Increased Strength (increased + strength)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Increased strength of erythrocyte aggregates in blood of patients with inflammatory bowel disease

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 5 2009
Nitsan Maharshak MD
Abstract Background: Increased strength of red blood cell (RBC) aggregates are present during the acute inflammatory response and contribute to erythrocyte aggregation and may lead to microvascular dysfunction. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are characterized by damage to the bowel wall. This damage may be at least partially attributed to microvascular ischemia caused by enhanced erythrocyte aggregation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the strength of RBC aggregates in the blood of patients with IBD. Methods: The strengths of RBC aggregates were characterized by integrative RBC aggregation parameters, determined by measuring of RBC aggregation as a function of shear stress. The results are represented as the area under the curve (AUC) of aggregate size plotted against shear stress. For each patient, dynamic aggregation and disaggregation of RBC were recorded and analyzed according to the RBC aggregate size distribution at the different shear stresses. Aggregation indices were correlated with disease activity and inflammatory biomarkers. Results: We examined 53 IBD patients and 63 controls. IBD patients had significantly elevated concentrations of inflammation-sensitive proteins and aggregation parameters. The strength of large aggregates, represented by AUC for large fraction aggregates, among patients (15.2 ± 18.6) was double that of controls (7 ± 10.9) (P = 0.006). The strength of large aggregates correlated with disease activity (r = 0.340; P < 0.001) with concentration of fibrinogen (r = 0.575; P < 0.001) and with concentration of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (r = 0.386; P < 0.001). Conclusions: The strength of RBC aggregates is increased in patients with IBD and correlates with the intensity of the acute phase response. This could contribute to bowel damage in these diseases. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2009) [source]


Supraspinatus tendon repair into a bony trough in the rabbit: Mechanical restoration and correlative imaging

JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 6 2010
Guy Trudel
Abstract Recurrence of tears is a common complication after rotator cuff surgery. Retearing seems to occur early after surgery and may be attributed to too early or too vigorous exercises. We found no experimental data correlating the strength of the rotator cuff early after surgery and imaging. Our objectives were to measure the peak load to failure of rabbit supraspinatus tendon,bone constructs at early times postoperatively, to determine their mode of failure, and to determine whether computed tomography (CT) can predict their strength. We divided one supraspinatus tendon of 40 adult female white New Zealand rabbits and, after resection of the enthesis, sutured the tendon into a bony trough. Ten rabbits were killed immediately and 10 each at 1, 2, and 6 weeks postoperatively. The explanted tendons of both shoulders were imaged on CT and tested to failure. Compared to normal tendons (mean 210,±,42 N), the mean strength was very low at 0 weeks (57,±,21 N) and 1 week (86,±,33 N) (both p,<,0.05); it had recovered by 6 weeks (324,±,66 N). Early on, suture pullout was the most common mode of failure, whereas at 6 weeks, mid-substance tears predominated (p,<,0.05). Hypoattenuation on CT was associated with increased strength of the tendon,bone construct (p,<,0.05). The strength of the surgical construct is very low in the early postoperative period. Therefore, the shoulder should be submitted only to loads not interfering with healing. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 28:710,715, 2010 [source]


The effects of RANKL inhibition on fracture healing and bone strength in a mouse model of osteogenesis imperfecta

JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 2 2008
Demetris Delos
Abstract Currently, the standard treatment for osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is bisphosphonate therapy. Recent studies, however, have shown delayed healing of osteotomies in a subset of OI patients treated with such agents. The current study sought to determine the effects of another therapy, RANKL inhibition, on bone healing and bone strength in the growing oim/oim mouse, a model of moderate to severe OI. Mice [73 oim/oim and 69 wild-type (WT)] were injected twice weekly with either soluble murine RANK (RANK-Fc) (1.5 mg/kg) or saline beginning at 6 weeks of age. At 8 weeks of age, the animals underwent transverse mid-diaphyseal osteotomies of the right femur. Therapy was continued until sacrifice at 2, 3, 4, or 6 weeks postfracture. At 6 weeks post-fracture, greater callus area (6.59,±,3.78 mm2 vs. 2.67,±,2.05 mm2, p,=,0.003) and increased radiographic intensity (mineral density) (0.48,±,0.14 vs. 0.30,±,0.80, p,=,0.005) were found in the RANK-Fc versus saline oim/oim group, indicating a delay in callus remodeling. Despite this delay, mechanical tests at 6 weeks postfracture revealed no significant differences in whole bone properties of stiffness and failure moment. Further, RANKL inhibition resulted in a greater failure moment and greater work to failure for the nonfractured contralateral WT bones compared to the nonfractured saline WT bones. Together, these results demonstrate that RANKL inhibition does not adversely affect the mechanical properties of healing bone in the oim/oim mice, and is associated with increased strength in intact bone in the WT mice. © 2007 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 26:153,164, 2008 [source]


N -Isopropyl enols of carboxylic acid amides,

JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 8 2003
Yi Xiong Lei
Abstract Eight N -isopropyl compounds of the formal structure YY,CHCONHPr- i (6), Y,Y,,=,CO2Me, CO2CH2CF3, CN; YY,,=,Meldrum,s acid residue; Y,=,CO2Me, Y,,=,CO2CH2CF3, CN; Y,=,CO2CH2CF3, CO2CH(CF3)2, Y,,=,CN, and the N - t -butyl derivative of Meldrum's acid were prepared and their structures were investigated in the solid state and in solution. The x-ray diffraction data indicate that in the solid state the structure is that of the amide 6, when Y,=,Y,,=,CO2Me, whereas when Y,=,CO2Me, Y,,=,CN or YY,,=,Meldrum,s acid residue the structure is that of the enol (5) YY,C=C(OH)NHPr- i. The solid-state 13C spectra indicate structure 6 when Y,=,CO2Me, Y,,=,CO2R, R,=,Me, CH2CF3 and an enol structure for the other compounds studied. 1H, 13C and when available 19F NMR spectra showed that the enol/amide composition in solution is structure and solvent dependent, in analogy with the previously investigated N -Ph analogs. The percentage of enol (and KEnol) decrease in the order of solvents CCl4,>,CDCl3,>,THF- d8,>,CD3CN,>,DMSO- d6, DMF- d7. For Y,Y, the percentage of enol increases when the number of fluorine atoms in R of the CO2R increases, when CN replaces a CO2R group or for the cyclic Meldrum's acid derivative. Both E - and Z -enols were observed when Y,,,Y,, mostly at low temperature. The ,(OH) values increase with increased polarity of the medium and with increased strength of the hydrogen bonds in which they are involved. In THF- d8 and DMF- d7 the Z -enol/E -enol and the amide/enol ratios increase with increase in temperature. A main conclusion from the work is that the percentage of the enol increases, but not drastically, when the N -substituent is changed from Ph to i -Pr. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Untersuchungen zum Werkstoffverhalten des Feinkornbaustahls S 460 unter erhöhten Temperaturen

BAUTECHNIK, Issue 10 2007
Jörg Lange Prof. Dr.-Ing.
Die Bestimmung der Tragfähigkeit von Bauteilen aus S 460 im Brandfall auf der Grundlage vereinfachter oder allgemeiner Berechnungsverfahren entsprechend EN 1993-1-2 [1] erfordert die Kenntnis der mechanischen Eigenschaften des hochfesten Feinkornbaustahls unter erhöhten Temperaturen. Hierzu wurden Untersuchungen an Probestäben aus einem normalisierend gewalzten S 460 N und einem thermomechanisch gewalzten S 460 M durchgeführt. Beide Stahlsorten unterscheiden sich sowohl in ihrer chemischen Zusammensetzung als auch in der Temperaturführung beim Walzen. Auf der Grundlage instationärer Warmkriechversuche wurden Werkstoffgesetze für den Temperaturbereich von 20 bis 900 °C hergeleitet. Die Untersuchungen zeigen eine im Vergleich zu S 460 N erhöhte Festigkeit des S 460 M bei hohen Temperaturen. Diese ist zurückzuführen auf die durch das thermomechanische Walzen verursachte Verfestigung und die Verringerung der Kriechgeschwindigkeit durch Niob- und Titanausscheidungen. Beim Vergleich der Ergebnisse mit den in EN 1993-1-2 [1] für S 460 angegebenen Werkstoffgesetzen erkennt man, dass diese sowohl die Festigkeit als auch die Steifigkeit des untersuchten S 460 N überschätzen. Examination of the mechanical properties of the microalloyed grain refined steel S 460 at elevated temperatures. To establish a basis for calculating the load-bearing capacity of steel members made of S 460 in fire, corresponding to EN 1993-1-2 [1], the mechanical properties of the microalloyed grain refined steel S 460 under high temperatures have been examined. Two different kinds of steel have been considered: a normalised rolled S 460 N and a thermomechanically rolled S 460 M, that differ in their chemical composition and the temperature control during the hot-rolling process. On the basis of transient state tensile tests, material laws have been derived for the temperature range from 20 to 900 °C. The test results show an increased strength of S 460 M at elevated temperatures in comparison to S 460 N. This is a result of the strain hardening caused by the thermomechanical deformation and the precipitates formed by niobium and titanium that constrain creep deformations. The data derived from the tests show that the stress-strain relationships given in EN 1993-1-2 [1] for S 460 overestimate both the strength and the stiffness of the examined S 460 N. [source]


Crystal Structure Analysis and in Silico pKa Calculations Suggest Strong pKa Shifts of Ligands as Driving Force for High-Affinity Binding to TGT

CHEMBIOCHEM, Issue 4 2009
Tina Ritschel
Abstract Expandedlin -benzoguanines exhibit binding affinities to tRNA-guanine transglycosylase (TGT) in the low-nanomolar range. A significant pKa shift is observed for the inhibitors moving from aqueous solution to protein environment. The protonation of the inhibitor facilitates a charge-assisted hydrogen bond in the protein,ligand complex. A novel ligand series is presented to inhibit tRNA-guanine transglycosylase (TGT), a protein with a significant role in the pathogenicity mechanism of Shigella flexneri, the causative agent of Shigellosis. The enzyme exchanges guanine in the wobble position of tRNAAsn,Asp,His,Tyr against a modified base. To prevent the base-exchange reaction, several series of inhibitors have already been designed, synthesized, and tested. One aim of previous studies was to address a hydrophobic pocket with different side chains attached to the parent skeletons. Disappointingly, no significant increase in binding affinity could be observed that could be explained by the disruption of a conserved water cluster. The ligand series examined in this study are based on the known scaffold lin -benzoguanine. Different side chains were introduced leading to 2-amino- lin -benzoguanines, which address a different pocket of the protein and avoid disruption of the water cluster. With the introduction of an amino group in the 2-position, a dramatic increase in binding affinity can be experienced. To explain this significant gain in binding affinity, Poisson,Boltzmann calculations were performed to explore pKa changes of ligand functional groups upon protein binding, they can differ significantly on going from aqueous solution to protein environment. For all complexes, a permanent protonation of the newly designed ligands is suggested, leading to a charge-assisted hydrogen bond in the protein,ligand complex. This increased strength in hydrogen bonding takes beneficial effect on binding affinity of the ligands, resulting in low-nanomolar binders. Crystal structures and docking emphasize the importance of the newly created charge-assisted hydrogen bond. A detailed analysis of the crystal structures in complex with substituted 2-amino- lin -benzoguanines indicate pronounced disorder of the attached side chains addressing the ribose 33 binding pocket. Docking suggests multiple orientations of these side chains. Obviously, an entropic advantage of the residual mobility experienced by these ligands in the bound state is beneficial and reveals an overall improved protein binding. [source]