Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor-β Regulates Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Transformation and Neuroinflammation After Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Mice.

Objective: Platelet-derived growth factor-BB activates platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β and promotes vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic transformation. Elevated levels of non-muscle myosin IIB (SMemb) are found in secretory smooth muscle cells along with inflammatory mediators, such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1, which can amplify neutrophil infiltration into the brain. In the present study, we investigated the role of platelet-derived growth factor-BB/platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β following intracerebral hemorrhage-induced brain injury in mice, with emphasis on its ability to promote vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic transformation followed by increased intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression and elevated neutrophil infiltration in the vicinity of the hematoma.

Fetal stress-mediated hypomethylation increases the brain susceptibility to hypoxic-ischemic injury in neonatal rats.

Background And Purpose: Fetal hypoxia increases brain susceptibility to hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury in neonatal rats. Yet mechanisms remain elusive. The present study tested the hypothesis that DNA hypomethylation plays a role in fetal stress-induced increase in neonatal HI brain injury.

Patterns of Behavioral Deficits in Rodents Following Brain Injury Across Species, Gender, and Experimental Model.

Behavioral data were collected from several hundred mice and rats using a variety of experimental models of brain injury. The use of consistent protocols allowed compilation of these data, facilitating analyses of animal behaviors across experimental models, species, and gender. Spatial learning and sensorimotor/coordination data are presented, suggesting that, in general, rats performed better than mice both in the water maze and on the rotarod.

Detection of Local Recurrence of Prostate Cancer After Radical Prostatectomy Using Endorectal Coil MRI at 3 T: Addition of DWI and Dynamic Contrast Enhancement to T2-Weighted MRI.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of DWI and dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) in MRI at 3 T with an endorectal coil in identifying local prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy.

Materials And Methods: Eighty men underwent MRI for suspected local recurrence. The reference standards were histopathologic result, decrease in prostate-specific antigen level after salvage radiation therapy, and follow-up findings.

Simple spectrophotometry method for the determination of sulfur dioxide in an alcohol-thionyl chloride reaction.

Thionyl chloride is often used to convert alcohols into more reactive alkyl chloride, which can be easily converted to many compounds that are not possible from alcohols directly. One important reaction of alkyl chloride is nucleophilic substitution, which is typically conducted under basic conditions. Sulfur dioxide, the by-product from alcohol-thionyl chloride reactions, often reacts with alkyl chloride to form a sulfonyl acid impurity, resulting in yield loss.

In vitro evaluation of translating and rotating plates using a robot testing system under follower load.

Background Context: Various modifications to standard "rigid" anterior cervical plate designs (constrained plate) have been developed that allow for some degree of axial translation and/or rotation of the plate (semi-constrained plate)-theoretically promoting proper load sharing with the graft and improved fusion rates. However, previous studies about rigid and dynamic plates have not examined the influence of simulated muscle loading.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to compare rigid, translating, and rotating plates for single-level corpectomy procedures using a robot testing system with follower load.

Controlled vaporized cannabis, with and without alcohol: subjective effects and oral fluid-blood cannabinoid relationships.

Vaporized cannabis and concurrent cannabis and alcohol intake are commonplace. We evaluated the subjective effects of cannabis, with and without alcohol, relative to blood and oral fluid (OF, advantageous for cannabis exposure screening) cannabinoid concentrations and OF/blood and OF/plasma vaporized-cannabinoid relationships. Healthy adult occasional-to-moderate cannabis smokers received a vaporized placebo or active cannabis (2.

A Single Low Dose of Proton Radiation Induces Long-Term Behavioral and Electrophysiological Changes in Mice.

Astronauts traveling outside Earth's magnetosphere risk exposure to charged particle radiation that may cause neurophysiological changes and behavioral deficits. Although proton particles comprise a large portion of the space radiation environment, little has been published on the effects of low-dose proton radiation on central nervous system function. In the current study, we irradiated young male mice with 0.

Cannabis effects on driving lateral control with and without alcohol.

Background: Effects of cannabis, the most commonly encountered non-alcohol drug in driving under the influence cases, are heavily debated. We aim to determine how blood Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations relate to driving impairment, with and without alcohol.

Methods: Current occasional (≥1×/last 3 months, ≤3days/week) cannabis smokers drank placebo or low-dose alcohol, and inhaled 500mg placebo, low (2.

Neuropsychological tests for predicting cognitive decline in older adults.

Aim: To determine neuropsychological tests likely to predict cognitive decline.

Methods: A sample of nonconverters (n = 106) was compared with those who declined in cognitive status (n = 24). Significant univariate logistic regression prediction models were used to create multivariate logistic regression models to predict decline based on initial neuropsychological testing.

Quantitative contrast-enhanced ultrasound measurement of cerebrospinal fluid flow for the diagnosis of ventricular shunt malfunction.

Object: Cerebral shunt malfunction is common but often difficult to effectively diagnose. Current methods are invasive, involve ionizing radiation, and can be costly. The authors of this study investigated the feasibility of quantitatively measuring CSF flow in a shunt catheter using contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

Effects of Intermittent Versus Continuous Walking on Distance Walked and Fatigue in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

Background And Purpose: Fatigue is a common, disabling symptom experienced by persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Evidence shows that intermittent exercise is associated in improved performance and negligible fatigue. The purpose of this study was to examine whether subjects with MS walk greater distances with less fatigue under intermittent (INT) or continuous (CONT) walking condition.

Controlled Cannabis Vaporizer Administration: Blood and Plasma Cannabinoids with and without Alcohol.

Background: Increased medical and legal cannabis intake is accompanied by greater use of cannabis vaporization and more cases of driving under the influence of cannabis. Although simultaneous Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and alcohol use is frequent, potential pharmacokinetic interactions are poorly understood. Here we studied blood and plasma vaporized cannabinoid disposition, with and without simultaneous oral low-dose alcohol.

PCB remediation in schools: a review.

Growing awareness of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in legacy caulk and other construction materials of schools has created a need for information on best practices to control human exposures and comply with applicable regulations. A concise review of approaches and techniques for management of building-related PCBs is the focus of this paper. Engineering and administrative controls that block pathways of PCB transport, dilute concentrations of PCBs in indoor air or other exposure media, or establish uses of building space that mitigate exposure can be effective initial responses to identification of PCBs in a building.

Biological responses to flexion/extension in spinal segments ex-vivo.

Mechanical loading is a salient factor in the progression of spinal disorders that contribute to back pain. Biological responses to loading modes like flexion/extension (F/E) in relevant spinal tissues remain unstudied. A novel, multi-axial experimental system was developed to subject viable functional spinal units (FSUs) to complex, in-situ loading.

Synthetic cannabinoids pharmacokinetics and detection methods in biological matrices.

Synthetic cannabinoids (SC), originally developed as research tools, are now highly abused novel psychoactive substances. We present a comprehensive systematic review covering in vivo and in vitro animal and human pharmacokinetics and analytical methods for identifying SC and their metabolites in biological matrices. Of two main phases of SC research, the first investigated therapeutic applications, and the second abuse-related issues.

Patients' preferences for biopsy result notification in an era of electronic messaging methods.

Importance: Effective patient-physician communication is essential for optimal health care. Recent introduction of online patient portals to access test results are changing the communication landscape, but regulatory guidelines for the online release of biopsy results vary from state to state.

Objectives: To assess patient preferences for receiving skin biopsy results to rule out melanoma and to compare those preferences to current physicians' practices for notification.

Cryptorchidectomy in equids: 604 cases (1977-2010).

Objective: To evaluate the management of equids undergoing cryptorchidectomy at a referral hospital.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 604 client-owned equids.

Efficient HPLC method development using structure-based database search, physico-chemical prediction and chromatographic simulation.

Development of a robust HPLC method for pharmaceutical analysis can be very challenging and time-consuming. In our laboratory, we have developed a new workflow leveraging ACD/Labs software tools to improve the performance of HPLC method development. First, we established ACD-based analytical method databases that can be searched by chemical structure similarity.

Needle puncture in rabbit functional spinal units alters rotational biomechanics.

Study Design: An in vitro biomechanical study for rabbit lumbar functional spinal units (FSUs) using a robot-based spine testing system.

Objective: To elucidate the effect of annular puncture with a 16 G needle on mechanical properties in flexion/extension, axial rotation, and lateral bending.

Summary Of Background Data: Needle puncture of the intervertebral disk has been shown to alter mechanical properties of the disk in compression, torsion, and bending.