An outbreak of varicella in staff nurses exposed to a patient with localized herpes zoster.

An outbreak of varicella occurred in an internal medicine ward. The outbreak comprised 3 nurses, 2 of whom were directly exposed to an immunocompetent patient with localized herpes zoster. Our observation provides an argument for airborne precautions in hospitalized patients with localized herpes zoster.

Flame synthesis of nanosized Cu-Ce-O, Ni-Ce-O, and Fe-Ce-O catalysts for the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction.

A flame synthesis method has been used to prepare nanosized, high-surface-area Cu-Ce-O, Ni-Ce-O, and Fe-Ce-O catalysts from aqueous solutions of metal acetate precursors. The particles were formed by vaporization of the precursors followed by reaction and then gas to particle conversion. The specific surface areas of the synthesized powders ranged from 127 to 163 m(2)/g.

Quick extended x-ray absorption fine structure instrument with millisecond time scale, optimized for in situ applications.

In order to learn about in situ structural changes in materials at subseconds time scale, we have further refined the techniques of quick extended x-ray absorption fine structure (QEXAFS) and quick x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopies at beamline X18B at the National Synchrotron Light Source. The channel cut Si (111) monochromator oscillation is driven through a tangential arm at 5 Hz, using a cam, dc motor, pulley, and belt system. The rubber belt between the motor and the cam damps the mechanical noise.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of coumarin-based inhibitors of NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1).

The synthesis is reported here of two novel series of inhibitors of human NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1), an enzyme overexpressed in several types of tumor cell. The first series comprises substituted symmetric dicoumarol analogues; the second series contains hybrid compounds where one 4-hydroxycoumarin system is replaced by a different aromatic moiety. Several compounds show equivalent or improved NQO1 inhibition over dicoumarol, both in the presence and in the absence of added protein.

Structural analysis of PdAu dendrimer-encapsulated bimetallic nanoparticles.

PdAu dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles (DENs) were prepared via sequential reduction of the component metals. When Au is reduced onto 55-atom, preformed Pd DEN cores, analysis by UV-vis spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy leads to a model consistent with inversion of the two metals. That is, Au migrates into the core and Pd resides on the surface.

Correction for respiration artefacts in myocardial perfusion SPECT is more effective when reconstructions supporting collimator detector response compensation are applied.

Purpose: To assess the impact of respiration on myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) SPECT processed with advanced algorithmic reconstructions.

Methods: SPECT studies obtained from a phantom simulation and 49 respiratory-gated,one-day 99mTc-sestamibi scans were corrected for respiratory-related cardiac movement. Three types of reconstruction algorithms: (a) filtered back projection (FBP), (b) ordered subset expectation maximization in which collimator detector response was incorporated (OSEMCDR), and (c) OSEM-CDR with additional attenuation and scatter corrections (OSEM-CDRACSC) were applied to the corrected and uncorrected sets and analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively.

Structural and architectural evaluation of bimetallic nanoparticles: a case study of Pt-Ru core-shell and alloy nanoparticles.

A comprehensive structural/architectural evaluation of the PtRu (1:1) alloy and Ru@Pt core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) provides spatially resolved structural information on sub-5 nm NPs. A combination of extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), pair distribution function (PDF) analyses, Debye function simulations of X-ray diffraction (XRD), and field emission transmission electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (FE-TEM/EDS) analyses provides complementary information used to construct a detailed picture of the core/shell and alloy nanostructures. The 4.

Directions and magnitudes of misregistration of CT attenuation-corrected myocardial perfusion studies: incidence, impact on image quality, and guidance for reregistration.

Unlabelled: CT-based attenuation-corrected (AC) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) studies may show significant artifacts caused by misregistration between SPECT and CT data. The present study aimed at identifying the directions and magnitudes of misregistration with greatest impact on AC myocardial perfusion image quality.

Methods: The incidence, magnitude, and direction of misregistration were assessed in 248 consecutive stress-rest MPI studies in 124 patients.

Correlating particle size and shape of supported Ru/gamma-Al2O3 catalysts with NH3 decomposition activity.

While ammonia synthesis and decomposition on Ru are known to be structure-sensitive reactions, the effect of particle shape on controlling the particle size giving maximum turnover frequency (TOF) is not understood. By controlling the catalyst pretreatment conditions, we have varied the particle size and shape of supported Ru/gamma-Al(2)O(3) catalysts. The Ru particle shape was reconstructed by combining microscopy, chemisorption, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) techniques.

Electronic and magnetic properties of ultrathin Au/Pt nanowires.

We have reported the synthesis of Au(25)Pt(75) and Au(48)Pt(52) alloyed ultrathin nanowires with average widths of less than 3 nm via a wet chemistry approach at room temperature. Using a combination of techniques, including scanning transmission electron microscopy equipped with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption near-edge structure and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopies, we identified the stoichiometry-dependent heterogeneous crystalline structures, as well as electronic structures with respect to the charge transfer between Pt and Au within both nanowires. In particular, we observed d-charge depletion at the Au site and the d-charge gain at the Pt site in Au(48)Pt(52) nanowires, which accounted for its ferromagnetic magnetic behavior, in contrast to the paramagnetism and diamagnetism appearing respectively in bulk Pt and Au.

Brain mapping of patients with lung cancer and controls: inquiry into tumor-to-brain communication.

Unlabelled: Recent converging evidence suggests that the brain may receive stimuli and possibly modulate tumor progression via the vagus nerve. The present study aimed to compare brain metabolism in patients with and without lung cancer and to assess if significant differences exist in regions associated with the vagus nerve.

Methods: Eighteen patients with lung malignancy and 19 controls underwent (18)F-FDG PET of the brain.

The emergence of nonbulk properties in supported metal clusters: negative thermal expansion and atomic disorder in Pt nanoclusters supported on gamma-Al2O3.

The structural dynamics-cluster size and adsorbate-dependent thermal behaviors of the metal-metal (M-M) bond distances and interatomic order-of Pt nanoclusters supported on a gamma-Al(2)O(3) are described. Data from scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) studies reveal that these materials possess a dramatically nonbulklike nature. Under an inert atmosphere small, subnanometer Pt/gamma-Al(2)O(3) clusters exhibit marked relaxations of the M-M bond distances, negative thermal expansion (NTE) with an average linear thermal expansion coefficient alpha = (-2.

PtMo alloy and MoO(x)@Pt core-shell nanoparticles as highly CO-tolerant electrocatalysts.

PtMo alloy and MoO(x)@Pt core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully synthesized by a chemical coreduction and sequential chemical reduction method, respectively. Both the carbon-supported alloy and core-shell NPs show substantially higher CO tolerance, compared to the commercialized E-TEK PtRu alloy and Pt catalyst. These novel nanocatalysts can be potentially used as highly CO-tolerant anode electrocatalysts in proton exchange membrane fuel cells.

Physiologic thymic uptake of 18F-FDG in children and young adults: a PET/CT evaluation of incidence, patterns, and relationship to treatment.

Unlabelled: (18)F-FDG uptake in the thymus, mainly related to hyperplasia after chemotherapy, has been described. Thymic uptake can challenge the accurate assessment of cancer patients by (18)F-FDG imaging. The present study defines the incidence, patterns, and intensity of thymic (18)F-FDG uptake in relationship to age and time after treatment in a large cohort of patients.

Hybrid cardiac SPECT/64-slice CTA-derived LV function parameters: correlation and reproducibility assessment.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study is to define the relationship between SPECT and CTA measured parameters of left ventricular (LV) function and volumes obtained in a single session using SPECT/64-slice CT hybrid imaging device, and in addition, to assess the reproducibility of LV parameters measured using 64-slice CTA.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-six patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease underwent cardiac CTA and GSPECT in one session using a hybrid SPECT/CT device. LV end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV) and ejection fraction (EF) were measured on each component of the hybrid device.

The effects of statin therapy on inflammatory cytokines in patients with bacterial infections: a randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial.

Objective: To determine if statin therapy reduces the incidence of severe sepsis and the levels of inflammatory cytokines in patients with acute bacterial infection.

Design: Double-blind placebo controlled randomized clinical trial.

Setting: Department of medicine and medical intensive care unit in a tertiary university medical center.

Ternary Pt/Rh/SnO2 electrocatalysts for oxidizing ethanol to CO2.

Ethanol, with its high energy density, likely production from renewable sources and ease of storage and transportation, is almost the ideal combustible for fuel cells wherein its chemical energy can be converted directly into electrical energy. However, commercialization of direct ethanol fuel cells has been impeded by ethanol's slow, inefficient oxidation even at the best electrocatalysts. We synthesized a ternary PtRhSnO(2)/C electrocatalyst by depositing platinum and rhodium atoms on carbon-supported tin dioxide nanoparticles that is capable of oxidizing ethanol with high efficiency and holds great promise for resolving the impediments to developing practical direct ethanol fuel cells.

Dual "motion-frozen heart" combining respiration and contraction compensation in clinical myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging.

Objectives: This article assesses the effect of a new correction technique ("motion-frozen heart") which compensates for the previously described nonuniform blurring of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) due to respiration motion or cardiac contraction.

Methods: Respiratory and ECG-gated one-day (99m)Tc-MIBI MPI studies performed in 48 patients were evaluated. MPI scans were acquired on a gamma camera supporting list-mode functionality synchronized with an external respiratory strap and an ECG device.

Solving the structure of reaction intermediates by time-resolved synchrotron x-ray absorption spectroscopy.

We present a robust data analysis method of time-resolved x-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments suitable for chemical speciation and structure determination of reaction intermediates. Chemical speciation is done by principal component analysis (PCA) of the time-resolved x-ray absorption near-edge structure data. Structural analysis of intermediate phases is done by theoretical modeling of their extended x-ray absorption fine-structure data isolated by PCA.

Improved image fusion in PET/CT using hybrid image reconstruction and super-resolution.

Purpose: To provide PET/CT image fusion with an improved PET resolution and better contrast ratios than standard reconstructions.

Method: Using a super-resolution algorithm, several PET acquisitions were combined to improve the resolution. In addition, functional PET data was smoothed with a hybrid computed tomography algorithm (HCT), in which anatomical edge information taken from the CT was employed to retain sharper edges.

Origin of polarity in amorphous SrTiO3.

Although neither SrTiO3 nor BaZrO3 has any polar crystalline polymorphs, they may form noncrystalline pyro- and piezoelectric phases [Adv. Mater. 19, 1515 (2007)10.

Formation of Pd/Au nanostructures from Pd nanowires via galvanic replacement reaction.

Bimetallic nanostructures with non-random metal atoms distribution are very important for various applications. To synthesize such structures via benign wet chemistry approach remains challenging. This paper reports a synthesis of a Au/Pd alloy nanostructure through the galvanic replacement reaction between Pd ultrathin nanowires (2.

In silico screening and biological evaluation of inhibitors of Src-SH3 domain interaction with a proline-rich ligand.

Src signalling and transduction are directly involved in cell growth, cell cycle, malignant transformation and cell migration, providing therapeutic opportunities through inhibition of Src. Here we report virtual screening for novel compounds that inhibit the Src-SH3 protein-protein interaction with a proline-rich peptide ligand. Computational docking of the ZINC compound database was performed using GOLD.

Computer-assisted single- or double-cut oblique osteotomies for the correction of lower limb deformities.

Corrective osteotomy interventions on lower extremities are widely accepted procedures for restoring axial alignment of lower limbs. However, some studies reveal failure rates of up to 70 per cent in a 10 year time frame, which indicates that the success of corrective osteotomies depends on multiple factors. Based on a comprehensive review of error sources among conventional correction osteotomy interventions, a novel approach was developed in order to reduce these error sources among all clinical working steps (deformity determination, planning, and intra-operative realization).