Modulated structures in electroconvection in nematic liquid crystals

Motivated by experiments in electroconvection in nematic liquid crystals with homeotropic alignment we study the coupled amplitude equations describing the formation of a stationary roll pattern in the presence of a weakly-damped mode that breaks isotropy. The equations can be generalized to describe the planarly aligned case if the orienting effect of the boundaries is small, which can be achieved by a destabilizing magnetic field. The slow mode represents the in-plane director at the center of the cell. The simplest uniform states are normal rolls which may undergo a pitchfork bifurcation to abnormal rolls with a misaligned in-plane director.We present a new class of defect-free solutions with spatial modulations perpendicular to the rolls. In a parameter range where the zig-zag instability is not relevant these solutions are stable attractors, as observed in experiments. We also present two-dimensionally modulated states with and without defects which result from the destabilization of the one-dimensionally modulated structures. Finally, for no (or very small) damping, and away from the rotationally symmetric case, we find static chevrons made up of a periodic arrangement of defect chains (or bands of defects) separating homogeneous regions of oblique rolls with very small amplitude. These states may provide a model for a class of poorly understood stationary structures observed in various highly-conducting materials ("prechevrons" or "broad domains").Comment: 13 pages, 13 figure

Artificial Neural Network Inference (ANNI): A Study on Gene-Gene Interaction for Biomarkers in Childhood Sarcomas

Objective: To model the potential interaction between previously identified biomarkers in children sarcomas using artificial neural network inference (ANNI). Method: To concisely demonstrate the biological interactions between correlated genes in an interaction network map, only 2 types of sarcomas in the children small round blue cell tumors (SRBCTs) dataset are discussed in this paper. A backpropagation neural network was used to model the potential interaction between genes. The prediction weights and signal directions were used to model the strengths of the interaction signals and the direction of the interaction link between genes. The ANN model was validated using Monte Carlo cross-validation to minimize the risk of over-fitting and to optimize generalization ability of the model. Results: Strong connection links on certain genes (TNNT1 and FNDC5 in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS); FCGRT and OLFM1 in Ewing’s sarcoma (EWS)) suggested their potency as central hubs in the interconnection of genes with different functionalities. The results showed that the RMS patients in this dataset are likely to be congenital and at low risk of cardiomyopathy development. The EWS patients are likely to be complicated by EWS-FLI fusion and deficiency in various signaling pathways, including Wnt, Fas/Rho and intracellular oxygen. Conclusions: The ANN network inference approach and the examination of identified genes in the published literature within the context of the disease highlights the substantial influence of certain genes in sarcomas

Autism as a disorder of neural information processing: directions for research and targets for therapy

The broad variation in phenotypes and severities within autism spectrum disorders suggests the involvement of multiple predisposing factors, interacting in complex ways with normal developmental courses and gradients. Identification of these factors, and the common developmental path into which theyfeed, is hampered bythe large degrees of convergence from causal factors to altered brain development, and divergence from abnormal brain development into altered cognition and behaviour. Genetic, neurochemical, neuroimaging and behavioural findings on autism, as well as studies of normal development and of genetic syndromes that share symptoms with autism, offer hypotheses as to the nature of causal factors and their possible effects on the structure and dynamics of neural systems. Such alterations in neural properties may in turn perturb activity-dependent development, giving rise to a complex behavioural syndrome many steps removed from the root causes. Animal models based on genetic, neurochemical, neurophysiological, and behavioural manipulations offer the possibility of exploring these developmental processes in detail, as do human studies addressing endophenotypes beyond the diagnosis itself

Natural course of fatty liver in 36,195 South Korean adults

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver disease, and yet the natural course remains unclear. Study population included 36,195 individuals who participated in a health-screening program and diagnosed with fatty liver by abdominal ultrasound. Participants were provided written information regarding fatty liver and advised to make lifestyle changes. Ultrasound was repeated after at least 6 months. After a mean follow up of 4.9 years (+/-3.4), 19.6% resolved their fatty liver. Individuals who resolved were more likely female (22.9% vs. 12.3%), thinner (body mass index [BMI], 25.2 +/- 2.7 vs. 26 +/- 2.7), and with lower HOMA-IR (1.4 vs. 1.7) (P .70.001). Decrease in BMI predicted resolution of fatty liver with 42% of those in the top quartile of BMI decline resolving compared with 5.7% in the lowest quartile (odds ratio [OR] (95% confidence interval [CI]) 15.65 (14.13-17.34), P < 0.001)). Baseline HOMA-IR also predicted resolution with those in the top quartile (most insulin resistant) being least likely to resolve (12%) vs. those in the lowest quartile (25%) (OR 0.36 [0.31-0.42], P < 0.001). Fatty liver disease is persistent. Individuals with higher degree of insulin resistance are also the most likely to have persistent steatosis at follow up

Evaluation of brain lesion distribution criteria at disease onset in differentiating MS from NMOSD and MOG-IgG-associated encephalomyelitis

Objectives We aimed to evaluate the utility of the recently described brain lesion distribution criteria to differentiate multiple sclerosis (MS) from aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein immunoglobulin G-associated encephalomyelitis (MOG-EM) at disease onset in an Asian cohort. Methods A total of 214 patients who fulfilled the published criteria for MS, NMOSD, or MOG-EM and underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within 3 months of disease onset were enrolled. The brain lesion distribution criteria were defined as the presence of a lesion adjacent to the body of the lateral ventricle and in the inferior temporal lobe, or an S-shaped U-fiber lesion, or a Dawson’s finger-type lesion. Results Brain lesions were identified in the initial MRI scans of 166/214 patients. The distribution criteria were applied to these scans (MS (n = 94), NMOSD (n = 64), and MOG-EM (n = 8)). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the criteria for MS versus NMOSD were 79.8%, 87.5%, 90.4%, and 74.7%, and for MS versus MOG-EM these were 79.8%, 100%, 100%, and 29.6%, respectively. Conclusions These findings suggest that the brain lesion distribution criteria are helpful in distinguishing MS from NMOSD and MOG-EM in an Asian population, even at disease onset

Neutrophils in cancer: neutral no more

Neutrophils are indispensable antagonists of microbial infection and facilitators of wound healing. In the cancer setting, a newfound appreciation for neutrophils has come into view. The traditionally held belief that neutrophils are inert bystanders is being challenged by the recent literature. Emerging evidence indicates that tumours manipulate neutrophils, sometimes early in their differentiation process, to create diverse phenotypic and functional polarization states able to alter tumour behaviour. In this Review, we discuss the involvement of neutrophils in cancer initiation and progression, and their potential as clinical biomarkers and therapeutic targets

Functional improvement of bilateral frozen shoulder by unilateral intra-articular corticosteroid injection: a retrospective study

Objective: Bilateral frozen shoulder (FS) is often treated with intra-articular corticosteroid injection (IACI). No studies have been performed to establish whether IACI must be administered in both shoulders or in only one shoulder to improve function. This study was therefore performed to determine whether unilateral IACI improves shoulder pain and passive range of motion (pROM) in bilateral FS. Methods: The medical records of 165 patients with bilateral primary FS who underwent ultrasonography-guided IACI (2 mL of 10-mg/mL triamcinolone acetonide mixed with 5 mL of 1% lidocaine) in one shoulder were retrospectively reviewed. The outcome measures, namely the numeric rating scale (NRS) scores and pROM values (abduction, external rotation, flexion, hyperextension, and internal rotation), were evaluated pre- and post-injection. Results: The patients’ mean age was 54.0 ± 8.0 years. The mean symptom duration was 6.5 ± 2.8 months. The mean follow-up period after injection was 6.7 ± 0.8 weeks. The NRS scores and pROM values significantly improved in both the injected and non-injected shoulders. Conclusions: This study showed that unilateral IACI in patients with bilateral FS improves the clinical outcome of the non-injected shoulder. We suggest that physicians observe the non-injected shoulder after unilateral injection rather than performing bilateral injections

Isolated middle cerebral artery disease: clinical and neuroradiological features depending on the pathogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Isolated atherosclerotic middle cerebral artery (MCA) disease is often difficult to differentiate from cardioembolic disease if intracranial atherosclerosis coexists with cardiac disease. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether clinical and neuroradiological features of isolated MCA disease differ according to the underlying aetiology. METHODS: Isolated MCA disease was defined as a unilateral angiographically occlusive lesion of the MCA on the symptomatic side without lesions of other intracranial or extracranial vessels. Patients with isolated MCA disease were divided into atherosclerotic and potentially cardioembolic, and the clinical, laboratory, and neuroradiological data analysed. RESULTS: Among the 850 consecutive patients with acute ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack, 107 (12.6%) met the criteria for isolated MCA disease (76 with atherosclerotic disease and 31 with a potential source of cardiac embolism). Total anterior circulation infarcts were more common and baseline NIHSS score was higher in potentially embolic occlusions than in atherosclerotic disease (each p<0.001). While cortical infarcts and territorial infarcts were more common in the potential embolism group (p = 0.028 and p<0.001, respectively), subcortical border zone infarcts were more common in the atherosclerotic group (p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that border zone infarcts and mild stroke were independently associated with atherosclerotic MCA disease, while territorial and cortical infarcts were associated with potential cardiac embolic disease. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and neuroradiological characteristics can differentiate isolated atherosclerotic MCA disease from MCA disease associated with potential sources of cardiac embolism, and may reflect the differences in underlying pathogenesis

Efficacy of Adductor Canal Block on Medial Knee Pain in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Single-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to confirm the efficacy of ultrasound-guided adductor canal block (ACB) as a treatment option for medial knee pain caused by knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: In total, 31 participants with medial knee pain due to KOA were randomized to either the ACB (ultrasound-guided ACB, n = 15) or placebo group (1 mL of 1% lidocaine, n = 16). The primary outcome was a numerical rating scale (NRS) for knee pain intensity comparing before and 4 weeks after injection. The secondary outcomes were the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), average daily number of analgesics consumed, average daily opioid consumption, and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test results before and 4 weeks after injection. RESULTS: Participants' baseline characteristics were not significantly different between the groups, except for age. At 4 weeks post-injection, the NRS score in the ACB group significantly improved compared to that in the placebo group (p = 0.009). However, the WOMAC, average daily number of analgesics consumed, average daily opioid consumption, and TUG test results did not show significant differences. CONCLUSION: ACB can be an effective treatment for reducing medial knee pain in patients with KOA

Conditional Genetic Elimination of Hepatocyte Growth Factor in Mice Compromises Liver Regeneration after Partial Hepatectomy

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to be indispensable for liver regeneration because it serves as a main mitogenic stimulus driving hepatocytes toward proliferation. We hypothesized that ablating HGF in adult mice would have a negative effect on the ability of hepatocytes to regenerate. Deletion of the HGF gene was achieved by inducing systemic recombination in mice lacking exon 5 of HGF and carrying the Mx1-cre or Cre-ERT transgene. Analysis of liver genomic DNA from animals 10 days after treatment showed that a majority (70-80%) of alleles underwent cre-induced genetic recombination. Intriguingly, however, analysis by RT-PCR showed the continued presence of both unrecombined and recombined forms of HGF mRNA after treatment. Separation of liver cell populations into hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells showed equal recombination of genomic HGF in both cell types. The presence of the unrecombined form of HGF mRNA persisted in the liver in significant amounts even after partial hepatectomy (PH), which correlated with insignificant changes in HGF protein and hepatocyte proliferation. The amount of HGF produced by stellate cells in culture was indirectly proportional to the concentration of HGF, suggesting that a decrease in HGF may induce de novo synthesis of HGF from cells with residual unrecombined alleles. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced regeneration resulted in a substantial decrease in preexisting HGF mRNA and protein, and subsequent PH led to a delayed regenerative response. Thus, HGF mRNA persists in the liver even after genetic recombination affecting most cells; however, PH subsequent to CCl4 treatment is associated with a decrease in both HGF mRNA and protein and results in compromised liver regeneration, validating an important role of this mitogen in hepatic growth. © 2013 Nejak-Bowen et al