Fourier transform measurement of two-photon excitation spectra: applications to microscopy and optimal control.

We report a novel Fourier transform method for measuring two-photon excitation spectra. We demonstrate this method using simple dye molecules and discuss its applications in two-photon fluorescence microscopy and optimal control. This method facilitates an intuitive interpretation of recent control experiments in terms of tuning the nonlinear spectrum of the exciting laser source.

The vibrational g-factor of dihydrogen from theoretical calculation and analysis of vibration-rotational spectra.

We present the first results from quantum-chemical calculation of a vibrational g-factor; the calculations were performed at the level of full configuration interaction using a basis set of aug-cc-pVQZ quality. The theoretical results are consistent with experimental results from analysis of pure rotational and vibration-rotational spectra of dihydrogen in six isotopic variants, in which calculated results for either the rotational g-factor or adiabatic corrections are employed to constrain fits of coefficients of radial functions from wave numbers of transitions. When fits are constrained with data for the rotational g-factor, we reproduce also the radial dependence of adiabatic corrections relative to their value at equilibrium internuclear separation.

New approaches to the minimally invasive treatment of adrenal lesions.

The advancement of laparoscopic adrenalectomy over the past decade has completely changed the surgical approach to adrenal tumors. As the incidence of incidentally discovered adrenal tumors increases, most patients with resectable lesions can undergo resection laparoscopically with minimal morbidity, shorter hospitalization, and low mortality. The spectrum of surgical approaches now available make it possible to provide an appropriate resection that is matched to the specific characteristics of each tumor.

Complications in spondylolisthesis surgery.

Study Design: Selected references are cited to illustrate the current status of approaches to surgical complications in isthmic spondylolisthesis surgery.

Objective: To minimize untoward events and outcomes in the surgical treatment of spondylolisthesis, an awareness of complications and pitfalls specific to spondylolisthesis surgery is necessary.

Summary Of Background Data: Pseudarthrosis is the most common complication, and factors that contribute are vertebral geometry, bone grafting options and technique, and immobilization with instrumentation constructs or an orthosis.

Postoperative deep wound infections in adults after spinal fusion: management with vacuum-assisted wound closure.

Objective: Vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAC) exposes the wound bed to negative pressure, resulting in removal of edema fluid, improvement of blood supply, and stimulation of cellular proliferation of reparative granulation tissue. It has been used to treat open wounds in the extremities, open sternal wounds, pressure ulcers, and abdominal wall wounds. This study retrospectively reviewed instrumented spine fusions complicated by surgical wound infection and managed by a protocol including the use of VAC in order to evaluate the efficacy of applying vacuum therapy on patients with deep spine infections and exposed instrumentation.

Methoctramine analogues inhibit responses to capsaicin and protons in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.

We have investigated the possibility that vanilloid receptors have a binding site for polyamines and determined the consequences of binding to such a site. Whole-cell and single-channel patch-clamp recordings were used to investigate the effect of the tetraamine, methoctramine, and 16 of its analogues on capsaicin and proton induced responses of foetal rat dorsal root ganglion neurons. All but two methoctramine analogues inhibited responses to 10 microM capsaicin with IC50 values in the range of 2-70 microM at a holding potential of -100 mV.

Fusionless scoliosis correction using a shape memory alloy staple in the anterior thoracic spine of the immature goat.

Study Design: Experimental scoliosis was created in goats and then treated using anterior thoracic stapling.

Objective: To correct, without fusion, a progressive idiopathic-type scoliotic deformity in an immature goat model using a shape memory alloy staple.

Summary Of Background Data: Fusionless scoliosis treatment techniques, using minimally invasive approaches to the anterior thoracic spine, provide theoretical advantages over currently available forms of treatment.

CO vibration as a probe of ligand dissociation and transfer in myoglobin.

We report femtosecond visible pump, midinfrared probe, spectrally integrated experiments resolving the dynamics of CO in myoglobin upon photodissociation. Our results show a progressive change in absorption strength of the CO vibrational transition during its transfer from the heme to the docking site, whereas the vibrational frequency change is faster than our time resolution. A phenomenological model gives good qualitative agreement with our data for a time constant of 400 fs for the change in oscillator strength.

AAV-mediated intravitreal gene therapy reduces lysosomal storage in the retinal pigmented epithelium and improves retinal function in adult MPS VII mice.

The beta-glucuronidase-deficient mucopolysaccharidosis type VII (MPS VII) mouse accumulates partially degraded glycosaminoglycans in many cell types, including retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells in the eye. This lysosomal storage in RPE cells leads to progressive retinal degeneration and reduced function as measured by flash electroretinography (ERG). The impact of AAV-mediated intraocular gene therapy on pathology and retinal function was examined in normal and MPS VII mice treated at 4 weeks of age, when lysosomal storage is evident but functional impairment is minimal in affected animals.

A cost analysis of bone morphogenetic protein versus autogenous iliac crest bone graft in single-level anterior lumbar fusion.

An economic model was developed to compare costs of stand-alone anterior lumbar interbody fusion with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 on an absorbable collagen sponge versus autogenous iliac crest bone graft in a tapered cylindrical cage or a threaded cortical bone dowel. The economic model was developed from clinical trial data, peer-reviewed literature, and clinical expert opinion. The upfront price of bone morphogenetic protein (3380 dollars) is likely to be offset to a significant extent by reductions in the use of other medical resources, particularly if costs incurred during the 2 year period following the index hospitalization are taken into account.

Experimental scoliosis in an immature goat model: a method that creates idiopathic-type deformity with minimal violation of the spinal elements along the curve.

Study Design: Experimental scoliosis was created in an immature goat model.

Objectives: To create a progressive, structural, idiopathic-type, lordoscoliotic curve convex to the right in the thoracic spine of the immature goat while maintaining the anterior and posterior elements of the spine along the maximal curve in a pristine state.

Summary Of Background Data: Progressive scoliotic curves in a small animal model have been created using a posterior asymmetric tether.

Effect of GLP-2 on mucosal morphology and SGLT1 expression in tissue-engineered neointestine.

Using tissue-engineering techniques, we have developed a neointestine that regenerates the structural and dynamic features of native small intestine. In this study, we tested neointestinal responsiveness to glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2). Neointestinal cysts were engineered by seeding biodegradable polymers with neonatal rat intestinal organoid units.

Intravitreal gene therapy reduces lysosomal storage in specific areas of the CNS in mucopolysaccharidosis VII mice.

The mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are lysosomal storage diseases resulting from impaired catabolism of sulfated glycosaminoglycans. MPS VII mice lack lysosomal beta-glucuronidase (GUSB) activity, leading to the accumulation of partially degraded chondroitin, dermatan, and heparan sulfates in most tissues. Consequently, these mice develop most of the symptoms exhibited by human MPS VII patients, including progressive visual and cognitive deficits.

Observation of the cascaded atomic-to-global length scales driving protein motion.

Model studies of the ligand photodissociation process of carboxymyoglobin have been conducted by using amplified few-cycle laser pulses short enough in duration (<10 fs) to capture the phase of the induced nuclear motions. The reaction-driven modes are observed directly in real time and depict the pathway by which energy liberated in the localized reaction site is efficiently channeled to functionally relevant mesoscale motions of the protein.

Video-assisted versus open anterior lumbar spine fusion surgery: a comparison of four techniques and complications in 135 patients.

Study Design: A retrospective review involved 135 patients undergoing anterior interbody fusion using four different approaches: transperitoneal video-assisted surgery with insufflation, retroperitoneal endoscopic video-assisted surgery, minilaparotomy retroperitoneal surgery, and traditional oblique muscle-splinting retroperitoneal surgery.

Objective: To describe and compare the operative procedure and perioperative complications of four different interbody fusion techniques.

Summary Of Background Data: Although anterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery has a long history, several new and innovative approaches have been introduced recently.

Retarded outer segment development in TrkB knockout mouse retina organ culture.

Purpose: To determine the effects of trkB deficiency in the mouse retina on photoreceptor development and retinal organization, in the absence of confounding systemic effects.

Methods: Newborn mice that carried two null trkB alleles (trkB-/-) and their wild type (WT) littermates were used for retinal organ cultures. On Day 21, rod development was assessed histologically in plastic sections (outer segment length) and retinal organization was analyzed using retinal cell-type specific antibodies.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor induces glial fibrillary acidic protein in retinal Müller cells through the JAK/STAT signal transduction pathway.

Purpose: Intravitreal injection of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is known to induce glial intermediate filament protein (GFAP) expression in retinal Müller cells. Because CNTF binding can activate multiple signaling kinases, we have examined the involvement of JAK/STAT pathway in GFAP induction in Müller cells.

Methods: CNTF was injected intravitreally into mouse eyes.

Tissue-engineered colon exhibits function in vivo.

Background: Postcolectomy morbidities include important changes in enterohepatic circulation, stool microbiology, and absorption. The surgical substitution of an ileal pouch for the absent colon also has a number of serious complications. We report in vivo colon replacement by tissue-engineered colon (TEC) in lieu of an ileal pouch.

Dopamine has a critical role in photoreceptor degeneration in the rd mouse.

Photoreceptors receive paracrine input from dopaminergic interplexiform cells. Rod photoreceptors in the rd mouse degenerate rapidly due to a specific gene defect. We investigated the effects of dopamine on rd mouse photoreceptors in retinal organ culture.

Inhibition of caspases prevents ototoxic and ongoing hair cell death.

Sensory hair cells die after acoustic trauma or ototoxic insults, but the signal transduction pathways that mediate hair cell death are not known. Here we identify several important signaling events that regulate the death of vestibular hair cells. Chick utricles were cultured in media supplemented with the ototoxic antibiotic neomycin and selected pharmacological agents that influence signaling molecules in cell death pathways.