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Hydatid cyst (cystic echinococcosis) is a chronic parasitic infection by the larval stage of the cestode that is called Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) resulting in the development of cystic lesions in animals and humans. In this report, we describe a rare phenotype of hydatid cyst in the breast of a 23-year-old female presented with breast mass in the left upper outer quadrant for 3 months with palpable left axillary lymph nodes. Both US and mammography provided a picture of complex suspicious cystosolid lesion with amorphous micro-calcification (BIRAD-4A). Surgical consultation was performed and Tru-Cut biopsy was recommended. Histopathology results revealed multiple viable protoscolices of E. granulosus and suggested the final diagnosis of breast hydatid cyst. The patient returned with ruptured and infected hydatid cyst of the breast and started treatment with Albendazole 400 mg twice daily in addition to antibiotics. Following-up after two months of Albendazole treatment showed a dramatic shrinkage in the size of the cystic lesion. In conclusion, hydatid cyst should be considered as a differential diagnosis of any cystic or cystosolid lesion in the breast and any organ in the body from head to toe apart from the hair and nails. Radiologists should be aware to the benign lesions that may mimic breast cancer to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary invasive procedures and consequent complications.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common motor neuron disease in humans and remains to have a fatal prognosis. Recent studies in animal models and human ALS patients indicate that increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in the pathogenesis. Considering previous studies revealing the influence of ROS on mitochondrial physiology, our attention was focused on mitochondria in the murine ALS model, wobbler mouse. The aim of this study was to investigate morphological differences between wild-type and wobbler mitochondria with aid of superresolution structured illumination fluorescence microscopy, TEM, and TEM tomography. To get an insight into mitochondrial dynamics, expression studies of corresponding proteins were performed. Here, we found significantly smaller and degenerated mitochondria in wobbler motor neurons at a stable stage of the disease. Our data suggest a ROS-regulated, Ox-CaMKII-dependent Drp1 activation leading to disrupted fission-fusion balance, resulting in fragmented mitochondria. These changes are associated with numerous impairments, resulting in an overall self-reinforcing decline of motor neurons. In summary, our study provides common pathomechanisms with other ALS models and human ALS cases confirming mitochondria and related dysfunctions as a therapeutic target for the treatment of ALS.

A free-swimming thornback ray Raja clavata specimen demonstrating significant morphological abnormality is reported, captured by beam trawl in the Irish Sea off north Wales, UK. The anterior sections of both pectoral fins were separated from the head section for a length of approximately 140 mm extending from the rostrum tip to a point posterior of the spiracles, along with abnormal morphology of the gill slits. This phenomenon has been observed elsewhere but is the first documented example of this abnormality in the eastern Irish Sea, despite widespread targeting of the species across the region by commercial and recreational fishers. Possible causes and consequences of the observed abnormality are discussed.

Existing approaches to in vitro maturation (IVM) of bovine oocytes do not take into account their specific demands during terminal phase of IVM including the need for increasing of their resistance to age-re-lated changes. In this work, we performed for the first time a comparative investigation of nuclear maturation and abnormal changes of MII chromosomes in bovine oocytes after their maturation in single-phase system and different two-phase systems and after the subsequent prolonged culture of the ova. When using the single-phase system, cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured for 24 h in the medium TCM 199 containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 10 μg/ml FSH, and 10 μg/ml luteinizing hormone (LH). In the two-phase system, oocytes matured in the same conditions for first 16 h and then in a new medium (TCM 199 containing 10% FBS (Control) or the same medium supplemented with 50 ng/ml progesterone) for the remaining 8 h of IVM. After maturation in the single-phase and the two-phase systems, a part of COCs were transferred to an aging medium (TCM 199 containing 10% FBS) and further cultured for 24 h. The state of the nuclear material (stage of meiosis and abnormal changes of MII chromosomes) in the matured and aged oocytes was assessed using cytogenetic analysis. The rate of oocytes being at the MII stage of meiosis after IVM in the single-phase and the two-phase systems was similar and amounted 82.7-86.3%. In addition, no effect of the culture system on the rate of MII oocytes with abnormal morphology of chromosomes was revealed. For the single-phase culture, this rate after the end of the IVM period was 32.2±0.5% and for the two-phase systems culture 38.5±4.0%. The prolonged culture of matured oocytes led to an increase the frequency of destructive changes in MII chromosomes to 56.9±2.9 and 68.4±3.0%, respectively. Progesterone in the IVM medium (during the last 8 hours) also did not effect on the rate of nuclear maturation, but reduced the rate of oocytes with abnormal changes in chromosomes: after IVM, as compared with the Control and the two-phase system; after 24-hours prolonged culture as compared to control (P

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of melatonin and Allium sativum (garlic) on dibutyl phthalate (DBP) influence on spermiogram of rabbit bucks. Forty two (42) rabbit bucks were used for this study, bucks were randomly divided into 7 groups of 6 bucks each. Group A was administered olive oil for 16 weeks, group B (olive oil + DBP for 16 weeks), group C (melatonin for 8 weeks, then olive oil + DBP for another 8 weeks), group D (garlic for 8 weeks, then olive oil + DBP for another 8 weeks), group E (olive oil + DBP for 8 weeks, then melatonin for another 8 week), group F (olive oil + DBP for 8 weeks, then garlic for another 8 weeks) and group G (olive oil + DBP for 8 weeks, then melatonin and garlic for another 8 weeks). The observation period lasted for 120 days, during which semen samples were collected weekly between the hours of 8.00 am to 10.00 am using artificial vagina (AV).There were significant differences (P

Foot and ankle instability can be seen both in acute and chronic settings, and isolating the diagnosis can be difficult. Imaging can contribute to the clinical presentation not only by identifying abnormal morphology of various supporting soft tissue structures but also by providing referring clinicians with a sense of how functionally incompetent those structures are by utilizing weight-bearing images and with comparison to the contralateral side. Loading the affected joint and visualizing changes in alignment provide clinicians with information regarding the severity of the abnormality and, therefore, how it should be managed.

Thorough knowledge of the root canal morphology, appropriate assessment of the pulp chamber floor, and critical interpretation of radiographs are foundation for successful root canal therapy. Mandibular premolars have earned the reputation for having an aberrant anatomy, making them one of the most difficult teeth to manage endodontically. Therefore, clinician should be aware of the configuration of the pulp system as the incidence of having two roots in these teeth is quite rare. These two case reports present the clinical management of mandibular first premolar having two roots bifurcated at the mid-root level. How to cite this article: Jharwal A, Raisingani D, Prasad AB, et al. Endodontic Management of Mandibular First Premolar with Type IV Root Canal: A Case Report. J Mahatma Gandhi Univ Med Sci Tech 2020;5(1):26–30.

Three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures were created with the use of fur keratin associated proteins (F-KAPs) as scaffolds. The procedure of preparation F-KAP involves combinations of chemical activation and enzymatic digestion. The best result in porosity and heterogeneity of F-KAP surface was received during pepsin digestion. The F-KAP had a stable structure, no changes were observed after heat treatment, shaking and washing. The 0.15-0.5 mm fraction had positive effect for formation of 3D scaffolds and cell culturing. Living rat mesenchymal cells on the F-KAP with no abnormal morphology were observed by SEM during 32 days of cell culturing.

Relevance and methods. The efficiency of obtaining and reproduction of hybrid animals is closely related to their reproductive performance during interspecific hybridization. Hybrid males often have low fertility. In this regard, it is necessary to carry out the procedure for the preparation of semen for further use. The aim of the research was to study the effectiveness of using the flotation method (swim-up) to improve the quality of the sperm from hybrid males. The object of the study was the sperm from hybrids of argali with Romanov breed ewes (1/8 argali x 7/8 Romanov breed, n = 15).Results. A comparative analysis of the qualitative and quantitative indicators of freshly obtained, frozen-thawed and processed by the swim-up method was carried out. The sperm freeze-thaw cycle was accompanied by an increase in the sperm DNA fragmentation index and an increase in the proportion of immotile spermatozoa by 10% and 37%, respectively, compared with freshly obtained semen. The number of sperm with abnormal morphology doubled. Using the procedure «swim-up» possible to increase the content of the progressive motile sperm by 2.1 times compared with that established for the frozen-thawed sperm (p ≤ 0,01). The obtained results indicated the effectiveness of using the “swim-up” procedure to improve the quality of the semen from interspecific hybrid males.

Background: To examine the morphology and function of mitochondria from the genioglossus in a rabbit model of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), as well as these factors after insertion of a mandibular advancement device (MAD). Methods: Thirty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomized into three groups: control, OSAHS and MAD, with 10 rabbits in each group. Animals in Group OSAHS and Group MAD were induced to develop OSAHS by injection of gel into the submucosal muscular layer of the soft palate. The rabbits in Group MAD were fitted with a MAD. The animals in the control group were not treated. Further, polysomnography (PSG) and CBCT scan were used to measure MAD effectiveness. CBCT of the upper airway and PSG suggested that MAD was effective. Rabbits in the three groups were induced to sleep for 4–6 hours per day for 8 consecutive weeks. The genioglossus was harvested and detected by optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The mitochondrial membrane potential was determined by laser confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. Mitochondrial complex I and IV activities were detected by mitochondrial complex assay kits.Results: OSAHS-like symptoms were induced successfully in Group OSAHS and rescued by MAD treatment. The relative values of the mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial complex I activity and complex IV activity were significantly lower in Group OSAHS than in the control group; however, there was no significant difference between Group MAD and the control group. The OSAHS-induced injury and the dysfunctional mitochondria of the genioglossus muscle were reduced by MAD treatment.Conclusion: Damaged mitochondrial structure and function were induced by OSAHS and could be attenuated by MAD treatment.

Maxillary lateral incisors are generally considered as a tooth with a single root and single canal. This is not true in all cases as case reports have advocated maxillary lateral incisors showing two roots with two or three root canals, Thorough knowledge of the internal and external dental anatomy and its variations is essential for a successful endodontic treatment. This case report deals with the periapical surgery in a two rooted maxillary lateral incisor along with the central incisor.

IMPORTANCE Analysing choroidal flow in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) with novel device. BACKGROUND To examine the abnormal morphology of choriocapillary flow with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) according to the presence of subretinal fluid (SRF) in CSC. DESIGN A hospital-based retrospective study. PARTICIPANTS We analysed OCTA results of 68 eyes (68 patients) diagnosed as CSC with or without SRF (active and resolved CSC, respectively) at the Asan Medical Center. METHODS We classified OCTA choriocapillary images into three pattern groups: mixed perfusion, hyper-perfusion and normal perfusion. Data analysis included age, follow-up duration, treatment modalities, number of treatments, subfoveal choroidal thickness and SRF height. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The relationship between CSC activity and choriocapillary pattern. RESULTS Abnormal choroidal flow (mixed and hyper-perfusion) was more frequently found in eyes with active CSC (100%) than resolved CSC (47.5%, P < 0.001). In active CSC eyes, mixed perfusion was predominant (71.4%), while hyper-perfusion was predominant in those with resolved CSC (73.7%). Eyes with recently resolved CSC (SRF absorption present for

Objective To systematically evaluate and synthesize the literature on bony hip morphology of professional dancers, as measured by 2D or 3D imaging techniques. Data sources A literature search was performed on November 20, 2020, using MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane. Clinical studies were eligible if they reported on hip morphology of professional dancers. Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and full-texts to determine eligibility; performed data extraction; and assessed the quality of eligible studies according to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist. This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Main results The search returned 1384 records; 449 were duplicates, 923 were excluded after title/abstract/full-text screening, and 12 were eligible, reporting on 447 individuals (352 professional dancers and 95 controls). The JBI checklist indicated that 11 studies scored ≥4 points. For professional dancers, lateral center edge angle was 22.4 to 30.8 degrees, acetabular version was 6.7 to 13.5 degrees, neck-shaft angle was 132.5 to 139.5 degrees, and femoral version was 4.7 to 14.4 degrees. Statistically significant differences between dancers and controls were found in some of the studies for acetabular version, neck-shaft angle, and femoral version, although only femoral version showed clinically relevant differences. Conclusions The bony hip morphology of professional dancers is similar to that of other athletes and age-matched controls, which is in contrast to the authors' clinical experience. We presume that the abnormal morphology we have seen at the clinic is only present in symptomatic dancers who require total hip arthroplasty (THA) and is not a general characteristic of all dancers. Further studies should compare the hip morphology of dancers undergoing THA with matched nondancers.

Ali-Murthy et al. show that during Drosophila oogenesis, several nurse cell nuclei move into the oocyte through a channel that opens when nurse cells and oocyte transiently fuse, and that nuclear transfer/elimination is essential for oocyte maturation and embryonic viability., Drosophila oocytes develop together with 15 sister germline nurse cells (NCs), which pass products to the oocyte through intercellular bridges. The NCs are completely eliminated during stages 12–14, but we discovered that at stage 10B, two specific NCs fuse with the oocyte and extrude their nuclei through a channel that opens in the anterior face of the oocyte. These nuclei extinguish in the ooplasm, leaving 2 enucleated and 13 nucleated NCs. At stage 11, the cell boundaries of the oocyte are mostly restored. Oocytes in egg chambers that fail to eliminate NC nuclei at stage 10B develop with abnormal morphology. These findings show that stage 10B NCs are distinguished by position and identity, and that NC elimination proceeds in two stages: first at stage 10B and later at stages 12–14.

Hip subspine impingement (SSI) is a condition located in the extra-articular area of the hip and is characterized by irregular contact between the anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) and the distal femoral neck. Recently, it also has been described that SSI can occur in a normal AIIS, without or in combination with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), which has redirected the focus of the research. In clinical practice, SSI has no characteristic symptoms/signs and shares similar clinical findings with FAI, making it an important cause of revision hip arthroscopy due to the increased risk of being underdiagnosed and untreated. Consequently, interest in studying SSI and FAI simultaneously has grown to determine whether injuries to the labrum, chondrolabral junction, and acetabular cartilage can be aggravated by dynamic dysfunction or abnormal morphology of the AIIS.

Utesnitveni sindrom kolka je z gibanjem povezana klinična motnja kolka, ki predstavlja simptomatski prezgodnji stik med proksimalnim delom stegnenice in acetabulom. Bolečina v sprednjem delu kolka se diagnosticira z utesnitvenim sindromom kolka, kadar so prisotni simptomi (bolečina, klikanje, občutek zaklenjenosti sklepa, šibkost in togost v kolku), klinični znaki (pozitiven FADIR test, omejen obseg giba v kolku, disfunkcionalni gibalni vzorci v kolčno-medeničnem sklopu) in pozitivna slikovna diagnostika (»stegnenični« in/ali »acetabularni« tip utesnitve). Trenutno so načini zdravljenja sindroma usmerjeni predvsem v operacijske tehnike. Glavni namen monografskega magistrskega dela je bil oblikovati gibalno-terapevtski program zdravljenja utesnitvenega sindroma, ki bo v pomoč pri sistematični in celostni rehabilitaciji tega sindroma. V prvem delu naloge je bil cilj podati temeljne informacije o anatomiji in biomehanskih značilnostih kolka, opredeliti morfološke značilnosti, dovzetnejše za razvoj utesnitvenega sindroma kolka in omeniti najpogostejše poškodbe kolka. Cilj drugega dela naloge je bil sistematičen pregled literature s pridobitvijo informacij o etiologiji in epidemiologiji sindroma ter predstavitev patomehanskega modela nastanka utesnitvenega sindroma kolka. V zadnjem delu magistrske naloge je bil izdelan gibalno-terapevtski program, in sicer od začetne anamneze in funkcionalnega pregleda do primera vadbenega programa za utesnitveni sindrom kolka. Ugotovljeno je bilo, da je nastanek sindroma posledica kombinacije naslednjih dejavnikov: spremenjena kostna morfologija, rizična populacija in rizične aktivnosti ter spremenjena kinematika kolčno-medeničnega sklopa. Pri spremenjeni kostni morfologiji gre za »stegnenični«, »acetabularni« ali mešani tip utesnitve. Prizadeta je predvsem mlada, aktivna populacija, katere aktivnosti vključujejo intenzivna, ciklična gibanja v smeri upogiba kolka ali ponavljajoča gibanja izven fizioloških ravnin. V določenih primerih pa so težave odraz vztrajanja v statičnem položaju upogiba kolka, in sicer kot posledica prevladujočega sedečega načina življenja. Pri obolelih so dosledno ugotovljene naslednje kinematične spremembe med gibanji, kjer je potrebna velika amplituda upogiba kolka: povečana anteverzija medenice v fazi največjega upogiba kolka, zmanjšana retroverzija medenice v ekscentrični fazi giba, zmanjšana aktivnost iztegovalk kolka, zmanjšan celotni obseg giba medenice ter pogosto povečan primik in zmanjšana notranja rotacija kolka. Oblikovani gibalno-terapevtski program temelji na prilagoditvi rizičnih aktivnosti in odpravi neugodnih gibalnih vzorcev. Program vključuje vsebine, namenjene zmanjševanju bolečine, vnetij ter kapsularne togosti (multidisciplinarno sodelovanje), razvoju kinestezije ledveno-medeničnega in kolčno-medeničnega sklopa, razvoju jakosti, sklepne stabilizacije in moči kolčnih mišic (poudarek na zadnji mišični verigi) ter mišic trupa, v zadnjih fazah pa še razvoju koordinacije v športno specifičnih situacijah s poudarkom na upogibu kolka. Program vadbe mora biti individualno prilagojen in mora upoštevati osnovna gibalno-terapevtska načela, pomembna pa je tudi aktivna vključenost posameznika pri samem procesu zdravljenja. Z učinkovitim interdisciplinarnim sodelovanjem zdravstvenih delavcev lahko odpravimo ali vsaj upočasnimo napredek sindroma in zmanjšamo tveganje za razvoj nadaljnjih patologij. Femoroacetabular impingment syndrome is a movement-related clinical disorder of the hip that represents symptomatic premature contact between the proximal femur and the acetabulum. Anterior hip pain is diagnosed with femoroacetabular impingment syndrome when present with symptoms (pain, clicking, weakness and stiffness in the hip), clinical signs (positive FADIR test, limited range of motion in the hip, dysfunctional movement patterns in the lumbopelvic and hip region) and imaging findings (»cam«, »pincer« or »mixed« type). Currently, approaches for treating the syndrome are focused primarily on surgical techniques. The main purpose of the monographic master's thesis was to design a structured kinesiotheraphy program for the treatment of femoroacetabular syndrome, which will help in the systematic and comprehensive rehabilitation of this syndrome. In the first part of the thesis, the aim was to provide basic information about the anatomy and biomechanical characteristics of the hip, identify more susceptible morphological features for the development of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome and mention the most common hip injuries. The aim of the second part of the thesis was to systematically review the literature by obtaining information on the etiology and epidemiology of the syndrome and to present a pathomechanical model of the occurrence of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. The last part of this master's thesis consists of the instructions for the design of a movement-therapeutic program and the presentation of an example of such program. We found that a combination of the following factors is crucial for the development of the syndrome: altered bony morphology, risk population and risk activities, and altered kinematics of the hip-pelvic region. Altered bony morphology is »cam«, »pincer« or »mixed« type of morphology. Affected are mainly young, active individuals, whose activities include intense, cyclic movements in the direction of hip flexion or repetitive movements outside the physiological planes. In certain cases, however, the problems are a reflection of persistence in a static hip flexion position as a result of a predominant sedentary lifestyle. The following kinematic changes during movements where large amplitude of hip flexion is required have been consistently observed in patients: increased pelvic anteversion in the phase of maximum hip flexion, decreased pelvic retroversion in the eccentric phase of movement, reduced activity of the hip extensors, reduced total range of motion of the pelvis and often increased adduction and reduced internal hip rotation. The designed movement-therapeutic program is based on the adjustment of risky activities and the elimination of unfavorable movement patterns. The program includes content aimed at reducing pain, inflammation and capsular rigidity (multidisciplinary cooperation), development of lumbar-pelvic and hip kinesthesia, development of power, stabilization and strength of hip (emphasis on the posterior muscle chain) and trunk muscles, and in the last stages the development of coordination in sports-specific situations with an emphasis on hip flexion. The exercise program must be individually tailored and take into account the basic principles of movement therapy. Active involvement of the individual in the treatment process is also important. With effective interdisciplinary cooperation of health professionals, we can eliminate or at least slow down the progression of the syndrome and reduce the risk of developing further pathologies.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) results in abnormal morphology and gastrointestinal function, such as reduced villi height and crypt depth, thinner mucosa and muscle layers, and reduced brush border enzyme activities, delayed gastric emptying, increased stress response. As a gastrointestinal growth factor, the manner by which the porcine glucagon-like peptide-2 (pGLP-2) microsphere administration restored the gastrointestinal function and growth performance of IUGR piglets was investigated. Fourteen newborn Duroc × (Yorkshire × Landrace) IUGR piglets (0.92 ± 0.113 kg) were assigned into the IUGR (negative control group) and pGLP-2 microsphere groups. The piglets in group pGLP-2 were intraperitoneally administered with 100 mg pGLP-2 microspheres on day 1 after birth. From days 15 to 26 of trial, the body weight of the pGLP-2 group was significantly higher than that of the control. IUGR piglets of group pGLP-2 showed a significantly increased pancreas weight, serum insulin content and activity of lipase and amylase. Injection of pGLP-2 microspheres restored the intestinal absorptive capacity by significantly increasing the mRNA expression of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 1 in the jejunum and the peptide transporter 1 in the jejunum. It also restored the redox balance by increasing the catalase mRNA expression and decreasing the heat shock protein 70 mRNA expression. In addition, this improvement was associated with the significant increase in gut diameter, length and weight. Therefore, it was concluded that the injection of pGLP-2 microspheres was a suitable therapeutic strategy for compensatory growth in low birth weight IUGR piglets.

Significance Oxygen heterogeneity in solid tumors is recognized as a limiting factor for therapeutic efficacy. This heterogeneity arises from the abnormal tumor vascular structure. We investigate the role that anomalies in red blood cell transport plays in establishing oxygen heterogeneity in tumor tissue. We introduce a metric to characterize tumor vasculature (mean vessel length-to-diameter ratio, λ) and demonstrate how it predicts tissue-oxygen heterogeneity. We also report an increase in λ following treatment with the antiangiogenic agent DC101. Together, we propose λ as an effective way of monitoring the action of antiangiogenic agents and a proxy measure of oxygen heterogeneity in tumor tissue. Unraveling the causal relationship between tumor vascular structure and tissue oxygenation will pave the way for new personalized therapeutic approaches., Oxygen heterogeneity in solid tumors is recognized as a limiting factor for therapeutic efficacy. This heterogeneity arises from the abnormal vascular structure of the tumor, but the precise mechanisms linking abnormal structure and compromised oxygen transport are only partially understood. In this paper, we investigate the role that red blood cell (RBC) transport plays in establishing oxygen heterogeneity in tumor tissue. We focus on heterogeneity driven by network effects, which are challenging to observe experimentally due to the reduced fields of view typically considered. Motivated by our findings of abnormal vascular patterns linked to deviations from current RBC transport theory, we calculated average vessel lengths L¯ and diameters d¯ from tumor allografts of three cancer cell lines and observed a substantial reduction in the ratio λ=L¯/d¯ compared to physiological conditions. Mathematical modeling reveals that small values of the ratio λ (i.e., λ

A new species of Tullbergiidae, Paratullbergia chuana sp. nov. from Sichuan Province, southwest China is described. Paratullbergia chuana is characterised by the presence of one pair of pseudocelli on each segment from Th. I–Abd. V and a formula of 11/111/11111, postantennal organ composed by 34–50 vesicles arranged in two rows, seta px present on Abd. IV, setae a2 and a4 on Abd. V as macrosetae, p4 as mesoseta, and a less differentiated sensillum p3 on Abd. V. In addition, chaetotaxic variations on Abd. IV and V are discussed. An abnormal morphology of an antenna that was observed for the first time is reported.

To date, researchers have developed various animal models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to investigate its mechanisms and to identify potential therapeutic treatments. A widely recognized model that mimics the pathology of human sporadic AD involves intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection with streptozotocin (STZ). However, ICV injections are an invasive approach, which creates limitations in generalizing the results. In this study, we produced a rodent model of AD using STZ (3 mg/kg) injection via the cisterna magna (CM) once every week for 4 weeks, and analyzed at 4 weeks and 16 weeks after final injection. In the CM-STZ rodent model of AD, we observed increase in extracellular amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition and decrease and abnormal morphology of post-synaptic protein, PSD95 in 16 weeks STZ-injected group. The model developed using our less-invasive method induced features of AD-like pathology, including significantly increased extracellular amyloid-beta deposition, and decreased synaptic protein in the hippocampus. These findings supporting the success of this alternative approach, and thus, we suggest this is a promising, less invasive model for use in future AD research.

In current aging societies, diabetes mellitus and neurodegenerative diseases represented by Alzheimer’s disease are highly prevalent among adults, especially the elderly all over the world. It is worth noting that a substantial body of evidence suggests diabetes contributes to accelerated neurodegenerative processes and the decline of cognition. Over the last few years, some studies have indicated neurovascular uncoupling and disrupted functional connectivity in the early stages of many neurodegenerative diseases, and the concept of the neurovascular unit (NVU) has been highlighted to understand the initiation and progression of neurodegenerative diseases recently. Considering that some components of the NVU are also demonstrated to have abnormal morphology and function under the condition of diabetes, we propose the hypothesis that diabetes may promote the onset and development of neurodegenerative diseases by impairing the integrity of the NVU, named Diabetes-NVU-Neurodegeneration Hypothesis. The existing body of literature supporting the hypothesis and elucidating the underlying mechanisms will be summarized in this review.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)—a multisystem neurodevelopmental disorder with myriad imaging manifestations, including focal transient myelin vacuolization within the deep gray nuclei, brainstem, and cerebellum—exhibit differences in cortical and subcortical structures, particularly in subcortical regions where these abnormalities manifest. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, by using clinically obtained three-dimensional T1-weighted MR images and established image analysis methods, 10 intracranial volume–corrected subcortical and 34 cortical regions of interest (ROIs) were quantitatively assessed in 32 patients with NF1 and 245 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. By using linear models, ROI cortical thicknesses and volumes were compared between patients with NF1 and control subjects, as a function of age. With hierarchic cluster analysis and partial correlations, differences in the pattern of association between cortical and subcortical ROI volumes in patients with NF1 and control subjects were also evaluated. RESULTS: Patients with NF1 exhibited larger subcortical volumes and thicker cortices of select regions, particularly the hippocampi, amygdalae, cerebellar white matter, ventral diencephalon, thalami, and occipital cortices. For the thalami and pallida and 22 cortical ROIs in patients with NF1, a significant inverse association between volume and age was found, suggesting that volumes decrease with increasing age. Moreover, compared with those in control subjects, ROIs in patients with NF1 exhibited a distinct pattern of clustering and partial correlations. DISCUSSION: Neurofibromatosis type 1 is characterized by larger subcortical volumes and thicker cortices of select structures. Most apparent within the hippocampi, amygdalae, cerebellar white matter, ventral diencephalon, thalami and occipital cortices, these neurofibromatosis type 1–associated volumetric changes may, in part, be age dependent. © RSNA, 2018 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

This paper investigates a feasibility of using confocal Raman spectroscopy (CRS) and multivariate analysis for classification of sperm cells. The spectral based classification is compared with the morphological analysis, which is the main criterion for sperm selection in intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure. The spectral analysis is conducted using the data driven soft independent modeling of class analogies method. The supervised classification reveals numerous outliers that pass from the 'normal' class to the 'abnormal' class, and vice versa. The ultimate result shows that the initial morphological discrimination overlaps with the spectral classification only partly. It is shown that CRS provides additional information regarding the nuclear DNA stability and helps to reveal spermatozoa with fragmented and defective DNA. This can be a promising direction for future evaluation of spectra from live, unfixed cells.

Kalangkala (Litsea angulata) is one of the endemic plants in the wetlands area in Kalimantan which seeds are can reduce the quality of male mice spermatozoa such as motility and mobility. The purpose of this research is to know the potential of kalangkala seed extract on other parameters of spermatozoa quality, which are viability and morphology of male mice spermatozoa in an effort to obtain natural spermicide material. This research used five treatments by using twentyfive male mice. The design of this research was spermatozoa suspensions without being treated (Control = 0), spermatozoa suspensions +Na-CMC 0,5% (P1), spermatozoa suspensions + extract of kalangkala seed 0,1% (P2), spermatozoa suspensions + extract of kalangkala seed 0,3% (P3), and spermatozoa suspensions + extract of kalangkala seed 0,5% (P4), with five repititions for each treatment. The result of this research showed that the kalangkala seed extract reduce the percentage of viability of spermatozoa and increased the percentage of abnormal morphology of spermatozoa male mice. Therefore, kalangkala seed extract has potential as a natural spermicide.

Glucolipids in Bacillus subtilis are synthesized by UgtP processively transferring glucose from UDP-glucose to diacylglycerol. Here we conclude that the abnormal morphology of a ugtP mutant is caused by lack of glucolipids, since the same morphology arises after abolition of glucolipid production by disruption of pgcA and gtaB, which are involved in UDP-glucose synthesis. Conversely, expression of a monoglucosyldiacylglycerol (MGlcDG) produced by 1,2-diacylglycerol 3-glucosyltransferase from Acholeplasma laidlawii (alMGS) almost completely suppressed the ugtP disruptant phenotype. Activation of extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigmas (SigM, SigV, and SigX) in the ugtP mutant was decreased by alMGS expression, and was suppressed to low levels by MgSO4 addition. When alMGS and alDGS (A. laidlawii 1,2-diacylglycerol-3-glucose (1-2)-glucosyltransferase producing diglucosyldiacylglycerol (DGlcDG)) were simultaneously expressed, SigX activation was repressed to wild type level. These observations suggest that MGlcDG molecules are required for maintenance of B. subtilis cell shape and regulation of ECF sigmas, and DGlcDG regulates SigX activity.