Epileptic Activity Intrinsically Generated in the Human Cerebellum

Neoplastic or dysplastic neuronal tissue in the brain stem and cerebellum can become epileptogenic in pediatric patients. However, it is unknown whether such tissue may transform intrinsic properties of the human cerebellum, making it capable of generating epileptic population activity. We noninvasively detected epileptiform signals unaveraged in a pediatric patient with epilepsy due to a tumor in the middle cerebellar peduncle. Analysis of generators of the signals revealed that the cerebellum ipsilateral and contralateral to the tumor was the dominant interictal spike generator and could initiate ictal activity, suggesting that human cerebellum may become capable of intrinsically generating epileptic activity. ANN NEUROL 2020;88:418–422.     

Development of an effective and rapid qPCR for identifying human ChREBPα/β isoforms in hepatic and adipose tissues

Most quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) detection methods use two types of chemistries to measure the expression levels of ChREBP isoforms, hydrolysis probes for ChREBPα and SYBR Green for ChREBPβ. Hydrolysis probes are not available to determine the ChREBPβ isoform. The aim of this study was to develop a qPCR assay based only on hydrolysis probes for both ChREBP isoforms. Liver and adipose tissue biopsies from patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy surgery were used to perform qPCR. To validate this assay, the results were compared with sequencing and High Resolution Melting (HRM) PCR assays. Direct sequencing was used to determine the sequence showing site where ChREBPβ presents its specific splicing (1?b exon/2 exon) in order to design the primers and the probe. We developed a qPCR assay to determine the ChREBP isoforms expression based on hydrolysis probes. It assays showed good efficiency (95.50%, on average), high reproducibility, and a strong linear correlation (R² ≥ 0.99) for tissues tested. HRM analysis confirmed the specificity of the primers and the result of this assay matched (100%) with the outcomes obtained by sequencing and qPCR. Also, we obtained the ChREBPβ sequence showing exon 1b spliced to exon 2, bypassing exon 1a, and retaining the remainder of the ChREBPα exons. Based on the use of hydrolysis probes, our method can efficiently identify the expression of both ChREBP isoforms. Thus, the comparability of the qPCR results using a single chemistry (hydrolysis probes) to discriminate between both ChREBP isoforms was possible.     

Conversion of a renewable bio-resource to a functional composite material: Product design,comprehensive characterization and adsorption of 2,4-D herbicide

Based on the opinion of “utilizing waste resources to treat waste”, a sustainable resource waste was transformed into a useful and functional material by a comprehensive experimental setup. A high surface area lentil processing waste-based activated carbon was synthesized by microwave-assisted K₂CO₃ chemical activation and then successfully converted into a ferrospinel composite. The ferrospinel composite was characterized with BET, FTIR, XRD, XPS, FE-SEM, EDX mapping, Raman and VSM techniques and the detailed characterization analysis confirmed the successful formation of the ferrospinel composite. It was also applied as an effective adsorbent material in the treatment of 2,4-dichlorphenoxyacetic acid herbicide bearing wastewater. The pseudo-second order model better defined the kinetic pathway of the adsorption while the isothermal data indicated the best suitability to Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacity of the ferrospinel composite towards 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid was 400 mg/g at 45 °C. Thermodynamic studies showed the favorability and spontaneity of the adsorption process.     

Isolated hair loss on the eyebrow: five cases with trichoscopic features

Alopecia areta (AA) and trichotillomania (TTM) are common causes for hair loss on the eyebrows. Yellow dots, vellus hairs, anisotrichosis, empty follicular openings, and black dots were observed in the present study’s patients with AA. Split hairs, question mark hairs, broken hairs, flame hairs, black dots, hairs with different lengths, and hemorrhagic areas were found in the patients with TTM. Trichoscopy is a very useful and helpful technic in distinguishing AA and TTM on the eyebrows.     

Risikokommunikation politikberatender Wissenschaftsorganisationen: Ein Themenaufriss am Beispiel des Bundesinstituts für Risikobewertung

Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz - Regulierungswissenschaftliche Organisationen wie das Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR) sehen sich in ihrer...     

Acknowledging the use of human cadaveric tissues in research papers: Recommendations from anatomical journal editors

Research within the anatomical sciences often relies on human cadaveric tissues. Without the good will of these donors who allow us to use their bodies to push forward our anatomical knowledge, most human anatomical research would come to a standstill. However, many research papers omit an acknowledgement to the donor cadavers or, as no current standardized versions exist, use language that is extremely varied. To remedy this problem, 20 editors‐in‐chiefs from 17 anatomical journals joined together to put together official recommendations that can be used by authors when acknowledging the donor cadavers used in their studies. The goal of these recommendations is to standardize the writing approach by which donors are acknowledged in anatomical studies that use human cadaveric tissues. Such sections in anatomical papers will not only rightfully thank those who made the donation but might also encourage, motivate, and inspire future individuals to make such gifts for the betterment of the anatomical sciences and patient care.