Quantitative susceptibility mapping and Na imaging-based in vitro characterization of blood clotting kinetics.

Blood clotting is a fundamental biochemical process in post-hemorrhagic hemostasis. Although the varying appearance of coagulating blood in T - and T -weighted images is widely used to qualitatively determine bleeding age, the technique permits only a rough discrimination of coagulation stages, and it remains difficult to distinguish acute and chronic hemorrhagic stages because of low T - and T -weighted signal intensities in both instances. To investigate new biomedical parameters for magnetic resonance imaging-based characterization of blood clotting kinetics, sodium imaging and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) were compared with conventional T - and T -weighted imaging, as well as with biochemical hemolysis parameters.

Aggressive Phenotype of Cells Disseminated via Hematogenous and Lymphatic Route in Breast Cancer Patients.

Intratumoral heterogeneity of breast cancer remains a major challenge in successful treatment. Failure of cancer therapies can also be accredited to inability to systemically eradicate cancer stem cells (CSCs). Recent evidence points to the role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in expanding the pool of tumor cells with CSCs features.

Distribution of brain sodium long and short relaxation times and concentrations: a multi-echo ultra-high field Na MRI study.

Sodium (Na) MRI proffers the possibility of novel information for neurological research but also particular challenges. Uncertainty can arise in in vivo Na estimates from signal losses given the rapidity of T2* decay due to biexponential relaxation with both short (T*) and long (T*) components. We build on previous work by characterising the decay curve directly via multi-echo imaging at 7 T in 13 controls with the requisite number, distribution and range to assess the distribution of both in vivo T* and T* and in variation between grey and white matter, and subregions.

Complex genetic interactions of novel Suppressor of Hairless alleles deficient in co-repressor binding.

Throughout the animal kingdom, the Notch signalling pathway allows cells to acquire diversified cell fates. Notch signals are translated into activation of Notch target genes by CSL transcription factors. In the absence of Notch signals, CSL together with co-repressors functions as a transcriptional repressor.

Elevated tissue sodium deposition in patients with type 2 diabetes on hemodialysis detected by Na magnetic resonance imaging.

Long-term elevated blood sugar levels result in tissue matrix compositional changes in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM). We hypothesized that hemodialysis patients with T2DM might accumulate more tissue sodium than control hemodialysis patients. To test this, Na magnetic resonance imaging (Na MRI) was used to estimate sodium in skin and muscle tissue in hemodialysis patients with or without T2DM.

Probing the microscopic environment of Na ions in brain tissue by MRI: On the accuracy of different sampling schemes for the determination of rapid, biexponential T2* decay at low signal-to-noise ratio.

Purpose: To investigate and to reduce influences on the determination of the short and long apparent transverse relaxation times ( T2,s*, T2,l*) of Na in vivo with respect to signal sampling.

Methods: The accuracy of T2* determination was analyzed in simulations for five different sampling schemes. The influence of noise in the parameter fit was investigated for three different models.

[Non reported spa types in our country in Staphylococcus aureus from adult patients of a school hospital, Santa Fe - Argentina].

Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogen associated a different kind of infection. Molecular markers are useful tools to study microbial epidemiology. Twenty two methicillin-resistant S.

Millimeter spatial resolution in vivo sodium MRI of the human eye at 7 T using a dedicated radiofrequency transceiver array.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to achieve millimeter spatial resolution sodium in vivo MRI of the human eye at 7 T using a dedicated six-channel transceiver array. We present a detailed description of the radiofrequency coil design, along with electromagnetic field and specific absorption ratio simulations, data validation, and in vivo application.

Methods: Electromagnetic field and specific absorption ratio simulations were performed.

Quantitative Analysis of Hepatitis C NS5A Viral Protein Dynamics on the ER Surface.

Exploring biophysical properties of virus-encoded components and their requirement for virus replication is an exciting new area of interdisciplinary virological research. To date, spatial resolution has only rarely been analyzed in computational/biophysical descriptions of virus replication dynamics. However, it is widely acknowledged that intracellular spatial dependence is a crucial component of virus life cycles.

SGLT-2-inhibition with dapagliflozin reduces tissue sodium content: a randomised controlled trial.

Background And Aims: Sodium tissue content by Na magnetic resonance imaging (Na-MRI) has been validated in experimental and human studies. SGLT-2 inhibition blocks the reabsorption of glucose and of sodium in the proximal tubular cells in a 1:1 fashion. We hypothesized that SGLT-2 inhibition in patients with type 2 diabetes characterized by sodium retention leads to decreased tissue sodium content due to its pharmacological action.

p53 and cyclin G cooperate in mediating genome stability in somatic cells of Drosophila.

One of the key players in genome surveillance is the tumour suppressor p53 mediating the adaptive response to a multitude of stress signals. Here we identify Cyclin G (CycG) as co-factor of p53-mediated genome stability. CycG has been shown before to be involved in double-strand break repair during meiosis.

Patient Experience With Care and Its Association With Adherence to Hypertension Medications.

Background: Medication adherence is crucial to effective chronic disease management, yet little is known about the influence of the patient-provider interaction on medication adherence to hypertensive regimens. We aimed to examine the association between the patient's experience with care and medication adherence.

Methods: We collected 2,128 surveys over 4 years from a convenience sample of hypertensive patients seeking care at three urban safety-net practices in upstate New York.

Multipulse sodium magnetic resonance imaging for multicompartment quantification: Proof-of-concept.

We present a feasibility study of sodium quantification in a multicompartment model of the brain using sodium (Na) magnetic resonance imaging. The proposed method is based on a multipulse sequence acquisition and simulation at 7 T, which allows to differentiate the Na signals emanating from three compartments in human brain in vivo: intracellular (compartment 1), extracellular (compartment 2), and cerebrospinal fluid (compartment 3). The intracellular sodium concentration C and the volume fractions α , α , and α of all respective three brain compartments can be estimated.

A Severe Case of Tuberculosis Radiologically and Endoscopically Mimicking Colorectal Cancer with Peritoneal Carcinomatosis.

Although generally rising in incidence, intestinal tuberculosis is still rare in western countries and due to unspecific manifestations mainly as ulcerations on endoscopy, diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis is challenging. Within this report, we describe a case of severe intestinal tuberculosis radiologically and endoscopically masquerading as colorectal cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis. Our case exemplifies that intestinal tuberculosis needs to be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients at risk and that undelayed and sensitive diagnosis of intestinal tuberculosis is of central importance for avoiding unfavorable disease outcome.

Prediction of clinical outcomes in Crohn's disease by using confocal laser endomicroscopy: results from a prospective multicenter study.

Background And Aims: Assessment of prognostic factors in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) is of pivotal importance for early intervention and "treat-to-target" strategies. Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) enables on-demand in vivo characterization of mucosal inflammatory and architectural changes during endoscopy. We prospectively assessed the value of CLE for prediction of clinical outcome parameters in CD.

The potential for dispersant use as a maritime oil spill response measure in German waters.

In case of an oil spill, dispersant application represents a response option, which enhances the natural dispersion of oil and thus reduces coating of seabirds and coastal areas. However, as oil is transferred to the water phase, a trade-off of potential harmful effects shifted to other compartments must be performed. This paper summarizes the results of a workshop on the current knowledge on risks and benefits of the use of dispersants with respect to specific conditions encountered at the German sea areas.

Reproducibility of CMRO determination using dynamic O MRI.

Purpose: To assess the reproducibility of O MRI-based determination of the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption (CMRO ) in healthy volunteers. To assess the influence of image acquisition and reconstruction parameters on dynamic quantification of functional parameters such as CMRO .

Methods: Dynamic O MRI data were simulated and used to investigate influences of temporal resolution (Δt) and partial volume correction (PVC) on the determination of CMRO .

Phosphorylation of Suppressor of Hairless impedes its DNA-binding activity.

Notch signalling activity governs cellular differentiation in higher metazoa, where Notch signals are transduced by the transcription factor CSL, called Suppressor of Hairless [Su(H)] in Drosophila. Su(H) operates as molecular switch on Notch target genes: within activator complexes, including intracellular Notch, or within repressor complexes, including the antagonist Hairless. Mass spectrometry identified phosphorylation on Serine 269 in Su(H), potentially serving as a point of cross-regulation by other signalling pathways.

Processes involving selective precipitation for the recovery of purified pectins from mango peel.

Three methods for the recovery of purified pectins from directly dried mango peel were developed, using selective precipitation of mango pectin in propan-2-ol (IPA) of adequate volume concentrations for purification. Yields, composition, macromolecular and gelling properties of the resultant pectins were compared. Effluent analyses proved postextractive removal of fruit exudate arabinogalactans.

Intramuscular Perfusion Response in Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS): A Quantitative Analysis with Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS).

The purpose of this study was to analyse intramuscular perfusion response in ultrastructural muscle lesions, by applying contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to a delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) model. Results of this analysis were compared to high-resolution 3 Tesla MRI T2-weighted sequences. 14 healthy participants were recruited.

The Impact of Multimorbidity on Resting Metabolic Rate in Community-Dwelling Women over a Ten-Year Period: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study.

Objectives: Ageing has been associated with increasing multimorbidity. This study investigated whether the number of diseases is a predictor of resting metabolic rate (RMR) and its long-term changes in community-dwelling elderly women.

Subjects And Design: Cross-sectional and longitudinal data, obtained over ten years with repeated follow-ups, from 180 women aged 60 - 86 years and with a BMI of 18 - 43 kg/m2 at baseline were analyzed.

Na MRI reveals persistent sodium accumulation in tumefactive MS lesions.

Background: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the CNS typically show a limited lesion size. However, extended lesions may appear with an atypical configuration. Large lesions with a diameter>2cm accompanied by tumor-like edema are entitled "tumefactive" and may occur in multiple sclerosis (MS) and other demyelinating diseases.

Drugs & the Brain: Case-based Instruction for an Undergraduate Neuropharmacology Course.

In order to transform a traditional large non-majors general education (GE) neurobiology lecture (Drugs & the Brain) into an active learning course, we developed a series of directed mini-cases targeting major drug classes. Humorous and captivating case-based situations were used to better engage and motivate students to solve problems related to neuropharmacology and physiology. Here we provide directed cases, questions and learning outcomes for our opiates mini-cases.

Don't Believe the Gripe! Increasing Course Structure in a Large Non-majors Neuroscience Course.

Active teaching is increasingly accepted as a better option for higher education STEM courses than traditional lecture-based instruction. However, concerns remain regarding student preferences and the impact of increased course structure on teaching evaluations. Undergraduates in a non-majors neuropharmacology course were enrolled in an enriched blended course format, providing online case-based learning opportunities in a large lecture hall setting.