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Coconut shell activated carbon (CNSAC) was applied as a filter layer in hybrid vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland (H-VSSF-CW), in order to enhance the multi-metal removal efficiency of the constructed wetland (CW) and to reduce heavy metal accumulation on Salvinia cucullata. Treatment P + AC, (having CNSAC filter layer), showed 32, 21 and 34% more Cd, Cr, and Pb removal efficiency than treatment P (without CNSAC layer). CNSAC activated carbon adsorbed Cd and Pb and Cr by functional groups –NH, -NO2, -C-O, –OH and –C O, and significantly reduced Cd and Pb exposure to S. cucullate. Chromium adsorption by CNSAC filter layer was half (just 25% of total input) of the Cd and Pb. In treatment P, due to high Cd, Pb and Cr accumulation in S. cucullate , the antioxidant defense mechanism of the plant was collapsed and cell death was observed, which in turn has resulted reduced biomass gain (5% reduction). On the other hand, in treatment P + AC, an antioxidant defense mechanism was active in the form significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased of SOD, CAT and proline content while reduced MDA, EL, %EB and soluble sugar. So, the application of CNSAC increased the heavy metal removal efficiency of H-VSSF-CW by adsorption of a considerable share of heavy metal and hence, reduced the heavy metal load/exposure to S. cucullate. [Display omitted] • Coconut shell was used to produce activated carbon, CNSAC. • CNSAC applied as filter layer in H-VSSF-CW increase %REs of Cd, Cr and Pb. • CNSAC reduced Cd and Pb exposure to S. cucullata through bio-sorption. • Heavy metal accumulation increased MDA content in plant. • S. cucullata showed antioxidant response as SOD and proline content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) has received a great deal of attention in recent years for its role as a prognostic and predictive molecular marker of glioma. However, the results of studies examining its mutation frequency and predictive value are inconsistent, and several studies have investigated the association between TERT gene polymorphisms and gliomagenesis. We used a meta-analysis approach to examine these unsolved problems. A bibliography search using EMBASE and MEDLINE was performed to identify potentially relevant articles and conference abstracts that investigated TERT mutations in glioma. The references contained in the identified trials were also examined to identify any other relevant published or unpublished articles. Sixteen studies were included. Pooled estimates of the relative risks (RR), 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), hazard ratios (HR) and frequency were calculated. TERT mutations occurred frequently in glioblastoma (69%) and oligodendrogliomas (72%) but were less frequent in astrocytomas (24%) and oligoastrocytomas (38%). The HR for glioma patients with TERT mutations versus wild type TERT was 1.63 (95% CI 1.35–1.98). TERT polymorphisms were associated with an increased risk of glioma compared to controls (RR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.23–1.33). Our study shows that the TERT gene is a valuable prognostic and predictive biomarker of glioma, and TERT gene polymorphisms are significantly associated with an increased risk of glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a meta-analysis to comprehensively evaluate the current data on the overall efficacy of levetiracetam (LEV), a new generation antiepileptic drug, in patients with brain tumors. The efficacy of LEV in patients diagnosed with brain tumors has been evaluated in several studies, however, with inconsistent results. Bibliographic searches of the EMBASE, MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov and Cochrane Central Register of the Controlled Trials databases were performed to identify articles and conference abstracts that investigated the efficacy of LEV in the treatment of brain tumor patients. Fourteen studies were included in this meta-analysis. Among the 14 included studies, two were randomized controlled trials. The subgroup analysis demonstrated that the complete response rate of LEV was 94% during the postoperative period and 84% during the long-term follow-up period. Our results suggest that LEV is a relatively effective drug for the treatment of brain tumor patients and its efficacy is slightly lower during the long-term follow-up period than during the postoperative period. Further randomized controlled trials are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most lethal type of primary brain tumor, and patients that undergo the maximum tumor resection that is safely possible and standard radiochemotherapy only achieve a median survival time of 14.6 months. Several clinical studies have reported that valproic acid could prolong survival of GBM patients. However, the results of these studies are inconsistent. We examined relevant studies and conducted a meta-analysis to assess the effects of VPA on survival times and recurrence. Methods A bibliographic search was performed in the EMBASE, MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov and Cochrane Central Register of the Controlled Trials databases to identify potentially relevant articles or conference abstracts that investigated the effects of VPA on the outcome of glioma patients. Five observational studies were included. Results Pooled estimates of the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Our meta-analysis confirmed the benefit of using VPA (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.44–0.71). Sub-group analysis shows that patients treated with VPA had a hazard ratio of 0.74 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.59–0.94 vs. patients treated by other-AEDs and a hazard ratio of 0.66 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.52–0.84 vs. patients treated by administration of non-AEDs. No heterogeneity was observed in the subset analysis. Conclusion The results of our study suggest that glioblastoma patients may experience prolonged survival due to VPA administration. Sub-analysis confirmed the benefit of VPA use compared to a non-AEDs group and an other-AEDs group. Further RCTs of this subject should be performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: Seizures are the most common initial symptom in patients with low-grade gliomas, and approximately 30% of these patients still suffer from epilepsy after gross-total resection of the tumour. We examined the relationship between the overexpression of ki-67 in WHO grade II gliomas and seizure control. Methods: A series of 93 histologically confirmed WHO grade II glioma tissues were analysed through immunohistochemical staining for ki-67 expression. Follow-up visits regarding seizure control were scheduled at 12 months. The Engel classification was used to categorise patients’ seizure status. Results: Of the 93 patients analysed, 65 (66.3%) patients initially presented with seizures. A total of 36 patients were diagnosed with WHO grade II oligodendrogliomas, 29 patients had oligoastrocytomas and 28 patients had astrocytomas. Ki-67 was over-expressed in 15 patients. One year after surgery poor seizure control was observed in 11 of these patients. In contrast, low ki-67 expression (<10%) was found in 78 patients. Poor seizure control was observed in 36 patients (difference between ki-67 over- and low expression groups P =0.002). Logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with gross-total resection achieved better seizure control while ki-67 overexpression and age below 38 years were poor seizure control factors explained of the variance of seizure outcome (OR: 0.382, 4.354 and 1.822, respectively). Conclusions: In WHO grade II gliomas, Ki-67 is a molecular marker which predicts poor seizure control of glioma patients after the resection of the tumour. Gross-total resection, ki-67 overexpression and age below 38 years significantly affect seizure prognosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Rationale and Objectives: To investigate whether baseline apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps can be employed to predict both infarct core and salvageable ischemic tissue volumes in acute ischemic stroke. Materials and Methods: An automated image analysis system based on baseline ADC maps was tested against 30 patients with acute ischemic stroke of anterior circulation to predict both infarct core and salvageable ischemic tissue volumes. The predicted infarct core and predicted salvageable ischemic tissue were quantitatively and qualitatively compared with follow-up imaging data in recanalization and no recanalization groups, respectively. Direct comparisons with perfusion- and diffusion- weighted magnetic resonance imaging measures were also made. Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Spearman rank correlation, and Bland-Altman plots were performed. Results: In the recanalization group, the predicted infarct core volume was significantly correlated with the final infarct volume (r = 0. 868, P < .001). In the no recanalization group, the predicted final infarct volume (sum of the predicted infarct core and salvageable ischemic tissue volumes), as well as the predicted salvageable ischemic tissue volume, was also significantly correlated with the true final infarct volume (r = 0.955, P < .001) and infarct growth (r = 0.918, P < .001), respectively. The volumes of perfusion-diffusion mismatch were significantly larger than those of infarct growth and predicted salvageable ischemic tissue. Good agreement between predicted and true final infarct lesions was visualized by Bland-Altman plots in two groups. Direct visual comparative analysis revealed good qualitative agreement between the true final infarct and predicted lesions in 21 patients. Conclusion: The proposed ADC based approach may be a feasible and practical tool to predict the volumes of infarct core and salvageable ischemic tissue without intravenous contrast media–enhanced perfusion-weighted imaging at baseline. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The seeds of Herpetospermum pedunculosun (Ser.) C.B.Clarke. (HPD), Mormodica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng. (MCC) and Mormodica charantia L. (MCR) share the same common name (“Bolengguazi”) in the Tibetan medicine. The anti-inflammatory activities of the three “Bolengguazi” were evaluated using egg album-induced paw edema and cotton-pellet granuloma tests. Among them, HPD is the most active one in both models. Results showed that oral administration of ethanol extract of HPD seed (200 and 400mg/kg) significantly suppressed the development of egg albumin-induced paw edema (P <0.01). In the chronic test, the ethanol extract of HPD seed (200 and 400mg/kg) showed significant reduction in granuloma weight of rats (P <0.05). The anti-inflammatory effect of the ethanol HPD seed was similar to that of indomethacin (10mg/kg). Moreover, the free radical scavenging activities of “Bolengguazi” were investigated using the DPPH test. Only the ethanol extract of HPD seed showed a moderate free radical scavenging effect on DPPH (IC50, 198.69μg/ml) when compared with the positive control, V E, (IC50, 44.91μg/ml). The HPD seeds showed more significant anti-inflammatory activities in additional to higher free radical scavenging activities than that of the MCC and MCR seeds. The results of the present study provide a scientific basis to explain, in part, the popular use of HPD seed in Tibetan folk medicine as “Bolengguazi”. The present study also supports the claims by the traditional Tibetan medicine practitioners about the use of HPD seeds in inflammatory diseases, such as “Chiba”. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A hydraulic test for studying orifice-induced random wall pressure fluctuations and vibration in a pipeline is presented. Natural frequencies of the structure, statistical characteristics of the fluctuating pressure and structure acceleration response have been studied. The orifice significantly disturbed the pipe flow and greatly increased the fluctuating pressure level and the dominating energy is concentrated at the lower frequency range. The highest fluctuating pressure level appears at 1.7 diameters downstream of the orifice in the axial direction, while the Power Spectral Density and the root mean square of the pressure fluctuations do not show significant difference in the radial direction. The test results also confirm the weakly coupled fluid-structure system assumption for the test pipe system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We report a 51-year-old man with an unusual intradural suprasellar chondroid chordoma. He presented with headache and diminution of vision in both eyes. MRI demonstrated the suprasellar tumor as an isointense mass with heterogeneous enhancement after intravenous administration of contrast agent. There was neither bony nor dural association, and gross-total removal of the mass was performed using a left extended pterional approach. Based on the histological characteristics of the tumor, which was composed of typical chordoma cells and islands of chondroid elements, we diagnosed a chondroid chordoma. We believe this is the first report of an entirely intradural chondroid chordoma on the suprasellar region. Clinical, radiological, and pathological features of the tumor are described. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Salicylic acid (SA) plays a critical role in plant development and defense responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Sugars can act as osmotic adjustors or nutrient and metabolic signals in the activation of plant defense responses. To uncover the effects of SA on sugar metabolism, we assayed the altered components and levels of sugars in cucumber seedlings treated with SA. After SA treatment, the levels of glucose, fructose, raffinose and stachyose were increased in both leaves and roots. In contrast, sucrose and starch responded differently in leaves and root, decreasing in leaves but accumulating in roots. These changes could be due to the effects of SA on the activities of metabolism-related enzymes. In leaves, SA promoted the activities of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), sucrose synthase (SS) and amylases, while the SA-treated root showed a reduced amylase activity and an unchanged activity in SPS. The changes in various sugar contents resulted in the accumulation of soluble sugars in SA-treated cucumber seedlings, especially non-reducing sugars in roots. These increased sugars could function as osmotic regulators and facilitate water uptake and retention in plant cells, thereby conferring seedlings an enhanced tolerance to salinity stresses caused by NaCl treatment. Taken together, our findings provide an important insight into the effects of SA on sugar metabolism, and a protective mechanism for SA against water deficiency is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]