For workpiece inspection applications such as internal edge measurement verifications, 3D data processing for detecting the internal and external surface of the object is required. Rather than detecting edge points on each slice of CT image and stacking them up, we detect the 3D surface points directly from a sequence of CT images. Using this strategy, surfaces whose normals are vertical to the slices can be detected. We present a set of 3D edge detection methods, facet-model-based, morphology-based, and wavelet-based for evaluation. The facet-model-based surface detection method uses facet model to estimate the local 3D directional derivatives and location of the zeros of the second 3D directional derivatives along the direction of gradient. Subvoxel accuracy can be achieved using this method. The morphology-based method performs a 3D dilation-erosion residue operation first. Then the zero crossings of the residue result images are detected, and the surface points are extracted. The wavelet-based method performs a 3D wavelet transform on the CT images, and the local maxima of the gradient are detected and marked as surface points. The performance of these surface detectors are compared. Finally, as an illustration, we apply the facet-model-based method on a set of engine blade CT images with resolution of 5 mil by 5 mil and the measurements of thickness of wall are taken. A linear regression model is used to correct the systematic error. The results are very close to the direct optical measurements of cut-up sections of the blade with a maximum error of 3 mil.
Platelet microparticles (PMPs) are released from the resting or activated platelet membrane, which includes a variety of proteins, mRNA, miRNA, lipids, and other substances. PMPs are involved in cell communication in vivo and are potential markers for multiple diseases. This narrative review focuses on the extraction, identification, and intercellular role of PMPs, with emphasis on the lesser known aspects of PMPs, namely, PMPs and complement systems, and their role in some diseases and disorders of women such as miscarriage and polycystic ovary syndrome, as well as the application of proteomics. For clinical purposes, we should first consider the importance of PMPs quantification and then what treatment should be given in response to increased quantities of PMPs as observed in many diseases. Currently, methods for quantification of PMPs are still in the experimental stages. Proteomics testing will expand biomarker discovery as well as future PMPs diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Our previous studies showed that the early use of calpain inhibitors reduces calpain activity in multiple brain regions, and that postnatal treatment with calpeptin may lead to cerebellar motor dysfunction. However, it remains unclear whether postnatal calpeptin application affects hippocampus-related behaviors. In this study, Sprague-Dawley rats were purchased from the Animal Center of Anhui Medical University of China. For the experiments in the adult stage, rats were intraperitoneally injected with calpeptin, 2 mg/kg, once a day, on postnatal days 7-14. Then on postnatal day 60, the Morris water maze test was used to evaluate spatial learning and memory abilities. The open field test was carried out to assess anxiety-like activities. Phalloidin staining was performed to observe synaptic morphology in the hippocampus. Immunohistochemistry was used to count the number of NeuN-positive cells in the hippocampal CA1 region. DiI was applied to label dendritic spines. Calpeptin administration impaired spatial memory, caused anxiety-like behavior in adulthood, reduced the number and area of apical dendritic spines, and decreased actin polymerization in the hippocampus, but did not affect the number of NeuN-positive cells in the hippocampal CA1 region. For the neonatal experiments, neonatal rats were intraperitoneally injected with calpeptin, 2 mg/kg, on postnatal days 7 and 8. Western blot assay was performed to analyze the protein levels of Akt, Erk, p-Akt, p-Erk1/2, Erk1/2, SCOP, PTEN, mTOR, p-mTOR, CREB and p-CREB in the hippocampus. SCOP expression was increased, and the phosphorylation levels of Akt, mTOR and CREB were reduced in the hippocampus. These findings show that calpeptin administration after birth affects synaptic development in neonatal rats by inhibiting the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, thereby perturbing hippocampal function. Therefore, calpeptin administration after birth is a risk factor for neurodevelopmental defects.
To investigated the metrorrhagia volume-reduction activity, anti-inflammatory activity and repair-promoting activity of Clinopodium chinense (Benth.) O. Kuntze.An abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) model was induced via oral administration of mifepristone and misoprostol to pregnant rats, which were treated with the total extract of C. chinense (TEC). After 7 days, the metrorrhagia volume was measured, the levels of TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1α, IL-6 and TNF-α were measured by ELISA, the pathological changes and micro vessel density (MVD) of the endometrium were evaluated using HE and immunofluorescence staining, and the expression of VEGF, MMP-2/9 and TGF-β were assessed by Western blotting. Preliminary phytochemicals were screened and identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS.Eleven compounds in C. chinense were identified via comparison to standard substances. The results of animal experiment showed TEC could reduce metrorrhagia volume, alleviate pathological injury and increase MVD to promote recovery of the endometrium; TEC could also increase the levels of TXB2 and the expression of VEGF, TGF-β, decrease the levels of IL-6, TNF-α and the expression of MMP-2/9.TEC showed beneficial effects on treating AUB by reducing metrorrhagia volume, inhibiting the inflammatory response and promoting the repair of the endometrium. Additionally, TEC also showed great haemostatic potential in AUB.
Gene expression regulatory mechanisms in models of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) have been assessed in some studies, but questions remain. The discovery of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between MCAO and control rats analyzed by next-generation RNA sequencing is of particular interest. These DEGs may help guide the clinical diagnosis of stroke and facilitate selection of the optimal treatment strategy. Twenty rats were equally divided into control and MCAO groups. Three rats from each group were randomly selected for RNA sequencing analysis. Sequence reads were obtained from an Illumina HiSeq2500 platform and mapped onto the rat reference genome RN6 using Hisat2. We identified 1,007 significantly DEGs with p<0.05, including 785 upregulated (fold change [FC]>2) and 222 downregulated (FC<0.5) DEGs, in brain tissue from MCAO rats compared with that from control rats, and numerous immune response genes were identified. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that the majority of the most enriched and meaningful biological process terms were mainly involved in immune response, inflammatory response, cell activation, leukocyte migration, cell adhesion, response to external stimulus, cell migration, and response to wounding. Also enriched were immune-related pathways and neural-related pathways. Similar to GO molecular function terms, the enriched terms were mainly related to cytokine receptor activity. Six DEGs were verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Protein-protein interaction analysis of these hits revealed that MCAO affects complement and coagulation cascades and chemokine signaling pathway. Our study identified novel biomarkers that could help further elucidate MCAO mechanisms and processes.
Adverse early-life experience such as maternal separation (MS) affects the behavior of adult, and may also aggravate the outcome of neurological insults. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of early MS on hippocampus-related behaviors, and to assess the mechanisms. Newborn rats were randomly divided into normal control and MS groups. Our data showed that MS (P3-P21) impaired learning ability as well as memory retrieval, and caused depression-like activity, but decreased anxiety-like activity. Glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1) expression in the dentate gyrus (DG) region was significantly reduced in the adults (P60). Mechanically, MS promoted apoptosis, and reduced protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation in the DG region in the early phase (P21). By contrast, MS did not affect ERK phosphorylation. Our data implicate that the inactivation of AKT pathway and apoptosis of DG cells might contribute to MS-induced behavioral changes. This study would provide useful evidence implicating the pathological changes for MS.
Tao-Hong-Si-Wu decoction (TSD) is a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and widely used for ischemic disease in China. TSD medicated serum was prepared after oral administration of TSD (1.6 g/kg) twice a day for 3 days in rats. TSD medicated serum induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) proliferation, VEGF secretion, and nitric oxide (NO) production. These promoted effects of TSD were partly inhibited by treatment with PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) or eNOS inhibitor (L-NAME), respectively, and completely inhibited by treatment with LY294002 and L-NAME simultaneously. Western blot analysis findings further indicated that TSD medicated serum upregulated p-Akt and p-eNOS expressions, which were significantly inhibited by LY294002 or L-NAME and completely inhibited by both LY294002 and L-NAME; these results indicated that TSD medicated serum induced HUVECs VEGF expression via PI3K/Akt-eNOS signaling. TSD medicated serum contains hydroxysafflor yellow A, ferulic acid, and ligustilide detected by UPLC with standards, so these effect of TSD medicated serum may be associated with these three active compounds absorbed in serum.
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