Inactivation of myosin binding protein C homolog in zebrafish as a model for human cardiac hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction

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Effect of hyperbaric oxygen on mesenchymal stem cells for lumbar fusion in vivo

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy has been proved in improving bone healing, but its effects on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) <it>in vivo </it>is not clear. The aims of this study are to clarify whether the HBO therapy has the same enhancing effect on MSCs with regard to bone formation and maturation and to ascertain whether the transplanted MSCs survive in the grafted area and contribute to new bone formation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty-three adult rabbits underwent posterolateral fusion at L4-L5 level. The animals were divided into three groups according to the material implanted and subsequent treatment: (1) Alginate carrier (n = 6); (2) Alginate-MSCs composite (n = 11); and (3) Alginate-MSCs composite with HBO therapy (n = 6). After 12 weeks, spine fusion was examined using radiographic examination, manual testing, and histological examination. Using a PKH fluorescence labeling system, whether the transplanted MSCs survived and contributed to new bone formation in the grafted area after HBO therapy was also examined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The bilateral fusion areas in each animal were evaluated independently. By radiographic examination and manual palpation, union for the Alginate, Alginate-MSCs, and Alginate-MSCs-HBO groups was 0 of 12, 10 of 22, and 6 of 12 respectively. The difference between the Alginate-MSCs and Alginate-MSCs-HBO groups was not significant (P = 0.7997). The fluorescence microscopy histological analysis indicated that the transplanted PKH67-labeled MSCs survived and partly contributed to new bone formation in the grafted area.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study demonstrated that the preconditioned MSCs could survive and yield bone formation in the grafted area. HBO therapy did not enhance the osteogenic ability of MSCs and improve the success of spine fusion in the rabbit model. Although there was no significant effect of HBO therapy on MSCs for spine fusion, the study encourages us to research a more basic approach for determining the optimal oxygen tension and pressure that are required to maintain and enhance the osteogenic ability of preconditioned MSCs. Further controlled <it>in vivo </it>and <it>in vitro </it>studies are required for achieving a better understanding of the effect of HBO treatment on MSCs.</p

Nationwide epidemiological study of severe gallstone disease in Taiwan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Our study aimed to assess the nationwide trends in the incidence of severe gallstone disease in Taiwan among adults aged ≥20.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted using Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database collected during 1997–2005. Patients with incident severe gallstone disease (acute cholecystitis, biliary pancreatitis, acute cholangitis) and gallstone-related procedures (elective and non-elective cholecystectomy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography [ERCP]) that led to hospital admission were identified using ICD-9-CM diagnostic and procedure codes. Annual incidence rates of gallstone-related complications and procedures were calculated and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated assuming a Poisson distribution.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The hospital admission rate for severe gallstone disease increased with advancing age and the age-standardized rate (95% CI) per 1000 population was 0.60 (0.59–0.60) for men and 0.59 (0.59–0.60) for women. Men had a higher rate of acute cholecystitis, probably due to the substantially lower rate of elective cholecystectomy among men than women. For those aged 20–39, hospital admissions for all gallstone-related complications and procedures increased significantly. For those aged ≥60, incidences of biliary pancreatitis, acute cholangitis, and hospital admission for gallstone receiving ERCP increased significantly without substantial change in the incidence of acute cholecystitis and despite a decreased rate of elective cholecystectomy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This population-based study found a substantial increase in the rate of admission for severe gallstone disease among those aged 20–39. Concurrently, the incidences of biliary pancreatitis and acute cholangitis have risen among those aged ≥60.</p

Finite Element Model of Stress Wave Topology in Unidirectional Graphite/Epoxy: Wave Velocities and Flux Deviations

Until recently, the use of a finite element model (FEM) to simulate stress wave propagation has been limited to solutions where the number of degrees of freedom are kept to a minimum, because of hardware limitations on computer memory and computational speed. With the advent of a numte

A Chandra and XMM View of the Mass & Metals in Galaxy Groups and Clusters

X-ray observations with Chandra and XMM are providing valuable new measurements of the baryonic and dark matter content of groups and clusters. Masses of cD clusters obtained from X-ray and gravitational lensing studies generally show good agreement, therefore providing important validation of both methods. Gas fractions have been obtained for several clusters that verify previous results for a low matter density (Omega_m ~0.3). Chandra has also provided measurements of the mass profiles deep down into several cluster cores and has generally found no significant deviations from CDM predictions in contrast to the flat core density profiles inferred from the rotation curves of low-surface brightness galaxies and dwarf galaxies; i.e., there is no evidence for self-interacting dark matter in cluster cores. Finally, initial studies of the iron and silicon abundances in centrally E-dominated groups show that they have pronounced gradients from 1-2 solar values within the central 30-50 kpc that fall to values of 0.3-0.5 solar at larger radii. The Si/Fe ratios are consistent with approximately 80% of the metals originating from Type Ia supernovae. Several cD clusters also display central Fe enhancements suggestive of Type Ia supernova enrichment, though some have central dips that may provide a vital clue for solving the cooling flow mystery

Preventable hospital admissions among the homeless in California: A retrospective analysis of care for ambulatory care sensitive conditions

Background Limited research exists that investigates hospital admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) among the homeless, who frequently lack a usual source of care. This study profiled ACSC admissions for homeless patients. Methods Bivariate analyses and logistic regression were completed to investigate ACSC and non-ACSC admissions among homeless patients using the 2010 California State Inpatient Database. Results Homeless patients admitted for an ACSC were mostly male, non-Hispanic white, and on average 49.9 years old. In the predictive model, the odds of an ACSC admission among homeless patients increased when they were black, admitted to the emergency department or transferred from another health facility. Having Medicare was associated with a decreased odds of an ACSC admission. Conclusions Specific characteristics are associated with a greater likelihood of an ACSC admission. Research should examine how these characteristics contribute to ACSC hospitalizations and findings should be linked to programs designed to serve as a safety-net for homeless patients to reduce hospitalizations

Application of functionalized nanofluid in thermosyphon

A water-based functionalized nanofluid was made by surface functionalizing the ordinary silica nanoparticles. The functionalized nanofluid can keep long-term stability. and no sedimentation was observed. The functionalized nanofluid as the working fluid is applied in a thermosyphon to understand the effect of this special nanofluid on the thermal performance of the thermosyphon. The experiment was carried out under steady operating pressures. The same work was also explored for traditional nanofluid (consisting of water and the same silica nanoparticles without functionalization) for comparison. Results indicate that a porous deposition layer exists on the heated surface of the evaporator during the operating process using traditional nanofluid; however, no coating layer exists for functionalized nanofluid. Functionalized nanofluid can enhance the evaporating heat transfer coefficient, while it has generally no effect on the maximum heat flux. Traditional nanofluid deteriorates the evaporating heat transfer coefficient but enhances the maximum heat flux. The existence of the deposition layer affects mainly the thermal performance, and no meaningful nanofluid effect is found in the present study