T2 Level Research Articles

Technological quality and fungal community of Kombucha fermented with hemp leaves and milky mushroom flour (Calocybe indica).

Kombucha is traditionally a non-alcoholic beverage whose production is dependent on culture and the various ingredients used as substrates for fermentation. The goal of our study was to apply hemp leaf and milky mushroom (Calocybe indica) flour as functional ingredients to enhance phytonutrient quality, along with using a microbial consortium highly symbiotic with these ingredients. The study determined the content of phytonutrients (phenolic and flavonoids content), antioxidant activity through percentage inhibition of DPPH radical scavenging activity (%), and microbial communities changes during fermentation. The microbial changes were evaluated by cell viable count (total bacteria, Lactic Acid Bacteria, and Yeast & Mold) and ITS in prepared kombucha (using red tea leaves, pandan leaves, and sucrose) supplemented with functional ingredients: T1 (hemp leaves (control)) and T2 (hemp leaves with milky mushroom flour). The results indicated that microbial consortium changed during fermentation. In the first 7 days, the levels of yeast and mold increased to 6.17 and 6.18 log CFU/mL, respectively. By day 21, the levels of both T1 and T2 continued to rise, reaching 7.78 and 7.82 log CFU/mL, respectively. The viable count of lactic acid bacteria in T1 and T2 gradually increased to 6.79 and 6.70 log CFU/mL, respectively, by day 14. These changes resulted in a marked decrease in pH value, reaching 3.63 and 3.23 in T1 and T2, respectively, by the end of the process (21 days). The total bacterial viable count decreased with an increase in the fermentation time. During fermentation, unique genera of tea fungus observed in T1 and T2 were 64% and 19%, respectively. At the beginning (0 days), the top five genera found in T1 were: g__Setophoma (25.91%), g__Macrocybe (14.88%), g__Cladosporium (7.81%), g__Phaeosphaeria (7.12%), g__Malassezia (6.63%), while the top five genera in T2 were g__Macrocybe (94.55%), g__Setophoma (1.87%), g__Cladosporium (0.77%), g__Phaeosphaeria (0.40%), g__Cordyceps (0.38%). However, on day 21 (end of the process), it was found that g__Dekkera had the highest relative abundance in both T1 and T2. In addition, the supplementation of the two ingredients affected the total phenolic and total flavonoid content of the treatments. At the end of the process, T2 showed values of 155.91 mg GAE/mL for total phenolics and 1.01 mg CE/mL for total flavonoids, compared to T1, which had 129.52 mg GAE/mL and 0.69 mg CE/mL, respectively. Additionally, the DPPH inhibition was higher in T1 (91.95%) compared to T2 (91.03%). The findings suggest that kombucha fermented with these innovative ingredients exhibited enhanced phytonutrients, and served as substrate for LAB and tea fungus fermentation, while limiting the growth of fungal genera and diversity of microbial consortium.

Spectroscopic analysis of Cu doped and starch capped ZnS nanocrystals synthesized by microwave irradiation

The synthesis of undoped and copper doped ZnS nanoparticles (NPs) by a facile starch mediated microwave assisted hydrothermal route is reported in this work. Polycrystalline, cubic ZnS nanostructure of the samples were revealed by X-ray diffraction studies. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analysis revealed the crystalline nature of NPs with size distribution in 2–7 nm range. Analysis of X-ray emission induced by particles of samples indicated presence of copper content in the sample. Cu doping showed a strong influence on the green emission properties of the ZnS NPs under UV light illumination. The band gap values determined from UV–Vis absorption studies were higher than that for bulk ZnS (3.68 eV), confirming quantum confinement effect. Further, starch capping and Cu doping confirmed by Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectra. A strong PL emission around 507 nm observed due to carrier transition from conduction band of ZnS to Cu2+ t2 level. The intensity of this peak reduced at high dopant concentration due to quenching.

Thoracic Spine Mobility and Posture: Correlation and Predictive Values in Physically Independent Older Adults.

The posture undergoes changes during aging and may serve as a marker for the evaluation of the thoracic spine. This study aimed to correlate the variables for the evaluation of thoracic spine mobility and propose predictive equation models from the measurements of the thoracic Schober test and the digital inclinometer in older adults. The mobility of thoracic flexion and extension by levels (T1, T8 and T12) of 41 older adult subjects (66 ± 7years) was quantified with a digital inclinometer (degrees) and Schober's test (cm). There was a moderate positive correlation between the digital inclinometer and the Schober test at T1 (r = .69), T12 (r = .60), and total flexion levels T1 to T12 (r = .74). Simple linear regression equations showed that thoracic Schober predicts thoracic mobility measures for these same levels. Moderate to strong correlations were observed between the inclinometer and the Schober Test measurements. The development of predictive equation models based on the thoracic Schober test could potentially enhance the ability to predict spinal mobility in physically independent older adults.

Intestinal dysbiosis exacerbates susceptibility to the anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis-like phenotype by changing blood brain barrier permeability and immune homeostasis

Changes in the intestinal microbiota have been observed in patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis (NMDARE). However, whether and how the intestinal microbiota is involved in the pathogenesis of NMDARE susceptibility needs to be demonstrated. Here, we first showed that germ-free (GF) mice that underwent fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from NMDARE patients, whose fecal microbiota exhibited low short-chain fatty acid content, decreased abundance of Lachnospiraceae, and increased abundance of Verrucomicrobiota, Akkermansia, Parabacteroides, Oscillospirales, showed significant behavioral deficits. Then, these FMT mice were actively immunized with an amino terminal domain peptide from the GluN1 subunit (GluN1356–385) to mimic the pathogenic process of NMDARE. We found that FMT mice showed an increased susceptibility to an encephalitis-like phenotype characterized by more clinical symptoms, greater pentazole (PTZ)-induced susceptibility to seizures, and higher levels of T2 weighted image (T2WI) hyperintensities following immunization. Furthermore, mice with dysbiotic microbiota had impaired blood–brain barrier integrity and a proinflammatory condition. In NMDARE-microbiota recipient mice, the levels of Evan’s blue (EB) dye extravasation increased, ZO-1 and claudin-5 expression decreased, and the levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α and LPS) increased. Finally, significant brain inflammation, mainly in hippocampal and cortical regions, with modest neuroinflammation, immune cell infiltration, and reduced expression of NMDA receptors were observed in NMDARE microbiota recipient mice following immunization. Overall, our findings demonstrated that intestinal dysbiosis increased NMDARE susceptibility, suggesting a new target for limiting the occurrence of the severe phenotype of NMDARE.

Developing Bright Afterglow Materials via Manipulation of Higher Triplet Excited States and Relay Synthesis in Difluoroboron β‐Diketonate Systems

AbstractAfterglow brightness represents one of the most important characteristics in the application of afterglow materials. High molar absorption coefficient, high afterglow efficiency, and long afterglow lifetimes are required to achieve intense afterglow. However, current strategies cannot simultaneously fulfill these requirements due to specific intrinsic problems. Here, based on the understanding of difluoroboron β‐diketonate systems, the manipulation of higher triplet excited states is conceived to selectively enhance intersystem crossing with phosphorescence lifetimes remaining long. Aromatic substrates, which possess specific HOMO levels and T1 levels, are selected for relay synthesis to form difluoroboron β‐diketonate compounds with very close‐lying S1 and T2 levels; according to the energy gap law, such systems exhibit strong intersystem crossing. Upon doping into rigid matrices, the resultant difluoroboron β‐diketonate systems display the brightest ambient afterglow that has ever been observed.

Epididymal RNase T2 contributes to astheno-teratozoospermia and intergenerational metabolic disorder through epididymosome-sperm interaction

BackgroundThe epididymis is crucial for post-testicular sperm development which is termed sperm maturation. During this process, fertilizing ability is acquired through the epididymis-sperm communication via exchange of protein and small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs). More importantly, epididymal-derived exosomes secreted by the epididymal epithelial cells transfer sncRNAs into maturing sperm. These sncRNAs could mediate intergenerational inheritance which further influences the health of their offspring. Recently, the linkage and mechanism involved in regulating sperm function and sncRNAs during epididymal sperm maturation are increasingly gaining more and more attention.MethodsAn epididymal-specific ribonuclease T2 (RNase T2) knock-in (KI) mouse model was constructed to investigate its role in developing sperm fertilizing capability. The sperm parameters of RNase T2 KI males were evaluated and the metabolic phenotypes of their offspring were characterized. Pandora sequencing technology profiled and sequenced the sperm sncRNA expression pattern to determine the effect of epididymal RNase T2 on the expression levels of sperm sncRNAs. Furthermore, the expression levels of RNase T2 in the epididymal epithelial cells in response to environmental stress were confirmed both in vitro and in vivo.ResultsOverexpression of RNase T2 caused severe subfertility associated with astheno-teratozoospermia in mice caput epididymis, and furthermore contributed to the acquired metabolic disorders in the offspring, including hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hyperinsulinemia. Pandora sequencing showed altered profiles of sncRNAs especially rRNA-derived small RNAs (rsRNAs) and tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) in RNase T2 KI sperm compared to control sperm. Moreover, environmental stress upregulated RNase T2 in the caput epididymis.ConclusionsThe importance was demonstrated of epididymal RNase T2 in inducing sperm maturation and intergenerational inheritance. Overexpressed RNase T2 in the caput epididymis leads to astheno-teratozoospermia and metabolic disorder in the offspring.

Determining the Growing Potential of Jatropha curcas and Pongamia pinnata under Various Water Regimes

Pakistan is the among the most populated countries of the world with predominantly arid climate facing different challenges like food insecurity, energy crises, poor health system, poverty, small forest area cover, and significant effects of global warming and climate change. However, there is still a large area with scanty vegetation. Research on devising cultivation techniques for growing more economically profitable plants in these areas will not only improve the ecological environment but also the people’s living standards. Jatropha curcas (JC) and Pongamia pinnata (PP) are two economically important species (bioenergy plants) with potential to grow on dry tropical arid land. Therefore, this study was carried out to check the hypothesis “JC and PP are the suitable species to grow in the dry tropical arid land of Pakistan due to their drought tolerance ability”. The experiment was carried out at the nursery of Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. One year old seedlings of both plants were used in the experiment. The design involves two plants of the same species in each row, four treatments, and three replications. The levels of drought were T1 (100% water), T2 (75% water), T3 (50% water), and T4 (25% water). A generalized linear model was applied to check the variation among species and within the treatments of the same species. There is a significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) in growth among species and within the treatments of the same species. JC showed better growth as compared to PP in water stress conditions but PP grow as well. The growth parameters of JC showed a positive response in T2 (75% water) and T3 (50% water) drought levels while the growth parameters of PP showed a positive response in treatments T1 (100% water) and T2 (75% water)as compared to other drought levels. In the case of the fresh and dry weight of JC and PP, significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) was also found among species and within the treatments. Both JC and PP are recommended to grow in the dry tropical regions of Pakistan but JC is declared as the prime specie as compared to PP.

Prospective Associations Between Family-Based Social Capital, Wellbeing, and Emotional and Behavioral Problems Amongst People with Mild Intellectual Disabilities: A Two-Wave Study

ABSTRACT Introduction Family members are often the main provider of informal support to people with mild intellectual disabilities. In the current study, we explored whether their family-based social capital is prospectively associated with their wellbeing and emotional and behavioral problems. Methods Sixty-nine participants with mild intellectual disabilities and key (proxy reporting) staff members participated in two waves of data collection (T1, T2). Data were collected about family-based social capital (FNM-ID), subjective wellbeing (PWI-ID), and emotional and behavioral problems (ABCL, BPI-01). Results People who reported less support provision to family members and more reciprocal family support relationships at T1 experienced higher levels of internalizing behavior problems at T2, after accounting for T1 levels of internalizing behavior problems. No other associations were found between earlier family-based social capital dimensions and psychological outcomes at T2. Conclusion Our study provides initial insights regarding the prospective associations between the family-based social capital of people with mild intellectual disabilities and their wellbeing and emotional and behavioral problems. Future studies should include larger samples to investigate if our preliminary results are replicated.

Variation in rapeseed genotype’s reaction to drought during flowering and identification of tolerant-genotypes selection index

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) crop is particularly susceptible to drought at the flowering stage. This study was conducted to (i) assess four genotypes under contrasting water conditions for their reaction to drought and (ii) determine the traits associated with tolerance and yield stability. The experiment was carried out in pots during two cropping years under greenhouse-controlled conditions. From the flowering stage to early seed maturity, the four genotypes were evaluated under two levels of water stress T2 (66% of T1) and T3 (33% of T1), in addition to full irrigation as the control water regime (T1). Results indicated significant effects of genotype, water regime and their interaction on all measured parameters. The genotype ‘Nap9’ was the best regarding seed yield and oil content under the two levels of water stress and for both years. It also exhibited higher root length and higher leaf relative water content than the other genotypes. Therefore, it may be recommended as a valuable germplasm in rapeseed breeding programs for drought tolerance. High branching combined with high leaf relative water content could be a relevant and valuable selection index for this breeding program.

Prediction of Stroke Onset Time With Combined Fast High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic and Quantitative T2 Mapping.

The purpose of this work is to develop a multispectral imaging approach that combines fast high-resolution 3D magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) and fast quantitative T2 mapping to capture the multifactorial biochemical changes within stroke lesions and evaluate its potentials for stroke onset time prediction. Special imaging sequences combining fast trajectories and sparse sampling were used to obtain whole-brain maps of both neurometabolites (2.0 × 3.0 × 3.0 mm3) and quantitative T2 values (1.9 × 1.9 × 3.0 mm3) within a 9-minute scan. Participants with ischemic stroke at hyperacute (0-24 h, n = 23) or acute (24 h-7d, n = 33) phase were recruited in this study. Lesion N-acetylaspartate (NAA), lactate, choline, creatine, and T2 signals were compared between groups and correlated with patient symptomatic duration. Bayesian regression analyses were employed to compare the predictive models of symptomatic duration using multispectral signals. In both groups, increased T2 and lactate levels, as well as decreased NAA and choline levels were detected within the lesion (all p < 0.001). Changes in T2, NAA, choline, and creatine signals were correlated with symptomatic duration for all patients (all p < 0.005). Predictive models of stroke onset time combining signals from MRSI and T2 mapping achieved the best performance (hyperacute: R2 = 0.438; all: R2 = 0.548). The proposed multispectral imaging approach provides a combination of biomarkers that index early pathological changes after stroke in a clinical-feasible time and improves the assessment of the duration of cerebral infarction. Developing accurate and efficient neuroimaging techniques to provide sensitive biomarkers for prediction of stroke onset time is of great importance for maximizing the proportion of patients eligible for therapeutic intervention. The proposed method provides a clinically feasible tool for the assessment of symptom onset time post ischemic stroke, which will help guide time-sensitive clinical management.

The Effects of Different Crop Loads on Yield, Quality, and Sugar Fractions in Early Sweet (Vitis vinifera L) Table Grape

The quality of the grapes taken from the vines varies depending on many factors. Grape quality is one of the critical determining factors in the crop load left on the vine. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of three different crop load levels (36 (T1), 75 (T2), and 105 (T3) bud vine-1) on yield, quality, and sugar fractions of Early Sweet (Vitis vinifera L.) table grape variety grown in Alaşehir district of Manisa/Türkiye. As two years average, the heaviest clusters, berry weight, and soluble solid content (733.0g, 4.41g, 18.05%) were determined in T1 crop load level while the lowest weight clusters and berry weight (580.7g, 388g, 17.42%) were obtained from T3 crop load level. The opposite of these findings was observed in titratable acidity values. In the research; the highest amount of table grapes per vine was obtained at T2 treatment in both years. The mean total glucose values for both years varied between 45.70% (T1), 45% (T2), and 37.90% (T3), respectively. Fructose content ranged between 41.50% (T1) and 41% (T3), and sorbitol content was 2.17% (T1), 2.05% (T2), and 2.17% (T3). Galactose content was negligible in all crop load treatments and ranged between 0.54% and 0.56%. The result is also T2 treatment (75 bud vine-1) can be recommended to ‘Early Sweet’ grape growers as the most effective treatment that provides the highest amount of marketable grapes in terms of yield-quality balance.

Comparison of pain relief of the cervical radiculopathy between high thoracic erector spinae plane block and cervical epidural injection.

The high thoracic erector spinae plane block (ESPB) has been used for the management of chronic shoulder pain or arthroscopic shoulder surgery. No study has evaluated the analgesic efficacy of ESPB in patients with cervical radiculopathy although it is a favored and easy technique compared to neuraxial block. The purpose of this study was to compare the treatment outcome of cervical radiculopathy using high thoracic ESPB or cervical interlaminar epidural injection (CEPI). This study included 82 patients with neck and arm pain who received CEPI (CEPI group) using 4 ml of 0.1% ropivacaine or high thoracic ipsilateral ESPB (ESPB group) at the T2 or T3 level using 20 ml of 0.1% ropivacaine 20 ml. The degree of pain relief and disability were assessed using an 11-point numerical scale (NRS) and neck disability index (NDI), respectively. The CEPI and ESPB groups demonstrated an equal number of patients with excellent pain relief (NRS reduction ≥ 50%). Significant reduction of NRS was found in both groups, and the effect of time was statistically significant in the groups (P < 0.001). The number of patients who showed an excellent improvement in NDI (NDI reduction ≥ 30%) was 20 (48.8%) and 22 (53.7%) in the CEPI and ESPB groups, respectively. Both the CEPI and ESPB demonstrated significant relief in neck and arm pain with improvement in disability.

Influence of Maternal Contact on Hormonal, Growth, and Behavioral Responses of Murrah Buffalo Calves in Winter

Aims: The study was conducted to reveal the effect of calf-mother contact and ameliorative measures on cortisol, growth rate and behaviour of Murrah Buffalo calves during the winter season.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: Livestock Research Centre (LRC) of ICAR-NDRI, Karnal, India and between November 2021 to February 2022.&#x0D; Methodology: A total of 21 advanced-pregnant Murrah buffaloes were carefully chosen and the buffalo-calf pairs were divided into three treatment groups, each consisting of 7 pairs. In the first group (T0), the Murrah buffalo mothers were permitted to nurse their calves with colostrum and later milk twice a day. In the second group (T1), the buffalo mothers had direct contact with their calves during the first five days, allowing free-choice colostrum suckling. Afterward, they were housed near their calves, separated by a fence line. These buffalo mothers were allowed to nurse their calves twice a day, following a similar routine as the T0 group. In the third group (T2), all conditions were similar to those of the T1 group, a notable distinction was that the calves in the T2 group were provided with halogen lights in the shed.&#x0D; Results: Minimum temperature in T2 shed was significantly (p &lt;0.05) higher than that in T0 and T1 shed. The mean cortisol level of T1 (6.64±0.71 ng/mL) and T2 (6.21±0.67 ng/mL) was significantly lower (P&lt;0.05) as compared to T0 (7.88±0.70 ng/mL) group of calves. The findings indicated that within the experimental calf groups, both T2 and T1 exhibited higher (P&lt;0.05) average daily gain (ADG) compared to the T0 group basis every week. Moreover, calves in T2 and T1 spent significantly (P&lt;0.05) more time resting, eating, and engaging in rumination compared to the calves in the T0 group.&#x0D; Conclusion: The findings show that offering fenceline mother-calf contact can reduces stress and enhances growth, behavior, and welfare of calves more effectively than calves with restricted contact during winter season.

FRI366 “Carotid Body Tumor” Is A Misnomer For Head And Neck Paraganglioma

Abstract Disclosure: S. Rabiei: None. V. Kantorovich: None. Introduction: Glomus tumors are often treated as benign, hormonally inactive tumors through simple surgical resection. In many cases, full endocrine work-up and post-resection surveillance are overlooked. Endocrine consultation is currently underutilized in patients with glomus tumors because features of paragangliomas (PGs) such as multiple tumors are not always clinically evident at the time of initial presentation. It is important to be aware that carotid body and glomus tumors should be considered a variant of head and neck paraganglioms (HNPGs) and endocrinology consultation should be requested early on to optimize patients’ outcome. Case Presentation: Patient is a 52-year-old female who presented with back pain and difficulty walking. Imaging obtained for back pain work-up revealed a 6.2 x 4.4 x 4.2 cm right paraspinal soft tissue mass at T9 level on MRI with local invasion and cortical destruction of the T9 vertebra and involvement of the spinal canal. She was also found to have a 0.2 cm solid pulmonary nodule within the right lower lobe on chest CT. The history was also significant for resection of a jugular glomus tumor 12 years prior at the age of 40. Pathology findings at the time were consistent with glomus tumor. She also reported history of glomus tumor in her sister. However, the patient did not undergo genetic study at the time of diagnosis of her primary tumor.The patient subsequently underwent T9 corpectomy. Pathology report revealed a 5-cm tumor with characteristic histologic appearance of PG with epithelioid foci growing in distinctive small nests (Zellballen pattern), separated by prominent fibrovascular stroma with moderate cellularity and with slightly elevated (approximately 5%) Ki-67. Genetic study revealed a carrier state for a pathogenic variant of SDHD (c.112C&amp;gt;T; p.Arg38*). Gallium-68 DOTATATE PET/CT demonstrated intense focal DOTATATE uptake at the site of previous left-sided jugular glomus tumor resection as well as small foci of uptake bilaterally in upper and mid neck. Intense DOTATATE avidity was also identified at T8, T9, and T10 levels. Serum metanephrine, catecholamine, and PTH levels were within normal range. Chromogranin A is pending at this time. Discussion: We presented a case of glomus tumor in a young patient with a positive family history for glomus tumor who did not receive genetic study upon initial diagnosis of her primary tumor. The patient presented 12 years later with metastatic thoracic PG. Considering high mortality and morbidity of PGs, it is recommended to request endocrinology consultation at the time of diagnosis of carotid body or glomus tumors to prevent negative effects of disease recurrence. Presentation: Friday, June 16, 2023

Correlation Analysis Between Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Assessing Thoracic Pedicle Morphology

This study aimed to determine the accuracy and reliability of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to characterize thoracic pedicle morphology in the normal population. Computed tomography (CT) and MRI datasets of 63 surgically treated patients were included in the study. Bilateral T3, T6, T9, and T12 vertebral levels were evaluated for the type of pedicle, pedicle chord length, and pedicle isthmic diameter on both MRI and CT scans. Pedicles were classified according to Sarwahi etal. into type A (normal pedicle), >4 mm cancellous channel; type B, 2-4 mm channel; type C, completely cortical channels >2 mm; and type D, <2 mm cortical bone channel. Of 504 pedicles, 294 were classified as type A, 173 as type B, 24 as type C, and 13 as type D based on a CT scan. MRI had an overall accuracy rate of 92.86% for detecting type A, 96.53% for type B, and 100% for type C and type D compared with CT scans. Regarding the thoracic levels, MRI had an overall concordance of 97.98% at T3 level, 94.43% at T6 level, 98.11% at T9 level, and 99.3% at T12 level with CT readings. Comparing measurements between MRI and CT studies for pedicle isthmic diameter and pedicle chord length showed moderate to good reliability at all measured levels. Pedicle measurements obtained by MRI may be used to estimate pedicle dimensions, allowing surgeons to preoperatively determine pedicle screw sizes based on MRI scans alone.

Unbiased multitissue transcriptomic analysis reveals complex neuroendocrine regulatory networks mediated by spinal cord injury-induced immunodeficiency

BackgroundSpinal cord injury (SCI), which causes loss of sensory and motor function in the body below the level of injury, is a devastating disease of the central nervous system. SCI leads to severe secondary immunosuppression, called SCI-induced immunodeficiency syndrome (SCI-IDS), which is characterized by increased susceptibility to infection and further exacerbates neurological dysfunction. Several studies have suggested that SCI-IDS is an independent risk factor for poor neurological prognosis. SCI-IDS predominantly occurs following injury above the T5 levels and eventually leads to systemic immune failure, possibly via the sympathetic–adrenal medullary axis and the hypothalamic‒pituitary‒adrenal (HPA) axis. However, the mechanism remains unclear.Methods and objectivesThe concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol in plasma, as well as changes in sympathetic activity (blood pressure and catecholamine levels in plasma), were assessed in rats in the high-level (T3) spinal cord injury (T3-SCI) group and the low-level (T10) spinal cord injury (T10-SCI) group. Second, the differential regulation of the gene network between the sympathetic–adrenal medullary axis and the HPA axis was explored by histology and multitissue transcriptomics, and the neuroendocrine–immune network associated with SCI-IDS was further elucidated.ResultsThe spleen and thymus gland, which are secondary immune organs, were significantly atrophied in rats in the T3-SCI group, and the white pulp of the spleen was significantly atrophied. The level of cortisol, which is mediated by the adrenal glands, was markedly elevated, but norepinephrine levels were markedly decreased. There was no difference in adrenocorticotropic hormone expression between any of the groups. The transcriptome analysis results showed that the downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the T3-SCI group were enriched in the GO term immunoregulation, indicating that splenic immune function was markedly impaired after high-level SCI. The upregulated DEGs in the hypothalamus (hub genes: Nod2, Serpine1, Cebpb, Nfkbil1, Ripk2, Zfp36, Traf6, Akap8, Gfer, Cxcl10, Tnfaip3, Icam1, Fcgr2b, Ager, Dusp10, and Mapkapk2) were significantly enriched in inflammatory pathways, and the downregulated genes (hub genes: Grm4, Nmu, P2ry12, rt1-bb1, Oprm1, Zfhx2, Gpr83, and Chrm2) were enriched in pathways related to inhibitory Gi-mediated G protein-coupled receptor (Gi-GPCR) neurons and neuropeptide changes. The upregulated genes in the adrenal glands (hub genes: Ciart, per2, per3, cry1, and cry2) were enriched in cortisol secretion and circadian rhythm changes, and the downregulated genes (hub genes: IL7r, rt1-bb, rt1-bb1, rt1-da, rt1-ba, cd74, cxcr3, vcam1, ccl5, bin1, and IL8) were significantly enriched in MHC-mediated immune responses.ConclusionsTo explore the possible mechanism underlying SCI-IDS, this study assessed the differential regulation of the gene network associated with neuroendocrine immunity after SCI. Progressive neuroinflammation spreads after injury, and neurotransmission through Gi-mediated G protein-coupled receptors in the HPA axis and neuropeptide production by the hypothalamus are inhibited. Disruption of the connection between the hypothalamus and the adrenal glands causes autonomous regulation of the adrenal glands, disturbance of circadian rhythm and finally hypercortisolemia, leading to general suppression of peripheral adaptive immunity. Neuraxial nerve inflammation caused by SCI persists indefinitely, blocking nerve repair; persistent system-wide immunosuppression in the periphery results in increased susceptibility to infection, leading to poor neurological prognosis.

Unraveling the Position Effect of Spiroxanthene-Based n-Type Hosts for High-Performance TADF-OLEDs.

For developing high-performance organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) with thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) emitters, the diphenyltriazine (TRZ) unit was introduced onto the 2'- and 3'-positions of xanthene moiety of spiro[fluorene-9,9'-xanthene] (SFX) to construct n-type host molecules, namely 2'-TRZSFX and 3'-TRZSFX. The outward extension of the TRZ unit, induced by the meta-linkage, resulted in a higher planarity between the TRZ unit and xanthene moiety in the corresponding 3'-TRZSFX. Additionally, this extension led to a perched T1 level, as well as a lower unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level when compared with 2'-TRZSFX. Meanwhile, the 3'-TRZSFX molecules in the crystalline state presented coherent packing along with the interaction between TRZ units; the similar packing motif was spaced apart from xanthene moieties in the 2'-TRZSFX crystal. These endowed 3'-TRZSFX superior electron transport capacity in single-carrier devices relative to the 2'-TRZSFX-based device. Hence, the 3'-TRZSFX-based TADF-OLED showed remarkable electroluminescent (EL) performance under the operating luminance from turn-on to ca. 1000 cd·m-2 with a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) of 23.0%, thanks to its matched LUMO level with 4CzIPN emitter and better electron transport capacity. Interestingly, the 2'-TRZSFX-based device, with an EQEmax of 18.8%, possessed relatively low roll-off and higher efficiency when the operating luminance exceeded 1000 cd·m-2, which was attributed to the more balanced carrier transport under high operating voltage. These results were elucidated by the analysis of single-crystal structures and the measurements of single-carrier devices, combined with EL performance. The revealed position effect of the TRZ unit on xanthene moiety provides a more informed strategy to develop SFX-based hosts for highly efficient TADF-OLEDs.

Comparison of injectate spread and nerve coverage between single-injection intertransverse process block and paravertebral block at the T2 level: a cadaveric study

BackgroundWe compared the spread of an injectate into the thoracic sympathetic chain resulting from a single-injection intertransverse process (ITP) block with that of a single-injection PV block at the T2...

Thermodynamic Overview of Bioconjugation Reactions Pertinent to Lysine and Cysteine Peptide and Protein Residues

Bioconjugation reactions are critical to the modification of peptides and proteins, permitting the introduction of biophysical probes onto proteins as well as drugs for use in antibody-targeted medicines. A diverse set of chemical reagents can be employed in these circumstances to covalently label protein side chains, such as the amine moiety in the side chain of lysine and the thiol functionality in cysteine residues, two of the more frequently employed sites for modification. To provide researchers with a thermodynamic survey of the reaction of these residues with frequently employed chemical modification reagents as well as reactive cellular intermediates also known to modify proteins non-enzymatically, a theoretical investigation of the overall thermodynamics of models of these reactions was undertaken at the T1 and G3(MP2) thermochemical recipe levels (gas phase), the M06-2X/6-311+G(2df,2p)/B3LYP/6-31G(d) (gas and water phase), and the M06-2X/cc-PVTZ(-f)++ density functional levels of theory (water phase). Discussions of the relationship between the reagent structure and the overall thermodynamics of amine or thiol modification are presented. Of additional interest are the observations that routine cellular intermediates such as certain thioesters, acyl phosphates, and acetyl-L-carnitine can contribute to non-enzymatic protein modifications. These reactions and representative click chemistry reactions were also investigated. The computational survey presented herein (&gt;320 reaction computations were undertaken) should serve as a valuable resource for researchers undertaking protein bioconjugation. A concluding section addresses the ability of computation to provide predictions as to the potential for protein modification by new chemical entities, with a cautionary note on protein modification side reactions that may occur when employing synthetic substrates to measure enzyme kinetic activities.

An aberrant right subclavian artery in a 63-year-old male cadaver.

An aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA), also called "arteria lusoria", is described as a right subclavian artery (RSA) with a retro-oesophageal course that most frequently originates as the most distal branch of the aortic arch. The aim of the following study was to present and thoroughly describe a case of an ARSA, its course, branches, and relation to the surrounding anatomical structures and discuss the clinical significance and embryology of this variant. During routine dissection, a 63-year-old male cadaver with an abnormal variant of the RSA was found. The RSA branched off from the aortic arch as the most distal branch. Subsequently, it coursed posteriorly to the trachea and oesophagus at the level of T2 and T3. Abnormalities in the branching pattern of the RSA were also discovered, such as the right vertebral artery originating from the right common carotid artery as its first branch. This study presents a case of an ARSA, which is a rare anatomical variant of the branches of the aortic arch. The course and branching pattern of an aberrant subclavian artery is quite variable, and each variant can be associated with different possible complications. Furthermore, the ARSA is associated with other cardiovascular anomalies, such as the Kommerell's diverticulum. Therefore, knowledge about the possible variations of this anomaly may be of great importance for physicians who encounter this variant in their practice.