Dual-energy metal artefact reduction for iodine-125 seed identification in postimplant CT after prostate brachytherapy.

Objectives: To assess the metal artefact reductions of dual-energy CT high-energy virtual monochromatic images (VMI) combined with the Single-Energy Metal Artifact Reduction (SEMAR) (CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS, Otawara, Japan) processing techniques for iodine (I)-125 seed identification in postimplant CT after prostate brachytherapy.

Methods: Dual-energy acquisition with fast tube voltage switching was performed on a prostate phantom with simulated seeds and six clinical cases treated with I-125 prostate brachytherapy. The images were retrospectively reconstructed at VMI energy levels of 65-200 keV and with and without SEMAR (SEMAR and non-SEMAR images).

Macroanatomical Landmarks Featuring Junctions of Major Sulci and Fissures and Scalp Landmarks Based on the International 10-10 System for Analyzing Lateral Cortical Development of Infants.

The topographic relationships between the macroanatomical structure of the lateral cortex, including sulci and fissures, and anatomical landmarks on the external surface of the head are known to be consistent. This allows the coregistration of EEG electrodes or functional near-infrared spectroscopy over the scalp with underlying cortical regions. However, limited information is available as to whether the topographic relationships are maintained in rapidly developing infants, whose brains and heads exhibit drastic growth.

Phytoagent Deoxyelephantopin and Its Derivative Inhibit Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cell Activity through ROS-Mediated Exosomal Activity and Protein Functions.

A novel plant sesquiterpene lactone derivative, DET derivative (DETD)-35, originating from parental deoxyelephantopin (DET) was previously observed to effectively suppress human triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) MDA-MB-231 cell activity and tumor growth in mice. In this study, the mechanisms underlying the activity of DETD-35 were elucidated. DET and DETD-35 induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) which caused structural damage and dysfunction of mitochondria and increased cytosolic calcium level, subsequently evoking exosome release from the cancer cells.

Communication Impairment in Ultrasonic Vocal Repertoire during the Suckling Period of Knockout Mice: Transient Improvement by Oxytocin.

Communication consists of social interaction, recognition, and information transmission. Communication ability is the most affected component in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recently, we reported that the gene is associated with ASD, and that CD157 knockout () mice display severe impairments in social behavior that are improved by oxytocin (OXT) treatment.

Global Diversity of Desert Hypolithic Cyanobacteria.

Global patterns in diversity were estimated for cyanobacteria-dominated hypolithic communities that colonize ventral surfaces of quartz stones and are common in desert environments. A total of 64 hypolithic communities were recovered from deserts on every continent plus a tropical moisture sufficient location. Community diversity was estimated using a combined t-RFLP fingerprinting and high throughput sequencing approach.

Selegiline Ameliorates Depression-Like Behavior in Mice Lacking the Gene, a Risk Factor for Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is accompanied by various non-motor symptoms including depression and anxiety, which may precede the onset of motor symptoms. Selegiline is an irreversible monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitor, and is widely used in the treatment of PD and major depression. However, there are few reports about the effects of selegiline on non-motor symptoms in PD.

The Lateral Occipito-temporal Cortex Is Involved in the Mental Manipulation of Body Part Imagery.

The lateral occipito-temporal cortex (LOTC), including the extrastriate body area, is known to be involved in the perception of body parts. Although still controversial, recent studies have demonstrated the role of the LOTC in higher-level body-related cognition in humans. This study consisted of two experiments (E1 and E2).

Taxonomic and Functional Diversity of Soil and Hypolithic Microbial Communities in Miers Valley, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica.

The McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are an extreme polar desert. Mineral soils support subsurface microbial communities and translucent rocks support development of hypolithic communities on ventral surfaces in soil contact. Despite significant research attention, relatively little is known about taxonomic and functional diversity or their inter-relationships.

Cyclic ADP-Ribose and Heat Regulate Oxytocin Release via CD38 and TRPM2 in the Hypothalamus during Social or Psychological Stress in Mice.

Hypothalamic oxytocin (OT) is released into the brain by cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) with or without depolarizing stimulation. Previously, we showed that the intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)]i) that seems to trigger OT release can be elevated by β-NAD(+), cADPR, and ADP in mouse oxytocinergic neurons. As these β-NAD(+) metabolites activate warm-sensitive TRPM2 cation channels, when the incubation temperature is increased, the [Ca(2+)]i in hypothalamic neurons is elevated.

Voluntary Exercise Induces Astrocytic Structural Plasticity in the Globus Pallidus.

Changes in astrocyte morphology are primarily attributed to the fine processes where intimate connections with neurons form the tripartite synapse and participate in neurotransmission. Recent evidence has shown that neurotransmission induces dynamic synaptic remodeling, suggesting that astrocytic fine processes may adapt their morphologies to the activity in their environment. To illustrate such a neuron-glia relationship in morphological detail, we employed a double transgenic Olig2(CreER/WT); ROSA26-GAP43-EGFP mice, in which Olig2-lineage cells can be visualized and traced with membrane-targeted GFP.