Viscoelastic properties of human and bovine articular cartilage : a comparison of frequency-dependent trends

Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank Spencer C. Barnes and Hamid Sadeghi for assistance during experimentation. We would also like to thank patients donating tissue and the surgeons collecting these. Funding The equipment used in this study was funded by Arthritis Research UK (Grant number H0671). We are grateful to Arthritis Research UK for the award of a PhD studentship to Anna A. Cederlund (Grant number 19971). Arthritis Research UK had no role in the design of the study and collection, analysis and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Analysis of hydration and subchondral bone density on the viscoelastic properties of bovine articular cartilage.

Funding JC is currently funded by an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council scholarship (EP/N509590/1). We are also grateful to Arthritis Research UK for the award of a PhD studentship to Anna A. Cederlund (Grant number 19971). The materials and testing equipment used in this study was funded by an Arthritis Research UK grant (H0671). The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and Arthritis Research UK (now part of Versus Arthritis) had no role in the design of the study and collection, analysis and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Short-Term Effects of Biogas Digestates and Pig Slurry Application on Soil Microbial Activity

The effect of four biogas digestates (BD-A, BD-B, BD-C, and BD-D) and pig slurry (PS) on soil microbial functions was assessed at application rates corresponding to 0–1120 kg NH4+-N ha−1. At dose corresponding to 140 kg NH4+-N ha−1, 30.9–32.5% of the carbon applied in BD-A, BD-C, and PS was utilized during 12 days, while for BD-B and BD-D corresponding utilization was 19.0 and 16.9%, respectively. All BDs resulted in net nitrogen assimilation at low rates (17.5–140 kg NH4+-N ha−1) but net mineralization dominated at higher rates. PS resulted in net mineralization at all application rates. All residues inhibited potential ammonium oxidation (PAO), with EC50-values ranging between 45 and 302 kg NH4+-N ha−1. Low rates of BDs appeared to weakly stimulate potential denitrification activity (PDA), while higher rates resulted in logarithmic decrease. The EC50-values for PDA were between 238 and 347 kg NH4+-N ha−1. No inhibition of PDA was observed after amendment with PS. In conclusion, biogas digestates inhibited ammonia oxidation and denitrification, which could be an early warning of potential hazardous substances in the digestates. However, this effect can also be regarded as positive, since it may reduce nitrogen losses

Global Sourcing of IT Services: Necessary Evil or Blessing in Disguise?

Firms use information systems to reduce the costs of doing business and create innovative applications and products for competitive advantage. IT outsourcing, often to overseas locations, appears to have accomplished efficiency improvements. However, firms increasingly employ global sourcing of IT services for other purposes, such as to broaden the scope of provided services and for strategic considerations. Given the complexities of emergent forms of global IT sourcing - away from arm\u27s length transactions and toward highly integrated relationships - the purpose of this panel, originally presented at the 2006 International Conference on Information Systems, was to shed light on the issue of global sourcing of IT services by examining three interrelated questions: 1) Is this more about efficiency or strategic considerations? 2) What new conceptual frameworks and theory bases are appropriate for studies of global IT sourcing? and 3) What skills are required of managers and what should we be teaching our students

Experiences before and after nasogastric and gastrostomy tube insertion with emphasis on mealtimes: a case study of an adolescent with cerebral palsy

Purpose: Adolescents with cerebral palsy may need a feeding tube due to feeding challenges, since nutritional intake and mealtimes may be negatively affected. The purpose of the study was to describe and better understand how one adolescent with cerebral palsy and her parents experienced mealtimes before and after a nasogastric and gastrostomy tube insertion and how the use of these feeding tubes was experienced in daily life. Methods: Individual interviews were performed with one adolescent and each of her parents. In total, six interviews were conducted on two separate occasions. The qualitative approach known as Interpretive Description was used during the analysis. Results: Four thematic patterns were identified within the data: (i) struggling with nutritional intake, (ii) the paradox of using an aid, (iii) being different, and (iv) challenges of public mealtimes. Conclusions: The results showed that four themes influenced daily mealtimes in adolescents with cerebral palsy and a gastrostomy tube. Nutritional intake and mealtimes may be difficult, which is why using a gastrostomy tube can be a relief. However, the gastrostomy tube can also pose a challenge and a paradox. Time of change and acceptance seems necessary in order to meet these challenges

MRI of the lung (3/3)-current applications and future perspectives

BACKGROUND: MRI of the lung is recommended in a number of clinical indications. Having a non-radiation alternative is particularly attractive in children and young subjects, or pregnant women. METHODS: Provided there is sufficient expertise, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be considered as the preferential modality in specific clinical conditions such as cystic fibrosis and acute pulmonary embolism, since additional functional information on respiratory mechanics and regional lung perfusion is provided. In other cases, such as tumours and pneumonia in children, lung MRI may be considered an alternative or adjunct to other modalities with at least similar diagnostic value. RESULTS: In interstitial lung disease, the clinical utility of MRI remains to be proven, but it could provide additional information that will be beneficial in research, or at some stage in clinical practice. Customised protocols for chest imaging combine fast breath-hold acquisitions from a "buffet" of sequences. Having introduced details of imaging protocols in previous articles, the aim of this manuscript is to discuss the advantages and limitations of lung MRI in current clinical practice. CONCLUSION: New developments and future perspectives such as motion-compensated imaging with self-navigated sequences or fast Fourier decomposition MRI for non-contrast enhanced ventilation- and perfusion-weighted imaging of the lung are discussed. Main Messages • MRI evolves as a third lung imaging modality, combining morphological and functional information. • It may be considered first choice in cystic fibrosis and pulmonary embolism of young and pregnant patients. • In other cases (tumours, pneumonia in children), it is an alternative or adjunct to X-ray and CT. • In interstitial lung disease, it serves for research, but the clinical value remains to be proven. • New users are advised to make themselves familiar with the particular advantages and limitations

Cellular responses of Candida albicans to phagocytosis and the extracellular activities of neutrophils are critical to counteract carbohydrate starvation, oxidative and nitrosative stress

Acknowledgments We thank Alexander Johnson (yhb1D/D), Karl Kuchler (sodD/D mutants), Janet Quinn (hog1D/D, hog1/cap1D/D, trx1D/D) and Peter Staib (ssu1D/D) for providing mutant strains. We acknowledge helpful discussions with our colleagues from the Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms Department, Fungal Septomics and the Microbial Biochemistry and Physiology Research Group at the Hans Kno¨ll Institute (HKI), specially Ilse D. Jacobsen, Duncan Wilson, Sascha Brunke, Lydia Kasper, Franziska Gerwien, Sea´na Duggan, Katrin Haupt, Kerstin Hu¨nniger, and Matthias Brock, as well as from our partners in the FINSysB Network. Author Contributions Conceived and designed the experiments: PM HW IMB AJPB OK BH. Performed the experiments: PM CD HW. Analyzed the data: PM HW IMB AJPB OK BH. Wrote the paper: PM HW OK AJPB BH.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Current trends in the surgical management of Dupuytren’s disease in Europe: an analysis of patient charts

Introduction: Dupuytren's disease (DD) causes progressive digital flexion contracture and is more common in men of European descent. Methods: Orthopaedic and plastic surgeons in 12 European countries (the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK) with >3 and <30 years experience reviewed the medical charts of five consecutive patients they had treated surgically for DD in 2008. Descriptive statistics are reported. Results: In total, 3,357 patient charts were reviewed. Mean (standard deviation) patient age was 61.9 (10.2) years; 81% were men. At the time of the procedure, 11% of patients were at Tubiana stage Ia (0-20° total flexion); 30%, stage Ib (21-45°); 34%, stage II (46-90°); 17%, stage III (91-135°); and 5%, stage IV (&135°). Percutaneous needle fasciotomy was performed in 10%, fasciotomy in 13%, fasciectomy in 69% and dermofasciectomy (DF) in 6% of patients. After surgery, fingers improved a mean of 1.9 Tubiana stages, and 54% of patients had no nodules or contracture. The rate of reported complications during the procedure was 4% overall (11% in patients undergoing DF). The most common postoperative complications reported were haematoma (8%), wound healing complications (6%) and pain (6%). No postoperative complications were reported in 77% of patients. Conclusions: In this European study of more than 3,000 patients with DD, most patients were diagnosed at Tubiana stage I or II, the majority received fasciectomy and more than half had no nodules or contracture remaining after surgery

Impaired Release of Antimicrobial Peptides into Nasal Fluid of Hyper-IgE and CVID Patients

Patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) often suffer from frequent respiratory tract infections. Despite standard treatment with IgG-substitution and antibiotics many patients do not improve significantly. Therefore, we hypothesized that additional immune deficits may be present among these patients.To investigate if PID patients exhibit impaired production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in nasal fluid and a possible link between AMP-expression and Th17-cells.Nasal fluid, nasopharyngeal swabs and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from patients and healthy controls. AMP levels were measured in nasal fluid by Western blotting. Nasal swabs were cultured for bacteria. PBMCs were stimulated with antigen and the supernatants were assessed for IL-17A release by ELISA.In healthy controls and most patients, AMP levels in nasal fluid were increased in response to pathogenic bacteria. However, this increase was absent in patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and Hyper-IgE syndrome (HIES), despite the presence of pathogenic bacteria. Furthermore, stimulation of PBMCs revealed that both HIES and CVID patients exhibited an impaired production of IL-17A.CVID and HIES patients appear to have a dysregulated AMP response to pathogenic bacteria in the upper respiratory tract, which could be linked to an aberrant Th17 cell response