Anomalous diffusion in thermoresponsive polymer-clay composite hydrogels probed by wide-field fluorescence microscopy.

Thermoresponsive materials exhibit an enormous potential for tissue engineering, separation systems, and drug delivery. We investigated the diffusion of laponite clay nanoparticles, which serve as physical cross-linkers to achieve improved material properties in poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM)-clay composite hydrogels close to the gel point. The networks are formed through physical interactions between PNIPAM chains and clay nanoparticles after these two components are mixed.

A novel method for automatic single molecule tracking of blinking molecules at low intensities.

Single molecule tracking provides unprecedented insights into diffusional processes of systems in life and material sciences. Determination of molecule positions with high accuracy and correct connection of the determined positions to tracks is a challenging task with, so far, no universal solution for single fluorescing molecules tackling the challenge of low signal-to-noise ratios, frequent blinking and photo bleaching. Thus, the development of novel algorithms for automatic single molecule fluorescence tracking is essential to analyse the huge amount of diffusional data obtained with single molecule widefield fluorescence microscopy.

Fluorescent conjugated block copolymer nanoparticles by controlled mixing.

Monitoring of the formation of stable fluorescent nanoparticles from controlled mixing of a THF solution of poly(fluorene ethynylene)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) in a microfluidic laminar flow crossjunction by spatially resolved fluorescence spectroscopy reveals the time scale of particle formation as well as incorporation of small molecule guests and the role of solvent mixing.

[Accessory bile duct (author's transl)].

A case report is given of a patient with an accessory choledochus duct opening into the gastric antrum. This is the fifth case reported in the literature. A short review is given about incidence of malformations of extrahepatic bile ducts, ontogenetic background and clinical relevance.

[Spontaneous cholecysto-gastric fistula with massive gastrointestinal bleeding. Endoscopic diagnosis and concrement extraction].

A case of spontaneous cholecysto-gastric fistula is reported with penetration of a gallstone into the stomach leading to massive haemorrhage of gastric mucosa. The gallstone was removed endoscopically, the immanent complication of gallstone ileus could be eliminated. Mucosal bleeding was stopped by conservative methods, and thus enough time was won for optimal preparation for the ensuing operation.