Poly[d(G-C)] serves as the prototype for the right-to-left (B to Z) transition in he helical sense of DNA, both in solution and inthe crystal form. However, the question remains as to which other synthetic and natural DNAs have the potential to adopt left-handed conformations. One logical candidate is the canonical alternating purine-pyrimidine sequence d(A-C)n.d(G-T)n which seems to be widely disseminated in eukaryotic genomes. Our approach to this question is based on the enzymatic synthesis of poly[d(A-C).d(G-U)] derivatives with systematic methyl and halogen substitutions in the C-5 position of the pyrimidines C and U. Such modifications in poly[d(G-C)] have previously been shown to potentiate the B to Z transition. Here we report a highly cooperative, reversible, salt- and temperature-dependent transition for poly[d(A-m5C).d(G-T)], a repeat of the d(A-m5C) sequence which may occur in natural DNA. Spectroscopic studies and the demonstrated ability to bind anti-Z-DNA antibodies suggest that the new helical conformation is left-handed and shares structural features with known Z-DNA. However, a novel property, not exhibited by poly[d(G-C)], is the profound temperature dependence of the conformational equilibrium.

Circular Dichroism↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[MRI-based 3-D analysis of the glenohumeral translation in patients with shoulder instability].

AIM: Until now, pathological translation of the glenohumeral joint could not be assessed three-dimensionally and in functionally important arm positions in the living. The objektive of this study was therefore to develop an MR-based technique for determining the three-dimensional glenohumeral translation in functionally relevant positions in vivo. METHOD: In an open MR scanner both shoulder joints of 5 volunteers with an unilateral traumatic instability were examined in different positions of abduction and rotation. After semiautomatic segmentation, 3D reconstruction of the bony structures of the shoulder girdle was performed and the center of mass of the glenoid cavity was determined and used as reference point. In a virtual reality, the midpoint of the humeral head was assessed and its position relative to the center of mass of the glenoid cavity was calculated. RESULTS: At 30 degrees of abduction, in both shoulders, the humeral head was positioned inferior and posterior relative to the glenoid cavity (healthy: 0.42 +/- 1.1 inf., 0.75 +/- 1.0 mm post.; unstable: 1.31 +/- 0.87 mm inf., 0.51 +/- 1.28 mm post.) The maximal translation (to anterior and inferior) was observed both on the healthy side (mean 1.0 mm, max. 1.8 mm) and in the unstable shoulders (mean 2.5 mm, max. 4.6 mm) with the arm in 90 degrees of abduction and external rotation, thus being 1.7 to 2.5 times higher in the pathological shoulders. CONCLUSIONS: With this technique the glenohumeral translation can be quantified three-dimensionally in functionally important positions and without projectional artefacts. In the future, this method can be applied to patients with different entities of shoulder instability.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[An MR-based technique for determination of the subacromial space width in subjects with and without shoulder muscle activity].

INTRODUCTION: The occurrence of the impingement syndrome of the shoulder is dependent on muscle activity and arm position. However, the current radiological workup is based on conventional radiographs, CT or MRI obtained at 0 degree of abduction and at muscular relaxation. The objective of this study was the development of a technique for simultaneous visualization of the humerus, scapula, clavicle and their relationship to the M. supraspinatus--in different arm abduction positions with and without muscle activity--as well as the determination of the minimal acromio-humeral distance. METHOD: The shoulder joints of 8 volunteers were examined in an open MRI system at 60 degrees, 90 degrees and 120 degrees of abduction, using a T1 weighted 3D gradient echosequence. Forces of 10 N were applied at the distal humerus. After 3D reconstruction, the acromio-humeral distance was computed with Euclidian distance transformation. RESULTS: With increasing abduction, the acromio-humeral distance decreased significantly (p < 0.05), but the distance vector was localised laterally to the M. supraspinatus at 120 degrees. With muscle activity a reduction of the subacromial space of 29% (p < 0.05) occurred at 60 degrees whereas at 120 degrees a 51% (p < 0.05) increase was noted. At 90 degrees, no significant difference was observed. CONCLUSION: With the technique presented it is possible to determine the subacromial space width in different arm positions independent of the specific section orientation, with and without muscle activity. The method can be used as a basis for biomechanical investigations and for the clinical diagnosis of impingement syndrome.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The distribution of cartilage degeneration of the human patella in relation to individual subchondral mineralization].

According to Pauwels and Kummer the distribution of the subchondral mineralisation can be taken as a measure of the long-term mechanical loading in the joints. Based on a previous study concerning the density distribution of the subchondral bone of the human patella, these results were compared in the following paper with the macroscopically visible cartilage lesions. Degenerative changes on the lateral facet of the patella coincide with regions of high bone mineralisation, those on the "odd facet" on the other hand with areas of low subchondral density. The cartilage lesions on the lateral facet are seen as being due to high and constant mechanical stress, those on the "odd facet" to short infrequent stress-peaks.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sex-specific differences of subacromial space width during abduction, with and without muscular activity, and correlation with anthropometric variables.

The objectives of this study were to determine sex-specific differences of the subacromial space width during active and passive arm abduction and to analyze the correlation of this space with general and regional anthropometric variables. Fourteen healthy subjects (7 men, 7 women) were examined with an open magnetic resonance system at 30 degrees and 90 degrees of abduction (with and without muscle activity). After 3-dimensional reconstruction, the minimal acromiohumeral distance, the glenoid size, and the humeral head radius were determined. At 30 degrees of abduction, a significant difference of the acromiohumeral distance was observed between men (8.18 +/- 1.0 mm) and women (6.98 +/- 0.75 mm) (P < .05), but not at 90 degrees (6.7 +/- 2.0 mm versus 5.9 +/- 1.0 mm) or under muscle activity (4.9 +/- 2.4 mm versus 3.5 +/- 2.1 mm). Significant correlations between the acromiohumeral distance and anthropometric variables were found at 30 degrees of abduction (r = 0.48 to 0.72), but not at 90 degrees, with or without muscle activity (r = 0.21 to 0.55). The results demonstrate that at physical rest, the subacromial space width is dependent on sex, but the interindividual variability increases substantially during abduction and under muscle activity.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of knee joint cartilage thickness in triathletes and physically inactive volunteers based on magnetic resonance imaging and three-dimensional analysis.

The objective of this study was to employ quantitative magnetic resonance imaging for the analysis of knee joint cartilage thickness in triathletes and physically inactive volunteers. The right knee joints of nine male triathletes (10 hours training per week for at least 3 years) and nine inactive male volunteers (<1 hour of physical activity per week throughout life) were imaged with a previously validated fat-suppressed gradient echo sequence. The cartilage plates were reconstructed three-dimensionally, and the cartilage thickness was computed independently of the original section orientation with a three-dimensional Euclidian distance transformation. There was a high interindividual variability of the mean and the maximal cartilage thickness values in all surfaces, both in the triathletes and in the inactive volunteers. In the patella, the femoral trochlea, and the lateral femoral condyle, the mean and maximal cartilage thickness values were slightly higher in the triathletes, but they were somewhat lower in the medial femoral condyle, and in the medial and lateral tibial plateau. However, the differences did not attain statistical significance. These results are unexpected in view of the functional adaptation observed in other musculoskeletal tissues, such as muscle and bone, in which a more obvious relationship with the magnitude of the applied mechanical stress has been observed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Quantitative determination of articular pressure in the human shoulder joint.

The objective of this study was to determine experimentally the effect of individual variations in articular surface geometry on the shoulder joint pressure distribution in functionally important arm positions. The location and size of the load-bearing areas and maximal pressures of 10 cadaver shoulder joints were examined at 30 degrees, 90 degrees, and 150 degrees of abduction (+/-90 degrees external rotation) and 120 degrees flexion with pressure-sensitive film. Only parts of the glenoid cavity were involved in the load transfer, some specimens showing central and other bicentric (superior-inferior) pressure maxima during abduction and flexion. The load-bearing areas were more central at external rotation, suggesting that the humeral head is not a perfect sphere. The maximal pressure was recorded at 90 degrees of abduction with 90 degrees external rotation, with 5.1 MPa for the elevation for single- and >10 MPa for double-arm weight. The study demonstrates that shoulder joint pressure cannot be calculated analytically but depends on subtle variations of joint incongruity.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of joint unloading and reloading on human cartilage morphology and function, muscle cross-sectional areas, and bone density - a quantitative case report.

Recent studies have shown that thinning of human cartilage occurs with unloading, but no data are available on the effect of remobilization (after immobilization) on knee joint cartilage status in humans. We examined a 36-year-old patient after 6 weeks of unilateral immobilization. Knee joint cartilage morphology (patella and tibia), patellar cartilage deformation, and thigh muscle cross-sectional areas were assessed with quantitative MR imaging and bone density with peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) during 24 months of remobilization. The immobilized limb displayed lower muscle cross-sectional areas (MCSA) of the knee extensors (-36%), lower bone density of the femur and tibia (-12/-6%), lower patellar cartilage thickness (-14%), but no side differences of tibial cartilage thickness. During remobilization, side differences decreased to -4% for knee extensor MCSAs, to -6%/-3% for femoral and tibial BMD, and to -8% for patellar cartilage thickness. No change was observed in tibial cartilage. Patellar deformation decreased from 9% to 4% after 15 months. In conclusion, we observed substantial changes of thigh MCSAs, but little (patella) to no (tibia) change in cartilage thickness during remobilization. These preliminary results indicate that human cartilage macro-morphology may be less adaptive to variations of the mechanical loading than muscle and bone.

Adult↗