Use of Artificial Intelligence Software to Detect Intracranial Aneurysms: A Comprehensive Stroke Center Experience.

Objective: To evaluate variability in aneurysm detection and the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) software as a screening tool by comparing conventional computed tomography angiography (CTA) images (standard care) with AI software.

Methods: Neuroradiologists reviewed 770 CTA images and reported the presence or absence of saccular aneurysms. Subsequently, the images were analyzed by AI software.

Workflow Optimization for Ischemic Stroke in a Community-Based Stroke Center.

Background: We analyzed the effect of specific optimization steps to reduce treatment delays in a nonacademic stroke hospital setting.

Methods: The data from patients with ischemic stroke who had been treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator or endovascular therapy, or both, were analyzed. The metrics were divided into 2 periods: preoptimization period (October 1, 2015 to September 30, 2016) and postoptimization period (October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017).

Redox-responsive degradable PEG cryogels as potential cell scaffolds in tissue engineering.

A Michael addition strategy involving the reaction between a maleimide double bond and amine groups is investigated for the synthesis of cryogels at subzero temperature. Low-molecular-weight PEG-based building blocks with amine end groups and disulfide-containing building blocks with maleimide end groups are combined to synthesize redox-responsive PEG cryogels. The cryogels exhibit an interconnected macroporous morphology, a high compressive modulus and gelation yields of around 95%.

New agents for prevention of ultraviolet-induced nonmelanoma skin cancer.

With the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer on the rise, current prevention methods, such as the use of sunscreens, have yet to prove adequate to reverse this trend. There has been considerable interest in identifying compounds that will inhibit or reverse the biochemical changes required for skin cancers to develop, either by pharmacologic intervention or by dietary manipulation. By targeting different pathways identified as important in the pathogenesis of nonmelanoma skin cancers, a combination approach with multiple agents or the addition of chemopreventative agents to topical sunscreens may offer the potential for novel and synergistic therapies in treating nonmelanoma skin cancer.

Solvent-resistant nanofiltration for product purification and catalyst recovery in click chemistry reactions.

The quickly developing field of "click" chemistry would undoubtedly benefit from the availability of an easy and efficient technology for product purification to reduce the potential health risks associated with the presence of copper in the final product. Therefore, solvent-resistant nanofiltration (SRNF) membranes have been developed to selectively separate "clicked" polymers from the copper catalyst and solvent. By using these solvent-stable cross-linked polyimide membranes in diafiltration, up to 98 % of the initially present copper could be removed through the membrane together with the DMF solvent, the polymer product being almost completely retained.

'Click' functionalization of cryogels conveniently verified and quantified using high-resolution MAS NMR spectroscopy.

Chemical modification reactions of alkyne containing polyHEMA-based macroporous network structures (cryogels) by Cu(I) catalyzed azide-alkyne 'click' cycloaddition reactions and their monitoring and quantification with high-resolution magic angle spinning (hr-MAS) NMR spectroscopy are reported. Complete conversion is obtained when benzylazide is reacted with the grafted alkyne function, but only partial conversion is observed when using azide-modified poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-N(3) ). Subsequent addition of benzylazide consumes all remaining alkyne groups.

Facile Access to an Efficient Solid-Supported Click Catalyst System Based on Poly(ethyleneimine).

A novel heterogeneous copper(I) catalyst system, which is based on readily available poly(ethyleneimine), has been used as a recyclable catalyst for Cu(I) catalyzed "click" 1,3 dipolar cycloaddition reactions of azides and alkynes in organic media. Branched poly(ethyleneimine) was first methylated and then cross-linked with 1,9-dibromononane. Subsequently, after the immobilization of Cu(I)Br, this system was applied for heterogeneous copper catalyzed click chemistry of a few model reagents and polymeric compounds.

Biodegradable microcapsules designed via 'click' chemistry.

Dextrans modified with alkyne and azide groups through hydrolysable carbonate esters form degradable microcapsules after Cu(I) catalysed 'click' reaction between azides and alkynes yielding triazole cross-links.

Morphological transition during the thermal deprotection of poly(isobornyl acrylate)-b-poly(1-ethoxyethyl acrylate).

A set of poly(isobornyl acrylate)--poly(1-ethoxyethyl acrylate) polymers has been prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization. The 1-ethoxyethyl protecting group can be removed by a mild thermal treatment yielding the poly(acrylic acid) segment. The thin film morphological behavior of selected block copolymers was studied for as well as deprotected block copolymers using atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Advances in topical and systemic antifungals.

Topical antifungal agents are generally used for the treatment of superficial fungal infections unless the infection is widespread, involves an extensive area, or is resistant to initial therapy. Systemic antifungals are often reserved for the treatment of onychomycosis, tinea capitis, superficial and systemic candidiasis, and prophylaxis and treatment of invasive fungal infections. With the development of resistant fungi strains and the increased incidence of life-threatening invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised patients, some previously effective traditional antifungal agents are subject to limitations including multidrug interactions, severe adverse effects, and their fungistatic mechanism of actions.

Yield enhancement genes: seeds for growth.

Yield is a multifactorial trait, integrating various developmental and physiological processes. Despite this complexity, evidence is mounting that yield can be increased by the genetic modification of single genes. Positive results have been obtained by targeting different yield constituents, indicating that there is ample room for further yield improvement by genetic means.

Different responses of tobacco antioxidant enzymes to light and chilling stress.

The effect of elevated light treatment (25 degrees C, PPFD 360 mumol m-2 sec-1) or chilling temperatures combined with elevated light (5 degrees C, PPFD 360 mumol m-2 sec-1) on the activity of six antioxidant enzymes, guaiacol peroxidases, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx, EC 1.11.1.

Comprehensive analysis of gene expression in Nicotiana tabacum leaves acclimated to oxidative stress.

The molecular mechanisms by which plants acclimate to oxidative stress are poorly understood. To identify the processes involved in acclimation, we performed a comprehensive analysis of gene expression in Nicotiana tabacum leaves acclimated to oxidative stress. Combining mRNA differential display and cDNA array analysis, we estimated that at least 95 genes alter their expression in tobacco leaves acclimated to oxidative stress, of which 83% are induced and 17% repressed.

The AKT3 potassium channel protein interacts with the AtPP2CA protein phosphatase 2C.

The AKT3 potassium channel protein was identified as a strongly interacting partner of the Arabidopsis thaliana protein phosphatase 2C (AtPP2CA) in a yeast two-hybrid screen. A deletion analysis indicated that the catalytic domain of AtPP2CA was essential for the interaction with AKT3. Furthermore, the related PP2C phosphatase ABI1 did not interact with AKT3 in yeast.

Oxidative stress, heat shock and drought differentially affect expression of a tobacco protein phosphatase 2C.

A protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C)-homologous cDNA was isolated from Nicotiana tabacum (NtPP2C1). The deduced protein sequence of 416 amino acids showed the highest degree of similarity to the PP2C of Arabidopsis thaliana (AtPP2CA) implicated in abscisic acid signalling. The expression of NtPP2C1 was strongly induced by drought, but repressed by oxidative stress and heat shock.

Transgenic tobacco plants with reduced capability to detoxify reactive oxygen intermediates are hyperresponsive to pathogen infection.

Reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) play a critical role in the defense of plants against invading pathogens. Produced during the "oxidative burst," they are thought to activate programmed cell death (PCD) and induce antimicrobial defenses such as pathogenesis-related proteins. It was shown recently that during the interaction of plants with pathogens, the expression of ROI-detoxifying enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) is suppressed.

Ozone-induced oxidative burst in the ozone biomonitor plant, tobacco Bel W3.

Localized cell death is a common feature of ozone phytotoxicity and is generally thought to be initiated by the strong oxidant ozone itself as well as by ozone-derived reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs). Here we report that ozone (150 nl l(-1), 5 h) elicits cellular ROI production in the ozone-sensitive tobacco cv. Bel W3, but not in the tolerant cv.

Serum retinol and HIV-1 RNA viral load in rapid and slow progressors.

Few studies have addressed the relation between serum vitamin A levels and HIV disease progression. Thirty HIV-infected women in Rwanda were studied over a time span of 26 to 99 months. Fourteen subjects seroconverted and died of HIV-related disease at a mean of 44 months (range, 26-69 months) after their first HIV-positive test and were termed "rapid progressors," (RPs).

Serum retinol and HIV-1 RNA viral load in rapid and slow progressors.

Few studies have addressed the relation between serum vitamin A level and HIV disease progression. Thirty HIV-infected women in Rwanda were studied over a time span of 26 to 99 months. Fourteen subjects seroconverted and died of HIV-related disease at a mean of 44 months (range, 26-69 months) after their first HIV-positive test and were termed "rapid progressors," (RPs).

Defense activation and enhanced pathogen tolerance induced by H2O2 in transgenic tobacco.

Transgenic tobacco deficient in the H2O2-removing enzyme catalase (Cat1AS) was used as an inducible and noninvasive system to study the role of H2O2 as an activator of pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins in plants. Excess H2O2 in Cat1AS plants was generated by simply increasing light intensities. Sustained exposure of Cat1AS plants to excess H2O2 provoked tissue damage, stimulated salicylic acid and ethylene production, and induced the expression of acidic and basic PR proteins with a timing and magnitude similar to the hypersensitive response against pathogens.

Catalase is a sink for H2O2 and is indispensable for stress defence in C3 plants.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been implicated in many stress conditions. Control of H2O2 levels is complex and dissection of mechanisms generating and relieving H2O2 stress is difficult, particularly in intact plants. We have used transgenic tobacco with approximately 10% wild-type catalase activity to study the role of catalase and effects of H2O2 stress in plants.

The regulation and function of tobacco superoxide dismutases.

Our knowledge of superoxide dismutase (SODs) in tobacco has increased greatly during the past few years. Genes encoding the four identified SOD isoforms of tobacco have been isolated and characterized. Analysis of promoter-beta-glucuronidase fusions has provided information on the cellular expression of SODs in tobacco and has constituted the basis for studying SOD regulation.

Enhancement of oxidative stress tolerance in transgenic tobacco plants overproducing Fe-superoxide dismutase in chloroplasts.

A chimeric gene consisting of the coding sequence for chloroplastic Fe superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) from Arabidopsis thaliana, coupled to the chloroplast targeting sequence from the pea ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase small subunit, was expressed in Nicotiana tabacum cv Petit Havana SR1. Expression of the transgenic FeSOD protected both the plasmalemma and photosystem II against superoxide generated during illumination of leaf discs impregnated with methyl viologen. By contrast, overproduction of a mitochondrial MnSOD from Nicotiana plumbaginifolia in the chloroplasts of cv SR1 protected only the plasmalemma, but not photosystem II, against methyl viologen (L.