Pain after Whole-Body Vibration Exposure is Frequency Dependent and Independent of the Resonant Frequency: Lessons from an in vivo Rat Model

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from ASME via the DOI in this recordData Availability: Supporting datasets have been uploaded as part of the supplementary material.Occupational whole-body vibration (WBV) increases the risk of developing low back and neck pain; yet, there has also been an increased use of therapeutic WBV in recent years. Although the resonant frequency (fr) of the spine decreases as the exposure acceleration increases, effects of varying the vibration profile, including peak-to-peak displacement (sptp), root mean squared acceleration (arms) and frequency (f), on pain onset are not known. An established in-vivo rat model of WBV was used to characterize the resonance of the spine using sinusoidal sweeps. The relationship between arms and fr was defined and implemented to assess behavioral sensitivity - a proxy for pain. Five groups were subjected to a single 30-minute exposure, each with a different vibration profile, and a sham group underwent only anaesthesia exposure. The behavioral sensitivity was assessed at baseline and for 7 days following WBV-exposure. Only WBV at 8Hz induced behavioral sensitivity, and the higher arms exposure at 8Hz led to a more robust pain response. These results suggest that the development of pain is frequency-dependent, but further research into the mechanisms leading to pain are warranted to fully understand which WBV profiles may be detrimental or beneficial.Department of DefenseCatherine Sharpe Foundatio

The equivalence of multi-axis spine systems: Recommended stiffness limits using a standardized testing protocol

Author's accepted manuscriptFinal version available from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordThe complexity of multi-axis spine testing often makes it challenging to compare results from different studies. The aim of this work was to develop and implement a standardized testing protocol across three six-axis spine systems, compare them, and provide stiffness and phase angle limits against which other test systems can be compared. Standardized synthetic lumbar specimens (n = 5), comprising three springs embedded in polymer at each end, were tested on each system using pure moments in flexion–extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. Tests were performed using sine and triangle waves with an amplitude of 8 Nm, a frequency of 0.1 Hz, and with axial preloads of 0 and 500 N. The stiffness, phase angle, and R2 value of the moment against rotation in the principal axis were calculated at the center of each specimen. The tracking error was adopted as a measure of each test system to minimize non-principal loads, defined as the root mean squared difference between actual and target loads. All three test systems demonstrated similar stiffnesses, with small (<14%) but significant differences in 4 of 12 tests. More variability was observed in the phase angle between the principal axis moment and rotation, with significant differences in 10 of 12 tests. Stiffness and phase angle limits were calculated based on the 95% confidence intervals from all three systems. These recommendations can be used with the standard specimen and testing protocol by other research institutions to ensure equivalence of different spine systems, increasing the ability to compare in vitro spine studies.This research was completed with the support of the Catherine Sharpe Foundation, the Enid Linder Foundation, and the University of Bath Alumni Fun

Spine system equivalence: A new protocol for standardized multi-axis comparison tests

This is the final version of the paper.Accurately replicating the in-vivo loads of the spine is a critical aspect of in-vitro spine testing, but the complexity of this structure renders this challenging. The design and control capabilities of multi-axis spine systems vary considerably, and though recommendations have been made [1, 2], standardized in-vitro methods have not yet been established. As such, it is often difficult to compare different biomechanical studies [3]. The aim of this study was to use international standards [4, 5], and spine testing recommendations [1-3] to develop a standardized protocol for the evaluation of different multi-axis spinal test systems. The protocol was implemented on three six-axis spine systems, and the data used to establish stiffness and phase angle limits. [...]This research was supported by the Catherine Sharpe Foundation, the Enid Linder Foundation, the Higher Education Innovation Fund, and the University of Bath Alumni Fund

Fully human anti-CD39 antibody potently inhibits ATPase activity in cancer cells via uncompetitive allosteric mechanism

The extracellular ATP/adenosine axis in the tumor microenvironment (TME) has emerged as an important immune-regulatory pathway. Nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase-1 (NTPDase1), otherwise known as CD39, is highly expressed in the TME, both on infiltrating immune cells and tumor cells across a broad set of cancer indications. CD39 processes pro-inflammatory extracellular ATP to ADP and AMP, which is then processed by Ecto-5MODIFIER LETTER PRIME-nucleotidase/CD73 to immunosuppressive adenosine. Directly inhibiting the enzymatic function of CD39 via an antibody has the potential to unleash an immune-mediated anti-tumor response via two mechanisms: 1) increasing the availability of immunostimulatory extracellular ATP released by damaged and/or dying cells, and 2) reducing the generation and accumulation of suppressive adenosine within the TME. Tizona Therapeutics has engineered a novel first-in-class fully human anti-CD39 antibody, TTX-030, that directly inhibits CD39 ATPase enzymatic function with sub-nanomolar potency. Further characterization of the mechanism of inhibition by TTX-030 using CD39(+) human melanoma cell line SK-MEL-28 revealed an uncompetitive allosteric mechanism (alpha < 1). The uncompetitive mechanism of action enables TTX-030 to inhibit CD39 at the elevated ATP concentrations reported in the TME. Maximal inhibition of cellular CD39 ATPase velocity was 85%, which compares favorably to results reported for antibody inhibitors to other enzyme targets. The allosteric mechanism of TTX-030 was confirmed via mapping the epitope to a region of CD39 distant from its active site, which suggests possible models for how potent inhibition is achieved. In summary, TTX-030 is a potent allosteric inhibitor of CD39 ATPase activity that is currently being evaluated in clinical trials for cancer therapy

Role of human tissue kallikrein in gastrointestinal stromal tumour invasion

Background: Human tissue kallikrein (hK1) generates vasodilator kinins from kininogen and promotes angiogenesis by kinin-dependent and kinin-independent mechanisms. Here, we investigate the expression and functional relevance of hK1 in human gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST).&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Methods: Vascularisation and hK1 expression of GIST samples were assessed by immunohistochemistry. In two GIST cell lines, hK1 expression was assessed by PCR, and hK1 protein levels and activity were measured by ELISA and an amidolytic assay, respectively. The effect of hK1 silencing, inhibition or overexpression on GIST cell proliferation, migration and paracrine induction of angiogenesis was studied. Finally, local and systemic levels of hK1 were assessed in mice injected with GIST cells.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Results: Human tissue kallikrein was detected in 19 out of 22 human GIST samples. Moreover, GIST cells express and secrete active hK1. Titration of hK1 demonstrated its involvement in GIST invasive behaviour, but not proliferation. Furthermore, hK1 released by GIST cells promoted endothelial cell migration and network formation through kinin-dependent mechanisms. Gastrointestinal stromal tumour implantation in nude mice resulted in local and systemic hK1 expression proportional to tumour dimension.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Conclusions: Human tissue kallikrein is produced and released by GIST and participates in tumour invasion. Further studies are needed to validate hK1 as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target in GIST

Inequalities in health and health service utilisation among reproductive age women in St. Petersburg, Russia: a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Russian society has faced dramatic changes in terms of social stratification since the collapse of the Soviet Union. During this time, extensive reforms have taken place in the organisation of health services, including the development of the private sector. Previous studies in Russia have shown a wide gap in mortality between socioeconomic groups. There are just a few studies on health service utilisation in post-Soviet Russia and data on inequality of health service use are limited. The aim of the present study was to analyse health (self-rated health and self-reported chronic diseases) and health care utilisation patterns by socioeconomic status (SES) among reproductive age women in St. Petersburg.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The questionnaire survey was conducted in 2004 (n = 1147), with a response rate of 67%. Education and income were used as dimensions of SES. The association between SES and health and use of health services was assessed by logistic regression, adjusting for age.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>As expected low SES was associated with poor self-rated health (education: OR = 1.48; personal income: OR = 1.42: family income: OR = 2.31). University education was associated with use of a wider range of outpatient medical services and increased use of the following examinations: Pap smear (age-adjusted OR = 2.06), gynaecological examinations (age-adjusted OR = 1.62) and mammography among older (more than 40 years) women (age-adjusted OR = 1.98). Personal income had similar correlations, but family income was related only to the use of mammography among older women.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our study suggests a considerable inequality in health and utilisation of preventive health service among reproductive age women. Therefore, further studies are needed to identify barriers to health promotion resources.</p

Prostate cancer risk related to foods, food groups, macronutrients and micronutrients derived from the UK Dietary Cohort Consortium food diaries.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The influence of dietary factors remains controversial for screen-detected prostate cancer and inconclusive for clinically detected disease. We aimed to examine these associations using prospectively collected food diaries. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 1,717 prostate cancer cases in middle-aged and older UK men were pooled from four prospective cohorts with clinically detected disease (n=663), with routine data follow-up (means 6.6-13.3 years) and a case-control study with screen-detected disease (n=1054), nested in a randomised trial of prostate cancer treatments (ISCTRN 20141297). Multiple-day food diaries (records) completed by men prior to diagnosis were used to estimate intakes of 37 selected nutrients, food groups and items, including carbohydrate, fat, protein, dairy products, fish, meat, fruit and vegetables, energy, fibre, alcohol, lycopene and selenium. Cases were matched on age and diary date to at least one control within study (n=3528). Prostate cancer risk was calculated, using conditional logistic regression (adjusted for baseline covariates) and expressed as odds ratios in each quintile of intake (±95% confidence intervals). Prostate cancer risk was also investigated by localised or advanced stage and by cancer detection method. RESULTS: There were no strong associations between prostate cancer risk and 37 dietary factors. CONCLUSIONS: Prostate cancer risk, including by disease stage, was not strongly associated with dietary factors measured by food diaries in middle-aged and older UK men.Medical Research Council (Grant ID: MC_UU_12019/1), Medical Research Council Population Health Sciences Research Network, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK (Grant ID: C8221/A19170), Department of Health, Food Standards Agency, Stroke Association, WCRF, National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment Programme (Project IDs: 96/20/06, 96/20/99), National Cancer Research Institute (formed by Cancer Research UK, Medical Research Council, Department of Health)This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Nature Publishing Group via http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2016.16