Cellular Links between Neuronal Activity and Energy Homeostasis

Neuronal activity, astrocytic responses to this activity, and energy homeostasis are linked together during baseline, conscious conditions, and short-term rapid activation (as occurs with sensory or motor function). Nervous system energy homeostasis also varies during long-term physiological conditions (i.e., development and aging) and with adaptation to pathological conditions, such as ischemia or low glucose. Neuronal activation requires increased metabolism (i.e., ATP generation) which leads initially to substrate depletion, induction of a variety of signals for enhanced astrocytic function, and increased local blood flow and substrate delivery. Energy generation (particularly in mitochondria) and use during ATP hydrolysis also lead to considerable heat generation. The local increases in blood flow noted following neuronal activation can both enhance local substrate delivery but also provides a heat sink to help cool the brain and removal of waste by-products. In this review we highlight the interactions between short-term neuronal activity and energy metabolism with an emphasis on signals and factors regulating astrocyte function and substrate supply

Assessment of the Apical Transportation and Quantity of Root Canal Dentin Removed Using Different New Rotary File Systems: An Original Study

INTRODUCTION: The rotary systems have found a common application in the clinical practice for the endodontic therapies. Hence, we compared three recent endodontic systems for the comparison of the dentine removal and the apical transportation particularly in the curved canals. METHODS: Oneshape, Pro Taper Next, and Edgefile X3 were the three systems that were compared. Thirty maxillary mesio buccal canals of the human permanent teeth were compared due to its curved nature. The volume of dentin removed and apical transportation (mm) were measured using micro-computed tomographic imaging (mm). Both the coronal section and the entire canal length had their dentin removed in accordance with measurements. Total dentine removed, coronal dentine removed, and the canal transportations were compared for the three rotary file systems. The values were compared with appropriate statistical tests for evaluating the significance. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the three file systems for the dentin removed. The mean canal transportation was 0.33 ± 0.12, 0.21 ± 0.25, and 0.23 ± 0.21 mm, respectively, for Oneshape, Pro Taper Next, and Typhoon CM. In terms of statistics, there were no appreciable variations among the three rotary tools for apical transfer. CONCLUSIONS: The three rotary systems were comparable for the apical transportation and the dentine removal. Despite variations in the magnitude of apical enlargements, none of the instrumentation methods detected apical transportation

Timescale for equilibration of N/Z gradients in dinuclear systems

Equilibration of N/Z in binary breakup of an excited and transiently deformed projectile-like fragment (PLF*), produced in peripheral collisions of 64Zn + 27Al, 64Zn, 209Bi at E/A = 45 MeV, is examined. The composition of emitted light fragments (3<=Z<=6) changes with the decay angle of the PLF*. The most neutron-rich fragments observed are associated with a small rotation angle. A clear target dependence is observed with the largest initial N/Z correlated with the heavy, neutron-rich target. Using the rotation angle as a clock, we deduce that N/Z equilibration persists for times as long as 3-4 zs (1zs = 1 x 10^-21 s = 300 fm/c). The rate of N/Z equilibration is found to depend on the initial neutron gradient within the PLF*.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Analysis of fragment yield ratios in the nuclear phase transition

The critical phenomena of the liquid-gas phase transition has been investigated in the reactions 78,86Kr+58,64Ni at beam energy of 35 MeV/nucleon using the Landau free energy approach with isospin asymmetry as an order parameter. Fits to the free energy of fragments showed three minima suggesting the system to be in the regime of a first order phase transition. The relation m =-{\partial}F/{\partial}H, which defines the order parameter and its conjugate field H, has been experimentally verified from the linear dependence of the mirror nuclei yield ratio data, on the isospin asymmetry of the source. The slope parameter, which is a measure of the distance from a critical temperature, showed a systematic decrease with increasing excitation energy of the source. Within the framework of the Landau free energy approach, isoscaling provided similar results as obtained from the analysis of mirror nuclei yield ratio data. We show that the external field is primarily related to the minimum of the free energy, which implies a modification of the source concentration \Delta used in isospin studies

An Unusual Case of Cut-Throat Injury: a Medico-Legal Masquerade

Background: Psychological autopsy is one of the most valuable tools in equivocal deaths.Case Report: Hereby we present an unusual case of cut-throat injuries wherein an adult female was found dead in her house having single entry/exit which was locked from outside. On examination multiple incised wounds were found on the front aspect of the neck. Scene circumstances were equivocal.Conclusion: Crime scene investigation and psychological autopsy plays a vital role in differentiating suicide from homicide in all cases of equivocal deaths

Fresh versus frozen embryo transfer: a retrospective cohort study

Background: Elective frozen embryo transfer (FET), has recently increased significantly with improvements in cryopreservation techniques. Observational studies and randomized controlled trials suggested that the endometrium in stimulated cycles is not optimally prepared for implantation; risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome reduced and pregnancy rates increased following FET and perinatal outcomes are less affected after FET. However, the evidence is not unequivocal and recent randomised control trials challenge the use of elective FET for the general IVF population. Pregnancy rates were analysed in a cohort of patients undergoing embryo transfers.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent embryo transfers from April 2018 to March 2019 at study centre in Surat.175 cycles of embryo transfers (119 fresh and 56 frozen) were included in the study. Outcomes measured were positive pregnancy, clinical pregnancy and ongoing clinical pregnancy rates achieved in the IVF-ET cycles.Results: There were no statistically significant differences between positive pregnancy rate (54.6% versus 60.7%, Odds ratio (OR) 0.78; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.41-1.49), clinical pregnancy rate (48.73% versus 57.14%, OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.1- 2.64) and ongoing clinical pregnancy rate  (45.38% versus 51.78% OR 1.4; 95% CI 0.29 - 6.67) in fresh ET and FET cycles, respectively, p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all measures.Conclusions: Despite the observed higher rates of positive biochemical, clinical and ongoing clinical pregnancy per transfer in the FET cohort, these did not reach statistical significance. Thus, both transfer strategies are reasonable options, although there is a trend favouring the freeze-all strategy

Preliminary results of high fibular osteotomy (HFO) and cartilage regeneration procedure for medial compartment osteoarthritis of knee with varus deformity

Purpose: High fibular osteotomy (HFO) is a simple surgical technique to reduce pain and improve function in patients with osteoarthritis via fibular osteotomy. We report short-term results of HFO and mesenchymal cell induced chondrogenesis (MCIC) for the treatment of osteoarthritis of knee with varus deformity. Patients and methods: 45 symptomatic patients with 14 males and 31 females age ranging from 40 to 75 years were treated by HFO and MCIC. Main lesions involved medial compartment of knee and lateral compartment with normal to mild lesions of lateral meniscus and articular cartilage, amenable to treatment via partial meniscectomy or observation. Results: Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome score and Lysholm showed a statistically significant increase and VAS, varus angle in X-ray showed a statistically significant decrease. A statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative scores was detected in male and female patients without any sexual differences. Conclusion: High fibular osteotomy and mesenchymal cell induced chondrogenesis can be considered as a good treatment option for medial compartment osteoarthritis of knee with varus deformity