The extracted proteins were then analyzed by SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS. A total of 127 proteins were identified, 34 of which have not been previously detected in proteomic studies of bile. Among them, several proteins have been described as potential biomarkers of pancreatic cancer. We extended our investigation by studying the expression of some of these pancreatic cancer markers in bile samples collected from patients with various etiologies of biliary stenosis including

pancreatic cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, chronic pancreatitis, as well as gallstone-induced stenosis. Our data showed a conspicuous overexpression of CEACAM6 and MUC1 (CA19-9) in pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma samples, according to the hypothesis that selleck inhibitor bile fluid collects cancer-associated protein leaking from the tumor find more microenvironment. These results underline the interest of using bile as a source of biomarkers for the diagnosis of malignant biliary stenosis.”
“The genetic

transformation of plant cells by Agrobacterium tumefaciens results from the transfer of DNA and proteins via a specific virulence (vir)-induced type IV secretion system (T4SS). To better understand T4SS function, we analyzed the localization of its structural components and substrates by deconvolution fluorescence microscopy. GFP fusions to T4SS proteins with cytoplasmic tails, VirB8 and VirD4, or cytoplasmic T4SS substrate proteins, VirD2, VirE2, and VirF, localize in a helical pattern of fluorescent foci around the perimeter of the bacterial cell. All fusion proteins were expressed at native levels of vir induction. Importantly, most fusion proteins are functional and do not exhibit dominant-negative effects on DNA transfer to plant cells. Further, GFP-VirB8 complements a virB8 deletion strain. We also detect native VirB8 localization as a helical array

of foci by immunofluorescence-microscopy. T4SS foci likely use an existing helical scaffold during their assembly. Indeed, the bacterial cytoskeletal component MinD colocalizes with GFP-VirB8. Helical arrays of foci are found at all times investigated check details between 12 and 48 h post vir induction at 19 degrees C. These data lead to a model with multiple T4SSs around the bacterial cell that likely facilitate host cell attachment and DNA transfer. In support, we find multiple T pili around vir-induced bacterial cells.”
“North American Indian Childhood Cirrhosis (NAIC) is a rare, autosomal recessive, progressive cholestatic disease of infancy affecting the Cree-Ojibway first Nations of Quebec. All NAIC patients are homozygous for a missense mutation (R565W) in CIRH1A, the human homolog of the yeast nucleolar protein Utp4. Utp4 is part of the t-Utp subcomplex of the small subunit (SSU) processome, a ribonucleoprotein complex required for ribosomal RNA processing and small subunit assembly.

With the increase of output power, maximum temperatures at 5, 10, 15, 20 mm from the antenna were increased accordingly (p < .05). The maximum temperature with 80 W at 5 and

20 mm from the antenna reached 146.17 +/- 6.65 and 72.38 +/- 4.23 degrees C respectively.\n\nConclusion: With internally cooled antenna and high output power, 915 MHz MW ablation in the spleen could produce irreversible tissue necrosis of clinical significance. MW ablation may be used as a promising minimally invasive method for the treatment LCL161 of splenic diseases. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Cerebral hypoxia and subsequent reoxygenation stress (H/R) is a component of several diseases. One approach that may enable neural tissue rescue after H/R is central nervous

System (CNS) delivery of drugs with brain protective effects such as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (i.e., statins). Our present in vivo data show that atorvastatin, a commonly prescribed statin, attenuates poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage in the brain after H/R, suggesting neuroprotective efficacy. However, atorvastatin use as a CNS therapeutic Selleck Pinometostat is limited by poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration. Therefore, we examined regulation and functional expression of the known statin transporter organic anion transporting polypeptide 1a4 (Oatp1a4) at the BBB under H/R conditions.. In rat brain

microvessels, H/R (6% O-2, 60 minutes followed by 21% O-2, 10 minutes) increased Oatp1a4 expression. Brain uptake of taurocholate (i.e., Oap1a4 probe substrate) and atorvastatin were reduced by Oatp inhibitcirs (i.e., estrone-3-sulfate and fexofenadine), suggesting LB-100 cost involvement of Oatp1a4 in brain drug delivery. Pharmacological inhibition of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)/activin receptor-like kinase 5 (ALK5) signaling with the selective inhibitor SB431542 increased Oatp1a4 functional expression, suggesting a role for TGF-beta/ALK5 signaling in Oatp1a4 regulation. Taken together, our novel data show that targeting an endogenous BBB drug uptake transporter (i.e., Oatp1a4) may be a viable approach for optimizing CNS drug delivery for treatment of diseases with an H/R component.”
“Spatial data on species distributions are available in two main forms, point locations and distribution maps (polygon ranges and grids). The first are often temporally and spatially biased, and too discontinuous, to be useful (untransformed) in spatial analyses. A variety of modelling approaches are used to transform point locations into maps. We discuss the attributes that point location data and distribution maps must satisfy in order to be useful in conservation planning.

“
“Neodymium-doped silicon-rich silicon oxide thin films SiOx:Nd (1 smaller than = x smaller

than = 2) were deposited by thermal co-evaporation of SiO and SiO2 and annealed at temperatures up to 1200 C. Due to the phase separation process induced by annealing treatments, amorphous silicon nanoparticles (aSi-np) are obtained. For annealing temperatures equal to or above 1000 degrees C, silicon nanocrystals (Si-nc) embedded in a SiO2 matrix are obtained. Photoluminescence (PL) properties of the SiOx:Nd thin films were studied as a function of the silicon excess, the annealing temperature and the Nd content. For annealed samples, Nd-related PL peaks at 920 nm, 1100 nm and 1400 nm are observed. It is shown that, despite the efficient

energy transfer between Si-nc and Nd3+ ions, the highest luminescence this website intensity is obtained for samples containing aSi-np. Moreover, the concentration quenching effect occurs for higher concentration values in samples containing aSi-op, compared to that containing Si-nc. These results show that Si-nc are not necessary to indirectly excite Nd3+ ions and that samples annealed Proteasome purification at temperatures lower than 800 degrees C are of potential interest for applications because of a lower thermal budget compared to that required for samples containing Si-nc. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Temozolomide is a chemotherapeutic drug that is mainly used in the treatment of primary glioblastoma multiforme and recurrent high-grade glioma. Here, we report an efficient good manufacturing practice compliant method for the synthesis of [3-N-C-11-methyl]temozolomide from 3-N-hydroxymethyl temozolomide that cleaves off formaldehyde in situ and becomes activated towards alkylation with [C-11]methyl iodide. The labelling method was developed for an on-going patient study in which the predictive value of [3-N-C-11-methyl]temozolomide and positron emission

tomography on the outcome of temozolomide treatment is being investigated. The precursor was reacted with [C-11]methyl iodide in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene in acetonitrile, heated at stepwise increasing temperature. Purification by semipreparative HPLC with pharmaceutical PI3K inhibitor grade eluent and filtration gave approximately 10mL sterile product solution ready for injection containing 1.55 +/- 0.38GBq (n=5), the specific activity was 88 +/- 25GBq/mu mol and the radiochemical purity was 98.5 +/- 1.9%. C-13-NMR spectroscopy confirmed the labelled position after colabelling with C-11 and C-13.”
“Inefficient muscle long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) combustion is associated with insulin resistance, but molecular links between mitochondrial fat catabolism and insulin action remain controversial.

This

Napabucasin ic50 effect should be further investigated for DC stunning. Very few birds stunned with AC resumed breathing following stunning, indicating stun to kill. Pulsed DC stunning showed a lower effect on the induction of death. The level of wing flapping, indicating convulsions and possible meat quality defects, was higher for the AC treatments.”
“Increase of sympathetic nervous activity and tachycardia at rest or during physical exertions are associated with increase of morbimortality, even in the absence of clinical signs of cardiac disease. Considering the importance of the alpha(2A)/alpha(2C)-adrenergic receptors in the modulation of the nervous activity and heart rate (HR), the present study uses a genetic model of cardiomyopathy TPX-0005 cost induced by excess of circulating catecholamine in the gene inactivation of the alpha(2A)/alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors in mice (alpha(2A)/alpha(2C)KO) to verify the HR response to physical exercise (PE), as well as the sympathetic-vagal control of the HR to

PE. The hypothesis is that there would be exacerbated tachycardic response during PE in alpha(2A)/alpha(2C)KO mice even when the cardiac function was still preserved at rest, being the alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptor the main reason for this response. Male mice of the C57Bl6J lineage, control (CO) and with gene inactivation for the a(2A) (alpha(2A)KO), alpha(2C) alpha(2C)KO) and alpha(2A)/alpha(2C)KO receptors were submitted to tolerance to a physical exercise test. Two other groups of mice, CO and alpha(2A)/alpha(2C)KO, were submitted to pharmacological blocking of the muscarinic and beta-adrenergic receptors as well as to progressive PE to assess the sympathetic-vagal contribution to PE tachycardia. Intolerance to physical exercise (1.220 +/- 18 and 1.460 +/- 34 vs. 2.630 +/- 42m, respectively) and higher tachycardia to Lazertinib mouse PE (765 +/- 16 e 792 +/- 13 vs. 603 +/- 18 bpm, respectively) in the alpha(2C)KO and alpha(2A)/alpha(2C)KO vs. CO mice was observed. Moreover, the autonomic balance was altered in

the alpha(2A)/alpha(2C)KO mice by the sympathetic hyperactivity and lower cardiac vagal effect. These outcomes demonstrated the importance of the alpha(2A)/alpha(2C)-adrenergic receptors in autonomic control not only at rest, but also during PE, being the alpha(2A)-adrenergic receptor responsible for the sympathetic hyperactivity and lower vagal effect observed. This exacerbated tachycardic response in alpha(2A)/alpha(2C)KO mice is present even when cardiac dysfunction is not observed.”
“Body fluids of mammals, including semen, are increasingly recognized to harbour anti-microbial proteins which play a role in host defence against a myriad of pathogens. Human seminal plasma inhibin (hSPI) is reported to be a multifunctional protein, well-studied primarily for its fertility-related effects and recently for its anti-fungal activity.

, and Sanofi-Aventis. The authors have no other funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.”
“Introduction: Inhaled hypertonic saline improves lung function and decreases pulmonary exacerbations in people with cystic fibrosis. However, side effects such as cough, narrowing of airways and saltiness cause intolerance of the therapy in 8% of patients.

The aim of our study was to compare the effect of an inhaled solution of hyaluronic acid and hypertonic saline with hypertonic solution alone on safety and tolerability. Methods: A total of 20 patients with cystic fibrosis aged 6 years and over received a single treatment regimen of 7% hypertonic saline solution or hypertonic solution with 0.1% hyaluronate for 2 days nonconsecutively after a washout period in an open crossover study.

Cough, throat irritation, selleck kinase inhibitor and salty taste were evaluated by a modified ordinal score for assessing tolerability; “pleasantness” was evaluated by a five-level, Likert-type scale. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second was registered before and after the end of the saline inhalations. Results: All 20 patients (nine males, 11 females, mean age 13 years, range 8.9-17.7) completed the study. The inhaled solution of 0.1% hyaluronic Tariquidar cost acid and hypertonic saline significantly improved tolerability and pleasantness compared to hypertonic saline alone. No major adverse effects were observed. No difference was documented in pulmonary function tests between the two treatments. Conclusion: Hyaluronic acid combined with hypertonic saline solution may contribute to improved adherence to hypertonic saline therapy. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm our findings. Considering the extraordinary versatility of hyaluronic acid in biological reactions, perspective studies could define its applicability to halting progression of lung disease in cystic fibrosis.”
“Objective: To determine the rate of healthcare utilization for older primary care patients by depression status. Design: Cross-sectional data analysis. Setting: Primary care practices,

Selleck VE-821 western New York state. Participants: 753 patients aged 65 years and older. Measures: Diagnostic depression categories were determined using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID). The Cornell Services Index (CSI) measured outpatient medical visits. Demographic, clinical, and functional variables were obtained from medical records and interview data. Results: 41.23% had subsyndromal or minor depression (M/SSD) and 53.15% had no depression. The unadjusted mean number of outpatient medical visits was greater in those with M/SSD (3.96 visits within 3 months) compared to those without depression (2.84), with a significant difference after adjusting for demographic, functional, and clinical factors. Conclusion: Those with M/SSD had higher rates of healthcare utilization compared with those without depressive symptoms.

The SNPfisher site also contains links to display our SNP data in the

UCSC genome browser. The SNPfisher tools will facilitate the use of SNP variation in zebrafish research as well as vertebrate genome evolution.”
“The influence of thermal treatment and operational conditions (pH and stirrer speed) used in the process of xanthan production by Xanthomonas arboricola pv pruni strain 106 were evaluated through yield of xanthan, aqueous solution and fermentation broth viscosity, sodium content, pyruvate and acetyl content and molar mass. Different conditions used during the fermentation affected the xanthan characteristics. Thermal treatment decreased the final yield and pyruvate and acetyl content, and increased the xanthan aqueous solution and fermentation broth viscosities, as well as molar mass. In this study the best combination of yield and viscosity was obtained with the use of pH 7 and 400 rpm during fermentation and KU-57788 nmr post-fermentation thermal treatment. Aggregation of xanthan molecules promoted by heating and detected through

an increase of molar mass was apparently affected by the sodium content. As a result. a correlation between molar mass and xanthan solution Barasertib ic50 viscosity could be observed. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is histologically characterized by medial degeneration and various degrees of chronic adventitial inflammation, although the mechanisms for progression of aneurysm are poorly understood. In the present study, we carried out histological study of AAA tissues of patients, and interventional animal and cell culture experiments to investigate a role of mast cells in the pathogenesis of AAA. The number of mast cells was found to increase ABT-263 cell line in the outer media or adventitia of human AAA, showing a positive correlation between the cell number and the AAA diameter. Aneurysmal dilatation of the aorta was seen in the control (+/+) rats following periaortic application of calcium chloride (CaCl2) treatment

but not in the mast cell-deficient mutant Ws/Ws rats. The AAA formation was accompanied by accumulation of mast cells, T lymphocytes and by activated matrix metalloproteinase 9, reduced elastin levels and augmented angiogenesis in the aortic tissue, but these changes were much less in the Ws/Ws rats than in the controls. Similarly, mast cells were accumulated and activated at the adventitia of aneurysmal aorta in the apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. The pharmacological intervention with the tranilast, an inhibitor of mast cell degranulation, attenuated AAA development in these rodent models. In the cell culture experiment, a mast cell directly augmented matrix metalloproteinase 9 activity produced by the monocyte/macrophage. Collectively, these data suggest that adventitial mast cells play a critical role in the progression of AAA.

There were no alterations in gyrB and no mutations were found in the isolates with a phenotype of resistance to Ofloxacin (OFX), intermediate resistant to Levofloxacin (LVX) and Sparfloxacin (SFX), and those susceptible to all three tested antibiotics. The molecular

mechanism of fluoroquinolone resistance in clinical isolates of MH was reported in this study. The single amino acid mutation in ParC of MH may relate to the resistance to OFX and LVX and the high-level resistance to fluoroquinolones for MH is likely associated with mutations in both DNA gyrase AZD8055 supplier and the ParC subunit of topoisomerase IV.”
“Neuropathy and impaired axonal regeneration are common complications of diabetes mellitus. Singh et al. reveal upregulation of the tumour suppressor PTEN in peripheral neurons in a mouse model of diabetes. Knockdown of PTEN by siRNA in vitro and in vivo enhanced the regeneration of diabetic axons following injury.Diabetes mellitus renders both

widespread and localized irreversible damage to peripheral axons while imposing critical limitations on their ability to regenerate. A major Selleckchem GDC-0994 failure of regenerative capacity thereby imposes a ‘double hit’ in diabetic patients who frequently develop focal neuropathies such as carpal tunnel syndrome in addition to generalized diffuse polyneuropathy. The mechanisms of diabetic neuron regenerative failure have been speculative and few approaches have offered therapeutic opportunities. In this work we identify an unexpected but major role for PTEN upregulation in diabetic peripheral neurons in attenuating axon regrowth. In chronic diabetic neuropathy JPH203 supplier models in mice, we identified significant PTEN upregulation in peripheral sensory neurons of messenger RNA and protein compared to littermate controls.

In vitro, sensory neurons from these mice responded to PTEN knockdown with substantial rises in neurite outgrowth and branching. To test regenerative plasticity in a chronic diabetic model with established neuropathy, we superimposed an additional focal sciatic nerve crush injury and assessed morphological, electrophysiological and behavioural recovery. Knockdown of PTEN in dorsal root ganglia ipsilateral to the side of injury was achieved using a unique form of non-viral short interfering RNA delivery to the ipsilateral nerve injury site and paw. In comparison with scrambled sequence control short interfering RNA, PTEN short interfering RNA improved several facets of regeneration: recovery of compound muscle action potentials, reflecting numbers of reconnected motor axons to endplates, conduction velocities of both motor and sensory axons, reflecting their maturation during regrowth, numbers and calibre of regenerating myelinated axons distal to the injury site, reinnervation of the skin by unmyelinated epidermal axons and recovery of mechanical sensation.

\n\nAutomated segmentation of large thoracic arteries, based solely on the 3D-cine phase-contrast MRI (PC-MRI) blood-flow data, was done. An active surface model, which is fast and topologically stable, was used. The active surface model requires an initial surface, approximating the desired segmentation. A method to generate this surface was developed based on a voxel-wise temporal maximum of blood-flow velocities. The active surface model balances forces, based on

the surface structure and image features derived from the blood-flow data. The segmentation results were validated using volunteer studies, including time-resolved CA3 3D and 2D blood-flow data. The segmented surface was intersected with a velocity-encoded PC-MRI slice, resulting in a cross-sectional contour of the lumen. These cross-sections were compared to reference contours that were manually delineated on high-resolution 2D-cine slices.\n\nThe automated approach closely approximates the manual blood-flow segmentations, with error distances on the order of the voxel size. The initial surface provides a close approximation of the desired luminal geometry. This improves the convergence DAPT mouse time of the active surface and facilitates parametrization.\n\nAn active surface approach for vessel lumen segmentation was developed, suitable for quantitative analysis of 3D-cine

PC-MRI blood-flow data. As opposed to prior thresholding and level-set approaches, the active surface model is topologically stable. A method to generate an initial approximate surface was developed, and various features that influence the segmentation model were evaluated. The active surface segmentation results were shown to closely approximate

manual segmentations.”
“MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are aberrantly expressed in cervical cancer. miR-7 Z-VAD-FMK mechanism of action has been demonstrated to function as both an oncogene and a tumor suppressor in some types of human cancers. In the present study, miR-7 was significantly downregulated in cervical cancer, especially metastatic tumors. Ectopic expression of miR-7 significantly inhibited metastasis and invasion in Hela and C33A cells. Upregulated miR-7 significantly suppressed focal adhesion kinase (FAK) at transcriptional and translational levels. Furthermore, the level of FAK was negatively correlated with miR-7 in cervical cancer tissues. In conclusion, miR-7 inhibited the metastasis and invasion of cervical cancer at least partially through targeting FAK. The findings of this study provide novel insight with potential therapeutic applications for the treatment of metastatic cervical cancer.”
“Androgen deprivation therapy has become well-established in the treatment of prostate cancer. Luteinizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists, anti-androgens, orchiectomy, and combination hormonal therapy are treatment options offered to select patients.

In stepwise linear regression analysis, predictive variables for BMD of the lumbar spine were systolic blood pressure in the premenopausal group and HDL-cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the postmenopausal group. The predictive variables for BMD of the femoral neck were DBP and waist circumference in the premenopausal group and CRP and DBP in the postmenopausal group. Inflammation might have a more important role in BMD than obesity in the postmenopausal women.”
“Some previous studies have focused on chaotic properties of Parkinson’s disease (PD). It seems that considering PD from dynamical systems perspective is a relevant method

that may lead to better understanding JPH203 Transmembrane Transporters inhibitor of the disease. There is some ambiguity about chaotic nature in PD symptoms and normal behaviour. Some studies claim that normal gait has somehow a chaotic behaviour and disturbed gait in PD has decreased chaotic nature. However, it is worth noting that the basis of this idea is the difference of fractal behaviour in gait of

normal and PD patients, which is concluded from Long Range Correlation (LRC) indices. Our primary calculations show that a large number of normal persons and patients have similar LRC. It seems that chaotic studies on PD need a different view. Because of short time recording of symptoms, accurate calculation of chaotic features is tough. On the other hand, long time recording of symptoms is experimentally difficult. In this research, we have first designed a physiologically plausible model for normal and PD gait. Then, after MDV3100 purchase validating the model with neural network classifier, we used the model for extracting long time simulation of stride in normal and PD persons. These long time simulations were then used for calculating the chaotic features of gait. According to change of phase space behaviour and alteration of three largest

lyapunov exponents, it was observed that simulated normal persons act as chaotic systems in stride production, but simulated PD does not have chaotic dynamics and is stochastic. Based on our results, it may be claimed Stem Cells & Wnt inhibitor that normal gait has chaotic nature which is disturbed in PD state. Surely, long time real recordings from gait signal in normal persons and PD patients are necessary to warranty this hypothesis. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The ubiquitous hyaladherin, hyaluronan-binding protein 1 (HABP1/p32/gC1qR) upon stable overexpression in normal fibroblasts (F-HABP07) has been reported to induce mitochondrial dysfunction, growth retardation and apoptosis after 72 h of growth. HABP1 has been observed to accumulate in the mitochondria resulting in generation of excess Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), mitochondrial Ca++ efflux and drop in mitochondrial membrane potential.

SIMPLE is greatly facilitated by the use of a whole-slide scanner, which can capture the results of each sequential stain without any information loss. (J Histochem Cytochem 57:899-905, 2009)”
“Hyperglycemia is common after acute stroke. In the acute phase of stroke (within 24 h), rats

with permanent cerebral ischemia developed higher fasting blood glucose and insulin levels in association with up-regulation of hepatic gluconeogenic gene expression, including phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. In addition, hepatic gluconeogenesis-associated positive regulators, such as FoxO1, CAATT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs), and cAMP responsive AP26113 element-binding protein (CREB), were up-regulated. phosphatase inhibitor library For insulin signaling transduction, phosphorylation of insulin receptor (IR), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS1) at the tyrosine residue, Akt, and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), were attenuated in the liver, while negative regulators of insulin action, including phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS1)

at the serine residue, were increased. In addition, the brains of rats with stroke exhibited a reduction in phosphorylation of IRS1 at the tyrosine residue and Akt. Circulating cortisol, glucagon, C-reactive protein (CRP), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), and resistin levels were elevated, but adiponectin was reduced. Our data suggest that cerebral ischemic insults might modify intracellular and extracellular environments, favoring hepatic gluconeogenesis and the consequences of hyperglycemia. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.”
“Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can be used to activate paralyzed or paretic muscles to generate functional or therapeutic movements. The goal of this research was to develop a rodent model of NMES-assisted movement therapy after spinal cord injury (SCI) that will enable investigation of mechanisms of NMES-induced plasticity, CX-6258 molecular weight from the molecular

to systems level. Development of the model requires accurate mapping of electrode and muscle stimulation sites, the capability to selectively activate muscles to produce graded contractions of sufficient strength, stable anchoring of the implanted electrode within the muscles and stable performance with functional reliability over several weeks of the therapy window. Custom designed electrodes were implanted chronically in hindlimb muscles of spinal cord transected rats. Mechanical and electrical stability of electrodes and the ability to achieve appropriate muscle recruitment and joint angle excursion were assessed by characterizing the strength duration curves, isometric torque recruitment curves and kinematics of joint angle excursion over 6-8 weeks post implantation.