Longitudinal Microstructural Changes in Traumatic Brain Injury in Rats: A Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging, Histology, and Behavior Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Traumatic brain injury is a major public health problem worldwide. Accurately evaluating the brain microstructural changes in traumatic brain injury is crucial for the treatment and prognosis assessment. This study aimed to assess the longitudinal brain microstructural changes in traumatic brain injury in the rat using diffusional kurtosis imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diffusional kurtosis imaging was performed in a group of 5 rats at preinjury and 3, 14, and 28 days after traumatic brain injury. The diffusional kurtosis imaging parameters were measured in the bilateral cortex, hippocampus, and corpus callosum. Another 4 groups of 5 rats were used in brain immunohistochemistry analysis of neuron (neuron-specific nuclear protein [NeuN]), astroglia (glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP]), microglia (ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 [Iba-1]), and myelin (myelin basic protein [MBP]) in the same area as the diffusional kurtosis imaging parameter measurements. Furthermore, 2 groups of 6 rats underwent a Morris water maze test at 28 days after traumatic brain injury. The diffusional kurtosis imaging parameters, immunohistochemistry results, and Morris water maze test results were compared longitudinally or between traumatic brain injury and control groups. RESULTS: Compared with baseline, traumatic brain injury in the rat showed higher mean kurtosis and mean diffusivity values in the ipsilateral perilesional cortex and hippocampus and lower fractional anisotropy values in the corpus callosum (P < .05). The traumatic brain injury group showed higher staining of GFAP and Iba-1 and lower immunohistochemistry staining of NeuN and MBP in all ipsilateral ROIs (P < .05). There was no significant difference in the contralateral ROIs in diffusional kurtosis imaging parameters or immunohistochemistry results. The Morris water maze test revealed lower platform crossing times in the probe test (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicated that there were longitudinal changes in diffusional kurtosis imaging parameters, accompanied by multiple pathologic changes at different time points following traumatic brain injury, and that mean kurtosis is more sensitive to detect microstructural changes, especially in gray matter, than mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy.

3,6-dihydroxyflavone suppresses the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration and invasion in endometrial stromal cells by inhibiting the Notch signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Endometriosis is a common disease in women of reproductive age. Characteristics of endometriosis include invasion, metastasis, and recurrence, which are similar to those of malignant tumors. However, the etiology and pathogenesis of endometriosis are still not clear. This study aims to explore the mechanism of 3,6-dihydroxyflavone (3,6-DHF) in the development of endometriosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Primary cultured ovarian ectopic endometrial stromal cells (OvESCs) were utilized as the in vitro model of endometriosis. OvESCs were treated with different concentrations of 3,6-DHF. The expressions of proteins related to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Notch signal pathway were detected by Western blot. The mRNA expressions of related genes were detected by quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The viability of treated cells was detected by transwell assay. The impact of 3,6-DHF on ectopic lesions was explored after the animal model of endometriosis was successfully established. RESULTS: With the increased concentration of 3,6-DHF in OvESCs, the protein and mRNA expressions of E-cadherin were gradually increased, while the protein and mRNA expressions of N-cadherin, Twist, Snail, and Slug were decreased. 3,6-DHF treatment inhibited the migration and invasion ability of OvESCs in a dose-dependent manner. In the endometriosis model of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, lesions in the 3,6-DHF treated group were significantly smaller than those of the control group. The same changes were found in the endometriosis model of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Protein expressions of Notch1, NICD, and Hes-1 in OvESCs were inhibited by 3,6-DHF in a dose-dependent manner. 3,6-DHF can inhibit the binding of NICD-CSL-MAML complex in OvESCs, thereby inhibiting the expressions of proteins related to Notch signaling pathway in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: 3,6-DHF can inhibit the development of EMT, migration, and invasion of endometrial stromal cells by inhibiting the Notch signaling pathway.

Association between metabolic syndrome and white matter lesions in middle-aged and elderly patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been reported to be associated with silent lacunar infarction, which is highly related to white matter lesions (WMLs). However, little is known about the relationship between MetS and the prevalence of WMLs. The association between MetS, its components and WMLs in middle-aged and elderly patients was investigated. METHODS: Consecutive patients aged 50 years and older were prospectively enrolled in this study. All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging scans to assess the presence and severity of WMLs. The MetS was defined according to the updated National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship between MetS, its components and WMLs. RESULTS: A total of 852 patients were enrolled in the study. MetS was present in 38.4%. MetS was associated with an increased risk of periventricular WMLs (PVWMLs) and deep WMLs (DWMLs) after multivariable adjustment (odds ratio 3.21, 95% confidence interval 2.26-4.55 for PVWMLs; odds ratio 2.93, 95% confidence interval 2.09-4.09 for DWMLs). Amongst MetS components, elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting blood glucose and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol were associated with PVWMLs, whilst elevated blood pressure and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol were related to DWMLs. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that MetS is associated with the prevalence of PVWMLs and DWMLs independent of other risk factors in middle-aged and elderly patients. The association between MetS as a cluster and WMLs was not driven by MetS components.

Controlled formation and reflection of a bright solitary matter-wave.

Bright solitons are non-dispersive wave solutions, arising in a diverse range of nonlinear, one-dimensional systems, including atomic Bose-Einstein condensates with attractive interactions. In reality, cold-atom experiments can only approach the idealized one-dimensional limit necessary for the realization of true solitons. Nevertheless, it remains possible to create bright solitary waves, the three-dimensional analogue of solitons, which maintain many of the key properties of their one-dimensional counterparts. Such solitary waves offer many potential applications and provide a rich testing ground for theoretical treatments of many-body quantum systems. Here we report the controlled formation of a bright solitary matter-wave from a Bose-Einstein condensate of (85)Rb, which is observed to propagate over a distance of ∼1.1 mm in 150 ms with no observable dispersion. We demonstrate the reflection of a solitary wave from a repulsive Gaussian barrier and contrast this to the case of a repulsive condensate, in both cases finding excellent agreement with theoretical simulations using the three-dimensional Gross-Pitaevskii equation.

Relationship between HBV cccDNA expression in the human ovary and vertical transmission of HBV.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in the ovary and vertical transmission of HBV. HBV DNA and HBV cccDNA were assayed in the ovaries of 33 pregnant women who were positive for HBV DNA. The HBVM (HBV markers, including HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBeAb, HBcAb) level and the HBV DNA content in peripheral blood of infants were measured. The overall positive rate of HBV DNA and HBV cccDNA in samples was 51·52% (17/33). The intrauterine infection rate of the infants was 12·12% (4/33). When HBV DNA and HBV cccDNA were both positive, the intrauterine infection rate of infants was significantly higher than when they were both negative (P<0·05). Levels of HBV cccDNA and the rate of positive samples were significantly higher in mothers with infants with intrauterine infection than in those without (P<0·01 and P<0·05, respectively). HBV can infect the human ovary and may transmit to the filial generation via the ovum.

Physiological and genetic properties of tomato fruits from 2 cultivars differing in chilling tolerance at cold storage.

Postharvest tomato fruits are cold-sensitive, and easy to develop chilling injury (CI) at cold storage. Information on physiological and genetic characteristics closely related to CI is necessary because it is significant to realize CI development regular and find sensitive indicators reflecting cultivar cold tolerance, which are the basics to prevent CI. In this study, we used 2 tomato cultivars (Lichun and Santiam) differing in cold tolerance to analyze ion leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) in postharvest fruits chilled at cold storage. Expression of cold-response gene LeCBF1, a key regulator in cold-response, was also detected. Results showed that ion leakage, with a high correlation coefficient (0.9661) to CI index, exactly reflected injury development phase and degree; sharp increase of MDA and proline content appeared at and before the time of main development phase of CI (10 d); however, fluctuant CAT and POD activities could not sensitively reflect CI development, since their regular changes didn't appear until the main development phase ended. Thus, ion leakage, MDA, and proline content were effective indicators for CI analysis in postharvest tomato fruits. Although physiological analysis was effective in CI analysis, it was complex to be used in judging cold tolerance. Expression of LeCBF1 gene swiftly responded to low temperature within 1 h. In accordance with those physiological parameters, LeCBF1 expression level was positively correlated with cold tolerance and showed a high correlation to CI index (-0.9176). These suggested that LeCBF1 analysis could be effectively used in fast testing the cold tolerance of tomato.

A randomised controlled trial of prophylactic levonorgestrel intrauterine system in tamoxifen-treated women.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prophylactic use of levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) in the prevention of endometrial pathology in women having breast cancer treated with tamoxifen. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: A tertiary teaching hospital. POPULATION: One hundred and thirteen women (66 premenopausal/47 postmenopausal) who required adjuvant tamoxifen for breast cancer after the completion of postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. METHODS: Women were randomised to treatment group (prophylactic LNG-IUS insertion before the commencement of tamoxifen) or control group. Uterine cavity was examined by outpatient hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy before and at 12 months after commencement of tamoxifen. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: De novo endometrial pathology at 1 year of tamoxifen. RESULTS: Women in the treatment group had a much lower incidence of endometrial polyp (1.8 versus 15.5%, P= 0.017) (relative risk: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.02-0.91) at 12 months. There was no significant difference in the incidence of submucosal fibroid between the two groups (1.8 versus 3.4%, P= 1.0). LNG-IUS was retained in 95% women in the treatment group at 1 year. CONCLUSION: LNG-IUS reduces the occurrence of de novo endometrial polyp in women treated with tamoxifen for breast cancer.

Transcriptional profiling suggests that Barrett's metaplasia is an early intermediate stage in esophageal adenocarcinogenesis.

To investigate the relationship between Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), we determined gene expression profiles of discrete pathological stages of esophageal neoplasia using a sequence-verified human cDNA microarray. Fifty one RNAs, comprising 24 normal esophagi (NE), 18 BEs, and nine EACs were hybridized to cDNA microarrays. Five statistical analyses were used for the data analysis. Genes showing significantly different expression levels among the three sample groups were identified. Genes were grouped into functional categories based on the Gene Ontology Consortium. Surprisingly, the expression pattern of BE was significantly more similar to EAC than to NE, notwithstanding the known histopathologic differences between BE and EAC. The pattern of NE was clearly distinct from that of EAC. Thirty-six genes were the most differentially modulated, according to these microarray data, in BE-associated neoplastic progression. Twelve genes were significantly differentially expressed in cancer-associated BE's plus EAC (as a single combined tissue group) vs noncancer-associated BE's. These genes represent potential biomarkers to diagnose EAC at its early stages. Our results demonstrate that molecular events at the transcriptional level in BE are remarkably similar to BE's-associated adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. This finding alarmingly implies that BE is biologically closer to cancer than to normal esophagus, and that the cancer risk of BE is perhaps higher than we had imagined. These findings suggest that changes modulated at the molecular biologic level supervene earlier than histologic changes, and that BE is an early intermediate stage in the process of EAC.

Accuracy and precision of manual baseline determination.

Vibrational spectra often require baseline removal before further data analysis can be performed. Manual (i.e., user) baseline determination and removal is a common technique used to perform this operation. Currently, little data exists that details the accuracy and precision that can be expected with manual baseline removal techniques. This study addresses this current lack of data. One hundred spectra of varying signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), signal-to-baseline ratio (SBR), baseline slope, and spectral congestion were constructed and baselines were subtracted by 16 volunteers who were categorized as being either experienced or inexperienced in baseline determination. In total, 285 baseline determinations were performed. The general level of accuracy and precision that can be expected for manually determined baselines from spectra of varying SNR, SBR, baseline slope, and spectral congestion is established. Furthermore, the effects of user experience on the accuracy and precision of baseline determination is estimated. The interactions between the above factors in affecting the accuracy and precision of baseline determination is highlighted. Where possible, the functional relationships between accuracy, precision, and the given spectral characteristic are detailed. The results provide users of manual baseline determination useful guidelines in establishing limits of accuracy and precision when performing manual baseline determination, as well as highlighting conditions that confound the accuracy and precision of manual baseline determination.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis with atypical histologic features: a case report.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) is a rare smooth muscle tumor. We report a case of IVL with atypical histologic features, which did not respond to gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists and could be only partially resected due to adherence to the vessel wall. Atypical histology may signify more aggressive behavior. IVL should always be considered when a patient presents with both uterine leiomyoma and venous thrombosis, and a high index of suspicion is crucial for early diagnosis. An adequate surgical preparation including venous graft or prosthetic reconstruction is essential as difficulty in removal may arise if the intravascular tumor adheres to the vessel wall.

Aberrant expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1) and p27(KIP1) in cervical carcinoma.

An immuno-histochemical study of p21 and p27 expression in cervical carcinoma was performed in 73 patients. Positive p21 and p27 staining was detected in 35.6 and 11% of tumour tissues, respectively. p21 expression was significantly correlated with advanced disease stage and negative human papilloma virus infection whilst positive p27 staining was not correlated with any clinical and pathological parameters studied. Kaplan-Meier estimation indicated that survival might be related to disease stage, tumour grade and p21 expression. Cox regression analysis confirmed that advanced stage disease and poorly differentiated tumour are independent prognostic factors for cervical carcinoma.

[Application of a gel chromatography renaturing way on low molecular single-chain urokinase mutant(DscuPA-32K)].

A recombinant mutant gene with thrombolytic and antithrombolytic bifunction was expressed in E. coli. Owing to two reasons of high molecular weight and over expression, dscuPA existed in inclusion body form. The protein of inclusion body was inactive protein. In order to obtain active protein, inclusion bodies should be denatured and then renatured. We performed a novel way named gel-chromatography column renaturation way. Compare with traditional renaturation way, this refolding approach had some obvious advantages, such as low cost and high recovery, and accomplished the preliminary purification step of desired protein(DscuPA-32K). Especially to proteins that easily became inactive and degradation, this approach might have good prospect.

Alteration of cyclin D1 and CDK4 gene in carcinoma of uterine cervix.

Amplification and overexpression of cyclin D1 and CDK4 genes in cervical carcinoma were studied by semi-quantitative differential polymerase chain reaction assay and an immunostaining technique, respectively. Amplifications of cyclin D1 and CDK4 genes were found in 24% (27/113) and 26% (29/112) of tumors, respectively. Overexpression of cyclin D1 and CDK4 was demonstrated in 32% (21/66) and 73% (45/62) of tumors, respectively. No tumor showed CDK4 gene mutation on single strand conformational polymorphism. Sixteen percent (8/49) of the tumor specimens showed neither amplification nor overexpression. Disease stage, tumor grade and overexpression of cyclin D1 were found to be independent poor prognostic factors in cervical carcinoma.

[Construction and characterization of the chimeric protein consisting RGD-containing peptide and proUK].

On the basis of structure analysis and computer modeling of proUK, two-chain DNA fragment encoding RGD peptide was inserted into the corresponding proUK cDNA site between Gly118-Leu119, using site-directed mutagenesis and DNA recombinant techniques. The chimeric gene was expressed in methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris expression system. The chimeric protein was purified after two step purification of Zn2+ chelating column and SP cation exchange column. The specific activity was 65,000 IU/mg protein. The chimeric protein had somewhat lower catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) on the substrate S2444 as compared to Urokinase. But it had high anti-platelet aggregation activity, and the half inhibit constant was 2.1 mumol/L. The results showed that the chimeric protein not only had higher thrombolytic activity but also obtained anti-thrombus function. Further evaluation of the thrombolytic and antithrombolytic potential in appropriate animal models seemed to be investigated.

[Regeneration of HNP transgenic alfalfa plants by Agrobacterium mediated gene transfer].

Transgenic plants regenerated from cotyledons of M. sativa L. infected using Agrobacterium tumefaciens A281 with plasmid pBF649 containing a gene encoding protein of high sulfur-amino acid content (HNP) were obtained successfully. The plants grew and fertiled well in field. Cotyledon explants were better recipient for transformation of M. sativa L. Environment of suitable temperature (15 degrees C) and high humidity on high viability of the plants transplanted into soil were essential conditions.

[Leptotrombidium (L.) scutellare as the transmitting vector of tsutsugamushi disease of autumn-winter type in Jiangsu Province].

In 1986, epidemic of tsutsugamushi disease of autumn-winter type was found in Jiangsu province. To clarify the vector of this disease, we carried out a series of studies in 1986-1992. Leptotrombidium (L.) scutellare was found to be a dominant species of chigger mite on rats in the endemic areas and its seasonal distribution was correlated with the incidence of tsutsugamushi disease in inhabitants. This mite could naturally be infected by Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, and R. tsutsugamushi could be transmitted via biting and transovarial transmission. Specific antibodies could be detected in the sera of mice bitten by the mites or inoculated with the suspension of mites. Serological typing of the sera of mice was of Gilliam type. The above results demonstrate that L. (L.) scutellare can serve as transmitting vector of tsutsugamushi disease of autumn-winter type.