Angiogenesis in implantation

Problem Implantation failure and early pregnancy loss are common following natural conceptions and they are particularly important clinical hurdles to overcome following assisted reproduction attempts. The importance of adequate vascular development and maintenance during implantation has recently become a major focus of investigation. Materials and methods Review of current published literature was undertaken to summerize the cells and cell products that regulate tissue vascularity during implantation. Results Vascular development at the maternal fetal interface can be regulated by a number of different cell types; two principal candidates are trophoblast and natural killer cells. A wide range of soluble factors, some with well established angiogenic functions as well as other more novel factors, can contribute to vascular development and maintenance at the maternal–fetal interface. Conclusions Robust vascular development occurs during implantation and early placentation of normal pregnancies. Studies to define the extent and mechanisms by which defects in vascularity contribute to human implantation failure and early miscarriage need to be undertaken. Vascular development during implantation is mediated by numerous cell types and cell products and aberrant vascularity likely contributes to implantation failure and early pregnancy loss.     

Application of Machine Learning Approaches to Predict Postnatal Growth Failure in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

PurposeThe aims of the study were to develop and evaluate a machine learning model with which to predict postnatal growth failure (PGF) among very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.Materials and MethodsOf 10425 VLBW infants registered in the Korean Neonatal Network between 2013 and 2017, 7954 infants were included. PGF was defined as a decrease in Z score >1.28 at discharge, compared to that at birth. Six metrics [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, and F1 score] were obtained at five time points (at birth, 7 days, 14 days, 28 days after birth, and at discharge). Machine learning models were built using four different techniques [extreme gradient boosting (XGB), random forest, support vector machine, and convolutional neural network] to compare against the conventional multiple logistic regression (MLR) model.ResultsThe XGB algorithm showed the best performance with all six metrics across the board. When compared with MLR, XGB showed a significantly higher AUROC (p=0.03) for Day 7, which was the primary performance metric. Using optimal cut-off points, for Day 7, XGB still showed better performances in terms of AUROC (0.74), accuracy (0.68), and F1 score (0.67). AUROC values seemed to increase slightly from birth to 7 days after birth with significance, almost reaching a plateau after 7 days after birth.ConclusionWe have shown the possibility of predicting PGF through machine learning algorithms, especially XGB. Such models may help neonatologists in the early diagnosis of high-risk infants for PGF for early intervention.     

小鼠阴道黏膜干细胞生长相关因子的初步研究

目的对小鼠阴道黏膜干细胞培养上清中的细胞因子进行初步鉴定。方法收集稳定传代后的小鼠阴道黏膜干细胞培养上清,进行SDS-PAGE电泳和W estern-b lot检测,鉴定培养上清中阴道黏膜干细胞分泌的细胞因子。结果小鼠阴道黏膜干细胞培养上清中含有一种分子量约为84KD的细胞因子,经W estern-b lot方法检测该细胞因子为干细胞生长因子(HGF)。结论小鼠阴道黏膜干细胞可以分泌有活性的HGF。     

转染胰岛素样生长因子-1的骨髓基质细胞对心肌梗死后心功能的影响

目的:移植转染胰岛素样生长因子-1(IGF-1)的骨髓基质细胞(MSC)到心肌梗死大鼠模型中,观察心肌细胞的凋亡和心功能的变化。方法:采用结扎法制作心肌梗死大鼠模型,用含pBabe-puro/IGF-1的病毒液感染MSC,移植MSC进入梗死心肌边缘。将实验分为心肌梗死组(MI)、心梗单纯移植细胞组(MI+MSC)、心梗移植感染空质粒细胞组(MI+MSC-pBabe-puro)、心梗移植感染IGF-1质粒的细胞组(MI+MSC-pBabe-puro/hIGF-1)。免疫组化检测炎性反应的时间,决定细胞移植的时间点。术后4周,通过TUNEL法检测心肌的细胞凋亡,超声心动图检测心功能的变化。结果:免疫组化结果显示梗死后第7天的ED1细胞的阳性数比第2天明显降低(P<0.05);转染IGF-1的MSC移植到心梗的心肌中,和转染空质粒的MSC以及未作转染的MSC组比较,明显减少心肌的细胞凋亡(P<0.05);且射血分数、左室壁厚度、左室短轴缩短率明显提高(P<0.05)。结论:转染IGF-1的MSC移植到心梗大鼠心肌内,可能是通过减少心肌的细胞凋亡来改善心功能。     

Changes in proteoglycan aggregates during cartilage mineralization

Summary The dimensions of proteoglycan aggregates, aggregated monomers, and nonaggregated monomers, and the proportion of aggregated monomers found in the different zones of bovine rib growth plate have been defined by the electron microscopic monolayer technique. Growth plates were divided into the following 1 mm thick transverse slices; the hypertrophic zone, the lower proliferative zone, the upper proliferative zone, a transitional zone, and epiphyseal cartilage. Proteoglycans prepared by associative extraction followed by equilibrium density gradient centrifugation under associative conditions were examined by electron microscopy. Proteoglycan aggregate size decreased sharply in the lower proliferative and hypertrophic zones, as indicated by decreases in hyaluronate filament length and in the number of monomers per aggregate. Aggregated proteoglycan monomers did not show evidence of proteolytic degradation. Nonaggregated monomers were shorter than aggregated monomers, but their mean length did not decrease in the lower proliferative and hypertrophic zones. However, the proportion of nonaggregated monomers increased in these zones. Thus, before the cartilage matrix mineralized in the lower proliferative zone and as the cartilage matrix began to mineralize in the hypertrophic zone, proteoglycan aggregate size decreased and the proportion of aggregated monomers decreased. These changes in matrix proteoglycans may be one of the events that allow cartilage mineralization.     

NOTES ON THE SUPPRESSON OF BUSHFIRES FROM AIRCRAFT

The paper presents a review of pole utilization in Australia. Commercial pressure treatment of poles commenced in 1987.

The service life of poles based on their natural durability is discussed, together with a brief consideration of the advantages of wooden poles compared with those of other materials. Attention is drawn to the change in specifications resulting from the rising demand for pole timber suitable for preservation, and to the importance of knots in Pinus species, in relation to impregnation and strength.

An outline is given of present pole preservation treatment in Australia and current problems are briefly discussed—splitting of certain species, slow drying and the possibility of developing artificial seasoning, low retention of preservatives and variations in absorption between poles in a charge in hardwoods and fungal attack, strength, and knots in softwoods.

The paper is designed to provide Australian foresters with an outline cf aspects of pole utilization which require to be taken into consideration for forest management.     

Effects of growth hormone replacement on cortisol metabolism in hypopituitary patients treated with cortisone acetate

Objective. Depletion of guanine and deoxyguanine nucleotides by inhibition of inosine 5'‐monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH, EC 1.1.1.205) or introduction of 6‐thioguanine nucleotide antimetabolites are two principles of retarding cell proliferation by interference with the cellular purine nucleotide pool. IMPDH activity may be a promising pharmacodynamic biomarker during immunosuppressive and anticancer pharmacotherapy. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of mycophenolic acid (MPA) and 6‐thioguanosine (tGuO) on IMPDH basal activity. Material and methods. We studied the IMPDH basal activity (i.e. the enzyme activity following inhibitor exposure, but measured in absence of the inhibitor) in response to increasing concentrations of the IMPDH inhibitor MPA and the antimetabolite tGuO in MOLT‐4 human leukaemia cells. In parallel, IMPDH gene expression and cellular purine nucleotide concentrations were examined. Results. A biphasic concentration‐dependent influence of MPA on the IMPDH basal activity was observed. At concentrations?IC₅₀, MPA increased the IMPDH basal activity. The increase was associated with elevated expression of IMPDH2. Despite increased expression, the basal enzyme activity decreased following exposure to high MPA concentrations. The IMPDH2 expression increased modestly in response to tGuO exposure. However, the IMPDH basal activity decreased when the cells were exposed to a proliferation‐blocking tGuO concentration. Conclusions. These findings demonstrate that IMPDH basal activity is influenced by MPA and tGuO, and suggest that reduced IMPDH basal activity is related to the proliferation‐blocking effects of these agents.     

生长抑素和生长激素联合应用治疗重症急性胰腺炎

目的 探讨生长抑素和和生长激素联合应用治疗重症急性胰腺炎的方法。方法 ３２例重症急性胰腺炎病人,随机分为生长抑素治疗组（ｎ＝１１）,生长激素和生长抑素联合应用治疗组（ｎ＝１０）以及对照组（ｎ＝１１）。观察各组治疗后血清ＩＬ－１β、ＩＬ－６、ＩＬ－１０、ＩＬ－１２和ＴＮＦα的变化,住院天数,并发症和病死率。结果 生长抑素和生长激素联合治疗能减少并发症,降低病死率,缩短住院天数,促进重症和胰腺炎病人的     

出生前氚水照射对仔代大鼠生长发育及神经行为的影响

利用多项指标研究出生前氚水照射对仔代大鼠生长发育及神经行为的影响。方法妊娠１３天的成年Ｗｉｓｔａｒ大鼠腹腔单次分别注入不同活度氚水，各组仔鼠氚累积吸收剂量分别为０，０．０４４，０．０８８和０．２６４Ｇｙ。观察氚β射线对仔鼠出生后生长发育及神经行为的影响。结果在０．０４４Ｇｙ组即可使仔鼠连续通道转弯数减少，Ｙ迷宫刺激回避反射逃避时间延长；在０．０８８Ｇｙ组即可使出牙发育延迟，平面翻正，负趋地性及听觉惊愕等新生反射和感觉功能出现的天龄延迟，Ｙ迷宫刺激单向回避反射无误率降低，条件反射达标率降低；０．２６４Ｇｙ组张耳、开眼发育延迟，前肢悬挂时间缩短，Ｙ迷宫刺激回避反射阳性率降低；绝大部分指标表现与剂量相关。结论出生前一定剂量的氚水照射可导致仔代大鼠生长发育的延缓及学习记忆功能的降低等神经行为的异常。     

The impact of a corrective tether on a scoliosis porcine model: a detailed 3D analysis with a 20 weeks follow-up

Purpose

Non-fusion treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis generates interest due to the potential for growth preservation and mobility. Using an established porcine scoliotic model, this study aims to evaluate the global alignment and the morphology of the spine with and without application of a non-fusion corrective tether.

Methods

At 12 weeks of age, 21 immature Yorkshire pigs had an induction of scoliosis. Once a 50° Cobb angle was obtained; animals were placed into one of the following groups: a scoliosis model group (SM, n = 11) where animals were euthanized, tether release group (TR, n = 5) where the inducing tether was removed, and an anterior correction group (AC, n = 5) where the inducing tether was removed and non-fusion corrective tether was applied. TR and AC were observed for a further 20 weeks and then euthanized. Post-mortem CT scans were used to create 3D spinal reconstructions to obtain global and morphologic parameters.

Results

Maximal Cobb angle of the scoliotic deformity was significantly lower for AC (27.9° ± 12.0°) than for the two other groups (TR 52.7° ± 10.0°, SM 48.3° ± 7.6°). AC experienced an increase in kyphosis (24.2° ± 15.9°) compared to TR (7.1° ± 6.4°). Correction in the axial plane was also observed in AC versus TR. Correction of vertebral wedging was found for AC compared to SM and TR in the three apical vertebrae.

Conclusions

3D realignment of scoliotic curves was observed with application of the corrective tether. The correction was the product of both mechanical action and growth modulation. These findings are encouraging for future development of a non-fusion device for the treatment of immature scoliotic curves.