Improving resolution of second harmonic generation microscopy via scanning structured illumination.

Second harmonic generation microscopy (SHGM) is a well-known technique for examining the noncentrosymmetric structures in biomedical research. However, without real-state transitions, fluorescence-based superresolution methods cannot be applied. To improve the resolution, fringe-scanning SHGM (FS-SHGM), which combines SHGM with structured illumination based on point-scanning, is introduced in this paper. The scanning path was modulated to generate illumination patterns. For the coherent parts of SHG signals, a mathematical model of image formation and reconstruction was established. Both simulations and experiments showed a resolution improvement factor of ~1.4 in the lateral and 1.56 in the axial directions for chicken tendons and mouse skin.

New anti-inflammatory sterols from a gorgonian Pinnigorgia sp.

Chemical investigation on the EtOAc-soluble fraction from the MeOH/DCM extract of a gorgonian Pinnigorgia sp. afforded two new sterols, 11-acetoxy-24S-methyl-3ß,5α,6α-trihydroxy-9,11-secocholest-7-en-9-one (1) and 5ß,6ß-epoxy-(22E,24R)-ergosta-8,22-diene-3ß,7ß-diol (2). The structures of sterols 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those of related analogues. Both 1 and 2 were shown to significantly inhibit the accumulation of the pro-inflammatory iNOS and COX-2 protein in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells.

Trocheliolide A, a Hydroperoxycembranoidal Diterpene from the Octocoral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum.

A new hydroperoxycembranoidal diterpene, trocheliolide A (1), was isolated from the octocoral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum. The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and mass spectrometric methods.

New cembranoid diterpenes from the cultured octocoral Nephthea columnaris.

Two new 15-hydroxycembranoid diterpenes, 2ß-hydroxy-7ß,8α-epoxynephthenol (1) and 2ß-hydroxy-11α,12ß-epoxynephthenol (2), were isolated from extracts of the octocoral Nephthea columnaris along with a new natural cembrane, epoxynephthenol (3) and a known sterol, nephalsterol A (4). The structures of cembranes 1-3 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and comparison of the spectroscopic data with those of related analogues. The cytotoxicity of metabolites 1-4 against a panel of tumor cells is also described.

Norcembranoidal diterpenes from the cultured-type octocoral Sinularia numerosa.

A known norcembranoidal diterpene, 5-episinuleptolide (1), along with a new analogue, 4α-hydroxy-5-episinuleptolide (2), were isolated from a cultured-type soft coral Sinularia numerosa. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods and by comparison of the data with those of the related metabolites. Cytotoxicity of metabolites 1 and 2 against a panel of tumor cells is also described. Compound 2 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity toward CCRF-CEM cells with an IC50 value 4.21 µg/mL. Preliminary SAR (structure activity relationship) information was obtained from these two compounds.

Gamma Knife surgery for incidental cerebral arteriovenous malformations.

OBJECT: A relatively benign natural course of unruptured cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) has recently been recognized, and the decision to treat incidentally found AVMs has been questioned. This study aims to evaluate the long-term imaging and clinical outcomes of patients with asymptomatic, incidentally discovered AVMs treated with Gamma Knife surgery (GKS). METHODS: Thirty-one patients, each with an incidentally diagnosed AVM, underwent GKS between 1989 and 2009. The nidus volumes ranged from 0.3 to 11.1 cm(3) (median 3.2 cm(3)). A margin dose between 15 and 26 Gy (median 20 Gy) was used to treat the AVMs. Four patients underwent repeat GKS for still-patent AVM residuals after the initial GKS procedure. Clinical follow-up ranged from 24 to 196 months, with a mean of 78 months (median 51 months) after the initial GKS. RESULTS: Following GKS, 19 patients (61.3%) had a total AVM obliteration on angiography. In 7 patients (22.6%), no flow voids were observed on MRI but angiographic confirmation was not available. In 5 patients (16.1%), the AVMs remained patent. A small nidus volume was significantly associated with increased AVM obliteration rate. Thirteen patients (41.9%) developed radiation-induced imaging changes: 11 were asymptomatic (35.5%), 1 had only headache (3.2%), and 1 developed seizure and neurological deficits (3.2%). Two patients each had 1 hemorrhage during the latency period (116.5 risk years), yielding an annual hemorrhage rate of 1.7% before AVM obliteration. CONCLUSIONS: The decision to treat asymptomatic AVMs, and if so, which treatment approach to use, remain the subject of debate. GKS as a minimally invasive procedure appears to achieve a reasonable outcome with low procedure-related morbidity. In those patients with incidental AVMs, the benefits as well as the risks of radiosurgical intervention will only be fully defined with long-term follow-up.

Cladieunicellin J, a new hydroperoxyeunicellin from cladiella sp.

A new 6-hydroperoxyeunicellin diterpenoid, designated as cladieunicellin J (1), was isolated from an octocoral Cladiella sp., and its structure elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Compound 1 was found to exhibit cytotoxicity toward CCRF-CEM human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Spontaneous healing and complete disappearance of a ruptured posterior inferior cerebellar artery dissecting aneurysm.

A 7-month-old baby presented with a 4-day history of drowsiness and vomiting after a falling accident. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, and variable stages of subdural hematoma in bilateral occipital and left temporal subdural spaces. A partially thrombosed aneurysm was noted in the right craniocervical junction. Ophthalmological examination revealed bilateral retinal petechial hemorrhages. Conventional cerebral angiography revealed a dissecting aneurysm in the right posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA). Endovascular embolization was suggested, but the family refused. After conservative treatment, follow-up MRI revealed that the PICA aneurysm had remodeled and ultimately disappeared completely at the 10th month. This case illustrates the relatively plastic nature of intracranial aneurysms in pediatric patients. More studies are necessary to clarify the natural history of spontaneously thrombosed aneurysms to assist in their overall management.

Transverse modes of a laser using volume Bragg grating as the cavity mirror.

A simulation and experiment were performed to demonstrate that a laser using volume Bragg grating as one of the cavity mirrors can achieve lasing even if the laser cavity length exceeds the traditional stable cavity condition. The laser transverse mode changes from a Gaussian beam into a ring-shaped mode as the laser cavity length increases from stable to unstable cavity conditions. At the same time, the effective modal reflectivity is reduced as the cavity length increases.

A new 5α,8α-Epidioxysterol from the soft coral Sinularia gaweli.

A new sterol, (22R,23R,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxy-22,23-methylene-24-methyl-cholest-6,9(11)-dien-3ß-ol (1), and two known sterols, (22R,23R,24R)-5α,8α-epidioxy-22,23-methylene-24-methylcholest-6-en-3ß-ol (2) and 24-methylenecholestane-1α,3ß,5α, 6ß,11α-pentol (3), were isolated from the soft coral Sinularia gaweli. The structure of sterol 1 was established by spectroscopic methods and by comparison of the spectral data with those of known analogues. The cytotoxicity of sterols 1-3 towards various tumor cells is reported.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress promote apoptotic cell death in the striatum via cytochrome c/caspase-3 signaling cascade following chronic rotenone intoxication in rats.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder marked by nigrostriatal dopaminergic degeneration. Evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction may be linked to PD through a variety of different pathways, including free-radical generation and dysfunction of the mitochondrial Complex I activity. In Lewis rats, chronic systemic administration of a specific mitochondrial Complex I inhibitor, rotenone (3 mg/kg/day) produced parkinsonism-like symptoms. Increased oxidized proteins and peroxynitrite, and mitochondrial or cytosol translocation of Bim, Bax or cytochrome c in the striatum was observed after 2-4 weeks of rotenone infusion. After 28 days of systemic rotenone exposure, imunohistochemical staining for tyrosine hydroxylase indicated nigrostriatal dopaminergic neuronal cell degeneration. Characteristic histochemical (TUNEL or activated caspase-3 staining) or ultrastructural (electron microscopy) features of apoptotic cell death were present in the striatal neuronal cell after chronic rotenone intoxication. We conclude that chronic rotenone intoxication may enhance oxidative and nitrosative stress that induces mitochondrial dysfunction and ultrastructural damage, resulting in translocation of Bim and Bax from cytosol to mitochondria that contributes to apoptotic cell death in the striatum via cytochrome c/caspase-3 signaling cascade.

Echinoclerodane A: a new bioactive clerodane-type diterpenoid from a gorgonian coral Echinomuricea sp.

A new clerodane-type diterpenoid, echinoclerodane A (1), was isolated from a Formosan gorgonian coral Echinomuricea sp. The structure of 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Echinoclerodane A (1) is the first clerodane-type compound obtained from the marine organisms belonging to the phylum Cnidaria. Echinoclerodane A (1) exhibited moderate cytotoxicity toward MOLT-4, HL-60, DLD-1 and LoVo tumor cells and inhibitory effects on the generation of superoxide anion and the release of elastase by human neutrophils.

A new cubitane diterpenoid from the soft coral Sinularia crassa.

A new cubitane diterpenoid, crassalone A (1), was isolated from the marine soft coral Sinularia crassa. The structure was determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses. Compound 1 is not cytotoxic (IC50 > 20 µg/mL) toward the four human cancer cell lines tested (HL60, MDA-MB-231, HCT-116 and DLD-1).

Acute clinical deterioration of posterior fossa epidural hematoma: clinical features, risk factors and outcome.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to present experience in treating patients with posterior fossa epidural hematoma (PFEDH) and to discuss the risk factors, clinical features, and outcome in PFEDH patients with acute clinical deterioration (ACD). METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with PFEDH initially treated conservatively were evaluated. A comparison was made between patients with and without ACD during hospitalization. RESULTS: Eight of the 27 patients subsequently experienced ACD. Local traumatic findings, loss of consciousness due to injury, headache, and vomiting were the four most common clinical features of the 27 cases. Seven of the 8 patients with ACD had good recoveries and 1 died. Eighteen of the 19 patients without ACD had good recoveries, while 1 remained moderately disabled. Stepwise logistic regression demonstrated that the adjusted risk of ACD during hospitalization for patients with vomiting and an occipital fracture across the transverse sinus on computed tomography (CT) had odds ratios of 12.6 (95% confidence interval = 1.03-152.37, p = 0.047) and 8.8 (95% CI = 1.02-75.95, p = 0.048), respectively, compared with those without ACD. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that an occipital fracture across the transverse sinus on CT and vomiting on presentation are risk factors for ACD during hospitalization. In this study, PFEDH patients including those with ACD had good outcomes. Further studies are necessary to clarify the clinical course and risk factors for the clinical deterioration of PFEDH patients and to establish a treatment strategy.

Gamma Knife surgery for basal ganglia and thalamic arteriovenous malformations.

OBJECT: Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) has emerged as the treatment of choice for small- to medium-sized cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in deep locations. The present study aims to investigate the outcomes of GKS for AVMs in the basal ganglia and thalamus. METHODS: Between 1989 and 2007, 85 patients with AVMs in the basal ganglia and 97 in the thalamus underwent GKS and were followed up for more than 2 years. The nidus volumes ranged from 0.1 to 29.4 cm(3) (mean 3.4 cm(3)). The mean margin dose at the initial GKS was 21.3 Gy (range 10-28 Gy). Thirty-six patients underwent repeat GKS for residual AVMs at a median 4 years after initial GKS. The mean margin dose at repeat GKS was 21.1 Gy (range 7.5-27 Gy). RESULTS: Following a single GKS, total obliteration of the nidus was confirmed on angiograms in 91 patients (50%). In 12 patients (6.6%) a subtotal obliteration was achieved. No flow voids were observed on MR imaging in 14 patients (7.7%). Following single or repeat GKS, total obliteration was angiographically confirmed in 106 patients (58.2%) and subtotal obliteration in 8 patients (4.4%). No flow voids on MR imaging were observed in 18 patients (9.9%). The overall obliteration rates following one or multiple GKSs based on MR imaging or angiography was 68%. A small nidus volume, high margin dose, low number of isocenters, and no history of embolization were significantly associated with an increased rate of obliteration. Twenty-one patients experienced 25 episodes of hemorrhage in 850 risk-years following GKS, yielding an annual hemorrhage rate of 2.9%. Four patients died in this series: 2 due to complications of hemorrhage and 2 due to unrelated diseases. Permanent neurological deficits caused by radiation were noted in 9 patients (4.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Gamma Knife surgery offers a reasonable chance of obliterating basal ganglia and thalamic AVMs and does so with a low risk of complications. It is an optimal treatment option in patients for whom the anticipated risk of microsurgery is too high.

Acute thrombosis and recanalization of a ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm.

A 35-year-old man sustained a subarachnoid hemorrhage due to the rupture of an anterior communicating artery aneurysm. A second angiogram taken 8 hours later demonstrated that the ruptured aneurysm had thrombosed spontaneously with a small residual aneurysm stump at the neck. CT scans and conventional angiograms taken 2 days later demonstrated recanalization of the aneurysm, which was successfully treated by endovascular coiling. This case differs from previous reports of spontaneously thrombosed ruptured aneurysms because the aneurysm recanalized within 2 days. Thus a thrombosed ruptured aneurysm has the potential for recanalization, and should be considered at risk of further hemorrhage.

Contralateral acute epidural hematoma after decompressive surgery of acute subdural hematoma: clinical features and outcome.

BACKGROUND: Delayed contralateral epidural hematoma (EDH) after decompressive surgery for acute subdural hematoma (SDH) is uncommon. If unrecognized, this delayed hematoma can cause devastating consequences. We present our experience with this group of patients and discuss the diagnosis and management of this dangerous condition. METHODS: This study included 12 traumatic patients with acute SDH who developed delayed contralateral EDH after acute SDH evacuation. Clinical and radiographic information was obtained through a retrospective review of the medical records and the radiographs. RESULTS: There were seven males and five females. Nine patients had severe head injury (Glasgow Coma Scale {GCS} score < or = 8). Ten patients underwent acute SDH evacuation within 4 hours after the trauma. Intraoperative brain swelling during SDH evacuation was noted in 10 patients. A skull fracture at the site of the EDH on computed tomography (CT) was noted only in 10 patients. However, a skull fracture overlying the EDH was found during EDH evacuation in all patients. Only three patients with less severe head injury (GCS > 8) had good recovery. Other patients with severe head injury (GCS < or = 8) had poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Severe head injury, a skull fracture contralateral to the original hematoma, intraoperative brain protrusion, and a poor outcome are typical clinical findings in this disorder. In patients with acute SDH and a contralateral skull fracture, immediate postoperative CT scan is indicated to evaluate this rare but potentially lethal complication. According to the findings of the postoperative CT scan, the neurosurgeon can make an appropriate strategy of treatment promptly. Early detection and prompt treatment may improve the poor outcome in this group of patients.

Application of extracorporeal shock wave treatment to enhance spinal fusion: a rabbit experiment.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal shock wave treatment has been used to treat many orthopedic disorders. However, the effect of extracorporeal shock waves on spinal fusion has not been reported. METHODS: Fifteen rabbits were used in this study. Spinal fusion was performed with decortication of bilateral L5 and L6 transverse processes, and placement of the bone chips onto the ipsilateral L5-L6 intertransverse space. The right L5 and L6 transverse processes in all animals were treated with 1000 impulses of ESWT at 14 kV (equivalent to 0.18 mJ/mm(2)) at 3 and 6 weeks after surgery. The left transverse processes did not receive ESWT, and were served as controls. Radiographic examinations of the spines were performed at 3, 6, and 12 weeks. Computed tomography was performed at 12 weeks. The rabbits were killed at 12 weeks, and the spinal segments were harvested for histomorphological examination. RESULTS: Radiographs of the tested rabbits taken at different post-ESWT stages demonstrated repairing effect of ESWT on the fusion gap of the treated (right) sides. Statistical analysis of the image studies indicated that 11 (73%) of 15 rabbits showed superior fusion mass on the ESWT (right) side than that of control (left) side (P < .001). The remaining 4 (27%) rabbits showed no discernable fusion difference between the ESWT side and the control side. Histomorphological examination showed good new bone formation in 9 fusion masses. All of these cases were noted on the ESWT (right) sides. Statistical analysis showed that ESWT sides had better new bone formation than the control sides (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study demonstrated that ESWT is effective in promoting spinal fusion in rabbits.

Vulnerability of the spinal cord to injury from extracorporeal shock waves in rabbits.

We studied the vulnerability of the spinal cord to extracorporeal shock wave treatment (ESWT). In this experiment, 12 rabbits were divided into three groups (4 in each group). All animals underwent a preceding lumbar laminectomy at L4 1 week before ESWT. In group 1, 2000 impulses of high dose (0.62 mJ/mm2 energy flux density) shockwave energy were applied to the spinal cord at the laminectomy site. In group 2, 2000 impulses of low dose (0.18 mJ/mm2 energy flux density) shockwave energy were applied to the same site as group 1. Group 3 did not receive ESWT and served as a control. None of the rabbits in the study groups (groups 1 and 2) showed weakness or paralysis of the hind limbs throughout the entire post-ESWT period. The spinal cord at the L4 level of all animals was harvested on day 13 after laminectomy. On gross morphology, the cord from the study groups and the control group showed normal surface appearance. On microscopic examination, the cord from the control group was normal, whereas the cords from the study groups showed varying degrees of myelin damage and neuronal loss. These microscopic findings were dose-dependent. For the low-energy group (group 2), neuronal loss was insignificant compared to that in the control group. ESWT produced varying degrees of microscopic changes of the treated cords, but no neurological symptoms. The neuronal injury was dose-dependent and mild in the low-energy group.