ERP Evidence for Co-Activation of English Words during Recognition of American Sign Language Signs

Event-related potentials (ERPs) were used to investigate co-activation of English words during recognition of American Sign Language (ASL) signs. Deaf and hearing signers viewed pairs of ASL signs and judged their semantic relatedness. Half of the semantically unrelated signs had English translations that shared an orthographic and phonological rime (e.g., BAR-STAR) and half did not (e.g., NURSE-STAR). Classic N400 and behavioral semantic priming effects were observed in both groups. For hearing signers, targets in sign pairs with English rime translations elicited a smaller N400 compared to targets in pairs with unrelated English translations. In contrast, a reversed N400 effect was observed for deaf signers: target signs in English rime translation pairs elicited a larger N400 compared to targets in pairs with unrelated English translations. This reversed effect was overtaken by a later, more typical ERP priming effect for deaf signers who were aware of the manipulation. These findings provide evidence that implicit language co-activation in bimodal bilinguals is bidirectional. However, the distinct pattern of effects in deaf and hearing signers suggests that it may be modulated by differences in language proficiency and dominance as well as by asymmetric reliance on orthographic versus phonological representations.

Regulatory effect of dexamethasone on tracheal calcium processing proteins and mucosal secretion

Dexamethasone inhibits mucin secretion considering the primary option for treating acute asthma exacerbation. However, the mechanism underlying dexamethasone-induced decreased in mucosecretion is unclear. Recent studies have reported that dexamethasone exerts an inhibitory effect on mucosecretion in the lung by modulating the expression of calcium processing genes. However, the expression of the calcium processing genes in the trachea is not examined yet. Thus, the present study is the first to report the localization of calcium processing proteins such as transient receptor potential vanilloid-4 (Trpv4), transient receptor potential vanilloid-6 (Trpv6), calbindin-D_9k (CaBP-9k) and plasma membrane Ca²⁺-ATPase 1 (Pmca1) in the mouse trachea and their glucocorticoid-induced response. In this study, mice were subcutaneously injected with dexamethasone for 5 days, and their tracheal samples were collected by dividing the trachea into the cervical, and thoracic sections based on its anatomical structure. The localization of TRPV4, TRPV6, CaBP-9k, and PMCA1 proteins was detected in the tracheal epithelium, submucosal glands, cartilages and muscles. Dexamethasone treatment downregulated the mRNA expression of the four calcium processing genes and mucin producing genes. The dexamethasone-induced decrease in the secretion of mucosubstances in the trachea was determined by performing Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff staining. Thus, the findings of the present study suggest that glucocorticoids simultaneously can regulate the expression of calcium processing genes and tracheal mucosecretion.

Comparison of marbling fleck characteristics between beef marbling grades and its effect on sensory quality characteristics in high-marbled Hanwoo steer

The aim of this study was to compare the intramuscular fat (IMF) content and marbling fleck characteristics measured by computerized image analysis among the eight grades of Korean beef marbling standard (BMS). Additionally, this study examined the effects of the marbling fleck characteristics on objective tenderness parameters and sensory quality characteristics in high-marbled Hanwoo steers (BMS grades 7 to 9). Marked differences were observed in marbling fleck characteristics among the BMS grades (P < .05), whereas the coarseness was similar in high-marbled beef (P > .05). Due to a greater extent of coarse marbling fleck, coarse marbled steaks from high-marbled cattle were assigned higher scores of tenderness attributes, including softness, initial tenderness, and chewiness, as well as mouth coating, but were assigned lower acceptability ratings for IMF content and overall impression compared to fine marbled steaks (P < .05). Taken together, considering the marbling fleck traits can be an effective tool for improving the accuracy of beef grading systems.

53 Pre-implantation exposure to bisphenol A and 4-tert-octylphenol result in disruption of calcium channels

Miscarriage due to blastocyst implantation failure occurs in up to two-thirds of all miscarriage cases in humans. Calcium (Ca2+) has been shown to involve many cellular signal transduction pathways as well as regulation of cell adhesion, which is necessary for the physiology process of endometrial epithelial cell transformation and stromal cell decidualization during embryo implantation. Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (ED) can regulate the expression of genes associated with calcium transport in during pregnancy such as TRPV5, TRPV6, PMCA, and NCX1. Additionally, exposure to ED during early gestation results in disrupted intrauterine implantation, uterine receptive, leading to implantation failure. In this study, oestrogen (E2), bisphenol A (BPA), octylphenol (OP), and/or ICI 182,780 (oestrogen receptor antagonist, ICI) were injected subcutaneously from gestation Day 1 to gestation Day 3 post coitus. The number of implantation sites was significantly lower in the OP group, and no implantation site was observed in the E2 and ED+ICI groups. There were differences in the expression of calcium transient transport channel between maternal uterine and implantation. The level of TRPV6 and TRPV5 mRNA and protein was significantly increased by ED and/or ICI treatment in the uterus. The levels of TRPV5 and TRPV6 gene expression were significantly increased by ED with/without ICI treatment in the uterus. However, TRPV5 and TRPV6 gene expression was significantly lower in implantation site samples. The NCX1 and PMCA1 mRNA levels were significantly decreased by OP and BPA in the implantation site samples. Both mRNA and protein levels of MUC1 were markedly higher in all groups, except the BPA group when compared with the vehicle group in the uterus. The LIF and HOXA-10 mRNA were significantly low in E2; BPA+ICI; OP; and/or ICI in both the uterus and implantation site. Expression of the oestrogen receptor (ERa) and progesterone receptor (PR) was significantly lower in all groups except the BPA group when compared with the vehicle group. Taken together, E2, BPA, and OP disrupt the success of implantation through altered expression of calcium transport genes.

190 Effects of endocrine-disrupting chemical on calcium signalling in cardiomyocyte differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) are substances similar to steroid hormones that can disturb normal physiological functions of male and female reproductive organs. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals tend to bind to steroid hormone receptors. Sex steroid hormones modulate calcium signalling in the cardiac muscle in early embryo development. Among the steroid hormones, progesterone (P4) has been reported to affect blood pressure and other aspects of the cardiovascular system. The EDC that have similar structure to P4, such as octyl-phenol (OP) and bisphenol A (BPA), are potentially harmful to development of the heart. To confirm the effect of OP and BPA on early differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mES) into cardiomyocytes, the hanging-drop method with mESC cell line (ES-E14TG2a) was used for forming embryoid bodies. Pluripotent mESC were cultured in basal medium with leukemia inhibitory factor and grown on mitomycin C-treated mouse embryonic fibroblasts in a 60-mm plate at 37°C in a 5% CO2 humidified tissue culture incubator with basal medium consisting of DMEM/F-12 supplemented with nonessential amino acids, 10% heat-inactivated and certified fetal bovine serum (FBS), 2-mercaptoethanol, penicillin, and streptomycin. The mouse embryoid bodies (mEB) were suspended onto 6-well plates and cultured with differentiation medium containing steroid-free FBS without leukemia inhibitory factor. Progesterone, OP, and BPA were added on Day 2 from mEB attachment. In addition, mifepristone (RU486), an antagonist for progesterone receptor (PR), was used to confirm the effect of P4 through PR. To determine whether RU486 is capable of attenuating the inhibition effect of P4, RU486 was added for 1 day starting on Day 11. Assessment of cardiomyocyte differentiation was determined by checking the number of beating cell populations divided by the total number of attached mEB. Total RNA was extracted using Trizol reagent and synthesised to cDNA using Moloney murine leukemia virus (MMLV) reverse transcriptase. Messenger RNA level was assessed using quantitative real-time PCR. To investigate calcium signalling, the mRNA levels of calcium channel gene Trpv2 and contraction-related genes Ryr2, Cam2, and Mylk3 were analysed. Beating ratio was decreased in P4, OP, and BPA treatments. Data were analysed by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison tests, and P&lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant in least 3 different replicates. The mRNA level of Pgr was significantly increased in P4, OP, and BPA-treated group. However, the mRNA level of calcium channel gene Trpv2 was significantly decreased in the P4, OP, and BPA-treated group. Expression of contraction-related genes such as Ryr2, Cam2, and Mlck3 were significantly decreased in the P4, OP, and BPA-treated group. In addition, treatment with RU486 rescues altered calcium channel gene and contraction-related genes. Taken together, these results suggest that OP and BPA may affect the differentiation of mESC into cardiomyocyte and disrupts differentiation of cardiomyocytes.

119 Combined exposure to phthalates and 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide accelerate the loss of ovarian follicles, leading to premature ovarian failure in rat model

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is observed in women under 40 years with primary or secondary amenorrhea. The causes for POF are idiopathic, genetic, iatrogenic incidence, autoimmunity, and adverse effects from toxic chemical exposures. Several classes of chemicals have been shown to alter follicle development and reduce fertility, leading to POF in mammals. We investigated the synergistic effects of 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) and phthalates, including di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), on POF. Both VCD and these phthalates have been reported to disrupt the folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis in many species. In the vehicle group, female Sprague-Dawley rats (8 weeks of age) received an IP injection of corn oil daily for 2 weeks. The 7 other groups received VCD+corn oil, DEHP, DEHP+VCD, BBP, BBP+VCD, DBP, or DBP+VCD. After receiving the VCD or vehicle injection IP for 2 weeks, corn oil or a phthalate were orally administered once a day for the entire 6-week study period. The mRNA expressions of Amh and Sohlh2 were significantly decreased in the combination groups compared to the control and individual groups. Serum Amh levels were significantly lower in the combination groups. Additionally, serum levels of FSH were markedly higher in combination groups. Our findings suggest that the combination of VCD and phthalates can accelerate the POF by disturbance in folliculogenesis and hormone regulation.

Clinical Value of Vascular Permeability Estimates Using Dynamic Susceptibility Contrast MRI: Improved Diagnostic Performance in Distinguishing Hypervascular Primary CNS Lymphoma from Glioblastoma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A small subset of primary central nervous system lymphomas exhibits high cerebral blood volume, which is indistinguishable from that in glioblastoma on dynamic susceptibility contrast MR imaging. Our study aimed to test whether estimates of combined perfusion and vascular permeability metrics derived from DSC-MR imaging can improve the diagnostic performance in differentiating hypervascular primary central nervous system lymphoma from glioblastoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 119 patients (with 30 primary central nervous system lymphomas and 89 glioblastomas) exhibited hypervascular foci using the reference method of leakage-corrected CBV (reference-normalized CBV). An alternative postprocessing method used the tissue residue function to calculate vascular permeability (extraction fraction), leakage-corrected CBV, cerebral blood flow, and mean transit time. Parameters were compared using Mann-Whitney U tests, and the diagnostic performance to distinguish primary central nervous system lymphoma from glioblastoma was calculated using the area under the curve from the receiver operating characteristic curve and was cross-validated with bootstrapping.

RESULTS

Hypervascular primary central nervous system lymphoma showed similar leakage-corrected normalized CBV and leakage-corrected CBV compared with glioblastoma (P > .05); however, primary central nervous system lymphoma exhibited a significantly higher extraction fraction (P < .001) and CBF (P = .01) and shorter MTT (P < .001) than glioblastoma. The extraction fraction showed the highest diagnostic performance (the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC], 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.69-0.85) for distinguishing hypervascular primary central nervous system lymphoma from glioblastoma, with a significantly higher performance than both CBV (AUC, 0.53-0.59, largest P = .02) and CBF (AUC, 0.72) and MTT (AUC, 0.71).

CONCLUSIONS

Estimation of vascular permeability with DSC-MR imaging further characterizes hypervascular primary central nervous system lymphoma and improves diagnostic performance in glioblastoma differentiation.