Flow diverter treatment of intracerebral aneurysms is highly successful and has low rates of morbidity and mortality. Among the primary concerns after endovascular treatment are failure to achieve ...aneurysm obliteration and recurrence, and close imaging follow-up is required. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) is being employed in evaluation of an increasingly wide variety of pathological conditions, but investigations into its use after flow diversion for aneurysm treatment have been limited. We present a brief overview of the literature on the use of HRMRI as a follow-up tool after aneurysm treatment using flow diversion, along with a case series describing three patients in whom we used HRMRI to assess aneurysm treatment response.
Patient 1 presented with an ischemic stroke and was found to have an unruptured ophthalmic segment aneurysm. Patient 2 presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage from a ruptured vertebral artery pseudoaneurysm. Patient 3, on workup for possible metastatic melanoma, was found to have an unruptured posterior communicating aneurysm. All three were treated with flow diversion, and in all three cases HRMRI was used to evaluate aneurysm obliteration on outpatient follow-up. HRMRI offered excellent resolution of the parent vessel, aneurysm sac, and aneurysm wall, demonstrating decreased or loss of flow-related enhancement in the aneurysm lumen and development of aneurysm sac thrombosis.
HRMRI is a useful tool to evaluate aneurysm treatment by flow diversion and may represent an alternative to repeat digital subtraction angiography.
•High-resolution MRI is an alternative diagnostic modality after flow diversion of cerebral aneurysms•It can identify changes in the aneurysm including decreased aneurysm size and thrombosis•It offers excellent resolution of the parent vessel, aneurysm sac, and aneurysm walls.
A panel of human hematopoietic cell lines was genetically engineered to express recombinant complement receptor 2 (CR2 or CD21), which is also the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) receptor. The panel was ...composed of SupT1, J1.1, and U1.HIV cells. The latter is a promonocytic cell line, whereas the other two are T lymphocytic cell lines. J1.1 and U1.HIV cells are latently infected by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). These three cell lines were transduced with a murine leukemia virus (MLV)-based retroviral vector system. CR2 was efficiently and consistently expressed on the cell membranes, conferring enhanced susceptibility to EBV infection. The efficient expression of recombinant CR2 in cell lines of hematopoietic origin allowed for study of the interaction between EBV infection and HIV-1 gene regulation in suitable cell-culture models. The effects of EBV and HIV-1 coinfection results were cell-type dependent. In the two T lymphocytic cell lines, HIV-1 expression was rapidly and persistently down-regulated by EBV. Conversely, in the promonocytic cell line U1.HIV-CR2, HIV-1 expression was transiently enhanced by EBV. The EBV and HIV-1 coinfection result in U1.HIV-CR2 cells is potentially important, as the activation of HIV-1 gene expression in monocyte-like cells may play a crucial role in the mechanism of CD4+T cell depletion by apoptosis. Therefore, the U1.HIV-CR2 cell line may represent a useful cell-culture system to study the synergism between EBV and HIV-1 in inducing apoptosis in primary CD4+T cells.
Tench, Tinca tinca (L.) was introduced as a new species to Chinese aquaculture in 1998. Biological characteristics of tench are studied, and propagation techniques are improved at the Hubei Province ...Fisheries Institute with co-operation with the Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology in Czech Republic and Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The first successful artificial propagation of tench in China was made in 2000. The number of produced tench larvae increased from 5 millions in 2001 to 20 millions in 2002, and to 200 millions in 2003. The number of juveniles >5 cm reached 12 millions in 2002 and 120 millions in 2003. Total area of ponds with tench culture was 1400 ha in 2002 and 5400 ha in 2003. Main problems that hinder development of tench culture in China are identified, and future prospects of tench farming in China are highlighted. Abundant water bodies for aquaculture and cheap man-power make the export of tench from China to Europe, USA, Australia and Korea a promising activity.
Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the pathological importance of oxidative stress–induced injurious processes in chagasic heart dysfunction. Background Trypanosoma cruzi –induced ...inflammatory pathology and a feedback cycle of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress may contribute to Chagas disease. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats were infected with T. cruzi and treated with phenyl-α-tert-butylnitrone (PBN), an antioxidant, and/or benzonidazole (BZ), an antiparasitic agent. We monitored myocardial parasite burden, oxidative adducts, mitochondrial complex activities, respiration, and adenosine triphosphate synthesis rates, and inflammatory and cardiac remodeling responses during disease development. The cardiac hemodynamics was determined for all rats. Results Benzonidazole (not PBN) decreased the parasite persistence and immune adverse events (proinflammatory cytokine expression, β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase and myeloperoxidase activities, and inflammatory infiltrate) in chronically infected hearts. PBN ± BZ (not BZ alone) decreased the mitochondrial reactive oxygen species level, oxidative adducts (malonyldialdehyde, 4-hydroxynonenal, carbonyls), hypertrophic gene expression (atrial natriuretic peptide, B-type natriuretic peptide, α-skeletal actin), and collagen deposition and preserved the respiratory chain efficiency and energy status in chronically infected hearts. Subsequently, LV dysfunction was prevented in PBN ± BZ-treated chagasic rats. Conclusions BZ treatment after the acute stage decreased the parasite persistence and inflammatory pathology. Yet, oxidative adducts, mitochondrial dysfunction, and remodeling responses persisted and contributed to declining cardiac function in chagasic rats. Combination treatment (PBN + BZ) was beneficial in arresting the T. cruzi –induced inflammatory and oxidative pathology and chronic heart failure in chagasic rats.
DarkSide-50 is a two phase argon TPC for direct dark matter detection which is installed at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory, Italy. DarkSide-50 has a 50-kg active volume and will make use of ...underground argon low in 39Ar. The TPC is installed inside an active neutron veto made with boron-loaded high radiopurity liquid scintillator. The neutron veto is installed inside a 1000 m3 water Cherenkov muon veto. The DarkSide-50 TPC and cryostat are assembled in two radon-free clean rooms to reduce radioactive contaminants. The overall design aims for a background free exposure after selection cuts are applied. The expected sensitivity for WIMP-nucleon cross section is of the order of 10−45cm2 for WIMP masses around 100GeV/c2. The commissioning and performance of the detector are described. Details of the low-radioactivity underground argon and other unique features of the projects are reported.
Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is a rare congenital vascular disorder characterized by a triad of cutaneous port wine capillary malformations, varicose veins, and hemihypertrophy of bone and soft ...tissues.
To report on a rare case of KTS in an adult man manifested by painless urethral bleeding during penile erection briefly review the clinical presentation and management of the genitourinary forms of this syndrome.
On presentation, the clinical features of this patient, including medical history, signs and symptoms, and imaging examinations, were recorded. After diagnosis and initial treatment, a literature review of the urethral features of KTS was performed and is discussed in this report.
A 35-year-old man with KTS presented with painless urethral bleeding during penile erection that was associated with posterior urethral vascular malformations. The coagulation method was used to treat the malformation, and no urethral bleeding or gross hematuria occurred during a postoperative follow-up period of 6 months.
This case demonstrates that coagulation therapy and careful follow-up can be adequate treatment approaches for urethral features of KTS. However, the long-term efficacy of coagulation for this disorder should be investigated further.
Lei H, Guan X, Han H, et al. Painless Urethral Bleeding During Penile Erection in an Adult Man With Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome: A Case Report. Sex Med 2018;6:180–183.
The tubby mouse is characterized by an autosomal recessive mutation which results in the development of maturity-onset obesity and sensorineural hearing loss and retinal degeneration. Although the ...tubby mutation which leads to a splicing defect of the
tub gene has been identified recently, the mechanism by which it causes the obesity syndrome has not been established. In this study, the potential dysfunction of several hypothalamic neuroendocrine pathways involved in the central regulation of energy metabolism was investigated in tubby mice. In comparison with the wild-type controls, a significant reduction (20%) of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA expression was observed in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the mature, obese but not in the juvenile, non-obese tubby mice. Similarly, an age and body mass-dependent induction (about 30-fold) of neuropeptide Y (NPY) mRNA was observed in the dorsomedial (DMH) and ventromedial (VMH) hypothalamic nuclei of the tubby mice. However, NPY mRNA in the ARC was decreased by approximately 30 to 40% in both juvenile and mature tubby mice. The hypothalamic expression patterns of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) and the long form leptin receptor (OB-Rb) were not significantly altered in the mutant mice. These results suggest that the altered hypothalamic POMC and/or NPY functions may be important contributing factors for the development of obesity in this animal model.
Endothelin and the renal microcirculation Guan, Zhengrong; VanBeusecum, Justin P; Inscho, Edward W
Seminars in nephrology,
03/2015, Volume:
35, Issue:
2
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Endothelin (ET) is one of the most potent renal vasoconstrictors. Endothelin plays an essential role in the regulation of renal blood flow, glomerular filtration, sodium and water transport, and ...acid-base balance. ET-1, ET-2, and ET-3 are the three distinct endothelin isoforms comprising the endothelin family. ET-1 is the major physiologically relevant peptide and exerts its biological activity through two G-protein-coupled receptors: ET(A) and ET(B). Both ET(A) and ET(B) are expressed by the renal vasculature. Although ET(A) are expressed mainly by vascular smooth muscle cells, ET(B) are expressed by both renal endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells. Activation of the endothelin system, or overexpression of downstream endothelin signaling pathways, has been implicated in several pathophysiological conditions including hypertension, acute kidney injury, diabetic nephropathy, and immune nephritis. In this review, we focus on the effects of endothelin on the renal microvasculature, and update recent findings on endothelin in the regulation of renal hemodynamics.
Here, DarkSide (DS) at Gran Sasso underground laboratory is a direct Dark Matter search program based on Time Projection Chambers (TPC) with liquid Argon from underground sources. The DarkSide-50 ...(DS-50) TPC, with 150 kg of Argon is installed inside active neutron and muon detectors. DS-50 has been taking data since November 2013 with Atmospheric Argon (AAr) and since April 2015 with Underground Argon (UAr), depleted in radioactive 39Ar by a factor ~1400. The exposure of 1422 kg d of AAr has demonstrated that the operation of DS-50 for three years in a background free condition is a solid reality, thanks to the superb performance of the Pulse Shape Analysis. The first release of results from an exposure of 2616 kg d of UAr has shown no candidate Dark Matter events. We have set the best limit for Spin-Independent elastic nuclear scattering of WIMPs obtained by Argon-based detectors, corresponding to a cross-section of 2 10–44 cm2 at a WIMP mass of 100 GeV. We present the detector design and performance, the results from the AAr run and the first results from the UAr run and we briefly introduce the future of the DarkSide program.
Reumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease which has been studied experimentally using a wide variety of animal models including collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Using this CIA model we ...studied the therapeutic effects and mechanism of action of Ebosin, a novel exopolysaccharide produced by Streptomyces sp. 139, on arthritis. Ebosin at 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg/day was orally administered to rats respectively between day 10 and 30 after immunization with chicken type II collagen. With the treatment arthritic progression was remarkably suppressed. Levels of anti-type II collagen-specific antibody, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha were significantly lower in the Ebosin-treated CIA rats compared with the untreated controls. In cultured fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), remarkable suppression of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and IL-6 production was detected at both protein and mRNA levels after Ebosin administration. Ebosin also resulted in lower activities of IL-1beta-converting enzyme and TNF-alpha-converting enzyme in FLS. Based on these results, it is concluded that development and progression of rat CIA can be significantly suppressed by orally-administrated Ebosin. The therapeutic effect may be attributed to its inhibition in the production of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and IL-6 in the CIA rats.
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