A New Species of Comptonia (Myricaceae) from the Early Miocene of Central Inner Mongolia, China, and Phytogeographic History of Sweet-Fern.

Comptonia (Myricaceae) is well known as a monotypic genus living only in eastern North America; however, fossils show that the genus occurred extensively in the Northern Hemisphere during the Cenozoic. We observed dozens of Comptonia leaf fossils from the early Miocene in Zhuozi, China. The leaf architecture characteristics and epidermal features of the fossil specimens are described in detail here for the first time, and they were assigned to a new species: Comptonia hirsuta. The fruit fossils collected simultaneously from the same layer were assigned to Comptonia tymensis. The global fossil records indicate that the spatial distribution range of Comptonia reached its peak in both the Eocene and Miocene as two warm periods and then gradually decreased in the Oligocene, as well as after the late Miocene, because of the cooling global climate. Furthermore, the Comptonia taxon in East Asia may have migrated from North America via the Bering route in the late Paleocene or Eocene. Plant exchange between western Europe and eastern North America possibly occurred during the Eocene via the Thulean route. Phytogeographic variation in the Comptonia fossils from China also indicates that the reason for the disappearance of Comptonia from China may not only be due to the prolonged cooling and drying after the late Miocene, but also due to its progenitive pattern.

A Novel Elastomer-Based Inclinometer for Ultrasensitive Bridge Rotation Measurement.

Bridge deformation consists of cross-section rotation and deflection, which are crucial parameters for bridge capacity evaluation and damage detection. The maximum value of deflection usually happens at mid-span while for rotation it happens at two-ends. Therefore, compared with deflection, rotation is more convenient for in-situ measurement since the bridge pier can be the reference point. In this study, a high-precision inclinometer for bridge rotation measurement was conceptualized, designed, and validated. The proposed inclinometer converted the small rotation of bridge section into the deformation of an elastomer. Strain gauges were then utilized to measure the elastomer deformation and thus the bridge rotation can be obtained. The dimensions and modulus of the elastomer were designed and chosen based on the theoretical analysis. Characteristics of the inclinometer were calibrated in lab and in-situ experiments at an in-service bridge were conducted to validate its feasibility and robustness. Test results showed that the proposed inclinometer had excellent performance in resolution and accuracy, which indicate its great potential for future bridge health monitoring.

Agonism of GPR120 prevented IL-1ß-induced reduction of extracellular matrix through SOX-9.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a whole-joint disease with extremely high prevalence. In all treatment approaches of OA, blocking the degradation of the cartilage extracellular matrix is an important treatment. In OA, overexpression of derivative enzymes leads to excessive catabolism and reduced synthesis of cartilage including type II collagen and aggrecan, which results in irreversible destruction of the joint. SOX9 is a transcription factor that regulates the synthesis of type II collagen and aggrecan and is significantly downregulated in OA. GPR120 has been reported to affect the pathophysiology of OA. In this study, we used the GPR120 agonist GW9508 and TUG891 in ATDC5 chondrocytes exposed to interleukin (IL)-1ß to investigate the involvement of GPR120 in SOX9-mediated expression of type II collagen and aggrecan. Our findings show that agonism of GPR120 can reduce inflammation by inhibiting the expression of IL-6 and IL-8 induced by IL-1ß. We also show that GW9508 and TUG891 rescue the expression of type II collagen and aggrecan by preventing the reduction of SOX9 expression. Additionally, we demonstrate that the effects of GW9508 on SOX9 expression are mediated through CREB and that GPR120 is indeed required for this effect. Thus, agonism of GPR120 by GW9508 might be a potential therapeutic strategy to halt or prevent cartilage degradation.

Rock magnetic and environmental magnetic data of lacustrine sediments from the Heqing basin.

This data article associated with the manuscript "Magnetic mineral dissolution recorded in a lacustrine sequence from the Heqing Basin, SW China, and its relationship with changes in the Indian monsoon". Through detailed rock magnetic measurements, magnetic properties of the lacustrine sediments (magnetic mineralogy, their concentration and domain state) were clarified. Then, analyzing the relationship between magnetic property and paleoenvironmental proxies can reveal the paleoenvironmental implications of magnetic parameters of lacustrine sediments from the Heqing basin. Comparing paleoenvironmental proxies of lacustrine sediments from the Heqing basin with proxies associated with Indian monsoon recorded in Arabian Sea, and Bay of Bengal, can deepen our understanding about the characteristics of Indian Monsoon in the geological time.

A reproducible model of intramedullary spinal cord tumor in rats bearing RG2 cells.

Intramedullary spinal cord tumors (IMSCTs) are lethal diseases to many patients. The lack of adequate animal model has hampered the development of novel treatments. In the current study, a rodent intramedullary glioma model is established to study IMSCT progression. Fischer 344 rats received a intramedullary implantation of RG2 glioma cells. The neurological state of each rat was evaluated on daily basis using the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) scale. Rats implanted with RG2 cells developed significant hind limb paraplegia 20 days after implantation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans after three weeks revealed significant intramedullary RG2 tumors in the rats. Forty days post implantation, rats were sacrificed for histopathological examination. Neuro-imaging and HE staining cross sections confirmed intramedullary RG2 glioma cells invading to the spinal cord. Thus, our model displayed many of the same invasive characteristics as human IMSCTs. This model should be a reliable and reproducible methodology to correlate well with the features of human IMSCT.

Novel combination of paraspinal keyhole surgery with a tubular retractor system leads to significant improvements in lumbar intraspinal extramedullary schwannomas.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of combining paraspinal keyhole surgery with a tubular retractor system for the microsurgical removal of lumbar intraspinal extramedullary schwannomas. A retrospective analysis was conducted of 56 patients with lumbar intraspinal extramedullary schwannomas who were treated using the microsurgical paraspinal keyhole approach with a tubular retractor system. The mean ± standard deviation was calculated for the following parameters: Surgery time (96.21±14.64 min), hemorrhagic volume (28.54±9.72 ml), bed rest (2.55±0.5 days) and hospital stay (5.68±0.72 days). Two patients presented with cerebrospinal fluid leakage and one patient exhibited a nerve root injury. At a 6-month follow-up visit, postoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores were evaluated. The mean ± standard deviation JOA scores were 12.00±2.07 for preoperative, 14.73±2.05 for 1 week postoperative, 20.07±2.32 for 3 months postoperative and 21.75±2.18 for 6 months postoperative. The improvement rate was 16.07, 47.48 and 59.77%, respectively. The mean ± standard deviation VAS scores were 6.64±1.31 for preoperative, 3.82±1.51 for 1 week postoperative, 2.11±1.17 for 3 months postoperative and 1.50±1.51 for 6 months postoperative. The JOA and VAS scores improved significantly (P<0.05). Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography were performed preoperatively, immediately following surgery and at the 6-month postoperative visit to confirm the efficacy of the resections and evaluate spinal stability. No residual tumors were identified at follow-up. No alterations in the stability of the spine were observed postoperatively. The combination of the microsurgical paraspinal keyhole approach with the tubular retractor system was successful in treating lumbar intraspinal extramedullary schwannomas. The surgical approach was associated with decreased hemorrhages, decreased duration of hospital stay, faster recovery and improved postoperative maintenance of spinal stability.

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma management with minimally invasive surgery through tubular retractors: A case report and review of the literature.

To report a minimally invasive paraspinal approach in the treatment of a case of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH). We additionally aim to review the relevant literature to enhance our knowledge of this disease. SSEH is an uncommon but potentially catastrophic disease. Currently, most appropriate management is emergence decompression laminectomy and hematoma evacuation. An 81-year-old woman was admitted to the neurology department with a chief complaint of bilateral numbness and weakness of the lower limbs and difficulty walking for 4 days with progressive weakness developed over the following 3 days accompanied with pain in the lower limbs and lower back. No history of trauma was reported. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracolumbar spine demonstrated an epidural hematoma extending from T-12 to L-5 with thecal sac and cauda equina displacement anterior. The patient was treated in our department with a minimally invasive approach. This operation method had been approved by Chinese Independent Ethics Committee. Three months following the operation, the patient had regained the ability to walk with the aid of a cane and myodynamia tests revealed normal results for the left lower limb and a 4/5 grade for the right limb. Importantly, no complications were exhibited from the surgical operation. The minimally invasive paraspinal approach through tubular retractors is demonstrated here as an effective alternative method for the treatment of SSEH.