Scattering Intensity and Directionality Probed Along Individual Zinc Oxide Nanorods with Precisely Controlled Light Polarization and Nanorod Orientation.

We elucidated the light-matter interaction of individual ZnO NRs with a monochromatic beam of linearly polarized light that scatters elastically from the ZnO NRs by performing forward scattering and back-aperture imaging in a dark-field setting. We precisely controlled the electric field vector of the incident light and the NR orientation within the plane of light interaction during both modes of measurement, and spatially resolved the scattering response from different interaction points along the NR long axis. We then discerned, for the first time, the effects of light polarization, analyzer angle, and NR orientation on the intensity and directionality of the optical responses both qualitatively and quantitatively along the length of the single ZnO NRs. We identified distinctive scattering profiles from individual ZnO NRs subject to incident light polarization with controlled NR orientation from the forward dark-field scattering and back-aperture imaging modes. The fundamental light interaction behavior of ZnO NRs is likely to govern their functional outcomes in photonics, optoelectronics, and sensor devices. Hence, our efforts provided much needed insight into unique optical responses from individual 1D ZnO nanomaterials, which could be highly beneficial in developing next-generation optoelectronic systems and optical biodetectors with improved device efficiency and sensitivity.

Insight into factors affecting the presence, degree, and temporal stability of fluorescence intensification on ZnO nanorod ends.

We have carried out a combined experimental and simulation study identifying the key physical and optical parameters affecting the presence and degree of fluorescence intensification measured on zinc oxide nanorod (ZnO NR) ends. Previously, we reported on the highly localized, intensified, and prolonged fluorescence signal measured on the NR ends, termed fluorescence intensification on NR ends (FINE). As a step towards understanding the mechanism of FINE, the present study aims to provide insight into the unique optical phenomenon of FINE through experimental and simulation approaches and to elucidate the key factors affecting the occurrence, degree, and temporal stability of FINE. Specifically, we examined the effect of the length, width, and growth orientation of single ZnO NRs on the NR-enhanced biomolecular emission profile after decorating the NR surfaces with different amounts and types of fluorophore-coupled protein molecules. We quantitatively and qualitatively profiled the biomolecular fluorescence signal from individual ZnO NRs as a function of both position along the NR long axis and time. Regardless of the physical dimensions and growth orientations of the NRs, we confirmed the presence of FINE in all ZnO NRs tested by using a range of protein concentrations. We also showed that the manifestation of FINE is not dependent on the spectroscopic signatures of the fluorophores employed. We further observed that the degree of FINE is dependent on the length of the NR with longer NRs showing increased levels of FINE. We also demonstrated that vertically oriented NRs exhibit much stronger fluorescence intensity at the NR ends and a higher level of FINE than the laterally oriented NRs. Additionally, we employed finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) methods to understand the experimental outcomes and to promote our understanding of the mechanism of FINE. Particularly, we utilized the electrodynamic simulations to examine both near-field and far-field emission characteristics when considering various scenarios of fluorophore locations, polarizations, spectroscopic characteristics, and NR dimensions. Our efforts may provide deeper insight into the unique optical phenomenon of FINE and further be beneficial to highly miniaturized biodetection favoring the use of single ZnO NRs in low-volume and high-throughput protein assays.

Arthroscopic all inside repair of the lateral meniscus root tear.

It has been reported that lateral meniscus tears, including posterior horn tears, stable radial flap tears, or peripheral or posterior third tears that are combined with an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury can be treated with being left in situ. However, our experience has shown that the tear patterns are not so simple. They can show complex configurations and the inner side can be lost in chronic cases. Regarding the repair technique, there has been some controversy concerning the follow up results with repair devices and reduction is difficult using these devices if the inner side is non-viable or lost. If the tear involves whole width of bony insertion, it is believed that the meniscal function would be lost, particularly because the anatomic configuration is different in this area. In cases of chronic inner loss types, the meniscus was repaired using a side to side repair or pull out repair technique. Complete healing was achieved using this technique in some patients. Conclusively, Posterior Lateral Meniscus Root Tear (PLMRT) must be managed with different method with tears of other areas because the tear configuration is complex than simple looking.

A biologically active angiogenesis inhibitor, human serum albumin-TIMP-2 fusion protein, secreted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) is an endogenous and bi-functional inhibitor of angiogenesis. TIMP-2 is expressed in an insoluble form in Escherichia coli and secreted at a very low level from yeast. Here, we report on a high level of secretion of TIMP-2 fused with human serum albumin (HSA) from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The secreted HSA-TIMP-2 fusion protein (87kDa) was purified to greater than 95% homogeneity. The HSA-TIMP-2 protein inhibited approximately 81% of tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) when studied at a concentration of 187microM. The systemic administration of HSA-TIMP-2 at 40mg/kg to the C57B1/6 mouse inhibited the growth of B16BL6 tumors. Furthermore, a combination treatment of HSA-TIMP-2 with 5-fluorouracil (50mg/kg) showed significant effects on tumor growth in this model. The high level of secretion of the biologically active angiogenesis inhibitor from S. cerevisiae should facilitate fundamental research and application studies of HSA-TIMP-2, as an attractive candidate for therapeutic agents treating angiogenesis-related diseases.

[A case of chronic pouchitis resistant to medical treatment].

Pouchitis, a non-specific acute inflammation occurring in the ileal pouch, is one of the most common complications developed after the restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) performed for the treatment for the patients with ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis. The prevalence of pouchitis is known to range from 20% to 50%. One to two percent of the cases are chronic and resistant to the drug therapy. The effective treatment for this chronic resistant pouchitis is to remove the ileal pouch and perform the permanent ileostomy. Hereby, we report one case of chronic pouchitis resistant to multiple drug therapy developed after IPAA performed for the treatment of ulcerative colitis in a patient.

A case report of synchronous double primary liver cancers combined with early gastric cancer.

Combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma is found at a frequency of 1.0-6.3% in resected primary hepatic tumors. However, the case of double cancers of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma that are discovered synchronously in different lobes of a liver is very rare. We experienced a case of a 74-year-old man who was found to have hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma in different lobes of the liver, which were accompanied by early gastric cancer. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of double primary hepatic cancers accompanied with early gastric cancer. The pathogenesis and previous related reports of these lesions are discussed.

Cloning and expression of a novel armadillo motif containing gene in Xenopus.

We report an isolation of a cDNA containing armadillo motif (XAMP: Xenopus armadillo motif protein) and its expression during Xenopus development. The open reading frame of Xamp encodes a predicted protein of 275 amino acids including an armadillo motif, and a bipartite nuclear localization signal. Xamp shares significant homology with a putative mouse protein (GeneBank AK009402) in the database. It is expressed both maternally and zygotically. Xamp is localized to the animal region of an egg and in the ectoderm of a gastrula stage embryo. At the neurula stages, Xamp is expressed in the dorsal region of neural tube from which presumptive sensory neurons arise. In addition to its neural tissue specific expression, Xamp transcripts are found to be localized in the developing gut tube. At the early tadpole stage, Xamp is expressed predominantly in the pharyngeal endoderm. As further development proceeds, its expression domain expands to include the entire foregut region but excludes the midgut and hindgut regions. This polarized pattern of expression persists until stage 46 after which, anterior specific expression of Xamp sharply decreases. These results suggest that Xamp may have a role in the neural tissue specification and gut endoderm patterning during the Xenopus development.

Cloning and expression of a novel armadillo motif containing gene in Xenopus.

We report an isolation of a cDNA containing armadillo motif (XAMP: Xenopus armadillo motif protein) and its expression during Xenopus development. The open reading frame of Xamp encodes a predicted protein of 275 amino acids including an armadillo motif, and a bipartite nuclear localization signal. Xamp shares significant homology with a putative mouse protein (GeneBank AK009402) in the database. It is expressed both maternally and zygotically. Xamp is localized to the animal region of an egg and in the ectoderm of a gastrula stage embryo. At the neurula stages, Xamp is expressed in the dorsal region of neural tube from which presumptive sensory neurons arise. In addition to its neural tissue specific expression, Xamp transcripts are found to be localized in the developing gut tube. At the early tadpole stage, Xamp is expressed predominantly in the pharyngeal endoderm. As further development proceeds, its expression domain expands to include the entire foregut region but excludes the midgut and hindgut regions. This polarized pattern of expression persists until stage 46 after which, anterior specific expression of Xamp sharply decreases. These results suggest that Xamp may have a role in the neural tissue specification and gut endoderm patterning during the Xenopus development.