The anatomical record : advances in integrative anatomy and evolutionary biology
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Comparative Study
Improved assessment of ex vivo brainstem neuroanatomy with high-resolution MRI and DTI at 7 Tesla.
The aim of the present work was to provide the topography of the main gray nuclei and white matter tracts of the human brainstem at 7 Tesla (7 T) high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using structural imaging (T1) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Both imaging techniques represent a new field of increasing interest for its potential neuroanatomic and neuropathologic value. Brainstems were obtained postmortem from human donors, fixated by intracarotid perfusion of 10% neutral buffered formalin, and scanned in a Bruker BioSpec 7 T horizontal scanner. 3D-data sets were acquired using the modified driven equilibrium Fourier transform (MDEFT) sequence and Spin Echo-DTI (SE-DTI) sequence was used for DTI acquisition. ⋯ Brainstem structures that are usually not observed with lower magnetic fields were now topographically identified at midbrain, pons, and medullar levels. The application of high-resolution structural MRI will contribute to precisely determine the extension and topography of brain lesions. Indeed, the current findings will be useful to interpret future high-resolution in vivo MRI studies in living humans.
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The structure of the ear, which intervenes between gross anatomy and histology in size, can be best understood by means of three-dimensional (3D) surface models on a computer. Furthermore, surface models are the source of interactive simulation for clinical trials, such as tympanoplasty. The objective of this research was to elaborate the surface models of detailed ear structures, which contribute to learning anatomy or the practice of otology. ⋯ Herein, we present the corresponding sectioned images, segmented images, and surface models of ear structures that will be released together. It is hoped that these image data will stimulate the development of medical simulations. The efficient technique of segmentation and surface reconstruction enables the manufacture of surface models from other serial images (e.g., CTs and MRIs).
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Comparative Study
Priming with endotoxin increases acute lung injury in mice by enhancing the severity of lung endothelial injury.
Endotoxin-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is a commonly used model. However, the effect of a priming dose of endotoxin on lung fluid balance has not been well studied. We hypothesized that endotoxin-induced ALI in mice would be enhanced under a priming condition. ⋯ There was no significant difference in NF-κB p65 in the lung nuclear extract among the experimental groups. Taken together, priming with a small dose of endotoxin followed by a larger challenge dose of endotoxin induces more systemic illness and increased pulmonary edema in mice, largely due to increased lung endothelial permeability and lung inflammation. This model should be useful to investigators studying ALI who want to simulate the clinical setting in which more than one insult often leads to greater clinical lung injury.
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Comparative Study
Long-term effects of neonatal capsaicin treatment on intraepidermal nerve fibers and keratinocyte proliferation in rat glabrous skin.
Innervation is required to preserve several aspects of skin homeostasis. Previous studies in rodents have shown that sciatic nerve transection leads to epidermal thinning and reduced keratinocyte proliferation. As the sciatic nerve is composed of sensory and motor axons, it is not clear whether skin alterations reflect motor or sensory disturbances. ⋯ Double-immunofluorescence staining for neural beta III tubulin and CGRP revealed that the majority of the remaining fibers in the epidermis after capsaicin treatment were of peptidergic type. The number of BrdU(+) nuclei was similar in both groups. Our findings suggest that IENF present after capsaicin treatment are sufficient to maintain epidermal replacement.
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To investigate matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) mRNA and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expression in gastric carcinoma and its correlation with microvascular density, growth-pattern, invasion, metastasis, and prognosis. In situ hybridization of MMP-9 mRNA and immunohistochemistry of VEGF and CD34 proteins were performed on surgical specimens of gastric cancers from 118 patients compared with 20 nonmalignant gastric mucosae. Their relationships to pathological parameters and survival times were determined by statistical analysis. ⋯ Patients with higher MMP-9 mRNA and VEGF expression demonstrated vivid tumor angiogenesis and poor 5-year survival rate. MMP-9 and VEGF expression is associated with enhanced tumor angiogenesis and may play crucial roles in the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma. Therefore, MMP-9 and VEGF may represent prognostic biomarkers and promising targets for therapeutic intervention.