Evaluation of single-electron movies of glutamine synthetase molecules

Author(s):  
W. Kunath ◽  
E. Zeitler ◽  
M. Kessel

The features of digital recording of a continuous series (movie) of singleelectron TV frames are reported. The technique is used to investigate structural changes in negatively stained glutamine synthetase molecules (GS) during electron irradiation and, as an ultimate goal, to look for the molecules' “undamaged” structure, say, after a 1 e/Å2 dose.The TV frame of fig. la shows an image of 5 glutamine synthetase molecules exposed to 1/150 e/Å2. Every single electron is recorded as a unit signal in a 256 ×256 field. The extremely low exposure of a single TV frame as dictated by the single-electron recording device including the electron microscope requires accumulation of 150 TV frames into one frame (fig. lb) thus achieving a reasonable compromise between the conflicting aspects of exposure time per frame of 3 sec. vs. object drift of less than 1 Å, and exposure per frame of 1 e/Å2 vs. rate of structural damage.

Author(s):  
Werner J. Niklowitz

After intoxication of rabbits with certain substances such as convulsant agents (3-acetylpyridine), centrally acting drugs (reserpine), or toxic metal compounds (tetraethyl lead) a significant observation by phase microscope is the loss of contrast of the hippocampal mossy fiber layer. It has been suggested that this alteration, as well as changes seen with the electron microscope in the hippocampal mossy fiber boutons, may be related to a loss of neurotransmitters. The purpose of these experiments was to apply the OsO4-zinc-iodide staining technique to the study of these structural changes since it has been suggested that OsO4-zinc-iodide stain reacts with neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, catecholamines).Domestic New Zealand rabbits (2.5 to 3 kg) were used. Hippocampal tissue was removed from normal and experimental animals treated with 3-acetylpyridine (antimetabolite of nicotinamide), reserpine (anti- hypertensive/tranquilizer), or iproniazid (antidepressant/monamine oxidase inhibitor). After fixation in glutaraldehyde hippocampal tissue was treated with OsO4-zinc-iodide stain and further processed for phase and electron microscope studies.


Author(s):  
R. C. Moretz ◽  
D. F. Parsons

Short lifetime or total absence of electron diffraction of ordered biological specimens is an indication that the specimen undergoes extensive molecular structural damage in the electron microscope. The specimen damage is due to the interaction of the electron beam (40-100 kV) with the specimen and the total removal of water from the structure by vacuum drying. The lower percentage of inelastic scattering at 1 MeV makes it possible to minimize the beam damage to the specimen. The elimination of vacuum drying by modification of the electron microscope is expected to allow more meaningful investigations of biological specimens at 100 kV until 1 MeV electron microscopes become more readily available. One modification, two-film microchambers, has been explored for both biological and non-biological studies.


Author(s):  
L.E. Murr

The production of void lattices in metals as a result of displacement damage associated with high energy and heavy ion bombardment is now well documented. More recently, Murr has shown that a void lattice can be developed in natural (colored) fluorites observed in the transmission electron microscope. These were the first observations of a void lattice in an irradiated nonmetal, and the first, direct observations of color-center aggregates. Clinard, et al. have also recently observed a void lattice (described as a high density of aligned "pores") in neutron irradiated Al2O3 and Y2O3. In this latter work, itwas pointed out that in order that a cavity be formed,a near-stoichiometric ratio of cation and anion vacancies must aggregate. It was reasoned that two other alternatives to explain the pores were cation metal colloids and highpressure anion gas bubbles.Evans has proposed that void lattices result from the presence of a pre-existing impurity lattice, and predicted that the formation of a void lattice should restrict swelling in irradiated materials because it represents a state of saturation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Di Matteo ◽  
Gianluca Smerilli ◽  
Edoardo Cipolletta ◽  
Fausto Salaffi ◽  
Rossella De Angelis ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose of Review To highlight the potential uses and applications of imaging in the assessment of the most common and relevant musculoskeletal (MSK) manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Recent Findings Ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are accurate and sensitive in the assessment of inflammation and structural damage at the joint and soft tissue structures in patients with SLE. The US is particularly helpful for the detection of joint and/or tendon inflammation in patients with arthralgia but without clinical synovitis, and for the early identification of bone erosions. MRI plays a key role in the early diagnosis of osteonecrosis and in the assessment of muscle involvement (i.e., myositis and myopathy). Conventional radiography (CR) remains the traditional gold standard for the evaluation of structural damage in patients with joint involvement, and for the study of bone pathology. The diagnostic value of CR is affected by the poor sensitivity in demonstrating early structural changes at joint and soft tissue level. Computed tomography allows a detailed evaluation of bone damage. However, the inability to distinguish different soft tissues and the need for ionizing radiation limit its use to selected clinical circumstances. Nuclear imaging techniques are valuable resources in patients with suspected bone infection (i.e., osteomyelitis), especially when MRI is contraindicated. Finally, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry represents the imaging mainstay for the assessment and monitoring of bone status in patients with or at-risk of osteoporosis. Summary Imaging provides relevant and valuable information in the assessment of MSK involvement in SLE.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. e665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Pawlitzki ◽  
Marc Horbrügger ◽  
Kristian Loewe ◽  
Jörn Kaufmann ◽  
Roland Opfer ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe visual pathway is commonly involved in multiple sclerosis (MS), even in its early stages, including clinical episodes of optic neuritis (ON). The long-term structural damage within the visual compartment in patients with ON, however, is yet to be elucidated.ObjectiveOur aim was to characterize visual system structure abnormalities using MRI along with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (VEPs) depending on a single history of ON.MethodsTwenty-eight patients with clinically definitive MS, either with a history of a single ON (HON) or without such history and normal VEP findings (NON), were included. OCT measures comprised OCT-derived peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular ganglion cell/inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness. Cortical and global gray and white matter, thalamic, and T2 lesion volumes were assessed using structural MRI. Diffusion-weighted MRI-derived measures included fractional anisotropy (FA), mean (MD), radial (RD), and axial (AD) diffusivity within the optic radiation (OR).ResultsMean (SD) duration after ON was 8.3 (3.7) years. Compared with the NON group, HON patients showed significant RNFL (p = 0.01) and GCIPL thinning (p = 0.002). OR FA (p = 0.014), MD (p = 0.005), RD (p = 0.007), and AD (p = 0.004) were altered compared with NON. Global gray and white as well as other regional gray matter structures did not differ between the 2 groups.ConclusionA single history of ON induces long-term structural damage within the retina and OR suggestive of both retrograde and anterograde neuroaxonal degeneration.


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