Jurassic brachyurans of the genus Bucculentum.

The genus Bucculentum Schweitzer Feldmann, 2009 is exceptional among the brachyuran decapods in having the augenrest dorsally inclined. Hitherto, the genus comprised two species, both from European Upper Jurassic localities; here, further two species are described, Bucculentum horstkuscheli, n. sp. and B. plettenbergense, n. sp., which differ in their proportions of the carapace regions and especially in their shapes of the augenrest. A newly described feature shared by all congeneric species is the groove extending from the centre of the dorsal portion of the augenrest and terminating towards the cervical groove. The function of this groove could have been to lead the water stream out from the augenrest to cleanse impurities from the muddy sea bottom, where these crabs are supposed to have lived.

Reference function of old electrical stimulation electrode in cochlear-reimplantation in children.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the causes of cochlear implantation and reference function of old electrical stimulation electrode in cochlear reimplantation in children. METHODS: The causes, surgical methods and problems found during the operations of 24 cases of cochlear reimplantation in Henan Children's Hospital from June 2016 to April 2018 were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-three cases successfully completed the surgery of cochlear-reimplantation, and the remaining one case had approximately 1/3 of the anterior end of the residual cochlear electrode due to high resistance at the time of withdrawal of the electrodes. The causes of re-implantation were implant equipment failure (eleven cases), elevated impedance values of all electrodes after head trauma (two cases), and implant prolapse together with the electrode caused by a traffic accident (one case). CONCLUSION: The old stimulus electrode can provide an important reference to reduce the risk of operation and ensure the success of the reoperation.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α upregulates progesterone receptor-A by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway in human decidua after labor onset.

To date, the relationship between inflammatory cytokines and progesterone receptors (PRs) has been little studied, although both mediate the mechanism of parturition in human deciduas. Thus, the aim of study was to investigate the role of an inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, in regulating progesterone withdrawal in decidua at human parturition. TNF-α levels and PR isoforms were compared in intrauterine deciduas from women who were in labor (IL, n = 10) or who were not in labor (NIL, n = 10). Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling and PR status were analyzed in NIL deciduas after TNF-α stimulation. Immunohistochemistry, western blotting, ELISA and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to localize and quantitate protein and mRNA expression. TNF-α immunostaining, protein levels, PR-A/PR-B ratio and COX-2 level were significantly higher in IL deciduas (all P < 0.05). NF-κB was activated by TNF-α after 24 h stimulation in a dose-dependent manner, and was significantly inactivated by the NF-κB inhibitor panepoxydone, which was associated with decreased PR-A and COX-2 expression (P < 0.05) in not in labor deciduas. In conclusion, TNF-α may have an important role in regulating progesterone withdrawal in human decidua following labor onset.