Preliminary study on diagnosis of lumbar disc degeneration with magnetic resonance T1p, T2 mapping and DWI quantitative detection technologies

OBJECTIVE: The value of diagnosing lumbar disc degeneration with T1p magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), T2 mapping and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) technologies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We selected 30 patients diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation (group A), 30 patients with lumbar disc degeneration (group B) and 30 healthy volunteers (group C) and carried out Pfirrmann grading of intervertebral discs (L1-S1 segment) based on conventional T2WI median sagittal images. T1p, T2 mapping and DWI were then applied.

RESULTS: Group A primarily had Pfirrmann grades of III-IV, group B had Pfirrmann grades of I-IV and group C had Pfirmann grades of I-II. The differences between the groups were statistically significant (p <0.05). The average T1p, T2 mapping and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus in group A were significantly lower than in group B. The highest values were in group C, and the differences were statistically significant (p <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: T2WI, T1p MRI, T2 Mapping and DWI technologies have different capacities to diagnose lumbar disc degeneration, and have great value in improving diagnostic accuracy.

L'articolo Preliminary study on diagnosis of lumbar disc degeneration with magnetic resonance T1p, T2 mapping and DWI quantitative detection technologies sembra essere il primo su European Review.

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Alterations of the vaginal microbiota in the third trimester of pregnancy and pPROM

OBJECTIVE: Preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM) is a significant issue in obstetric practice. One of the risk factors for pPROM are vaginal infections in the third trimester of pregnancy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed an observational study on 600 pregnant women, analyzing the lactobacillary grade (LBG) and the presence of any pathogenic bacteria and/or Candida at weeks 28 and 32 of pregnancy and recording any pPROM events at delivery. At week 28, in the case of vaginal infection, the patients were treated for 6 days with a topical association of metronidazole+clotrimazole.

RESULTS: At week 28 of pregnancy 54.2% of women had vaginal infection (32.6% bacterial vaginitis, 33.8% candidiasis and 32.4% mixed infection) and/or abnormal vaginal microbiota (67.4% LBG 2a/2b, 32.6% LBG 3). The total number of pPROM was 8 out of 600 (1.3%). The treatment of vaginal infection at week 28 with the topical association of metronidazole+clotrimazole, led to both the eradication of vaginal infections and the restoration of the vaginal microbiota in 72% of the cases, bringing the level of risk of pPROM similar to that of women without vaginal infection at week 28. In addition, the results showed that women with vaginal infections and/or alteration of vaginal microbiota at week 32 of pregnancy had a higher prevalence of pPROM in comparison to the women without vaginal infection at week 32 (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: This observational study showed the high prevalence of vaginal infections in the third trimester of pregnancy and its association with pPROM. Furthermore, data suggested the possible benefits of the topical treatment with metronidazole+clotrimazole in pregnancy to eradicate infections, restore the normal microbiota and reduce the risk of pPROM.

L'articolo Alterations of the vaginal microbiota in the third trimester of pregnancy and pPROM sembra essere il primo su European Review.

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Recognising moulting behaviour in trilobites by examining morphology, development and preservation: Comment on Błażejowski et al. 2015

A 365 million year-old trilobite moult-carcass assemblage was described by Błażejowski et al. (2015) as the oldest direct evidence of moulting in the arthropod fossil record. Unfortunately, their suppositions are insufficiently supported by the data provided. Instead, the morphology, configuration and preservational context of the highly fossiliferous locality (Kowala Quarry, Poland) suggest that the specimen consists of two overlapping, queued carcasses. The wider fossil record of moulting actually extends back 520 million years, providing an unparalleled opportunity to study behaviour, ecology and development in early animals. Taking cues from modern analogues, it is possible to quantify precise details about moulting behaviour to determine broad-scale evolutionary trends, ontogenetic sequences and morphological selection pressures. In this review, we argue that this rich source of data has been underused in evolutionary studies, though has great potential for investigating the life history and evolution of arthropods in deep time.

Exoskeleton moulting occurs in arthropods during growth, and Błażejowski et al. (2015) described putative moulting in a 365 million year-old trilobite. We argue this specimen is not a moult assemblage, but show that reliable studies on trilobite moulting reveal evolutionary trends in behaviour, ecology and development in deep time.

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Building on the Ccr4-Not architecture

In a recent issue of Nature Communications Ukleja and co-workers reported a cryo-EM 3D reconstruction of the Ccr4-Not complex from Schizosaccharomyces pombe with an immunolocalization of the different subunits. The newly gained architectural knowledge provides cues to apprehend the functional diversity of this major eukaryotic regulator. Indeed, in the cytoplasm alone, Ccr4-Not regulates translational repression, decapping and deadenylation, and the Not module additionally plays a positive role in translation. The spatial distribution of the subunits within the structure is compatible with a model proposing that the Ccr4-Not complex interacts with the 5′ and 3′ ends of target mRNAs, allowing different functional modules of the complex to act at different stages of the translation process, possibly within a circular constellation of the mRNA. This work opens new avenues, and reveals important gaps in our understanding regarding structure and mode of function of the Ccr4-Not complex that need to be addressed in the future.

The structure of the Ccr4-Not complex reveals that mRNA decay components interact with one side of the complex. The other side is available to contribute to co-translational processes. This might ensure a direct physical link between translation and mRNA decay processes, particularly if the mRNA is in a circular constellation.

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Molbank, Vol. 2016, Article M906: 5,9,11-Trihydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-10-(3′-methyl-2′-butenyl)-3-(2″-methyl-3″-butenyl)pyrano[2,3-a]xanthen-12(2H)-one from the Stem Bark of Calophyllum pseudomole

5,9,11-Trihydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-10-(3′-methyl-2′-butenyl)-3-(2″-methyl-3″-butenyl)-pyrano[2,3-a]xanthen-12(2H)-one (1) was isolated from the stem bark of Calophyllum pseudomole. The structure of 1 was established by spectroscopic analysis which included UV, IR, HRESIMS and NMR experiments.

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IJMS, Vol. 17, Pages 1364: Protection of Historical Wood against Microbial Degradation—Selection and Application of Microbiocides

The aim of this study was to select effective and safe microbiocides for the disinfection and protection of historical wooden surfaces at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp. We tested seven active compounds against bacteria and moulds, of which didecyldimethylammonium chloride and N-(3-aminopropyl)-N-dodecylpropane-1,3-diamine were effective even at 0.02%–2%. Subsequently, eight microbiocides containing the selected active ingredients were chosen and applied three times on the surface of wood samples colonized by bacteria and moulds. ABM-1 and ABM-2—6% solution; Rocima 101—8%; Preventol R 80—12%; Acticide 706 LV—15% and Boramon—30% were the most effective disinfectants. Under laboratory conditions, ABM-1, Boramon and Rocima 101 ensured antimicrobial protection of new wood samples for six months. In situ, 30% Boramon and 8% Rocima 101 applied by spraying effectively protected the historical wood from bacterial and mould growth for 12 and 3 months, respectively. Colour and luminance of the new wood were not altered after exposure to the biocides. Boramon and Rocima 101, applied by the spraying method, caused no significant change in the colour of the historical wood. Results from this study were used to develop a procedure for the protection of wood in historical buildings against biodeterioration.

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Ab interno trabeculectomy: patient selection and perspectives

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