Effectiveness of Boiling Method Using Aquadest Solvent in Oolong Tea Extraction Producing Mangenese Particle as a Contrast Media on Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)

Magnetic Resonance Cholangiography (MRCP) examines the pancreas and ductus billiaris using magnetic resonance imaging with a negative contrast media administered orally. Oolong tea is possible to be an alternative of an oral negative contrast media due to its manganese contained. This study will elaborate on the best method of oolong tea extraction to get the best mangenese substance and its capability to suppress inevitable organs. This is an experimental study with various methods of extraction, which are the maceration method with ethanol solvent, maceration method with aquadest solvent, and boiling method. The whole process includes collecting and preparing plant materials, sample identification, sample processing, extraction, and extract characterization. The manganese level is checked with Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) followed by scanning the extracted oolong tea in bottles and MRCP scanning examination. Results showed that manganese level with three different extraction methods is maceration method with ethanol is 1.23 mg/dl, maceration method with aquadest solvent is 0.82 mg/dl, and the extraction using the boiling method with aquadest solvent 0.94 mg/dl, and manufactured tea 1.40 mg/dl respectively. Scanning the extracted oolong tea in bottles showed that the best suppression is on the bottle, which contains extracted oolong tea using a boiling method with aquadest solvent. The image enhancement on MRCP showed that biliary trees are all enhanced using all the extraction methods; however, the best suppression for the stomach and duodenum is using the boiling method with aquadest solvent. The best choice for oolong tea extraction to get the best image to enhance and maximum suppression for disturbing organs is the boiling method with aquadest solvent. For the oolong tea, oral media contrast is to consider the level of manganese substance and its capability to suppress the disturbing organ to provide the best image for MRCP

The Role of the Dopamine D₁ Receptor in the Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

<p>Diminished motivation is a core feature of schizophrenia that has been linked to impaired functional outcomes. A mechanism thought to contribute to diminished motivation is impaired anticipatory pleasure. Impaired anticipatory pleasure is associated with disrupted reward prediction and reduced engagement in reward-seeking behaviours. To investigate the role of the dopamine D₁ receptor in anticipatory pleasure, D₁ mutant rats and WT rats performed five experiments. Reward prediction was examined using the anticipatory locomotion experiment and successive negative contrast experiment. It was found that D₁ mutant rats have impaired anticipatory responses to expected reward. However, as the WT rats did not show the expected response to an alteration in reward expectation, it was impossible to assess the role of the D₁ receptor. Together, these findings suggest that the D₁ receptor may be involved in aspects of reward prediction. Reward-seeking behaviour was examined using the social approach experiment, scent marking experiment, and the separation induced vocalization experiment. It was found that the D₁ mutant rats have an impaired ability to engage in social and sexual reward-seeking behaviours, but have relatively normal ability to engage in maternal reward-seeking behaviours. Together, these findings indicate that the D₁ receptor is involved in certain aspects of reward-seeking behaviours. In conclusion, there is compelling evidence that a D₁ receptor dysfunction is a likely contributor to diminished motivation in schizophrenia.</p>

The Role of the Dopamine D₁ Receptor in the Negative Symptoms of Schizophrenia

<p>Diminished motivation is a core feature of schizophrenia that has been linked to impaired functional outcomes. A mechanism thought to contribute to diminished motivation is impaired anticipatory pleasure. Impaired anticipatory pleasure is associated with disrupted reward prediction and reduced engagement in reward-seeking behaviours. To investigate the role of the dopamine D₁ receptor in anticipatory pleasure, D₁ mutant rats and WT rats performed five experiments. Reward prediction was examined using the anticipatory locomotion experiment and successive negative contrast experiment. It was found that D₁ mutant rats have impaired anticipatory responses to expected reward. However, as the WT rats did not show the expected response to an alteration in reward expectation, it was impossible to assess the role of the D₁ receptor. Together, these findings suggest that the D₁ receptor may be involved in aspects of reward prediction. Reward-seeking behaviour was examined using the social approach experiment, scent marking experiment, and the separation induced vocalization experiment. It was found that the D₁ mutant rats have an impaired ability to engage in social and sexual reward-seeking behaviours, but have relatively normal ability to engage in maternal reward-seeking behaviours. Together, these findings indicate that the D₁ receptor is involved in certain aspects of reward-seeking behaviours. In conclusion, there is compelling evidence that a D₁ receptor dysfunction is a likely contributor to diminished motivation in schizophrenia.</p>

Hepatic and renal cellular cytotoxic effects of heparin-coated superparamagnetic Iron oxide nanoparticles

Background Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles have been widely used in several biomedical engineering in vivo. Although various surface modifications have been made to these non-biodegradable nanoparticles to make them more biocompatible, their toxic potential still remains a major concern. Method In this study, we newly developed unfractionated heparin (UFH)-coated and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH)-coated SPIO nanoparticles through surface modification engineering, which was compared with commercially available dextran-coated SPIO nanoparticles. Their toxicity such as cytotoxicity, single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) comet assay, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and cellular apoptosis was evaluated to hepatic HepG2 and renal HK-2 cells. Results When UFH-, LMWH- or dextran-coated SPIO nanoparticles were applied, they did not affect the viability of HepG2 cell. However, HK-2 cells were more sensitive to dextran-coated SPIO nanoparticles than others. In genotoxicity assay using SCGE comet, DNA tail moment values in the groups treated with dextran- and LMWH-coated SPIO nanoparticles significantly increased. However, UFH-coated SPIO nanoparticles was only significantly lowing DNA tail moment value. In addition, UFH-coated SPIO nanoparticles had lower cytotoxicity in HepG2 and HK-2 cells compared to dextran-coated SPIO nanoparticles, especially in terms of apoptosis and intracellular ROS production. Conclusions Collectively, it is possible that UFH- coated SPIO nanoparticles can be used as alternative negative contrast agents.

Effects of Display and Ambient Illuminance on Visual Comfort for Reading on a Mobile Device

A psychophysical experiment was carried out to investigate visual comfort when reading on three OPPO Find X3s displays at three luminance levels (100, 250 and 500 cd/m2) at five illuminance levels (0, 10, 100, 500 and 1000 lx). Twenty young observers evaluated visual comfort using a 6-category points method. The results showed that observers felt most comfortable at the illuminance of 500 lx or display luminance of 500 cd/m2. There was an interaction between ambient illuminance and display luminance. High ambient light and display brightness levels provide a more pleasant visual experience. In low ambient light, however, the lower the brightness level, the more comfortable it is to see. Regarding the influence of background colour on visual comfort, the observers felt more comfortable having a grey background than white or black colour. When at dim illuminance, the background colour would have a great influence on visual comfort for negative contrast conditions, but when at higher illuminance, different background lightness levels had a great impact on visual comfort for positive contrast conditions. The above findings are very similar to the display luminance levels of 100 and 250 cd/m2.

When loss hurts: Psychobiological basis of frustration

Frustration or psychological pain refers to a negative emotional experience derived from unexpected incentive loss. The scientific study of frustration with non-human animals is abundant and consistent, whereas human research on this topic seems to be more fragmentary because of the variety of conceptual, theoretical and experimental approaches. The main aim of this paper was to conduct a narrative review of the scientific literature about the psychological construct of frustration. With this goal in mind, we first described the consummatory successive negative contrast, a widely used animal model of psychological pain and frustration. We also conducted a systematic search of experimental studies aimed at inducing frustration in humans, reviewed studies focused on analyzing the relationship between physical and psychological pain, and selected experiments involving the manipulation (omission, devaluation) of social stimuli. A discussion of the implications of the results for basic and clinical research was finally included, with an especial emphasis in the current COVID-19 pandemic, a worldwide experience of incentive loss with relevant psychological consequences.

Intravital fluorescence microscopy with negative contrast

Advances in intravital microscopy (IVM) have enabled the studies of cellular organization and dynamics in the native microenvironment of intact organisms with minimal perturbation. The abilities to track specific cell populations and monitor their interactions have opened up new horizons for visualizing cell biology in vivo, yet the success of standard fluorescence cell labeling approaches for IVM comes with a “dark side” in that unlabeled cells are invisible, leaving labeled cells or structures to appear isolated in space, devoid of their surroundings and lacking proper biological context. Here we describe a novel method for “filling in the void” by harnessing the ubiquity of extracellular (interstitial) fluid and its ease of fluorescence labelling by commonly used vascular and lymphatic tracers. We show that during routine labeling of the vasculature and lymphatics for IVM, commonly used fluorescent tracers readily perfuse the interstitial spaces of the bone marrow (BM) and the lymph node (LN), outlining the unlabeled cells and forming negative contrast images that complement standard (positive) cell labeling approaches. The method is simple yet powerful, offering a comprehensive view of the cellular landscape such as cell density and spatial distribution, as well as dynamic processes such as cell motility and transmigration across the vascular endothelium. The extracellular localization of the dye and the interstitial flow provide favorable conditions for prolonged Intravital time lapse imaging with minimal toxicity and photobleaching.

Gastric diverticula in six cats: a case series (2011–2020)

Case series summary Gastric diverticulum (GD) is a rare condition that is described adequately in humans but has not been reported in cats. This case series describes six cats with GD, including three that were published in a previous abstract. All cats presented for a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, including chronic vomiting, weight loss and anorexia, and underwent negative contrast radiography to diagnose GD. All but one cat underwent surgical resection of the GD via partial gastrectomy, while the remaining cat was euthanized. Resection of the GD was associated with reduction of reported clinical signs. Relevance and novel information Gastric diverticula have never been reported in the cat. Negative contrast radiography appears to be a superior imaging technique in the diagnosis of feline GD. In cats with a vague chronic history, including vomiting, anorexia and weight loss, GD should be considered among the differential diagnoses. Further study and more cases need to be identified to better assess clinical problems referable to GD in the absence of other comorbidities. Maine Coon cats with GD appear to be over-represented.

Isolated renal mucormycosis presenting with bilateral renal artery thrombosis: a case report

Background Mucormycosis is a rare infection caused by the fungus belonging to the order Mucorales. Mucormycosis predominantly affects immunocompromised individuals such as people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, blood malignancies, organ transplant, etc. Involvement of the kidneys usually occurs as a result of disseminated mucormycosis. We report a very rare case of isolated renal mucormycosis in an immunocompetant individual without any prior comorbidities who had an unusual presentation of mucormycosis. Case presentation A 17-year-old male student had presented to our emergency department with complaints of bilateral loin pain and fever for 10 days. There was no urine output for 2 days. Patient was in sepsis with acute kidney injury. A Doppler ultrasound of the abdomen revealed bilateral enlarged kidneys with absent blood flow in the renal vasculature. Dialysis was done, and patient was started on intravenous antibiotics. Patient was investigated for thrombophilia, the test results of which were normal. Sickle cell test was negative. Immunodeficiency screening was negative. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed bilateral enlarged kidneys with bilateral renal artery thrombosis and mild ascitis. CT-guided renal biopsy was performed in the same sitting which revealed fungal hyphae in the background of necrotic glomeruli. Patient was started on liposomal amphotericin B with renal replacement therapy. However, patient deteriorated and succumbed to sepsis on the 4th day of admission. Conclusion Isolated renal mucormycosis with bilateral renal artery thrombosis is a very rare clinical scenario with high mortality. One must have a high degree of suspicion to diagnose renal mucormycosis at an early stage.

Predictive and motivational factors influencing anticipatory contrast: A comparison of contextual and gustatory predictors in food restricted and free-fed rats

In anticipation of palatable food, rats can learn to restrict consumption of a less rewarding food type resulting in a binge on the preferred food when it is made available. This construct is known as anticipatory negative contrast (ANC) and can help elucidate the processes that underlie binge-like behavior as well as self-control in rodent motivation models. In the current investigation we aimed to shed light on the ability of distinct predictors of a preferred food choice to generate contrast effects and the motivational processes that underlie this behavior. Using a novel set of rewarding solutions, we directly compared contextual and gustatory ANC predictors in both food restricted and free-fed Sprague-Dawley rats. Our results indicate that, despite being food restricted, rats are selective in their eating behavior and show strong contextually-driven ANC and do so after fewer training sessions than free-fed animals. These differences mirrored changes in palatability for the less preferred solution across the different sessions as measured by lick microstructure analysis. Moreover, in contrast to previous research, gustatory cues in both food restricted and free-fed rats were sufficient for ANC to develop although this flavor-driven ANC did not relate to a corresponding change in lick patterning. These differences in the lick microstructure between context- and flavor-driven ANC indicate that the motivational processes underlying ANC generated by the two predictor types are distinct.