3-D anatomically based dynamic modeling of the human knee to include tibio-femoral and patello-femoral joints.

An anatomical dynamic model consisting of three body segments, femur, tibia and patella, has been developed in order to determine the three-dimensional dynamic response of the human knee. Deformable contact was allowed at all articular surfaces, which were mathematically represented using Coons' bicubic surface patches. Nonlinear elastic springs were used to model all ligamentous structures. Two joint coordinate systems were employed to describe the six-degrees-of-freedom tibio-femoral (TF) and patello-femoral (PF) joint motions using twelve kinematic parameters. Two versions of the model were developed to account for wrapping and nonwrapping of the quadriceps tendon around the femur. Model equations consist of twelve nonlinear second-order ordinary differential equations coupled with nonlinear algebraic constraint equations resulting in a Differential-Algebraic Equations (DAE) system that was solved using the Differential/Algebraic System Solver (DASSL) developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Model calculations were performed to simulate the knee extension exercise by applying non-linear forcing functions to the quadriceps tendon. Under the conditions tested, both "screw home mechanism" and patellar flexion lagging were predicted. Throughout the entire range of motion, the medial component of the TF contact force was found to be larger than the lateral one while the lateral component of the PF contact force was found to be larger than the medial one. The anterior and posterior fibers of both anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, ACL and PCL, respectively, had opposite force patterns: the posterior fibers were most taut at full extension while the anterior fibers were most taut near 90 degrees of flexion. The ACL was found to carry a larger total force than the PCL at full extension, while the PCL carried a larger total force than the ACL in the range of 75 degrees to 90 degrees of flexion.

Spin-spin relaxation times in myocardial hypertrophy induced by endocrine agents in rat.

Magnetic resonance techniques afford a significant advantage for noninvasive diagnosis of cardiovascular pathology. The purpose of our present study was to assay the proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) sensitivity in the differential diagnosis of certain endocrine cardiovascular complications. In this context, we investigated the water state and content in the hypertrophied myocardium. Male and female Wistar rats were treated with different hormones (hydrocortisone acetate, testosterone, estradiol, thyroid hormones) in combination with isoproterenol (a synthetic catecholamine that induces myocardial ischemia and hypertrophy). The animals were sacrificed after 20 days of treatment and samples of integral myocardium and left ventricular myocardium were analyzed on a 1H-NMR AREMI spectrometer (0.6 T; proton resonance at 25 MHz). The estimation of T2 was made by Carr Purcell-Meiboom-Gill pulse sequence. The data were fitted to a bi-exponential curve, yielding short (T21) values for bound water and long (T22) values for free water. In order to evaluate the myocardial hypertrophy, the following ratios were calculated: integral myocardium to body weight; left ventricle to body weight; left ventricle to integral myocardium. The first two ratios were also calculated for dried tissue, in order to estimate its contribution to myocardial hypertrophy. Our findings demonstrate that myocardial hypertrophy is associated with a decrease of T22, as a consequence of the increase in the dried component (i.e. proteins) of the tissue, while the total tissue water (H2Ot%), measured by gravimetry) was not significantly modified. Nevertheless, it is reasonable that the increase in the protein content would be proportional with the increase in H2Ot%. The decrease of T21 seems to be proportional with the level of left ventricle hypertrophy in female groups. The 1H-NMR measurements were much sensitive for the differential diagnosis of myocardial hypertrophy in the case of left ventricle.

Polymerase chain reaction-based detection of bacteria in semen.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the presently used bacterial detection techniques provide accurate and complete profiles of microorganisms found in human semen. DESIGN: Routine bacterial cultures and molecular biology techniques using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with a universal eubacterial primer, cloning, then sequence analysis were used to detect bacteria (culturable or nonculturable) in the semen. SETTING: University and hospital-based research laboratory. PATIENTS: Thirty infertile men and nine semen donors, all with no symptoms of a urinary tract infection, donated semen for the study. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Detection of bacteria using routine cultures and molecular biology techniques. RESULTS: Using PCR, we found > 10(4) bacteria/mL in the semen of 66% of the infertile asymptomatic men and 66% of the semen donors. This contrasts with our routine culture results which detected "significant" bacteriospermia in only 27% of the infertile men and in none of the preselected semen donors. From four of these semen specimens, DNA sequence analysis identified an average of nine different bacterial species per specimen, with close to 90% of the species being anaerobes. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that the present microbiologic detection methods underestimate the incidence of significant bacteriospermia, particularly anaerobic bacteria. The molecular biologic methods should help researchers confirm or refute the role of infection in male infertility.

Influence of isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy on oxydative myocardial stress.

The purpose of this research has been to assess the role of lipidic peroxides, the involvement of the superoxide radical and of sulfhydrylic groups in isoproterenol-induced myocardium hypertrophy in rats. The results of our investigations point to increased values by 25% of plasma lipidic peroxides and in the myocardium and to a decrease of sulfhydrylic groups and of superoxide dismutase in the groups with myocardial hypertrophy, 15% and 10% respectively, compared to the controls. The comparative analysis of the data enabled us to infer the consequences of lipidic peroxides and of free radicals presence in excess and to assess the protector role of fosfobion- an energising compound-against the structural lesions of the myocyte.

Cock seminal plasma acid phosphatase: active site directed inactivation, crystallization and in vitro denaturation-renaturation studies.

1. Seminal plasma acid phosphatase from the mini Rock cocks was purified on a Sepharose 6B column and was not homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate. Its stability in time was also determined. 2. In the same time, the enzyme was crystallized in both ethanol and ammonium sulfate and this is also an evidence that this acid phosphatase was obtained in an advanced grade of purification but is present in a complex with some quantities of other proteins. 3. It was inactivated by iodoacetate to a degree consistent with the modification of an active site residue. DTNB and thiosulfate also inhibited this enzyme. 4. The enzyme was sensitive to 6 M guanidinum hydrochloride which in the presence and absence of 0.25 M mercaptoethanol produces a deep loss of activity. After dialysis the activity was increased during the first 10 days up to 66.2% of the initial one. 5. In the presence of molar concentration of mercaptoethanol, the enzyme activity is deeply decreased, but it is partially restored after 120 hr when 1 microM CuCl2 is added.

A simple in vivo footprinting method to examine DNA-protein interactions over the yeast PYK UAS element.

In this report a modification to the in vivo footprinting assay is described. The method includes dimethyl sulfate treatment of whole yeast cells, followed by reiterative primer extension of the methylated genomic DNA using Taq DNA polymerase. Under appropriate reaction conditions chain extension terminates opposite a methylated purine when Taq DNA polymerase encounters a modified adenine or guanine. The procedure was used to examine, in vivo DNA-protein contacts over the upstream activation site (UAS) of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae PYK gene. In vivo analysis, using isogenic strains of yeast and Escherichia coli transformed with plasmid DNAs, confirmed the binding of both the trans-acting factor RAP1 and the transcriptional activator GCR1 to cis-acting recognition sites located within the PYK UAS element.

Decrease in yeast glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity due to oxygen free radicals.

1. u.v. radiations and copper acetate, as free radical generating systems, determine a significant diminishing of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in the homogenates of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 2. The inactivation is proportional to the concentration of the formed free radicals, existing a direct dependence on the action time of the free radicals generating systems and on the irradiation dose. The decrease of the enzyme catalytic activity is correlated with the increase of the malondialdehyde concentration. 3. The affinity for the substrate of the enzyme under the action of free radicals does not change significantly compared to the native enzyme: the Km value for NADP is halved, whilst that for glucose-6-phosphate remains unchanged. 4. The electrophoretic study shows evidence of five electrophoretic bands with enzymatic activity in the native extract and the disappearance of one molecular form under the free radical action.

Correlations between the activities of semen acid phosphatase and Ca(2+)-dependent ATPase and age in different breeds of cocks.

1. The present work aims to find a biochemical criterion for evaluating the evolution of sperm according to age through the study of the ATPase activity from the spermatozoa and the acid phosphatase from the seminal plasma of cocks from three different breeds. 2. The optimal parameters of action of the cock semen acid phosphatase and the Ca(2+)-dependent ATPase from the spermatozoa were studied. 3. The substrate specificity of the semen acid phosphatase and its inhibition by tartrate, fluoride, metavanadate, molybdate and Hg2+ were also studied. 4. The two enzymes were determined from the Sussex, Golden Cornish and Plymouth Rock breeds at different ages. 5. The data lead to the conclusion that some properties of bird spermatozoa are less influenced by breed while the acid phosphatase activity, secreted in the ductus deferens is a breed characteristic.

The rare indication for splenectomy as part of cytoreductive surgery in ovarian cancer.

Advanced ovarian carcinoma is being treated with aggressive debulking surgery including complete removal of the tumor whenever possible followed by adjuvant therapy. Secondary debulking including splenectomy in a patient with recurrent ovarian carcinoma is reported. It is suggested that splenectomy may have a place in the management of a few patients with ovarian cancer. The technique and complications of splenectomy are described.

Investigations on the presence of viral and chlamydial antigens in cells exfoliated in the vagina of women with common and malignant gynecopathies.

A high proportion of parainfluenza, herpes, adenovirus and chlamydial antigens (10.7-36%) was detected by indirect immunofluorescence in cells exfoliated in the vagina of women with genital neoplasia and with uterine cervix ectopia and dysplasia. Much lower proportions of the same antigens were found in patients with common gynecopathies or recurrent genital herpes and in pregnant women. The possible relationships between chronic virus infections and genital neoplasia in women are discussed.

[Etiopathogenic and diagnostic aspects of postabortion peritonitis]. / Aspecte etiopatogenice si diagnostice in peritonita post-abortum.

PIP: The causes, diagnosis, and treatment of postabortion peritonitis are discussed with reference to 85 cases, analyzing the causal agents and their sensitivity to various antibiotic treatments, and classifying them by frequency and clinical symptoms. The following germs were found in the patients: Staphylococcus hemolyticus, Esch. coli, Pseudomonas, Proteus, Procyaneus, and Enterococcus, which showed different responses to the various antibiotics used. The importance of a correct diagnosis of the cause of the disease for the proper application of intensive therapy and modern methods of treatment of infections is emphasized. The clinical evolution of a generalized peritonitis, secondary to a septic abortion, is described in detail.^ieng

[Therapeutic results in obstetrical peritonitis; clinical-statistical study conducted during a 10-year period]. / Rezultatele terapiei peritonitelor obstetricale; studiu clinico-statistic pe 10 ani.

PIP: A comparative study of the therapeutic methods used in 96 cases of obstetrical peritonitis is reported. The importance of early diagnosis and intervention is emphasized, and the concept of minimum surgical measures, such as laparotomy and drainage, applied in the course of complex reequilibration measures, treatment of infections and gastroduodenal aspiration, is discussed. Uterine exeresis is used only in cases in which the vitality and functions of the organ are jeopardized. Laparotomy and drainage were performed in 52 cases, and hysterectomy in 13 cases. The principles of drainage and its application to individual cases are described and discussed.^ieng