Dynamics of Inflammatory and Neurodegenerative Biomarkers after Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Multiple Sclerosis

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (aHSCT) is a highly efficient treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), and hence it likely normalizes pathological and/or enhances beneficial processes in MS. The disease pathomechanisms include neuroinflammation, glial cell activation and neuronal damage. We studied biomarkers that in part reflect these, like markers for neuroinflammation (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL) 9, CXCL10, CXCL13, and chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1)), glial perturbations (glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and in part CHI3L1), and neurodegeneration (neurofilament light chain (NfL)) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and single-molecule array assay (SIMOA) in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 32 MS patients that underwent aHSCT. We sampled before and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after aHSCT for serum, as well as before and 24 months after aHSCT for CSF. We found a strong increase of serum CXCL10, NfL and GFAP one month after the transplantation, which normalized one and two years post-aHSCT. CXCL10 was particularly increased in patients that experienced reactivation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, but not those with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation. Furthermore, patients with CMV reactivation showed increased Th1 phenotype in effector memory CD4+ T cells. Changes of the other serum markers were more subtle with a trend for an increase in serum CXCL9 early post-aHSCT. In CSF, GFAP levels were increased 24 months after aHSCT, which may indicate sustained astroglia activation 24 months post-aHSCT. Other CSF markers remained largely stable. We conclude that MS-related biomarkers indicate neurotoxicity early after aHSCT that normalizes after one year while astrocyte activation appears increased beyond that, and increased serum CXCL10 likely does not reflect inflammation within the central nervous system (CNS) but rather occurs in the context of CMV reactivation or other infections post-aHSCT.     

Impact of several variables on the microwave extraction of Chenopodium Quinoa willd saponins

Despite their possible applications in diverse fields, saponins are still considered to be industrial waste. The use of saponins, however, would make seed processing more profitable and reduce the pollution of watercourses. In this work, the microwave extraction method of Chenopodium quinoa Willd saponins was investigated. The effects of variables such as temperature, time of microwave application, solvent composition and solvent/mass seed ratio were investigated. Solvent mixtures (ethanol–water and isopropanol–water) were used for the extraction. The Taguchi design methodology was employed to determine the number of experiments and the optimal conditions for different extractions. The efficiency of each assay was determined and the results agreed with the best conditions provided by the Taguchi experimental design for both solvent mixtures. The isopropanol–water mixture efficiency was 91.8% in one extraction step, and for ethanol–water mixture, it was 57.1%, clearly showing the advantage of the first one.     

Grain Yield Prediction: Extending the Stress-Degree-Day Approach to Accommodate Climatic Variability

Combination of the stress-degree-day concept of plant water stress assessment with the growing degree-day concept of plant phenological development leads to a new approach to the prediction of grain crop yields that accounts for climatic effects of light, temperature, and water. The model requires knowledge of the dates of plant emergence and heading, maximum and minimum air temperatures through the growing season, and midafternoon canopy-air temperature differentials from the time of heading to physiological maturity. Its utility is illustrated by development of the predictive relationship for a specific cultivar of wheat grown at Phoenix, Arizona, and a test of its predictions for the same cultivar grown at Davis, California. Both final yield and the time of cessation of crop growth are adequately predicted.     

Cervical aortic arch and a new type of double aortic arch. Report of a case

A case of cervical aortic arch is reported. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first to be associated with a serious intracardiac anomaly. In addition, it is part of a new type of double aortic arch, caused by failure of reabsorption of both dorsal aortic roots and persistence of the fourth right and second (or third) left branchial arches.     

Wheat yield estimation by albedo measurement

Experiments conducted in two different years at two different locations have shown that grain yield of a fall-planted spring wheat can be adequately estimted from the minimum albedo of the crop just prior to grain ripening. The predictive relationship appears to be independent of any other factor, as long as complete ground cover is achieved.     

Is There a Specific Executive Capacity for Dual Task Coordination? Evidence From Alzheimer's Disease.

Three experiments compared groups of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and healthy older and younger participants on visuospatial tracking and digit sequence recall, as single tasks and performed concurrently. In Experiment 1, tasks were performed concurrently with very low demand relative to span. Only the AD patients showed a dual task deficit. In Experiment 2, single task demand was manipulated on each task from below span to above span for each individual. All groups showed the same performance reductions with increasing demand. In Experiment 3, demand on 1 task was constant, whereas demand on the concurrent task was varied. AD patients showed a clear dual task deficit but were no more sensitive than control groups to varying demand. Results suggest an identifiable cognitive resource for dual task coordination within a multiple component working memory system. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)