CT perfusion and noncontrast CT in acute ischemic stroke diagnosing--is there influence on early thrombolytic therapy outcome?

The objective of this study was to compare noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT) and computed tomography perfusion (CTP) in early diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke and to define influence of these diagnostic procedures on early outcome of thrombolytic therapy (TLTH). The study included 45 patients, 35 patients submitted to NCCT and CTP and 10 patients who underwent only NCCT, before CTP was introduced. Based on the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score we compared early outcome of patients who received TLTH after NCCT only (group 1) with the early outcome of patients who received TLTH following NCCT and CTP (group 2). Statistically significant difference was found in acute stroke diagnosing between CTP and NCCT (p = 0.002). There were no statistically significant differences in TLTH early outcome between group 1 and group 2. In conclusion, CTP should be done regulary in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke symptoms. More research needs to be done in defining exact influence of CTP implementation on the TLTH outcome.     

CROP – The Clinico-Radiologico-Ophthalmological Paradox in Multiple Sclerosis: Are Patterns of Retinal and MRI Changes Heterogeneous and Thus Not Predictable?

Background

To date, no direct scientific evidence has been found linking tissue changes in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, such as demyelination, axonal destruction or gliosis, with either steady progression and/or stepwise accumulation of focal CNS lesions. Tissue changes such as reduction of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and the total macular volume (TMV), or brain- and spinal cord atrophy indicates an irreversible stage of tissue destruction. Whether these changes are found in all MS patients, and if there is a correlation with clinical disease state, remains controversial. The objective of our study was to determine, whether there was any correlation between the RNFL or TMV of patients with MS, and: (1) the lesion load along the visual pathways, (2) the ratios and absolute concentrations of metabolites in the normal-appearing white matter (NAWM), (3) standard brain atrophy indices, (4) disease activity or (5) disease duration.

Methods

28 MS patients (RRMS, n = 23; secondary progressive MS (SPMS), n = 5) with moderately-high disease activity or long disease course were included in the study. We utilised: (1) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and (2) -spectroscopy (MRS), both operating at 3 Tesla, and (3) high-resolution spectral domain-OCT with locked reference images and eye tracking mode) to undertake the study.

Results

There was no consistency in the pattern of CNS metabolites, brain atrophy indices and the RNFL/TMV between individuals, which ranged from normal to markedly-reduced levels. Furthermore, there was no strict correlation between CNS metabolites, lesions along the visual pathways, atrophy indices, RNFL, TMV, disease duration or disability.

Conclusions

Based on the findings of this study, we recommend that the concept of ‘clinico-radiologico paradox’ in multiple sclerosis be extended to CROP–‘clinico-radiologico-ophthalmological paradox’. Furthermore, OCT data of MS patients should be interpreted with caution.     

Dissecting root trait variability in maize genotypes using the semi-hydroponic phenotyping platform

Plant and Soil - The production of maize (Zea mays L.) is restricted by various edaphic stresses, including drought and low-fertility soil. Searching for genotypes with optimal root traits is a...     

Recovery of Native Genetic Background in Admixed Populations Using Haplotypes,Phenotypes, and Pedigree Information – Using Cika Cattle as a Case Breed

The aim of this study was to obtain unbiased estimates of the diversity parameters, the population history, and the degree of admixture in Cika cattle which represents the local admixed breeds at risk of extinction undergoing challenging conservation programs. Genetic analyses were performed on the genome-wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) Illumina Bovine SNP50 array data of 76 Cika animals and 531 animals from 14 reference populations. To obtain unbiased estimates we used short haplotypes spanning four markers instead of single SNPs to avoid an ascertainment bias of the BovineSNP50 array. Genome-wide haplotypes combined with partial pedigree and type trait classification show the potential to improve identification of purebred animals with a low degree of admixture. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated unique genetic identity of Cika animals. Genetic distance matrix presented by rooted Neighbour-Net suggested long and broad phylogenetic connection between Cika and Pinzgauer. Unsupervised clustering performed by the admixture analysis and two-dimensional presentation of the genetic distances between individuals also suggest Cika is a distinct breed despite being similar in appearance to Pinzgauer. Animals identified as the most purebred could be used as a nucleus for a recovery of the native genetic background in the current admixed population. The results show that local well-adapted strains, which have never been intensively managed and differentiated into specific breeds, exhibit large haplotype diversity. They suggest a conservation and recovery approach that does not rely exclusively on the search for the original native genetic background but rather on the identification and removal of common introgressed haplotypes would be more powerful. Successful implementation of such an approach should be based on combining phenotype, pedigree, and genome-wide haplotype data of the breed of interest and a spectrum of reference breeds which potentially have had direct or indirect historical contribution to the genetic makeup of the breed of interest.     

iPath: interactive exploration of biochemical pathways and networks

iPath is an open-access online tool (http://pathways.embl.de) for visualizing and analyzing metabolic pathways. An interactive viewer provides straightforward navigation through various pathways and enables easy access to the underlying chemicals and enzymes. Customized pathway maps can be generated and annotated using various external data. For example, by merging human genome data with two important gut commensals, iPath can pinpoint the complementarity of the host-symbiont metabolic capacities.     

Serum biochemical values of mouflon (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Ovis orientalis musimon</Emphasis>) according to age and sex

Interest for breeding mouflons in Europe is growing by the day, so it is important to extend our knowledge regarding their physiology. To establish reference intervals of biochemical values for mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon), serum samples from 35 males and 26 females were analyzed using the automatic analyzer Olympus AU 640 for 22 serum biochemistry parameters. All mouflons aged from 1 to 4 years were apparently healthy and in good body condition and kept at an average altitude of 87 m (45°4′N, 18°6′E). Obtained results were tested according to age and sex categories by the repeated measurement model with Tukey’s post hoc test. Data showed a significantly higher (P < 0.01) concentration of total serum bilirubin and chloride in adult pregnant female mouflons compared to adult male mouflons. A significantly higher (P < 0.01) value of sodium and a lower (P < 0.01) value of serum phosphate in adult pregnant female mouflons compared to adult male mouflons have been determined. These data provide the baseline information about serum biochemical parameters which can be used to manage the health in mouflons.     

Effects of ramipril and valsartan on proteinuria and renal function in patients with nondiabetic proteinuria

The renin-angiotensin system is involved in the progression of chronic renal disease of both diabetic and nondiabetic origin. The angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers have been demonstrated to reduce urinary protein excretion and attenuate the development of renal injury. This prospective, randomized, 12-month study assessed the effects of ramipril (N = 23) vs. valsartan (N = 22) vs. combination of ramipril and valsartan (N = 26) on proteinuria, renal function and metabolic profile in 71 patients with nondiabetic proteinuria with normal or slightly impaired renal function. Monotherapy with ramipril or valsartan and combination of these two drugs significantly reduced proteinuria, serum creatinine, cholesterol and triglycerides as well as systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure. There was no significant difference among three study groups according to reduction of arterial blood pressure, serum cholesterol and triglycerides. At one year, a significant reduction in serum creatinine was recorded in all three study groups, whereas at 3 and 6 months a statistically significant reduction in serum creatinine was only observed in patients on combination therapy. In addition, at 3 months the reduction of proteinuria was significantly greater in patients on combination therapy than in those on either monotherapy. These results indicated the combination therapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers to be more efficacious than either monotherapy in reducing proteinuria and serum creatinine level in the first 3 (proteinuria and serum creatinine) or 6 (serum creatinine) months of treatment.     

Topographical Atlas of the Gangliosides of the Adult Human Brain

Forty different brain samples, consisting of neocortical, archicortical, and paleocortical areas; telencephalic, diencephalic, and mesencephalic subcortical nuclei; and the cerebellum as well as some of the corresponding white matter bundles were analyzed with respect to total content of ganglioside-sialic acid and the ganglioside pattern. The total content of gangliosides seems to depend mainly on the proportions of gray and white matter. Thus, neocortical areas, which are rich in gray matter, have a four- to fivefold higher ganglioside content (per milligram of protein) than white matter-rich samples such as optic chiasm, capsula interna, or corpus callosum. White matter-rich regions, although very heterogeneous in ganglioside composition, are further characterized by appreciable amounts of the myelin-enriched GM4. In the neocortex a remarkable degree of regional pattern differences was revealed. In the frontal and parietal areas there is a moderate, and in the temporal region a strong preponderance of sialic acid bound to gangliosides of the a-pathway (GD1a, GM1). In contrast, the occipital cortex favors the b-pathway of ganglioside synthesis (GQ1b, GT1b, GD1b). A predominance of "b-gangliosides" was found in all structures that are related to the visual system (optic chiasm, pulvinar-thalamus, superior colliculi, visual cortex) as well as in the cerebellum and the nucleus ruber. All diencephalic nuclei tend to favor slightly "b-gangliosides," while the mesencephalic nuclei are very heterogeneous in their ganglioside composition. A preponderance of "a-gangliosides" was found in the periamygdalar cortex, putamen, inferior colliculi, substantia nigra, frontal white matter, internal capsule, globus pallidus, basal nucleus of Meynert, and corpus callosum as well as in the frontal, parietal, and temporal cortices. An exceptional predominance of GM1 and GD1a was revealed for the hippocampal archicortex and the amygdala, suggesting a possible functional correlation to glutaminergic synaptic transmission.     

Production of biodiesel by Burkholderia cepacia lipase as a function of process parameters

Despite the already established route of chemically catalyzed transesterification reaction in biodiesel production, due to some of its shortcomings, biocatalysts such as lipases present a vital alternative. Namely, it was noticed that one of the key shortcomings for the optimization of the enzyme catalyzed biodiesel synthesis process is the information on the lipase activity in the reaction mixture. In addition to making optimization difficult, it also makes it impossible to compare the results of the independent research. This article shows how lipase intended for use in biodiesel synthesis can be easily and accurately characterized and what is the enzyme concentration that enables achievement of the desired level of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) in the final product mixture. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of two different activity loads of Burkholderia cepacia lipase on the biodiesel synthesis varying the pH and temperature optimal for lipase activity. The optimal lipase pH and temperature were determined by two different enzyme assays: spectrophotometric and titrimetric. The B. cepacia lipase pH optimum differentiated between assays, while the lipase optimally hydrolyzed substrates at 50°C. The analysis of FAME during 24 hr of biodiesel synthesis, at two different enzyme concentrations, pH 7, 8, and 10, and using two different buffers, revealed that the transesterification reaction at optimal pH, 1 hr reaction time and lipase activity load of 250 U per gram of reaction mixture was sufficient to produce more than 99% FAME.     

Stimulating effect of sugar dusting on honey bee grooming behaviour

The aim of this research was to investigate whether or not sugar dusting can stimulate the grooming behaviour in Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), an important defensive mechanism against Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman (Acari: Varroidae), and to assess the most effective dose and frequency of treatment. The criterion for evaluation of grooming potential was the percentage of damaged mites (PDM) among the total number collected on the bottom boards of the hives. In each sugar‐treated group PDM was significantly higher in comparison both with the negative control (no treatment) and with the values preceding the treatment. The results point to a stimulating effect of sugar on the grooming behaviour at all doses and frequencies tested. Treatment frequency influenced the stimulating effect of sugar: treatments at 3‐ and 7‐day intervals with 30 and 40 g resulted in significantly higher PDMs than the least frequent treatment (every 14 days); dusting with 20 g influenced PDM only when repeated at 3‐day intervals. Because treatments at 3‐day intervals are time‐consuming, those with 40 or 30 g repeated every 7 days may be recommended. In the positive control (hives treated with amitraz), average PDM was significantly lower than in the negative control and all sugar‐treated groups. Possible causes of the stimulating effect of sugar dusting on bee grooming behaviour are discussed.