Surface zooplankton size and taxonomic composition in Bowdoin Fjord, north-western Greenland : A comparison of ZooScan, OPC and microscopic analyses

In Greenland, tidewater glaciers discharge turbid subglacial freshwater into fjords, forming plumes near the calving fronts. To evaluate the effects of this discharge on the zooplankton community in the fjords, we collected sea surface zooplankton samples in Bowdoin Fjord in north-western Greenland during the summer of 2016 and made microscopic, OPC and ZooScan analyses. Within the three quantitative methods, ZooScan has advantages that can evaluate various parameters (e.g., abundance, biomass, size and taxonomic information) simultaneously and has the ability to eliminate abiotic particles, such as silt and sediment, which are abundant in samples. Based on taxonomic biomass data, the zooplankton community is clustered into three groups, which varied spatially: inner, middle and outer fjord groups. Jellyfish dominated the outer fjord group, and barnacle cypris larvae dominated the middle fjord group. For the inner fjord group, large-sized Calanus spp. and chaetognaths were abundant. Since these species are characterized with oceanic taxa, they would intrude through the deep fjord water and subsequently be upwelled through entrainment of glacially modified plume water. From the NBSS analysis on zooplankton size spectra, the steep slope of NBSS in the middle fjord community suggests that the high productivity was caused by the addition of meroplanktonic cypris larvae

HuR expression and GTP intake.

<p>IRS of cytoplasmic HuR increased from 14 to 24 weeks in the BBN but not the BBN + GTP group (A). Similar trends were also observed for MVD (B), proliferation index (C), and COX-2 (D), VEGF-A (E), and HO-1 (F) expression. On the other hand, tumor volume increased in both groups during this period (G).</p

HuR expression in non-cancer and cancer cells.

<p>IRS of nuclear HuR differed between cancer and non-cancer cells and between invasive and non-invasive cancer cells (A). Cytoplasmic HuR expression and the IRS of cytoplasmic HuR was higher in cancer than in non-cancer cells, and higher in invasive as compared to non-invasive cases (B).</p

Representative examples of HuR immunoreactivity.

<p>HuR expression was observed in nuclei of both non-cancer (A) and cancer cells (B). In contrast, cytoplasmic HuR-positive non-cancer cells (arrows) were relatively rare (A). Although cytoplasmic expression of HuR was detected in bladder cancer cells (B and C), the percentage of cytoplasmic HuR-positive cancer cells in cases with muscle invasion (C) was higher than that in cases without muscle invasion (B).</p

Anti-cancer mechanisms of GTP.

<p>Schematic illustration of the role of GTP intake in the modulation of malignant characteristics in bladder cancer. GTP intake suppresses the expression of COX-2 and HO-1 directly and that of HO-1 and VEGF-A indirectly via regulation of cytoplasmic HuR expression. Downregulation of COX-2 and HO-1 or HO-1 and VEGF-A leads to inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and angiogenesis, respectively, thereby suppressing tumor growth.</p

Effect of green tea polyphenol intake on cytoplasmic HuR expression.

<p>Effect of green tea polyphenol intake on cytoplasmic HuR expression.</p

Correlation between pathological characteristics and cancer-related molecules.

<p>Correlation between pathological characteristics and cancer-related molecules.</p

Usefulness of cervical computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for rapid diagnosis of crowned dens syndrome: A case report and review of the literature

Introduction: Crowned dens syndrome is a rare disease entity which radiologically shows calcification of the cruciform ligament around the odontoid process. We report a patient with crowned dens syndrome who improved dramatically in 5 days following treatment with oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication. Presentation of case: A 61-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a severe occipital headache and sudden onset of neck stiffness. Neurological examination on admission revealed a high fever and cervical rigidity. Laboratory examination revealed a markedly elevated white blood cell count and C-reactive protein level, but cerebrospinal fluid studies revealed only a slight abnormality. A cervical computed tomography scan and its three-dimensional reconstruction detected a remarkable crown-like calcification surrounding the odontoid process. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging did not demonstrate strong direct compression of the cervical cord; however, the soft tissue surrounding the odontoid process was hyperintense on T2-weighted imaging with fat suppression. Based on the radiological findings, the patient was diagnosed with crowned dens syndrome and was immediately treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The patient’s condition drastically improved within 5 days. Discussion: It was very interesting that the soft tissue surrounding the odontoid process was hyperintense on magnetic resonance T2-weighted imaging with fat suppression, and the signal change disappeared 2 weeks after the administration of oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. We think that magnetic resonance imaging is useful for proving inflammation in patients with crowned dens syndrome. Conclusion: This is the first report making reference to the magnetic resonance imaging findings of crowned dens syndrome