Modification of the fatty acid composition in Arabidopsis and maize seeds using a stearoyl-acyl carrier protein desaturase-1 (ZmSAD1) gene

Composition of fatty acids in the transgenic ZmSAD1 Arabidopsis mature seeds (DOCX 17 kb

Generalized-Equiangular Geometry CT: Concept and Shift-Invariant FBP Algorithms

With advanced X-ray source and detector technologies being continuously developed, non-traditional CT geometries have been widely explored. Generalized-Equiangular Geometry CT (GEGCT) architecture, in which an X-ray source might be positioned radially far away from the focus of arced detector array that is equiangularly spaced, is of importance in many novel CT systems and designs. GEGCT, unfortunately, has no theoretically exact and shift-invariant analytical image reconstruction algorithm in general. In this study, to obtain fast and accurate reconstruction from GEGCT and to promote its system design and optimization, an in-depth investigation on a group of approximate Filtered BackProjection (FBP) algorithms with a variety of weighting strategies has been conducted. The architecture of GEGCT is first presented and characterized by using a normalized-radial-offset distance (NROD). Next, shift-invariant weighted FBP-type algorithms are derived in a unified framework, with pre-filtering, filtering, and post-filtering weights. Three viable weighting strategies are then presented including a classic one developed by Besson in the literature and two new ones generated from a curvature fitting and from an empirical formula, where all of the three weights can be expressed as certain functions of NROD. After that, an analysis of reconstruction accuracy is conducted with a wide range of NROD. We further stretch the weighted FBP-type algorithms to GEGCT with dynamic NROD. Finally, the weighted FBP algorithm for GEGCT is extended to a three-dimensional form in the case of cone-beam scan with a cylindrical detector array.Comment: 31 pages, 13 figure

Camera-based Mirror Visual Feedback: Potential to Improve Motor Preparation in Stroke Patients

© 2018 IEEE.Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes,creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.Mirror visual feedback (MVF) is used widely for motor recovery after stroke, but an optimal training setup and systematic procedure are lacking. New optimization strategies have been proposed, one of which is a camera technique. We investigated the effects of a camera-based MVF setup on motor function and motor processes upstream for upper-limb rehabilitation. Seventy-nine stroke patients were assigned randomly to the MVF group (MG; N = 38) or conventional group (CG; N = 41), which respectively received camera-based MVF and dosage-equivalent physiotherapy or/and occupational therapy for 1 h/day and 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Two clinical scales were used to quantify the effect of the intervention methods: the Fugl–Meyer Assessment-Upper Limb (FMA-UL) subscale and Barthel Index (BI). The hand laterality task was used to evaluate the ability of mental rotation, including the reaction time (RT) and accuracy (ACC). All measurements improved significantly for both groups following intervention. FMA-UL was improved significantly in the MG compared with that in the CG. In lateralization tasks, the RT of the MG was significantly shorter than that of the CG at the endpoint. For all patients, judgments for the affected side were significantly slower and less accurate than for the less-affected side. Subgroup analyses suggested greater benefits of motor function, the activities of daily life, and mental rotation were achieved in subacute patients after MVF. A trend towards greater improvements in motor function for patients with severe–moderate motor impairment and patients with right-hemisphere damage were also revealed. Camera-based MVF improved the motor function and ability of mental rotation for stroke patients, especially for patients in the subacute stage, which indicates the potential to improve motor preparation. Further studies might combine mental rotation with electroencephalography to investigate the neuro-mechanism of MVF.Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (15441901601, 16441905303)National Natural Science Foundation of China (61771313)National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (SS2015AA020501)Key Projects in the National Science & Technology Pillar Program during the Twelfth Five-year Plan Period (2013BAI10B03)Natural Sciences andEngineering Research Council of Canada (072169

Neurologic Serious Adverse Events Associated with Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab or Nivolumab Alone in Advanced Melanoma, Including a Case Series of Encephalitis

BackgroundDespite unprecedented efficacy across multiple tumor types, immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy is associated with a unique and wide spectrum of immune‐related adverse events (irAEs), including neurologic events ranging from mild headache to potentially life‐threatening encephalitis. Here, we summarize neurologic irAEs associated with nivolumab and ipilimumab melanoma treatment, present cases of treatment‐related encephalitis, and provide practical guidance on diagnosis and management.MethodsWe searched a Global Pharmacovigilance and Epidemiology database for neurologic irAEs reported over an 8‐year period in patients with advanced melanoma receiving nivolumab with or without ipilimumab from 12 studies sponsored by Bristol‐Myers Squibb. Serious neurologic irAEs were reviewed, and relationship to nivolumab or ipilimumab was assigned.ResultsIn our search of 3,763 patients, 35 patients (0.93%) presented with 43 serious neurologic irAEs, including neuropathy (n = 22), noninfective meningitis (n = 5), encephalitis (n = 6), neuromuscular disorders (n = 3), and nonspecific adverse events (n = 7). Study drug was discontinued (n = 20), interrupted (n = 8), or unchanged (n = 7). Most neurologic irAEs resolved (26/35 patients; 75%). Overall, median time to onset was 45 days (range 1–170) and to resolution was 32 days (2–809+). Median time to onset of encephalitis was 55.5 days (range 18–297); four cases resolved and one was fatal.ConclusionBoth oncologists and neurologists need to be aware of signs and symptoms of serious but uncommon neurologic irAEs associated with checkpoint inhibitors. Prompt diagnosis and management using an established algorithm are critical to minimize serious complications from these neurologic irAEs.Implications for PracticeWith increasing use of checkpoint inhibitors in cancer, practicing oncologists need to be aware of the potential risk of neurologic immune‐related adverse events and be able to provide prompt treatment of this uncommon, but potentially serious, class of adverse events. We summarize neurologic adverse events related to nivolumab alone or in combination with ipilimumab in patients with advanced melanoma from 12 studies and examine in depth 6 cases of encephalitis. We also provide input and guidance on the existing neurologic adverse events management algorithm for nivolumab and ipilimumab.Melanoma is a particularly immunogenic cancer, and immune checkpoint inhibitors have been extensively studied in this tumor type. This review focuses on the incidence of serious neurologic immune‐related adverse events, specifically encephalitis, in patients with advanced melanoma treated with nivolumab alone or in sequence or combination with ipilimumab. Practical guidance is provided for the diagnosis and management of treatment‐related encephalitis associated with nivolumab and ipilimumab.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/139998/1/onco12130.pd

Does Serum Vitamin D Level Affect COVID-19 Infection and Its Severity?-A Case-Control Study

Background: As effective medication to treat COVID-19 is currently unavailable, preventive remedies may be particularly important. Objective: To examine the relationship between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) level and COVID-19 infection, its severity, and its clinical case characteristics. Methods: This case-control study compared serum 25(OH)D levels and rates of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) between 80 healthy controls and 62 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and admitted to Guangxi People’s Hospital, China, 2/16/2020–3/16/2020. Cases were categorized into asymptomatic, mild/moderate, and severe/critical disease. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the associations between 25(OH)D level, or VDD, and case status/severity of COVID-19 while controlling for demographics and comorbidities. A threshold level of vitamin D for conveying COVID-19 risk was estimated. Results: Severe/critical COVID-19 cases were significantly older and had higher percentages of comorbidity (renal failure) compared to mild cases. The serum 25(OH)D concentration in COVID-19 patient was much lower than that in healthy control. And 25(OH)D level was the lowest in severe/ critical cases, compared with mild cases. In further, significantly higher rates of VDD were found in COVID-19 cases (41.9%) compared to healthy controls (11.1%). And VDD was the greatest in severe/critical cases (80%), compared with mild cases (36%). These statistically significant associations remained even after controlling for demographics and comorbidities. A potential threshold of 25(OH)D (41.19nmol/L) to protect against COVID-19 was identified. Conclusion: Elderly and people with comorbidities were susceptible to severe COVID-19 infection. VDD was a risk factor for COVID-19, especially for severe/critical cases. While further confirmation is needed, vitamin D supplementation may have prevention or treatment potential for COVID- 19 disease

Gene Flow Risks From Transgenic Herbicide-Tolerant Crops to Their Wild Relatives Can Be Mitigated by Utilizing Alien Chromosomes

Integration of a transgene into chromosomes of the C-genomes of oilseed rape (AACC, 2n = 38) may affect their gene flow to wild relatives, particularly Brassica juncea (AABB, 2n = 36). However, no empiric evidence exists in favor of the C-genome as a safer candidate for transformation. In the presence of herbicide selections, the first- to fourth-generation progenies of a B. juncea × glyphosate-tolerant oilseed rape cross [EPSPS gene insertion in the A-genome (Roundup Ready, event RT73)] showed more fitness than a B. juncea × glufosinate-tolerant oilseed rape cross [PAT gene insertion in the C-genome (Liberty Link, event HCN28)]. Karyotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization–bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC-FISH) analyses showed that crossed progenies from the cultivars with transgenes located on either A- or C- chromosome were mixoploids, and their genomes converged over four generations to 2n = 36 (AABB) and 2n = 37 (AABB + C), respectively. Chromosome pairing of pollen mother cells was more irregular in the progenies from cultivar whose transgene located on C- than on A-chromosome, and the latter lost their C-genome-specific markers faster. Thus, transgene insertion into the different genomes of B. napus affects introgression under herbicide selection. This suggests that gene flow from transgenic crops to wild relatives could be mitigated by breeding transgenic allopolyploid crops, where the transgene is inserted into an alien chromosome