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Abstract Background Hamstring, being a two-joint muscle, tends to shorten over time, resulting in tightness, affecting performance in daily activities and is also capable of generating exaggerated posterior pelvic tilt, leading to decreased lumbar lordosis. Weak core muscles have been associated with hamstring tightness, and strengthening the core has been attempted in an effort to relax the hamstring tightness. It is believed that the hamstrings overact and over a period of time tightens, when the core is weak, to compensate for postural stability. Method Thirty-three subjects, both male and females with and without hamstring tightness, were assessed for their core endurance through McGill’s core endurance test battery. It was followed by active knee extension test to determine degree of hamstring tightness on both sides. Correlation between the two variables was statistically analyzed. Results Pearson’s correlation was used to analyze the collected data. A moderate positive but significant correlation (p = 0.02) was found between flexor endurance test and active knee extension (both sides). A weak positive but significant correlation (p = 0.05) was found between extensor endurance test and active knee extension (both sides). Correlation between the right and left lateral bridge with their respective side hamstring flexibility was negative and not significant (p = 0.916 (right lateral torso endurance); p = 0.339 (left lateral torso endurance)). Conclusion Since there is a moderate positive but significant correlation between the flexion torso endurance test and both side hamstring flexibility and a weak positive but significant correlation between extension torso endurance test and both side hamstring flexibility, the core (flexor, extensor, and lateral) should be thought of as a whole unit when strengthening in order to maintain and improve hamstring flexibility.

BackgroundPediatric tuberculous meningitis (TBM) commonly causes death or disability. In adults, high-dose rifampicin may reduce mortality. The role of fluoroquinolones remains unclear. There have been no antimicrobial treatment trials for pediatric TBM.MethodsTBM-KIDS was a phase 2 open-label randomized trial among children with TBM in India and Malawi. Participants received isoniazid and pyrazinamide plus: (i) high-dose rifampicin (30 mg/kg) and ethambutol (R30HZE, arm 1); (ii) high-dose rifampicin and levofloxacin (R30HZL, arm 2); or (iii) standard-dose rifampicin and ethambutol (R15HZE, arm 3) for 8 weeks, followed by 10 months of standard treatment. Functional and neurocognitive outcomes were measured longitudinally using Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) and Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL).ResultsOf 2487 children prescreened, 79 were screened and 37 enrolled. Median age was 72 months; 49%, 43%, and 8% had stage I, II, and III disease, respectively. Grade 3 or higher adverse events occurred in 58%, 55%, and 36% of children in arms 1, 2, and 3, with 1 death (arm 1) and 6 early treatment discontinuations (4 in arm 1, 1 each in arms 2 and 3). By week 8, all children recovered to MRS score of 0 or 1. Average MSEL scores were significantly better in arm 1 than arm 3 in fine motor, receptive language, and expressive language domains (P

In the tumor micro-environment, tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) represent a predominant component of the total tumor mass, and TAMs play a complex and diverse role in cancer pathogenesis with potential for either tumor suppressive, or tumor promoting biology. Thus, understanding macrophage localization and function are essential for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Typically, tissue biopsy is used to evaluate the density and polarization of TAMs, but provides a limited "snapshot" in time of a dynamic and potentially heterogeneous tumor immune microenvironment. Imaging has the potential for three-dimensional mapping; however, there is a paucity of macrophage-targeted contrast agents to specifically detect TAM subtypes. We have previously found that sulfated-dextran coated iron oxide nanoparticles (SDIO) can target macrophage scavenger receptor A (SR-A, also known as CD204). Since CD204 (SR-A) is considered a biomarker for the M2 macrophage polarization, these SDIO might provide M2-specific imaging probes for MRI. In this work, we investigate whether SDIO can label M2-polarized cells in vitro. We evaluate the effect of degree of sulfation on uptake by primary cultured bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) and found that a higher degree of sulfation led to higher uptake, but there were no differences across the subtypes. Further analysis of the BMDM showed similar SR-A expression across stimulation conditions, suggesting that this classic model for macrophage subtypes may not be ideal for definitive M2 subtype marker expression, especially SR-A. We further examine the localization of SDIO in TAMs in vivo, in the mammary fat pad mouse model of breast cancer. We demonstrate that uptake by TAMs expressing SR-A scales with degree of sulfation, consistent with the in vitro studies. The TAMs demonstrate M2-like function and secrete Arg-1 but not iNOS. Uptake by these M2-like TAMs is validated by immunohistochemistry. SDIO show promise as a valuable addition to the toolkit of imaging probes targeted to different biomarkers for TAMs.

The metal-binding capabilities of the spiropyran family of molecular switches have been explored for several purposes from sensing to optical circuits. Metal-selective sensing has been of great interest for applications ranging from environmental assays to industrial quality control, but sensitive metal detection for field-based assays has been elusive. In this work, we demonstrate colorimetric copper sensing at low micromolar levels. Dimethylamine-functionalized spiropyran (SP1) was synthesized and its metal-sensing properties were investigated using UV-vis spectrophotometry. The formation of a metal complex between SP1 and Cu2+ was associated with a color change that can be observed by the naked eye as low as ≈6 μM and the limit of detection was found to be 0.11 μM via UV-vis spectrometry. Colorimetric data showed linearity of response in a physiologically relevant range (0-20 μM Cu2+) with high selectivity for Cu2+ ions over biologically and environmentally relevant metals such as Na+, K+, Mn2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Co2+, Mg2+, Ni2+, Fe3+, Cd2+, and Pb2+. Since the color change accompanying SP1-Cu2+ complex formation could be detected at low micromolar concentrations, SP1 could be viable for field testing of trace Cu2+ ions.

PurposeTo demonstrate that constant coefficient of variation (CV), but nonconstant absolute variance in MRI relaxometry (T1 , T2 , R1 , R2 ) data leads to erroneous conclusions based on standard linear models such as ordinary least squares (OLS). We propose a gamma generalized linear model identity link (GGLM-ID) framework that factors the inherent CV into parameter estimates. We first examined the effects on calculations of contrast agent relaxivity before broadening to other applications such as analysis of variance (ANOVA) and liver iron content (LIC).MethodsEight models including OLS and GGLM-ID were initially fit to data obtained on sulfated dextran iron oxide (SDIO) nanoparticles. Both a resampling simulation on the data as well as two separate Monte Carlo simulations (with and without concentration error) were performed to determine mean square error (MSE) and type I error rate. We then evaluated the performance of OLS/GGLM-ID on R1 repeatability and LIC data sets.ResultsOLS had an MSE of 4-5× that of GGLM-ID as well as a type I error rate of 20-30%, whereas GGLM-ID was near the nominal 5% level in the relaxivity study. Only OLS found statistically significant effects of MRI facility on relaxivity in an R1 repeatability study, but no significant differences were found in a resampling, whereas GGLM was more consistent. GGLM-ID was also superior to OLS for modeling LIC.ConclusionsOLS leads to erroneous conclusions when analyzing MRI relaxometry data. GGLM-ID factors in the inherent CV of an MRI experiment, leading to more reproducible conclusions.

A series of spiropyran (SP)-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents have been synthesized and evaluated for changes in relaxivity resulting from irradiation with visible light. Both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents were appended to the SP ring in order to study the electronic effects on the photochromic and relaxivity properties of these photoswitchable MRI contrast agents. Photoswitches lacking an electron-withdrawing substituent isomerize readily between the merocyanine and SP forms, while the addition of a nitro group prevents this process. Complexes capable of isomerizing were demonstrated to effect a change in the relaxivity of the appended gadolinium complex.

Background: Self-reported measures represent patients' perspectives toward their disease, but their performance levels may vary. Performance-based measures mimic the patient's functional activity movement, which helps evaluate specific task components, including how the therapist approached the task. Both measures report the patient's functional level from the patient's or therapist's perspective. The study was done to determine the correlation between self-reported and performance-based measures outcomes in non-traumatic stiff shoulder pathologies. Method: Self-reported outcome measure scores were recorded using the Shoulder Pain And Disability Index (SPADI), Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH), and Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS). Performance-based measures scores of the shoulder were given using function-related tests of the shoulder: 1) Hand to the neck, 2) Hand to scapula 3) Hand to the opposite scapula. Result: Inferential statistics were done using the Pearson correlation test, and the significance level was set at p

Childhood bacterial meningitis and pneumonia represent leading causes of mortality, with the latter persisting as one of the top causes of mortality for children under 5 y of age. The prohibitive costs of developing and producing broader spectrum conjugate vaccines impact availability and affordability, resulting in a barrier to health equity and access to disease preventing vaccines, which restrict global health disease prevention efforts. Inventprise was founded in response to the need for innovation that can help reduce disease burden with improved coverage and more affordable vaccines. Inventprise 25-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine candidate with the patented Hz-PEG-Hz linker technology platform is expected to provide the broadest coverage against pathogenic pneumococcal serotypes encountered by populations regardless of where they live. The innovative automation technology and tightly controlled manufacturing requirements were implemented to mitigate the high capital cost for constructing a manufacturing facility in the United States, in addition to the prohibitive cost for the workforce required for running a complex plant.

Abstract Adiabatic complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) circuits have been proposed as a low‐power option for CMOS systems‐on‐a‐chip (SoCs) but have not gained popularity due to practical difficulties in scaling to millions of gates. The architecture of a pipeline of stages with slow‐transitioning clock phases demands the generation and distribution of clock phases precisely and efficiently. This power must be more than offset by the power saved by using adiabatic circuits. The problems in adiabatic logic circuits are described, and solutions are proposed to address them. Three published topologies are considered, namely positive‐feedback adiabatic logic (PFAL), two‐level adiabatic logic (2‐LAL) and clocked adiabatic logic in 40 nm CMOS technology at 100 MHz. New circuit ideas for complete level restore in PFAL and avoidance of floating nodes in 2‐LAL are presented. The problem with 2‐LAL multi‐input gates is published and solved for the first time here using a modified PFAL. The conclusion is that a 3X power savings in PFAL is about the best that can be achieved in an SoC context—a low return given the required investments in area and complexity. This should motivate the future discovery of more efficient solutions.

Introduction: Physiological, functional, and psychological implications of head-and-neck cancer treatment are significant. Improving outcomes in cancer care must include due diligence to quality of life (QOL) along with disease control. This study assesses QOL of head-and-neck cancer patients before and after treatment and explores predictive factors. Materials and Methods: Prospective observational study of consecutive head-and-neck cancer patients. QOL assessments were made at baseline, and different stages of their treatment and prognostic factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic strata, comorbidities, tumor stage, requirement of reconstruction, adjuvant treatment, were examined. EORTC QOL questionnaire-H and N0 35 were employed, and prognostic factor correlation was studied by logistic regression analysis. Results: Ninety-eight patients at least 12 months post-treatment scored worst for dryness of the mouth (33.4), followed by sticky saliva (23.4). Although results steadily improved over time, this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.235). Stage of the primary tumor, requirement of reconstruction, and adjuvant treatment were statistically significant prognostic factors (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Understanding of QOL parameters would improve treatment planning, counseling of head-and-neck cancer patients and care-givers and enable physical, functional, and social rehabilitation.