361 research outputs found
Physical properties and biological effects of mineral trioxide aggregate mixed with methylcellulose and calcium chloride
Objectives: Methylcellulose (MC) is a chemical compound derived from cellulose. MTA mixed with MC reduces setting time and increases plasticity. This study assessed the influence of MC as an anti-washout ingredient and CaCl2 as a setting time accelerator on the physical and biological properties of MTA. Material and Methods: Test materials were divided into 3 groups; Group 1(control): distilled water; Group 2: 1% MC/CaCl2; Group 3: 2% MC/CaCl2. Compressive strength, pH, flowability and cell viability were tested. The gene expression of bone sialoprotein (BSP) was detected by RT-PCR and real time PCR. The expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and mineralization behavior were evaluated using an ALP staining and an alizarin red staining. Results: Compressive strength, pH, and cell viability of MTA mixed with MC/CaCl2 were not significantly different compared to the control group. The flowability of MTA with MC/CaCI2 has decreased significantly when compared to the control (
High-resolution near-IR Spectral mapping with H and [Fe II] lines of Multiple Outflows around LkH 234
We present a high-resolution, near-IR spectroscopic study of multiple
outflows in the LkH 234 star formation region using the Immersion
GRating INfrared Spectrometer (IGRINS). Spectral mapping over the blueshifted
emission of HH 167 allowed us to distinguish at least three separate, spatially
overlapped, outflows in H and [Fe II] emission. We show that the H
emission represents not a single jet, but complex multiple outflows driven by
three known embedded sources: MM1, VLA 2, and VLA 3. There is a redshifted
H outflow at a low velocity, \VLSR 50 {\kms}, with respect to
the systemic velocity of \VLSR 11.5 {\kms}, that coincides with the
HO masers seen in earlier radio observations two arcseconds southwest of
VLA 2. We found that the previously detected [Fe II] jet with \VLSR
100 {\kms} driven by VLA 3B is also detected in H emission, and confirm
that this jet has a position angle about 240. Spectra of the
redshifted knots at 14\arcsec65\arcsec northeast of LkH 234 are
presented for the first time. These spectra also provide clues to the existence
of multiple outflows. We detected high-velocity (50120 {\kms}) H gas
in the multiple outflows around LkH 234. Since these gases move at
speeds well over the dissociation velocity ( 40 {\kms}), the emission must
originate from the jet itself rather than H gas in the ambient medium.
Also, position-velocity diagrams and excitation diagram indicate that emission
from knot C in HH 167 come from two different phenomena, shocks and
photodissociation.Comment: 32 pages, 12 figures, 2 tables, Accepted for publication in the
Astrophysical Journa
Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma Presenting as Prevesical Mass Mimicking Urachal Tumor
Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is a mesenchymal neoplasm that usually occurs as a primary tumor of the uterine corpus, but rarely arises in other sites, such as the ovary, pelvic cavity, mesentery, omentum and intestine. Herein, we present a rare case of low-grade ESS presented as prevesical mass. A 60-yr-old woman who had undergone total hysterectomy for endometriosis eleven years ago was presented with incidentally detected prevesical pelvic mass. Since malignant transformation of urachal remnants was possible, the mass was suspected to be a urachal tumor. Extraction of the mass was performed, and the histopathologic diagnosis was low-grade ESS. In summary, prevesical tumor is rare but in patients with endometriosis, we suggest endometriosis and its possible malignant changes should be taken into account in the differential diagnosis of prevesical mass
Comparative proteomic analysis of malformed umbilical cords from somatic cell nuclear transfer-derived piglets: implications for early postnatal death
Background: Somatic cell nuclear transfer (scNT)-derived piglets have high rates of mortality, including stillbirth and postnatal death. Here, we examined severe malformed umbilical cords (MUC), as well as other organs, from nine scNT-derived term piglets. Results: Microscopic analysis revealed complete occlusive thrombi and the absence of columnar epithelial layers in MUC (scNT-MUC) derived from scNT piglets. scNT-MUC had significantly lower expression levels of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) and angiogenesis-related genes than umbilical cords of normal scNT piglets (scNT-N) that survived into adulthood. Endothelial cells derived from scNT-MUC migrated and formed tubules more slowly than endothelial cells from control umbilical cords or scNT-N. Proteomic analysis of scNT-MUC revealed significant down-regulation of proteins involved in the prevention of oxidative stress and the regulation of glycolysis and cell motility, while molecules involved in apoptosis were significantly up-regulated. Histomorphometric analysis revealed severe calcification in the kidneys and placenta, peliosis in the liver sinusoidal space, abnormal stromal cell proliferation in the lungs, and tubular degeneration in the kidneys in scNT piglets with MUC. Increased levels of apoptosis were also detected in organs derived from all scNT piglets with MUC. Conclusion: These results suggest that MUC contribute to fetal malformations, preterm birth and low birth weight due to underlying molecular defects that result in hypoplastic umbilical arteries and/or placental insufficiency. The results of the current study demonstrate the effects of MUC on fetal growth and organ development in scNT-derived pigs, and provide important insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying angiogenesis during umbilical cord development
Serum α-synuclein and IL-1β are increased and correlated with measures of disease severity in children with epilepsy: potential prognostic biomarkers?
The search for noninvasive biomarkers of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration has focused on various neurological disorders, including epilepsy. We sought to determine whether α-synuclein and cytokines are correlated with the degree of neuroinflammation and/or neurodegeneration in children with epilepsy and with acquired demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), as a prototype of autoimmune neuroinflammatory disorders.
We analyzed serum and exosome levels of α-synuclein and serum proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines among 115 children with epilepsy and 10 acquired demyelinating disorders of the CNS and compared to 146 controls. Patients were enrolled prospectively and blood was obtained from patients within 48 h after acute afebrile seizure attacks or relapse of neurological symptoms. Acquired demyelinating disorders of the CNS include acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, and transverse myelitis. The controls were healthy age-matched children. The serum exosomes were extracted with ExoQuick exosome precipitation solution. Serum α-synuclein levels and serum levels of cytokines including IFN-β, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α were measured using single and multiplex ELISA kits. Data were analyzed and compared with measures of disease severity, such as age at disease onset, duration of disease, and numbers of antiepileptic drug in use.
Serum α-synuclein levels were significantly increased in patients with epilepsy and acquired demyelinating disorders of the CNS compared to controls (both, p < 0.05) and showed correlation with measures of disease severity both in epilepsy (p < 0.05, r = 0.2132) and in acquired demyelinating disorders of the CNS (p < 0.05, r = 0.5892). Exosome α-synuclein showed a significant correlation with serum α-synuclein (p < 0.0001, r = 0.5915). Serum IL-1β levels were correlated only with the numbers of antiepileptic drug used in children with epilepsy (p < 0.001, r = 0.3428), suggesting drug resistant epilepsy.
This is the first study in children demonstrating that serum α-synuclein levels were significantly increased in children with epilepsy and with acquired demyelinating disorders of the CNS and correlated with measures of disease severity. Serum IL-1β levels showed significant correlation only with drug resistance in children with epilepsy. Thus, these data support that serum levels of α-synuclein and IL-1β are potential prognostic biomarkers for disease severity in children with epilepsy.
CNS, central nervous system.The analysis of cytokines was supported by the Basic Science Research
Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded
by the Ministry of Education (No. 2016R1A2B4009438), the Seoul National
University Hospital Research Fund (No. 03–2015-0120), and the analysis of α-
synuclein and exosomal analysis were supported by the Seoul National University Boramae Hospital Research Fund (No. 03–2013-8 and 01–2014-11) to
JC1. The correlation analysis of cytokines and α-synuclein were supported by
grants from the NRF funded by the Korean government (MEST) (No.
2017R1A2B3006704 and 2019R1A6A1A03032869) to JS. The role of the funding bodies is data collection, data analysis and document retrieval
Lupus Myocarditis Presenting as Acute Congestive Heart Failure: A Case Report
A young woman who had a delivery history 3 months previously presented with dyspnea and orthopnea. Initial findings of physical examination, chest radiography, and echocardiogram showed typical congestive heart failure with severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. At first, we considered peripartum cardiomyopathy because she had given birth to a baby 3 months previously. However, even though we massively tried conventional drug therapy for 10 days, the patient still remained with refractory heart failure. We performed additional laboratory studies such as complement level and autoantibodies, of which the results supported systemic lupus erythematosus. We could make the diagnosis of acute lupus myocarditis and treated her with corticosteroid. The symptoms were dramatically disappeared and LV function also improved
Early Growth Response 1-Dependent Downregulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 and Mouse Double Minute 2 Attenuates Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Metastasis
Background/Aims: The functional relevance of early growth response-1 (EGR1) on cancer invasion remains controversial. The effect of EGR1 on the expression of MMP9, which is important for HNSCC invasion, is still disputed. There is no previous data showing the effect of EGR1 on mouse double minute 2 (MDM2), an enhancer of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) expression. Our aim is to clarify the negative correlation between EGR1 expression and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) metastasis. Methods: EGR1 mRNA and protein expressions were compared in normal and HNSCC tissues using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset analysis or immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. In vitro cell invasion was evaluated Matrigel invasion assay. EGR1-dependent inhibition of MDM2 transcription was assessed by promoter–luciferase assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Results: TCGA data showed that EGR1 mRNA levels are significantly higher in normal oral tissues as compared with HNSCC tumor tissues (adjusted P = 1.64x10-16). In addition, nonmetastatic HNSCC tissues showed significantly higher EGR1 mRNA levels as compared with metastatic tissues (adjusted P = 0.023). IHC analysis showed that primary tumor tissues expressed significantly higher levels of nuclear EGR1 compared with paired metastatic lymph node tissues (P < 0.05). EGR1 overexpression downregulated MMP9 and MDM2 protein expression. Consistent with these observations, TCGA data analysis found significantly fewer metastatic patients among a subgroup of population presenting higher EGR1 expressions with lower MMP9 and/or MDM2. Conclusion: Our data suggests that EGR1 prevents HNSCC metastasis through downregulation of MMP9 and MDM2. EGR1 might be a potential candidate to attenuate HNSCC metastasis
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