Fgfr3 regulates development of the caudal telencephalon

The fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (Fgfr3) is expressed in a rostral_low to caudal_high gradient in the developing cerebral cortex. Therefore, we hypothesized that Fgfr3 contributes to the correct morphology and connectivity of the caudal cortex. Overall, the forebrain structures appeared normal in Fgfr3^?/? mice. However, cortical and hippocampal volumes were reduced by 26.7% and 16.3%, respectively. Hypoplasia was particularly evident in the caudo‐ventral region of the telencephalon where proliferation was mildly decreased at embryonic day 18.5. Dysplasia of GABAergic neurons in the amygdala and piriform cortex was seen following GAD67 immunohistochemistry. Dye‐tracing studies and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging and tractography detected a subtle thalamocortical tract deficit, and significant decreases in the stria terminalis and lateral arms of the anterior commissure. These results indicate the subtle role of Fgfr3 in formation of caudal regions of the telencephalon affecting some brain projections. Developmental Dynamics 240:1586–1599, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Magnetic resonance microimaging of the spinal cord in the SOD1 mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis detects motor nerve root degeneration

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by selective degeneration of motor neurons. Current imaging studies have concentrated on areas of the brain and spinal cord that contain mixed populations of sensory and motor neurons. In this study, ex vivo magnetic resonance microimaging (MRM) was used to separate motor and sensory components by visualizing individual dorsal and ventral roots in fixed spinal cords. MRM at 15μm in plane resolution enabled the axons of pure populations of sensory and motor neurons to be measured in the lumbar region of the SOD1 mouse model of ALS. MRM signal intensity increased by 38.3% (p<0.05) exclusively in the ventral motor nerve roots of the lumbar spinal cord of ALS-affected SOD1 mice compared to wildtype littermates. The hyperintensity was therefore limited to white matter tracts arising from the motor neurons, whereas sensory white matter fibers were unchanged. Significant decreases in ventral nerve root volume were also detected in the SOD1 mice, which correlated with the axonal degeneration observed by microscopy. These results demonstrate the usefulness of MRM in visualizing the ultrastructure of the mouse spinal cord. The detailed 3D anatomy allowed the processes of pure populations of sensory and motor neurons to be compared.     

Management of chronic constipation in the elderly

Constipation is a common complaint among the elderly. Constipation can be defined as the passage of small hard stool infrequently and with difficulty. Definitions of constipation vary widely, and therefore Rome III criteria was recommended to be used in defining constipation. Constipation in the elderly is not simply related to the aging. It is a major feature of disorders of colorectal motility. The symptom of constipation could also arise secondary to other conditions. The management of chronic constipation in the elderly should include a detailed medical history and physical examination to exclude secondary causes for constipation. Laboratory evaluation should be performed in the initial assessment of the patient. If the initial investigations are normal, empiric therapy should be initiated. Patients not responding to the initial therapy are considered to have refractory constipation. Thus, diagnostic tests need to be performed in these patients. Further management such as newer medications, biofeedback and surgery might provide new hope to patients with refractory constipation. This review article focuses on the approach and treatment of chronic constipation in the elderly.     

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Characterization of Zeolite A from Corn (Zea Mays) Stover Ash

This study deals with the impact of calcination, alkalinity, and curing time parameters on the hydrothermal synthesis of zeolite A. The zeolite A sample, produced from corncob-stalk-and-leaves (corn stover) ash was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that calcination, alkalinity, and curing time have significant effects on the crystallization and the morphology of zeolite A. In addition, these parameters also impacted the cation exchange capacity. Furthermore, the synthesized zeolite A was obtained using a calcination temperature of 500 °C within two hours of airflow, which is much lower than the temperatures previously reported in the literature for an agricultural waste and other waste materials. A fusion ratio of corn stover ash:NaOH of 1.0:1.5 and a curing time of nine hours were achieved. This is a major result as this curing time is much lower than those featured in other studies, which can reach up to twenty-four hours. In this paper, cubic crystal with rounded edge of zeolite A, having a cation exchange capacity of 2.439 meq Na⁺/g of synthesized anhydrous zeolite A, was obtained, which can be a good candidate for ion-exchange separation.     

Maternal and cord blood cyclophilin A in severe preeclampsia and normal pregnancy and its correlation with vitamin D and zinc

Objective: To investigate maternal and cord blood cyclophilin A level in severe preeclampsia compared with normal pregnancy and its correlation with vitamin D and zinc level.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study of pregnant women who gave birth in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital between January and April 2014.

Results: Thirty-nine subjects were included. Subjects with severe preeclampsia have higher serum cyclophilin A levels compared with normotensive pregnancy (1299.60 vs. 1039.50; p 0.017). Maternal cyclophilin A, vitamin D, and zinc correlation were not statistically significant (p 0.189 & p 0.853).

Conclusion: Cyclophilin A levels in severe preeclampsia is higher compared to normal pregnancy. There is no correlation between cyclophilin A, zinc, and vitamin D.     

16 T Diffusion microimaging of fixed prostate tissue: Preliminary findings

Diffusion tensor microimaging was used to investigate the water diffusion properties of formalin‐fixed prostate tissue at spatial resolution approaching the cellular scale. Diffusion tensor microimaging was performed at 16.4 T with 40 μm isotropic voxels. Diffusion tensor microimaging clearly demonstrated distinct microscopic diffusion environments and tissue architecture consistent with that seen on light microscopy of the same tissue. The most restricted diffusion environment is the secretory epithelial cell layer (voxel bulk mean diffusivity, D = 0.4 ± 0.1 × 10^?3 mm²/sec). Diffusion in the fibromuscular stromal matrix is relatively less restricted (D = 0.7 ± 0.1 × 10^?3 mm²/sec). In tumor tissue (Gleason pattern 4+4) distinct glandular and ductal structures are absent in the diffusion‐weighted images and diffusivity is low (D = 0.5 ± 0.1 × 10^?3 mm²/sec). Distinct stromal and epithelial diffusion compartments are the most likely origin of biexponential diffusion decay observed in vivo. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

A model for quantitative follow-up studies of cervical lesions.

A model for follow-up studies of cervical lesions is described in which the specimen were taken in a noninvasive way using Cytobrushes and in which automatic measurement of the abnormal nuclei in the sampled epithelial fragments was possible because 2-microns thin Feulgen-stained plastic sections were prepared. The planimetric parameters AREA, PERIMETER, FORM PE, and FORM ELL, and the densitometric parameters optical density (OD) and integrated optical density (IOD) were assessed. The mean total volume and the mean total DNA were calculated using stereological methods. The moderate dysplasias differed from the carcinoma in situs for all the densitometric parameters except for OD, and from the invasive carcinomas for IOD and 5cER. In the moderate-dysplasia group, there were three types of DNA histograms: a highly abnormal type resembling the histograms of the carcinoma group, a normal type, and an intermediate type. Changes in DNA histograms can be established during follow-up studies of dysplasias without having disturbed the lesion due to the efficient and elegant noninvasive sampling method that was not used in earlier quantitative studies.     

Role of spleen tyrosine kinase in liver diseases

Spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK),a non-receptor tyrosine kinase,is expressed in most hematopoietic cells and non-hematopoietic cells and play a crucial role in both immune and non-immune biological responses.SYK mediate diverse cellular responses via an immune-receptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs)-dependent signalling pathways,ITAMs-independent and ITAMs-semidependent signalling pathways.In liver,SYK expression has been observed in parenchymal (hepatocytes) and non-parenchymal cells (hepatic stellate cells and Kupffer cells) and found to be positively correlated with the disease severity.The implication of SYK pathway has been reported in different liver diseases including liver fibrosis,viral hepatitis,alcoholic liver disease,non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma.Antagonism of SYK pathway using kinase inhibitors have shown to attenuate the progression of liver diseases thereby suggesting SYK as a highly promising therapeutic target.This review summarizes the current understanding of SYK and its therapeutic implication in liver diseases.