Use of a Single-Fiber Optical Probe for the Detection of Tumor Fluorescence in High-Grade Glioma.

Background And Objectives: High-grade glioma (HGG) is the most common primary brain tumor in adults. The overall median survival is between 14 and 16 months. Fluorescence-guided surgery by detection of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) fluorescence has been shown to improve the extent of resection, translating to improved progression-free survival.

Early feasibility and usability study of a novel obstetric blood loss quantifying device.

Objective: To study the accuracy and usability of a novel obstetric blood loss quantifying tool in clinical settings.

Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted in an Irish tertiary maternity unit. The accuracy of measuring the blood content (hemoglobin concentration) of elective Caesarean section birth waste with a novel obstetric blood loss quantifying device was compared, using Bland-Altman and correlation analysis, with staff volumetry and a reference hemoglobinometer.

Eccentric and blood flow restriction exercises in women induce hypertrophy.

Background: The purpose of the study was to assess the mechanical and metabolic effects of eccentric (ECC) resistance training and blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise on the elbow flexors in recreationally trained females.

Methods: Seventeen females (ECC: 30.0±7.

Single-Cell Droplet Microfluidic Screening for Antibodies Specifically Binding to Target Cells.

Monoclonal antibodies are a main player in modern drug discovery. Many antibody screening formats exist, each with specific advantages and limitations. Nonetheless, it remains challenging to screen antibodies for the binding of cell-surface receptors (the most important class of all drug targets) or for the binding to target cells rather than purified proteins.

Disposable gold coated pyramidal SERS sensor on the plastic platform.

In this paper we investigate suitability of arrays of gold coated pyramids for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing applications. Pyramidarrays composed of 1000 nm pit size with 1250 nm pitch lengthwerereplicated on a plastic substrate by roll-to-roll (R2R) ultraviolet (UV) embossing. The level of SERS enhancement, and qualitative performance provided by the new substrate is investigated by comparing Raman spectrum of benzenethiol (BTh) test molecules to the benchmark Klarite SERS substrate which comprises inverted pyramid arrays(1500 nm pit size with 2000 nm pitch length) fabricated on a silicon substrate.

Efficient cell pairing in droplets using dual-color sorting.

The use of microfluidic droplets has become a powerful tool for the screening and manipulation of cells. However, currently this is restricted to assays involving a single cell type. Studies on the interaction of different cells (e.

Disposable plasmonic plastic SERS sensor.

The 'Klarite™' SERS sensor platform consisting of an array of gold coated inverted square pyramids patterned onto a silicon substrate has become the industry standard over the last decade, providing highly reproducible SERS signals. In this paper, we report successful transfer from silicon to plastic base platform of an optimized SERS substrate design which provides 8 times improvement in sensitivity for a Benzenethiol test molecule compared to standard production Klarite. Transfer is achieved using roll-to-roll and sheet-level nanoimprint fabrication techniques.

Exploring factors contributing to injury severity at freeway merging and diverging locations in Ohio.

Identifying factors that affect crash injury severity and understanding how these factors affect injury severity is critical in planning and implementing highway safety improvement programs. Factors such as driver-related, traffic-related, environment-related and geometric design-related were considered when developing statistical models to predict the effects of these factors on the severity of injuries sustained from motor vehicle crashes at merging and diverging locations. Police-reported crash data at selected freeway merging and diverging areas in the state of Ohio were used for the development of the models.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS): a review of applications.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) can provide positive identification of an analyte or an analyte mixture with high sensitivity and selectivity. Better understanding of the theory and advances in the understanding of the practice have led to the development of practical applications in which the unique advantages of SERS/SERRS have been used to provide effective solutions to difficult analytical problems. This review presents a basic theory and illustrates the way in which SERS/SERRS has been developed for practical use.

Probing magnetic order in EELS of chromite spinels using both multiple scattering (FEFF8.2) and DFT (WIEN2k).

The electron energy loss near edge structure on the O K-edge from chromite spinels contains fine structure from the hybridisation of the O p-orbitals and the Cr d-orbitals. Unlike the aluminates, a non-spin polarised calculation of this fine structure differs significantly from experimental observations. This is due to the large magnetic moment on the Cr.

Short-wave infrared excited SERS.

Optimisation of colloidal properties allows Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) to be recorded from a range of analytes at 1546 nm, demonstrating the potential of SERS for use in a wavelength region of particular value for applications such as homeland security.

Febuxostat compared with allopurinol in patients with hyperuricemia and gout.

Background: Febuxostat, a novel nonpurine selective inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, is a potential alternative to allopurinol for patients with hyperuricemia and gout.

Methods: We randomly assigned 762 patients with gout and with serum urate concentrations of at least 8.0 mg per deciliter (480 micromol per liter) to receive either febuxostat (80 mg or 120 mg) or allopurinol (300 mg) once daily for 52 weeks; 760 received the study drug.

Febuxostat, a novel nonpurine selective inhibitor of xanthine oxidase: a twenty-eight-day, multicenter, phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-response clinical trial examining safety and efficacy in patients with gout.

Objective: Gout affects approximately 1-2% of the American population. Current options for treating hyperuricemia in chronic gout are limited. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of febuxostat, a nonpurine selective inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, in establishing normal serum urate (sUA) concentrations in gout patients with hyperuricemia (>or=8.

Spontaneous spinal extradural hematoma during pregnancy.

Background: Spontaneous spinal hematomas are rare in pregnancy, and only two cases have previously been described. This report reviews other similar cases and discusses the aetiology and management of this condition in relation to pregnancy.

Case: A 26-year-old primigravida presented at 35 weeks of gestation with a history of sudden onset of back pain and weakness with loss of sensation of her legs.

Evolution of sonographic findings in a fetus with agenesis of the urethra, vagina, and rectum.

In a 12-week gestation fetus, routine ultrasound examination suggested dilated loops of bowel. Repeat scans at 13 and 15 weeks showed normal growth but persistence of bowel dilatation. At 20 weeks there was megacystis, hyperechogenic bowel, ascites, and oligohydramnios.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) functions as an autocrine growth factor in cervical carcinomas in vitro.

Many factors have been implicated in the etiology of cervical neoplasia, with human papilloma virus being the latest in a long line of agents that may on their own or in combination exert various initiating and promoting effects on cervical cells, resulting in their transformation. However, for such altered cells to become invasive, it is clear that they must undergo alterations in their rate of turnover, state of differentiation, and motility. We have investigated the production of the multifunctional cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) by five new cervical carcinoma cell lines (XH1, EH2, DE3, JE6, and SM7) and the commercially available CaSki cell line, and have studied the effects of this cytokine on the growth of the cells in vitro.