Effect of timing of cord clamping (early vs delayed) on hemoglobin level among newborns: an Indian study

Background: Aim of the current study was to evaluate effect of delayed cord clamping on hemoglobin level among newborns and look for any adverse effects following delayed cord clamping. Methods: Total 60 newborns were enrolled in the study and were randomly allocated to either control (early cord clamping 15 secs) and cases (delayed cord clamping 3 mins). Samples were collected in labor room, during birth to check the hemoglobin, billirubin and hematocrit levels in two groups. Follow up data were collected in postnatal ward, 24 hours after birth to estimate hemoglobin, hematocrit and billirubin levels and infants were assessed for the presence of respiratory distress. Results: Hb levels among cases were significantly higher compared to controls at birth. The mean Hb at birth among controls was 14.90±1.28 g/dl and among cases was 16.06±2.37 g/dl (p value 0.023). Hb levels among cases were significantly higher compared to controls at 24 hours. The mean Hb at 24 hours among controls was 16.16±1.70 g/dl and among cases was 19.28±2.16 g/dl (p value <0.001). Conclusions: Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were significantly increased at birth as well as at 24 hours of age in delayed compared to early clamping group with no significant adverse effects seen in the group with delayed clamping

Presentation and intervention in missing Copper T Thread in reference to timing of insertion

Background: To analyse the impact of time of insertion of Copper T to presentation and intervention for management of missing Cu-T thread.Methods: After approval of the study by research and institutional Ethics Committee, present study was carried out partly prospectively on patients presenting with missing Cu T thread. Retrospective data was also collected from minor OT or admission records for those admitted for removal of IUCD and duly completed telephonically. Proportion of women with missing Cu T thread were calculated in percentages. Correlation between different groups couldn’t be calculated because of major difference in number of subjects in groups. Data was analysed with regard to relation to timing of insertion, presentation, complications, number and kind of interventions for its removal.Results: Among 57 women, 30 had post LSCS CuT insertion, 6 had post NVD, 20 had interval CuT insertion, 1 had post abortal insertion. Misplaced CuT was detected in 8 women on USG, 4 (50%) had post LSCS, 3 (37.5%) post NVD and 1 (12.5%) had interval CuT insertion. OPD removal could be attempted successfully in 30 women; 11 (36.67%) post LSCS, 2 (33.33%) post NVD, 16 (80%) interval and 1 (100%) post abortion insertion. OT removal was needed in 23 women; 17 (56.67%) post LSCS, 2 (33.33%) post NVD, 4 (20%) interval CuT insertion. Spontaneous expulsion diagnosed in 4, 2 post LSCS and 2 post NVD CuT insertion.Conclusions: There is definite impact of timing of Cu T insertion on incidence of misplacement and expulsion and more data and studies are needed for developing a common information performa to develop SOPs for follow up of such patients

Fully automated deep learning-based localization and segmentation of the locus coeruleus in aging and Parkinson's disease using neuromelanin-sensitive MRI

Purpose: Development and performance measurement of a fully automated pipeline that localizes and segments the locus coeruleus in so-called neuromelanin-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging data for the derivation of quantitative biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Methods: We propose a pipeline composed of several 3D-Unet-based convolutional neural networks for iterative multi-scale localization and multi-rater segmentation and non-deep learning-based components for automated biomarker extraction. We trained on the healthy aging cohort and did not carry out any adaption or fine-tuning prior to the application to Parkinson’s disease subjects. Results: The localization and segmentation pipeline demonstrated sufficient performance as measured by Euclidean distance (on average around 1.3mm on healthy aging subjects and 2.2mm in Parkinson’s disease subjects) and Dice similarity coefficient (overall around 71% on healthy aging subjects and 60% for subjects with Parkinson’s disease) as well as promising agreement with respect to contrast ratios in terms of intraclass correlation coefficient of ≥0.80 for healthy aging subjects compared to a manual segmentation procedure. Lower values (≥0.48) for Parkinson’s disease subjects indicate the need for further investigation and tests before the application to clinical samples. Conclusion: These promising results suggest the usability of the proposed algorithm for data of healthy aging subjects and pave the way for further investigations using this approach on different clinical datasets to validate its practical usability more conclusively

Hippocampal vascularization patterns: A high-resolution 7 Tesla time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography study

Considerable evidence suggests a close relationship between vascular and degenerative pathology in the human hippocampus. Due to the intrinsic fragility of its vascular network, the hippocampus appears less able to cope with hypoperfusion and anoxia than other cortical areas. Although hippocampal blood supply is generally provided by the collateral branches of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) and the anterior choroidal artery (AChA), different vascularization patterns have been detected postmortem. To date, a methodology that enables the classification of individual hippocampal vascularization patterns in vivo has not been established. In this study, using high-resolution 7 Tesla time-of-flight angiography data (0.3 mm isotropic resolution) in young adults, we classified individual variability in hippocampal vascularization patterns involved in medial temporal lobe blood supply in vivo. A strong concordance between our classification and previous autopsy findings was found, along with interesting anatomical observations, such as the variable contribution of the AChA to hippocampal supply, the relationships between hippocampal and PCA patterns, and the different distribution patterns of the right and left hemispheres. The approach presented here for determining hippocampal vascularization patterns in vivo may provide new insights into not only the vulnerability of the hippocampus to vascular and neurodegenerative diseases but also hippocampal vascular plasticity after exercise training

Genome-Wide Identification of HrpL-Regulated Genes in the Necrotrophic Phytopathogen Dickeya dadantii 3937

BACKGROUND: Dickeya dadantii is a necrotrophic pathogen causing disease in many plants. Previous studies have demonstrated that the type III secretion system (T3SS) of D. dadantii is required for full virulence. HrpL is an alternative sigma factor that binds to the hrp box promoter sequence of T3SS genes to up-regulate their expression. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To explore the inventory of HrpL-regulated genes of D. dadantii 3937 (3937), transcriptome profiles of wild-type 3937 and a hrpL mutant grown in a T3SS-inducing medium were examined. Using a cut-off value of 1.5, significant differential expression was observed in sixty-three genes, which are involved in various cellular functions such as type III secretion, chemotaxis, metabolism, regulation, and stress response. A hidden Markov model (HMM) was used to predict candidate hrp box binding sites in the intergenic regions of 3937, including the promoter regions of HrpL-regulated genes identified in the microarray assay. In contrast to biotrophic phytopathgens such as Pseudomonas syringae, among the HrpL up-regulated genes in 3937 only those within the T3SS were found to contain a hrp box sequence. Moreover, direct binding of purified HrpL protein to the hrp box was demonstrated for hrp box-containing DNA fragments of hrpA and hrpN using the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). In this study, a putative T3SS effector DspA/E was also identified as a HrpL-upregulated gene, and shown to be translocated into plant cells in a T3SS-dependent manner. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCES: We provide the genome-wide study of HrpL-regulated genes in a necrotrophic phytopathogen (D. dadantii 3937) through a combination of transcriptomics and bioinformatics, which led to identification of several effectors. Our study indicates the extent of differences for T3SS effector protein inventory requirements between necrotrophic and biotrophic pathogens, and may allow the development of different strategies for disease control for these different groups of pathogens

Quorum Sensing Signaling Molecules Produced by Reference and Emerging Soft-Rot Bacteria (Dickeya and Pectobacterium spp.)

International audienceBACKGROUND: Several small diffusible molecules are involved in bacterial quorum sensing and virulence. The production of autoinducers-1 and -2, quinolone, indole and γ-amino butyrate signaling molecules was investigated in a set of soft-rot bacteria belonging to six Dickeya or Pectobacterium species including recent or emerging potato isolates. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using bacterial biosensors, immunoassay, and chromatographic analysis, we showed that soft-rot bacteria have the common ability to produce transiently during their exponential phase of growth the N-3-oxo-hexanoyl- or the N-3-oxo-octanoyl-l-homoserine lactones and a molecule of the autoinducer-2 family. Dickeya spp. produced in addition the indole-3-acetic acid in tryptophan-rich conditions. All these signaling molecules have been identified for the first time in the novel Dickeya solani species. In contrast, quinolone and γ-amino butyrate signals were not identified and the corresponding synthases are not present in the available genomes of soft-rot bacteria. To determine if the variations of signal production according to growth phase could result from expression modifications of the corresponding synthase gene, the respective mRNA levels were estimated by reverse transcriptase-PCR. While the N-acyl-homoserine lactone production is systematically correlated to the synthase expression, that of the autoinducer-2 follows the expression of an enzyme upstream in the activated methyl cycle and providing its precursor, rather than the expression of its own synthase. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Despite sharing the S-adenosylmethionine precursor, no strong link was detected between the production kinetics or metabolic pathways of autoinducers-1 and -2. In contrast, the signaling pathway of autoinducer-2 seems to be switched off by the indole-3-acetic acid pathway under tryptophan control. It therefore appears that the two genera of soft-rot bacteria have similarities but also differences in the mechanisms of communication via the diffusible molecules. Our results designate autoinducer-1 lactones as the main targets for a global biocontrol of soft-rot bacteria communications, including those of emerging isolates

Fast screening method for detection of acyl-HSL-degrading soil isolates

A reliable method was developed for screening of bacteria isolates capable of degrading acyl-HSLs, the signal molecules in quorum-sensing-mediated processes of many Proteobacteria. The microtiter assay was based on the use of a GFP-marked Escherichia coli strain, which fluoresces upon the presence of acyl-HSLs. Measurement of GFP fluorescence with a Molecular Imager FX scanner (fluorometer) detected isolates capable of degrading acyl-HSLs. The potential of this method was demonstrated by isolation of different bacteria from a potato rhizosphere able to inactivate synthetic and natural acyl HSLs produced by Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc) (Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora (Ecc)

Automated segmentation of the locus coeruleus from neuromelanin-sensitive 3t MRI using deep convolutional neural networks

The locus coeruleus (LC) is a small brain structure in the brainstem that may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Parkinson’s Disease (PD). The majority of studies to date have relied on using manual segmentation methods to segment the LC, which is time consuming and leads to substantial interindividual variability across raters. Automated segmentation approaches might be less error-prone leading to a higher consistency in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast assessments of the LC across scans and studies. The objective of this study was to investigate whether a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based automated segmentation method allows for reliably delineating the LC in in vivo MR images. The obtained results indicate performance superior to the inter-rater agreement, i.e. approximately 70% Dice similarity coefficient (DSC)