Hematoma volume affects the accuracy of computed tomographic angiography 'spot sign' in predicting hematoma expansion after acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that the presence of tiny, enhancing foci ('spot sign') within acute hematomas is associated with hematoma expansion. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the effect of hematoma volume on accuracy of computed tomographic angiography (CTA) in predicting hematoma expansion in 312 patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their initial hematoma volume (<30 vs. ≥30 ml). CTA was performed at admission and 24 h after initial presentation. RESULTS: The <30-ml group consisted of 203 patients of whom 42 had hematoma expansion (20.9%). The ≥30-ml group consisted of 109 patients of whom 34 had hematoma expansion (31.19%). In the <30-ml group, the sensitivity and specificity of CTA in predicting hematoma expansion were 71.4 and 93.8%, respectively. In the ≥30-ml group, the sensitivity and specificity of CTA were 85.7 and 91.9%, respectively. For all 312 patients, the area under the curve was 0.86 (p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.80-0.92); the sensitivity and specificity of CTA were 77.9 and 93.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CTA can reliably predict hematoma expansion in clinical practice, especially for hematomas >30 ml.

Split mCherry as a new red bimolecular fluorescence complementation system for visualizing protein-protein interactions in living cells.

Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) is a recently developed technique for detection of protein-protein interactions in living cells. In this study, a new red BiFC system was developed by splitting mCherry, a mutant monomeric red fluorescent protein, into two fragments between amino acids 159-160 and was verified using a pair of interacting proteins, SV40 large T antigen (LTag), and human p53 protein. By combined use of the mCherry-based red BiFC system with a Venus-based yellow BiFC system, the interaction between LTag and p53 as well as the interaction between sp100 and promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML), were detected simultaneously in Vero cells. The brilliant redness, short maturation time, and the long excitation and emission wavelengths (587/610 nm) of mCherry make the new BiFC system an excellent candidate for analyzing protein-protein interactions in living cells and for studying multiple protein-protein interactions when coupled with other BiFC systems.

[Studies on plantlet regeneration from the mature leaves of Dioscorea zingiberensis].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a protocol of rapid clonal propagation of Dioscorea zingiberensis using mature leaves as explants. METHOD: Out the optimal hormone combinations for callus induction, adventitious bud initiation, adventitious bud multiplication and rooting were found out by using MS medium with the macroelements at half strength as basal medium and studying the effects of BA, NAA and IBA on the processes. RESULT AND CONCLUSION: More than 80% of leaf explants formed callus when they were cultured on the media containing 1.0 - 5.0 mg x L(-1) BA and 1.0 - 2.0 mg x L(-1) NAA for 60 days; more than 60% of calli initiated adventitious buds within 50 days after they were transferred to the media containing 2.0 - 5.0 mg x L(-1) BA and 0.2 - 0.5 mg L(-1) NAA; all the adventitious buds rooted well after they were planted on the medium with 2.0 mg x L(-1) IBA for 20 days; the regenerated plantlets grew vigorously after they were transplanted and the survival rate was up to 80%.