TREATMENT OF IRRECOVERABLE RADIAL NERVE PALSY USING THE MODIFIED MERLE D'AUBIGNÉ TENDON TRANSFER METHOD.

Background: Irrecoverable radial nerve palsy (RNP) leads to the inability to extend the wrist and fingers and significant reduction in grip strength. The aim was to assess the outcomes of treating non-recovering motor RNP using the modified Merle d'Aubigné tendon transfer method. Materials and Methods: A descriptive prospective study involved 33 patients between January 2017 and March 2019. Results: Males constituted the majority (32/33 cases, 97%). The ratio of radial nerve and posterior interosseous nerve injuries was nearly equivalent (16/17). The mean extension range of the wrist was 48.6° ± 14.9° during finger extension and 30.9° ± 14.4° during finger flexion. The mean flexion range of the wrist was 34.8° ± 15.8° during finger extension and 42.6° ± 14.8° during finger flexion. 93.9% of patients achieved full finger extension when the wrist joint was extended beyond 10°. The mean angulation range of the index finger was 55.3° ± 7.4°. The Kapanji score achieved was 8.4 ± 1.2. The achieved grip strength was 65.4% compared to the unaffected side. The surgery did not induce radial deviation deformities of the wrist joint. 32/33 patients were satisfied with the surgical outcomes. 31/33 patients returned to their previous professions. 93.9% of patients achieved very good and good results, while 6.1% achieved fair results. Conclusion: Treating irrecoverable radial nerve palsy using the modified Merle d'Aubigné tendon transfer method yields very good results. The utilization of the pronator teres for wrist extensor transfer and the flexor carpi radialis for finger extensor transfer is appropriate and contributes to limiting wrist joint radial deviation deformities. This modified technique has been researched and recommended by various authors worldwide.

Comparative proteomic analysis of chromosome segment substitution lines of Thai jasmine rice KDML105 under short-term salinity stress.

MAIN CONCLUSIONS: Heat shock proteins, ROS detoxifying enzymes, and ion homeostasis proteins, together with proteins in carbohydrate metabolism, cell structure, brassinosteroids, and carotenoid biosynthesis pathway were up-regulated in CSSLs under salinity stress. Rice is one of the most consumed staple foods worldwide. Salinity stress is a serious global problem affecting rice productivity. Many attempts have been made to select or produce salinity-tolerant rice varieties. Genetics and biochemical approaches were used to study the salinity-responsive pathway in rice to develop salinity tolerant strains. This study investigated the proteomic profiles of chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) developed from KDML105 (Khao Dawk Mali 105, a Thai jasmine rice cultivar) under salinity stress. The CSSLs showed a clear resistant phenotype in response to 150 mM NaCl treatment compared to the salinity-sensitive line, IR29. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using the Ultimate 3000 Nano/Capillary LC System coupled to a Hybrid Quadrupole Q-Tof Impact II™ equipped with a nano-captive spray ion source was applied for proteomic analysis. Based on our criteria, 178 proteins were identified as differentially expressed proteins under salinity stress. Protein functions in DNA replication and transcription, and stress and defense accounted for the highest proportions in response to salinity stress, followed by protein transport and trafficking, carbohydrate metabolic process, signal transduction, and cell structure. The protein interaction network among the 75 up-regulated proteins showed connections between proteins involved in cell wall synthesis, transcription, translation, and in defense responses.

Prevalence and Correlates of Zinc Deficiency Among Vietnamese Women of Reproductive Age in Ho Chi Minh City: A Single Hospital-Based Survey.

Background and Objectives: Zinc is a micronutrient that plays an important role in metabolism, cell growth regulation, and differentiation. Vietnam has many population groups living in poverty. The daily food of Vietnamese people is mainly rice, which contains very little zinc. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of, and factors related to, zinc deficiency in women of reproductive age. Methods and Study Design: The sample population was non-pregnant women of reproductive age (18-49 years old) who visited Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital Gynecological Outpatient Clinic. The subjects were interviewed and data on background characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and blood tests (serum zinc concentration, complete blood count, albumin, and ferritin) were collected. Results: The prevalence of zinc deficiency, as defined by the International Zinc Nutrition Consultative Group (IZiNCG), was 85% [61/72; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 74-91%], and the prevalence of severe zinc deficiency was 37% (27/72; 95% CI = 26-50%). There were significant associations of albumin concentration, marital status, and past pregnancy history with severe zinc deficiency. Conclusions: More than three-fourths of Vietnamese women of reproductive age had zinc deficiency at our study site in Ho Chi Minh City. This health issue requires greater attention in order to swiftly promote preventive actions, and further surveillance to confirm our study findings.

Adsorption of Silver Nanoparticles onto Different Surface Structures of Chitin/Chitosan and Correlations with Antimicrobial Activities.

Size-controlled spherical silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) can be simply prepared by autoclaving mixtures of glass powder containing silver with glucose. Moreover, chitins with varying degrees of deacetylation (DDAc < 30%) and chitosan powders and sheets (DDAc > 75%) with varying surface structure properties have been evaluated as Ag NP carriers. Chitin/chitosan-Ag NP composites in powder or sheet form were prepared by mixing Ag NP suspensions with each of the chitin/chitosan-based material at pH 7.3, leading to homogenous dispersion and stable adsorption of Ag NPs onto chitin carriers with nanoscale fiber-like surface structures, and chitosan carriers with nanoscale porous surface structures. Although these chitins exhibited mild antiviral, bactericidal, and antifungal activities, chitin powders with flat/smooth film-like surface structures had limited antimicrobial activities and Ag NP adsorption. The antimicrobial activities of chitin/chitosan-Ag NP composites increased with increasing amounts of adsorbed Ag NPs, suggesting that the surface structures of chitin/chitosan carriers strongly influence adsorption of Ag NPs and antimicrobial activities. These observations indicate that chitin/chitosan-Ag NPs with nanoscale surface structures have potential as antimicrobial biomaterials and anti-infectious wound dressings.

Development of antimicrobial biomaterials produced from chitin-nanofiber sheet/silver nanoparticle composites.

BACKGROUND: Chitin nanofibers sheets (CNFSs) with nanoscale fiber-like surface structures are nontoxic and biodegradable biomaterials with large surface-to-mass ratio. CNFSs are widely applied as biomedical materials such as a functional wound dressing. This study aimed to develop antimicrobial biomaterials made up of CNFS-immobilized silver nanoparticles (CNFS/Ag NPs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: CNFSs were immersed in suspensions of Ag NPs (5.17 ± 1.9 nm in diameter; mean ± SD) for 30 min at room temperature to produce CNFS/Ag NPs. CNFS/Ag NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and then tested for antimicrobial activities against Escherichia (E.) coli, Pseudomonas (P.) aeruginosa, and H1N1 influenza A virus, three pathogens that represent the most widespread infectious bacteria and viruses. Ultrathin sectioning of bacterial cells also was carried out to observe the bactericidal mechanism of Ag NPs. RESULTS: The TEM images indicated that the Ag NPs are dispersed and tightly adsorbed onto CNFSs. Although CNFSs alone have only weak antimicrobial activity, CNFS/Ag NPs showed much stronger antimicrobial properties against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and influenza A virus, with the amount of immobilized Ag NPs onto CNFSs. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that CNFS/Ag NPs interacting with those microbes exhibit stronger antimicrobial activities, and that it is possible to apply CNFS/Ag NPs as anti-virus sheets as well as anti-infectious wound dressings.

Rapid screening for influenza using a multivariable logistic regression model to save labor at a clinic in Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan.

To lighten the workload of health care professionals, we conducted a clinical test of a newly developed automated infection screening system using a multivariable logistic regression model. The system was tested with 44 influenza patients and 45 healthy control subjects based on 3 vital signs: facial temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate. The system showed a high accuracy for distinguishing influenza patients from control subjects within 15 seconds.

Prevalence and correlates of zinc deficiency in pregnant Vietnamese women in Ho Chi Minh City.

BACKGROUND: Although Vietnam is a region with a plant-based diet that has a high zinc deficiency, epidemiological data showing how this affects pregnant women are limited. This study explores the prevalence of zinc deficiency and possible correlates in pregnant Vietnamese women in Ho Chi Minh City. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at a general hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. All pregnant women who came to their first antenatal care visit from November 2011 to June 2012 were recruited. Those taking a vitamin and/or mineral supplement were excluded. Serum zinc concentrations, determined by a standard colorimetric method, of 10.7 µmol/L-17.5 µmol/L (70.0 g/dL-114 g/dL) were classified as normal and under 10.7 µmol/L (70.0 g/dL) as zinc deficient. RESULTS: In total, 254 pregnant women were invited and 107 (42%) participated. The mean age of participants was 29 years, and mean gestational age was 10 weeks. Median zinc concentration in serum was 13.6 µmol/L, and the prevalence of zinc deficiency was 29% (95% CI=21%-39%). The daily intake of a milk product supplement was the only significant correlate of zinc deficiency of the items investigated (adjusted OR=0.40, 95% CI=0.16-0.99, p=0.049). DISCUSSION: This is the first study reporting that more than 25% of pregnant Vietnamese women in Ho Chi Minh City are zinc deficient. Further academic and clinical input is needed to confirm the scale of this neglected issue and to investigate the potential of milk product supplementation in this population.

Preparation of size-controlled silver nanoparticles and chitosan-based composites and their anti-microbial activities.

We previously reported a simple method for the preparation of size-controlled spherical silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) generated by autoclaving a mixture of silver-containing glass powder and glucose. The particle size is regulated by the glucose concentration, with concentrations of 0.25, 1.0 and 4.0 wt% glucose providing small (3.48 ± 1.83 nm in diameter), medium (6.53 ± 1.78 nm) and large (12.9 ± 2.5 nm) particles, respectively. In this study, Ag NP/chitosan composites were synthesized by mixing each of these three Ag NP suspensions with a 75% deacetylated (DAc) chitosan suspension (pH 5.0) at room temperature. The Ag NPs were homogeneously dispersed and stably embedded in the chitosan matrices. The Ag NP/chitosan composites were obtained as yellow or brown flocs. It was estimated that approximately 60, 120 and 360 µg of the small, medium and large Ag NPs, respectively, were maximally embedded in 1 mg of chitosan. The bactericidal and anti-fungal activities of the Ag NP/chitosan composites increased as the amount of Ag NPs in the chitosan matrix increased. Furthermore, smaller Ag NPs (per weight) in the chitosan composites provided higher bactericidal and anti-fungal activities.

Antiviral activity of silver nanoparticle/chitosan composites against H1N1 influenza A virus.

Silver nanoparticle (Ag NP)/chitosan (Ch) composites with antiviral activity against H1N1 influenza A virus were prepared. The Ag NP/Ch composites were obtained as yellow or brown floc-like powders following reaction at room temperature in aqueous medium. Ag NPs (3.5, 6.5, and 12.9 nm average diameters) were embedded into the chitosan matrix without aggregation or size alternation. The antiviral activity of the Ag NP/Ch composites was evaluated by comparing the TCID50 ratio of viral suspensions treated with the composites to untreated suspensions. For all sizes of Ag NPs tested, antiviral activity against H1N1 influenza A virus increased as the concentration of Ag NPs increased; chitosan alone exhibited no antiviral activity. Size dependence of the Ag NPs on antiviral activity was also observed: antiviral activity was generally stronger with smaller Ag NPs in the composites. These results indicate that Ag NP/Ch composites interacting with viruses exhibit antiviral activity.

Morphing soft magnetic composites.

Magnet filler-polymer matrix composites (Magpol) are an emerging class of morphing materials. Applications of Magpol can include artificial muscles, drug delivery, adaptive optics and self healing structures. Advantages of Magpol include remote contactless actuation, several actuation modes, high actuation strain and strain rate, self-sensing and quick response. The actuation modes of Magpol, its dynamic properties, work output and transduction characteristics are described. Analogies between Magpol actuation and phase transformations are presented. As an illustration of Magpol actuation, a proof of concept artificial muscle is presented. Current applications and future prospects are described.