Insight into the periprocedural embolic events of internal carotid artery angioplasty. A report of four cases and literature review

Thromboembolism is a major risk of carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS). Although the incidence of distal embolism has been documented by MRI and TCD studies, the mechanisms and management of this complication are rarely reported. Here we describe four patients with periprocedural embolic events to demonstrate the mechanisms of thromboembolism in CAS. Different remedies were applied to these patients according to the underlying mechanisms of thromboembolism and good clinical outcomes were achieved.

Association between the Interleukin 10-1082G>A polymorphism and coronary heart disease risk in a Caucasian population: a meta-analysis

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a cytokine with anti-inflammatory and B-cell-stimulating activity. IL-10 is expressed in human atherosclerotic plaques and studies have shown the involvement of IL-10 in the atherosclerotic process. The IL-10-1082G/A polymorphism is one of the most commonly studied polymorphisms in this gene because of its association with coronary heart disease (CHD) risks, but previous results have been conflicting. We performed a meta-analysis using six eligible case-control studies (including 14 data sets) with a total of 5006 patients and 3968 controls to summarize the existing data on the association between the IL-10-1082G/A polymorphism and CHD risk. Compared with the common IL-10-1082G/A GG genotype, the carriers of variant genotypes (IL-10-1082GA/AA) had a 1.12-fold elevated risk of CHD (95% CI = 1.01-1.23, P = 0.03) under the dominant genetic model, as estimated using a random effect model. The effect of the IL-10-1082G/A polymorphism was further evaluated using stratification analysis. In the three disease of artery studies, with the variant genotypes had a not obvious increased risk of disease of artery (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 0.98-1.44, P = 0.08) as estimated using a fixed effect model. Similar results were found in the nine myocardial infarction studies (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.00-1.27, P = 0.05). It was also demonstrated that the increased risk of CHD associated with IL-10-1082G/A variant genotypes was more pronounced in Caucasians (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.01-1.23, P = 0.03). Our meta-analysis suggests that the IL-10-1082G/A polymorphism genotypes (GA+AA) might be associated with an increased risk of CHD, especially in Caucasians.

Heading date gene, dth3 controlled late flowering in O. Glaberrima Steud. by down-regulating Ehd1

Heading date in rice is an important agronomic trait controlled by several genes. In this study, flowering time of variety Dianjingyou 1 (DJY1) was earlier than a near-isogenic line (named NIL) carried chromosome segment from African rice on chromosome 3S, when grown in both long-day (LD) and short-day (SD) conditions. By analyzing a large F2 population from NIL × DJY1, the locus DTH3 (QTL for days to heading on chromosome 3) controlling early heading date in DJY1 was fine mapped to a 64-kb segment which contained only one annotated gene, a MIKC-type MADS-box protein. We detected a 6-bp deletion and a single base substitution in the C-domain by sequencing DTH3 in DJY1 compared with dth3 in NIL, and overexpression of DTH3 caused early flowering in callus. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that the transcript level of dth3 in NIL was lower than that DTH3 in DJY1 in both LD and SD conditions. The Early heading date 1 (Ehd1) which promotes the RFT1, was up-regulated by DTH3 in both LD and SD conditions. Based on Indel and dCAPs marker analysis, the dth3 allele was only present in African rice accessions. A phylogenetic analysis based on microsatellite genotyping suggested that African rice had a close genetic relationship to O. rufipogon and O. latifolia, and was similar to japonica cultivars. DTH3 affected flowering time and had no significant effect on the main agronomic traits.

Effect of downregulated β-catenin on cell proliferative activity, the sensitivity to chemotherapy drug and tumorigenicity of ovarian cancer cells

The role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the etiology and/or progression of ovarian cancer has been well documented. It was demonstrated that ovarian cancer constantly exhibit constitutive activation of canonical Wnt signaling, usually as a result of oncogenic mutations that stabilize and dysregulate the β-catenin protein. In this study, we transfected an expression vector-based small hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting to β-catenin encoding gene into human A2780 ovarian cancer cells to investigate the effects of β-catenin knockdown on biological characteristics of ovarian cancer cells. The results showed that β-catenin shRNA expression resulted in decreased β-catenin mRNA and protein expression in the transfected A2780 cells, inhibition of cellular proliferation, decreased capability of clonogenicity in the plating and the soft agar, and increased sensitivities to chemotherapy drugs vincristine, paclitaxel and cisplatin compared to untransfected cells. Importantly, we found that shRNA-mediated knockdown of β-catenin strongly decreases tumour growth of human A2780 ovarian cancer cells in xenografts. These results demonstrate that β-catenin might be an effective therapeutic target for human ovarian cancer treatment.

High sensitivity of taper-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer embedded in a thinned optical fiber for refractive index sensing

A taper-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) embedded in a thinned optical fiber is demonstrated as a highly sensitive refractive index (RI) sensor. A RI sensitivity of 2210.84 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) is obtained at the external RI of 1.40, which is ten times higher than that of normal taper- and long-period fiber grating (LPFG)-based sensors. The sensitivity can be further improved by decreasing the diameter of the thinned fiber and increasing the interferometer length of the MZI. The proposed MZIs have lower temperature sensitivities compared with normal fiber sensors, which is a desirable merit for RI sensors to reduce the cross sensitivity caused by thermal drift.

Fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer based on microcavities for high-temperature sensing with high sensitivity

A high-temperature sensor based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) in a conventional single-mode optical fiber is proposed and fabricated by concatenating two microcavities separated by a middle section. A femtosecond laser is used to fabricate a microhole on the center of a fiber end. Then a micro-air-cavity is formed by splicing the microholed fiber end with a normal fiber end. The interferometer is applied for high-temperature sensing, in the range of 500-1200 °C, with a sensitivity of 109 pm/°C that, to the best of our knowledge, is highest in silica fiber temperature sensors. Also, the interferometer is insensitive to external refractive index (RI), which is desirable for temperature sensors.

Wld(S) protects against peripheral neuropathy and retinopathy in an experimental model of diabetes in mice

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

We aimed to evaluate the effect of the mutant Wld(S) (slow Wallerian degeneration; also known as Wld) gene in experimental diabetes on early experimental peripheral diabetic neuropathy and diabetic retinopathy.

METHODS

The experiments were performed in four groups of mice: wild-type (WT), streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic WT, C57BL/Wld(S) and STZ-induced diabetic C57BL/Wld(S). In each group, intraperitoneal glucose and insulin tolerance tests were performed; blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin and serum insulin were monitored. These mice were also subjected to the following behavioural tests: grasping test, hot-plate test and von Frey aesthesiometer test. For some animals, sciatic-tibial motor nerve conduction velocity, tail sensory nerve conduction velocity and eye pattern electroretinogram were measured. At the end of the experiments, islets were isolated to detect glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, ATP content and extent of apoptosis. The NAD/NADH ratio in islets and retinas was evaluated. Surviving retinal ganglion cells were estimated by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

We found that the Wld(S) gene is expressed in islets and protects beta cells against multiple low doses of STZ by increasing the NAD/NADH ratio, maintaining the ATP concentration, and reducing apoptosis. Consistently, significantly higher insulin concentrations, lower blood glucose concentrations, and better glucose tolerance were observed in Wld(S) mice compared with WT mice after STZ treatment. Furthermore, Wld(S) alleviated abnormal sensory responses, nerve conduction, retina dysfunction and reduction of surviving retinal ganglion cells in STZ-induced diabetic models.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

We provide the first evidence that expression of the Wld(S) gene decreases beta cell destruction and preserves islet function in STZ-induced diabetes, thus revealing a novel protective strategy for diabetic models.

MicroRNA-335 acts as a metastasis suppressor in gastric cancer by targeting Bcl-w and specificity protein 1

Aberrant expression of miR-335 has been frequently reported in cancer studies, suggesting that there is a close correlation between miR-335 and cancer during its development, progression, metastasis and prognosis. The expression of miR-335 in gastric cancer and its effects are not known. Relative expression of miR-335 in 4 gastric cancer cell lines and in 70 gastric cancer tissues was confirmed by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR compared with controls. Transwell cell migration and Matrigel invasion assay in vitro and metastasis formation assay in vivo were used to examine the effects of miR-335 expression on gastric cancer cell invasion and metastasis. The effect of miR-335 expression on gastric cancer cell proliferation was estimated by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Luciferase reporter assay and western blot were used to examine the potential target genes and related pathways. Gene silencing with small-interfering RNA was used to examine the effects of target genes on gastric cancer cell invasion. miR-335 was dramatically downregulated in gastric cancer cell lines than in the normal gastric cell line GES-1. Low expression of miR-335 was significantly associated with lymph-node metastasis, poor pT stage, poor pN stage and invasion of lymphatic vessels. Overexpression of miR-335 suppressed gastric cancer cell invasion and metastasis in vitro and in vivo, but has no significant effects on cell proliferation. Furthermore, miR-335 might suppress gastric cancer invasion and metastasis by targeting Bcl-w and specificity protein 1 (SP1). Taken together, our results provide evidence that miR-335 might function as a metastasis suppressor in gastric cancer by targeting SP1 directly and indirectly through the Bcl-w-induced phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt-Sp1 pathway. miR-335 showing altered expression at different stages of gastric cancer could be a target for gastric cancer therapies and could be further developed as a potential prognostic factor.

Abnormalities in connectivity of white-matter tracts in patients with familial and non-familial schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

Abnormalities in the connectivity of white-matter (WM) tracts in schizophrenia are supported by evidence from post-mortem investigations, functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The aims of this study were to explore the microstructural changes in first-episode schizophrenia in a Han Chinese population and to investigate whether a family history of psychiatric disorder is related to the severity of WM tract integrity abnormalities in these patients.

METHOD

T1-weighted MR and DT images were collected in 68 patients with first-episode schizophrenia [22 with a positive family history (PFH) and 46 with a negative family history (NFH)] and 100 healthy controls. Voxel-based analysis was performed and WM integrity was quantified by fractional anisotropy (FA). Cluster- and voxel-level analyses were performed by using two-sample t tests between patients and controls and/or using a full factorial model with one factor and three levels among the three sample groups (patients with PFH or NFH, and controls), as appropriate.

RESULTS

FA deficits were observed in the patient group, especially in the left temporal lobe and right corpus callosum. This effect was more severe in the non-familial schizophrenia than in the familial schizophrenia subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, these findings support the hypothesis that loss of WM integrity may be an important pathophysiological feature of schizophrenia, with particular implications for brain dysmaturation in non-familial and familial schizophrenia.

Application of multifocal visual evoked potentials in the assessment of visual dysfunction in macular diseases

PURPOSE

To evaluate the use of AccuMap multifocal visual evoked potentials (mfVEP) in visual dysfunction caused by macular diseases.

METHODS

Forty-eight eyes with known macular diseases underwent AccuMap mfVEP and microperimetry 1 (MP1) assessments. Evaluation of mfVEP abnormality was based on an amplitude deviation probability plot and the AccuMap Severity Index (ASI). Correlation analyses of the mean mfVEP amplitude corresponding to a radius of 2°, 5°, and 10° of the central visual field, minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and MP1 mean sensitivity of the corresponding areas were performed.

RESULTS

Among the 48 affected eyes, AccuMap mfVEP detected an abnormality of the central visual field in 45 eyes, with a sensitivity of 93.8%. The mean mfVEP amplitudes within a radius of 2°, 5°, and 10° of the central visual field were found to be positively correlated with BCVA (P<0.01 for all groups). The mean amplitudes also positively correlated with the MP1 mean sensitivity value of the corresponding visual field (P<0.01 for all groups). In the group with stable fixation or predominantly central fixation, the mean mfVEP amplitudes did not correlate with the BCVA or the MP1 mean sensitivity value. Regardless of the fixation status, the ASI was found to correlate with both the BCVA and the total MP1 mean defect value.

CONCLUSION

Objective perimetry using AccuMap mfVEP might be applied in the assessment of macular function, with the ASI offering a potentially useful indicator for evaluating macular dysfunction.

Fast growth of branched nickel monosilicide nanowires by laser-assisted chemical vapor deposition

Branched nickel monosilicide (NiSi) nanowires (NWs), for the first time, have been synthesized on Ni foams by laser-assisted chemical vapor deposition using disilane precursor molecules. Studies indicate that 600 °C is the threshold temperature for the growth of a large number of branched NiSi NWs with 100-500 nm long branches extending from the main stems. Below the threshold temperature, unbranched NiSi NWs were obtained. The density of the branched NiSi NWs is relatively higher in comparison to that of the unbranched ones. The growth rate of the branched NiSi NWs at 700 °C is estimated up to 10 µm min(-1). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy of the branched NiSi NWs suggest that the formation of these branched nanostructures is ascribed to the Ni-dominant diffusion process. These NiSi NWs with branched nanostructures could bring them new opportunities in nanodevices.

UV light emitting transparent conducting tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) nanowires

Multifunctional single crystalline tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) nanowires with tuned Sn doping levels are synthesized via a vapor transport method. The Sn concentration in the nanowires can reach 6.4 at.% at a synthesis temperature of 840 °C, significantly exceeding the Sn solubility in ITO bulks grown at comparable temperatures, which we attribute to the unique feature of the vapor-liquid-solid growth. As a promising transparent conducting oxide nanomaterial, layers of these ITO nanowires exhibit a sheet resistance as low as 6.4 Ω/[Symbol: see text] and measurements on individual nanowires give a resistivity of 2.4 × 10(-4) Ω cm with an electron density up to 2.6 × 10(20) cm(-3), while the optical transmittance in the visible regime can reach ∼ 80%. Under the ultraviolet excitation the ITO nanowire samples emit blue light, which can be ascribed to transitions related to defect levels. Furthermore, a room temperature ultraviolet light emission is observed in these ITO nanowires for the first time, and the exciton-related radiative process is identified by using temperature-dependent photoluminescence measurements.

Reconfigurable photonic metamaterials

We introduce mechanically reconfigurable photonic metamaterials (RPMs) as a flexible platform for realizing metamaterial devices with reversible and large-range tunable characteristics in the optical part of the spectrum. Here we illustrate this concept for a temperature-driven RPM exhibiting reversible relative transmission changes of up to 50%.

Resonant excitation of precursor molecules in improving the particle crystallinity, growth rate and optical limiting performance of carbon nano-onions

A catalyst-free and highly efficient synthetic method for growing carbon nano-onions (CNOs) in open air has been developed through the laser resonant excitation of a precursor molecule, ethylene, in a combustion process. Highly concentric CNO particles with improved crystallinity were obtained at a laser wavelength of 10.532 µm through the resonant excitation of the CH(2) wagging mode of the ethylene molecules. A higher growth rate up to 2.1 g h( - 1) was obtained, compared with that without a laser (1.3 g h( - 1)). Formation of the CNOs with ordered graphitic shells is ascribed to the decomposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into C(2) species. The optical limiting performances of the CNOs grown by the combustion processes were investigated. CNOs grown at 10.532 µm laser excitation demonstrated improved optical limiting properties due to the improved crystallinity.

New Measurement of the π0 radiative decay width

High precision measurements of the differential cross sections for π0 photoproduction at forward angles for two nuclei, 12C and 208Pb, have been performed for incident photon energies of 4.9-5.5 GeV to extract the π0→γγ decay width. The experiment was done at Jefferson Lab using the Hall B photon tagger and a high-resolution multichannel calorimeter. The π0→γγ decay width was extracted by fitting the measured cross sections using recently updated theoretical models for the process. The resulting value for the decay width is Γ(π0→γγ)=7.82±0.14(stat)±0.17(syst)  eV. With the 2.8% total uncertainty, this result is a factor of 2.5 more precise than the current Particle Data Group average of this fundamental quantity, and it is consistent with current theoretical predictions.

Environment-assisted precision measurement

We describe a method to enhance the sensitivity of precision measurements that takes advantage of the environment of a quantum sensor to amplify the response of the sensor to weak external perturbations. An individual qubit is used to sense the dynamics of surrounding ancillary qubits, which are in turn affected by the external field to be measured. The resulting sensitivity enhancement is determined by the number of ancillas that are coupled strongly to the sensor qubit; it does not depend on the exact values of the coupling strengths and is resilient to many forms of decoherence. The method achieves nearly Heisenberg-limited precision measurement, using a novel class of entangled states. We discuss specific applications to improve clock sensitivity using trapped ions and magnetic sensing based on electronic spins in diamond.