Reduction In Cross-sectional Area Research Articles

Perineural Dextrose and Corticosteroid Injections for Ulnar Neuropathy at the Elbow: A Randomized Double-blind Trial

ObjectiveTo assess the effects of perineural corticosteroid and 5% dextrose water (D5W) injections in patients with mild to moderate ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). DesignProspective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial (6-month follow-up). SettingOutpatients of local medical center settings. ParticipantsPatients (N=36) with mild to moderate UNE were randomized, and 33 participants were included in the final data analysis. InterventionsPatients were administered a single perineural injection with 5 mL D5W and 3 mL corticosteroid (triamcinolone acetonide, 10mg/mL) mixed with 2 mL normal saline under ultrasound guidance in the dextrose and steroid groups, respectively. Main Outcome MeasuresThe visual analog scale digital pain or paresthesia/dysesthesia score was the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes were the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire, motor nerve conduction velocity, and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the ulnar nerve. The measurement assessment was conducted before and 1, 3, 4, and 6 months after injection. ResultsThirty-three patients completed the study. Both injections were found to be equally effective at most measurement points, although the dextrose group experienced larger reductions in symptom severity and CSA of the ulnar nerve from the third month onward. ConclusionsWe suggest D5W as a more suitable injectate for perineural injection in patients with UNE.

Steady-state heat flow through hollow clay bricks

Clay bricks are commonly used for building wall. One of the functions of a wall is to create a habitable internal environment, such as enabling internal temperature to be controlled at a human comfort level (~24°C) which is lower than the outside temperature for hot and humid climate countries. Thus, it is important for clay bricks to minimize heat flow into the building to reduce the energy consumption by air-conditioning system. The aim of this paper is to investigate the reduction of heat flow through hollow clay bricks relative to solid bricks. Finite element method was used to simulate steady-state heat transfer through solid and hollow clay bricks. Several arrangements of cavities filled with air, wool and expanded foam were simulated. It was found that the effective thermal conductivity reached almost a constant when the void volume and reduction in cross-sectional area exceeds 10%. Generally, heat transfer through hollow clay brick is expected to be significantly lower than the solid clay brick. It can be concluded that building wall made from hollow clay bricks could reduce the energy consumption by its air conditioning system. Future work is on the transient heat flow analysis and evaluation of mechanical properties of hollow clay bricks.

Early Biomarkers of Muscle Atrophy and of Neuromuscular Alterations During 10‐Day Bed Rest

IntroductionDisuse atrophy may not only arise from a reduction in mechanical loading but also from muscle denervation and neuromuscular junction damage, triggered by inactivity [1, 2]. The identification of biomarkers of muscle atrophy and of neuromuscular degeneration is therefore needed for an early detection of neuromuscular alterations induced by inactivity. The aim of this study was to investigate the onset of muscle atrophy and of neuromuscular alterations during a short‐term inactivity period.MethodsTen healthy males (aged 23±5 years) participated to a 10‐day bed rest (BR) study, after Ethical approval and informed consent. Blood samples were collected every two days for the assessment of NMJ damage from serum levels of c‐terminal agrin fragment (CAF). Muscle fibre denervation was determined from the expression of neural cell adhesive molecule (N‐CAM) in myofibres obtained from vastus lateralis (VL) muscle biopsies at baseline, 5 and 10 days of BR. Myofibre atrophy was assessed from mean fibre cross‐sectional area (CSA). Whole muscle atrophy was assessed from measurements of muscle architecture (pennation angle and muscle CSA) every two days of BR using ultrasonography. Significance of differences was tested with repeated‐measures Anova, level of significance was set at p<0.05.ResultsAtrophy of whole muscle and of myofibers, represented by decreases of 5.8% in muscle CSA (P<0.0001), 7.3% in pennation angle (P<0.0001), and by a 21% reduction in mean fibre CSA (P<0.01) were detected after 10 days of BR. A 19% increase (p<0.01) in CAF levels was found on BR day 10, together with a 18‐fold increase in N‐CAM positive myofibres. The analysis of myofiber CSA and N‐CAM expression at BR 5 day is in progress.ConclusionsThese findings show a very early onset (within 10 days) of whole muscle and fiber atrophy accompanied by NMJ damage and myofiber denervation in response to chronic inactivity. We suggest that countermeasures against neuromuscular maladaptation to chronic inactivity ought to be implemented as early as possible.Support or Funding InformationFunding by ASI, MARS‐PRE Project, n. DC‐VUM‐2017‐006, is acknowledged.

Longitudinal Assessment of Quadriceps Muscle Morphology Before and After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Its Associations With Patient-Reported Outcomes.

Reductions in muscle size are common after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and may contribute to suboptimal patient outcomes. However, few studies have quantified postoperative alterations in muscle quality and evaluated its associations with patient-reported function. Rectus femoris cross-sectional area (CSA) will decrease postoperatively but improve at return to activity (RTA), rectus femoris muscle quality (percentage fat [PF]) will increase postoperatively and be greater at RTA compared with preoperative values, and rectus femoris CSA and PF will be associated with International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) scores at both postoperative time points. Case series. Level 4. A total of 26 individuals who sustained an ACL injury and underwent reconstructive surgery were evaluated preoperatively (T0), 9 weeks post-ACLR (T1), and at RTA. Rectus femoris CSA and PF were evaluated bilaterally via ultrasound imaging, and patient-reported function was assessed using the IKDC score. Bilateral reductions in rectus femoris CSA were noted from T0 to T1 (P < 0.01). Only the uninvolved limb returned to preoperative CSA (P = 0.80), as the involved limb failed to return to preoperative levels at RTA (P = 0.04). No significant changes in rectus femoris PF were observed across time points (P > 0.05). Lesser PF (P < 0.01) but not CSA (P = 0.75) was associated with higher IKDC score at T1. Lesser PF (P = 0.04) and greater CSA (P = 0.05) was associated with higher IKDC score at RTA. Substantial atrophy occurs bilaterally after ACLR, and the involved limb does not return to preoperative muscle size despite the patient completing rehabilitation. Quadriceps muscle morphology is associated with patient-reported function and may be an important rehabilitation target after ACLR. Quadriceps atrophy and poor muscle quality may contribute to suboptimal patient functioning and quadriceps dysfunction and may be important in RTA decision making. Assessing muscle morphology using ultrasound may be a feasible and clinically beneficial tool in patients after ACLR.

Abstract No. 377 A quantitative angiography technique using time-resolved two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography for determining treatment endpoints during partial splenic embolization

There is a relationship between extent of embolization and severity of post procedure complications for partial splenic embolization (PSE), but determining appropriate treatment endpoints is difficult due to the use of subjective angiographic assessments. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of using time-resolved two-dimensional digital subtraction angiography (2D-DSA, qDSA) for quantifying changes in splenic arterial and venous flow rates during PSE as a flow-based endpoint rather than a volume based one. Two female domestic swine underwent splenic artery embolizations using 100- to 300-um embolic particles reconstituted in 20 mL of iohexol 300 contrast and delivered in 1-mL aliquots. In the first embolization, blood velocity changes were assessed using DSA (2 mL/s injections) and indwelling intravascular Doppler wires (in the splenic artery and vein) after each incremental delivery of particles. In the 2nd embolization, DSAs and 4D Flow MRIs were acquired before and after embolization to analyze blood velocity changes. A post-hoc analysis of the DSA sequences used a shifted least-squares approach for calculating blood velocities1. Exceptionally high velocities were excluded from analysis due to sampling insufficiency. During incremental embolization, qDSA calculations showed a linear decrease in splenic arterial blood velocity. There was a 7.4% calculated reduction (from baseline) in velocity per 1 mL of particles delivered (R2 = 0.90). Indwelling Doppler wires in the splenic artery and vein showed correlative changes of 11.0% (R2 = 0.98) and 9.7% (R2 = 0.94) reductions in velocities per 1 mL of particles delivered respectively. In multimodal comparison, a 40.3% reduction in splenic arterial velocity was calculated via qDSA corresponding to a 64.1% reduction in velocity on MRI, and a 23.2% reduction in portal vein cross-sectional area. The calculated splenic arterial velocity decreased progressively during PSE as the degree of embolization increased. The qDSA calculations correlated with changes in splenic and portal hemodynamics measured via intravascular Doppler and MRI. With further development, qDSA may be useful for intraprocedural quantification of the degree of embolization in PSE.

Flexural behavior of self-compacting concrete voided slabs under monotonic loads

This research is devoted to investigate the experimental behavior of normal and moderately high strength self-compacted concrete (SCC) voided slab strips under monotonic loading regimes. Five one-way simply supported slabs were tested including one as a reference slab (solid slab) and the remaining four as voided slabs with three cases of reduction in cross sectional area (6.5%, 13.1% and 14.7%) by creating longitudinal, 3 voids of 50 mm diameter, 6 voids of 50 mm diameter and 3 voids of 75 mm diameter, respectively. The experimental results revealed that for moderate thick reinforced normal SCC one way slab (3 void, dia. =75mm), the ultimate load was reduced by about 20% and the deflection at ultimate load was decreased by about 11% relative to the reference solid slab. While for similar voided slab of moderate high strength SCC, the ultimate load was increased by about 48.3% and the deflection at ultimate load also raised by about 27% with respect to normal strength SCC slab. In addition, the experimental results indicated that for moderate thick reinforced normal SCC one way slab having (3 voids, dia. =50 mm), the ultimate strength was reduced by about 6.7% and the deflection at ultimate load was reduced by 38%, when compared to the solid reference slab. However, for similar slab with (6 void, dia. =50 mm), the reduction in the ultimate strength and deflection at ultimate load were about 9.3% and 42%, respectively.

Cigarette Smoking Exacerbates Skeletal Muscle Injury without Compromising Its Regenerative Capacity.

Skeletal muscle dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease negatively impacts quality of life and survival. Cigarette smoking (CS) is the major risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and skeletal muscle dysfunction; however, how CS affects skeletal muscle function remains enigmatic. To examine the impact of CS on skeletal muscle inflammation and regeneration, male BALB/c mice were exposed to CS for 8 weeks before muscle injury was induced by barium chloride injection, and were maintained on the CS protocol for up to 21 days after injury. Barium chloride injection resulted in architectural damage to the tibialis anterior muscle, resulting in a decrease contractile function, which was worsened by CS exposure. CS exposure caused muscle atrophy (reduction in gross weight and myofiber cross-sectional area) and altered fiber type composition (31% reduction of oxidative fibers). Both contractile function and loss in myofiber cross-sectional area by CS exposure gradually recovered over time. Satellite cells are muscle stem cells that confer skeletal muscle the plasticity to adapt to changing demands. CS exposure blunted Pax7+ centralized nuclei within satellite cells and thus prevented the activation of these muscle stem cells. Finally, CS triggered muscle inflammation; in particular, there was an exacerbated recruitment of F4/80+ monocytic cells to the site of injury along with enhanced proinflammatory cytokine expression. In conclusion, CS exposure amplified the local inflammatory response at the site of skeletal muscle injury, and this was associated with impaired satellite cell activation, leading to a worsened muscle injury and contractile function without detectable impacts on the recovery outcomes.

Proteomic changes in skeletal muscle of aged rats in response to resistance training.

Sarcopenia is a multifactorial process defined by loss of strength and skeletal muscle mass, which leads to a reduction in muscle cross-sectional area (CSA). Although resistance training (RT) has been indicated as a tool to counteract sarcopenia, the protein profile associated with skeletal muscle adaptations remains to be determined. We investigated the effects of 12 weeks of RT on the skeletal muscle proteome profile and CSA of young and older rats. Twenty-four animals were divided into four groups: young sedentary or trained and older sedentary or trained (six animals per group). A 12-week RT protocol was performed, which consisted of climbing a vertical ladder. The proteins from the gastrocnemius were analysed by LC-ESI-MS/MS. One-hundred and thirty-one proteins were identified, of which 28 were assessed between the groups. Ageing induced an increase in proteins associated with the glycolytic pathway, transport and stress response, which represent crucial mechanisms for muscle adaptation. RT upregulated metabolic enzymes, anti-oxidant activity and transport proteins, besides increasing hypertrophy, regardless of age, suggesting a beneficial adaptation to mitigate age-related sarcopenia. RT reduced muscle atrophy through the regulation of stress response and by increasing proteins related to energy production and transport, which in turn might protect tissue damage arising from exercise and ageing. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: Protein abundance levels related to the metabolic process and stress response were increased in the aged muscle. RT proved to be an important intervention capable of inducing significant effects on muscle proteome regardless of ageing, due to upregulation of glycolytic enzymes, and anti-oxidant and transport proteins. This effect could lead to a beneficial adaptation in muscle structure, cellular function and overall homeostasis maintenance. This study contributes to better understanding of the basic biology of ageing and clarifies more profoundly the molecular networks behind physiological adaptations promoted by exercise training. Therefore, the results open new perspectives and insights for studies based on transcriptomics, metabolomics and functional assays.

Effect of cross-sectional area reduction rate and alloy composition on the formation of &lt;001&gt;-fiber texture in Ti-Mo-Al-Zr alloy wire

Texture formation in Ti-7Mo-8Al-6Zr cold-groove-rolled alloy wires was investigated and compared to that of Ti-5.5Mo-8Al-6Zr. Irregularly textured &lt;001&gt;-fiber was formed in Ti-5.5Mo-8Al-6Zr. The Ti-7Mo-8Al-6Zr cold-groove-rolled wire mainly composed of the β phase though α″ martensite was induced by cold-groove-rolling in the Ti-5.5Mo-8Al-6Zr alloy. From the TEM observations of the severely deformed cold-rolled sheet, α″ martensite was assumed to be induced during cold-groove-rolling and trace α″ was assumed to be retained after cold-groove-rolling. This texture is common in bcc metals and corresponds to the &lt;010&gt;α″ -fiber which is formed in the Ti-5.5Mo-8Al-6Zr alloy when the lattice correspondence between β and α″ is considered. On the other hand, the &lt;001&gt;-fiber was strongly developed in the cold-groove-rolled wire with a reduced cross sectional area of 98% following solution treatment, while this texture was not observed in the specimen with a 60% reduced cross sectional area. The texture formed in solution-treated Ti-7Mo-8Al-6Zr alloy wire was similar to that of the Ti-5.5Mo-8Al-6Zr alloy, although the dominant phase in the cold-groove-rolled specimen differed.

Effect of Kind of Deformation on Young's Modulus, Damage Parameter, Texture and Structure of Alloy Mg – 5% Li (wt)

Effect of deformation by extrusion, rolling after extrusion (in combination with annealing and changing the rolling direction), and subsequent alternating bending (AB) with the number of cycles 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 on the elastic modulus (E), damage accumulation parameter (damage parameter ω), crystallographic texture, and substructure parameters of the binary Mg-5%Li alloy have been studied. The damage parameter (0 ≤ ω ≤ 1), which is interpreted as the relative reduction in the effective load-bearing cross-sectional area due to damage accumulation, was found by the change in the elastic modulus after various above types of deformation. At this, we used to compare equivalent deformation and equivalent elastic energy models. The substructure parameters (crystalline domains sizes D, lattice distortion ε, dislocation density ρ) were estimated by analyzing the physical broadening of the lines diffraction on the crystal lattice of studied alloy of the penetrating hard X-ray synchrotron radiation. It was found that in the studied alloy, sheet forms a texture, at which the hexagonal prism axis is 90° deviated from the normal direction (ND) to the sheet up to transverse direction (TD) after extrusion of the ingot at 350°C in combination with its further rolling in the direction of extrusion axis (rolling direction RD) to a thickness of 4.5 mm and annealing at 350°C after each pass. At this the crystallographic directions and coincide with RD. The texture, at which the hexagonal prism axis is deviated from ND to TD by angles ranging from 15 to 70° (unlike from texture of basal type of the pure magnesium) is formed after further rolling of studied alloy to a thickness of 1 mm with the changing of the RD on 90° in combination with annealing at 350°C after each pass. The crystallographic direction coincides with RD. The anisotropy of above mentioned characteristics was found. Correlation and regression analysis showed that the anisotropy and the values of E, D, ε, and ρ, are decreased, and the values of ω are increased with an increase of alternating bend cycles’ number. It is shown that changes in the above characteristics are mainly due to the crystallographic texture formed during thermomechanical processing and subsequent alternating bending of Mg-5%Li alloy sheets, which is confirmed by data of correlation and regression analysis.

Experimental Research of the Influence of Bedload Sediment Heterogeneity on Length, Height and Shifting Velocity of Growing Bed Configuration

In the natural current of water, the growing bed movement leads to a reduction of reservoir volume and canal cross-section area, filling by forebay of pump station and hydroelectric station pressure basins with sediment. This leads to abrasive wear of pumps, water turbines, and pressure pipelines, as well as other negative consequences. In many countries, rivers come laden with a large amount of sediment and enormous costs. At determining of sediment discharge it is important values of height and movement velocity of bed ridges. The determination of these values is based on experimental studies was not taken into account the heterogeneity of sediment with different fractions. For this reason, the calculated values according to obtained formulas have large discrepancies with field data. To eliminate these discrepancies, experimental studies were conducted using six types of fractions with the same weighted average diameter. Based on of laboratory data diagrams and interrelation were obtained for ridge length, height and movement velocity from sediment hydraulic and geometric sizes.

Bonding Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-to-Concrete Joints under the Effect of Corrosion Cracking

Externally bonded (EB) carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) have been progressively considered for application in concrete structures. However, the corrosion of reinforcing steel bars (rebars) in reinforced concrete (RC), which is more common in coastal environments than in inland environments, can degrade structural performance. The bonding performance of FRP-to-concrete joints can be further deteriorated by the degradation of the interfacial bonding behavior between the rebar (or rebars) and concrete cross-sectional area reduction at the steel bar plane induced by rust expansion. In this study, the effect of rebar corrosion on the FRP bonding performance of RC components was experimentally investigated for the first time. Single shear tests assisted by a 3D optical displacement measurement system were used to obtain the full-field distribution of specimen displacements. The test results show that, although the corrosion level and diameter of the steel bar slightly affected the bonding strength of FRP-to-concrete, the corrosion crack width increased as the steel bar corrosion level increased, which affected the failure mode. Hence, as the corrosion level of the steel bars increased, the likelihood of concrete cover separation increased. Finally, a modified strength design model accounting for the rebar corrosion level was proposed in this paper.

Experimental study on fire resistance of precast concrete columns with efficient reinforcement

In order to improve installation efficiency, construction quality and reduce the cost of monolithic precast concrete frame structures, precast concrete columns reinforced by efficient reinforcement have been proposed in recent years. Their static and seismic behaviors generally meet design expectations, while, to the authors’ best knowledge, their fire resistance has not been properly studied. In this paper, results from fire resistance experiments on full-scale precast concrete columns reinforced by efficient reinforcement under standard fire exposure conditions are presented. The effect of reinforcement forms, load intensity and fire conditions on the fire resistance of the precast concrete columns has been studied. The test results show that fire resistance of the connection zone of the precast concrete column is higher than that of the non-connection zone. The test results also show that precast concrete columns reinforced by cluster reinforcement have a higher fire resistance than columns reinforced by large-diameter reinforcement. On the basis of the test results and the calculation methods current in use, a simplified approach that considers the effect of cross-sectional area reduction and temperature difference caused by spalling is proposed to predict fire resistance of precast concrete columns reinforced by efficient reinforcement.

Change of the upper airway after mandibular setback surgery in patients with mandibular prognathism and anterior open bite

PurposeIt has been reported before that the amount of pharyngeal airway space (PAS) significantly decreases following mandibular setback (MS) surgery in patients with mandibular prognathism (MP). Further, MP patients with an anterior open-bite (AOB) presentation may show a larger decrease in PAS compared with those without AOB. However, studies on postoperative PAS changes in MP patients with AOB remain rare. This study sought to evaluate changes in PAS and hyoid bone positioning following MS surgery in MP patients with and without AOB.Patients and methodsTwenty patients who underwent two jaw surgery involving MS movement were included. Patients were divided into a non-AOB group (n = 10; overbite > 2 mm) and an AOB group (n = 10; overbite < − 4 mm). Three-dimensional changes in PAS and hyoid bone positioning were compared and statistically evaluated pre- and postoperatively using computed tomography (CT).ResultsThe mean magnitude of MS was 6.0 ± 2.8 mm and 5.6 ± 3.2 mm in the non-AOB group and AOB group, respectively. The oropharyngeal volume and upper hypopharyngeal volume were significantly reduced after surgery in both the groups (p = 0.006 and p = 0.003), while the retroglossal cross-sectional area was significantly reduced only in the AOB group (p = 0.028). Although the AOB group showed a larger decrease in PAS, the difference was not statistically significant between the groups. The position of the hyoid bone showed significant posterior and inferior displacement only in the AOB group, while the vertical displacement of the hyoid bone showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups.ConclusionPAS was significantly decreased after MS in both the groups, while only the AOB group presented a statistically significant reduction in the retroglossal cross-sectional area. Vertical displacement of the hyoid bone showed a statistically significant difference between the groups, while the PAS change was not. Surgeons should be aware of potential postoperative airway problems that may arise when performing MS surgeries.

BRD4 blockage alleviates pathological cardiac hypertrophy through the suppression of fibrosis and inflammation via reducing ROS generation

Hypertension is an essential regulator of cardiac injury and remodeling. However, the pathogenesis that contributes to cardiac hypertrophy remains to be fully explored. BRD4, as a bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) family member, plays an important role in critical biological processes. In the study, our results showed that BRD4 expression was up-regulated in human and mouse hypertrophied hearts, and importantly these effects were modulated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In angiotensin II (Ang II)-treated cardiomyocytes, BRD4 decrease markedly blunted the prohypertrophic effect, which was further promoted by the combinational treatment of ROS scavenger (N-acetyl-cysteine, NAC). In addition, NAC pre-treatment markedly elevated the anti-fibrotic role of BRD4 suppression in Ang II-incubated cardiomyocytes by repressing transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)/SMADs signaling pathway. NAC combined with BRD4 reduction further alleviated inflammation and oxidative stress in Ang II-exposed cardiomyocytes, which was partly through inhibiting nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling and improving nuclear erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway, respectively. Furthermore, the in vivo results confirmed the protective effects of BRD4 suppression on mice against aortic banding (AB)-induced cardiac hypertrophy, as evidenced by the reduced cross sectional area and fibrotic area using H&E and Masson trichrome staining. What’s more, the degree of cardiac hypertrophy (ANP and BNP), the expression of pro-fibrotic genes (TGF-β1, Collagen I, Collagen III and CTGF), the levels of inflammation and oxidative stress were all significantly attenuated by the blockage of BRD4 in AB-operated mice. Taken together, repressing BRD4 expression was found to confer a protective effect against experimental cardiac hypertrophy in mice, demonstrating its potential as an effective therapeutic target for pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

Withaferin A ameliorates ovarian cancer-induced cachexia and proinflammatory signaling

BackgroundOvarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths amongst women in the United States. Cachexia is the primary cause of death in approximately 30% of cancer patients, and is often evidenced in ovarian cancer patients. We tested the steroidal lactone Withaferin A to examine if it could ameliorate ovarian cancer-induced cachexia.MethodsSix-week-old severely immunodeficient female mice were xenografted with the ovarian cancer cell line A2780 followed by treatment with Withaferin A or vehicle. Changes in functional grip strength were assessed on a weekly basis. Postmortem, H&E staining was performed on skeletal muscle sections and immunofluorescent immunohistochemistry was performed on skeletal muscle and tumor sections. The levels of NF-κB-related proinflammatory cytokines were assessed in the xenografted tumors and in resident host skeletal muscle.ResultsXenografting of the A2780 cell line resulted in a significant rate of mortality, which was attenuated by a therapeutic dosage of Withaferin A. Mice that received vehicle treatment following xenografting exhibited functional muscle decline over the course of the study. The therapeutic dosage Withaferin A treatment attenuated this reduction in grip strength, whereas the supratherapeutic dosage of Withaferin A was found to be toxic/lethal and demonstrated a further decline in functional muscle strength and an increased rate of mortality on par with vehicle treatment. At a histological level, the vehicle treated tumor-bearing mice exhibited a profound reduction in myofibrillar cross-sectional area compared to the vehicle treated tumor-free control group. The atrophic changes induced by the xenografted tumor were significantly ameliorated by treatment with Withaferin A. The combination of functional muscle weakening and induction of myofibrillar atrophy corroborate a cachectic phenotype, which was functionally rescued by Withaferin A. Further, treatment completely abolished the slow-to-fast myofiber type conversion observed in the settings of cancer-induced cachexia. In both host resident skeletal muscle and the xenografted tumors, we report an increase in NF-κB-related proinflammatory cytokines that was reversed by Withaferin A treatment. Finally, we demonstrated that Withaferin A significantly downregulates cytosolic and nuclear levels of phospho-p65, the active canonical NF-κB transcription factor, in xenografted tumors.ConclusionsCumulatively, our results demonstrate a previously overlooked role of Withaferin A in a xenograft model of ovarian cancer. We propose mechanisms by which Withaferin A reduces NF-κB-dependent pro-inflammatory cytokine production leading to an attenuation of the cachectic phenotype in an i.p. xenograft model of ovarian cancer.

Local fracture strain measurement in AHSS uniaxial flat tensile tests considering specimen geometry and fracture morphology

The local formability of AHSS sheet steels can be estimated by means of the relative average reduction of cross section area (or thickness) at fracture in flat tensile specimens. A 2D/3D characterization of tensile fracture shapes is performed with an optical stereo microscope for various typical fracture shapes. The initial width to thickness ratio (w0/t0) of flat tensile samples quantifies their non-proportionality behavior. A charpy like lower and upper shelf region with a highly scattered transition zone in between at a critical w0/t0 ratio is observed when plotting the fracture area or thickness reduction versus w0/t0 ratio. The higher the w0/t0 ratio of tensile specimens (samples wider, material thinner) the higher the local fracture strain level. The higher the material work hardening ability (n-value), the higher the critical w0/t0 ratio below which high scattering in thickness - and area reduction occurs. The local tensile fracture strain is therefore strongly dependent on specimen thickness, width and work hardening behavior. This is a severe drawback for a broader use of such tensile test based fracture strain measurements.

Prediction of Seismic Performance Levels of Corroded Reinforced Concrete Columns as a Function of Crack Width

Abstract An experimental study was conducted for the prediction of the seismic performance levels of corroded reinforced concrete (RC) columns as a function of the initial corrosion crack widths. A full-scale accelerated-corrosion pool was used to corrode 25 full-scale RC columns. The initial crack widths at different levels of corrosion were measured for three different concrete strength levels: 9, 27, and 37 MPa. The seismic performance levels of corroded RC columns under combined cyclic lateral-displacement excursions at two different axial-load ratios (0.20 and 0.40) were measured. The corrosion levels obtained for the initially measured corrosion crack widths were used for establishing a correlation with the lateral-displacement capacities of the RC columns according to an energy-based method. Three empirical models were developed. The first was for predicting the cross-sectional area reduction of reinforcement bars according to the initial corrosion crack widths. The second model was for predicting the percentage of energy capacity of RC columns as a function of the drift ratio and corrosion levels. The third model was for predicting the seismic performance levels of RC columns as a function of the initial corrosion crack widths and was used for an in situ structural assessment. The experimental test results showed that above a 2% drift ratio, all uncorroded RC columns (regardless of the concrete strength levels) exhibited a sudden reduction in energy capacity, and their total energy capacity was consumed. In the case of corrosion, the energy capacity of concrete with high strength levels was prematurely exhausted above a 1.4% drift ratio because of the effects of the corrosion products under the high strength levels of the concrete.

Ultrasound (US) Changes in the Median Nerve Cross-Sectional Area After Microinvasive US-Guided Carpal Tunnel Release.

To document changes in the median nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) in the proximal carpal tunnel region after ultrasound (US)-guided carpal tunnel release (CTR). Prospective data were collected on 23 consecutive patients (37 wrists) treated with US-guided CTR by the primary author using the same office-based microinvasive technique. Ultrasound was used to measure the largest CSA of the median nerve in the proximal carpal tunnel region both preoperatively and postoperatively. The primary outcome measure was the change in the preoperative versus 6- to 10-week postoperative median nerve CSA. The mean CSA of the median nerve decreased from 16.08 to 12.75 mm2 at 6 to 10 weeks after US-guided CTR (P < .001). During the same period, the mean Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) symptom score decreased from 3.23 to 1.67 (P < .001), and mean BCTQ functional score decreased from 2.49 to 1.47 (P < .001), both exceeding minimal clinically important differences. Although the primary end point was the median nerve CSA at 6 to 10 weeks, statistically significant reductions in the median nerve CSA, as well as BCTQ scores, were also observed as early as 2 to 4 weeks after US-guided CTR (median nerve CSA, 12.40 mm2 ; BCTQ symptom score, 2.00; BCTQ functional score, 1.75; all P ≤ .03). To our knowledge, this investigation was the largest to date examining changes in the proximal median nerve CSA after US-guided CTR. Statistically significant reductions in the proximal median nerve CSA were observed within 6 to 10 weeks after ultrasound-guided CTR. These reductions were similar to those previously reported for open and endoscopic CTR and validate the ability of US-guided CTR to relieve median nerve compression.

In-situ tensile deformation behavior of as-built laser direct metal deposited Ti–6Al–4V alloy at 200 °C

Titanium alloy was extensively used in aerospace industrial field. It has a great significance to directly reveal the deformation process as a function of application conditions. This work investigates the real-time deformation behavior of laser direct metal deposited (LDMD) Ti–6Al–4V alloy at 200 °C, using self-developed high temperature in-situ scanning electron microscope (SEM) tensile stage with a controlled heating system. The results showed that the microstructure of the sample comprised of columnar β grains with zigzag grain boundaries decorated by tilted α plates along the building direction. During uniaxial tensile, slip bands develop along the grain boundaries between α plates with increasing stress. Grain boundary sliding contributes to the high tensile elongation. Compared the mechanical properties along transvers tensile with those at room temperature, the tensile stress decreased and displacement increased at 200 °C. Therefore, higher elongation and reduction in cross-sectional area were identified at 200 °C than those at room temperature. The fracture of specimen at 200 °C shows obvious necking character and deep dimples with thin rims. Coalescence of slip bands at α/α interface creates voids and the coupling of voids nucleates micro-crack. α/α grain boundary interface constitutes path to the crack propagation. The high misorientation angle at columnar β grain boundary hinders the cracks propagation. Finally, the cracks accumulate along the columnar β grain boundary leading to fracture.