Quality analysis of selective microparticle deposition on electrically programmable surfaces

Image processing and pattern analysis can evaluate the deposition quality of triboelectrically charged microparticles on charged surfaces. The image processing method presented in this paper aims at controlling the quality of peptide arrays generated by particle based solid phase Merrifield combinatorial peptide synthesis. Incorrectly deposited particles are detected before the amino acids therein are coupled to the growing peptide. The calibration of the image acquisition is performed in a supervised training step in which all parameters of the quality analyzing algorithm are learnt given one representative image. Then, the correct deposition pattern is determined by a linear support vector machine. Knowing the pattern, contaminated areas can be detected by comparing the pattern with the actual deposition. Taking into account the resolution of the image acquisition system and its magnification factor, the number and size of contaminating particles can be calculated out of the number of connected foreground pixels.

Could a loss of memory T cells limit responses to hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigens in blood leucocytes from patients chronically infected with HCV before and during pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin therapy?

The proportions and activation status of T cells may influence responses to hepatitis C virus (HCV) and treatment outcome in patients receiving pegylated interferon (IFN)-alpha/ribavirin therapy. We confirmed that IFN-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) responses to HCV are poor in HCV patients and showed that responses to HCV and cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigens decrease during therapy. This was most apparent in patients with sustained virological response (SVR). Baseline frequencies of CD4+ effector memory (TEM) T cells were lower in SVR than non-SVR. Proportions of CD4+ and CD8+ TEM and terminally differentiated effector memory (TEMRA) T cells declined on therapy in SVR, as did proportions of Fas+ CD8+ TEMRA T cells. Baseline frequencies of programmed death (PD)-1-expressing CD4+ TEM and TEMRA T-cells were higher in SVR. Therapy increased percentages of PD-1+ CD4+ central memory (TCM) T cells and PD-1+ CD8+ TEM and TEMRA T cells in SVR. We conclude that successful therapy depletes circulating antigen-specific CD4+ T cell responses. This paralleled decreases in proportions of effector memory T cells and higher percentages of CD4+ TCM T cells expressing PD-1.

Disruption of PPARgamma signaling results in mouse prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia involving active autophagy

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) regulates the interface between cellular lipid metabolism, redox status and organelle differentiation. Conditional prostatic epithelial knockout of PPARgamma in mice resulted in focal hyperplasia which developed into mouse prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (mPIN). The grade of PIN became more severe with time. Electron microscopy (EM) showed accumulated secondary lysosomes containing cellular organelles and debris suggestive of autophagy. Consistent with this analysis the autophagy marker LC-3 was found to be upregulated in areas of PIN in PPARgamma KO tissues. We selectively knocked down PPARgamma2 isoform in wild-type mouse prostatic epithelial cells and examined the consequences of this in a tissue recombination model. Histopathologically grafted tissues resembled the conditional PPARgamma KO mouse prostates. EM studies of PPARgamma- and PPARgamma2-deficient epithelial cells in vitro were suggestive of autophagy, consistent with the prostatic tissue analysis. This was confirmed by examining expression of beclin-1 and LC-3. Gene expression profiling in PPARgamma-/gamma2-deficient cells indicated a major dysregulation of cell cycle control and metabolic signaling networks related to peroxisomal and lysosomal maturation, lipid oxidation and degradation. The putative autophagic phenotypes of PPARgamma-deficient cells could be rescued by re-expression of either gamma1 or gamma2 isoform. We conclude that disruption of PPARgamma signaling results in autophagy and oxidative stress during mPIN pathogenesis.

Low temperature exchange bias in [DyFe(2)/YFe(2)] superlattices: effect of the thermo-magnetic preparation

The effect of the thermo-magnetic preparation on exchange bias is investigated in an exchange-coupled [3 nm DyFe(2)/12 nmYFe(2)](22) superlattice. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) experiments at low temperature reveal that exchange bias originates from the quenched DyFe(2) magnetization, biasing the unpinned YFe(2) reversal. This quenched configuration can be tailored by changing the cooling field or the magnetic preparation at 300 K before zero-field cooling. Changing the amplitude of the cooling field induces interface domain walls and tends to modify the orientation of the pinning moments at the interfaces. This results in the observation of single loops and in the continuous variation of the bias field as a function of the cooling field. A specific magnetic preparation (field cycling) at 300 K induces different remanent states with lateral domains in the pinning layer, which remain unchanged at low temperature after zero-field cooling and behave independently. This gives rise to combined loops, whose shape reflects the domain populations.

Proteomics: A panel of seven serum biomarkers as a promising diagnostic tool for breast cancer

e22019

Background: Conventionals serum biomarkets have a low sensibility in breast cancer diagnosis. Proteomic is a promising tool to identify new proteins profiles to be used in screening and early diagnosed. Methods: 1)Biomarker identification: Serum proteins from 114 women were separated and analysed by bidimensional gel electrophoresis; data from 72 patients (p) were compared with those from 42 control women to search for differentially expressed proteins. Several comparisons were performed between controls and p regarding clinical parameters such as histological type, tumour stage and lymph node affection (-/+). A total of 53 spots were found to be differentially expressed and identified by mass spectrometry (MS) as potential breast cancer biomarkers.2) Protein Chip development: A Protein Chip was developed with antibodies against six biomarkers and three control proteins (an antibody for the detection of a spiked control, for data normalization and two proteins as positive and negative controls). An antibody against CA15–3 antigen was also included as a reference breast tumour marker to be compared with our biomarker panel. 3) Clinical validation of the Protein Chip: A clinical validation study was carried out with 75 healthy women and 125 breast cancer p. After multivariate statistical analysis of the biomarker data, CA15–3 was discarded due to its low significance while a panel of 5 biomarkers was obtained as the best predictive model to discriminate p from healthy subjects. Results: 53 diferentially expressed proteins have been identified as potential breast cancer serum biomarkers after analysing 114 serum samples by 2DE Technology. A Protein Chip has been developed for the simultaneous detection of five serum biomarkers and three control proteins. After clinical validation with 200 p and healthy women, the sensitivity of the Protein Chip to detect breast cancer was 95% and its specificity was 27%. Conclusions: The high sensitivity of the Protein Chip suggests that it could be a valid tool to complement mammography (sensitivity < 80%) in breast cancer screening programs, specially when its sensitivity tends to decrease, as it happens in young women and dense breast cases. Larger clinical validation trials are being developed. This work is supported by INDAS BIOTECH.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Expression of tumor invasion factors determines systemic engraftment and induction of humoral hypercalcemia in a mouse model of adult T-cell leukemia

Infection with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) leads sometimes to the development of adult T-cell lymphoma/leukemia (ATL), which is invariably fatal and often associated with humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. The transformation of infected CD4 T cells and the pathogenesis of leukemia have been studied with great limitation in tissue culture and patients. To better understand the pathogenesis and perform preclinical drug studies, animal models of ATL are urgently needed. In mice, inoculation of HTLV-1 cell lines mostly leads to development of localized lymphomas. To develop an ATL animal model with leukemic spread of ATL cells, mouse strains with different well-defined immune deficiencies were inoculated intraperitoneally with different HTLV-1-infected cell lines (ACH.2, C8166, MT-2, MET-1). Inoculation of MET-1 cells into NOD/SCID mice provided the best model system for slowly developing T-cell leukemia with multiple organ involvement. In leukemic mice, an increase in serum calcium levels correlated with expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells ligand on leukemic cells and secretion of parathyroid hormone-related protein and interleukin-6. In contrast to the other cell lines that did not spread systemically, MET-1 expressed both the adhesion molecules CD11a (LFA-1alpha) and CD49d (VLA-4alpha) and produced or induced expression of matrix metalloproteinases 1, 2, 3, and 9, thus underlining the importance of these molecules in the spread of adult T-cell leukemia cells. The MET-1/NOD/SCID model will be useful for developing interventions against invasion and spread of leukemic cells and subsequent humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy.

[Improvement of oral rehabilitation prosthetic techniques thanks to orthodontics]

This clinical case underlines the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, prosthetic and orthodontic, for the achievement of an oral rehabilitation treatment plan. Preliminary orthodontic treatment has significantly improved, the position of some natural teeth, which can serve or not as a prosthetic abutment. This has produced a direct prosthetic benefit by limiting tissue reduction for preparation and by giving a better biomechanical and functional context to the restoration.Thus, after an orthodontic treatment step, lasting a year and a half, using both removable appliance and fixed appliance, prosthetic rehabilitation was possible. This included a fixed prosthesis and a removable prosthesis that gave a very satisfying an esthetic result and good masticatory function.

Breakfast eating habit and its influence on attention-concentration, immediate memory and school achievement

OBJECTIVE

To study the relationship of breakfast to the attention -concentration, immediate recall memory, nutritional status and academic achievement of school children.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Two schools catering to middle class families in Hyderabad city.

METHODS

379 urban 11 to 13 years old school children studying in 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Data collected in a single way blind procedure using Letter Cancellation test, immediate memory from the PGI Memory Scale, school marks of the previous year and nutritional status.

RESULTS

Comparison between groups indicated significant differences in the letter cancellation (LC) total scores with the regular breakfast group achieving the highest mean scores compared to the no breakfast group (P< 0.05). Marks scored by the regular breakfast group in subjects - Science, English and total Percentage were significantly higher compared to those scored by the children in the no breakfast group. Regular breakfast eating habit and weight for age percent were significantly (P< 0.001) associated with immediate recall memory score explaining 4.3 percent variation.

CONCLUSIONS

Regular habit of eating breakfast as opposed to irregular consumption or skipping breakfast altogether had beneficial influence on attention-concentration, memory and school achievement.

Emerging roles of insulin-like growth factor-I in the adult brain

All tissues in the body are under the influence of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Together with insulin, IGF-I is a key regulator of cell metabolism and growth. IGF-I also acts in the central nervous system, where it affects many different cell populations. In this brief review, we discuss the many roles of IGF-I in the adult brain, and present the idea that diseases affecting the brain will perturb IGF-I activity, although more refined studies at the molecular and cellular level are needed before we can firmly established this possibility. We also suggest that under normal physiological conditions IGF-I may play a significant role in higher brain functions underlying cognition, and may serve a homeostatic role during brain aging. Among newly emerging issues, the effects of IGF-I on non-neuronal cells within the nervous system and their impact in brain physiology and pathology are becoming very important in understanding the biology of this peptide in the brain.

Physician handwashing: what do parents want?

Transmission of micro-organisms from the hands of healthcare workers to patients is a major cause of healthcare-acquired infections. In 2002, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published guidelines for healthcare workers that included the recommendation for alcohol-based hand rub for hand hygiene during patient visits. In this prospective study we surveyed parental and healthcare workers' preferences for the hand hygiene practices of emergency physicians. The study comprised 99 parents of ill or injured children presenting to our emergency department and 100 healthcare providers (64 nurses, 29 physicians and seven nurse practitioners) within the department. There was a clear and similar preference by parents and healthcare workers for hand hygiene using soap and water over alcohol cleansing rubs. Furthermore, both groups preferred hand hygiene before and after the examination and wanted to observe the physician perform this procedure. In conclusion, families and healthcare worker preferences for hand hygiene are not in keeping with recommendations published by the CDC. Educational interventions are needed to disseminate the CDC's guidelines and to promote compliance with evidence-based recommendations for hand hygiene.

Middle cerebral artery pulsatility index: reliability at different sampling sites

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the interobserver reliability of measurement of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) pulsatility index (PI) at two different sampling sites.

METHODS

This study included 100 consecutive singleton pregnancies between 24 and 40 weeks with normal fetal growth. The PI was calculated by two independent operators at proximal and distal sampling sites of the near-field MCA. Reliability analyses were performed between observers at each sampling site by means of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for agreement. Differences between observers were explored and agreement limits calculated by means of the Bland-Altman test.

RESULTS

Satisfactory flow velocity waveforms were obtained successfully in each fetus at both sampling sites. Peak systolic, end-diastolic and time-averaged maximum velocities were significantly higher at the proximal compared with the distal sampling site. Conversely, PI was significantly higher at the distal compared with the proximal site. ICCs for PI were 0.3 and 0.33 at the proximal and the distal sampling sites, respectively. The 95% interval of the PI differences between observers were +0.91 and -1.14 at the proximal and +1.03 and -1.08 at the distal sampling sites. In about 30% of the cases the PI difference between observers was greater than 0.5 at both sampling sites.

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate interobserver reliability in the measurement of end-diastolic and time-averaged maximum MCA flow velocities results in limited agreement of the PI calculation at both proximal and distal sampling sites. These results may preclude its clinical applicability.

A multiplex PCR assay for the simultaneous detection and discrimination of the sevenEimeriaspecies that infect domestic fowl

This study reports the development of a novel multiplex PCR assay based on SCAR (Sequence-Characterised Amplified Region) markers for the simultaneous diagnosis of the 7Eimeriaspecies that infect domestic fowl. Primer pairs specific for each species were designed in order to generate a ladder of amplification products ranging from 200 to 811 bp. Sensitivity tests for each species were carried out, showing a detection threshold of 1–5 pg, which corresponds approximately to 2–8 sporulated oocysts. Distinct isolates of the 7Eimeriaspecies from different geographical sources were tested and successfully detected by the assay. All the species were amplified homogeneously, whether or not one of them was present in a high quantity, indicating that there was no cross-interference. The assay was also tested with different sources ofTaqDNA polymerase and thermocycler models, confirming the high reproducibility of the reaction. The economy of consumables and labour represented by a single-tube reaction greatly facilitates the molecular diagnosis of a large number of samples, making it appropriate for field epizootiological surveys. We propose the use of this multiplex PCR assay as a rapid and cost-effective diagnostic method for the detection and discrimination of the 7Eimeriaspecies that infect domestic fowl.

[Can nomograms derived in the U.S. applied to German patients? A study about the validation of preoperative nomograms predicting the risk of recurrence after radical prostatectomy]

In patients suffering from prostate cancer, preoperative nomograms, which predict the risk of recurrence may provide a helpful tool in regard to the counselling and planning of an appropriate therapy. The best known nomograms were published by the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston and the Harvard Medical School, Boston. We investigated these nomograms derived in the U.S. when applied to German patients. Data from 1003 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy at the University-Hospital Hamburg were used for validation. Nomogram predictions of the probability for 2-years (Harvard nomogram) and 5-years (Kattan nomogram) freedom from PSA recurrence were compared with actual follow-up recurrence data using areas under the receiver-operating-characteristic curves (AUC). The recurrence free survival after 2 and 5 years was 78% and 58%, respectively. The AUC of the Harvard nomogram predicting 2-years probability of freedom from PSA recurrence was 0.80 vs. Kattan-Nomogram 5-years prediction of 0.83. Thereby, the Kattan nomogram showed a significant higher predictive accuracy (p=0.0274). For that reason preoperative nomograms derived in the U.S. can be applied to german patients. However, we would recommend the utilization of the Kattan nomogram due to its higher predictive accuracy.