Neuroplasticity in honey bee brains: An enhanced micro-computed tomography protocol for precise mushroom body volume measurement.

BACKGROUND: In insect brains, mushroom bodies are associated with memory and learning behavior. It has been demonstrated that the volume of the mushroom bodies in the brain of a worker honey bee changes during the adult stage. Changes in mushroom body volume imply high neuroplasticity in the brains and may be related to the age polyethism of honey bees. A suitable volume measurement method is needed to understand the correlation between behavioral changes and mushroom body volume changes in honey bees. NEW METHOD: We developed a new protocol for insect micro-computed tomography by modifying a previously reported method. Permount™ mounting medium was used as the embedding medium for micro-computed tomography scanning. RESULTS: This protocol can generate images with high contrast inside the brain and reduce the marked shape changes during specimen processing. From the resulting high-contrast images, we used freeware to generate a three-dimensional model and calculate the volumes of the mushroom bodies in honey bees. The measured volumes of the mushroom bodies were larger than the values reported in most previous studies. There was no significant difference between the left and right mushroom body volumes, but the volumes of honey bee mushroom bodies significantly increased with age. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: Previous protocols for micro-computed tomography using dried samples would cause brain shrinkage; protocols using ethanol-preserved or resin-embedded samples generated images with lower contrast. CONCLUSIONS: The embedding protocol for micro-computed tomography is suitable for calculating volume of the mushroom bodies in honey bee brains.

Mixed-Valence CuI /CuIII Metal-Organic Frameworks with Non-innocent Ligand for Multielectron Transfer.

We report two novel three-dimensional copper-benzoquinoid metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), [Cu4 L3 ]n and [Cu4 L3 ⋅ Cu(iq)3 ]n (LH4 =1,4-dicyano-2,3,5,6-tetrahydroxybenzene, iq=isoquinoline). Spectroscopic techniques and computational studies reveal the unprecedented mixed valency in MOFs, formal Cu(I)/Cu(III). This is the first time that formally Cu(III) species are witnessed in metal-organic extended solids. The coordination between the mixed-valence metal and redox-non-innocent ligand L, which promotes through-bond charge transfer between Cu metal sites, allows better metal-ligand orbital overlap of the d-π conjugation, leading to strong long-range delocalization and semiconducting behavior. Our findings highlight the significance of the unique mixed valency between formal Cu(I) and highly-covalent Cu(III), non-innocent ligand, and pore environments of these bench stable Cu(III)-containing frameworks on multielectron transfer and electrochemical properties.

Correlation and Prognostic Assessment of Low T3 Syndrome and Norepinephrine Dosage for Patients with Sepsis: A Retrospective Single-Center (Cohort) Study.

Purpose: To investigate the correlation and prognostic significance of low triiodothyronine (T3) syndrome and norepinephrine dosage in patients with sepsis and septic shock. Methods: This single-center, retrospective, cohort study enrolled 169 patients with sepsis and septic shock that were admitted to the intensive care unit of First Hospital of Nanchang, Nanchang, China from June 2017 to July 2019. All included patients were followed up for 28 days or died, whichever was earlier. Patients with free T3 (FT3) of <3.1 pmol/L were considered with low T3 syndrome. The correlation and prognostic significance of the FT3 and maximum dosage of norepinephrine (MDN) within 72 h, as well as other clinical indicators, were analyzed by using correlation analysis, principal component analysis, receiver operating characteristic curve, Youden index, and logistic regression. Results: A total of 138 patients were allocated to the low T3 group. FT3 inversely correlated with the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score within 24 h, fluid resuscitation volume within 24 h, and lactic acid levels, and positively correlated with the mean arterial pressure. The critical values of age, SOFA, and MDN for predicting the 28-day mortality were 79.5 years, 8.5 points, and 0.61 µg/kg/min, respectively. The mortality of the low T3 and normal T3 groups was similar. Considering the MDN of 0.61 µg/kg/min as the cutoff value, the mortality between the two groups was significantly different. Conclusion: Among patients with sepsis and septic shock, FT3 was inversely correlated with the disease severity. An MDN ≥ 0.61 µg/kg/min within 72 h may be an important prognostic indicator.

Analysis of distribution, phenotype and clinical correlation of CD163 positive macrophages in osteoarthritis / 中华疾病控制杂志

Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the distribution characteristics of CD163+ macrophages in peripheral blood and synovium of patients with osteoarthritis (OA)，and investigate the correlation of CD163+ macrophages, intracellular tumour necrosis factor(TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10) expression with the disease duration, inflammation level and body mass index (BMI). Methods The percentages of CD163+ macrophages in synovium and peripheral blood and their intracellular levels of TNF-α and IL-10 were detected by flow cytometry. Meanwhile, immunofluorescence was uesed to observe the distribution of CD163+ macrophages in synovial tissue of patients with OA or fracture. Results (1) There were significant differences in the percentage of CD163+ macrophages in synovial and peripheral blood between OA and fracture patients(all P<0.05). (2) The expression of TNF-α in CD163+ macrophages of synovium and blood of OA patients with disease duration below 10 years was significantly higher than that of patients with OA disease duration above 10 years (all P<0.05) . The expression of IL-10 was significantly lower than that of patients with OA disease duration above 10 years (all P<0.05). (3) C-reactive protein (CRP) was positively correlated with BMI in patients with OA disease duration below 10 years (r=0.680， P<0.001), while showed no correlation with BMI in patients with OA duration above 10 years(r=0.084， P=0.187). (4) Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy showed a large number of CD163+ macrophages invaded around the synovial vessel of patients with OA. Conclusion The distribution of CD163+ macrophages in synovium and peripheral blood of OA patients with different course of disease was different, and showed differentiated cell subtypes.

Pb5Ga6ZnS15: a noncentrosymmetric framework with chains of T2-supertetrahedra.

A novel noncentrosysmmetric sulfide, Pb5Ga6ZnS15 (1), was synthesized for the first time. Its crystal structure revealed the presence of [GaS2](-)∞ (chain 1, chains of [GaS4](5-) tetrahedra) and [Ga4S9](6-)∞ (chain 2, chains of T2-supertetrahedra) connected by isolated [ZnS4](6-) tetrahedra. Structure correlation with the network constructed solely using chain 1 (Pb4Ga4GeQ12-type) is discussed. Pb5Ga6ZnS15 was calculated to have a suitable static briefringence (Δn) of 0.1137, and a large nonlinear optical susceptibility d31 of 58.32 pm V(-1) at a wavelength of 2.05 µm (0.6 eV), much higher than that of the benchmark AgGaS2 (18.14 pm V(-1)).

Supercubooctahedron (Cs6Cl)2Cs5[Ga15Ge9Se48] Exhibiting Both Cation and Anion Exchange.

A novel type of supertetrahedral connectivity is exhibited by the 72-atom discrete supercubooctahedron in (Cs6Cl)2Cs5[Ga15Ge9Se48] (1), which undergoes both cation and anion exchange, as revealed by unambiguous single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Electronic-structure studies helped to understand the Ge/Ga distribution.

Arthroscopic treatment of tibial intercondylar eminence fractures in children with single Kirschner wire and suture avoiding epiphyseal line fixation technique / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss arthroscopic technique of single Kirschner wire and suture avoiding epiphyseal line fixation for tibial intercondylar eminence fracture and its clinical results.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From May 2008 to December 2012, 21 patients (13 males, 8 females, ranging in age from 6 to 14 years old) with tibial intercondylar eminence fracture were treated arthroscopically with single Kirschner wire and suture avoiding epiphyseal line fixation technique. According to Meyers and McKeever classification, 7 patients were type II, 10 patients were type III, and 4 patients were type IV. Active rehabilitation began at one week after operation. The patients were followed up for 10 to 30 months. X-ray films were taken to evaluate fracture healing at 1, 3, 6 months after operation; range of motion, the anterior drawer test, the lachman test and the Lysholm knee score were used to evaluate clinical effects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All fractures were healed without displacement at 6 weeks after operation. Anterior drawer test and the lachman test were both negative in all patients at 3 months after operation. Lysholm knee score was 95.5 ±2.5 at 6 months after operation, and postoperative X-ray film did not find epiphyseal line broadening or narrowing.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Arthroscopic treatment for tibial eminence intercondylar fracture with single Kirschner wire and 8-shaped suture avoiding epiphyseal line fixation technique has many advantages, such as firm fixation,early mobilization, less invasive, less injury of physis and satisfactory effect.</p>

Synchrotron infrared imaging of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) in cardiac tissue from mice fed high glycemic diets.

Recent research findings correlate an increased risk for dieases such as diabetes, macular degeneration and cardiovascular disease (CVD) with diets that rapidly raise the blood sugar levels; these diets are known as high glycemic index (GI) diets which include white breads, sodas and sweet deserts. Lower glycemia diets are usually rich in fruits, non-starchy vegetables and whole grain products. The goal of our study was to compare and contrast the effects of a low vs. high glycemic diet using the biochemical composition and microstructure of the heart. The improved spatial resolution and signal-to-noise for SR-FTIR obtained through the coupling of the bright synchrotron infrared photon source to an infrared spectral microscope enabled the molecular-level observation of diet-related changes within unfixed fresh frozen histologic sections of mouse cardiac tissue. High and low glycemic index (GI) diets were started at the age of five-months and continued for one year, with the diets only differing in their starch distribution (high GI diet = 100% amylopectin versus low GI diet = 30% amylopectin/70% amylose). Serial cryosections of cardiac tissue for SR-FTIR imaging alternated with adjacent hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained sections allowed not only fine-scale chemical analyses of glycogen and glycolipid accumulation along a vein as well as protein glycation hotspots co-localizing with collagen cold spots but also the tracking of morphological differences occurring in tandem with these chemical changes. As a result of the bright synchrotron infrared photon source coupling, we were able to provide significant molecular evidence for a positive correlation between protein glycation and collagen degradation in our mouse model. Our results bring a new insight not only to the effects of long-term GI dietary practices of the public but also to the molecular and chemical foundation behind the cardiovascular disease pathogenesis commonly seen in diabetic patients.

[Study on the enhanced luminescence of GdTaO4:Eu3+ phosphors by Li+ codopant].

The XRD, emission and IR transmission spectra of Li-doped GdTaO4:Eu3+ phosphors were measured. Judd-Ofelt theory was applied, and the intensity parameters omega2 of Eu3+ for optical transition were calculated. The results show that Li+ codoping can enhance the luminescence intensity of GdTaO4:Eu3+. The intensity can be improved up to 1.7 and 1.5 times, respectively, when x = 0.06 and 0.10. The phenomenon results not from the assumption that Li+ codopant can reduce the crystal symmetry of GdTaO4:Eu3+ so as to relax the parity forbidden transition, but from the flux effect of Li+ codopant which can improve the crystallinity of GdTaO4:Eu3+ and suppress the Gd2O3 and Ta2O5 hetero phases. Gd(0.92-x)Li(x)TaO4:Eu0.08(3+) has not only quite a good crystallinity but also less Gd2O3 and Ta2O5 hetero phases when x = 0.06 or 0.10. Therefore, their luminescence intensities can be improved evidently.

Total hip replacement with collum femoris preserving for the treatment of advanced stage of femoral head necrosis of young patients: a report of results of more than five years follow-up / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the results of total hip replacement with collum femoris preserving for the treatment of advanced stage of femoral head necrosis of youth.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From August 2002 to November 2009, 21 patients (28 hips) with advanced stage of femoral head necrosis were treated with total hip replacement with collum femoris preserving. Sixteen males (22 hips) and 5 females (6 hips) with an average age of 36 years (range from 26 to 51 years) were included. All patients were evaluated clinically using Harris score, the prosthesis components were assessed for position, loosening, bone resorption and other conditions with radiographs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Nineteen patients (26 hip) were followed up for mean 5 years and 7 months (ranging 5 years and 3 months to 7 years and 1 month), 2 patients were missed. The average Harris score increased from the preoperative average 48.5 to 90.2. The leg-length discrepancy (the difference was less than 2 cm) occurred in 3 cases. No thigh pain and revision.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Total hip arthroplasty with collum femoris preserving is one of the best choices for the treatment of advanced stage of femoral head necrosis of young patients with good midterm outcome.</p>

Arthroscopic diagnosis and treatment of posttraumatic chronic ankle pain / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the arthroscopic diagnosis and treatment of the chronic ankle pain after injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From April 1999 to June 2008, 39 patients with posttraumatic chronic ankle pain were treated. The mean duration between the initial injury and treatment was 18 months (2 months to 11 years). There were 15 males and 24 females with a mean age of 32 years (15 to 58 years). All the patients were treated with arthroscopic debridement. The preoperative and postoperative ankle functions were evaluated by the AOFAS (the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) Clinical Rating System for the ankle-hindfoot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-six patients had osteochondral lesions. Impingement syndrome in ankle was observed in 21 patients. The impingement tissue included synovial hypertrophy in 3 patients, ligament injury in 10 patients (7 patients had anterior talofibular ligament injury and 3 patients had anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament injury), meniscoid tissue in 6 patients, pathological labrum in 3 patients. All the patients were followed up with an average of (14.2+/-8.4) months (ranged from 5 to 36 months). The AOFAS scores increased significantly from pre-operative (59.7+/-16.9) to post-operative (68.8+/-21.2), and it was obvious in relieving pain, which was pre-operative (22.8+/-10.0) and post-operative (29.5+/-12.1).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Arthroscopy can be used to diagnose the cause of chronic ankle pain after injury. Furthermore, arthroscopic debridement was useful to relieve the pain and improve the joint function, and it is appropriate for patients who had no fractures and dislocations.</p>

Doubly responsive polymer-microgel composites: rheology and structure.

Mixtures of alkali swellable microgels and linear PNIPAm chains exhibit doubly responsive properties both with pH and temperature. Below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), the linear chains of PNIPAm are soluble and increase the osmotic pressure outside the microgels, which causes them to deswell. Above the LCST, the PNIPAm chains become insoluble and form spherical colloidal particles confined between the microgels that subsequently reswell. The swelling and deswelling of the microgels change the rheological properties of the composites, providing a unique way to tune the elasticity of the composites with temperature. The structure of the composites above the LCST is studied using multiple light scattering and fluorescence confocal microscopy. The phase separation of PNIPAm above the LCST is strongly affected by the confinement of the PNIPAm chains between the microgels.

[Clinical features and management of multiple sclerosis in children].

OBJECTIVE: Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating disease frequently showing a relapsing-remitting disease course. Clinical manifestations of 25 inpatients with MS were summarized and analyzed so that the clinical features and therapeutic approaches to childhood multiple sclerosis (MS) were investigated in order to improve its diagnosis and management. METHODS: Clinical features and information during following-up of 25 cases with MS from June 1993 to May 2006 were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 25 cases, 16 were female and the F:M ratio was 1.78:1. The relapsing-remitting type was seen in 21 cases, the secondary progressive MS in 3 cases and the classification was impossible in one case. The mean age of onset was 6.7 years (2-12) with various initial symptoms including visual loss (11 cases), cortical symptoms (8 cases with seizures, consciousness disturbance, aphasia and apraxia, etc.), myeleterosis (3 cases), symptoms of brainstem (2 cases) and cerebellar ataxia (1 case). Fever was present in 10 cases at the onset. Nine cases were monosymptomatic, while the other 16 had multiple symptoms. Visual loss occurred in 19 cases during the course of MS and 22 were found to have abnormal visual evoked potential (88%). The mean course of disease was 8.5 years (1.2-17.2) and 0-4 times of recurrences (0 means no new clinical attack occurred during following-up period). CONCLUSIONS: MS is increasingly recognized as a disease affecting children though it is uncommon. Childhood MS possesses some manifestations different from those of adults. There was a female predominance. The most common finding at the onset of disease was optic neuritis. Other features include acute onset and shorter course of disease. Atypical demyelinating symptoms were often seen. White matter lesions on MRI are required for the diagnosis. CSF oligoclonal bands could be found less commonly than in adults. Neurological sequelae were less often seen than in adults MS even though optic nerve atrophy and visual loss were relatively common. Steroid and IVIG are effective in acute period treatment.

Detecting normal cell radiosensitivity via assay of DNA damage in lymphocytes for individualizing radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the distribution of radiosensitivities in normal tissues of head and neck cancer patients, measured using a DNA damage assay on lymphocytes, is likely to provide sufficient discrimination to enable reliable identification of patients with abnormal sensitivities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Radiosensitivity was assessed in 307 lymphocyte samples from unselected head and neck cancer patients and was quantified as the initial number of DNA double-strand breaks (dsb) induced per Gray and per DNA unit (200 Mbp). RESULTS: The existence of an inter-individual variation in the radiosensitivity parameter is described by the range (0.41--9.38 dsb/Gy/DNA unit) of the values found. We detected 37 patients who developed severe skin reactions during radiotherapy treatment and we compared their radiosensitivity values with the remaining patients treated. Radiosensitivity values of >7.20 dsb/Gy/DNA unit should theoretically correspond to highly radiosensitive patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that initial DNA damage measured on lymphocytes offers an approach to predict the acute response of human normal tissues prior to radiotherapy. .

RHAMM, a receptor for hyaluronan-mediated motility, compensates for CD44 in inflamed CD44-knockout mice: a different interpretation of redundancy.

We report here that joint inflammation in collagen-induced arthritis is more aggravated in CD44-knockout mice than in WT mice, and we provide evidence for molecular redundancy as a causal factor. Furthermore, we show that under the inflammatory cascade, RHAMM (receptor for hyaluronan-mediated motility), a hyaluronan receptor distinct from CD44, compensates for the loss of CD44 in binding hyaluronic acid, supporting cell migration, up-regulating genes involved with inflammation (as assessed by microarrays containing 13,000 cDNA clones), and exacerbating collagen-induced arthritis. Interestingly, we further found that the compensation for loss of the CD44 gene does not occur because of enhanced expression of the redundant gene (RHAMM), but rather because the loss of CD44 allows increased accumulation of the hyaluronic acid substrate, with which both CD44 and RHAMM engage, thus enabling augmented signaling through RHAMM. This model enlightens several aspects of molecular redundancy, which is widely discussed in many scientific circles, but the processes are still ill defined.