Imbalance of vasoconstrictor / vasodilation potential caused by experimental osteoarthritis development

Study have been carried out on white Wistar line rats (age – 3 months, weight – 180-220 g). According to the tasks the animals were divided into 7 groups:1st group is intact (n = 20). 2nd group is rats, which were modeled osteoarthritis without further correction and were withdrawn from the experiment in the first stage (7th day) (n=40). 3rd group is rats, which were modeled osteoarthritis without further correction and removed from the experiment in the second stage (21st day) (n=40). 4th group is rats, in which experimental osteoarthritis was corrected with  nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (Diclofenac) and aminoguanidine and removed from the experiment in the first stage (7th day) (n=20). 5th group is rats, in which experimental osteoarthritis was corrected with NSAIDs (Diclofenac) and aminoguanidine and withdrawn from the experiment in the second stage (21st day) (n=20). 6th group is rats, where experimental osteoarthritis was corrected using NSAIDs and a 7% L-arginine solution and withdrawn from the experiment in the first stage (7th day) (n=20).7th group is rats, in which experimental osteoarthritis was corrected with NSAIDs and 7% L-arginine solution and withdrawn from the experiment in the second stage (21st day) (n=20)Animals were withdrawn from the experiment for the 7th day and the 21st day after the simulation of the pathological condition. NSAIDs (Diclofenac), aminoguanidine and L-arginine were administered from the beginning of the study.As a research result was found significant increase in the endothelin-1 level in the blood, which indicates about imbalance endothelium functioning in the predominance direction of vasoconstrictor potential. Shift the balance towards vasoconstriction is evidence of the blood vessels vasodilating potential weakening.There is a positive trend in the endothelial dysfunction correction in osteoarthritis with the aminoguadine administration. L-arginine effectiveness has been proven as a corrective agent for the endothelial function normalization in experimental osteoarthritis. It has been proven that use of nitric oxide donor are more effective than the use of an inducible NO synthase inhibitor

Dynamics of endothelial and inducible synthase nitric oxide in experimental osteoarthritis and its correction

Study have been carried out on white Wistar line rats (age – 3 months, weight – 180-220 g). According to the tasks the animals were divided into 7 groups:1st group is intact (n = 20). 2nd group is rats, which were modeled osteoarthritis without further correction and were withdrawn from the experiment in the first stage (7th day) (n=40). 3rd group is rats, which were modeled osteoarthritis without further correction and removed from the experiment in the second stage (21st day) (n=40). 4th group is rats, in which experimental osteoarthritis was corrected with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (Diclofenac) and aminoguanidine and removed from the experiment in the first stage (7th day) (n=20). 5th group is rats, in which experimental osteoarthritis was corrected with NSAIDs (Diclofenac) and aminoguanidine and withdrawn from the experiment in the second stage (21st day) (n=20). 6th group is rats, where experimental osteoarthritis was corrected using NSAIDs and a 7% L-arginine solution and withdrawn from the experiment in the first stage (7th day) (n=20)7th group is rats, in which experimental osteoarthritis was corrected with NSAIDs and 7% L-arginine solution and withdrawn from the experiment in the second stage (21st day) (n=20)Animals were withdrawn from the experiment for the 7th day and the 21st day after the simulation of the pathological condition. NSAIDs (Diclofenac), aminoguanidine and L-arginine were administered from the beginning of the study.During the experiment was found nitric oxide hyperproduction by increasing the activity of inducible NO synthase. It was found decreased endothelial NO synthase activity against the background of experimental osteoarthritis development and the induced inducible NO synthase activation. It has been proven aminoguadine correction effectiveness (inducible NO-synthase inhibitor) of endothelial dysfunction in osteoarthritis. It has been established the feasibility of using L-arginine as a corrective agent for endothelial dysfunction in experimental osteoarthritis. Correction agents comparative characteristics showed that the use of nitric oxide donor is more effective compared to  inducible NO synthase inhibition

Researc of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines dynamic on the background of endothelial dysfunction development induced by experimental osteoarthrosis

Study have been carried out on white Wistar line rats (age – 3 months, weight – 180-220 g). According to the tasks the animals were divided into 7 groups:1st group is intact (n = 20). 2nd group is rats, which were modeled osteoarthritis without further correction and were withdrawn from the experiment in the first stage (7th day) (n=40). 3rd group is rats, which were modeled osteoarthritis without further correction and removed from the experiment in the second stage (21st day) (n=40). 4th group is rats, in which experimental osteoarthritis was corrected with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (Diclofenac) and aminoguanidine and removed from the experiment in the first stage (7th day) (n=20). 5th group is rats, in which experimental osteoarthritis was corrected with NSAIDs (Diclofenac) and aminoguanidine and withdrawn from the experiment in the second stage (21st day) (n=20). 6th group is rats, where experimental osteoarthritis was corrected using NSAIDs and a 7% L-arginine solution and withdrawn from the experiment in the first stage (7th day) (n=20). 7th group is rats, in which experimental osteoarthritis was corrected with NSAIDs and 7% L-arginine solution and withdrawn from the experiment in the second stage (21st day) (n=20). Animals were withdrawn from the experiment for the 7th day and the 21st day after the simulation of the pathological condition. NSAIDs (Diclofenac), aminoguanidine and L-arginine were administered from the beginning of the study.It were found during the experiment, increased levels of Interleukin 1β and Interleukin 10 in the simulated osteoarthrosis pathogenesis. It has been established positive dynamics of these cytokines in the endothelial dysfunction correction at osteoarthritis with the aminoguadine correction. It was revealed more pronounced efficacy of using L-arginine as a corrective means of impaired endothelial function in experimental osteoarthritis. Comparative characteristics of correction agents has shown that the use of nitric oxide donor is more effective than incubation of inducible NO synthase. It was proved  normalization of endothelial functional status indicators in the group of animals treated with L-arginine as a part of complex correction of osteoarthrosis was proved

X-ray speed reading: enabling fast, low noise readout for next-generation CCDs

Current, state-of-the-art CCDs are close to being able to deliver all key performance figures for future strategic X-ray missions except for the required frame rates. Our Stanford group is seeking to close this technology gap through a multi-pronged approach of microelectronics, signal processing and novel detector devices, developed in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and MIT Lincoln Laboratory (MIT-LL). Here we report results from our (integrated) readout electronics development, digital signal processing and novel SiSeRO (Single electron Sensitive Read Out) device characterization.Comment: To appear in SPIE Proceeding of Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 202

Comparative characteristics of inducible NO synthase inhibitor and nitric oxide donor in endothelial dysfunction correction caused by osteoarthrosis under experimental conditions

Study have been carried out on white Wistar line rats (age – 3 months, weight – 180-220 g). According to the tasks the animals were divided into 7 groups. 1st group is intact (n = 20). 2nd group is rats, which were modeled osteoarthritis without further correction and were withdrawn from the experiment in the first stage (7th day) (n=40). 3rd group is rats, which were modeled osteoarthritis without further correction and removed from the experiment in the second stage (21st day) (n=40). 4th group is rats, in which experimental osteoarthritis was corrected with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (Diclofenac) and aminoguanidine and removed from the experiment in the first stage (7th day) (n=20). 5th group is rats, in which experimental osteoarthritis was corrected with NSAIDs (Diclofenac) and aminoguanidine and withdrawn from the experiment in the second stage (21st day) (n=20). 6th group is rats, where experimental osteoarthritis was corrected using NSAIDs and a 7% L-arginine solution and withdrawn from the experiment in the first stage (7th day) (n=20). 7th group is rats, in which experimental osteoarthritis was corrected with NSAIDs and 7% L-arginine solution and withdrawn from the experiment in the second stage (21st day) (n=20) Animals were withdrawn from the experiment for the 7th day and the 21st day after the simulation of the pathological condition. NSAIDs (Diclofenac), aminoguanidine and L-arginine were administered from the beginning of the study. We have obtained the following results: The increase in the content of von Willebrand factor (VWF) in the animals blood proves that endothelial dysfunction is an important part of experimental osteoarthritis pathogenesis. It’s revealed the tendency which directed on normalization of the endothelial dysfunction investigated marker at correction by aminoguadine as a part of complex therapy. L-arginine involvement in the complex correction in experimental osteoarthritis more pronouncedly normalized the VWF level, which indicates the endothelial function normalization. The use of nitric oxide donor is more effective in comparison with the inhibition of inducible NO synthase also in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity analysis

Observations of H3+ in the Diffuse Interstellar Medium

Surprisingly large column densities of H3+ have been detected using infrared absorption spectroscopy in seven diffuse cloud sightlines (Cygnus OB2 12, Cygnus OB2 5, HD 183143, HD 20041, WR 104, WR 118, and WR 121), demonstrating that H3+ is ubiquitous in the diffuse interstellar medium. Using the standard model of diffuse cloud chemistry, our H3+ column densities imply unreasonably long path lengths (~1 kpc) and low densities (~3 cm^-3). Complimentary millimeter-wave, infrared, and visible observations of related species suggest that the chemical model is incorrect and that the number density of H3+ must be increased by one to two orders of magnitude. Possible solutions include a reduced electron fraction, an enhanced rate of H2 ionization, and/or a smaller value of the H3+ dissociative recombination rate constant than implied by laboratory experiments.Comment: To be published in Astrophysical Journal, March 200

Computer-aided detection in breast MRI: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To evaluate the additional value of computer-aided detection (CAD) in breast MRI by assessing radiologists' accuracy in discriminating benign from malignant breast lesions. A literature search was performed with inclusion of relevant studies using a commercially available CAD system with automatic colour mapping. Two independent researchers assessed the quality of the studies. The accuracy of the radiologists' performance with and without CAD was presented as pooled sensitivity and specificity. Of 587 articles, 10 met the inclusion criteria, all of good methodological quality. Experienced radiologists reached comparable pooled sensitivity and specificity before and after using CAD (sensitivity: without CAD: 89%; 95% CI: 78-94%, with CAD: 89%; 95%CI: 81-94%) (specificity: without CAD: 86%; 95% CI: 79-91%, with CAD: 82%; 95% CI: 76-87%). For residents the pooled sensitivity increased from 72% (95% CI: 62-81%) without CAD to 89% (95% CI: 80-94%) with CAD, however, not significantly. Concerning specificity, the results were similar (without CAD: 79%; 95% CI: 69-86%, with CAD: 78%; 95% CI: 69-84%). CAD in breast MRI has little influence on the sensitivity and specificity of experienced radiologists and therefore their interpretation remains essential. However, residents or inexperienced radiologists seem to benefit from CAD concerning breast MRI evaluation

Is zero underestimation feasible? Extended Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy in solid lesions – a blind study

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Selection of diagnostic features on breast MRI to differentiate between malignant and benign lesions using computer-aided diagnosis: differences in lesions presenting as mass and non-mass-like enhancement

Purpose: To investigate methods developed for the characterisation of the morphology and enhancement kinetic features of both mass and non-mass lesions, and to determine their diagnostic performance to differentiate between malignant and benign lesions that present as mass versus non-mass types. Methods: Quantitative analysis of morphological features and enhancement kinetic parameters of breast lesions were used to differentiate among four groups of lesions: 88 malignant (43 mass, 45 non-mass) and 28 benign (19 mass, 9 non-mass). The enhancement kinetics was measured and analysed to obtain transfer constant (Ktrans) and rate constant (kep). For each mass eight shape/margin parameters and 10 enhancement texture features were obtained. For the lesions presenting as nonmass-like enhancement, only the texture parameters were obtained. An artificial neural network (ANN) was used to build the diagnostic model. Results: For lesions presenting as mass, the four selected morphological features could reach an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.87 in differentiating between malignant and benign lesions. The kinetic parameter (kep) analysed from the hot spot of the tumour reached a comparable AUC of 0.88. The combined morphological and kinetic features improved the AUC to 0.93, with a sensitivity of 0.97 and a specificity of 0.80. For lesions presenting as non-mass-like enhancement, four texture features were selected by the ANN and achieved an AUC of 0.76. The kinetic parameter kepfrom the hot spot only achieved an AUC of 0.59, with a low added diagnostic value. Conclusion: The results suggest that the quantitative diagnostic features can be used for developing automated breast CAD (computer-aided diagnosis) for mass lesions to achieve a high diagnostic performance, but more advanced algorithms are needed for diagnosis of lesions presenting as non-mass-like enhancement. © The Author(s) 2009