Collar Sign in Incompletely Occluded Aneurysms after Pipeline Embolization: Evaluation with Angiography and Optical Coherence Tomography

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Flow diversion with the Pipeline Embolization Device has emerged as an attractive treatment for cerebral aneurysms. Processes involved in aneurysm occlusion include changes in intra-aneurysmal hemodynamics and endothelialization of the device. Here, we call attention to a radiographic sign not previously reported that is detected in incompletely occluded aneurysms after treatment with the Pipeline Embolization Device at angiographic follow-up and referred to as the "collar sign."

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of all patients who underwent placement of a Pipeline Embolization Device for cerebral aneurysms between January 2014 and May 2016 was performed. All aneurysms found to show the collar sign at follow-up were included. Optical coherence tomography was performed in 1 case.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty-five aneurysms were treated in 115 patients. At angiographic follow-up, 17 (10.7%) aneurysms were found to be incompletely occluded. Ten (58.8%) of these aneurysms (average diameter, 7.9 ± 5.0 mm) were found to have the collar sign at angiographic follow-up (average, 5.5 ± 1.0 months). Four (40.0%) of the aneurysms underwent a second angiographic follow-up (average, 11.0 ± 0.9 months) after treatment, and again were incompletely occluded and showing the collar sign. Two patients underwent retreatment with a second Pipeline Embolization Device. Optical coherence tomography showed great variability of endothelialization at the proximal end of the Pipeline Embolization Device.

CONCLUSIONS

The collar sign appears to be indicative of endothelialization, but continued blood flow into the aneurysm. This is unusual given the processes involved in aneurysm occlusion after placement of the Pipeline Embolization Device and has not been previously reported.

VEGF Promotes Glycolysis in Pancreatic Cancer via HIF1α Up-Regulation

BACKGROUND

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is highly expressed in many types of tumors, including pancreatic cancer. Tumor cellderived VEGF promotes angiogenesis and tumor progression. However, the role of VEGF in glucose metabolism remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the role and the underlying mechanism of VEGF in the glucose metabolism of pancreatic cancer cells.

METHOD

Pancreatic cancer cells were stimulated with VEGF165 for 1 or 2 h. The oxygen consumption rates (OCR) and extracellular acidification rates (ECAR) were measured using the Seahorse XF96 Extracellular Flux Analyzer. Glycolytic enzymes were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Neuropilin 1 (NRP1) was silenced by shRNA in order to investigate its role in VEGF-induced glycolysis. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to identify the correlation among VEGF, NRP1 and hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) in pancreatic cancer tissues.

RESULTS

VEGF stimulation led to a metabolic transition from mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis in pancreatic cancer. HIF1α and NRP1 protein levels were both increased after VEGF stimulation. The down-regulation of NRP1 reduced glycolysis in pancreatic cancer cells. NRP1 and VEGF levels both correlated with HIF1α expression in pancreatic tumor tissues.

CONCLUSION

VEGF enhances glycolysis in pancreatic cancer via HIF1α up-regulation. NRP1 plays a key role in VEGF-induced glycolysis.

A chemical-structural model for coherent martensite/parent interface in Mn-based antiferromagnetic shape memory alloys

The martensite/parent coherent interface of Mn-based shape memory alloys (SMAs) is a significant part in the research of their martensitic transformation, reversible shape memory effect and magnetic shape memory effect. In the present work, a chemical-structural model was proposed to calculate the martensite/parent coherent interfacial energy of Mn-X (X = Cu, Fe) alloys. In this model, the coherent heterophase interfacial energy consists of chemical and structural parts. Resulting from the formation process of the heterophase interface, the chemical interfacial energy is expressed as the incremental value of bond energy, while the structural part is obtained by calculating the interfacial strain energy. The results show that the structural interfacial energy plays the chief role in the total interfacial energy, and the total interfacial energy decreases as the temperature rises when the alloy composition is fixed. In addition, the preferred orientation has noteworthy influence on the total interfacial energy. Using the proposed model, interfacial energy, interfacial entropy, interfacial enthalpy and interfacial heat capacity are found to be correlated with temperature and interface preferred orientation. Furthermore, the influences of alloy composition, modulus softening, and the index of the habit plane on the results were discussed.

Hydrogen Sulfide Regulates Homeostasis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Regulatory T Cells

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) has long been known as a toxic gas. However, recently accumulated evidence suggests that H₂S contributes to a variety of physiologic and pathologic processes. Endogenous H₂S production is regulated by multiple enzymes that are differentially expressed in the cardiovascular, neuronal, immune, renal, respiratory, gastrointestinal, reproductive, liver, and endocrine systems. Alteration of H₂S metabolism may affect multiple signaling pathways and tissue homeostasis. The growing number of diverse targets for which H₂S serves as a gasotransmitter has been extensively reviewed elsewhere. In this review, the authors discuss current emerging evidence that H₂S regulates mesenchymal stem cell and T-cell functions.

iTRAQ technology-based identification of human peripheral serum proteins associated with depression

Clinical depression is one of the most common and debilitating psychiatric disorders and contributes to increased risks of disability and suicide. Differentially expressed serum proteins may serve as biomarkers for diagnosing depression. In this study, samples from depressed patients are aggregated into a pool (22×100μL serum was used) and samples from healthy volunteers are aggregated into the other pool (20×100μL serum was used). Isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) technology and tandem mass spectrometry were employed to screen for differentially expressed serum protein in two separate pools. We identified 472 proteins in the serum samples, and 154 of these presented differences in abundance between the depression and control groups. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) was employed to identify the highest scoring proteins in signaling pathway networks. Finally, four differentially expressed proteins were validated by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA). Proteomic studies revealed that levels of c-reaction protein (CRP), inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4 (ITIH4), serum amyloid A1 (SAA1) and angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) were substantially increased in depressed patients compared with the healthy control group. Therefore, these differentially expressed proteins may represent potential markers for the clinical diagnosis of depression.

IL10 inhibits starvation-induced autophagy in hypertrophic scar fibroblasts via cross talk between the IL10-IL10R-STAT3 and IL10-AKT-mTOR pathways

Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a serious skin fibrotic disease characterized by excessive hypercellularity and extracellular matrix (ECM) component deposition. Autophagy is a tightly regulated physiological process essential for cellular maintenance, differentiation, development, and homeostasis. Previous studies show that IL10 has potential therapeutic benefits in terms of preventing and reducing HS formation. However, no studies have examined IL10-mediated autophagy during the pathological process of HS formation. Here, we examined the effect of IL10 on starvation-induced autophagy and investigated the molecular mechanism underlying IL10-mediated inhibition of autophagy in HS-derived fibroblasts (HSFs) under starvation conditions. Immunostaining and PCR analysis revealed that a specific component of the IL10 receptor, IL10 alpha-chain (IL10Rα), is expressed in HSFs. Transmission electron microscopy and western blot analysis revealed that IL10 inhibited starvation-induced autophagy and induced the expression of p-AKT and p-STAT3 in HSFs in a dose-dependent manner. Blocking IL10R, p-AKT, p-mTOR, and p-STAT3 using specific inhibitors (IL10RB, LY294002, rapamycin, and cryptotanshinone, respectively) showed that IL10 inhibited autophagy via IL10Rα-mediated activation of STAT3 (the IL10R-STAT3 pathway) and by directly activating the AKT-mTOR pathway. Notably, these results suggest that IL10-mediated inhibition of autophagy is facilitated by the cross talk between STAT3, AKT, and mTOR; in other words, the IL10-IL10R-STAT3 and IL10-AKT-mTOR pathways. Finally, the results also indicate that mTOR-p70S6K is the molecule upon which these two pathways converge to induce IL10-mediated inhibition of autophagy in starved HSFs. In summary, the findings reported herein shed light on the molecular mechanism underlying IL10-mediated inhibition of autophagy and suggest that IL10 is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of HS.

Phthalocyanine based molecular spintronic devices

Spin-dependent hybridization and spin excitation induce multiple magnetoresistance effects in phthalocyanine based spintronic devices.

Pilot Study Evaluating Regulatory T Cell-Promoting Immunosuppression and Nonimmunogenic Donor Antigen Delivery in a Nonhuman Primate Islet Allotransplantation Model

The full potential of islet transplantation will only be realized through the development of tolerogenic regimens that obviate the need for maintenance immunosuppression. Here, we report an immunotherapy regimen that combines 1-ethyl-3-(3'-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide (ECDI)-treated donor lymphoid cell infusion (ECDI-DLI) with thymoglobulin, anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody and rapamycin to achieve prolonged allogeneic islet graft survival in a nonhuman primate (NHP) model. Prolonged graft survival is associated with Treg expansion, donor-specific T cell hyporesponsiveness and a transient absence of donor-specific alloantibody production during the period of graft survival. This regimen shows promise for clinical translation.

Modified Corneosurfametry as a new accelerated high-throughput ex vivo methodology for predicting cleanser effects towards human skin

BACKGROUND

Corneosurfametry (CSM) was originally developed as a tool to predict irritation potential of cleansers. In this method, surface skin stripped using cyanoacrylate is contacted with surfactants/products, rinsed and stained with toluidine blue and basic fuschin dyes. The intensity of staining increases with increases in irritation potential of surfactant. Our objective was to modify the CSM technique to achieve better control of the tape stripping process. Another objective was to correlate the modified CSM (MCSM) with a traditional in-vivo forearm controlled application test (FCAT) for mildness and to explore its utility to assess the state of corneum after a clinical test.

METHODS

Surface skin cells were tape stripped from forearms of volunteers with D-Squame Adhesive Discs. Discs were treated with a 10% solution of the product in a 96-plate well for 10 min, rinsed, dried and treated with basic fuschin-toluidine blue dye solution, rinsed and dried again. Forearm Controlled Application Test (FCAT) was based on a published protocol. Tape strips obtained after product treatment were also analyzed by the MCSM procedure without additional product treatment.

RESULTS

Mildness/barrier damage assessed from in-vivo FCAT showed a similar ranking to the MCSM results. MCSM, TEWL and Erythema analysis of between-treatment differences showed a good correlation indicating that barrier damage seen in in-vivo studies can be predicted from ex-vivo MCSM studies. MCSM analysis of tape strips after the FCAT study showed that the damage decreased with increase in tape strip number. A moisturizing body wash (MBW) with mild surfactants showed the least damage in all layers. In contrast, harsh dish washing liquid showed significantly higher damage down to several layers. Another MBW with petrolatum in a harsher base showed damage almost similar to that of the harsh dish washing liquid in the surface layers. Thus, the MCSM was able to show underlying damage which would have been normally masked by the deposited petrolatum.

CONCLUSION

The MCSM assay was shown to be a valuable tool for accelerated high throughput evaluation of mildness of surfactants and fully formulated products. MCSM can also be used to assess the state of the corneum after a product treatment.

microRNA-106a induces the proliferation and apoptosis of glioma cells through regulating JNK/MAPK pathway

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of microRNA-106a (miRNA-106a) in the brain tissue and the plasma of glioma patients, and explore the mechanism underlying the effect of miRNA-106a on the proliferation and apoptosis of glioma cells.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Brain tissues from 42 glioma patients admitted in our institution were included in study group, whereas normal brain tissues collected from 10 patients undergoing brain tissue resection due to decompression or exposure during cerebral surgery. Quantitative fluorescent RT-PCR (QF RT-PCR) was performed to measure miRNA-106a mRNA levels in the brain tissue and peripheral blood of patients in two groups. Human M059K glioma cells were transfected with miRNA-106a mimic and inhibitor, and the proliferation and apoptosis of glioma cells were analyzed. In addition, JNK/MAPK in glioma cells was examined at mRNA and protein levels.

RESULTS

Compared with the normal population, miRNA-106a expression was significantly increased in the brain tissue of glioma patients (p < 0.05). Besides, miRNA-106a expression level was significantly elevated in the plasma of peripheral blood of glioma patients (p < 0.05). After the interference of miRNA-106a in M059K glioma cells, the proliferation of glioma cells was significantly reduced. However, the apoptotic regulatory factor, Bcl-2, was significantly increased, and JNK/MAPK protein level was significantly decreased. Overexpression of miRNA-106a in glioma cells resulted in significant increase in the proliferation of glioma cells and JNK/MAPK protein level, but obvious suppression in Bcl-2 protein level.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated expression of miRNA-106a plays a crucial role in the development and progression of glioma, probably by promoting the proliferation and suppressing the apoptosis of glioma cells through the JNK/MAPK signaling pathway.

A multi-center study on the prophylactic application of antibiotics in aseptic operations

To understand the application of antibacterial agents in aseptic operations and to provide evidence for their rational use and management, the antibiotic use statuses of six types of aseptic operations (306 cases from 4 tertiary hospitals) were retrospectively analyzed. Of 312 patients, 306 (65.08%) were treated with antibacterial agents in the perioperative period. Four categories of antibiotics including cephalosporins, penicillins, nitroimidazoles, and fluoroquinolones were administered (descending sequence). Administration time: preoperative >2 h, 15 cases; preoperative 0.5-2 h, 20 cases; postoperative: 265 cases. Drug withdrawal time: postoperative 1-3 days: 33 cases; 3-7 days: 255 cases; 7-15 days: 12 cases. The prophylactic use of antibacterial agents in aseptic operations suffers from non-strict mastered medication indication, improper drug selection, aimless drug combinations, inappropriate administration timing, and over long medication duration.

Osteoblast-induced osteoclast apoptosis by fas ligand/FAS pathway is required for maintenance of bone mass

The interplay between osteoblasts and osteoclasts has a crucial role in maintaining bone homeostasis. In this study, we reveal that osteoblasts are capable of inducing osteoclast apoptosis by FAS ligand (FASL)/FAS signaling. Conditional knockout of FASL in osteoblasts results in elevated osteoclast numbers and activity, along with reduced bone mass, suggesting that osteoblast-produced FASL is required to maintain physiological bone mass. More interestingly, we show that osteoblasts from ovariectomized (OVX) osteoporotic mice exhibit decreased FASL expression that results from the IFN-γ- and TNF-α-activated NF-κB pathway, leading to reduced osteoclast apoptosis and increased bone resorption. Systemic administration of either IFN-γ or TNF-α ameliorates the osteoporotic phenotype in OVX mice and rescues FASL expression in osteoblasts. In addition, ovariectomy induces more significant bone loss in FASL conditional knockout mice than in control group with increased osteoclast activity in which the levels of RANKL and OPG remain unchanged. Taken together, this study suggests that osteoblast-induced osteoclast apoptosis via FASL/FAS signaling is a previously unrecognized mechanism that has an important role in the maintenance of bone mass in both physiological conditions and OVX osteoporosis.

Dental Abnormalities Caused by Novel Compound Heterozygous CTSK Mutations

Cathepsin K (CTSK) is an important protease responsible for degrading type I collagen, osteopontin, and other bone matrix proteins. The mutations in the CTSK gene can cause pycnodysostosis (OMIM 265800), a rare autosomal recessive bone dysplasia. Patients with pycnodysostosis have been reported to present specific dental abnormalities; however, whether these dental abnormalities are related to dysfunctional CTSK has never been reported. Here we investigated the histologic changes of cementum and alveolar bone in a pycnodysostosis patient, caused by novel compound heterozygous mutations in the CTSK gene (c.87 G>A p.W29X and c.848 A>G p.Y283C). The most impressive manifestations in tooth were extensive periradicular high-density clumps with unclear periodontal space by orthopantomography examination and micro-computed tomography scanning analysis. Hematoxylin/eosin and toluidine blue staining and atomic force microscopy analysis showed that the cementum became significantly thickened, softened, and full of cementocytes. The disorganized bone structure was the main character of alveolar bone. The p.W29X mutation may represent the loss-of-function allele with an earlier termination codon in the precursor CTSK polypeptide. Residue Y283 is highly conserved among papain-like cysteine proteases. Three-dimensional structure modeling analysis found that the loss of the hydroxybenzene residue in the Y283C mutation would interrupt the hydrogen network and possibly affect the self-cleavage of the CTSK enzyme. Furthermore, p.Y283C mutation did not affect the mRNA and protein levels of overexpressed CTSK in COS-7 system but did reduce CTSK enzyme activity. In conclusion, the histologic and ultrastructural changes of cementum and alveolar bone might be affected by CTSK mutation via reduction of its enzyme activity (clinical trial registration: ChiCTR-TNC-10000876).

A trabecular plate-like phenotype is overrepresented in Chinese-American versus Caucasian women

This study used extreme phenotype selection to define two trabecular bone phenotypes in a cohort of Chinese-American and Caucasian women. A trabecular plate-predominant phenotype is more common in Chinese-Americans while the rod-predominant phenotype is more typical of Caucasians. The robustness of these phenotypic associations with respect to lifestyle factors suggests that this trait may have a genetic basis and that these phenotypes can be utilized in future genetic studies.

INTRODUCTION

Compared to Caucasians, Chinese-Americans have more plate-like trabecular bone when measured by individual trabecula segmentation (ITS). These findings suggest a phenotypic difference between the races, which may be amenable to genetic analysis. We sought to identify a single ITS plate trait to pursue in genetic studies by conducting an extreme phenotype selection strategy to numerically define two distinct phenotypes-plate-like and rod-like-and determine whether the selected phenotypic associations were independent of lifestyle factors in order to conduct future genetic studies.

METHODS

A previously described cohort of 146 Chinese-American and Caucasian women with high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography imaging and ITS analyses were studied with logistic regression and receiver operator characteristic analyses.

RESULTS

The tibial plate-to-rod (TPR) ratio was the best ITS discriminator of race. Using extreme phenotypic selection, two TPR ratio phenotypes were defined numerically: plate-like as a TPR ratio value in the highest quartile (≥1.336) and rod-like as a TPR ratio value in the lowest quartile (≤0.621). Women with a plate-like phenotype were 25.7 times more likely (95 % CI 7.3-90.1) to be Chinese-American than women with rod-like morphology. After controlling for constitutional and lifestyle covariates, women in the highest vs. lowest TPR ratio quartile were 85.0 times more likely (95 % CI 12.7-568.0) to be Chinese-American.

CONCLUSION

Using extreme phenotype selection, we defined a plate- and rod-like trabecular bone phenotype for the TPR ratio trait. The former phenotype is more common in Chinese-American women, while the latter is more typical of Caucasian women. The robustness of these phenotypic associations after controlling for differences in constitution and lifestyle suggest that the TPR ratio may have a genetic basis and that the extreme phenotypes defined in this analysis can be utilized for future studies.