The Role of Cilostazol and Inflammation in Cognitive Impairment After Ischemic Stroke.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the potential effect of cilostazol and inflammation on cognitive impairment after stroke in an Asian population.

Methods: Forty-five patients with cognitive impairment after ischemic stroke using cilostazol were enrolled as the study group and 45 patients using aspirin or clopidogrel were enrolled as the control group. Neuropsychiatric assessments were administered at the start of the study and after 6 months.

Dewetting of polymer thin films on modified curved surfaces: preparation of polymer nanoparticles with asymmetric shapes by anodic aluminum oxide templates.

We study the dewetting behaviors of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) thin films coated in the cylindrical nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates by thermal annealing. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of n-octadecyltrichlorosilane (ODTS) are introduced to modify the pore surfaces of the AAO templates to induce the dewetting process. By using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the dewetting-induced morphology transformation from the PMMA thin films to PMMA nanoparticles with asymmetric shapes can be observed.

Levodopa reverse stridor and prevent subsequent endotracheal intubation in Parkinson disease patients with bilateral vocal cord palsy: A case report.

Background: Respiratory abnormalities are often overlooked; however, because of their potential comorbidity, they must be analyzed to determine the most effective treatment for patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Among various theories on respiratory abnormalities in PD, "upper airway obstruction" and "restrictive respiratory disorders" are 2 of the most accepted etiologies; both appear to be related to basal ganglia dysfunction. Complex vocal cord muscle dysfunction contributes to stridor, which can be a manifestation of nigrostriatal dopaminergic dysfunction.

Fabrication of Electrospun Polymer Fibers with Nonspherical Cross-Sections Using a Nanopressing Technique.

The fabrication of electrospun polymer fibers is demonstrated with anisotropic cross-sections by applying a simple pressing method. Electrospun polystyrene or poly(methyl methacrylate) fibers are pressed by flat or patterned substrates while the samples are annealed at elevated temperatures. The shapes and morphologies of the pressed polymer fibers are controlled by the experimental conditions such as the pressing force, the pressing temperature, the pressing time, and the surface pattern of the substrate.

Frequent Ischemic Stroke as First Manifestation of Occult Colon Cancer: A Rare Case.

Background: It is rare that occult cancer presents with frequent ischemic stroke as the sole manifestation.

Case Report: We report the case of a 46-year-old man with frequent stroke in different vascular areas, with diabetes and hypercholesterolemia identified as risk factors. The results of biochemistry, young stroke profiles, trans-cranial and extra-cranial carotid Doppler, and 24-h Holter electrocardiogram were within normal limits.

On-Film Annealing: A Simple Method to Fabricate Heterogeneous Polymer Surfaces, Porous Films, and Hemispheres.

Polymer microspheres have been widely investigated because of their applications in areas such as drug delivery, latex diagnostics, and affinity bioseparators. The effect of annealing on polymer microspheres, however, has been rarely studied. In this work, we demonstrate the morphology transformation of polystyrene (PS) microspheres annealed thermally on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films.

Effect of the polymer concentration on the Rayleigh-instability-type transformation in polymer thin films coated in the nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide templates.

We study the Rayleigh-instability-type transformation of polystyrene (PS) thin films coated in the nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. The PS thin films are fabricated using a solution-wetting method, in which the wall thicknesses are controlled by the concentrations of the polymer solutions and the diameters of the nanopores. By thermal annealing, the surfaces of the thin films undulate and the morphologies transform from nanotubes to Rayleigh-instability-induced nanostructures (short nanorods) and long nanorods.

Fabrication of multicomponent polymer nanostructures containing PMMA shells and encapsulated PS nanospheres in the nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide templates.

Multi-component polymer nanomaterials have attracted great attention because of their applications in areas such as biomedicine, tissue engineering, and organic solar cells. The precise control over the morphologies of multi-component polymer nanomaterials, however, is still a great challenge. In this work, the fabrication of poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA)/poly-styrene (PS) nanostructures that contain PMMA shells and encapsulated PS nanospheres is studied.

Rayleigh instability in polymer thin films coated in the nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide templates.

We study the Rayleigh instability of polystyrene (PS) thin films coated in the nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. After thermal annealing, the surface of the PS thin films undulates and the nanostructures transform from nanotubes to Rayleigh-instability-induced nanostructures (short nanorods with encapsulated air bubbles). With longer annealing times, the nanostructures further transform to nanorods with longer lengths.

Nanopressing: toward tailored polymer microstructures and nanostructures.

A simple and versatile method is developed for preparing anisotropic polymer particles by pressing polymer microspheres at elevated temperatures. Polystyrene (PS) microspheres are used to demonstrate this approach. Depending on the mechanical deformation and wetting of the polymers on the substrates, polymer structures with special shapes such as barrel-like or dumbbell-like shapes can be prepared.

Porous polymer nanostructures fabricated by the surface-induced phase separation of polymer solutions in anodic aluminum oxide templates.

We study the formation of porous polymer nanostructures fabricated by the surface-induced phase separation of polymer solutions in anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) are used to investigate the evolution process of the surface-induced phase separation. With the longer immersion time of the AAO template in the polymer solution, the size of the solvent-rich droplet is increased by the coarsening process, resulting in the formation of porous polymer nanostructures.

Transformation of polymer nanofibers to nanospheres driven by the Rayleigh instability.

We study the thermal annealing effect of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanofibers made from anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates and their transformation to PMMA nanospheres. The PMMA nanofibers are prepared by wetting an AAO template with a 30 wt % PMMA solution, followed by the evaporation of the solvent. After the AAO template is removed by a weak base, the PMMA nanofibers are thermally annealed in ethylene glycol, a nonsolvent for PMMA.