126 research outputs found
Stress relaxation behavior of tessellated cartilage from the jaws of blue sharks
AbstractMuch of the skeleton of sharks, skate and rays (Elasmobranchii) is characterized by a tessellated structure, composed of a shell of small, mineralized plates (tesserae) joined by intertesseral ligaments overlaying a soft cartilage core. Although tessellated cartilage is a defining feature of this group of fishes, the significance of this skeletal tissue type â particularly from a mechanical perspective â is unknown. The aim of the present work was to perform stress relaxation experiments with tessellated cartilage samples from the jaws of blue sharks to better understand the time dependent behavior of this skeletal type.In order to facilitate this aim, the resulting relaxation behavior for different loading directions were simulated using the transversely isotropic biphasic model and this model combined with generalized Maxwell elements to represent the tessellated layer. Analysis of the ability of the models to simulate the observed experimental behavior indicates that the transversely isotropic biphasic model can provide good predictions of the relaxation behavior of the hyaline cartilage. However, the incorporation of Maxwell elements into this model can achieve a more accurate simulation of the dynamic behavior of calcified cartilage when the loading is parallel to the tessellated layer. Correlation of experimental data with present combined composite models showed that the equilibrium modulus of the tessellated layer for this loading direction is about 45 times greater than that for uncalcified cartilage. Moreover, tessellation has relatively little effect on the viscoelasticity of shark cartilage under loading that is normal to the tessellated layer
Determinants of serum levels of vitamin D: a study of life-style, menopausal status, dietary intake, serum calcium, and PTH
Background: Low blood levels of vitamin D (25-hydroxy D3, 25OHD3) in women have been associated with an increased risk of several diseases. A large part of the population may have suboptimal 25OHD3 levels but high-risk groups are not well known. The aim of the present study was to identify determinants for serum levels of 25OHD3 in women, i.e. factors such as lifestyle, menopausal status, diet and selected biochemical variables. Methods: The study was based on women from the Malmo Diet and Cancer Study (MDCS), a prospective, population-based cohort study in Malmo, Sweden. In a previous case-control study on breast cancer, 25OHD3 concentrations had been measured in 727 women. In these, quartiles of serum 25OHD3 were compared with regard to age at baseline, BMI (Body Max Index), menopausal status, use of oral contraceptives or menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), life-style (e. g. smoking and alcohol consumption), socio-demographic factors, season, biochemical variables (i.e. calcium, PTH, albumin, creatinine, and phosphate), and dietary intake of vitamin D and calcium. In order to test differences in mean vitamin D concentrations between different categories of the studied factors, an ANOVA test was used followed by a t-test. The relation between different factors and 25OHD3 was further investigated using multiple linear regression analysis and a logistic regression analysis. Results: We found a positive association between serum levels of 25OHD3 and age, oral contraceptive use, moderate alcohol consumption, blood collection during summer/autumn, creatinine, phosphate, calcium, and a high intake of vitamin D. Low vitamin D levels were associated with obesity, being born outside Sweden and high PTH levels. Conclusions: The present population-based study found a positive association between serum levels of 25OHD3 and to several socio-demographic, life-style and biochemical factors. The study may have implications e. g. for dietary recommendations. However, the analysis is a cross-sectional and it is difficult to suggest Lifestyle changes as cause-effect relationships are difficult to assess
Tryptophan depletion in context of the inflammatory and general nutritional status of a low-income South African HIV-infected population
MV was the project leader. PB developed and validated the GC-MS method for
the analysis of tryptophan and performed the biochemical and immunological
analyses. MV and PB were responsible for the project design, analyses of the
results and writing of the manuscript. PL was involved in the sourcing of
patients and the clinical examination of all patients.The authors wish to thank the participants and staff of the Immunology
Clinic at Kalafong Hospital and the South African National Blood Service at
the Pretoria West satellite site.BACKGROUND : The essential amino acid tryptophan cannot be synthesised in the body and must be acquired
through dietary intake. Oxidation of tryptophan, due to immune induction of the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-
dioxygenase (IDO), is considered to be the main cause of tryptophan depletion in HIV infection and AIDS.
We examined plasma tryptophan levels in a low-income sub-Saharan HIV-infected population and compared it to
that of developed countries. Tryptophan levels were further examined in context of the general nutritional and
inflammatory status.
METHODS : This cross-sectional study included 105 HIV-positive patients recruited from the Kalafong Hospital in
Pretoria, South Africa, and 60 HIV-negative controls.
RESULTS : Patient tryptophan levels were in general markedly lower than those reported for developed countries. In
contrast to reports from developed countries that showed tryptophan levels on average to be 18.8 % lower than
their control values, tryptophan levels in our study were 44.1 % lower than our controls (24.4 ± 4.1 vs. 43.6 ±
11.9 ÎŒmol/l; p < 0.001). Tryptophan levels correlated with both CD4 counts (r = 0.341; p = 0.004) and with proinflammatory
activity as indicated by neopterin levels (r = â0.399; p = 0.0001). Nutritional indicators such as albumin
and haemoglobin correlated positively with tryptophan and negatively with the pro-inflammatory indicators
neopterin, interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein. The most probable causes of the lower tryptophan levels seen in
our population are food insecurity and higher levels of inflammatory activity.
CONCLUSIONS : We contend that inflammation-induced tryptophan depletion forms part of a much wider effect of
pro-inflammatory activity on the nutritional profile of HIV-infected patients.This research was supported by grant funding
received from the Medical Research Council of South Africa and the South
African Sugar Association (SASA Project 213).http://www.jhpn.net/index.php/jhpnam2016Internal MedicinePhysiologyPsychiatr
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