Longitudinal pericardial adipose tissue changes in patients with breast cancer receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) has been associated with adverse cardiac events. In this study, we evaluated changes of PAT in patients with breast cancer during and after anthracycline-based chemotherapy and explored the clinical variables associated with increases in PAT volume at the completion of chemotherapy. Methods: A total of 278 breast cancer patients who were receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy were retrospectively enrolled. Their PAT volumes were measured using non-contrast chest computed tomography (CT) images from a dedicated workstation. We compared these volumes to their measurements at baseline, during different chemotherapy cycles, at and after chemotherapy completion. We identified the clinical variables associated with increases in PAT volume at chemotherapy completion using logistic regression analyses. Results: At the completion of chemotherapy, PAT volumes were shown to have increased compared to baseline measurements (87.67±45.09 vs. 104.25±47.74 cm3; P=0.00). After 4, 6, and 8 chemotherapy cycles, PAT volumes increased from the baseline measurement by 9.48% [95% confidence interval (CI): -2.30% to 21.27%], 14.75% (95% CI: 4.68% to 24.82%), and 20.02% (95% CI: 11.38% to 28.66%), respectively. Compared to volumes measured at chemotherapy completion (104.25±47.74 cm3), PAT volumes at 6 and 12 months after chemotherapy completion were 105.23±49.27 and 107.56±46.34 cm3, respectively. The differences between chemotherapy completion and follow-up PAT volumes were not statistically significant. A variable associated with an increase in PAT from baseline to chemotherapy completion was the number of chemotherapy cycles (8 vs. 4) [odds ratio (OR) =3.850; 95% CI: 1.751 to 8.488]. Conclusions: Patients with breast cancer who undergo anthracycline-based chemotherapy can experience unfavorable PAT volume increases, which are maintained after the completion of treatment. Patients at risk of increases in PAT volume at chemotherapy completion can be identified based on clinical risk factors and targeted for interventions.

Catalytic decomposition of CF4 over iron promoted mesoporous catalysts.

A series of mesoporous catalysts (MCM-41) promoted by iron nanoparticles were prepared by the co-precipitation method and tested for the decomposition of carbon tetrafluoride (CF4). The addition of iron oxide nanoparticles to MCM-41 led to an improvement in the catalytic activity for CF4 decomposition. The catalyst was the most active around 5 wt% iron added to MCM-41. Methods of X-ray Powder Diffractometer, Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectrometer, BET, and high resolution transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the MCM-41 catalysts. The analytical results indicated that the addition of over 2 wt% iron nanoparticles increased the surface area of MCM-41, which was the rate-determining factor of CF4 decomposition over MCM-41 catalyst. In conclusion, the addition of iron was responsible for the enhancement of catalytic activity of MCM-41.

Early continuous inhibition of group 1 mGlu signaling partially rescues dendritic spine abnormalities in the Fmr1 knockout mouse model for fragile X syndrome.

RATIONALE: Abnormal dendritic spine morphology is a significant neuroanatomical defect in fragile X mental retardation. It has been suggested that overactive group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGlu) signaling is associated with the spine dysmorphology occurring in fragile X syndrome (FXS). Thus, group 1 mGlu became a new therapeutic target for the treatment of FXS. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of inhibition of mGlu signaling in FXS. METHODS: We observed the changes in dendritic spines after pharmacological modulation of mGlu signaling in an Fmr1 knockout (KO) mouse model. RESULTS: The activation of group 1 mGlu resulted in elongation of dendritic spines in the cultured neurons derived from Fmr1 KO mice and wild-type (WT) mice. Antagonism of group 1 mGlu reduced the average spine length of Fmr1 KO neurons. Furthermore, systemic administration of the selective group 1 mGlu5 antagonist 2-methyl-6-phenylethynyl pyridine (MPEP) reduced the average spine length and density in the cortical neurons of Fmr1 KO mice at developmental age. For the adult mice, MPEP administration was less effective for the restoration of spine length. The percentage of immature spines showed a similar reduction in parallel to the changes of spine length. Temporary MPEP intervention with single-dose treatment did not show any effect. CONCLUSION: These results show that MPEP administration could partially rescue the morphological deficits of dendritic spines in Fmr1 KO mice at developmental age.

[Prosthetic treatment of blow-out fracture in medial orbital wall with nasoseptal cartilage under nasal endoscope].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical effect of Treatment of blow-out fracture of medial orbital wall with nasoseptal cartilage under nasal endoscope. METHOD: Under a nasal endoscope, the fracture and the prolapsed orbital contents were reduced to the orbit, and then an autogenous nasoseptal cartilage was grafted into the orbital defect. The variations in the visual acuity, diplopia, enophthalmos degree and eyeball position were detected preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULT: During the follow up of three months to four years after operation, all the 28 cases showed neither loss nor distinct descent of visual acuity. The postoperative mean enophthalmos degree (1.5 +/- 0.6) mm was lower than the preoperation one(3.6 +/- 1.1) mm (P<0.05). Diplopia disappeared completely of 25 cases during 3 month after operation,while it appeared in the primary position of 2 cases. The eye movement was normal of 26 cases after operation t, and the abduction was slightly limited of 2 cases, but which was better than be for). Any displacement of filling material, infection, rejection reaction were not found of all the 28 cases. CONCLUSION: The medial orbital blow out fracture with nasal endoscope has many advantages, such as short operative route, clear surgical visual field, simple performance, light injury and no scars, and the effect of which will be really certain in the operative practice.