5th International Conference on the application of stress-wave theory to piles, Orlando, Florida, 11-13 september, 1996, 10 p., 10 figg.

C

Examination of brain area volumes based on voxel-based morphometry and multidomain cognitive impairment in asymptomatic unilateral carotid artery stenosis

ObjectiveRecent evidence has demonstrated that unilateral carotid artery stenosis (CAS) can contribute to the development of cognitive impairment. However, the features of cognitive dysfunction induced by unilateral CAS remain unclear.MethodsSixty asymptomatic patients with unilateral CAS were divided into mild, moderate and severe stenosis groups. These patients and 20 healthy controls provided clinical data and serum, which was used to assess the levels of certain vascular risk factors. Then, they participated in a battery of neuropsychological tests. Additionally, all participants underwent a 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain. Chi-square tests and one-way ANOVA were used to determine significant differences in the risk factors and cognitive test scores between groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed to identify the independent risk factors for cognitive impairment in patients with CAS. Finally, fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) T1-weighted MRI images were processed by voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis using the Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) 8 software.ResultsCompared with healthy controls, the scores of the Mini-Mental State Examination, Digital Span Test backward, and Rapid Verbal Retrieve were significantly reduced in patients with left CAS. The scores in all cognitive scales were significantly lower in patients with right CAS than in controls. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the degree of carotid stenosis was an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment in asymptomatic patients with unilateral CAS. Furthermore, VBM analysis showed that, compared with those in healthy controls, gray matter and white matter volumes in specific brain areas were markedly decreased in patients with severe unilateral CAS. However, in patients with moderate right CAS, there was a significant decline in the volume of gray matter in the left parahippocampal gyrus and supplementary motor area. Additionally, the volume of white matter in the left insula was obviously lower in patients with moderate right CAS than in healthy controls.ConclusionUnilateral asymptomatic CAS, especially on the right side, contributed to cognitive impairment, including memory, language, attention, executive function and visuospatial function. In addition, based on VBM analysis, both gray matter atrophy and white matter lesions were found in patients with unilateral asymptomatic CAS

Increased expression of ficolin-1 is associated with airway obstruction in asthma

Abstract Background The activated complement cascade is involved in asthmatic airway inflammation. Ficolins are essential for innate immunity and can activate the complement lectin pathway. Despite this, the significance of ficolins in asthma has yet to be determined. This study aimed to explore the presence of ficolins in individuals with asthma and to determine the relationship between ficolins and clinical characteristics. Methods For the study, 68 asthmatic patients and 30 healthy control subjects were recruited. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine plasma ficolin-1, ficolin-2, and ficolin-3 concentrations both before and after inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy. Further, the associations of plasma ficolin-1 level with pulmonary function and asthma control questionnaire (ACQ) score were examined in the asthma patients. Results Patients with asthma exhibited significantly elevated plasma ficolin-1 levels (median, 493.9 ng/mL; IQR, 330.2–717.8 ng/mL) in comparison to healthy controls (median, 330.6 ng/mL; IQR, 233.8–371.1 ng/mL). After ICS treatment, plasma ficolin-1 (median, 518.1 ng/mL; IQR, 330.2–727.0 ng/mL) in asthmatic patients was significantly reduced (median, 374.7 ng/mL; IQR, 254.8–562.5 ng/mL). Additionally, ficolin-1 expressions in plasma were significantly correlated with pulmonary function parameters and ACQ score in asthmatic patients. Asthma patients with higher plasma ficolin-1 levels demonstrated poorer lung function than those with lower plasma ficolin-1 levels. Conclusions The results revealed that asthmatic patients had higher plasma ficolin-1 concentrations, which decreased after ICS treatment and were linked to their lung function, implying a potential involvement of ficolin-1 in asthma pathogenesis

Raw data of cell viability in response to cytotoxicity of RGPP or TR. from Gene delivery ability of polyethylenimine and polyethylene glycol dual-functionalized nanographene oxide in 11 different cell lines

The excel file included all of the raw data of cell viability experiments. Cell viability of cells treated with different concentrations of RGPP or TR for 48 h determined by CCK-8 assay

Raw data of transfection efficiency by transfection reagent RGPP or TR. from Gene delivery ability of polyethylenimine and polyethylene glycol dual-functionalized nanographene oxide in 11 different cell lines

The excel file included all of the raw data of transfection efficiency experiments. Transfection efficiency of RGPP or TR for plasmids (transfected for 48 h) or siRNA (transfected for 4 h) was detected by FCM analysis