Thresholding approaches for estimating paraspinal muscle fat infiltration using T1- and T2-weighted MRI: Comparative analysis using water-fat MRI.

Background: Paraspinal muscle fat infiltration is associated with spinal degeneration and low back pain, however, quantifying muscle fat using clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques continues to be a challenge. Advanced MRI techniques, including chemical-shift encoding (CSE) based water-fat MRI, enable accurate measurement of muscle fat, but such techniques are not widely available in routine clinical practice.

Methods: To facilitate assessment of paraspinal muscle fat using clinical imaging, we compared four thresholding approaches for estimating muscle fat fraction (FF) using T1- and T2-weighted images, with measurements from water-fat MRI as the ground truth: Gaussian thresholding, Otsu's method, K-mean clustering, and quadratic discriminant analysis.

Force transmission and SUN-KASH higher-order assembly in the LINC complex models.

The linkers of the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complex comprises Sad-1 and UNC-84 (SUN) and Klarsicht, ANC-1, SYNE homology (KASH) domain proteins, whose conserved interactions provide a physical coupling between the cytoskeleton and the nucleoskeleton, thereby mediating the transfer of physical forces across the nuclear envelope. The LINC complex can perform distinct cellular functions by pairing various KASH domain proteins with the same SUN domain protein. Recent studies have suggested a higher-order assembly of SUN and KASH instead of a more widely accepted linear trimer model for the LINC complex.

Molecular models of LINC complex assembly at the nuclear envelope.

Large protein complexes assemble at the nuclear envelope to transmit mechanical signals between the cytoskeleton and nucleoskeleton. These protein complexes are known as the linkers of the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton complexes (LINC complexes) and are formed by the interaction of SUN and KASH domain proteins in the nuclear envelope. Ample evidence suggests that SUN-KASH complexes form higher-order assemblies to withstand and transfer forces across the nuclear envelope.

[Atypical recipient and longterm results of kidney transplantation].

In their study authors compared the results of renal transplantations in a group of 51 patients with relative contraindications to a remaining group of 413 patients. Congenital anomalies or previously performed operations of urinary tract, previous renal transplantations, laparotomies, peritoneal dialysis, extreme atherosclerosis of the aorta and iliac arteries were regarded as relative contraindications. Results of the treatment do not differ considerably in both groups of patients what confirms the necessity of renal transplantations in difficult recipients.

Ultrastructural evaluation of changes in the glomeruli occurring in association with renal carcinoma.

The studies aimed at the determination of ultrastructural changes occurring in the glomeruli in association with renal carcinoma. The material was taken from 7 patients with renal carcinoma. Electron-microscopic investigation showed changes in all 7 cases.