Benign paroxysmal torticollis in infancy

Background. Benign paroxysmal torticollis (BPT) is an episodic functional disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by the periods of torticollic posturing of the head, that occurs in the early months of life in healthy children. Case report. We reported two patients with BPT. In the first patient the symptoms were observed at the age of day 20, and disappeared at the age of 3 years. There were 10 episodes, of which 2 were followed by vomiting, pallor, irritability and the abnormal trunk posture. In the second patient, a 12-month-old girl, BPT started from day 15. She had 4 episodes followed by vomiting in the first year. Both girls had the normal psychomotor development. All diagnostical tests were normal. Conclusion. The recognition of BPT, as well as its clinical course may help to avoid not only unnecessary tests and the treatment, but also the anxiety of the parents

The value of modified DASH questionnaire for evaluation of elbow function after supracondylar fractures in children

Background/Aim. The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Outcome Questionnaire represents a region- specific instrument for functional outcome measurement of hand function. The aim of the study was to analyze the correlation between the values of modified DASH questionnaire and change of elbow function after supracondylar fracture (SCF) of humerus and to analyze the effects of early rehabilitation. Methods. The study included 35 schoolaged children with flexion of SCF of humerus without lesion of nerves. The patients were divided into two groups: group A in which rehabilitation started up to 14 days after the removal of fixation (20 children), and group B in which rehabilitation started after 15 days and more (15 children). The effects of the applied rehabilitation procedures were analyzed by measuring the range of motion of elbow and using modified DASH questionnaire. Testing was performed during the first examination, on the first day of rehabilitation (retest) and after the rehabilitation. Pearson's coefficient of liner correlation was applied. Results. Statistically significant negative correlation of DASH score and extension was verified in all three measurements. The values for the first test and for the final test were highly significant (p < 0.001), as well as negative correlation of DASH score and flexion on the first test and retest (p < 0.01), and at the end of rehabilitation (p < 0.001) in the group B. For all three tests in the group A negative correlation without significant differences for DASH score and flexion was found. Conclusion. A modified DASH questionnaire correlates with objective parameters of final status of elbow after SCF in children and it is applicable to small series of patients. A positive effect of early rehabilitation of children with SCF was found

Optimization of the heterologous expression of banana glucanase in Escherichia coli (vol 77, pg 43, 2012)

For the heterologous production of a banana glucanase in Escherichia coli, its gene (GenBank GQ268963) was cloned into a pGEX-4T expression vector as a fusion protein with glutathione-S-transferase (GST). BL21 cells transformed with the GST-Mus a 5 construct were employed for production of the protein induced by 1 mM isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). The conditions for protein expression were optimized by varying the temperature (25, 30 and 37 C) and duration of protein expression (3, 6 and 12 h). The level of protein production was analyzed by densitometry of the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel (SDS-PAG) after electrophoretic resolution of the respective cell lysates. The optimal protein expression for downstream processing was obtained after 12 h of cell growth at 25 degrees C upon addition of IPTG. Recombinant GST-Mus a 5 purified by glutathione affinity chromatography revealed a molecular mass of about 60 kDa. The IgE and IgG reactivity of the rGST-Mus a 5 was confirmed by dot blot analysis with sera of individual patients from subjects with banana allergy and polyclonal rabbit antibodies against banana extract, respectively. The purified recombinant glucanase is a potential candidate for banana allergy diagnosis.Za potrebe proizvodnje u Escherichia coli gen glukanaze iz banane (GenBank GQ268963) je ukloniran u ekspresioni vektor pGEX-4T sa glutation-S-transferazom (GST). Proizvodnja ovog proteina u ćelijama je indukovana 1 mM izopropil-β-D-tiogalaktopiranozidom (IPTG). Uslovi za ekspresiju proteina su optimizovani variranjem temperature (25, 30 i 37°C) i dužine trajanja proteinske sinteze (3, 6 i 12 h). Nivo proizvodnje proteina je analiziran denzitometrijom SDS-PA gela nakon elektroforetskog razdvajanja ćelijskih lizata. Optimalna proizvodnja proteina za njegovo dalje procesovanje je dobijena gajenjem ćelija nakon dodatka IPTG na 25°C tokom 12 h. Rekombinantni GST-Mus a 5 prečišćen afinitetnom hromatografijom sa glutationom pokazuje molekulsku masu od 60 kDa. IgE i IgG reaktivnost izolovane glukanaze potvrđena je u 'dot blot' sa pojedinačnim serumima osoba alergičnih na bananu, i sa poliklonskim zečijim antitelima na ekstrakt banane, redom. Prečišćena rekombinantna glukanaza je potencijalan kandidat za dijagnozu alergije na bananu

Optimizacija heterologe proizvodnje glukanaze iz banane u E. coli

For the heterologous production of a banana glucanase in Escherichia coli, its gene (GenBank GQ268963) was cloned into a pG EX-4T expression vector as a fusion protein with glutathione-S-transferase (GST). BL21 cells transformed with the GST-Mus a 5 con struct were employed for production of the protein induced by 1 mM isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). The conditions for protein expression were optimized by varying the temperature (25, 30 and 37°C) and duration of protein expression (3, 6 and 12 h). The level of protein production was analyzed by densitometry of the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel (SDS-PAG) after electrophoretic resolution of the respective cell lysates. The optimal protein expression for downstream processing was obtained after 12 h of cell growth at 25°C upon addition of IPTG. Recombinant GST-Mus a 5 purified by glutathione affinity chromatography revealed a molecular mass of a bout 60 kDa. The IgE and IgG reactivity of the rGST-Mus a 5 was confirmed by dot blot an analysis with sera of individual patients from subjects with banana allergy and polyclonal rabbit antibodies against banana extract, respectively. The purified recombinant glucanase is a potential candidate for banana allergy diagnosis.Za potrebe proizvodnje u Escherichia coli gen glukanaze iz banane (GenBank GQ268963) je ukloniran u ekspresioni vektor pGEX-4T sa glutation-S-transferazom (GST). Proizvodnja ovog proteina u ćelijama je indukovana 1 mM izopropil-β-D-tiogalaktopiranozidom (IPTG). Uslovi za ekspresiju proteina su optimizovani variranjem temperature (25, 30 i 37°C) i dužine trajanja proteinske sinteze (3, 6 i 12 h). Nivo proizvodnje proteina je analiziran denzitometrijom SDS-PA gela nakon elektroforetskog razdvajanja ćelijskih lizata. Optimalna proizvodnja proteina za njegovo dalje procesovanje je dobijena gajenjem ćelija nakon dodatka IPTG na 25°C tokom 12 h. Rekombinantni GST-Mus a 5 prečišćen afinitetnom hromatografijom sa glutationom pokazuje molekulsku masu od 60 kDa. IgE i IgG reaktivnost izolovane glukanaze potvrđena je u 'dot blot' sa pojedinačnim serumima osoba alergičnih na bananu, i sa poliklonskim zečijim antitelima na ekstrakt banane, redom. Prečišćena rekombinantna glukanaza je potencijalan kandidat za dijagnozu alergije na bananu

Influence of the Cobb 500 hybrid parent age and egg storage period on incubation parameters

Main goal of this research was to determine the influence of Cobb 500 hybrid broiler parent age (BPA) and egg storage (ES) period, the impact of egg maturity on egg fertilization and chick hatching, as well as on embryonal mortality of chicks during incubation period. There were three phases of production cycle, three different ages of broiler parents 25, 41 and 58 weeks (BPA25, BPA41, BPA 58). The eggs there were differentiated according to storage time: eggs stored up to 7 days and eggs stored over 7 days (ES7). Using the random sample method, 1.050 eggs were chosen (total number of chosen eggs was 6.300), with the aim to determine above mentioned reproductive parameters, one day old chick weight and relative share of chick weight in total egg weight were determined. Age of broiler parents had the highest influence on egg fertility as the highest number of fertilized eggs was recorded during the middle of production cycle (BPA41 = 97.05%), then at the beginning of the cycle (BPA25 = 96.09%), and lowest number of fertilized eggs was during the last phase of the cycle (BPA58 = 93.00%). The storage period of the eggs did not have any influence on egg fertility. However, the age of broiler parents and storage period had significant influence on hatching, therefore it influenced embryonal mortality during incubation period. Without considering the storage period, the lowest embryo mortality was detected with eggs that originated from BPA41 - 13.05%, eggs that originated from BPA58 had significantly higher embryo mortality rate 15.87%, and the highest mortality rate was noted with eggs that originated from BPA25 16.93%. However, extended storage period for the eggs or egg maturity (ES7) had influence on total embryonal mortality rate in all three phases of the production cycle. Moreover, broiler parent age had statistically significant influence on increase of egg weight (P<0.001) and hatched chick weight (P<0.001), while the relative share of chick weight in total egg weight was decreased, therefore storage period in all three phases of production cycle had negative influence on chick percent, with increase of storage time of the egg, relative share of chick weight in total egg weight decreased, especially during start BPA25 and end BPA58 phase of the production cycle (P<0.001)

THE EFFECTS OF A PROGRAM OF SWIMMING AND AQUATIC EXERCISE ON FLEXIBILITY IN CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY

Abstract: The objective of this study is to determine the effects of the applied program of swimming and aquatic exercise on improving the flexibility of children with cerebral palsy. The participants in the study were 15 children with cerebral palsy, aged 6 to 17, at GMFCS levels I, II and III. The applied exercise program comprised swimming and aquatic exercise. In the swimming program, the Halliwick method was used, as well as exercises for the backstroke, crawl and breaststroke. The aquatic exercise program included exercises for improving leg muscle flexibility and strength, and walking exercises. The exercise program lasted for 12 weeks with a frequency of three times a week and a class duration of 60 minutes. Based on the results of the tests for the assessment of flexibility or range of motion, 6 variables were obtained. The results indicate that the applied program contributed to a statistically significant increase in the range of flexion and abduction motions at the shoulder joint at the level of significance p=0.00. Regarding the range of extension and abduction motions at the hip joint, as well as dorsal flexion, improvement was also noted, however without statistical significance. Based on the analysis of the results obtained, we conclude that the applied program of swimming and aquatic exercise was efficient in the sense of increasing flexibility or the range of flexion and abduction motions at the shoulder joint, whereas the program requires modification to increase flexibility of the leg joints. Key words: aquatic exercise, swimming, range of motion, effects, cerebral pals

Living off the land : Terrestrial-based diet and dairying in the farming communities of the Neolithic Balkans

The application of biomolecular techniques to archaeological materials from the Balkans is providing valuable new information on the prehistory of the region. This is especially relevant for the study of the neolithisation process in SE Europe, which gradually affected the rest of the continent. Here, to answer questions regarding diet and subsistence practices in early farming societies in the central Balkans, we combine organic residue analyses of archaeological pottery, taxonomic and isotopic study of domestic animal remains and biomolecular analyses of human dental calculus. The results from the analyses of the lipid residues from pottery suggest that milk was processed in ceramic vessels. Dairy products were shown to be part of the subsistence strategies of the earliest Neolithic communities in the region but were of varying importance in different areas of the Balkan. Conversely, milk proteins were not detected within the dental calculus. The molecular and isotopic identification of meat, dairy, plants and beeswax in the pottery lipids also provided insights into the diversity of diet in these early Neolithic communities, mainly based on terrestrial resources. We also present the first compound-specific radiocarbon dates for the region, obtained directly from absorbed organic residues extracted from pottery, identified as dairy lipids

Ocjene i prikazi knjiga i časopisa

Ocjene i prikazi knjiga i časopis

Benign paroxysmal torticollis in infancy – diagnostic error possibility

Background/Aim. Benign paroxysmal torticollis (BPT) is a rare paroxysmal dyskinesia characterized by attacks of head tilt alone or tilt accompanied by vomiting and ataxia, which may last hours to days. It is claimed that BPT disappears completely in childhood, but that it can evolve into other conditions, such as benign paroxysmal vertigo, cyclical vomiting syndrome, abdominal migraine, hemiplegic migraine, motion sickness and/or migraine with aura. The aim of this manuscript was to renew focus on benign paroxysmal torticollis because the disorder is almost always under-recognized by pediatric practitioners, who often order extensive and unrewarding testing and physiotherapy treatment. Methods. Twelve BPT cases observed during a 5-year period (2009–2014) at the Clinical Centre Niš, Niš, Serbia were reviewed. Data were collected on the features of torticollis, the age of onset, the duration of episodes, associated symptoms, the frequency of episodes, the persistence of symptoms over time, the age when the disorder finally disappeared, sequelae appearing after the 5th birthday, and family history of BPT, migraine or kinetosis. All the children were followed for periods ranging from 48 to 72 months. Results. The series included 6 females and 6 males. The age at onset of BPT was less than 8 months in 84% of the cases. Episodes of torticollis occurred suddenly on waking in all the cases without any trigger factors. The duration of torticollis ranged from a few hours to a few weeks. In 58% of cases, the condition persisted for more than one week. The frequency of the episodes ranged from once every 3 days to once every 25 days. The episodes were more frequent and lasted longer in the early months and tended to cease as the child became older. The age when episodes ended ranged from 11 months to 62 months. In 11 (91.66%) cases, the disorder disappeared before the patient's 5th birthday. No patient had a family history of BPT. In 6 cases, family members had kinetosis. In 5 cases, family members were positive for both migraine and kinetosis. All the children had normal motor development and normal speech and language development. After the disappearance of BPT, two children developed other forms of periodic syndromes: one boy had migraine with aura, and one girl experienced cyclic vomiting. Conclusion. BPT is probably an age-sensitive and migraine-related disorder that is benign in nature. The disorder is often misinterpreted, and children may pointlessly undergo numerous tests. Therefore, it is very important to recognize and observe this condition in order to avoid extensive, unnecessary and unpleasant procedures on the child

Evaluation of the thermal stability and digestibility of heterologously produced banana lectin

The thermal stability of recombinant mannose-specific banana lectin (rBanLec), as well as its stability under conditions of simulated gastro-intestinal fluid (SGF), was investigated. rBanLec was heterologously produced in Escherichia coli, Molecular mass of rBanLec, assessed by ESI-TOF mass spectrometry, was 15972.2 Da. Thermodynamic parameters for rBanLec denaturation, obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), revealed a transition maximum temperature (T-m) of 60.8 degrees C, calorimetric enthalpy (H-cal) of 136.17 kcal/mol and van't Hoff enthalpy (H-VH) of 50.27 kcal/mol. rBanLec was stable following an incubation for 2 h in SGF, and then for I h, in the simulated intestinal fluid (SIF). Intact primary structure, biological and immunological reactivity of rBanLec were all preserved following treatment under SGF and SIF conditions. In conclusion, rBanLec is a good candidate for the novel bioadhesive lectin-based drug delivery systems to the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT). (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved