Ultrasonography of renal sinus lipomatosis

Gray scale B-scans in renal sinus lipomatosis show a variety of features which must be differentiated from clinically significant pathological processes. Normal kidneys show dense homogeneous central echoes. In renal sinus lipomatosis, however, the central echoes are divided and become more sparse (Type I), interspersed with small relatively echo-free areas (Type II), or outline a single relatively echo-free area resembling a mass (Type III). In contrast to similar features in hydronephrosis or multiple cysts, the relatively echo-free areas in lipomatosis are ill-defined and do present several weak internal echoes.     

Absence of tonic electromyographic activity during sleep in normal and spastic nonmimetic skeletal muscles in man

An electromyographic study of nonmimetic skeletal muscles was carried out in 8 normal adults and 4 patients with spastic hemiparesis during all stages of sleep for a total of 21 nights. All normal subjects showed absence of tonic electromyographic activity in all nonmimetic skeletal muscles in all stages of sleep. Also, during quiet, relaxed wakefulness, tonic muscle discharges disappeared in the normal subjects. Three patients with upper motor neuron spasticity demonstrated results during sleep similar to those obtained in the normal subjects. In the fourth patient, tonic muscle discharges persisted into stage 2 non-REM sleep, disappeared within 30 to 240 seconds following the onset of stage 2 sleep, and were absent during stages 3 and 4 sleep and REM sleep.     

SPECT: Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography

Interest in single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) has been renewed as a result of the successful application of transmission (x-ray) CT to diagnostic radiology. Many aspects of SPECT are different from those encountered in transmission CT, and often are more difficult to overcome. Examples of two major aspects encountered are 1) the limitations on the available photon flux imposed mainly by dose considerations to the patient and, 2) the internal attenuation of gamma rays within the patient prior to detection. Progress has been made recently in overcoming the quantum limitation by designing SPECT systems using special collimation and large active detector areas. High efficiency systems have been designed and built using both multiple-scanners and also using multiple large-field-of-view scintillation cameras. Much progress has also been made in compensating for the problem of gamma ray attenuation using iterative and analytical approaches. This paper reviews the history of single photon emission tomography, characterizes the physical attributes of SPECT, describes some solutions to the inherent problems encountered, and also reviews a few selected approaches in designing SPECT systems to provide high quality, artifact-free reconstructed images. It is anticipated that future developments will allow SPECT systems to more nearly attain the ultimate goal of determining absolute regional radionuclide concentration as a function of time. These systems, coupled with newly developed physiological radiopharmaceuticals, can provide useful research and clinical information.     

Progress in InGaAs-GaAs selective-area MOCVD toward photonicintegrated circuits

The progress toward integrated photonic devices by selective-area metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) is reviewed. Processing steps involved with fabricating buried heterostructures (BHs) by a three-step technique are outlined, and a computational model is presented that predicts the enhancement behavior of selective-area MOCVD. Results are reviewed for several discrete and integrated photonic devices. These include low-threshold BH lasers, laser diodes integrated with either intracavity or external cavity modulators, dual-channel emitters integrated with both modulators and passive y-junction waveguides, and broad-band light-emitting diodes (LEDs)     

Selective growth of InAs quantum dots by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

We report results of both strain-driven surface segregation of indium from InGaAs thin films as well as selective area epitaxy of InAs quantum dots using these films. InAs segregation from an underlying InGaAs film allows for preferential growth of quantum dots when additional InAs is deposited. By using standard lithography techniques, a two-step selective growth process for quantum dots is achieved. Furthermore, by utilizing self-assembled nanostructures as a template, selective growth of coalesced wires and dots with 100-nm feature sizes are realized.     

Differences in the Relative Abundance of ProBDNF and Mature BDNF in A549 and H1299 Human Lung Cancer Cell Media

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophin family, has been linked to several human malignancies and shown to promote tumorigenesis. The purpose of this study was to explore the relative abundance of pro-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF) and mature BDNF (mBDNF) in A549 (p53 wild-type) and H1299 (p53-null) lung cancer cell media. Higher levels of proBDNF were detected in the media of A549 cells than in H1299 cell media. Using inhibitors, we found that the levels of proBDNF and mBDNF in the media are likely regulated by PI3K, AKT, and NFκB. However, the largest change in these levels resulted from MMP2/9 inhibition. Blocking p53 function in A549 cells resulted in increased mBDNF and decreased proBDNF, suggesting a role for p53 in regulating these levels. The ratio of proBDNF/mBDNF was not affected by MMP2 knockdown but increased in the media of both cell lines upon knockdown of MMP9. Downregulation of either MMP2 or MMP9 by siRNA showed that MMP9 siRNA treatment of either A549 or H1299 cells resulted in decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis, an effect diminished upon the same treatment with proBDNF immunodepleted media, suggesting that MMP9 regulates the cytotoxic effects induced by proBDNF in lung cancer cells.     

Pseudo-Starvation Driven Energy Expenditure Negatively Affects Ovarian Follicle Development

In the present investigation, we examined whether a change in whole body energy fluxes could affect ovarian follicular development, employing mice ectopically expressing uncoupling protein 1 in skeletal muscle (UCP1-TG). Female UCP1-TG and wild-type (WT) mice were dissected at the age of 12 weeks. Energy intake and expenditure, activity, body weight and length, and body composition were measured. Plasma insulin, glucose, leptin, plasma fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and plasma insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) levels were analyzed and ovarian follicle and corpus luteum numbers were counted. IGF1 signaling was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining for the activation of insulin receptor substrate 1/2 (IRS1/2) and AKT. UCP1-TG female mice had increased energy expenditure, reduced body size, maintained adiposity, and decreased IGF1 concentrations compared to their WT littermates, while preantral and antral follicle numbers were reduced by 40% and 60%, respectively. Corpora lutea were absent in 40% of the ovaries of UCP1-TG mice. Phospho-IRS1, phospho-AKT -Ser473 and -Thr308 immunostaining was present in the granulosa cells of antral follicles in WT ovaries, but faint to absent in the antral follicles of UCP1-TG mice. In conclusion, the reduction in circulating IGF1 levels due to the ectopic expression of UCP1 is associated with reduced immunostaining of the IRS1-PI3/AKT pathway, which may negatively affect ovarian follicle development and ovulation.