Changes in menopausal symptoms comparing oral estradiol versus transdermal estradiol.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of oral and transdermal estradiol in alleviating menopausal symptoms. METHOD: A total of 257 recently menopausal women were randomized into two groups. The t-E2 group received transdermal estradiol (2.5 g per day) (n = 128) and the o-E2V group received oral estradiol valerate (2 mg per day) (n = 129) for 24 weeks; both groups received micronized progesterone (200 mg per day). The primary outcome measure is the change in the modified Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI) after 24 weeks of treatment. Menopausal symptoms were recorded at screening and at 4, 12 and 24 weeks using both the KMI and the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). RESULTS: Significant amelioration was observed by KMI and MRS scores for both groups after treatment (p < 0.001). The mean KMI scores showed no difference between the two groups. The mean MRS scores were similar between the two groups at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment. The results showed statistical differences after 12 weeks and 24 weeks of treatment (p = 0.005 and p = 0.011). Both the after-treatment scores minus the baseline scores of KMI and MRS and the incidence of adverse effects showed no difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that both transdermal and oral estradiol are effective in relieving menopausal symptoms, with little difference in treatment efficacy and safety. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: ChiCTR2300073146.

Dim light in the evening causes coordinated realignment of circadian rhythms, sleep, and short-term memory.

Light provides the primary signal for entraining circadian rhythms to the day/night cycle. In addition to rods and cones, the retina contains a small population of photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (pRGCs) expressing the photopigment melanopsin (OPN4). Concerns have been raised that exposure to dim artificial lighting in the evening (DLE) may perturb circadian rhythms and sleep patterns, and OPN4 is presumed to mediate these effects. Here, we examine the effects of 4-h, 20-lux DLE on circadian physiology and behavior in mice and the role of OPN4 in these responses. We show that 2 wk of DLE induces a phase delay of ∼2 to 3 h in mice, comparable to that reported in humans. DLE-induced phase shifts are unaffected in Opn4-/- mice, indicating that rods and cones are capable of driving these responses in the absence of melanopsin. DLE delays molecular clock rhythms in the heart, liver, adrenal gland, and dorsal hippocampus. It also reverses short-term recognition memory performance, which is associated with changes in preceding sleep history. In addition, DLE modifies patterns of hypothalamic and cortical cFos signals, a molecular correlate of recent neuronal activity. Together, our data show that DLE causes coordinated realignment of circadian rhythms, sleep patterns, and short-term memory process in mice. These effects are particularly relevant as DLE conditions-due to artificial light exposure-are experienced by the majority of the populace on a daily basis.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Atypical Imaging Features: Review of the Morphologic Hepatocellular Carcinoma Subtypes With Radiology-Pathology Correlation.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fastest growing cause of cancer death in the United States with the incidence rate more than doubling in 20 years. HCC is unique since a noninvasive diagnosis can be achieved with imaging alone when specific clinical criteria and imaging characteristics are met, obviating the need for tissue sampling. However, HCC is a highly heterogeneous neoplasm. Atypical HCC subtypes vary significantly in their morphology, which can be attributed to specific histologic and molecular features, and can cause deviations from the classic imaging characteristics. The different morphologic subtypes of HCC frequently present a diagnostic challenge for radiologists and pathologists since their imaging and pathologic features can overlap with those of non-HCC malignancies. Identifying an atypical subtype can have important clinical implications. Liver transplant, albeit a scarce and limited resource, is the optimal treatment for conventional HCC, potentially curing both the tumor and the underlying pre-malignant condition. Some HCC subtypes as well as mimickers are associated with unacceptably high recurrence and poor outcome after transplant, and there remains limited data on the role and prognosis of liver transplantation for treatment of rare HCC subtypes. Other subtypes tend to recur later than classic HCC, potentially requiring a different follow-up scheme. This review will discuss the appearance of different HCC subtypes in relation to their histopathologic features. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.

[Casticin inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of bladder cancer cells by inhibition of TM7SF4 expression].

Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of Casticin (CAS) on the proliferation, migration and invasion of bladder cancer T24 cells. Methods: T24 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into control group, 5, 10, 20 µmol/L CAS groups, si-NC group, si-TM7SF4 group, CAS+ pcDNA group and CAS+ pcDNA-TM7SF4 group. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect cell proliferation; Transwell was used to detect cell migration and invasion; western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of cyclin D1, p21, MMP-2, MMP-9 and TM7SF4, and real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of TM7SF4 mRNA. Results: The inhibition rates of T24 cells in the 5, 10, 20 µmol/L CAS groups were (17.68±1.41)%, (33.54±3.16)% and (61.44±5.50)%, respectively, higher than (0.00±0.00)% of the control group (P<0.001), but the numbers of migration and invasion were 72.83±5.66, 59.13±4.27, 41.25±3.22 and 55.83±5.15, 42.19±3.06, 31.13±3.22, respectively, lower than 86.11±5.16 and 68.82±5.29 of the control group (P<0.001). The protein expression levels of cyclin D1, MMP-2, MMP-9, TM7SF4 and the expression levels of TM7SF4 mRNA in the 5, 10, and 20 µmol/L CAS groups were lower than the control group (P<0.001). However, the protein expression levels of p21 were 0.37±0.03, 0.51±0.04, and 0.66±0.06, respectively, higher than 0.25±0.03 in the control group (P<0.001). The inhibition rate of T24 cells in the si-TM7SF4 group was (50.35±4.67)%, higher than (6.31±0.58)% in the si-NC group (P<0.001), but the numbers of migration and invasion were 53.51±4.18 and 42.92±3.81, lower than 85.26±4.99 and 67.93±4.64 of the si-NC group (P<0.001). The protein expression levels of TM7SF4, CyclinD1, MMP-2, MMP-9 in the si-TM7SF4 group were lower than the si-NC group (P<0.001). However, the protein expression level of p21 in the si-TM7SF4 group was higher than the si-NC group (P<0.001). The inhibitory rate of T24 cells in the CAS+ pcDNA-TM7SF4 group was (21.45±2.46)%, lower than (64.06±4.49)% of the CAS+ pcDNA group (P<0.001), but the number of migration and invasion in the CAS+ pcDNA-TM7SF4 group were 75.66±6.57 and 59.35±5.40, higher than 40.43±3.85 and 30.25±3.32 in the CAS+ pcDNA group (P<0.001). The protein expression levels of TM7SF4, CyclinD1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the CAS+ pcDNA-TM7SF4 group were higher than the CAS+ pcDNA group (P<0.001), but the protein expression level of p21 was lower than the CAS+ pcDNA group (P<0.001). Conclusion: CAS may suppress the proliferation, migration and invasion of bladder cancer T24 cells by inhibiting the expression of TM7SF4.

Long-term restoration of visual function in end-stage retinal degeneration using subretinal human melanopsin gene therapy.

Optogenetic strategies to restore vision in patients who are blind from end-stage retinal degenerations aim to render remaining retinal cells light sensitive once photoreceptors are lost. Here, we assessed long-term functional outcomes following subretinal delivery of the human melanopsin gene (OPN4) in the rd1 mouse model of retinal degeneration using an adeno-associated viral vector. Ectopic expression of OPN4 using a ubiquitous promoter resulted in cellular depolarization and ganglion cell action potential firing. Restoration of the pupil light reflex, behavioral light avoidance, and the ability to perform a task requiring basic image recognition were restored up to 13 mo following injection. These data suggest that melanopsin gene therapy via a subretinal route may be a viable and stable therapeutic option for the treatment of end-stage retinal degeneration in humans.

Melanopsin Regulates Both Sleep-Promoting and Arousal-Promoting Responses to Light.

Light plays a critical role in the regulation of numerous aspects of physiology and behaviour, including the entrainment of circadian rhythms and the regulation of sleep. These responses involve melanopsin (OPN4)-expressing photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (pRGCs) in addition to rods and cones. Nocturnal light exposure in rodents has been shown to result in rapid sleep induction, in which melanopsin plays a key role. However, studies have also shown that light exposure can result in elevated corticosterone, a response that is not compatible with sleep. To investigate these contradictory findings and to dissect the relative contribution of pRGCs and rods/cones, we assessed the effects of light of different wavelengths on behaviourally defined sleep. Here, we show that blue light (470 nm) causes behavioural arousal, elevating corticosterone and delaying sleep onset. By contrast, green light (530 nm) produces rapid sleep induction. Compared to wildtype mice, these responses are altered in melanopsin-deficient mice (Opn4-/-), resulting in enhanced sleep in response to blue light but delayed sleep induction in response to green or white light. We go on to show that blue light evokes higher Fos induction in the SCN compared to the sleep-promoting ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO), whereas green light produced greater responses in the VLPO. Collectively, our data demonstrates that nocturnal light exposure can have either an arousal- or sleep-promoting effect, and that these responses are melanopsin-mediated via different neural pathways with different spectral sensitivities. These findings raise important questions relating to how artificial light may alter behaviour in both the work and domestic setting.

Constant Light Desynchronizes Olfactory versus Object and Visuospatial Recognition Memory Performance.

Circadian rhythms optimize physiology and behavior to the varying demands of the 24 h day. The master circadian clock is located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus and it regulates circadian oscillators in tissues throughout the body to prevent internal desynchrony. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that, under standard 12 h:12 h light/dark (LD) cycles, object, visuospatial, and olfactory recognition performance in C57BL/6J mice is consistently better at midday relative to midnight. However, under repeated exposure to constant light (rLL), recognition performance becomes desynchronized, with object and visuospatial performance better at subjective midday and olfactory performance better at subjective midnight. This desynchrony in behavioral performance is mirrored by changes in expression of the canonical clock genes Period1 and Period2 (Per1 and Per2), as well as the immediate-early gene Fos in the SCN, dorsal hippocampus, and olfactory bulb. Under rLL, rhythmic Per1 and Fos expression is attenuated in the SCN. In contrast, hippocampal gene expression remains rhythmic, mirroring object and visuospatial performance. Strikingly, Per1 and Fos expression in the olfactory bulb is reversed, mirroring the inverted olfactory performance. Temporal desynchrony among these regions does not result in arrhythmicity because core body temperature and exploratory activity rhythms persist under rLL. Our data provide the first demonstration that abnormal lighting conditions can give rise to temporal desynchrony between autonomous circadian oscillators in different regions, with different consequences for performance across different sensory domains. Such a dispersed network of dissociable circadian oscillators may provide greater flexibility when faced with conflicting environmental signals.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT A master circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus regulates physiology and behavior across the 24 h day by synchronizing peripheral clocks throughout the brain and body. Without the SCN, these peripheral clocks rapidly become desynchronized. Here, we provide a unique demonstration that, under lighting conditions in which the central clock in the SCN is dampened, peripheral oscillators in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb become desynchronized, along with the behavioral processes mediated by these clocks. Multiple clocks that adopt different phase relationships may enable processes occurring in different brain regions to be optimized to specific phases of the 24 h day. Moreover, such a dispersed network of dissociable circadian clocks may provide greater flexibility when faced with conflicting environmental signals (e.g., seasonal changes in photoperiod).

[Analysis on the novel compound heterozygous mutation Fâ ª of a patient with hereditary factor â ª deficiency].

Objective: To investigate the clinical phenotype and genotype characteristics of a Chinese hereditary factor Ⅺ deficiency pedigree. Methods: The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), FⅪ activity (FⅪ: C) were measured by clotting method using automatic coagulation analyzer. The FⅪ antigen (FⅪ: Ag) was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fifteen exons of F11 from the proband and his pedigree members were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), then sequenced. Pymol software was used to analyze the novel mutations. Results: APTT, FⅪ: C and FⅪ: Ag of proband was 74.2 s, 4.0% and 2.9%, respectively. For his older sister, APTT, FⅪ: C and FⅪ: Ag was 67.1 s, 3.0% and 1.8%, respectively. APTT, FⅪ: C and FⅪ: Ag of healthy controls were 34.5 s, 100.0% and 100.0%. FⅪ: C of proband's father, mother and brother were 72.0%, 62.0%, and 78.0%, respectively. FⅪ: Ag of them were 50.0%, 43.0%, and 51.8%, respectively. The other coagulant parameters of the proband and his pedigree were all in the normal range. Sequence analysis showed two heterozygous gene mutations in F11 of the proband and his older sister. One was a deletion of T at nucleotide 1 491 in exon 12, resulting in a frameshift. A substitution of leucine 465 by tryptophan and a terminal coden after 7 amino acid: F11NM_13142c.1491delT (p.Leu465Trp.fs*7). The other was a G to A substitution at nucleotide 1 815 in exon 15, resulting in a substitution of glycine 573 by aspartic acid: F11 NM_13142c.1815G>A (p.Gly573Asp). F11NM_13142c.1491delT (p.Leu465Trp.fs*7) heterozygotes were found both in the proband's father and his brother while p. Gly573Asp heterozygote was only found in his mother. F11 of the proband's uncle was wild. Conclusion: The novel compound heterozygous mutations of F11NM_13142c.1491delT (p.Leu465Trp.fs*7) and F11 NM_13142 c. 1815G>A (p.Gly573Asp) are responsible for FⅪ deficiency to the proband, which induced the decrease of FⅪ: C and FⅪ: Ag.

Modulation of recognition memory performance by light requires both melanopsin and classical photoreceptors.

Acute light exposure exerts various effects on physiology and behaviour. Although the effects of light on brain network activity in humans are well demonstrated, the effects of light on cognitive performance are inconclusive, with the size, as well as direction, of the effect depending on the nature of the task. Similarly, in nocturnal rodents, bright light can either facilitate or disrupt performance depending on the type of task employed. Crucially, it is unclear whether the effects of light on behavioural performance are mediated via the classical image-forming rods and cones or the melanopsin-expressing photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. Here, we investigate the modulatory effects of light on memory performance in mice using the spontaneous object recognition task. Importantly, we examine which photoreceptors are required to mediate the effects of light on memory performance. By using a cross-over design, we show that object recognition memory is disrupted when the test phase is conducted under a bright light (350 lux), regardless of the light level in the sample phase (10 or 350 lux), demonstrating that exposure to a bright light at the time of test, rather than at the time of encoding, impairs performance. Strikingly, the modulatory effect of light on memory performance is completely abolished in both melanopsin-deficient and rodless-coneless mice. Our findings provide direct evidence that melanopsin-driven and rod/cone-driven photoresponses are integrated in order to mediate the effect of light on memory performance.

Effects of dorsal hippocampal damage on conditioning and conditioned-response timing: A pooled analysis.

Behavioral findings suggest that the dorsal hippocampus (DHPC) plays a role in timing of appetitive conditioned responding. The present article explored the relationship between the extent of DHPC damage and timing ability, in a pooled analysis of three published studies from our laboratory. Initial analyses of variance confirmed our previous reports that DHPC damage reduced peak time (a measure of timing accuracy). However, the spread (a measure of timing precision) was unchanged, such that the coefficient of variation (spread/peak time) was significantly larger in DHPC-lesioned animals. This implies that, in addition to the well-established effect of DHPC lesions on timing accuracy, DHPC damage produced a deficit in precision of timing. To complement this analysis, different generalized linear mixed-effects models (GLMMs) were performed on the combined dataset, to examine which combinations of the different behavioral measures of timing were the best predictors of the degree of hippocampal damage. The results from the GLMM analysis suggested that the greater the DHPC damage, the greater the absolute difference between the observed peak time and reinforced duration. Nevertheless, this systematic relationship between damage and performance was not specific to the temporal domain: paradoxically the greater the damage the greater the magnitude of peak responding. We discuss these lesion effects in terms of scalar timing theory.

d-amino acid oxidase knockout (Dao(-/-) ) mice show enhanced short-term memory performance and heightened anxiety, but no sleep or circadian rhythm disruption.

d-amino acid oxidase (DAO, DAAO) is an enzyme that degrades d-serine, the primary endogenous co-agonist of the synaptic N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor. Convergent evidence implicates DAO in the pathophysiology and potential treatment of schizophrenia. To better understand the functional role of DAO, we characterized the behaviour of the first genetically engineered Dao knockout (Dao(-/-) ) mouse. Our primary objective was to assess both spatial and non-spatial short-term memory performance. Relative to wildtype (Dao(+/+) ) littermate controls, Dao(-/-) mice demonstrated enhanced spatial recognition memory performance, improved odour recognition memory performance, and enhanced spontaneous alternation in the T-maze. In addition, Dao(-/-) mice displayed increased anxiety-like behaviour in five tests of approach/avoidance conflict: the open field test, elevated plus maze, successive alleys, light/dark box and novelty-suppressed feeding. Despite evidence of a reciprocal relationship between anxiety and sleep and circadian function in rodents, we found no evidence of sleep or circadian rhythm disruption in Dao(-/-) mice. Overall, our observations are consistent with, and extend, findings in the natural mutant ddY/Dao(-) line. These data add to a growing body of preclinical evidence linking the inhibition, inactivation or deletion of DAO with enhanced cognitive performance. Our results have implications for the development of DAO inhibitors as therapeutic agents.

Increased risk of cardiovascular events in end-stage renal disease patients with osteoporosis: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

SUMMARY: We investigated the cardiovascular disease risk and mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. A total of 12,535 patients with ESRD undergoing incident dialysis were enrolled, 4,153 (33.13 %) of whom had osteoporosis. The osteoporosis group was associated with a significantly higher risk of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, and mortality. INTRODUCTION: In this study, we aimed to investigate the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality in a sample of end-stage renal disease patients with osteoporosis. METHODS: We conducted this retrospective cohort study of incident dialysis patients with and without osteoporosis to evaluate the risk of overall mortality and cardiovascular complications including stroke, coronary heart disease, and congestive heart failure between the two groups. A total of 12,535 patients with ESRD undergoing incident dialysis were enrolled, 4,153 (33.13 %) of whom had osteoporosis, from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan for the years 1998 through 2011. The osteoporosis group had more comorbidities than the group without osteoporosis including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, mental disorders, and hepatitis C infection. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, gender, and related comorbidities, the osteoporosis group was associated with a significantly higher risk of coronary artery disease (hazard ratio (HR)=1.32, 95 % confidence interval (CI)=1.20-1.45) which was significant in both genders (women, HR=1.35, 95% CI=1.20-1.50; men HR=1.27, 95% CI=1.06-1.52) and all age groups (≤49 years HR=1.41, 95% CI=1.16-1.70; >49 years HR=1.30, 95% CI=1.16-1.45). Similar results were observed for the outcomes of congestive heart failure, stroke, and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that osteoporosis was significantly associated with the subsequent risk of cardiovascular events in patients with ESRD. When encountering patients with ESRD and osteoporosis, physicians should be alert to the subsequent cardiovascular risk in incident dialysis patients to prevent the subsequent occurrence of these adverse events.

Dorsal hippocampal involvement in conditioned-response timing and maintenance of temporal information in the absence of the CS.

Involvement of the dorsal hippocampus (DHPC) in conditioned-response timing and maintaining temporal information across time gaps was examined in an appetitive Pavlovian conditioning task, in which rats with sham and DHPC lesions were first conditioned to a 15-s visual cue. After acquisition, the subjects received a series of non-reinforced test trials, on which the visual cue was extended (45 s) and gaps of different duration, 0.5, 2.5, and 7.5 s, interrupted the early portion of the cue. Dorsal hippocampal-lesioned subjects underestimated the target duration of 15 s and showed broader response distributions than the control subjects on the no-gap trials in the first few blocks of test, but the accuracy and precision of their timing reached the level of that of the control subjects by the last block. On the gap trials, the DHPC-lesioned subjects showed greater rightward shifts in response distributions than the control subjects. We discussed these lesion effects in terms of temporal versus non-temporal processing (response inhibition, generalisation decrement, and inhibitory conditioning).

Does Milan affect management? A retrospective analysis of resection rate and time to surgery among Milan categories.

INTRODUCTION: The Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology (MSRSGC) is an established system with reproducible risk of malignancies (ROM) for salivary gland fine needle aspiration (SGFNA). No studies have reviewed the relationship between Milan categories and the resection rate (RR) and time to resection (TTR). METHODS: We searched our database (January 1, 2011 to January 4, 2021) for non-lymphoma SGFNAs and assigned appropriate MSRSGC categories. RR and TTR were calculated and compared for each category. A literature search was performed; RRs and TTRs were compared. RESULTS: Seven hundred and eighty SGFNAs were identified, 333 with follow-up. RR was highest in suspicious for malignancy (SUS, V; 70.6%, n = 12/17), followed by the salivary gland neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential (SUMP, IVb; 69.6%, n = 80/115) and malignant (M, VI; 55.6%, n = 75/135). Among M, primary tumors had a higher RR (65.1%, n = 41/63) than metastases (47.2%, n = 34/72, p = .36). In literature review, SUS had the highest RR (69.3%, n = 233/336) followed by M (61.6%, n = 821/1332) and SUMP (60.2%, n = 632/1050). TTR was shorter in SUS (mean = 32.3 days, median = 25 days). Within the benign neoplasms (BN, IVa), Pleomorphic adenomas (PAs) had a higher RR than Warthin tumors (WTs) (66.3% vs. 37.2%, p < .00001), and a shorter TTR (median = 63 days vs. 90 days). CONCLUSIONS: Tumors classified as SUS had higher RR and at shorter intervals than those classified as SUMP. PAs have higher RRs and more expedient surgery than WTs. Cases classified as M are less likely to undergo follow-up than SUS, perhaps due to a lower RR for metastases.

Nitrogen dynamics in grain crop and legume pasture systems under elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration: A meta-analysis.

Understanding nitrogen (N) removal and replenishment is crucial to crop sustainability under rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2 ]). While a significant portion of N is removed in grains, the soil N taken from agroecosystems can be replenished by fertilizer application and N2 fixation by legumes. The effects of elevated [CO2 ] on N dynamics in grain crop and legume pasture systems were evaluated using meta-analytic techniques (366 observations from 127 studies). The information analysed for non-legume crops included grain N removal, residue C : N ratio, fertilizer N recovery and nitrous oxide (N2 O) emission. In addition to these parameters, nodule number and mass, nitrogenase activity, the percentage and amount of N fixed from the atmosphere were also assessed in legumes. Elevated [CO2 ] increased grain N removal of C3 non-legumes (11%), legumes (36%) and C4 crops (14%). The C : N ratio of residues from C3 non-legumes and legumes increased under elevated [CO2 ] by 16% and 8%, respectively, but the increase for C4 crops (9%) was not statistically significant. Under elevated [CO2 ], there was a 38% increase in the amount of N fixed from the atmosphere by legumes, which was accompanied by greater whole plant nodule number (33%), nodule mass (39%), nitrogenase activity (37%) and %N derived from the atmosphere (10%; non-significant). Elevated [CO2 ] increased the plant uptake of fertilizer N by 17%, and N2 O emission by 27%. These results suggest that N demand and removal in grain cropping systems will increase under future CO2 -enriched environments, and that current N management practices (fertilizer application and legume incorporation) will need to be revised.

Factors affecting the shape of MBE-grown laterally aligned Fe nanowires.

Various microstructural and chemical analysis techniques were applied to study two types (type-A and B) of self-assembled laterally aligned Fe nanowires (NWs) fabricated by molecular beam epitaxy on a ZnS buffer layer. The formation of the three-dimensional shapes of these NWs was found to be driven by the principle of surface energy minimization. We have provided phenomenological models to address the factors affecting the observed topological shape of these NWs, including the role of the lattice relationship between the Fe NWs and the underlying buffer layer, growth temperature, Fe nominal coverage and substrate orientation. Magnetic hysteresis measurements were performed at different temperature, demonstrating the Fe NWs possess a coercivity about 30 times larger than that of a Fe thin film. The observed gradual magnetization reversal indicates the magnetization process is accomplished by the rotation of magnetic moments within a single domain.

Identification of a specific scar marker for detection of Tilletia foetida (Wall) Liro pathogen of wheat.

Common bunt is one of the most important destructive diseases of wheat worldwide and is a domestic quarantined disease in China. However, a rapid and efficient method to identify the corresponding pathogens is currently limited. The objective of the present study was to develop a diagnostic molecular marker specific towards Tilletia foetida (Wall) Liro, a causal agent of the bunt disease. One specific DNA fragment for T. foetida (286 bp in length) was amplified using an Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) assay and, this fragment was cloned and sequenced. One pair of specific primers (SC(286-1)/SC(286-2)), which was designed according to the sequence, could specifically amplify the corresponding fragment in all of the T. foetida isolates employed from both the People's Republic of China and United States, whereas this fragment could not be amplified by the other fungal species tested. Therefore, a specific Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) marker was developed. This SCAR marker could distinguish T. foetida from related pathogenic fungi efficiently and could be used for the early diagnosis of the common bunt of wheat in the field, and provide an efficient way for disease surveillance and disease forecasting in cereal crop.

Nondiagnostic salivary gland FNAs are associated with decreased risk of malignancy compared with "all-comer" patients: Analysis of the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology with a focus on Milan I: Nondiagnostic.

BACKGROUND: The Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology (MSRSGC) reports a 25% rate of malignancy (ROM) for the Milan I: Nondiagnostic (ND) category. We clarify the ROM of ND salivary gland fine-needle aspirations (SGFNAs) based on our institutional experience and review of the literature. METHODS: Overall risk of malignancy (OROM) and that for those with surgical/flow cytometric follow-up (FROM) for each category and "all-comers" were calculated for Emory SGFNAs from January 2010 through March 2021. From a literature review of 50 articles using MSRSGC, distribution of diagnoses, rates of follow-up, FROM, and OROM by category were calculated. FROMs and OROMs between ND FNAs and all-comers were compared. Milan I rate was compared with the ratio of Milan I OROM to all-comer OROM. RESULTS: Of 819 SGFNAs at Emory, 12.8% (n = 105/819) were ND. Thirty-two had known follow-up, with 12 (37.5%) being malignant. Nonmucinous cyst contents accounted for 26.7% of ND SGFNAs (n = 28/105); all 7 with surgical follow-up were benign. Of 50 MSRSGC studies, 18.2% (n = 2384/13,129) of SGFNAs were classified as ND, 26.6% (n = 635/2384) with known follow-up. Total FROM and OROM for ND FNAs (15.7% and 4.1%, respectively) were significantly lower than those for all-comers (24.9% and 11.4%, respectively) (p < .001). There was no relationship between rate of ND SGFNA and ND ROM. CONCLUSIONS: The ND category is associated with a lower ROM than that of all-comer SGFNA patients. The "true" ROM for ND SGFNAs is likely best estimated by the 4.1% OROM. SGFNAs showing nonmucinous cyst contents have a particularly low ROM. Rate of ND SGFNAs does not influence ND ROM.

Safety and efficacy of extra-ventricular drainage combined with urokinase administration in the management of intraventricular hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a severe form of stroke. Studies of existing treatment options are controversial. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of extra ventricular drainage (EVD) combined with uPA administration for the treatment of IVH. METHODS: The clinical data of 157 IVH patients admitted to our department during 2019-2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Based on the Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) after 30 days, patients were categorized into favorable outcome (GOS4-5) and poor outcome (GOS1-3), and factors with prognostic impact were screened by univariate and multifactorial analysis, followed by propensity score matching and screening of paired patients for comparative analysis between the uPA and non-uPA groups. RESULTS: Patient age, uPA use, initial GCS score, and intracranial hematoma volume can all influence the patient's GOS. After propensity score-matched screening, 72 patients were finally included, 36 each in the uPA and non-uPA groups. Analysis revealed that at the follow-up after 30 days, 50.0% of patients with a GOS score of 4-5 were in the uPA group compared with 30.6% in the non-uPA group; however, they were not statistically significantly different. In contrast, the mean clearance of hematoma after four days was significantly higher in the uPA group than in the non-uPA group (P<0.05) and did not increase the incidence of postoperative complications (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: uPA treatment may eliminate hematomas faster and reduce the rate of obstruction. However, its effectiveness in improving patient prognosis does not appear to be significant. Therefore, studies with larger samples may be needed to further validate its effectiveness.