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Fat-saturated image generation through multi-contrast MRIs making use of generative adversarial cpa networks with Bloch equation-based autoencoder regularization.
Neurofilaments are proteins selectively expressed in the cytoskeleton of neurons, and increased levels are a marker of damage. Elevated neurofilament levels can serve as a marker of ongoing disease activity as well as a tool to measure response to therapeutic intervention. The potential utility of neurofilaments has drastically increased as recent advances have made it possible to measure levels in both the cerebrospinal fluid and blood. There is mounting evidence that neurofilament light chain (NfL) and phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain (NfH) are abnormal in a host of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review we examine how both of these proteins behave across diseases and what we know about how these biomarkers relate to in vivo white matter pathology and each other. PURPOSE To evaluate the yield of Functional Connectivity (FC) in addition to low-density ictal Electrical Source Imaging (ESI) in extratemporal lobe epilepsy (ETLE), using an automated algorithm for analysis. METHOD Long-term EEG monitoring of consecutive ETLE patients who underwent surgery was reviewed by epileptologists, and seizure onsets characterized by rhythmical activity were identified. A spectrogram-based algorithm was developed to select objectively the parameters of ESI analysis. Two methods for SOZ localization were compared i) ESI power, based on LORETA exclusively; ii) ESI + FC, including a Granger causality-based connectivity analysis. Results were determined at a sublobar level. The resection zone, in relation to 1-year follow-up surgical outcome, was considered as reference standard for diagnostic accuracy analyses. RESULTS Ninety-four seizures from 24 patients were analyzed. At seizure-level, ESI power showed 36 % sensitivity and 72 % specificity (accuracy 45 %). ESI + FC significantly improved the accuracy, with 52 % sensitivity and 84 % specificity (accuracy 61 %, p = 0.04). Results of ESI + FC were equally valuable in patients with lateralized or bilateral/generalized visual interpretation of ictal EEG. In a patient level sub-analysis, upon blinded clinical interpretation, ESI + FC showed a correct localization in 67 % of patients and substantial inter-rater agreement (kappa = 0.64), against 27 % achieved by ESI power, with fair inter-rater agreement (kappa = 0.37). CONCLUSION FC significantly improves SOZ localization compared to ESI solely in ETLE. Ictal ESI + FC could represent a novel option in the armamentarium of presurgical evaluation, aiding also in patients with visually non-localizable scalp ictal EEG. Prospective studies evaluating the clinical added value of automated low-density ictal ESI may be justified. PURPOSE The cerebral glymphatic system, particularly the Virchow-Robin Spaces (VRS), plays an important role in waste clearance from the brain. Idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) is a common epilepsy type associated with blood-brain-barrier dysfunction, abnormal exchange of cerebrospinal fluid and interstitial fluid. These disorders may be reflected in the glymphatic system. Therefore, this study investigated the relationships between visible VRS on MRI and seizures, to detect changes in glymphatic function. METHODS We retrospectively included 32 children with newly diagnosed IGE and 30 controls aged 3-13 years. Visible VRS were identified using a custom-designed automated method. VRS counts and volume were quantified and compared between children with IGE and controls. Meanwhile, Correlations of VRS counts and volume with seizure duration and course after seizure onset were respectively explored via Spearman's coefficient (r). RESULTS In this study, visible VRS counts were higher in IGE than control group (VRS_epilepsy, 234.34 ± 113.88 vs. VRS_control, 111.83 ± 52.46; P less then 0.001), as similar results were found in VRS volume (VRS_epilepsy, 1377.47 ± 778.79 mm3 vs. check details VRS_control, 795.153 ± 452.49 mm3; P = 0.001). Visible VRS counts and volume positively correlated with seizure duration (r_counts = 0.638, r_volume = 0.639; P less then 0.001) and gradually decreased with time after seizure onset (r_counts = -0.559, r_volume = -0.558; P less then 0.001). CONCLUSION Epileptic seizures can induce changes in VRS counts and volume, which were associated with seizure duration and post-onset course. Quantitative metrics of VRS visible on MRI might be potential biomarkers for monitoring glymphatic function. A series of 3-amidocoumarins has been synthesized and tested in vitro for their anitimicrobial and chitinase inhibitory activities. Among these, compounds 5k, 5l, 8b-8d, 8f and 8g exhibited good antibacterial activity with MIC values in the range of 6.25-25 µg/mL against some of the tested strains while compounds 5l, 8b, 8c and 8f showed good activity against at least one or two fungal strains. Some of the assayed compounds 5d, 5k, 5l, 8b and 8c displayed significant chitinase inhibitory activity with IC50 values in the range of 3.74-5.6 µM. Among them, 5l proved to be potent chitinase inhibitor with IC50 value of 3.74 µM. To better understand the enzyme-inhibitor interactions molecular docking study of all the synthesized compounds was carried out on Aspergillus fumigatus chitinase 1W9U. The compound 5l showed high binding affinity with the receptor with binding energy value of -8.44 Kcal/mol. This study also provides structure activity relationship (SAR) of synthesized compounds. A series of novel isoxazolidines based on benzaldehyde derivatives have been synthesized from the cycloaddition of chiral menthone-based nitrone and allyl phenyl ethers. All synthetic compounds were assessed for their in vitro PPA, HPA and HLAG inhibitory activity. The results revealed that all targets exhibited better inhibitory effect against PPA (12.3 ± 0.4 less then IC50 less then 38.2 ± 0.9 μM), HPA (10.1 ± 0.4 less then IC50 less then 26.8 ± 0.2 μM) and HLAG (65.4 ± 1.2 less then IC50 less then 274.8 ± 1.1 μM) when compared with the reference inhibitor, acarbose (IC50 = 284.6 ± 0.3 μM for PPA, 296.6 ± 0.8 μM for HPA, 780.4 ± 0.3 μM for HLAG) with the highest PPA inhibitory activity was ascribed to compound 3g against both PPA and HPA, and 3b against HLAG enzymes, respectively. Structural activity relationships (SARs) were also established for all synthesized compounds and the interaction modes of the most potent inhibitors (3g for PPA and HPA, 3b for HLAG) and the active site with residues of three enzymes were confirmed through molecular docking studies.
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