Peripheral inflammation and trajectories of depressive symptomology after ischemic stroke: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the association of peripheral inflammation and post-stroke depressive symptomology (PSDS) might provide further insights into the complex etiological mechanism of organic depression. However, studies focusing on the longitudinal patterns of PSDS were limited and it remained unclear whether peripheral inflammation influences the occurrence and development of PSDS. METHODS: A total of 427 prospectively enrolled and followed ischemic stroke patients were included in the analytical sample. Depressive symptomology was assessed on four occasions during 1 year after ischemic stroke. Peripheral inflammatory proteins on admission and repeated measures of peripheral immune markers in three stages were collected. Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) was employed to delineate group-based trajectories of peripheral immune markers and PSDS. Multinomial regression was performed to investigate the association of peripheral inflammation with PSDS trajectories. RESULTS: Four distinct trajectories of PSDS were identified: stable-low (n = 237, 55.5 %), high-remitting (n = 120, 28.1 %), late-onset (n = 44, 10.3 %), and high-persistent (n = 26, 6.1 %) PSDS trajectories. The elevation of peripheral fibrinogen on admission increased the risk of high-persistent PSDS in patients with early high PSDS. Additionally, chronic elevation of innate immune levels might not only increase the risk of high-persistent PSDS in patients with early high PSDS but also increase the risk of late-onset PSDS in patients without early high PSDS. The elevation of adaptive immune levels in the convalescence of ischemic stroke may contribute to the remission of early high PSDS. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral immunity could influence the development of PSDS, and this influence might have temporal heterogeneity. These results might provide vital clues for the inflammation hypothesis of PSD.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging in identifying active anal fistula after surgery.

BACKGROUND: It is challenging to identify residual or recurrent fistulas from the surgical region, while MR imaging is feasible. The aim was to use dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging (DCE-MRI) technology to distinguish between active anal fistula and postoperative healing (granulation) tissue. METHODS: Thirty-six patients following idiopathic anal fistula underwent DCE-MRI. Subjects were divided into Group I (active fistula) and Group IV (postoperative healing tissue), with the latter divided into Group II (≤ 75 days) and Group III (> 75 days) according to the 75-day interval from surgery to postoperative MRI reexamination. MRI classification and quantitative analysis were performed. Correlation between postoperative time intervals and parameters was analyzed. The difference of parameters between the four groups was analyzed, and diagnostic efficiency was tested by receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: Wash-in rate (WI) and peak enhancement intensity (PEI) were significantly higher in Group I than in Group II (p = 0.003, p = 0.040), while wash-out rate (WO), time to peak (TTP), and normalized signal intensity (NSI) were opposite (p = 0.031, p = 0.007, p = 0.010). Area under curves for discriminating active fistula from healing tissue within 75 days were 0.810 in WI, 0.708 in PEI, 0.719 in WO, 0.783 in TTP, 0.779 in NSI. All MRI parameters were significantly different between Group I and Group IV, but not between Group II and Group III, and not related to time intervals. CONCLUSION: In early postoperative period, DCE-MRI can be used to identify active anal fistula in the surgical area. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2000033072.

Multi-organ involvement caused by Scedosporium apiospermum infection after near drowning: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Scedosporium apiospermum (S. apiospermum) is a rare fungal pathogen that causes disseminated infections. It rarely affects immunocompetent individuals and has a poor prognosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 37-year-old woman presented with multiple lesions in the lungs, brain, and eyes, shortly after near drowning in a car accident. The primary symptoms were chest tightness, limb weakness, headache, and poor vision in the left eye. S. apiospermum infection was confirmed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of intracranial abscess drainage fluid, although intracranial metastases were initially considered. After systemic treatment with voriconazole, her symptoms improved significantly; however, she lost vision in her left eye due to delayed diagnosis. CONCLUSION: While S. apiospermum infection is rare, it should be considered even in immunocompetent patients. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential. Voriconazole may be an effective treatment option.

[Genetic analysis of a case with Adult-onset globoid cell leukodystrophy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical features and genetic etiology of a patient with Adult-onset globoid cell leukodystrophy/Krabbe disease (KD). METHODS: A patient who was admitted to the Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology on February 15, 2022 due to exacerbation of right leg weakness for over 4 years was selected as the study subject. Clinical data and results of medical imaging and genetic analysis were analyzed. Candidate variants were verified by family analysis. RESULTS: The patient, a 36-year-old woman, had spasmodic gait as the primary presentation. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed symmetrical abnormalities in the bilateral corticospinal tracts, and the activity of ß-galactocerebrosidase (GALC) in her white blood cells was significantly decreased. The patient was found to harbor compound heterozygous variants of the GALC gene, namely c.461C>A (p.Pro154His) and c.1901T>C (p.Leu634Ser). Her mother, sister and nephew were heterozygous carriers of the c.461C>A (p.Pro154His) variant, whilst her father was heterozygous for the c.1901T>C (p.Leu634Ser) variant. CONCLUSION: The patient was ultimately diagnosed with adult-onset KD, for which the compound heterozygous variants of the GALC gene may be accountable.

The complete chloroplast genome of Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq. (Lamiaceae).

Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq. 1858 is a Lamiaceae plant. It is mainly found in southern China. It is an excellent medicinal plant. The complete chloroplast genome of O. aristatus is 152,155 bp in length, with an average depth of 287×, and the GC content was 37.86%, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 83,098 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 17,665 bp, and an inverted repeats (IRs) region of 25,696 bp make up the genome's typical tetragonal shape. In addition, the genome consisted of 128 genes, including 85 protein-coding genes, 35 transfer RNA (tRNA), and eight ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. A monophyletic group was established by O. aristatus and 13 plants from five genera of Lamiaceae, according to the phylogenetic tree. In contrast, an isolated monophyletic group was formed by the alien plant Cinnamomum aromaticum. The ML tree bootstrap value was relatively high, and O. aristatus was most closely related to Ocimum tenuiflorum and Ocimum basilicum. This study can help with species identification and phylogenetic analysis within O. aristatus and Lamiaceae species.

Research Note: Factors influencing highly pathogenic avian influenza preventive behavior among live poultry market vendors.

In China, fresh food has always been a top priority and live poultry has been a staple in the diet for thousands of years. As a result, the live poultry market (LPM) remains a popular and important source for purchasing live poultry among the public. However, LPMs also play a crucial role in spreading and retaining highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) due to the high poultry movement and trade volume. Therefore, the preventive behavior of LPM vendors is essential in blocking the transmission of HPAI and reducing occupational exposure. Based on the health belief model, this study utilized structural equation modeling to examine the effect of risk perceptions on preventive behavior among vendors in the live poultry wholesale market (wLPM) and the live poultry retail market (rLPM) in Guangdong Province. The results indicated that perceived severity and perceived benefits positively influenced the wLPM vendors' ability to adopt preventive behavior (i.e., self-efficacy) while perceived barriers negatively affected self-efficacy in both wLPM and rLPM. Moreover, cues to action positively mediated the relationship between perceived severity, perceived benefits, and self-efficacy of wLPM and rLPM vendors. Cues to action also positively mediated the effect of perceived susceptibility among wLPM vendors. To promote preventive behavior among vendors, the market management companies and the government must provide timely and effective HPAI information through various channels and develop differentiated health campaigns according to the market types to raise vendors' awareness about HPAI.

Expression and significance of silent information regulator two homolog 1 in the placenta and plasma of patients with pre-eclampsia-a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to collect, organize, and conduct a meta-analysis of the literature on the expression of silent information regulator two homolog 1 (SIRT1) in the placental tissue and plasma of patients with pre-eclampsia. METHODS: The enrolled patients were divided into two groups: the pre-eclampsia group and the healthy group. This study summarized and analyzed the demographic characteristics of the two groups, including pregnancy age, gestational weeks, parity, gravidity, blood pressure, Body Mass Index, newborn weight, placental weight, and SIRT1 expression in placental tissue and maternal plasma. RESULTS: Eleven studies were included in this research, with 586 cases in the pre-eclampsia group and 479 cases in the control group. Three research studies are reporting immunohistochemistry tests, among which the pre-eclampsia group had a positivity rate of 30.24% (62/205), while the control group had 58.02% (76/131); the two groups have a significant difference (p < 0.05). Two research studies reported the results of ELISA tests, with 107 cases in the pre-eclampsia group and 125 cases in the control group. A comparison of the SIRT1 test results showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.05). Pre-eclampsia group patients had lower gestational weeks, newborn birth weight, and placental weight compared to the healthy control group (all p < 0.05). However, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were higher in the pre-eclampsia group than in the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: SIRT1 expression is downregulated in pre-eclampsia patients' plasma and placental tissue. Further research is needed to validate this conclusion.

The Analysis of Residents' Intention to Consume Pre-Made Dishes in China: A Grounded Theory.

The demand for pre-made dishes has increased in China. However, a detailed understanding of residents' intention to consume pre-made dishes is lacking in the existing studies. This research aims to investigate the consumer motives and intention to consume pre-made dishes. Through in-depth interviews and analysis, this research explores the factors influencing the residents' intention along the research steps of grounded theory. Fifty-one residents participated in semi-structured interviews via face-to-face or online interviews. Three motives for purchasing pre-made dishes were attitude, subjective norm, and perceived control. These were influenced by external factors, including environmental features and product features. Subjective characteristics are pre-existing characteristics of individuals themselves, including cooking skills, food skills, housework allocation, and eating attitudes, which play a moderating role in the relationship between external factors and consumer motives. Based on the six major categories, this study built a model of the formation mechanism of the consumer intention to consume pre-made dishes. It revealed the psychological attribution of residents' consumption of pre-made dishes. The finding of this study contributes to the understanding of the internal logic of PMDs' consumer intention formation. It would be a guide for researchers to map out appropriate business development strategies, and provide evidence for the government in formulating management policies.

Longitudinal relationships between depressive symptoms and cognitive function after stroke: A cross-lagged panel design.

OBJECTIVE: Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability. This study aimed to investigate the temporal and directional relationships between post-stroke depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment using a cross-lagged panel design. Depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment are two common post-stroke complications. However, the precise underlying mechanism remains unclear despite their close relationship. Therefore, elucidating the causal relationship between these two issues is of great clinical significance for improving the poor prognosis of stroke. METHODS: This study employed a hospital-based multicenter prospective cohort design. A total of 610 patients with ischemic stroke were eligible. Depressive symptoms (measured using the seventeen-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression) and cognitive function (measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment) were assessed at baseline and the 12-month follow-up. Spearman's correlation was used to examine the correlation between cognitive function and depressive symptoms. Additionally, a cross-lagged panel analysis was employed to elucidate the causal relationship between these factors after adjusting for potential covariates. RESULTS: The results of a four-iteration cross-lagged panel analysis substantiated a bidirectional relationship between post-stroke depressive symptoms and cognitive function over time. Specifically, higher scores for early depressive symptoms were associated with lower scores for later cognitive function; additionally, higher baseline cognitive function scores were associated with lower depressive symptom scores at a later point. CONCLUSION: This study establishes a reciprocally causal long-term relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive function after an ischemic stroke. Therefore, interventions aimed at improving cognitive function and ameliorating depressive symptoms may positively affect both cognition and mood. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR-ROC-17013993.

Nomogram including indirect bilirubin for the prediction of post-stroke depression at 3 months after mild acute ischemic stroke onset.

Background: Post-stroke depression (PSD) has been proven to be associated with stroke severity. Thus, we hypothesized that the prevalence of PSD would be lower in patients with mild stroke. We aim to explore predictors of depression at 3 months after mild acute ischemic stroke (MAIS) onset and to develop a practical and convenient prediction model for the early identification of patients at high risk. Methods: A total of 519 patients with MAIS were consecutively recruited from three hospitals in Wuhan city, Hubei province. MAIS was defined as a National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of ≤5 at admission. Meeting the DSM-V diagnostic criteria and a 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) score of >7 at their 3-month follow-up were considered the primary outcomes. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine the factors adjusted for potential confounders, and all independent predictors were brought into the construction of a nomogram to predict PSD. Results: The prevalence of PSD is up to 32% at 3 months after MAIS onset. After adjusting for potential confounders, indirect bilirubin (p = 0.029), physical activity (p = 0.001), smoking (p = 0.025), hospitalization days (p = 0.014), neuroticism (p < 0.001), and MMSE (p < 0.001) remained independently and significantly related with PSD. The concordance index (C-index) of the nomogram jointly constructed by the aforementioned six factors was 0.723 (95% CI: 0.678-0.768). Conclusion: The prevalence of PSD seems equally high even if the ischemic stroke is mild, which calls for great concern from clinicians. In addition, our study found that a higher level of indirect bilirubin can lower the risk of PSD. This finding may provide a potential new approach to PSD treatment. Furthermore, the nomogram including bilirubin is convenient and practical to predict PSD after MAIS onset.

Analysis of magnetic resonance splectroscopy characteristics in patients with type 2 diabetes complicated with stroke.

In this study, we investigated the metabolism of white matter by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in stroke complicated with diabetes mellitus in combination with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc) detection and clinical neurological deficit score (NIHSS). Fifty-three patients with stroke within 24 h after onset were collected and scanned by MRS. The biochemical, clinical and imaging characteristics of patients were analyzed. Patients were divided into three groups according to HbAlc levels: Good glycemic control (A): < 6.5%; satisfactory glycemic control (B): 6.5-7.5% and poor glycemic control (C): > 7.5%. The results showed that HbA1c levels were positively correlated with NIHSS in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). There is significant difference in NAA/Cr between the infarcted site of the three groups and the mirror site. HbA1C level was negatively correlated with NAA/Cr in patients with AIS, and there was no significant correlation between NIHSS score and NAA/Cr. The data above demonstrated that the MRS imaging can be used to explain the adverse effects of hyperglycated hemoglobin on brain parenchyma from the perspective of imaging. This imaging technique and clinical NIHSS score have a high consistency in evaluating stroke.

Evaluation of placental growth potential and placental bed perfusion by 3D ultrasound for early second-trimester prediction of preeclampsia.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate whether placental parameters measured by three-dimensional ultrasound are associated with preeclampsia (PE) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA). METHODS: In total, 1163 pregnancies at 11-14 weeks of gestation were recruited between October 8, 2020, and April 30, 2021. Placenta volume (PV), placental bed vascularization flow index (PBVFI), and uterine arteries pulse index (UtA-PI) were measured. Placental quotient (PQ = PV/weeks of gestation) was calculated. All participants were re-examined 4 weeks later. The placental volume growth rate (PVGR = placental volume difference between the two examinations/interval days) was also calculated. Patients were divided into four groups by the gestational age at the onset of PE and birth weight: early-onset PE (E-PE, n = 18), late-onset PE (L-PE, n = 36), isolated SGA5 (birth weight less than the fifth percentile for gestational age without PE, n = 9), and unaffected (n = 1100) groups. RESULTS: A predictive model for E-PE was established, which consisted of unnatural conception, chronic hypertension, PBVFI (of second examination), and PVGR for E-PE; 94.4% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, decreased placental growth potential and low placental bed perfusion in the early second trimester have potential in predicting E-PE.

Associations Between Vertebral Marrow Proton Density Fat Fraction and Risk of Prostate Cancer.

Bone marrow adipocytes may be responsible for cancer progression. Although marrow adipogenesis is suspected to be involved in prostate carcinogenesis, an association between marrow adiposity and prostate cancer risk has not been clearly established in vivo. This work included 115 newly diagnosed cases of histologically confirmed prostate cancer (range, 48-79 years) and 87 age-matched healthy controls. Marrow proton density fat fraction (PDFF) was measured by 3.0-T MR spectroscopy at the spine lumbar. Associations between marrow PDFF and risk of prostate cancer by stage of disease and grade sub-types were performed using multivariable polytomous logistic regression. There were no significant group differences in the vertebral marrow PDFF, despite prostate cancer patients having 6.6% higher marrow PDFF compared to the healthy controls (61.7 ± 9.8% vs. 57.9 ± 6.5%; t = 1.429, p = 0.161). After adjusting for various clinical and demographic characteristics, we found that elevated marrow PDFF was related to an increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer [odds ratios (OR) = 1.31; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.08-1.57; p = 0.003]. Likewise, increased marrow PDFF had a significantly positive correlation with aggressive prostate cancer risk (OR = 1.54; 95% CI, 1.13-1.92; p <0.001). There were no associations between marrow PDFF and low-grade (p = 0.314) or non-aggressive (p = 0.435) prostate cancer risk. The data support the hypothesis that marrow adiposity was correlated with increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer, supporting a link between adipogenesis and prostate cancer risk.

Changes in Myosin from Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) under Microwave-Assisted Water Bath Heating on a Multiscale.

To further prove the advantages of microwave-assisted water bath heating (MWH) in low-value fish processing, the effects of different heating methods (two heating stage method, high temperature section respectively using MWH1, MWH2, MWH3, WH-water heating, MH-microwave heating) on secondary and tertiary myosin structures, SDS-PAGE, surface morphology, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and particle size distribution were compared and analyzed. The findings revealed that MH and MWH aided in the production of gel formations by promoting myosin aggregation. Myosin from silver carps demonstrated enhanced sulfhydryl group and surface hydrophobicity after MWH treatment, as well as a dense network structure. The distribution of micropores becomes more uniform when the microwave time is increased. Actually, the total effect of microwave time on myosin is not substantially different. The correlation between particle size distribution and protein aggregation was also studied, in terms of time savings, the MWH of short microwave action is preferable since it not only promotes myosin aggregation but also avoids the drawbacks of a rapid warming rate. These discoveries give a theoretical foundation for understanding silver carp myosin under microwave modification, which is critical in the food industry.

Higher Concentration of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Predicts Post-Stroke Depression.

Background: Post-stroke depression (PSD) is the most common neuropsychiatric complication after stroke, seriously affecting the quality of survivors' life. As one of the important causes of PSD, neuroendocrine mechanism has been widely studied in recent years. The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on admission and PSD at 3 months. Methods: This is a hospital-based prospective cohort study, which was conducted at three independent hospitals (Tongji Hospital, Wuhan First Hospital and Wuhan Central Hospital) between August 2018 and June 2019. A total of 768 ischemic stroke patients were finally eligible for analysis and categorized into equal tertiles according to the distribution of ACTH and the number of patients. The χ 2-test, Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to check for statistical significance. And restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression model was used to explore the non-linear relationship between continuous ACTH levels and PSD at 3 months. Results: The optimal cut-off points of ACTH were as follows: (T1) 0.32-20.55 pg/mL, (T2) 20.56-39.79 pg/mL, (T3) 39.80-143.40 pg/mL. A total of 305 patients (39.7%) were diagnosed as PSD at 3 months follow-up. Significant differences were found between the PSD and non-PSD groups in ACTH concentration (P = 0.001). After adjustment for all conventional confounders, the odds ratios of PSD were 1.735 (95% CI = 1.176-2.560, P = 0.005) for the highest tertile of ACTH and 1.496 (95% CI = 1.019-2.194, P = 0.040) for the middle tertile of ACTH, as compared with the lowest tertile. In multiple-adjusted RCS regression, continuous ACTH showed saturation effect relation with PSD risk after 31.02 pg/mL (P for nonlinear = 0.0143). Conclusion: Higher ACTH level on admission is a significant and independent biomarker to predict the development of PSD at 3 months follow-up. Besides, saturation effect was revealed even if the underlying mechanism is unclear. For stroke patients, doctors should pay attention to the baseline ACTH for screening high-risk PSD in clinical practice.

Persistent pain and numbness in the extremities of an adult due to paraneoplastic peripheral neuropathy caused by olfactory neuroblastoma: A case report.

Background: Paraneoplastic peripheral neuropathy (PPN) caused by olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) has not yet been reported. Case report: We present a rare case of an adult who hospitalized repeatedly over the past 9 months for persistent pain and numbness in the limbs. This patient was initially diagnosed with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and treated accordingly, but neurological symptoms did not improve significantly. After this admission, FDG-PET/CT showed focal hypermetabolism of a soft-tissue mass in the nasal cavity, and further lesion biopsy suggested ONB. Combined with positive serum anti-Hu antibody, the diagnosis of PPN associated with ONB was eventually made. Furthermore, the patient's neurological symptoms were relieved after removal of the primary tumor, confirming the accuracy of the diagnosis. Conclusion: Our case not only expanded the clinical characteristics of ONB but also highlighted the importance of early and comprehensive tumor screening for the diagnosis of PPN.

Diagnostic analysis of abnormal increase of PASP in fetus in middle- and late-stage pregnancy by color Doppler echocardiography.

OBJECTIVE: Our study was conducted with an attempt to investigate the diagnostic analysis of abnormal increase of fetal pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) in middle and late pregnancy by color Doppler echocardiography. METHODS: From August 2017 to January 2019, 52 fetuses with moderate or greater tricuspid high-speed regurgitation were retrospectively analyzed and selected as Group A. 88 fetuses with full-color blood flow of the two ventricles and symmetrical sizes of the cardiac cavities on both sides harboring tricuspid valve and mild regurgitation or a small amount of regurgitation were selected as Group B. The pulmonary artery blood flow acceleration time (AT) and right ventricular ejection time (ET) was measured, and the PASP was calculated. RESULTS: The tricuspid regurgitation velocity, tricuspid regurgitation pressure difference and PASP in Group A were higher than those in Group B (p < 0.05), and the AT and AT/ET values in Group A were lower than those in Group B (p < 0.05). Gestational age, tricuspid regurgitation velocity and tricuspid regurgitation pressure difference were positively correlated with PASP. However, AT/ET and AT value were negatively correlated with PASP. CONCLUSION: The abnormal increase of pulmonary artery can be assessed by color Doppler echocardiography of fetal tricuspid regurgitation, which is worth popularizing and applying in clinic. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: It was suggested that the middle- and late-stage fetuses with moderate or greater tricuspid regurgitation and with >20 mmHg regurgitation pressure difference should be followed up in clinic. If PASP was ≥70 mmHg with symptoms of right heart failure, fetuses should be closely observed until 35-36 weeks old to ensure fetal safety and early delivery would be recommended.

Effect of Leptin on Marrow Adiposity in Ovariectomized Rabbits Assessed by Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

OBJECTIVE: Leptin acts to influence bone metabolism through indirect hypothalamic relay and direct peripheral pathways. Leptin enhances the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to the osteoblast rather than the adipocyte lineage, but the in vivo impacts of leptin on ovariectomy (OVX)-induced marrow adiposity are poorly understood. In this work, we aimed to address this question. METHODS: Forty-five female New Zealand rabbits were divided into sham + vehicle, OVX + vehicle, and OVX + leptin for 5 months. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry were performed to longitudinally evaluate marrow fat fraction and bone density at 0, 2.5, and 5 months, respectively. At the end of experiment, quantitative parameters of marrow adipocytes were assessed by histopathology. RESULTS: Estrogen-deficient rabbits markedly exhibited expansion of marrow fat in a time-dependent manner, with a variation of marrow fat fraction (+19.7%) at 2.5 months relative to baseline conditions, and it was maintained until 5 months (+49.2%; all P < 0.001), which was accompanied by diminished bone density. Adipocyte diameter, density, and adipocytes area percentage in the OVX controls was increased by 50.7%, 76.3%, and 135.5%, respectively, relative to the sham controls (all P < 0.001). These OVX-induced marrow adiposity and bone loss were partly restored by leptin treatment. Treatment with leptin prevented OVX-induced increases in bone turnover in rabbits. CONCLUSIONS: Early leptin administration inhibits the adipogenic effect of estrogen deficiency in terms of reverting marrow fat expansion seen in OVX rabbits. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy may be a useful tool for longitudinal and interventional assessments in osteoporosis.

Magnetization transfer imaging reveals geniculocalcarine and striate area degeneration in primary glaucoma: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease that affects both the retina and central visual pathway. Magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) is a sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that can detect degenerative changes in the brain. PURPOSE: To investigate the geniculocalcarine (GCT) and striate areas in primary glaucoma patients using region of interest (ROI) analysis of magnetization transfer ratio (MTR). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients with primary glaucoma in both eyes were compared with 31 healthy control patients. All of the participants were examined on a 3.0 T scanner using a three-dimensional T1-weighted spoiled gradient recalled acquisition (SPGR) with and without a MT saturation pulse. A two-sample t-test was used to evaluate the MTR difference between the groups. P < 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: The MTR of the glaucoma group was lower than the healthy controls in both the bilateral GCT (t = 3.781, P = 0.001) and striate areas (t = 4.177, P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: The MTR reductions in the bilateral GCT and striate areas suggest that there is GCT demyelination and striate area degeneration in primary glaucoma. These neurodegenerative effects may be induced as a direct effect of retrograde axonal degeneration along with the indirect effect of anterograde trans-synaptic degeneration.