Spatial Frequency-Based Analysis of Mean Red Blood Cell Speed in Single Microvessels: Investigation of Microvascular Perfusion in Rat Cerebral Cortex

BACKGROUND: Our previous study has shown that prenatal exposure to X-ray irradiation causes cerebral hypo-perfusion during the postnatal development of central nervous system (CNS). However, the source of the hypo-perfusion and its impact on the CNS development remains unclear. The present study developed an automatic analysis method to determine the mean red blood cell (RBC) speed through single microvessels imaged with two-photon microscopy in the cerebral cortex of rats prenatally exposed to X-ray irradiation (1.5 Gy). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We obtained a mean RBC speed (0.9±0.6 mm/sec) that ranged from 0.2 to 4.4 mm/sec from 121 vessels in the radiation-exposed rats, which was about 40% lower than that of normal rats that were not exposed. These results were then compared with the conventional method for monitoring microvascular perfusion using the arteriovenous transit time (AVTT) determined by tracking fluorescent markers. A significant increase in the AVTT was observed in the exposed rats (1.9±0.6 sec) as compared to the age-matched non-exposed rats (1.2±0.3 sec). The results indicate that parenchyma capillary blood velocity in the exposed rats was approximately 37% lower than in non-exposed rats. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The algorithm presented is simple and robust relative to monitoring individual RBC speeds, which is superior in terms of noise tolerance and computation time. The demonstrative results show that the method developed in this study for determining the mean RBC speed in the spatial frequency domain was consistent with the conventional transit time method

International Consensus Statement on Rhinology and Allergy: Rhinosinusitis

Background: The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document. Methods: ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. Results: ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided. Conclusion: This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS

Dynamic Two-Photon Imaging of Cerebral Microcirculation Using Fluorescently Labeled Red Blood Cells and Plasma

To explore the spatiotemporal dynamics of red blood cells (RBCs) and plasma flow in three-dimensional (3D) microvascular networks of the cerebral cortex, we performed two-photon microscopic imaging of the cortical microvasculature in genetically engineered rats in which the RBCs endogenously express green fluorescent protein (GFP). Water-soluble quantum dots (Qdots) were injected intravenously into the animals to label the plasma, and concurrent imaging was performed for GFP-RBCs and Qdot plasma. The RBC and plasma distributions were compared between resting state and forepaw stimulation-induced neural activation. The RBC and plasma images showed detectable signals up to a depth of 0.4 and 0.6 mm from the cortical surface, respectively. A thicker plasma layer (2-5 um) was seen in venous vessels relative to the arterial vessels. In response to neural activation, the RBCs were redistributed among the parenchymal capillary networks. In addition, individual capillaries showed a variable ratio of RBC and plasma distributions before and after activation, indicative of dynamic changes of hematocrit in single capillaries. These results demonstrate that this transgenic animal model may be useful in further investigating the mechanism that controls dynamic RBC flow in single capillaries and among multiple capillary networks of the cerebral microcirculation

Ethylene and preharvest drop: the effect of AVG and NAA on fruit abscission in apple (Malus domestica L. Borkh)

L-Aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) are known to affect preharvest fruit drop, fruit quality and fruit maturation in Golden Delicious apples (Malus 7 domestica Borkh). Experiments were carried out on GD/M9 trees treated at three different developmental stages (41, 28 and 17 days before the beginning of the commercial harvest) with AVG and NAA. Both chemicals significantly reduced fruit drop without significantly affecting the fruit weight. Background colour development and ripening were both delayed by AVG, whereas NAA significantly enhanced yellowing without affecting the evolution of ripening. Ethylene evolution and transcription profiles of genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis (MdACS1 and MdACO1) and action (MdETR1, MdERS1 and MdCTR1) were monitored in cortex from the date of the first treatment until the beginning of fruit drop in the control trees (21 days after the beginning of commercial harvest). AVG blocked or efficiently reduced the ethylene evolution. This effect was paralleled by a down-regulation of MdACS1, MdACO1, MdETR1 and MdERS1. NAA at the second and third date of application enhanced the onset of ethylene evolution, although, at the end of the experiment, no difference was found between control and treated fruits. The chemical applied in the first date significantly down-regulated the transcription of the genes at the end of the experiment. MdCTR1 expression, basically unaffected by AVG and NAA, appeared to be transiently down-regulated. The initial down-regulation is under developmental control, whereas the late regain of transcript accumulation paralleled the ethylene evolution

Genetic variation influencing DNA methylation provides insights into molecular mechanisms regulating genomic function

We determined the relationships between DNA sequence variation and DNA methylation using blood samples from 3,799 Europeans and 3,195 South Asians. We identify 11,165,559 SNP-CpG associations (methylation quantitative trait loci (meQTL), P < 10-14), including 467,915 meQTL that operate in trans. The meQTL are enriched for functionally relevant characteristics, including shared chromatin state, High-throuhgput chromosome conformation interaction, and association with gene expression, metabolic variation and clinical traits. We use molecular interaction and colocalization analyses to identify multiple nuclear regulatory pathways linking meQTL loci to phenotypic variation, including UBASH3B (body mass index), NFKBIE (rheumatoid arthritis), MGA (blood pressure) and COMMD7 (white cell counts). For rs6511961 , chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) validates zinc finger protein (ZNF)333 as the likely trans acting effector protein. Finally, we used interaction analyses to identify population- and lineage-specific meQTL, including rs174548 in FADS1, with the strongest effect in CD8+ T cells, thus linking fatty acid metabolism with immune dysregulation and asthma. Our study advances understanding of the potential pathways linking genetic variation to human phenotype