MRI-Visible Perivascular Spaces in the Centrum Semiovale Are Associated with Brain Amyloid Deposition in Patients with Alzheimer Disease-Related Cognitive Impairment.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The association of perivascular spaces in the centrum semiovale with amyloid accumulation among patients with Alzheimer disease-related cognitive impairment is unknown. We evaluated this association in patients with Alzheimer disease-related cognitive impairment and ß-amyloid deposition, assessed with [18F] florbetaben PET/CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR imaging and [18F] florbetaben PET/CT images of 144 patients with Alzheimer disease-related cognitive impairment were retrospectively evaluated. MR imaging-visible perivascular spaces were rated on a 4-point visual scale: a score of ≥3 or <3 indicated a high or low degree of MR imaging-visible perivascular spaces, respectively. Amyloid deposition was evaluated using the brain ß-amyloid plaque load scoring system. RESULTS: Compared with patients negative for ß-amyloid, those positive for it were older and more likely to have lower cognitive function, a diagnosis of Alzheimer disease, white matter hyperintensity, the Apolipoprotein E ε4 allele, and a high degree of MR imaging-visible perivascular spaces in the centrum semiovale. Multivariable analysis, adjusted for age and Apolipoprotein E status, revealed that a high degree of MR imaging-visible perivascular spaces in the centrum semiovale was independently associated with ß-amyloid positivity (odds ratio, 2.307; 95% CI, 1.036-5.136; P = .041). CONCLUSIONS: A high degree of MR imaging-visible perivascular spaces in the centrum semiovale independently predicted ß-amyloid positivity in patients with Alzheimer disease-related cognitive impairment. Thus, MR imaging-visible perivascular spaces in the centrum semiovale are associated with amyloid pathology of the brain and could be an indirect imaging marker of amyloid burden in patients with Alzheimer disease-related cognitive impairment.

Effect of heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis EF-2001 on ethanol-induced acute gastric injury in mice: Protective effect of EF-2001 on acute gastric ulcer.

Enterococcus faecalis is a facultative anaerobic gram-positive commensal bacterium common in the gastrointestinal tract of animals and humans. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of heat-killed E. faecalis EF-2001 (EF-2001) on acute gastric ulcer using a murine model of ethanol (EtOH)-induced acute gastric injury. EF-2001 (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg/day) was administered by oral gavage for 5 days before EtOH treatment (10 mL/kg body weight). EF-2001 effectively attenuated EtOH-induced gastric mucosal injury with reduced gastric mucosal ulcer and histological damage score. Pretreatment of EF-2001 markedly suppressed the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs; ERK1/2, JNK, and p38MAPK). In addition, EF-2001 significantly inhibited phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and subsequently suppressed the upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1 beta, and interleukin 6 in gastric tissues. Taken together, these results suggest that EF-2001 exerts a gastroprotective effect against acute gastric injury, and the underlying mechanism might be associated with the suppression of MAPKs and NF-κB signaling and consequent reduction of pro-inflammatory mediators or cytokines.

Direct Patterning of p-Type-Doped Few-layer WSe2 Nanoelectronic Devices by Oxidation Scanning Probe Lithography.

Direct, robust, and high-resolution patterning methods are needed to downscale the lateral size of two-dimensional materials to observe new properties and optimize the overall processing of these materials. In this work, we report a fabrication process where the initial microchannel of a few-layer WSe2 field-effect transistor is treated by oxygen plasma to form a self-limited oxide layer on top of the flake. This thin oxide layer has a double role here. First, it induces the so-called p-doping effect in the device. Second, it enables the fabrication of oxide nanoribbons with controlled width and depth by oxidation scanning probe lithography (o-SPL). After the removal of the oxides by deionized H2O etching, a nanoribbon-based field-effect transistor is produced. Oxidation SPL is a direct writing technique that minimizes the use of resists and lithographic steps. We have applied this process to fabricate a 5 nm thick WSe2 field-effect transistor, where the channel consists in an array of 5 parallel 350 nm half-pitch nanoribbons. The electrical measurements show that the device presents an improved conduction level compared to the starting thin-layer transistor and a positive threshold voltage shift associated to the p-doping treatment. The method enables to pattern devices with sub-50 nm feature sizes. We have patterned an array of 10 oxide nanowires with 36 nm half-pitch by oxidation SPL.

Utility of digital subtraction angiography-based collateral evaluation in medically treated acute symptomatic basilar artery stenosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although a stroke from atherosclerosis in the basilar artery (BA) often presents with mild initial stroke severity, it has heterogeneous clinical courses. We investigated the efficacy of digital subtraction angiography (DSA)-based collateral perfusion evaluation in association with long-term outcomes of medically treated symptomatic basilar artery stenosis. METHODS: From a registry database of all consecutive patients with stroke, we included 98 medically treated patients (due to mild initial stroke severity) [National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores ≤ 4; symptomatic basilar artery stenosis, 70-99%] with available initial diagnostic DSA. Basilar collateral scoring was performed via the DSA, using a modified version of the American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/Society of Interventional Radiology grading system in both the superior cerebellar artery and anterior/posterior-inferior cerebellar artery territories (score 0-8). The outcomes were designated as the 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS90) score (poor, 3-6). Student's t-test, chi-square test and logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with a poor outcome. RESULTS: The median initial NIHSS score was 2 [interquartile range (IQR), 0-3], median posterior circulation Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score was 8 (IQR, 7-10), median collateral score was 7 (IQR, 7-8) and 20 (20.4%) had poor mRS90 scores. In multivariate analysis, poorer collateral scores (P = 0.003), higher NIHSS scores (P = 0.005) and lower posterior circulation Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (P = 0.017) were independently associated with a poor mRS90 score. CONCLUSIONS: The DSA-based collateral scoring of the BA large branches might predict long-term outcome in medically treated symptomatic basilar artery stenosis with mild initial severity. Evaluation of BA collateral perfusion status might be useful to determine appropriate treatment strategies.

Thermal scanning probe lithography for the directed self-assembly of block copolymers.

Thermal scanning probe lithography (t-SPL) is applied to the fabrication of chemical guiding patterns for directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers (BCP). The two key steps of the overall process are the accurate patterning of a poly(phthalaldehyde) resist layer of only 3.5 nm thickness, and the subsequent oxygen-plasma functionalization of an underlying neutral poly(styrene-random-methyl methacrylate) brush layer. We demonstrate that this method allows one to obtain aligned line/space patterns of poly(styrene-block-methyl methacrylate) BCP of 18.5 and 11.7 nm half-pitch. Defect-free alignment has been demonstrated over areas of tens of square micrometres. The main advantages of t-SPL are the absence of proximity effects, which enables the realization of patterns with 10 nm resolution, and its compatibility with standard DSA methods. In the brush activation step by oxygen-plasma exposure, we observe swelling of the brush. This effect is discussed in terms of the chemical reactions occurring in the exposed areas. Our results show that t-SPL can be a suitable method for research activities in the field of DSA, in particular for low-pitch, high-χ BCP to achieve sub-10 nm line/space patterns.

Subsurface imaging of silicon nanowire circuits and iron oxide nanoparticles with sub-10 nm spatial resolution.

Non-destructive subsurface characterization of nanoscale structures and devices is of significant interest in nanolithography and nanomanufacturing. In those areas, the accurate location of the buried structures and their nanomechanical properties are relevant for optimization of the nanofabrication process and the functionality of the system. Here we demonstrate the capabilities of bimodal and trimodal force microscopy for imaging silicon nanowire devices buried under an ultrathin polymer film. We resolve the morphology and periodicities of silicon nanowire pairs. We report a spatial resolution in the sub-10 nm range for nanostructures buried under a 70 nm thick polymer film. By using numerical simulations we explain the role of the excited modes in the subsurface imaging process. Independent of the bimodal or trimodal atomic force microscopy approach, the fundamental mode is the most suitable for tracking the topography while the higher modes modulate the interaction of the tip with the buried nanostructures and provide subsurface contrast.

Variations in (18)F-FDG uptake in breast cancer depending on PET/CT acquisition position.

AIM: To evaluate the variability of quantitative 2-[(18)F]-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) positron-emission tomography (PET) combined with computed tomography (CT) parameters depending on acquisition position in a dual-position protocol for breast cancers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For initial staging work-up, whole-body PET/CT was first acquired in a supine position, and then followed by a regional breast scan in a prone position. The maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumour volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were measured on both acquisition positions. MTV50 and TLG50 were calculated with a threshold set to be 50% of SUVmax, and MTV2.5 and TLG2.5 with a fixed SUV threshold of 2.5. RESULTS: The median SUVmax of breast cancers measured on the supine scans was 4.88, and 4.49 on the prone images (p<0.05). MTV and TLG also yielded significantly lower values from supine images. Regarding the tendency for the acquisition position to yield different results, a significant disagreement was observed between SUVmax and MTV50 and between SUVmax and TLG50 (kappa = -0156 and -0.001, respectively), while MTV2.5 and TLG2.5 showed a fair to moderate agreement with SUVmax (kappa = 0.311 and 0.416, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: SUVmax, MTV, and TLG yielded lower values when acquired in the prone position compared to in the supine position. This observation could be due to the partial volume effect. When using 50% of SUVmax as a threshold, there was a significant discordance between SUVmax and volumetric parameters. Thus, acquisition position may affect quantitative PET/CT parameters and the clinical implications.

Peptide fragment of thymosin ß4 increases hippocampal neurogenesis and facilitates spatial memory.

Although several studies have suggested the neuroprotective effect of thymosin ß4 (TB4), a major actin-sequestering protein, on the central nervous system, little is understood regarding the action of N-acetyl-serylaspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP), a peptide fragment of TB4 on brain function. Here, we examined neurogenesis-stimulative effect of Ac-SDKP. Intrahippocampal infusion of Ac-SDKP facilitated the generation of new neurons in the hippocampus. Ac-SDKP-treated mouse hippocampus showed an increase in ß-catenin stability with reduction of glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK-3ß) activity. Moreover, inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling blocked Ac-SDKP-facilitated neural proliferation. Subchronic intrahippocampal infusion of Ac-SDKP also increased spatial memory. Taken together, these data demonstrate that Ac-SDKP functions as a regulator of neural proliferation and indicate that Ac-SDKP may be a therapeutic candidate for diseases characterized by neuronal loss.

Epidemiological investigation of MERS-CoV spread in a single hospital in South Korea, May to June 2015.

In this report, we describe 37 MERS-CoV infection cases (1 primary, 25 secondary, 11 tertiary cases) in a single hospital in South Korea. The median incubation period was six days (95% CI: 4­7 days) and the duration between suspected symptom onset and laboratory confirmation was 6.5 days (95% CI: 4­9). While incubation period was two days longer, the duration from suspected symptom onset to confirmation was shorter in tertiary compared with secondary infections.

[(18)F] FP-CIT PET study in parkinsonian patients with leukoaraiosis.

BACKGROUNDS: Leukoaraiosis may present with slowly progressive parkinsonism indistinguishable from primary degenerative parkinsonism. Both leukoaraiosis and degenerative parkinsonism are an age-related disorder. Thus, comorbidity is expected to be common in elderly patients with parkinsonism. However, no systematic study has been reported on the clinical features indicating concomitant nigrostriatal dopaminergic denervation (NDD) in parkinsonian patients with leukoaraiosis. METHODS: We performed [(18)F] FP-CIT positron emission tomography studies in 42 consecutive parkinsonian patients with diffuse leukoaraiosis, but no basal ganglia vascular lesions. RESULTS: Twenty (48%) of the 42 patients had coexisting NDD. Compared to parkinsonian patients with isolated leukoaraiosis, those with coexisting NDD more frequently had asymmetric onset. They had similar degree of parkinsonian motor deficits in the legs, but greater rigidity and resting tremor in the arms. Consequently, they had less prominent lower body parkinsonism. They more frequently showed favorable response to levodopa treatment. They had similar burden of regional and total leukoaraiosis. Among a variety of clinical variables and MRI findings, only asymmetric onset and more than 30% improvement in UPDRS motor score by levodopa treatment were valuable indicators of coexisting NDD. CONCLUSIONS: We would like to recommend dopaminergic functional imaging studies for all parkinsonian patients with leukoaraiosis. Further studies are needed to confirm sensitivity and specificity of asymmetric onset and good levodopa response for the prediction of coexisting NDD in a different group of parkinsonian patients with leukoaraiosis.

Estimation of pork quality traits using exsanguination blood and postmortem muscle metabolites.

The current study was designed to estimate the pork quality traits using metabolites from exsanguination blood and postmortem muscle simultaneously under the Korean standard pre- and post-slaughter conditions. A total of 111 Yorkshire (pure breed and castrated male) pigs were evaluated under the Korean standard conditions. Measurements were taken of the levels of blood glucose and lactate at exsanguination, and muscle glycogen and lactate content at 45 min and 24 h postmortem. Certain pork quality traits were also evaluated. Correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis including stepwise regression were performed. Exsanguination blood glucose and lactate levels were positively correlated with each other, negatively related to postmortem muscle glycogen content and positively associated with postmortem muscle lactate content. A rapid and extended postmortem glycolysis was associated with high levels of blood glucose and lactate, with high muscle lactate content, and with low muscle glycogen content during postmortem. In addition, these were also correlated with paler meat color and reduced water holding capacity. The results of multiple regression analyses also showed that metabolites in exsanguination blood and postmortem muscle explained variations in pork quality traits. Especially, levels of blood glucose and lactate and content of muscle glycogen at early postmortem were significantly associated with an elevated early glycolytic rate. Furthermore, muscle lactate content at 24 h postmortem alone accounted for a considerable portion of the variation in pork quality traits. Based on these results, the current study confirmed that the main factor influencing pork quality traits is the ultimate lactate content in muscle via postmortem glycolysis, and that levels of blood glucose and lactate at exsanguination and contents of muscle glycogen and lactate at postmortem can explain a large portion of the variation in pork quality even under the standard slaughter conditions.

Frequent visualization of thyroglossal duct remnant on post-ablation 131I-SPECT/CT and its clinical implications.

AIM: To evaluate the frequency of thyroglossal duct remnant (TGDR) uptake on post-therapy (131)I-scintigraphy in thyroid cancer patients, to analyse the rate of persistent TGDR uptake on follow-up combined (131)I-single-photon emission CT/CT (SPECT/CT), and to identify the differential clinical characteristics between patients with positive and negative TGDR uptake on (131)I-SPECT/CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 179 patients treated with total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer were enrolled in the study. At (131)I-whole-body scan (WBS), TGDR uptake was defined as an increase in radioactivity at the midline of the neck versus the thyroid bed. TGDR uptake on (131)I- SPECT/CT was defined as the presence of radioactivity at the expected pathway of the thyroglossal duct without evidence of metastatic foci. Persistent TGDR uptake was confirmed when TGDR uptake on follow-up (131)I-SPECT/CT corresponded to previous TGDR uptake detected by post-therapy (131)I-SPECT/CT. RESULTS: At SPECT/CT, TGDR uptake was noted in 86 of 179 patients. Stimulated thyroglobulin (sTg) levels were significantly higher (p = 0.02) in patients with positive TGDR uptake. Persistent TGDR uptake on follow-up (131)I-SPECT/CT was noted in 15 of 86 patients; sTg levels were significantly higher (p = 0.03) in the patients with persistent TGDR uptake. CONCLUSION: TGDR uptake is frequently visualized on post-therapy (131)I-SPECT/CT images and can be resistant to (131)I ablation. TGDR uptake has the potential to result in an elevation of serum thyroglobulin levels. (131)I-SPECT/CT clarifies TGDR uptake without additional invasive procedures or imaging studies, eliminating confusion among clinicians for managing differentiated thyroid cancer patients.

Pulmonary nodule size evaluation with chest tomosynthesis and CT: a phantom study.

OBJECTIVE: We compared digital tomosynthesis (TOMO) and chest CT in terms of assessing the sizes of nodules located in zones where evaluation by simple radiography is limited. METHODS: A total of 48 images comprising phantom nodules of four sizes in six different locations were used. Nodule size measurement errors for measurements using TOMO and CT images compared with the actual size from each observer were calculated. The inter- and intraobserver repeatability of the measured values and the agreement between the two techniques were assessed using the method described by Bland and Altman. RESULTS: The mean measurement errors for all of the nodules and four observers were -0.84 mm [standard deviation (SD), 0.60 mm] on TOMO and -0.18 mm (SD, 0.71 mm) on CT images. The mean measurement errors for the different observers ranged from -1.11 to -0.55 mm for TOMO and from -0.39 to 0.08 mm for CT. Assessing the agreement between nodule size measurements using TOMO and CT resulted in mean measurement errors of -0.65 mm, with a 95% limit of agreement of -2.53 to 1.22 mm for comparison of TOMO with CT. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that nodule sizes obtained using TOMO and chest CT are comparable, even for nodules located in areas where the size measurement is limited on simple radiography. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: TOMO and CT can be used interchangeably, even for nodules located in a blind area on simple radiography.

Purification and functional characterization of the first stilbene glucoside-specific ß-glucosidase isolated from Lactobacillus kimchi.

This study aimed to develop viable enzymes for bioconversion of resveratrol-glucoside into resveratrol. Out of 13 bacterial strains tested, Lactobacillus kimchi JB301 could completely convert polydatin into resveratrol. The purified enzyme had an optimum temperature of 30-40°C and optimum pH of pH 5.0 against polydatin. This enzyme showed high substrate specificities towards different substrates in the following order: isorhaponticin>>polydatin>>mulberroside A>oxyresveratrol-3-O-glucoside. Additionally, it rarely hydrolyzed astringin and desoxyrhaponticin. Based on these catalytic specificities, we suggest this enzyme be named stilbene glucoside-specific ß-glucosidase. Furthermore, polydatin extracts from Polygonum cuspidatum were successfully converted to resveratrol with a high yield (of over 99%). Stilbene glucoside-specific ß-glucosidase is the first enzyme isolated from lactic acid bacteria capable of bio-converting various stilbene glucosides into stilbene.

Long-term subjective tongue function after partial glossectomy.

There have been limited studies of subjective tongue function over long-term follow-up in spite of swallowing and articulation disorders are common complications of glossectomy. To assess long-term subjective swallowing and articulation function after partial glossectomy. A total of 63 patients with the mobile tongue cancer who underwent partial glossectomy without reconstruction were interviewed to score their swallowing and articulation function on a 100-point scale. The relation of this subjective scoring to the perioperative data was subjected to multivariate analysis. The mean patient age was 53·4 (19-81) years, and the mean follow-up duration was 78·9 (14-277) months. Mean swallowing and articulation function score was 87·7 ± 6·1 and 88·6 ± 5·4. Age, follow-up duration, T stage and resection volume were significantly correlated with swallowing function (P = 0·026, 0·029, 0·016, 0·002, respectively); follow-up duration was correlated with articulation function (P = 0·039). Patients who undergo partial glossectomy without reconstruction generally demonstrate good function on long-term follow-up. Subjective dysfunction was correlated with larger resection volume, older age and shorter follow-up duration.

Control of fresh meat quality through manipulation of muscle fiber characteristics.

Variations of fresh meat quality exist because the quality traits are affected by various intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Because the meat quality is basically dependent on muscle fiber characteristics, numerous studies have reported the relationship between quality traits and fiber characteristics. Despite intensive research, the relationship is yet to be fully established, however, the present knowledge suggests several potential ways to manipulate muscle fiber characteristics to improve meat quality. The present paper reviews the definition of fresh meat quality, meat quality traits and variations of meat quality. Also, this review presents recent knowledge underlying the relationship between fresh meat quality traits and muscle fiber characteristics. Finally, the present work proposes several potential factors including breed, genotype, sex, hormone, growth performance, diet, muscle location, exercise and ambient temperature that can be used to manipulate muscle fiber characteristics and subsequently meat quality in animals.

Multiple ovarian lipoprotein receptors in teleosts.

Recent investigations have revealed multiplicity in maternal yolk precursors and their corresponding ovarian lipoprotein receptors (LRs) in diverse oviparous vertebrates, including fishes. This mini-review describes further evidence for the system of fish egg yolk formation mediated by multiple ovarian LRs, which have been obtained by studies utilizing a combination of conventional molecular and biochemical analyses, and modern proteome and transcriptome technologies. A hypothetical "multiple ovarian LR" model is proposed based on our current and previous knowledge of fish yolk formation.

Effects of variation in porcine MYOD1 gene on muscle fiber characteristics, lean meat production, and meat quality traits.

Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the porcine MYOD1 gene were used for association analysis and haplotype construction to evaluate the effects of their substitution. Four hundred and three pigs of Yorkshire and Berkshire breeds were used. The mRNA expression levels of MYOD1 were examined. The g.489C>T and g.1264C>A SNPs were significantly associated with several muscle fiber characteristics, the loin eye area, and lightness. Particularly, animals having hetero-genotypes of both sites showed good performance both in lean meat production and meat quality traits. The results of haplotype substitution were similar to the associations of individual SNPs. Moreover, the 2 SNPs had significant effects on mRNA expression. Therefore, the g.489C>T and g.1264C>A SNPs in MYOD1 may be meaningful DNA markers that can be used for improving important porcine economic traits.