Standing CT of the equine head: Reducing radiation dose maintains image quality

Multiple published studies involving computed tomographic (CT) examinations of the equine head utilise a wide range of mAs parameters for image acquisition. This prospective, experimental study assessed the effects of lowering mAs during CT image acquisition on image quality and scatter radiation on 10 cadaver equine heads. Each head was scanned three times at 300, 225, and 150 mAs, with all other scanning parameters remaining constant between series. An anthropomorphic phantom was positioned adjacent to each equine head during image acquisition, mimicking a human bystander, with an ionization chamber attached to the phantom at eye level. Each series was reconstructed using filtered back projection, using medium (H30) and high (H80) frequency reconstruction algorithms. Quantitative image quality assessment was performed by calculating signal to noise ratio (SNR) and contrast to noise ratio (CNR). Two qualitative image quality assessments were performed independently by three blinded board certified veterinary radiologists with a 4 week interval, using a visual grade analysis model adapted from peer reviewed medical literature. Ionization chamber measurements, calculated volume CT dose index (CTDIvol), and dose‐length product (DLP) were recorded. Halving radiation dose during image acquisition from 300 to 150mAs resulted in comparable image quality between series. There was a statistically significant and linear relationship between mAs and scatter radiation to the bystander; halving mAs during image acquisition resulted in halving of scatter radiation. Results of this cadaveric study support the use of lower mAs settings during standing CT examinations of the equine head.     

Copper complexes grafted to functionalized silica gel as wood preservatives against the brown rot fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coniophora puteana</Emphasis>

Wood modification with siloxanes bearing amino groups with copper-linking function was carried out by a sol–gel process. Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) were the main components. Two different procedures were followed: a two-step process (impregnation with the TEOS/APTES mixture followed by dipping into a copper sulphate solution) and a one-step process (impregnation with a homogeneous sol mixture of TEOS, APTES and copper (II) chloride). The obtained materials were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. The determination of copper content before and after leaching was performed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The efficacy against the brown rot fungus Coniophora puteana was tested by an accelerated procedure. SEM analyses showed that silicon penetrated into wood, while copper is effectively drawn into wood only in the one-step treatment. Copper fixation to the silica gel proved to be adequately strong. Both sol–gel treatments gave good protection against Coniophora puteana.     

TMEM16A, a membrane protein associated with calcium-dependent chloride channel activity

Calcium-dependent chloride channels are required for normal electrolyte and fluid secretion, olfactory perception, and neuronal and smooth muscle excitability. The molecular identity of these membrane proteins is still unclear. Treatment of bronchial epithelial cells with interleukin-4 (IL-4) causes increased calcium-dependent chloride channel activity, presumably by regulating expression of the corresponding genes. We performed a global gene expression analysis to identify membrane proteins that are regulated by IL-4. Transfection of epithelial cells with specific small interfering RNA against each of these proteins shows that TMEM16A, a member of a family of putative plasma membrane proteins with unknown function, is associated with calcium-dependent chloride current, as measured with halide-sensitive fluorescent proteins, short-circuit current, and patch-clamp techniques. Our results indicate that TMEM16A is an intrinsic constituent of the calcium-dependent chloride channel. Identification of a previously unknown family of membrane proteins associated with chloride channel function will improve our understanding of chloride transport physiopathology and allow for the development of pharmacological tools useful for basic research and drug development.     

Adjuvant medical therapy provides no therapeutic benefit in the treatment of dogs with low‐grade mast cell tumours and early nodal metastasis undergoing surgery

Lymph node (LN) metastasis is a negative prognostic factor in dogs with cutaneous mast cell tumours (cMCTs). While elective lymphadenectomy of metastatic LNs improves outcome, the benefit of adjuvant medical therapy in dogs with early metastatic (HN2) LNs is debated. The aim of this retrospective multicentre study was to evaluate the therapeutic benefit of adjuvant medical therapy following surgical removal of the primary low‐grade cMCT (Patnaik grade 1‐2 and Kiupel low‐grade) and lymphadenectomy of HN2 LNs by analysing survival rates and patterns of recurrence. Seventy‐three dogs were included: 42 received adjuvant medical treatment (chemotherapy and/or kinase inhibitors), and 31 did not. The median follow‐up time for medically treated dogs was 619 days: two experienced local recurrence, three nodal relapse and four distant relapse. For dogs undergoing surgery only, the median follow‐up time was 545 days. None of them experienced local recurrence, nodal, or distant relapse. Time to progression was significantly shorter in dogs receiving adjuvant medical treatment (P = .021). A similar tendency was observed for overall survival (P = .056). The current study shows that dogs with low‐grade cMCTs, that undergo surgical excision of the primary tumour and elective lymphadenectomy of the HN2 regional LN harbour a good prognosis. The use of adjuvant medical treatment in these dogs does not seem to provide any benefit in terms of progression and survival.     

The onset of planet formation in brown dwarf disks

The onset of planet formation in protoplanetary disks is marked by the growth and crystallization of sub-micrometer-sized dust grains accompanied by dust settling toward the disk mid-plane. Here, we present infrared spectra of disks around brown dwarfs and brown dwarf candidates. We show that all three processes occur in such cool disks in a way similar or identical to that in disks around low- and intermediate-mass stars. These results indicate that the onset of planet formation extends to disks around brown dwarfs, suggesting that planet formation is a robust process occurring in most young circumstellar disks.     

Identification and quantification of stilbenes in fruits of transgenic tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) by reversed phase HPLC with photodiode array and mass spectrometry detection

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with photodiode array (PDA) and mass spectrometry (MS) detection was employed to study the accumulation of stilbenes and other naturally occurring polyphenol intermediates of flavonoid pathway in tomato fruits of plants genetically modified to synthesize resveratrol. The transgenic tomato fruits were obtained by overexpression of a grapevine gene encoding the enzyme stilbene synthase in tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Stilbenes and flavonoids, either glycosylated or free, were simultaneosly identified by electrospray interface (ESI)-MS in negative ionization mode and were quantified by PDA detection at the wavelength corresponding to their maximum absorbance. The two detectors were coupled online with an HPLC system utilizing a narrow-bore C18 reversed-phase column, which was eluted by a multistep gradient of increasing concentration of acetonitrile in water containing 0.5% (v/v) formic acid. The results of these analysis revealed that the genetic modification of the tomato plants originated different levels of accumulation of four stilbenes (i.e., trans- and cis-piceid and trans- and cis-resveratrol) in their fruit depending on the stages of ripening. Either at immature or at mature stages of ripening the stilbenes were preferentially accumulated in the fruit peel as the glycosylated form. The highest amount of trans-piceid and trans-resveratrol were found in the peel of fruits harvested at mature stage of ripening. The variations in the levels of rutin, naringenin, and chlorogenic acid found in the samples extracted from the fruits of transgenic tomato plants, in comparison to that determined in the control lines, seemed to be related to the genetic transformation, whose effect on the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway needs to be elucidated by additional studies.     

Basidiomycetes from Compost and their Dye Degradation and Enzyme Activities

The degree of decolorization of Poly R-478, a highly recalcitrant anthraquinone dye, by three basidiomycetes belonging to Polyporales isolated from compost was investigated together with the enzymes involved. Decolorization tests in two liquid cultures, one with a simple mycelium inoculum, the other with an inoculum of mycelium grown on straw, resulted in 70% and 87% decolorization respectively in 7 days. However, the efficiency did not increase significantly in the presence of the lignocellulose substrate. The three strains produced laccase and/or manganese peroxidase activity during the decolorization, whereas lignin peroxidase activity was not observed. Previous growth on straw enhanced the synthesis of ligninolytic enzymes, though there was no correlation between enzyme activity and decolorization. The three fungi can be proposed as promising candidates for the treatment of colored industrial effluents and probably for soils contaminated by complex polymers, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.     

Extraction of cellulose nanowhiskers from natural fibers and agricultural byproducts

In this work the feasibility of extracting cellulose from cotton, sisal and flax fibers, corn stover and rice husk by means of usual chemical procedures such as acid hydrolysis, chlorination, alkaline extraction, and bleaching was analyzed. Cellulose nanowhiskers from these sources, and from commercial cellulose, were produced by the acid hydrolysis of the obtained celluloses. The final products were characterized by means of Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The chemical procedure used to obtain cellulose nanowhiskers was effective in all cases but differences on the thermal stability, chemical composition, crystallinity and morphology were found due to the dissimilar nature of the different sources. Thus, this work demonstrates that the morphology and physical properties of cellulose nanowhiskers synthesized by the same conditions are strongly dependent on their source.