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[biomedres]

Mechanism of the Developed Sensorimotor Therapy Device: Synchronous Inputs of Visual Stimuli and Vibration to Improve Recovery of Distal Radius Fractures

Mechanism of the Developed Sensorimotor Therapy Device: Synchronous Inputs of Visual Stimuli and Vibration to Improve Recovery of Distal Radius Fractures in Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research

Each fracture requires immobilization following surgery. However, this immobilization impairs tactile perception and causes diminishing of cortical somatosensory maps [1]. This adverse event occurs not only among patients with undergoing immobilization for fracture, but also among their healthy counterparts [1,2]. Decreased limb use can lead to changes in the cortical representation of involved muscles [3]. These changes represent a disuse-dependent type of plasticity [4]. Because of the adverse effect arising from immobilization, we observed that some patients with distal radius fractures (DRFs) complained that prior sensation was not restored in the affected limb or that they forgot how to move the affected limb following immobilization phase, postoperatively. These patients are encouraged to further engage these limbs in active motion. Figure 1 illustrates the disuse-dependent plasticity from wrist fixation in the acute phase of patients with DRF. The process on the left illustrates insufficient coding. When joint movement of an upper limb is restricted for a certain period of time, brain activity is correspondingly reduced. As the illustration on the right shows, reduced brain activity precipitates a disuse-dependent type of plasticity that causes encoding failure, resulting in failed cerebral activation of pathways involved in the target movement or delayed recall of such movement pathways. To minimize such negative consequences of disuse-dependent plasticity during the immobilization phase, and to maintain tactile perception and somatosensory cortical maps, we developed a prototype device (development code: Ghost, Patent No. 6425355) that may be applicable to patients with DRF in the postoperative period.

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[biomedgrid]

Biomed Grid | Neurotoxin and Alpha-Neurotoxin Time-Resolved Absorption and Resonance FT-IR and Raman Bio spectroscopy and Density Functional Theory (DFT) Investigation of Vibrionic-Mode Coupling Structure in Vibrational Spectra Analysis

Abstract

α-Neurotoxins are a group of neurotoxic peptides found in the venom of snakes in the families Elapidae and Hydrophiidae. They can cause paralysis, respiratory failure, and death. Members of the three-finger toxin protein family, they are antagonists of post-synaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the neuromuscular synapse that bind competitively and irreversibly, preventing synaptic acetylcholine (ACh) from opening the ion channel. Over 100 α-neurotoxins have been identified and sequenced. Parameters such as FT-IR and Raman vibrational wavelengths and intensities for single crystal Neurotoxin and Alpha-Neurotoxin are calculated using density functional theory and were compared with empirical results.

The investigation about vibrational spectrum of cycle dimers in crystal with carboxyl groups from each molecule of acid was shown that it leads to create Hydrogen bounds for adjacent molecules. The current study aimed to investigate the possibility of simulating the empirical values. Analysis of vibrational spectrum of Alpha-Neurotoxin is performed based on theoretical simulation and FT- IR empirical spectrum and Raman empirical spectrum using density functional theory in levels of F/6-31G*, HF/6- 31++G**, MP2/6-31G, MP2/6-31++G**, BLYP/6-31G, BLYP/6-31++G**, B3LYP/6-31G and B3LYP6-31-HEG**. Vibration modes of methylene, carboxyl acid and phenyl cycle are separately investigated. The obtained values confirm high accuracy and validity of results obtained from calculations [1-42] (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Molecular structure of Neurotoxin (left) and Alpha–Neurotoxin (right).

Keywords:Vibrionic Structure; Vibrational Spectra Analysis; Density Functional Theory (DFT); Alpha-Neurotoxin; non-Focal Functions of Becke; Correlation Functions of Lee-Yang-Parr; Time-Resolved Absorption and Resonance; FT-IR and Raman Bio spectroscopy

Introduction

α-Neurotoxins are a group of neurotoxic peptides found in the venom of snakes in the families Elapidae and Hydrophiidae. They can cause paralysis, respiratory failure, and death. Members of the three-finger toxin protein family, they are antagonists of post-synaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the neuromuscular synapse that bind competitively and irreversibly, preventing synaptic acetylcholine (ACh) from opening the ion channel. Over 100 α- neurotoxins have been identified and sequenced.

Density Functional Theory (DFT) is one of the most powerful calculation methods for electronic structures [5-7]. Numerous results have been previously studied and indicate successful use of these methods [8-10]. The theory is one of the most appropriate methods for simulating the vibrational wavenumbers, molecular structure as well as total energy. It may be useful to initially consider the calculated results by density functional theory using F/6-31G*, HF/6-31++G**, MP2/6-31G, MP2/6-31++G**, BLYP/6- 31G, BLYP/6-31++G**, B3LYP/6-31G and B3LYP6-31- HEG** approach [11-16]. It should be noted that calculations are performed by considering one degree of quantum interference as well as polarization effects of 2d orbitals in interaction [17-320].

Details of Calculations

All calculations of molecular orbital in the base of ab are performed by Gaussian 09. In calculation process, the structure of Alpha-Neurotoxin molecule (Figure 2) is optimized and FT- IR and Raman wavenumbers are calculated using F/6-31G*, HF/6- 31++G**, MP2/6-31G, MP2/6-31++G**, BLYP/6-31G, BLYP/6- 31++G**, B3LYP/6-31G and B3LYP6-31-HEG** base. All optimized structures are adjusted with minimum energy. Harmonic vibrational wavenumbers are calculated using second degree of derivation to adjust convergence on potential surface as good as possible and to evaluate vibrational energies at zero point. In optimized structures considered in the current study, virtual frequency modes are not observed which indicates that the minimum potential energy surface is correctly chosen. The optimized geometry is calculated by minimizing the energy relative to all geometrical quantities without forcing any constraint on molecular symmetry. Calculations were performed by Gaussian 09.

Figure 2:Different sections of the Neurotoxin (upper) and Alpha– Neurotoxin (lower) [43–93].

The current calculation is aimed to maximize structural optimization using density functional theory. The calculations of density functional theory are performed by F/6-31G*, HF/6- 31++G**, MP2/6-31G, MP2/6-31++G**, BLYP/6-31G, BLYP/6- 31++G**, B3LYP/6-31G and B3LYP6-31-HEG** function in which non-focal functions of Becke and correlation functions of Lee-Yang- Parr beyond the Franck-Condon approximation are used. After completion of optimization process, the second order derivation of energy is calculated as a function of core coordination and is investigated to evaluate whether the structure is accurately minimized. Vibrational frequencies used to simulate spectrums presented in the current study are derived from these second order derivatives. All calculations are performed for room temperature of 316 (K).

Vibration Analysis

Analysis of vibrational spectrum of Alpha-Neurotoxin is performed based on theoretical simulation and FT-IR empirical spectrum and Raman empirical spectrum using density functional theory in levels of F/6-31G*, HF/6-31++G**, MP2/6-31G, MP2/6- 31++G**, BLYP/6-31G, BLYP/6-31++G**, B3LYP/6-31G and B3LYP6-31-HEG**. Vibration modes of methylene, carboxyl acid and phenyl cycle are separately investigated. C-H stretching vibrations in single replacement of benzene cycles are usually seen in band range of 3250-3650 cm-1. Weak Raman bands are at 3191 cm-1 and 3207 cm-1. C-C stretching mode is a strong Raman mode at 1211 cm-1. Raman weak band is seen at 1687 cm-1 too. Bending mode of C-H is emerged as a weak mode at 1429 cm-1 and 1205 cm-1 and a strong band at 1289 cm-1 in Raman spectrum. Raman is considerably active in the range of 1250-1650 cm-1 which 1199 cm-1 indicates this issue.

C-H skew-symmetric stretching mode of methylene group is expected at 3189 cm-1 and its symmetric mode is expected at 3000 cm-1. Skew-symmetric stretching mode of CH4 in Alpha- Neurotoxin has a mode in mid-range of Raman spectrum at 3250- 3650 cm-1. When this mode is symmetric, it is at 3099 cm-1 and is sharp. The calculated wavenumbers of higher modes are at 3073 cm-1 and 3096 cm-1 for symmetric and skew-symmetric stretching mode of methylene, respectively.

Scissoring vibrations of CH4 are usually seen at the range of 1530-1590 cm-1 which often includes mid-range bands. Weak bands at 1550 cm-1 are scissoring modes of CH4 in Raman spectrum. Moving vibrations of methylene are usually seen at 1479 cm -1. For the investigated chemical in the current study, these vibrations are at 1349 cm-1 were calculated using density functional theory. Twisting and rocking vibrations of CH4 are seen in Raman spectrum at 925 cm-1 and 1191 cm-1, respectively, which are in good accordance with the results at 907 cm-1 and 1167 cm- 1, respectively. In a non-ionized carboxyl group (COOH), stretching vibrations of carbonyl [C=O] are mainly observed at the range of 1850-1898 cm-1. If dimer is considered as an intact constituent, two stretching vibrations of carbonyl for symmetric stretching are at 1750-1795 cm-1 in Raman spectrum. In the current paper, stretching vibration of carbonyl mode is at 1799 cm-1 which is a mid-range value.

Stretching and bending bands of hydroxyl can be identified by width and band intensity which in turn is dependent on bond length of Hydrogen. In dimer form of Hydrogen bond, stretching band of O-H is of a strong Raman peak at 1377 cm-1 which is due to in-plain metamorphosis mode. Out-of-plain mode of O-H group is a very strong mode of peak at 1056 cm-1 of Raman spectrum. The stretching mode of C-O (H) emerges as a mid-band of Raman spectrum at 1263 cm-1. Lattice vibrations are usually seen at the range of 0-850 cm-1. These modes are induced by rotary and transferring vibrations of molecules and vibrations and are including Hydrogen bond. Bands with low wavenumbers of Hydrogen bond vibrations in FT-IR and Raman spectrum (Figure 3) are frequently weak, width and unsymmetrical. Rotary lattice vibrations are frequently stronger than transferring ones. Intramolecular vibrations with low wavenumbers involving two-bands O-H …O dimer at 99 cm-1, 199 cm-1 and 269 cm-1 are attributed to a rotary moving of two molecules involving in-plain rotation of molecules against each other.

Figure 3:3D Simulation of (a) FT–IR spectrum and (b) Raman spectrum of Alpha–Neurotoxin.

Conclusion and Summary

Calculations of density functional theory using F/6-31G*, HF/6- 31++G**, MP2/6-31G, MP2/6-31++G**, BLYP/6-31G, BLYP/6- 31++G**, B3LYP/6-31G and B3LYP6-31-HEG** levels were used to obtain vibrational wavenumbers and intensities in single crystal of Alpha- Neurotoxin. Investigation and consideration of vibrational spectrum confirm the formation of dimer cycles in the investigated crystal with carboxyl groups from each Hydrogen molecule of acid protected from adjacent molecules. The calculated vibrational spectrum which obtains from calculations of density functional theory is in good accordance with recorded empirical values which indicates successful simulation of the problem. The obtained results indicate that the results obtained from theoretical calculations are valid through comparing with empirical recorded results.

Acknowledgements

Authors are supported by an American International Standards Institute (AISI) Future Fellowship Grant FT1201009373493. We acknowledge Ms. Isabelle Villena for instrumental support and Dr. Michael N. Cocchi for constructing graphical abstract figure. We gratefully acknowledge Prof. Dr. Christopher Brown for proofreading the manuscript.

Read More About this Article:https://biomedgrid.com/fulltext/volume3/neurotoxin-and-alpha-neurotoxin-time-resolved-absorption-and-resonance-ft-ir.000738.php

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[biofunmy]

“Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria” Study Is Deeply Flawed, Says New Critique

Spencer Platt / Getty Images

A controversial study claiming that some teens abruptly decide to change genders due to peer pressure was deeply flawed, according to a scathing new scientific critique.

The original 2018 study used a new term — “rapid-onset gender dysphoria,” or ROGD — to describe certain young adults, typically those assigned female at birth, who develop gender dysphoria due to “social and peer contagion.” The paper has been widely cited, particularly in conservative media, to cast doubt on many gender-nonconforming people’s experiences by framing trans identification as a trend, phase, or disease.

But scientific critics and trans advocates have long criticized the methods chosen by the paper’s author, Lisa Littman of Brown University. Within a week of its publication in August 2018, PLOS One, the journal in which the study appeared, announced that it would seek “further expert assessment on the study’s methodology and analyses,” citing reader concerns. This, in turn, prompted Brown to remove a press release touting its findings. Just last month, PLOS One published a correction and an apology, while also noting that the study’s results were largely unchanged.

Arjee Restar, a trans researcher in the same department as Littman at Brown, told BuzzFeed News that even in the corrected version of the study, “the methods remain unchanged, flawed, and below scientific standards.”

Frustrated by how the work was handled by the journal and her own institution, Restar, a trans graduate student at Brown’s School of Public Health, wrote the new critique, the most thorough and damning description of the research to date.

Restar’s study, published today in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, points to several methodological problems, such as relying on survey responses from parents who had visited sites promoting anti-trans views, and biasing their responses with the wording of the study’s consent forms. Littman’s approach, Restar contends, pathologizes trans people. “It’s important to use methods and terminologies that don’t further stigmatize an already disenfranchised community,” she said.

Littman declined to discuss the new critique with BuzzFeed News. But in an interview with the website Quillette last month, she stood by her research, saying, “Overall, I am very pleased with the final product and [with the fact] that my work has withstood this extensive peer-review process.”

Since its publication last year, Littman’s study has reverberated widely throughout many distinct communities, from parenting websites to lawmakers to health care professionals.

Last October, for example, more than 1,000 parents of gender-nonconforming children wrote a letter to the American Academy of Pediatrics begging them to reconsider their trans-affirming health care policy recommendations. The letter cites Littman’s work as “a recent groundbreaking study” about trans-identified youth that “finds significant parallels with the phenomenon of eating disorders, and includes social contagion as a key factor.”

The American College of Pediatricians, classified as an anti-LGBT hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, cites Littman’s study to advocate against trans-affirming health care; its representatives recently met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill fight the passage of the Equality Act. And Transgender Trend, one of the sites Littman used to gather responses for her study, has published a lengthy school resource pack that warns a child’s gender dysphoria can be a result of “simple social contagion.”

Julia Serano, a writer, activist, and biologist who has extensively charted the rise of ROGD and trans social contagion theory, said that promoting trans identity as contagious has huge ramifications.

“If you’re a trans kid, will parents not let their kids interact with you?” Serano told BuzzFeed News. “People will say ‘Let’s just see what the science says’ … and will be given justification to say ‘I’m not going to allow my children to absorb any information or media that involves trans people.’”

What’s more, Serano worries that defining an entirely new “rapid onset” category of gender dysphoria might inspire different treatments than those currently recommended by the likes of the American Academy of Pediatrics. That could lead some parents to turn away from the “gender affirming” treatments — such as social or medical transition — for persistently trans-identifying youth, and instead try “reparative” gender treatments, which encourage children to feel better in their assigned sexes. For critics like Serano, the latter category is akin to gay conversion therapy.

When PLOS One republished Littman’s study with a correction last month, the editors said the new version emphasized that it was a study of parental observation alone, and that ROGD is not a clinical diagnosis. PLOS One’s editor-in-chief also apologized to the trans community “for oversights that occurred during the original assessment of the study.” The results section, however, remained unchanged.

Littman released a statement at the time saying she is “delighted to report that, after a rigorous post-publication review, a revised version of [her] paper has been published by PLOS ONE.”

While some activists had campaigned against the study as soon as it was published last year, more than 5,000 people signed a petition in support of her study and the defense of “academic freedom and scientific inquiry.” In the interview with Quillette — a “platform for free thought” which has published many trans-critical articles — Littman elaborated that “because this paper was of interest to scientists and non-scientists alike, extra care was taken to make sure that certain terms and concepts were not misconstrued by individuals outside of the scientific community.” She also told the reporter, Jonathan Kay — who has tweeted (and deleted) graphic descriptions of autistic teens being forced to chop off their breasts because of trans orthodoxy — that backlash to the study led to her losing her consulting job.

Harvey Meston / Getty Images

Restar, along with the few other openly trans graduate students in the School of Public Health, attempted to meet with Brown administrators soon after Littman’s article was published to convey what they thought was the institutional promotion of shoddy — and harmful — anti-trans science. Those meetings “did not go well,” Wesley King, one of the students, told BuzzFeed News.

Although Brown did remove its press release, King’s group felt that the school could have done more on behalf of the trans and gender-nonconforming students who were rankled by Littman’s study.

“We asked for them to request Dr. Littman remove the Brown University affiliation on the article because she conducted the research before being hired at Brown and it didn’t go through brown’s [ethics review],” King said. The administrators declined. (Regarding Littman’s study and the new critique, a spokesperson for the university said, “We are fully committed to academic freedom for all researchers at Brown, a fundamentally important tenet of the mission of any research university, and Brown faculty have the freedom to conduct and publish research on the topics they choose.”)

Restar took her critiques to the Archives of Sexual Behavior. Her new paper contends that Littman designed the study in order to frame gender dysphoria as “tantamount to both an infectious disease (‘cluster outbreaks of gender dysphoria’) and a disorder (e.g., ‘eating disorders and anorexia nervosa’).”

Restar rejects this because, as she writes, “identifying as transgender is not a disease nor is it considered a mental disorder.”

The biggest scientific problem with the study, according to Restar, is how it obtained its data. Littman placed a 90-question survey on three websites — 4thWaveNow, Transgender Trend, and Youth Trans Critical Professionals — and received responses from 256 parents.

Before filling out the survey, the parents had to sign consent forms for participation. And in those forms, Littman describes “social and peer contagion” extensively. This, according to Restar, could have easily biased the respondents to give answers confirming the idea of social contagion. What’s more, those three websites are known for their trans-critical views.

“From a methods standpoint, one could say she was looking for individuals who have specific beliefs that could confirm her hypothesis — which is a symptom of biased sampling,” Restar said.

What’s more, ROGD is not a clinical diagnosis, and has not been validated by medical professionals. Littman made no attempts in her survey to precisely define what “rapid onset” meant, or when exactly parents should note their child’s “puberty” began.

The editor of the Archives of Sexual Behavior journal is Kenneth Zucker, a prominent and controversial figure in the field of trans health care. A clinical psychologist who helped write the definition of gender dysphoria in the most recent edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Zucker was ousted in December 2015 from his long-held position as head of the Family Gender Identity Clinic at Toronto’s Centre of Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), following activist complaints and an internal investigation over his methods for treating gender-nonconforming children. Late last year, he reached a settlement with CAMH for what he claimed was unfair dismissal and libel, and was awarded over half a million dollars. He now runs his own practice in Toronto.

Zucker told BuzzFeed News he greenlit Restar’s article because “it’s an important issue, and this is what academic discourse is about.” But he also believes that Littman’s study is valid — for spotlighting a previously underappreciated subgroup of adolescents.

“I think people who work in the field need to do more research on who are these kids,” he said. “What’s the best way to work with them therapeutically, and can we apply the same standards of care we use with adolescents who have been struggling with gender dysphoria for a long time?”

Zucker has previously written and spoken favorably about Littman’s research, tweeting that it is “important” and that Littman losing her consulting work as a result of her study “is nothing less than bald intellectual McCarthyism circa 2019.”

He acknowledged that studies relying on parents’ perspectives of their kids are limited, but that this approach “is a longstanding tradition in developmental clinical psychology and psychiatry.”

Over the past few months, he added, he’s been wondering why the backlash to Littman’s study has been so loud. He believes it’s because, if social factors indeed influence a person’s gender identity, then “that would sort of go against — let’s call it, the essentialist or ‘born that way’ model,” he said.

But many trans, queer, and gender-nonconforming people don’t subscribe to the “born this way” model of gender identity in the first place. Julia Serano and Arjee Restar, for example, say they are worried about what it might mean to liken trans identity to a contagious disease — much the same way that gay people have been thought to be contagious and thus prevented from being Boy Scout leaders, teachers, or otherwise fully integrated members of society. “The same argument is now being used in context of transgender people,” Serano said.

Zucker acknowledged these concerns, but also believes that the kids described in Littman’s work are worthy of study. He’s currently researching why an increasing number of assigned-female young people have been seeking treatment at gender identity clinics in North America and Europe over the past 15 years, when previously, the ratio was reversed: Mostly assigned-male adolescents were seeking care.

Some women who have transitioned and then gone back to identifying with their assigned gender — “desisting” and “detransitioning” — do think that rapid-onset gender dysphoria via social contagion describes their experiences. But activists and researchers like Serano think that, for the vast majority of gender-nonconforming youth, ROGD doesn’t explain this increase.

“I think it’s important for us to recognize that the prevalence of trans people in the past was artificially reduced by the lack of visibility, and by gatekeepers who weren’t allowing people access to trans health,” she said.

Zucker agrees that increased visibility, and decreased stigma, could explain the rise. Yet another theory, he says, is that young girls are aware that they are perceived as sex objects, making them more self-conscious about their bodies and gender identity than boys are. “A lot of what Littman would call ROGD females will talk about how when, in grades 7, 8, 9, all of a sudden other kids talking about sex made them feel uncomfortable, and they started to feel more alienated from the category of being a girl.”

Whatever explains the increase, treating children and young adults with gender dysphoria remains hotly contested. Zucker mentioned the three general approaches to treating trans youth: the intermediate, cautionary approach known as “watchful waiting”; gender affirmation, which can involve either social or medical transition, or both; or therapeutic treatment “to see if one can help a child feel more comfortable in the gender that matches their birth sex.” Zucker’s use of the third approach in young children is what, in part, led critics to call for his ouster in 2015.

But today, he said, he doesn’t favor any particular approach over another. “You need data to decide what’s best, but all these approaches are designed to reduce dysphoria.” But who, in the end, gets to decide what’s best for a gender-nonconforming child? “I think the choice of therapy is going to depend a lot on what parents want,” Zucker said. “It’s their kid.”

CORRECTION

Apr. 22, 2019, at 23:58 PM

Jonathan Kay’s name was misspelled in an earlier version of this post.

Sahred From Source link Science

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[biomedres]

Understanding Barriers and Facilitators for Telehealth Implementation in Healthcare Delivery System During COVID-19- Call for Action

Understanding Barriers and Facilitators for Telehealth Implementation in Healthcare Delivery System During COVID-19- Call for Action in Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research

The five dimensions of access are availability, accessibility, accommodation, affordability, and acceptability [1]. Availability is a relationship between the volume of facilities, healthcare supplies, and patient’s healthcare needs volume [1]. Accessibility defines the distance between patient and provider, meaning travel time and transportation factors to seek healthcare service [1]. Accommodation defines the relationship between the delivery system, the structure of healthcare facilities set up to accept patients, and the patient’s ability to accept it [1]. It includes appointment timings, hours of operations, mobile services, walkin facilities, etc. [1]. Affordability is the relationship between the healthcare provider’s charges for the services they provide and the patient’s income ability to pay for the services they might seek from those providers [1]. Finally, acceptability means both the patient’s and provider’s tendency to accept the attributes of each other [1]. Meaning, patients might be willing to go to certain types of facilities, neighborhood, provider gender, or providers’ race.

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[biomedres]

On the Function of Piriformis Muscle in Relation to Piriformis Syndrome

On the Function of Piriformis Muscle in Relation to Piriformis Syndrome in Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research

Piriformis is the largest muscle among the deep short external rotators of the hip and a functionally important muscle which attaches two joints, sacroiliac, and hip joints [1,2]. In clinic, the pathologies that occur in this muscle which has important neurovascular adjacencies in gluteal area cause piriformis syndrome characterized with hip and waist pain in sitting position or during hip movement [2-4]. While this rarely seen syndrome can easily be diagnosed via anamnesis or physical examination, it is often misdiagnosed as lumbar discopathy. Piriformis syndrome should be considered in differential diagnosis of non-discogenic sciatalgia [3,5]. In literature, it is observed that piriformis muscle is discussed superficially, which, in fact, must be clinically welldefined and has many functions. Therefore, in our study, we tried to compile all functions of the muscle in literature, with the hope of it becoming a guide in clinical diagnose and treatment.

Topographic and Clinical Anatomy of Piriformis Muscle Starting from the S2-S4 level of the pelvic surface of the sacrum, the gluteal surface of the ilium that is close to the posterior inferior iliac spine, the sacroiliac joint capsule, Sacro tuberous ligament, exiting pelvis, it advances through lateral by dividing greater saciatic foramen in two to form suprapiriform and infrapiriform foramen [2,6,7]. It terminates in femur, in the medial of upper side of greater trochanter. Its tendone often merges with gluteus medius muscle tendone, either in conjunction with gemelli muscles and obturator internus muscle joint tendone or by itself [2]. Important neurovascular structures pass through infrapiriform foramen, including sciatic nerve [2]. In literature, case examples with variations of no or two piriformis have been reported [8-11]. There are also variations of sciatic nerve dividing into branches and variations of their adjacency with piriformis. Sciatic nerve or one of its branches is observed to pass through the muscle in 7-21% of the examined poplutaions.

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[biomedres]

The Effects of Helium-activated Radiofrequency Subdermal Coagulation on Skin Laxity following Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction

The Effects of Helium-activated Radiofrequency Subdermal Coagulation on Skin Laxity following Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction in Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research

Less invasive procedures that achieve results of traditionally invasive surgical techniques are increasingly desired by patients. One technique to increase skin firmness previously attained only by more invasive excisional tucking procedures includes theuse of helium-activated radiofrequency subdermal coagulation. The effectiveness of helium activated radiofrequency technology to improve redundant skin firmness over the neck, medial thigh, arms, upper and lower back using subdermal coagulation was evaluated retrospectively. To confirm increased skin firmness, we measured distraction forces intraoperatively to pull the skin off the body 0.5 inches, 1.0 inch, and 1.5 inches using a trigger force meter. Distraction force (g) measurements were performed prior to ultrasound assisted liposuction, immediately following liposuction, and following each of six passes with helium activated radiofrequency. The results demonstrate significant increase in skin firmness shown by an increase in distraction force when compared to the pre-liposuction baseline. The increase in distraction forces were appreciated following 3 to 4 passes and continued to increase through 4 to 6 passes. Helium activated radiofrequency provides an effective, minimally invasive means of decreasing skin laxity and thus increasing skin firmness intra-operatively. The efficacy of helium-activated radiofrequency to perform subdermal coagulation used synchronously following ultrasound assisted liposuction has been demonstrated.

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[biomedres]

Selective Conventional Transarterial Chemoembolization with Oxaliplatin Increases Tumor Exposure Compared to Systemic Administration in a Rabbit Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Selective Conventional Transarterial Chemoembolization with Oxaliplatin Increases Tumor Exposure Compared to Systemic Administration in a Rabbit Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research

https://biomedres.us/fulltexts/BJSTR.MS.ID.006065.php

Purpose: To compare the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of hepatic artery infusion of oxaliplatin emulsified in Lipiodol (cTACE) versus intravenous (IV) infusion in a rabbit model of HCC. Materials and Methods: Sixteen VX2 rabbits (4 rabbits/ time of sacrifice) received an IV infusion of oxaliplatin solution (4 mg/kg). Another 18 rabbits (4 or 5 rabbits/ time of sacrifice) received a 0.3 mL infusion (0.75 mg/rabbit) of 1:2 oxaliplatin:Lipiodol® emulsion followed by Curaspon® by hepatic artery infusion, called conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE). Pharmacokinetic analyses were performed on plasma or ultrafiltered plasma. Plasma and tissue samples (healthy liver, tumor, pancreas, spleen, heart, lungs, kidneys) were collected at 1h, 24h, 72h and 168h after the treatment and analysed by ICP-MS for quantification of elemental platinum (Pt) concentrations. Tumor response was quantified by ultrasound imaging and tumor necrosis was quantified by histology. Results: While plasma exposure was 11-fold lower after cTACE, mean Pt concentrations in the tumor were higher (cTACE vs IV, mean ± SD: 24.9±22.3 vs 11.3±8.7 nmol/g at 1h post-administration, 24.6±22.0 vs 5.9±0.9 nmol/g at 24h, 13.8±13.4 vs 3.9±0.8 nmol/g at 72h, 18.5±11.5 vs 2.5±0.8 nmol/g at 168h). The tumor/healthy liver ratio, the most important parameter for the proof-of-concept of tumor targeting with minimal exposure to the liver was close to 1 for the IV route whereas it exceeded 20, at all times points for cTACE treatment and reached 65 at 168h. Tumor necrosis (cTACE vs IV) was also significantly higher at 24, 72 and 168h post-administration: 92±17% vs 45±5%, 99±3% vs 47±15%, 96±8% vs 41±19%, respectively. Conclusion: cTACE using a low dose of oxaliplatin in Lipiodol water-in-oil emulsion resulted in higher Pt concentrations in the tumor, lower systemic exposure and higher tumor necrosis than a higher intravenous dose of oxaliplatin in VX2 rabbits.

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[biomedres]

Tai Chi, Qigong and the Treatment of Arthritis

Tai Chi, Qigong and the Treatment of Arthritis in Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research

https://biomedres.us/fulltexts/BJSTR.MS.ID.006051.php

Tai chi, also referred to as taiji or taijiquan, is considered both a martial art and a series of low impact exercises. It is also a tool in the toolbox of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has been in existence for hundreds of years, although its philosophical roots go back thousands of years to Confucianism and Taoism [1]. There are five main styles of tai chi. Chen style is the oldest style and originated in the Chen village in China [2]. The second oldest style, and also the most popular style, is the Yang style [3]. Sun style [4] is the newest style of tai chi and has only been in existence for about 100 years. It is known for its high stances, which are especially suited for older people who have balance issues. Wu and Wu Hao [5] are the other main styles of tai chi, which contain elements of both the Yang and Chen styles. Although the styles all differ in some respects, they have more commonalities than differences. Qigong [pronounced chee gong] is also a set of low impact, gentle exercises that have been in existence for thousands of years [6] and is also considered a tool in the TCM toolbox. Some practitioners consider qigong to be a subset of tai chi. Much has been written about qigong and qigong exercises [7-131]. The Chinese Health Qigong Association has produced nine DVDs that provide instruction on some of the more popular qigong exercise sets [132-140]. Several organizations have been formed to study various aspects of qigong [141-175].

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Phototheraputic Keratectomy for a Patient with Corneal Intraepithelial Dysplasia

Phototheraputic Keratectomy for a Patient with Corneal Intraepithelial Dysplasia in Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research

https://biomedres.us/fulltexts/BJSTR.MS.ID.005966.php

Intraepithelial neoplasia and squamous cell carcinoma of the cornea and conjunctiva are the most common tumors of the ocular surface [1] with a reported incidence of 0.13 to 1.9/100,000, depending on geographic location [2]. This tumor is classified as an in situ form, known as conjunctival and/or Corneal Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN), or invasive squamous cell carcinoma. CIN encompasses entities that were previously referred to as dysplasia and carcinoma in situ. Corneal epithelial dysplasia occurs in elderly patients. Although the etiology remains unknown, it has been suggested that excess ultraviolet exposure and human papilloma virus infection may cause the lesion [3,4]. The pathogenesis of corneal epithelial neoplasia usually commences at the limbal region in that abnormal epithelium grows towards the central cornea and often associates with neovascularization into the lesion. The most common treatment for conjunctival and corneal neoplasia is radical excision in combination with cryotherapy [5]. Newer chemotherapeutic modalities, such as mitomycin C (MMC) [6] 5-fluorouracil (FU) [7] and interferon,8 are now being used to avoid the operating room altogether and decrease the potential risk of limbal stem cell loss and scarring. There has been only one case of recurrent corneal intraepithelial dysplasia treated with Phototherapeutic Keratectomy (PTK) [8,9]. In this report, we describe a case of primary corneal intraepithelial dysplasia after PTK.

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Recent Therapeutic Options in Cancer Therapy

Recent Therapeutic Options in Cancer Therapy in Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research

https://biomedres.us/fulltexts/BJSTR.MS.ID.005961.php

Nanoparticles are used successfully in the deliverance of basic physical substances such as heat, light, and other substances to the target cell of interest [10,11]. This has been beneficial in using nanotechnology as a treatment option for managing cancers [12]. The nanoparticles enter the target cancer cell and produce a cellular arrest and thereby inhibiting the uncontrolled tumor growth [13]. This further interrupt the proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes causing an abrupt interference of the tumor growth cycle [14]. The highly effective tumor cell penetrance property of the nanoparticles has been proven to be beneficial in combatting the tumor cell biology (Figure 1). The adverse effects in the application of nanotechnology in cancer care treatment is very minimal and hence has shown to be widely applicable[15]. The role of gapmer design in downregulating the cancer cells has also been proven recently [16]. This design model has shown to increase the binding capacity of the nanoparticles to the cancer cells and then downregulates the entire tumor environment [17-19].

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Free medical journal

Treatment Options for Cranial Cruciate Ligament Rupture In Dog - A Literature Review by Cornel Igna in Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research (BJSTR)  https://biomedres.us/fulltexts/BJSTR.MS.ID.000874.php

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Rhopalurus Junceus Venom Modulates the Expression of E6/E7 Viral Oncogenes of HPV-16 in SIHA Tumor Cell Line

Rhopalurus Junceus Venom Modulates the Expression of E6/E7 Viral Oncogenes of HPV-16 in SIHA Tumor Cell Line Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research

https://biomedres.us/fulltexts/BJSTR.MS.ID.005816.php

Introduction: E6 and E7 are viral oncoproteins of Human Papilloma Viruses (HPV) that can modulate several innate pathways related to the immune system blocking the production of cytokines such as IL-1β. Until now, it is unknown if the ability of the Rhopalurus junceus scorpion venom to decrease the viability of tumor cells is related to the modulation of the expression levels of HPV16 viral oncogenes E6 and E7 (16E6E7).

Objective: To evaluate in vitro the antitumoral and modulatory properties of the Rhopalurus junceus scorpion venom in cervix cancer cells positive for HPV16.

Materials and Methods: Cell viability was analyzed by MTT assay and morphological changes were observed by phase contrast microscopy in SiHa cell line treated with R. junceus scorpion venom for 72h. The expression of 16E6E7 and p53 genes were examined trough real time RT-PCR and end-point RT-PCR, respectively, after 24 and 48h of treatment of SiHa cells with R. junceus scorpion venom. Finally, the supernatant was harvested and quantified for IL-1β by ELISA after 24 and 48h of incubation.

Results: R. junceus scorpion venom decreased the viability of SiHa cells and induced morphological changes. Analysis of expression of 16E6E7 and p53 by RT-qPCR and RTPCR, respectively, showed a reduction of E6 and E7and increase in p53 genes expression after 24 h of the incubation in the treated cells respect to the untreated control. While the production of IL-1β by the SiHa cells treated with 0.5 mg/mL and 1 mg/mL of R. junceus scorpion venom, increased significantly at 48 h (p <0.05).

Conclusion: R. junceus scorpion venom has antiviral potential by modulating the in vitro expression of the E6 and E7 oncogenes that lead to a cytotoxic effect on the cervical cancer positive for HPV16.

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Autosomal Dominant Gain-of-Function STAT1 Mutations in Bronchiectasis and Diabetes Mellitus

Autosomal Dominant Gain-of-Function STAT1 Mutations in Bronchiectasis and Diabetes Mellitus Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research

https://biomedres.us/fulltexts/BJSTR.MS.ID.005801.php

Background: Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis and serious bronchiectasis are associated with autosomal dominant gain-of-function STAT1 mutations. But they were rarely reported accompany with diabetes.

Methods: A patient diagnosed with bronchiectasis, chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis and T1MD was investigated. Genetic analysis was performed as well as immunoglobulin assay and lymphocytic subtype analysis.

Result: The genetic analysis revealed a kind of AD-GOF mutation in STAT1 (nucleotide change c.1957G>A and amino acid change p.V6531, locating in chr2-191841668 in exon 22). Besides, IgA decreased to 0.07 g/l (normal range 0.8-2.3 g/l) in plasma and CD19+cells decreased to 0.5% (normal range 5-18%) of lymphocyte in this case. The patient’s symptom improved a lot after two weeks’ hospitalization.

Conclusion: Decreased blood B lymphocytes (CD19+) and IgA levels might explain the susceptibility to chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis and bronchiectasis in patients with AD-GOF mutation in STAT1.

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Development of a Healthy Lifestyle Module to Improve Mental Health in Adolescent Students: Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Development of a Healthy Lifestyle Module to Improve Mental Health in Adolescent Students: Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research

https://biomedres.us/fulltexts/BJSTR.MS.ID.005787.php

The current study aimed to determine if a lifestyle-based intervention program could improve the mental health of adolescent students. This study is a randomized controlled trial in eleven sessions among 370 adolescents with no severe score of general health questionnaire. Primary outcome assessment at pre-, post- and three-month followup tests includes general health score and the secondary outcomes include changes in eating habit, physical activity and stress management skills using healthy lifestyle questionnaire, eating behavior, daily activity, coping inventory for stressful situations and general health questionnaire. The findings of the current study will be used as a starting point of incessant, regular lifestyle education for adolescents, and for researchers and educators to improve the health and well-being globally.

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Tai Chi, Qigong and the Treatment of Arthritis

Tai Chi, Qigong and the Treatment of Arthritis Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research

https://biomedres.us/fulltexts/BJSTR.MS.ID.006051.php

Tai chi, also referred to as taiji or taijiquan, is considered both a martial art and a series of low impact exercises. It is also a tool in the toolbox of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that has been in existence for hundreds of years, although its philosophical roots go back thousands of years to Confucianism and Taoism [1]. There are five main styles of tai chi. Chen style is the oldest style and originated in the Chen village in China [2]. The second oldest style, and also the most popular style, is the Yang style [3]. Sun style [4] is the newest style of tai chi and has only been in existence for about 100 years. It is known for its high stances, which are especially suited for older people who have balance issues. Wu and Wu Hao [5] are the other main styles of tai chi, which contain elements of both the Yang and Chen styles. Although the styles all differ in some respects, they have more commonalities than differences. Qigong [pronounced chee gong] is also a set of low impact, gentle exercises that have been in existence for thousands of years [6] and is also considered a tool in the TCM toolbox. Some practitioners consider qigong to be a subset of tai chi. Much has been written about qigong and qigong exercises [7-131]. The Chinese Health Qigong Association has produced nine DVDs that provide instruction on some of the more popular qigong exercise sets [132-140]. Several organizations have been formed to study various aspects of qigong [141-175].

For more articles in Journals on Biomedical Sciences click here

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Intraoperative Cone Beam CT in Hybrid Operating Room Set-Up as An Alternative to Postoperative CT for Pedicle Screw Breach Detection - BJSTR Journals

Intraoperative Cone Beam CT in Hybrid Operating Room Set-Up as An Alternative to Postoperative CT for Pedicle Screw Breach Detection by Mathis Wegner Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research

https://biomedres.us/fulltexts/BJSTR.MS.ID.006022.php

Background: CT is considered the gold standard for detecting pedicle breach. However, CBCT may be a viable and low radiation dose alternative, to provide intraoperative feedback to surgeons to permit in-room revisions of misplaced screws.

Methods: To assess the ability and reliability of intraoperative cone-beam CT (CBCT) from a robotic C-arm in a hybrid operating room (OR) two hundred forty-one pedicle screws were inserted in cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine of 7 cadavers, followed by CBCT and CT imaging. The CT images served as the standard of reference. Agreement on screw placement between both imaging systems was assessed using Cohen’s Kappa coefficient (κ). Sensitivity, specificity, receiver operating characteristic (ROC), area under the empirical and fitted ROC curves (AUC) were computed to assess CBCT as a diagnostic tool compared to CT. The patient effective radiation dose (ED) was calculated for comparison. A systematic literature review was performed to provide perspective to the obtained results.

Results: Almost perfect agreement in assessing pedicle screw grading between CBCT and CT was observed (κ=0.84). The sensitivity and specificity of CBCT were 0.84 and 0.98, respectively. The AUC derived from the empirical and fitted ROC curves were 0.95 and 0.96, respectively.

Conclusion: Intraoperative CBCT by C-arm in a hybrid OR is highly reliable in identification of screw placement at significant dose reduction.

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