Detectability of Her2 positive tumors using monoclonal antibody conjugated iron oxide nanoparticles in MRI.

Detecting an imaging signal from a small number of cells is vital when a disease needs to be diagnosed in an early stage of development. Molecular and genetic information from cancer cell types provide a guide for specific imaging based on gene expression and their activities on the cell membrane. Various physical and biological parameters affect the capability of an imaging system to provide an efficient procedure for biomarker imaging. Iron oxide based magnetic nanoparticles conjugated to breast cancer monoclonal antibody (Her2) were used as a specific contrast agent for detection of the tumor cells in nude mice models. All processes for the nanoparticle synthesis, antibody development, and conjugation strategies were designed and evaluated in the current work. The final engineered product was found to be without precipitate containing 20 microg antibody/mg magnetic nanoparticles at 10 mg Fe/ml solution. This contrast agent has a high affinity for the BT474 breast cancer cells. MRI images of nude mice bearing tumor cells confirm this specific biomarker based imaging protocol.

Performance demonstration of vacuum microwave components critical for the operation of the ITER low-field side reflectometer.

Final design studies in preparation for manufacturing have been performed for functional components of the vacuum portion of the ITER Low-Field Side Reflectometer (LFSR). These components consist of an antenna array, electron cyclotron heating (ECH) protection mirrors, phase calibration mirrors, and vacuum windows. Evaluation of these components was conducted at the LFSR test facility and DIII-D. The antenna array consists of six corrugated-waveguide antennas for simultaneous profile, fluctuation, and Doppler measurements. A diffraction grating, incorporated into the plasma-facing miter bend, provides protection of sensitive components from stray ECH at 170 GHz. For in situ phase calibration of the LFSR profile reflectometer, an embossed mirror is incorporated into the adjacent miter bend. Measurements of the radiated beam profile indicate that these components have a small, acceptable effect on mode conversion and beam quality. Baseline transmission characteristics of the dual-disk vacuum window are obtained and are used to guide ongoing developments. Preliminary simulations indicate that a surface-relief structure on the window surfaces can greatly improve transmission. The workability of real-time phase measurements was demonstrated on the DIII-D profile reflectometer. The new automated real-time analysis agrees well with the standard post-processing routine.

1,000,000 cases of COVID-19 outside of China: The date predicted by a simple heuristic.

We forecast 1,000,000 COVID-19 cases outside of China by March 31st, 2020 based on a heuristic and WHO situation reports. We do not model the COVID-19 pandemic; we model only the number of cases. The proposed heuristic is based on a simple observation that the plot of the given data is well approximated by an exponential curve. The exponential curve is used for forecasting the growth of new cases. It has been tested for the last situation report of the last day. Its accuracy has been 1.29% for the last day added and predicted by the 57 previous WHO situation reports (the date 18 March 2020). Prediction, forecast, pandemic, COVID-19, coronavirus, exponential growth curve parameter, heuristic, epidemiology, extrapolation, abductive reasoning, WHO situation report.

Primary tuberculosis of the adenoids in an 11-year-old male presenting with hearing loss: a case report.

Hypertrophy of adenoids is usually caused by repeated throat infections, especially viral and bacterial infections, that in microscopic examination reveal reactive lymphoid follicular hyperplasia. Herein, we present an 11-year-old boy who developed hearing loss in his left ear three months before admission, and in direct examination the adenoids were hypertrophied. Histopathological study of the resected adenoid revealed caseating granulomatous inflammation. Based on histopathological and clinical findings, primary tuberculosis of adenoids was suggested which was confirmed by PCR.

Coherent THz synchrotron radiation from a storage ring with high-frequency RF system.

The generation of brilliant, stable, and broadband coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) in electron storage rings depends strongly on ring rf system properties such as frequency and gap voltage. We have observed intense coherent radiation at frequencies approaching the THz regime produced by the MIT-Bates South Hall Ring, which employs a high-frequency S-band rf system. The measured CSR spectral intensity enhancement with 2 mA stored current was up to 10,000 times above background for wave numbers near 3 cm(-1). The measurements also uncovered strong beam instabilities that must be suppressed if such a very high rf frequency electron storage ring is to become a viable coherent THz source.

Inhibition of chemomigration of a human prostatic carcinoma cell (TSU-pr1) line by inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor function.

Chemoattractants expressed at bony sites and pelvic lymph nodes are thought to promote the preferential metastasis of human prostate tumor cells to these organs. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent chemoattractant for several human metastatic prostate tumor cell lines, including the TSU-pr1 cell line, and EGF has been localized to the stroma of both bony sites and pelvic lymph nodes in humans. Hence, we investigated whether the TSU-pr1 cell line expresses a functional EGF receptor (EGFR), which when antagonized reduces EGF-mediated chemomigration of this cell line. In this context, the EGFR immunoprecipitated from cell lysates of TSU-pr1 cells comigrated with the EGFR from A431 cells at a molecular weight of 170 kD. Addition of human EGF (hEGF) to the TSU-pr1 cells for 5 min stimulated the dose-dependent biphasic phosphorylation of the EGFR, with maximal stimulation of EGFR phosphorylation occurring at 2 ng/ml hEGF. In addition, treatment of hEGF-stimulated (2 ng/ml) TSU-pr1 cells with 0.5 microgram/ml anti-hEGF monoclonal antibody or 100 nM staurosporine inhibited EGFR phosphorylation. Conversely, as negative controls, treatment of hEGF-stimulated (2 ng/ml) TSU-pr1 cells with K252a or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) vehicle did not inhibit EGFR phosphorylation. TSU-pr1 cells were stimulated to migration in 4 hr across Boyden chambers in response to 10 ng/ml hEGF. Treatment of the TSU-pr1 cells with anti-hEGFR monoclonal antibody inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the chemomigration of the TSU-pr1 cells across Boyden chambers. Similarly, treatment of the TSU-pr1 cells with staurosporine inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the chemomigration of the TSU-pr1 cells across Boyden chambers. These results demonstrate that antagonists of hEGF-mediated hEGFR phosphorylation also antagonize chemomigration of the TSU-pr1 cells across Boyden chambers, suggesting that antagonists of the EGFR in prostate cancer may be useful in the treatment of metastatic disease.

True complete diphallia.

In a case of true complete diphallia, the orthotopic penis was normal in length, shape and urethra, whereas the ectopic, perianal, penis had a blind-ending urethra, the significant distance between the two making the malformation of an extremely rare type. Right renal agenesis and orthopaedic malformations were also present.

[Plastic surgery for losses of facial substance by cheek rotation]. / Plastia unor pierderi de substanta faciale prin rotatia obrazului.

New diversified plastic surgery methods have been introduced into practice in the last decades, aimed at repairing the loss of facial tissues involving the upper lip (with or without co-involvement of the lateral parts of the nose), and the lower eyelid area, that cannot be repaired by flaps prepared in the surrounding regions. In view of avoiding the disadvantages of 2- or 3-stage techniques the authors have re-evaluated the method introduced by Esser in 1918 for plastic repair of the facial tissues by rotation of the cheek, which is economical, efficient, rapid, and elegant, providing fully satisfactory esthetic results. Two cases are presented, one with loss of facial tissue following removal of an achromic recidivating melanoma, and another one following removal of a recidivating baso-cellular carcinoma, in which this method was employed with excellent results.