Comparing human and mouse salivary glands: A practice guide for salivary researchers

Mice are a widely utilized in vivo model for translational salivary gland research but must be used with caution. Specifically, mouse salivary glands are similar in many ways to human salivary glands (i.e., in terms of their anatomy, histology, and physiology) and are both readily available and relatively easy and affordable to maintain. However, there are some significant differences between the two organisms, and by extension, the salivary glands derived from them must be taken into account for translational studies. The current review details pertinent similarities and differences between human and mouse salivary glands and offers practical guidelines for using both for research purposes.     

Automatic whole brain tract‐based analysis using predefined tracts in a diffusion spectrum imaging template and an accurate registration strategy

Automated tract‐based analysis of diffusion MRI is an important tool for investigating tract integrity of the cerebral white matter. Current template‐based automatic analyses still lack a comprehensive list of tract atlas and an accurate registration method. In this study, tract‐based automatic analysis (TBAA) was developed to meet the demands. Seventy‐six major white matter tracts were reconstructed on a high‐quality diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) template, and an advanced two‐step registration strategy was proposed by incorporating anatomical information of the gray matter from T1‐weighted images in addition to microstructural information of the white matter from diffusion‐weighted images. The automatic analysis was achieved by establishing a transformation between the DSI template and DSI dataset of the subject derived from the registration strategy. The tract coordinates in the template were transformed to native space in the individual's DSI dataset, and the microstructural properties of major tract bundles were sampled stepwise along the tract coordinates of the subject's DSI dataset. In a validation study of eight well‐known tracts, our results showed that TBAA had high geometric agreement with manual tracts in both deep and superficial parts but significantly smaller measurement variability than manual method in functional difference. Additionally, the feasibility of the method was demonstrated by showing tracts with altered microstructural properties in patients with schizophrenia. Fifteen major tract bundles were found to have significant differences after controlling the family‐wise error rate. In conclusion, the proposed TBAA method is potentially useful in brain‐wise investigations of white matter tracts, particularly for a large cohort study. Hum Brain Mapp 36:3441–3458, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc .     

Cutaneous T cell lymphoma: characterization by monoclonal antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies to human T cells permit the characterization of the surface phenotype of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL). The majority of CTCL cells are reactive with OKT1 and OKT3 monoclonals, which identify peripheral T cells and mature thymocytes. The neoplastic cells also react with OKT4, which recognizes the inducer T cell subset; they are, however, unreactive with OKT5 monoclonal, which identifies cytotoxic/suppressor T cell subsets. These data are in agreement with previous functional studies demonstrating that CTCL is a neoplasm of inducer (helper) T cells.     

Computed tomography appearances of the lung parenchyma in pulmonary hypertension

Computed tomography (CT) is a valuable tool in the workup of patients under investigation for pulmonary hypertension (PH) and may be the first test to suggest the diagnosis. CT parenchymal lung changes can help to differentiate the aetiology of PH. CT can demonstrate interstitial lung disease, emphysema associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, features of left heart failure (including interstitial oedema), and changes secondary to miscellaneous conditions such as sarcoidosis. CT also demonstrates parenchymal changes secondary to chronic thromboembolic disease and venous diseases such as pulmonary venous occlusive disease (PVOD) and pulmonary capillary haemangiomatosis (PCH). It is important for the radiologist to be aware of the various manifestations of PH in the lung, to help facilitate an accurate and timely diagnosis. This pictorial review illustrates the parenchymal lung changes that can be seen in the various conditions causing PH.     

Genetic effect of MTHFR C677T polymorphism on the structural covariance network and white‐matter integrity in Alzheimer's disease

The 677 C to T transition in the MTHFR gene is a genetic determinant for hyperhomocysteinemia. We investigated whether this polymorphism modulates gray matter (GM) structural covariance networks independently of white‐matter integrity in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). GM structural covariance networks were constructed by 3D T1‐magnetic resonance imaging and seed‐based analysis. The patients were divided into two genotype groups: C homozygotes (n = 73) and T carriers (n = 62). Using diffusion tensor imaging and white‐matter parcellation, 11 fiber bundle integrities were compared between the two genotype groups. Cognitive test scores were the major outcome factors. The T carriers had higher homocysteine levels, lower posterior cingulate cortex GM volume, and more clusters in the dorsal medial lobe subsystem showing stronger covariance strength. Both posterior cingulate cortex seed and interconnected peak cluster volumes predicted cognitive test scores, especially in the T carriers. There were no between‐group differences in fiber tract diffusion parameters. The MTHFR 677T polymorphism modulates posterior cingulate cortex‐anchored structural covariance strength independently of white matter integrities. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3039–3051, 2017. © 2017 The Authors Human Brain Mapping Published Wiley by Periodicals, Inc.     

Effect of hyaluronic acid on urine nerve growth factor in cyclophosphamide‐induced cystitis

Objectives: To investigate how hyaluronic acid (HA) affects nerve growth factor (NGF) production and bladder overactivity in a cyclophosphamide (CYP)‐induced cystitis rat model. Methods: Female Sprague–Dawley rats received three intermittent intraperitoneal injections of CYP (75 mg/kg) or saline. Before or after CYP injection, HA was given intravesically and urine NGF was checked with creatinine correction. Bladder function was evaluated by cystometrograms under Zoletil anesthesia. Furthermore, the effect of HA was counteracted with hyaluronidase (HYAL). Bladder structural change was compared among groups with trichrome stain. Results: The intercontraction interval (ICI) significantly decreased in CYP‐injected rats in comparison to the saline‐injected controls. In the CYP‐injected groups, bladder HA instillation significantly increased the ICI, but did not change the maximum voiding pressure in comparison to the saline instillation. NGF production significantly increased in CYP‐injected rats, but decreased significantly with HA treatment. Treatment with HA had a more significant effect on urine NGF and the use of HYAL would eliminate this effect. Specific staining showed mucosa swelling after CYP treatment. Little HA coating on bladder mucosa could be found in HA‐treated rats. Conclusions: Present findings raise the possibility that HA could be an effective treatment for CYP‐related bladder overactivity through the involvement of NGF signaling.     

Anaemia management in patients with chronic kidney disease: Taiwan practice guidelines

The introduction of erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents (ESAs) markedly improved the lives of many anaemic patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In Taiwan, the strategy of management of anaemia in patients with CKD was different from many other parts of the world. In 1996, the National Health Insurance Administration of Taiwan applied a more restrictive reimbursement criteria for ESA use in patients with CKD. ESA is to be initiated when non‐dialysis CKD patients have a serum creatinine >6 mg/dL and a hematocrit <28% to maintain a hematocrit level not exceeding 30%. The maximal dose of epoetin‐α or β was 20 000 U per month. The target haemoglobin range and dose limitation for ESAs were the same for dialysis CKD patients. Thus, long before randomized controlled trials showing an increased risk for cardiovascular events at nearly normal haemoglobin concentrations and higher ESA doses in CKD, nephrologists in Taiwan had avoided the use of disproportionately high dosages of ESAs to achieve a haemoglobin level of 10–11 g/dL. Moreover, intravenous iron supplementation was encouraged earlier in Taiwan in 1996, when we reached consensus on the diagnostic criteria for iron deficiency (serum ferritin <300 ng/mL and/or transferrin saturation <30%). The experience of CKD anaemia management in Taiwan demonstrated that a reasonable haemoglobin target can be achieved by using the lowest possible ESA dose and intravenous iron supplementation.