Peptide-Decorated Microneedles for the Detection of Microplastics.

The escalating utilization of plastics in daily life has resulted in pervasive environmental pollution and consequent health hazards. The challenge of detecting and capturing microplastics, which are imperceptible to the naked eye, is exacerbated by their diminutive size, hydrophobic surface properties, and capacity to absorb organic compounds. This study focuses on the application of peptides, constituted of specific amino acid sequences, and microneedles for the rapid and selective identification of microplastics. Peptides, due to their smaller size and greater environmental stability compared with antibodies, emerge as a potent solution to overcome the limitations inherent in existing detection methodologies. To immobilize peptides onto microneedles, this study employed microneedles embedded with gold nanorods, augmenting them with sulfhydryl (SH) groups at the peptides' termini. The sensor developed through this methodology exhibited efficient peptide binding to the microneedle tips, thereby facilitating the capture of microplastics. Raman spectroscopy was employed for the detection of microplastics, with the results demonstrating successful attachment to the microneedles. This novel approach not only facilitates localized analysis but also presents a viable strategy for the detection of microplastics across diverse environmental settings.

Aged G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 3 (Grk3)-Deficient Mice Exhibit Enhanced Osteoclastogenesis and Develop Bone Lesions Analogous to Human Paget's Disease of Bone.

Paget's Disease of Bone (PDB) is a metabolic bone disease that is characterized by dysregulated osteoclast function leading to focal abnormalities of bone remodeling. It can lead to pain, fracture, and bone deformity. G protein-coupled receptor kinase 3 (GRK3) is an important negative regulator of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling. GRK3 is known to regulate GPCR function in osteoblasts and preosteoblasts, but its regulatory function in osteoclasts is not well defined. Here, we report that Grk3 expression increases during osteoclast differentiation in both human and mouse primary cells and established cell lines. We also show that aged mice deficient in Grk3 develop bone lesions similar to those seen in human PDB and other Paget's Disease mouse models. We show that a deficiency in Grk3 expression enhances osteoclastogenesis in vitro and proliferation of hematopoietic osteoclast precursors in vivo but does not affect the osteoclast-mediated bone resorption function or cellular senescence pathway. Notably, we also observe decreased Grk3 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with PDB compared with age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Our data suggest that GRK3 has relevance to the regulation of osteoclast differentiation and that it may have relevance to the pathogenesis of PDB and other metabolic bone diseases associated with osteoclast activation.

Mitigation of global warming potential and greenhouse gas intensity in arable soil with green manure as source of nitrogen.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of different green manure treatments on net GWP and GHGI in upland soil. Barley (B), hairy vetch (HV), and a barley/hairy vetch mixture (BHV) were sown on an upland soil on November 4, 2017 and October 24, 2018. The aboveground biomass of these green manures was incorporated into soil on June 1, 2018 and May 8, 2019. In addition, a fallow treatment (F) was installed as the control. Maize was transplanted as the subsequent crop after incorporation of green manures. Green manuring significantly affected CO2 and N2O emission, but not CH4. Average cumulative soil respiration across years with HV and BHV were 37.0 Mg CO2 ha-1 yr-1 and 35.8 Mg CO2 ha-1 yr-1, respectively and significantly higher than those with under F and B (32.7 Mg CO2 ha-1 yr-1 and 33.0 Mg CO2 ha-1 yr-1, respectively). Cumulative N2O emissions across years with F and HV were 6.29 kg N2O ha-1 yr-1 and 5.44 kg N2O ha-1 yr-1, respectively and significantly higher than those with B and BHV (4.26 kg N2O ha-1 yr-1 and 4.42 kg N2O ha-1 yr-1, respectively). The net ecosystem carbon budget for HV (-0.5 Mg C ha-1 yr-1) was the greatest among the treatments (F; -1.61 Mg C ha-1 yr-1, B; -3.98 Mg C ha-1 yr-1, and BHV; -0.91 Mg C ha-1 yr-1) because of its high biomass yields and the yield of maize after incorporation of HV. There was no significant difference of GHGI among F, HV, and BHV. Incorporation of HV or BHV could reduce net CO2 emissions per unit of maize grain production as well as F.

Effectiveness of using a bioabsorbable implant (Latera) to treat nasal valve collapse in patients with nasal obstruction: systemic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Nasal obstruction is a common cause of breathing problems with lateral wall insufficiency (LWI) a key anatomic contributor. Recently, a bioabsorbable nasal implant was introduced to correct LWI and treat nasal obstruction. The goal of this study was to perform a systematic review with meta-analysis to determine the efficacy of the bioabsorbable nasal implant for treating nasal obstruction caused by LWI. METHODS: Five databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database) were independently reviewed by 2 researchers, starting at the earliest time point recorded in the database to September 2019. Studies that scored endoscopic lateral wall movement and nasal obstruction related to quality of life (QOL) postoperatively before and after bioabsorbable nasal implants and those that compared the outcomes of nasal implants (treatment group) with outcomes of sham surgery (control group) were included in the analysis. RESULTS: Five studies (396 patients) met the inclusion criteria. Bioabsorbable nasal implants significantly reduced endoscopic lateral wall motion compared to pretreatment values and also improved QOL at 12 months postoperatively. Most adverse effects following the nasal implant, such as skin or mucosal reaction, infection, or implant retrieval, were reported with a 5% incidence rate. All adverse outcomes were resolved without significant sequelae. Compared with sham surgery, bioabsorbable nasal implants significantly improved disease-specific QOL. CONCLUSION: Bioabsorbable nasal implants may reduce nasal wall movement and subjective symptom scores compared to preoperative status. More randomized clinical trials must be conducted to further verify the effectiveness of bioabsorbable nasal implants.

Investigation of Ginsenosides and Antioxidant Activities in the Roots, Leaves, and Stems of Hydroponic-Cultured Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer).

There has been very little reported on ginsenoside composition and antioxidant activity of hydroponic-cultured ginseng roots (HCR), leaves (HCL), and stems (HCS). We profiled 6 ginsenoside compounds in HCR, HCL, and HCS using high-performance liquid chromatography. Antioxidative activity of HCR, HCL, and HCS were evaluated using total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical-scavenging activity assays, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Total ginsenoside contents of HCL and HCS were significantly higher than that of HCR (P<0.05). Rb1 was detected in HCR (23.02 mg/g) but was detected at very low levels in HCL and HCS (2.07~7.30 mg/g). Rg1 was the most abundant ingredient in HCL, followed by Rd; this was different than for HCR and HCS. The TPC and TFC ranged from 52.82~155.31 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g and 194.71~256.52 mg quercetin equivalent/100 g, respectively, of which HCL contained the highest levels. Moreover, HCL was the most effective in both DPPH and FRAP activities. In this study, we also evaluated the inhibitory effect of HCR, HCL, and HCS on the activities of mushroom tyrosinase through whitening activity test. The inhibitory effect of HCL on tyrosinase activity was higher than that of HCR and HCS. This study provides information about ginsenoside contents and the antioxidative activity of hydroponic-cultured ginseng, and suggests that the whole ginseng plant (including roots, leaves, and stems) may be a beneficial functional vegetables.

Laser Light Therapy in Inflammatory, Musculoskeletal, and Autoimmune Disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The goal of this review is to summarize the field to date and to discuss strengths and limitations of low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) for the future investigation as a treatment of inflammatory disease. RECENT FINDINGS: LLLT is a promising therapeutic, particularly for those diseases of skin and joints because they are most accessible to treatment. Indeed, the known mechanisms of LLLT support its use for anti-inflammatory purposes, as well as stimulation of tissue growth and repair. Although the standard of care for the majority of inflammatory diseases is immunosuppressive agents such as corticosteroids with undesirable toxicities, LLLT offers a unique approach by being non-invasive and incurring minimal side effects. It is also relatively inexpensive and accessible and even has the possibility to be patient directed at home. There is evidence that LLLT is able to modulate the immune system at the skin and joint, and it has been shown to be efficacious in humans by affecting bacterial colonization as it may pertain to chronic rhinosinusitis. However, there is variability in the methods of laser application as well as a lack of evidence for laser type, dose-ranging studies, and wavelength selection that create barriers to the implementation of LLLT without further more rigorous and standardized study. The heterogeneity makes it difficult to draw strong conclusions about the efficacy of LLLT and its mechanisms.

Fine air pollution particles induce endothelial senescence via redox-sensitive activation of local angiotensin system.

Fine dust (FD) is a form of air pollution and is responsible for a wide range of diseases. Specially, FD is associated with several cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); long-term exposure to FD was shown to decrease endothelial function, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We investigated whether exposure to FD causes premature senescence-associated endothelial dysfunction in endothelial cells (ECs) isolated from porcine coronary arteries. The cells were treated with different concentrations of FD and senescence associated-beta galactosidase (SA-ß-gal) activity, cell cycle progression, expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), oxidative stress level, and vascular function were evaluated. We found that FD increased SA-ß-gal activity, caused cell cycle arrest, and increased oxidative stress, suggesting the premature induction of senescence; on the other hand, eNOS expression was downregulated and platelet aggregation was enhanced. FD exposure impaired vasorelaxation in response to bradykinin and activated the local angiotensin system (LAS), which was inhibited by treatment with the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1) antagonist losartan (LOS). NAC and LOS also suppressed FD-induced SA-ß-gal activity, increased EC proliferation and eNOS expression, and improved endothelial function. These results demonstrate that FD induces premature senescence of ECs and is associated with increased oxidative stress and activation of LAS. This study can serve as a pharmacological target for prevention and/or treatment of air pollution-associated CVD.

Adsorption and precipitation of cadmium affected by chemical form and addition rate of phosphate in soils having different levels of cadmium.

Although a number of studies have examined cadmium (Cd) immobilization by phosphate (P) in soils, determining the exact mechanism of Cd immobilization in various conditions, including P chemical form, P rate, and inherent Cd concentrations in soil has not been examined. The objective of this study was to determine changes in Cd immobilization through adsorption and precipitation in different conditions. Arable soils were spiked with inorganic Cd to give a total Cd concentration of 10, 100, and 1000 mg Cd kg-1. K2HPO4 (DPP) and KH2PO4 (MPP) were selected and mixed with the pretreated arable soil at the rates of 0, 800, 1600 and 3200 mg P kg-1. In soils with 10 and 100 mg Cd kg-1, both P materials similarly increased negative charge of soil and decreased extractable Cd concentration. Using X-ray diffraction (XRD), a diffraction peak revealing the presence of Cd(H2PO4)2 was observed in soil with 1000 mg Cd kg-1 and 3200 mg P kg-1 soil. In addition, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis and modeling for saturation index for Cd minerals proved that formation of CdCO3 and Cd3(PO4)2 occurred in soil having 1000 mg Cd kg-1 and addition of both DPP and MPP. Immobilization of Cd might be attributed to Cd adsorption in soil with relatively low Cd levels (<100 mg kg-1). Precipitation of Cd(H2PO4)2, CdCO3, and Cd-phosphate might be a dominant mechanism to immobilize Cd, besides Cd adsorption, in soil with relatively high Cd levels (1000 mg kg-1).

An outbreak of toxoplasmosis in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) in South Korea.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect warm-blooded animals including humans. New World monkeys, such as squirrel monkeys, are more susceptible to T. gondii than Old World monkeys, often developing fatal disease. METHODS: In this study, seven of thirteen dead squirrel monkeys at Seoul Grand Park were tested to find the cause of sudden death. RESULTS: The main histopathological findings included interstitial pneumonia, necrotizing hepatitis, and splenitis. Periodic acid-Schiff staining of liver, spleen, and lung revealed cyst structures consistent with bradyzoites. Amplification of the B1 gene was detected in the liver or spleen of all monkeys. Additionally, a restriction fragment length polymorphism assay and phylogenetic analysis of the GRA6 amplicon revealed a consistent clustering with the type II strain of T. gondii. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first report of T. gondii infection of squirrel monkeys in Korea, and the first report of type II T. gondii based on GRA6 analysis in Korea.

Potential mechanisms underlying cardiovascular protection by polyphenols: Role of the endothelium.

Epidemiological studies have indicated that regular intake of polyphenol-rich diets such as red wine and tea, are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases. The beneficial effect of polyphenol-rich products has been attributable, at least in part, to their direct action on the endothelial function. Indeed, polyphenols from tea, grapes, cacao, berries, and plants have been shown to activate endothelial cells to increase the formation of potent vasoprotective factors including nitric oxide (NO) and to delay endothelial ageing. Moreover, intake of such polyphenol-rich products has been associated with the prevention and/or the improvement of an established endothelial dysfunction in several experimental models of cardiovascular diseases and in Humans with cardiovascular diseases. This review will discuss both experimental and clinical evidences indicating that polyphenols are able to promote endothelial and vascular health, as well as the underlying mechanisms.

How Does Oyster Shell Immobilize Cadmium?

The exact mechanism of cadmium (Cd) immobilization by oyster shell (OS) has not been reported. The effect of OS on Cd immobilization and the exact mechanism should be known before applying remediation technology using OS to Cd contaminated soils. Therefore, the objective of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of Cd immobilization by OS. Three grams of OS (< 0.84 mm) was reacted with 30 mL of 0-3.56 mg Cd L-1 solution at 25 °C for 48 h. Cadmium adsorption increased with increasing initial concentration of Cd in solution. The X-ray diffraction patterns clearly demonstrated that precipitation of CdCO3 did not take place in suspensions of OS after reacting with up to 3.56 mol Cd L-1. Interestingly, we found formation of Ca0.67Cd0.33CO3 crystalline in suspension of OS after reacting with maximum initial Cd concentrations. Precipitation and chemisorption might contribute to Cd immobilization together. However, we feel confident that chemisorption is the major mechanism by which Cd immobilization occurs with OS. In conclusion, OS could be an effective bioadsorbent to immobilize Cd through formation of geochemically stable Cd mineral.

Intraoperative factors affecting conversion from cruciate retaining to cruciate substituting in total knee arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyse the factors affecting the conversion from posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)-retaining (CR) to PCL-substituting (PS) prostheses during total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: A total of 920 TKAs, which had been preoperatively planned to undergo implantation of CR-type prostheses, were reviewed retrospectively. Of these, 83 knees (9.0 %) were converted intraoperatively to PS prostheses. The clinical and radiological factors of the non-converted (CR) and converted (PS) groups were compared. Clinically, age, gender, body mass index, angle of flexion contracture, size of the femoral component, and thickness of the polyethylene insert were compared between the CR and PS groups. Radiologically, the severity of the varus deformity and the posterior tibial slope angle (PSA) were compared between the CR and PS groups. RESULTS: No significant differences in age, gender, body mass index, range of motion, thickness of the polyethylene insert, or severity of varus deformity were identified. The average preoperative angle of flexion contracture was 5.9° ± 7.4° in the CR group and 8.1° ± 9.1° in the PS group (p = 0.002). The average preoperative PSA was 9.6° ± 4.0° in the CR group and 11.0° ± 5.0° in the PS group (p = 0.018). The conversion rates to a PS-type femoral component of size C, D, and E were 13.1, 7.0, and 6.3 %, respectively (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: The conversion rate from CR- to PS-type prostheses was high in patients with severe flexion contracture, steep posterior slope, and a small femoral component size. These factors should be carefully considered for appropriate selection of prosthesis type. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Terminalia chebula Fructus Inhibits Migration and Proliferation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Production of Inflammatory Mediators in RAW 264.7.

Pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and neointima formation after angioplasty involves vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) migration and proliferation followed by inflammatory responses mediated by recruited macrophages in the neointima. Terminalia chebula is widely used traditional medicine in Asia for its beneficial effects against cancer, diabetes, and bacterial infection. The study was designed to determine whether Terminalia chebula fructus water extract (TFW) suppresses VSMC migration and proliferation and inflammatory mediators production in macrophage (RAW 264.7). Our results showed that TFW possessed strong antioxidative effects in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging and lipid peroxidation assays. In addition, TFW reduced nitric oxide (NO) production, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in RAW 264.7 cells. Also, TFW inhibited platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) induced VSMC migration as determined by wound healing and Boyden chamber assays. The antimigratory effect of TFW was due to its inhibitory effect on metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activation, and Rho-family of small GTPases (Cdc42 and RhoA) expression in VSMCs. Furthermore, TFW suppressed PDGF-BB induced VSMC proliferation by downregulation of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling molecules. These results suggest that TFW could be a beneficial resource in the prevention of atherosclerosis.

Risk of secondary cancers from scattered radiation during intensity-modulated radiotherapies for hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the risks of secondary cancers from therapeutic doses received by patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), volumetric arc therapy (VMAT), and tomotherapy (TOMO). METHODS: Treatments for five patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were planned using IMRT, VMAT, and TOMO. Based on the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation VII method, the excess relative risk (ERR), excess absolute risk (EAR), and lifetime attributable risk (LAR) were evaluated from therapeutic doses, which were measured using radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeters (RPLGDs) for each organ inside a humanoid phantom. RESULTS: The average organ equivalent doses (OEDs) of 5 patients were measured as 0.23, 1.18, 0.91, 0.95, 0.97, 0.24, and 0.20 Gy for the thyroid, lung, stomach, liver, small intestine, prostate (or ovary), and rectum, respectively. From the OED measurements, LAR incidence were calculated as 83, 46, 22, 30, 2 and 6 per 10(4) person for the lung, stomach, normal liver, small intestine, prostate (or ovary), and rectum. CONCLUSIONS: We estimated the secondary cancer risks at various organs for patients with HCC who received different treatment modalities. We found that HCC treatment is associated with a high secondary cancer risk in the lung and stomach.

Expression and immunogenic analysis of recombinant polypeptides derived from capsid protein VP1 for developing subunit vaccine material against hepatitis A virus.

Three recombinant polypeptides, VP1-His, VP1-3N-His, and 3D2-His, were produced by Escherichia coli expression system. Recombinant VP1-His, VP1-3N-His, and 3D2-His were expressed as bands with molecular weights of 32, 38, and 30 kDa, respectively. These were purified by affinity chromatography using Ni-NTA Fast-flow resin and/or ion-exchange chromatography using DEAE-Sepharose Fast-flow resin. Intraperitoneal immunizations of recombinant polypeptides successfully elicited the productions of VP1-His, VP1-3N-His, and 3D2-His specific IgG antibodies (IgG subclass distribution of IgG1>IgG2a>IgG2b>IgG3) in sera and induced the secretions of cytokines IFN-γ and IL-6 in spleen cells. Sera from recombinant VP1-His-, VP1-3N-His-, and 3D2-His-immunized mice neutralized the propagation of HAV. The highest neutralizing activity was shown in sera from recombinant VP1-3N-His-immunized mice. These results suggest that recombinant VP1-3N-His can be a useful source for developing hepatitis A virus (HAV) subunit vaccine candidates.

Robust ZnO nanoparticle embedded memory device using vancomycin conjugate and its biorecognition for electrical charging node.

Conjugation of antibiotic vancomycin (VAN) on nanoparticles (NPs) has recently initiated novel works in the nanobiotechnology field. In this study, a bioelectronic structure using VAN conjugated zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs as charge storing elements on metal-pentacene-insulator-silicon (MPIS) device is demonstrated. Highly specific molecular recognition between the VAN and membrane protein unit mimicked from VAN-resistant bacteria is employed as the formation mechanism of self-assembly monolayers (SAMs) of ZnO NPs. The insulator surface is modified with the VAN cognate peptide of L-Ala-D-Glu-L-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala by chemical activator coupling. Hysteretic behaviors in capacitance versus voltage (C-V) curves are obtained for the charged ZnO NPs exhibiting flatband voltage shifts, which demonstrate the charge storage on the VAN conjugated ZnO NPs. The potential perspective of this study will be a tangible progress of biomolecular electronics implemented by the interface between biomolecules and electronics.

Diffusion of single-walled carbon nanotube under physiological conditions.

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) can be functionalized to target cells for drug delivery or cancer cells for their detection and therapy. Understanding their transport phenomena in vivo is a necessary step to unlock their medical potential. This work estimates the diffusion characteristics of SWNTs and their DNA-conjugated bio-hybrids under simulated or postulated physiological conditions using EPI-fluorescence microscopy (EFM). SWNT was shortened and dispersed in aqueous solution with the average length and diameter of 253 nm (+/-30.6 nm) and 1.6 nm (+/-0.34 nm), respectively, and tagged with a fluorophore, 1-pyrenebutanoic succinimidyl ester (PSE), through non-covalent pi stacking. DNA was attached to the PSE-SWNTs through carboxiimide based coupling procedure. Using the EFM, real-time videos were recorded under four different viscosities corresponding to four kinds of human body fluids: lymph (1.4 cP), bile (2.4 cP), blood (3-6 cP), and cytoplasm (10-30 cP), and processed to calculate diffusion coefficients based on random walk and speed. At 37 degreeC, diffusion coefficients of the SWNTs were estimated to be: 1.45 (+/-0.652) x 10(4) nm2/s (lymph), 0.91 (+/-0.205) x 10(4) nm2/s (bile), 0.59 (+/-0.179)x 10(4) nm2/s (blood), and 0.26 (+/-0.114)x 10(4) nm2/s (cytoplasm). Estimated diffusion coefficients of SWNT-DNA bio-hybrids were: 1.45 (+/-0.402) x 10(4) nm2/s (plasma), 0.62 (+/-0.212) x 10(4) nm2/s (bile), 0.41 (+/-0.142) x 10(4) nm2/s (blood), 0.38 (+/-0.257) x 10(4) nm2/s (cytoplasm). These outcomes should serve as key data for developing mathematical models of SWNT-based drug delivery, cell targeting, and its biodistribution.

Risk of second cancer from scattered radiation of intensity-modulated radiotherapies with lung cancer.

PURPOSE: To compare the risk of secondary cancer from scattered and leakage doses following intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), volumetric arc therapy (VMAT) and tomotherapy (TOMO) in patients with lung cancer. METHODS: IMRT, VMAT and TOMO were planned for five lung cancer patients. Organ equivalent doses (OEDs) are estimated from the measured corresponding secondary doses during irradiation at various points 20 to 80 cm from the iso-center by using radio-photoluminescence glass dosimeter (RPLGD). RESULTS: The secondary dose per Gy from IMRT, VMAT and TOMO for lung cancer, measured 20 to 80 cm from the iso-center, are 0.02~2.03, 0.03~1.35 and 0.04~0.46 cGy, respectively. The mean values of relative OED of secondary dose of VMAT and TOMO, which is normalized by IMRT, ranged between 88.63% and 41.59% revealing 88.63% and 41.59% for thyroid, 82.33% and 41.85% for pancreas, 77.97% and 49.41% for bowel, 73.42% and 72.55% for rectum, 74.16% and 81.51% for prostate. The secondary dose and OED from TOMO became similar to those from IMRT and VMAT as the distance from the field edge increased. CONCLUSIONS: OED based estimation suggests that the secondary cancer risk from TOMO is less than or comparable to the risks from conventional IMRT and VMAT.

Reflectivity spectra and colors of porous anodic aluminum oxide containing silver nanoparticles by plasmonic absorption.

The reflectivity spectra and color of porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) nanostructures containing the assembly of silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) with a diameter of -10 nm were investigated. The Ag NPs were assembled inside the pores of AAO with a diameter of -60 nm by dip-coating process during which Ag NPs adsorbed on the surface of AAO and driven inside the pores by capillary force upon the evaporation of solvent. The reflectivity spectra and associated colors of AAO with Ag NPs were determined by the plasmonic absorption of light by Ag NPs. Even with the monolayer coverage of Ag NPs in the pores of AAO, the reflectivity is significantly reduced specifically at -465 nm wavelength by a strong plasmonic absorption, resulting in its golden color. Aggregating Ag NPs by post-annealing at 300 and 400 degrees C changed the color to pink due to the red-shift of absorption. These results are indicative of potential color-engineering of NPs/AAO platform by wavelength-selective reduction of reflected light intensity and using it in direct optical read-out of change of surface and morphology conditions.

Eccrine spiradenoma arising in the breast misdiagnosed as an epidermal inclusion cyst.

Eccrine spiradenomas are rare, benign, cutaneous tumors that originate in the sweat glands. Eccrine spiradenomas in the breast are very rare and only a few cases have been reported. We report here on the case of a 47-year-old woman with superficial masses in the breast and these masses had gradually increased in size during follow-up. They were confirmed to be an eccrine spiradenoma on pathologic examination. There have been a few reports about the radiologic findings of eccrine spiradenomas of the breast. This is the first case of an eccrine spiradenoma in the breast that was characterized by multiple imaging modalities, including mammography, ultrasonography and MRI. The lesion in our patient was first diagnosed as an epidermal inclusion cyst based on the imaging findings and the mass's superficial location. Although the mammographic and ultrasonographic imaging findings of eccrine spiradenomas and epidermal inclusion cysts are similar, the MRI findings are different between epidermal inclusion cysts and eccrine spiradenomas. Eccrine spiradenomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions of the breast.