Μm Intervals Research Articles

Bovine fetal testicular development in the Nellore breed

The study of gonadal development improves the understanding of factors that can influence the reproductive development process. This study aims to characterize bovine fetal testicular development and the testosterone level in the Nellore breed. For the study, 162 bovine fetuses aged between 3 and 8 months were collected from Nellore cows at a local abattoir. The fetal age was estimated by DP=8.4+0.087L+5.46?L, where DP is the estimated pregnancy day and L represents fetal length. The fetal gonadal weight (g), width (cm), and thickness (cm) were measured. Thereafter, the gonads were submitted to classic histology processes in 3-µm-thick slices cut at 210 µm intervals. The Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, and germ cells were counted. Blood samples were collected from umbilical cords for testosterone levels. The data were analyzed using the Spearman correlation test followed by Principal Component Analysis and one-way ANOVA to compare the averages between months. The testicular weight and volume were found to have a positive correlation with the numbers of Sertoli cells (r = 0.84; p < 0.0001 and r = 0.92; p < 0.0001, respectively), Leydig cells (r = 0.80; p < 0.0001 and r = 0.90; p < 0.0001, respectively), and germ cells (r = 0.84; p < 0.0001 and r = 0.93; p < 0.0001, respectively) and to be negatively correlated with testosterone plasmatic concentration (r = -0.31; p = 0.0001 and r = -0.22; p = 0.006, respectively) during pregnancy. After the fifth month, the numbers of Sertoli cells, Leydig cells and germ cells differed (p < 0.0001) from the following gestational months. The highest testosterone concentration (p = 0.007) was observed in the fifth month of gestation and was followed by a concentration decrease in the seventh and eighth months. The increase in cell quantity was responsible for the increase in testicular weight and volume during fetal development. On the other hand, the testosterone concentration followed the increase in testicular weight and volume until the 7th month of gestation and regressed during the 8th and 9th months, in addition to the increase in cell number.

Bovine fetal testicular development in the Nellore breed

The study of gonadal development improves the understanding of factors that can influence the reproductive development process. This study aims to characterize bovine fetal testicular development and the testosterone level in the Nellore breed. For the study, 162 bovine fetuses aged between 3 and 8 months were collected from Nellore cows at a local abattoir. The fetal age was estimated by DP=8.4+0.087L+5.46?L, where DP is the estimated pregnancy day and L represents fetal length. The fetal gonadal weight (g), width (cm), and thickness (cm) were measured. Thereafter, the gonads were submitted to classic histology processes in 3-µm-thick slices cut at 210 µm intervals. The Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, and germ cells were counted. Blood samples were collected from umbilical cords for testosterone levels. The data were analyzed using the Spearman correlation test followed by Principal Component Analysis and one-way ANOVA to compare the averages between months. The testicular weight and volume were found to have a positive correlation with the numbers of Sertoli cells (r = 0.84; p < 0.0001 and r = 0.92; p < 0.0001, respectively), Leydig cells (r = 0.80; p < 0.0001 and r = 0.90; p < 0.0001, respectively), and germ cells (r = 0.84; p < 0.0001 and r = 0.93; p < 0.0001, respectively) and to be negatively correlated with testosterone plasmatic concentration (r = -0.31; p = 0.0001 and r = -0.22; p = 0.006, respectively) during pregnancy. After the fifth month, the numbers of Sertoli cells, Leydig cells and germ cells differed (p < 0.0001) from the following gestational months. The highest testosterone concentration (p = 0.007) was observed in the fifth month of gestation and was followed by a concentration decrease in the seventh and eighth months. The increase in cell quantity was responsible for the increase in testicular weight and volume during fetal development. On the other hand, the testosterone concentration followed the increase in testicular weight and volume until the 7th month of gestation and regressed during the 8th and 9th months, in addition to the increase in cell number.

En face swept-source OCT choroidal vasculography (CVG)

To describe a method for the visualization of choroidal vascular structures using swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT)-A data sets. Data sets of 9 mm × 9 mm with 512 × 512 A OCT-A scans were collected from patients with various diseases using a Topcon DRI OCT Triton® Swept Source OCT. The en face OCT data were inverted and 26 µm Bruch’s membrane fit slabs were created using Topcon IMAGEnet 6 1.21 viewer software. This slab was moved through the choroid at 2.6 µm intervals in order to create a fluid fly-through of the choroidal vasculature. The slab was moved to a depth of up to 450 µm beneath the Bruch’s membrane. Where available, the indocyanine green angiography (ICG) of the same patient was compared with the resulting visualization. A total of 20 data sets from 10 patients were collected for this initial evaluation. The pathologies included 5 central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) patients, 3 diabetic retinopathy (DRP) patients, one sub choroidal mass, and one normal patient. The inversion of the en face data made the vessels clearly visible in the visualization. The high density of the OCT-A scans made it possible to visualize even small vessels in Sattler’s and Haller’s layer. In the cases where a comparison with ICG was possible there was a high correlation between the imaging modalities. As with OCT-A, leakage was not visible. This is an effective method of visualizing the choroidal vasculature. It is comparable to ICG in visualizing the choroidal vascular structure. It of course does not show leakage. As it does not show blood flow like OCT-A but shows vascular structures, we propose the term choroidal vasculography (CVG) to describe this method. The clinical relevance of this method needs to be studied further.

EFFECT OF INTRAVITREAL RANIBIZUMAB ON GANGLION CELL COMPLEX AND PERIPAPILLARY RETINAL NERVE FIBER LAYER IN NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION USING SPECTRAL DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY.

To analyze the changes in ganglion cell complex and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, in central macular thickness and choroidal thickness on spectral domain optical coherence tomography in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration treated with intravitreal ranibizumab injections. All consecutive patients with untreated neovascular age-related macular degeneration received loading phase of three monthly intravitreal ranibizumab, followed by retreatments on a pro re nata protocol for 12 months. changes in ganglion cell complex and retinal nerve fiber layer at the end of follow-up. Secondary outcome: changes in best-corrected visual acuity, central macular thickness, and choroidal thickness at the end of follow-up. Choroidal thickness was measured at 500 μm, 1000 μm, and 1,500 μm intervals nasally, temporally, superiorly, and inferiorly to the fovea, respectively, on horizontal and vertical line scans centered on the fovea. Twenty-four eyes were included. Ganglion cell complex and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness did not show statistically significant changes through 12 months (55.6 ± 18.5 and 81.9 ± 9.9 μm at baseline, 52.7 ± 19.3 and 84.6 ± 15.5 μm at month 12, P > 0.05). Central macular thickness showed progressive decrease from baseline to month 12, with maximum reduction at month 3 (P < 0.001). Statistically significant reduction in choroidal thickness was registered in the nasal 500, 1000, and 1,500 μm from the fovea, corresponding to the papillomacular region (from 169.6 ± 45.3 to 153.9 ± 46.9, P < 0.001). Intravitreal ranibizumab injections did not affect retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell complex thickness in 1-year follow-up. Choroidal thickness in papillomacular area and central macular thickness was significantly reduced at the end of treatment. Further studies, with larger sample, longer follow-up, and greater number of injections, are warranted.

Histopathological correlations to ureteral lesions visualized during ureteroscopy

PurposeTo correlate ureteral lesions visualized during ureteroscopy with histopathological findings.Materials and methodsUreteral access sheaths (UAS) sized 13/15 Fr. were inserted bilaterally in 22 laboratory pigs. During retraction of the UAS with a semirigid ureteroscope inside, ureteral lesions were evaluated and registered using the Post-ureteroscopic lesion scale (PULS). Ureters were excised in vivo between the uretero–pelvic junction and the uretero–vesical junction. Embedded in paraffin, 4-µm thick sections were step sectioned at 250–300 µm intervals and haematoxylin and eosin (HE) stained. Histopathological scoring of ureteral wall lesions was subsequently performed according to PULS.ResultsIn 72.1% of ureters, the highest histopathological score was at least 1 grade higher than the highest endoscopic PULS score. For 12 (27.9%) lesions, the difference was 2 scores higher, and for 1 (2.3%), it was 3 scores higher. The histopathological PULS grade was higher than the endoscopical PULS grade at all minimum, quartile, and maximum scores. There was a significant difference in the distribution of highest lesional scores between the endoscopic and histopathological PULS (p = 0.002). The calculated mean of the highest scores was 1.49 for endoscopic PULS and 2.51 for histopathological PULS (p < 0.0001).ConclusionHistopathological evaluation of ureteral wall lesions after UAS placement revealed a significantly higher degree of severity than observed endoscopically. Thus, endoscopy underestimated the histopathological extent of the lesion in the majority of cases.

A large airborne survey of Earth's visible-infrared spectral dimensionality.

The intrinsic spectral dimensionality indicates the observable degrees of freedom in Earth's solar-reflected light field, quantifying the diversity of spectral content accessible by visible and infrared remote sensing. The solar-reflected regime spans the 0.38 - 2.5 μm interval, and is captured by a wide range of current and planned instruments on both airborne and orbital platforms. To date there has been no systematic study of its spectral dimensionality as a function of space, time, and land cover. Here we report a multi-site, multi-year statistical survey by NASA's "Classic" Airborne Visible Near InfraRed Spectrometer (AVIRIS-C). AVIRIS-C measured large regions of California, USA, spanning wide latitudinal and elevation gradients containing all canonical MODIS land cover types. The spectral uniformity of the AVIRIS-C design enabled consistent in-scene assessment of measurement noise across acquisitions. The estimated dimensionality as a function of cover type ranged from the low 20s to the high 40s, and was approximately 50 for the combined dataset. This result indicates the high diversity of physical processes distinguishable by imaging spectrometers like AVIRIS-C for one region of the Earth.

Preoperative measurement of serum CA-125 levels: is it useful in the risk assessment of low volume lymph node disease in cervical cancer?

AbstractBACKGROUND: Elevated serum cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) is observed in some cervical cancers (CCs). Is the correlation of CA-125 with the presence of nodal events useful in predicting early metastasis to the lymph nodes?METHODS: The study included 45 patients with CC FIGO (2009) stages IA1-IIA1 and known preoperative CA-125 concentration, surgery treated (05.2011-05.2014). Investigated pretreatment: age (pre-, postmenopausal), histological type, grade, confounding factors - prior cone biopsy, ovarian cyst, endometriosis, liver or colon pathology, concomitant malignancy. LN metastases (LNM) were defined as macro (MAC, &gt;2mm) and/or micrometastases (mic, 0.2 - 2 mm), and LVLND as mic or/and ITC (single CC cells clusters) in LNs. Ultrastaging of all LNs (sentinel and non-sentinel, 4 μm thick slices/150 μm intervals) was performed with hematoxylin and eosin staining and with immunohistochemistry (IHC - AE1/AE3 cytokeratin antibodies). Non-parametrical analysis and receiver operating curve analysis were used to determine correlation between CA-125 and LNM including LVLND.RESULTS: The median age was 55 (23-71). 806 LNs were extracted. LNM was found in 12, LVLND in 6 patients. LNM but not LVLND was correlated with higher grade (G2-G3, p&lt;0.05). LVLND was positively correlated with premenopausal age (p&lt;0.05) but not with tumor histology or grade. Liver disease only was found to influence CA-125 levels (p=0.064). There were no differences within CA-125 concentration among LVLND, LNM, and node-negative patients groups, however a trend was found between higher CA-125 and lower LVLND risk.CONCLUSIONS: Elevated levels of CA-125 may be less likely due to LVLND than to LN positivity. Grade is an important feature in prediction of LNM but not LVLND. CA-125 level was found to be not predictive of LNM nor LVLND, as confirmed by ultrastaging.

Blue-laser scanned imaging system using positioning marks formed on an optical disk substrate

We improved the optical disk-based imaging system to make more precise images at low cost for safety enhancement applications to observe and detect micrometer-order hazardous substances collected on a large-area surface. An optical disk substrate with positioning marks is prepared, and a signal processor is developed to automatically construct an image using the marks. We successfully obtained an image of Escherichia coli dispersed on an optical disk sample surface with a laser-scanning interval of 0.40 µm in the optical disk’s radial direction; this interval is reduced from the 0.74 and 1.36 µm intervals demonstrated in our previous papers.

CHOROIDAL THICKNESS IN MULTISYSTEMIC AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES WITHOUT OPHTHALMOLOGIC MANIFESTATIONS.

To evaluate choroidal morphology and thickness at the posterior pole of individuals affected by multisystemic autoimmune diseases and without known ophthalmologic manifestations. Retrospective cross-sectional study including 75 patients with autoimmune diseases (divided according to their specific disease) and 80 healthy controls. A spectral-domain optical coherence tomography using enhanced depth imaging was performed and choroidal thickness was measured in the center of fovea and at 500 μm intervals along a horizontal section. Lupus patients presented a thicker subfoveal choroid than controls (408.624 vs. 356.536, P < 0.001) and in all the other measurements (P < 0.001 to P = 0.003). Rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases had an overall thinner choroid than controls (297.867 vs. 356.536 subfoveally, P = 0.004; P = 0.005-0.019 in other measurements). Results were adjusted for the covariates age (P = 0.007), spherical equivalent (P < 0.001), and systemic steroids dose (P = 0.004). Hypertension (P = 0.102), diabetes mellitus (P = 0.672), time since the beginning of therapy with hydroxychloroquine (P = 0.104) and its cumulative dose (P = 0.307), or use of other immunosuppressives (P = 0.281) had no influence on the mean choroidal thickness. No morphologic abnormalities were found. The choroid may be subclinically involved in autoimmune diseases. However, the choroidal response seems to differ depending on the autoimmune disease. Infiltrative mechanisms specific for lupus may justify the thickened choroid found in these patients.

CatSperζ regulates the structural continuity of sperm Ca2+ signaling domains and is required for normal fertility.

We report that the Gm7068 (CatSpere) and Tex40 (CatSperz) genes encode novel subunits of a 9-subunit CatSper ion channel complex. Targeted disruption of CatSperz reduces CatSper current and sperm rheotactic efficiency in mice, resulting in severe male subfertility. Normally distributed in linear quadrilateral nanodomains along the flagellum, the complex lacking CatSperζ is disrupted at ~0.8 μm intervals along the flagellum. This disruption renders the proximal flagellum inflexible and alters the 3D flagellar envelope, thus preventing sperm from reorienting against fluid flow in vitro and efficiently migrating in vivo. Ejaculated CatSperz-null sperm cells retrieved from the mated female uterus partially rescue in vitro fertilization (IVF) that failed with epididymal spermatozoa alone. Human CatSperε is quadrilaterally arranged along the flagella, similar to the CatSper complex in mouse sperm. We speculate that the newly identified CatSperζ subunit is a late evolutionary adaptation to maximize fertilization inside the mammalian female reproductive tract.

Retinal and Choroidal Thickness in Patients with High Myopia without Maculopathy.

Objective:To evaluate macular choroidal thickness (CT) and retinal thickness in Turkish patients with high myopia without maculopathy and in normal subjects and to examine the association with age, axial length (AL), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), cycloplegic refraction, and spherical equivalent (SE).Methods:This prospective study was performed between January 2015 and June 2016 in the Department of Ophthalmology, Duzce University Medical Faculty. It had 65 individuals (30 patients with high myopia, 35 healthy subjects). Retinal and choroidal images were obtained using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Measurements (one subfoveal, three temporal, three nasal) were taken at 500 μm intervals up to 1,500 μm using the caliper system. Only the right eye was used for subsequent analysis.Results:The mean age was 29.5 ± 14.5 years and 25.6 ± 7.0 in the high myopia and control groups, respectively. The subfoveal CT was significantly lower in the high myopia group (mean, 218.3 ± 102.25 mm) than the control group (mean, 331.83 ± 99.06 mm; p < 0.001). In both groups, the choroid was thinnest at the nasal 1,500 μm location, being 158.40 ± 90.8 μm and 301 ± 103.59 μm, respectively. Retinal thickness in both groups was thickest at the nasal 1,500 μm location and thinnest in the subfoveal region. In patients with high myopia, CT was negatively correlated with AL (r=-0.490, p=0.006) and age (r=-0.455, p=0.012).Conclusions:Highly myopic eyes have a thinner choroid, which may be secondary to longer AL but is not an independent factor. Further studies in the field of OCT are important to exploring the pathology of high myopia.

Mineralocorticoid Antagonists as Adjuncts in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

IntroductionThe purpose of this project was to evaluate the role of MR antagonists as an adjunct in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who have chronic subretinal fluid.MethodsInclusion criteria were patients with a diagnosis of neovascular AMD, who had completed at least six anti-VEGF injections, and had persistent subretinal fluid (SRF) on optical coherence tomography (OCT). Treatment with oral eplerenone was initiated and dose titrated according to protocol.Results23 patients were included in the study (mean age = 54.6, 52.2% female, 47.8% male). 13 of the 23 patients had predominantly chronic subretinal fluid without large PEDs. In this subgroup, mean initial central macular thickness (CMT) prior to starting oral eplerenone was 305.3 μm, and mean injection interval was 40.25 days. Mean final CMT after at least 3 months of adjunctive eplerenone treatment was 240.6 μm and mean injection interval with adjunctive treatment was 54.61 days. Mean extension of the injection interval after commencing oral eplerenone was 14.36 days.ConclusionsThese findings suggest oral MR antagonists may have a role as an adjunctive treatment in neovascular AMD, and may be particularly useful in dehydration of the subretinal space in the setting of chronic subretinal fluid. Further research is needed in randomized controlled trials to elucidate the precise role of oral MR antagonists in neovascular AMD.

High frequency stimulation of the infralimbic cortex induces morphological changes in rat hippocampal neurons.

Although a significant subset of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) fail to respond to medical or behavioural therapy, deep brain stimulation (DBS) applied to the subgenual cingulate cortex (SCC; sg25) has been shown to reduce depressive symptoms in a subset of patients. This area receives projections from neurons in the CA1 region and subiculum of the hippocampus (HC), a brain region implicated in the pathobiology and treatment of MDD. To assess whether high frequency stimulation (HFS) of the infralimbic cortex is associated with changes in cellular morphology in the HC. Rats were subjected to either infralimbic HFS or sham-stimulation. Measures of cellular morphology, including dendritic length and complexity, were assessed in pyramidal neurons in the CA1 region of the HC by means of the Golgi-Cox histological stain. Dendritic length (p=0.013) and number of branch points (p=0.004) were significantly increased across the entire dendritic tree in animals subjected to HFS. Subsequent Scholl analysis revealed that for dendritic length these effects were localized to the region between 80 and 160μm from the soma (p<0.001 for either 40μm interval) in the basal dendritic tree, while branch point number was predominantly increased between 120 and 160μm from the soma (p<0.001) in the apical dendritic tree. High-frequency stimulation of the infralimbic cortex increases the complexity of apical dendrites and the length of basal dendritic trees of pyramidal neurons located in the CA1 hippocampal subfield relative to sham-stimulated animals.

A Study of the Growth Patterns of Breast Carcinoma Using 3D Reconstruction: A Pilot Study.

Lumpectomy with microscopically clear margins is a safe and effective approach for surgical management of breast carcinoma. Margins are positive for tumor in 18-50% of lumpectomies, as it is not possible to accurately determine the shape or microscopic borders of a tumor preoperatively or intraoperatively. We examined the 3D microanatomy and growth patterns of common breast carcinoma subtypes to provide guidance for lumpectomy surgery. Prospective consent was obtained for the use of excess tissue from patients undergoing lumpectomy or mastectomy for breast carcinoma. Tissue blocks from nine breast carcinomas were serially sectioned. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides at 100 μm intervals were scanned using a Nanozoomer (Hamamatsu, Japan) microscopic-resolution scanner. Three-dimensional reconstructions of tumors were created from scanned images using Reconstruct, open-access software. Breast carcinoma subtypes demonstrated characteristic growth patterns within breast tissue, which may have implications for lumpectomy surgery. Invasive ductal carcinomas showed a spherical shape, with a spiculated surface representing tumor cells infiltrating into surrounding parenchyma. Ductal carcinoma in situ appeared to spread along the duct system, creating dilated, tortuous, tumor-filled ducts. The invasive lobular carcinomas examined had a haphazard, linear, infiltrative growth pattern, different from the shape seen in ductal carcinomas. Our preliminary work suggests that invasive ductal and invasive lobular carcinomas appear to have distinct growth patterns in three dimensions and ductal carcinoma in situ appears to grow in a linear fashion along the duct network. The microanatomy studies described have the potential to guide refinements in breast lumpectomy technique.

Choroidal thickness in older patients with central serous chorioretinopathy.

BackgroundTo investigate the choroidal thickness in older patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) compared to age-matched normal subjects.MethodsFifteen patients (30 eyes) with CSCR, all aged ≥60 years, and 21 age-matched normal subjects (21 eyes) underwent high-definition raster scanning using SD-OCT. Both eyes from CSCR patients were included in the analysis. The eyes in patients with CSCR were divided into two groups: active CSCR (17 eyes) if there was foveal-involving subretinal fluid and inactive contralateral eye group (13 eyes). Choroidal thickness was measured from the posterior edge of the retinal pigment epithelium to the choroidal–scleral junction at 500 µm intervals up to 2500 µm temporal and nasal to the fovea (11 locations).ResultsThe mean age of the patients with CSCR was 68.87 ± 6.83 years (mean ± standard deviation). Reliable measurements of choroidal thickness were obtainable in 70.6 % of eyes examined. The choroid was statistically significantly thicker in eyes with both active CSCR (P < 0.001) and inactive contralateral eyes (P < 0.01) when compared to normal age-matched eyes. The subfoveal choroid was 95 µm (P < 0.01) thicker in eyes with active CSCR (338.05 ± 31.42 µm) compared with normal eyes (243.05 ± 13.39 µm). The subfoveal choroid thickness in the inactive contralateral eyes was numerically greater than normal, and it was not statistically significantly thicker compared to the normal eyes (difference—55.68 µm, P > 0.05).ConclusionChoroid in older patients with active CSCR was thicker than the choroid in age-matched normal eyes. It is important to consider CSCR as a differential diagnosis of serous retinal detachment in elderly patients with thickened choroid and to consider SD-OCT as an imaging modality by which to evaluate the choroidal thickness.

Choroidal thickness measurements with optical coherence tomography in branch retinal vein occlusion.

To evaluate central macular thickness (CMT) and mean choroidal thickness (MCT) in eyes with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), before and after ranibizumab treatment using spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Forty-two patients with unilateral BRVO and macular edema were included in this study. There were 25 men and 17 women. Using SD-OCT, choroidal thickness was measured at 500 µm intervals up to 1500 µm temporal and nasal to the fovea. MCT was calculated based on the average of the 7 locations. All the eyes with BRVO were treated with intravitreal ranibizumab (0.5 mg/0.05 mL). Comparisons between the BRVO and fellow eyes were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test. Pre-injection and post-injection measurements were analyzed using Wilcoxon test and repeated measure analysis. At baseline, there was a significant difference between the BRVO and fellow eyes in MCT [BRVO eyes 245 (165-330) µm, fellow eyes 229 (157-327) µm] and CMT [BRVO eyes 463 (266-899) µm, fellow eyes 235 (148-378) µm (P=0.041, 0.0001, respectively)]. Following treatment, CMT [295 (141-558) µm] and MCT [229 (157-329) µm] decreased significantly compared to the baseline measurements (P=0.001, 0.006, respectively). Also BCVA (logMAR) improved significantly (P=0.0001) in the BRVO eyes following treatment. After treatment CMT [BRVO eyes 295 (141-558) µm, fellow eyes 234 (157-351) µm] and MCT [BRVO eyes 229 (157-329) µm, fellow eyes 233 (162-286) µm] values did not reveal any significant difference in BRVO eyes and fellow eyes (P=0.051, 0.824, respectively). In eyes with BRVO, CMT and MCT values are greater than the fellow eyes, and decrease significantly following ranibizumab injection.

THE INTERMEDIATE-MASS STAR-FORMING REGION LYNDS 1340. AN OPTICAL VIEW

ABSTRACT We have performed an optical spectroscopic and photometric search for young stellar objects associated with the molecular cloud Lynds 1340, and examined the structure of the cloud by constructing an extinction map, based on SDSS data. The new extinction map suggests a shallow, strongly fragmented cloud, having a mass of some 3700 M ☉. Longslit spectroscopic observations of the brightest stars over the area of L1340 revealed that the most massive star associated with L1340 is a B4-type, ∼5 M ☉ star. The new spectroscopic and photometric data of the intermediate-mass members led to a revised distance of pc, and revealed seven members of the young stellar population with M ≳ 2 M ☉. Our search for Hα emission line stars, conducted with the Wide Field Grism Spectrograph 2 on the 2.2 m telescope of the University of Hawaii and covering a 30′ × 40′ area, resulted in the detection of 75 candidate low-mass pre-main sequence stars, 58 of which are new. We constructed spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of our target stars, based on SDSS, 2MASS, Spitzer, and WISE photometric data, derived their spectral types, extinctions, and luminosities from BVRIJ fluxes, estimated masses by means of pre-main sequence evolutionary models, and examined the disk properties utilizing the 2–24 μm interval of the SED. We measured the equivalent width of the Hα lines and derived accretion rates. The optically selected sample of pre-main sequence stars has a median effective temperature of 3970 K, a stellar mass of 0.7 M ☉, and an accretion rate of 7.6 × 10−9 M ☉ yr−1.

Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography of Choroidal and Outer Retinal Layer Thickness in the Sturge Weber Syndrome

ABSTRACTPurpose: To evaluate choroidal thickness and its effect on the outer retinal layers in patients with Sturge Weber syndrome (SWS).Materials and methods: Twenty eyes of 10 patients with SWS and 20 eyes of 10 healthy controls were evaluated at the ophthalmology unit of the Umberto I Policlinic, Rome from December 2015 to May 2015. Manual segmentation measurements of choroidal and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-photorec eptor layer (PHL) thickness were performed at the subfovea and at 500 µm intervals over 3 mm-long horizontal and vertical segments using enhanced depth spectral domain optical coherence tomography.Results: Mean choroidal thickness of the affected (561.6 µm ± 208.8) and fellow eyes (322.0 µm ± 56.6) of patients with SWS was significantly higher with respect to controls (266.5 µm ± 48.5 µm), p = 0.001 and p = 0.017, respectively. Mean RPE-PHL thickness was significantly lower in both the affected and fellow eyes of patients with respect to controls (p = 0.039 and p = 0.025, respectively).Conclusions: The choroid is thickened in patients with SWS, but the RPE-PHL is thinner. Choroidal thickening may lead to functional impairment causing disruption in the fine equilibrium between the choroid and retina and consequent outer retinal layer thinning.

Histological Characteristics of Knee Menisci in Patients with Osteoarthritis

Meniscal injury is a common source of knee pain, and it is argued that meniscal lesions can lead to osteoarthritis (OA) or OA can lead to meniscal lesions. Existing data indicate knee menisci in patients with OA show tearing, maceration, and fragmentation. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the histological structure of the menisci from patients with clinically diagnosed OA of the knee and to determine factors related to these changes. Medial and lateral menisci samples, demographic data, and Outerbridge classification scores (OCS, range 0–IV) of cartilage from the medial tibial plateau (MTP), medial femoral condyle (MFC), lateral tibial plateau (LTP), and lateral femoral condyle (LFC) were obtained with informed consent from 10 patients (6 female, 4 male) undergoing total knee arthroplasty for treatment of clinically diagnosed OA. Tissue samples were fixed in 10% buffered formaldehyde solution and 5–10 mm cross‐sections were taken from the middle of the medial and lateral menisci for further analysis. Cross‐sections were decalcified and sliced at 10 μm intervals. Three nonconsecutive tissue slices from each cross‐section were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and scanned at 10× magnification for histological scoring using grid counting. The only abnormal feature found was the presence of calcified cartilage matrix, so the percentage of calcified tissue was calculated for each tissue slice. Exact Mann‐Whitney tests and Spearman correlation coefficients were used to test for relationships of the percent calcification in samples with demographic data and OCS. Mean±SD age and weight of patients were 61.9±9.6 years and 98.0±18.5 kg, respectively. For the MTP, 1 patient had an OCS of II, 4 had an OCS of III, and 5 had an OCS of IV. For the MFC, 2 patients had an OCS of II, 5 had an OCS of III, and 3 had an OCS of IV. The mean±SD percentage of tissue calcification for the medial meniscus (MM) was 12.9±4.2% (female=13.2±3.2%, male=12.5±6.1%; P=.91). For the LTP, 1 patient had an OCS of II, 7 had an OCS of III, and 2 had an OCS of IV. For the LFC, 5 patients had an OCS of II, 4 had an OCS of III, and 1 had an OCS of IV. The mean±SD percentage of tissue calcification for the lateral meniscus (LM) was 11.5±4.2% (female=11.5±4.8%, male=11.5±3.9%; P=.91). Age was strongly positively correlated with percent calcification of MM (ρ=0.70, P=.02) but not with percent calcification of LM (ρ=0.15, P=.69). Significant correlations were also found between percent calcification of MM and LM (ρ=0.66, P=.04), OCS of the MTP and MFC (ρ=0.64, P=.05), and OCS of the LTP and LFC (ρ=0.65, P=.04). Percent calcification of MM and LM were not correlated with weight or the corresponding OCS (P≥.11). The most pronounced histological characteristic of the menisci from patients with clinically diagnosed OA was calcification of the cartilage matrix. Of all the factors analyzed, only age was correlated with the degree of calcification of the MM. This correlation was not found in the LM, and additional research is required to understand the significance of this finding. A strong positive correlation existed between percent calcification of medial and lateral menisci, indicating that changes in the fibrocartilage matrix of the menisci caused by OA progressed similarly in the lateral and medial compartments of the knee.

Atomic spin resonance in a rubidium beam obliquely incident to a transmission magnetic grating

We studied atomic spin resonance induced by atomic motion in a spatially periodic magnetostatic field. A rubidium atomic beam, with a velocity of about 400 m s−1, was obliquely incident to a transmission magnetic grating that produced a spatially periodic magnetic field. The magnetic grating was formed by a magnetic thin film on a polyimide substrate that had multiple slits at 150 μm intervals. The atoms experienced field oscillation, depending on their velocity and the field period when passing through the grating, and underwent magnetic resonance. Resonance spectra obtained with a perpendicular magnetization film were in clear contrast to ones obtained with an in-plane magnetization film. The former exhibited resonance peaks at odd multiples of the frequency, determined by the velocity over the period, while the latter had dips at the same frequencies.