M.V. Bayas^1,1, K.Schulten^2,2, D. Leckb,^3,3

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.1, No.2, pp. 101-112, 2004, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2004.001.101

Abstract The force-induced dissociation of the strand dimer interface in C-cadherin has been studied using steered molecular dynamics simulations. The dissociation occurred, without domain unraveling, after the extraction of the conserved trypthophans (Trp2) from their respective hydrophobic pockets. The simulations revealed two stable positions for the Trp2 side chain inside the pocket. The most internal stable position involved a hydrogen bond between the ring Ne of Trp2 and the backbone carbonyl of Glu90. In the second stable position, the aromatic ring is located at the pocket entrance. After extracting the two tryptophans from their pockets, the More >

W.M.G.. So¹, K.J. Lau¹, S.W. Ng¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.5, No.3, pp. 189-200, 2004, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2004.005.189

Abstract A new finite element analysis procedure is implemented for the determination of complex stress intensity factors in interfacial cracks. Only nodal displacements and strain energies of the near-crack-tip elements are involved in this procedure so that element stiffness matrices need not be made available. The method is first tested using a closed form solution for infinite media to obtain a suitable finite element mesh. It is then applied to finite plates and four-point bending specimens containing interfacial cracks. In cases where reference values are available for comparison, good agreement of results can be obtained with More >

D. P. Ghosh¹, S. Gopalakrishnan²

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.1, No.3, pp. 213-228, 2004, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2004.001.213

Abstract Anhysteretic, coupled, linear and nonlinear constitutive relationship for magnetostrictive material is studied in this paper. Constitutive relationships of magnetostrictive material are represented through two equations, one for actuation and other for sensing, both of which are coupled through magneto-mechanical coefficient. Coupled model is studied without assuming any explicit direct relationship with magnetic field. In linear-coupled model, which is assumed to preserve the magnetic flux line continuity, the elastic modulus, the permeability and magneto-elastic constant are assumed as constant. In nonlinear-coupled model, the nonlinearity is decoupled and solved separately for the magnetic domain and mechanical domain More >

Carita Eklund¹, Farhana Jahan¹, Tanja Pessi¹, Terho Lehtimäki², Mikko Hurme^1,3

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 168-171, 2003

Abstract C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive marker of inflammation induced by both IL-6 and IL-1. Thus, genetic variation in these genes could be associated with the variety in C-reactive protein levels, and therefore with the severity of the entire inflammatory response. Even a subtle elevation in baseline CRP levels in healthy individuals has been found to significantly increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, to find out the possible role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in CRP baseline regulation we conducted a study of 338 healthy blood donors whose CRP levels were determined and whose single nucleotide More >

Dariusz P. Olszyna^1,2, Annelies Verbon², John P. Pribble³, Terence Turner³, Tim Axtelle³, Sander J. H. van Deventer¹, Tom van der Poll^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 158-162, 2003

Abstract To determine the role of CD14 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced release of chemokines, 16 humans were injected with LPS (4 ng/kg) preceded (– 2 h) by intravenous IC14, an anti-human CD14 monoclonal antibody, or placebo. LPS elicited increases in interleukin (IL)-8 concentrations in plasma and in lysates of red blood cell (RBC), polymorphonuclear cell and mononuclear cell fractions, which were all reduced by IC14. LPS also induced rises in the plasma and RBC levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, which were diminished by IC14. Macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1a and MIP-1β, chemokines that in contrast to IL-8 More >

Saadou Issifou¹, Elie Mavoungou^1,2, Steffen Borrmann^1,2, Marielle K. Bouyou-Akotet¹, Pierre-Blaise Matsiegui^1,2, Peter G. Kremsner^1,2, Francine Ntoumi^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.4, pp. 238-241, 2003

Abstract To investigate if severe malarial anemia is associated with specific cytokine overproduction, we evaluated serum levels of soluble Fas ligand (sFasL), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) from three groups of young children with Plasmodium falciparum infection (asymptomatic cases, uncomplicated malaria cases and severe malarial anemia cases), in a hyperendemic area of Gabon. In uncomplicated cases, only TNF levels were significantly (p < 0.001) increased in comparison to asymptomatic cases with P. falciparum infection. High levels of sFasL, TNF-α and IL-10 were associated with low hemoglobin concentrations, sFasL levels were significantly higher in children with severe More >

Eric Mayer, Daniel J. Caruso, Murali Ankem, Mark C. Fisher, Kenneth B. Cummings, Joseph G. Barone

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.10, No.5, pp. 2013-2016, 2003

Abstract Objective: Circumcision is one of the commonly performed procedures on males in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The association of minor anatomic variations of the newborn genitalia in patients with minor circumcision complications has not been previously examined. In this study, we looked for an association between subtle genital anatomic variations and newborn circumcision complications.
Materials and methods: Over an 18-month period, children presenting for circumcision revision were examined for minor variations in genital anatomy. Children referred for other urological problems during the same period comprised the control group. The same physician evaluated… More >

Leo C.T. Fung¹, Marc W. Mittelman², Paul S. Thorner³, Antoine E. Khoury⁴

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.10, No.5, pp. 2007-2012, 2003

Abstract Objectives: It was the objective of this study to establish an animal model which simulates the conditions of a biomaterial associated bacterial urinary tract infection.
Methods: The curled portion of polyurethane double pig-tail ureteric stents, pre-coated with P. aeruginosa, were inserted transurethrally into the bladder in eight rabbits. Eight control animals received sterile stent material. Microbiology studies of the stent, bladder tissue, and urine, as well as bladder histopathology were evaluated.
Results: P. aeruginosa was recovered from all stent, bladder, and urine specimens in the P. aeruginosa pre-coated stent group, and no P. aeruginosa was present in any More >

Todd M. Webster, Ronald G. Gerridzen

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.10, No.6, pp. 2068-2069, 2003

Abstract Urethral erosion following pubovaginal sling is a rare occurrence. When synthetic sling materials are used urethral erosion often necessitates removal of the sling and urethral reconstruction. The literature is sparse with respect to the best approach to fascial sling erosion. We report a case of a 73 year-old woman who underwent a pubovaginal sling using autologous rectus fascia for treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). She developed urethral erosion following 2 weeks of clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). Visual internal urethrotomy (VIU) was performed to incise the sling and the prolene sutures were removed to eliminate More >

Sanoj P. Punnen, Joseph L. Chin, Michael A. S. Jewett

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.10, No.2, pp. 1790-1795, 2003

Abstract Introduction and objective: BCG is the most efficacious intravesical treatment for superficial bladder cancer. However, 30%-40% of tumors are refractory. BCG failure is an indication for cystectomy but several salvage intravesical (IVe) strategies have been proposed. Early results with reduced dose BCG in combination with IFN-α in patients are currently the most promising. We have adopted this approach and now report our preliminary results. This is the first report of this salvage therapy from Canada, the birthplace of IVe BCG therapy for superficial bladder cancer.
Methods: The “O’Donnell protocol” of reduced dose IVe BCG plus IFN-α was… More >