Effects of the Rho-Kinase Inhibitor Y-27632 on Extraocular Muscle Surgery in Rabbits

Purpose. To evaluate the effect of the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 on postoperative inflammation and adhesion following extraocular muscle surgery in rabbits. Methods. The superior rectus muscle reinsertion was performed on both eyes of 8 New Zealand white rabbits. After reinsertion, the rabbits received subconjunctival injections of the Rho-kinase inhibitor and saline on each eye. To assess acute and late inflammatory changes, Ki-67, CD11β+, and F4/80 were evaluated and the sites of muscle reattachment were evaluated for a postoperative adhesion score and histopathologically for collagen formation. Results. F4/80 antibody expression was significantly different in the Rho-kinase inhibitor-injected group at both postoperative day 3 and week 4 (, 0.031). However, Ki-67 and CD11β+ were not different the between two groups. The difference in the SRM/conjunctiva adhesion score between the two groups was also significant (). Conclusion. Intraoperative subconjunctival injection of the Rho-kinase inhibitor may be effective for adjunctive management of inflammation and fibrosis in rabbit eyes following extraocular muscle surgery.

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PinX1 Is a Potential Prognostic Factor for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Migration

PinX1 has been identified as a suppressor of telomerase enzymatic activity. However, the tumour-suppressive roles of PinX1 in different types of human cancers are unclear. PinX1 expression status and its correlation with clinicopathological features in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not been investigated. Accordingly, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the roles of PinX1 in NSCLC. PinX1 expression status was examined by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarray from a total of 158 patients. Correlations among PinX1 expression, clinicopathological variables, and patient survival were analysed. Furthermore, we overexpressed PinX1 in NSCLC cells and tested telomerase activity using real-time quantitative telomeric repeat amplification protocol (qTRAP) assays. Proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells were examined using the MTS method, wound healing assays, and transwell assays, respectively. Our results showed that negative PinX1 expression was associated with a poor prognosis in NSCLC. Sex, smoking status, lymph gland status, subcarinal lymph node status, pathological stage, and PinX1 expression were related to survival. PinX1 was not an independent prognostic factor in NSCLC. PinX1 overexpression inhibited proliferation and migration in NSCLC cells by suppressing telomerase activity. Our findings suggested that PinX1 could be a potential tumour suppressor in NSCLC and that loss of PinX1 promoted NSCLC progression.

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Osteoblastic Metastases Mimickers on Contrast Enhanced CT

Secondary osseous involvement in lymphoma is more common compared to primary bone lymphoma. The finding of osseous lesion can be incidentally discovered during the course of the disease. However, osseous metastases are infrequently silent. Detection of osseous metastases is crucial for accurate staging and optimal treatment planning of lymphoma. The aim of imaging is to identify the presence and extent of osseous disease and to assess for possible complications such as pathological fracture of the load-bearing bones and cord compression if the lesion is spinal. We are presenting two patients with treated lymphoma who were in complete remission. On routine follow-up contrast enhanced CT, there were new osteoblastic lesions in the spine worrisome for metastases. Additional studies were performed for further evaluation of both of them which did not demonstrate any corresponding suspicious osseous lesion. The patients have a prior history of chronic venous occlusive thrombosis that resulted in collaterals formation. Contrast enhancement of the vertebral body marrow secondary to collaterals formation and venous flow through the vertebral venous plexus can mimic the appearance of spinal osteoblastic metastases.

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Effect of Flow Direction on Relative Permeability Curves in Water/Gas Reservoir System: Implications in Geological CO2 Sequestration

The effect of gravity on vertical flow and fluids saturation, especially when flow is against gravity, is not often a subject of interest to researchers. This is because of the notion that flow in subsurface formations is usually in horizontal direction and that vertical flow is impossible or marginal because of the impermeable shales or silts overlying them. The density difference between two fluids (usually oil and water) flowing in the porous media is also normally negligible; hence gravity influence is neglected. Capillarity is also often avoided in relative permeability measurements in order to satisfy some flow equations. These notions have guided most laboratory core flooding experiments to be conducted in horizontal flow orientation, and the data obtained are as good as what the experiments tend to mimic. However, gravity effect plays a major role in gas liquid systems such as CO2 sequestration and some types of enhanced oil recovery techniques, particularly those involving gases, where large density difference exists between the fluid pair. In such cases, laboratory experiments conducted to derive relative permeability curves should take into consideration gravity effects and capillarity. Previous studies attribute directional dependence of relative permeability and residual saturations to rock anisotropy. It is shown in this study that rock permeability, residual saturation, and relative permeability depend on the interplay between gravity, capillarity, and viscous forces and also the direction of fluid flow even when the rock is isotropic. Rock samples representing different lithology and wide range of permeabilities were investigated through unsteady-state experiments covering drainage and imbibition in both vertical and horizontal flow directions. The experiments were performed at very low flow rates to capture capillarity. The results obtained showed that, for each homogeneous rock and for the same flow path along the core length, the relative permeability and residual saturation are dependent on flow direction. The results were reproducible in all experiments conducted on the samples. This directional dependence, when accounted for in numerical simulation, can significantly improve simulation accuracy in the flow processes described.

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Minimal-Learning-Parameter Technique Based Adaptive Neural Sliding Mode Control of MEMS Gyroscope

This paper investigates an adaptive neural sliding mode controller for MEMS gyroscopes with minimal-learning-parameter technique. Considering the system uncertainty in dynamics, neural network is employed for approximation. Minimal-learning-parameter technique is constructed to decrease the number of update parameters, and in this way the computation burden is greatly reduced. Sliding mode control is designed to cancel the effect of time-varying disturbance. The closed-loop stability analysis is established via Lyapunov approach. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.

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A Case of Hyperparathyroidism due to a Large Intrathyroid Parathyroid Adenoma with Recurrent Episodes of Acute Pancreatitis

We report a case of a 66-year-old woman who developed hyperparathyroidism due to a large intrathyroid parathyroid adenoma with episodes of acute pancreatitis. She had previously been treated for acute pancreatitis twice. Serum calcium was 12.4 mg/dL, and intact parathyroid hormone was 253 pg/dL. Ultrasonography and computed tomography of the neck with contrast enhancement revealed a soft tissue mass (28 mm transverse diameter) within the left lobe of the thyroid. Tc-MIBI scintigraphy demonstrated focal accumulation due to increased radiotracer uptake in the left thyroid lobe. Left hemithyroidectomy was performed. Histopathology showed no signs of invasion, and this is consistent with parathyroid adenoma. Immunostaining was positive for expression of chromogranin A and parathyroid hormone. The patient had no episode of pancreatitis after the operation. In a patient with recurrent episodes of pancreatitis, the possibility of complication with hyperparathyroidism should be considered.

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Saliva-Derived Host Defense Peptides Histatin1 and LL-37 Increase Secretion of Antimicrobial Skin and Oral Mucosa Chemokine CCL20 in an IL-1α-Independent Manner

Even though skin and oral mucosae are continuously in contact with commensal and opportunistic microorganisms, they generally remain healthy and uninflamed. Host defense peptides (HDPs) make up the body's first line of defense against many invading pathogens and are involved in the orchestration of innate immunity and the inflammatory response. In this study, we investigated the effect of two salivary HDPs, LL-37 and Hst1, on the inflammatory and antimicrobial response by skin and oral mucosa (gingiva) keratinocytes and fibroblasts. The potent antimicrobial chemokine CCL20 was investigated and compared with chemokines CCL2, CXCL1, CXCL8, and CCL27 and proinflammatory cytokines IL-1α and IL-6. Keratinocyte-fibroblast cocultures showed a synergistic increase in CCL20 secretion upon Hst1 and LL-37 exposure compared to monocultures. These cocultures also showed increased IL-6, CXCL1, CXCL8, and CCL2 secretion, which was IL-1α dependent. Secretion of the antimicrobial chemokine CCL20 was clearly IL-1α independent. These results indicate that salivary peptides can stimulate skin as well as gingiva cells to secrete antimicrobial chemokines as part of the hosts' defense to counteract infection.

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Acinetobacter lwoffii Peritonitis in a Patient on Automated Peritoneal Dialysis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Acinetobacter lwoffii, a nonfermentative gram-negative aerobic bacillus, which presents in the normal flora of the oropharynx and skin, has recently been reported as a cause of human infection. Herein, the authors present a case report of peritonitis related to automated peritoneal dialysis caused by A. lwoffii.

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Anterior Extension of Tumor is as Important as Tumor Size to Facial Nerve Outcome and Extent of Resection for Vestibular Schwannomas

J Neurol Surg B
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1604331

Objectives We examined vestibular schwannoma tumor dimension and direction of growth to determine whether these correlate with facial nerve outcome as well as extent of resection (EOR). Design Retrospective review of prospectively maintained databases. Participants 206 patients were a part of this study. Main Outcome Measures Tumor dimensions were measured using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging, and a series of ratios were then calculated to further characterize tumor dimension. Regression analyses were performed to investigate correlation with facial nerve outcome and EOR. Results Patients with tumor extending >1.5 cm anterior to the internal auditory canal (IAC) (AB measurement) were three times more likely to have postoperative House-Brackman grades of 3 or worse. We also found that an EB/BF ratio (representing elongated growth parallel to the IAC axis) ≥1.1 was associated with half the risk of poor facial nerve outcome. Tumors with anterior-posterior diameter (AC measurement) >1.9 cm were five times less likely to undergo gross total resection (GTR). Furthermore, an increased degree of tumor extension into the IAC (DE measurement >2.4 cm) or an increased amount of brainstem compression (EB measurement >1.1 cm) were each associated with a nearly 3-fold decrease in the likelihood of GTR. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that anterior extent of the tumor is as important as tumor size to facial nerve outcome and degree of resection for vestibular schwannomas.
[...]

Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Article in Thieme eJournals:
Table of contents  |  Abstract  |  Full text

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Altered Biodistribution of 99m Tc-DPD on Bone Scan After Intravenous Iron Supplement

Abstract

We report a case with altered biodistribution of ^99mTc-dicarboxypropane diphosphonate (^99mTc-DPD) on whole body bone scan after intravenous iron supplement therapy. A 47-year-old male patient who had recently been detected with a hepatic mass suggestive of hepatocellular carcinoma underwent bone scan as staging work-up before surgery. Bone scan images at 3 h after injection of ^99mTc-DPD demonstrated unusually increased blood pool activities in the heart, liver, and spleen with usual skeletal uptakes. The patient had been treated for severe anemia from hemorrhoid with two intravenous administration of ferric hydroxide carboxymaltose complex at approximately 22 h and 2 h prior to the ^99mTc-DPD injection, which we consider as the most probable cause of altered biodistribution of ^99mTc-DPD.

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Dual Pathologies of Parathyroid Adenoma and Papillary Thyroid Cancer on Fluorocholine and Fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT

Abstract

¹⁸F-Fluorocholine (FCH) PET/CT is evolving as a functional imaging modality for the preoperative imaging of abnormal parathyroid tissue(s) helping to localize eutopic and ectopic parathyroid tissue and limit the extent of surgery. FCH PET/CT may show incidental uptake in various thyroid lesions necessitating further evaluation, whereas the role of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT in the detection of incidental thyroid nodules is well documented. The case of a middle-aged woman with dual pathology of parathyroid adenoma and papillary thyroid cancer detected on FCH and FDG PET/CT is presented.

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A review of chitosan's effect on oral biofilms: Perspectives from the tube to the mouth

Publication date: Available online 25 July 2017
Source:Journal of Oral Biosciences
Author(s): Eduardo Manuel Costa, Sara Silva, Mariana Veiga, Freni Kekhasharú Tavaria, Maria Manuela Pintado
BackgroundThe oral cavity is a propitious environment for bacteria with different tissue tropisms to colonize and grow due to its diverse surfaces. For bacterial survival in the oral cavity, where tissues are continuously bathed in fluids, biofilm formation is necessary. Dental biofilm, i.e. dental plaque, is notoriously hard to inhibit and traditional oral care solutions are either ineffective at managing oral biofilms or cause secondary effects, such as teeth staining, that make them unattractive.HighlightChitosan has high biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity that is heralded by the pharmaceutical industry for its applicability in biofabrication. Therefore, this material is a potential substitute for the antimicrobials traditionally used in oral care.ConclusionCurrently, the body of work on chitosan and the oral cavity ranges from planktonic studies in vitro to biofilm control/removal studies in vivo. With a wide range of topics available for analysis, this review provides a working understanding of chitosan's role in the control and management of oral biofilms.



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Is macrophage polarization important in rheumatoid arthritis?

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Immunopharmacology, Volume 50
Author(s): Yang Wang, Chen-chen Han, Dongqian Cui, Yifan Li, Yang Ma, Wei Wei
Macrophages are myeloid immune cells which are strategically positioned throughout the body, where they engulf and degrade debris, dead cells, and foreign substances, and coordinating the inflammatory processes. Macrophages can be divided into two extreme subsets, classical activation (M1), and alternatively activation (M2). The symptoms and signs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) would exacerbate with the increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, whereas anti-inflammatory cytokines will alleviate the symptoms and signs of RA. This review, mainly discusses the effects of Notch, JNK and ERK signaling pathways on the regulation of macrophage polarization, and the effects of pro-inflammatory factors and/or anti-inflammatory cytokines produced by polarized macrophages in RA. Also, we will make an attempt to find out the importance of macrophage polarization in RA treatment as a drug target.



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Interleukin-10 inhibits neuroinflammation-mediated apoptosis of ventral mesencephalic neurons via JAK-STAT3 pathway

Publication date: September 2017
Source:International Immunopharmacology, Volume 50
Author(s): Yan Zhu, Zhan Liu, Yu-Ping Peng, Yi-Hua Qiu
Neuroinflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Interleukin (IL)-10 is one of the most important and best anti-inflammatory cytokines. The objective of this report is to investigate whether IL-10 has any role in protecting ventral mesencephalic (VM) neurons in in vitro model of neuroinflammation. In this study, primary neuron-enriched culture was prepared from the VM tissues of E14 embryos of rats. The cells were pretreated with IL-10 (15 or 50ng/mL) for 1h followed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 50ng/mL) application. We found LPS induced neuronal apoptosis and loss while pretreatment with IL-10 reduced neuronal damage after exposure of LPS toxicity. Furthermore, signal transduction pathways related to IL-10 in VM neurons were studied in inflammatory condition. We used both shRNA and pharmacologic inhibition to determine the role of the IL-10 receptor (IL-10R) and its downstream signaling pathways in LPS-induced VM neuronal toxicity. Silence of the IL-10R gene in VM neurons abolished IL-10 mediated protection and the properties of anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis. IL-10 also induced phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 in VM neurons. Pretreatment with the specific Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor reduced STAT3 phosphorylation and blocked IL-10 mediated protection against LPS. These findings suggest that IL-10 provides neuroprotection by acting via IL-10R and its down-stream JAK-STAT3 signal pathways in VM neurons.



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Dual Pathologies of Parathyroid Adenoma and Papillary Thyroid Cancer on Fluorocholine and Fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT

Abstract

¹⁸F-Fluorocholine (FCH) PET/CT is evolving as a functional imaging modality for the preoperative imaging of abnormal parathyroid tissue(s) helping to localize eutopic and ectopic parathyroid tissue and limit the extent of surgery. FCH PET/CT may show incidental uptake in various thyroid lesions necessitating further evaluation, whereas the role of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT in the detection of incidental thyroid nodules is well documented. The case of a middle-aged woman with dual pathology of parathyroid adenoma and papillary thyroid cancer detected on FCH and FDG PET/CT is presented.

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Anterior Extension of Tumor is as Important as Tumor Size to Facial Nerve Outcome and Extent of Resection for Vestibular Schwannomas

J Neurol Surg B
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1604331

Objectives We examined vestibular schwannoma tumor dimension and direction of growth to determine whether these correlate with facial nerve outcome as well as extent of resection (EOR). Design Retrospective review of prospectively maintained databases. Participants 206 patients were a part of this study. Main Outcome Measures Tumor dimensions were measured using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging, and a series of ratios were then calculated to further characterize tumor dimension. Regression analyses were performed to investigate correlation with facial nerve outcome and EOR. Results Patients with tumor extending >1.5 cm anterior to the internal auditory canal (IAC) (AB measurement) were three times more likely to have postoperative House-Brackman grades of 3 or worse. We also found that an EB/BF ratio (representing elongated growth parallel to the IAC axis) ≥1.1 was associated with half the risk of poor facial nerve outcome. Tumors with anterior-posterior diameter (AC measurement) >1.9 cm were five times less likely to undergo gross total resection (GTR). Furthermore, an increased degree of tumor extension into the IAC (DE measurement >2.4 cm) or an increased amount of brainstem compression (EB measurement >1.1 cm) were each associated with a nearly 3-fold decrease in the likelihood of GTR. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that anterior extent of the tumor is as important as tumor size to facial nerve outcome and degree of resection for vestibular schwannomas.
[...]

Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Article in Thieme eJournals:
Table of contents  |  Abstract  |  Full text

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R1ρ dispersion and sodium imaging in human calf muscle

Publication date: Available online 24 July 2017
Source:Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Author(s): Ping Wang, He Zhu, Hakmook Kang, John C. Gore
PurposeTo evaluate the magnitude of chemical exchange effects and R1ρ dispersion in muscle and their relationship to tissue sodium levels with aging.MethodsSeven healthy volunteers (aged 24 to 87years, median age 47) underwent MRI to assess tissue sodium levels and water T1ρ values at different spin-locking frequencies (FSLs) in calf muscles. T1ρ values at each locking field were computed based on a three-parameter mono-exponential model to fit signals obtained at different locking times, and R1ρ (=1/T1ρ) rates were compared at different locking fields. In particular, the dispersion of R1ρ (ΔR1ρ=R1ρ(0Hz)−R1ρ(500Hz)) was examined as a function of subject age. Muscle sodium content was calculated by comparing signal intensities between tissues and reference standards within the same image. The variations of ΔR1ρ, with age and sodium were analyzed by linear regression.ResultsT1ρ values and sodium content both increased with age. R1ρ dispersion also increased with age and showed a strong linear correlation (correlation coefficient r=0.98, P=0.000578) with sodium content.ConclusionΔR1ρ reports on the contribution of labile protons such as hydroxyls which may be associated with macromolecule accumulation in the extracellular matrix (ECM). An increase of sodium signal suggests an enlarged ECM volume fraction and/or an increase in sodium concentration, which occurs during normal aging. The strong correlation between ΔR1ρ and sodium is likely the consequence of increased ECM and density of total charged sites within the matrix from molecules such as collagens and proteoglycans (PGs). The results from this study show the potential use of R1ρ dispersion and sodium imaging in the assessment of pathological changes in muscle such as fibrosis.



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Simple algorithm for the correction of MRI image artefacts due to random phase fluctuations

Publication date: Available online 24 July 2017
Source:Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Author(s): Lionel M. Broche, P. James Ross, Gareth R. Davies, David J. Lurie
PurposeFast Field-Cycling (FFC) MRI is a novel technology that allows varying the main magnetic field B0 during the pulse sequence, from the nominal field (usually hundreds of millitesla) down to Earth's field or below. This technique uses resistive magnets powered by fast amplifiers. One of the challenges with this method is to stabilise the magnetic field during the acquisition of the NMR signal. Indeed, a typical consequence of field instability is small, random phase variations between each line of k-space resulting in artefacts, similar to those which occur due to homogeneous motion but harder to correct as no assumption can be made about the phase error, which appears completely random. Here we propose an algorithm that can correct for the random phase variations induced by field instabilities without prior knowledge about the phase error.MethodsThe algorithm exploits the fact that ghosts caused by field instability manifest in image regions which should be signal free. The algorithm minimises the signal in the background by finding an optimum phase correction for each line of k-space and repeats the operation until the result converges, leaving the background free of signal.ConclusionWe showed the conditions for which the algorithm is robust and successfully applied it on images acquired on FFC-MRI scanners. The same algorithm can be used for various applications other than Fast Field-Cycling MRI.

Graphical abstract

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Effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy on Bone Regeneration During Osseointegration and Bone Graft

Photomedicine and Laser Surgery , Vol. 0, No. 0.


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Stroke survivors’ long-term QALY-weights in relation to their spouses’ QALY-weights and informal support: a cross-sectional study

Healthcare interventions that have positive effects on the stroke survivors' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) might also have positive effects for their spouses in...

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