Gelation of gellan induced by trivalent cations and coexisting trivalent with monovalent cations studied by rheological and DSC measurements.

The effect of trivalent cation Fe on the gelation process of a sodium salt form of gellan (DG, deacylated gellan gum) was investigated by rheology and DSC studies. On addition of a fairly low concentration of Fe (1 mM), both the complex modulus (G*) of a 1.0 % DG solution in gel state and the sol-gel transition temperature (T) slightly decreased.

Efficacy of high-resolution vessel wall MRI in the postoperative assessment of intracranial aneurysms following flow diversion treatment.

Objective: Certain patients must undergo frequent postoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) after flow diversion (FD) therapy. No imaging modality with an efficacy comparable to that of DSA has been established. This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of contrast-enhanced delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation (DANTE) T1-sampling perfection with application-optimized contrasts by using different flip angle evolution (SPACE), a high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging technique for evaluating the occlusion status of intracranial aneurysms after FD treatment, with DSA serving as the reference standard.

Preoperative forced expiratory volume in one second and postoperative respiratory outcomes in nonpulmonary and noncardiac surgery: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Although the usefulness of pulmonary function tests has been established for lung resection and coronary artery bypass surgeries, the association between preoperative pulmonary function test and postoperative respiratory complications in nonpulmonary and noncardiac surgery is inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between preoperative forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) on pulmonary function test and the development of postoperative respiratory failure and/or death in patients undergoing major nonpulmonary and noncardiac surgery.

Methods: Adult patients aged ≥ 18 years and who underwent nonpulmonary and noncardiac surgery with expected moderate to high risk of perioperative complications from June 2012 to March 2019 were included.

Predictors of aneurysm shrinkage after flow diversion treatment for internal carotid artery aneurysms: quantitative volume analysis with MRI.

Background And Purpose: Although aneurysm shrinkage often occurs after flow diversion treatment for intracranial aneurysms, no reports have addressed the factors associated with aneurysm shrinkage.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective single-center study was performed to examine patients with unruptured internal carotid artery aneurysms who were treated using flow diversion and followed up by imaging for at least 12 months. The study outcome was aneurysm shrinkage (volume reduction of ≥10%) 12 months after treatment.

Specific Hydrogen Spillover Pathways Generated on Graphene Oxide Enabling the Formation of Non-Equilibrium Alloy Nanoparticles.

The phenomenon of hydrogen spillover is investigated as a means of realizing a hydrogen-based society for over half a century. Herein, a graphene oxide having a precisely tuned architecture via calcination in air to introduce ether groups onto basal planes along with carbon defects is reported. This material provides specific pathways for the spillover of atomic hydrogen and has practical applications with regard to the synthesis of non-equilibrium solid-solution alloy nanoparticles.

Partially thrombosed giant basilar artery aneurysm with attenuated contrast enhancement of the intraluminal thrombus on vessel wall MRI after flow diversion treatment: illustrative case.

Background: The effect of vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VW-MRI) enhancement in partially thrombosed aneurysms has previously indicated aneurysmal instability and a rupture risk. However, whether the contrast effect of the wall changes before or after flow diversion treatment is still under investigation.

Observations: The authors report a case of a partially thrombosed basilar artery aneurysm that increased in size over a short period, worsened brainstem compression symptoms, and was treated with a flow diverter stent with good results.

Low NIHSS score large vessel occlusion caused by infective endocarditis treated with thrombectomy.

Objectives: Large vessel occlusion (LVO)-related acute ischemic stroke due to infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare condition. At onset, most patients are severely ill, whereas on rare occasion, they develop mild neurological symptoms. As far as we are aware, this is the first report of IE related internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion with low National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (<6) score treated with endovascular thrombectomy.

Chitin-induced systemic disease resistance in rice requires both OsCERK1 and OsCEBiP and is mediated perturbation of cell-wall biogenesis in leaves.

Chitin is a well-known elicitor of disease resistance and its recognition by plants is crucial to perceive fungal infections. Chitin can induce both a local immune response and a systemic disease resistance when provided as a supplement in soils. Unlike local immune responses, it is poorly explored how chitin-induced systemic disease resistance is developed.

Cone-beam CT-assisted microcatheter tip placement at the shunted pouch entry zone: A technical note for anterior condylar arteriovenous fistula.

Accurate microcatheter placement for anterior condylar arteriovenous fistula (AVF) enables selective transvenous embolization (TVE) and helps to avoid hypoglossal nerve palsy. Anterior condylar AVF has a shunted pouch within the condylar vascular and osseous structures. Detailed anatomical comprehension of the shunted pouch is essential, in addition, we believe that it is important to have a strategy for where in the shunted pouch to start filling with coils.

Efficacy of Combination Therapy with Epinephrine Local Injection and Hemostatic Clips on Active Diverticular Bleeding.

Epinephrine local injection is a hemostatic procedure used in active diverticular bleeding that elicits vasoconstriction and tamponade effects. We compared the additional benefit of combination therapy with HSE-C (hypertonic saline epinephrine injection with clipping) to clipping monotherapy. Retrospective data on diverticular bleeding between 2011 and 2016 was reviewed.

Carotid Micromesh Stent for the Cervical Carotid Artery Dissecting Aneurysm in a Patient with Vascular Eagle Syndrome.

Objectives: An elongated styloid process may cause vascular Eagle syndrome that includes cervical carotid artery (CCA) dissection with stenosis and aneurysm formation. There are only four reported cases with vascular Eagle syndrome-related CCA dissecting aneurysm treated with carotid artery stenting (CAS). This is the first report of applying a dual-layer nitinol micromesh stent (CASPER) for vascular Eagle syndrome-related CCA dissecting aneurysm.

Ruptured aneurysm of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery communicating artery: A case report.

We report a case of a ruptured aneurysm of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) communicating artery, which is an extremely rare condition, with only 10 other cases reported in the literature. We repaired the aneurysm by clipping combined with occipital artery-PICA (cortical segment) bypass. This surgical method reduces hemodynamic stress and may prevent recurrence or new occurrence of aneurysms in this region.

K-Carrageenan Stimulates Pre-Osteoblast Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation: A Potential Factor for the Promotion of Bone Regeneration?

Current cell-based bone tissue regeneration strategies cannot cover large bone defects. K-carrageenan is a highly hydrophilic and biocompatible seaweed-derived sulfated polysaccharide, that has been proposed as a promising candidate for tissue engineering applications. Whether κ-carrageenan can be used to enhance bone regeneration is still unclear.

Activation of the β-adrenergic receptor exacerbates lipopolysaccharide-induced wasting of skeletal muscle cells by increasing interleukin-6 production.

The skeletal muscle mass has been shown to be affected by catecholamines, such as epinephrine (Epi), norepinephrine (NE), and isoproterenol (ISO). On the other hand, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), one of the causative substances of sepsis, induces muscle wasting via toll-like receptors expressed in skeletal muscle. Although catecholamines are frequently administered to critically ill patients, it is still incompletely understood how these drugs affect skeletal muscle during critical illness, including sepsis.

Association between pill burden and interdialytic weight gain in patients with hemodialysis: A multi-center cross-sectional study.

High daily pill burden affects quality of life and mortality. High interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) is associated with increased mortality. We examined the association between pill burden and IDWG in hemodialysis patients.

Change of network structure in agarose gels by aging during storage studied by NMR and electrophoresis.

Changes of the network structure in agarose gels during storage were studied by measuring diffusion coefficient (D) of probe polymers. PGSTE 1H NMR was used to measure the D of pullulan added as a probe to show an increase with storage suggesting the formation of coarse network with thicker bundles of agarose aggregates. The hydrodynamic mesh size was estimated from the degree of restriction in the diffusion shedding light on the change of microscopic environment in the agarose gel during storage.

A Case of Intracerebral Hemorrhage During the Untreated Course of a Benign Dural Arteriovenous Fistula.

Background: The natural history of cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) without cortical venous drainage (i.e., benign DAVF) is considered a potential predictor of a benign clinical course.

Mechanical allodynia in mice with tenascin-X deficiency associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Tenascin-X (TNX) is a member of the extracellular matrix glycoprotein tenascin family, and TNX deficiency leads to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a heritable human disorder characterized mostly by skin hyperextensibility, joint hypermobility, and easy bruising. TNX-deficient patients complain of chronic joint pain, myalgia, paresthesia, and axonal polyneuropathy. However, the molecular mechanisms by which TNX deficiency complicates pain are unknown.

Interfacility Neonatal Transport for Convalescent Care: Improving Regionalized Care.

Background: Transfer of infants who no longer need intensive or specialized care from tertiary to community hospitals or clinics contributes to efficient bed utilization in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of all 1,503 infants admitted to our NICU during the 6-year period from April 2013 through March 2019 to evaluate the impact of interfacility neonatal transport for convalescent care.

Results: During the study period, our NICU accepted 33 infants from other tertiary NICUs and transferred 103 infants to other hospitals or clinics before their home discharge for convalescent care.

CD38, CD157, and RAGE as Molecular Determinants for Social Behavior.

Recent studies provide evidence to support that cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38) and CD157 meaningfully act in the brain as neuroregulators. They primarily affect social behaviors. Social behaviors are impaired in and knockout mice.