Contribution of Neurons and Glial Cells to Complement-Mediated Synapse Removal during Development, Aging and in Alzheimer’s Disease

Synapse loss is an early manifestation of pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is currently the best correlate to cognitive decline. Microglial cells are involved in synapse pruning during development via the complement pathway. Moreover, recent evidence points towards a key role played by glial cells in synapse loss during AD. However, further contribution of glial cells and the role of neurons to synapse pathology in AD remain not well understood. This review is aimed at comprehensively reporting the source and/or cellular localization in the CNS—in microglia, astrocytes, or neurons—of the triggering components (C1q, C3) of the classical complement pathway involved in synapse pruning in development, adulthood, and AD.

from Imaging via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2FjmZUD

Recovery Pattern following Bimaxillary Orthognathic Surgery: Differences between Sexes

The investigators hypothesized there would be differences between the sexes in recovery pattern following bimaxillary orthognathic surgery as measured by patient responses at 5 weeks postprocedure. A total of 378 participants underwent bimaxillary orthognathic surgery with or without adjunctive procedures. Participants received questionnaires 5 weeks postsurgery when they visited the outpatient clinic. The questionnaires include variances in surgical factors by sex, and postoperative symptoms which were most difficult to tolerate experiences by sex, respectively.

from OroFacial via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2FoYW6C

Inhibition of dentin matrix‐bound cysteine cathepsins by potassium fluoride

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cysteine cathepsins (CCs) can break down unprotected type I collagen fibrils in dentin matrix. This study investigated the use of potassium fluoride (KF) as a potential inhibitor of MMPs and CCs in dentin. Demineralized dentin beams were divided into groups (n = 10 in each group) and incubated in artificial saliva (AS, control), either alone or with one of seven concentrations of KF (6–238 mM fluoride) for 1, 7, and 21 d. After 21 d, all groups were further aged in AS for 6 months. Total MMP activity was screened using the colorimetric MMP assay. The activities of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 were investigated using gelatin zymography. At the end of each incubation, changes in loss of dry mass and CC‐mediated or total dissolution of collagen peptides were measured via precision weighing, C‐terminal crosslinked telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), and hydroxyproline (HYP) assays. The beams were examined using scanning electron microscopy. After 21 d, total MMP activities, dry mass loss, and CTX release for the groups exposed to 179 and 238 mM fluoride were significantly lower compared with the control group. After 6 months, all groups showed similar total MMP activity, dry mass loss, and HYP release, and CTX levels were significantly lower when the fluoride concentration was ≥24 mM. Calcium fluoride (CaF₂)‐like precipitates were observed over the beams. In summary, KF significantly inhibited the catalytic activity of dentin matrix‐bound CCs but did not seem to be effective for MMP‐mediated activity.

from OroFacial via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2Fg7yg5

Immediate Effects of the Semi-Occluded Ventilation Mask on Subjects Diagnosed With Functional Dysphonia and Subjects With Normal Voices

The present study was designed to assess the immediate effects of the semi-occluded ventilation mask (SOVM) in subjects with functional dysphonia and subjects with normal voice.

from Speech via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2RQ9v4j

Is injury to the inferior alveolar nerve still common during orthognathic surgery? Manual twist technique for sagittal split ramus osteotomy

The osteotomy in a bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (BSSRO) is made in close proximity to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN), so direct damage to the nerve and irreversible neurosensory deficit may result. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of injury to the nerve when a conventional osteotomy using an osteotome was made, with that after manual twist splitting. We retrospectively reviewed the casenotes of 769 consecutive patients who had bilateral SSRO either alone or with a simultaneous maxillary procedure by a single surgeon from May 2009 − October 2016.

from OroFacial via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2FgrIGz

Intrinsic functional clustering of anterior cingulate cortex in the common marmoset

Publication date: Available online 10 November 2018

Source: NeuroImage

Author(s): David J. Schaeffer, Kyle M. Gilbert, Maryam Ghahremani, Joseph S. Gati, Ravi S. Menon, Stefan Everling

Abstract

The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) has garnered recent attention as a potentially powerful preclinical model and complement to other canonical mammalian models of human brain diseases (e.g., rodents and Old World non-human primates). With a granular frontal cortex and the advent of transgenic modifications, marmosets are well positioned to serve as neuropsychiatric models of prefrontal cortex dysfunction. A critical step in the development of marmosets for such models is to characterize functional network topologies of frontal cortex in healthy, normally functioning marmosets. Here, we sought to characterize the intrinsic functional connectivity of anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in marmosets using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI). Seven lightly anesthetized marmosets were imaged at ultra-high field (9.4 T) and hierarchical clustering was employed to extract functional clusters of ACC from the RS-fMRI data. The data demonstrated three functionally discrete clusters within ACC. The functional connectivity between these clusters with the rest of the brain was also found to be distinct, supporting the hypothesis that ACC subregions serve different circuits and their concomitant functions. In a separate seed-based analysis, we also sought to delineate finer-grained patterns of ACC connectivity between marmoset primary motor area 4 ab and putative eye movement areas (8aD and 8 aV). This analysis demonstrated distinct patterns of ACC functional connectivity between motor and eye movement regions that overlapped well with what has been shown in humans and macaques. Overall, these results demonstrate that marmosets have a network topology of ACC that resembles that of Old World primates, giving further credence to the use of marmosets for preclinical studies of intractable human brain diseases.

from Imaging via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2OC4Lx8

Relationship between cerebral microbleeds and white matter MR hyperintensities in systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective observational study

Abstract

Purpose

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are known to be associated with small vessel diseases (SVD) and neuroinflammation. The purpose was to investigate the relationship between CMBs and WMH in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

Thirty-one SLE patients with WMH and 27 SLE patients with normal brain MRI were compared. The presence, location, and grading of CMBs were assessed using susceptibility-weighted images. WMH volume was quantitatively measured. Clinical characteristics and serologic markers were compared. We also performed two separate subgroup analyses after (1) dividing WMH into inflammatory lesion vs. SVD subgroups and (2) dividing WMH into those with vs. without CMB subgroups.

Results

The WMH group showed more frequent CMBs than the normal MR group (p < 0.001). The WMH group showed higher SLE disease activity index, longer disease duration, and a higher incidence of antiphospholipid syndrome than the normal MR group (p = 0.02, 0.04, and 0.04, respectively). There was a moderate correlation between WMH volume and CMB grading (r = 0.49, p = 0.006). Within the WMH group, the inflammatory lesion subgroup showed more frequent CMBs and larger WMH volume than the SVD subgroup (p < 0.001 and 0.02, respectively). The WMH with CMB subgroup had larger WMH volume than the WMH without CMB subgroup (p = 0.004).

Conclusion

In patients with SLE, CMBs could be related to large-volume WMH and inflammatory lesions. CMBs along with severe WMH could be used as an imaging biomarker of vasculitis in patients with SLE.

from Imaging via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2Qxv7C5

Periostin deletion suppresses late-phase response in mouse experimental allergic conjunctivitis

Publication date: Available online 9 November 2018

Source: Allergology International

Author(s): Yosuke Asada, Mikiko Okano, Waka Ishida, Satoshi Iwamoto, Ken Fukuda, Toshiaki Hirakata, Norihiro Tada, Atsuki Fukushima, Nobuyuki Ebihara, Akira Kudo, Akira Matsuda

Abstract

Background

To investigate the potential roles of periostin (POSTN), an extracellular matrix preferentially expressed in Th2-skewed conditions in the pathophysiology of allergic conjunctivitis.

Methods

The roles of POSTN in ragweed-induced experimental allergic conjunctivitis (RW-EAC) were evaluated using both POSTN-knockout (KO) and congenic BALB/c wild-type mice. Histological analysis was carried out to enumerate eosinophils/basophils in the conjunctival tissue. Th2 cytokine expression was evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR), and microarray analysis was performed to elucidate genes differentially expressed in POSTN-KO and wild-type mice in the RW-EAC model.

Results

Upregulation of POSTN expression and eosinophil infiltration was observed in subconjunctival tissue of RW-EAC in the wild-type mice. The number of infiltrating eosinophils in the conjunctivae of RW-EAC was diminished in POSTN-KO mice compared to wild-type mice. Q-PCR analysis of conjunctival tissue showed induction of Th2 cytokine (Ccl5, Il4, Il5, Il13) expression in the RW-EAC and attenuated Ccl5, Il4, Il13 mRNA expression in the conjunctivae of the RW-EAC using POSTN-KO mice. Microarray analysis and immunohistochemical analysis showed diminished basophil marker (Mcpt8) expression and reduced numbers of infiltrating basophils in the conjunctivae of RW-EAC in POSTN-KO mice.

Conclusions

POSTN expression in conjunctival tissue plays an indispensable role in the late-phase reaction of the RW-EAC model by facilitating eosinophil/basophil infiltration and augmenting Th2 cytokine expression.

from Allergy and Immunology via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2Dd3Dhk

Clinicopathological analysis of oral diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma, NOS: a systematic review

Abstract

Background

Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma, NOS (DLBCL NOS) is the commonest extranodal non‐Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed in the oral and maxillofacial region. However, few studies are currently available and its prognostic determinants still remain undefined.

Purpose

To analyse the available data on oral DLBCL NOS and to describe its clinicopathological features, identifying potential prognostic factors.

Methods

An electronic systematic search was performed using multiple databases with a specific search strategy in April 2018. All reports describing DLBCL NOS involving the oral cavity and jaw bones with sufficient clinicopathological information were assessed.

Results

Sixty‐three publications were included in the study, comprising 122 cases. Oral DLBCL NOS was found predominantly in elderly males (61.5%), and most often presented as an asymptomatic swelling of the gingiva. Patients commonly were HIV‐negative (36.1%), with few reports describing EBV‐positive cases (4 cases/3.3%). Only 8 cases presented B‐symptoms and most cases were classified as stage I or II (48.4%). CHOP therapy was the main treatment option (24.5%) and the overall 5‐year survival rate achieved 83%. Males and advanced Ann‐Arbor stage patients presented significantly lower survival rates in the univariate analysis, but no significance was found in the multivariate model.

Conclusion

Oral DLBCL NOS is an aggressive malignancy, but with a high survival rate.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

from OroFacial via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2PmY6Mo

Prediction of Lumbar Disk Herniation and Clinical Outcome Using Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A 5-Year Follow-Up Study

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of T2 mapping at baseline with regard to the development of disk herniation and clinical outcome at a 5-year follow-up in patients with low back pain. Materials and Methods Twenty-five symptomatic patients (13 male; mean age, 44.0 years; range, 24–64 years at baseline) were examined at 3 T magnetic resonance imaging, with a 5-year follow-up. Region of interest analysis was performed on 125 lumbar intervertebral disks on 2 central sagittal T2 maps. Absolute T2 relaxation times and a T2 value ratio of the posterior annulus fibrosus as a percentage of the nucleus pulposus (NPAF) were evaluated for each disk. All disks were graded morphologically using the Pfirrmann score. Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaires (RMDQ) and a visual analogue scale (VAS) were assessed for each patient at follow-up as a clinical end point and compared with diagnosed lumbar disk herniation. Statistical analysis was conducted by a biomedical statistician. Results Using the baseline NPAF ratio, follow-up development of herniation was predicted with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.893 in a receiver operating characteristic curve. The same was done using the baseline nucleus pulposus T2, resulting in an AUC of 0.901. Baseline and follow-up NPAF, as well as baseline and follow-up nucleus pulposus T2, differed significantly (P

from Imaging via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2PoUFVL

Individually Body Weight–Adapted Contrast Media Application in Computed Tomography Imaging of the Liver at 90 kVp

Objectives The aim of the present study was to evaluate the attenuation and image quality (IQ) of a body weight–adapted contrast media (CM) protocol compared with a fixed injection protocol in computed tomography (CT) of the liver at 90 kV. Materials and Methods One hundred ninety-nine consecutive patients referred for abdominal CT imaging in portal venous phase were included. Group 1 (n = 100) received a fixed CM dose with a total iodine load (TIL) of 33 g I at a flow rate of 3.5 mL/s, resulting in an iodine delivery rate (IDR) of 1.05 g I/s. Group 2 (n = 99) received a body weight–adapted CM protocol with a dosing factor of 0.4 g I/kg with a subsequent TIL adapted to the patients' weight. Injection time of 30 seconds was kept identical for all patients. Therefore, flow rate and IDR changed with different body weight. Patients were divided into 3 weight categories; 70 kg or less, 71 to 85 kg, and 86 kg or greater. Attenuation (HU) in 3 segments of the liver, signal-to-noise ratio, and contrast-to-noise ratio were used to evaluate objective IQ. Subjective IQ was assessed by a 5-point Likert scale. Differences between groups were statistically analyzed (P 0.05). Body weight–adapted protocoling led to more homogeneous enhancement of the liver parenchyma compared with a fixed protocol with a mean enhancement per weight category in group 2 of 126.5 ± 15.8, 128.2 ± 15.3, and 122.7 ± 21.2 HU compared with that in group 1 of 139.9 ± 21.4, 124.6 ± 24.8, and 116.2 ± 17.8 HU, respectively. Conclusions Body weight–adapted CM injection protocols result in more homogeneous enhancement of the liver parenchyma at 90 kV in comparison to a fixed CM volume with comparable objective and subjective IQ, whereas overall CM volume can be safely reduced in more than half of patients. Received for publication July 9, 2018; and accepted for publication, after revision, September 12, 2018. This manuscript has not received any funding. The authors report no conflicts of interest. However, the authors declare relationships with the following companies: All authors report institutional research grants from Bayer and Siemens. C.M. also receives institutional grants from Bayer and personal fees (speakers' bureau) from Bayer. J.E.W. reports additional institutional research grants from Agfa, Bayer, GE, Philips, Optimed, and Siemens, and personal fees (speakers' bureau) from Siemens and Bayer, outside the submitted work. Correspondence to: Bibi Martens, MD, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, P. Debyelaan 25 PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, the Netherlands. E-mail: bibi.martens@mumc.nl. Copyright © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

from Imaging via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2QCXVJH

Clinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Knee at 7 T: Optimization of Fat Suppression

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency and performance of different fat suppression techniques for clinical 7 T knee magnetic resonance imaging including the slice-selective gradient reversal (SSGR) technique. Materials and Methods This article is an ethical board–approved prospective study with written informed consent from 8 volunteers (mean, 31 ± 4 years). It included fat phantom and knee magnetic resonance imaging at 3 T (Magnetom Skyra; Siemens Healthcare) and at 7 T (Achieva, Philips Healthcare). At 3 T, an axial proton density-weighted turbo spin echo sequence with spectral adiabatic inversion recovery (SPAIR) was acquired. At 7 T, a series of 5 proton density-weighted turbo spin echo sequences was acquired: (a) without fat suppression, (b) with spectral presaturation with inversion recovery (SPIR), (c) with SPAIR, (d) with SSGR, and (e) with the combination of SSGR + SPIR. Additional noise scans allowed pixelwise calculation of signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio maps. Quantitative data at 7 T were compared with each other but not to 3 T. Two independent radiologists evaluated overall image quality, homogeneity and grade of fat suppression, and the delineation between 2 adjacent structures. Results were compared using Wilcoxon signed rank and paired sample t tests. Results Relative signal-to-noise ratios of fat demonstrated that the SPIR technique reduced the fat signal to 45% ± 5.4%; SPAIR, 18% ± 1.2%; SSGR, 14% ± 1.1%; and SSGR + SPIR, 11% ± 0.3%. Contrast-to-noise ratio showed superior contrast between muscle-fat (P

from Imaging via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2PijiDj

Chagas Disease: DAMS Unplugged

Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a tropical parasitic disease caused by the protist Trypanosoma cruzi. It is spread mostly by insects known as Triatominae, or "kissing bugs". Presenting an integrated approach to the disease.

Famous Radiology Blog https://ift.tt/1MM2hKr TeleRad Providers at https://ift.tt/1NgppuI Mail us at sales@teleradproviders.com

from Imaging via a.sfakia on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2QCPPRj