磁共振(MRI)扩散峰度成像(DKI)与拉伸指数模型(SEM)评价裸鼠原位肝细胞癌(HCC)异质性

 目的   探讨磁共振(magnetic resonance imaging,MRI)扩散峰度成像(diffusion kurtosis imaging,DKI)和拉伸指数模型(stretched exponential model,SEM)评估自然生长状态下裸鼠原位肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)空间和时间异质性的价值。方法   将25只原位HCC裸鼠模型随机分为A、B、C、D和E组,每组5只,分别于原位种植瘤生长至第21、28、35、42和49天进行1.5T MRI扫描,获得DKI和SEM以下各参数:平均峰度(mean kurtosis,MK)、平均扩散系数(mean diffusivity,MD)、扩散异质性指数α和扩散分布指数(distributed diffusion coefficient,DDC)。使用Kruskal-Wallis H 检验和Mann-Whitney U 检验比较各组间肿瘤DKI和SEM各参数的差异。使用Spearman相关分析评价DKI和SEM各参数与组织病理学上坏死分数(necrotic fraction,NF)、微血管密度(micro-vessel density,MVD)、肿瘤细胞增殖指标Ki-67指数、HE染色肿瘤最大径切面直方图异质性指标的标准差(standard deviation,SD)和峰度以及肿瘤大小之间的相关性。结果   各组间肿瘤MK、MD、α和DDC值差异均有显著统计学意义(P均<0.05)。D组肿瘤MK值明显高于A、B和E组(P均<0.05),α值明显低于A、B和E组(P均<0.05)。D组肿瘤MD和DDC值显著高于B组(P均<0.05),E组显著高于B、C组(P均<0.05)。5组肿瘤的MK值与SD和峰度值高度正相关(r=0.603和0.604,P均<0.05),α值与SD和峰度值高度负相关(r=-0.627和-0.620,P均<0.05)。从第21天至第42天肿瘤MK值与NF(r=0.587,P=0.006)、MVD(r=0.490,P=0.028)、Ki-67指数(r=0.569,P=0.009)和肿瘤大小(r=0.503,P=0.024)中度正相关,α值与NF(r=-0.577,P=0.008)、MVD(r=-0.490,P=0.028)、Ki-67指数(r=-0.574,P=0.008)和肿瘤大小(r=-0.488,P=0.029)中度负相关。从第28至第49天肿瘤MD和DDC值与NF高度正相关(r=0.706和0.664,P均<0.05),与肿瘤大小中度正相关(r=0.492和0.525,P均<0.05)。结论   DKI和SEM或可成为临床无创性评价HCC时间和空间异质性的生物影像学指标。     

Influence of seaweed extract as an organic fertilizer on the growth and yield of Arachis hypogea L. and their elemental composition using SEM–Energy Dispersive Spectroscopic analysis

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Seaweed Liquid Fertilizer (SLF) of the red seaweed Hypnea musciformis (Wulfen) Lamouroux (H. musciformis). on the growth, biochemical and pigment characteristics of Arachis hypogea (A. hypogea).MethodsExperiments were conducted on ground nut to study the potential red alga of H. musciformis as a biofertilizer. The seeds were sown in soil and SLF were added to soil bed in five different concentrations separately (1%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% w/v).ResultsThe 2% concentration of water extract showed better results of growth parameters, biochemical and pigments constitutions. Among the different concentrations of SLF investigated, the plants that received with 2% SLF showed maximum germination percentage, fresh weight, dry weight, root and shoot length, number of branches, leaf area, root nodules and content of total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a and b, protein, carbohydrate and lipid were observed at 2% concentration of SLF. The leaf of 2% SLF treated A. hypogea has subjected to Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive spectroscopic analysis, it revealed that the presence of ten elements in the following order: Ca>P>N>Na>K>Mg>Mn>S>Fe>Zn in treated and Ca>N>P>Na>Mg>Mn>K>Zn>S>Fe in control plant. The data generated from study reveal that SLF of H. musciformis could be used as foliar spray at low concentration of 2% to maximize the growth and yield of A. hypogea and also increase the number of stomata in the leaf.ConclusionIt is suggested that there are considerable gains to be made in increasing yield and stabilizing the yield in environments characterized by terminal requirement for organic and by shortening crop duration nutrient management appear promising.     

Trans-generational transmission of altered phenotype resulting from flubendiamide-induced changes in apoptosis in larval imaginal discs of Drosophila melanogaster

The eye and wing morphology of Drosophila melanogaster maintain unique, stable pattern of genesis from larval eye and wing imaginal discs. Increased apoptosis in cells of eye and wing discs was found to be associated with flubendiamide (fluoride containing insecticide) exposure (at the range 0.25–10 μg/mL) in D. melanogaster larvae. The chemical fed larvae on attaining adulthood revealed alterations in morphology and symmetry of their compound eyes and wings through scanning electron microscopy. Nearly 40% and 30% of flies (P generation) demonstrated alterations in eyes and wings respectively. Transmission electron microscopic study (at the range 1–20 μg/mL) also established variation in the rhabdomere and pigment cell orientation as well as in the shape of the ommatidium. Subsequent SEM study with F₁ and F₂ generation flies also revealed structural variation in eye and wing. Decrease in percentage of altered eye and wing phenotype was noted in subsequent generations (P> F₁ > F₂). Thus, the diamide insecticide, flubendiamide, expected to be environmentally safe at sub-lethal concentrations was found to increase apoptosis in larvae and thereby cause morphological alteration in the adult D. melanogaster. This study further demonstrated trans-generational transmission of altered phenotype in three subsequent generations of a non-target insect model, D. melanogaster.     

Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Marine Seaweed Sargassum cinereum and their Antibacterial Activity

Seaweed extracts of Sargassum cinereum was used as a reducing agent in the eco-friendly extracellular synthesis of silver nanoparticles from an aqueous solution of silver nitrate (AgNO₃). High conversion of silver ions to silver nanoparticles was achieved with a reaction temperature of 100^° and a seaweed extract concentration of 10% with a residential time of 3 h. Formation of silver nanoparticles was characterised by spectrophotometry and the scanning electron microscope. The average particles size was ranging from 45 to 76 nm. Antimicrobial activities indicate the minimum inhibitory concentration of biologically synthesised nanoparticles tested against the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus with 2.5 μl (25 μg/disc). High inhibitions over the growth of Enterobacter aerogenes, Salmonella typhi and Proteus vulgaris were witnessed against the concentrations of 100 μg/disc. Promising potential and the future prospects of S. cinereum nanoparticles in pharmaceutical research are the highlights in this paper.     

Randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled,safety and immunogenicity study of 4 formulations of Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed plus CPG 7909 (AV7909) in healthy adult volunteers

A new anthrax vaccine that could accelerate the immune response and possibly reduce the number of injections needed for protection would be desirable in a post-exposure setting.     

Evaluation of smear layer removal by bicarbonate soda,ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with cetrimide and sodium hypochlorite with a new model

Various methods are used to evaluate irrigants. The primary aim was to develop a model for preliminary testing of potential irrigants. The second aim was to investigate the effect of bicarbonate soda on smear layer by comparing it with ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid with cetrimide (EDTAC) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). Extracted human single‐canal teeth were halved, and a uniform filing method was used to create smear layer. The following solutions were then applied – distilled water (control), 1% NaOCl, 17% EDTAC and bicarbonate soda at concentrations of 1%, 5%, 10% and 15%. Some samples had multiple solutions in different sequences. Samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Representative images were scored based on the degree of smear layer remaining. Results were analysed with the SAS system, using the GENMOD procedure. Complete smear layer was found in samples treated with all solutions except EDTAC used alone. There were no significant differences between the sequences, EDTAC/NaOCl/EDTAC and NaOCl/EDTAC/NaOCl. There were no significant differences between groups with and without bicarbonate soda. In conclusion, the model was effective for testing chemical effects on solutions on smear layer. Bicarbonate soda did not remove smear layer and provided no additional cleaning effects after EDTAC and NaOCl.     

From neural signatures of emotional modulation to social cognition: individual differences in healthy volunteers and psychiatric participants

It is commonly assumed that early emotional signals provide relevant information for social cognition tasks. The goal of this study was to test the association between (a) cortical markers of face emotional processing and (b) social-cognitive measures, and also to build a model which can predict this association (a and b) in healthy volunteers as well as in different groups of psychiatric patients. Thus, we investigated the early cortical processing of emotional stimuli (N170, using a face and word valence task) and their relationship with the social-cognitive profiles (SCPs, indexed by measures of theory of mind, fluid intelligence, speed processing and executive functions). Group comparisons and individual differences were assessed among schizophrenia (SCZ) patients and their relatives, individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), individuals with euthymic bipolar disorder (BD) and healthy participants (educational level, handedness, age and gender matched). Our results provide evidence of emotional N170 impairments in the affected groups (SCZ and relatives, ADHD and BD) as well as subtle group differences. Importantly, cortical processing of emotional stimuli predicted the SCP, as evidenced by a structural equation model analysis. This is the first study to report an association model of brain markers of emotional processing and SCP.     

在体骨髓原位造血细胞间纳米通道的扫描电子显微镜(SEM)证据

 目的  探讨在体骨髓细胞之间是否存在细胞间纳米通道(intercellular nanotubes)。方法  利用扫描电子显微镜(scanning electron microscope,SEM)在体原位观察C57BL/6小鼠骨髓中细胞间纳米通道的分布、形态以及可能的形成机制。结果  骨髓造血细胞之间存在纳米通道结构。SEM显示该结构在骨髓组织中散在分布,位于骨髓内血窦内、外侧。骨髓造血细胞间纳米通道的管径粗细不均,平均长度为5.85 μm (1.58~18.54 μm),平均直径为364 nm (202~541 nm),还可见一些小颗粒状物质黏附在纳米通道表面。此外,小鼠骨髓造血细胞可能通过伸出突起的形式形成细胞间纳米通道。结论  本研究首次为小鼠骨髓造血细胞之间存在细胞间纳米通道提供了形态学证据。