Anatomical Composition Research Articles

Scanning laser optical tomography for in toto imaging of the murine cochlea

The mammalian cochlea is a complex macroscopic structure due to its helical shape and the microscopic arrangements of the individual layers of cells. To improve the outcomes of hearing restoration in deaf patients, it is important to understand the anatomic structure and composition of the cochlea ex vivo. Hitherto, only one histological technique based on confocal laser scanning microscopy and optical clearing has been developed for in toto optical imaging of the murine cochlea. However, with a growing size of the specimen, e.g., human cochlea, this technique reaches its limitations. Here, we demonstrate scanning laser optical tomography (SLOT) as a valuable imaging technique to visualize the murine cochlea in toto without any physical slicing. This technique can also be applied in larger specimens up to cm3 such as the human cochlea. Furthermore, immunolabeling allows visualization of inner hair cells (otoferlin) or spiral ganglion cells (neurofilament) within the whole cochlea. After image reconstruction, the 3D dataset was used for digital segmentation of the labeled region. As a result, quantitative analysis of position, length and curvature of the labeled region was possible. This is of high interest in order to understand the interaction of cochlear implants (CI) and cells in more detail.

Maxillary ameloblastoma: factors associated with risk of recurrence

Background Maxillary ameloblastomas are rare and associated with an aggressive course because of the anatomic composition of the maxilla and adjacent structures. The risk factors associated with recurrence were analyzed in this retrospective study. Methods Cases of maxillary ameloblastoma reported in a tertiary hospital from 2005 to 2015 were analyzed to identify clinicopathological and radiological factors associated with recurrence using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Results A total of 890 patients with ameloblastomas were treated in this study, of whom only 51 (5.7%) had maxillary ameloblastomas. The median follow-up period was 56 ± 28.65 months. Of the maxillary ameloblastomas, 29 (56.8%) were primary and 22 (43.1%) were recurrent. Soft tissue or maxillary sinus invasion and primary or recurrent tumor status were risk factors significantly associated with recurrence in the univariate analyses (p = .006 vs p = .025, respectively), whereas the association between recurrence and surgical methods was borderline significant (p = .08). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that soft tissue or maxillary sinus involvement was significantly associated with recurrence (p = .023). Conclusion Recurrent tumors and tumors with soft tissue or maxillary sinus involvement were risk factors for recurrence among patients with maxillary ameloblastoma. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 996–1000, 2017

Maxillary ameloblastoma: Factors associated with risk of recurrence.

Maxillary ameloblastomas are rare and associated with an aggressive course because of the anatomic composition of the maxilla and adjacent structures. The risk factors associated with recurrence were analyzed in this retrospective study. Cases of maxillary ameloblastoma reported in a tertiary hospital from 2005 to 2015 were analyzed to identify clinicopathological and radiological factors associated with recurrence using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. A total of 890 patients with ameloblastomas were treated in this study, of whom only 51 (5.7%) had maxillary ameloblastomas. The median follow-up period was 56 ± 28.65 months. Of the maxillary ameloblastomas, 29 (56.8%) were primary and 22 (43.1%) were recurrent. Soft tissue or maxillary sinus invasion and primary or recurrent tumor status were risk factors significantly associated with recurrence in the univariate analyses (p = .006 vs p = .025, respectively), whereas the association between recurrence and surgical methods was borderline significant (p = .08). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that soft tissue or maxillary sinus involvement was significantly associated with recurrence (p = .023). Recurrent tumors and tumors with soft tissue or maxillary sinus involvement were risk factors for recurrence among patients with maxillary ameloblastoma. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 996-1000, 2017.

FFECTOF BARLEY VARIETIES AND POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION LEVELS ON THE POPULATION OF APHID AND LEAFHOPPER IN RELATION TO PLANT CHEMICAL AND ANATOMICAL CHANGES

Suscep tibility ofthree varieties of barely plants (Giza-123, Giza-2000 and Giza-132) were evaluated toward infestation by aphids and leafhoppers. Also, the effect of potassium fertilization on the chemical content and anatomical compositions in relation to homopterous insect populationat Diarb Nigm locality Sharkia Governorate during 2013/14 and 2014/15 growing seasons. Results showed that Giza-123 is the lowest variety in terms of chemical content (total protein and carbohydrates content) and also found therewas a shortage in the thickness of the anatomical traits measured. These results led to that Giza-123 is considered as the sensitive variety toward infestation by insects with the lowest crop yield. On contrary, Giza-132 records the longest thickness cellwall, lowest infestation insects and the highest crop yield. Chemical analysis showed a positive relationship between total protein, carbohydrate contents and aphids, leafhoppers infestation in different barley varieties, while reverse relationship between pH values and insect infestation. Potassium fertilization by 100 kg potassium sulfate/feddan greatly increased the thickness of the anatomical traits [cuticle and upper epidermis thick. (μ), cuticle and lower epidermis thick. (μ), mesophyll tissue thick.(μ)lamina thick. (μ)] It is noted that, increasing the thickness of upper and/or lower epidermis and their cuticle layers decreased the population density of piercing suckinginsects in blade leaf and increasing mesophyll tissue thickness improve the photosynthesis process which lead to decreasing the adverse effect of insects. which associated with lowering the number of piercing -sucking insects. Thus, potassium fertilization by 100 kg potassium sulfate/feddan is recommended in the integrated pest management control (IPM) on barely plants.

How to Build a Deep Diver: The Extreme Morphology of Mesoplodonts.

Mesoplodont beaked whales are extreme divers, diving for over 45 mins and to depths of over 800 m. These dives are of similar depth and duration to those of the giant sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) whose body mass can be 50 times larger. Velten et al. (2013) provided anatomical data that demonstrated that on-board oxygen stores were sufficient to aerobically support the extreme dives of mesoplodonts if their diving metabolic rates are low. Because no physiological data yet exist, we utilized an anatomical approach-the body composition technique-to examine the relative metabolic rates of mesoplodonts. We utilized a systematic mass dissection protocol to compare the body composition of mesoplodonts with those of two short duration, shallow divers-the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). We then investigated the body composition of two other extreme divers, the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) and P. macrocephalus using data from the literature. Our results demonstrate that extreme divers invest a smaller percentage of their total body mass (TBM) in metabolically expensive brain and viscera, and a larger percent of their TBM in inexpensive integument, bone, and muscle, than do the shallow divers. Deep divers also share features of their locomotor muscle that contribute to relatively low tissue metabolic rates and high oxygen storage capacity, including large muscle fiber diameters, low mitochondrial volume densities, and high myoglobin concentrations. One feature of the locomotor muscle of mesoplodonts, though, is unique among deep divers investigated to date. Rather than having an endurance athlete's muscle fiber profile, dominated by slow oxidative fibers, mesoplodonts possess a sprinter's profile, dominated by fast glycolytic fibers. Velten et al. (2013) hypothesized that these fibers are likely inactive during routine swimming and provide a large, metabolically inexpensive oxygen store for the slow oxidative fibers to aerobically power swimming. We suggest that future anatomical analyses, coupled with performance data transduced through tagging studies, will enhance our understanding of the extreme diving capabilities of marine mammals.

The "Vessel through Strait" Sign is a Signature Radiological Sign for the Diagnosis of Left Hepatic Artery Variation.

An aberrant artery (AA) can frequently be observed coursing through the fissure for the ligamentum venosum (FLV) which was termed the “vessel through strait” sign (VTSS) by us. Fundamental data including the incidence, anatomical composition and clinical significance of VTSS and the AAs composing VTSS are still lacking. We sought to give a systematic demonstration on this issue in the present study. VTSS was respectively analyzed in 2,275 patients and was observed in 357 of them. Interestingly, 319 (89.4%) out of the 357 patients exhibiting VTSS were proved to have left hepatic artery variation (LHAV) (247 with replaced left hepatic artery, 64 with accessory left hepatic artery and 8 with variant common hepatic artery). We therefore hypothesized that VTSS could be a sign that strongly associated with LHAV and could be used for its diagnosis. In the following validating analysis, VTSS gained a sensitivity of 96.3% and a specificity of 98.3% for the diagnosis of LHAV in another bicenter cohort consisted of 1,329 patients. In conclusion, VTSS is a signature radiological sign of LHAV which could be used as an easy and specific method for the diagnosis of LHAV.

Why are there race/ethnic differences in adult body mass index-adiposity relationships? A quantitative critical review.

Body mass index (BMI) is now the most widely used measure of adiposity on a global scale. Nevertheless, intense discussion centers on the appropriateness of BMI as a phenotypic marker of adiposity across populations differing in race and ethnicity. BMI-adiposity relations appear to vary significantly across race/ethnic groups, but a collective critical analysis of these effects establishing their magnitude and underlying body shape/composition basis is lacking. Accordingly, we systematically review the magnitude of these race-ethnic differences across non-Hispanic (NH) white, NH black and Mexican American adults, their anatomic body composition basis and potential biologically linked mechanisms, using both earlier publications and new analyses from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Our collective observations provide a new framework for critically evaluating the quantitative relations between BMI and adiposity across groups differing in race and ethnicity; reveal new insights into BMI as a measure of adiposity across the adult age-span; identify knowledge gaps that can form the basis of future research and create a quantitative foundation for developing BMI-related public health recommendations.

Microbubble-mediated intravascular ultrasound imaging and drug delivery

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) provides radiation-free, real-time imaging and assessment of atherosclerotic disease in terms of anatomical, functional, and molecular composition. The primary clinical applications of IVUS imaging include assessment of luminal plaque volume and real-time image guidance for stent placement. When paired with microbubble contrast agents, IVUS technology may be extended to provide nonlinear imaging, molecular imaging, and therapeutic delivery modes. In this review, we discuss the development of emerging imaging and therapeutic applications that are enabled by the combination of IVUS imaging technology and microbubble contrast agents.

The role of small carnivores in the movement of bones: implications for the Pampas archaeofaunal record, Argentina

The use of the same spaces and prey by humans and carnivores often leads to the formation of complex faunal assemblages, in which the anatomical and taxonomic composition results from the combined action of these agents. The aim of this paper is to evaluate bone movement based on actualistic research in the Pampas region of Argentina, with an emphasis on the action of carnivores as agents responsible for transport and accumulation of bone. Number of taxa, percentage of specimens affected by carnivores in each environmental context, skeletal representation and carnivore modifications on European hare from the hills and the coast, and bone movement are discussed. The implications of our actualistic results for the regional archaeological record are also addressed. All of the sampled environments presented evidence of carnivore modifications, with percentages between 9 % (coast) and 40 % (hills). This information demonstrates that this agent plays an active role in the formation of modern bone assemblages in the Pampas region and provides a frame of reference for exploring interpretations about the low percentages of carnivore activity recorded in the archaeological record of the region. We argue that carnivores not only modify an assemblage by incorporating or destroying bones, but also by moving them to other locations. Consequently, carnivore effects on site formation in the Pampas region should not be underestimated when their marks are scarce.

Experimental study of bone modification by captive caracal (Caracal caracal); a model for fossil assemblage analysis

Medium-size animals such as rabbits and hares are common occurrences in fossil assemblages, and make up a large part of the diet of many carnivores. However their mode of accumulation, especially in African localities is poorly understood. This investigation undertook experimental feeding of domestic rabbit carcasses to captive caracal (Caracal caracal), in order to create a taphonomic model of bone modifications that can be applied to fossil assemblages. We investigated the modification patterns of both the feeding refuse (non-ingested) and the scatological remains. The anatomical composition, breakage patterns, digestive modifications and tooth marks are described. The caracals preferentially fed on high yield parts of the rabbit carcass and discarded low yield parts like the cranium and feet, a pattern that has been observed in wild and captive coyotes when food resources are abundant. Rabbit remains from the caracal displayed poor survival, relative to other small carnivores. Fragmentation in the scat assemblage was high. Bones were extensively but lightly digested and carnivore tooth marks were frequent. This investigation provides a model of bone modification in a carnivore that while common in fossil localities has received little taphonomic attention. The study also exhibits how detailed actualistic investigations can provide information that may aid palaeoecological interpretations.

SU-E-I-28: Introduction and Investigation of Effective Diameter Ratios as a New Patient Size Metric for Use in CT

Purpose: To introduce and investigate effective diameter ratios as a new patient metric for use in computed tomography protocol selection as a supplement to patient-specific size parameter data. Methods: The metrics of outer effective diameter and inner effective diameter were measured for 7 post-mortem subjects scanned with a standardized chest/abdomen/pelvis (CAP) protocol on a 320-slice MDCT scanner. The outer effective diameter was calculated by obtaining the anterior/posterior and lateral dimensions of the imaged anatomy at the middle of the scan range using Effective Diameter= SQRT(AP height*Lat Width). The inner effective diameter was calculated with the same equation using the AP and Lat dimensions of the anatomy excluding the adipose tissue. The ratio of outer to inner effective diameter was calculated for each subject. A relationship to BMI, weight, and CTDI conversion coefficients was investigated. Results: For the largest subject with BMI of 43.85 kg/m2 and weight of 255 lbs the diameter ratio was calculated as 1.33. For the second largest subject with BMI of 33.5 kg/m2 and weight of 192.4 lbs the diameter ratio was measured as 1.43, indicating a larger percentage of adipose tissue in the second largest subject’s anatomical composition. For the smallest subject at BMI of 17.4more » kg/m2 and weight of 86 lbs a similar tissue composition was indicated as a subject with BMI of 24.2 kg/m2 and weight of 136 lbs as they had the same diameter ratios of 1.11. Conclusion: The diameter ratio proves to contain information about anatomical composition that the BMI and weight alone do not. The utility of this metric is still being examined but could prove useful for determining MDCT techniques and for giving a more in depth detail of the composition of a patient’s body habitus.« less

Next generation of cardiovascular studies: transcriptional responses of the human myocardium during cardiac surgery.

Next generation of cardiovascular studies: transcriptional responses of the human myocardium during cardiac surgery.

Large effect QTL explain natural phenotypic variation for the developmental timing of vegetative phase change in maize (Zea mays L.).

Natural variation for the timing of vegetative phase change in maize is controlled by several large effect loci, one corresponding to Glossy15 , a gene known for regulating juvenile tissue traits. Vegetative phase change is an intrinsic component of developmental programs in plants. Juvenile and adult vegetative tissues in grasses differ dramatically in their anatomical and biochemical composition affecting the utility of specific genotypes as animal feed and biofuel feedstock. The molecular network controlling the process of developmental transition is incompletely characterized. In this study, we used scoring for juvenile and adult epicuticular wax as an entry point to discover quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling phenotypic variation for the developmental timing of juvenile to adult transition in maize. We scored the last leaf with juvenile wax on 25 recombinant inbred line families of the B73 reference Nested Association Mapping (NAM) population and the intermated B73×Mo17 (IBM) population across multiple seasons. A total of 13 unique QTL were identified through genome-wide association analysis across the NAM populations, three of which have large effects. A QTL located on chromosome nine had the most significant SNPs within Glossy15, a gene controlling expression of juvenile leaf traits. The second large effect QTL is located on chromosome two. The most significant SNP in this QTL is located adjacent to a homolog of the Arabidopsis transcription factor, enhanced downy mildew-2, which has been shown to promote the transition from juvenile to adult vegetative phase. Overall, these results show that several major QTL and potential candidate genes underlie the extensive natural variation for this developmental trait.

Stem cell applications for pathologies of the urinary bladder.

New stem cell based therapies are undergoing intense research and are widely investigated in clinical fields including the urinary system. The urinary bladder performs critical complex functions that rely on its highly coordinated anatomical composition and multiplex of regulatory mechanisms. Bladder pathologies resulting in severe dysfunction are common clinical encounter and often cause significant impairment of patient's quality of life. Current surgical and medical interventions to correct urinary dysfunction or to replace an absent or defective bladder are sub-optimal and are associated with notable complications. As a result, stem cell based therapies for the urinary bladder are hoped to offer new venues that could make up for limitations of existing therapies. In this article, we review research efforts that describe the use of different types of stem cells in bladder reconstruction, urinary incontinence and retention disorders. In particular, stress urinary incontinence has been a popular target for stem cell based therapies in reported clinical trials. Furthermore, we discuss the relevance of the cancer stem cell hypothesis to the development of bladder cancer. A key subject that should not be overlooked is the safety and quality of stem cell based therapies introduced to human subjects either in a research or a clinical context.

Anatomía del culmo de bambú (Guadua aculeata Rupr.) de la región nororiental del estado de Puebla, México

Se realizó la caracterización anatómica de la pared de los culmos de Guadua aculeata Rupr., los especímenes fueron colectados en el predio “Las Margaritas” ubicado en el municipio de Hueytamalco, Puebla, México. El objetivo fue conocer la proporción de las estructuras anatómicas que componen el culmo y las dimensiones de las fibras, para contribuir al conocimiento de la especie. Se estudió la composición anatómica del culmo y se hizo la caracterización estructural de las fibras; en ambos casos se utilizaron cuatro culmos. Para la medición de las fibras, cada culmo se seccionó en tres partes de su longitud (inferior, medio y superior), de estas secciones se cortaron rodajas del entrenudo y cercanas al nudo. Se hicieron tres divisiones del interior al exterior de la pared del culmo en las rodajas (interna, media y externa). En la composición anatómica, la metodología fue similar a la caracterización de fibras hasta el corte de las rodajas del nudo y entrenudo. De estas se hicieron cortes histológicos transversales de 5 mm de espesor. La forma de los haces vasculares no coinciden completamente con la clasificación existente. El culmo está compuesto por 50% de parénquima, 41% de fibra y 9% de tejido conductivo. Las fibras miden en promedio 2,152 mm de longitud, 13,68 μm de diámetro, 3,29 μm de diámetro de lumen y 10,39 μm de grosor de pared.

Reconstructing depositional histories through bone taphonomy: extending the potential of faunal data

Reconstructing the sequences of deposition of archaeological material is central to the interpretation of archaeological sites and provides the foundations for how site chronology is understood. Generally stratigraphy provides the most direct evidence for understanding depositional histories. However, in certain instances stratigraphic relationships may be obscured or unobservable and therefore other sources of evidence must be drawn upon for defining deposits and reconstructing sequences of deposition. This is a particular problem at dark earth sites, which are homogeneous in terms of the colour and texture of deposits, and also in artefact-rich samples, which have little sedimentary matrix.This paper explores the potential of a new approach to the analysis of bone taphonomic data for the purposes of deciphering depositional histories when stratigraphy is unobservable. Integral to this method is rigorous statistical analysis of modification data combined with an assessment of the taxonomic and anatomical composition of deposits, in terms of their susceptibility to modification. This facilitates more confident interpretation of modification patterns, as deposit composition can be discounted from responsibility for significant differences. The approach is tested on a sample area of the later prehistoric midden of Potterne, Wiltshire, UK. Through detailed recording and statistical analysis of bone modifications (weathering, gnawing and trampling), this research demonstrates that bone taphonomy is not only useful for identifying distinct depositional events in apparently homogeneous strata, but can also provide detail on the nature of processes responsible for the formation of the deposit.

Abstract 4184: Drug set enrichment analysis : A computational approach to identify functional drug sets

Abstract Most drug-testing approaches published so far focus on identifying a single drug that shows favorable response and is associated with a known cancer biomarker such as the drug Imatinib in BCR-ABL gene fusion positive cells. We developed and applied drug set enrichment analysis (DSEA) to find enriched patterns or statistically significant similarities (overlaps) between the drug responses of a test sample against a cohort of 182 previously screened cancer samples. The samples studied included established (ATCC) cancer cell lines, drug-resistant cancer cell models, ex-vivo patient cancer cells in primary cultures, including conditionally reprogrammed cancer cells from patients. DSEA is adopting Gene Set Enrichment Analysis statistics commonly used for gene expression analysis to high throughput drug testing data. Our drug screening (Pemovska et al., Cancer Discovery, 2013) was done with a panel of 306 established (FDA-approved) and emerging targeted cancer drugs such as tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (e.g. EGFR, PDGFR, BRAF, MET), S/T-type inhibitors, (e.g. MEK, Plk1, Akt, Aurora, Chk1), and inhibitors of other pathways (HDACs, Hh, BCL2, PI3K, PARP) and many others. The readout was based on viability of cells after a 72 hour culture. The DSEA approach is based on taking the top most sensitive drugs (above a defined sensitivity score cut-off) in an individual cancer sample and then identifying overlapping drug response profiles in previously screened reference samples. Our hypothesis is that the most sensitive drug sets in any given sample tend to show similar response profiles in a cohort of similar samples. We convey the correlations and drug set enrichment analysis results as dendrogram trees, plots and tables with enrichment and significance scores. Interestingly, our results show that clustering of drug sensitivity testing data does not place all cancer cell line samples within well-established subgroups based on biological features or histological origin. We find a similar tendency in ex vivo patient samples. Therefore, comprehensive drug response profiles seen may reveal novel biological data that reflect pharmacologically-relevant, phenotypic cancer cell states. DSEA could also provide novel means to subtype previously poorly characterized cancer samples based on their drug response profiles and thereby in the future facilitate the choice of therapies to patients whose cancers repond in an atypical way as compared to the expectations based on anatomical origin or genomic composition. Citation Format: John Patrick Mpindi, Dimitry Bychkov, Yadav Bhagwan, Disha Malani, Hirasawa Akira, Khalid Saeed, Susanne Hultsch, Sara Kangaspeska, Astrid Murumägi, Caroline A Heckman, Kimmo Porkka, Tero Aittokallio, Krister Wennerberg, Päivi Östling, Olli Kallioniemi. Drug set enrichment analysis : A computational approach to identify functional drug sets. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4184. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4184

Anatomical and energy characteristics of charcoal made from five species

Charcoal is an important energy raw material and its properties are influenced by the wood's anatomical and chemical composition and the production process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anatomical characteristics, calorific power and volatiles and ash content of carbonized wood from Byrsonima spicata, Calophyllum brasiliense, Cecropia sciadophylla, Cochlospermum orinocense and Schefflera morototoni. The calorific power varied from 26,878 to 31,117 kJ kg-1; the content of volatile materials ranged from 20.9 to 31.7%; ash content ranged from 0.1 to 3.8%; and carbon content varied from 68.2 to 75.3%. Anatomical structures of charcoal can be used for species identification. The studied species are not indicated for charcoal production because the levels of ash and volatile compounds are higher than those recommended for charcoal produced for household use. In addition, the calorific power and level of carbon content are insufficient for use in the steel industry.

Practical approach to MRI of female pelvic masses.

Female pelvic masses have a broad differential diagnosis, including benign and malignant neoplasms and nonneoplastic entities. By using a systematic approach to the evaluation of a complex pelvic mass, including incorporating the clinical and surgical history, and by using multiparametric MRI to identify the anatomic origin, morphologic features, and tissue composition of a mass, a short meaningful differential diagnosis or definitive diagnosis can often be established.

Identification of the baculum in American pika (Ochotona princeps: Lagomorpha) from southwestern Alberta, Canada

We discovered hard structures that resembled bone in the penis of 20 specimens of male American pikas (Ochotona princeps) from the Rocky Mountains of southwestern Alberta, Canada. Histological sections of these structures showed features consistent with cortical bone and osteocytes, and scanning electron microscopy analyses indicated peaks in calcium and phosphorous. The anatomical positioning, internal texture, and elemental composition indicate that the structures are bacula. The presence of a baculum in O. princeps demonstrates that there is a greater phylogenetic distribution of this feature among Mammalia than commonly recognized, and it indicates that the absence of a baculum is not a derived character state for Lagomorpha.