Long-term vascular access ports as a means of sedative administration in a rodent fMRI survival model

The purpose of this study is to develop a rodent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) survival model with the use of heparin-coated vascular access devices. Such a model would ease the administration of sedative agents, reduce the number of animals required in survival experiments and eliminate animal-to-animal variability seen in previous designs. Seven male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent surgical placement of an MRI-compatible vascular access port, followed by implantable electrode placement on the right median nerve. Functional MRI during nerve stimulation and resting-state functional connectivity MRI (fcMRI) were performed at times 0, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks postoperatively using a 9.4 T scanner. Anesthesia was maintained using intravenous dexmedetomidine and reversed using atipamezole. There were no fatalities or infectious complications during this study. All vascular access ports remained patent. Blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) activation by electrical stimulation of the median nerve using implanted electrodes was seen within the forelimb sensory region (S1FL) for all animals at all time points. The number of activated voxels decreased at time points 4 and 8 weeks, returning to a normal level at 12 weeks, which is attributed to scar tissue formation and resolution around the embedded electrode. The applications of this experiment extend far beyond the scope of peripheral nerve experimentation. These vascular access ports can be applied to any survival MRI study requiring repeated medication administration, intravenous contrast, or blood sampling

Eccrine porocarcinoma of the head: An important differential diagnosis in the elderly patient

Background: Eccrine porocarcinoma is a rare malignant tumor of the sweat gland, characterized by a broad spectrum of clinicopathologic presentations. Surprisingly, unlike its benign counterpart eccrine poroma, eccrine porocarcinoma is seldom found in areas with a high density of eccrine sweat glands, like the palms or soles. Instead, eccrine porocarcinoma frequently occurs on the lower extremities, trunk and abdomen, but also on the head, resembling various other skin tumors, as illustrated in the patients described herein. Observations: We report 5 cases of eccrine porocarcinoma of the head. All patients were initially diagnosed as having epidermal or melanocytic skin tumors. Only after histopathologic examination were they classified as eccrine porocarcinoma, showing features of epithelial tumors with abortive ductal differentiation. Characteristic clinical, histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings of eccrine porocarcinomas are illustrated. Conclusion: Eccrine porocarcinomas are potentially fatal adnexal malignancies, in which extensive metastatic dissemination may occur. Porocarcinomas are commonly overlooked, or misinterpreted as squamous or basal cell carcinomas as well as other common malignant and even benign skin tumors. Knowledge of the clinical pattern and histologic findings, therefore, is crucial for an early therapeutic intervention, which can reduce the risk of tumor recurrence and serious complications. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

Molecular changes in detrained & retrained adult jaw muscle

A hypofunctional masticatory system was developed in 21-day-old male rats by feeding them a soft diet for 27 weeks. Retraining of a parallel group for 6 weeks was achieved by switching back to a hard diet after 21 weeks. A control group was fed a hard diet for 27 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the expression levels of the myosin heavy chain isoform genes MYH 1 and 2 (fast), 3 (embryonic) and 7 (slow) in the deep masseter were compared using qRT-PCR analysis. The gene expressions of MYH 3 and MYH 7 were significantly higher in the rehabilitation group compared with the normal and hypofunctional group, but no significant differences were found in regards to the gene expression of MYH 1 and 2. Retraining made it possible for the slow (MYH 7) isoform levels to adapt to the increased mechanical load. The increased level of embryonic (MYH 3) isoform could be due to the need of creation of new MYH isoform

Characterization of Human Mobility from Cellular Data

This dissertation investigates human mobility patterns using crowd-sourced cellular network data from different Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the United States, spanning the Houston, New York-Newark, NJ City, and 13 other significant MSAs. By focusing on prominent spatial mobility parameters highlighted in existing literature, the study unveils consistent findings regarding the predictability of human mobility across diverse time scales and geographic regions. The research underscores the significance of selecting appropriate sampling thresholds based on the mobility parameters being examined, the size of the dataset, and available computational resources. Through a meticulous analysis, it emerges that while values such as mean and standard deviation may fluctuate based on sampling thresholds, the distribution patterns of mobility parameters remain notably consistent. Diving deeper, the dissertation classifies MSAs into two primary groups based on observed travel patterns: inland and coastal MSAs, revealing distinct weekly travel trends for each group. These comprehensive insights not only contribute to a foundational understanding of human mobility across MSAs but also highlight the potential for influencing urban planning and business decisions when combined with supplementary data sources

Mnemonic and histopathological assessment of the neuroprotective effects of Murraya koenigii leaves extract in rats with partial global cerebral ischaemia

Preclinical studies have reported that Murraya koenigii leaves (MKL) could enhance memory. MKL is also known for its antioxidant activity. The current study was to assess the possible neuroprotective potential of MKL methanolic extract in a two vessel occlusion (2VO) rat model of partial global cerebral ischaemia. Methods: Rats were divided into memory and learning groups. Each group was subdivided into sham control, untreated 2VO and MKL-treated 2VO subgroups. The Morris water maze test was implemented to assess the rats’ cognitive function postoperatively. Brain samples were histopathologically examined for viable neurons within the CA1 hippocampal region. Results: Water maze test findings showed that MKL positively improved memory and learning impairments. However, this improvement in memory test for the treated group was still significantly inferior to that of the healthy control group. Additionally, MKL treated group exhibited insignificant difference in the number of viable hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons from that of the untreated 2VO group, whereas both MKL treated and untreated 2VO groups showed significantly less viable neurons when compared with the control group. Conclusion: MKL extract modestly improved memory without providing substantial neuroprotective action to the hippocampal neurons in rats with chronic partial global cerebral ischaemia

Fabrication, characterization, and simulation of glass devices with AlN-thin-film-transducers for excitation of ultrasound resonances

We present fabrication of 570-um-thick, millimeter-sized soda-lime-silicate float glass blocks with a 1-um-thick AlN-thin-film piezoelectric transducer sandwiched between thin metallic electrodes and deposited on the top surface. The electro-mechanical properties are characterized by electrical impedance measurements in the frequency range from 0.1 to 10 MHz with a peak-to-peak voltage of 0.5 V applied to the electrodes. We measured the electrical impedance spectra of 35 devices, all of width 2 mm, but with 9 different lengths ranging from 2 to 6 mm and with 2-7 copies of each individual geometry. Each impedance spectrum exhibits many resonance peaks, of which we carefully measured the 5 most prominent ones in each spectrum. We compare the resulting 173 experimental resonance frequencies with the simulation result of a finite-element-method model that we have developed. When using material parameters from the manufacturer, we obtain an average relative deviation of the 173 simulated resonance frequencies from the experimental ones of (-4.2 +/-0.04)%. When optimizing the values of the Young's modulus and the Poisson ratio of the float glass in the simulation, this relative deviation decreased to (-0.03 +/- 0.04)%. Our results suggest a method for an accurate in-situ determination of the acoustic parameters at ultrasound frequencies of any elastic solid onto which a thin-film transducer can be attachedComment: 9 pages, 5 pdf figures, RevTe

Prevalence of Congenital Heart Disease in Infants of Diabetic Mothers in Children Welfare Teaching Hospital

Background: Women with diabetes in pregnancy (type 1, type 2 and gestational) are at increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes which also include infant development of congenital heart disease and even fetal death. Adequate glycemic control before and during pregnancy is crucial to improve outcome. Aim of the study: to observe the significance of the cardiac complication seen in new born of diabetic mother and its relation to glycemic control. Patients and methods: This prospective study was conducted in the nursery care unit in children welfare teaching hospital from the period 1st of July 2014 till 30th of June 2015 where one hundred newborns of diabetic mother were collected and screened by echocardiography for congenital heart disease. Those mothers were classified according to White classification, and the babies were classified according to their maturity to (full term, pre term and post term), in reference to their mode of delivery (Spontaneous vaginal delivery or caesarian section) and to their body weight. Results: One hundred newborns where collected, 61 male and 39 female. Male to female ratio was 1.5:1; 60% were normal with no cardiac complication, 40% had congenital heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy  23%, atrial septal defect 7 %, patent ductus arteriosus 3% and ventricular septal defect 2%, 1% Transposition of great arteries, 1% Trancus arteriosus, 1% Double outlet right ventricle, 1% Tricuspid atrasia and 1% coartication of aorta, it was found that there is a significant relationship between the type of diabetes of the mother and the development of congenital heart disease in infants (p value 0.02); the degree of glycemic control according to HBA1c of the mother  and development of congenital heart disease in infants (p value 0.005); birth weight of the infants and the congenital heart disease (p value 0.023), death was reported in only 2%. Conclusions: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was the most common type of congenital heart disease in infants of diabetic mothers. Most of infants of diabetic mothers were full term, delivered by caesarian section and their birth weights were more than 4 kg; Congenital heart disease in infants were more common in mothers with uncontrolled diabetes during pregnancy. Pregestational diabetes mellitus mothers are more liable to deliver babies with congenital heart disease than those with gestational diabetes mellitus. Keywords: Congenital heart disease, Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, Gestational diabetes

Cancer Information Seeking Preferences among health professionals serving American Indians in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin

This article identifies cancer information resources used by health professionals in tribal health departments or Indian Health Service clinics serving American Indian communities in Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota