Nucleation and growth of a helical nanofilament (B4) liquid-crystal phase confined in nanobowls.

The B4 helical nanofilament (HNF) liquid crystal (LC) phase is a three-dimensional (3D) helical structure composed of 2D smectic layers. Because of the complex shape of the HNF phase, it is difficult to understand the generation mechanism of HNFs in the bulk as well as in the thin-film condition. Here, we directly investigated the nucleation and growth of HNFs in nanobowls.

Synergistic assembly of nanoparticles in smectic liquid crystals.

We report synergistic co-assembly between smectic A liquid crystal (SmA LC) and planar anchoring fluorosilane functionalized silica (F-SiO2) nanoparticles (NPs). Both scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) patterns show that when cooled from the isotropic phase to SmA phase, F-SiO2 NPs (100-500 nm in diameter) migrate from the bottom to the top of the LC film through the central cusp defects of toric focal conic domains (TFCDs). When the NPs form a monolayer on top, replacing the LC/air interface, vertically aligned SmA layers are formed between the top and bottom planar surfaces.

Does international study group on pancreatic fistula (ISGPF) classification need modification after distal pancreatectomy?

Backgrounds/aims: Few reports have validated the clinical postoperative pancreatic fistula (PF) after distal pancreatectomy. The study intended to validate the predictability for clinical PF of drain amylase and lipase and to find out more appropriate postoperative day (POD) for diagnostic criterion of PF.

Methods: A total of 154 patients underwent distal pancreatectomy.

Expression of V3 Versican by Rat Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells Promotes Differentiated and Anti-inflammatory Phenotypes.

Arterial smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) undergo phenotypic changes during development and pathological processes in vivo and during cell culture in vitro. Our previous studies demonstrated that retrovirally mediated expression of the versican V3 splice variant (V3) by ASMCs retards cell proliferation and migration in vitro and reduces neointimal thickening and macrophage and lipid accumulation in animal models of vascular injury and atherosclerosis. However, the molecular pathways induced by V3 expression that are responsible for these changes are not yet clear.

Multidimensional Helical Nanostructures in Multiscale Nanochannels.

We have investigated the various morphological changes of helical nanofilament (HNF; B4) phases in multiscale nanochannels made of porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) film. Single or multihelical structures could be manipulated depending on the AAO pore size and the higher-temperature phase of each molecule. Furthermore, the nanostructures of HNFs affected by the chemical affinity between the molecule and surface were drastically controlled in surface-modified nanochannels.

In-Plane Switching Mode for Liquid Crystal Displays Using a DNA Alignment Layer.

We successfully fabricated the in-plane switching mode (IPS) LC display (LCD) based on a double stranded DNA (dsDNA) alignment layer. As widely known, the DNA has the right-handed double helical structure that has naturally grown grooves with a very regular period, which can be used as an alignment layer to control the orientation of liquid crystal (LC) molecules. The LC molecules on this topographical layer of DNA material align obliquely at a specific angle with respect to the direction of DNA chains, providing an instant and convenient tool for the fabrication of the IPS display compared to the conventional ways such as rubbing and mechanical shearing methods.

Electrical characteristics of metal oxide based multi-layer vertical resistive switching memories.

The electrical properties of vertical resistive switching random access memories (VRRAMs) were investigated to enhance their device performance by using a stochastic method based on the generation and the rupture probability of the conductive filaments (CFs) together with a tunneling model. The carrier transport mechanisms were dominantly attributed to the tunneling current between the CFs and the electrode. Carrier transport mechanisms of the high resistance state current were dominantly attributed to the direct tunneling current between the electrode and the CFs locating at nearest the electrode.

Analysis of the roles of glucose transporter 1 and hexokinase 2 in the metabolism of glucose by extrahepatic bile duct cancer cells.

Purpose Of The Report: Extrahepatic bile duct (EHD) cancer varies in uptake of FDG. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of glucose transporter (GLUT) 1 and hexokinase (HK) 2 in the glucose metabolism of EHD cancer cells using immunohistochemistry and 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with EHD cancer who underwent baseline PET/CT and surgery were studied.

Characterization of adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction for clinical application to cartilage regeneration.

Bone marrow concentration (BMC) is the most recognized procedure to prepare mesenchymal stem cells for cartilage regeneration. However, bone marrow aspiration is highly invasive and results in low stem cell numbers. Recently, adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction (AT-SVF) was studied as an alternate source of stem cells for cartilage regeneration.

Gemcitabine Combined with Capecitabine Compared to Gemcitabine with or without Erlotinib as First-Line Chemotherapy in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to retrospectively compare the efficacy and tolerability between three regimens for first-line chemotherapy-gemcitabine plus capecitabine (GEM-X), gemcitabine plus erlotinib (GEM-T), and gemcitabine monotherapy (GEM)-in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Materials And Methods: There was a total of 127 patients who underwent chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer between January 2007 and November 2011 at our institution. Patients were treated with either GEM (gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15 every 4 weeks), GEM-T (gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks and erlotinib 100 mg daily), or GEM-X (gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks and capecitabine 850 mg/m(2) twice daily for 2 weeks followed by 1 week's rest) as the first-line treatment.

Hydrogen Peroxide- and Nitric Oxide-mediated Disease Control of Bacterial Wilt in Tomato Plants.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in tomato plants by Ralstonia solanacearum infection and the role of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitric oxide in tomato bacterial wilt control were demonstrated. During disease development of tomato bacterial wilt, accumulation of superoxide anion (O2 (-)) and H2O2 was observed and lipid peroxidation also occurred in the tomato leaf tissues. High doses of H2O2and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) nitric oxide donor showed phytotoxicity to detached tomato leaves 1 day after petiole feeding showing reduced fresh weight.

Multistep hierarchical self-assembly of chiral nanopore arrays.

A series of simple hierarchical self-assembly steps achieve self-organization from the centimeter to the subnanometer-length scales in the form of square-centimeter arrays of linear nanopores, each one having a single chiral helical nanofilament of large internal surface area and interfacial interactions based on chiral crystalline molecular arrangements.

Vitamin D Inhibits Expression and Activity of Matrix Metalloproteinase in Human Lung Fibroblasts (HFL-1) Cells.

Background: Low levels of serum vitamin D is associated with several lung diseases. The production and activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of emphysema. The aim of the current study therefore is to investigate if vitamin D modulates the expression and activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in human lung fibroblasts (HFL-1) cells.

Droplet-based microfluidics for high-throughput screening of a metagenomic library for isolation of microbial enzymes.

This paper proposes a high-throughput, function-based screening approach of a metagenomic library for isolating novel microbial enzymes by droplet-based microfluidics. We used gel microdroplets (GMDs) dispersed in oil as picoliter-volume reaction vessels for lipolytic enzyme by encapsulating cells in individual GMDs. Using this approach, we monitored the growth of individual cells encapsulated in GMDs and assessed the enzyme reaction activities at the level of an individual GMD.

Thermal phase transition behaviours of the blue phase of bent-core nematogen and chiral dopant mixtures under different boundary conditions.

We have investigated dramatic changes in the thermal phase transition of a liquid-crystalline (LC) blue phase (BP) consisting of bent-core nematogen and chiral dopants under various boundary conditions during cooling from the isotropic phase. Blue phase III, which has arbitrary morphological characteristics, between two glass plates goes to blue phase I, which has a body-centred cubic structure, when the sample is placed on the glass as a droplet form. These two distinctive phase transition behaviours were directly observed by polarized optical microscopy as well as selective reflection spectroscopy, in which the phase transition between BPs started from the air/LC interface.

SIRT1 directly regulates SOX2 to maintain self-renewal and multipotency in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

SOX2 is crucial for the maintenance of the self-renewal capacity and multipotency of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs); however, the mechanism by which SOX2 is regulated remains unclear. Here, we report that RNA interference of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in human bone marrow (BM)-derived MSCs leads to a decrease of SOX2 protein, resulting in the deterioration of the self-renewal and differentiation capacities of BM-MSCs. Using immunoprecipitation, we demonstrated direct binding between SIRT1 and SOX2 in HeLa cells overexpressing SOX2.

The role of abdominal drainage to prevent of intra-abdominal complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: prospective randomized trial.

Background: Routine drainage of the abdominal cavity after surgery has been a robust dogma for many decades. Nevertheless, the policy of routine abdominal drainage is increasingly questioned. Many surgeons believe that routine drainage after surgery may prevent postoperative intra-abdominal infection.

Active microdroplet merging by hydrodynamic flow control using a pneumatic actuator-assisted pillar structure.

This paper describes a microdroplet merging device that can actively control the merging of various droplets under a wide range of flow conditions, using a simple structure. The microdroplets were trapped and merged in a wide chamber divided by pillars, and their behavior was controlled by two horizontal pneumatic microactuators. Hydrodynamic flow control by the actuation was evaluated numerically, and the trapping and merging of droplets were achieved experimentally and controlled via pressure applied to the microactuators.

A survey of attitudes to clinical practice guidelines in general and adherence of the Korea practical guidelines for management of gallbladder polyp: a survey among private clinicians in Korea.

Backgrounds/aims: While clinical practice guidelines are effective tools for improving the quality of patient care and provide specific recommendations for daily practice, the usage of them have been often suboptimal. Therefore, evaluation of physician attitude to guidelines is an important initial step in improving guideline adherence levels. The aim of this study was to survey the attitude on general guidelines and adherence with the Korea Practical Guidelines for gallbladder (GB) polyp two year after their publication and distribution among Korean private clinicians.

In Situ Recruitment of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Using Chemokines for Articular Cartilage Regeneration.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are a good cell source for regeneration of cartilage as they can migrate directly to the site of cartilage injury and differentiate into articular chondrocytes. Articular cartilage defects do not heal completely due to the lack of chondrocytes or BMSCs at the site of injury. In this study, the chemotaxis of BMSCs toward chemokines, which may give rise to a complete regeneration of the articular cartilage, was investigated.

Cybotactic behavior in the de Vries smectic-A* liquid-crystal structure formed by a silicon-containing molecule.

We have identified a metastable liquid-crystal (LC) structure in the de Vries smectic-A* phase (de Vries Sm-A*) formed by silicon-containing molecules under certain boundary conditions. The phase transition with the metastable structure was observed in a LC droplet placed on a planar aligned substrate and LCs confined in the groove of a silicon microchannel. During the rapid cooling step, a batonnet structure was generated as an intermediate and metastable state prior to the transition that yielded the thermodynamically stable toric focal conic domains.

Postoperative radiotherapy dose correlates with locoregional control in patients with extra-hepatic bile duct cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the results of postoperative radiotherapy in patients with extra-hepatic bile duct cancer (EHBDC) and identify the prognostic factors for local control and survival.

Materials And Methods: Between January 2001 and December 2010, we retrospectively reviewed the cases of 70 patients with EHBDC who had undergone curative resection and received postoperative radiotherapy. The median radiation dose was 50.

Interleukin-6 induces the lineage commitment of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal multipotent cells through down-regulation of Sox2 by osteogenic transcription factors.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) are a heterogeneous population of cells that differ in size and morphology. BM-MSCs become committed to the osteogenic lineage as senescence approaches and lose multipotency. Nevertheless, little is known about the effects of cell-cell interaction between different populations on stemness loss and lineage commitment.

Expression of versican V3 by arterial smooth muscle cells alters tumor growth factor β (TGFβ)-, epidermal growth factor (EGF)-, and nuclear factor κB (NFκB)-dependent signaling pathways, creating a microenvironment that resists monocyte adhesion.

Monocyte/macrophage accumulation plays a critical role during progression of cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis. Our previous studies demonstrated that retrovirally mediated expression of the versican V3 splice variant (V3) by arterial smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) decreases monocyte adhesion in vitro and macrophage accumulation in a model of lipid-induced neointimal formation in vivo. We now demonstrate that V3-expressing ASMCs resist monocyte adhesion by altering the composition of the microenvironment surrounding the cells by affecting multiple signaling pathways.

Does liver resection provide long-term survival benefits for breast cancer patients with liver metastasis? A single hospital experience.

Purpose: Liver resection with colorectal liver metastasis widely accepted and has been considered safe and effective therapeutic option. However, the role of liver resection in breast cancer with liver metastasis is still controversial. Therefore, we reviewed the outcome of liver resection in breast cancer patients with liver metastases in a single hospital experiences.