Simultaneous bilateral hypertensive basal ganglia hemorrhage

Context Hypertension is the single most important risk factor for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and often leads to solitary hematoma. Multiple spontaneous simultaneous ICH is not common, and bilateral hemorrhages occurred in symmetrical basal ganglia is extremely rare. Most reported cases accepted conservative treatment and suffered extremely poor outcome. Case report A 57-year-old male became unconscious when having supper and was transported to our emergency room immediately. Non-contract CT brain scanning showed simultaneous bilateral hypertensive basal ganglia hemorrhage; he was treated by stereotactic aspiration and thrombolysis for both sides, with subsequent thrombolysis and clot aspiration through hematoma-indwelling catheter. The hematomas were almost totally cleared within a week. His condition improved gradually. Nearly 10 months after onset, he could chow and swallow food, controlling bowels and bladder all by himself, but need some help when feeding and using toilet. Conclusion Simultaneous bilateral hypertensive basal ganglia hemorrhage is a devastating cerebrovascular disease with significant high morbidity and mortality. Stereotactic aspiration and thrombolysis is a safe and effective way to clear hematomas within short time, thus reducing the neurological impairment from hematoma mass effect and secondary brain injury, improving prognosis

Quantitative volumetric analysis of primary glioblastoma multiforme on MRI and 11C-methionine PET: initial study on five patients

To investigate the discrepancy between 11C-methionine (MET) positron emission tomography (PET) and MRI results in primary glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) through three-dimensional (3D) volumetric analysis, we retrospectively analysed patients with primary GBM who underwent preoperative 3D MRI and MET PET and were operated between June 2016 and January 2017. Tumour delineation and volumetric analysis were conducted using MRIcron software. Tumour volumes defined by MRI (VMRI) were manually drawn slice by slice in axial and sagittal or coronal images of enhanced T1 sequence, while metabolic tumour volumes were automatically segmented in MET PET (VMET) based on three (frontal, occipital and temporal) 3D reference volumes of interest (VOI). Discrepancies were evaluated in terms of both absolute volume and percentage on the combined images. MET PET contours contained and extended beyond MRI contours in all five patients; in a subset of cases, MET PET contours extended to the contralateral hemisphere. The discrepancy between MET uptake and MRI results was 27.67 cm3 (4.20–51.20 cm3), i.e. approximately 39.0% (17.4–64.3%) of the metabolic tumour volume was located outside the volumes of the Gd-enhanced area. Metabolic tumour volume is substantially underestimated by Gd-enhanced area in patients with primary GBM. Quantitative volumetric information derived from MET uptake is useful in defining tumour targets and designing individualised therapy strategies in primary GBM

Testing the spatial geometry of the universe with TianQin: the prospect of using supermassive black hole binaries

The determination of the spatial geometry of the universe plays an important role in modern cosmology. Any deviation from the cosmic curvature $\Omega_K=0$ would have a profound impact on the primordial inflation paradigm and fundamental physics. In this paper, we carry out a systematic study of the prospect of measuring cosmic curvature with the inspiral signal of supermassive black hole binaries (SMBHBs) that could be detected with TianQin. The study is based on a cosmological-model-independent method that extended the application of gravitational wave (GW) standard sirens in cosmology. By comparing the distances from future simulated GW events and simulated $H(z)$ data, we evaluate if TianQin would produce robust constraints on the cosmic curvature parameter $\Omega_{k}$. More specifically, we consider 3-yr to 10-yr observations of supermassive black hole binaries with total masses ranging from $10^{3}M_\odot$ to $10^{7}M_\odot$. Our results show that in the future, with the synergy of 10-yr high-quality observations, we can tightly constrain the curvature parameter at the level of $1\sigma$ $\Omega_k=-0.002\pm0.061$. Moreover, our findings indicate that the total mass of SMBHB does influence the estimation of cosmic curvature, implied by the analysis performed on different subsamples of gravitational wave data. Therefore, TianQin is expected to provide a powerful and competitive probe of the spatial geometry of the universe, compared to future spaced-based detectors such as DECIGO.Comment: This article has been accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysic

The effect of reward on motor learning: different stage, different effect

Motor learning is a prominent and extensively studied subject in rehabilitation following various types of neurological disorders. Motor repair and rehabilitation often extend over months and years post-injury with a slow pace of recovery, particularly affecting the fine movements of the distal extremities. This extended period can diminish the motivation and persistence of patients, a facet that has historically been overlooked in motor learning until recent years. Reward, including monetary compensation, social praise, video gaming, music, and virtual reality, is currently garnering heightened attention for its potential to enhance motor motivation and improve function. Numerous studies have examined the effects and attempted to explore potential mechanisms in various motor paradigms, yet they have yielded inconsistent or even contradictory results and conclusions. A comprehensive review is necessary to summarize studies on the effects of rewards on motor learning and to deduce a central pattern from these existing studies. Therefore, in this review, we initially outline a framework of motor learning considering two major types, two major components, and three stages. Subsequently, we summarize the effects of rewards on different stages of motor learning within the mentioned framework and analyze the underlying mechanisms at the level of behavior or neural circuit. Reward accelerates learning speed and enhances the extent of learning during the acquisition and consolidation stages, possibly by regulating the balance between the direct and indirect pathways (activating more D1-MSN than D2-MSN) of the ventral striatum and by increasing motor dynamics and kinematics. However, the effect varies depending on several experimental conditions. During the retention stage, there is a consensus that reward enhances both short-term and long-term memory retention in both types of motor learning, attributed to the LTP learning mechanism mediated by the VTA-M1 dopaminergic projection. Reward is a promising enhancer to bolster waning confidence and motivation, thereby increasing the efficiency of motor learning and rehabilitation. Further exploration of the circuit and functional connections between reward and the motor loop may provide a novel target for neural modulation to promote motor behavior

High-resolution laser spectroscopy of the linear SiC

Small silicon-carbon clusters are important gas-phase constituents of stellar atmospheres, and are thought to play a role as potential seeds of the interstellar dusts formed in the envelopes of evolved carbon stars. Here we present the high-resolution optical spectra of the linear SiC2Si molecule (l-Si2C2) studied via laboratory experiments. The l-Si2C2 molecules are generated in a supersonically expanding planar plasma by discharging a silane-acetylene-argon gas mixture. The optical absorption spectra in the 5000−5300 Å region are recorded using sensitive pulsed cavity ring-down spectroscopy. In total, five optical absorption bands belonging to the $\tilde{C} ^{3}\Sigma_{u} ^{-}$ – $\tilde{X} ^{3}\Sigma_{g} ^{-}$ electronic transition system of l-Si2C2 are measured with fully resolved spin splitting fine structures in individual rotational transitions. Accurate spectroscopic constants for both $\tilde{X} ^{3}\Sigma_{g} ^{-}$ and $\tilde{C} ^{3}\Sigma_{u} ^{-}$ states of l-Si2C2, including the spin-spin interaction constants and spin-rotation interaction constants, are determined from the experimental spectra, which can be used to simulate these optical bands with different temperatures. Using the determined spectroscopic constants, optical spectra of l-Si2C2 simulated with different rotational excitation temperatures are compared to the stellar spectra of evolved carbon stars V Hya and IRAS 12311−23509, where the triatomic SiC2 are known to be abundant. Tentative assignments of the l-Si2C2 spectral features in the stellar spectra are discussed

Critical Signaling Transduction Pathways and Intestinal Barrier: Implications for Pathophysiology and Therapeutics

The intestinal barrier is a sum of the functions and structures consisting of the intestinal mucosal epithelium, mucus, intestinal flora, secretory immunoglobulins, and digestive juices. It is the first-line defense mechanism that resists nonspecific infections with powerful functions that include physical, endocrine, and immune defenses. Health and physiological homeostasis are greatly dependent on the sturdiness of the intestinal barrier shield, whose dysfunction can contribute to the progression of numerous types of intestinal diseases. Disorders of internal homeostasis may also induce barrier impairment and form vicious cycles during the response to diseases. Therefore, the identification of the underlying mechanisms involved in intestinal barrier function and the development of effective drugs targeting its damage have become popular research topics. Evidence has shown that multiple signaling pathways and corresponding critical molecules are extensively involved in the regulation of the barrier pathophysiological state. Ectopic expression or activation of signaling pathways plays an essential role in the process of shield destruction. Although some drugs, such as molecular or signaling inhibitors, are currently used for the treatment of intestinal diseases, their efficacy cannot meet current medical requirements. In this review, we summarize the current achievements in research on the relationships between the intestinal barrier and signaling pathways. The limitations and future perspectives are also discussed to provide new horizons for targeted therapies for restoring intestinal barrier function that have translational potential

Present-day temperature–pressure field and its implications for the geothermal resources development in the Baxian area, Jizhong Depression of the Bohai Bay Basin

The Baxian area in the Jizhong Depression, west of the Bohai Bay Basin, is rich in geothermal resources, where Xiong County was built as the first smokeless city in China and the Xiong-county Model has become the geothermal resources demonstration model in China. In this study, the present-day geothermal gradient and the horizontal distribution characteristics of the temperature and pressure at different depths in the Baxian area were studied based on massive measured temperature and pressure data of the boreholes, and then the relationship was also discussed between the temperature–pressure field and the geothermal resources. The following findings were obtained. (1) The present-day geothermal gradient of the Baxian area is within the range of 21.8–73.5 °C/km, averaging 33.5 °C/km. (2) Its strata temperature increases as the depth increases. The horizontal variations of the geothermal gradient and strata temperature correspond to the basement relief very well. As the abnormally high temperature areas, the northern Niutuozhen Uplift, the Central Baxian Depression and the central East Langgu Depression possess huge geothermal resources and will be the most favorable exploration targets. (3) The formation pressure of the Baxian area is characterized by normal pressure and weak overpressure, and its horizontal distribution varies at different depths. The middle–strong overpressure generally developed at the depth of 4000 m in the southern Langgu Depression and southern Baxian Depression. This study is of important guiding significance for the exploration and development of geothermal resources in the Baxian area. Keywords: Bohai Bay Basin, Jizhong Depression, Baxian area, Geothermal resources, Temperature, Pressure, Geothermal gradient, Abnormally high temperature area, Overpressur

Additional file 1 of The association between the body roundness index and the risk of colorectal cancer: a cross-sectional study

Supplementary Material

Calcium-Loaded Municipal Sludge-Biochar as an Efficient and Stable Catalyst for Biodiesel Production from Vegetable Oil

In this contribution, biochar from municipal sludge was used as a novel matrix for the synthesis of a series of calcium-based heterogeneous catalysts toward biodiesel production. Their catalytic activity was investigated in terms of catalyst loading and calcination temperature during preparation, in addition to the transesterification parameters including the methanol/oil molar ratio, reaction time, and catalyst amount. The highest biodiesel yield up to 93.77% was achieved with the 30Ca/A-SBC-700, and it maintained as high as 84.9% even after 10 cycles of a consecutively alternating catalysis and regeneration process. It was revealed that the porous municipal sludge biochar and autologous SiO2 were accountable for the superior stability of the present catalyst. This work may provide a new path to value-added valorization of sludge waste and also a renewable and efficient catalyst for biodiesel production at a low cost

Additional file 2 of The association between the body roundness index and the risk of colorectal cancer: a cross-sectional study

Supplementary Material