Closing the loop: Novel quantitative fMRI approach for manipulation of the sensorimotor loop in tremor.

Tremor is thought to be an effect of oscillatory activity within the sensorimotor network. To date, the underlying pathological brain networks are not fully understood. Disentangling tremor activity from voluntary motor output and sensorimotor feedback systems is challenging. To better understand the intrinsic sensorimotor fingerprint underlying tremor, we aimed to disentangle the sensorimotor system into driving (motor) and feedback/compensatory (sensory) neuronal involvement, and aimed to pinpoint tremor activity in essential tremor (ET) and tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease (PD) with a novel closed-loop approach. Eighteen ET patients, 14 tremor-dominant PD patients, and 18 healthy controls were included. An MR-compatible wrist manipulator was employed during functional MRI (fMRI) while muscle activity during (in)voluntary movements was concurrently recorded using electromyography (EMG). Tremor was quantified based on EMG and correlated to brain activity. Participants performed three tasks: an active wrist motor task, a passive wrist movement task, and rest (no wrist movement). The results in healthy controls proved that our experimental paradigm activated the expected motor and sensory networks separately using the active (motor) and passive (sensory) task. ET patients showed similar patterns of activation within the motor and sensory networks. PD patients had less activity during the active motor task in the cerebellum and basal ganglia compared to ET and healthy controls. EMG showed that in ET, tremor fluctuations correlated positively with activity in the inferior olive region, and that in PD tremor fluctuations correlated positively with cerebellar activity. Our novel approach with an MR-compatible wrist manipulator, allowed to investigate the involvement of the motor and sensory networks separately, and as such to better understand tremor pathophysiology. In ET sensorimotor network function did not differ from healthy controls. PD showed less motor-related activity. Focusing on tremor, our results indicate involvement of the inferior olive in ET tremor modulation, and cerebellar involvement in PD tremor modulation.

Probiotic as an adjuvant therapy in chronic urticaria: a blinded randomized controlled clinical trial.

Summary: Background. Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a common and treatment challenging disorder which may involve about 2% of normal population and in 50% do not respond properly even to the second line therapies. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a synbiotic (prebiotic + probiotic) named as LactoCare in treatment of CSU in the RCT for the first time. Methods. This blinded RCT conducted on 42 patients (21 patients in control antihistamine group and 21 in intervention antihistamine + probiotic group) with CSU during 8 weeks. The efficacy assessed by Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7) and quality of life measured by Persian validated Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Results. Before and after UAS7 score in control group was 35.33 ± 7.81 and 16.86 ± 13.54, respectively. There was 53% score reduction in control group. Before and after UAS7 score in intervention group was 32 ± 7.84 and 11 ± 11.41, respectively. There was 66% score reduction in intervention group. Improvement of DLQI in control and intervention group was 44% and 66%, respectively. At the end, UAS7 score reduction and DLQI improvement in both groups was statistically significant. Conclusions. Probiotics are effective, safe and satisfactory adjuvant therapy for CSU. Combination of probiotic and antihistamines had no statistically significant different efficacy than the antihistamine alone, based on UAS7 score. But Patients with combination therapy may experience higher reduction rate of itch, number of urticaria and total UAS7 score that is clinically of great value and is really practical by itself. Patients with combination therapy experienced more improvement of quality of life (DLQI).

Effect of Microemulsion Structure on Fluorescence and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Rhodamine 6G.

This study is conducted to investigate the effect of nano-droplets concentration and size on linear and nonlinear optical properties of Rhodamine 6G by UV-Vis, spectrofluorometer and Z-Scan techniques. Nano-droplets were prepared by mixture of AOT, n-Decane and Water at three different water to surfactant molar ratios (W = 3, 6.7 and 40) and two dye to water mass ratios (R). At high enough dye concentration, the fluorescence intensity and its red shift depend on the concentration of dye in water nano-droplets (R). Moreover, the fluorescence spectra of R6G can be enhanced by confined water nano-droplets (microemulsion) at higher dye to water mass ratios. The Raman Spectra reveal no dependence of R6G local polarity in the AOT reversed micelles to nano-droplet size. From the Bakhshiev equation, the excited to ground state dipole moment ratio (µ e /µ g ) was calculated through solvatochromic shift method for different nano-droplet concentrations. The results show that µ e /µ g of R6G in water nano-droplets is smaller than that of bulk water. At high enough dye concentration, µ e /µ g depends on the nano-droplets' dye content. The dye aggregation can affect the dipole moment R6G in microemulsion. Two photon absorption coefficient (ß), nonlinear refractive index (n 2), the real third order susceptibility ([Formula: see text]) and the second order hyperpolarizability ([Formula: see text]) were measured using the Z-Scan technique at different nano-droplet concentration and two sizes of nano-droplet. The results show a good compatibility with the attained consequence by Quantum Perturbation theory. In this content, the interaction of nano-droplet was studied by dynamic light scattering, whose results indicate an ascending trend in mobility of nano-droplets by the increase of nano-droplets dye content. Hence increase of dye in nano-droplets influences the dye aggregation, fluorescence red shift and dipole moment ratio (µ e /µ g ) by the nano-droplet collision.

Cerebellar Atrophy in Cortical Myoclonic Tremor and Not in Hereditary Essential Tremor-a Voxel-Based Morphometry Study.

Essential tremor (ET) presumably has a cerebellar origin. Imaging studies showed various cerebellar and also cortical structural changes. A number of pathology studies indicated cerebellar Purkinje cell pathology. ET is a heterogeneous disorder, possibly indicating different underlying disease mechanisms. Familial cortical myoclonic tremor with epilepsy (FCMTE), with evident Purkinje cell degeneration, can be an ET mimic. Here, we investigate whole brain and, more specifically, cerebellar morphological changes in hereditary ET, FCMTE, and healthy controls. Anatomical magnetic resonance images were preprocessed using voxel-based morphometry. Study 1 included voxel-wise comparisons of 36 familial, propranolol-sensitive ET patients, with subgroup analysis on age at onset and head tremor, and 30 healthy controls. Study 2 included voxel-wise comparisons in another nine ET patients, eight FCMTE patients, and nine healthy controls. Study 3 compared total cerebellar volume between 45 ET patients, 8 FCTME patients, and 39 controls. In our large sample of selected hereditary ET patients and ET subgroups, no local atrophy was observed compared to healthy controls or FCMTE. In ET patients with head tremor, a volume increase in cortical motor regions was observed. In FCMTE, a decrease in total cerebellar volume and in local cerebellar gray matter was observed compared to healthy controls and ET patients. The current study did not find local atrophy, specifically not in the cerebellum in hereditary ET, contrary to FCMTE. Volume increase of cortical motor areas in ET patients with head tremor might suggest cortical plasticity changes due to continuous involuntary head movements.

Dietary supplementation of Gracilariopsis persica is associated with some quality related sera and egg yolk parameters in laying quails.

BACKGROUND: Gracilariopsis persica (Gp) is one of the most abundant red algae distributed in the Persian Gulf, containing various bioactive components with hypolipedimic, hypoglycemic and antioxidant properties. Therefore using laying quails as a model we aimed to investigate the effect of dietary Gp on body weight, feed conversion, estradiol, progesterone, calcium and lipid levels in serum, as well as the high-density:low-density lipoprotein (HDL:LDL) ratio. Yolk cholesterol and yolk lipid oxidation were also evaluated. To accomplish this, diets containing 0, 10, 30 and 50 g kg(-1) Gp were fed to 5-week-old laying quails for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Our data revealed that Gp had no effect on body weight, feed conversion, triglycerides and estradiol levels of serum. Dietary Gp decreased the serum and yolk cholesterol in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the sera progesterone and calcium levels and HDL:LDL ratios were increased by feeding diets containing 50 g kg(-1) Gp. Our results relating to yolk lipid oxidation showed that malondialdehyde content was decreased in Gp-fed laying quails. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study demonstrate that not only serum and egg yolk cholesterol levels, but also susceptibility of yolk lipids to oxidation, can be decreased by feeding Gp to laying quails.

Pluripotency properties of embryonic stem cells isolated from stage X blastoderm of Mazandaran native chicken.

The aim of this study was to isolate Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs) from native chicken and to characterize their pluripotency properties through the cellular and molecular markers. Samples obtained from fertilized eggs from Mazandaran native hens. Cells were isolated from area of pellucida from stage X native hens' blastoderm. Then the cells were cultured on inactivated mouse SNL feeder cells in the presence of LIF, IGF-1, bFGF, CNTF, OSM, SCF, Il-6, and Il-11 growth factors. The native chickens' ESCs colonies were picked up and subsequently passaged. To characterize the cells, they were analyzed for their alkaline phosphatase activity, and also for the expression of SSEA-4, and TRA-1-60 as embryonic-specific markers at the protein level. Furthermore, the expression of pluripotency (cPouV, Sox2, and Nanog) and cell lineage specific (Cvh, Brachyury, and Gata6) gene markers was evaluated at the level of mRNA using quantitative RT-PCR. Isolated cells were passaged repeatedly and successfully up to ten passages. The stemness of embryonic cells has been approved by the activity of the alkaline phosphatase, presence of the SSEA-4, and TRA-1-60 protein, and expression of the molecular marker (cPouV, Nanog, and Sox-2) genes. The spontaneous differentiation of chicken ESCs confirmed the pluripotecy of the cells in differentiation into specialized cell lineages. Our observation showed that ESCs can be isolated successfully from stage X blastoderm of Mazandaran native chickens and these cells maintain their stemness properties during multi-passages in vitro.

Assay of IL-22 and IL-25 in serum, whole blood, and peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures of patients with severe asthma.

BACKGROUND: Although some studies show that IL-22 and IL-25 play critical roles in the pathogenesis of asthma, little is known about the systemic production of these cytokines. The aim of this study was to assay IL-22 and IL-25 in serum, in mitogen-activated whole blood (WB), and in mitogen-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures of patients with severe asthma. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was prepared to determine the severity of asthma. Through the questionnaire, information including clinical signs, clinical symptoms, and past medical history were acquired. Information collected allowed all patients who were active or ex-smokers to be excluded. A trained observer assessed airway reversibility, peak flowmetry, and spirometry in the remaining patients. Twenty-one patients and simultaneously, twenty age- and sex-matched healthy controls were selected. Sterile blood (10ml) was taken from each study participant. Sera were isolated and anticoagulant blood used for WB and PBMC cultures and haematological tests. Phytohaemagglutinin and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were used to activate WB and PBMC. The data from these two groups were compared using Student's t-test. RESULTS: Although the total white blood cell count was elevated in the asthmatic group, other haematological indices, including IL-22 and IL-25 levels in the asthmatic group were not significantly (p>0.05) different from controls. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of IL-22 and IL-25 in patients with severe asthma are no higher than those of non-asthmatic individuals. Any major role for IL-22 and IL-25 in severe asthma is likely to be localised to the lungs and bronchial tissues.

Brucellosis-induced bilateral avascular necrosis of the hip joints in a middle-aged Iranian woman with refractory intolerance to medications: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Brucellosis is a zoonotic illness caused by Brucella bacteria, primarily transmitted through contaminated dairy products or direct contact with infected animals. Brucellosis is highly prevalent in Iran, with Brucella melitensis biovar 1 being the primary causative agent. Musculoskeletal symptoms, including spondylitis, sacroiliitis, and peripheral arthritis, are common in brucellosis patients, but avascular necrosis of the hip joint is extremely rare. CASE PRESENTATION: This case report presents a middle-aged woman from Iran with untreated brucellosis infection, who developed rapidly progressing avascular necrosis affecting both hip joints. The patient's social history did not indicate any use of tobacco or alcohol. Furthermore, there was no indication of any traumatic events affecting the patient's hip joints. The patient's family history did not reveal any rheumatologic disorders, and the patient had not been diagnosed with or reported using immune suppressant medications. Laboratory results confirmed that the patient was not diagnosed with sickle cell anemia. The patient had been intolerant to the prescribed medications, Rifampin and Doxycycline. Initially, she presented with severe bilateral hip pain, anorexia, vomiting, periodic chills and fever, myalgia, and night sweats. Pelvis X-ray confirmed bilateral hip avascular necrosis, and total hip arthroplasty was scheduled but subsequently canceled due to persistent brucellosis infection. Physical examination revealed limited hip motion, pain, and inability to bear weight. Laboratory tests indicated leukocytosis, elevated levels of CRP, and high titers on Wright and 2ME tests. Intravenous Ciprofloxacin was initiated, and further investigations were scheduled. DISCUSSION: Osteoarticular complications are common in individuals with brucellosis. The sacroiliac joints are affected in 80 % of cases, while the spinal joints are affected in 50 %. Brucella-induced arthritis can be found in over 50 % of patients, with the lower limb joints being the most commonly affected. Failure to diagnose and treat hip arthritis caused by brucellosis promptly can lead to severe complications, including dislocation and avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Avascular necrosis is a condition where bone tissue dies due to compromised blood supply. It often remains asymptomatic initially and is usually found incidentally during radiographic imaging. Osteonecrosis of the femoral head can manifest as Legg-Calve-Perthes disease or as a complication of other medical conditions. Various factors can contribute to avascular necrosis, including hip dislocation or fracture, prolonged use of certain medications, excessive alcohol consumption, and certain medical conditions. Magnetic resonance imaging is considered the standard method for diagnosing avascular necrosis. Delay in diagnosing and treating brucellosis can result in permanent bone complications. CONCLUSION: Brucellosis, a disease prevalent in endemic regions, should be considered as a cause of severe hip pain and other vague symptoms. Timely diagnosis and management are important, especially for high-risk patients with other health conditions and poor drug compliance, to prevent complications such as avascular necrosis.

Effects of flavomycin and probiotic supplementation to diets containing different sources of fat on growth performance, intestinal morphology, apparent metabolizable energy, and fat digestibility in broiler chickens.

This study was conducted with broilers to evaluate the effects of growth-promoting antibiotic (flavomycin) and probiotic (7 bacterial species) supplementation in diets containing soybean oil or free fatty acids (FFA) on performance, morphological parameters of the small intestine, apparent digestibility of gross energy (GE) in the ileum, and apparent digestibility of fat in the ileum and total intestinal tract. Eight-hundred and sixty 4-d-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were used in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments that comprised 3 additives (without additive, flavomycin, and probiotic) and 3 fat sources (without fat, 30 g/kg of FFA, and 30 g/kg of soybean oil) with 4 pen replicates per treatment. All diets contained chromic oxide (3 g/kg) as an indigestible marker. Body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly over 40 d. Flavomycin interacted positively with soybean oil and FFA causing improvements (P < 0.05) in BW gain. Among the different fat sources, soybean oil significantly increased (P < 0.05) BW gain and jejunal villi height, whereas flavomycin improved (P < 0.05) BW gain and feed conversion when compared with the remaining dietary additives. However, the probiotic negatively affected (P < 0.05) BW gain and feed conversion despite increased (P < 0.05) villi heights of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. At 21 and 38 d of age, fat and GE digestibility were higher (P < 0.05) in the ileum and total intestinal tract of birds fed diets containing soybean oil than those of birds fed FFA. Fat and GE digestibility were highest (P < 0.05) among birds fed flavomycin but lowest (P < 0.05) among probiotic-fed birds. Flavomycin addition to soybean oil or FFA diets significantly increased (P < 0.05) fat and GE digestibility when compared with the same diets containing the probiotic. Therefore, soybean oil is a better energy source than FFA, as indicated by increased growth, nutrient digestibility, and jejunal villi height. However, probiotic supplementation to fat-rich diets caused detrimental effects on nutrient digestibility and growth.

Early pregnancy detection of Iraqi riverine buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) using the BioPRYN enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for PSPB and the progesterone assay.

This study was undertaken to detect pregnancy in Iraqi riverine buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) using three different methods (rectal palpation, plasma progesterone concentration and detection of the presence of pregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB) with the BioPRYN(®) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. The aim of the study was to identify the most sensitive, early and accurate method for detecting pregnancy. Twenty-two female riverine buffalo that were 6.0 ± 0.93 years old were used. Four blood samples per buffalo were taken via jugular venipuncture at days 22-24, 32-34, 42-44 and 58-61 post-mating (PM) to measure the progesterone concentration (ng/ml) and to detect the presence of plasma PSPB. The rectal palpation method was employed to evaluate all buffalo on days 42-44 and 58-61 PM. The BioPRYN(®) test differed (p<0.01) from the other tests with earlier accuracy for detecting pregnant and non-pregnant buffalo. Eighty-eight percent of pregnant and 76.9% of non-pregnant buffalo were distinguished early (days 22-24 PM) using BioPRYN(®) and plasma PSPB-ELISA level (2.09 ± 0.12 ng/ml) in relation to 66.7% and 53.9% detected using the progesterone assay at similar days (4.30 ± 0.40 ng/ml). In conclusion, these results described, for the first time, the early and accurate pregnancy detection of water riverine buffalo using BioPRYN(®) technology and provided the plasma levels of PSPB using an ELISA test. These findings will improve the reproductive and productive efficiency of Iraqi riverine buffalo by adapting the recent management and reproductive strategies in Iraq and in the world.

Directionality of corticomuscular coupling in essential tremor and cortical myoclonic tremor.

OBJECTIVE: A role of the motor cortex in tremor generation in essential tremor (ET) is assumed, yet the directionality of corticomuscular coupling is unknown. Our aim is to clarify the role of the motor cortex. To this end we also study 'familial cortical myoclonic tremor with epilepsy' (FCMTE) and slow repetitive voluntary movements with a known cortical drive. METHODS: Directionality of corticomuscular coupling (EEG-EMG) was studied with renormalized partial directed coherence (rPDC) during tremor in 25 ET patients, 25 healthy controls (mimicked) and in seven FCMTE patients; and during a self-paced 2 Hz task in eight ET patients and seven healthy controls. RESULTS: Efferent coupling around tremor frequency was seen in 33% of ET patients, 45.5% of healthy controls, all FCMTE patients, and, around 2 Hz, in all ET patients and all healthy controls. Ascending coupling, seen in the majority of all participants, was weaker in ET than in healthy controls around 5-6 Hz. CONCLUSIONS: Possible explanations are that tremor in ET results from faulty subcortical output bypassing the motor cortex; rate-dependent transmission similar to generation of rhythmic movements; and/or faulty feedforward mechanism resulting from decreased afferent (sensory) coupling. SIGNIFICANCE: A linear cortical drive is lacking in the majority of ET patients.

Design of microresonators to minimize thermal noise below the standard quantum limit.

Microfabricated resonators play a crucial role in the development of quantum measurement, including future gravitational wave detectors. We use a micro-genetic algorithm and a finite element method to design a microresonator whose geometry is optimized to maximize the sub-Standard Quantum Limit (SQL) performance including lower thermal noise (TN) below the SQL, a broader sub-SQL region, and a sub-SQL region at lower frequencies. For the proposed design, we study the effects of different geometries of the mirror pad and cantilever microresonator on sub-SQL performance. We find that the maximum ratio of SQL to TN is increased, its frequency is decreased, and the sub-SQL range is increased by increasing the length of the microresonator cantilever, increasing the radius of the mirror pad, decreasing the width of the microresonator cantilever, and shifting the laser beam location from the mirror center. We also find that there exists a trade-off between the maximum ratio of SQL to TN and the sub-SQL bandwidth. The performance of this designed microresonator will allow it to serve as a test-bed for quantum non-demolition measurements and to open new regimes of precision measurement that are relevant for many practical sensing applications, including advanced gravitational wave detectors.

Interdependence of primary and Johari-Goldstein secondary relaxations in glass-forming systems.

We report evidence from broadband dielectric spectroscopy that the dynamics of the primary alpha- and secondary Johari-Goldstein (JG) beta-processes are strongly correlated in different glass-forming systems over a wide temperature T and pressure P range, in contrast with the widespread opinion of statistical independence of these processes. The alpha-beta mutual dependence is quantitatively confirmed by (a) the overall superposition of spectra measured at different T-P combinations but with an invariant alpha-relaxation time; (b) the contemporary scaling of the isothermal-pressure and isobaric-temperature dependences of the alpha-and beta-relaxation times as plotted versus the reduced variable Tg(P)/T where Tg is the glass transition temperature. These novel and model-independent evidences indicate the relevance of the JG relaxation phenomenon in glass transition, often overlooked by most current theories.

Laparoscopic selective clipping of upper moiety vasculature and ureter without partial nephrectomy: A novel technique for pediatric urinary incontinence due to ectopic ureter associated with poor functioning upper renal moiety.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to present a novel laparoscopic technique for persistent urinary incontinence in pediatrics due to ectopic ureter associated with poor functioning upper renal moiety. METHODS: This technique consisted of laparoscopic clipping of the upper moiety artery and vein. The ectopic ureter was also clipped afterwards without upper pole partial nephrectomy. RESULTS: The patient was a seven-year-old girl with persistent urinary incontinence and confirmation of duplex kidney with poor functioning upper moiety in pre-operative investigations. The upper moiety ureter was ectopically drained to the vaginal cavity. She was immediately dry after surgery and discharged on the second postoperative day. During the follow-up period of 14 months, she was continent and symptom-free. Hydronephrosis was not visualized in follow-up ultrasonography. CONCLUSIONS: This laparoscopic upper renal moiety vascular and ureteral clipping without partial nephrectomy could serve as a promising, safe and simple alternative in the treatment of patients with ectopic ureter associated with poor functioning renal moiety. Also, ipsilateral normal functioning moiety would not be associated with potential morbidity in this technique.

Performance of Holstein calves receiving equal quantities of milk at fixed or variable amounts per day during milk-feeding period.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding equal quantities of milk during the pre-weaning period through different milk-feeding regimes on calf growth, starter intake and selected blood metabolites. In experiment 1, 44 female Holstein calves (3 days of age and 39.2±4.3 kg of BW) were distributed randomly to one of two milk-feeding programs (1 calf per pen; 22 pens per treatment group): (1) consistent (CONS; 6 l/day of milk from days 3 to 60 and 3 l/day from days 61 to 65 of age) or (2) step-up/step-down (SUSD; 5 l/day of milk from days 3 to 15, 8 l/day from days 16 to 40, 6 l/day from days 41 to 50, 3 l/day from days 51 to 60 and then 2 l/day from days 61 to 65 of age). No difference between treatments was observed in starter consumption, feed efficiency, hip width and heart girth. However, pre-weaning average daily gain (ADG) tended to be greater in CONS than in SUSD calves (0.78 v. 0.70 kg/day; P=0.07). Blood ß-hydroxybutyrate at day 45 (pre-weaning) was lower in SUSD than in CONS calves (0.14 v. 0.21±0.013 mmol/l). In experiment 2, 26 male Holstein calves (3 days of age and 39.4±4.1 kg of BW) were assigned at random to one of two milk-feeding protocols (1 calf per pen; 13 pens per treatment group): (1) consistent (CONS; (7 l/day of milk from days 3 to 40 and 2 l/day from days 41 to 45 of age) or (2) step-down (STD; 8 l/day of milk from days 3 to 30, 4 l/day from days 31 to 40 and 2 l/day from days 41 to 45 of age). The milk-feeding program had no effect on the performance measurements, with the exception that ADG (days 15 to 30), starter intake (days 30 to 45) and heart girth (day 45) were greater in STD than in CONS calves. In conclusion, it appears that if the total amount of milk intake is held constant over the course of milk-feeding period, the method of milk feeding would have negligible effects on calf performance.

Simple 3-D characterization of ultrashort laser pulses.

The space and time distribution of electromagnetic energy is essential information for any laser pulse applications that require precision. Although many instruments quantify the temporal profile of ultrashort laser pulses, they are generally limited to space-averaged measurement. In this work, we present an extremely simple technique to characterize the spatial distribution of fluence, pulse duration and chirp of ultrashort light pulses. This technique is based upon imaging the two-photon fluorescence distribution generated by the laser pulse as it propagates through a dispersive medium. It is expected that this technique will provide to less specialized users a precise in-situ analysis of their ultrashort laser beam.

Nodular lymphoid lesion of the liver: an immune-mediated disorder mimicking low-grade malignant lymphoma.

Three cases of unusual lymphoid infiltrate forming nodular macroscopic masses in the liver were studied in the authors' surgical pathology laboratory. These lesions posed difficulty in diagnosis, and their differentiation from low-grade lymphoma was not possible on histopathologic evaluation alone. The liver masses were analyzed histologically and immunohistochemically as well as for clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) and T-cell receptor gamma (TCR-gamma) gene rearrangements. The lesions were seen as solitary grossly distinct firm nodules in all three patients, measuring 0.4, 0.7, and 1.5 cm, respectively, in their greatest dimensions. Two were found in livers removed because of end-stage primary biliary cirrhosis at the time of orthotopic liver transplantation, and the third was an incidental finding during laparotomy. Microscopically, these were nodules composed of small lymphocytes, plasma cells, and immunoblasts, with varying degrees of admixed acute inflammatory cells and scattered lymphoid follicles. By immunohistochemistry and molecular studies, these were found to be reactive lymphoid proliferations. All patients are alive and well at 2, 4, and 13 years, respectively. It is concluded that these cases represent a unique type of nodular lymphoid lesion, which is probably an immune-mediated benign reactive hyperplasia. It constitutes an entity by itself and must be distinguished from low-grade lymphoma. For a definitive diagnosis, immunohistochemistry and molecular studies are required.

Modeling of supercritical extraction of mannitol from plane tree leaf.

The objective of this study was to investigate the theoretical feasibility of using supercritical fluid extraction of Mannitol from plane tree leaf as an alternative technology in the pharmaceutical industry. Simulation of an extraction column using dense liquid and supercritical carbon dioxide was modeled involving partial differential equations, using orthogonal collocation on finite elements. The important solvent extraction parameters such as the partition coefficient, mass transfer coefficient, dispersion coefficient, molecular diffusion and extraction efficiency (the amount of Mannitol extracted versus the amount of solvent used) were investigated as a function of the dimensionless Reynold's and Peclet numbers in order to optimize the extraction column geometry and the carbon dioxide operating conditions. The results of this study demonstrated that supercritical extraction is a viable technique for Mannitol production and that the process conditions for a large commercial extraction system do not require a high temperature in order to obtain a high extraction efficiency. However, at low pressures, the solubility of Mannitol in carbon dioxide would limit the success of the extraction process and at very high pressures the extraction technique may not be economically feasible. To investigate the authenticity of the mathematical model, the experimental data for the desorption of hexachlorobenzene from soil was compared with the theoretical results of this research. The model is able to predict the experimental data quite well without any adjustable parameters.

Analysis of smoking behaviour among Iranian population: a cohort and period analysis.

BACKGROUND: The patterns of smoking in ageing cohorts are important to public health authorities. The aim of this study is to describe the patterns of smoking among Iranian population. METHODS: Data from cross-sectional surveys of Health and Disease Survey (HDS) in Iran were utilized. Smoking was categorized as no smoker, light smoker (less than 10 cigarettes a day), moderate smokers (10 to 20 cigarettes a day), and heavy smoker (more than 20 cigarettes a day). Age group cohorts were constructed by following each age group to the next age group in two consecutive surveys. The change in smoking behavior was express as the difference of smoking prevalence and 95% confidence interval around the difference were constructed. Three birth cohorts of 1930, 1960, and 1975 were constructed among smoker and their age at initiation of smoking were assessed for the three cohorts. RESULTS: Smoking was more prevalent among age group 25-39 in males and age group 40-60 in females. Smoking prevalence increased in all categories of smoking behavior among male cohort of 15-25 year age-group and stayed stable afterward up to their 40's. After age 40, the prevalence of smoking decreased in heavy smokers and stayed stable in light and moderate smokers. A different pattern was seen among female smokers. Age at initiation of smoking decreased in the last decades. Among the male birth cohort of 1930, just 32.6% of smokers started smoking before age 20 compared with 48.7% in birth cohort of 1975, P value < 0.0001. Similar pattern was seen among the female smokers. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of smoking in Iranian population high lights the fact that smoking behavior is highly age dependent.

Immunocytochemical staining of Kupffer and endothelial cells in fine needle aspiration cytology of hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the significance of the presence of Kupffer and endothelial cells in distinguishing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC) on cytologic smears. STUDY DESIGN: Fine needle aspiration biopsies (FNABs) from 43 cases, 21 HCC and 22 AC (8 primary and 14 metastatic), were immunostained for Factor VIII and vimentin as markers for endothelial cells and Kupffer cells, respectively. Cytologic diagnosis was verified by histologic and/or clinical follow-up. RESULTS: Eighteen of the 21 cases (86%) of HCC and 11 (5 primary and 6 metastatic) of 22 cases (50%) of AC showed positive immunostaining for Factor VIII (P = .02). Vimentin immunostaining was positive in 55% of HCCs and 41% of ACs (P = .74). Forty-five percent of cases of HCC showed immunostaining for both Factor VIII and vimentin, while 22% of cases of AC showed immunostaining for both Factor VIII and vimentin (P = .18). CONCLUSION: Immunocytochemical identification of endothelial cells using Factor VIII may have important diagnostic value in separating HCC from adenocarcinomas in liver FNABs. The presence of Kupffer cells labeled with vimentin has no diagnostic significance in FNAB of these tumors.