The Origin of Capacity Fade in the Li2MnO3·LiMO2 (M = Li, Ni, Co, Mn) Microsphere Positive Electrode: An Operando Neutron Diffraction and Transmission X-ray Microscopy Study

The mechanism of capacity fade of the Li2MnO3·LiMO2 (M = Li, Ni, Co, Mn) composite positive electrode within a full cell was investigated using a combination of operando neutron powder diffraction and transmission X-ray microscopy methods, enabling the phase, crystallographic, and morphological evolution of the material during electrochemical cycling to be understood. The electrode was shown to initially consist of 73(1) wt % R3̅m LiMO2 with the remaining 27(1) wt % C2/m Li2MnO3 likely existing as an intergrowth. Cracking in the Li2MnO3·LiMO2 electrode particle under operando microscopy observation was revealed to be initiated by the solid-solution reaction of the LiMO2 phase on charge to 4.55 V vs Li(+)/Li and intensified during further charge to 4.7 V vs Li(+)/Li during the concurrent two-phase reaction of the LiMO2 phase, involving the largest lattice change of any phase, and oxygen evolution from the Li2MnO3 phase. Notably, significant healing of the generated cracks in the Li2MnO3·LiMO2 electrode particle occurred during subsequent lithiation on discharge, with this rehealing being principally associated with the solid-solution reaction of the LiMO2 phase. This work reveals that while it is the reduction of lattice size of electrode phases during charge that results in cracking of the Li2MnO3·LiMO2 electrode particle, with the extent of cracking correlated to the magnitude of the size change, crack healing is possible in the reverse solid-solution reaction occurring during discharge. Importantly, it is the phase separation during the two-phase reaction of the LiMO2 phase that prevents the complete healing of the electrode particle, leading to pulverization over extended cycling. This work points to the minimization of behavior leading to phase separation, such as two-phase and oxygen evolution, as a key strategy in preventing capacity fade of the electrode.

Association between dietary fibre intake with cancer and all-cause mortality among 15 740 adults: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III

BACKGROUND

Few prospective studies have examined the longitudinal associations of total dietary fibre intake and water insoluble and soluble fibres with cancer and all-cause mortality. The present study aimed to examine these associations.

METHODS

We studied the effects of total dietary fibre intake and water insoluble and soluble fibres on cancer and all-cause mortality, using data from 15 740 adult participants [mean (SD) age: 44.53 (19.22) years, 46.60% male] in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III, 1988-1994, who had completed a 24-h dietary recall. Death certificate data were obtained up to 2006. Participants had been followed for 13.74 years on average. Cox regression was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) of total dietary, insoluble and soluble fibres on cancer and all-cause mortality, with the first quartile as the reference group, adjusted for demographics, lifestyle and dietary factors.

RESULTS

Relative to those in the first quartile of total fibre intake, only the third quartile was associated with all-cause mortality, with an adjusted HR of 0.87 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.79, 0.97, P = 0.021], and cancer mortality, with an adjusted HR of 0.77 (95% CI = 0.61, 0.99, P = 0.05). The third quartile of insoluble fibre intake was associated with cancer mortality, with an adjusted HR of 0.76 (95% CI = 0.60, 0.96, P = 0.023), and colorectal-anal cancer mortality (in grouped data as provided for public use), with an adjusted HR of 0.42 (95% CI = 0.19, 0.91, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary fibre showed protective benefits in terms of mortality risk. Investigating the mechanisms and components of dietary fibres underlying the different protective benefits remains an important consideration for research on fibre-mortality risk.

Does serum uric acid act as a modulator of cerebrospinal fluid Alzheimer's disease biomarker related cognitive decline?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The association of serum uric acid, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and longitudinal cognitive decline was evaluated using the AD Neuroimaging Initiative database.

METHODS

In 271 healthy subjects, 596 mild cognitive impairment patients and 197 AD patients, serum uric acid and CSF AD biomarkers were measured at baseline, and Mini-Mental State Examination and AD Assessment Scale - Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-cog) were assessed serially (mean duration, 2.9 years). The effect of uric acid on longitudinal cognitive decline was evaluated using linear mixed effect models for Mini-Mental State Examination and ADAS-cog scores in female and male subjects separately, with possible confounders controlled (model 1). To determine the effects of uric acid independent of CSF biomarker (Aβ1-42 or tau) and to test whether the detrimental effects of CSF biomarker differ according to uric acid, CSF biomarker and its interaction with uric acid were further included in model 1 (model 2).

RESULTS

Higher levels of uric acid were associated with slower cognitive decline, particularly in the mild cognitive impairment and dementia subgroups, and more prominently in female subjects. Model 2 with CSF Aβ1-42 showed that higher levels of uric acid were associated with a slower cognitive decline and alleviated the detrimental effect of Aβ1-42 on cognitive decline. Model 2 with CSF tau showed that higher levels of uric acid alleviated the detrimental effect of tau on cognitive decline in female subjects but not in male subjects.

CONCLUSION

Higher levels of uric acid had protective effects on longitudinal cognitive decline independent of and interactively with CSF AD biomarkers.

Different Functional and Microstructural Changes Depending on Duration of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson Disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The higher cortical burden of Lewy body and Alzheimer disease-type pathology has been reported to be associated with a faster onset of cognitive impairment of Parkinson disease. So far, there has been a few studies only about the changes of gray matter volume depending on duration of cognitive impairment in Parkinson disease. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate the different patterns of structural and functional changes in Parkinson disease with mild cognitive impairment according to the duration of parkinsonism before mild cognitive impairment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-nine patients with Parkinson disease with mild cognitive impairment were classified into 2 groups on the basis of shorter (<1 year, n = 16) and longer (≥1 year, n = 43) durations of parkinsonism before mild cognitive impairment. Fifteen drug-naïve patients with de novo Parkinson disease with intact cognition were included for comparison. Cortical thickness, Tract-Based Spatial Statistics, and seed-based resting-state functional connectivity analyses were performed. Age, sex, years of education, age at onset of parkinsonism, and levodopa-equivalent dose were included as covariates.

RESULTS

The group with shorter duration of parkinsonism before mild cognitive impairment showed decreased fractional anisotropy and increased mean and radial diffusivity values in the frontal areas compared with the group with longer duration of parkinsonism before mild cognitive impairment (corrected P < .05). The group with shorter duration of parkinsonism before mild cognitive impairment showed decreased resting-state functional connectivity in the default mode network area when the left or right posterior cingulate was used as a seed, and in the dorsolateral prefrontal areas when the left or right caudate was used as a seed (corrected P < .05). The group with longer duration of parkinsonism before mild cognitive impairment showed decreased resting-state functional connectivity mainly in the medial prefrontal cortex when the left or right posterior cingulate was used as a seed, and in the parieto-occipital areas when the left or right caudate was used as a seed (corrected P < .05). No differences in cortical thickness were found in all group contrasts.

CONCLUSIONS

Resting-state functional connectivity and WM alterations might be useful imaging biomarkers for identifying changes in patients with Parkinson disease with mild cognitive impairment according to the duration of parkinsonism before mild cognitive impairment. The functional and microstructural substrates may topographically differ depending on the rate of cognitive decline in these patients.

Plasmon-induced hyperthermia: hybrid upconversion NaYF4:Yb/Er and gold nanomaterials for oral cancer photothermal therapy

Nanocomposites consisting of upconversion nanoparticles (UCPs) and plasmonic materials have been widely explored for bio-imaging and cancer photothermal therapy (PTT). However, several challenges, including incomprehensible efficiency of energy transfer processes and optimization of the conditions for plasmon-induced photothermal effects, still exist. In this study, we fabricated NaYF₄:Yb³⁺/Er³⁺ nanoparticles (NPs) conjugated with gold nanomaterials (Au NMs), such as Au NPs and gold nanorods (Au NRs). NaYF₄:Yb³⁺/Er³⁺ NPs were used as photoconverters, which could emit green and red light under excitation of a 980 nm laser; Au NPs and Au NRs were also prepared and used as heat producers. The silica shell was further coated around UCPs to improve biocompatibility and as a bridge linking UCPs and the Au NMs. Most importantly, the thickness of the silica shell was tuned precisely to investigate the effective distance of the plasmonic field for heat induction. Energy transfer was confirmed by the declining UCL photoluminescence and emission decay time after connecting to the Au NMs. Moreover, a simulative model was built using the finite element method to assess the differences in heat generation between UCP@SiO₂-NPs and UCP@SiO₂-NRs. The surfaces of the hybrid nanocomposites were modified with folic acid to improve the specific targeting to cancer cells. The performance of the modified hybrid nanocomposites in PTT for OECM-1 oral cancer cells was evaluated.

Cerebral Microbleeds in Patients with Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Parkinson Disease Dementia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The burden of amyloid β is greater in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies than in those with Parkinson disease dementia, and an increased amyloid β load is closely related to a higher incidence of cerebral microbleeds. Here, we investigated the prevalence and topography of cerebral microbleeds in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies and those with Parkinson disease dementia to examine whether cerebral microbleeds are more prevalent in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies than in those with Parkinson disease dementia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study population consisted of 42 patients with dementia with Lewy bodies, 88 patients with Parkinson disease dementia, and 35 controls who underwent brain MR imaging with gradient recalled-echo. Cerebral microbleeds were classified as deep, lobar, or infratentorial.

RESULTS

The frequency of cerebral microbleeds was significantly greater in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (45.2%) than in those with Parkinson disease dementia (26.1%) or in healthy controls (17.1%; P = .017). Lobar cerebral microbleeds were observed more frequently in the dementia with Lewy bodies group (40.5%) than in the Parkinson disease dementia (17%; P = .004) or healthy control (8.6%; P = .001) group, whereas the frequencies of deep and infratentorial cerebral microbleeds did not differ among the 3 groups. Logistic regression analyses revealed that, compared with the healthy control group, the dementia with Lewy bodies group was significantly associated with the presence of lobar cerebral microbleeds after adjusting for age, sex, nonlobar cerebral microbleeds, white matter hyperintensities, and other vascular risk factors (odds ratio, 4.39 [95% CI, 1.27-15.25]). However, compared with the healthy control group, the Parkinson disease dementia group was not significantly associated with lobar cerebral microbleeds.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that patients with dementia with Lewy bodies had a greater burden of cerebral microbleeds and exhibited a lobar predominance of cerebral microbleeds than did patients with Parkinson disease dementia.

A recurrent sialolipoma of the parotid gland: A case report

Sialolipoma is a rare benign neoplasm and was recently described as a histological variant of intraoral lipoma. In the current report, the case of a of a 65-year-old female with a slow-growing mass in the right parotid gland with recurrence is presented. The initial clinical diagnosis was a benign salivary gland tumor. The tumor was situated between the right parotid gland and the right masseter muscle; therefore, a superficial parotidectomy was performed. Histopathology revealed that the tumor was a sialolipoma of the parotid gland. During the three-month follow-up, a recurrent right parotid tumor was identified in the deep lobe space of the right parotid gland and a deep lobe parotidectomy was performed. The present case demonstrates that although surgical excision is generally sufficient to treat parotid gland sialolipoma, postoperative follow-up is required as multifocal lesions may potentially remain, which could result in recurrence.

Multi-locus genome-wide association analysis supports the role of glutamatergic synaptic transmission in the etiology of major depressive disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric illness characterized by low mood and loss of interest in pleasurable activities. Despite years of effort, recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified few susceptibility variants or genes that are robustly associated with MDD. Standard single-SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism)-based GWAS analysis typically has limited power to deal with the extensive heterogeneity and substantial polygenic contribution of individually weak genetic effects underlying the pathogenesis of MDD. Here, we report an alternative, gene-set-based association analysis of MDD in an effort to identify groups of biologically related genetic variants that are involved in the same molecular function or cellular processes and exhibit a significant level of aggregated association with MDD. In particular, we used a text-mining-based data analysis to prioritize candidate gene sets implicated in MDD and conducted a multi-locus association analysis to look for enriched signals of nominally associated MDD susceptibility loci within each of the gene sets. Our primary analysis is based on the meta-analysis of three large MDD GWAS data sets (total N=4346 cases and 4430 controls). After correction for multiple testing, we found that genes involved in glutamatergic synaptic neurotransmission were significantly associated with MDD (set-based association P=6.9 × 10(-4)). This result is consistent with previous studies that support a role of the glutamatergic system in synaptic plasticity and MDD and support the potential utility of targeting glutamatergic neurotransmission in the treatment of MDD.

Granular activated carbon/pyrite composites for environmental application: synthesis and characterization

The goal of this study was to produce a reactive granular activated carbon (GAC) coated with pyrite (FeS(2)) for environmental remediation, which would combine both functions of GAC adsorption and FeS(2) reduction reactions. GAC-FeS(2) composite materials have been successfully prepared via sequential processes, i.e., incipient wetness iron impregnation, transformation into hematite (Fe(2)O(3)) by calcination at 300 °C and sulfurization by calcination at 400 °C. The point of zero charge (pH(PZC)) of GAC washed with nitric acid (HNO(3)) decreased to improve the drawing of iron ionic species into the pores of GAC and the results of FTIR confirmed the predominance of carboxylic acid groups which cause a negative charged GAC surface. XRD results indicated that the calcined composites are transitional GAC-Fe(2)O(3) and final GAC-FeS(2). The obtained FeS(2) crystallite size calculated using Scherrer formulae was around 31-34 nm and SEM/SEI showed FeS(2) had an angular shape. The existence of FeS(2) in GAC gave rise to a significant reduction of BET surface and pore volume. However, even though these reductions may result in the decrease of adsorption capacity when compared to the virgin GAC, the coated reactive FeS(2) may result in the abiotic transformation of adsorbates such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and this would compensate for the loss of adsorption. Furthermore, the preliminary results of TCE experiments on GAC-FeS(2) adsorption/dechlorination revealed that the composite initially accumulated and confined TCE on GAC and gradually dechlorinated TCE by embedded FeS(2).

A prototype tissue engineered blood vessel using amniotic membrane as scaffold

In this study, we used amniotic membrane (AM), a natural extracellular matrix, as a scaffold for the fabrication of tissue engineered blood vessels (TEBVs). The inner surface of the denuded glutaraldehyde cross-linked AM tube was endothelialized with porcine vascular endothelial cells (ECs) and subjected to a physiological (12 dynecm(-2)) shear stress (SS) for 2 and 4 days. The results showed that after applying SS, an intact EC monolayer was maintained in the lumen surface of the TEBV. The ECs were aligned with their long axis parallel to the blood flow. The immunofluorescent microscopy showed that the intercellular junctional proteins, PECAM-1 and VE-cadherin, were surrounding the EC periphery and were better developed and more abundant in SS-treated TEBVs than the static controls. The Western blot indicated that the expressions of PECAM-1 and VE-cadherin were increased by 72 ± 9% and 67 ± 7%, respectively, after shear stress treatment. The distribution pattern of integrin β1 was mainly at the interface of ECs and AM in static TEBVs but it was extended to the cell-cell junctions after SS treatment. The SS promoted the expression of integrin α(v)β(3) without altering its distribution in TEBV. The results suggest that glutaraldehyde cross-linked AM tube can potentially be used as a scaffold biomaterial for TEBV fabrication. Most importantly, the use of an AM tube shortened the TEBV fabrication.

Genome-wide association study in a Swedish population yields support for greater CNV and MHC involvement in schizophrenia compared with bipolar disorder

Schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) are highly heritable psychiatric disorders with overlapping susceptibility loci and symptomatology. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of these disorders in a large Swedish sample. We report a new and independent case-control analysis of 1507 SCZ cases, 836 BD cases and 2093 controls. No single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) achieved significance in these new samples; however, combining new and previously reported SCZ samples (2111 SCZ and 2535 controls) revealed a genome-wide significant association in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region (rs886424, P=4.54 × 10(-8)). Imputation using multiple reference panels and meta-analysis with the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium SCZ results underscored the broad, significant association in the MHC region in the full SCZ sample. We evaluated the role of copy number variants (CNVs) in these subjects. As in prior reports, deletions were enriched in SCZ, but not BD cases compared with controls. Singleton deletions were more frequent in both case groups compared with controls (SCZ: P=0.003, BD: P=0.013), whereas the largest CNVs (>500 kb) were significantly enriched only in SCZ cases (P=0.0035). Two CNVs with previously reported SCZ associations were also overrepresented in this SCZ sample: 16p11.2 duplications (P=0.0035) and 22q11 deletions (P=0.03). These results reinforce prior reports of significant MHC and CNV associations in SCZ, but not BD.

Paroxysmal choreodystonic disorders

Paroxysmal choreodystonic disorders or paroxysmal dyskinesias are a heterogeneous group of movement disorders characterized by recurrent attacks of abnormal involuntary movements. They are classified into four categories according to the precipitant, duration of attacks, and etiology: (1) paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD), in which attacks are brief and induced by sudden voluntary movements; (2) paroxysmal nonkinesigenic dyskinesia (PNKD), in which attacks occur spontaneously; (3) paroxysmal exertion-induced dyskinesia (PED), in which attacks are brought on by prolonged exercise; and (4) paroxysmal hypnogenic dyskinesia (PHD), in which attacks occur during sleep. Among them, PHD is currently known to be a form of mesial frontal-lobe epilepsy, and has been given the term "autosomal-dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy" (ANDFLE) in some familiar cases with an autosomal-dominant inheritance. The clinical, etiological and pathophysiological features of PKD, PNKD, and PED are reviewed.

Neuroanatomic basis of amnestic MCI differs in patients with and without Parkinson disease

OBJECTIVE

To explore the neuroanatomic basis of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) in patients with Parkinson disease (PD; aMCI-PD(+)) and without PD (aMCI-PD(-)).

METHODS

A total of 119 patients with aMCI (aMCI-PD(-), n = 78, and aMCI-PD(+), n = 41) underwent T1-weighted MRI, and the image data were analyzed using voxel-based morphometry.

RESULTS

No significant differences in demographic characteristics or general cognition were found between patients with aMCI-PD(-) and aMCI-PD(+). Comparisons of neuropsychological tests between groups revealed that patients with aMCI-PD(-) had lower scores in delayed verbal and visual recognition memory, whereas visuospatial dysfunction was more severe in patients with aMCI-PD(+). Gray matter (GM) density in the right temporal and posterior cingular cortices was significantly lower in the aMCI-PD(-) group compared with controls. In contrast, GM density in the aMCI-PD(+) group was significantly lower in the precuneus and left prefrontal and primary motor areas relative to controls. A direct comparison between groups showed that decreased GM density in aMCI-PD(-) relative to aMCI-PD(+) was localized in the right temporal and anterior prefrontal areas, whereas decreased GM density in aMCI-PD(+) relative to aMCI-PD(-) was involved in the bilateral precuneus, left primary motor, and right parietal areas. Memory decline was correlated with temporal area atrophy in aMCI-PD(-) and with posterior cingulate cortex atrophy in aMCI-PD(+).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that different neuroanatomic systems underlie memory dysfunction in patients with aMCI-PD(-) and aMCI-PD(+).

Analysis of the factors influencing living kidney donation: the experience in National Taiwan University Hospital

INTRODUCTION

Kidney transplantation provides a choice of active treatment for patients with chronic renal failure. However, the sources of organs are limited; therefore, living kidney donation is an alternative source. The regulation of organ donation in Taiwan stipulates that living organ donation is restricted to living related recipients. We sought to investigate factors that influenced or prevented individuals from living kidney donation in our center.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From January 2005 to December 2008, there were 266 potential candidates who underwent evaluation for living kidney donation in our center.

RESULTS

Among the potential candidates, most were spouses (n=85, 31.9%), followed by parents (n=67, 25.1%), siblings (n=62, 23.3%), and children (n=40, 15%). Eventually, 124 candidates (47%) completed organ donation, most of whom were siblings (n=39, 31.5%), then parents (n=38, 30.6%), spouses (n=26), and children (n=18). Most donors were females, including mothers and sisters. The most frequent reason to not donate was unwillingness, due to potential influences on their health, economic stress due to suspension of their job, and objection of family members. In 34 candidates (23.9%), adverse health factors of potential candidates prohibited them from donating, including age, chronic medical illness, hepatitis carrier status, severe depression, or mental retardation. Among 59 potential donor-recipient pairs with incompatible ABO blood types or highly sensitized to potential donors, 22 candidates completed living kidney donation.

CONCLUSION

Although laparoscopic nephrectomy for living kidney donation decreases the discomfort and hospital stay after donation, we can only promote living kidney donation if we can deal with the possible factors that prohibit candidates from living kidney donation, such as morbidity after organ donation, anxiety, or other factors. After analyzing those factors, we must also develop a protocol to closely follow the living kidney donors to ensure their health status and relieve their anxiety.

Stabilization of blood methylmalonic acid level in methylmalonic acidemia after liver transplantation

Methylmalonic acidemia with complete mutase deficiency (mut(0) type) is an inborn error of metabolism with high mortality and morbidity. LT has been suggested to be a solution to this disease, but elevation of urinary and blood MMA was still observed after LT. In this study, we measured dry blood spot MMA and its precursor propionyl-carnitine (C3-carnitine) for mut(0) patients. The results revealed that when C3-carnitine rose during metabolic stress, MMA rose exponentially (up to 1000 micromol/L) in patients who did not undergo LT. In patients who underwent LT, MMA rose to 100-200 micromol/L when C3-carnitine reached 10-20 micromol/L. However, when C3-carnitine rose further to 40-50 micromol/L, MMA levels just stayed put. Therefore, LT stabilized blood MMA level, though there might be a threshold for blood MMA clearance by the donor liver. This finding should be critical to understand the long-term outcome for LT in methylmalonic acidemia.

Acute lobar nephronia in a renal allograft: a case report and literature review

We report a diabetic renal transplant recipient who presented with fever and right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Acute appendicitis was considered initially and she underwent emergent appendectomy. However, persistent symptoms postoperatively made us perform an imaging study to identify the problems. Abdominal and pelvic computed tomography disclosed several focal wedge-shaped lesions of low attenuation in the renal allograft. Acute lobar nephronia was successfully managed with parenteral antibiotics. The patient recovered without any sequela. A renal allograft in the right iliac fossa complicates the diagnosis among acute renal infection, malignancy, acute rejection, and even acute appendicitis. Biopsy of the renal allograft is sometimes needed due to clinically ambiguous imaging results. In this report, we not only detail the clinical course of such a rare case, but also review the previous 3 cases of acute lobar nephronia in renal allografts in the literature.

Aberrant middle turbinate masquerading as a nasopharyngeal mass

We present a unique variant of the middle turbinate that extends posteriorly through the choana to wrap around the posterior free edge of the nasal septum. The embryology and anatomy of the lateral nasal wall and the nasal septum are reviewed.

The impact of human ABO blood groups on human xenoreactive antibody-mediated cytotoxicity and the protective effect of human decay-accelerating factors exogene on swine endothelium

Swine tissue can express antigens similar to human A/B blood types. We evaluated whether the variation in human blood type influences the human xenoreactive antibody-mediated cytotoxicity and modifies the protective effect of human decay-accelerating factor (hDAF) exogene, a complement activation regulator, on swine endothelium.

METHODS

Pig aortic endothelial cells were harvested form normal and hDAF transgenic pigs. Cellular viability was evaluated with an MTT assay.

RESULTS

As compared with that of other human blood types, human serum from blood type O donors induced more prominent cytotoxicity on swine endothelial cells both from hDAF transgenic or normal pigs (P < .05). In addition, this difference of xenoreactive antibody-induced cytotoxicity between treatment with O and other human blood type sera was more evident in hDAF transgenic swine endothelial cells than those of normal pigs (P < .05). The hDAF exogene can significantly protect the endothelial cells from human xenoreactive antibody-mediated cytotoxicty when treated with human serum from AB blood type (P < .05). Our data demonstrated that human ABO blood type significantly affected human xenoreactive antibody-induced cytotoxicity, which may modulate the protective effect of hDAF exogene expression on swine endothelial cells.

Increased cochlear fluid-attenuated inversion recovery signal in patients with vestibular schwannoma

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Elevated protein levels have been reported in perilymph of patients with vestibular schwannoma. Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging is sensitive to high protein contents in fluids. The purpose of this study was to investigate if in patients with unilateral vestibular schwannoma, cochlear FLAIR signal intensity on the affected side is increased compared with the unaffected side and control subjects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifteen patients with unilateral vestibular schwannoma and 25 age-matched control subjects (without a history of hearing loss) were retrospectively evaluated. All patients and controls had routine 5-mm FLAIR and T1- and T2-weighted imaging of the brain. The signal intensity of both cochleae was evaluated by placing a small region of interest on FLAIR images. The signal intensity of the brain stem was also determined by placing a second region of interest. A ratio of cochlear signal intensity to brain stem signal intensity (CIBI ratio) was determined. A t test was used to compare the CIBI ratios.

RESULTS

In patients, the mean CIBI ratio of the affected side was 0.89 +/- 0.18, and that of the unaffected side was 0.57 +/- 0.12. In control subjects, it was 0.51 +/- 0.07. The CIBI ratio of the affected side was significantly higher compared with the unaffected side (P < .001) and compared with control subjects (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Patients with vestibular schwannoma have increased cochlear FLAIR signal intensity on the affected side compared with the unaffected side and healthy subjects.

Diffusion tensor imaging in patients with essential tremor

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The traditional paradigm has regarded essential tremor (ET) as a benign disorder. However, recent clinical, neuroimaging, and neuropathologic studies suggest that ET may be a progressive neurologic disorder. Based on clinicopathologic findings that cerebellum and its outflow are the key structures in ET and degeneration of gray matter in cerebellum is followed by consequent wallerian degeneration of white matter (WM) fibers, the aim of the present study was to investigate changes in anisotropy in patients with ET.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fractional anisotropy (FA) images were generated from DTI data acquired at 1.5T in 10 patients with ET compared with 8 control subjects by using statistical parametric mapping to make voxel-by-voxel comparisons.

RESULTS

Compared with the control subjects, the patients with ET exhibited significantly reduced FA (P(uncorrected) < .005) in the anterolateral portion of the right pons and decreased FA in the bilateral cerebellum, left retrorubral area of the midbrain, and bilateral deep WM, including the orbitofrontal, lateral frontal, parietal, and temporal WM.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that structural changes in the WM are extensive in patients with ET, supporting the findings of previous functional neuroimaging and pathologic studies.

Antioxidant and pro-oxidant properties of chlorhexidine and its interaction with calcium hydroxide solutions

AIM

To evaluate the antioxidant and pro-oxidant properties of chlorhexidine (CHX).

METHODOLOGY

The scavenging and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by CHX in the presence or absence of saturated Ca(OH)(2) solutions was evaluated. The reaction emitted chemiluminescence in the presence of lucigenin thus was determined by a luminometer to evaluate the levels of ROS production. Changes in DNA conformation were analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Paired Student's t-test was used to compare the difference between groups.

RESULTS

Chlorhexidine (0.00002-0.02%) effectively scavenged 56-88% of the superoxide radicals generated by the xanthine/xanthine oxidase reaction. Through analysis of PUC18 DNA conformation changes, CHX was shown to be a mild scavenger of hydroxyl radicals generated by H(2)O(2) plus FeCl(2). However, CHX (>0.083%) decreased the mobility of PUC18 plasmid DNA with potential production of DNA-DNA cross-link and severe DNA breaks (presence of DNA smear) at further higher concentrations. Furthermore, CHX induced ROS production including H(2)O(2) and superoxide radicals in 0.1N NaOH (pH = 12.76) or Ca(OH)(2) (pH = 12.5) solutions.

CONCLUSION

Chlorhexidine exhibited both antioxidant and pro-oxidant properties under different conditions. These events are possibly involved in the killing of root canal and periodontal microorganisms when CHX and Ca(OH)(2) were used in combination or separately. Potential genotoxicity and tissue damage when extruded into the periradicular tissue and at higher concentrations should be considered during periodontal and endodontic practice.

A comparison of cerebral glucose metabolism in Parkinson's disease, Parkinson's disease dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies

Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) share many similar aspects, and making a clinical diagnosis of one disorder over the other relies heavily on an arbitrary criterion, so-called 1-year rule. This study was designed to search for any difference of metabolic patterns in these two disorders using F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) images. We enrolled 16 patients with PD, 13 patients with PDD, and seven patients with DLB. FDG PET was performed, and images were reconstructed by iterative reconstruction using the computed tomography (CT) images, and were normalized to a standard template. Statistical comparison between groups were performed on a voxel-by-voxel basis using t-statistics (two-sample t-test). Compared with the patients with PD, both PDD and DLB patients showed similar patterns of decreased metabolism in bilateral inferior and medial frontal lobes, and right parietal lobe (P(uncorrected) < 0.001). In a direct comparison, DLB patients had significant metabolic decrease (p(uncorrected) < 0.005) in the anterior cingulate compared with those with PDD. These findings support the concept that PDD and DLB have similar underlying neurobiological characteristics, and that they can be regarded as a spectrum of Lewy body disorders.