Tissue Volume Reduction Research Articles

Prognostic impact of adipose tissue loss at 1month after surgery in patients with gastric cancer.

The postoperative impact of short-term changes in skeletal muscle loss (SML) and adipose tissue loss (ATL) on treatment outcomes is unclear in patients with gastric cancer (GC). We investigate the role of SML and ATL at 1month after surgery in determining postoperative survival and recurrence rates in patients with GC. We analyzed 540 patients with GC and assessed their skeletal muscle mass, visceral fat mass, and subcutaneous fat mass using computed tomography scans preoperatively and 1month postoperatively. Patients were categorized into high and low groups based on their levels of SML, visceral ATL (v-ATL), and subcutaneous ATL (s-ATL). Additionally, they were classified into three groups (high ATL, intermediate ATL, and low ATL) based on their v-ATL and s-ATL measurements. Patients with higher v-ATL and s-ATL had lower overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates. High ATL was an independent prognostic factor for decreased OS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.27; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-4.42; and P=0.02) and RFS (HR 2.51; 95% CI 1.34-4.71; and P=0.004) rates. A reduction in adipose tissue volume shortly after surgery (1month) could potentially indicate an increased risk of recurrence and mortality in patients with GC.

Designing an all-laser processing and operating microheater conceptual device for medical applications

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent condition affecting a significant portion of the population, with a reported prevalence of 33% and 19% in males and females, respectively. OSA is associated with an increased risk of sudden death, with studies suggesting nearly double the risk compared to individuals without OSA. The condition is characterized by frequent sleep disruptions due to airway collapse, often at the level of the tongue or soft palate. Current treatment approaches primarily rely on radiofrequency (RF) ablation for tissue volume reduction. While effective, this technique can cause significant collateral damage and postoperative pain due to extensive burning of surrounding tissues. To avoid such drawbacks, in this work it is proposed and discussed the features of a possible conceptual all-laser-processing and operating device that can produce localized heat affected zones, with the possibility to monitor the local temperature during the procedure. The device is based on the eutectic composition of the system Al2O3-YAG, with double doping Nd3+ and Cr3+ crystalline fiber tip, which is prepared by the Laser-Heated Pedestal Growth technique on a sapphire single crystal fiber end. The results showed that the tip, although highly Nd3+-doped, follows the Jackson-Hunt relation for binary eutectic compounds. The lifetime of the luminescence produced by the Cr3+ doping, emitted by the eutectic tip, can act as a temperature sensor for the device in the range of 30 to 100 °C.

Competence of allogenic demineralized tooth matrix in socket seal surgery for alveolar ridge preservation: a randomized control clinical trial.

To assess and compare the clinical, radiological, and histological outcomes of socket seal surgery between two protocols: deproteinized demineralized tooth matrix (dpDTM) and freeze-dried bone allograft (FDBA) each covered with a free gingival graft. Twenty extraction sockets in the anterior or premolar region were randomly allocated to either the dpDTM or FDBA protocol (n = 10 per group). Measurements of the alveolar ridge changes were obtained using an intraoral scanner and cone-beam computed tomography at 3 months post-operation. Three-month post surgery, the dental implant was installed (n = 5 per group), bone biopsies were obtained for histomorphometrical and micro-computed tomography analyses. Implant stability quotients (ISQs) were determined and compared at 3 months post-implant. Lower significant reductions in buccal alveolar ridge height and hard tissue volume were observed in dpDTM group compared to FDBA group at 3 months (0.25 ± 0.35mm vs. 1.60 ± 0.66mm [p = .000] and 9.64 ± 15.39% mm3 vs. 31.45 ± 18.11% mm3 [p = .010], respectively). At the same time, lower soft tissue volume reduction was detected in the dpDTM group compared to FDBA group (4.21 ± 5.25% mm3 vs. 5.25 ± 5.79% mm3). No statistically significant difference in the percentage of mineralized tissue formation was found between dpDTM group (53.39 ± 11.16%) and FDBA group (49.90 ± 3.27%). Even though the ISQ in the dpDTM group showed a higher value than the FDBA group at 3 months post-implant, the results were without statistical significance. Alveolar ridge preservation using dpDTM is an efficacious procedure for providing the conditions for the development of functional and esthetic implants.

Fecal transplant from vaginally seeded infants decreases intraabdominal adiposity in mice

ABSTRACT Exposing C-section infants to the maternal vaginal microbiome, coined “vaginal seeding”, partially restores microbial colonization. However, whether vaginal seeding decreases metabolic disease risk is unknown. Therefore, we assessed the effect of vaginal seeding of human infants on adiposity in a murine model. Germ-free mice were colonized with transitional stool from human infants who received vaginal seeding or control (placebo) seeding in a double-blind randomized trial. There was a reduction in intraabdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) volume in male mice that received stool from vaginally seeded infants compared to control infants. Higher levels of isoleucine and lower levels of nucleic acid metabolites were observed in controls and correlated with increased IAAT. This suggests that early changes in the gut microbiome and metabolome caused by vaginal seeding have a positive impact on metabolic health.

Assessing brain involvement in Fabry disease with deep learning and the brain-age paradigm.

While neurological manifestations are core features of Fabry disease (FD), quantitative neuroimaging biomarkers allowing to measure brain involvement are lacking. We used deep learning and the brain-age paradigm to assess whether FD patients' brains appear older than normal and to validate brain-predicted age difference (brain-PAD) as a possible disease severity biomarker. MRI scans of FD patients and healthy controls (HCs) from a single Institution were, retrospectively, studied. The Fabry stabilization index (FASTEX) was recorded as a measure of disease severity. Using minimally preprocessed 3D T1-weighted brain scans of healthy subjects from eight publicly available sources (N = 2160; mean age = 33 years [range 4-86]), we trained a model predicting chronological age based on a DenseNet architecture and used it to generate brain-age predictions in the internal cohort. Within a linear modeling framework, brain-PAD was tested for age/sex-adjusted associations with diagnostic group (FD vs. HC), FASTEX score, and both global and voxel-level neuroimaging measures. We studied 52 FD patients (40.6 ± 12.6 years; 28F) and 58 HC (38.4 ± 13.4 years; 28F). The brain-age model achieved accurate out-of-sample performance (mean absolute error = 4.01 years, R2 = .90). FD patients had significantly higher brain-PAD than HC (estimated marginal means: 3.1 vs. -0.1, p = .01). Brain-PAD was associated with FASTEX score (B = 0.10, p = .02), brain parenchymal fraction (B = -153.50, p = .001), white matter hyperintensities load (B = 0.85, p = .01), and tissue volume reduction throughout the brain. We demonstrated that FD patients' brains appear older than normal. Brain-PAD correlates with FD-related multi-organ damage and is influenced by both global brain volume and white matter hyperintensities, offering a comprehensive biomarker of (neurological) disease severity.

Gender-Related Effectiveness of Personalized Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation.

Background: Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) may affect a substantial proportion of patients who have had COVID-19. The rehabilitation program might improve the physical capacity, functioning of the cardiopulmonary system, and mental conditions of these patients. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of personalized rehabilitation in patients with PCS according to gender. Methods: Adults who underwent a 6-week personalized PCS rehabilitation program were enrolled in a prospective post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation (PCR-SIRIO 8) study. The initial visit and the final visit included the hand-grip strength test, the bioimpedance analysis of body composition, and the following scales: modified Borg's scale, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), Functioning in Chronic Illness Scale (FCIS), modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, and tests: 30 s chair stand test (30 CST), Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Short Physical Performance Battery test (SPPB)e. Results: A total of 90 patients (54% female) underwent the rehabilitation program. Rehabilitation was associated with an increase in skeletal muscle mass (24.11 kg vs. 24.37 kg, p = 0.001) and phase angle (4.89° vs. 5.01°, p = 0.001) and with a reduction in abdominal fat tissue volume (3.03 L vs. 2.85 L, p = 0.01), waist circumference (0.96 m vs. 0.95 m, p = 0.001), and hydration level (83.54% vs. 82.72%, p = 0.001). A decrease in fat tissue volume and an increase in skeletal muscle mass were observed only in females, while an increase in grip strength was noticed selectively in males. Patients' fatigue (modified Borg's scale, MFIS), physical capacity (30 CST, 6MWT), balance (SPPB), dyspnea (mMRC), and functioning (FICS) were significantly improved after the rehabilitation regardless of gender. Conclusions: Personalized rehabilitation improved the body composition, muscle strength, and functioning of patients diagnosed with PCS. The beneficial effect of rehabilitation on body composition, hydration, and phase angle was observed regardless of gender.

Experimental study of the interstitial effect of a semiconductor laser with a wavelength of 445 nm on a biological model

Introduction. This study presents the results of interstitial exposure of a semiconductor laser with a wavelength of 445 nm to biological tissue samples at different pulsed wave power in a constant mode, with a contact method.Aim. To study the interstitial effect of a semiconductor laser with a wavelength of 445 nm on experimental tissue samples in a constant mode at different power.Materials and methods. As an experimental sample, we used biological tissue with a developed vascular structure in the form of pig liver. The source of laser radiation was a semiconductor laser with a wavelength of 445 nm, with a power range from 0.5 to 4 watts. When working with biological tissue samples, we evaluated their external and internal changes after laser exposure. The exposure time during interstitial exposure was 1 mm/sec with a 20 mm immersion depth of the laser fiber into the fabric. The results of the macro and microscopic picture were evaluated using histological examination and morphometry of the zones of destruction and coagulation necrosis, on a transverse section of the tissue.Results. The results of an experimental study indicate that interstitial laser exposure has a pronounced coagulation effect combined with a cutting effect. The optimal combination of coagulation and cutting effect of exposure, accompanied by visual contractility of the tissue, without excessive carbonation at a power of 3.0 watts.Conclusion. The use of interstitial exposure of a semiconductor laser with a wavelength of 445 nm on experimental tissue samples in a constant mode at different power showed the predominance of the coagulation effect in combination with the cutting effect with a pronounced reduction in tissue volume. Experiments have shown that the power of 3 W is the optimal power of laser exposure in the interstitial method, in which there is a pronounced reduction in the volume of the studied drug without excessive carbonation.

Safety analysis and risk management of autologous fat grafting in facial anti-aging

Abstract Ageing makes facial tissue aging unavoidable, which is mainly manifested as tissue volume reduction and contour change, and autologous fat grafting can better meet the clinical application of facial anti-aging. In the article, a total of 80 patients with poor facial contour or facial aging from May 2022 to July 2023 in NanChang HanYa Aesthetic Hospital were selected. The lower abdomen or inner and outer thigh fat was extracted by swelling solution. The acquired fat was filtered, purified, and cleaned. Then, the autologous fat particles were injected above the face using a blunt-ended injection needle. The risk factors were analyzed by using the multivariate regression model. The effective rate of treatment effect based on autologous fat transplantation reached 92.50%. The MMP-1 level of the patients in the observation group was reduced from 125.34±12.45 ng/ml before the operation to 102.41±7.32 ng/ml after the operation. The facial skin texture of the patients was significantly improved. Patients with autologous fat grafting had a low complication rate of only 10%, and they were satisfied with the results of facial anti-aging treatment at 96%. Under clinical conditions, the incidence of EAD risk was higher in mixed steatosis (OR=4.715, 95% CI 1.413-8.792). Facial volume restoration and improvement of facial aging can be effectively achieved by autologous fat grafting, and patients were satisfied with the facial anti-aging results. Still, the clinical risks caused by autologous fat degeneration also need to be noted.

Digital and clinical approach to quantifying periodontal tissue changes after crown lengthening surgery: A case series pilot study

Crown lengthening surgery is a common periodontal procedure carried out to increase the amount of tooth exposure for aesthetic or restorative purposes. It is crucial for clinicians to understand the effect of crown lengthening surgery on the periodontal tissues to prevent relapse or over treatment. Even though various clinical parameters have been used by researchers in the past to quantify the amount of suprastructure exposed, the use of digital technology has not been widely adopted. The aim of this case series was to evaluate the changes in periodontal tissue after crown lengthening surgery with both clinical and digital approaches. This case series included five patients who underwent surgery at the Postgraduate Periodontics Clinic at the University of Otago over the period of six months. Clinical parameters such as probing depth, gingival recession, keratinised tissue height, plaque accumulation, gingival inflammation, crown height, gingival phenotype, and bone height were measured with a customised probing stent at baseline and 1-, 3-, and 6-month post-surgery. Digital impressions were also taken along with the clinical parameters to measure the volumetric changes. Most significant changes were observed in crown exposure, gingival recession and bone levels, followed by probing depth reduction for treated sites. Minimal changes were seen for the width of keratinised tissues, plaque levels and gingival scores. Volumetric changes were only significantly reduced after 6 months of healing. This case series found that crown lengthening resulted in an increase in tooth exposure and a reduction in tissue volume. Volumetric changes measured through sequential digital impressions were also comparable to clinical findings.

Changes in abdominal fat depots after bariatric surgery are associated with improved metabolic profile

Background and aimsObesity associated with a change in the quantity and quality of fat depots. Using computed tomography (CT), we analyzed abdominal fat depots in patients with obesity after bariatric surgery according to their metabolic health status. Methods and resultsWe recruited 79 individuals with metabolically unhealthy obesity before bariatric surgery and compared them with age-sex matched healthy controls. The volume and fat attenuation index (FAI) of fat depots were measured using CT scans that were conducted prior to and a year after bariatric surgery. ‘Metabolically healthy’ was defined as having no hypertension, normal fasting glucose and a waist-to-hip ratio of <1.05 for men and <0.95 for women. Individuals who achieved a metabolic health status conversion (MHC) (n = 29, 37%)—from unhealthy to healthy—were younger (p < 0.001) as compared to individuals without MHC. Pre-surgery BMI and reduction of BMI did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.099, p = 0.5730). Bariatric surgery reduced the volume and increased the FAI of fat depots. Baseline lower abdominal periaortic adipose tissue (AT) volume (p = 0.014) and great percent reduction in renal sinus AT volume after surgery (p = 0.019) were associated with MHC after surgery. Increased intraperitoneal AT FAI (p = 0.031) was also associated with MHC. ConclusionMHC was not associated with improvement in general obesity, based on indicators such as reduction of BMI after surgery. Weight reduction induced specific abdominal fat depot changes measured by CT are positively associated with MHC.

&lt;I&gt;In vivo&lt;/I&gt; vascular mapping of the human hippocampus using MICRO imaging

BACKGROUND: There is an urgent need for better detection and understanding of vascular abnormalities at the micro-level, where critical vascular nourishment and cellular metabolic changes occur. This is especially the case for structures such as the midbrain and hippocampus, where both the feeding and draining vessels are quite small. The hippocampus is a complex grey matter structure that plays an important role in spatial and episodic memory. It can be affected by a wide range of pathologies including vascular abnormalities. Being able to monitor vascular changes in normal aging in various hippocampal subfields will allow us to better understand vascular vulnerability across the hippocampus.&#x0D; METHODS: We recently introduced the concept of microvascular in-vivo contrast revealed origins (MICRO) protocol to image micro-cerebral vessels.1-3 MICRO uses ferumoxytol, an ultra-small superparamagnetic iron oxides (USPIO) agent, to induce susceptibility in the arteries and veins; and by imaging with high resolution (0.22×0.44×1 mm3) susceptibility weighted imaging sequence (SWI) at 3 T. Although the increased vascular susceptibility enhances the visibility of small sub-voxel vessels, the accompanying strong signal loss of the large vessels deteriorates the local tissue contrast. Hence, data are collected at different time points during a gradual administration (final concentration = 4 mg/kg) of ferumoxytol. Dynamically acquired SWI data were co-registered and combined (phase gradient-based adaptive combination or SWIPGAC) to reduce the blooming artifacts from large vessels, preserving the small-vessel contrast.&#x0D; RESULTS: The presence of ferumoxytol helped to enhance the microvasculature, something that has previously only been demonstrated in cadaver brain studies. Figure 1 shows the difference between the pre-contrast SWI and SWIPGAC data in visualizing the micro-vasculature across four healthy subjects. The intra-hippocampal and superficial major arteries (obtained through a non-linear subtraction method) and veins (obtained by averaging the T1-shortening map, pre-contrast quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) and pre-contrast R2* maps) are used as an overlay in the third column to better visualize the major vessels penetrating and draining the hippocampus. The hippocampal fissure, along with the fimbria, granular cell layer of the dentate gyrus and cornu ammonis layers (except for CA1), showed higher micro-vascular density than the other parts of hippocampus. The CA1 region exhibited a significant correlation with age (R=−0.37, p&lt;0.05, n=37). demonstrating an overall loss of hippocampal vascularity in the normal aging process. Moreover, the vascular density reduction was more prominent than the age correlation with the volume reduction (R=−0.1, p&gt;0.05, n=37) of the CA1 subfield.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS: With this USPIO-induced increase in susceptibility comes the potential to study the cerebral micro-vasculature using high-resolution SWI. There was a strong negative correlation between hippocampal functional vessel density (FVD) (especially in CA1) and age. This FVD reduction was more prominent than volume reduction vs age, suggesting that vascular atrophy may precede reductions in tissue volume. Mapping the hippocampal vasculature has immediate implications for understanding the effects of normal aging and the etiology of many neurovascular diseases. MICRO imaging brings us into the decade of imaging the microvasculature of the entire human body.

LBSAT238 Teprotumumab Reduces Orbital Fat And Muscle Volume In Patients With Thyroid Eye Disease

Abstract Teprotumumab, a novel IGF-1R antibody has been shown to reduce proptosis in patients with thyroid eye disease (TED) in 2 randomized controlled trials. At present, it is unclear whether the reduction in proptosis is related to a decrease in extraocular muscle or orbital fat tissue. In this prospective longitudinal study, we reviewed the changes to orbital fat and muscle, and compared them, in consecutive patients with TED, who had completed treatment with teprotumumab (8 infusions). The primary outcome was change in orbital fat and muscle volume within 6 weeks of starting and completing therapy. Secondary outcome measures included change in proptosis and the clinical activity score (CAS). All patients had either CT or MRI with ≤ 1 mm slice thickness. Three-dimensional volumetric analysis of the orbital fat and muscle volume was performed using the previously validated 3D image analysis software, MIMICS (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium). Hounsfield units of fat and muscle were defined manually. All extraocular muscle tissue and fat between the orbital septum (eyelid) and the orbital outlet of the optic canal was included. A 3D model created by voxel addition was expressed in millimeters cubed. Segmentation and measurements were performed independently by two graders to review repeatability and observer variability. In line with previous clinical trials, the orbit with the most proptosis was defined as the study orbit and the contralateral orbit was designated the fellow orbit. Twenty-one patients (15 females and 6 males) met the inclusion criteria. Mean (SD) age was 55 (16), while mean (SD) duration of TED was 71 (46) months. There was a reduction of 3 mm in both; study and fellow orbits following treatment (p &amp;lt; 0. 01 for both). Compared to baseline, there was a mean (SD) CAS reduction of 4 (1) in the study orbit and 2.4 (1.1) in the fellow orbit (p &amp;lt; 0. 01 for both). Following therapy, mean (SD) reduction in muscle tissue was 1691 mm3 (1358) in the study orbit and 1714 mm3 (1927) in the fellow orbit (p &amp;lt; 0. 01 when compared to baseline for each). The mean (SD) reduction of fat volume was 1382 mm3 (1318) in the study orbit and 933 mm3 (1699) in the fellow orbit (p &amp;lt; 0. 01 when compared to baseline for each). There was no difference between fat and muscle reduction for the study orbit (p = 0.4) or fellow orbit (p = 0.2). There was a significant correlation between a reduction in proptosis and reduction in orbital soft tissue (fat and muscle) volume. The results of this study suggest that following treatment with teprotumumab, there is a significant decrease in orbital fat and muscle volume. This reduction in soft tissue volume likely drives the reduction in proptosis. Presentation: Saturday, June 11, 2022 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

ODP154 Reduction of Cardiac Adipose Tissue Volume with Short-Term Empagliflozin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Results from the SIMPLE Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract Background Sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2-is) appear to have rapid clinical cardiovascular benefits in type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, SGLT2-is have known effects on fat metabolism. Cardiac adipose tissue (CAT) correlates with known markers of cardiovascular risk and left ventricular function. The effects of SGLT2-i treatment on CAT is largely unknown. Objective In this exploratory sub-study from the SIMPLE-trial, we investigated whether empagliflozin affects CAT volume in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods Between April 4, 2017, and May 11, 2020, we randomized 90 patients with type 2 diabetes and established or high risk of cardiovascular disease to either 25 mg empagliflozin or placebo for 13 weeks. The primary focus of this sub-study was change in CAT evaluated by computer-tomography (CT). The analysis included 78 patients who had at least one CT scan. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of empagliflozin on left ventricular mass (LVM), end-diastolic volume (EDV) and end-systolic volume (ESV) evaluated by rest and stress 82Rubidium Positron Emission Tomography CT and changes in whole-body metabolism evaluated by fat mass distribution via dual x-ray absorptiometry and measurements of various parameters of glucose, ketone and lipid metabolism. Results Mean ±SD baseline CAT volume was 258.5 mL ±117.9. Empagliflozin reduced CAT after 13 weeks by 12.41 mL (95%CI [-23.83 to -0.99], P=0. 034) as compared with placebo. LVM (-5.16 g, 95%CI [-8.80 to -1.52], P=0. 006), EDV (-7.90 mL, 95%CI [-13.70 to -2.10], P=0. 008) and ESV (-5.46 mL 95%CI [-9.78 to -1.15], P=0. 014) decreased with empagliflozin when comparing groups at week 13. In addition, improvements were observed in whole body metabolic parameters: mean total body weight (-1.48 kg, 95%CI [-2.41 to -0.55], P=0. 002), total fat mass (-0.81 kg, 95%CI [-1.40 to -0.22], P=0. 008), fasting plasma (-1.82 mmol/L, 95%CI [-2.83 to -0.80], P=0. 001), HbA1c (NGSP: -0.76%, 95%CI [-1. 00 to -0.51], P&amp;lt;0. 001; IFCC: -8.28 mmol/mol, 95%CI [-11. 01 to -5.54], P&amp;lt;0. 001), beta-hydroxybutyrate (0. 07 mmol/L, 95%CI [0. 00 to 0.14], P=0. 044), and triglycerides (-16.1%, 95%CI [-27.3 to -3.2], P=0. 017), when comparing groups at week 13. We observed no significant correlation between changes in CAT and changes in LVM, EDV and ESV. Conclusion Treatment with empagliflozin provides an early reduction of CAT and improves myocardial structure and function which may explain some of this SGLT2-i's clinical cardiovascular benefits. Presentation: No date and time listed

A novel ceRNA regulatory network involving the long noncoding NEAT1, miRNA-466f-3p and its mRNA target in osteoblast autophagy and osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic metabolic disorder characterized by a reduction in bone tissue volume. LncRNAs have been reported to act as regulators of several human diseases. Specifically, lncRNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) is involved in proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in osteoclasts and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and regulates the occurrence and development of OP. However, the relationship between NEAT1 and osteoblast autophagy and its mechanism are still unclear. Western blotting of LC3 and P62 was used to evaluate the effect of fluid shear stress (FSS) on autophagy in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. Total transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analyses were performed on osteoblasts loaded with and without FSS. qPCR was performed to examine the expression of NEAT1 in OP bone tissues and osteoblasts. The RNA-FISH was performed to study the localization of lncRNA NEAT1 and miR-466f-3p in MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. In vitro, western blotting, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunofluorescence (IF) staining and qPCR were performed to verify the biological functions of NEAT1, miR-466f-3p and HK2. Subsequently, we conducted bioinformatics analysis and dual luciferase reporter assays to identify the relationships among NEAT1, miR-466f-3p and HK2. Additionally, rescue assays were conducted on osteoblasts to clarify the regulatory network of the NEAT1/miR-466f-3p/HK2 signalling pathway. In vivo, the OVX mouse model was used to investigate the effects of si-NEAT1 on autophagy in OP mice. The distal femur and serum were collected for further micro-CT analysis, blood biochemistry, and haematoxylin-eosin and Alizarin red staining (ARS). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to assess the protein expression of LC3 and HK2. NEAT1 expression was upregulated in OP tissues and osteoblast lines exposed to FSS. Knockdown of NEAT1 inhibited autophagy in vitro and in vivo. Further studies demonstrated that NEAT1 positively regulated HK2 expression via its competing endogenous RNA effects on miR-466f-3p. Moreover, we found the NEAT1/miR-466f-3p/HK2 axis regulated autophagy in osteoblasts. Knocking down NEAT1 inhibited autophagy in osteoblasts via the miR-466f-3p/HK2 signalling pathway, which may provide new ideas for novel molecular therapeutic targets of postmenopausal OP. KEY MESSAGES: • Fluid shear stress (FSS) can promote autophagy of osteoblast and performed transcriptome sequencing. • NEAT1 is overexpressed in osteoporosis and could regulate osteoblast cells autophagy. • Knockdown of lncRNA NEAT1 inhibited osteoblast cells autophagy by sponging miRNA-466f-3p and targeting HK2 in osteoporosis.

Assessment of Convergence Angle of Tooth Preparations for Complete Crowns Among Dental Students: Typodont vs Simulator.

Introduction The technology-enhanced learning and simulation-based learning are critically important pedagogic tools. They allow students to perfect their preclinical training by improving their skills and their manual dexterity while facilitating the acquisition of the know-how necessary for reproduction more realistically and faithfully of the behaviors required for a better dental practice. Retention is one of the mechanical fundamental principles of preparation of cemented fixed prostheses. It depends on several factors including the convergence of the axial walls. The undercut must be sparing in the reduction of tissue volume to obtain a low degree of convergence and a sufficient height of the preparation to comply with the retention and stabilization requirements of the prosthetic element. A draft value of 6° was recommended initially, but a range extending up to 16° has been accepted according to Weed et al. and Dodge et al., as being clinically achievable while providing good retention. Are students able to reproduce, in preclinical, total occlusal convergence (TOC) angles recommended on typodont and simulator? Objective The evaluation of the TOC of the preparations made on typodont and simulator by the students in the 3rd year of the Faculty of Dental Medicine of Casablanca (FDMC). Material and Methods. A total of 140 dental preparations for cast crowns and metal-ceramics made by thirty-five 3rd year FDMC students were scanned by using the IDENTICA HYBRID optical scanner. The STL files were read by the 3D-TOOL-FREE software, two images were extracted for each preparation using the screen capture tool, and the two mediodistal (MD) and buccolingual angles (BL) were measured by the MB-RULER software. The statistical data were analyzed using the SPSS, software and comparisons were made by Student's t-test. Results An overall average of 11.99° ± 4.48 was recorded for the preparations on the typodont with 11.40° ± 5.09 in the MD direction and 12.58° ± 4.74 in the BL direction. Concerning the simulator preparations, we recorded an overall average of 11.31° ± 4.16 with 10.81° ± 4.29 in the MD direction and 11.80° ± 5.44 in the BL direction. No significant difference was observed when comparing the preparations made on the typodont and the simulator. A percentage of 68.6% and 74.3% of the preparations made on the typodont and the simulators respectively fall within an acceptable range of 6 to 16°. Discussion. The TOC values achieved by the majority of students correspond to the recommended values which are 6 to 16° on average. The results of the simulator preparations are similar to the results of Marghalani for dental students at King Abdulaziz University, and Tiu et al., at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Conclusion This study highlighted the difference between what is taught in dental schools, which is theoretically possible, and the academic results of actual practice. The generally recommended 6° tapers have proven difficult to achieve for many dental students. A margin of 6° to 16° of TOC angle is clinically achievable and allows sufficient retention. We can retain that most of the sample of our study had values that fall within the recommended range.

Assessment of quality of life after hysterectomy with opportunistіс salpingeсtomy with uterine myoma by vaginal and abdominal access

The aim of the research – to identify violations of quality of life after hysterectomy with opportunistic salpingectomy, considering different approaches to surgery.&#x0D; Materials and methods. Quality of life assessments of hysterectomy with opportunistic salpingectomy for uterine fibroids were performed in 160 women of reproductive age, who were divided into two groups: I – 90 patients with vaginal access, and II – 70 patients with abdominal access. The control group included 50 women with asymptomatic fibroids of reproductive age. The diagnostic algorithm included a physical examination, ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs, assessment of urogenital dysfunction questionnaire using the MOS SF-36 questionnaire; to identify signs of vegetative changes in Wayne, to assess general fatigue, physical and mental fatigue MFI-20 was performed using a standardized POP-Q system.&#x0D; Results. The leading violations of quality-of-life parameters are general somatic symptoms 107 (66.9±6.0 %), psycho-emotional disorders 89 (55.6±6.7 %), genitourinary and sexual disorders 39 (24.4±3.0 %). Among the most common somatic ones – complaints of headaches, edema and fluctuations in blood pressure. The dominance of asthenic, anxiety and depressive disorders among psycho-emotional disorders has been established. The diagnosis of “organic asthenic disorder” was established in 47 (52.2±9.7 %) and 39 (55.7±7.3 %), respectively, in the groups of examined patients. Vaginal hysterectomy causes more increase in the proportion of urogenital disorders 25 27.7±8.3 %) compared to control – 7 (14.0±4.8 %) (p&lt;0.05). An ultrasound examination showed a 2.25-fold increase in ovarian volume one month after the hysterectomy, and a reduction in ovarian tissue volume in both study groups 2 years after surgery.&#x0D; Conclusions. Hysterectomy with opportunistic salpingectomy affects the parameters of quality of life. The leading violations of quality-of-life parameters are general somatic symptoms, psycho-emotional disorders without statistically significant difference in groups, but the indicators are better in group I. The minimal effect on ovarian function and size was determined – 2 years after surgery, there was a decrease in ovarian tissue volume in both study groups, but statistically significant – in the second group (3.12±0.7 cm3, p&lt;0.05) against the data control (5.82±1.7 cm3). Although the results showed a more frequent manifestation of pelvic floor descent in vaginal access, quality of life parameters were higher in these patients. Given its safety, efficiency and cost-effectiveness, it is advisable to choose it as a method of choice

MRI Evaluation of Patients Before and After Interventions for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: An Update.

Transurethral resection of the prostate is the most commonly performed procedure for the management of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms attributed to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). However, in recent years, various minimally invasive surgical therapies have been introduced to treat BPH. These include laser-based procedures such as holmium laser enucleation of the prostate and photoselective vaporization of the prostate as well as thermal ablation procedures such as water vapor thermal therapy (Rezūm), all of which result in volume reduction of periurethral prostatic tissue. In comparison, a permanent metallic device (UroLift) can be implanted to pull open the prostatic urethra without an associated decrease in prostate size, and selective catheter-directed prostate artery embolization results in a global decrease in prostate size. The goal of this article is to familiarize radiologists with the underlying anatomic changes that occur in BPH as visualized on MRI and to describe the appearance of the prostate on MRI performed after these procedures. Complications encountered on imaging after these procedures are also discussed. Although MRI is not currently used in the routine preprocedural evaluation of BPH, emerging data support a role for MRI in predicting postprocedure outcomes.

Mode of Action of RZL-012, a New Fat-Reducing Molecule.

RZL-012 (5-[3,6-dibromo-9H-carbazol-9-yl]-N,N,N-trimethylpentan-1-aminium chloride) is a novel investigational drug injected subcutaneously into fat tissues in patients with fat-related disorders (Dercum disease) or subjects seeking aesthetic changes. Preclinical studies were undertaken to understand RZL-012's mechanism of action. The effects of RZL-012 were tested in vitro by measuring adipocyte cell killing, membrane integrity, cytosolic calcium, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). In vivo studies in pigs evaluated RZL-012's adipocyte killing effect and measured pig fat thickness in the injected areas. RZL-012 triggered adipocyte cell killing with IC50 values ranging from 25 to 106 μM. RZL-012 demonstrated initial effects on membrane integrity and calcium levels with delayed alterations in MMP. Incubation of RZL-012 with nanoghosts increased membrane permeability, culminating in full membrane destruction. Analysis of injected areas in pigs revealed liponecrosis 24 hours after dosing followed by an inflammatory response and formation of fibrotic tissue. Three months after dosing, an 18% reduction in mean fat thickness was observed in RZL-012 treated pigs. RZL-012 destroys adipocytes by directly disrupting cell membrane integrity. Replacement of dead fat tissue by fibrotic tissue enables healing and causes contraction of the injected area. These effects are translated into significant reduction in fat tissue volume.

The impact of myocardial compressibility on organ-level simulations of the normal and infarcted heart

Myocardial infarction (MI) rapidly impairs cardiac contractile function and instigates maladaptive remodeling leading to heart failure. Patient-specific models are a maturing technology for developing and determining therapeutic modalities for MI that require accurate descriptions of myocardial mechanics. While substantial tissue volume reductions of 15–20% during systole have been reported, myocardium is commonly modeled as incompressible. We developed a myocardial model to simulate experimentally-observed systolic volume reductions in an ovine model of MI. Sheep-specific simulations of the cardiac cycle were performed using both incompressible and compressible tissue material models, and with synchronous or measurement-guided contraction. The compressible tissue model with measurement-guided contraction gave best agreement with experimentally measured reductions in tissue volume at peak systole, ventricular kinematics, and wall thickness changes. The incompressible model predicted myofiber peak contractile stresses approximately double the compressible model (182.8 kPa, 107.4 kPa respectively). Compensatory changes in remaining normal myocardium with MI present required less increase of contractile stress in the compressible model than the incompressible model (32.1%, 53.5%, respectively). The compressible model therefore provided more accurate representation of ventricular kinematics and potentially more realistic computed active contraction levels in the simulated infarcted heart. Our findings suggest that myocardial compressibility should be incorporated into future cardiac models for improved accuracy.

Wood shrinkage during fossilisation and its significance for studying deep-time lignophytes

Silicified wood is one of the most frequent and insightful records of ancient life since the Devonian. Although cellular anatomy is often preserved in great detail, alterations of organic matter occur during fossilisation modifying tissue properties. Due to taphonomic pathways, plant tissues experience multiple changes, which may cause a tissue-volume reduction, including desiccation, microbial decay, charcoalification, coalification and mineralisation. Case studies from different geological ages, fossilisation backgrounds and palaeogeographic positions provide evidence of widely distributed but still underestimated shrinkage phenomena in fossil woods. Samples from seven Paleozoic to Cenozoic localities representing several geologic settings are analysed to understand putative shrinkage reasons. Volume reduction is more widespread in fossilised wood than commonly thought. Accordingly, quantitative data on cellular anatomy may be misleading, and cell size and shape modifications affect morphometric purposes, like the interpretation and identification of fossil species. Differences in preservation demonstrate the profound effects of microbial degradation, such as lacking tracheid secondary walls and decayed tissue constituents. Differential shrinkage of silicified wood and their encrustation by stromatolites help quantify volume loss during fossilisation. They provide graphically measurable, one- and two-dimensional parameters to assess percental volume loss. Our approach reveals essential shrinkage-related alterations independent of palaeoenvironment, plant material and host rock. Tissue contraction varies considerably: Unexpectedly, variability even occurs in wood from the same fossil site, the same strata and reflecting the same taphonomy. The results demonstrate that shrinkage needs to be taken into account in comparisons of morphometric data obtained from fossil and modern woods, irrespective of their particular provenance.