The challenge of molecular selection in liver-limited metastatic colorectal cancer for surgical resection: a systematic review and meta-analysis in the context of current and future approaches.

Objectives: Treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) includes resection of liver metastases (LM), however, no validated biomarker identifies patients most likely to benefit from this procedure. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the impact of the most relevant molecular alterations in cancer-related genes of CRC (i.e.

Clinical, biochemical and molecular characterization of a new case with -related mitochondrial disorder: Potential biomarkers and treatment options.

Unlabelled: Ferredoxin-2 (FDX2) is an electron transport protein required for iron-sulfur clusters biosynthesis. Pathogenic variants in have been associated with autosomal recessive -related disorder characterized by mitochondrial myopathy with or without optic atrophy and leukoencephalopathy. We described a new case harboring compound heterozygous variants in who presented with recurrent rhabdomyolysis with severe episodes affecting respiratory muscle.

Ultralow Dispersion Multicomponent Thin-Film Chalcogenide Glass for Broadband Gradient-Index Optics.

A novel photothermal process to spatially modulate the concentration of sub-wavelength, high-index nanocrystals in a multicomponent Ge-As-Pb-Se chalcogenide glass thin film resulting in an optically functional infrared grating is demonstrated. The process results in the formation of an optical nanocomposite possessing ultralow dispersion over unprecedented bandwidth. The spatially tailored index and dispersion modification enables creation of arbitrary refractive index gradients.

Performance Stability of Silicone Oxide-Coated Plastic Parenteral Vials.

A new packaging system was developed for parenteral pharmaceuticals that combines the best attributes of plastic and glass without their respective drawbacks. This technological advancement is based on the synergy between high-precision injection-molded plastics and plasma coating technology. The result is a shatter-resistant, optically clear, low-particulate, and chemically durable packaging system.

Vibrational Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy Study of Hydrous Species in Soda Lime Silica Float Glass.

It is generally accepted that the mechanical properties of soda lime silica (SLS) glass can be affected by the interaction between sodium ions and hydrous species (silanol groups and water molecules) in its surface region. While the amount of these hydrous species can be estimated from hydrogen profiles and infrared spectroscopy, their chemical environment in the glass network is still not well understood. This work employed vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy to investigate the chemical environment of hydrous species in the surface region of SLS float glass.

A Diffuse Interface Model with Immiscibility Preservation.

A new, simple, and computationally efficient interface capturing scheme based on a diffuse interface approach is presented for simulation of compressible multiphase flows. Multi-fluid interfaces are represented using field variables (interface functions) with associated transport equations that are augmented, with respect to an established formulation, to enforce a selected interface thickness. The resulting interface region can be set just thick enough to be resolved by the underlying mesh and numerical method, yet thin enough to provide an efficient model for dynamics of well-resolved scales.

Adsorption reactions of carboxylic acid functional groups on sodium aluminoborosilicate glass fiber surfaces.

Multicomponent silicate glasses are ubiquitous in modern society as evidenced by their inclusion in applications ranging from building materials and microelectronics to biomedical implants. Of particular interest in this study is the interface between multicomponent silicate glasses and adhesive polymers. These polymeric systems often possess a variety of different organic functional groups.

Mass fabrication technique for polymeric replicas of arrays of insect corneas.

Motivated to develop a technique for producing many high-fidelity replicas for the sacrifice of a single biotemplate, we combined a modified version of the conformal-evaporated-film-by-rotation technique and electroforming to produce a master negative made of nickel from a composite biotemplate comprising several corneas of common blowflies. This master negative can function as either a mold for casting multiple replicas or a die for stamping multiple replicas. An approximately 250 nm thick nickel film was thermally deposited on an array of blowfly corneas to capture the surface features with high fidelity and then a roughly 60 microm thick structural layer of nickel was electroformed onto the thin layer to give it the structural integrity needed for casting or stamping.

Processing and characterization of ultrathin carbon coatings on glass.

Ultrathin carbon layers, on the order of 3-6 nm in thickness, were formed on glass substrates by spin coating and pyrolysis of polymer precursors. The organic precursors used were poly(furfuryl alcohol), coal tar pitch, and a photoresist. The carbon coatings were characterized by ellipsometry, optical profilometry, water contact angle, confocal Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy.

Fabrication of free-standing replicas of fragile, laminar, chitinous biotemplates.

The conformal-evaporated-film-by-rotation technique, followed by the dissolution of chitin in an aqueous solution of orthophosphoric acid, can be used to fabricate free-standing replicas of fragile, laminar, chitinous biotemplates. This novel approach was demonstrated using butterfly wings as biotemplates and GeSeSb chalcogenide glass for replicas.

Nuclear factor kappaB, airway epithelium, and asthma: avenues for redox control.

A wealth of recent studies points to the importance of airway epithelial cells in the orchestration of inflammatory responses in the allergic inflamed lung. Studies also point to a role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of chronic inflammatory diseases. This article provides a perspective on the significance of airway epithelial cells in allergic inflammation, and reviews the relevance of the transcription factor, nuclear factor kappaB, herein.

Replication of fly eyes by the conformal-evaporated-film-by-rotation technique.

We replicated a biological template, namely the eye of a fruit fly, at the micro- and nanoscales by implementing the conformal-evaporated-film-by-rotation (CEFR) technique, which allows the replication of even curved biotemplates. Chalcogenide glasses were used for replication due to their infrared optical properties, combined with good chemical and mechanical durability. Microscopy, together with optical characterization in the visible and near-infrared ranges, indicates high-fidelity replication of the original biotemplate.

Nuclear factor-kappaB activation in airway epithelium induces inflammation and hyperresponsiveness.

Rationale: Nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB is a prominent proinflammatory transcription factor that plays a critical role in allergic airway disease. Previous studies demonstrated that inhibition of NF-kappaB in airway epithelium causes attenuation of allergic inflammation.

Objectives: We sought to determine if selective activation of NF-kappaB within the airway epithelium in the absence of other agonists is sufficient to cause allergic airway disease.

Least-squares dynamic approximation method for evolution of uncertainty in initial conditions of dynamical systems.

We describe an approximation method to solve the probability density function transport equation, i.e., the Liouville equation, which is encountered in the evolution of uncertainty of the initial values of dynamical systems.

IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha decrease serotonin transporter function and expression in Caco2 cells.

Recent studies have shown that mucosal serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT) expression is decreased in animal models of colitis, as well as in the colonic mucosa of humans with ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome. Altered SERT function or expression may underlie the altered motility, secretion, and sensation seen in these inflammatory gut disorders. In an effort to elucidate possible mediators of SERT downregulation, we treated cultured colonic epithelial cells (Caco2) with conditioned medium from activated human lymphocytes.

Nonphagocytic oxidase 1 causes death in lung epithelial cells via a TNF-RI-JNK signaling axis.

Airway epithelial cells are simultaneously exposed to and produce cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in inflammatory settings. The signaling events and the physiologic outcomes of exposure to these inflammatory mediators remain to be elucidated. Previously we demonstrated that in cultured mouse lung epithelial cells exposed to bolus administration of H(2)O(2), TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activity was inhibited, whereas c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation was enhanced via a mechanism involving TNF receptor-1 (TNF-RI).

Redox-sensitive kinases of the nuclear factor-kappaB signaling pathway.

NF-kappaB is an inducible transcription factor that plays a role in the expression of over one hundred genes involved in immunity, inflammation, proliferation, and in defense against apoptosis. NF-kappaB has been known to be redox regulated for some time and is a direct target for oxidation that can affect its ability to bind to DNA. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been identified as second messengers in cells, and play a role in receptor signaling and posttranslation modification of signaling molecules.

Dynamic redox control of NF-kappaB through glutaredoxin-regulated S-glutathionylation of inhibitory kappaB kinase beta.

The transcription factor NF-kappaB, a central regulator of immunity, is subject to regulation by redox changes. We now report that cysteine-179 of the inhibitory kappaB kinase (IKK) beta-subunit of the IKK signalosome is a central target for oxidative inactivation by means of S-glutathionylation. S-glutathionylation of IKK-beta Cys-179 is reversed by glutaredoxin (GRX), which restores kinase activity.

Silicon oxycarbide glasses for blood-contact applications.

Silicon oxycarbide (SiOxCy) glass compositions are shown to exhibit a variable propensity to contact activate coagulation of whole human blood plasma that depends on X:Y surface stoichiometry. SiOxCy exhibit activation properties similar to pyrolytic carbon (PC) over a broad range of X:Y ratios. Surface composition of SiOxCy glass powders prepared by pyrolysis of thermosetting polysilsequioxanes roughly correlated with total carbon concentration of precursor resins and could be significantly modified by etching in alkaline solutions.

Surface characterizations of mono-, di-, and tri-aminosilane treated glass substrates.

The surface properties and structure of mono-, di-, and tri-aminosilane treated glass surfaces were investigated using surface analytical techniques including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and streaming potential. An optimized dip-coating process was demonstrated to produce roughly silane monolayer coverage on the glass surface. The surface charge measurements indicated that aminosilanization converts the glass surface from negative to positive potentials at neutral pH values.

Mid-IR biosensor: detection and fingerprinting of pathogens on gold island functionalized chalcogenide films.

Antibody (human IgG, anti-E. coli O157:H7, and anti-Salmonella) complexes on the surface of IR-transparent Ge-containing chalcogenide glass films were formed via thiol chemistry on 20-nm-thick gold islands. As a first step, the protocol was validated by monitoring fluorescently tagged targets to validate binding.

Reactive nitrogen species-induced cell death requires Fas-dependent activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase.

Nitrogen dioxide is a highly toxic reactive nitrogen species (RNS) recently discovered as an inflammatory oxidant with great potential to damage tissues. We demonstrate here that cell death by RNS was caused by c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Activation of JNK by RNS was density dependent and caused mitochondrial depolarization and nuclear condensation.