Water as neutral oral contrast agent in abdominopelvic CT: comparing effectiveness with Gastrografin in the same patient

INTRODUCTION

Positive oral contrast is no longer deemed necessary for abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) scans. Studies have shown water to be an equally effective oral contrast agent. However, to our knowledge no study has compared effectiveness between gastrografin and water in the same patient, which will provide a more objective evaluation of the two oral contrast agents. We aim to make a head-to-head comparison of water as neutral oral contrast (OC) against gastrografin as positive OC for abdominopelvic CT scans in the same patient.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 206 abdominopelvic CT scans of 103 patients was performed. The scans were reviewed in consensus by two blinded radiologists. The ability to visualise each abdominopelvic organ, contrastassociated artefacts and small bowel wall delineation, was qualitatively scored on a 5-point scale. Each patient had two sets of scores, one with water and another with gastrografin as OC. Paired scores from the two OCs were evaluated by Wilcoxon signed rank test to determine any significant difference in performance between the two OCs for visualisation of abdominopelvic anatomy on CT.

RESULTS

There was significantly better delineation of duodenal wall (p<0.001) and overall visualisation of the duodenum (p=0.011) using water as OC compared to gastrografin. No statistically significant differences were demonstrated between water and gastrografin for visualisation of the rest of the abdominopelvic organs, walldelineation of the rest small bowel and contrast-associated artefacts.

CONCLUSIONS

Water can be used in place of gastrografin as oral contrast in abdominopelvic CT without compromising visualization of abdominopelvic organs.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase is used by cancer cells for energy metabolism

We found that non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells express high levels of multiple aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) isoforms via an informatics analysis of metabolic enzymes in NSCLC and immunohistochemical staining of NSCLC clinical tumor samples. Using a multiple reaction-monitoring mass spectrometry analysis, we found that multiple ALDH isozymes were generally abundant in NSCLC cells compared with their levels in normal IMR-90 human lung cells. As a result of the catalytic reaction mediated by ALDH, NADH is produced as a by-product from the conversion of aldehyde to carboxylic acid. We hypothesized that the NADH produced by ALDH may be a reliable energy source for ATP production in NSCLC. This study revealed that NADH production by ALDH contributes significantly to ATP production in NSCLC. Furthermore, gossypol, a pan-ALDH inhibitor, markedly reduced the level of ATP. Gossypol combined with phenformin synergistically reduced the ATP levels, which efficiently induced cell death following cell cycle arrest.

Overexpression of KLHL23 protein from read-through transcription of PHOSPHO2-KLHL23 in gastric cancer increases cell proliferation

Gene fusion, as a prototypical pathognomonic mutation, contributes to genome complexity, and the cis‐transcription‐induced gene fusions generated by read‐through transcription of adjacent genes have been found to be important for tumor development. We screened read‐through transcription events from stomach adenocarcinoma RNA‐seq data and selected three candidates PHOSPHO2‐KLHL23, RPL17‐C18orf32, and PRR5‐ARHGAP8, to assess their biological role in gastric cancer. The expression of all three read‐through fusion transcripts was confirmed in gastric cancer cell lines and paired normal/tumor gastric cancer tissues by real‐time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and their expression was found to be significantly higher in the tumor (P < 0.05; n = 75). The correlation between the expression level and clinicopathological information was statistically analyzed. The level of the PHOSPHO2‐KLHL23 read‐through fusion transcript correlated with the Lauren classification and was significantly associated with the presence of perineural invasion. Overexpression of KLHL23 from PHOSPHO2‐KLHL23 read‐through transcript led to a significant increase in cell proliferation and resistance to anticancer drug treatment. Silencing of KLHL23 expression decreased cyclin D1 levels. The expression of KLHL23 from prevalent read‐through transcripts of PHOSPHO2‐KLHL23 in gastric cancer may undermine the efficacy of anticancer drug treatment.

Melt volume flow rate and melt flow rate of kenaf fibre reinforced Floreon/magnesium hydroxide biocomposites

A study of the melt volume flow rate (MVR) and the melt flow rate (MFR) of kenaf fibre (KF) reinforced Floreon (FLO) and magnesium hydroxide (MH) biocomposites under different temperatures (160-180 °C) and weight loadings (2.16, 5, 10 kg) is presented in this paper. FLO has the lowest values of MFR and MVR. The increment of the melt flow properties (MVR and MFR) has been found for KF or MH insertion due to the hydrolytic degradation of the polylactic acid in FLO. Deterioration of the entanglement density at high temperature, shear thinning and wall slip velocity were the possible causes for the higher melt flow properties. Increasing the KF loadings caused the higher melt flow properties while the higher MH contents created stronger bonding for higher macromolecular chain flow resistance, hence lower melt flow properties were recorded. However, the complicated melt flow behaviour of the KF reinforced FLO/MH biocomposites was found in this study. The high probability of KF-KF and KF-MH collisions was expected and there were more collisions for higher fibre and filler loading causing lower melt flow properties.

Upconversion Nanoparticle-Based Förster Resonance Energy Transfer for Detecting DNA Methylation

Aberrant methylation of a crucial CpG island is the main mechanism for the inactivation of CDKN2A in the early stages of carcinogenesis. Therefore, the detection of DNA methylation with high sensitivity and specificity is important, and various detection methods have been developed. Recently, upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have been found to display a high signal-to-noise ratio and no photobleaching, making them useful for diagnostic applications. In this pilot study, we applied UCNPs to the detection of CDKN2A methylation and evaluated the feasibility of this system for use in molecular diagnostics. DNA PCR was performed using biotinylated primers, and the PCR amplicon was then intercalated with SYTOX Orange dye, followed by incubation with streptavidin-conjugated UCNPs. Fluorescence detection of the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) of the UCNPs (MS-UC-FRET) was then performed, and the results were compared to those from real-time PCR (RQ-PCR) and pyrosequencing. Detection by MS-UC-FRET was more sensitive than that by either RQ-PCR or pyrosequencing. Our results confirmed the success of our MS-UC-FRET system for detecting DNA methylation and demonstrated the potential application of this system in molecular diagnostics.

Aurora A kinase is required for activation of the Fanconi anemia/BRCA pathway upon DNA damage

Previous studies have linked the DNA damage response to mitotic progression machinery. Mitotic kinases, such as Aurora A kinase and Polo‐like kinase, are involved in the phosphorylation of cell cycle regulators in response to DNA damage. Here, we investigated the potential involvement of Aurora A kinase in the activation of the Fanconi anemia (FA)/BRCA pathway, which participates in cellular response to DNA interstrand cross‐link lesions (ICL). Initially, we detected interactions between Aurora A kinase and FANCA protein, one of the components of the FA nuclear core complex. Silencing of Aurora A kinase led to inhibition of monoubiquitination of FANCD2 and formation of nuclear foci, the final consequences of FA/BRCA pathway activation upon ICL induction. An in vitro kinase assay revealed that Aurora A kinase phosphorylates S165 of FANCA. Moreover, this phosphorylation event was induced by the treatment with mitomycin C (MMC), an ICL‐inducing agent. In cells overexpressing S165A mutant FANCA, monoubiquitination of FANCD2 and nuclear foci formation was impaired and cellular sensitivity to MMC was enhanced. These results suggest that S165 phosphorylation by Aurora A kinase is required for proper activation of the FA/BRCA pathway in response to DNA damage.

Characterization of transient noise in Advanced LIGO relevant to gravitational wave signal GW150914

On September 14, 2015, a gravitational wave signal from a coalescing black hole binary system was observed by the Advanced LIGO detectors. This paper describes the transient noise backgrounds used to determine the significance of the event (designated GW150914) and presents the results of investigations into potential correlated or uncorrelated sources of transient noise in the detectors around the time of the event. The detectors were operating nominally at the time of GW150914. We have ruled out environmental influences and non-Gaussian instrument noise at either LIGO detector as the cause of the observed gravitational wave signal.

Glutaminase 1 inhibition reduces thymidine synthesis in NSCLC

We found that non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is remarkably sensitive to the regulation of glutamine supply by testing the metabolic dependency of 11 cancer cell lines against regulation of glycolysis, autophagy, fatty acid synthesis, and glutamine supply. Glutamine is known as a key supplement of cancer cell growth that is converted to α-ketoglutarate for anabolic biogenesis via glutamate by glutaminase 1 (GLS1). GLS1 inhibition using 10 μM of bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide (BPTES) showed about 50% cell growth arrest by SRB assay. By testing the synergistic effects of conventional therapeutics, BPTES combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), an irreversible inhibitor of thymidylate synthase, significant effects were observed on cell growth arrest in NSCLC. We found that GLS1 inhibition using BPTES reduced metabolic intermediates including thymidine and carbamoyl phosphate. Reduction of thymidine and carbamoyl-phosphate synthesis by BPTES treatment exacerbated pyrimidine supply by combination with 5-FU, which induced cell death synergistically in NSCLC.

Critical role of duplex ultrasonography for the advanced management of a venous malformation

Objectives: Duplex ultrasonography was assessed for its advanced role as a contemporary guide for the safer management of venous malformation (VM) at the lower extremities through a comparison study with matching magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or ascending phlebography findings.

Methods: A retrospective review of 50 patients with a VM in the lower extremities was performed using the duplex scan findings on the initial diagnosis and the subsequent follow-up assessment of the treatment response. The screening findings of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) development following ethanol sclerotherapy on 40 patients were also included. A marginal vein (lateral embryonal) compression test was also performed on 10 patients, who were candidates for a resection preoperatively, in order to assess its value in predicting the response to the subsequent resection. The duplex scan findings were compared with the available ascending phlebography results in 38 patients, and also with the MRI findings available for all 50 patients.

Results: The duplex scan on the 50 patients confirmed the existence of a normal deep vein system in the lower extremities in 43 patients as the true-positive test findings. One false-negative test finding was subsequently confirmed by an angiographic evaluation. The duplex scan also confirmed the absence of a normal deep vein system in four patients as a true-negative test. MRI subsequently confirmed two false-positive findings in one patient, and angiography confirmed two false-positive findings in another (sensitivity − 97.8%, specificity − 66.7%, positive predictive value − 95.6%, and negative predictive value − 80%). Among a total of 40 patients who received ethanol sclerotherapy, the duplex scan identified DVT in three patients, and also screened out properly in 37 patients through a total of 185 ethanol sclerotherapy sessions. The compression test predicted the surgical outcome successfully in the majority (7/8). The duplex scan appears to have comparable reliability to MRI and/or angiography for diagnosing and managing VM.

Conclusions: The duplex scan can provide the critical haemodynamic information of both the deep venous system and VM lesions quite effectively with the cost-effectiveness of a non-invasive test. In particular, the duplex scan is an excellent test for the safe management of VM of the lower extremity, including the early detection of DVT through multi-session ethanol sclerotherapy.

GW151226: Observation of Gravitational Waves from a 22-Solar-Mass Binary Black Hole Coalescence

We report the observation of a gravitational-wave signal produced by the coalescence of two stellar-mass black holes. The signal, GW151226, was observed by the twin detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) on December 26, 2015 at 03:38:53 UTC. The signal was initially identified within 70 s by an online matched-filter search targeting binary coalescences. Subsequent off-line analyses recovered GW151226 with a network signal-to-noise ratio of 13 and a significance greater than 5σ. The signal persisted in the LIGO frequency band for approximately 1 s, increasing in frequency and amplitude over about 55 cycles from 35 to 450 Hz, and reached a peak gravitational strain of 3.4_{-0.9}^{+0.7}×10^{-22}. The inferred source-frame initial black hole masses are 14.2_{-3.7}^{+8.3}M_{⊙} and 7.5_{-2.3}^{+2.3}M_{⊙}, and the final black hole mass is 20.8_{-1.7}^{+6.1}M_{⊙}. We find that at least one of the component black holes has spin greater than 0.2. This source is located at a luminosity distance of 440_{-190}^{+180}  Mpc corresponding to a redshift of 0.09_{-0.04}^{+0.03}. All uncertainties define a 90% credible interval. This second gravitational-wave observation provides improved constraints on stellar populations and on deviations from general relativity.

Properties of the Binary Black Hole Merger GW150914

On September 14, 2015, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detected a gravitational-wave transient (GW150914); we characterize the properties of the source and its parameters. The data around the time of the event were analyzed coherently across the LIGO network using a suite of accurate waveform models that describe gravitational waves from a compact binary system in general relativity. GW150914 was produced by a nearly equal mass binary black hole of masses 36_{-4}^{+5}M_{⊙} and 29_{-4}^{+4}M_{⊙}; for each parameter we report the median value and the range of the 90% credible interval. The dimensionless spin magnitude of the more massive black hole is bound to be <0.7 (at 90% probability). The luminosity distance to the source is 410_{-180}^{+160}  Mpc, corresponding to a redshift 0.09_{-0.04}^{+0.03} assuming standard cosmology. The source location is constrained to an annulus section of 610  deg^{2}, primarily in the southern hemisphere. The binary merges into a black hole of mass 62_{-4}^{+4}M_{⊙} and spin 0.67_{-0.07}^{+0.05}. This black hole is significantly more massive than any other inferred from electromagnetic observations in the stellar-mass regime.

GW150914: First results from the search for binary black hole coalescence with Advanced LIGO

On September 14, 2015 at 09:50:45 UTC the two detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) simultaneously observed the binary black hole merger GW150914. We report the results of a matched-filter search using relativistic models of compact-object binaries that recovered GW150914 as the most significant event during the coincident observations between the two LIGO detectors from September 12 to October 20, 2015. GW150914 was observed with a matched filter signal-to-noise ratio of 24 and a false alarm rate estimated to be less than 1 event per 203000 years, equivalent to a significance greater than 5.1 σ.

GW150914: First results from the search for binary black hole coalescence with Advanced LIGO

On September 14, 2015 at 09:50:45 UTC the two detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) simultaneously observed the binary black hole merger GW150914. We report the results of a matched-filter search using relativistic models of compact-object binaries that recovered GW150914 as the most significant event during the coincident observations between the two LIGO detectors from September 12 to October 20, 2015. GW150914 was observed with a matched filter signal-to-noise ratio of 24 and a false alarm rate estimated to be less than 1 event per 203000 years, equivalent to a significance greater than 5.1 σ.

Tests of General Relativity with GW150914

The LIGO detection of GW150914 provides an unprecedented opportunity to study the two-body motion of a compact-object binary in the large-velocity, highly nonlinear regime, and to witness the final merger of the binary and the excitation of uniquely relativistic modes of the gravitational field. We carry out several investigations to determine whether GW150914 is consistent with a binary black-hole merger in general relativity. We find that the final remnant's mass and spin, as determined from the low-frequency (inspiral) and high-frequency (postinspiral) phases of the signal, are mutually consistent with the binary black-hole solution in general relativity. Furthermore, the data following the peak of GW150914 are consistent with the least-damped quasinormal mode inferred from the mass and spin of the remnant black hole. By using waveform models that allow for parametrized general-relativity violations during the inspiral and merger phases, we perform quantitative tests on the gravitational-wave phase in the dynamical regime and we determine the first empirical bounds on several high-order post-Newtonian coefficients. We constrain the graviton Compton wavelength, assuming that gravitons are dispersed in vacuum in the same way as particles with mass, obtaining a 90%-confidence lower bound of 10^{13}  km. In conclusion, within our statistical uncertainties, we find no evidence for violations of general relativity in the genuinely strong-field regime of gravity.

Primary breast tuberculosis (TB) in a patient with known invasive breast carcinoma: A case report

Breast tuberculosis (TB) is rare even in endemic countries. Most of these cases occur as secondary TB due to a concurrent infection. Primary breast TB is diagnosed when it is the only site of disease without other foci of infection. The presentation of primary breast TB may often mimic carcinoma of the breast. While imaging is not specific, histopathology provides a definitive diagnosis. Here, we present a case of primary breast TB in a breast cancer patient and review the literature.

Intracordal Injection of Autologous Auricular Cartilage in the Paralyzed Canine Vocal Fold

OBJECTIVE: Vocal fold augmentation by injectable material under direct visual control is an easy and simple operation. However, when autologous fat or bovine collagen is used, resorption creates a problem. And autologous fascia is debating about absorption now days. This study is to evaluate the histology of minced and injected autologous auricular cartilage and fat graft in the augmentation of unilateral vocal fold paralysis using a canine model.

METHOD: Nine dogs were operated. At first, a piece of auricular cartilage was harvested from ear and minced into tiny chips with a scalpel, and a piece of fat tissue was harvested from inguinal area and minced into tiny chips with a scalpel. Cutting off a section of the recurrent nerve paralyzed the right vocal fold. The minced cartilage and fat-paste (0.2 mL) was injected using a pressure syringe into the paralyzed thyroarytenoid muscle under direct laryngoscopy. Two animals were sacrificed at 3 days, three at 3 weeks, two at 3 months, one at 6 months, and one at 12 months. Each dog underwent laryngectomy and serial coronal sections of paraffin blocks from the posterior part of the vocal fold were made.

RESULTS: There was no significant complication perioperatively and during follow-up. There was acute inflammatory findings in the graft at 3 days and 3 weeks. The injected cartilage remained in the larynx until 12 months.

CONCLUSION: The autologous auricular cartilage graft is well tolerated and may be very effective material for volumetric augmentation on paralyzed vocal cord.

Histologic Evaluation of Intracordal Autologous Cartilage Injection in the Paralyzed Canine Vocal Fold at Two and Three Years

OBJECTIVE: Intracordal injection for vocal fold augmentation is easy and simple and does not require a cervical skin incision. We reported previously on the 1-year results of injected autologous auricular cartilage for volumetric augmentation in paralyzed canine vocal cord. This study evaluates the long-term histomorphologic results of injected autologous auricular cartilage for the augmentation of the paralyzed canine vocal fold at 2 and 3 years.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective trial of autologous cartilage augmentation of vocal cord in animal model. Five dogs were operated on. A piece of auricular cartilage was harvested from the ear and minced into tiny chips with a scalpel. Fat was harvested from inguinal area and minced with a scalpel. The minced cartilage and fat-paste (0.2 ml) was injected using a pressure syringe into the paralyzed thyroarytenoid muscle using direct laryngoscopy. Three animals were sacrificed at 2 years, two at 3 years. Each subject underwent laryngectomy and serial coronal sections of paraffin blocks from the posterior vocal fold were made.

RESULTS: There was no significant complications perioperatively or postoperatively. The injected cartilage that seemed to have lost viability existed in the vocalis muscles until 36 months. Fibrotic change was exhibited in the surrounding injected cartilage. There were no differences between 2 and 3 years in histomorphologic results of the injected cartilage.

CONCLUSION: The autologous auricular cartilage graft is well tolerated and may be a very effective material for long-term volumetric augmentation in the paralyzed vocal cord.

Engineering Human TMJ Discs with Protein-Releasing 3D-Printed Scaffolds

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc is a heterogeneous fibrocartilaginous tissue positioned between the mandibular condyle and glenoid fossa of the temporal bone, with important roles in TMJ functions. Tissue engineering TMJ discs has emerged as an alternative approach to overcoming limitations of current treatments for TMJ disorders. However, the anisotropic collagen orientation and inhomogeneous fibrocartilaginous matrix distribution present challenges in the tissue engineering of functional TMJ discs. Here, we developed 3-dimensional (3D)-printed anatomically correct scaffolds with region-variant microstrand alignment, mimicking anisotropic collagen alignment in the TMJ disc and corresponding mechanical properties. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGFβ3) were then delivered in the scaffolds by spatially embedding CTGF- or TGFβ3-encapsulated microspheres (µS) to reconstruct the regionally variant fibrocartilaginous matrix in the native TMJ disc. When cultured with human mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MSCs) for 6 wk, 3D-printed scaffolds with CTGF/TGFβ3-µS resulted in a heterogeneous fibrocartilaginous matrix with overall distribution of collagen-rich fibrous structure in the anterior/posterior (AP) bands and fibrocartilaginous matrix in the intermediate zone, reminiscent of the native TMJ disc. High dose of CTGF/TGFβ3-µS (100 mg µS/g of scaffold) showed significantly more collagen II and aggrecan in the intermediate zone than a low dose (50 mg µS/g of scaffold). Similarly, a high dose of CTGF/TGFβ3-µS yielded significantly higher collagen I expression in the AP bands compared with the low-dose and empty µS. From stress relaxation tests, the ratio of relaxation modulus to instantaneous modulus was significantly smaller with CTGF/TGFβ3-µS than empty µS. Similarly, a significantly higher coefficient of viscosity was achieved with the high dose of CTGF/TGFβ3-µS compared with the low-dose and empty µS, suggesting the dose effect of CTGF and TGFβ3 on fibrocartilage formation. Together, our findings may represent an efficient approach to engineering the TMJ disc graft with anisotropic scaffold microstructure, heterogeneous fibrocartilaginous matrix, and region-dependent viscoelastic properties.

GW150914: Implications for the Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background from Binary Black Holes

The LIGO detection of the gravitational wave transient GW150914, from the inspiral and merger of two black holes with masses ≳30M_{⊙}, suggests a population of binary black holes with relatively high mass. This observation implies that the stochastic gravitational-wave background from binary black holes, created from the incoherent superposition of all the merging binaries in the Universe, could be higher than previously expected. Using the properties of GW150914, we estimate the energy density of such a background from binary black holes. In the most sensitive part of the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo band for stochastic backgrounds (near 25 Hz), we predict Ω_{GW}(f=25  Hz)=1.1_{-0.9}^{+2.7}×10^{-9} with 90% confidence. This prediction is robustly demonstrated for a variety of formation scenarios with different parameters. The differences between models are small compared to the statistical uncertainty arising from the currently poorly constrained local coalescence rate. We conclude that this background is potentially measurable by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors operating at their projected final sensitivity.

GW150914: The Advanced LIGO Detectors in the Era of First Discoveries

Following a major upgrade, the two advanced detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) held their first observation run between September 2015 and January 2016. With a strain sensitivity of 10^{-23}/sqrt[Hz] at 100 Hz, the product of observable volume and measurement time exceeded that of all previous runs within the first 16 days of coincident observation. On September 14, 2015, the Advanced LIGO detectors observed a transient gravitational-wave signal determined to be the coalescence of two black holes [B. P. Abbott et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 061102 (2016)], launching the era of gravitational-wave astronomy. The event, GW150914, was observed with a combined signal-to-noise ratio of 24 in coincidence by the two detectors. Here, we present the main features of the detectors that enabled this observation. At full sensitivity, the Advanced LIGO detectors are designed to deliver another factor of 3 improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio for binary black hole systems similar in mass to GW150914.

Effect of intravitreal dexamethasone implant on retinal and choroidal thickness in refractory diabetic macular oedema after multiple anti-VEGF injections

AimsTo investigate the effect of intravitreal dexamethasone implant (IVD) on central foveal thickness (CFT), choroidal thickness (CT) and its correlation with visual acuity in eyes with refractory diabetic macular oedema (DMO).MethodsThis was a retrospective interventional case-series. Thirty-five eyes of 35 patients were treated with a single injection of IVD because of refractory DMO with CFT over 300 μm, and persistent intraretinal and subretinal fluid despite of multiple intravitreal bevacizumab injections. Patients were followed-up for 6 months for the evaluation of CFT and subfoveal CT by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.ResultsAll eyes (mean age: 59.4±12.35 years; 18 males, 17 females) had been previously treated with multiple bevacizumab injections and showed persistent DMO (mean number of injections 4.08±2.98) The preoperative logMAR BCVA was 0.49±0.24, which gradually improved to 0.46±0.32 at 6 months (P=0.652) and 26% gained two or more lines of Snellen visual acuity. At baseline, the mean CFT was 526.29±123.48 μm, which significantly improved to 316.15±100.09 μm at 3 months (P<0.001). However, CFT deteriorated to 457.07±136.53 μm at 6 months (P=0.051). Similarly, the mean preoperative subfoveal CT was 288.91±36.47 μm and it decreased to 266.85±30.93 μm at 3 months (P<0.01), but increased to 278.63±32.55 μm at 6 months (P=0.137). The reduction of CFT from baseline showed significant correlation with that of subfoveal CT at 3 months (P=0.041) and at 6 months (P=0.008).ConclusionsIn DMO refractory to multiple bevacizumab injections, IVD significantly reduced CFT and subfoveal CT, with BCVA improvement in one-fourth of the patients. The reduction of CFT showed significant correlation with reduction of subfoveal CT.

Suppressing activity of staurosporine from Streptomyces sp. MJM4426 against rice bacterial blight disease

AIM

To identify the active compounds from the Streptomyces sp. MJM4426 that can protect rice from bacterial blight disease (BB), and to evaluate the potential of this Streptomyces strains and the compound for biocontrol of rice bacterial blight disease.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The ethyl acetate extract of Streptomyces sp. MJM4426 can significantly protect rice leaf explants from the infection of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzaeKACC 10331 (Xoo), the pathogen which cause BB. To identify the active compounds, the ethyl acetate extract of Streptomyces sp. MJM4426 was fractionated through a Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and further purified by preparative HPLC guided by the inhibitory activity against BB in rice leaf explants. UPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis showed the active compound displayed its m/z values at [M+H](+) 467·2086 and [M+FA-H](-) 511·1963, and the molecular formula was estimated as C28 H26 N4 O3 which is identical to commercial standard staurosporine. In this study, the isolated staurosporine dramatically suppressed bacterial blight in rice leaf explants with the lowest concentration at 12·5 μmol l(-1) , however, it exhibited low inhibitory activity against Xoo with the MIC value at 256 μg ml(-1) . In addition, greenhouse study showed both crude extract and purified staurosporine can suppress the bacterial blight at the concentration of 5000 and 200 μg ml(-1) respectively.

CONCLUSION

Streptomyces sp. MJM4426 can protect rice leaf explants from the infection of Xoo by producing staurosporine, but not by direct inhibitory activity against Xoo.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This is the first report that staurosporine can protect rice leaf against bacterial blight disease and showed the potential of Streptomyces sp. MJM4426 as an alternative to chemical bactericide for bacterial blight disease in rice.

Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Merger

On September 14, 2015 at 09:50:45 UTC the two detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory simultaneously observed a transient gravitational-wave signal. The signal sweeps upwards in frequency from 35 to 250 Hz with a peak gravitational-wave strain of 1.0×10(-21). It matches the waveform predicted by general relativity for the inspiral and merger of a pair of black holes and the ringdown of the resulting single black hole. The signal was observed with a matched-filter signal-to-noise ratio of 24 and a false alarm rate estimated to be less than 1 event per 203,000 years, equivalent to a significance greater than 5.1σ. The source lies at a luminosity distance of 410(-180)(+160)  Mpc corresponding to a redshift z=0.09(-0.04)(+0.03). In the source frame, the initial black hole masses are 36(-4)(+5)M⊙ and 29(-4)(+4)M⊙, and the final black hole mass is 62(-4)(+4)M⊙, with 3.0(-0.5)(+0.5)M⊙c(2) radiated in gravitational waves. All uncertainties define 90% credible intervals. These observations demonstrate the existence of binary stellar-mass black hole systems. This is the first direct detection of gravitational waves and the first observation of a binary black hole merger.

Anti-obesity effects of gochujang products prepared using rice koji and soybean meju in rats

The Korean traditional hot sauce gochujang has been reported to have biological activities. Different kinds of gochujang products were prepared based on combinations of a fungal rice koji with two kinds of bacterial soybean mejus. Diets that included gochujang products were fed to rats and anti-obesity effects were investigated. Gochujang products reduced body weight gains, epididymal fat weights, and triglyceride levels in the serum and the liver. Effects were exerted by the diet that included the non-fermented gochujang mixture, increased using a fungal rice koji, and further enhanced using a bacterial soybean meju. Dietary effects were apparently induced via inhibition of the lipogenic enzymes fatty acid synthase, malic enzyme, and lipoprotein lipase by gochujang products in epididymal adipose tissues, and inhibition of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the liver. High levels of capsaicin and genistein in gochujang products are considered to contribute to anti-obesity effects.