Estimation of phase signal change in neuronal current MRI for evoke response of tactile detection with realistic somatosensory laminar network model

Magnetic field generated by neuronal activity could alter magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signals but detection of such signal is under debate. Previous researches proposed that magnitude signal change is below current detectable level, but phase signal change (PSC) may be measurable with current MRI systems. Optimal imaging parameters like echo time, voxel size and external field direction, could increase the probability of detection of this small signal change. We simulate a voxel of cortical column to determine effect of such parameters on PSC signal. We extended a laminar network model for somatosensory cortex to find neuronal current in each segment of pyramidal neurons (PN). 60,000 PNs of simulated network were positioned randomly in a voxel. Biot–savart law applied to calculate neuronal magnetic field and additional phase. The procedure repeated for eleven neuronal arrangements in the voxel. PSC signal variation with the echo time and voxel size was assessed. The simulated results show that PSC signal increases with echo time, especially 100/80 ms after stimulus for gradient echo/spin echo sequence. It can be up to 0.1 mrad for echo time = 175 ms and voxel size = 1.48 × 1.48 × 2.18 mm³. With echo time less than 25 ms after stimulus, it was just acquired effects of physiological noise on PSC signal. The absolute value of the signal increased with decrease of voxel size, but its components had complex variation. External field orthogonal to local surface of cortex maximizes the signal. Expected PSC signal for tactile detection in the somatosensory cortex increase with echo time and have no oscillation.     

输尿管支架管结壳患者尿液菌群的分布特点

目的探讨输尿管支架管结壳患者尿液菌群的分布特点。方法选取2018年10月至2019年3月在山东省立第三医院、山东大学齐鲁医院、济南市中心医院和济南市济钢医院就诊的35例输尿管支架管置入术后患者。纳入标准:年龄18~65岁;输尿管镜碎石术后留置内支架管4周。排除标准:尿液细菌培养阳性;严重肉眼血尿;近期口服抗生素;存在明显残石患者。本研究采用横断面研究方法(临床研究注册号为ChiCTR1800020025),根据有无支架管结壳将患者分为结壳组23例和无结壳组12例。收集拔管当日患者尿液行细菌16s DNA检测。使用UPARSE、UCHIME和RDP calssifier等软件分析两组患者尿液菌群分布特点,明确两组患者尿液中细菌种类总数、细菌丰度,以及丰度占比较大的细菌类别,比较两组患者尿液细菌种类、数量及细菌丰度的差异,明确结壳组患者尿液中丰度占比较大的细菌菌属。结果两组患者的年龄、性别、体质指数、置管侧别、内支架管型号及结石成分差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。16s DNA检测结果显示,结壳组丰度占比>1%的菌属数量为11个,丰度占比>0.01%的菌属数量为74个;无结壳组丰度占比>1%的菌属数量为7个,丰度占比>0.01%的菌属数量为11个,两组丰度占比>1%的菌属数量比较差异有统计学意义(t=5.12,P=0.000)。结壳组中菌属丰度占比前3位分别为乳杆菌属(23.1%)、拟杆菌属(18.8%)和未分级拟杆菌属(17.1%),非结壳组中菌属丰度占比前3位分别是为埃希菌-志贺菌属(32.2%)、肠球菌属(24.9%)和假单胞菌属(18.2%)。两组间差异最大的3种细菌是乳杆菌属(P=0.010),拟杆菌属(P=0.004)和未分级拟杆菌属(P=0.004)。结论支架管结壳患者尿液中细菌种类和数量都明显多于非支架管结壳患者。拟杆菌属细菌在支架管结壳患者尿液中的细菌种类丰度较大。     

Binding mode of conformations and structure-based pharmacophore development for farnesyltransferase inhibitors

Farnesyltransferase (FTase) is one of the prenyltransferase family enzymes that catalyse the transfer of 15-membered isoprenoid (farnesyl) moiety to the cysteine of CAAX motif-containing proteins including Rho and Ras family of G proteins. Inhibitors of FTase act as drugs for cancer, malaria, progeria and other diseases. In the present investigation, we have developed two structure-based pharmacophore models from protein–ligand complex (3E33 and 3E37) obtained from the protein data bank. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed on the complexes, and different conformers of the same complex were generated. These conformers were undergone protein–ligand interaction fingerprint (PLIF) analysis, and the fingerprint bits have been used for structure-based pharmacophore model development. The PLIF results showed that Lys164, Tyr166, TrpB106 and TyrB361 are the major interacting residues in both the complexes. The RMSD and RMSF analyses on the MD-simulated systems showed that the absence of FPP in the complex 3E37 has significant effect in the conformational changes of the ligands. During this conformational change, some interactions between the protein and the ligands are lost, but regained after some simulations (after 2 ns). The structure-based pharmacophore models showed that the hydrophobic and acceptor contours are predominantly present in the models. The pharmacophore models were validated using reference compounds, which significantly identified as HITs with smaller RMSD values. The developed structure-based pharmacophore models are significant, and the methodology used in this study is novel from the existing methods (the original X-ray crystallographic coordination of the ligands is used for the model building). In our study, along with the original coordination of the ligand, different conformers of the same complex (protein–ligand) are used. It concluded that the developed methodology is significant for the virtual screening of novel molecules on different targets.     

Dying is the Most Grown-Up Thing We Ever Do: But Do Health Care Professionals Prevent Us from Taking It Seriously?

This paper takes a somewhat slant perspective on flourishing and care in the context of suffering, death and dying, arguing that care in this context consists principally of ‘acts of work and courage that enable flourishing’. Starting with the perception that individuals, society and health care professionals have become dulled to death and the process of dying in Western advanced health systems, it suggests that for flourishing to occur, both of these aspects of life need to be faced more directly. The last days of life need to be ‘undulled’. Reflections upon the experiences of the author as carer and daughter in the face of her mother’s experience of death are used as basis for making suggestions about how care systems and professionals might better assist people in dealing with ‘the most grown up thing’ humans ever do, which is to die.     

Nanomedicines: From Bench to Bedside and Beyond

Advancing nanomedicines from concept to clinic requires integration of new science with traditional pharmaceutical development. The medical and commercial success of nanomedicines is greatly facilitated when those charged with developing nanomedicines are cognizant of the unique opportunities and technical challenges that these products present. These individuals must also be knowledgeable about the processes of clinical and product development, including regulatory considerations, to maximize the odds for successful product registration. This article outlines these topics with a goal to accelerate the combination of academic innovation with collaborative industrial scientists who understand pharmaceutical development and regulatory approval requirements—only together can they realize the full potential of nanomedicines for patients.