Pharmacological and Toxicological evaluation of selenium in combination with thiamine in chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is currently holding the second rank as a fatal cancer globally. Our hypothesis projects the combined effect of selenium (3mg/kg) and thiamine in combination as an effective treatment for DENA induced carcinogenesis in Wistar rats with an intra-peritoneal single dose of 200mg/kg body weight. Data obtained proved to show a remarkable alteration in body weight and liver profile of DENA exposed rats which were restored by administration of selenium and thiamine combination; our histological reports also revealed reparative changes in the trabaculie mesh work of hepatic cells at higher doses than the normal dietary requirement. Outcomes of the protocol showed remarkable fruitful results for the justification of combined selenium and thiamine as anticancer therapy.

Mesh-Type Three-Dimensional (3D) Printing of Human Organs and Tumors: Fast, Cost-Effective, and Personalized Anatomic Modeling of Patient-Oriented Visual Aids

Although three-dimensional (3D)-printed anatomic models are not new to medicine, the high costs and lengthy production times entailed have limited their application. Our goal was developing a new and less costly 3D modeling method to depict organ-tumor relations at faster printing speeds. We have devised a method of 3D modeling using tomographic images. Coordinates are extracted at a specified interval, connecting them to create mesh-work replicas. Adjacent constructs are depicted by density variations, showing anatomic targets (i.e., tumors) in contrasting colors. An array of organ solid-tumor models was printed via a Fused Deposition Modeling 3D printer at significantly less cost ($0.05/cm3) and time expenditure (1.73 min/cm3; both, p < 0.001). Printed models helped promote visual appreciation of organ-tumor anatomy and adjacent tissues. Our mesh-work 3D thyroidal prototype reproduced glandular size/contour and tumor location, readily approximating the surgical specimen. This newly devised mesh-type 3D printing method may facilitate anatomic modeling for personalized care and improve patient awareness during informed surgical consent.

Mesh-type 3D Printing of Human Organs and Tumors: Fast, Cost-Effective, and Personalized Anatomic Modeling

OBJECTIVE: Although 3D-printed anatomic models are not new to medicine, the high costs and lengthy production times entailed have limited their application. Our goal was developing a new and less costly 3D modeling method to depict organ-tumor relations at faster printing speeds. METHODS: We have devised a method of 3D modeling using DICOM images. Coordinates are extracted at a specified interval, connecting them to create mesh-work replicas. Adjacent constructs are depicted by density variations, showing anatomic targets (ie, tumors) in contrasting color. RESULTS: An array of organ solid-tumor models were printed via Fused Deposition Modeling 3D printer at significantly less cost ($0.05/cm3) and time expenditure (1.73 min/cm3; both, p&lt;.001). Printed models helped promote visual appreciation of organ-tumor anatomy and adjacent tissues. Our mesh-work 3D thyroidal prototype reproduced glangular size/contour and tumor location, readily approximating the surgical specimen. CONCLUSIONS: This newly devised mesh-type 3D printing method may facilitate anatomic modeling for personalized care and improve patient awareness during informed surgical consent.

An Image Recognition-Based Approach to Actin Cytoskeleton Quantification

Quantification of the actin cytoskeleton is of prime importance to unveil the cellular force sensing and transduction mechanism. Although fluorescence imaging provides a convenient tool for observing the morphology of the actin cytoskeleton, due to the lack of approaches to accurate actin cytoskeleton quantification, the dynamics of mechanotransduction is still poorly understood. Currently, the existing image-based actin cytoskeleton analysis tools are either incapable of quantifying both the orientation and the quantity of the actin cytoskeleton simultaneously or the quantified results are subject to analysis artifacts. In this study, we propose an image recognition-based actin cytoskeleton quantification (IRAQ) approach, which quantifies both the actin cytoskeleton orientation and quantity by using edge, line, and brightness detection algorithms. The actin cytoskeleton is quantified through three parameters: the partial actin-cytoskeletal deviation (PAD), the total actin-cytoskeletal deviation (TAD), and the average actin-cytoskeletal intensity (AAI). First, Canny and Sobel edge detectors are applied to skeletonize the actin cytoskeleton images, then PAD and TAD are quantified using the line directions detected by Hough transform, and AAI is calculated through the summational brightness over the detected cell area. To verify the quantification accuracy, the proposed IRAQ was applied to six artificially-generated actin cytoskeleton mesh work models. The average error for both the quantified PAD and TAD was less than 1.22 ∘ . Then, IRAQ was implemented to quantify the actin cytoskeleton of NIH/3T3 cells treated with an F-actin inhibitor (latrunculin B). The quantification results suggest that the local and total actin-cytoskeletal organization became more disordered with the increase of latrunculin B dosage, and the quantity of the actin cytoskeleton showed a monotonically decreasing relation with latrunculin B dosage.

Getting to the point: making, wayfaring, loss and memory as meaning-making in virtual archaeology

The initial construction of a digital virtual object is the three-dimensional (3D)point. Using the notions of making, wayfaring, meshwork and agency, this discussion focuses on Ingold’s (2011) theoretical approach to these comments as a means for the construction of archaeological knowledge as applied to the 3D virtual landscape. It will demonstrate that 3D points, whether constructed or captured, can be considered to be agents within an actor network, have agency and are subject to memory and loss within the digital archaeological record. By their interconnections they become a mesh work that can exchange and retain unique attributes of materiality. As such, they challenge our notions of meaning-making beyond the rote actions of visualizing within archaeology to a form that is more theoretically deeper. By viewing the construction and capture and the production of 3D or 2D visual data through a different lens but within theoretical archaeological terms, we can begin to understand our role in the creation of meaning within virtual archaeology.

Microstructure Design with Generalized Shape Optimization Based on Level Set Geometrical Description and X-FEM

In this paper, the microstructures with extreme properties are designed through the generalized shape optimization, which is implemented with the help of the smooth curves representation of the level set description and the numerical analyses of the eXtended Finite Element Method (X-FEM) with the fixed mesh work. The parameters of basic level set features are defined as the design variables. To calculate the given effective computation of microstructures, the energy method and homogenization method are physically identical. But the energy method is advantageous in computing efficiency and numerical implementation. Combining with the CONLIN algorithm, the periodic microstructures with the maximum elastic properties are obtained with the flexibility of handling the topological changes and solid-void boundaries. Numerical examples show the great interests in the microstructure design with the level set method and X-FEM.

Bile canalicular microfilament (BCMF) in experimental cholestasis: Freeze-etching study

In this studies, authors tried to clarify the fine structural features of bile canalicular microfilaments(BCMF) closely related to the bile canalicular structures in the experimentally induced rat liver cells.Male Wistar rats, administrated Phailoidin 50μg/100g. BW., intraperitoneally for 5 days, and sodium Taurolithocolate(TLC), intravenously, for 40 min., 80 min. and 120 min. After minced liver tissues, small pieces were rapidly frozen on copper block cooled with liquid N2, and were freeze-etched in Balzers 400 or JFD 9000 machines. Specimens of replicae as well as thin sections prepared usual thin section method were observed HU.12A electron microscope at 75 to 100KV.In freeze-etched replica of normal liver, there were moderate number of microfilament(Mf) with trabecular mesh-work. FIG.1.indicates thin and short filaments closely attached to the trabecules and subsequently related to the organellaes. Bundles of intermediate filaments(If) were also encountered closely linked to the Mf. Phailoidin treated liver, there were markedly increase in number of Mf and occasional small vesicular structures. Lumen of canaliculi were dilated with decrease in number or shortening of microvilli(Mv)(FIG.2).

Synovial Fluid Exchange - A Case of Flow Through Fibrous Mats

Synovial joints contain a film of lubricating fluid that is maintained by exchange between plasma and joint cavity. Fluid exchange is governed partly by capillary endothelium, but, due to the low hydraulic resistance of the fenestrations, interstitial resistance is important too. Each component contains a mesh work of fibrous elements, which makes "porosity" a more realistic model than traditional pores.