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A simple colorimetric immunoassay system, based on the peroxidase mimicking activity of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), has been developed to detect clinically important antigenic molecules. MNPs with ca. 10 nm in diameter were synthesized and conjugated with specific antibodies against target molecules, such as rotaviruses and breast cancer cells. Conjugation of the MNPs with antibodies (MNP-Abs) enabled specific recognition of the corresponding target antigenic molecules through the generation of color signals arising from the colorimetric reaction between the selected peroxidase substrate, 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and H2O2. Based on the MNP-promoted colorimetric reaction, the target molecules were detected and quantified by measuring absorbance intensities corresponding to the oxidized form of TMB. Owing to the higher stabilities and economic feasibilities of MNPs as compared to horseradish peroxidase (HRP), the new colorimetric system employing MNP-Abs has the potential of serving as a potent immunoassay that should substitute for conventional HRP-based immunoassays. The strategy employed to develop the new methodology has the potential of being extended to the construction of simple diagnostic systems for a variety of biomolecules related to human cancers and infectious diseases, particularly in the realm of point-of-care applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report CT findings of 4 patients who experienced sudden cardiac arrest. The CT features documented in our cases include dense opacification of the right heart and major systemic veins, venous layering of contrast material and blood, densely opacified parenchyma in the right hepatic lobe, decreased enhancement of the abdominal organ, dense pulmonary artery, contrast pooling in dependent lungs, and contrast stasis in pulmonary veins. Familiarity with characteristic CT findings of impending cardiac arrest is essential for immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A CT scan with contrast enhancement is widely used for evaluation of a broad spectrum of thoracic and abdominal conditions. Therefore, as the use of CT in the evaluation of hemodynamically unstable patients increases, the opportunity to witness the CT features of impending cardiac arrest also increases at the time of scanning. Knowledge of the characteristic CT features of impending cardiac arrest can have immediate and important survival implications for the patients. We describe the spectrum of emergent CT findings of impending cardiac arrest in 4 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report an integrated microdevice consisting of an efficient passive mixer, a magnetic separation chamber, and a capillary electrophoretic microchannel in which DNA barcode assay, target pathogen separation, and barcode DNA capillary electrophoretic analysis were performed sequentially within 30 min for multiplex pathogen detection at the single-cell level. The intestine-shaped serpentine 3D micromixer provides a high mixing rate to generate magnetic particle–pathogenic bacteria–DNA barcode labelled AuNP complexes quantitatively. After magnetic separation and purification of those complexes, the barcode DNA strands were released and analyzed by the microfluidic capillary electrophoresis within 5 min. The size of the barcode DNA strand was controlled depending on the target bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coliO157:H7, and Salmonella typhimurium), and the different elution time of the barcode DNA peak in the electropherogram allows us to recognize the target pathogen with ease in the monoplex as well as in the multiplex analysis. In addition, the quantity of the DNA barcode strand (∼104) per AuNP is enough to be observed in the laser-induced confocal fluorescence detector, thereby making single-cell analysis possible. This novel integrated microdevice enables us to perform rapid, sensitive, and multiplex pathogen detection with sample-in-answer-out capability to be applied for biosafety testing, environmental screening, and clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A portable forensic genetic analysis system consisting of a microfluidic device for amplification and separation of short tandem repeat (STR) fragments as well as an instrument for chip operation and four-color fluorescence detection has been developed. The microdevice performs polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a 160-nL chamber and capillary electrophoresis (CE) in a 7-cm-long separation channel. The instrumental design integrates PCR thermal cycling, electrophoretic separation, pneumatic valve fluidic control, and four-color laser excited fluorescence detection. A quadruplex Y-chromosome STR typing system consisting of amelogenin and three Y STR loci (DYS390, DYS393, DYS439) was developed and used for validation studies. The multiplex amplification of these 4 loci with 35 PCR cycles followed by CE separation and 4-color fluorescence detection was completed in 1.5 h. All the amplicons can be detected with a limit of detection of 20 copies of male standard DNA in the reactor. Real-world forensic analyses of oral swab and human bone extracts from case evidence were also successfully performed. Mixture analysis demonstrated that a balanced profile can be obtained even at a male-to-female template ratio of 1:10. The successful development and operation of this portable PCR-CE system establishes the feasibility of rapid point-of-analysis DNA typing of forensic casework, of mass disaster samples or of individuals at a security checkpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lemierre's syndrome is an uncommon septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein. The authors present the case of a 52-year-old woman with literature review. She developed flu-like symptoms and fever, and then painful swelling of the left side of her neck and left arm. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the neck revealed thrombosis in the left internal jugular vein, subclavian vein, and brachiocephalic vein and diffuse soft tissue inflammation around the veins, No microorganism was identified in the blood and venous thrombus, which was obtained by percutaneous aspiration thrombectomy. Systemic antibiotics and anticoagulation therapy achieved complete resolution of the symptoms. Recanalization of the thrombosed veins with no residual thrombi was observed on duplex scanning after 3 months. No pulmonary embolism or other metastatic infection was observed. Clinical suspicion seems to be essential to make an accurate diagnosis during the early stage of the disease, which is critical to obtain a successful outcome for Lemierre's syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a dexamethasone (DXM)-eluting, covered, self-expanding metallic stent to reduce tissue reaction following stent placement in a canine bronchial model. We placed a DXM-eluting, polyurethane-covered, self-expanding metallic stent (drug stent, DS) and a polyurethane-covered, self-expanding metallic stent (control stent, CS) alternately in each left main bronchus and left lower lobe bronchus in 12 dogs. The stents were 20 mm in diameter and length when fully expanded. The dose of DXM was approximately 36.7 mg in each DS, but was absent in the CS. The dogs were euthanased 1 week (n=4), 2 weeks (n=4) or 4 weeks (n=4) after stent placement. Histologic findings, such as epithelial erosion/ulcer or granulation tissue thickness, were obtained from the mid-portion of the bronchus, where the stent had been placed, and evaluated between DS and CS. There were no procedure-related complications or malpositioning of any of the bronchial stents. Stent migration was detected in one dog just before euthanasia 1 week following stent placement. Stent patency was maintained until euthanasia in all dogs. Epithelial erosion/ulcer (%) was significantly less in the DS (mean±standard deviation, 46.88±23.75) than in the CS (73.75±14.08) (P=0.026) for all time-points. There was a decrease in epithelial erosion/ulcer as the follow-up period increased in both DS and CS. The granulation tissue thickness (mm) was less in DS (2.63±2.05) than in CS (3.49±2.95), although the difference was not significant (P=0.751) for all time-points. There was a tendency toward an increase in granulation tissue thickness and chronic lymphocytic infiltration as the follow-up period increased in both DS and CS. In conclusion, DXM-eluting, covered, self-expanding metallic stent seems to be effective in reducing tissue reaction secondary to stent placement in a canine bronchial model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of balloon dilation combined with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy for palliation of dysphagia due to malignant esophagogastric junction strictures. Methods: Fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation was attempted in 20 patients. The causes of strictures were gastric adenocarcinoma ( n = 10) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma ( n = 10). Scheduled chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy followed balloon dilation in all patients. Results: There were no technical failures or major complications. After balloon dilation, 15 (75%) patients showed improvement of dysphagia. No patient complained of reflux esophagitis during the follow-up period. Among the 15 patients, seven needed no further treatment for palliation of dysphagia until their deaths. The remaining eight patients underwent repeat balloon dilation ( n = 4) or stent placement ( n = 4) 3?43 weeks (mean 15 weeks) after the initial balloon dilation because of recurrent dysphagia. Conclusion: Balloon dilation combined with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy seems to be an easy and reasonably effective palliative treatment for malignant esophagogastric strictures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Click chemistry" 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between alkynyl 6-carboxyfluorescein (FAM) and azido-labeled single-stranded (ss) DNA was carried out under aqueous conditions to produce FAM-labeled ssDNA in quantitative yield. The FAM-labeled ssDNA was successfully used as a primer to produce DNA sequencing products with singlebase resolution in a capillary electrophoresis DNA sequencer with laser-induced fluorescence detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ureteral stent exchange is usually performed under both fluoroscopic and cystoscopic guidance. We experienced two cases with retrograde placement of metallic ureteral stent via urethra under fluoroscopic guidance. When patients with double-J ureteral stent (DJUS)have symptom and want to change DJUS to metallic stent, fluoroscopic guided transurethral placement of ureteral metallic stent is a good option as alternative of cystoscopic procedure or percutaneous procedure through percutaneous nephrostomy tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermolysis technique via array of gold nanograils had been developed by illuminating near infrared laser light onto captured bacteria in metal nanostructure. The strong electromagnetic field enhancement at the sharp edges of the gold nanograils produced local heating that was sufficient to break the thick cell walls of the gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus cells within a short time. Individual cells in the nanograil array can be selectively lysed by adjusting the laser scanning area to the micrometer scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A new ultra-high strength concrete, in which oxidized graphene nanoplatelet (GO) and hollow glass powder (HGP) are added, has been developed by authors. This paper presents the material properties of the concrete such as workability, compressive and tensile strengths, internal micro structure (SEM and MIP) as well as air-tightness which was tested using an equipment developed in this study. Test results show that workability and tensile strength significantly increase by a small addition of HGP, and that cGO (GO product of company c) and HGP are well dispersed without agglomeration effect, resulting in more than 20% of reduction in porosity. It is also observed that air-tightness increases by 40% compared with conventional ultra-high strength concrete due to reduction in porosity; thus, new ultra-high strength concrete is anticipated to be effectively used for structures that requires air-tightness such as hyperloop tube. Consequently, it was observed that the workability and mechanical properties of UHSC were increased when cGO and HGP were used instead of silica fume (SF), and authors believe that utilization of new material would contribute to the change in manufacturing method and increase in mechanical properties of concrete.

It is essential to identify the causative artery in case of active intra-abdominal or gastrointestinal bleeding. A thorough understanding of the basic arterial anatomy is required to identify the causative artery on contrast-enhanced CT angiography and conventional catheter angiography. If one is familiar with the basic arterial anatomy, obtaining access to the bleeding artery will be easier, despite the variations in the origin and course of the vessels. We describe the basic arterial anatomy that will help beginners in diagnostic radiology to identify the blood vessels that can cause active intra-abdominal or gastrointestinal bleeding.

Necrotizing pancreatitis is one of the rare complications of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Necrotizing pancreatitis after TACE may result from the development of ischemia caused by regurgitation of embolic materials into the vessels supplying the pancreas. We report a case of post-TACE necrotizing pancreatitis with abscess formation in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma. The patient had suffered hepatic artery injury due to repetitive TACE; during his 25th TACE procedure he had submitted to selective catheterization of the feeding vessel from the dorsal pancreatic artery with a cytotoxic agent and Gelfoam particles. The patient complained of abdominal pain after the TACE procedure, and a CT scan led to a diagnosis of necrotizing pancreatitis with abscess formation. The pancreatic abscess progressed despite general management of the pancreatitis, including antibiotics. Percutaneous catheter drainage was performed, and the symptoms of the patient improved.