OBJECTIVE:Contrast-enhanced ultrasound molecular imaging (CEUMI) of endothelial expression of VCAM (vascular cell adhesion molecule)-1 could improve risk stratification for atherosclerosis. The ...microbubble contrast agents developed for preclinical studies are not suitable for clinical translation. Our aim was to characterize and validate a microbubble contrast agent using a clinically translatable single-variable domain immunoglobulin (nanobody) ligand.
APPROACH AND RESULTS:Microbubble with a nanobody targeting VCAM-1 (MBcAbVcam1-5) and microbubble with a control nanobody (MBVHH2E7) were prepared and characterized in vitro. Attachment efficiency to VCAM-1 under continuous and pulsatile flow was investigated using activated murine endothelial cells. In vivo CEUMI of the aorta was performed in atherosclerotic double knockout and wild-type mice after injection of MBcAbVcam1-5 and MBVHH2E7. Ex vivo CEUMI of human endarterectomy specimens was performed in a closed-loop circulation model. The surface density of the nanobody ligand was 3.5×10 per microbubble. Compared with MBVHH2E7, MBcAbVcam1-5 showed increased attachment under continuous flow with increasing shear stress of 1-8 dynes/cm while under pulsatile flow attachment occurred at higher shear stress. CEUMI in double knockout mice showed signal enhancement for MBcAbVcam1-5 in early (P=0.0003 versus MBVHH2E7) and late atherosclerosis (P=0.007 versus MBVHH2E7); in wild-type mice, there were no differences between MBcAbVcam1-5 and MBVHH2E7. CEUMI in human endarterectomy specimens showed a 100% increase in signal for MBcAbVcam1-5versus MBVHH2E7 (20.6±27.7 versus 9.6±14.7, P=0.0156).
CONCLUSIONS:CEUMI of the expression of VCAM-1 is feasible in murine models of atherosclerosis and on human tissue using a clinically translatable microbubble bearing a VCAM-1 targeted nanobody.
Vojta method improves motor function by inducing a response by pressing the stimulus zones.
To determine the effect of the stimulus zones on trunk muscle thickness, trunk control, trunk angle, and ...gross motor function in children with spastic-type cerebral palsy.
A quasi-experimental pilot study was conducted with 19 children with spastic-type cerebral palsy divided into two groups: Vojta method group (n = 10) and general physical therapy group (n = 9). Each group underwent a 6-week intervention, and assessments were conducted to evaluate abdominal muscle thickness, trunk control, trunk angle, and gross motor function.
In the Vojta method group, the change rate in the thickness of the internal oblique and transversus abdominis increased significantly within the group (P < 0.05) and the difference (post-pre) of the transversus abdominis was higher (P < 0.05). The trunk angle increased significantly within the group when thoracic 7 and 11, lumbar 3, and sacrum 1 were supported (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference in trunk angle difference (post-pre) between groups when thoracic 11 and sacrum 1 were supported (P < 0.05). Segmental assessment of trunk control and gross motor function measure-88 scores were significantly increased within the group in all groups (P < 0.05).
The stimulus zones of the Vojta method could improve trunk control in children with spastic-type cerebral palsy through intra-abdominal pressure and anti-gravity movement.
The aortic arch (AA) is the main conduit of the left side of the heart, providing a blood supply to the head, neck, and upper limbs. As it travels through the thorax, the pattern in which it gives ...off the branches to supply these structures can vary. Variations of these branching patterns have been studied; however, a study providing a comprehensive incidence of these variations has not yet been conducted. The objective of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of all the studies that report prevalence data on AA variants and to provide incidence data on the most common variants.
A systematic search of online databases including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, SciELO, BIOSIS, and CNKI was performed for literature describing incidence of AA variations in adults. Studies including prevalence data on adult patients or cadavers were collected and their data analyzed.
A total of 51 articles were included (N = 23,882 arches). Seven of the most common variants were analyzed. The most common variants found included the classic branching pattern, defined as a brachiocephalic trunk, a left common carotid, and a left subclavian artery (80.9%); the bovine arch variant (13.6%); and the left vertebral artery variant (2.8%). Compared by geographic data, bovine arch variants were noted to have a prevalence as high as 26.8% in African populations.
Although patients who have an AA variant are often asymptomatic, they compose a significant portion of the population of patients and pose a greater risk of hemorrhage and ischemia during surgery in the thorax. Because of the possibility of encountering such variants, it is prudent for surgeons to consider potential variations in planning procedures, especially of an endovascular nature, in the thorax.
Osteoporosis is characterized by decreased bone strength and an increased risk of fracture. Osteoporosis-related fractures are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, dysfunction, access to ...health care, health-care costs, and reduced quality of life. Therefore, preventing osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) is important. Secondary OVCFs often occur after the first OVCF.
This study aimed to identify risk factors for a second OVCF after a first OVCF.
Retrospective observational study.
One hundred seventy-eight patients from a single institution who had their first OVCF between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2019 were enrolled in this study.
The following data were observed for all cases: patient demographics, bone mineral density, and pelvic parameters.
We retrospectively reviewed patients from a single institution who had their first OVCF between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2019. Demographic factors, medication (oral bisphosphonate, zoledronic acid, denosumab), bone mineral density (BMD), body mass index (BMI), fat, and muscle amount of the trunk using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), and pelvic parameters (lumbar lordosis, sacral slope, pelvic tilt, pelvic incidence minus lumbar lordosis) were investigated.
Of 178 patients who had an OVCF, 68 (38.2%) had a second OVCF. Patients were followed up for >2 years and wore braces for an average of 6 months. The mean age was 71.9±8.63 years, mean BMD T-score was −3.1±1.09, and mean BMI was 23.3±2.96. Comparing those with and without a second OVCF, the smaller the BMD T-score and trunk muscle mass to fat ratio, the more likely a second OVCF occurred (p<.05). There were fewer second OVCF cases in the injection medication group than in the peroral group (p<.05). There were no significant differences in radiologic parameters between these groups.
Patients who had a second OVCF had an average of 21.3 months after the first OVCF. Risk factors for a second OVCF are low T-scores in the femur, and low M/F ratio of the trunk, android, and gynoid regions. For patients with an OVCF, injection medications may be advisable.
•Paulownia exhibits genetic pseudo-dichotomous branching, resulting in a short bole.•Innovative trunk-extension pruning can resolve the Paulownia branching problem.•Overgrowth of the budding branch ...was created to achieve artificial trunk extension.•Moderate intensity pruning significantly increased total trunk volume and improved trunk form.
Many species within the Paulownia genus display pseudo-dichotomous branching patterns in temperate and subtropical regions, reducing the economic value of the trunk and plantations as a whole. This unfavorable branching pattern can be corrected by optimal pruning with trunk-extension to achieve improved trunk volume and form for timber production. However, the most advantageous pruning intensity for maximizing trunk volume and form remains unclear. To establish best pruning techniques to promote trunk-extension, six pruning intensity treatments were applied in a three-year-old Paulownia fortunei plantation in Henan, China. For each treatment, sixteen dimensional trunk growth and form properties were measured for eight subsequent years after pruning. Results revealed that branches developed from the adventitious or latent buds near the top of the main trunk exhibited overgrowth and developed into an extended trunk. Mean trunk heights in treatments T1 to T5 were 8.6, 9.1, 9.4, 9.5, and 9.2m, respectively, which were significantly higher than that in the control (CK). Trunk-extension pruning significantly increased trunk height. Eight years of continuous observation showed that the extended trunk height of P. fortunei did not further increase by the end of first year after pruning. Based on measures for quantifying the effects of pruning on trunk volume and form, moderate-intensity pruning treatments T3 and T4 were found to be the most appropriate for promoting trunk extension. From the above results, we concluded that moderate-intensity pruning promoted rapid growth of the budding branch and its further development into an extended trunk. Moderate-intensity pruning on three-year-old P. fortunei trees not only significantly increased trunk height and ensured normal growth of the original trunk, but also significantly improved trunk form and increased total trunk volume.
► In mature pomegranate trees, maximum diurnal trunk shrinkage (MDS) can be used as an indicator of plant water status while trunk growth rate was not able to detect differences in plant water ...status. ► There was not a unique relationship between MDS and midday stem water potential (Ψstem) valid for the entire growing season. ► For similar plant water status levels, lower MDS values were obtained by the end of the season. ► The magnitude of differences between well watered and deficit irrigated trees was much larger in the case of MDS than for midday stem water potential (Ψstem). ► The tree-to-tree variability of the MDS readings was four times higher than for Ψstem.
Pomegranate trees (
Punica granatum L.) is a deciduous fruit tree included in the so-called group of minor fruit tree species, not widely grown but of some importance in the south east of Spain. Pomegranate trees are considered as a culture tolerant to soil water deficit. However, very little is known about pomegranate orchard water management. The objective of this research was to asses the feasibility of using trunk diameter variation (TDV) indexes, obtained by means of LVDT sensors, as a plant water stress indicators for pomegranate trees. The experiment was carried out with mature trees grown in the field under three irrigation regimes: control well watered trees; trees continuously deficit irrigated at 50% of the control regime (SDI); and trees that had a summer water stress cycle being irrigated at 25% of the control rates only in July and August (RDI). The seasonal variations of maximum diurnal trunk shrinkage (MDS) and trunk growth rates (TGR) were compared with midday stem water potential (Ψstem) measurements. During the course of the entire season, control trees maintained lower MDS values than the SDI ones. In the RDI treatment, as water restrictions began, there was a slow increase in MDS, in correspondence with a decrease in Ψstem. When water was returned at full dosage, the RDI quickly recovered to MDS and Ψstem values similar to the control. However, lower MDS for a given Ψstem values were observed as the season advanced. The magnitude of differences between well watered and deficit irrigated trees was much larger in the case of MDS than for Ψstem. However, the tree-to-tree variability of the MDS readings was more than four times higher than for Ψstem; average coefficient of variation of 7.5 and 36% for Ψstem and MDS, respectively. On the other hand, TGR did not clearly reflect differences in tree water status. Overall, results reported indicated that MDS is a good indicator of pomegranate tree water status and it can be further used for managing irrigation. However, the seasonal changes in the MDS-Ψstem relationship should be taken into account when attempting to use threshold MDS values for scheduling irrigation.
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