in preventing SSI in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). METHODS: A retrospective comparative analysis of two post-operative AMP protocols (two postoperative doses versus continued antibiotics till drain removal) was performed. Patient characteristics, pre-operative, intra- and post-operative risk factors for infection, drain use, generic drug name and number of doses administered were recorded from 226 patients with AIS who had undergone posterior spinal fusion. Details of superficial or deep SSI and wound healing aberrations, and serious adverse events were recorded. Analysis was performed to evaluate differences in the pre-, intra- and post-operative variables between the two groups. RESULTS: 155 patients received 2 postoperative doses of AMP and 71 patients had antibiotics till drain removal. The average follow-up was 43 months. The overall rate of SSI was 1.7 % for the spine wound and 1.3 % for the iliac crest wound. 1.9 % of patients with 2 doses of AMP and 1.4 % of patients with antibiotics till drain removal had SSI. No adverse reactions attributable to cephazolin were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study on the AMP protocol in scoliosis surgery for SSI prevention. Results suggest that two doses of AMP are as effective as continued antimicrobial use until drain removal. Cephazolin appears to be effective and safe for prophylaxis.postprin

Electronic Transitions of Palladium Dimer

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Loops, hairpins and flipped bases: a DNA aptamer that discriminates Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase from the blind watchmaker

Poster Presentation: no. 113The Oligo MeetingLittle is known about how aptamers achieve their specificities in binding and discriminating between closely related targets. Under the pretext of investigating the potential for aptamers in malaria diagnostics, here we solve the crystal structure of a new DNA aptamer which was selected and evolved to bind specifically to the Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH) and not bind to human lactate dehydrogenase. The structure reveals two aptamers bind per Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase tetramer with opposite apical geometry, whereby each aptamer has a distorted hairpin structure. The aptamer comprises a B-helix stem, an asymmetric internal loop involved in target discrimination and an apical loop involved in binding interactions. Each loop contains a critical flipped base. Isothermal titration calorimetry, surface plasmon resonance and electrophoretic mobility shift assay all provide evidence for binding with a dissociation constant in the range 40-70 …postprin

Electronic transitions of platinum monoboride

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Magnetically controlled growing rods for severe spinal curvature in young children: A prospective case series

Scoliosis in skeletally immature children is often treated by implantation of a rod to straighten the spine. Rods can be distracted (lengthened) as the spine grows, but patients need many invasive operations under general anaesthesia. Such operations are costly and associated with negative psychosocial outcomes. We assessed the eff ectiveness and safety of a new magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) for non-invasive outpatient distractions. Methods We implanted the MCGR in fi ve patients, two of whom have now reached 24 months' follow-up. Each patient underwent monthly outpatient distractions. We used radiography to measure the magnitude of the spinal curvature, rod distraction length, and spinal length. We assessed clinical outcome by measuring the degree of pain, function, mental health, satisfaction with treatment, and procedure-related complications. Findings In the two patients with 24 months' follow-up, the mean degree of scoliosis, measured by Cobb angle, was 67° (SD 10°) before implantation and 29° (4°) at 24 months. Length of the instrumented segment of the spine increased by a mean of 1·9 mm (0·4 mm) with each distraction. Mean predicted versus actual rod distraction lengths were 2·3 mm (1·2 mm) versus 1·4 mm (0·7 mm) for patient 1, and 2·0 mm (0·2 mm) and 2·1 mm (0·7 mm) versus 1·9 mm (0·6 mm) and 1·7 mm (0·8 mm) for patient 2's right and left rods, respectively. Throughout follow-up, both patients had no pain, had good functional outcome, and were satisfi ed with the procedure. No MCGR-related complications were noted. Interpretation The MCGR procedure can be safely and eff ectively used in outpatient settings, and minimises surgical scarring and psychological distress, improves quality of life, and is more cost-eff ective than is the traditional growing rod procedure. The technique could be used for non-invasive correction of abnormalities in other disorders.postprin