Prognostic value of serum thioredoxin concentrations after intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Thioredoxin (TRX) is a potent anti-oxidant and its circulating concentration is increased in some critical illnesses. We measured the serum TRX concentrations and further investigated the relationship between serum TRX concentrations and hemorrhagic severity and outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). METHODS: A total of 218 ICH patients and 218 healthy controls were enrolled in this prospective, observatory study. Serum TRX concentrations were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hemorrhagic severity was assessed with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and hematoma volume. Clinical endpoint was 6-month mortality. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, the patients had elevation of serum TRX concentrations (24.4±11.5 ng/ml vs. 8.4±3.3 ng/ml, P<0.001). Serum TRX concentrations were highly related to NIHSS score (r=0.532, P<0.001) and hematoma volume (r=0.486, P<0.001). Serum TRX concentrations higher than 29.6 ng/ml was an independent predictor of 6-month mortality (odds ratio, 3.978; 95% confidence interval, 1.486-10.649) and 6-month overall survival (hazard ratio, 3.511; 95% confidence interval, 1.827-6.746). TRX concentrations improved the predictive value of NIHSS score and hematoma volume for 6-month mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Increased serum TRX concentration, related closely to hemorrhagic severity and long-term mortality, has the potential to be a novel prognostic predictive biomarker after ICH.

Morphological and photosynthetic variations in the process of spermatia formation from vegetative cells in Porphyra yezoensis Ueda (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) and their responses to desiccation.

Porphyra yezoensis has a macroscopic foliage gametophyte phase with only a single cell layer, and is ideally suited for the study of the sexual differentiation process, from the vegetative cell to the spermatia. Firstly, we compared variations in the responses of the vegetative and male sectors to desiccation. Later, cell tracking experiments were carried out during the formation of spermatia from vegetative cells. The two sectors showed similar tolerance to desiccation, and the formation of spermatia from vegetative cells was independent of the degree of desiccation. Both light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations of the differentiation process showed that the formation of spermatia could be divided into six phases: the one-cell, two-cell, four-cell, eight-cell, pre-release and spermatia phases. Photomicrographs of Fluorescent Brightener staining showed that the released spermatia had no cell walls. Photosynthetic data showed that there was a significant rise in Y(II) in the four-cell phase, indicating an increase in photosynthetic efficiency of PSII during this phase. We propose that this photosynthetic rise may be substantial and provide the increased energy needed for the formation and release of spermatia in P. yezoensis.

Photosynthetic parameters of sexually different parts of Porphyra katadai var. hemiphylla (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) during dehydration and re-hydration.

Physiological data from extreme habitat organisms during stresses are vital information for comprehending their survival. The intertidal seaweeds are exposed to a combination of environmental stresses, the most influential one being regular dehydration and re-hydration. Porphyra katadai var. hemiphylla is a unique intertidal macroalga species with two longitudinally separated, color distinct, sexually different parts. In this study, the photosynthetic performance of both PSI and PSII of the two sexually different parts of P. katadai thalli during dehydration and re-hydration was investigated. Under low-grade dehydration the variation of photosystems of male and female parts of P. katadai were similar. However, after the absolute water content reached 42%, the PSI of the female parts was nearly shut down while that of the male parts still coordinated well and worked properly with PSII. Furthermore, after re-hydration with a better conditioned PSI, the dehydrated male parts were able to restore photosynthesis within 1 h, while the female parts did not. It is concluded that in P. katadai the susceptibility of photosynthesis to dehydration depends on the accommodative ability of PSI. The relatively lower content of phycobiliprotein in male parts may be the cause for a stronger PSI after severe dehydration.