Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a powerful research tool to localize specific antigens in whole-mount or tissue sections of embryos with labeled antibodies based on antigen-antibody interactions. ...Stereological methods are nowadays an essential tool to quantify cells or other types of structures in an unbiased and reproducible manner. In this chapter, a general protocol for a stereological estimation of the relative volume density of each structural component (Vv), which can be applied to any organ/structural component, will be described.
Background and purpose: Pigmented macrophage aggregates (PMAs) are a part of the immune system of fish and are considered as valuable biomarkers of the impact of water pollution on fish ...health.Materials and methods: Immunomodulatory effect of water contaminated with high levels of metals on spleen and splenic PMAs of Vardar chub (Squalius vardarensis) (n=129) was examined in two seasons, spring, and autumn 2012. For this purpose, three rivers were chosen: the Zletovska River, heavily contaminated with metals, the Kriva River, moderately contaminated with metals combined with high level of organic matter, and the Bregalnica River, without heavy metal contamination. Spleen masses and splenosomatic indices (SSI) were used for determining the general impact of water contamination on the immune system of Vardar chub. Moreover, volumes and numbers of PMAs within spleen tissue were determined stereologically.Results: The isolated effect of high exposure to metals caused the reduction of spleen mass and/or SSI in the fish from the Zletovska River. The combined effect of exposure to metals and high levels of nutrients in the fish from the Kriva River referred to stimulation of PMAs response, namely increased volumes of splenic PMAs. The existence of seasonally dependent differences was noted since the observed variability in PMAs between rivers occurred only in the autumn.Conclusions: Splenic PMAs in the Vardar chub can be used as an additional biomarker of metal pollution, but with caution, since enhancement of the volumes and numbers of MACs depends on the exposure level of heavy metals, on the presence of the other contaminants, as well as on the physiological condition of the fish.
To evaluate the value of impulse oscillometry (IOS) and quantitative HRCT parameters for differentiating asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) in COPD patients.
We enrolled 44 controls and 66 COPD patients, ...divided into the pure COPD group (n=40) and the ACO group (n=26). Spearman correlation analysis was utilized to assess the relationship between the quantitative HRCT and IOS parameters. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the associations between the different variables and the risk of ACO. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to identify the optimal cutoff and assess the diagnostic value of relative volume change -856 HU to -950 HU (RVC
), decrease in the resistance from 5 Hz to 20 Hz (R5-R20) and their combination in predicting ACO. Bootstrapping validation was used to evaluate the internal validation. The concordance index (C-index) and calibration plot were calculated to assess the discrimination and calibration of the prediction model.
Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that RVC
and the IOS parameters (R5-R20, R5, X5) were independently correlated with a higher risk of developing ACO after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), history of smoking, exacerbation and atopy or allergic rhinitis. A correlation analysis showed a good correlation between the pulmonary function parameters and RVC
, with a weaker correlation with the % area of low attenuation (LAA%) in ACO patients. Combining RVC
and R5-R20 to predict ACO, the AUC was 0.909, and the optimal cutoff value was >-0.62 for RVC
and >0.09 for R5-R20. Good calibration and favorable discrimination were displayed with a higher C-index.
More serious small airway impairment exists in ACO patients. The combination of RVC
and R5-R20 could be applied to differentiate ACO from COPD patients.
This article presents the correlation of creep and viscoelastic properties to the cytoskeletal structure of both tumorigenic and non‐tumorigenic cells. Unique shear assay and strain mapping ...techniques were used to study the creep and viscoelastic properties of single non‐tumorigenic and tumorigenic cells. At least 20 individual cells, three locations per cell, were studied. From the results, lower densities in the volume of actin, and keratin 18 structures were observed with the progression of cancer and were correlated to the increased creep rates and reduced mechanical properties (Young's moduli and viscosities) of tumorigenic (MDA‐MB‐231) cells. The study reveals significant differences between the creep and viscoelastic properties of non‐tumorigenic breast cells versus tumorigenic cells. The variations in the creep strain rates are shown to be well characterized by lognormal distributions, while the statistical variations in the viscoelastic properties are well‐described by normal distributions. The implications of the results are discussed for the study of discrete cell behaviors, strain and viscoelastic responses of the cell, and the role of cell cytoskeleton in the onset and progression of cancers.
Purpose
Compared with cusp height and area deviation ratio, volume error (VE) caused by the layer height could represent the stair-case effect more comprehensively. The proposed relative volume error ...(RVE)-based adaptive slicing method takes VE rather than cusp height as slicing criteria, which can improve part surface quality for functionalized additive manufacturing.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper proposes a volumetric adaptive slicing method of manifold mesh for rapid prototyping based on RVE. The pre-height sequences of manifold mesh are first preset to reduce the SE by dividing the whole layer sequence into several parts. A breadth-first search-based algorithm has been developed to generate a solid voxelization to get VE. A new parameter RVE is proposed to evaluate the VE caused by the sequence of the layer positions. The RVE slicing is conducted by iteratively adjusting the layer height sequences under different constraint conditions.
Findings
Three manifold models are used to verify the proposed method. Compared with uniform slicing with 0.2 mm layer height, cusp height-based method and area deviation-based method, the standard deviations of RVE of all three models are improved under the proposed method. The surface roughness measured by the confocal laser scanning microscope proves that the proposed RVE method can greatly improve part surface quality by minimizing RVE.
Originality/value
This paper proposes an RVE-based method to balance the surface quality and print time. RVE could be calculated by voxelized parts with required accuracy at a very fast speed by parallel.
Objective:
To determine the effectiveness of Kinesio taping compared to compression garments during maintenance phase of complex decongestive therapy for breast cancer–related lymphedema.
Design:
...Randomized, cross-over, controlled trial.
Setting:
Outpatient tertiary-level hospital rehabilitation setting.
Subjects:
Randomized sample of 30 women with breast cancer–related lymphedema.
Interventions:
Participants received two interventions, Kinesio taping and compression garment, both lasting four weeks, whose order was randomized by blocks. A four-week washout period was established prior to the interventions and between them.
Measurements:
The main outcome was the lymphedema Relative Volume Change. Secondary outcomes were range of motion of arm joints, self-perception of comfort, and lymphedema-related symptoms (pain, tightness, heaviness, and hardness).
Results:
The decrease in the Relative Volume Change was greater in the Kinesio taping intervention (–5.7%, SD = 2.0) compared to that observed using compression garments (–3.4%, SD = 2.9) (P < 0.001). The range of motion of five upper-limb movements increased after applying taping (between 5.8° and 16.7°) (P < 0.05), but not after compression (P > 0.05). In addition, taping was perceived as more comfortable by patients (between 2.4 and 3 points better than compression in four questions with a 5-point scale (P < 0.001)) and further reduced lymphedema-related symptoms compared to compression (between 0.96 and 1.40 points better in four questions with a 6-point scale (P < 0.05)).
Conclusion:
Kinesio taping was more effective than compression garments for reducing the lymphedema volume, with less severe lymphedema-related symptoms, better improvement of upper-limb mobility, and more comfort.
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•A SiC/TiB2 based hybrid coating layer was successfully deposited on the surface of TiC–SKD11 composite by simple air spray process.•The anti-oxidation ability was found to be much ...better than that of the uncoated TiC–SKD11 composite, as well as better than those of SUS431 and 17-4PH.•The formation of SiO2 and TiO2 layer with the aid of B2O3 by phase transition of SiC/TiB2 based hybrid coating is the origin of the improved anti-oxidation ability of the TiC–SKD11 composite.
Oxidation resistance of TiC–SKD11 composite has been improved through SiC/TiB2 based hybrid coating by a simple air spray process and subsequent transition to dense and stable phases in oxidation environment. As a result of the oxidation test at 700 °C for up to 50 h, the coated TiC–SKD11 composite exhibited excellent oxidation resistance characteristics compared with the uncoated TiC–SKD11 composite, and also compared to SUS431 and 17-4PH. The formation of a thermally stable, volume-expanded SiO2 and TiO2 coating layer with the aid of B2O3 by phase transition of TiB2/SiC based hybrid coating under oxidation atmosphere is the origin of the improved anti-oxidation ability of the TiC–SKD11 composite.
In this paper we derive a relative volume comparison of Ricci flow under a certain local curvature condition. It is a refinement of Perelman’s no local collapsing theorem in Perelman (2002).
Objective
The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of complex physical therapy combined with intermittent pneumatic compression (CPT + IPC) versus Kinesio taping (KT) for breast ...cancer‐related lymphedema.
Methods
A cross‐over clinical trial was conducted in 43 women with lymphedema. All participants received two interventions: CPT + IPC and KT, both lasting 3 weeks and a washout period. The main outcome variable was the relative volume change (RVC). The secondary variables were Satisfaction Questionnaire about Textile Therapeutic Devices used for Breast Cancer‐Related Lymphedema, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, motion range of upper limb and lymphedema‐related symptoms.
Results
The RVC reduction was greater with CPT + IPC (−2.2%, SD = 4.7) versus KT (−0.9%, SD = 1.7) (P = 0.002). KT was more satisfactory than multilayer bandaging (8.9 points difference, P < 0.001) and improved DASH score more than CPT + IPC (14.3 points difference, P = 0.002). Regarding motion ranges, only shoulder movements showed significant improvement with CPT + IPC compared with KT (differences between 5.6° and 11.4°). Of the symptoms assessed, only pain reduction showed a significant improvement with KT versus CPT + IPC (0.5 points, P = 0.035).
Conclusions
CPT + IPC achieved higher RVC and greater improvement in th shoulder motion range than KT. Conversely, KT was more satisfactory than multilayer bandaging, obtained better DASH scores and relieved pain more than CPT + IPC.
Clinical Registration
ClinicalTrial registration number: NCT03051750 (date of registration 14 February 2017).
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