Evaluation of test for the assessment of knee flexorʹs neuromuscular function following the anterior cruciate ligament injury

Povreda prednjeg ukrštenog ligamenta (lat. ligamentum cruciatum anterior; LCA) jedna je od najčešcih povreda u sportu i rekreaciji. Bez obzira da li se povreda leči konzervativno i/ili operativno, neophodna je dugotrajna rehabilitacija tokom koje se mora pažljivo pratiti oporavak neuromišicne funkcije. Oporavak neuromišicne funkcije najčešće se prati pomoću direktnih i izvedenih mera jačine: momenta sile (M); odnosa jačine opružaca (OPO), i pregibača i relativnog deficita jačine (RDJ); koje se dobijaju primenom standardnih izometrijskih (IM) i standardnih izokinetičkih testova (IK). Međutim, u literaturi se navodi čitav niz nedostataka ovih testova, koji se odnose na obrazac neuralne aktivacije koji bi mogao biti drugačiji od obrasca aktivacije koji je karakterističan za brze i ciklične pokrete, korekcije položaja i izbegavanje povreda, relativno duga i zamoru podložnu proceduru, nisku očiglednu i spoljašnju validnost i dr. Kako bi se neki od pomenutih nedostataka standardnog IM i IK testa prevazišli, nedavno je evaluiran novi test zasnovan na izometrijskim naizmeničnim maksimalnim kontrakcijama (NMK), koji bi po svojim karakteristikama mogao biti alternativan standardnim testovima, kada se koriste u proceni neuromišicne funkcije zdravih i fizicki aktivnih ispitanika. Cilj ovog istraživanja odnosio se na evaluaciju testa NMK u proceni neuromišićne funkcije sportista nakon rekonstrukcije LCA (RLCA), koja je obuhvatila upoređivanje novog testa sa IK i IM testovima u pogledu pouzdanosti, validnosti i osetljivosti za procenu i praćenje postoperativnog oporavka. Na osnovu opšteg cilja istraživanja planirana su i sprovedena su 3 eksperimenta. Eksperiment 1 realizovan je u dve sesije: u prvoj, testirano je 15 ispitanika (Eksperimentalna grupa) sa ciljem određivanja adekvatnog ugla za primenu testa NMK, dok je u drugoj sesiji testirano 20 ispitanika (Kontrolna grupa) sa ciljem ispitivanja validnosti varijabli dobijenih pri uglu koji je određen na osnovu podataka prikupljenih u prvoj sesiji. U Eksperimentu 2 procena neuromišicne funkcije opružaca i pregibaca u zglobu kolena urađena je primenom NMK, IM i IK testova, kod sportista koji su se oporavljali nakon RLCA (4.0 ± 0.1 meseca postoperativno). Spoljašnja validnost NMK, IM i IK ispitana je u odnosu na test skok udalj jednom nogom (SDJN) koji je korišćen kao funkcionalni test za procenu stabilnosti kolena. U Eksperimentu 3, dvadeset sportista sa povredom i RLCA testirano je u 3 sesije: preoperativno, 4 meseca i 6 meseci nakon operacije, primenom IK, IM i NMK testova, kako bi se ispitala njihova osetljivost i konkurentska validnost…The Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury (ACL) represents one of the most frequent disabling injuries associated with athletic activity. Despite the applied treatment methods, a lengthy rehabilitation procedure has to be performed and closely monitored. The quadriceps and hamstring strength have been shown to correlate with a positive outcome following the ACL reconstruction (ACLR). Neuromuscular function of these muscles is usually assessed through peak torque (PT), hamstring-to-quadriceps ratio (HQ ratio) and bilateral difference (BLD), derived from either standard isometric (IMT) or isokinetic (IKT) testing protocols. However, IMT and IKT are known to have several important shortcomings, such as relatively low face and external validity, the underlying neural activation pattern that could be different from the same pattern in rapid and cyclic movements, or a relatively long and fatigue-prone procedure. In order to overcome some of the aforementioned shortcomings, a novel strength test based on isometric alternating consecutive maximal contractions (ACMC) has been recently proposed as an alternative to standard strength tests, when used to assess neuromuscular function in healthy and physically active participants. The aim of this study was to evaluate alternating consecutive maximal contractions when used to assess neuromuscular function in athletes recovering from ACL reconstruction, and to compare it with IKT and IMT regarding their reliability, validity and sensitivity for monitoring the recovery. Three experiments have been conducted within this study. Experiment 1 consisted of two separate sessions: in the first session, 15 healthy participants (Experimental group) were recruited in order to determine the appropriate angle for further use of ACMC test, while additional 20 participants (Control group) were included in session two, in order to investigate the validity of the measures obtained at the determined angle. In the Experiment 2, fifteen male athletes with recent ACLR (4.0 ± 0.1 months following the surgery) were included in the study. Quadriceps and hamstrings peak torques of involved and uninvolved leg was assessed both through the ACMC and IKT performed at 60 º/s and 180 º/s. In the Experiment 3, quadriceps and hamstrings peak torques of both legs were tested in the athletes (n=20) with ACL reconstruction over 3 sessions: preoperatively, four, and six months following the surgery, through the ACMC, IMT and IKT performed at 60 º/s and 180 º/s..

Measurements of π±\pi^\pm, K±^\pm, p and pˉ\bar{\textrm{p}} spectra in proton-proton interactions at 20, 31, 40, 80 and 158 GeV/c with the NA61/SHINE spectrometer at the CERN SPS

Measurements of inclusive spectra and mean multiplicities of $\pi^\pm$, K$^\pm$, p and $\bar{\textrm{p}}$ produced in inelastic p+p interactions at incident projectile momenta of 20, 31, 40, 80 and 158 GeV/c ($\sqrt{s} =$ 6.3, 7.7, 8.8, 12.3 and 17.3 GeV, respectively) were performed at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron using the large acceptance NA61/SHINE hadron spectrometer. Spectra are presented as function of rapidity and transverse momentum and are compared to predictions of current models. The measurements serve as the baseline in the NA61/SHINE study of the properties of the onset of deconfinement and search for the critical point of strongly interacting matter

Serum Apolipoproteins C-I and C-III Are Reduced in Stomach Cancer Patients: Results from MALDI-Based Peptidome and Immuno-Based Clinical Assays

Finding new peptide biomarkers for stomach cancer in human sera that can be implemented into a clinically practicable prediction method for monitoring of stomach cancer. We studied the serum peptidome from two different biorepositories. We first employed a C8-reverse phase liquid chromatography approach for sample purification, followed by mass-spectrometry analysis. These were applied onto serum samples from cancer-free controls and stomach cancer patients at various clinical stages. We then created a bioinformatics analysis pipeline and identified peptide signature discriminating stomach adenocarcinoma patients from cancer-free controls. Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization–Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) results from 103 samples revealed 9 signature peptides; with prediction accuracy of 89% in the training set and 88% in the validation set. Three of the discriminating peptides discovered were fragments of Apolipoproteins C-I and C-III (apoC-I and C-III); we further quantified their serum levels, as well as CA19-9 and CRP, employing quantitative commercial-clinical assays in 142 samples. ApoC-I and apoC-III quantitative results correlated with the MS results. We then employed apoB-100-normalized apoC-I and apoC-III, CA19-9 and CRP levels to generate rules set for stomach cancer prediction. For training, we used sera from one repository, and for validation, we used sera from the second repository. Prediction accuracies of 88.4% and 74.4% were obtained in the training and validation sets, respectively. Serum levels of apoC-I and apoC-III combined with other clinical parameters can serve as a basis for the formulation of a diagnostic score for stomach cancer patients

Measurements of ππ±^{±} , KK±^{±}, pp and pˉ\bar{p} spectra in proton-proton interactions at 20, 31, 40, 80 and 158 GeV/cc with the NA61/SHINE spectrometer at the CERN SPS

Measurements of inclusive spectra and mean multiplicities of π ± π± , K ± ± , p and p ¯ p¯ produced in inelastic p + p interactions at incident projectile momenta of 20, 31, 40, 80 and 158 GeV /c GeV /c (s √ = s= 6.3, 7.7, 8.8, 12.3 and 17.3 GeV GeV , respectively) were performed at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron using the large acceptance NA61/SHINE hadron spectrometer. Spectra are presented as function of rapidity and transverse momentum and are compared to predictions of current models. The measurements serve as the baseline in the NA61/SHINE study of the properties of the onset of deconfinement and search for the critical point of strongly interacting matter

Two-particle correlations in azimuthal angle and pseudorapidity in inelastic p + p interactions at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron

Results on two-particle ΔηΔϕ correlations in inelastic p + p interactions at 20, 31, 40, 80, and 158 GeV/c are presented. The measurements were performed using the large acceptance NA61/SHINE hadron spectrometer at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron. The data show structures which can be attributed mainly to effects of resonance decays, momentum conservation, and quantum statistics. The results are compared with the Epos and UrQMD models.ISSN:1434-6044ISSN:1434-605

Changes to serum sample tube and processing methodology does not cause inter-individual variation in automated whole serum N-glycan profiling in health and disease

Serum N-glycans have been identified as putative biomarkers for numerous diseases. The impact of different serum sample tubes and processing methods on N-glycan analysis has received relatively little attention. This study aimed to determine the effect of different sample tubes and processing methods on the whole serum N-glycan profile in both health and disease. A secondary objective was to describe a robot automated N-glycan release, labeling and cleanup process for use in a biomarker discovery system.25 patients with active and quiescent inflammatory bowel disease and controls had three different serum sample tubes taken at the same draw. Two different processing methods were used for three types of tube (with and without gel-separation medium). Samples were randomised and processed in a blinded fashion. Whole serum N-glycan release, 2-aminobenzamide labeling and cleanup was automated using a Hamilton Microlab STARlet Liquid Handling robot. Samples were analysed using a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography/ethylene bridged hybrid(BEH) column on an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography instrument. Data were analysed quantitatively by pairwise correlation and hierarchical clustering using the area under each chromatogram peak. Qualitatively, a blinded assessor attempted to match chromatograms to each individual.There was small intra-individual variation in serum N-glycan profiles from samples collected using different sample processing methods. Intra-individual correlation coefficients were between 0.99 and 1. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering and principal coordinate analyses accurately matched samples from the same individual. Qualitative analysis demonstrated good chromatogram overlay and a blinded assessor was able to accurately match individuals based on chromatogram profile, regardless of disease status.The three different serum sample tubes processed using the described methods cause minimal inter-individual variation in serum whole N-glycan profile when processed using an automated workstream. This has important implications for N-glycan biomarker discovery studies using different serum processing standard operating procedures

Distribucija p27 i gp70 antigena virusa leukoze macaka u razlicitim tkivima

Application of immunocytochemical methods (DP, IP, PAP, APAAP and IP-IP) has confirmed the existence of p27 and gp70 feline leukosis viral antigens (FeLV) in various tissues of 22 cats. Both viral antigens were found in bone marrow stem cells, but p27 antigens were mostly found in epithelial cells of intestinal crypts. In splenic T-lymphocytes and mediastinal lymph nodes the predominance of gp70 antigens in FeLV was confirmed, while the tropism of leukosis viruses in the lung was inclined to epithelial cells of bronchial glands where p27 antigens were dominant

Pulmonary pathohistological changes in mice in experimental infection with Pneumocystis carinii.

The infection Pneumocystis carinii was activated in mice of closely related BALBc/AnNCR, C57BL/6 and DBA/2 strains applying various doses of hydro-cortisone-acetate in combination with hypoprotein or complete food. The males of all investigated strains showed to be more sensitive than the females and the longest survived mice of C57BL/6 strain. The character of pathohistological pulmonary changes varied depending on the duration of survival. The mature cyst forms of Pneumocystis carinii were confirmed in tissue applying GMS and PAP method, and intracystic sporozoite by GMS staining