Analysis of the TNF receptor in KYM cells by affinity cross-linking

We investigated the identity of the TNF receptor on the KYM cell membrane by cross-linking 125I-TNF and the presumed receptor site with DSS, and subjecting the TNF-receptor complex to electrophoresis. Four specific bands were observed at 145 K, 50 K, 35 K, and 17 K, and those at 50 K, 35 K and 17 K being consistent with trimers, dimers and monomers of TNF, respectively. The 145 K band disappeared after addition of excess unlabelled TNF or anti-human recombinant TNF monoclonal antibody (IV3-E), which quenched the cytotoxic activity of TNF and inhibited the TNF binding to the receptor. The molecular weight of native TNF as estimated by gel filtration was 45 K and this observation showed that native TNF existed only as the TNF trimer. These results confirmed that 95K, i.e., the difference between 145 K and 50 K, is the molecular size of the TNF receptor.     

What we know about the purpose,theoretical foundation,scope and dimensionality of existing self-management measurement tools: A scoping review

Objectives

To identify self-report, self-management measures for adults with chronic conditions, and describe their purpose, theoretical foundation, dimensionality (multi versus uni), and scope (generic versus condition specific).

Eosinophil adhesion under flow conditions activates mechanosensitive signaling pathways in human endothelial cells

Leukocyte transmigration can be affected by shear stress; however, the mechanisms by which shear stress modulates transmigration are unknown. We found that adhesion of eosinophils or an eosinophilic cell line to intereukin 4-stimulated endothelial cells led to a shear-dependent increase in endothelial cell intracellular calcium and increased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 2, but not c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. Latex beads coated with antibodies were used to characterize the role of specific endothelial cell surface molecules in initiating signaling under shear conditions. We found that ligation of either vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 or E-selectin, but not major histocompatibility complex class I, induced a shear-dependent increase in ERK2 phosphorylation in cytokine-stimulated endothelial cells. Disassembly of the actin cytoskeleton with latrunculin A prevented ERK2 phosphorylation after adhesion under flow conditions, supporting a role for the cytoskeleton in mechano-sensing. Rapid phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and paxillin occurred under identical conditions, suggesting that focal adhesions were also involved in mechanotransduction. Finally, we found that Rho-associated protein kinase and calpain were both critical in the subsequent transendothelial migration of eosinophils under flow conditions. These data suggest that ligation of leukocyte adhesion molecules under flow conditions leads to mechanotransduction in endothelial cells, which can regulate subsequent leukocyte trafficking.     

The Effect of MIpaste Plus and Reminpro on Incipient Caries Using DIAGNOdent and SEM: An Invitro Study

Background

The remineralization of early caries lesion has an effective role on decreasing caries. For initial remineralization of caries lesion, using Compounds of Casein phosphopeptides (CPP) in different studies has been proposed. REMINPRO including Fluoride, Xylitol and Calcium phosphate has just been offered in the market. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of Reminpro and MI paste plus in terms of remineralization of early enamel lesions.

Accurate cortical tissue classification on MRI by modeling cortical folding patterns

Accurate tissue classification is a crucial prerequisite to MRI morphometry. Automated methods based on intensity histograms constructed from the entire volume are challenged by regional intensity variations due to local radiofrequency artifacts as well as disparities in tissue composition, laminar architecture and folding patterns. Current work proposes a novel anatomy‐driven method in which parcels conforming cortical folding were regionally extracted from the brain. Each parcel is subsequently classified using nonparametric mean shift clustering. Evaluation was carried out on manually labeled images from two datasets acquired at 3.0 Tesla (n = 15) and 1.5 Tesla (n = 20). In both datasets, we observed high tissue classification accuracy of the proposed method (Dice index >97.6% at 3.0 Tesla, and >89.2% at 1.5 Tesla). Moreover, our method consistently outperformed state‐of‐the‐art classification routines available in SPM8 and FSL‐FAST, as well as a recently proposed local classifier that partitions the brain into cubes. Contour‐based analyses localized more accurate white matter–gray matter (GM) interface classification of the proposed framework compared to the other algorithms, particularly in central and occipital cortices that generally display bright GM due to their highly degree of myelination. Excellent accuracy was maintained, even in the absence of correction for intensity inhomogeneity. The presented anatomy‐driven local classification algorithm may significantly improve cortical boundary definition, with possible benefits for morphometric inference and biomarker discovery. Hum Brain Mapp 36:3563–3574, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

High-resolution 3-T MR neurography of femoral neuropathy

OBJECTIVE: The femoral nerve is subject to a variety of diseases that may affect the nerve anywhere from the nerve roots to the distal branches. High-resolution 3-T MR neurography (MRN) is being increasingly used for peripheral nerve evaluation because it complements information gained from electrodiagnostic testing. CONCLUSION: There are scattered case reports describing femoral nerve diseases using MRI. This article comprehensively reviews different pathologic abnormalities involving the femoral nerve and illustrates their MRN features with case examples.