Differentiation of glioma and solitary brain metastasis: a multi-parameter magnetic resonance imaging study using histogram analysis.

BACKGROUND: Differentiation of glioma and solitary brain metastasis (SBM), which requires biopsy or multi-disciplinary diagnosis, remains sophisticated clinically. Histogram analysis of MR diffusion or molecular imaging hasn't been fully investigated for the differentiation and may have the potential to improve it. METHODS: A total of 65 patients with newly diagnosed glioma or metastases were enrolled. All patients underwent DWI, IVIM, and APTW, as well as the T1W, T2W, T2FLAIR, and contrast-enhanced T1W imaging. The histogram features of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from DWI, slow diffusion coefficient (Dslow), perfusion fraction (frac), fast diffusion coefficient (Dfast) from IVIM, and MTRasym@3.5ppm from APTWI were extracted from the tumor parenchyma and compared between glioma and SBM. Parameters with significant differences were analyzed with the logistics regression and receiver operator curves to explore the optimal model and compare the differentiation performance. RESULTS: Higher ADCkurtosis (P = 0.022), frackurtosis (P<0.001),and fracskewness (P<0.001) were found for glioma, while higher (MTRasym@3.5ppm)10 (P = 0.045), frac10 (P<0.001),frac90 (P = 0.001), fracmean (P<0.001), and fracentropy (P<0.001) were observed for SBM. frackurtosis (OR = 0.431, 95%CI 0.256-0.723, P = 0.002) was independent factor for SBM differentiation. The model combining (MTRasym@3.5ppm)10, frac10, and frackurtosis showed an AUC of 0.857 (sensitivity: 0.857, specificity: 0.750), while the model combined with frac10 and frackurtosis had an AUC of 0.824 (sensitivity: 0.952, specificity: 0.591). There was no statistically significant difference between AUCs from the two models. (Z = -1.14, P = 0.25). CONCLUSIONS: The frac10 and frackurtosis in enhanced tumor region could be used to differentiate glioma and SBM and (MTRasym@3.5ppm)10 helps improving the differentiation specificity.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the PHD Finger Gene Family in Pea (Pisum sativum).

The plant homeodomain finger (PHD finger) protein, a type of zinc finger protein extensively distributed in eukaryotes, plays diverse roles in regulating plant growth and development. While PHD finger proteins have been identified in various species, their functions remain largely unexplored in pea (Pisum sativum). In this study, we identified 84 members of the PHD finger gene family in pea, which displayed an uneven distribution across seven chromosomes. Through a comprehensive analysis using data from Arabidopsis thaliana and Medicago truncatula, we categorized the PHD finger proteins into 20 subfamilies via phylogenetic tree analysis. Each subfamily exhibited distinct variations in terms of quantity, genetic structure, conserved domains, and physical and chemical properties. Collinearity analysis revealed conserved evolutionary relationships among the PHD finger genes across the three different species. Furthermore, we identified the conserved and important roles of the subfamily M members in anther development. RT-qPCR and in situ hybridization revealed high expression of the pea subfamily M members PsPHD11 and PsPHD16 in microspores and the tapetum layer. In conclusion, this analysis of the PHD finger family in pea provides valuable guidance for future research on the biological roles of PHD finger proteins in pea and other leguminous plants.

Mutations of PsPALM1a and PsPALM1b associated with the afila phenotype in Pea.

Semi-leafless represents an advantageous plant architecture in pea breeding due to its ability to enhance resistance to lodging and potentially to powdery mildew. The introduction of semi-leafless pea varieties is considered a seminal advancement in pea breeding over the past half-century. The afila (af) mutation leads to the replacement of lateral leaflets by highly branched tendrils; combined with the semi-dwarfing le mutation, it forms the semi-leafless cultivated variety. In this study, we identified that mutations in two tandemly-arrayed genes encoding Cys(2)His(2) zinc finger transcription factors, PsPALM1a and PsPALM1b, were closely associated with the afila phenotype. These two genes may be deleted in the af mutant. In situ hybridization showed that both genes exhibit specific expression in early leaflet primordia. Furthermore, suppression of PsPALM1a/PsPALM1b resulted in a high frequency of conversion of lateral leaflets into tendrils. In conclusion, our study provides genetic evidence demonstrating that mutations in PsPALM1a and PsPALM1b are responsible for the af locus, contributing to a better understanding of compound leaf formation in peas and offering new insights for breeding applications related to afila.

Selective Orexin 2 Receptor Blockade Alleviates Cognitive Impairments and the Pathological Progression of Alzheimer's Disease in 3xTg-AD Mice.

The orexin system is closely related to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Orexin-A aggravates cognitive dysfunction and increases amyloid ß (Aß) deposition in AD model mice, but studies of different dual orexin receptor (OXR) antagonists in AD have shown inconsistent results. Our previous study revealed that OX1R blockade aggravates cognitive deficits and pathological progression in 3xTg-AD mice, but the effects of OX2R and its potential mechanism in AD have not been reported. In the present study, OX2R was blocked by oral administration of the selective OX2R antagonist MK-1064, and the effects of OX2R blockade on cognitive dysfunction and neuropsychiatric symptoms in 3xTg-AD mice were evaluated via behavioral tests. Then, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and ELISA were used to detect Aß deposition, tau phosphorylation, and neuroinflammation, and electrophysiological and wheel-running activity recording were recorded to observe hippocampal synaptic plasticity and circadian rhythm. The results showed that OX2R blockade ameliorated cognitive dysfunction, improved LTP depression, increased the expression of PSD-95, alleviated anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and circadian rhythm disturbances in 3xTg-AD mice, and reduced Aß pathology, tau phosphorylation, and neuroinflammation in the brains of 3xTg-AD mice. These results indicated that chronic OX2R blockade exerts neuroprotective effects in 3xTg-AD mice by reducing AD pathology at least partly through improving circadian rhythm disturbance and the sleep-wake cycle and that OX2R might be a potential target for the prevention and treatment of AD; however, the potential mechanism by which OX2R exerts neuroprotective effects on AD needs to be further investigated.

Indoor pollution control based on surrogate model for residential buildings.

Individuals typically spend most of their lives indoors, predominantly in spaces like offices and residences. Consequently, prolonged indoor exposure underscores the critical significance of maintaining optimal indoor air quality (IAQ) to safeguard one's health. The primary impediment to attaining efficient regulation of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is the challenge of monitoring the IAQ parameters, particularly within the immediate vicinity of an individual's breathing space. Current heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems lack the ability to rapidly predict and optimize the quality of indoor air. The objective of this study is to acquire the distribution features of indoor pollutants and precise indoor environment data in order to efficiently forecast and enhance the IAQ. To achieve this objective, a proposed surrogate model was developed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Notably, the Kriging surrogate model can rapidly predict IAQ while using a limited number of CFD runs. CFD are widely used as numerical simulation methods to obtain the accurate information. Surrogate models can rapidly forecast indoor environmental conditions using CFD simulation data simultaneously. Optimization algorithms can efficiently achieve desirable indoor ambient conditions, offering highly effective and intelligent control techniques for indoor atmospheric ventilation.