Biomechanics of the double rocker sole shoe: gait kinematics and kinetics

The use of footwear with contoured soles is common in treatment and care of patients with diabetes; these rocker sole shoes are designed to alleviate loading in key areas on the plantar surface of the foot, reducing pressure in key areas and alleviating pain, and potential soft tissue damage. While investigations of pressure changes have been conducted, no quantitative study to date has addressed the three-dimensional (3D) kinematic and kinetic changes that result from using these shoes. Forty subjects were tested wearing both unmodified and double rocker sole shoes, and the resulting motion patterns were compared to assess change caused by the rocker sole. Overall walking speed remained unchanged throughout testing; slightly increased flexion (<5 degrees ) was apparent at the hip, knee, and ankle during early and mid-stance. These results demonstrate the maintenance of gait function with minimal kinematic changes when using the rocker sole shoe. Investigations of multisegmental foot motion may reveal additional information about the contour effects; analysis of contour variations may also be warranted to investigate the possibility of controlling motion based on rocker sole parameters.     

A Chain Reaction of Adrenaline Autoxidation is a Model of Quinoid Oxidation of Catecholamines

Biophysics - This review is focused on literature data and our own research of the nontrivial quinoid pathway for the oxidation of adrenaline. All catecholamines can be oxidized similarly with...     

Binding of Ca2+ to glycoprotein from bovine heart mitochondria

It is shown that glycoprotein from bovine heart mitochondria which forms Ca2+-selective conductance channels in a bilayer lipid membrane possesses Ca2+-binding activity. Ca2+-binding sites of two kinds were revealed in the glycoprotein molecule: high affinity sites with Kd = 2.8 X 10(-6) M and low affinity sites with Kd 1.1 X 10(-5) M. Ca2+-binding by the high affinity sites occurs co-operatively. The Hill coefficient is about 2.     

Induction of DNA damage in mammalian cells by hydrogen peroxide generated by glucose oxidase immobilized in agarose slides

A new model system has been developed to study the influence of reactive oxygen species on isolated mammalian cells in conjunction with the comet assay. The glucose-glucose oxidase system was used as a hydrogen peroxide generating source. The level of DNA damage was assessed in the splenocytes and the cells of bone marrow of mouse and in human leukocytes both in untreated cells and in cells treated with hydrogen peroxide generated by glucose oxidase using the alkaline comet assay in vitro. Various options for the location of the enzyme in the slides have been studied: in the layer with the cells, in the layer above the cells, or in solution on the surface of the slides. The option where glucose oxidase was in the upper layer of 0.5% agarose over the layer of the cells was optimal. It provided separation of the enzyme from the cells and avoided obstruction to the hydrogen peroxide exposure. For the whole blood study, the content of endogenous glucose must be taken into account. This approach can be used to study the level of DNA damage induced in vitro and for the detection of DNA repair, thereby expanding the possibilities of the method, while the experiments are conducted under controlled conditions.