MRI imaging.

<p>(a) Representative pre-contrast image with color map. (b) Representative pre-contrast image. (c) Representative post-contrast image with color map. The site of the aortic wall site with the highest SI was determined using this image. (d) Representative post-contrast image. SI, signal intensity; LGE, late gadolinium enhancement.</p

Angiographic classification of Takayasu arteritis.

<p>The dotted lines refer to the diaphragms.</p

Manganese in toenails is associated with hearing loss at high frequencies in humans

<p><b>Purpose:</b> Elevated hearing thresholds from high frequencies are known to be one of the hallmarks of age-related hearing loss. Our recent study showed accumulation of manganese (Mn) in inner ears resulting in acceleration of age-related hearing loss in mice orally exposed to Mn. However, there is no evidence showing an association between Mn in non-invasive biological samples and hearing loss in humans evaluated by pure tone audiometry (PTA). In this study, we evaluated Mn in non-invasive biological samples as a possible biomarker for hearing loss in humans.</p> <p><b>Materials and methods:</b> We determined hearing levels by PTA and Mn levels in toenails, hair and urine with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) in 145 healthy subjects in Bangladesh.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> Multivariable analyses showed that Mn levels in toenails, but not in hair and urine samples, were significantly associated with hearing loss at 8 kHz and 12 kHz. Moreover, our experimental study showed a significant correlation between Mn levels in inner ears and nails, but not hair, in mice orally exposed to Mn.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> The results provide novel evidence that Mn in toenails is a possible biomarker for hearing loss at high frequencies in humans.</p

Comparisons of MRI parameters between patients with Active and Inactive patients.

<p>Dots on box plots represent the distribution of cases. (a) (b) (c) Comparisons of pre-SNR, post-SNR, and SNR increment. (d) (e) (f) Comparisons of pre-CNR, post-CNR, and CNR increment. No statistically significant difference in any MRI parameter was observed between the groups. SNR: signal-to-noise ratio, CNR: contrast-to-noise ratio.</p

Comparison of the distribution of Takayasu arteritis according to angiography and LGE.

<p>(a) Comparisons in patients with active disease. (b) Comparisons in patients with inactive disease. The numbers and percentages of patients included in each classification type are presented in the left and right columns (arabic numerals). Lines connect the angiographic classification (roman numerals in the left column) with the LGE distribution classification (roman numerals in the right column). The number on the line and thickness of the line reflect the number of patients with each type of disease classification. For example, eight patients in panel (a) were classified as having Type I disease according to the angiographic classification and Type V disease according to the LGE classification. The LGE distribution was identical or larger than the angiographic disease distribution in 100% and 93% of patients with active and inactive disease, respectively. LGE, late gadolinium enhancement.</p

Patient characteristics.

<p>Patient characteristics.</p

Transient upregulation of cAMP levels in vitrified-warmed germinal vesicle-stage (GV) oocytes treated with forskolin (FSK) or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX).

<p><i>A)</i> Effect of FSK and IBMX on the level of intraoocyte cAMP during IVM culture. The intraoocyte cAMP level was reduced by vitrification prior to IVM culture, and this low cAMP level could be increased back to normal by supplementation of the IVM medium with FSK or IBMX. <i>B)</i> Level of intraoocyte cAMP at the initiation of culture (Group 1) or after culturing for 0.5 h (Group 2), immersion of vitrification/warming solution (Group 3), vitrification and warming (Group 4), vitrification and warming in vitrification/warming solution supplemented with FSK, IBMX or the combination of FSK and IBMX (Group 5–7). The decline in the cAMP level was induced by the vitrification procedure. Non-vitrification, GV oocytes cultured in mTCM199/20%SSS for 0.5 h; immersion, GV oocytes immersed in the vitrification/warming solution; vitrification, GV oocytes vitrified and warmed. Error bars represent standard error of the mean. Bars labeled with different letters show significant differences (<i>P</i> < 0.05).</p

Delayed MPF elevation induced by the treatment of vitrified-warmed GV oocytes with forskolin (FSK) or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX).

<p>Effect of FSK and IBMX on intraoocyte MPF activity during IVM culture. Low MPF activity was observed in the vitrified-warmed control group at the end of IVM culture, whereas the MPF activity of the vitrified-warmed FSK and IBMX groups was comparable to that of the corresponding fresh groups. Error bars represent standard error of the mean. Bars labeled with different letters show significant differences (<i>P</i> < 0.05).</p

Delayed initiation of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and meiotic maturation in the oocytes treated with forskolin (FSK) and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX).

<p><i>A)</i> The GVBD rate at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 h in IVM culture. Delayed GVBD was observed in the FSK and IBMX groups. <i>B)</i> The maturation rate at 22, 26, and 30 h after the initiation of IVM culture. Although delay in oocyte maturation occurred in the FSK and IBMX groups, the maturation rates at 30 h were comparable to those in the control groups. Error bars represent standard error of the mean. Bars labeled with different letters show significant differences (<i>P</i> < 0.05).</p

Quality of MF-HT.

<p>Equilibrium data (a) and Langmuir isotherm (b) for barium adsorption in MF-HT are presented.</p