Multicenter initial experience with the EmboTrap device in acute anterior ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Mechanical thrombectomy predominantly using stent retrievers effectively restores cerebral blood flow and improves functional outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke. We sought to determine the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy using the EmboTrap device. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 80 consecutive patients from 4 centers with acute ischemic stroke treated with EmboTrap from June 2015 to December 2016. All patients had confirmed large vessel occlusions in the anterior circulation using CT or MR angiography with salvageable tissue. We assessed baseline characteristics and treatment related parameters including onset-to-treatment time, recanalization success (mTICI 2b or greater), complications, and good clinical outcome (mRS 0 to 2). RESULTS: Successful recanalization was achieved in 72 patients (90%). When considering the use of a second thrombectomy device as failure, the EmboTrap successfully recanalized 65 patients (81%), with complete (mTICI 3) recanalization in 40 patients (50%) within 1 or 2 passes. Median procedure time (groin to recanalization) was 35 minutes (8-161 minutes). During the procedure, distal emboli in previously unaffected territories were found in 5 (6%) patients. There were 3 vasospasms (4%) and no vessel perforations. Intracranial hemorrhage on CT at day 1 was found in 18 17 (2321%) patients, none with subarachnoid hemorrhages, and 5 were symptomatic (6%). Good clinical outcome occurred in 4749/68 78 patients (6963%). CONCLUSIONS: In this multicenter retrospective study, the EmboTrap device achieved high recanalization rates, good clinical outcomes and was safe in treating acute stroke patients with large vessel occlusions.

Shoot meristem: an ideal explant for Zea mays L. transformation.

We report on a rapid high-frequency somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration protocol for Zea mays. Maize plants were regenerated from complete shoot meristem (3-4 mm) explants via organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis. In organogenesis, the shoot meristems were directly cultured on a high-cytokinin medium comprising 5-10 mg x L(-1) 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). The number of multiple shoots produced per meristem varied from six to eight Plantlet regeneration through organogenesis resulted in just four weeks. Callus was induced in five days of incubation on an auxin-modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. Prolific callus, with numerous somatic embryos, developed within 3-4 weeks when cultured on an auxin medium containing 5 mg 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid x L(-1). The number of multiple shoots varied from three to six per callus. Using R23 (Pioneer, Hi-Bred, Johnston, Iowa), the frequency of callus induction was consistently in excess of 80% and plant regeneration ranged between 47 and 64%. All regenerated plantlets survived in the greenhouse and produced normal plants. Each transgenic plant produced leaves, glumes, and anthers that uniformly expressed green fluorescent protein (GFP). The GFP gene segregated in the pollen. Based on this data it is concluded that the transgenics arose from single-cell somatic embryos. The rate of transfer DNA (T-DNA) transfer to complete shoot meristems of Zea mays was high on the auxin medium and was independent of using super-virulent strains of Agrobacterium.

Production, regeneration and biochemical precursors of the major components of the defensive secretion of Eurycotis floridana (Dictyoptera, polyzosteriinae).

The defensive secretion of the cockroach Eurycotis floridana contains three main components, (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-hexenol and (E)-2-hexenoic acid, which represented about 98% of the organic phase. The quantity of the aldehyde, alcohol, and acid present in the defensive secretion increased rapidly for 60 days from the imaginal moult. Following artificial discharge, the males were able to regenerate their initial volume of secretion over a 30 day period. To investigate the possible routes of biosynthesis of the three components, E. floridana was injected with 14C-labeled fatty acids and acetate, and the incorporation of 14C into the three components were quantified 1, 6, and 24 h after milking. Our results revealed that oleic, linoleic, linolenic and palmitic acids, which constitute part of the fat body of the insect, were incorporated to the same degree into the three main components, but very slowly compared to acetate. Although it has not been possible to identify the exact route of aldehyde, alcohol and acid biosynthesis, our findings suggests that (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-hexenol and (E)-2-hexenoic acid are preferentially biosynthesized de novo from acetate.

Evidence for sex pheromones produced by males and females inBlatta orientalis (Dictyoptera, Blattidae).

Males and females ofBlatta orientalis produce a volatile sex pheromone attractive at a distance. The male initiates courtship behavior by adopting a calling posture while emitting his sex pheromone. He exposes the anterior region of his tergites by stretching his abdomen horizontally. Morphological observations show the existence of male tergal glands on the anterior region of tergites 1 to 8. Behavioral assays of females utilizing methylene chloride extracts of various male body parts reveal that extracts of the anterior region of tergites are highly attractive and induce more positive responses that any other body part. Once near the male, the attracted female opens widely her genital atrium thus exposing her atrial glands. Behavioral assays reveal that these atrial glands are certainly the site of production of the female sex pheromone.