Effect of slice thickness on brain magnetic resonance image texture analysis

Background  

The accuracy of texture analysis in clinical evaluation of magnetic resonance images depends considerably on imaging arrangements and various image quality parameters. In this paper, we study the effect of slice thickness on brain tissue texture analysis using a statistical approach and classification of T1-weighted images of clinically confirmed multiple sclerosis patients.     

Environmental enrichment in early life affects cortisol patterns in growing pigs

Effects of environmental enrichment at different stages of life on stress physiology of pigs were investigated in a trial with 63 groups, each of four siblings. In each of the three growing phases (suckling 0 to 4 weeks of age, nursery 5 to 9 weeks, fattening 10 to 24 weeks) pens either were (=E) or were not (=0) enriched. Accordingly, the treatments were (i) 000, (ii) E00, (iii) EE0, (iv) 00E, (v) 0EE and (vi) EEE. The enrichment material, renewed twice daily to leave a thin layer, consisted of wood shavings and chopped straw. Salivary cortisol was sampled hourly from 0700 to 1900 h at the age of 9 and 21 weeks. The presence of a circadian secretion rhythm was evaluated by an intra-assay coefficient of variation-based method. An adrenocorticotropic hormone test was performed at 21 weeks. Treatment effects on the odds of a physiological cortisol rhythm were assessed by logistic regression, and effects on cortisol concentrations with a repeated measures GLM. Substrate-enrichment from 0 to 9 weeks of age increased the odds of a rhythm as compared to barren housing (odds ratio (OR) = 30.0, P < 0.01). A flat cortisol secretion pattern may indicate chronic stress and/or delayed maturation of the rhythm. Barren as compared to enriched rearing (0 to 4 weeks of age) seemed to cause a blunted secretion rhythm at 21 weeks of age. Although behavioural and tail lesion observations provided support to the assumption that a blunted rhythm indicates chronic stress, the biological significance of these cortisol results needs confirmation in future studies.     

Women With Hypertensive Pregnancies Have Difficulties in Regaining Pre‐pregnancy Weight and Show Metabolic Disturbances

The aim was to determine maternal weight gain and body composition during pregnancy and 3 months postpartum in women with uncomplicated singleton and twin pregnancies and in women with gestational diabetes (GDM) and gestational hypertension (GH). This prospective study includes four groups of subjects: those with an uncomplicated pregnancy (n = 32), those with a diagnosis of GH (n = 28), those with a diagnosis of GDM (n = 52), and those with twin pregnancy (n = 11). Their body compositions were estimated by a bioimpedance analysis and fasting lipids and glucose levels were determined during the pregnancy and 3 months after pregnancy. Women with GDM were 11.7 kg heavier than the reference group before pregnancy, whereas weight before pregnancy was not different in other investigated groups. Weight loss after delivery was attenuated in GH group. Percentage body fat remained elevated in women with GDM (34.1 ± 7.0%) and hypertension (31.5 ± 6.4%) at 3 months after pregnancy. Also their total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL)‐cholesterol levels as well as fasting glucose remained elevated in comparison to values of the reference group. In conclusion, women with hypertensive pregnancies, though not overweight before pregnancy, gain and retain excess gestational weight and this leads to metabolic abnormalities similar to those seen in women GDM. Thus, postpartum period appears to be critical for weight management and interventional programs are called for.     

A novel human glycosyltransferase: primary structure and characterization of the gene and transcripts

We report the identification and primary structure of a novel human glycosyltransferase, B3GTL (beta3-glycosyltransferase-like). The 498 residue protein consists of a short cytoplasmic N-terminal "tail" (residues 1-4), a single transmembrane domain with type II topology (residues 5-28), a "stem" region (residues 29-260), and a catalytic domain (residues 261-498). The genomes of Anopheles gambiae, Drosophila melanogaster, and Caenorhabditis elegans encode potential orthologs which share 31-39% sequence identity with B3GTL, as well as the following features: a conserved catalytic domain containing a triple aspartate motif (DDD) at its core, a conserved pattern of cysteine residues, a C-terminal KDEL-like motif, and conserved residues and motifs that affiliate this novel group with a family of beta3-glycosyltransferases (GT31 in the CAZY classification). The B3GTL gene lacks canonical TATA and CAAT boxes and contains three functional polyadenylation sites. It is transcribed in a wide range of tissues and in TGF-beta-treated T84 epithelial cells.     

Silencing of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) using short interfering RNA duplexes (siRNA)

Tec family tyrosine kinases, Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk), Itk, Bmx, Tec, and Txk, are multi-domain proteins involved in hematopoietic signaling. Here, we demonstrate that human Btk protein can transiently be depleted using double-stranded short RNA interference (siRNA) oligonucleotides. Imaging and Western blotting analysis demonstrate that Btk expression is down regulated in heterologous systems as well as in hematopoietic lineages, following transfection or microinjection of Btk siRNA duplexes. The induction of histamine release, a pro-inflammatory mediator, in RBL-2H3 mast cells was reduced by 20-25% upon Btk down regulation. Similar, results were obtained when the Btk activity was inhibited using the kinase blocker LFM-A13. These results demonstrate a direct role of Btk for the efficient secretion of histamine in allergic responses.     

RETRACTED: SENSORY SUGGESTIVENESS AND LABELING: DO SOY LABELS BIAS TASTE?1

Can labels suggestively influence sensory perceptions and taste? Using a “ Phantom Ingredient” taste test, we show that the presence or absence of a labeled ingredient (soy) and the presence or absence of a health claim negatively bias taste perceptions toward a food erroneously thought to contain soy. We found a label highlighting soy content made health claims believable but negatively influenced perceptions of taste for certain segments of consumers. Our results and discussion provide better direction for researchers who work with ingredient labeling as well as for those who work with soybean products.     

Transport of free polymannose-type oligosaccharides from the endoplasmic reticulum into the cytosol is inhibited by mannosides and requires a thapsigargin-sensitive calcium store

The transport of free polymannose-type oligosaccharides from the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum into the cytosol has been recently demonstrated (Moore,S.E.H., et al., 1995, EMBO J., 14, 6034-6042), but at present little is known of the characteristics of this process. Here, it is shown that inhibition of the transport of endogenously synthesized metabolically radiolabeled free oligosaccharides out of the endoplasmic reticulum into the cytosol of permeabilized HepG2 cells occurs when assays are conducted in the presence of mannose (IC50, 4.9 mM), or its derivatives modified at the first carbon (C1) of the sugar ring; alpha-methyl mannoside (IC50, 2.0 mM), mannoheptulose (IC50, 1.6 mM), and alpha-benzyl mannoside (IC50, 0.8 mM), whereas other monosaccharides (50 mM), differing from mannose at position; C2 (glucose), C3 (altrose), C4 (talose), C5 (l-rhamnose), and C6 (mannoheptose), have little effect. N-Acetylglucosamine does not inhibit oligosaccharide transport and, furthermore, although mannobioses and a mannotriose inhibit free oligosaccharide transport, di-N-acetylchitobiose is without effect. It is also shown that if the transport assay buffer is either depleted of calcium ions, or supplemented with the Ca2+/Mg2+ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin, or with calcium ionophores, free oligosaccharide transport out of the endoplasmic reticulum is inhibited. These results demonstrate that the terminal nonreducing mannosyl residues of free polymannose-type oligosaccharides and not their N-acetylglucosamine-containing reducing termini, play an important role in the interaction of the free oligosaccharide with the transport machinery, and that this transport process requires the presence of calcium sequestered in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum.      

Development of Trypanosoma (M.) theileri in Tabanids

Thus far the life cycle of Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) theileri has not been studied. We collected tabanids during the mass hatching, when only few tabanids are infected with trypanosomes. Tabanids were caught immediately after attacking a bait cow to serve as controls or after they had been allowed to engorge on the Trypanosoma (M.) theileri-infected cow. Tabanids were kept in the laboratory and used to study the developmental cycle of T. (M.) theileri in the tabanid gut. From day 1 to day 10 the presumably unfed controls and the engorged tabanids were dissected and cytological smears made from the mid- and hindgut. In total 2.6% (1/38) of the controls and 39% (23/59) of the engorged tabanids were positive for trypanosomes in the 1991 season. From day 1 to day 4 after engorgement trypanosomes were found in the midgut. Epimastigotes with a length of 29 μm on day 1 after infection multiplied by inequal division to form smaller epimastigotes of 26 μm on day 3. On day 4 morphologically indistinguishable trypanosomes of 21 μm total length were found in both mid- and hindgut. From day 5 to day 10 trypanosomes were found only in the hindgut in which the transformation to metacyclics was demonstrated, i.e. epimastigotes transformed to amastigote stages of 5 μm in total length.