Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is a powerful transduction technique with a leading role in the biosensing field due to its high sensitivity and low background signal. Although the intrinsic analytical strength of ECL depends critically on the overall efficiency of the mechanisms of its generation, studies aimed at enhancing the ECL signal have mostly focused on the investigation of materials, either luminophores or coreactants, while fundamental mechanistic studies are relatively scarce. Here, we discover an unexpected but highly efficient mechanistic path for ECL generation close to the electrode surface (signal enhancement, 128%) using an innovative combination of ECL imaging techniques and electrochemical mapping of radical generation. Our findings, which are also supported by quantum chemical calculations and spin trapping methods, led to the identification of a family of alternative branched amine coreactants, which raises the analytical strength of ECL well beyond that of present state-of-the-art immunoassays, thus creating potential ECL applications in ultrasensitive bioanalysis.

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The effects of long-term low intensity aerobic training and detraining on serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations were examined in 30 elderly men and women. These subjects were randomly divided into two groups. The training group [n = 15; 7 men and 8 women; mean age 75.5 (SD 5.6) years] agreed to take part in physical training using a treadmill with an exercise intensity at the blood lactate concentration threshold for 30 min 3-6 times a week for 9 months. The other group [n = 15; 7 men and 8 women; mean age 73.7 (SD 4.4) years] did not perform any particular physical training and was followed as the control. Following this training period the high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) had increased significantly (P < 0.01) while the total cholesterol (TC):HDL-C ratio had decreased significantly (P < 0.01) in the training group after 9 months but had not changed in the control group. The TC, triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) had not changed significantly in either group. No significant difference was seen between the groups throughout the period for TC. LDL-C or TG. There was, however, a significant correlation between the initial TC:HDL-C ratio and the change in the TC:HDL-C ratio following 3 months of training (P < 0.05). After 1 month of detraining in 5 patients, the HDL-C had decreased significantly (P < 0.05) while the TC:HDL-C had increased significantly in the training group (P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pulled elbow is a common upper extremity injury in children. We present a retrospective study of 2331 pulled elbow cases examined in our hospital over the last ten years. All pediatric patients with a diagnosis of pulled elbow from January 2002 to December 2011 were retrospectively reviewed according to sex, age, affected arm, recurrence rate, mechanism of injury and treatment outcomes. There is no significant sex difference. The frequency of injury peaked for both boys and girls at 6 months and 2 years of age. The left arm was more affected than the right. The recurrence rate was 14%. In about 50% of cases, the cause of injury was forcible traction to the forearm. Almost all of the splinted patients, caused by severe pain or lack of mobility of the affected limb following reduction, recovered within 2 weeks, but 2 were later diagnosed with a fracture. For infants less than 1 year old, injury can often occur when rolling over. For children 1 year old or older the left arm is more commonly affected, and the frequency of injuries to the left arm increases with age, possibly because the left hand is commonly held by the guardian’s dominant right hand and faster development of muscle strength in the child’s dominant right arm works toward preventing injury to that arm with age.

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