Imaging Workup of Suspected Classical Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes

Publication date: Available online 24 May 2017
Source:Academic Radiology
Author(s): Benedikt Sundermann, Jens-Burchard Schröder, Tobias Warnecke, Walter Heindel, Michael Schäfers, Matthias Weckesser, Boris Buerke
Rationale and ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of positron emission tomography (PET) or combined PET-computed tomography (CT) with ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) for whole-body cancer screening in patients with suspected paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS). The following main research questions were addressed: What is the percentage of positive findings to be expected in whole-body FDG-PET-CT in adult patients with PNS? How many false positives can be expected as assessed by clinical and histopathological workup? Are there patients who present with a tumor despite initially negative findings?Materials and MethodsThis is a systematic review of the literature and retrospective analysis of FDG-PET-CT and clinical follow-up data from 45 consecutive patients (age: 56.6 ± standard deviation 15.8 years, 14 female, 31 male). Suspicious lesions were identified and correlated with immediate workup and clinical follow-up.ResultsFourteen studies were included in the review. Eleven malignancies (24.4% of patients) were identified by FDG-PET-CT in this sample. This is a higher percentage of positive findings compared to most previous reports. There was one initially negative finding.ConclusionsWhole-body FDG-PET-CT is suitable to identify additional malignancies in patients with suspected classical PNS referred to a tertiary medical center. The utility by means of true-positive findings is higher in classical PNS than suggested by studies in less select patient populations.



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Use of Hyperlinks in PowerPoint Presentations as an Educational Tool

Publication date: Available online 24 May 2017
Source:Academic Radiology
Author(s): Gregory Scott Stacy, Steven G. Thiel
PowerPoint software (Microsoft, Redmond, WA) has become a popular tool for creating and displaying electronic presentations. The "hyperlink" function in PowerPoint allows users to advance from one slide to another slide in the presentation when they click on a predetermined word, shape, or image, thereby allowing for a more dynamic and interactive experience than can be obtained with serial presentation of slides alone. The objective of this article is to provide a tutorial describing the necessary steps to create hyperlinks and incorporate them in a variety of ways into a PowerPoint presentation. Hyperlinks can turn a passive learning experience into an active one by allowing the participant to become more engaged with the presentation.



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Correlation Between Screening Mammography Interpretive Performance on a Test Set and Performance in Clinical Practice

Publication date: Available online 24 May 2017
Source:Academic Radiology
Author(s): Diana L. Miglioretti, Laura Ichikawa, Robert A. Smith, Diana S.M. Buist, Patricia A. Carney, Berta Geller, Barbara Monsees, Tracy Onega, Robert Rosenberg, Edward A. Sickles, Bonnie C. Yankaskas, Karla Kerlikowske
Rationale and ObjectivesEvidence is inconsistent about whether radiologists' interpretive performance on a screening mammography test set reflects their performance in clinical practice. This study aimed to estimate the correlation between test set and clinical performance and determine if the correlation is influenced by cancer prevalence or lesion difficulty in the test set.Materials and MethodsThis institutional review board-approved study randomized 83 radiologists from six Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium registries to assess one of four test sets of 109 screening mammograms each; 48 radiologists completed a fifth test set of 110 mammograms 2 years later. Test sets differed in number of cancer cases and difficulty of lesion detection. Test set sensitivity and specificity were estimated using woman-level and breast-level recall with cancer status and expert opinion as gold standards. Clinical performance was estimated using women-level recall with cancer status as the gold standard. Spearman rank correlations between test set and clinical performance with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated.ResultsFor test sets with fewer cancers (N = 15) that were more difficult to detect, correlations were weak to moderate for sensitivity (woman level = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.16, 0.69; breast level = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.03, 0.61) and weak for specificity (0.24, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.45) relative to expert recall. Correlations for test sets with more cancers (N = 30) were close to 0 and not statistically significant.ConclusionsCorrelations between screening performance on a test set and performance in clinical practice are not strong. Test set performance more accurately reflects performance in clinical practice if cancer prevalence is low and lesions are challenging to detect.



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Free-breathing Functional Pulmonary MRI

Publication date: Available online 24 May 2017
Source:Academic Radiology
Author(s): Dante P.I. Capaldi, Khadija Sheikh, Rachel L. Eddy, Fumin Guo, Sarah Svenningsen, Parameswaran Nair, David G. McCormack, Grace Parraga
Rationale and ObjectivesVentilation heterogeneity is a hallmark feature of asthma. Our objective was to evaluate ventilation heterogeneity in patients with severe asthma, both pre- and post-salbutamol, as well as post-methacholine (MCh) challenge using the lung clearance index, free-breathing pulmonary ¹H magnetic resonance imaging (FDMRI), and inhaled-gas MRI ventilation defect percent (VDP).Materials and MethodsSixteen severe asthmatics (49 ± 10 years) provided written informed consent to an ethics board-approved protocol. Spirometry, plethysmography, and multiple breath nitrogen washout to measure the lung clearance index were performed during a single visit within 15 minutes of MRI. Inhaled-gas MRI and FDMRI were performed pre- and post-bronchodilator to generate VDP. For asthmatics with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) >70%predicted, MRI was also performed before and after MCh challenge. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, Spearman correlations, and a repeated-measures analysis of variance were performed.ResultsHyperpolarized ³He (P = .02) and FDMRI (P = .02) VDP significantly improved post-salbutamol and for four asthmatics who could perform MCh (n = 4). ³He and FDMRI VDP significantly increased at the provocative concentration of MCh, resulting in a 20% decrease in FEV1 (PC20) and decreased post-bronchodilator (P = .02), with a significant difference between methods (P = .01). FDMRI VDP was moderately correlated with ³He VDP (ρ = .61, P = .01), but underestimated VDP relative to ³He VDP (−6 ± 9%). Whereas ³He MRI VDP was significantly correlated with the lung clearance index, FDMRI was not (ρ = .49, P = .06).ConclusionsFDMRI VDP generated in free-breathing asthmatic patients was correlated with static inspiratory breath-hold ³He MRI VDP but underestimated VDP relative to ³He MRI VDP. Although less sensitive to salbutamol and MCh, FDMRI VDP may be considered for asthma patient evaluations at centers without inhaled-gas MRI.



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Automated T2-mapping of the Menisci From Magnetic Resonance Images in Patients with Acute Knee Injury

Publication date: Available online 24 May 2017
Source:Academic Radiology
Author(s): Anthony Paproki, Craig Engstrom, Mark Strudwick, Katharine J. Wilson, Rachel K. Surowiec, Charles Ho, Stuart Crozier, Jurgen Fripp
Rationale and ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of an automated method for segmentation and T2 mapping of the medial meniscus (MM) and lateral meniscus (LM) in clinical magnetic resonance images from patients with acute knee injury.Materials and MethodsEighty patients scheduled for surgery of an anterior cruciate ligament or meniscal injury underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the knee (multiplanar two-dimensional [2D] turbo spin echo [TSE] or three-dimensional [3D]-TSE examinations, T2 mapping). Each meniscus was automatically segmented from the 2D-TSE (composite volume) or 3D-TSE images, auto-partitioned into anterior, mid, and posterior regions, and co-registered onto the T2 maps. The Dice similarity index (spatial overlap) was calculated between automated and manual segmentations of 2D-TSE (15 patients), 3D-TSE (16 patients), and corresponding T2 maps (31 patients). Pearson and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated between automated and manual T2 values. T2 values were compared (Wilcoxon rank sum tests) between torn and non-torn menisci for the subset of patients with both manual and automated segmentations to compare statistical outcomes of both methods.ResultsThe Dice similarity index values for the 2D-TSE, 3D-TSE, and T2 map volumes, respectively, were 76.4%, 84.3%, and 75.2% for the MM and 76.4%, 85.1%, and 76.1% for the LM. There were strong correlations between automated and manual T2 values (rMM = 0.95, ICCMM = 0.94; rLM = 0.97, ICCLM = 0.97). For both the manual and the automated methods, T2 values were significantly higher in torn than in non-torn MM for the full meniscus and its subregions (P < .05). Non-torn LM had higher T2 values than non-torn MM (P < .05).ConclusionsThe present automated method offers a promising alternative to manual T2 mapping analyses of the menisci and a considerable advance for integration into clinical workflows.



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Regional Variation in Skeletal Muscle and Adipose Tissue FDG Uptake Using PET/CT and Their Relation to BMI

Publication date: Available online 24 May 2017
Source:Academic Radiology
Author(s): Marcus D. Goncalves, Judith Green-McKenzie, Abass Alavi, Drew A. Torigian
Rationale and ObjectivesSkeletal muscle metabolism is a primary contributor to whole-body energy expenditure. Currently, methods to measure changes in skeletal muscle metabolism in vivo are limited. Our objectives were to characterize the regional variation in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue (AT) FDG uptake as a surrogate for glycolytic metabolism using ¹⁸F-2-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in healthy men and to correlate these findings to body mass index (BMI).Materials and MethodsEighteen healthy men were enrolled and underwent FDG-PET/CT. The mean standardized uptake value of 14 skeletal muscles and two AT regions was measured and linear regression analysis was performed to identify metabolic predictors of BMI.ResultsFDG-PET/CT reliably detected changes in skeletal muscle and AT depot metabolic activity based on location. The most metabolically active muscles were those used for posture and breathing, which have the highest percentage of reported type I muscle myofiber content. Visceral AT tended to have a higher FDG uptake than subcutaneous AT. The mean standardized uptake value of VAT, pectoralis major, and gluteus maximus muscles accounted for 64% of the variance in BMI.ConclusionsFDG-PET/CT can be used to quantify the regional variation in glucose metabolism of multiple skeletal muscle groups and AT depots.



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Measurement Accuracy of Atherosclerotic Plaque Structure on CT Using Phantoms to Establish Ground Truth

Publication date: Available online 24 May 2017
Source:Academic Radiology
Author(s): Samantha St. Pierre, Jenifer Siegelman, Nancy A. Obuchowski, Xiaonan Ma, David Paik, Andrew J. Buckler
Rationale and ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to characterize analytic performance of software-aided arterial vessel structure measurements across a range of scanner settings for computed tomography angiography where ground truth is known. We characterized performance for measurands that may be efficiently measured for clinical cases without use of software, as well as those that may be done manually but which is generally not done due to the effort level required unless software is employed.Materials and MethodsFour measurands (lumen area, stenosis, wall area, wall thickness) were evaluated using tissue-mimicking phantoms to estimate bias, heteroscedasticity, and limits of quantitation both pooled across scanner settings and individually for eight different settings. Reproducibility across scanner settings was also estimated.ResultsMeasurements of lumen area have a near constant bias of +1.3 mm for measurements ranging from 3 mm² to 40 mm²; stenosis bias is +7% across a 30%–70% range; wall area bias is +14% across a 50–450 mm² range; and wall thickness bias is +1.2 mm across a 3–9 mm range. All measurements possess properties that make them suitable for measuring longitudinal change. Lumen area demonstrates the most sensitivity to scanner settings (bias from as low as +.1 mm to as high as +2.7 mm); wall thickness demonstrates negligible sensitivity.ConclusionsVariability across scanner settings for lumen measurands was generally higher than bias for a given setting. The converse was true for the wall measurands, where variability due to scanner settings was very low. Both bias and variability due to scanner settings of vessel structure were within clinically useful levels.



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Ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging using hyaluronic acid fillers: Differences between monophasic and biphasic fillers

Background/Purpose

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an anionic, non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan distributed throughout the human skin and injectable HA fillers are the most commonly used in aesthetic field. This study aimed to determine if differences in physical characteristics of HA products (monophasic or biphasic fillers) affect the patterns of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods

Twenty biphasic fillers and nine monophasic fillers were obtained from a commercial source, and examined with a 3.0 Tesla MRI scanner. Visual assessments and measurements of signal intensity for region of interest (ROI) were performed. A non-parametric Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare the ROI values.

Results

Visual assessments by a radiologist did not show significant differences between the two types of fillers. While the signal intensity between the two types of filler did not differ significantly for T1-weighted images, the signal intensity of the biphasic filler was lower than that of the monophasic filler for T2-weighted images (P<.01).

Conclusion

Monophasic and biphasic HA fillers exhibited different MRI properties. Our findings may provide better insights into the use of in vivo MRI to evaluate aesthetic, procedure-related complications.

http://ift.tt/2qiyjo3

Effect of addition of enzymatically modified guar gum on Glycemic index of selected Indian traditional foods (idli, chapatti)

Publication date: Available online 24 May 2017
Source:Bioactive Carbohydrates and Dietary Fibre
Author(s): Shital Giri, Anamika Banerji, S.S. Lele, Laxmi Ananthanarayan
India has a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes and there is a need to develop low glycemic index (GI) foods or modify existing popular foods to lower their GI. Guar gum, a hydrocolloid and soluble fibre, may be used as an additive for lowering glycemic response of foods. It increases the viscosity of food systems and may adversely affect their processing and physical properties, posing a constraint on the concentration at which it can be used in foods. In this study solid state enzymatic modification with mannanase was carried out to improve viscous properties of guar gum, facilitating the use of a higher concentration of the gum to lower GI of two popular Indian traditional foods, idli and chapatti. The modification process was optimized; 40µl mannanase/ g guar gum was used and the reaction was carried out at pH 5, temperature of 50°C for a period of 48h. Incorporation of the modified guar gum at 5% resulted in lower idli batter viscosity (Δviscosity: 33538cps), higher bulk density of idli (Δbulk density: 0.013g/cc) and lower stickiness of chapatti dough (Δstickiness: 6.76g) as compared to idli and chapatti with added unmodified guar gum. Texture and sensory attributes of both the products with 5% modified guar gum were found to be acceptable. GI of idli was reduced from 71.28 to 60.00 and 61.63 and GI of chapatti was reduced from 62.56 to 51.25 and 53.45 by addition (5%) of unmodified and modified guar gum respectively.

Graphical abstract

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Microstructure and kinetics of intermetallic phase growth of three-layered A1050/AZ31/A1050 clads prepared by explosive welding combined with subsequent annealing

Publication date: 15 September 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 130
Author(s): D.M. Fronczek, R. Chulist, L. Litynska-Dobrzynska, S. Kac, N. Schell, Z. Kania, Z. Szulc, J. Wojewoda-Budka
The effect of annealing has been investigated with respect to interface microstructure and evolution of intermetallic phases in three-layered explosively welded A1050/AZ31/A1050 specimens. Both interfaces in the state after welding were characterized by wavy shape morphology with intermediate phases, which formed segmented structures. Two different morphologies consisted of equiaxed and columnar grains were observed within the Mg2Al3 phase, while the Mg17Al12 phase was built of only columnar grains. Furthermore, a small amount of Mg23Al30 was detected by X-ray synchrotron diffraction. Annealing at 350°C strongly induced the Mg23Al30 phase development in the form of discontinuous layer between Mg2Al3 and Mg17Al12 phases after 10h of annealing. Kinetics calculations indicated that, Mg2Al3 phase growth at 300°C was controlled by different mechanisms according to the location: volume diffusion and chemical reaction at the upper interface and solely by volume diffusion at lower one. The growth of Mg17Al12 was governed only by volume diffusion. Furthermore, the same mechanisms were observed during annealing at 400°C, however this heat treatment significantly changed the microstructure i.e. the grain size and shape. It was also established that the nanohardness of both Mg2Al3 and Mg17Al12 was about 350HV.

Graphical abstract

http://ift.tt/2qRABNA

PROPIONIBACTERIUM ACNES AND CHRONIC DISEASES : P. acnes is an opportunistic pathogen, causing a range of postoperative and device-related infections e.g., surgery,post-neurosurgical infection,joint prostheses, shunts and prosthetic heart valves. P. acnes may play a role in other conditions, including inflammation of the prostate leading to cancer,SAPHO (Synovitis, Acne, Pustulosis, Hyperostosis, Osteitis) syndrome, sarcoidosis and sciatica.

http://otorhinolaryngology-crete.blogspot.com/2017/05/propionibacterium-acnes-and-chronic.html

P. acnes bacteria live deep within follicles and pores, away from the surface of the skin. In these follicles, P. acnes bacteria use sebum, cellular debris and metabolic byproducts from the surrounding skin tissue as their primary sources of energy and nutrients. Elevated production of sebum by hyperactive sebaceous glands (sebaceous hyperplasia) or blockage of the follicle can cause P. acnes bacteria to grow and multiply.[6]

P. acnes bacteria secrete many proteins, including several digestive enzymes.[7] These enzymes are involved in the digestion of sebum and the acquisition of other nutrients. They can also destabilize the layers of cells that form the walls of the follicle. The cellular damage, metabolic byproducts and bacterial debris produced by the rapid growth of P. acnes in follicles can trigger inflammation.[8] This inflammation can lead to the symptoms associated with some common skin disorders, such as folliculitis and acne vulgaris.[9][10][11]

The damage caused by P. acnes and the associated inflammation make the affected tissue more susceptible to colonization by opportunistic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus. Preliminary research shows healthy pores are only colonized by P. acnes, while unhealthy ones universally include the nonpore-resident Staphylococcus epidermidis, amongst other bacterial contaminants. Whether this is a root causality, just opportunistic and a side effect, or a more complex pathological duality between P. acnes and this particular Staphylococcus species is not known.[12]

P. acnes has also been found in corneal ulcers, and is a common cause of chronic endophthalmitis following cataract surgery. Rarely, it infects heart valves leading to endocarditis, and infections of joints (septic arthritis) have been reported.[5] Furthermore, Propionibacterium species have been found in ventriculostomy insertion sites, and areas subcutaneous to suture sites in patients who have undergone craniotomy. It is a common contaminant in blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures.

P. acnes has been found in herniated discs.[13] The propionic acid which it secretes creates micro-fractures of the surrounding bone. These micro-fractures are sensitive and it has been found that antibiotics have been helpful in resolving this type of low back pain.[14]

P. acnes can be found in bronchoalveolar lavage of approximately 70% of patients with sarcoidosis and is associated with disease activity, but it can be also found in 23% of controls.[15][16] The subspecies of P. acnes that cause these infections of otherwise sterile tissues (prior to medical procedures), however, are the same subspecies found on the skin of individuals who do not have acne-prone skin, so are likely local contaminants. Moderate to severe acne vulgaris appears to be more often associated with virulent strains.[17]

P. acnes is an opportunistic pathogen, causing a range of postoperative and device-related infections e.g., surgery,[18] post-neurosurgical infection,[19] joint prostheses, shunts and prosthetic heart valves. P. acnes may play a role in other conditions, including inflammation of the prostate leading to cancer,[20] SAPHO (Synovitis, Acne, Pustulosis, Hyperostosis, Osteitis) syndrome, sarcoidosis and sciatica.[21]

Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182

6948891480

alsfakia@gmail.com

Scholar : These new articles for Annals of the American Association of Geographers are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Annals of the American Association of Geographers and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Nature and Society The Metabolism of Socioecological Fixes: Capital Switching, Spatial Fixes, and the Production of Nature Michael Ekers & Scott Prudham Pages: 1-19 | DOI: 10.1080/24694452.2017.1309962 The Socioecological Fix: Fixed Capital, Metabolism, and Hegemony Michael Ekers & Scott Prudham Pages: 1-18 | DOI: 10.1080/24694452.2017.1309963 Interested in the political-economic topics surrounding China? You wouldn't want to miss this exclusive collection. To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. You can also unsubscribe from this alert with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Dichotic Listening Deficit Associated With Solvent Exposure.Due to their lipophilic nature, solvents can adversely affect large white matter tracks such as the corpus callosum. Previous investigations reveal that long-term workplace exposure to solvents is also deleterious to various auditory processes.

http://otorhinolaryngology-crete.blogspot.com/2017/05/dichotic-listening-deficit-associated.html

Dichotic Listening Deficit Associated With Solvent Exposure.

από Landry, Simon P.; Fuente, Adrian στο Otology & Neurotology Published Ahead-of-Print

Μετάφραση άρθρου

Hypothesis: A significant left ear deficit can be observed in solvent-exposed individuals using the dichotic digit test. Background: Solvents are ubiquitous in global industrial processes. Due to their lipophilic nature, solvents can adversely affect large white matter tracks such as the corpus callosum. Previous investigations reveal that long-term workplace exposure to solvents is also deleterious to various auditory processes. Investigations in exposed populations suggest a decreased performance for dichotic listening. Methods: In this present study, we examined the lateralization of a dichotic digit test score for 49 solvent-exposed individuals along with 49 age- and sex-matched controls. We evaluated group differences between test scores and the right ear advantage using a laterality index (LI). Results: Individual ear results suggest that long-term workplace solvent exposure is associated with a significantly lower dichotic listening score for the left ear. A binaural compound score analysis using a laterality index supports this left-ear deficit. Conclusion: These results provide an insight on the effects of solvent exposure on dichotic listening abilities. Further research should investigate the importance of using dichotic listening tasks to screen for solvent-induced auditory dysfunction in exposed individuals. Copyright (C) 2017 by Otology & Neurotology, Inc. Image copyright (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health/Anatomical Chart Company

Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182

6948891480

alsfakia@gmail.com

Celecoxib affects estrogen sulfonation catalyzed by several human hepatic sulfotransferases, but does not stimulate 17-sulfonation in rat liver

Publication date: Available online 25 May 2017
Source:The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Author(s): Sriram Ambadapadi, Peter L. Wang, Sergiu P. Palii, Margaret O. James
Celecoxib is known to alter the preferred position of SULT2A1-catalyzed sulfonation of 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) and other estrogens from the 3- to the 17-position. Understanding the effects of celecoxib on estrogen sulfonation is of interest in the context of the investigational use of celecoxib to treat breast cancer. This study examined the effects on celecoxib on cytosolic sulfotransferases in human and rat liver and on SULT enzymes known to be expressed in liver. Celecoxib's effects on the sulfonation of several steroids catalyzed by human liver cytosol were similar but not identical to those observed previously for SULT2A1. Celecoxib was shown to inhibit recombinant SULT1A1-catalyzed sulfonation of 10nM estrone and 4μM p-nitrophenol with IC50 values of 2.6 and 2.1μM, respectively, but did not inhibit SULT1E1-catalyzed estrone sulfonation. In human liver cytosol, the combined effect of celecoxib and known SULT1A1 and 1E1 inhibitors, quercetin and triclosan, resulted in inhibition of 17β-E2-3-sulfonation such that the 17-sulfate became the major metabolite: this is of interest because the 17-sulfate is not readily hydrolyzed by steroid sulfatase to 17β-E2. Investigation of hepatic cytosolic steroid sulfonation in rat revealed that celecoxib did not stimulate 17β-E2 17-sulfonation in male or female rat liver as it does with human SULT2A1 and human liver cytosol, demonstrating that rat is not a useful model of this effect. In silico studies suggested that the presence of the bulky tryptophan residue in the substrate-binding site of the rat SULT2A homolog instead of glycine as in human SULT2A1 may explain this species difference.



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Epstein-Barr virus, human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) but also less common viruses such as Saffold and measles viruses are associated with multiple sclerosis

http://otorhinolaryngology-crete.blogspot.com/2017/05/epstein-barr-virus-human-endogenous.html

Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182

6948891480

alsfakia@gmail.com

Scholar : These new articles for Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Letters and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Original Articles Analysis of the interannual variations and influencing factors of wind speed anomalies over the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region | Bai-Yu ZHOU, Fei ZHENG & Jiang ZHU Pages: 1-7 | DOI: 10.1080/16742834.2017.1327301 Browse papers on image & data fusion, GIS, LiDAR & more in the International Journal of Image and Data Fusion's exclusive Editor's Choice collection. To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. You can also unsubscribe from this alert with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Sensory recovery of the breast after innervated and non-innervated autologous breast reconstructions: A systematic review

The sensory recovery of the reconstructed breast is an undervalued topic in the field of autologous breast reconstruction. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the available literature on the sensory recovery of the breast after innervated and non-innervated autologous breast reconstructions and to assess the possible benefits of sensory nerve coaptation compared to spontaneous reinnervation of the flap.

http://ift.tt/2qiCSP8

Improvement of Hydration and Epidermal Barrier Function in Human Skin by a Novel Compound Isosorbide Dicaprylate

Abstract

Objective

The study involved the synthesis of a novel derivative of caprylic acid - isosorbide dicaprylate (IDC) - and the evaluation of its potential in improving water homeostasis and epidermal barrier function in human skin.

Methods

The effect of IDC on gene expression was assayed in skin organotypic cultures by DNA microarrays. The results were then confirmed for a few key genes by quantitative PCR, immuno- and cytochemistry. Final validation of skin hydration properties was obtained by four separate clinical studies. Level of hydration was measured by corneometer either by using 2% IDC lotion alone vs placebo or in combination with 2% glycerol lotion vs 2% glycerol only. A direct comparison in skin hydration between 2% IDC and 2% Glycerol lotions was also carried out. The epidermal barrier function improvement was assessed by determining changes in trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) on the arms before and after treatment with 2% IDC lotion versus placebo.

Results

IDC was found to up-regulate the expression of AQP3, CD44 and proteins involved in keratinocyte differentiation as well as the formation and function of stratum corneum. A direct comparison between 2% IDC versus 2% glycerol lotions revealed a 3-fold advantage of IDC in providing skin hydration. Severely dry skin treated with 2% IDC in combination with 2% glycerol showed 133% improvement whereas 35% improvement was observed with moderately dry human skin.

Conclusion

Topical isosorbide dicaprylate favorably modulates genes involved in the maintenance of skin structure and function, resulting in superior clinical outcomes. By improving skin hydration and epidermal permeability barrier it offers therapeutic applications in skin aging.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Subcellular localization prediction of apoptosis proteins based on evolutionary information and support vector machine

Publication date: Available online 24 May 2017
Source:Artificial Intelligence in Medicine
Author(s): Qilin Xiang, Bo Liao, Xianhong Li, Huimin Xu, Jing Chen, Zhuoxing Shi, Qi Dai, Yuhua Yao
ObjectivesIn this paper, a high-quality sequence encoding scheme is proposed for predicting subcellular location of apoptosis proteins.MethodsIn the proposed methodology, the novel evolutionary-conservative information is introduced to represent protein sequences. Meanwhile, based on the proportion of golden section in mathematics, position-specific scoring matrix (PSSM) is divided into several blocks. Then, these features are predicted by support vector machine (SVM) and the predictive capability of proposed method is implemented by jackknife testResultsThe results show that the golden section method is better than no segmentation method. The overall accuracy for ZD98 and CL317 is 98.98% and 91.11%, respectively, which indicates that our method can play a complimentary role to the existing methods in the relevant areas.ConclusionsThe proposed feature representation is powerful and the prediction accuracy will be improved greatly, which denotes our method provides the state-of-the-art performance for predicting subcellular location of apoptosis proteins.



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Evolution in Mind: Evolutionary Dynamics, Cognitive Processes, and Bayesian Inference

Publication date: Available online 24 May 2017
Source:Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Author(s): Jordan W. Suchow, David D. Bourgin, Thomas L. Griffiths
Evolutionary theory describes the dynamics of population change in settings affected by reproduction, selection, mutation, and drift. In the context of human cognition, evolutionary theory is most often invoked to explain the origins of capacities such as language, metacognition, and spatial reasoning, framing them as functional adaptations to an ancestral environment. However, evolutionary theory is useful for understanding the mind in a second way: as a mathematical framework for describing evolving populations of thoughts, ideas, and memories within a single mind. In fact, deep correspondences exist between the mathematics of evolution and of learning, with perhaps the deepest being an equivalence between certain evolutionary dynamics and Bayesian inference. This equivalence permits reinterpretation of evolutionary processes as algorithms for Bayesian inference and has relevance for understanding diverse cognitive capacities, including memory and creativity.



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Neurobiology of Schemas and Schema-Mediated Memory

Publication date: Available online 24 May 2017
Source:Trends in Cognitive Sciences
Author(s): Asaf Gilboa, Hannah Marlatte
Schemas are superordinate knowledge structures that reflect abstracted commonalities across multiple experiences, exerting powerful influences over how events are perceived, interpreted, and remembered. Activated schema templates modulate early perceptual processing, as they get populated with specific informational instances (schema instantiation). Instantiated schemas, in turn, can enhance or distort mnemonic processing from the outset (at encoding), impact offline memory transformation and accelerate neocortical integration. Recent studies demonstrate distinctive neurobiological processes underlying schema-related learning. Interactions between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), hippocampus, angular gyrus (AG), and unimodal associative cortices support context-relevant schema instantiation and schema mnemonic effects. The vmPFC and hippocampus may compete (as suggested by some models) or synchronize (as suggested by others) to optimize schema-related learning depending on the specific operationalization of schema memory. This highlights the need for more precise definitions of memory schemas.



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FLUVOXAMINE MALEATE EFFECTS ON DOPAMINE SIGNALING IN THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX OF STRESSED PARKINSONIAN RATS: IMPLICATIONS FOR LEARNING AND MEMORY

Publication date: Available online 24 May 2017
Source:Brain Research Bulletin
Author(s): Ernest Dallé, Willie M.U. Daniels, Musa V. Mabandla
Parkinson's disease (PD) is also associated with cognitive impairment and reduced extrinsic supply of dopamine (DA) to the prefrontal cortex (PFC). In the present study, we looked at whether exposure to early life stress reduces DA and serotonin (5-HT) concentration in the PFC thus leading to enhanced cognitive impairment in a Parkinsonian rat model. Maternal separation was the stressor used to develop an animal model for early life stress that has chronic effects on brain and behavior. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with the antidepressant Fluvoxamine maleate (FM) prior to a unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion to model motor deficits in rats. The Morris water maze (MWM) and the forelimb use asymmetry (cylinder) tests were used to assess learning and memory impairment and motor deficits respectively. Blood plasma was used to measure corticosterone concentration and prefrontal tissue was collected for lipid peroxidation, DA, and 5-HT analysis. Our results show that animals exposed to early life stress displayed learning and memory impairment as well as elevated basal plasma corticosterone concentration which were attenuated by treatment with FM. A 6-OHDA lesion effect was evidenced by impairment in the cylinder test as well as decreased DA and 5-HT concentration in the PFC. These effects were attenuated by FM treatment resulting in higher DA concentration in the PFC of treated animals than in non-treated animals. This study suggests that DA and 5-HT signaling in the PFC are responsive to FM and may reduce stress-induced cognitive impairment in PD.



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Enrichment increases hippocampal neurogenesis independent of blood monocyte-derived microglia presence following high-dose total body irradiation

Publication date: Available online 24 May 2017
Source:Brain Research Bulletin
Author(s): Marc J. Ruitenberg, Julia Wells, Perry F. Bartlett, Alan R. Harvey, Jana Vukovic
Birth of new neurons in the hippocampus persists in the brain of adult mammals and critically underpins optimal learning and memory. The process of adult neurogenesis is significantly reduced following brain irradiation and this correlates with impaired cognitive function. In this study, we aimed to compare the long-term effects of two environmental paradigms (i.e. enriched environment and exercise) on adult neurogenesis following high-dose (10Gy) total body irradiation. When housed in standard (sedentary) conditions, irradiated mice revealed a long-lasting (up to at least 4 months) deficit in neurogenesis in the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus, the region that harbors the neurogenic niche. This depressive effect of total body irradiation on adult neurogenesis was partially alleviated by exposure to enriched environment but not voluntary exercise, where mice were single-housed with unlimited access to a running wheel. Exposure to voluntary exercise, but not enriched environment, did lead to significant increases in microglia density in the granule cell layer of the hippocampus; our study shows that these changes result from local microglia proliferation rather than recruitment and infiltration of circulating Cx3cr1^+/gfp blood monocytes that subsequently differentiate into microglia-like cells. In summary, latent neural precursor cells remain present in the neurogenic niche of the adult hippocampus up to at least 8 weeks following high-dose total body irradiation. Environmental enrichment can partially restore the adult neurogenic process in this part of the brain following high-dose irradiation, and this was found to be independent of blood monocyte-derived microglia presence.



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Possible involvement of CREB/BDNF signaling pathway in neuroprotective effects of topiramate against methylphenidate induced apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammation in isolated hippocampus of rats: molecular, biochemical and histological evidences.

Publication date: Available online 24 May 2017
Source:Brain Research Bulletin
Author(s): Majid Motaghinejad, Manijeh Motevalian, Fateme Babalouei, Mohammad Abdollahi, Mansour Heidari, Zahra Madjd
Chronic abuse of methylphenidate (MPH) can cause serious neurotoxicity. The neuroprotective effects of topiramate (TPM) were approved, but its putative mechanism remains unclear. In current study the role of CREB/BDNF signaling pathway in TPM protection against methylphenidate-induced neurotoxicity in rat hippocampus was evaluated. 60 adult male rats were divided randomly into six groups. Groups received MPH (10mg/kg) only and concurrently with TPM (50mg/kg and 100mg/kg) and TPM (50 and 100mg/kg) only for 14 days. Open field test (OFT) was used to investigate motor activity. Some biomarkers of apoptotic, anti-apoptotic, oxidative, antioxidant and inflammatory factors were also measured in hippocampus. Expression of total (inactive) and phosphorylated (active) CREB and BDNF were also measured in gene and protein levels in dentate gyrus (DG) and CA1 areas of hippocampus. MPH caused significant decreases in motor activity in OFT while TPM (50 and 100mg/kg) inhibited MPH-induced decreases in motor activity. On the other hand, MPH caused remarkable increases in Bax protein level, lipid peroxidation, catalase activity, IL-1β and TNF-α levels in hippocampal tissue. MPH also caused significant decreases of superoxide dismutase, activity and also decreased CREB, in both forms, BDNF and Bcl-2 protein levels. TPM, by the mentioned doses, attenuated these effects and increased superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities and also increased CREB, in both forms, BDNF and Bcl-2 protein levels and inhibited MPH induced increase in Bax protein level, lipid peroxidation, catalase activity, IL-1β and TNF-α levels. TPM also inhibited MPH induced decreases in cell number and changes in cell shapes in DG and CA1 areas. TPM can probably act as a neuroprotective agent against MPH induced neurotoxicity and this might have been mediated by CREB/BDNF signaling pathway.



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Neuroprotective Effects of Sulfiredoxin-1 During Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Oxidative Stress Injury in Rats

Publication date: Available online 24 May 2017
Source:Brain Research Bulletin
Author(s): Jingxian Wu, Yanlin Chen, Shanshan Yu, Lingyu Li, Xiujuan Zhao, Qiong Li, Jing Zhao, Yong Zhao
As an endogenous antioxidant protein, Sulfiredoxin1 (Srxn1) can prevent cell oxidative stress damage. However, its role in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and the underlying signaling mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we explored effects of Srxn1 knockdown on oxidative stress using in vitro and in vivo I/R models and investigated related neuroprotective mechanisms. For in vitro studies, primary cortical neuronal cultures were transfected with an interfering lentivirus targeting Srxn1. Oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) was conducted after Srxn1 knockdown. MTS and lactate dehydrogenase assays indicated that knockdown of Srxn1 increased cell death and reduced cell viability. Similarly, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathionekits assays showed that knockdown of Srxn1 worsened oxidative stress injury. For in vivo studies, siRNA for Srxn1 or negative control siRNA was injected intracerebroventricularly 24h before middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Data shows silencing Srxn1 resulted in a significant increase in cerebral infarction, neurological deficits, histological injury, and oxidative stress injury 24h after ischemic stroke. Moreover, immunoblot analysis assessed the relationship between Srxn1 levels and Prdx1–4 as well as Prdx-SO3 activity both in vitro and in vivo models. We found that decreased Srxn1 reduced Prdx1–4 and enhanced Prdx-SO3 protein levels. In addition, knockdown of Nrf2 was performed; immunoblot analysis was used to measure Srxn1 and NQO1 protein levels. We further found that interference of Nrf2 reduced Srxn1 and NQO1 protein levels. In summary, Srxn1 can protect neurons from I/R oxidative stress injury and the mechanism involves Prdx activity. Srxn1, which might be downstream of Nrf2, can prevent cerebral ischemia reperfusion by reversing overoxidized Prdx and restoring antioxidant activity of Prdx.



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Scholar : These new articles for Amyloid are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Amyloid and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Letter to the Editor Cervicomedullary compression as the main manifestation of wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis Kourosh Rezania, Peter Pytel, W. Edward Highsmith & Patrik Gabikian Pages: 1-2 | DOI: 10.1080/13506129.2017.1331907 Free access World Diabetes Day research collection – Eyes on Diabetes. To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. You can also unsubscribe from this alert with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Disentangling the effects of novelty, valence and trait anxiety in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, amygdala and hippocampus with high resolution 7T fMRI

Publication date: 1 August 2017
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 156
Author(s): Walker S. Pedersen, L. Tugan Muftuler, Christine L. Larson
The hippocampus and amygdala exhibit sensitivity to stimulus novelty that is reduced in participants with inhibited temperament, which is related to trait anxiety. Although the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is highly connected to the amygdala and is implicated in anxiety, whether the BNST responds to novelty remains unstudied, as well as how trait anxiety may modulate this response. Additionally how novelty, stimulus negativity and trait anxiety interact to affect activity in these areas is also unclear. To address these questions, we presented participants with novel and repeated, fearful and neutral faces, while measuring brain activity via fMRI, and also assessed participants' self-reported trait anxiety. As the small size of the BNST makes assessing its activity at typical fMRI resolution difficult, we employed high resolution 7 Tesla scanning. Our results replicate findings of novelty sensitivity that is independent of valence in the hippocampus. Our results also provide novel evidence for a BNST novelty response toward neutral, but not fearful faces. We also found that the novelty response in the hippocampus and BNST was blunted in participants with high trait anxiety. Additionally, we found left amygdala sensitivity to stimulus negativity that was blunted for high trait anxiety participants. These findings extend past research on the response to novel stimuli in the hippocampus and amygdala at high resolution, and are the first to demonstrate trait anxiety modulated novelty sensitivity in the BNST that is dependent on stimulus valence.



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White matter alterations at pubertal onset

Publication date: 1 August 2017
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 156
Author(s): Sila Genc, Marc L. Seal, Thijs Dhollander, Charles B. Malpas, Philip Hazell, Timothy J. Silk
Recent neurodevelopmental research supports the contribution of pubertal stage to local and global grey and white matter remodelling. Little is known, however, about white matter microstructural alterations at pubertal onset. This study investigated differences in white matter properties between pre-pubertal and pubertal children using whole brain fixel-based analysis (FBA) of the microscopic density and macroscopic cross-section of fibre bundles. Diffusion-weighted imaging data were acquired for 74 typically developing children (M=10.4, SD=.43 years, 31 female) at 3.0T (60 diffusion gradient directions, b-value=2800s/mm²). Group comparisons of fibre density (FD) and fibre cross-section (FC) were made between age-matched pre-pubertal and pubertal groups, and post-hoc analyses were performed on regions of interest (ROIs) defined in the splenium, body and genu of the corpus callosum. Significant fixel-wise differences in FD were observed between the pubertal groups, where the pubertal group had significantly higher FD compared with age-matched pre-pubertal children, localised to the posterior corpus callosum. Post-hoc analyses on mean FD in the corpus callosum ROIs revealed group differences between the pubertal groups in the splenium, but not body or genu. The observed higher apparent fibre density in the splenium suggests that pubertal onset coincides with white matter differences explained by increasing axon diameter. This may be an important effect to account for over pubertal development, particularly for group studies where age-matched clinical and typical populations may be at various stages of puberty.



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Neural substrates of male parochial altruism are modulated by testosterone and behavioral strategy

Publication date: 1 August 2017
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 156
Author(s): Luise Reimers, Christian Büchel, Esther K. Diekhof
Parochial altruism refers to ingroup favoritism and outgroup hostility and has recently been linked to testosterone. Here, we investigated the neurobiological mechanism of parochial altruism in male soccer fans playing the ultimatum game (UG) against ingroup and outgroup members (i.e., fans of the favorite or of a rivalling team) using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Our results suggest that individual differences in altruistic tendency influence the tendency for parochialism. While altruistic subjects rejected unfair offers independent of team membership, the more self-oriented 'pro-selfs' displayed a stronger ingroup bias and rejected outgroup offers more often. However, during a second session that introduced a team competition the altruists adapted to this parochial pattern. Behavioral strategy was further characterized by dissociable and context-dependent correlations between endogenous testosterone and neural responses in the anterior insula and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. In sum, the present findings indicate that parochial altruism is shaped by individual differences in testosterone and behavioral strategy. In that way the results are in line with evolutionary theories of both individual and group selection.



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Spatiotemporal oscillatory dynamics of visual selective attention during a flanker task

Publication date: 1 August 2017
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 156
Author(s): Timothy J. McDermott, Alex I. Wiesman, Amy L. Proskovec, Elizabeth Heinrichs-Graham, Tony W. Wilson
The flanker task is a test of visual selective attention that has been widely used to probe error monitoring, response conflict, and related constructs. However, to date, few studies have focused on the selective attention component of this task and imaged the underlying oscillatory dynamics serving task performance. In this study, 21 healthy adults successfully completed an arrow-based version of the Eriksen flanker task during magnetoencephalography (MEG). All MEG data were pre-processed and transformed into the time-frequency domain. Significant oscillatory brain responses were imaged using a beamforming approach, and voxel time series were extracted from the peak responses to identify the temporal dynamics. Across both congruent and incongruent flanker conditions, our results indicated robust decreases in alpha (9–12Hz) activity in medial and lateral occipital regions, bilateral parietal cortices, and cerebellar areas during task performance. In parallel, increases in theta (3–7Hz) oscillatory activity were detected in dorsal and ventral frontal regions, and the anterior cingulate. As per conditional effects, stronger alpha responses (i.e., greater desynchronization) were observed in parietal, occipital, and cerebellar cortices during incongruent relative to congruent trials, whereas the opposite pattern emerged for theta responses (i.e., synchronization) in the anterior cingulate, left dorsolateral prefrontal, and ventral prefrontal cortices. Interestingly, the peak latency of theta responses in these latter brain regions was significantly correlated with reaction time, and may partially explain the amplitude difference observed between congruent and incongruent trials. Lastly, whole-brain exploratory analyses implicated the frontal eye fields, right temporoparietal junction, and premotor cortices. These findings suggest that regions of both the dorsal and ventral attention networks contribute to visual selective attention processes during incongruent trials, and that such differential processes are transient and fully completed shortly after the behavioral response in most trials.



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Scholar : These new articles for Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Case Report "Interferent Detect" on the Intoxilyzer® 8000C in an individual with an elevated blood acetone concentration due to ketoacidosis H. Rachelle Wallage & Inger M. Bugyra Pages: 1-7 | DOI: 10.1080/00085030.2017.1328162 Free access World Diabetes Day research collection – Eyes on Diabetes. To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. You can also unsubscribe from this alert with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Scholar : These new articles for Asian Englishes are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Asian Englishes and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Original Articles Using local style when writing in English: the citing behaviour of Indonesian authors in English research article introductions Safnil Arsyad & Destiantari Adila Pages: 1-16 | DOI: 10.1080/13488678.2017.1327835 'Weird English from an American'? Folk engagements with language ideologies surrounding a self-help English language learning comic book published in Japan Misako Tajima Pages: 1-16 | DOI: 10.1080/13488678.2017.1323289 Listening Leaders Free Accessarticles from International Listening Association Lifetime Achievement AwardeesFind out more To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. You can also unsubscribe from this alert with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Scholar : These new articles for Archives and Records are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Archives and Records and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Original Articles New light on old illuminations Andrew Beeby, Richard Gameson & Catherine Nicholson Pages: 1-13 | DOI: 10.1080/23257962.2017.1325729 To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. You can also unsubscribe from this alert with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

The Enigmatic Role of Viruses in Multiple Sclerosis: Molecular Mimicry or Disturbed Immune Surveillance?

Publication date: Available online 23 May 2017
Source:Trends in Immunology
Author(s): Jens Geginat, Moira Paroni, Massimiliano Pagani, Daniela Galimberti, Raffaele De Francesco, Elio Scarpini, Sergio Abrignani
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a T cell driven autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Despite its association with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), how viral infections promote MS remains unclear. However, there is increasing evidence that the CNS is continuously surveyed by virus-specific T cells, which protect against reactivating neurotropic viruses. Here, we discuss how viral infections could lead to the breakdown of self-tolerance in genetically predisposed individuals, and how the reactivations of viruses in the CNS could induce the recruitment of both autoaggressive and virus-specific T cell subsets, causing relapses and progressive disability. A disturbed immune surveillance in MS would explain several experimental findings, and has important implications for prognosis and therapy.



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Scholar : These new articles for Advanced Robotics are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Advanced Robotics and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Short Paper Redundancy modelling and resolution for robotic mobile manipulators: a general approach Roberto Ancona Pages: 1-10 | DOI: 10.1080/01691864.2017.1326842 Read selected content from the Journal of Structural Integrity and Maintenance for free! http://ift.tt/2coiFom To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. You can also unsubscribe from this alert with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Editorial board members

Publication date: January 2017
Source:Gene Expression Patterns, Volumes 23–24





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sept8a and sept8b mRNA expression in the developing and adult zebrafish

Publication date: November 2017
Source:Gene Expression Patterns, Volumes 25–26
Author(s): Constantin Berger, Frederik Helmprobst, Prisca Chapouton, Christina Lillesaar, Christian Stigloher
Septins are highly conserved GTP-binding proteins involved in numerous cellular processes. Despite a growing awareness of their roles in the cell biology, development and signal transmission in nervous systems, comparably little is known about precise septin expression. Here, we use the well-established model organism zebrafish (Danio rerio) to unravel the expression of sept8a and sept8b, with special focus on the CNS. We performed whole mount RNA in situ hybridization on zebrafish 1–4 dpf in combination with serial sectioning of epon-embedded samples as well as on brain sections of adult zebrafish to obtain precise histological mapping of gene expression. Our results show a common expression of both genes at embryonic stages, whereas sept8a is mainly restricted to the gill arches and sept8b to specific brain structures at later stages. Brains of adult zebrafish reveal a large spatial overlap of sept8a and sept8b expression with few regions uniquely expressing sept8a or sept8b. Our results indicate a neuronal expression of both genes, and additionally suggest expression of sept8b in glial cells. Altogether, this study provides a first detailed insight into the expression of sept8a and sept8b in zebrafish and contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of septin biology in vertebrate model systems.



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Dorsal fin development in flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus: Bud formation and its cellular origin

Publication date: November 2017
Source:Gene Expression Patterns, Volumes 25–26
Author(s): Jie Chen, Xiaoyu Liu, Xiaohua Yao, Fei Gao, Baolong Bao
The development of the median fin has not been investigated extensively in teleosts, although in other fishes it has been proposed that it involves the same genetic programs operating in the paired appendages. Adult median fins develop from the larval bud; therefore an investigation of fin bud formation and its cellular origin is essential to understanding the maturation mechanisms. In Paralichthys olivaceus, skeletogenesis proceeds from an anterior to posterior direction providing a good opportunity to study the formation of dorsal fin bud. An apical ectodermal ridge appeared at the basal stratum of the presumptive dorsal fin was first observed at 3 days post hatching. Then the apical ectodermal fold formed as the bud outgrew in 6 days post-hatch larvae. The bud continued to grow, breaking through the dorsal fin fold in 9 days post-hatch larvae. At 13 days post-hatch, the bud grew beyond the edge of the fin fold and formed into the four future rays. Molecular markers of cell type showed the existence of neural crest cells, scleroblasts and sclerotomes in the dorsal fin bud. The earliest gene expression in the dorsal fin bud was Hoxd10 at 3 days post-hatch larvae, then Hoxd9, Hoxd11 and Hoxd12. This indicates Hoxd10 might be a candidate molecular marker of the bud formation site. Some key molecular markers for paired appendage development, such as FGF8, Wnt7, and Shh were expressed at the apical ectodermal ridge and later the apical ectodermal fold. Moreover, the form of the dorsal fin bud could be inhibited by Hh pathway inhibitor, further indicating that common basic molecular mechanisms might be utilized by median fins.



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Embryonic expression of festina lente (fel), a novel maternal gene, in the oligochaete annelid Tubifex tubifex

Publication date: November 2017
Source:Gene Expression Patterns, Volumes 25–26
Author(s): Takuma Nakamura, Inori Shiomi, Takashi Shimizu
We have cloned and characterized the expression of a novel maternal gene festina lente (designated Ttu-fel) from the clitellate annelid Tubifex tubifex. Northern blot analyses have shown that Ttu-fel mRNA is approximately 8 kbp in length and that its expression is restricted to oocytes undergoing maturation division and early embryos up to 22-cell stage. Maternal transcripts of Ttu-fel are first detected in oocytes in the ovary of young adults (ca. 40 days after hatching); its expression continues in growing oocytes in the ovisac. Ttu-fel mRNA is distributed broadly throughout the egg undergoing maturation divisions. During the process of ooplasmic segregation that results in the pole plasm formation, Ttu-fel mRNA becomes concentrated to the animal and vegetal poles. The RNA in the animal hemisphere is distributed in a gradient with highest concentration in the cortical region. During the first two cleavages, Ttu-fel mRNA is segregated to CD cell then to D cell; it is subsequently inherited by the three D quadtrant micromeres, 1d, 2d and 3d. Around the time of transition to 22-cell stage, Ttu-fel mRNA becomes undetectable throughout the embryo.



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Characterization of Sgo1 expression in developing and adult mouse

Publication date: November 2017
Source:Gene Expression Patterns, Volumes 25–26
Author(s): Andrew T. Song, Antonella Galli, Severine Leclerc, Stanley Nattel, Craig Mandato, Gregor Andelfinger
SGO1 has been characterized in its function in correct cell division and its role in centrosome cohesion in the nucleus. However, its organ-specific maturation-related expression pattern in vivo remains largely uncharacterized. Here, we show clear SGO1 expression in post-developmental neuronal cells and cytoplasmic localisation in nucleated cells with a transgenic mice model and immunohistochemistry of wild type mice. We demonstrate extranuclear expression of Sgo1 in the developing heart and gut, which have been shown to be dysregulated in humans with homozygous SGO1 mutation. Additionally, we show Sgo1 expression in select population of retinal cells in developing and post-developmental retina. Our expression analysis strongly suggests that the function of SGO1 goes beyond its well characterized role in cell division.



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JMJ24 antagonizes histone H3K9 demethylase IBM1/JMJ25 function and interacts with RNAi pathways for gene silencing

Publication date: November 2017
Source:Gene Expression Patterns, Volumes 25–26
Author(s): Laure Audonnet, Yuan Shen, Dao-Xiu Zhou
Dimethylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9me2) is a heterochromatic mark linked to DNA methylation and gene repression. Removal of H3K9me2 from gene bodies by the jmjC histone demethylase IBM1/JMJ25 inhibits DNA methylation and derepresses gene expression. In this work, we analyzed the function of a closely related homolog of IBM1/JMJ25, namely JMJ24. We show that jmj24 mutations produced a number of subtle developmental defects, while affecting only a relatively small number of genes at the vegetative stage. Interestingly, jmj24 mutation could complement plant growth defects and expression changes caused by the ibm1 mutation. In addition, we show that JMJ24 may synergistically interact with the RNAi pathways involving siRNAs. The present data suggest that JMJ24 may have a function to counteract IBM1/JMJ25 in gene expression and may cooperate with RNAi pathways for gene silencing.



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The expression of sialyltransferases is regulated by the bioavailability and biosynthesis of sialic acids

Publication date: January 2017
Source:Gene Expression Patterns, Volumes 23–24
Author(s): Kaya Bork, Wenke Weidemann, Beatrice Berneck, Magdalena Kuchta, Dorit Bennmann, Annett Thate, Otmar Huber, Vinayaga S. Gnanapragassam, Rüdiger Horstkorte
Glycosylation is the most frequent and important post-translational modification of proteins. It occurs on specific consensus sequences but the final structure of a particular glycan is not coded on the DNA, rather it depends on the expression of the required enzymes and the availability of substrates (activated monosaccharides). Sialic acid (Sia) is the terminal monosaccharide of most glycoproteins or glycolipids (= glycoconjugates) and involved in a variety of function on molecular (e.g. determination of protein stability and half-life) and cellular level (e.g. influenza infection). Sia are synthesized in the cytosol from UDP-GlcNAc by the Roseman-Warren pathway. The key enzyme of this pathway is the UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase/ManNAc kinase (GNE). Sia are transferred on glycoconjugates by a family of Golgi-located enzymes, so called sialyltransferases (ST). There are 20 (human) ST known, which all transfer CMP-activated Sia to specific acceptor-sites on glycoconjugates. The regulation of the expression of ST is still not understood. Using a GNE-deficient embryonic stem cell line, which cannot synthesize Sia endogenously and by supplementation of soluble Sia precursors, we present data that the cellular availability of Sia strongly regulates the expression of ST on the level of transcription. In summary, we suggest that the concentration of the donor substrate of sialyltransferases, which can be regarded as a sensor for the environmental conditions of a cell, regulates not only total sialylation, but also the quality of sialylation. This allows a cell to response to altered environmental conditions.



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High resolution methylation analysis of the HoxA5 regulatory region in different somatic tissues of laboratory mouse during development

Publication date: January 2017
Source:Gene Expression Patterns, Volumes 23–24
Author(s): Puja Sinha, Kiran Singh, Manisha Sachan
Homeobox genes encode a group of DNA binding regulatory proteins whose key function occurs in the spatial-temporal organization of genome during embryonic development and differentiation. The role of these Hox genes during ontogenesis makes it an important model for research. HoxA5 is a member of Hox gene family playing a central role during axial body patterning and morphogenesis. DNA modification studies have shown that the function of Hox genes is partly governed by the methylation-mediated gene expression regulation. Therefore the study aimed to investigate the role of epigenetic events in regulation of tissue-specific expression pattern of HoxA5 gene during mammalian development. The methodology adopted were sodium bisulfite genomic DNA sequencing, quantitative real-time PCR and chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Methylation profiling of HoxA5 gene promoter shows higher methylation in adult as compared to fetus in various somatic tissues of mouse being highest in adult spleen. However q-PCR results show higher expression during fetal stages being highest in fetal intestine followed by brain, liver and spleen. These results clearly indicate a strict correlation between DNA methylation and tissue-specific gene expression. The findings of chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP) have also reinforced that epigenetic event like DNA methylation plays important role in the regulation of tissue specific expression of HoxA5.



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Regional localization of activin-βA, activin-βC, follistatin, proliferation, and apoptosis in adult and developing mouse prostate ducts

Publication date: January 2017
Source:Gene Expression Patterns, Volumes 23–24
Author(s): Elspeth Gold, Sylvia Zellhuber-McMillan, Gail Risbridger, Francesco Elia Marino
Activins and inhibins, members of the TGF-β superfamily, are growth and differentiation factors involved in the regulation of several biological processes, including reproduction, development, and fertility. Previous studies have shown that the activin-βA subunit plays a pivotal role in prostate development. Activin-A inhibits branching morphogenesis in the developing prostate, and its expression is associated with increased apoptosis in the adult prostate. Follistatin, a structurally unrelated protein to activins, is an antagonist of activin-A. A balance between endogenous activin-A and follistatin is required to maintain prostatic branching morphogenesis. Deregulation of this balance leads to branching inhibition or excessive branching and increased maturation of the stroma surrounding the differentiating epithelial ducts. Recent work identified another member of the TGF-β superfamily, the activin-βC subunit, as a novel antagonist of activin-A. Over-expression of activin-C (βC-βC) alters prostate homeostasis, by interfering with the activin-A signaling. The current study characterized the spatiotemporal localization of activin-A, activin-C and follistatin in the adult and developing mouse prostate using immunohistochemical analysis. Results showed activin-C and follistatin are differentially expressed during prostate development and suggested that the antagonistic property of follistatin is secondary to the action of activin-C. In conclusion, the present study provides evidence to support a role of activin-C in prostate development and provides new insights in the spatiotemporal localization of activins and their antagonists during mouse prostate development.



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The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Applied Neuropsychology: Child and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: CASE REPORTS 16p11.2 Microduplication and associated symptoms: A case study Martin Knoll, Kirsten Arnett & Jeremy Hertza Pages: 1-6 | DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2017.1326046 Routledge Psychology 2017 sponsor of BPS #PsychCrunch podcasts. Access 25 journal articles: http://bit.ly/psychcrunch2017 To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. You can also unsubscribe from this alert with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.