Mechanism of bidirectional thermotaxis in Escherichia coli.

In bacteria various tactic responses are mediated by the same cellular pathway, but sensing of physical stimuli remains poorly understood. Here, we combine an in-vivo analysis of the pathway activity with a microfluidic taxis assay and mathematical modeling to investigate the thermotactic response of Escherichia coli. We show that in the absence of chemical attractants E. coli exhibits a steady thermophilic response, the magnitude of which decreases at higher temperatures. Adaptation of wild-type cells to high levels of chemoattractants sensed by only one of the major chemoreceptors leads to inversion of the thermotactic response at intermediate temperatures and bidirectional cell accumulation in a thermal gradient. A mathematical model can explain this behavior based on the saturation-dependent kinetics of adaptive receptor methylation. Lastly, we find that the preferred accumulation temperature corresponds to optimal growth in the presence of the chemoattractant serine, pointing to a physiological relevance of the observed thermotactic behavior

Magnetic resonance findings and outcome in ten cats with traumatic spondylomyelopathy

In this retrospective study, the MR findings of ten cats with acute post-traumatic spondylomyelopathy were described and the most useful MR sequences were determined. Spinal cord injury (SCI), bone and muscle trauma were compared with the clinical outcome (recovery or euthanasia). The extension of spinal cord injury (SCI) was measured in vertebral body length (VBL). Of the ten cats, only five fully recovered. In the recovery group, no SCI (n=1) or SCI <1 VBL (n=4) were found. In the group of euthanized dogs, SCI > 2 VBLs (n=4) or spinal cord transection (n=1) were found. Lesions were best seen on T2WSE (spinal cord injury), STIR (soft tissue trauma) and T1WSE (bone injury). Low-field MR was therefore helpful to assess feline spinal trauma and may prove helpful to predict the clinical outcome, although a larger case series is needed. The authors suggest that protocols with low-field MR should include T1WSE, T2WSE and STIR sequences

Meaningful life is possible with locked - In syndrome the personal account of a survivor

Locked-in syndrome (LIS) is a rare condition characterised by quadriplegia and anarthria and is usually caused by a bilateral ventral ischemic pontine lesion. Patients are normally fully conscious, but their only mode of communication is with vertical eye movements and/or blinking. Although the mortality rate is high, it has been shown that patients can survive for a significant period of time. Once an LIS patient becomes medically stable, given appropriate medical care, his or her life expectancy may be several decades. LIS patients may suffer appreciably if they are treated by hospital staff as nonresponsive. Medical professionals and lay people often assume that the quality of life of an LIS patient is so poor that it is not worth living. However, the reported overall quality of life of LIS patients is not significantly different from that of healthy subjects. In this case report, we describe a 60-year-old retired man living in a locked-in state due to a brainstem infarct. His personal account vividly reveals his inner thoughts, a great deal of suffering, and his ability to cope with his condition throughout seven years of illness. LIS patients' early referral to specialist rehabilitation services and strong social support from family greatly improves LIS patients'their quality of life. Even limited physical recovery can improve quality of life and enable LIS patients to become active members of society and return to living with family

Comparison of ultrasonographic findings in cats with and without azotaemia

US findings in 238 cats with (serum creatinine >180 μmol/l) and 270 cats without azotaemia were compared in a retrospective case-control study. Cats with pre-renal azotaemia or urethral obstruction were excluded. Data extracted from the medical records included age, body weight and body condition score (BCS). Quantitative and subjective US findings were extracted from archived ultrasound images and contemporaneous reports

Cardiovascular autonomic control in patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support and pharmacologic therapy

Objectives The objective of the study is to determine cardiac autonomic control in patients undergoing assessment for and/or LVAD therapy. Methods Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured in 17 explanted LVAD, 17 implanted LVAD and 23 NYHA III-IV classified chronic heart failure (CHF) patients and ten healthy matched controls under three conditions: supine free breathing, standing and supine controlled breathing. Five measures of HRV were assessed: mean R-R interval (mR-R), high frequency (HF) and low frequency (LF) spectral power, LF in normalised units (LFnu), and LF to HF (LF:HF) ratio. Results Repeat measures ANOVA showed significant (p < 0.05) differences in HRV between all three conditions within groups. Lower values were observed in CHF for LF(in log natural units) compared with explanted patients (- 1.4 [95% CI - 2.6 to - 0.7], p = 0.04) and controls (- 2.1 [- 3.5 to - 0.7], p = 0.001) and for LF:HF compared with implanted patients under paced breathing conditions (z = - 2.7, p = 0.007) and controls in standing (z = - 2.9, p = 0.004) and paced breathing conditions (z = - 2.3, p = 0.02). However, no significant differences were seen between explanted, implanted and control groups under any condition. Conclusions Patients implanted with an LVAD and explanted from a LVAD following myocardial recovery demonstrate a more normal dynamic response to autonomic stimuli and have a lower HRV risk profile compared to CHF patients. © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd

Impact of age and sex on heart rate variability and cardiometabolic function in healthy adults

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive measure of cardiac autonomic function. A clearer understanding as to whether resting autonomic function represented by HRV could be associated with changes in peak exercise cardiac function remains unanswered. This study evaluated the effect of age and sex on HRV, cardiometabolic function, and determined the correlation between HRV and cardiac function in healthy individuals. Sixty-eight participants (age range: 19–78 years old, females, n = 28) were recruited. Participants were stratified according to age (younger (&lt;40 years old, n = 43, females, n = 17) and older age groups (&gt;55 years old, n = 25, females, n = 11). Firstly, HRV was measured using non-invasive impedance cardiography method (TaskForce, CNSystems, Graz, Austria) and recorded at rest (supine position) for 30 min. HRV measures included: low frequency (LF) power, high frequency (HF) power (both normalised (nu) and absolute units (ms2)) and LF/HF ratio. Participants then completed a progressive cardiorespiratory exercise test using a semi-recumbent cycle ergometer (Corival, Lode, Groningen, Netherlands) with simultaneous gas exchange measurements (Metalyzer 3B, Cortex, Leipzig, Germany). Cardiac function was represented by peak exercise cardiac power output index (CPO). After controlling for body mass index and physical activity, males had significantly higher mean vales of RR interval than females (males = 1043 ± 165; females = 952 ± 128 ms, p = 0.02). There was no significant main effect of age, sex or their interaction on any of the other HRV measures. In younger and older females, resting RR interval had a significant relationship with peak exercise CPO (young females: r = 0.54, p &lt; 0.05; old females: r = 0.81, p &lt; 0.01). There was also a significant relationship between resting HF power and peak exercise CPO in younger females (r = 0.70, p &lt; 0.01). HRV was not influenced by age but RR interval was associated with peak exercise CPO in females regardless of age, whilst HF power was significantly associated with CPO in younger females only.</p

BRICs Nations Growing Impact on the Global Health Sector

The most notable feature of the past five centuries of global economic history dating back from Colonial Age until the present accelerated globalization is the persistence of «North–South» division between the global rich and poor. This ground pattern has been falling apart over the last three decades with the rise of BRICs emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China). The Chinese Belt and Road Initiative fosters further rapid growth and synergy among these large nations. This ambitious and historically unprecedented infrastructural project if successful can lead to a formation by 2049 of a huge common economic zone bringing opportunities for multilateral development to the BRICs. These profound changes have deep implications for the global health care sector. Previous research on health and pharmaceutical spending has clearly documented that low- and middle-income economies (LMICs), led by these emerging markets, have doubled their share in global health spending from roughly 20% up to approximately 40% in purchasing power parity terms. Alongside with these global developments, a decade ago, some of the leading Western academic centers, confirm new era of rising world’s geo-economic and geopolitical multipolarity. The world witnesses this process being accelerated today and seek deeper understanding how it will reflect on long term health and pharmaceutical expenditure trends, particularly in the leading BRICs emerging markets being a front runner of such evolution.The authors declare absence of conflict of interests