Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “fiber”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

How accurately can the diffusion profiles indicate multiple fiber orientations? A study on general fiber crossings in diffusion MRI.

The q-space imaging techniques and high angular resolution diffusion (HARD) imaging have shown promise to identify intravoxel multiple fibers. The measured orientation distribution function (ODF) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) profiles can be used to identify the orientations of the actual intravoxel fibers. The present study aims to examine the accuracy of these profile-based orientation methods by comparing the angular deviations between the estimated local maxima of the profiles and the real fiber orientation for a fiber crossing simulated with various intersection angles under different b values in diffusion-weighted MRI experiments. Both noisy and noise-free environments were investigated. The diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI), q-ball imaging (QBI), and HARD techniques were used to generate ODF and ADC profiles. To provide a better comparison between ODF and ADC techniques, the phase-corrected angular deviations were also presented for the ADC method based on a circular spectrum mapping method. The results indicate that systematic angular deviations exist between the actual fiber orientations and the corresponding local maxima of either the ADC or ODF profiles. All methods are apt to underestimation of acute intersection and overestimation of obtuse intersection angle. For a typical slow-exchange fiber crossing, the ODF methods have a non-deviation zone around the 90 degrees intersection. Before the phase-correction, the deviation of ADC profiles approaches a peak at the 90 degrees intersection, while after the correction the ADC deviations are significantly reduced. When the b factor is larger than 1000 s/mm2, the ODF methods have smaller angular deviations than the ADC methods for the intersections close to 90 degrees . QBI method demonstrates a slight yet consistent advantage over the DSI method under the same conditions. In the noisy environment, the mean value of the deviation angles shows a high consistency with the corresponding deviation in the nose-free condition.

Algorithms↗

A light and electron microscopic immunohistochemical study of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide- and substance P-containing nerve fibers along the cerebral blood vessels: comparison with aminergic and cholinergic nerve fibers.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)- and substance P-containing nerve fibers were observed in the cerebral blood vessels using an immunohistochemical technique. VIP-containing nerve fibers distributed in a spiral pattern, similar to that of muscle cells. Under electron microscopic observation, VIP-immunoreactive terminals lay close to a muscle cell in the inner layer of the adventitia. In contrast, substance P-containing nerve fibers showed a meshwork pattern in the outer layer of the adventitia. Using both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) staining and VIP immunohistochemistry, AChE-positive and VIP-immunoreactive nerve fibers revealed almost the same distribution in the same specimen. The present data suggest that VIP-containing nerve fibers may play a role in the smooth muscle control of the blood vessels, whereas substance P-containing nerve fibers may not take part in muscle control.

Animals↗

Effects of soybean fiber on cecal digestion in rats previously adapted to a fiber-free diet.

This study was conducted to study digestion in rats of a diet containing soybean fiber (chiefly hemicellulose). The animals were first fed a fiber-free high starch diet for 7 d before receiving a 30% soybean fiber diet. There was a progressive change in the cecal pool of volatile fatty acids (VFA), up to approximately 1000 mumol, due to the enlargement of the cecum in conjunction with the rise of the VFA concentration, and the decrease in the cecal pH to 6. In rats fed the soybean fiber diet, the cecal concentrations of acetate and propionate increased with propionate reaching a very high value (approximately 50 mmol/L) after 22 d of dietary treatment. Butyrate concentrations first increased, then declined to about 10 mmol/L. Absorption of VFA was enhanced fivefold between d 2 and d 21 and was then 10-fold higher than in rats fed the fiber-free diet. The transfer of blood urea to the cecum increased in parallel with the enlargement of the cecum and there was a large rise of ammonia absorption after 8 d. There was a rapid increase in the cecal pool of phosphorus, whereas the cecal pools of calcium and magnesium significantly increased only after 8 d. The cecal absorption of calcium and magnesium increased very early, even when the cecal pool of these cations was not enhanced. The soybean fiber diet also elicited a strong induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in cecal mucosa, which was attenuated after 21 d of dietary treatment. Thymidine kinase was smaller than for ODC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Skeletal muscle fiber atrophy: altered thin filament density changes slow fiber force and shortening velocity.

Single skinned fibers from soleus and adductor longus (AL) muscles of weight-bearing control rats and rats after 14-day hindlimb suspension unloading (HSU) were studied physiologically and ultrastructurally to investigate how slow fibers increase shortening velocity (V0) without fast myosin. We hypothesized that unloading and shortening of soleus during HSU reduces densities of thin filaments, generating wider myofilament separations that increase V0 and decrease specific tension (kN/m2). During HSU, plantarflexion shortened soleus working length 23%. AL length was unchanged. Both muscles atrophied as shown by reductions in fiber cross-sectional area. For AL, the 60% atrophy accounted fully for the 58% decrease in absolute tension (mN). In the soleus, the 67% decline in absolute tension resulted from 58% atrophy plus a 17% reduction in specific tension. Soleus fibers exhibited a 25% reduction in thin filaments, whereas there was no change in AL thin filament density. Loss of thin filaments is consistent with reduced cross bridge formation, explaining the fall in specific tension. V0 increased 27% in soleus but was unchanged in AL. The V0 of control and HSU fibers was inversely correlated (R = -0.83) with thin filament density and directly correlated (R = 0.78) with thick-to-thin filament spacing distance in a nonlinear fashion. These data indicate that reduction in thin filament density contributes to an increased V0 in slow fibers. Osmotically compacting myofilaments with 5% dextran returned density, spacing, and specific tension and slowed V0 to near-control levels and provided evidence for myofilament spacing modulating tension and V0.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

The projection of cervical primary fibers to the DCN of the squirrel, Sciurus niger: fiber sorting in the dorsal columns.

The course and terminal distribution of cervical primary afferents in the dorsal column nuclei were studied in the fox squirrel, Sciurus niger. Unilateral rhizotomies were performed at cervical levels C3, C4, C5, C6 and C8. For all spinal levels studied except C8, degeneration in the medullary cuneate fasciculus was present within two distinct groups. They included a large oblique lateral lamina and a small superficial group of degeneration. The superficial group was horizontal, located medial to the large lamina and appeared to be formed by the medial shifting of fibers away from the initial larger group. Fibers in the large primary lamina appeared to terminate primarily in the ventrolateral areas of the cuneate nucleus. Fibers from the superficial group, however, appeared to project mostly to dorsal cuneate nuclear areas. Hence, the dual transverse terminal patterns for cervical fibers in the cuneate nucleus appeared to be related directly to a fiber sorting process that involved the formation of two often separate ascending fiber groups in the cuneate fasciculus. The results of this study are compared with the mechanosensory mapping of the dorsal column nuclei in the squirrel.

Animals↗

Fiber-type composition of the human jaw muscles--(part 1) origin and functional significance of fiber-type diversity.

This is the first of two articles on the fiber-type composition of the human jaw muscles. The present article discusses the origin of fiber-type composition and its consequences. This discussion is presented in the context of the requirements for functional performance and adaptation that are imposed upon the jaw muscles. The human masticatory system must perform a much larger variety of motor tasks than the average limb or trunk motor system. An important advantage of fiber-type diversity, as observed in the jaw muscles, is that it optimizes the required function while minimizing energy use. The capacity for adaptation is reflected by the large variability in fiber-type composition among muscle groups, individual muscles, and muscle regions. Adaptive changes are related, for example, to the amount of daily activation and/or stretch of fibers. Generally, the number of slow, fatigue-resistant fibers is relatively large in muscles and muscle regions that are subjected to considerable activity and/or stretch.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Environmental measurements of total dust and fiber concentration in manufacturer and user of man-made mineral fibers.

Man-made mineral fibers (MMMF), most of which are referred to as man-made vitreous fibers (MMVF), are mostly amorphous silicates manufactured from glass, rock, or other minerals. Analysis for MMMF have been restricted largely to the measurement of total airborne mass concentrations, but more recently to the determination of airborne fiber levels by phase contrast optical microscopy. In Korea, many small factories are related with manufacturing and using MMMF without any special evaluation of environmental measurements. Though MMMF are known as the substitute of asbestos and their toxicity are regarded as very low, MMMF do not totally excluded from the respiratory and/or skin diseases now. Therefore, we evaluated the environments of many workplaces with total dust and fiber concentration. Most dust and fiber concentrations were below threshold limit value (TLV) at various industries and working processes. However, these data showed a slight relationship between total dust and fiber concentration.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

Airborne fiber concentration and size distribution of mineral fibers in area with serpentinite outcrops in Aichi prefecture, Japan.

Airborne fiber concentrations and size distributions of both asbestos and nonasbestos fibers were determined at property boundaries of 4 serpentinite quarries producing crushed stone (quarry property boundary), 10 sites within 10 km of the area with serpentinite outcrops (serpentinite area), and 2 sites in a reference area. The asbestos was identified in 7 rock and 3 soil samples collected in the serpentinite area. The geometric means of airborne concentrations of asbestos and nonasbestos fibers longer than 0.2 microm in length were: 384 and 447 fibers/liter (f/L) in the quarry property boundary (in operation), 12 and 124 f/L in the quarry property boundary (in closed), 5 and 103 fibers/liter in the serpentinite area, and less than 2 and 59 fibers/liter in the reference area, respectively. There was a significant difference in airborne concentrations of both asbestos and nonasbestos fibers among the areas. Ttremolite/actinolite were found with chrysotile in the stones. Airborne concentrations of tremolite/actinolite were higher than those of chrysotile at the quarry property boundary and in the serpentinite area. Tremolite/actinolite were also found in the soils. There was no significant difference among the areas in the arithmetic means of fiber size distribution of both asbestos and nonasbestos fibers.

Air Pollutants↗

Partial replacement of alfalfa fiber with fiber from ground corn cobs or wheat middlings.

This trial examined the effect of using corn cobs or wheat middlings to replace alfalfa partially as the dietary fiber source for lactating cows. Multiparous midlactation cows were used in three 4 x 4 Latin squares with 21-d periods. A low fiber, basal diet contained 26.8 g of total NDF, including 14.7 g of alfalfa NDF/100 g of dietary DM. Dietary fiber was increased by addition of more alfalfa, corn cobs, or wheat middlings to obtain 27.4, 28.9, and 27.9%, respectively, of total dietary NDF. Intake (24.9 kg of DM/d) and milk yield (31.6 kg/d) were not different among treatments. Nonforage fiber sources raised milk fat concentration above basal amounts (3.1% to 3.4% fat) and decreased ruminating time below that of the high alfalfa diet (423 to 390 min/d). Fat test was raised approximately one-half as much per unit of NDF from these nonforage feeds as it was per unit of NDF from alfalfa. When additional dietary fiber came from nonforage sources, milk protein concentration (3.3%) was greater than when alfalfa provided the added fiber (3.2%).

Animal Feed↗

Effects of feeding nonforage fiber sources on site of fiber digestion.

Although many nonforage fiber sources have high extents of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestion, most have rates of digestion similar to or slower than the rates of forage NDF digestion. Rates of NDF digestion vary considerably among and within sources of by-products. Digestion kinetics also vary because of the technique used (in vitro versus in situ) and because of high amounts of dietary concentrate. Based on available data for passage rate and specific gravity measurements, rates of passage of nonforage fiber sources from the rumen of high producing cows appear to be faster than those of forages. Therefore, the potential to shift NDF digestion to the hindgut has been discussed. To account for variability in ruminal and total tract digestibility of NDF, multiple regression analysis was used to indicate that nonforage NDF percentage in the diet had about two-thirds the positive response on total tract NDF digestion that forage NDF percentage did. Although the loss of potentially digestible NDF may occur, DMI does not appear to decrease much until forage NDF is below 14 to 16% of dietary DM. Conversely, replacement of starch with nonforage NDF appears to increase digestibility of fiber, mostly in diets with high concentrations of nonfiber carbohydrates, apparently because of reduced negative associative effects. Increasing the concentration of total NDF above 35% also can decrease DMI with little improvement in NDF digestibility. Increased knowledge of the kinetics of digestion and the passage of various nonforage fiber sources used to replace forage or concentrate should increase the accuracy and precision of dynamic models, thereby increasing the flexibility and utility of nonforage fiber sources in dairy rations.

Animals↗

Effects of dietary fermentable fiber on fatty acid synthesis and triglyceride secretion in rats fed fructose-based diet: studies with sugar-beet fiber.

In an attempt to elucidate the role of the dietary fermentable fiber in reduction of hyperlipidemia, we substituted 30% wheat starch with 30% sugar-beet fiber in rats fed a fructose-based (41% fructose), low-fat (2% corn oil) diet. Male Wistar rats ate the test diets for 3 weeks. Feeding the sugar-beet fiber (SBF) diet resulted in a significant enlargement of the cecum; it also increased the concentration of volatile fatty acids compared with rats fed a fiber-free (FF) diet. Feeding SBF decreased plasma triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations in the postprandial as well as the postabsorptive period. In the liver, triglyceride levels were depressed in concert with the decreased liver lipogenesis and the post-Triton triglyceride secretion. Liver cholesterol levels were unaffected by SBF diet feeding. SBF-fed animals were markedly less fat compared with fiber-free-diet-fed rats. Adipose tissue lipogenesis was depressed in the postprandial period in SBF-fed animals. In short, this study suggests that substitution of easily digested carbohydrates by certain fermentable fibers may play an interesting role in the reduction of hyperlipidemia and obesity.

Animals↗

[Morphological study of innervation of orbicularis oculi in the cat with respect to motoneurons, nerve fibers and muscle fibers].

It has been suggested that the orbicularis oculi muscle functions in different modes of action in the orbital portion and in the palpebral portion. To study the anatomical correlation between the localization of muscular division and the size of motoneurons in facial nucleus, the retrograde tracing method was used. A histochemical study on the type of muscle fibers was also performed. The relationship between the motoneurons, nerve fiber and muscle fiber was discussed in terms of the functional organization of the palpebral or orbital orbicularis oculi. We injected a tracer of 50% horseradish peroxidase (HRP) into the orbital and/or palpebral portion of the orbicularis oculi muscle and HRP-labelled motoneurons at the brainstem were studied. In the facial nucleus, four subnuclei have been described: the ventrolateral, ventromedial, dorsolateral and dorsomedial. HRP-labelled motoneurons which innervated both the orbital and palpebral portions were spindle shaped and were found ipsilaterally in the dorsolateral subnucleus, and were distributed rostrocaudally. The histogram of the average soma diameter traced by the injection in the orbital portion presented two peaks at 30 microns and 40 microns in contrast to one peak of palpebral portion. Secondly, a histochemical study using alkali (pH 10.4) preincubated ATPase and acid (pH4.3) preincubated ATPase and NADH stain was performed. It was found that the muscle fibers of the orbital part were composed predominantly of large and middle diameter group II B, while the palpebral part consisted mainly of small diameter group II A. By diameter analyses of the facial nerve fibers, it was found that the myelinated nerve fibers consisted of 3 peaks in terms of the magnitude of histogram.

Animals↗

Changes in unmyelinated fibers including sympathetic postganglionic fibers of a skin nerve after peripheral neuroma formation.

Conduction velocities of unmyelinated fibers and proportions of postganglionic fibers which can be activated from the lumbar sympathetic trunk were determined for the superficial peroneal nerve of the cat's hindlimb. The nerve was either left intact (4 control experiments) or cut and ligated peripherally 6-245 days before the experiments so that neuromata developed (15 experiments). Additionally, 3 control experiments were performed on the sural nerve. Our findings are that about 20-30% of all unmyelinated fibers in intact skin nerves are postganglionic sympathetic fibers. This percentage of postganglionic axons, which can be activated from the preganglionic side, decreases to 0-7% 100 days or more after the nerve section. In intact skin nerves the conduction velocity of the afferent unmyelinated fibers is greater (mean +/- 1 S.D.: 0.88 +/- 0.17 m/s) than that of postganglionic axons (0.69 +/- 0.14 m/s). The conduction velocities in both types of axons decrease by 25-30% in nerves with peripheral neuroma. This occurs largely during the first 15 days following the nerve section described.

Adrenergic Fibers↗

Effect of weight loss on muscle fiber type, fiber size, capillarity, and succinate dehydrogenase activity in humans.

To examine the effects of weight loss on muscle oxidative properties, nine obese subjects (body mass index, 34 +/- 1.5) had muscle biopsies before and after weight loss and weight stabilization. Weight loss ranged from 13-32 kg and represented 20.8 +/- 2.1% of initial weight. After weight loss, there was no change in the proportions of oxidative (type I and type IIa) fibers and also no change in mean fiber cross-sectional area, whereas there was a small, but significant, decrease in the relative interstitial space (P < 0.05). However, weight loss resulted in a 32 +/- 6% (mean +/- SEM) increase in capillary/fiber ratio and a 54% increase in capillary density (P < 0.05). In addition, there was a 41 +/- 13% increase in succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity (P < 0.05). This increase in muscle capillarization and SDH activity was seen in all fiber types, even the relatively lower oxidative type IIx fibers. There was a strong correlation between the change in capillary/fiber ratio and the change in SDH activity (r = 0.82; P < 0.02). Thus, weight loss resulted in no change in muscle fiber type or cross-sectional area, but produced increases in capillary/fiber ratio, capillary density, and SDH activity, suggesting an increase in muscle oxidative capacity.

Adult↗