Tumor targeting and imaging in live animals with functionalized semiconductor quantum rods.

In this contribution, we demonstrate that highly luminescent CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum rods (QRs) coated with PEGylated phospholipids and conjugated with cyclic RGD peptide can be successfully used for tumor targeting and imaging in live animals. The design of these targeted luminescent probes involves encapsulation of hydrophobic CdSe/CdS/ZnS QRs with PEGylated phospholipids, followed by conjugation of these PEGylated phospholipids to ligands that specifically target the tumor vasculature. In vivo optical imaging studies in nude mice bearing pancreatic cancer xenografts, both subcutaneous and orthotopic, indicate that the QR probes accumulate at tumor sites via the cyclic RGD peptides on the QR surface binding to the alpha(V)beta(3) integrins overexpressed in the tumor vasculature, following systemic injection.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation interruptions with use of a load-distributing band device during emergency department cardiac arrest.

Study Objective: Our primary aim is to measure no-flow time and no-flow ratio before and after an emergency department (ED) switched from manual to a load-distributing band mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) device.

Methods: This was a phased, before-after cohort evaluation at an urban tertiary hospital ED. We collected continuous video and chest compression data with the Physiocontrol CodeStat Suite 7.

High-resolution light microscopy using luminescent nanoparticles.

This review presents recent progress in the development of the luminescent nanoparticles for confocal and multiphoton microscopy. Four classes of nanomaterials are discussed: (1) silica-based nanoparticles doped with fluorescent molecules, (2) gold nanoparticles, (3) semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots/rods), and (4) nanophosphors. Special considerations are given to recently developed imaging nanoprobes, such as (1) organically modified silica (ORMOSIL) nanoparticles doped with two-photon absorbing fluorophores, which exhibit aggregation-enhanced fluorescence (AEF), and (2) nanophosphors (ceramic nanoparticles containing luminescent lanthanoid ions).

Metallic Nanostructures as Localized Plasmon Resonance Enhanced Scattering Probes for Multiplex Dark Field Targeted Imaging of Cancer Cells.

In this paper, we report the use of bioconjugated gold nanorods and silver nanoparticles as targeted localized surface plasmon resonance enhanced scattering probes for dark field multiplex and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging of pancreatic cancer cells. We take advantage of the spectrally widely separated localized plasmon resonance of the gold nanorods and silver nanoparticles which produce wavelength selective plasmon resonance scattering to allow multiplex imaging with high contrast. By functionalizing the surfaces, aqueous dispersions of bioconjugated gold nanorods and silver nanoparticles are prepared.

Temporal variation of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in an equatorial climate.

Objective: We aimed to determine whether there is a seasonal variation of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) in an equatorial climate, which does not experience seasonal environmental change.

Methods: We conducted an observational prospective study looking at the occurrence of OHCA in Singapore. Included were all patients with OHCA presented to Emergency Departments across the country.

An unusual case of myocardial infarction.

POEMS (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal gammopathy, skin changes) syndrome is a rare haematological condition with a constellation of clinical features that can present to the clinician in a variety of ways. This case highlights how a seemingly uncomplicated myocardial infarction can herald the development of this rare haematological disorder. While knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms that underpin POEMS syndrome is developing, so too are the diagnostic and treatment strategies available to the clinician.

Backward stimulated Bragg scattering in multiphoton active CdTe(x)Se(1-x) quantum dots system.

The backward stimulated Bragg scattering (SBgS) of CdTe(x)Se(1-x) quantum dots in chloroform is investigated at three pump laser wavelengths (532, 816, and 1064 nm) in nanosecond regime. The spectral and temporal structures of the backward stimulated scattering and pump threshold dependence on the concentration are presented in this paper. The energy conversion efficiency from input pump pulse to SBgS pulse was measured to be >or=14%.

A novel composite hierarchical hollow structure: one-pot synthesis and magnetic properties of W(18)O(49)-WO(2) hollow nanourchins.

A novel composite hierarchical hollow structure is reported. The as-prepared products consist of discrete WO(2) hollow core spheres with W(18)O(49) nanorod shells ("hollow urchins"). The products showed unusual magnetic behavior.

Using effectiveness and cost-effectiveness to make drug coverage decisions: a comparison of Britain, Australia, and Canada.

Context: National public insurance for drugs is often based on evidence of comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. This study describes how that evidence has been used across 3 jurisdictions (Australia, Canada, and Britain) that have been at the forefront of evidence-based coverage internationally.

Objectives: To describe how clinical and cost-effectiveness evidence is used in coverage decisions both within and across jurisdictions and to identify common issues in the process of evidence-based coverage.

Identification of nuclear structural protein alterations associated with seminomas.

Currently, there are no specific markers available for the early detection and for monitoring testicular cancer. Based upon an approach that targets nuclear structure, we have identified a set of proteins that are specific for seminomas, which may then have clinical utility for the disease. Utilizing samples obtained from men with no evidence of testicular cancer (n = 5) as well as those with seminomas (n = 6), nuclear matrix proteins were extracted and separated using a high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis gel system.

Impact of pharmacy automation on patient waiting time: an application of computer simulation.

Introduction: This paper aims to illustrate the use of computer simulation in evaluating the impact of a prototype automated dispensing system on waiting time in an outpatient pharmacy and its potential as a routine tool in pharmacy management.

Materials And Methods: A discrete event simulation model was developed to investigate the impact of a prototype automated dispensing system on operational efficiency and service standards in an outpatient pharmacy.

Results: The simulation results suggest that automating the prescription-filing function using a prototype that picks and packs at 20 seconds per item will not assist the pharmacy in achieving the waiting time target of 30 minutes for all patients.

MMP-9 gene silencing by a quantum dot-siRNA nanoplex delivery to maintain the integrity of the blood brain barrier.

The matrix-degrading metalloproteinases (MMPs), particularly MMP-9, are involved in the neuroinflammation processes leading to disrupting of the blood brain barrier (BBB), thereby exacerbating neurological diseases such as HIV-1 AIDS dementia and cerebral ischemia. Nanoparticles have been proposed to act as non-viral gene delivery vectors and have great potential for therapeutic applications in several disease states. In this study, we evaluated the specificity and efficiency of quantum dot (QD) complexed with MMP-9-siRNA (nanoplex) in downregulating the expression of MMP-9 gene in brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVEC) that constitute the BBB.

Biocompatible near-infrared quantum dots as ultrasensitive probes for long-term in vivo imaging applications.

A facile synthesis method to produce monodisperse, biocompatible, lysine crosslinked mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) CdSe(0.25)Te(0.75)/CdS near-infrared (NIR) quantum dots and use them as probes to study their long term in vivo distribution, clearance, and toxicity is presented.

Mn-doped near-infrared quantum dots as multimodal targeted probes for pancreatic cancer imaging.

This work presents a novel approach to producing manganese (Mn)-doped quantum dots (Mnd-QDs) emitting in the near-infrared (NIR). Surface functionalization of Mnd-QDs with lysine makes them stably disperse in aqueous media and able to conjugate with targeting molecules. The nanoparticles were structurally and compositionally characterized and maintained a high photoluminescence quantum yield and displayed paramagnetism in water.

Slow rise of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration in rat primary sensory neurons triggered by loureirin B.

In the present study, the intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in acutely isolated rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons modulated by loureirin B, an active component of "dragon's blood" which is a kind of Chinese herbal medicine, was determined by the means of Fura-2 based microfluorimetry. It was found that loureirin B could evoke the elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) in a dose-dependent manner. However, the elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) evoked in the calcium free solution was much smaller than that in the standard external cell solution, suggesting that most change of [Ca(2+)](i) was generated by the influx of extracellular Ca(2+), not by the activities of intracellular organelles like Ca(2+) stores and mitochondria.

Absolute structures and conformations of the spongian diterpenes spongia-13(16),14-dien-3-one, epispongiadiol and spongiadiol.

The absolute configurations of spongia-13(16),14-dien-3-one [systematic name: (3bR,5aR,9aR,9bR)-3b,6,6,9a-tetramethyl-4,5,5a,6,8,9,9a,9b,10,11-decahydrophenanthro[1,2-c]furan-7(3bH)-one], C(20)H(28)O(2), (I), epispongiadiol [systematic name: (3bR,5aR,6S,7R,9aR,9bR)-7-hydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-3b,6,9a-trimethyl-3b,5,5a,6,7,9,9a,9b,10,11-decahydrophenanthro[1,2-c]furan-8(4H)-one], C(20)H(28)O(4), (II), and spongiadiol [systematic name: (3bR,5aR,6S,7S,9aR,9bR)-7-hydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-3b,6,9a-trimethyl-3b,5,5a,6,7,9,9a,9b,10,11-decahydrophenanthro[1,2-c]furan-8(4H)-one], C(20)H(28)O(4), (III), were assigned by analysis of anomalous dispersion data collected at 130 K with Cu Kalpha radiation. Compounds (II) and (III) are epimers. The equatorial 3-hydroxyl group on the cyclohexanone ring (A) of (II) is syn with respect to the 4-hydroxymethyl group, leading to a chair conformation.

Nanotechnology approach for drug addiction therapy: gene silencing using delivery of gold nanorod-siRNA nanoplex in dopaminergic neurons.

Drug abuse is a worldwide health concern in which addiction involves activation of the dopaminergic signaling pathway in the brain. Here, we introduce a nanotechnology approach that utilizes gold nanorod-DARPP-32 siRNA complexes (nanoplexes) that target this dopaminergic signaling pathway in the brain. The shift in the localized longitudinal plasmon resonance peak of gold nanorods (GNRs) was used to show their interaction with siRNA.

Imaging pancreatic cancer using bioconjugated InP quantum dots.

In this paper, we report the successful use of non-cadmium-based quantum dots (QDs) as highly efficient and nontoxic optical probes for imaging live pancreatic cancer cells. Indium phosphide (core)-zinc sulfide (shell), or InP/ZnS, QDs with high quality and bright luminescence were prepared by a hot colloidal synthesis method in nonaqueous media. The surfaces of these QDs were then functionalized with mercaptosuccinic acid to make them highly dispersible in aqueous media.

Aqueous-phase synthesis of highly luminescent CdTe/ZnTe core/shell quantum dots optimized for targeted bioimaging.

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have traditionally been synthesized in organic phase and transferred to aqueous solution by functionalizing their surface with silica, polymers, short-chain thiol ligand, or phospholipid micelles. However, these complex steps result in i) a reduction of the quantum yield (QY) of QDs, ii) partial degrdation of the QDs, and iii) a drastic increase in the hydrodynamic size of QDs, which may hinder their biomedical applications. In this work, the fabrication and applications of cysteine-capped CdTe/ZnTe QDs, which are directly synthesized in aqueous media, as optical probes for specific targeting of pancreatic and esophageal cancer cells in vitro are reported, as well as their capability for in vivo imaging.

Biocompatible luminescent silicon quantum dots for imaging of cancer cells.

Luminescent silicon quantum dots (Si QDs) have great potential for use in biological imaging and diagnostic applications. To exploit this potential, they must remain luminescent and stably dispersed in water and biological fluids over a wide range of pH and salt concentration. There have been many challenges in creating such stable water-dispersible Si QDs, including instability of photoluminescence due their fast oxidation in aqueous environments and the difficulty of attaching hydrophilic molecules to Si QD surfaces.

Worm infestation and anaemia among pre-school children of peasant farmers in Calabar, Nigeria.

Background: Worm infection and anaemia are common childhood conditions in Nigeria. We assessed the status of helminthiasis and associated anaemia among pre school children of peasant farmers aged 1-5 years living in a rubber plantation near Calabar, Nigeria.

Design: Cross sectional.

Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO Nanowire-CdO Composite Nanostructures.

ZnO nanowire-CdO composite nanostructures were fabricated by a simple two-step process involving ammonia solution method and thermal evaporation. First, ZnO nanowires (NWs) were grown on Si substrate by aqueous ammonia solution method and then CdO was deposited on these ZnO NWs by thermal evaporation of cadmium chloride powder. The surface morphology and structure of the synthesized composite structures were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy.

Synthesis of Novel Double-Layer Nanostructures of SiC-WO(x) by a Two Step Thermal Evaporation Process.

A novel double-layer nanostructure of silicon carbide and tungsten oxide is synthesized by a two-step thermal evaporation process using NiO as the catalyst. First, SiC nanowires are grown on Si substrate and then high density W(18)O(49) nanorods are grown on these SiC nanowires to form a double-layer nanostructure. XRD and TEM analysis revealed that the synthesized nanostructures are well crystalline.

Multifunctional Nanoparticles as Biocompatible Targeted Probes for Human Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy.

The use of nanoparticles in biological application has been rapidly advancing toward practical applications in human cancer diagnosis and therapy. Upon linking the nanoparticles with biomolecules, they can be used to locate cancerous area as well as for traceable drug delivery with high affinity and specificity. In this review, we discuss the engineering of multifunctional nanoparticle probes and their use in bioimaging and nanomedicine.