Stabilization of biped dynamic walking using gyroscopic couple

This paper presents a new strategy for dynamic walking where a gyroscope mounted on top of the biped is precessed to achieve balancing both in the Coronal and Sagittal planes. A gait is devised and simulation results are provided to show the feasibility of proposed balancing method.published_or_final_versio

Lithium ion alters Ins(1,4,5)P3 production and mobilisation of intracellular free calcium in k-agonist stimulated rat ventricular myocytes

The effect of lithium ion on the generation of inositol phosphates and the mobilisation of intracellular free calcium in isolated adult rat ventricular myocytes stimulated with k-agonist was studied. Dynorphin1-13 stimulated an increase in the levels of Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) and intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+ ]i). Preincubation of the ventricular myocytes with lOmM Li+ for 20 minutes prior to stimulation by dynorphin1-13 reduce the increase of both InsP3 and [Ca2+]i. This effect of Li+ was not seen if 5mM inositol was also present during preincubation. It is concluded that (1) the inhibition of the k-agonist stimulated increase in InsP3 and [Ca2+]i, in Li+-pretreated ventricular myocytes was a result of a depletion of intracellular inositol, due probably to the inhibition by Li+ of inositol monophosphatase which participates in the recycling of intracellular inositol, and (2) the k-agonist induced increase in [Ca2+]i is a consequence of the production of InsP3 since altering the kinetics of production of this compound also altered [Ca2+]i.published_or_final_versio

Impact of skeletal-related events on survival in patients with metastatic prostate cancer prescribed androgen deprivation therapy

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Orthodontic traction of impacted canine using magnet: a case report

A 15 year and 1 month old Chinese female with palatally impacted upper left canine was successfully treated with an upper removable appliance with a magnet incorporated to provide orthodontic traction force. This case report indicates the possibility of using magnetic force as a safe, effective and comfortable way for orthodontic traction

Predictive factors for extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy success in ureteric stones, does skin-stone distance and hounsfield unit matter?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of measuring stone skin distance and stone attenuation values by non-contrast computed tomography for predicting treatment outcome of ureteric stones by extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL). PATIENT AND METHOD : Retrospective review of 66 patients who underwent ESWL for ureteric stones with pre-ESWL NCCT in 2010–2012. Subjects were stratified into 2 groups, successful ESWL and failed ESWL, with ESWL success defined as stone fragment less than 4 mm at 6 weeks after ESWL. Patient age, sex, stone size, stone location, laterality, shockwave energy, number of shockwave administered, Hounsfield unit (HU), skin to stone distance (SSD), presence of hydronephrosis, pre-ESWL JJ stent or PCN were studied as predictive factors. RESULTS : Patient demographics and stone characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. On univariate analysis, the mean stone size for successful ESWL was 7.9 mm compared with 10.2 mm in the failure group (P = 0.02). For the skin-stone distance, the mean distance for the successful group was 95 mm compared with 104 mm in the failure group (P = 0.04). Concerning the Hounsfield Unit, a mean of 1034 HU was found in the successful compared with 1129 HU in the failure group (P = 0.16) CONCLUSION : Skin to stone distance on non-contrast CT scan is a useful predictive factors for ESWL success for ureteric stones.postprin

Multiple exon skipping strategies to by-pass dystrophin mutations.

Manipulation of dystrophin pre-mRNA processing offers the potential to overcome mutations in the dystrophin gene that would otherwise lead to Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Dystrophin mutations will require the removal of one or more exons to restore the reading frame and in some cases, multiple exon skipping strategies exist to restore dystrophin expression. However, for some small intra-exonic mutations, a third strategy, not applicable to whole exon deletions, may be possible. The removal of only one frame-shifting exon flanking the mutation-carrying exon may restore the reading frame and allow synthesis of a functional dystrophin isoform, providing that no premature termination codons are encountered. For these mutations, the removal of only one exon offers a simpler, cheaper and more feasible alternative approach to the dual exon skipping that would otherwise be considered. We present strategies to by-pass intra-exonic dystrophin mutations that clearly demonstrate the importance of tailoring exon skipping strategies to specific patient mutations

Study of Beauveria bassiana growth, blastospore yield, desiccation-tolerance, viability and toxic activity using different liquid media

Beauveria bassiana was grown on three liquid media containing casaminoacids, corn steep liquor or peptone. After incubation, the blastospore counts reached 6.38 × 109 blastospores/ml, in the medium containing sucrose and corn steep liquor, which was significantly higher than the obtained with media containing casaminoacids or peptone. The medium containing corn steep liquor produced predominately submerged conidia, meanwhile the other media produced blastospores. The blastospores produced in the medium containing casaminoacids presented faster germination rates, than the blastospores produced in media containing corn steep liquor or peptone, although, after airdrying, were observed significant reductions on the viability of blastospores produced in the media composed by casaminoacids or peptone, but the spores produced in the medium with corn steep liquor were not affected. For storage of blastospores at 4 and 26°C after some months, the blastospores produced in the medium with casaminoacids showed the highest viability at 26°C, whereas at 4°C the counts of viable blastospores produced in medium containing corn steep liquor were significantly higher than the counts of blastospores produced in the other media with casaminoacids or peptone. The blastospores maintained for six months at 4°C showed high mortality against third-instar Plutella xylostella larvae.Key words: Beauveria bassiana, liquid media, fermentation, short times of propagation, biological control, entomopathogen fungus

The effective fraction isolated from Radix Astragali alleviates glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and hypertriglyceridemia in db/db diabetic mice through its anti-inflammatory activity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue together with the aberrant production of pro-inflammatory cytokines has been identified as the key link between obesity and its related metabolic disorders. This study aims to isolate bioactive ingredients from the traditional Chinese herb Radix Astragali (Huangqi) that alleviate obesity-induced metabolic damage through inhibiting inflammation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Active fraction (Rx) that inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine production was identified from Radix Astragali by repeated bioactivity-guided high-throughput screening. Major constituents in Rx were identified by column chromatography followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass-spectrometry. Anti-diabetic activity of Rx was evaluated in db/db mice.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Treatment with Rx, which included calycosin-7-β-D-glucoside (0.9%), ononin (1.2%), calycosin (4.53%) and formononetin (1.1%), significantly reduced the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and MCP-1) in human THP-1 macrophages and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of NF-κB in mouse RAW-Blue macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. Chronic administration of Rx in db/db obese mice markedly decreased the levels of both fed and fasting glucose, reduced serum triglyceride, and also alleviated insulin resistance and glucose intolerance when compared to vehicle-treated controls. The mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cell markers CD68 and F4/80, and cytokines MCP-1, TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly reduced in epididymal adipose tissue while the alternatively activated macrophage marker arginase I was markedly increased in the Rx-treated mice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings suggest that suppression of the inflammation pathways in macrophages represents a valid strategy for high-throughput screening of lead compounds with anti-diabetic and insulin sensitizing properties, and further support the etiological role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of obesity-related metabolic disorders.</p

Nevus of Ota: a new classification based upon the response to laser treatment

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