Positive correlation between serum omentin and thrombospondin-1 in gestational diabetes despite lack of correlation with insulin resistance indices

Gestational Diabetes (GDM) is characterized by insulin resistance and a pro-inflammatory state, both factors possible related to adipokine expression.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The study included 20 women with GDM, diagnosed according to the WHO criteria, and 23 matched for age and BMI women with normal glucose tolerance. Omentin and TSP-1 were measured by ELISA assays. Insulin resistance was assessed by HOMA and Insulin Resistance Index (IRI).

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in omentin and TSP-1 levels between subjects with GDM and controls (48.0 +/- 12.0 ng/ml versus 50.2 +/- 7.9 ng/ml and 2150 +/- 1661 ng/ml versus 1569 +/- 1160 ng/ml, p = 0.64 and p = 0.29, for omentin and TSP-1 in GDM and control subjects, respectively). There was no significant correlation between either omentin or TSP-1 with HOMA or IRI, however there was a significant positive correlation between thrombospondin-1 and omentin (r = 0.49, p = 0.010). There was also a positive correlation between serum omentin and glucose levels at 60 and 90 minutes of OGTT, however, in the control group only (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Concentrations of omentin and thrombospondin-1 seem to be inter-related in pregnancy however there are no differences in serum levels between women with normal glucose tolerance and those with glucose intolerance. These observations suggest that regulation of concentrations of these adipokines in pregnancy might be mediated though different mechanisms than in non-pregnant subjects.

Nanofiber Plasmon Enhancement of Two-Photon Polymerization Induced by Femtosecond Laser

The nanofiber plasmon effect on the two-photon polymerization (2PP) induced by a femtosecond laser is reported for the first time in this paper. The nanofibers were generated using a femtosecond laser, which was also used to construct microfeatures through two-photon polymerization of a nanofiber dispersed polymer resin. Nanofiber plasmon resonant effect greatly enhances local field intensities, resulting in increased particle scattering cross sections. This leads to a drastic enhancement of two-photon-like absorption processes, allowing much lower incident radiation intensities to be used. The huge enhancements in local field intensity due to nanofiber plasmon resonances have been shown to lower the required intensity for 2PP by factors of 10 or more.

Mechanical Property Enhancement of Nanocomposite Microstructures Generated by Two Photon Polymerization

The mechanical properties of nanofiber reinforced polymer microstructures were investigated in this work by means of nanoindentation. The femtosecond laser was used to generate nanofibers on selected area on the surface of the substrate and to generate microstructures. These microstructures were formed via two photon polymerization using femtosecond laser material processing by incorporation of silicon nanofibers into Ormocer matrix. Results show that the hardness and elastic modulus of the nanocomposites have improved by 25% and 75%, respectively, with the incorporation of nanofibers using the described method, which has the potential of direct fabrication of reinforced micro-/nanostructures. The volume fraction of the generated nanofibers in the nanocomposite was calculated by using nanoindentation analysis.

Degradation of Perennial Ryegrass Leaf and Stem Cell Walls by the Anaerobic Fungus Neocallimastix sp. Strain CS3b

The degradation of cell walls isolated from stems and leaves of perennial ryegrass by the anaerobic fungus Neocallimastix sp. strain CS3b was studied in a defined medium. The combined cellulose and hemicellulose fraction represented 53.1 (wt/wt) and 63.3% (wt/wt) of the dry weight of control grass leaf and stem cell walls, respectively. In both leaf and stem cell walls, glucose was the major neutral monosaccharide, followed by xylose, arabinose, and galactose. After 2 days of fermentation with Neocallimastix sp. strain CS3b, treated cell walls contained smaller amounts of neutral sugars compared with those of undigested cell walls. These results were more evident for glucose, xylose, and arabinose than for galactose. Furthermore, the sugar content of leaf cell walls decreased before a decline in the sugar content of stem cell walls was observed. Data from formate and hydrogen production indicated that the growth of Neocallimastix sp. strain CS3b was completed in 4 days in the culture system used. During this period, the fungus liberated about 95% of the fermentable sugars in untreated material. On a percentage basis, no significant differences were found in final extent of degradation of glucose, xylose, and arabinose. Galactose, however, was degraded to a lesser extent.

Study of metallic fibrous nanoparticle aggregate produced using femtosecond laser radiation under ambient conditions

In this study, we report formation of weblike fibrous nanoparticle aggregate due to irradiation of bulk iron, aluminium and titanium samples using femtosecond laser radiation at MHz pulse repetition frequency in air at atmospheric pressure. Electron microscopy analysis revealed that the nanostructure is formed due to aggregation of polycrystalline nanoparticles of the respective constituent materials. The nanoparticle diameter varies between 5 and 40 nm and they are covered with an oxide layer of a few nanometres thick. X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman analysis revealed metallic and oxide phases in the nanostructure. The formation of a nanoparticle aggregate is explained by nucleation and condensation of vapour in the plasma plume and by phase explosion. Moreover the laser interaction time plays a significant role in the generation of nanostructure from bulk metals. This study provides evidence that femtosecond laser irradiation can be an ambient condition physical method for metallic fibrous nanoparticle aggregate generation.

Single step self-enclosed fluidic channels via Two Photon Absorption (TPA) polymerization

In this paper, we demonstrate a simple, fast and single-step method for fabricating self-enclosed fluidic channels via TPA. Pairs of parallel, polymerized ribs are linked by the subsequent polymerization with correctly predetermined offset between the ribs. The region, where the radicals are initiated but its concentration is below the threshold, we called it a sub-activated region. The subsequent polymerization is triggered by the overlap of the sub-activated regions of the two adjacent ribs. The dimensions of the self-enclosed channels depends on the offset between ribs, the scan speed as well as the laser parameters such as pulse energy, pulse width and repetition rate.

Synthesis of Nanoscale Tips Using Femtosecond Laser Radiation under Ambient Condition

We report a unique growth of platelet-shaped nanoscale tips of transparent dielectric using femtosecond laser radiation at MHz pulse repetition rate with nitrogen background gas flow under ambient condition. The tips grew with sharp nanoscale apex while their base and lengths are of the order of few hundred nanometers. In the absence of nitrogen, the irradiation leads to nanofibrous structure formation. The collision between the nitrogen gas atoms and the vapor species slows down plume expansion and lead to an increase of nanoparticles size. This prevents the fibrous structure formation and provides appropriate condition for nanoscale tips growth.

Synthesis of Glass Nanofibers Using Femtosecond Laser Radiation Under Ambient Condition

We report the unique growth of nanofibers in silica and borosilicate glass using femtosecond laser radiation at 8 MHz repetition rate and a pulse width of 214 fs in air at atmospheric pressure. The nanofibers are grown perpendicular to the substrate surface from the molten material in laser-drilled microvias where they intertwine and bundle up above the surface. The fibers are few tens of nanometers in thickness and up to several millimeters in length. Further, it is found that at some places nanoparticles are attached to the fiber surface along its length. Nanofiber growth is explained by the process of nanojets formed in the molten liquid due to pressure gradient induced from the laser pulses and subsequently drawn into fibers by the intense plasma pressure. The attachment of nanoparticles is due to the condensation of vapor in the plasma.

Outpatient medical management of missed miscarriage using misoprostol

We wanted to evaluate the efficacy, safety and acceptability of misoprostol for outpatient management of missed miscarriage. This was a prospective observational study conducted in the early pregnancy unit of a university teaching hospital involving women attending the unit with a diagnosis of missed miscarriage. All women with a missed miscarriage of <12 weeks' gestation and opting to have medical management were eligible for inclusion. Women who consented to take part were given 800 microg of misoprostol in the unit and advised to take two further doses of 400 microg of misoprostol, orally, 3 h apart, the following day at home. Outcome measures included success rates, emergency admission rates, blood transfusion rates, pain scores, satisfaction scores, incidence rates of side-effects and number of women who would choose medical management in future. Of the 268 women diagnosed as having a missed miscarriage during the study period, 75 (28.0%) opted to have medical management. Over three-quarters (n = 58, 77.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 66.2 - 86.2) of the women achieved successful complete medical evacuation. Overall, five (6.7%; 95% CI 2.2 - 14.8) women presented for emergency admission. The mean visual analogue scale (VAS) score of all women was 6.7 (SD = 2.8) and the mean satisfaction score was 8.6 (SD = 2.1). Two-thirds of women (n = 50, 66.7%) said that they would choose to have medical evacuation in a future miscarriage, while seven (9.3%) were unsure. A total of 70 (93.3%) women said they preferred to have the treatment at home rather than in the hospital. We conclude that medical evacuation of missed miscarriage is efficacious, safe and acceptable in the outpatient setting.

Vitamin D deficiency, incidence, and response to oral supplementation among various gastrointestinal malignancies

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Background: Vitamin (vit) D dficiency is prevalent amongst patients (pts) with colorectal and pancreatic cancers. Data for other GI malignancies are limited and the impact of short-course vit D supplementation is unclear. Methods: An IRB-approved retrospective review of 202 pts with GI cancers from 12/2007 to 9/2008 was done to evaluate the incidence of vitamin D deficiency defined as serum 25-OH vit D levels of ≤ 30 ng/ml (severe=<10 ng/ml; moderate=10–20 ng/ml; mild=21–30 ng/ml) and incidence of ‘low-normal' (31–50 ng/ml) and normal (>50 ng/ml) vit D levels. Oral supplementation with vit D at 50,000 ‘u' weekly x 8–12 weeks were done and serum levels were redrawn at 2–3 months for pts with low normal and deficient vit D, respectively. Results: 87.6% of all 202 pts is vit D deficient (61% severe to moderate). (see Table ). 92 pts were re-evaluated after 2–3 months of oral vit D supplementation. Among this cohort, the incidence of pts with vitamin deficiency decreased from 91.3% to 57.6% after first re- evaluation. Severe/moderate deficiency rates also decreased from 71.7% to 13%. There were no significant difference in response between males/females, age < or ≥ 65, caucasian or non-caucasian or tumor type. Conclusions: Vitamin D levels should routinely be evaluated for patients with GI maligancies. Oral supplementation decreases the rate 'any' vit D deficiency from 91% to 57%, and of 'severe to moderate' deficiency from 72% to 13%. Prospective studies on the impact of vit D deficiency and supplementation on various clinical outcomes among patients with GI cancers would improve supportive care management of these patients.

[Table: see text]

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Maskless fabrication of nano-fluidic channels by two-photon absorption (TPA) polymerization of SU-8 on glass substrate

We present a simple, fast, and repeatable method for fabricating nano-fluidic channels based on two-photon absorption (TPA) polymerization. Since our method does not require any mask, it is relatively cheaper and faster than other conventional lithography techniques. We illustrate that SU-8 has pronounced photoinitiation threshold behavior, which linearly decreases as the repetition rate increases. If the pulse energy and the repetition rate are controlled, channel width can be easily controlled. We report fluidic channels up to 110 nm in width, between polymerized parallel ribs, utilizing TPA and the photoinitiation threshold properties of SU-8. Finally, we also show that high repetition rate laser presents greater controllability in size of the polymerized region by varying fluence.

Microsomal omega-hydroxylated metabolites of N-arachidonoyl dopamine are active at recombinant human TRPV1 receptors

N-Arachidonoyl dopamine (NADA) is an endogenous lipid that modulates signal transduction in neuronal and immune pathways. NADA activates the non-selective cation channel, transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV(1)) and cannabinoid receptor 1. That NADA is comprised of an arachidonic acid (AA) backbone suggests that it may be metabolized through many of the enzymes that act upon AA such as the other AA-derived signaling lipids, the endogenous cannabinoids. To investigate the metabolism of NADA through the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) metabolic pathway, we studied the in vitro rat liver microsomal production of hydroxylated metabolites and their activity at recombinant human TRPV(1) receptors. We showed that following microsomal activation in the presence of NADA, omega and (omega-1) hydroxylated metabolites (19- and 20-HETE-DA) were formed. These metabolites were active at recombinant human TRPV(1) receptors, inducing a dose-dependent calcium influx. Both metabolites exhibited lower potency compared to NADA. We conclude that CYP450 enzymes are capable of metabolizing this signaling lipid forming a larger family of potential neuromodulators.

Stromal gene signatures in large-B-cell lymphomas

BACKGROUND

The addition of rituximab to combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP), or R-CHOP, has significantly improved the survival of patients with diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma. Whether gene-expression signatures correlate with survival after treatment of diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma is unclear.

METHODS

We profiled gene expression in pretreatment biopsy specimens from 181 patients with diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma who received CHOP and 233 patients with this disease who received R-CHOP. A multivariate gene-expression-based survival-predictor model derived from a training group was tested in a validation group.

RESULTS

A multivariate model created from three gene-expression signatures--termed "germinal-center B-cell," "stromal-1," and "stromal-2"--predicted survival both in patients who received CHOP and patients who received R-CHOP. The prognostically favorable stromal-1 signature reflected extracellular-matrix deposition and histiocytic infiltration. By contrast, the prognostically unfavorable stromal-2 signature reflected tumor blood-vessel density.

CONCLUSIONS

Survival after treatment of diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma is influenced by differences in immune cells, fibrosis, and angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment.

Ins and outs of inferior vena cava filters in patients with venous thromboembolism: the experience at Monash Medical Centre and review of the published reports

BACKGROUND

Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are an alternative management strategy to anticoagulation in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, an IVC filter has its own inherent risks and complications and may not be the best management strategy. The aims of this study were to evaluate our institution's practice of permanent Vena Tech (B. Braun Medical S.A., Boulogne, France) and retrievable Gunther Tulip (William Cook Europe, Bjaeverskov) IVC filters and to review the available published reports.

METHODS

Retrospective single centre audit from the medical record.

RESULTS

Eighty-three and 42 patients had a VT and GT filter inserted, respectively. Median age was 57 years for VT and 63 years for GT. The majority (75% for VT and 83% for GT) was inserted for acute VTE and contraindication to anticoagulation. Both filters were efficacious at preventing pulmonary embolism (PE) and there was a low rate of recurrent deep venous thrombosis in both groups. Insertion-related complications were low in both groups. Of the GT filters (n = 42), 16 were deemed an ongoing requirement, and thus, removal was not planned. In a further six patients, there was insufficient documentation as to why removal was not planned. Removal was attempted in 19 patients and was successful in 11. Failure of removal was as a result of clot in the filter (n = 7) or inability to snare it (n = 1).

CONCLUSIONS

Both the permanent and retrievable filters are efficacious at preventing PE and are associated with a low complication rate. Planned removal of the GT filter may not be possible in a significant proportion of cases.