Confusion after spine injury: cerebral fat embolism after traumatic rupture of a Tarlov cyst: Case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Acute low back pain is a very common symptom and reason for many medical consultations. In some unusual circumstances it could be linked to a rare aetiology.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report a 70-year-old man with an 8-month history of left posterior thigh and leg pain who had sudden confusion after a fall from standing. It was due to cerebral fat embolism suspected by computed tomography scan, later confirmed by brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A spinal MRI scan was then performed and revealed a sacral fracture which drained into an unknown perineurial cyst (Tarlov cyst). Under medical observation the patient fully recovered within three weeks.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Sacral perineurial cysts are rare, however they remain a potential cause of lumbosacral radiculopathy.</p

Structural Analysis of a Peptide Fragment of Transmembrane Transporter Protein Bilitranslocase

Using a combination of genomic and post-genomic approaches is rapidly altering the number of identified human influx carriers. A transmembrane protein bilitranslocase (TCDB 2.A.65) has long attracted attention because of its function as an organic anion carrier. It has also been identified as a potential membrane transporter for cellular uptake of several drugs and due to its implication in drug uptake, it is extremely important to advance the knowledge about its structure. However, at present, only the primary structure of bilitranslocase is known. In our work, transmembrane subunits of bilitranslocase were predicted by a previously developed chemometrics model and the stability of these polypeptide chains were studied by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Furthermore, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles were used as a model of cell membrane and herein we present a high-resolution 3D structure of an 18 amino acid residues long peptide corresponding to the third transmembrane part of bilitranslocase obtained by use of multidimensional NMR spectroscopy. It has been experimentally confirmed that one of the transmembrane segments of bilitranslocase has alpha helical structure with hydrophilic amino acid residues oriented towards one side, thus capable of forming a channel in the membrane

Inhibition of protein disulfide isomerase induces differentiation of acute myeloid leukemia cells

Acute myeloid leukemia is a malignant disease of immature myeloid cells. Despite significant therapeutic effects of differentiation-inducing agents in some acute myeloid leukemia subtypes, the disease remains incurable in a large fraction of patients. Here we show that SK053, a thioredoxin inhibitor, induces differentiation and cell death of acute myeloid leukemia cells. Considering that thioredoxin knock-down with short hairpin RNA failed to exert antiproliferative effects in one of the acute myeloid leukemia cell lines, we used a biotin affinity probe-labeling approach to identify potential molecular targets for the effects of SK053. Mass spectrometry of proteins precipitated from acute myeloid leukemia cells incubated with biotinylated SK053 used as a bait revealed protein disulfide isomerase as a potential binding partner for the compound. Biochemical, enzymatic and functional assays using fluorescence lifetime imaging confirmed that SK053 binds to and inhibits the activity of protein disulfide isomerase. Protein disulfide isomerase knockdown with short hairpin RNA was associated with inhibition of cell growth, increased CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α levels, and induction of differentiation of HL-60 cells. Molecular dynamics simulation followed by the covalent docking indicated that SK053 binds to the fourth thioredoxin-like domain of protein disulfide isomerase. Differentiation of myeloid precursor cells requires the activity of CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α, the function of which is impaired in acute myeloid leukemia cells through various mechanisms, including translational block by protein disulfide isomerase. SK053 increased the levels of CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α and upregulated mRNA levels for differentiation-associated genes. Finally, SK053 decreased the survival of blasts and increased the percentage of cells expressing the maturation-associated CD11b marker in primary cells isolated from bone marrow or peripheral blood of patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Collectively, these results provide a proof-of-concept that protein disulfide isomerase inhibition has potential as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and for the development of small-molecule inhibitors of protein disulfide isomerase

D4.2 Final report on trade-off investigations

Research activities in METIS WP4 include several as pects related to the network-level of future wireless communication networks. Thereby, a large variety of scenarios is considered and solutions are proposed to serve the needs envis ioned for the year 2020 and beyond. This document provides vital findings about several trade-offs that need to be leveraged when designing future network-level solutions. In more detail, it elaborates on the following trade- offs: • Complexity vs. Performance improvement • Centralized vs. Decentralized • Long time-scale vs. Short time-scale • Information Interflow vs. Throughput/Mobility enha ncement • Energy Efficiency vs. Network Coverage and Capacity Outlining the advantages and disadvantages in each trade-off, this document serves as a guideline for the application of different network-level solutions in different situations and therefore greatly assists in the design of future communication network architectures.Aydin, O.; Ren, Z.; Bostov, M.; Lakshmana, TR.; Sui, Y.; Svensson, T.; Sun, W.... (2014). D4.2 Final report on trade-off investigations. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/7676

D4.3 Final Report on Network-Level Solutions

Research activities in METIS reported in this document focus on proposing solutions to the network-level challenges of future wireless communication networks. Thereby, a large variety of scenarios is considered and a set of technical concepts is proposed to serve the needs envisioned for the 2020 and beyond. This document provides the final findings on several network-level aspects and groups of solutions that are considered essential for designing future 5G solutions. Specifically, it elaborates on: -Interference management and resource allocation schemes -Mobility management and robustness enhancements -Context aware approaches -D2D and V2X mechanisms -Technology components focused on clustering -Dynamic reconfiguration enablers These novel network-level technology concepts are evaluated against requirements defined by METIS for future 5G systems. Moreover, functional enablers which can support the solutions mentioned aboveare proposed. We find that the network level solutions and technology components developed during the course of METIS complement the lower layer technology components and thereby effectively contribute to meeting 5G requirements and targets.Aydin, O.; Valentin, S.; Ren, Z.; Botsov, M.; Lakshmana, TR.; Sui, Y.; Sun, W.... (2015). D4.3 Final Report on Network-Level Solutions. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/7675

BHPR research: qualitative1. Complex reasoning determines patients' perception of outcome following foot surgery in rheumatoid arhtritis

Background: Foot surgery is common in patients with RA but research into surgical outcomes is limited and conceptually flawed as current outcome measures lack face validity: to date no one has asked patients what is important to them. This study aimed to determine which factors are important to patients when evaluating the success of foot surgery in RA Methods: Semi structured interviews of RA patients who had undergone foot surgery were conducted and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis of interviews was conducted to explore issues that were important to patients. Results: 11 RA patients (9 ♂, mean age 59, dis dur = 22yrs, mean of 3 yrs post op) with mixed experiences of foot surgery were interviewed. Patients interpreted outcome in respect to a multitude of factors, frequently positive change in one aspect contrasted with negative opinions about another. Overall, four major themes emerged. Function: Functional ability & participation in valued activities were very important to patients. Walking ability was a key concern but patients interpreted levels of activity in light of other aspects of their disease, reflecting on change in functional ability more than overall level. Positive feelings of improved mobility were often moderated by negative self perception ("I mean, I still walk like a waddling duck”). Appearance: Appearance was important to almost all patients but perhaps the most complex theme of all. Physical appearance, foot shape, and footwear were closely interlinked, yet patients saw these as distinct separate concepts. Patients need to legitimize these feelings was clear and they frequently entered into a defensive repertoire ("it's not cosmetic surgery; it's something that's more important than that, you know?”). Clinician opinion: Surgeons' post operative evaluation of the procedure was very influential. The impact of this appraisal continued to affect patients' lasting impression irrespective of how the outcome compared to their initial goals ("when he'd done it ... he said that hasn't worked as good as he'd wanted to ... but the pain has gone”). Pain: Whilst pain was important to almost all patients, it appeared to be less important than the other themes. Pain was predominately raised when it influenced other themes, such as function; many still felt the need to legitimize their foot pain in order for health professionals to take it seriously ("in the end I went to my GP because it had happened a few times and I went to an orthopaedic surgeon who was quite dismissive of it, it was like what are you complaining about”). Conclusions: Patients interpret the outcome of foot surgery using a multitude of interrelated factors, particularly functional ability, appearance and surgeons' appraisal of the procedure. While pain was often noted, this appeared less important than other factors in the overall outcome of the surgery. Future research into foot surgery should incorporate the complexity of how patients determine their outcome Disclosure statement: All authors have declared no conflicts of interes

Effect of volatile fatty acids (vfas) on the rate of release and uptake of phosphate compounds in an SBR type reactor

Przebadano wpływ lotnych kwasów tłuszczowych (LKT) na szybkość uwalniania i wiązania fosforanów w czasie fazy mieszania i napowietrzania w reaktorze SBR. Określono także sprawności procesów usuwania fosforanów i azotanów (V) w zależności od rodzaju zastosowanego kwasu. Badania przeprowadzono w ramach jednego cyklu pracy SBR (mieszanie - 3 h, napowietrzanie - 4 h i sedymentacja - 1 h) w obecności kwasów: octowego, propionowego, masłowego, izomasłowego, walerianowego, izowalerianowego i kapronowego. Stężenia fosforanów i azotanów na początku cyklu wynosiły odpowiednio 14,1 mg PPO4źdm-3 i 1,22 mg NNO3 dm-3. Stwierdzono, że fosforany uwalniane są z najwyższą szybkością w reaktorach z kwasem octowym (3,85 mg PPO4źdm-3źh-1`) i z najniższą (0,85 mg PPO4źdm-3źh-1) w obecności kwasów izowalerianowego i kapronowego. Również wiązanie fosforanów przebiegało najszybciej w reaktorze z kwasem octowym (5,19 mg PPO4źdm-3źh-1), podczas, gdy najwolniej (2,86 mg PPO4źdm-3źh-1) w obecności kwasu izowalerianowego. Najwyższe szybkości uwalniania i wiązania fosforanów w obecności kwasu octowego były równoznaczne z najefektywniejszym procesem defosfatacji (65,25%). Nie było takiej jednoznacznej zależności w odniesieniu do pozostałych kwasów. Najniższą sprawność usuwania fosforanów, zanotowano w reaktorach dla których zewnętrznym źródłem węgla były kwas izomasłowy (51,06%). Kwas octowy był także najbardziej efektywnym źródłem węgla w odniesieniu do procesu denitryfikacji (57,38%), a najmniej efektywnym był kwas izomasłowy (29,51%). Stwierdzono, że w obecności kwasu octowego zarówno proces defosfatacji jak i proces denitryfikacji przebiegały z najwyższą sprawnością. Najmniej sprzyjającym obu procesom był kwas izomasłowy.The effect of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) on the rate of phosphates release and uptake during stirring and aeration phases in an SBR type reactor was examined in the study. Additional determinations were carried out for the effectiveness of phosphates and nitrates removal as affected by the type of fatty acid applied.The study was conducted within one working cycle of the SBR (stirring - 3 h, aeration - 4 h and sedimentation - 1 h) in the presence of the following fatty acids: acetic, propionic, butyric, isobutyric, valeric, isovaleric and caproic. Initial concentrations of phosphates and nitrates at the beginning of the cycle accounted for: 14.1 mg PPO4/dm3 and 1.22 mg NNO3/dm3, respectively. Analyses showed that phosphates were released with the highest rate in the reactors with acetic acid (3.85 mg PPO4/dm3.h) and with the lowest rate (0.85 mg PPO4/dm3.h) in the presence of isovaleric and caproic fatty acids. Also the uptake of phosphates proceeded with the highest rate in the reactor with acetic acid (5.19 mg PPO4/dm3.h), and with the lowest rate (2.86 mg PPO4/dm3.h) in the presence of isovaleric acid. The highest rates of phosphates release and uptake in the presence of acetic acid were tantamount with the most effective dephosphatation process (65.25%). Such an explicit dependency was not, however, observed in the case of the other fatty acids. The lowest effectiveness of phosphates removal was noted in the reactors in which isobutyric acid was the external source of carbon (51.06%). Acetic acid was also the most effective source of carbon in the denitrification process (57.38%), whereas isobutyric acid turned out to be the least effective in this respect (29.51%).The study demonstrated that in the presence of acetic acid both dephosphatation and denitrification process were proceeding with the highest effectiveness. The least facilitating both these processes appeared to be isobutyric acid

Evaluation of process of biological nitrate and phosphate removal in SBR type reactor with external carbon source

Celem pracy jest określenie wpływu lotnych kwasów tłuszczowych na szybkość uwalniania i wiązania fosforanów w reaktorze SBR oczyszczającym ścieki charakteryzujące się porównywalnymi stężeniami fosforanów i azotanów (V). Celem pracy jest także ustalenie, czy na przebieg i sprawność procesów defosfatacji i denitryfikacji ma wpływ obecność w biomasie osadu czynnego mikroorganizmów zaadaptowanych wcześniej do określonych źródeł węgla. Zakres pracy obejmował określenie: szybkości uwalniania i wiązania fosforanów w obecności kwasów octowego, propionowego, masłowego, walerianowego, izowalerianowego i kapronowego, wpływu rodzaju kwasu na efektywność usuwania fosforanów szybkości procesu denitryfikacji w fazie mieszania i napowietrzania oraz sprawności procesu denitryfikacji w zależności o rodzaju kwasu z grupy LKT.Determinations were made for the effect of volatile fatty acids (VFA) on the rate of release and absorption of phosphates and on the rate of nitrates removal in the stirring and aeration phases in an SBR type reactor. The effectiveness of phosphates and nitrates removal, influenced by the fatty acid applied, was determined as well. The experiment was conducted in SBR type reactors in one working cycle (stirring - 3 h, aeration - 4 h and sedimentation - 1 h) in the presence of acetic, propionic, butyric, isobutyric, valeric, isovaleric and caproic acids. The initial concentrations of phosphates and nitrates were: 13.4 mg PPO4?dm-3 and 15.2 mg NNO3?dm-3, respectively. The study demonstrated that phosphates were released with the highest rate in the reactors containing acetic acid (3.35 mg PPO4?dm-3?h-1), whereas with the lowest rate - in these containing butyric acid (1.25 mg PPO4?dm-3?h-1). Also the process of phosphates absorption proceeded with the highest rate in the reactor with acetic acid (4.19 mg PPO4?dm-3?h-1), and with the lowest rate - in the presence of isobutyric acid (2.13 mg PPO4?dm-3?h-1). In the case of acetic acid, the highest rates of both processes corresponded with the most effective dephosphatation process (50.0%). Such an explicit dependency was not, however, noted in the case of other fatty acids. In the stirring phase, the denitrification process proceeded with the highest rate (3.95 mg NNO3?dm-3?h-1) in the reactor containing caproic acid, and with the lowest rate - in the presence of isobutyric acid (3.42 mg NNO3?dm-3? h-1). During aeration, the rate of nitrates concentration decrease was the highest in the presence of butyric acid (0.91 mg NNO3?dm-3?h-1) and the lowest - in the presence of caproic acid (0.52 mg NNO3?dm-3?h-1). The highest rates of denitrification recorded in both phases in the reactor with caproic acid were not tantamount to the highest effectiveness of nitrates removal. It was the acetic acid that turned out to be the most effective source of carbon in the denitrification process (92.6%) The highest efficiency of both examined processes was observed in the presence of acetic acid. Negligibly lower efficiencies were noted in the reactor with butyric acid. In view of the fact that propionic acid was only slightly less effective both in the denitrification as well as dephosphatation process, it may be speculated that the presence of microorganisms, adapted earlier to specified carbon sources, in the biomass of activated sludge is likely to affect the course and effectiveness of both processes in reactors with an external source of carbon