An all-polymer photonic crystal slab sensor is presented, and shown to exhibit narrow resonant reflection with a FWHM of less than 1 nm and a sensitivity of 31 nm/RIU when sensing media with ...refractive indices around that of water. This results in a detection limit of 4.5 × 10(-6) RIU when measured in conjunction with a spectrometer of 12 pm/pixel resolution. The device is a two-layer structure, composed of a low refractive index polymer with a periodically modulated surface height, covered with a smooth upper-surface high refractive index inorganic-organic hybrid polymer modified with ZrO2based nanoparticles. Furthermore, it is fabricated using inexpensive vacuum-less techniques involving only UV nanoreplication and polymer spin-casting, and is thus well suited for single-use biological and refractive index sensing applications.
The natural killer (NK) receptor gene complex (NKC) encodes a large number of C-type lectin-like receptors, which are expressed on NK and other immune-related cells. These receptors play an important ...role in regulating NK-cell cytolytic activity, protecting cells against virus infection and tumorigenesis. To understand the evolutionary history of the NKC, we characterized the C-type lectin-like NKC genes and their organization from four major orders of placental mammals, primates (human), rodents (mouse and rat), carnivores (dog), and artiodactyls (cattle) and then conducted phylogenetic analysis of these genes. The results indicate that the NKC of placental mammals is highly heterogeneous in terms of the gene content and rates of birth and death of different gene lineages, but the NKC is also remarkably conserved in its gene organization and persistence of orthologous gene lineages. Among the 28 identified NKC gene lineages, 4, KLRA1, KLRB1, CLEC2D, and CLEC4A/B/C, have expanded rapidly in rodents only. The high birth and death rate of these 4 gene families might be due to functional differentiation driven by positive selection. Identification of putative NKC sequences in opossum and chicken genomes implies that the expansion of the NKC gene families might have occurred before the radiation of placental mammals but after the divergence of birds from mammals.
Small or specialized natural products (SNAPs) produced by plants vary greatly in structure and function, leading to selective advantages during evolution. With a limited number of genes available, a ...high promiscuity of the enzymes involved allows the generation of a broad range of SNAPs in complex metabolic networks. Comparative metabolic studies may help to understand why-or why not-certain SNAPs are produced in plants. Here, we used the wound-induced, vein patterning regulating
(
StR1, At4g24220) and its paralogue gene on locus At5g58750 (
StR2) from
to study this issue. The enzymes encoded by
-like genes were clustered under the term PRISEs (progesterone 5β-reductase/iridoid synthase-like enzymes) as it was previously demonstrated that they are involved in cardenolide and/or iridoid biosynthesis in other plants. In order to further understand the general role of PRISEs and to detect additional more "accidental" roles we herein characterized
steroid reductase 1 (
StR1) and compared it to
steroid reductase 2 (
StR2). We used
Col-0 wildtype plants as well as
knockout mutants and
knockout mutants overexpressing either
StR1 or
StR2 to investigate the effects on vein patterning and on the stress response after treatment with methyl vinyl ketone (MVK). Our results added evidence to the assumption that
StR1 and
StR2, as well as PRISEs in general, play specific roles in stress and defense situations and may be responsible for sudden metabolic shifts.
Background: Preoperative deformity in the frontal plane in the arthritic ankle is a risk factor for failure after total ankle arthroplasty. Medial malleolar lengthening osteotomy was developed to ...correct varus malalignment. Materials and Methods: From 1998 to 2005 total ankle arthroplasty combined with medial malleolar lengthening osteotomy was done in 15 ankles (13 patients) with a mean preoperative varus deformity of 14.9 (SD, 7.8) degrees. Diagnosis was arthritis with instability in 11 ankles (9 patients) and inflammatory joint disease in 4 ankles. Two mobile-bearing designs were used. Osteosynthesis of the osteotomy was done in 2 ankles; for the remaining 13 osteotomies, no fixation was used. Results: Followup was 5 (range 2 to 8) years. Neutral alignment was obtained in all ankles. In 3 patients residual hindfoot varus remained, for which a second-stage hindfoot correction was done. Two rheumatoid ankles developed a symptom-free nonunion of the medial malleolus, all other malleolar osteotomies united. One tibial component, implanted with too much anterior slope, developed early aseptic loosening and was revised. Debridement for talar-malleolar arthritis was done in two ankles. Of the 14 ankles in followup, 12 were rated as excellent or good, one as fair. One ankle with subsidence of the talar component was rated as unsatisfactory. AOFAS score increased from 30.8 preoperative to 81.0 at followup (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Medial malleolar lengthening osteotomy is an easy technique for the realignment of the varus ankle at the time of total ankle arthroplasty, and served as an alternative to medial ligament release or lateral ligament reconstruction.
To compare laparoscopic Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty (LAHP) and retroperitoneal laparoscopic YV-pyeloplasty (LRYVP) in ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJ) in presence of a crossing vessels (CV).
...Our database showed 380 UPJO-cases,who underwent laparoscopic retroperitoneal surgery during the last 2 decades including 206 non-dismembered LRYVP, 157 dismembered pyeloplasties LAHP, and 17 cases of laparoscopic ureterolysis. Among them 198 cases were suitable for a matched-pair (2:1) analysis comparing laparoscopic retroperitoneal non-dismembered LRYVP (Group 1, n = 131) and dismembered LAHP (Group 2, n = 67) in presence of a crossing vessel. Patients were matched according to age, gender, kidney functions, and obstruction grade. Complications were graded according to modified Clavien-classification.
Comparative data were similar between both groups (LRYVP vs. LAHP) including mean operating time (112 min vs. 114 min), complication rates (4.2% vs. 7.3%) mainly Grade 1–2 according to Clavien classification, and success rates (90% vs. 89%). These results reflected in the reviewed literature indicate that LRYVP provides the advantage of minimal dissection in case of CV with similar outcome. However, redundant pelvis and anteriorly crossing vessels still require a dismembered pyeloplasty LAHP.
LRYVP has achieved similar results compared with the previous golden standard of open surgery, especially in case of crossing vessels apart from presence of a redundant pelvis or anteriorly crossing vessel. This can be further improved when using the small access retroperitoneoscopic technique respectively mini-laparoscopy.
The onset of downstream migration of European eels is accompanied by a cessation of feeding and the start of sexual maturation which stresses the link between metabolism and sexual maturation, also ...suggesting an important role for exercise. Exercise has been tested with eels in swim tunnels and was found to stimulate the onset of sexual maturation. In this study, we have investigated the interplay between migration and maturation in the field during the downstream migration of female silver eels. Temporal changes in migratory status and sexual maturation among silver eels of the upstream Rhine River system over 3 months of the migration season (August, September and October) were determined in biometrical parameters, plasma 17β-estradiol and calcium levels, oocyte histology and gonadal fat levels. Furthermore, the ecological relevant parameters age as determined by otolithometry and health aspects indicated by haematocrit, haemoglobin and swim-bladder parasite load were measured. Silver eels were estimated to be 14 years old. A strong temporal progression in migratory stage was shown over the months of downstream migration. Catches probably represented a mix of reproductive migrants and feeding migrants of which the ratio increased over time. Furthermore, this study confirmed our hypothesis linking the migratory stage to early maturation as indicated by enlargement of the eyes, oocyte growth and fat deposition in the oocytes, exactly the same changes as found induced by exercise but not ruling out environmental influences. Migrants show extensive fat uptake by the oocytes, probably stimulated by the swimming exercise. In addition, at least 83% of the silver eels in this spawning run may have suffered from negative effects of swim-bladder parasites on their swimming performance.
Background and Objectives: Cavernous malformations (CM) are vascular malformations with low blood flow. The removal of brainstem CMs (BS) is associated with high surgical morbidity, and there is no ...general consensus on when to treat deep-seated BS CMs. The aim of this study is to compare the surgical outcomes of a series of deep-seated BS CMs with the surgical outcomes of a series of superficially located BS CMs operated on at the Department of Neurosurgery, College of Tuebingen, Germany. Materials and Methods: A retrospective evaluation was performed using patient charts, surgical video recordings, and outpatient examinations. Factors were identified in which surgical intervention was performed in cases of BS CMs. Preoperative radiological examinations included MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). For deep-seated BS CMs, a voxel-based 3D neuronavigation system and electrophysiological mapping of the brainstem surface were used. Results: A total of 34 consecutive patients with primary superficial (n = 20/58.8%) and deep-seated (n = 14/41.2%) brainstem cavernomas (BS CM) were enrolled in this comparative study. Complete removal was achieved in 31 patients (91.2%). Deep-seated BS CMs: The mean diameter was 14.7 mm (range: 8.3 to 27.7 mm). All but one of these lesions were completely removed. The median follow-up time was 5.8 years. Two patients (5.9%) developed new neurologic deficits after surgery. Superficial BS CMs: The median diameter was 14.9 mm (range: 7.2 to 27.3 mm). All but two of the superficial BS CMs could be completely removed. New permanent neurologic deficits were observed in two patients (5.9%) after surgery. The median follow-up time in this group was 3.6 years. Conclusions: The treatment of BS CMs remains complex. However, the results of this study demonstrate that with less invasive posterior fossa approaches, brainstem mapping, and neuronavigation combined with the use of a blunt “spinal cord” dissection technique, deep-seated BS CMs can be completely removed in selected cases, with good functional outcomes comparable to those of superficial BS CM.
In this contribution we report on the possibilities of dry and lubricated friction modification introduced by different laser surface texturing methods. We compare the potential of Laser-Induced ...Periodic Surface Structures and Laser Beam Interference Ablation on 100Cr6 steel in a linear reciprocating ball-on-disc configuration using 100Cr6 steel and tungsten carbide balls with load forces between 50 mN and 1000 mN. For dry friction, we find a possibility to reduce the coefficient of friction and we observe a pronounced direction dependency for surfaces fabricated by Laser Beam Interference Ablation. Furthermore, Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures result in a load-dependent friction reduction for lubricated linear reciprocating movements. This work helps to identify the modification behaviour of laser generated micro structures with feature sizes of approximately 1 µm and reveals new possibilities for surface engineering.
Several studies have revealed that the gross-total resection (GTR) of malignant brain tumors has a significant influence on patient survival. Frequently, however, GTR cannot be achieved because the ...borders between healthy brain and diseased tissue are blurred in the infiltration zones of malignant brain tumors. Especially in eloquent cortical areas, resection is frequently stopped before total removal is achieved to avoid causing neurological deficits. Interestingly, 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) has been shown to help visualize tumor tissue intraoperatively and, thus, can significantly improve the possibility of achieving GTR of primary malignant brain tumors. The aim of this study was to go one step further and evaluate the utility and limitations of fluorescence-guided resections of primary malignant brain tumors in eloquent cortical areas in combination with intraoperative monitoring based on multimodal functional imaging data.
Eighteen patients with primary malignant brain tumors in eloquent areas were included in this prospective study. Preoperative neuroradiological examinations included MR imaging with magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo (MPRAGE), functional MR, and diffusion tensor imaging sequences to visualize functional areas and fiber tracts. Imaging data were analyzed offline, loaded into a neuronavigational system, and used intraoperatively during resections. All patients received 5-ALA 6 hours before surgery. Fluorescence-guided tumor resections were combined with intraoperative monitoring and cortical as well as subcortical stimulation to localize functional areas and fiber tracts during surgery.
Twenty-five procedures were performed in 18 consecutive patients. In 24% of all surgeries, resection was stopped because a functional area or cortical tract was identified in the resection area or because motor evoked potential amplitudes were reduced in an area where fluorescent tumor cells were still seen intraoperatively. Grosstotal resection could be achieved in 16 (64%) of the surgeries with preservation of all functional areas and fiber tracts. In 2 patients presurgical hemiparesis became accentuated postoperatively, and 1 of these patients also suffered from a new homonymous hemianopia following a second resection.
The authors' first results show that tumor resections with 5-ALA in combination with intraoperative cortical stimulation have the advantages of both methods and, thus, provide additional safety for the neurosurgeon during resections of primary malignant brain tumors in eloquent areas. Nonetheless, more cases and additional studies are necessary to further prove the advantages of this multimodal strategy.
PDF
