Relationship between the morphology of A-1 segment of anterior cerebral artery and anterior communicating artery aneurysms

Background: The anterior communicating artery (ACoA) is one of the most frequent sites for cerebral aneurysm. The peculiar directions of projection of aneurysms offer great challenges to clinical treatment. Objetives: To establish the relationship between morphology of A-1 segment of anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and aneurismal projection. Methods: Randomly selected digital subtraction angiography data of 264 anterior communicating artery aneurysms (ACoAA) cases and 296 cases of other cerebral vascular diseases in the same period were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among 264 ACoAA patients, the morphology of A-1 segment showed type Ⅰa in 158 sides, type Ⅰb in 11, type Ⅱa in 35, type Ⅱb in 87, type Ⅲ in 171 and absence in 66. The morphology of A-1 segment in 296 patients with other cerebral vascular diseases displayed type Ⅰa in 195 sides, type Ⅰb in 20, type Ⅱa in 47, type Ⅱ b in 74, type Ⅲ in 217 and absence in 39. The non-visualization of A-1 segment in the group of ACoAA occurred more than in the control group (χ2=11.482, p=0.001). The classifications of ACoAAs in 264 patients were confirmed as anterior-superior type in 121 cases, anterior-inferior type in 105, complicated type in 16, posterior-inferior type in 12 and posterior-superior type in 10. The correlation between morphology of A-1 segment of ACA and classifications of ACoAA was significant (p=0.000; C=0.619, p=0.000). The direction of ACoAA was downward when the A-1 segment of ACA was Type Ⅰa or Type Ⅱa, and was upward when it was Type Ⅰb or Type Ⅱb，and was upward or downward or complicated when it was Type Ⅲ. Conclusion: The relationship between morphology of A-1 segment of ACA and classification of ACoAA is clarified in the present study, which is helpful to surgical treatment.Keywords: anterior cerebral artery; morphology of A-1 segment; projection of anterior communicating artery aneurysmAfrican Health sciences Vol 14 No. 1 March 201

A Rapid and Sensitive Europium Nanoparticle-Based Lateral Flow Immunoassay Combined with Recombinase Polymerase Amplification for Simultaneous Detection of Three Food-Borne Pathogens

Food-borne pathogens have become an important public threat to human health. There are many kinds of pathogenic bacteria in food consumed daily. A rapid and sensitive testing method for multiple food-borne pathogens is essential. Europium nanoparticles (EuNPs) are used as fluorescent probes in lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs) to improve sensitivity. Here, recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) combined with fluorescent LFIA was established for the simultaneous and quantitative detection of Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Escherichia coli O157:H7. In this work, the entire experimental process could be completed in 20 min at 37 degrees C. The limits of detection (LODs) of EuNP-based LFIA-RPA were 9.0 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL for Listeria monocytogenes, 7.0 CFU/mL for Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and 4.0 CFU/mL for Escherichia coli O157:H7. No cross-reaction could be observed in 22 bacterial strains. The fluorescent LFIA-RPA assay exhibits high sensitivity and good specificity. Moreover, the average recovery of the three food-borne pathogens spiked in food samples was 90.9-114.2%. The experiments indicate the accuracy and reliability of the multiple fluorescent test strips. Our developed EuNP-based LFIA-RPA assay is a promising analytical tool for the rapid and simultaneous detection of multiple low concentrations of food-borne pathogens

Effects of transplantation with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells modified by Survivin on experimental stroke in rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study was performed to determine whether injury induced by cerebral ischemia could be further improved by transplantation with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) modified by Survivin (SVV).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>MSCs derived from bone marrow of male Sprague-Dawley rats were infected by the self-inactive lentiviral vector GCFU carrying green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene and SVV recombinant vector (GCFU-SVV). In vitro, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were detected in infected MSCs supernatants under hypoxic conditions by ELSIA. In vivo, experiments consisted of three groups, one receiving intravenous injection of 500 μl of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) without cells (control group) and two groups administered the same volume solution with either three million GFP-MSCs (group GFP) or SVV/GFP-MSCs (group SVV). All animals were submitted to 2-hour middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and then reperfusion. Differentiation and survival of the transplanted MSCs were determined by confocal microscope. Western blot was used to detect the expression of VEGF and bFGF in ischemic tissue. A 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was used to assess the infarct volume. Evaluation of neurological function was performed using a modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In vitro, modification with SVV further increased secretion of VEGF and bFGF under hypoxic condition. In vivo, only very few transplantated cells co-expressed GFP and NeuN. The survival transplanted cells in the group SVV was 1.3-fold at 4 days after transplantation and 3.4-fold higher at 14 days after transplantation, respectively, when compared with group GFP. Expression of VEGF and bFGF in the ischemic tissue were further up-regulated by modification with SVV. Moreover, modification with SVV further reduced the cerebral infarct volume by 5.2% at 4 days after stroke and improved post-stroke neurological function at 14 days after transplantation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Modification with SVV could further enhance the therapeutic effects of MSCs possibly through improving the MSCs survival capacity and up-regulating the expression of protective cytokines in the ischemic tissue.</p

A novel method for objectively, rapidly and accurately evaluating burn depth via near infrared spectroscopy

The accurate and objective evaluation of burn depth is a significant challenge in burn wound care. Herein, we used near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology to measure the different depth of thermal burns in ex vivo porcine models. Based on the intensity of the spectral signals and the diffuse reflection theory, we extracted the optical parameters involved in functional (total hemoglobin and water content) and structural (tissue scattered size and scattered particles) features that reflect the changes in burn depth. Next, we applied support vector regression to construct a model including the optical property parameters and the burn depth. Finally, we histologically verified the burn depth data collected via NIRS. The results showed that our inversion model could achieve an average relative error of about 7.63%, while the NIRS technology diagnostic accuracy was in the range of 50 μm. For the first time, this novel technique provides physicians with real-time burn depth information objectively and accurately

Synergistic photoelectrochemical performance of La-doped RuO 2 -TiO 2 /Ti electrodes

Abstract(#br)RuO 2 -TiO 2 /Ti electrodes with low-content La-doping are prepared by thermal decomposition method. The effect of La doping on their electrochemical performance upon UV illumination are investigated. The doped electrodes show higher density of cracks and rugosity in microscale on the surface than the undoped ones. They also have a negative shift of the onset potential of oxygen evolution from 1.1 V to 1.0 V and higher current intensity under UV irradiation as well. Electrochemical impedence spectroscopy analysis demonstrates a better electrical conductivity of the doped film. Electron paramagnetic resonance results show that the obtained La-doped TiO 2 surface provides a higher density of oxygen vacancies. This anode also has 7.5% higher degradation rate of the methylene blue than La-undoped ones under UV irradiation. This is probably due to the increased surface rugosity and better electric conductivity, higher density of oxygen vacancies under UV irradiation by the doping of La ions

Evaluation of the Safety and Effectiveness of Intense Pulsed Light in the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Purpose. This study aims to explore the safety and efficacy of a novel treatment-intense pulsed light (IPL) in MGD eyes. Methods. This study is a prospective and open label study. Forty eyes of 40 MGD patients were recruited in the study and received 4 consecutive IPL treatments on day 1, day 15, day 45, and day 75. Ten ocular surface symptoms were evaluated with a subjective face score at every visit. Best spectacle corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), conjunctival injection, upper and lower tear meniscus height (TMH), tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal staining, lid margin and meibomian gland assessments, and meibography were also recorded at every visit, as well as the adverse effects on the eye and ocular surface. Results. Significant improvements were observed in single and total ocular surface symptom scores, TBUT, and conjunctival injection at all the visits after the initial IPL treatment (P &lt; 0.05). Compared to baseline, the signs of eyelid margin, meibomian gland secretion quality, and expressibility were significantly improved at every visit after treatments. There was no regional and systemic threat observed in any patient. Conclusion. Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy is a safe and efficient treatment in relieving symptoms and signs of MGD eyes.SCI(E)[email protected]