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Zhi Jiang1,6, Bao-An Chen1,6, Guo-Hua Xia1, Qiang Wu2, Yu Zhang1, Tie-Yan Hong1, Wei Zhang1, Jian Cheng1, Feng Gao1, Li-Jie Liu3, Xiao-Mao Li4, Xue-Mei Wang51Department of Hematology, the Affiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing, China; 2The Jiangsu Province Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, China; 3Institutions of Physiology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; 4Department of Physics, University of Saarland, Saarbruechen, Germany; 5National Key Lab of Bioelectronics (Chien-Shiung Wu Laboratory), Southeast University, Nanjing, China; 6These authors have contributed equally to this workAbstract: To explore whether the magnetic nanoparticles of Fe3O4 (MNPs-Fe3O4) loaded with cisplatin can reverse the diaminedichloro platinum (DDP) resistance to multidrug resistance of ovarian carcinoma cells and to investigate its mechanisms. The SKOV3/DDP cells were divided into DDP treatment (DDP group), MNPs-Fe3O4 treatment (MNPs-Fe3O4 group), DDP + MNPs-Fe3O4 treatment (DDP + MNPs-Fe3O4 group), and control group. After incubation with those conjugates for 48 h, the cytotoxic effects were measured by MTT assay. Apoptosis and the intracellular DDP concentration were investigated by flow cytometry and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, respectively. The expression of apoptosis associated gene Bcl-2 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and the expressions of MDR1, lung resistance-related protein (LRP), and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) genes were studied by Western blot. Our results indicated that the 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of the MNPs-Fe3O4 loaded with DDP was 17.4 µmol/ l, while the IC50 was 39.31 µmol/l in DDP groups (p < 0.05); Apoptosis rates of SKOV3/DDP cells increased more than those of DDP groups. Accumulation of intracellular cisplatin in DDP + MNPs-Fe3O4 groups was higher than those in DDP groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA and the protein expressions of MDR1, LRP, and P-gp were decreased when compared with those of DDP groups, respectively. Our results suggest that MNPs-Fe3O4 can reverse the DDP resistance to the ovarian carcinoma cell. The effects may be associated with over-expression of MDR1, LRP, P-gp, and Bcl-2, which can increase the intracellular platinum accumulation and induce the cell apoptosis.Keywords: magnetic nanoparticles of Fe3O4 , multidrug resistance reversal, SKOV3/DDP, MDR1, LRP, P-gp, Bcl-2

Kayo Masuko1, Minako Murata2, Naoya Suematsu1, Kazuki Okamoto1, Kazuo Yudoh2, Hiroyuki Shimizu3, Moroe Beppu3, Hiroshi Nakamura4, Tomohiro Kato11Department of Biochemistry; 2Department of Frontier Medicine, Institute of Medical Science; 3Department of Orthopedic Surgery, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, Japan; 4Department of Joint Disease and Rheumatism, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, JapanAbstract: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is expressed in articular joints with inflammatory arthropathy and may exert catabolic effects leading to cartilage degradation. As we observed in a preliminary experiment that PGE2 suppressed the expression of SERPINE1/plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 mRNA in chondrocytes, we focused on the effect of PGE2 on PAI-1 in a panel of cultured chondrocytes obtained from osteoarthritic patients. Specifically, articular cartilage specimens were obtained from patients with osteoarthritis who underwent joint surgery. Isolated chondrocytes were cultured in vitro as a monolayer and stimulated with PGE2. Stimulated cells and culture supernatants were analyzed using Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results confirmed that the in vitro PGE2 stimulation suppressed the expression of PAI-1 in the tested chondrocyte samples. The inhibitory effect was partly abrogated by an antagonist of EP4 receptor of PGE2, but not by an EP2 antagonist. Although PGE2 induced activations of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), blocking of the MAPK did not abrogate the suppressive effect of PGE2, implying a distinct signaling pathway. In summary, prostaglandin is suggested to modulate the plasminogen system in chondrocytes. Further elucidation of the interaction might open a new avenue to understand the degradative process of cartilage.Keywords: chondrocyte, prostaglandin, PGE2, PAI-1

Soubir Basak1, David Brogan2, Hans Dietrich2, Rogers Ritter3, Ralph G Dacey2, Pratim Biswas11Aerosol and Air Quality Research Laboratory, Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA; 2Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; 3Stereotaxis Inc., St. Louis, MO, USAAbstract: A current advance in nanotechnology is the selective targeting of therapeutics by external magnetic field-guided delivery. This is an important area of research in medicine. The use of magnetic forces results in the formation of agglomerated structures in the field region. The transport characteristics of these agglomerated structures are explored. A nonintrusive method based on in situ light-scattering techniques is used to characterize the velocity of such particles in a magnetic field gradient. A transport model for the chain-like agglomerates is developed based on these experimental observations. The transport characteristics of magnetic nanoparticle drug carriers are then explored in gel-based simulated models of the brain. Results of such measurements demonstrate decreased diffusion of magnetic nanoparticles when placed in a high magnetic field gradient. Keywords: nanoparticle ferrofluid, gel-brain model, drug delivery, magnetic agglomeration, transport, magnetic fields

Luis O Rustveld1, Valory N Pavlik1, Maria L Jibaja-Weiss1,2, Kimberly N Kline3, J Travis Gossey1, Robert J Volk11Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; 2Outreach and Health Disparities, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; 3Department of Communication, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USAAbstract: We conducted a qualitative study to elicit attitudes, attributions, and self-efficacy related to diabetes self-care in both English- and Spanish-speaking Hispanic men. Transcripts from six focus groups (three in English and three in Spanish) were reviewed by the authors to extract principal and secondary themes. Participants could describe their medication and lifestyle regimens and were aware of whether they were adherent or nonadherent to physician recommendations. Lack of skills on how to incorporate diet and regular physical activity into daily living, lack of will power, and reluctance to change culturally rooted behaviors emerged as significant barriers to diabetes self-management. Medication adherence is for some men the principal diabetes self-care behavior. Nonadherence appeared to fit two profiles: 1) intentional, and 2) nonintentional. In both instances low self-efficacy emerged as a significant influence on attainment and maintenance of diabetes self-care goals. Participants also expressed a strong sense of fatalism regarding the course of their disease, and seemed to have little motivation to attempt long-term dietary control. Educational and counseling messages should stress that a diagnosis of diabetes is not a death sentence, and full functional capacity can be maintained with good control.Keywords: type 2 diabetes, self-care, glycemic control, adherence

Kayo Masuko1, Minako Murata2, Kazuo Yudoh2, Tomohiro Kato1, Hiroshi Nakamura31Department of Biochemistry; 2Institute of Medical Science, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, Japan; 3Department of Joint Disease and Rheumatism, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, JapanAbstract: Hyaluronic acid (HA) has been widely used for viscosupplementation of diseased or aged articular joints. However, recent investigations have revealed the active anti-inflammatory or chondroprotective effect of HA, suggesting its potential role in attenuation of joint damage. In particular, interactions between HA and other inflammatory mediators are attracting interest. This review summarizes several aspects of recent investigations of the anti-inflammatory effects of HA in arthritis.Keywords: hyaluronan, inflammation, chondroprotection

Minoru Yamaoka, Yusuke Ono, Masahiro Takahashi, Ryosuke Doto, Kouichi Yasuda, Takashi Uematsu, Kiyofumi FurusawaMatsumoto Dental University, School of Dentistry, Shiojiri, Nagano, JapanAbstract: Acute pericoronitis (AP) arises frequently in incompletely impacted mandibular third molars, but it remains unknown whether bone resorption in aging is associated with acute inflammation of the third molar. We conducted an experiment to compare the ratio of bone resorption to root length in the distal surface of the second molar (A), the proximal surface (B), and distal surface (C) in mesio-angular, incompletely impacted third molars in 27 young and 58 older adults with AP and 77 young and 79 older adults without a history of AP. Bone resorption in A, B, and C in older adults with AP demonstrated a significantly higher ratio when compared to those without AP, whereas there was no difference between those with and without AP in young adults except for B in women. However, there were no differences between bone resorption in B with AP in young and older women, and between bone resorption in C with AP in young and older adults. These indicate that AP and bone resorption are associated with incompletely impacted mandibular third molars in older adults.Keywords: bone resorption, pericoronitis, mandible, acute inflammation, elderly

Dag Stockeld1, Ursula Falkmer2, Sture Falkmer3, Lars Backman1, Lars Granström1, Jan Fagerberg41Department of Surgery, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; 2Department of Oncology; 3Department of Pathology, University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway; 4Department of Oncology, Radiumhemmet, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, SwedenObjective: To evaluate the predictive values of the expression of factor VIII, CD-34, p53, bcl-2, and DNA ploidy regarding the response to chemoradiation of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.Design: Retrospective analysis of pretreatment biopsies with immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. The results were correlated to tumor response (complete vs. noncomplete) following chemoradiation with three cycles of 5-FU and cisplatin combined with 40–64 Gy of radiation.Subjects: 44 consecutive patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus treated with chemoradiation with a curative intent from 1992–2000.Main outcome measures: Treatment response.Results: No correlations were found between the expressions of p53, bcl-2, or DNA ploidy and tumor response to chemoradiation. A positive correlation was found between factor VIII expression and a complete tumor response (p = 0.0357). However the other marker for angiogenesis, CD-34, showed a negative correlation (p = 0.0493). Both markers indicate blood vessel density meaning that, in this study, many vessels indicated a favorable response if measured with factor VIII, but a poor response if measured with CD-34. Conclusion: It is not possible to predict tumor response to our chemoradiation protocol through the analysis of pretreatment expression of p53, bcl-2 or DNA ploidy in biopsy specimens. In spite of significant correlations between complete tumor responses and the expressions of the markers for angiogenesis this significance may be questionable since one of the two markers, factor VIII had a positive and the other, CD-34, a negative correlation to tumor response.Keywords: chemoradiation, response, prognostic factor, apoptosis, p-53, angiogenesis, DNA ploidy

Edouard Matevossian1, Dietrich Doll4, Jakob Säckl1, Inga Sinicina5, Jürgen Schneider2, Gerhard Simon3, Norbert Hüser11Department of Surgery, 2Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive-Care Medicine; 3Department of Radiology, Technische Universität of Munich, Germany; 4Department of Visceral, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, Philips University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany; 5Institute of Clinical Forensic Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, GermanyAbstract: Saving more human lives through more effective reanimation measures is the goal of the new international guidelines on cardiopulmonary resuscitation as the decisive aspect for survival after cardiovascular arrest is that basic resuscitation should start immediately. According to the updated guidelines, the greatest efficacy in cardiac massage is only achieved when the right compression point, an adequate compression depth, vertical pressure, the correct frequency, and equally long phases of compression and decompression are achieved. The very highest priority is placed on restoring continuous circulation. Against this background, standardized continuous chest compression with active decompression has contributed to a favorable outcome in this case. The hydraulically operated and variably adjustable automatic Lund University Cardiac Arrest System (LUCAS) device (Jolife, Lund, Sweden) undoubtedly meets these requirements. This case report describes a 44-year-old patient who – approximately 15 min after the onset of clinical death due to apparent ventricular fibrillation – received cardiopulmonary resuscitation, initially by laypersons and then by the emergency medical team (manual chest compressions followed by situation-adjusted LUCAS compressions). Sinus rhythm was restored after more than 90 min of continuous resuscitation, with seven defibrillations. Interventional diagnostic workup did not reveal a causal morphological correlate for the condition on coronary angiography. After a 16-day period of hospital convalescence, with preventive implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator and several weeks of rehabilitation, the patient was able to return home with no evidence of health impairment.Keywords: resuscitation, cardiac arrest, cardiac massage, LUCAS

Jeff W Hill1, Kristina Tansavatdi4, Kristin L Lockett4, Glenn O Allen1, Cristiane Takita2, Alan Pollack2, Jennifer J Hu1,31Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2Department of Radiation Oncology, 3Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; 4Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USAAbstract: Genetic variations in cell cycle checkpoints and DNA repair genes are associated with prolonged cell cycle G2 delay following ionizing radiation (IR) treatment and breast cancer risk. However, different studies reported conflicting results examining the association between post-IR cell cycle delay and breast cancer risk utilizing four different parameters: cell cycle G2 delay index, %G2–M, G2/G0–G1, and (G2/G0–G1)/S. Therefore, we evaluated whether different parameters may influence study results using a data set from 118 breast cancer cases and 225 controls as well as lymphoblastoid and breast cancer cell lines with different genetic defects. Our results suggest that cell cycle G2 delay index may serve as the best parameter in assessing breast cancer risk, genetic regulation of IR-sensitivity, and mutations of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and TP53. Cell cycle delay in 21 lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from BRCA1 mutation carriers was not different from that in controls. We also showed that IR-induced DNA-damage signaling, as measured by phosphorylation of H2AX on serine 139 (γ-H2AX) was inversely associated with cell cycle G2 delay index. In summary, the cellular responses to IR are extremely complex; mutations or genetic variations in DNA damage signaling, cell cycle checkpoints, and DNA repair contribute to cell cycle G2 delay and breast cancer risk. The cell cycle G2 delay assay characterized in this study may help identify subpopulations with elevated risk of breast cancer or susceptibility to adverse effects in normal tissue following radiotherapy.Keywords: breast cancer, ionizing radiation sensitivity, cell cycle, G2 delay, radiotherapy

Marco Sciuto1, Gaetano Bertino2, Mariangela Zocco3, Ignazio Vecchio4, Rocco Raffaele4, Rosario R Trifiletti5, Piero Pavone3,61Neonatal Care Section, Valsalva Hospital, Catania, Italy; 2Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital S Marta University of Catania, Italy; 3Pediatric Unit, Department of Pediatric Hospital Civile, Ragusa, Italy; 4Department of Neurology, University of Catania, Italy; 5Department of Neurology, Morristown Memorial Hospital, New Jersey, USA; 6Pediatric Unit, Department of Pediatric and Pediatric Neurology, University of Catania, Italy Aim and scope: We conducted this study to estimate the incidence of hyperbilirubinemia in a small neonatal care unit in Catania, Italy, and to determine the underlying causes, which would be of value in identifying and implementing strategies to prevent morbidity from this condition.Background: Management of hyperbilirubinemia remains a challenge for neonatal medicine because of the risk for serious neurological complications related to the toxicity of bilirubin. Methods: From January 2006 to January 2007, we screened 525 newborns born at the Neonatal Care Unit of Valsalva Hospital in Catania, Italy. Infants aged 3–5 days and with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia were included for assessment if they had a peak serum total bilirubin level exceeding 6 mg/dl (102 μmol/L). Sex, birth weight, gestational age, breast feeding, type of birth, presence of facial bruising (including cephalohematoma) and ABO group were noted. Patients with Toxoplasma or Cytomegalovirus infection, hepatic insufficiency, or suspected drug-induced hyperbilirubinemia were excluded from more detailed analysis.Results: Our year-long nursery sample examined otherwise healthy-appearing term infants for the prevalence of hyperbilirubinemia (defined as bilirubin levels exceeding 6 mg/dL [11mol/L]). We found hyperbilirubinemia in 19% (100/525). Among the patients with hyperbilirubinemia, almost all (99%) had peak levels of bilirubin < 20 mg/dL, levels which are generally considered to be potentially neurotoxic.Conclusions: In our clinic experience, hyperbilirubinemia was generally a serious medical issue and one whose etiology can usually be well defined. Keywords: hyperbilirubinemia, newborns, incidence, breastfeeding

Dimitris Papaconstantinou1, Ilias Georgalas2, George Kalantzis1, Efthimios Karmiris1, Chrysanthi Koutsandrea1, Andreas Diagourtas1, Ioannis Ladas1, Gerasimos Georgopoulos11Department of Ophthalmology, University of Athens, Athens, Greece; 2“G Genimatas” Hospital, NHS, Athens, GreecePurpose: To study acquired color vision and visual field defects in patients with ocular hypertension (OH) and early glaucoma.Methods: In a prospective study we evaluated 99 eyes of 56 patients with OH without visual field defects and no hereditary color deficiencies, followed up for 4 to 6 years (mean = 4.7 ± 0.6 years). Color vision defects were studied using a special computer program for Farnsworth–Munsell 100 hue test and visual field tests were performed with Humphrey analyzer using program 30–2. Both tests were repeated every six months. Results: In fifty-six eyes, glaucomatous defects were observed during the follow-up period. There was a statistically significant difference in total error score (TES) between eyes that eventually developed glaucoma (157.89 ± 31.79) and OH eyes (75.51 ± 31.57) at the first examination (t value 12.816, p < 0.001). At the same time visual field indices were within normal limits in both groups. In the glaucomatous eyes the earliest statistical significant change in TES was identified at the first year of follow-up and was –20.62 ± 2.75 (t value 9.08, p < 0.001) while in OH eyes was −2.11 ± 4.36 (t value 1.1, p = 0.276). Pearson’s coefficient was high in all examinations and showed a direct correlation between TES and mean deviation and corrected pattern standard deviation in both groups.Conclusion: Quantitative analysis of color vision defects provides the possibility of follow-up and can prove a useful means for detecting early glaucomatous changes in patients with normal visual fields.Keywords: color vision defects, glaucoma, hereditary, vision field

Domenico Servello1, Marco Sassi1, Stefano Bastianello2, Guy Umberto Poloni2, Francesca Mancini3, Claudio Pacchetti31Functional Neurosurgery Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Galeazzi, Milan, Italy; 2Neuroradiology Unit; 3Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorder Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Mondino, Institute of Neurology, Pavia, Italy Objectives: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is nowadays considered a safe and effective procedure for various movement disorders in which conservative treatments have failed to show significant therapeutic results. One of the most common complications of definitive electrode positioning is intraparenchymal hemorrhage.Materials and methods: Authors report the case of a 55-year-old female patient treated for Parkinson’s disease in which intraparenchymal hemorrhage developed after DBS procedure, leading to significant (about 8 mm at the neuroradiological controls) displacement of an otherwise correctly positioned DBS electrode.Results: After conservative management, the hematoma spontaneously resolved. Late neuroradiological controls documented correct, symmetrically positioned electrodes, comparable to the immediate postoperative controls.Conclusions: Six months follow-up endpoint results of the DBS treatment were considered satisfying by an independent neurologist, with modest residual neurological deficits, demonstrating that re-positioning of the electrode was unnecessary in this rare complication.Keywords: deep brain stimulation, electrodes, outcomes, implant, case report

Dimitris Papaconstantinou1, Ilias Georgalas2, Nikolaos Kourtis1, Christos Pitsas1, Efthimios Karmiris1, Chrysanthi Koutsandrea1, Ioannis Ladas1, Gerasimos Georgopoulos11Department of Ophthalmology, “G Gennimatas” Hospital of Athens, University of Athens, Athens, Greece; 2Department of Ophthalmology, “G Gennimatas” Hospital of Athens, NHS, Athens, Greece Purpose: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy in intraocular pressure (IOP) control and the tolerance of a topically administered fixed combination of timolol–brimonidine in 50 patients with ocular hypertension and primary open-angle glaucoma.Methods: After determining a baseline IOP, the fixed combination timolol–brimonidine was used twice daily for two months, while IOP, ophthalmic signs, and/or symptoms were monitored.Results: The mean IOP value was decreased from 23.09 mm Hg (±1.98 SD) to 17.46 mm Hg (±1.47 SD) during the 1st month (paired Student’s t test = 9.88 και p

Hirohito Kanemitsu, Mizuho Matsunawa, Kuninobu Wakabayashi, Michihito Sato, Ryo Takahashi, Tsuyoshi Odai, Takeo Isozaki, Nobuyuki Yajima, Yusuke Miwa, Tsuyoshi KasamaDivision of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, JapanObjective: To test the hypothesis that macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is involved in the disease activity of systemic vasculitis.Methods: Patients with systemic vasculitis were divided into three groups based on the size of the affected vessels. Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) was considered as small vessel vasculitis (SVV), polyarteritis nodosa as medium-sized vessel vasculitis (MVV), and giant cell arteritis and Takayasu arteritis as large vessel vasculitis (LVV). Sera from patients with systemic vasculitis and healthy individuals were collected, and MIF levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Disease activity of vasculitis was assessed using the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS).Results: Serum MIF levels were significantly higher in the vasculitis patients than in healthy individuals. Among the vasculitis patients, MIF levels were significantly higher in patients in the SVV group (median; 4161.7 pg/ml) than in the other groups (MVV; 1443.2 pg/ml and LVV; 1576.7 pg/ml). In patients with MPA, a positive correlation was observed between serum MIF levels and CRP levels and disease activity (BVAS). Notably, serum MIF levels were significantly diminished after clinical improvement.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that MIF may have an important role in small vessel vasculopathy and serve as a useful serologic marker of MPA disease activity.Keywords: macrophage migration inhibitory factor, systemic vasculitis, microscopic polyangiitis, cytokine

Damian C Stanziano1,2, Bernard A Roos1,2,3,4, Arlette C Perry1, Shenghan Lai5, Joseph F Signorile1,31Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA; 2Stein Gerontological Institute, Miami Jewish Home and Hospital, Miami, FL, USA; 3Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA; 4Departments of Medicine and Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA; 5Departments of Pathology and Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA Abstract: This study examined the impact of an eight-week active-assisted (AA) stretching program on functionality, mobility, power, and range of motion (ROM) in elderly residents of a residential retirement community. Seventeen volunteers (4 male, 13 female; 88.8 ± 5.36 years) were randomly assigned to an AA or control group. The AA group performed 10 different AA stretches targeting the major joints of the body twice weekly for eight weeks. Controls attended classes requiring limited physical activity. All participants were assessed using four fl exibility and six functional tests, one week before and after the eight-week training period. A fully randomized repeated-measures ANCOVA with pretest scores as a covariate was used to detect differences between groups across time. The AA group demonstrated significant increases in ROM for most of the joints evaluated (p < 0.05) and significant increases in all performance measures (p < 0.05). Controls showed no improvements in functional or ROM measures (α = 0.05). Additionally, the AA group showed significantly better performance outcomes across the training period than controls. We conclude that our eight-week flexibility program effectively reduces age-related losses in ROM and improves functional performance in elderly persons with insufficient physical reserves to perform higher-intensity exercises.Keywords: proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, functionality, exercise, quality of life

Hongbin Zhu1, Chaijie Duan1, Perry Pickhardt2, Su Wang1, Zhengrong Liang1,31Department of Radiology, 3Department of Computer Science, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY, USA; 2Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI, USAAbstract: As a promising second reader of computed tomographic colonography (CTC) screening, the computer-aided detection (CAD) of colonic polyps has earned fast growing research interest. In this paper, we present a CAD scheme to automatically detect colonic polyps in CTC images. First, a thick colon wall representation, ie, a volumetric mucosa (VM) with several voxels wide in general, was segmented from CTC images by a partial-volume image segmentation algorithm. Based on the VM, we employed a level set-based adaptive convolution method for calculating the first- and second-order spatial derivatives more accurately to start the geometric analysis. Furthermore, to emphasize the correspondence among different layers in the VM, we introduced a middle-layer enhanced integration along the image gradient direction inside the VM to improve the operation of extracting the geometric information, like the principal curvatures. Initial polyp candidates (IPCs) were then determined by thresholding the geometric measurements. Based on IPCs, several features were extracted for each IPC, and fed into a support vector machine to reduce false positives (FPs). The final detections were displayed in a commercial system to provide second opinions for radiologists. The CAD scheme was applied to 26 patient CTC studies with 32 confirmed polyps by both optical and virtual colonoscopies. Compared to our previous work, all the polyps can be detected successfully with less FPs. At the 100% by polyp sensitivity, the new method yielded 3.5 FPs/dataset. Keywords: colonic polyps, level set, adaptive convolution, middle-layer enhanced integration, volumetric mucosa, support vector machine, computer-aided detection, CT colonography

Richard B Rhiew, Sunil Manjila, Andrew M Lozen, David Hong, Murali Guthikonda, S S RengacharyDepartment of Neurosurgery, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USAAbstract: Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a widely used method of surgical treatment for a variety of lumbar spinal disorders. Bilateral transpedicular instrumentation is routinely used in conjunction with an interbody graft to provide additional stability. In this technical note, we describe our fusion construct using ipsilateral pedicle screw placement on the side of TLIF and contralateral facet screw placement. We performed this construct at six levels in four patients. Suggested advantages include: low morbidity, small incision and lower cost. Outcomes parameters included radiographic evidence of solid union at four months and improvement in Oswestry Disability Index. A mean improvement from a preoperative score of 73 to 26 after surgery was observed at one-year follow-up. There were no instrument-related complications. In conclusion, this hybrid screw system minimizes contralateral dissection and is an attractive alternative to standard bilateral pedicle screw fixation.Keywords: TLIF, facet screw, pedicle screw, lumbar spine fusion

Claudia Domnick1, Michael Hauck1,2,3, Kenneth L Casey3, Andreas K Engel1, Jürgen Lorenz1,3,41Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology; 2Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; 3Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; 4Faculty of Life Sciences, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Hamburg, GermanyAbstract: Nociceptive input reaches the brain via two different types of nerve fibers, moderately fast A-delta and slowly conducting C-fibers, respectively. To explore their distinct roles in normal and inflammatory pain we used laser stimulation of normal and capsaicin treated skin at proximal and distal arm sites in combination with time frequency transformation of electroencephalography (EEG) data. Comparison of phase-locked (evoked) and non-phase-locked (total) EEG to laser stimuli revealed three significant pain-related oscillatory responses. First, an evoked response in the delta-theta band, mediated by A-fibers, was reduced by topical capsaicin treatment. Second, a decrease of total power in the alpha-to-gamma band reflected both an A- and C-nociceptor-mediated response with only the latter being reduced by capsaicin treatment. Finally, an enhancement of total power in the upper beta band was mediated exclusively by C-nociceptors and appeared strongly augmented by capsaicin treatment. These findings suggest that phase-locking of brain activity to stimulus onset is a critical feature of A-delta nociceptive input, allowing rapid orientation to salient and potentially threatening events. In contrast, the subsequent C-nociceptive input exhibits clearly less phase coupling to the stimulus. It may primarily signal the tissue status allowing more long-term behavioral adaptations during ongoing inflammatory events that accompany tissue damage.Keywords: C-fibers, oscillations, EEG, laser, capsaicin, inflammatory pain

Kathy M Hageman1, Etienne Karita2, Kayitesi Kayitenkore2, Roger Bayingana2, Ariane van der Straten3, Rob Stephenson4, Martha Conkling5, Amanda Tichacek1, Lawrence Mwananyanda5, William Kilembe5, Alan Haworth6, Elwyn Chomba6, Susan A Allen11Rwanda Zambia HIV Research Group, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; 2Projet San Francisco, Kigali, Rwanda; 3Women’s Global Health Imperative, RTI International, San Francisco, USA; 4Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; 5Zambia Emory HIV Research Project, Lusaka, Zambia; 6University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia Objective: To compare responses to a sexual behavioral survey of spouses in cohabiting heterosexual relationships in Kigali, Rwanda.Design: Cross-sectional survey.Methods: Husbands and wives in 779 cohabiting couples were interviewed separately with parallel questionnaires. Participants were recruited from a three-year old cohort of 1458 antenatal clinic attendees enrolled in a prospective study in 1988. Analyses compared responses at the gender- and couple-level for agreement and disagreement.Results: Couples were in disagreement more than agreement. Women reported occasionally refusing sex, suggesting condom use, and believing married men were unfaithful. Men reported being in a faithful relationship, greater condom use, and being understanding when his wife refused sex. Agreement included relationship characteristics, safety of condoms, and whether condoms had ever been used in the relationship. Disagreement included the preferred timing of next pregnancy, desire for more children, and whether a birth control method was currently used and type of method.Conclusions: Rwandan husbands and wives differed in sexual behavior and reproductiverelated topics. Couple-level reporting provides the most reliable measure for relationship aspects as couples’ agreement cannot be assumed among cohabiting partnerships. Furthermore, HIV prevention programs for couples should incorporate communication skills to encourage couple agreement of HIV-related issues.Keywords: HIV, couples, counseling and testing, agreement and disagreement, sexual behavior, condom use, and pregnancy

Julie Kiguli1, Elizabeth Ekirapa-Kiracho1, Olico Okui1, Aloysius Mutebi1, Hayley MacGregor2, George William Pariyo11Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda; 2Institute of Development Studies, Sussex, UKAbstract: This paper examines the community’s perspectives and perceptions on quality of health care delivery in two Uganda districts. The paper addresses community concerns on service quality. It focuses on the poor because they are a vulnerable group and often bear a huge burden of disease. Community views were solicited and obtained using eight focus group discussions, six in-depth and 12 key informant interviews. User perceptions and definitions of the quality of health services depended on a number of variables related to technical competence, accessibility to services, interpersonal relations and presence of adequate drugs, supplies, staff, and facility amenities. Results indicate that service delivery to the poor in the general population is perceived to be of low quality. The factors that were mentioned as affecting the quality of services delivered were inadequate trained health workers, shortage of essential drugs, poor attitude of the health workers, and long distances to health facilities. This paper argues that there should be an improvement in the quality of health services with particular attention being paid to the poor. Despite wide focus on improvement of the existing infrastructure and donor funding, there is still low satisfaction with health services and poor perceived accessibility.Keywords: quality, health care, poor, community, perceptions, utilization

Jeroen JW Liesker1, Nick H Ten Hacken1, Mieke Zeinstra-Smith2, Steven R Rutgers1, Dirkje S Postma1, Wim Timens21Department of Pulmonology; 2Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands Background: Reticular basement membrane (RBM) thickening has been variably associated with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Even if RBM thickness is similar in both diseases, its composition might still differ. Objective: To assess whether RBM thickness and composition differ between asthma and COPD. Methods: We investigated 24 allergic asthmatics (forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV1] 92% predicted), and 17 nonallergic COPD patients (FEV1 60% predicted), and for each group a control group of similar age and smoking habits (12 and 10 persons, respectively). Snap-frozen sections of bronchial biopsies were stained with hematoxylin/eosin and for collagen I, III, IV, V, laminin and tenascin. RBM thickening was assessed by digital image analysis. Relative staining intensity of each matrix component was determined.Results: Mean (SD) RBM thickness was not significantly different between asthma and COPD 5.5 (1.3) vs 6.0 (1.8) μm, but significantly larger than in their healthy counterparts, ie, 4.7 (0.9) and 4.8 (1.2) μm, respectively. Collagen I and laminin stained significantly stronger in asthma than in COPD. Tenascin stained stronger in asthma than in healthy controls of similar age, and stronger in COPD controls than in asthma controls (p 0.05).Conclusion: RBM thickening occurs both in asthma and COPD. We provide supportive evidence that its composition differs in asthma and COPD. Keywords: reticular basement membrane thickness, reticular basement membrane composition, asthma, biopsy, COPD, remodeling

Preoperative autologous blood donation is commonly used to reduce exposure to homologous blood transfusions among patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of autologous transfusion on patients' hematocryte value, intra and postoperative blood loss, hospitalization time, the development of infective complications and other factors. Materials and Methods: Between June 2001 to April 2002, 208 patients were underwent cardiac surgery in cardiac surgery ward in Imam Khomeini Medical Center. One or more blood units donate from 104 Patients before cardiopulmonary bypass and heparin injection, and transfused to them after CPB and Protamin injection (autologous Group, group 1). 104 patients underwent cardiac surgery routinely (control group, group 2)."nResults: Mean of age was 55.9±8.6 in group 1 and 56.6±9.3 in group 2 (P=NS). 73 male and 31 females were in group 1 and 79 males and 25 females were in group 2 (P=NS). Smoking, familial history, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, hypertension, stroke, and history of myocardial infarction was similar in two groups."nSeverity of angina, urgency operation, number vessels disease, duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, duration of aortic cross clamp time, use of internal thoracic artery graft, and number of grafts was similar in both groups. Mean of bleeding post operation was 548 cc in group 1 and 803 cc in-group 2 (P=0.003). Bleeding that need to operation was 1.8% in group 1 and 8.6% in group 2 (P=0.002). Wound infection, mediastinitis, renal failure, ventilatory prolonged, stroke, need to Intra-aortic Balloon Pump (IABP), intraoperative bleeding, and hospital stay was similar in both groups. Mean of extubationt time was 10.2 hours in group 1 and 14.8 hours in group 2 (P=0.001)."nConclusion: Preoperative and intra-operative donations are safe and continue to contribute uniquely to blood conservation, providing important options in comprehensive blood conservation programs in current pediatric open-heart surgery."n"n"n"n"n"n"n

Makoto Inoue1,2, Kei Shinoda3, Tomoko Matsuda-Yamamitsu2, Ronaldo Yuiti Sano1, Susumu Ishida2,41Kyorin Eye Center, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan; 3Department of Ophthalmology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan; 4Department of Ophthalmology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, JapanAbstract: We report a case of a patient with a highly hyperopic eye who underwent cataract surgery combined with vitreous surgery to create a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) to prevent choroidal neovascularization (CNV). A 78-year-old man noticed a decrease in his vision due to a cataract in his right eye. The patient had a severe visual loss in his left eye because of a CNV 2 years after a cataract surgery. His visual acuities were 20/30 OD and 20/600 OS, and funduscopic examination showed an orange-colored lesion OD and degenerative subretinal fibrosis OS. The posterior vitreous was attached to the retina in both eyes. The axial length was 18.9 mm OD and 19.0 mm OS. Cataract surgery combined with vitreous surgery to create PVD was performed on the right eye, and the vision improved to 20/20 with no signs of developing CNV after 5 years. We conclude that cataract surgery combined with vitreous surgery to create a PVD may prevent the development of CNV in highly hyperopic eyes.Keywords: hyperopia, macular degeneration, posterior vitreous detachment, cataract surgery

Mete Güler1, Turgut Yilmaz2, Mehmet Yigit2, Gülsen Ülkü2, Sermal Arslan21Department of Ophthalmology, Elazig Harput State Hospital, Turkey; 2Departmant of Ophthalmology, Elazig Education and Research HospitalAbstract: We report a case of a missed metallic intraocular foreign body retained in the lens over a two-year period without causing inflammatory reaction, which presented with cataract later. A 24-year-old man presented with a progressive blurring of vision in the left eye for two years. He had had a history of metal-on-metal activity two years before. He had pain for one day in left eye and it was healed by the following day. Biomicroscopic examination revealed cataract, an intralenticular foreign body, and a corneal scar at seven o’clock meridian of the cornea in the left eye. Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/200 in the left eye. Intralenticular foreign body removal, phacoemulsification, and an intraocular lens implantation was performed under local anesthesia. The intralenticular foreign body was metallic and its size was about 2 × 2 mm. Two weeks after the operation best corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in left eye. A retained foreign body should be considered in each patient with a history of penetrating ocular trauma and all efforts must be made to exclude presumptive diagnosis of intraocular foreign body.Keywords: cataract, intralenticular foreign body, penetrating intraocular injury

Ming Chen1, Henry W Sweeney2, Becky Luke3, Mindy Chen4, Mathew Brown51University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; 2Research Support Services, the Queens Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; 3Surgical Suite, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; 4University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; 5University of California, San Diego, CA, USAAbstract: Cumulative dissipated energy (CDE) was used with Infiniti® Vision System (Alcon Labs) as an energy delivery guide to compare four different phaco techniques and phaco settings. The supracapsular phaco technique and burst mode is known for efficiency and surgery is faster compared with the old phaco unit. In this study, we found that supracapsular phaco with burst mode had the least CDE in both cataract and nuclear sclerosis cataract with the new Infiniti® unit. We suggest that CDE can be used as one of the references to modify technique and setting to improve outcome for surgeons, especially for new surgeons. Keywords: CDE (cumulative dissipated energy), cataract surgery, phacoemulsification, supracapsular, burst mode, Divide–Conquer

Yelda B Özkurt, Arzu Taskiran, Nadire Erdogan, Baran Kandemir, Ömer K Dog?anDepartment of Ophthalmology, Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, TurkeyPurpose: To evaluate the influence of irrigation of the anterior chamber with heparin sodium on postoperative inflammation after pediatric cataract surgery. Setting: Kartal Training and Research Hospital, First Eye Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey.Design: Randomized prospective double-blind study.Methods: Fourteen consecutive eyes from 14 patients aged 8.9 ± 5.9 years, (range 3–18 years) (group 1) and 19 eyes from 19 patients aged 9.1 ± 5.2 (range 1.5–18 years) (group 2) underwent pediatric cataract surgery. Five patients in group 1 were between three and five years old. One patient was 1.5 years old and six patients in group 2 were between three and five years old. During the procedure, group 1 received anterior chamber irrigation with heparin sodium (5 IU/cc) and 1 ml of heparin sodium (concentration 10 IU/ml) added to the irrigating balanced salt solution (BSS Plus; Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX, USA) while group 2 received BSS without heparin sodium only. Cases aged under three years received anterior vitrectomy in addition to posterior capsulorrhexis. One eye received anterior vitrectomy in group 1 and two eyes received anterior vitrectomy in group 2. Cases with preoperative complications were not included in the study. Early and late postoperative inflammatory complications, including fibrin formation, anterior and posterior synechia, cyclitic and pupillary membrane formation were recorded and compared.Results: Mild anterior chamber reaction was observed in three patients in Group 1, while nine cases in group 2 experienced marked anterior chamber reaction. In four of nine patients from group 2, anterior chamber reaction was severe and resulted in pupillary membrane and synechia despite treatment in the postoperative 7th day, while in all three cases in group 1, reaction disappeared by the 7th day.Conclusion: Anterior chamber irrigation with heparin during pediatric cataract surgery may minimize early inflammatory reaction and decrease the number of postoperative inflammatory related complications.Keywords: pediatric, cataract, surgery, inflammation

Kaoru Araki-Sasaki1, Hiroko Sonoyama1, Tsutomu Kawasaki1, Nariyasu Kazama1, Hidenao Ideta1, Yoshitsugu Inoue21Ideta Eye Hospital, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto, Japan; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Tottori University, Koyama-Minami, Tottori, Japan Abstract: The paper reports on Candida albicans ocular infection modified by steroid eye drops. A 74-year-old male complained of conjunctival injection and pain in his right eye three months after pterygium and cataract surgery. After treatment with antibiotics and steroid eye drops for three days, he was referred to our hospital. Clear localized corneal endothelial plaque with injection of ciliary body was observed. No erosion of the corneal epithelium, or infiltration of stromal edema was observed, suggesting that the pathological organism derived from the intracameral region. Because ocular infection was suspected, steroid eye drops were stopped, which led immediately to typical infectious keratitis in the pathological region, with epithelial erosion, fluffy abscess, stromal infiltration, and edema. For diagnostic purposes, the plaque was surgically removed with forceps and the anterior chamber was irrigated with antibiotics. The smear and culture examination from the plaque revealed C. albicans surrounded by neutrophils. However, aqueous fluid and fibrous tissue after gonio procedure contained no mycotic organisms. Topical fluconazole, micafungin, and pimaricin with oral itraconazole (150 mg/day) were effective. Special attention is needed when prescribing steroid eye drops to treat corneal disease especially postoperatively. Diagnosing infectious keratitis is sometimes difficult because of modification by some factors, such as postoperative conditions, scarring, and drug-induced masking. Here, we report on mycotic keratitis modified by postoperative steroid administration. Keywords: Candida albicans, cataract surgery, steroid, mycotic keratitis

Rapid-response seismic networks are an important element in the response to seismic crises. They temporarily improve the detection performance of permanent monitoring systems during seismic sequences. The improvement in earthquake detection and location capabilities can be important for decision makers to assess the current situation, and can provide invaluable data for scientific studies related to hazard, tectonics and earthquake physics. Aftershocks and the clustering of the locations of seismic events help to characterize the dimensions of the causative fault. Knowing the number, size and timing of the aftershocks or the clustering seismic events can help in the foreseeing of the characteristics of future seismic sequences in the same tectonic environment. Instrumental rapid response requires a high degree of preparedness. A mission in response to a magnitude (Ml) 6 event with a rupture length of a few tens of kilometers might involve the deployment within hours to days of 30-50 seismic stations in the middle of a disaster area of some hundreds of square kilometers, and the installation of an operational center to help in the logistics and communications. When an earthquake strikes in a populated area, which is almost always the case in Italy, driving the relevant seismic response is more difficult. […]

Mach–Zehnder optical modulators are the key devices for high-speed electrical-to-optical conversion in Si photonics. Si rib waveguides with a p–n diode structure operated in the carrier depletion mode have mainly been developed as their phase shifters. Their length is usually longer than millimeters due to the limited change in the refractive index due to the carrier depletion in a Si p–n diode. This length is shorter than commercial LiNbO3 modulators, but still much shorter devices are desired for large-scale integration and for simplifying the high-speed RF modulation. A promising solution is to use slow light in photonic crystal waveguides, which enhances the modulation efficiency in proportion to the group-velocity refractive index n g. In particular, dispersion-engineered slow light allows more than five-fold enhancement, maintaining a wide working spectrum as well as large temperature tolerance. The devices with a phase shifter length of around 100 μm are fabricated by a standard process compatible with complementary metal-oxide semiconductors. The operation at 10 Gbps and higher speeds are obtained in the wavelength range of 16.9 nm and temperature range of 105 K.

The vibrations of a single-crystal germanium (Ge) membrane are studied in air and vacuum using laser vibrometry, in order to determine mechanical properties such as Q-factors, tensile stress, anisotropy, and robustness to shock. Resonance modes up to 3:2 are identified, giving a residual stress measurement of 0.22 GPa, consistent with the value obtained from x-ray relaxation studies. The membrane is found to be isotropic, with Q-factors ranging from around 40 at atmospheric pressure to over 3200 at mbar, significantly lower than those found in polycrystalline Ge micromechanical devices. The robustness to shock is explained through the high resonance mode frequencies and the dissipation mechanism into the substrate, which is a direct consequence of having a high quality film with low residual tensile stress, giving the potential for such films to be used in optoelectronic devices.

BaTiO3–CoFe2O4 composite films were prepared on (100) SrTiO3 substrates by using a radio-frequency magnetron co-sputtering method at 750 °C. These films contained highly (001)-oriented crystalline phases of perovskite BaTiO3 and spinel CoFe2O4, which can form a self-assembled nanostructure with BaTiO3 well-dispersed into CoFe2O4 under optimized sputtering conditions. A prominent dielectric percolation behavior was observed in the self-assembled nanocomposite. Compared with pure BaTiO3 films sputtered under similar conditions, the nanocomposite film showed higher dielectric constants and lower dielectric losses together with a dramatically suppressed frequency dispersion. This dielectric percolation phenomenon can be explained by the 'micro-capacitor' model, which was supported by measurement results of the electric polarization and leakage current.

By way of a brief review of Si photonics technology, we show that significant improvements in device performance are necessary for practical telecommunications applications. In order to improve device performance in Si photonics, we have developed a Si-Ge-silica monolithic integration platform, on which compact Si-Ge–based modulators/detectors and silica-based high-performance wavelength filters are monolithically integrated. The platform features low-temperature silica film deposition, which cannot damage Si-Ge–based active devices. Using this platform, we have developed various integrated photonic devices for broadband telecommunications applications.

Nanoscale alloying and phase transformations in physical mixtures of Pd and Cu ultrafine nanoparticles are investigated in real time with in situ synchrotron-based x-ray diffraction complemented by ex situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The combination of metal–support interaction and reactive/non-reactive environment was found to determine the thermal evolution and ultimate structure of this binary system. At 300 °C, the nanoparticles supported on silica and carbon black intermix to form a chemically ordered CsCl-type (B2) alloy phase. The B2 phase transforms into a disordered fcc alloy at higher temperature (> 450 °C). The alloy nanoparticles supported on silica and carbon black are homogeneous in volume, but evidence was found of Pd surface enrichment. In sharp contrast, when supported on alumina, the two metals segregated at 300 °C to produce almost pure fcc Cu and Pd phases. Upon further annealing of the mixture on alumina above 600 °C, the two metals interdiffused, forming two distinct disordered alloys of compositions 30% and 90% Pd. The annealing atmosphere also plays a major role in the structural evolution of these bimetallic nanoparticles. The nanoparticles annealed in forming gas are larger than the nanoparticles annealing in helium due to reduction of the surface oxides that promotes coalescence and sintering.

Dental ceramic implants have shown superior esthetic behavior and the absence of induced allergic disorders when compared to titanium implants. Zirconia may become a potential candidate to be used as an alternative to titanium dental implants if surface modifications are introduced. In this work, bioactive micropatterned silica coatings were produced on zirconia substrates, using a combined methodology of sol–gel processing and soft lithography. The aim of the work was to compare the in vitro behavior of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) and human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs) on three types of silica-coated zirconia surfaces: flat and micropatterned (with pillars and with parallel grooves). Our results showed that cells had a higher metabolic activity (HGF, HDMEC) and increased gene expression levels of fibroblast-specific protein-1 (FSP-1) and collagen type I (COL I) on surfaces with pillars. Nevertheless, parallel grooved surfaces were able to guide cell growth. Even capillary tube-like networks of HDMEC were oriented according to the surface geometry. Zirconia and silica with different topographies have shown to be blood compatible and silica coating reduced bacteria adhesion. All together, the results indicated that microstructured bioactive coating seems to be an efficient strategy to improve soft tissue integration on zirconia implants, protecting implants from peri-implant inflammation and improving long-term implant stabilization. This new approach of micropatterned silica coating on zirconia substrates can generate promising novel dental implants, with surfaces that provide physical cues to guide cells and enhance their behavior.

The strain- and polarization-electric field behavior was characterized at room temperature for Pb0.98Ba0.01(Zr1−xTix)0.98Nb0.02O3, 0.40 ≤ x ≤ 0.60. The investigated compositions were located in the vicinity of the morphotropic phase boundary, giving insight into the influence of crystal structure on the hysteretic ferroelectric behavior. The remanent strain of particular compositions is shown to be larger than theoretically allowed by ferroelectric switching alone, indicating the presence of additional remanent strain mechanisms. A phenomenological free energy analysis was used to simulate the effect of an applied electric field on the initial equilibrium phase. It is shown that electric-field-induced phase transitions in polycrystalline ferroelectrics can account for the experimental observations. The experimental and simulation results are contrasted to neutron diffraction measurements performed on representative compositions in the virgin and remanent states.

Layered rare-earth hydroxide (LRH) crystals of (Y0.95Eu0.05)2(OH)5NO3centerdotnH2O with a lateral size of ~ 300 μm and a thickness of ~ 9 μm have been synthesized via a hydrothermal reaction of mixed nitrate solutions in the presence of mineralizer NH4NO3 at 200 °C for 24 h. LRH exhibits the ability to undergo intercalation and anion exchange with DS− (C12H25OSO3−) via hydrothermal treatment. Compared with traditional anion exchange at room temperature, hydrothermal processing not only shortens the anion exchange time from 720 to 24 h but also increases the basal spacing. The arrangements of DS− in the interlayer of LRH are significantly affected by the DS− concentration and reaction temperature, and the basal spacing of the LRH-DS sample in the crystal edge is assumed to be larger than that in the crystal center. A higher DS− concentration and reaction temperature both induce more intercalation of DS− anions into the interlayer gallery, thus yielding a larger basal spacing. Unilamellar nanosheets with a lateral size of ≥60 μm and a thickness of ~ 1.6 nm can be obtained by delaminating LRH-DS in formamide. The resultant unilamellar nanosheets are single crystalline. Transparent (Y0.95Eu0.05)2O3 phosphor films with a uniform [111] orientation and a layer thickness of ~ 90 nm were constructed with the nanosheets as building blocks via spin-coating, followed by proper annealing. The oriented oxide film exhibits a strong red emission at 614 nm (the 5D0–7F2 transition of Eu3+), whose intensity is ~ 2 times that of the powder form owing to the significant exposure of the (222) facets.

This study presents a facile and green route for the synthesis of (La0.95Eu0.05)2O2S red phosphors of controllable morphologies, with the sulfate-type layered hydroxides of Ln2(OH)4SO4centerdot2H2O (Ln = La and Eu) as a new type of precursor. The technique takes advantage of the fact that the precursor has had the exact Ln:S molar ratio of the targeted phosphor, thus saving the hazardous sulfurization reagents indispensable to traditional synthesis. Controlled hydrothermal processing at 120 °C yielded phase-pure Ln2(OH)4SO4centerdot2H2O crystallites in the form of either nanoplates or microprisms, which can both be converted into Ln2O2S phosphor via a Ln2O2SO4 intermediate upon annealing in flowing H2 at a minimum temperature of ~ 700 °C. The nanoplates collapse into relatively rounded Ln2O2S particles while the microprisms retain well their initial morphologies at 1 200 °C, thus yielding two types of red phosphors. Photoluminescence excitation (PLE) studies found two distinct charge transfer (CT) excitation bands of O2− → Eu3+ at ~ 270 nm and S2− → Eu3+ at ~ 340 nm for the Ln2O2S phosphors, with the latter being stronger and both significantly stronger than the intrinsic intra-f transitions of Eu3+. The two types of phosphors share high similarities in the positions of PLE/PL (photoluminescence) bands and both show the strongest red emission at 627 nm (5D0 → 7F2 transition of Eu3+) under S2− → Eu3+ CT excitation at 340 nm. The PLE/PL intensities show clear dependence on particle morphology and calcination temperature, which were investigated in detail. Fluorescence decay analysis reveals that the 627 nm red emission has a lifetime of ~ 0.5 ms for both types of the phosphors.

The core–shell structure in oriented cylindrical rods of polypropylene (PP) and nanoclay composites (NCs) from PP and montmorillonite (MMT) is studied by microbeam small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). The structure of neat PP is almost homogeneous across the rod showing regular semicrystalline stacks. In the NCs the discrete SAXS of arranged crystalline PP domains is limited to a skin zone of 300 μm thickness. Even there only frozen-in primary lamellae are detected. The core of the NCs is dominated by diffuse scattering from crystalline domains placed at random. The SAXS of the MMT flakes exhibits a complex skin–core gradient. Both the direction of the symmetry axis and the apparent perfection of flake-orientation are varying. Thus there is no local fiber symmetry, and the structure gradient cannot be reconstructed from a scan across the full rod. To overcome the problem the rods are machined. Scans across the residual webs are performed. For the first time webs have been carved out in two principal directions. Comparison of the corresponding two sets of SAXS patterns demonstrates the complexity of the MMT orientation. Close to the surface (< 1 mm) the flakes cling to the wall. The variation of the orientation distribution widths indicates the presence of both MMT flakes and grains. The grains have not been oriented in the flowing melt. An empirical equation is presented which describes the variation from skin to core of one component of the inclination angle of flake-shaped phyllosilicate filler particles.

Electro-absorption from GeSi heterostructures is receiving growing attention as a high performance optical modulator for short distance optical interconnects. Ge incorporation with Si allows strong modulation mechanism using the Franz–Keldysh effect and the quantum-confined Stark effect from bulk and quantum well structures at telecommunication wavelengths. In this review, we discuss the current state of knowledge and the on-going challenges concerning the development of high performance GeSi electro-absorption modulators. We also provide feasible future prospects concerning this research topic.

Pulse laser deposited La2/3Sr1/3MnO3 ultrathin films on SrTiO3 substrates were characterized by polar and longitudinal Kerr magneto-optical spectroscopy. Experimental data were confronted with theoretical simulations based on the transfer matrix formalism. An excellent agreement was achieved for a 10.7 nm thick film, while a distinction in the Kerr effect amplitudes was obtained for a 5 nm thick film. This demonstrated the suppression of ferromagnetism due to the layer/substrate interface effects. A revised, depth-sensitive theoretical model with monolayer resolution described the experimental data well, and provided clear cross-section information about the evolution of ferromagnetism inside the film. It was found that the full restoration of the double-exchange mechanism, responsible for the ferromagnetic ordering in La2/3Sr1/3MnO3, occurs within the first nine monolayers of the film. Moreover, all the studied films exhibited magneto-optical properties similar to bulk crystals and thick films. This confirmed a fully developed perovskite structure down to 5 nm.

In this article, we review our recent work on mid-infrared (mid-IR) photonic materials and devices fabricated on silicon for on-chip sensing applications. Pedestal waveguides based on silicon are demonstrated as broadband mid-IR sensors. Our low-loss mid-IR directional couplers demonstrated in SiNx waveguides are useful in differential sensing applications. Photonic crystal cavities and microdisk resonators based on chalcogenide glasses for high sensitivity are also demonstrated as effective mid-IR sensors. Polymer-based functionalization layers, to enhance the sensitivity and selectivity of our sensor devices, are also presented. We discuss the design of mid-IR chalcogenide waveguides integrated with polycrystalline PbTe detectors on a monolithic silicon platform for optical sensing, wherein the use of a low-index spacer layer enables the evanescent coupling of mid-IR light from the waveguides to the detector. Finally, we show the successful fabrication processing of our first prototype mid-IR waveguide-integrated detectors.

Magnetostructural correlations in antiperovskite manganese nitrides were investigated systematically for stoichiometric and solid solution Mn3Cu1−xAxN (A = Co, Ni, Zn, Ga, Ge, Rh, Pd, Ag, In, Sn or Sb). This class of nitrides is attracting great attention because of their giant negative thermal expansion, which is achieved by doping Ge or Sn into the A site as a relaxant of the sharp volume contraction on heating (spontaneous volume magnetostriction ωs) because of the magnetovolume effects. The physical background of large ωs and mechanism of how the volume contraction becomes gradual with temperature are central concerns for the physics and applications of these nitrides. An entire dataset of thermal expansion, crystal structure and magnetization demonstrates that the cubic triangular antiferromagnetic state is crucial for large ωs. The intimate relationship between ωs and the magnetic structure is discussed in terms of geometrical frustration related to the Mn6N octahedron and magnetic stress concept. The results presented herein also show that ωs depends on the number of d electrons in the A atom, suggesting the important role of the d orbitals of the A atom. Not all the dopants in the A site, but the elements that disturb the cubic triangular antiferromagnetic state, are effective in broadening the volume change. This fact suggests that instability neighboring the phase boundary is related to the broadening. The relation between the gradual volume change and the local structure anomaly is suggested by recent microprobe studies.

We report the surface functionalization of graphene films grown by chemical vapor deposition and fabrication of a hybrid material combining multi-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene (CNT–G). Amine-terminated self-assembled monolayers were prepared on graphene by the UV-modification of oxidized groups introduced onto the film surface. Amine-termination led to effective interaction with functionalized CNTs to assemble a CNT–G hybrid through covalent bonding. Characterization clearly showed no defects of the graphene film after the immobilization reaction with CNT. In addition, the hybrid graphene material revealed a distinctive CNT–G structure and p–n type electrical properties. The introduction of functional groups on the graphene film surface and fabrication of CNT–G hybrids with the present technique could provide an efficient, novel route to device fabrication.

Rossella E Nappi, Ellis Martini, Erica Terreno, et al. Management of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women: current and emerging therapies. International Journal of Women’s Health. 2010;2:167–175.The authors would like to disclose the following conflicts of interest: During the past 2 years Rossella E Nappi has had financial relationships with Bayer-Schering Pharma, Boehringer Ingelhein, Merck-Theramex, Novo Nordisk, Procter and Gamble Pharmaceuticals, and Schering-Plough/Organon.Read the original article