► TCO thin films were grown by PLD on PET substrate at low temperature. ► We found that the quality of TCO on PET substrate depends on the target–substrate distance. ► TCO with high transparency ...(>95%) and reduced electrical resistivity (∼5×10−4Ωcm) were obtained. ► Optimized TCO films deposited on PET were free of any cracks.
The influence of target–substrate distance during pulsed laser deposition of indium zinc oxide (IZO), indium tin oxide (ITO) and aluminium-doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films grown on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates was investigated. It was found that the properties of such flexible transparent conductive oxide (TCO)/PET electrodes critically depend on this parameter. The TCO films that were deposited at distances of 6 and 8cm exhibited an optical transmittance higher than 90% in the visible range and electrical resistivities around 5×10−4Ωcm. In addition to these excellent electrical and optical characteristics the films grown at 8cm distance were homogenous, smooth, adherent, and without cracks or any other extended defects, being suitable for opto-electronic device applications.
Ochratoxin-A (OTA) is a fungal metabolite with potential toxic effects on the central nervous system that have not yet been fully characterized. OTA has complex mechanisms of action that include ...evocation of oxidative stress, bioenergetic compromise, inhibition of protein synthesis, production of DNA single-strand breaks and formation of OTA–DNA adducts. The time course of acute effects of OTA were investigated in the context of DNA damage, DNA repair and global oxidative stress across six brain regions. Oxidative DNA damage, as measured with the “comet assay”, was significantly increased in the six brain regions at all time points up to 72
h, with peak effects noted at 24
h in midbrain (MB), CP (caudate/putamen) and HP (hippocampus). Oxidative DNA repair activity (oxyguanosine glycosylase or OGG1) was inhibited in all regions at 6
h, but recovered to control levels in cerebellum (CB) by 72
h, and showed a trend to recovery in other regions of brain. Other indices of oxidative stress were also elevated. Lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased over time throughout the brain. In light of the known vulnerability of the nigro-striatal dopaminergic neurons to oxidative stress, levels of striatal dopamine (DA) and its metabolites were also measured. Administration of OTA (0–6
mg/kg i.p.) to mice resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in striatal DA content and turnover with an ED50 of 3.2
mg/kg. A single dose of 3.5
mg/kg decreased the intensity of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity (TH+) in fibers of striatum, TH+ cells in substantia nigra (SN) and TH+ cells of the locus ceruleus. TUNEL staining did not reveal apoptotic profiles in MB, CP or in other brain regions and did not alter DARPP32 immunoreactivity in striatum. In conclusion, OTA caused acute depletion of striatal DA on a background of globally increased oxidative stress and transient inhibition of oxidative DNA repair.
This report describes the kinetics of Huntington's Disease (HD) gene (
) lowering in brains of YAC 128 mice. Lowering (or "knock-down") of
mRNA expression was achieved by intranasal administration of ...specially designed siRNA loaded into chitosan nanoparticles. Kinetic patterns of
lowering observed in different brain regions allowed calculation of cumulative lowering effects that result from multiple consecutive administrations. Mathematical modeling generated dosing schedules for approaching a steady knock-down effect and for prediction of magnitude and duration of
lowering. Kinetic modeling of
lowering with our algorithm will be useful in determining intranasal dosing schedules to produce chronic, therapeutically significant lowering effect of gene expression.
The Carpathian Basin was a highly influential centre of metalworking in the 2nd mil. BC. Nevertheless, despite the abundance of metal objects from the Late Bronze Age, the scarcity of contextually ...associated metalworking remains representing distinct phases of the metalworking cycle from this region is striking. Here, we explore Late Bronze Age metalworking through the lens of a uniquely complete metalworking assemblage from the site of Șagu from contexts spanning the sixteenth to early thirteenth century BC. This material provides insights into changes in craft organisation following socio-political change after the collapse of Middle Bronze Age tell-centred communities. Our approach combines analytical and experimental data together with contextual analysis of technical ceramics (crucible, mould, and furnace fragments) to reconstruct the metalworking
chaîne opératoire
and place Șagu in its broader cultural context. Analyses demonstrate clear technological choices in ceramic paste recipes and strong interlinkages between metallurgy and other crafts practised on site, from domestic pottery production to building structures. Experimental replications reveal important intrinsic and experiential aspects of metallurgical activities at Șagu. Evidence on the spatial organisation of metallurgical workflows (routine sequence of actions and decisions) suggests they incorporated a high degree of visibility, which marks a distinct change in the use of craft space compared to the context of densely occupied Middle Bronze Age tells nearby. Combined, our archaeometric, experimental, and contextual results illustrate how changes in metalworking activities in the Late Bronze Age Carpathian Basin were deeply embedded in an ideological shift in the aftermath of the breakdown of Middle Bronze Age tells and the emergence of new social structures.
Authors from Serbia describe their experience of total phalloplasty in children and adults using a musculocutaneous latissimus dorsi free flap, finding that this method successfully allowed the ...creation of a neophallus, facilitating subsequent urethroplasty and the safe insertion of a penile prosthesis.
In the second article in this section, authors from Finland present the findings in 54 patients relating to skeletal health after intestinal bladder augmentation.
OBJECTIVE
To present total phalloplasty in children and adults using a musculocutaneous latissimus dorsi (MLD) free flap to create a large neophallus, that allows easy urethroplasty and implantation of a prosthesis.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
From April 1999 to January 2006, 16 patients (mean age 24 years, range 10–34) had a total phalloplasty; the indications were congenital anomalies of the penis in 12, iatrogenic in two and accidental penile trauma in two. The MLD flap is mobilized on a subscapular artery and vein, and a thoracodorsal nerve. The neophallus is created on‐site and after dividing the neurovascular pedicle, transferred to the pubic region, where it is anastomosed with the femoral artery, saphenous vein and ilio‐inguinal nerve. The donor site was closed directly in 15 patients while in one a split‐thickness skin graft was used to cover the defect. In the following stages, two‐ or three‐stage buccal mucosa urethroplasty was used in 11 patients; a penile prosthesis was implanted in seven.
RESULTS
The mean (range) follow‐up was 31 (12–74) months; the penis was 14–18 cm long and 11–15 cm in circumference. There was no partial or total flap necrosis; the donor site healed satisfactorily in 13 patients while in the remaining three there was moderate scarring. The patency of the urethra was good in all patients. Two urethrocutaneous fistulae developed; one closed spontaneously and the other was successfully treated with minor surgery. The function of the implanted penile prostheses was satisfactory in all patients.
CONCLUSIONS
The MLD flap allows the creation of a neophallus of good size and with a good aesthetic appearance; it allows urethroplasty and safe implantation of a penile prosthesis, and it can also be used in children.
Many psychological factors influence the onset and prognosis of heart disease, among the most studied, there are personality traits, depressive and anxious experiences. Type D personality, ...characterized by high levels of social inhibition and negative affectivity, is associated with unfavourable prognosis for cardiac patients. Depressive and anxious symptoms influence the onset of cardiac disorders, the management of the disease and their impact on quality of life. Aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of cardiac rehabilitation on social inhibition, negative affectivity, anxious and depressive symptoms in cardiac patients. Patients were recruited at the Rehabilitation Cardiology Unit of Cittadella Hospital, after an acute cardiac event, they were enrolled to attend a cardiac rehabilitation program. Patients were administered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Type D Scale (DS-14). Results showed significant differences between the pre- and post-test evaluation: a decrease in the Negative Affectivity subscale (DS-14) and in the Anxiety subscale and emotional distress (HADS). Other differences resulted with respect to the sociodemographic variables, particularly unmarried patients showed higher levels of anxiety at the post-test with respect to married patients, also working patients showed lower levels of depression than those who were unemployed or retired because having a job helps patients to feel less depressed because they can concentrate their resources and thoughts on other things that are not just the disease. The study demonstrated that Cardiac Rehabilitation has beneficial effects on the psychological state of patients to stimulate awareness of the disease, modification of its perception and exchange of information valuable to reorganize private and professional lives.
Metoidioplasty represents one of the variants of phalloplasty in female transsexuals. Its main characteristic is that it is a one-stage procedure. It involves lengthening and straightening of ...hypertrophied clitoris to create a neophallus, urethral lengthening to enable voiding while standing, and scrotal reconstruction with insertion of testicle prostheses.
Our aim is to describe our technique and highlight its advantages.
Between September 2002 and April 2007, 82 female transsexuals, aged 18-54 years (mean age 31) underwent one-stage metoidioplasty. Clitoris is lengthened and straightened by division of clitoral ligaments and short urethral plate. Urethroplasty is done with combined buccal mucosa graft and genital skin flaps. Scrotum is created from labia majora in which two testicle prostheses are inserted. Simultaneously, female genitalia are removed.
Patients' personal satisfaction about sensitivity and length of neophallus, possibility to void in standing position, real length of reconstructed urethra as well as complication rate comparing to other published data.
The median follow-up was 32 months (range 14-69). The mean neophallic length was 5.7 cm (range 4-10). Voiding in standing position was reported in all patients, while dribbling and spraying were noticed in 23 cases and solved spontaneously. There were two urethral strictures and seven fistulas that required secondary minor revision. All patients reported preserved sensation and normal postoperative erection. Testicle prostheses rejection was not observed in any of the patients.
Metoidioplasty is a single-stage and time-saving procedure. It could be an alternative to total phalloplasty in female transsexuals who do not wish to have sexual intercourse. Also, it represents a first step in cases where additional augmentation phalloplasty is required.
The common mycotoxin ochratoxin-A (OTA) accumulates in brain, causes oxidative stress, and elicits a DNA repair response that varies across brain regions and neuronal populations. Neural ...stem/progenitor cells (NSCs) prepared from hippocampus of adult mouse brain were tested for their vulnerability to the toxin in vitro. The following measurements were made in NSC cell cultures in both proliferation and differentiation media: (1) viability (trypan blue exclusion), (2) proliferative activity (3H-thymidine uptake), (3) the DNA repair response (oxyguanosine glycosylase activity), and (4) antioxidative response (superoxide dismutase). Cells that had proliferated to 90–100% confluency in the presence of epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor were induced to differentiate by removal of the growth factors. OTA, added to the cultures in concentrations of 0.01–100 μg/ml, caused a dose- and time-dependent (6–72 h) decrease in viability of both proliferating and differentiating NSC. Proliferating NSC exhibited a greater vulnerability to the toxin than differentiated neurons despite robust DNA repair and antioxidative responses. Preconditioning of NSC with a 12-h incubation with the pro-oxidant diethyl maleate increased DNA repair activity and, subsequently, provided a moderate degree of neuroprotection. Overall, these results lead to speculation that OTA exposure may contribute to impaired hippocampal neurogenesis in vivo, resulting in depression and memory deficits, conditions reported to be linked to mycotoxin exposure in humans.
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