Uncoupled endochondral ossification in transgenic mice expressing type X collagen with mutations in the NC1 domain

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Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observational Evidence from Malaysia

The interplay of physical, social, and economic factors during the pandemic adversely affected the mental health of healthy people and exacerbated pre-existing mental disorders. This study aimed to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of the general population in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study involving 1246 participants was conducted. A validated questionnaire consisting of the level of knowledge and practice of precautionary behaviors, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life—Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) was used as an instrument to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results revealed that most participants possessed a high level of knowledge about COVID-19 and practiced wearing face masks daily as a precautionary measure. The average DASS scores were beyond the mild to moderate cut-off point for all three domains. The present study found that prolonged lockdowns had significantly impacted (p < 0.05), the mental health of the general population in Malaysia, reducing quality of life during the pandemic. Employment status, financial instability, and low annual incomes appeared to be risk factors (p < 0.05) contributing to mental distress, while older age played a protective role (p < 0.05). This is the first large-scale study in Malaysia to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the general population

Muscle Tissue Damage Induced by the Venom of Bothrops asper: Identification of Early and Late Pathological Events through Proteomic Analysis

Citation: Herrera C, Macêdo JKA, Feoli A, Escalante T, Rucavado A, Gutiérrez JM, et al. (2016) Muscle Tissue Damage Induced by the Venom of Bothrops asper: Identification of Early and Late Pathological Events through Proteomic Analysis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 10(4): e0004599. doi:10.1371/journal. pntd.0004599The time-course of the pathological effects induced by the venom of the snake Bothrops asper in muscle tissue was investigated by a combination of histology, proteomic analysis of exudates collected in the vicinity of damaged muscle, and immunodetection of extracellular matrix proteins in exudates. Proteomic assay of exudates has become an excellent new methodological tool to detect key biomarkers of tissue alterations for a more integrative perspective of snake venom-induced pathology. The time-course analysis of the intracellular proteins showed an early presence of cytosolic and mitochondrial proteins in exudates, while cytoskeletal proteins increased later on. This underscores the rapid cytotoxic effect of venom, especially in muscle fibers, due to the action of myotoxic phospholipases A2, followed by the action of proteinases in the cytoskeleton of damaged muscle fibers. Similarly, the early presence of basement membrane (BM) and other extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in exudates reflects the rapid microvascular damage and hemorrhage induced by snake venom metalloproteinases. The presence of fragments of type IV collagen and perlecan one hour after envenoming suggests that hydrolysis of these mechanically/structurally-relevant BM components plays a key role in the genesis of hemorrhage. On the other hand, the increment of some ECM proteins in the exudate at later time intervals is likely a consequence of the action of endogenous matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) or of de novo synthesis of ECM proteins during tissue remodeling as part of the inflammatory reaction. Our results offer relevant insights for a more integrative and systematic understanding of the time-course dynamics of muscle tissue damage induced by B. asper venom and possibly other viperid venoms.Universidad de Costa Rica/[741-B4-660]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[741-B6-125]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP

Aberrant signal peptide cleavage of collagen X in Schmid metaphyseal chondrodysplasia: implications for the molecular basis of the disease

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Aberrant signal peptide cleavage of collagen X in schmid metaphyseal chondrodysplasia. Implications for the molecular basis of the disease

Schmid metaphyseal chondrodysplasia results from mutations in the collagen X (COL10A1) gene. With the exception of two cases, the known mutations are clustered in the C-terminal nonhelical (NC1) domain of the collagen X. In vitro and cell culture studies have shown that the NC1 mutations result in impaired collagen X trimer assembly and secretion. In the two other cases, missense mutations that alter Gly18 at the -1 position of the putative signal peptide cleavage site were identified (Ikegawa, S., Nakamura, K., Nagano, A., Haga, N., and Nakamura, Y. (1997) Hum. Mutat. 9, 131-135). To study their impact on collagen X biosynthesis using in vitro cell-free translation in the presence of microsomes, and cell transfection assays, these two mutations were created in COL10A1 by site-directed mutagenesis. The data suggest that translocation of the mutant pre-α1(X) chains into the microsomes is not affected, but cleavage of the signal peptide is inhibited, and the mutant chains remain anchored to the membrane of microsomes. Cell-free translation and transfection studies in cells showed that the mutant chains associate into trimers but cannot form a triple helix. The combined effect of both the lack of signal peptide cleavage and helical configuration is impaired secretion. Thus, despite the different nature of the NC1 and signal peptide mutations in collagen X, both result in impaired collagen X secretion, probably followed by intracellular retention and degradation of mutant chains, and causing the Schmid metaphyseal chandrodysplasia phenotype.link_to_OA_fulltex

Improving the multifunctional behaviour of structural supercapacitors by incorporating chemically activated carbon fibres and mesoporous silica particles as reinforcement

Novel structural supercapacitors have been fabricated which can simultaneously carry mechanical loads as well as store electrochemical energy. Structural supercapacitors are fabricated by impregnating activated carbon fibre mat electrodes and glass fibre mat separator with crosslinked polymer electrolytes using the resin infusion under flexible tooling method. Mesoporous silica particles are also used as reinforcements to further improve the electrochemical and mechanical performance of structural supercapacitors. The fabricated structural supercapacitors have been characterised through chronoamperometry method and impedance spectroscopy to evaluate the electrochemical performance and in-plane shear properties to evaluate the mechanical performance. A multifunctional structural supercapacitor, exhibiting simultaneously a power density of 34 W kg−1, an energy density of 0.12 Wh kg−1 and a shear modulus of 1.75 GPa, has been fabricated. </jats:p

Multifunctional structural supercapacitors for electrical energy storage applications

A novel concept of structural supercapacitors based on carbon fibre-reinforced composites has been introduced that can simultaneously act as a structural component and an electrical energy storing device. Supercapacitors consisting of woven carbon fibre mat electrodes; filter paper insulator and crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidylether/diglycidylether of bisphenol-A polymer electrolytes were fabricated. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis and tensile tests were conducted on the as-received and activated carbon fibre reinforcements. Compression tests and ionic conductivity measurements were conducted on the polymer electrolytes while charge/discharge electrochemical tests and shear testing were done on the structural supercapacitors. This was to investigate the implications of increased diglycidylether of bisphenol-A loading in crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidylether polymer electrolytes and carbon fibre activation on the multifunctionality of structural supercapacitors. The addition of diglycidylether of bisphenol-A increased the compressive stiffness, although the ionic conductivity was compromised. Specific capacitance of the structural supercapacitors was increased with the chemical activation of carbon fibre electrodes. Carbon fibre activation led to improved specific capacitance of the structural supercapacitors and the addition of diglycidylether of bisphenol-A increased the shear modulus, although the specific capacitance was compromised. </jats:p

Carbon fibre-reinforced poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidylether based multifunctional structural supercapacitor composites for electrical energy storage applications

We have developed structural supercapacitors that can carry mechanical loads as well as can store electrochemical energy simultaneously. Structural supercapacitors are fabricated by impregnating carbon fibre mat electrodes and glass fibre mat separator with crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidylether polymer electrolyte using the resin infusion under flexible tooling method. In this study, design parameters of the structural supercapacitors have been explored including the separators and the polymer electrolytes. The fabricated structural supercapacitors have been characterised using charge–discharge method and impedance spectroscopy to evaluate the electrochemical performance and in-plane shear properties to evaluate the mechanical performance. A structural supercapacitor, exhibiting a specific capacitance of 10.3 mF/cm3 and a shear modulus of 0.50 GPa simultaneously, have been fabricated. </jats:p

Prevalence of child maltreatment and its association with parenting style : a population study in Hong Kong

201906 bcmaVersion of RecordPublishe

Risk of child maltreatment in Chinese teenage and young mothers with rapid repeat pregnancy : the moderating role of family cohesion and support from friends

202305 bcwwAccepted ManuscriptSelf-fundedPublishe