Combination of high-resolution cone beam computed tomography and metal artefact reduction software: a new image fusion technique for evaluating intracranial stent apposition after aneurysm treatment.

We introduce a new imaging technique to improve visualisation of stent apposition after endovascular treatment of brain aneurysms employing high-resolution cone beam CT and three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography. After performing a stent-assisted coil embolisation of brain aneurysm, the image datasets were processed with a metal artefact reduction software followed by the automated image fusion programmes. Two patients who underwent aneurysm coiling using a Neuroform stent were evaluated. The reconstructed 3D images showed a detailed structure of the stent struts and identified malappositions of the deployed stents. Case 1 showed good apposition on the outer curvature side of the carotid siphon, while the inner curvature side showed prominent malapposition. Case 2, with multiple aneurysms, showed good apposition on both outer and inner curvature sides, although inward prolapse of the struts was observed. This new imaging technique may help evaluate stent apposition after the endovascular aneurysm treatment

Noninvasive vessel-selective perfusion imaging with intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography

Background Intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) cannot identify each perfusion area of coronary vessels separately. However, by destroying microbubbles passing through a specific vessel using high-power ultrasound during intravenous MCE, vessel-selective perfusion imaging (VSPI) may be feasible. Methods In 10 open-chest dogs, intermittent short-axis images were obtained during contrast agent infusion using an ultrasound system. For VSPI, a probe coupled to another ultrasound machine was placed on the proximal left circumflex coronary artery (LCx). High-power ultrasound pulses were transmitted to destroy bubbles passing through the LCx. A negative contrast area on VSPI was considered to represent the perfusion area of the LCx (LCx-VSPI). A negative contrast area on conventional MCE during LCx occlusion and a region without staining by Evans blue dye were used as gold standards for defining the LCx perfusion area. LCx-VSPI was compared with a negative contrast area on conventional MCE during LCx occlusion and a region without staining by Evans blue dye. Results Despite lack of LCx occlusion, high-power destructive pulses produced a definite area of negative contrast on the LCx region. Decreased power of ultrasound pulses resulted in disappearance of the negative contrast area. An excellent relationship was demonstrated between both LCx-VSPI and a negative contrast area on conventional MCE during LCx occlusion (r = 0.93, P < .0001), and LCx-VSPI and a region without staining by Evans blue dye (r = 0.92, P = .0002). Conclusion: VSPI during intravenous MCE may be feasible for noninvasive assessment of perfusion areas associated with specific vessels.Asanuma T, Fujihara T, Otani K, Miki A, Ishikura F, Beppu S. Noninvasive vessel-selective perfusion imaging with intravenous myocardial contrast echocardiography. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2004 Jun;17(6):654-8. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2004.03.011

Up-regulation of stanniocalcin 1 expression by 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 and parathyroid hormone in renal proximal tubular cells

Stanniocalcin 1 and stanniocalcin 2 are two glycoprotein hormones, which act as calcium phosphate-regulating factor on intestine and kidney. We have previously reported that stanniocalcin 2 expression is positively and negatively controlled by 1,25(OH)2D3 and parathyroid hormone in renal proximal tubular cells. However, it has been unclear whether they regulate the stanniocalcin 1 gene expression. In this study, we identified the opossum stanniocalcin 1 cDNA sequence. The opossum stanniocalcin 1 amino acid sequence had 83% homology with human stanniocalcin 1, and has a conserved putative N-linked glycosylation site. Real-time PCR analysis using opossum kidney proximal tubular (OK-P) cells revealed that the mRNA levels of stanniocalcin 1 gene is up-regulated by both 1,25(OH)2D3 and parathyroid hormone in dose-dependent and time-dependent manners. We also demonstrated that the stanniocalcin 1 expression was increased in parathyroid hormone injected rat kidney. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of stanniocalcin 1 and stanniocalcin 2 were oppositely regulated by phorbol 12,13-myristic acetate, a specific PKC activator. Interestingly, the up-regulation of stanniocalcin 1 gene by 1,25(OH)2D3 and phorbol 12,13-myristic acetate were not prevented in the presence of actinomycin D, an RNA synthesis inhibitor. These results suggest that the stanniocalcin 1 gene expression is up-regulated by 1,25(OH)2D3 and parathyroid hormone through mRNA stabilization in renal proximal tubular cells

Hemimetabolous genomes reveal molecular basis of termite eusociality

Around 150 million years ago, eusocial termites evolved from within the cockroaches, 50 million years before eusocial Hymenoptera, such as bees and ants, appeared. Here, we report the 2-Gb genome of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, and the 1.3-Gb genome of the drywood termite Cryptotermes secundus. We show evolutionary signatures of termite eusociality by comparing the genomes and transcriptomes of three termites and the cockroach against the background of 16 other eusocial and non-eusocial insects. Dramatic adaptive changes in genes underlying the production and perception of pheromones confirm the importance of chemical communication in the termites. These are accompanied by major changes in gene regulation and the molecular evolution of caste determination. Many of these results parallel molecular mechanisms of eusocial evolution in Hymenoptera. However, the specific solutions are remarkably different, thus revealing a striking case of convergence in one of the major evolutionary transitions in biological complexity

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of kabocha squash (Cucurbita moschata Duch) induced by wounding with aluminum borate whiskers

An efficient genetic transformation method for kabocha squash (Cucurbita moschata Duch cv. Heiankogiku) was established by wounding cotyledonary node explants with aluminum borate whiskers prior to inoculation with Agrobacterium. Adventitious shoots were induced from only the proximal regions of the cotyledonary nodes and were most efficiently induced on Murashige–Skoog agar medium with 1 mg/L benzyladenine. Vortexing with 1% (w/v) aluminum borate whiskers significantly increased Agrobacterium infection efficiency in the proximal region of the explants. Transgenic plants were screened at the T0 generation by sGFP fluorescence, genomic PCR, and Southern blot analyses. These transgenic plants grew normally and T1 seeds were obtained. We confirmed stable integration of the transgene and its inheritance in T1 generation plants by sGFP fluorescence and genomic PCR analyses. The average transgenic efficiency for producing kabocha squashes with our method was about 2.7%, a value sufficient for practical use

Feasibility of Nickel&ndash;Aluminum Complex Hydroxides for Recovering Tungsten Ions from Aqueous Media

In this study, the adsorption and/or desorption capacity of tungsten ions using nickel&ndash;aluminum complex hydroxides was assessed. Nickel&ndash;aluminum complex hydroxides at various molar ratios, such as NA11 were prepared, and the adsorption capacity of tungsten ions was evaluated. Precisely, the effect of temperature, contact time, pH, and coexistence on the adsorption of tungsten ions in the water layer was demonstrated. Among the nickel&ndash;aluminum complex hydroxides at various molar ratios, the adsorption capacity onto NA11 was the highest of all adsorbents. The sulfate ions in the interlayer of NA11 was exchanged to tungsten ions, that is, the adsorption mechanism was ion exchange under our experimental conditions. Additionally, to elucidate the adsorption mechanism in detail, the elemental distribution and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the NA11 surface were analyzed. Finally, the results indicated that the tungsten ions adsorbed using NA11 could be desorbed (recovered) from NA11 using sodium hydroxide solution. These results serve as useful information regarding the adsorption and recovery of tungsten ions using nickel&ndash;aluminum complex hydroxides from aqueous media

Feasibility of Nickel–Aluminum Complex Hydroxides for Recovering Tungsten Ions from Aqueous Media

In this study, the adsorption and/or desorption capacity of tungsten ions using nickel–aluminum complex hydroxides was assessed. Nickel–aluminum complex hydroxides at various molar ratios, such as NA11 were prepared, and the adsorption capacity of tungsten ions was evaluated. Precisely, the effect of temperature, contact time, pH, and coexistence on the adsorption of tungsten ions in the water layer was demonstrated. Among the nickel–aluminum complex hydroxides at various molar ratios, the adsorption capacity onto NA11 was the highest of all adsorbents. The sulfate ions in the interlayer of NA11 was exchanged to tungsten ions, that is, the adsorption mechanism was ion exchange under our experimental conditions. Additionally, to elucidate the adsorption mechanism in detail, the elemental distribution and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the NA11 surface were analyzed. Finally, the results indicated that the tungsten ions adsorbed using NA11 could be desorbed (recovered) from NA11 using sodium hydroxide solution. These results serve as useful information regarding the adsorption and recovery of tungsten ions using nickel–aluminum complex hydroxides from aqueous media

Current situation of atmospheric nanoparticles in Fukue Island, Japan

Emissions of polluted air in East Asia have gradually decreased over the last decade. Those air pollutants have been transported over long distances and influenced new particle formation (NPF) in the downstream region. We obtained 5-year data of the mobility size distribution and SO2 and particulate (PM2.5) emissions on Fukue Island (32.75°N, 128.68°E), Japan. Frequent NPF events in the 2013 campaign were observed around 60% under the transboundary transport of polluted air by northwesterly wind. In contrast to the data obtained in the last 2-year campaign (2016–2017), these NPF events (<25%) may reflect a relatively clean environment. The daily average SO2 and PM2.5 concentrations over the campaign periods are 2.3 ± 2.2 ppb and 17.6 ± 8.5 µg·m−3 (February 23 to March 7, 2013), 1.3 ± 0.9 ppb and 13.8 ± 4.7 µg·m−3 (February 27 to March 18, 2015), 0.8 ± 0.5 ppb and 14.7 ± 5.3 µg·m−3 (February 27 to March 25, 2016), and 0.5 ± 0.5 ppb and 12.1 ± 4.6 µg·m−3 (January 28 to April 19, 2017), respectively. These reductions of emissions may be due to the measures implemented by the local government in the source region to handle the adverse impacts of environmental pollution. The latest condition of atmospheric nanoparticles on Fukue Island can be used as an indicator to determine the concentration levels of regional air pollutants in East Asia