Alterations in Circular RNAs circOprm1 and circSerpini in the Striatum are Associated with Changes in Spatial Working Memory Performance after Morphine Dependence and Withdrawal in Rats.

Modulating role of circRNAs and microRNAs in neurobiological changes induced by drug exposure remains unclear. We examined alterations in some circRNAs and microRNAs in the striatum after morphine dependence and withdrawal and their associations with the changes in spatial working memory performance. Male Wistar rats were used in which 10 days morphine exposure induced dependence.

Pink adipose tissue: A paradigm of adipose tissue plasticity.

Adipose tissue is highly plastic, as illustrated mainly by the transdifferentiation of white adipocytes into beige adipocytes, depending on environmental conditions. However, during gestation and lactation in rodent, there is an amazing phenomenon of transformation of subcutaneous adipose tissue into mammary glandular tissue, known as pink adipose tissue, capable of synthesizing and secreting milk. Recent work using transgenic lineage-tracing experiments, mainly carried out in Saverio Cinti's team, has demonstrated very convincingly that this process does indeed correspond to a transdifferentiation of white adipocytes into mammary alveolar cells (pink adipocytes) during gestation and lactation.

Effects of glucocorticoids on adipose tissue plasticity.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) play an important role in metabolic adaptation, regulating carbohydrate-lipid homeostasis and the immune system. Because they also have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, synthetic analogues of GCs have been developed and are widely used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory conditions and in organ transplantation. GCs are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the world.

Ru(II) Oligothienyl Complexes with Fluorinated Ligands: Photophysical, Electrochemical, and Photobiological Properties.

A series of Ru(II) complexes incorporating two 4,4'-bis(trifluoromethyl)-2,2'-bipyridine (4,4'-btfmb) coligands and thienyl-appended imidazo[4,5-][1,10]phenanthroline (IP-T) ligands was characterized and assessed for phototherapy effects toward cancer cells. The [Ru(4,4'-btfmb)(IP-T)] scaffold has greater overall redox activity compared to Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes such as [Ru(bpy)]. - have additional oxidations due to the T group and additional reductions due to the 4,4'-btfmb ligands.

Ru(II) Phenanthroline-Based Oligothienyl Complexes as Phototherapy Agents.

Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes have gained widespread attention as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Herein, we systematically investigate a series of the type [Ru(phen)(IP-T)], featuring 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) coligands and imidazo[4,5-][1,10]phenanthroline ligands tethered to 0-4 thiophene rings (IP-T). The complexes were characterized and investigated for their electrochemical, spectroscopic, and (photo)biological properties.

Adipocyte Glucocorticoid Receptor Activation With High Glucocorticoid Doses Impairs Healthy Adipose Tissue Expansion by Repressing Angiogenesis.

In humans, glucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly prescribed because of their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. However, high doses of GCs often lead to side effects, including diabetes and lipodystrophy. We recently reported that adipocyte glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-deficient (AdipoGR-KO) mice under corticosterone (CORT) treatment exhibited a massive adipose tissue (AT) expansion associated with a paradoxical improvement of metabolic health compared with control mice.

The Sero-Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Viruses in Municipal Waste Collectors in Southwest of Iran.

Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) serological markers among waste collectors in the municipality of Shiraz city, southwest of Iran, 2018.

Settings And Design: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 385 waste collectors from all 10 districts of Shiraz city, southwest of Iran were enrolled. A questionnaire was used to gather occupational and demographic information as well as awareness about viral hepatitis.

Tuning Interfacial Chemistry to Direct the Electrosynthesis of Metal Oxide Semiconductors.

ConspectusMetal oxide semiconductors have many features that make them attractive for both fundamental and applied studies. For example, these compounds contain elements (e.g.

Development of an automated liquid biopsy assay for methylated markers in advanced breast cancer.

Current molecular liquid biopsy assays to detect recurrence or monitor response to treatment require sophisticated technology, highly trained personnel, and a turnaround time of weeks. We describe the development and technical validation of an automated Liquid Biopsy for Breast Cancer Methylation (LBx-BCM) prototype, a DNA methylation detection cartridge assay that is simple to perform and quantitatively detects nine methylated markers within 4.5 h.

High performance methylated DNA markers for detection of colon adenocarcinoma.

Background: Colon cancer (CC) is treatable if detected in its early stages. Improved CC detection assays that are highly sensitive, specific, and available at point of care are needed. In this study, we systematically selected and tested methylated markers that demonstrate high sensitivity and specificity for detection of CC in tissue and circulating cell-free DNA.

Investigation of Aortic Wall Thickness, Stiffness and Flow Reversal in Patients With Cryptogenic Stroke: A 4D Flow MRI Study.

Background: Stroke etiology is undetermined in approximately one-sixth to one-third of patients. The presence of aortic flow reversal and plaques in the descending aorta (DAo) has been identified as a potential retrograde embolic mechanism.

Purpose: To assess the relationships between aortic stiffness, wall thickness, and flow reversal in patients with cryptogenic stroke and healthy controls.

Renin Angiotensin System Inhibitors Reduce Aortic Stiffness and Flow Reversal After a Cryptogenic Stroke.

Background: Blood flow reversal is a possible mechanism for retrograde embolism in the setting of high-risk atherosclerotic plaques in the descending aorta (DAo). Evidence suggests that pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a determinant of blood flow reversal and can be reduced by the destiffening effect of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASI).

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of antihypertensive therapy on in vivo changes in PWV and flow reversal in patients with cryptogenic stroke.

Development of a rotation phantom for phase contrast MRI sequence validation and quality control.

Purpose: To develop a reliable, consistent, and reproducible reference phantom for error quantification of phase-contrast MRI so it can be used for validation and quality control.

Methods: An air-driven rotation phantom consisting of a steadily rotating cylinder surrounded by a static ring both filled with agarose gel was developed. Rotational speed was measured and controlled in real time using an optical counter and a closed-loop controller.

Bilateral Multiband 4D Flow MRI of the Carotid Arteries at 7T.

Purpose: Simultaneous multislab (SMSb) 4D flow MRI was developed and implemented at 7T for accelerated acquisition of the 3D blood velocity vector field in both carotid bifurcations.

Methods: SMSb was applied to 4D flow to acquire blood velocities in both carotid bifurcations in sagittal orientation using a local transmit/receive coil at 7T. transmit efficiency was optimized by shimming.

Symmetry preserving nonlinear observer for attitude estimation with magnetometer only.

This paper addresses designing a nonlinear symmetry observer for nano-satellite attitude determination with only Three-Axis Magnetometer (TAM). Hence, two nested filters are delineated to compensate for the lack of data and to solve the observability problem. In the first filter, the magnetic field derivative is estimated by the extended Kalman filter.

Parametric Hemodynamic 4D Flow MRI Maps for the Characterization of Chronic Thoracic Descending Aortic Dissection.

Background: Systematic evaluation of complex flow in the true lumen and false lumen (TL, FL) is needed to better understand which patients with chronic descending aortic dissection (DAD) are predisposed to complications.

Purpose: To develop quantitative hemodynamic maps from 4D flow MRI for evaluating TL and FL flow characteristics.

Study Type: Retrospective.

Efficient triple-VENC phase-contrast MRI for improved velocity dynamic range.

Purpose: To evaluate the utility of an efficient triple velocity-encoding (VENC) 4D flow MRI implementation to improve velocity unwrapping of 4D flow MRI data with the same scan time as an interleaved dual-VENC acquisition.

Methods: A balanced 7-point acquisition was used to derive 3 sets of 4D flow images corresponding to 3 different VENCs. These 3 datasets were then used to unwrap the aliased lowest VENC into a minimally aliased, triple-VENC dataset.

Electrodeposition of Silver Vanadate Films: A Tale of Two Polymorphs.

Two polymorphs of AgVO , namely the α- and β- forms, were prepared and their physical, structural, optical, electrochemical, and photoelectrochemical characteristics were compared using a battery of experimental and theoretical tools. A two-step method, previously developed in the our laboratory for the electrodeposition of inorganic semiconductor films, was applied to the electrosynthesis of silver vanadate (AgVO ) films on transparent, conducting oxide surfaces. In the first step, silver was cathodically deposited from a non-aqueous bath containing silver nitrate.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy of staghorn renal stones in pediatric patients using adult-sized instrument.

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedure performed with adult-sized instruments in pediatric cases with staghorn kidney stone.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of 94 percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedures performed during 15 years in a single center for 82 pediatric patients with staghorn calculi using adult-sized instruments (24-Fr nephroscope). Stone free status was defined as complete clearance of the stones or the presence of insignificant residual stones of <3 mm in diameter.

PITUITARY IMAGING BY MRI AND ITS CORRELATION WITH BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN THE EVALUATION OF MEN WITH HYPOGONADOTROPIC HYPOGONADISM.

A significant ambiguity still remains about which patient deserves a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the pituitary during evaluation of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) in men. Retrospective case series of 175 men with HH referred over 6 years. A total of 49.

Reconfigurable MRI technology for low-SAR imaging of deep brain stimulation at 3T: Application in bilateral leads, fully-implanted systems, and surgically modified lead trajectories.

Patients with deep brain stimulation devices highly benefit from postoperative MRI exams, however MRI is not readily accessible to these patients due to safety risks associated with RF heating of the implants. Recently we introduced a patient-adjustable reconfigurable coil technology that substantially reduced local SAR at tips of single isolated DBS leads during MRI at 1.5 T in 9 realistic patient models.

Standardized Evaluation of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations Using Flow Distribution Network Graphs and Dual-venc 4D Flow MRI.

Background: Cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are pathological connections between arteries and veins. Dual-venc 4D flow MRI, an extended 4D flow MRI method with improved velocity dynamic range, provides time-resolved 3D cerebral hemodynamics.

Purpose: To optimize dual-venc 4D flow imaging parameters for AVM; to assess the relationship between spatial resolution, acceleration, and flow quantification accuracy; and to introduce and apply the flow distribution network graph (FDNG) paradigm for storing and analyzing complex neurovascular 4D flow data.

Semi-automated analysis of 4D flow MRI to assess the hemodynamic impact of intracranial atherosclerotic disease.

Purpose: This study evaluated the feasibility of using 4D flow MRI and a semi-automated analysis tool to assess the hemodynamic impact of intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD). The ICAD impact was investigated by evaluating pressure drop (PD) at the atherosclerotic stenosis and changes in cerebral blood flow distribution in patients compared to healthy controls.

Methods: Dual-venc 4D flow MRI was acquired in 25 healthy volunteers and 16 ICAD patients (ICA, N = 3; MCA, N = 13) with mild (<50%), moderate (50-69%), or severe (>70%) intracranial stenosis.

Aortic 4D flow MRI in 2 minutes using compressed sensing, respiratory controlled adaptive k-space reordering, and inline reconstruction.

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy and feasibility of a free-breathing 4D flow technique using compressed sensing (CS), where 4D flow imaging of the thoracic aorta is performed in 2 min with inline image reconstruction on the MRI scanner in less than 5 min.

Methods: The 10 in vitro 4D flow MRI scans were performed with different acceleration rates on a pulsatile flow phantom (9 CS acceleration factors [R = 5.4-14.