Protocol for quantifying muscle fiber size, number, and central nucleation of mouse skeletal muscle cross-sections using Myotally software.

Here, we present a protocol for using Myotally, a user-friendly software for fast, automated quantification of muscle fiber size, number, and central nucleation from immunofluorescent stains of mouse skeletal muscle cross-sections. We describe steps for installing the software, preparing compatible images, finding the file path, and selecting key parameters like image quality and size limits. We also detail optional features, such as measuring mean fluorescence.

Cytoplasm mechanics and cellular organization.

As cells organize spatially or divide, they translocate many micron-scale organelles in their cytoplasm. These include endomembrane vesicles, nuclei, microtubule asters, mitotic spindles, or chromosomes. Organelle motion is powered by cytoskeleton forces but is opposed by viscoelastic forces imparted by the surrounding crowded cytoplasm medium.

Influence of the Surface Chemistry of Metal-Organic Polyhedra in Their Assembly into Ultrathin Films for Gas Separation.

The formation of ultrathin films of Rh-based porous metal-organic polyhedra (Rh-MOPs) by the Langmuir-Blodgett method has been explored. Homogeneous and dense monolayer films were formed at the air-water interface either using two different coordinatively alkyl-functionalized Rh-MOPs (HRhMOP(diz) and HRhMOP(oiz)) or by incorporation of aliphatic chains to the axial sites of dirhodium paddlewheels of another Rh-MOP (OHRhMOP) at the air-liquid interface. All these Rh-MOP monolayers were successively deposited onto different substrates in order to obtain multilayer films with controllable thicknesses.

Intracellular Mechanical Drugs Induce Cell-Cycle Altering and Cell Death.

Current advances in materials science have demonstrated that extracellular mechanical cues can define cell function and cell fate. However, a fundamental understanding of the manner in which intracellular mechanical cues affect cell mechanics remains elusive. How intracellular mechanical hindrance, reinforcement, and supports interfere with the cell cycle and promote cell death is described here.

Tubastatin A maintains adult skeletal muscle stem cells in a quiescent state ex vivo and improves their engraftment ability in vivo.

Adult skeletal muscle stem cells (MuSCs) are important for muscle regeneration and constitute a potential source of cell therapy. However, upon isolation, MuSCs rapidly exit quiescence and lose transplantation potency. Maintenance of the quiescent state in vitro preserves MuSC transplantation efficiency and provides an opportunity to study the biology of quiescence.

Integrating magnetic capabilities to intracellular chips for cell trapping.

Current microtechnologies have shown plenty of room inside a living cell for silicon chips. Microchips as barcodes, biochemical sensors, mechanical sensors and even electrical devices have been internalized into living cells without interfering their cell viability. However, these technologies lack from the ability to trap and preconcentrate cells in a specific region, which are prerequisites for cell separation, purification and posterior studies with enhanced sensitivity.

Virtual Rehabilitation in Parkinson Disease: A Dopamine Transporter Imaging Study.

Objective: The aim of the study was to verify the effect of a virtual rehabilitation protocol for patients with Parkinson disease, primarily assessing striatal dopamine transporters and secondarily motor symptoms and quality of life.

Design: Nineteen patients with Parkinson disease underwent an 8-wk virtual rehabilitation protocol using XBOX 360S. Evaluation of dopamine transporters was performed by single-photon emission computed tomography using TRODAT-1 as the radioligand.

A Real-World Study of Cerebral 99mTc-TRODAT-1 Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) Imaging of the Dopamine Transporter in Patients with Parkinson Disease from a Tertiary Hospital in Brazil.

BACKGROUND Studies on the routine clinical use of dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging have largely been conducted in Europe and the United States. In this real-world study, we investigated the use of cerebral 99mTc-TRODAT-1 SPECT imaging of DAT in patients with Parkinson disease (PD) at a tertiary hospital in Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS We included 119 patients with suspected PD or clinically unclear parkinsonism who underwent brain scintigraphy with 99mTc-TRODAT-1 during a 3-year period.

Multidimensional Anisotropic Architectures on Polymeric Microparticles.

Next generation life science technologies will require the integration of building blocks with tunable physical and chemical architectures at the microscale. A central issue is to govern the multidimensional anisotropic space that defines these microparticle attributes. However, this control is limited to one or few dimensions due to profound fabrication tradeoffs, a problem that is exacerbated by miniaturization.

Exercise rejuvenates quiescent skeletal muscle stem cells in old mice through restoration of Cyclin D1.

Aging impairs tissue repair. This is pronounced in skeletal muscle, whose regeneration by muscle stem cells (MuSCs) is robust in young adult animals but inefficient in older organisms. Despite this functional decline, old MuSCs are amenable to rejuvenation through strategies that improve the systemic milieu, such as heterochronic parabiosis.

Tracking intracellular forces and mechanical property changes in mouse one-cell embryo development.

Cells comprise mechanically active matter that governs their functionality, but intracellular mechanics are difficult to study directly and are poorly understood. However, injected nanodevices open up opportunities to analyse intracellular mechanobiology. Here, we identify a programme of forces and changes to the cytoplasmic mechanical properties required for mouse embryo development from fertilization to the first cell division.

Metastatic non-muscle invasive bladder can-cer with cervical lymph node metastasis.

Bladder cancer is a common cancer that may present as superficial, invasive, or metastatic disease. Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) represents the majority of bladder cancer diagnoses, but represents a spectrum of disease with a variable clinical course, notably for significant risk of recurrence and potential for progression. NMIBC metastasis to distant organs without local invasion or regional metastasis is a very rare occurrence, so there are limi-ted case reports about early metastasis in the literature.

Preliminary outcomes of the European multicentre experience with the ZSI 375 artificial urinary sphincter for treatment of stress urinary incontinence in men.

Introduction: The ZSI 375 is a new artificial urinary sphincter utilised in men suffering from stress urinary incontinence (SUI). We present the first European multicentre study on the effectiveness of ZSI 375.

Material And Methods: This study was conducted in a retrospective, non-randomized format in centres across Europe.

Cuff-assisted versus cap-assisted colonoscopy for adenoma detection: results of a randomized study.

Background: The adenoma detection rate (ADR) is the most important marker of colonoscopy quality. Devices to improve adenoma detection have been developed, such as the Endocuff and transparent cap. The aim of the current study was to examine whether there was a difference in ADR between Endocuff-assisted (EAC) and cap-assisted colonoscopy (CAC).

Microbiological quality of Argentinian paprika.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality of paprika produced in Catamarca, Argentina. Microbiological analyses were carried out for the enumeration of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, coliforms, yeasts and molds, and the detection of Salmonella in samples obtained from different local producers during three consecutive years. The mycobiota was identified paying special attention to the mycotoxigenic molds.

Constituents of Flourensia blakeana (Asteraceae).

Chemical study of the aerial parts of Flourensia blakeana Dillon allowed the isolation and identification of two novel compounds, 3, 5, 5'-trihydroxy-7, 3'- dimethoxyflavanone (1), and 2α-angeloyloxycostic acid (2) together with several known compounds. The structures were elucidated using spectroscopic data from.ID, 2D NMR and HRDEIMS experiments.

Is There an Association between Body Mass Index and Cervical Length? Implications for Obesity and Cervical Length Management in Pregnancy.

 Obesity and cervical insufficiency are leading causes of morbidity in pregnancy. We assess the relationship between maternal body mass index (BMI) and second-trimester cervical length.  A secondary analysis of a nested case-control study of women with singleton gestations enrolled from 2006 to 2008.

Response for light scattered in the ocular fundus from double-pass and Hartmann-Shack estimations.

Double-pass (DP) and Hartmann-Shack (HS) are complementary techniques based on reflections of light in the ocular fundus that may be used to estimate the optical properties of the human eye. Under conventional data processing, both of these assessment modes provide information on aberrations. In addition, DP data contain the effects of scattering.

Double-pass technique and compensation-comparison method in eyes with cataract.

Purpose: To clinically assess the objective scatter index (OSI) obtained from double-pass images and the log(s) parameter measured with the direct compensation-comparison psychophysical technique in eyes with cataract.

Setting: Ophthalmology Service, Terrassa Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.

Design: Prospective observational case series.

Inflammatory and oxidative stress markers associated with decreased cervical length in pregnancy.

Problem: We assess whether inflammatory and oxidative stress markers early in pregnancy are associated with decreasing cervical length in the second trimester.

Method Of Study: This is a secondary analysis of a nested case-control study of preterm birth conducted at a tertiary care center from 2006 to 2008. Plasma inflammatory markers included the following: interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP); and urine oxidative stress markers included the following: 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and 8-isoprostane, measured at two study visits (median 10 and 18 weeks of gestation).

Comparison of the Adaptive Optics Vision Analyzer and the KR-1 W for measuring ocular wave aberrations.

Background: The aim was to assess the agreement in the measurement of ocular aberrations between a new Adaptive Optics Vision Analyzer (AOVA, Voptica, Murcia, Spain) and a commercial aberrometer (KR-1 W, Topcon, Tokyo, Japan), both based on the Hartmann-Shack technique.

Methods: One experienced examiner measured 29 healthy right eyes nine consecutive times with the two instruments. The individual Zernike coefficients and the root mean square (RMS) of each order from the second to the fifth order, the higher-order RMS (RMS ), the total RMS (RMS ) and the values of the spherical equivalent (M) and Jackson cross-cylinder (J and J ) were compared.

Binocular open-view system to perform estimations of aberrations and scattering in the human eye.

We present a system that integrates a double-pass (DP) instrument and a Hartmann-Shack (HS) wavefront sensor to provide information not only on aberrations, but also on the scattering that occurs in the human eye. A binocular open-view design permits evaluations to be made under normal viewing conditions. Furthermore, the system is able to compensate for both the spherical and astigmatic refractive errors that occur during measurements by using devices with configurable optical power.

Comparing Autorefractors for Measurement of Accommodation.

Purpose: To compare the static and dynamic accommodative responses measured with the WAM-5500 and the PowerRef-II autorefractors.

Methods: The dynamic and static monocular accommodative responses were measured with the WAM-5500 and the PowerRef-II instruments in 30 pre-presbyopic patients (23.66 [±3.