Cold-induced ependymin expression in zebrafish and carp brain: implications for cold acclimation

AbstractCold acclimation has been suggested to be mediated by alternations in the gene expression pattern in the cold-adapted fish. To investigate the mechanism of cold acclimation in fish brain at the molecular level, relevant subsets of differentially expressed genes of interest were identified and cloned by the PCR-based subtraction suppression hybridization. Characterization of the selected cold-induced cDNA clones revealed one encoding ependymin. This gene was shown to be brain-specific. The expression of ependymin was induced by a temperature shift from 25°C to 6°C in Cyprinus carpio or 12°C in Danio rerio. Activation of ependymin was detected 2 h after cold exposure and peaked at more than 10-fold at 12 h. This peak level remains unchanged until the temperature returns to 25°C. Although the amount of soluble ependymin protein in brain was not changed by cold treatment, its level in the fibrous insoluble polymers increased 2-fold after exposure to low temperature. These findings indicate that the increase in ependymin expression is an early event that may play an important role in the cold acclimation of fish

Comparison between the use of percutaneous nephrostomy and internal ureteral stenting in the management of long-term ureteral obstructions

AbstractObjectivesIn this study, we compared between the efficacy and complications of percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) tubes and those of internal ureteral stents (e.g., double-J stents) used for relieving ureteral obstructions.Materials and methodsA retrospective chart review was performed. Between 2003 and 2009, 110 patients (63 females and 47 males, with a mean age of 63.6 years, range 19–89 years) who had an extrinsic ureteral obstruction, and subsequently underwent either PCN tube placement (n = 44) or internal ureteral stent placement (n = 66), were enrolled. Clinical data on patients with duration of diversion/drainage for more than 6 months were collected. Statistical analyses were performed with respect to a patient's age, etiology of the obstruction, outcome of residual hydronephrosis, and renal function tests.ResultsPatient ages and procedure-related complications were comparable between these two groups. The mean duration of diversion was 16.8 ± 8.6 months in the stent group versus 14.1 ± 6.7 months in the PCN group (p = 0.067). A smaller elevation in serum creatinine was noted in the PCN group (0.21 vs. 0.78 mg/dL, p = 0.03). Nine of 86 (10.4%) double-J stents were converted to PCN tubes during the study period. Residual hydronephrosis after decompression was more common in the stent group than in the PCN group (65.2% vs. 27.2%, p = 0.01). These findings suggest better preservation of renal function by a PCN tube.ConclusionsResults of this study suggest that, to better preserve renal function, PCN is the choice of treatment, irrespective of the etiology. While patients who have a PCN tube may have to carry an additional external drainage device, the complications did not seem to differ significantly from those who used internal drainage with a ureteral stent. Because young cancer patients may especially need aggressive chemotherapy to prolong their survival, PCN urinary drainage may become a better choice from the standpoint of cancer control

Self-catheterization of urinary bladder complicated with extraperitoneal abscess that mimics an infected bladder diverticulum

AbstractFor patients who are suffering from neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction, intermittent urinary catheterization is an efficient way to empty the bladder.1 However, the method may result in various complications. Herein we present a rare complication of extraperitoneal abscess owing to intermittent urinary catheterization in a 62-year-old male who had cervical spine injury and was treated with intermittent urethral catheterization for neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. Treatment and a literature review are also described

Experimental asymmetric plug-and-play measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution

Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) is immune to all security loopholes on detection. Previous experiments on MDI-QKD required spatially separated signal lasers and complicated stabilization systems. In this paper, we perform a proof-of-principle experimental demonstration of plug-and-play MDI-QKD over an asymmetric channel setting with a single signal laser in which the whole system is automatically stabilized in spectrum, polarization, arrival time, and phase reference. Both the signal laser and the single-photon detectors are in the possession of a common server. A passive timing-calibration technique is applied to ensure the precise and stable overlap of signal pulses. The results pave the way for the realization of a quantum network in which the users only need the encoding devices.National Natural Science Foundation (China) (Grants 11304391, 11674397 and 61671455)Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Postdoctoral Fellowship

Promoter methylation of the hMLH1 gene and protein expression of human mutL homolog 1 and human mutS homolog 2 in resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

ObjectiveAberrant expression of mismatch repair genes, such as human mutL homolog 1 (hMLH1) and human mutS homolog 2 (hMSH2), are common in some human cancers, and promoter methylation is believed to inactivate expression of hMLH1. We investigated whether promoter methylation is involved in loss of hMLH1 protein and whether aberrant expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein is related to prognosis after resection for esophageal squamous cell cancer.MethodsWe analyzed promoter methylation of hMLH1 using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction and hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein by using immunohistochemistry in 60 resected tumor specimens. The Pearson χ2 test was used to compare expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein among patients with different clinicopathologic parameters. Concordance analysis was performed between hMLH1 methylation and its protein expression.ResultsLoss of hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein was found in 43 (72%) and 39 (65%, P = .06) of 60 resected specimens, respectively. hMLH1 protein correlated well with tumor staging (P < .0001), depth of tumor invasion (P = .008), and nodal involvement (P < .0001) but not with distant metastasis, whereas hMSH2 did not show correlation with any of these parameters. A concordance rate of 83.3% was present between expression of hMLH1 protein and its promoter methylation (P < .001).ConclusionsAberrant expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein is frequently associated with the presence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and expression of hMLH1 protein is a better prognostic predictor than is expression of hMSH2 protein. Promoter methylation is one of the mechanisms responsible for loss of hMLH1 protein in esophageal squamous cell cancer

Microstructure and structural modulation of lutetium dihydride LuH2 as seen via transmission electron microscopy

Structural investigations conducted using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on LuH2 synthesized under atmospheric pressure (AP-LuH2) and nitrogen-doped LuH2 synthesized under high pressure (HP-LuH2) have revealed numerous microstructural phenomena. Both materials show a clear superstructure modulation with wave vector, q^* = 1/4 (2-20), and this modulation can be well interpreted by the displacements of Lu atoms. Further investigations on the nitrogen-doped HP-LuH2 materials reveal the appearance of high-density antiphase boundaries, in particular, domain walls of a few atomic layer thickness without structural modulation can be observed, suggesting possible interface properties could be detected in this system. In-situ TEM observations of AP-LuH2 suggest that no evident structural phase transition occurs between 94 K and 673 K.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

Combining prostrate-specific antigen and Gleason score increases the diagnostic power of endorectal coil magnetic resonance imaging in prostate cancer pathological stage

Abstract Background: The proper use of endorectal coil MRI (eMRI) images provide detailed information for the real extent of locally prostate cancer invasion and involvement of pelvic lymph nodes. This study evaluated the accuracy of endorectal coil magnetic resonance imaging (eMRI) results, combining the preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and the biopsy Gleason score to improve the diagnostic accuracy of prostate cancer (PCa) with organ-confined disease (OCD) or extracapsular extension (ECE)/seminal vesicle invasion (SVI). Methods: Between 2001 and 2007, 94 PCa patients received eMRI testing during presurgical evaluation and underwent radical prostatectomy. As a part of routine patient workup, serum PSA level and Gleason score after pathology examination were recorded. The eMRI images were used to help assess patient PCa staging status regarding OCD or ECE/SVI. These stage assessments as evaluated through the use of MRI were compared with the final specimen pathological stage after the patients underwent radical prostatectomy. Results: Of the total 94 patients in our study, 65 had stage pT2, 12 had stage pT3a, and 17 had stage pT3b PCa. In patients with clinical stage T2 PCa, the Gleason score significantly improved the discriminative ability of eMRI to successfully predict PCa at the OCD stage. Otherwise, in cases of clinical stage T3 PCa, accurate determination of PSA levels significantly improved eMRI predictive ability to assess ECE or SVI staging. Conclusion: In clinical stage T2 PCa patients, integrating the biopsy Gleason score improved the discriminative ability to assess OCD PCa staging. Additionally, combining the preoperative PSA levels of clinical T3 prostate cancer cases with Gleason scores significantly improved the sensitivity and accuracy of eMRI diagnosis to distinguish ECE from SVI