Application of Sphenoid Sinus Morphological Characteristics in Sex Estimation Based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Images / Aplicación de las Características Morfológicas del Seno Esfenoidal en la Estimación del Sexo Basada en Imágenes de Resonancia Magnética

SUMMARY: Sex determination of unknown persons plays an important role in forensic science. As most bones used for sex determination are recovered in incomplete state, it is often necessary to use bones that are recovered intact e.g., the sphenoid sinus. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of sphenoid sinuses dimensions for sex determination using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) images in Chinese adults. MRI images of 79 sphenoid sinuses (from 44 men and 35 women) were retrospectively selected. The height, anterior-posterior diameter, area, and perimeter were measured in the midsagittal view of the sphenoid sinuses. All data were subjected to descriptive and discriminative functional analysis with unpaired t-test and canonical discriminant. Comparison between male and female groups showed significant statistical differences regarding the height, anterior-posterior diameter, area, and perimeter of sphenoid sinuses. The predictive accuracy rate of the sphenoid sinus to identify sex was 63.6 % in males and 62.9 % in females with an overall accuracy of 63.3 %. This study proposed the importance of sexual dimorphism of sphenoid sinus dimensions, especially if other methods are not available. It suggested using MRI in forensics science thus obviating the complete dependence on the usage of conventional computed tomography (CT) and facilitating the study of forensic anatomy at the level of soft tissue.

La determinación del sexo de personas desconocidas juega un papel importante en la ciencia forense. Como la mayoría de los huesos utilizados para la determinación del sexo se recuperan en un estado incompleto, a menudo es necesario utilizar huesos recuperados intactos, por ejemplo, el seno esfenoidal. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar el valor diagnóstico de las dimensiones de los senos esfenoidales para la determinación del sexo utilizando imágenes de resonancia magnética en individuos adultos chinos. Se seleccionaron retrospectivamente imágenes de resonancia magnética de 79 senos esfenoidales (de 44 hombres y 35 mujeres). La altura, el diámetro anteroposterior, el área y el perímetro de los senos esfenoidales, se midieron en vista mediana sagital. Todos los datos se sometieron a análisis funcional descriptivo y discriminativo con prueba t no pareada y discriminante canónico. La comparación entre los grupos de hombres y mujeres mostró diferencias estadísticas significativas en cuanto a la altura, el diámetro anteroposterior, el área y el perímetro de los senos esfenoidales. La tasa de precisión predictiva del seno esfenoidal para identificar el sexo fue del 63,6 % en hombres y del 62,9 % en mujeres, con una precisión general del 63,3 %. Este estudio propuso la importancia del dimorfismo sexual de las dimensiones del seno esfenoidal, especialmente si no se dispone de otros métodos. Se sugiere utilizar la resonancia magnética en la ciencia forense, obviando así la dependencia total del uso de la tomografía computarizada convencional y facilitando con esto el estudio de la anatomía forense a nivel de los tejidos blandos.

Relationship between oxidative stress and inflammation in peripheral and cerebral system of oxonate-induced hyperuricemic rats

To study what kind of role uric acid play on the relationship between oxidative Stress and inflammation in peripheral and cerebral system of oxonate-induced hyperuricemic rats. Twenty-six eight male Wistar rats were divided into two groups randomly. Potassium oxonate was used to establish hyperuricemic model for four weeks. In 2nd and 4th week, uric acid (UA) level, total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), Gu,Zn-SOD activity and interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß) concentration in serum were determined respectively. In 4th week, one hour after last PO treatment, five rats of every group were given Evans Blue to test blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Other brains were obtained to analysis T-SOD, Gu,Zn-SOD activity and IL-1ß concentration in cerebral system. Meanwhile, brain and kidney were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) to observe pathological change. In 2nd week, both of T-SOD and Gu,Zn-SOD activity in serum increased obviously (P<0.05) in hyperuricemia rats. However, IL-1ß content didn't change remarkably. In the 4th week, T-SOD activity in model group had become similar with control group, and at the same time IL-1ß content in serum increased significantly (P<0.05). Pathological section showed the structural and functional unit of the kidney had been damaged. On the contrary, both of T-SOD and Gu,Zn-SOD activity in brain increased obviously (P<0.05), but IL-1ß concentration was no significant difference between two groups. In addition, the results of Evans Blue and H&E suggested the integrity of BBB and structure of brain were not changed after PO treatment. The permeability of BBB and form of UA would be potential factors to decide what kind role UA play on keeping balance between anti-oxidative stress and induction of inflammatory response.

Establishment of an Embryonic Tip Regeneration System of Soybean

ABSTRACT In order to establish an optimal soybean embryonic tip regeneration system that can serve as soybean genetic transformation receptor, and be used for the study of genetic function verification, the influences of single factor on the adventitious bud of embryonic tip induction, elongation and rooting stage, are researched and compared.The single factors includes seeds soaking time, different kinds of hormones, different concentration of hormone and different concentration of sucrose. By one-way ANOVA and LSD ad hoc test , the results show that, for the embryonic tip adventitious bud induction stage, 12h is the optimal seeds soaking time, 2.0mg·L-1 is the optimal concentration of 6-Benzyl Aminopurine(6-BA), for the embryonic tip adventitious bud elongation stage, 0.2mg·L-1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) is optimal and 2.0mg·L-1Gibberellic acid (GA3) is optimal, and for the adventitious bud of embryonic tip rooting stage, 2.0mg·L-1 IBA is optimal,the average rooting rate is 93.34%. An Optimal embryonic tip regeneration system is established, and optimum mediums in different stages are found.

Reduction of the amount of intestinal secretory IgA in fulminant hepatic failure

Intestinal barrier dysfunction plays an important role in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. In the present study, changes in the intestinal barrier with regard to levels of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and its components were studied in fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). Immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescent staining were used to detect intestinal IgA, the secretory component (SC) and SIgA in patients with FHF (20 patients) and in an animal model with FHF (120 mice). Real-time PCR was used to detect intestinal SC mRNA in the animal model with FHF. Intestinal SIgA, IgA, and SC staining in patients with FHF was significantly weaker than in the normal control group (30 patients). Intestinal IgA and SC staining was significantly weaker in the animal model with FHF than in the control groups (normal saline: 30 mice; lipopolysaccharide: 50 mice; D-galactosamine: 50 mice; FHF: 120 mice). SC mRNA of the animal model with FHF at 2, 6, and 9 h after injection was 0.4 ± 0.02, 0.3 ± 0.01, 0.09 ± 0.01, respectively. SC mRNA of the animal model with FHF was significantly decreased compared to the normal saline group (1.0 ± 0.02) and lipopolysaccharide group (0.89 ± 0.01). The decrease in intestinal SIgA and SC induced failure of the intestinal immunologic barrier and the attenuation of gut immunity in the presence of FHF.

Reduction of the amount of intestinal secretory IgA in fulminant hepatic failure.

Intestinal barrier dysfunction plays an important role in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. In the present study, changes in the intestinal barrier with regard to levels of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and its components were studied in fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). Immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescent staining were used to detect intestinal IgA, the secretory component (SC) and SIgA in patients with FHF (20 patients) and in an animal model with FHF (120 mice). Real-time PCR was used to detect intestinal SC mRNA in the animal model with FHF. Intestinal SIgA, IgA, and SC staining in patients with FHF was significantly weaker than in the normal control group (30 patients). Intestinal IgA and SC staining was significantly weaker in the animal model with FHF than in the control groups (normal saline: 30 mice; lipopolysaccharide: 50 mice; D-galactosamine: 50 mice; FHF: 120 mice). SC mRNA of the animal model with FHF at 2, 6, and 9 h after injection was 0.4 ± 0.02, 0.3 ± 0.01, 0.09 ± 0.01, respectively. SC mRNA of the animal model with FHF was significantly decreased compared to the normal saline group (1.0 ± 0.02) and lipopolysaccharide group (0.89 ± 0.01). The decrease in intestinal SIgA and SC induced failure of the intestinal immunologic barrier and the attenuation of gut immunity in the presence of FHF.