Multiple congenital bilateral trigger digits in a 2-year-old child: case report

Trigger finger is a rare condition in children. In this paper, we report on a 2-year-old boy with multiple congenital bilateral trigger digits. The patient had no history of perinatal trauma, viral or bacterial infections, or metabolic disorders. The patient was treated with physiotherapy for one year. At the one-year follow-up, the boy presented with six trigger fingers (3 on the right hand, 3 on the left hand). Neither thumb was involved. The six trigger fingers were treated surgically: first, the right-hand trigger fingers and, six months later, those of the left hand. After each operation, a 4-week brace in extension was applied to the operated hand. The symptoms were completely resolved after surgical treatment. Many authors have recommended surgical release for the treatment of trigger finger in children; empirical treatment with physiotherapy may be an option when symptoms present or appear at an older age

Post-traumatic malunion of the proximal phalanx of the finger. Medium-term results in 24 cases treated by "in situ" osteotomy

We report the clinical and radiographic medium-term results obtained for 20 patients (24 fingers) treated surgically for post-traumatic malunion of the proximal phalanx of the finger. In all cases we performed a corrective osteoclasia or osteotomy at the site of malunion, followed by miniplate and screw fixation or by screw fixation only. The corrective osteoclasia was performed when malalignment was addressed within six weeks after injury. Two patients who had two fractures underwent additional surgery (tenolysis and/or capsulolysis) to improve function and ROM. At the final follow-up, at a mean of 24 months after corrective surgery, good or excellent clinical and radiographic results were obtained in all the patients. The pseudoclaw deformity disappeared in all cases in which a volar angulation deformity was present. An average improvement of about 30% in the range of motion of the MP and PIP joints was observed; only 4 patients complained of mild pain at the maximum degrees of articular excursion of the MP and PIP joints. All the patients presented an improvement in grip strength. The mean DASH score in our series was 5 points. In two of the four cases treated by an intra-articular corrective osteotomy, mild radiographic signs of osteoarthritis at the MP joint were present. The data for this study confirm that "in situ" osteotomy stabilized by miniplates and/or screws is an effective procedure to correct post-traumatic malunions of the proximal phalanges of the fingers

Reversible exposure of hydrophobic residues on albumin as a novel strategy for formulation of nanodelivery vehicles for taxanes

AG Garro1, DM Beltramo1,2,3, RV Alasino1, V Leonhard1,2, V Heredia1, ID Bianco1,2,41Center of Excellence in Products and Processes of Córdoba; 2National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET); 3School of Chemistry, Catholic University of Córdoba; 4Department of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, National University of La Rioja, ArgentinaBackground: We report herein a novel strategy for the preparation of protein-based nanodelivery vehicles for hydrophobic active pharmaceutical ingredients.Methods: The procedure consisted of three steps, ie, exposure of hydrophobic residues of a protein to a pH-induced partial unfolding: interaction between hydrophobic residues on the protein and the hydrophobic active pharmaceutical ingredient, and a final step where the structure of the protein was reversed to a native-like state by returning to neutral pH. As proof of concept, the interaction of paclitaxel with partially unfolded states of human serum albumin was evaluated as a potential method for the preparation of water-soluble complexes of the taxane with albumin.Results: We found that paclitaxel readily binds to pH-induced partially unfolded albumin, leading to the formation of optically clear water-soluble complexes. The complexes thus formed were more stable in solution when the albumin native state was at least partially restored by neutralization of the solution to a pH around 7. It was also observed that the hydrodynamic radius of human serum albumin was only slightly increased after the cycle of pH changes, remaining in a monomeric state with a size according to paclitaxel binding. Furthermore, paclitaxel binding did not affect the overall exposure of charged groups of human serum albumin, as evaluated by its interaction with an ionic exchange resin.Conclusion: The in vitro biological activity of the complexes formed was qualitatively equivalent to that of a Cremophor®-based formulation.Keywords: human serum albumin, paclitaxel, unfolded states, solubilit

Retrieval and classification methods for textured 3D models: a comparative study

International audienceThis paper presents a comparative study of six methods for the retrieval and classification of tex-tured 3D models, which have been selected as representative of the state of the art. To better analyse and control how methods deal with specific classes of geometric and texture deformations, we built a collection of 572 synthetic textured mesh models, in which each class includes multiple texture and geometric modifications of a small set of null models. Results show a challenging, yet lively, scenario and also reveal interesting insights in how to deal with texture information according to different approaches, possibly working in the CIELab as well as in modifications of the RGB colour space

Latex peptidases of Calotropis procera for dehairing of leather as an alternative to environmentally toxic sodium sulfide treatment

Dehairing of crude leather is a critical stage performed at the beginning of its processing to obtain industrially useful pieces. Tanneries traditionally apply a chemical process based on sodium sulfide. Since this chemical reactive is environmentally toxic and inefficiently recycled, innovative protocols for reducing or eliminating its use in leather depilation are welcomed. Therefore, latex peptidases from Calotropis procera (CpLP) and Cryptostegia grandiflora (CgLP) were assayed for this purpose. Enzyme activity on substrates representative of skin such as hide powder azure (UHPA), elastin (UE), azocollagen (UAZOCOL), keratin (UK), and epidermis (UEP) was determined, while depilation activity was assayed on cow hide. Only CpLP was active against keratin (13.4 UK) and only CgLP was active against elastin (0.12 UE). CpLP (93.0 UHPA, 403.6 UAZOCOL, 36.3 UEP) showed higher activity against the other substrates than CgLP (47.6 UHPA, 261.5 UAZOCOL, 8.5 UEP). In pilot assays, CpLP (0.05% w/v with sodium sulfite 0.6% w/v as activator) released hairs from cow hide pieces. Macroscopic and microscopic analyses of the hide revealed that the dehairing process was complete and the leather structure was preserved. The proteolytic system of C. procera is a suitable bioresources to be exploited by tanneries.Fil: Lopez, Laura Maria Isabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo del Cuero. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comision de Investigaciones Centíficas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo del Cuero; ArgentinaFil: Viana, Carolina A.. Universidade Estadual Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Errasti, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo del Cuero. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comision de Investigaciones Centíficas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo del Cuero; ArgentinaFil: Garro, María Laura. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo del Cuero. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comision de Investigaciones Centíficas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo del Cuero; ArgentinaFil: Martegani, José Eduardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo del Cuero. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comision de Investigaciones Centíficas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo del Cuero; ArgentinaFil: Mazzilli, German Ariel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Industrial. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo del Cuero. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comision de Investigaciones Centíficas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo del Cuero; ArgentinaFil: Freitas, Cléverson D. T.. Universidade Estadual Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Araújo, Ídila M. S.. EMBRAPA Agrotropical; BrasilFil: da Silva, Rafaela O.. Universidade Estadual Do Ceara; BrasilFil: Ramos, Márcio V.. Universidade Estadual Do Ceara; Brasi

Morbilidad y mortalidad en terneras de rodeos lecheros con manejo intensivo del calostrado

La producción lechera en Argentina ha registrado durante los últimos años una reducción en el número de tambos y del número de vacas a una tasa del 3,4% y 1.4% anual, respectivamente (OCLA, 2018). La ineficiencia reproductiva y/o de crianza de las terneras de reemplazo podría ser un factor limitante de la capacidad de recambio del rodeo. Las terneras de reemplazo deben ser criadas maximizando la salud y su bienestar ya que representan el futuro de los rodeos lecheros. Los objetivos de nuestro estudio fueron (1) describir las características de crianza de las terneras de reposición en rodeos lecheros con manejo intensivo del calostrado, (2) estimar la morbilidad (diarrea y neumonía) y mortalidad en crianza artificial y (3) describir la distribución de estos eventos evaluados durante el período de riesgo.Instituto de PatobiologíaFil: Garro, Carlos Javier. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria; ArgentinaFil: Morici, Gabriel Edgardo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria; ArgentinaFil: De Alba, Paloma. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mian, Leonardo. Programa Alta Cría Argentina. CIALE Alta; ArgentinaFil: Wirch, Sebastian. Programa Alta Cría Argentina. CIALE Alta; ArgentinaFil: Gonzales, V. Programa Alta Cría Argentina. CIALE Alta; ArgentinaFil: Schnittger, Leonhard. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria; ArgentinaFil: Schnittger, Leonhard. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Resonant Rayleigh scattering of exciton-polaritons in multiple quantum wells

A theoretical concept of resonant Rayleigh scattering (RRS) of exciton-polaritons in multiple quantum wells (QWs) is presented. The optical coupling between excitons in different QWs can strongly affect the RRS dynamics, giving rise to characteristic temporal oscillations on a picosecond scale. Bragg and anti-Bragg arranged QW structures with the same excitonic parameters are predicted to have drastically different RRS spectra. Experimental data on the RRS from multiple QWs show the predicted strong temporal oscillations at small scattering angles, which are well explained by the presented theory

Discovery of new globular clusters in the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy

© ESO 2021. Published by EDP Sciences. This is the accepted manuscript version of an article which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202140395Context. Globular clusters (GCs) are witnesses of the past accretion events onto the Milky Way. In particular, the GCs of the Sagittarius (Sgr) dwarf galaxy are important probes of an on-going merger. Aims. Our main goal is to search for new GC members of this dwarf galaxy using the VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea Extended Survey (VVVX) near-infrared database combined with the Gaia Early Data Release 3 (EDR3) optical database. Methods. We investigated all VVVX-enabled discoveries of GC candidates in a region covering about 180 sq. deg. toward the bulge and the Sgr dwarf galaxy. We used multiband point-spread function photometry to obtain deep color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) and luminosity functions (LFs) for all GC candidates, complemented by accurate Gaia-EDR3 proper motions (PMs) to select Sgr members and variability information to select RR Lyrae which are potential GC members. Results. After applying a strict PM cut to discard foreground bulge and disk stars, the CMDs and LFs for some of the GC candidates exhibit well defined red giant branches and red clump giant star peaks. We selected the best Sgr GCs, estimating their distances, reddenings, and associated RR Lyrae. Conclusions. We discover 12 new Sgr GC members, more than doubling the number of GCs known in this dwarf galaxy. In addition, there are 11 other GC candidates identified that are uncertain, awaiting better data for confirmation.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

VVVX-Gaia Discovery of a Low Luminosity Globular Cluster in the Milky Way Disk

© 2020 ESOMilky Way globular clusters (MW GCs) are difficult to identify at low Galactic latitudes because of high differential extinction and heavy star crowding. The new deep near-IR images and photometry from the VISTA Variables in the Via L\'actea Extended Survey (VVVX) allow us to chart previously unexplored regions. Our long term aim is to complete the census of MW GCs. The immediate goals are to estimate the astrophysical parameters, measuring their reddenings, extinctions, distances, total luminosities, proper motions, sizes, metallicities and ages. We use the near-IR VVVX survey database, in combination with Gaia DR2 optical photometry, and with the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) photometry. We report the detection of a heretofore unknown Galactic Globular Cluster at RA = 14:09:00.0; DEC=-65:37:12 (J2000). We calculate a reddening of E(J-K_s)=(0.3 +/- 0.03) mag and an extinction of A_Ks=(0.15 +/- 0.01) mag for this new GC. Its distance modulus and corresponding distance were measured as (m-M)=(15.93 +/- 0.03) mag and D=(15.5 +/- 1.0) kpc, respectively. We estimate the metallicity and age by comparison with known GCs and by fitting PARSEC and Dartmouth isochrones, finding $[Fe/H]=(-0.70\pm0.2)$ dex and t=(11.0 +/- 1.0) Gyr. The mean GC PMs from Gaia are mu_alpha^(star)=(-4.68 +/- 0.47) mas yr^(-1) and mu_delta=(-1.34 \pm 0.45) mas yr^(-1). The total luminosity of our cluster is estimated to be M_Ks=(-7.76 +/- 0.5) mag. We have found a new low-luminosity, old and metal-rich globular cluster, situated in the far side of the Galactic disk, at R_G=11.2 kpc from the Galactic centre, and at z=1.0 kpc below the plane. Interestingly, the location, metallicity and age of this globular cluster are coincident with the Monoceros Ring (MRi) structure.Peer reviewe