Evaluation of right-to-left shunt on contrast-enhanced transcranial Doppler in patent foramen ovale-related cryptogenic stroke: Research based on imaging.

Background: Cardiogenic embolism caused by patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a common etiology of cryptogenic stroke (CS), particularly in young and middle-aged patients. Studies about right-to-left shunt (RLS) detection using contrast-enhanced transcranial Doppler (c-TCD) are numerous. According to the time phase and number of microbubbles detected on c-TCD, RLS can be classified and graded.

[TXNDC5 mediates serum starvation-induced proliferation inhibition of HeLa cell].

Objective: To investigate the role of TXNDC5 in serum starvation-induced proliferation inhibition of HeLa cell.

Methods: TXNDC5 was either over-expressed or knocked down by small interfering RNA (siRNA) in HeLa cells which were then cultured in conventional medium or serum starvation medium. The protein level of TXNDC5 was evaluated by Western blot analysis.

[CatSper and sperm hyperactivation].

Elevation of sperm Ca2+ seems to be responsible for an asymmetric form of motility called hyperactivation, which is first seen near the time of fertilization. CatSper family proteins are putative cation channels expressed exclusively in the membranes of the sperm flagellum. Hyperactivation requires CatSper proteins, which presumably serve as the route of entry for Ca2+ that operates directly on the flagellar axoneme to increase waveform asymmetry.