On the microstructures of the bulk of P3HT amorphous films obtained from two protocols: Insights from molecular dynamics simulations.

An influential factor for the microstructure of semiconductor polymer films is the solvent chosen for their processing and subsequent performance as an active layer in electronic and optical devices. In this paper, we address the solvent-polymer interplays by reporting a comparison between the microstructure of the bulk of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) films formed from two different simulation methodologies: using the o-dichlorobenzene (ODCB) as an aggregation chain parameter and a solvent-free protocol. In comparison to the length of an ideal planar chain, the solvent caused an average reduction of 12% of oligomer chains. Whereas, in the other film, the reduction was around 30%. Furthermore, the solvent allowed pathways of π-interactions due to the cohesional-like distribution of the chains, indicating that the solvent also induces chain orientation affecting its microstructure.

Tracking the Antibody Immunome in Sporadic Colorectal Cancer by Using Antigen Self-Assembled Protein Arrays.

Sporadic Colorectal Cancer (sCRC) is the third leading cause of cancer death in the Western world, and the sCRC patients presenting with synchronic metastasis have the poorest prognosis. Genetic alterations accumulated in sCRC tumor cells translate into mutated proteins and/or abnormal protein expression levels, which contribute to the development of sCRC. Then, the tumor-associated proteins (TAAs) might induce the production of auto-antibodies (aAb) via humoral immune response. Here, Nucleic Acid Programmable Protein Arrays (NAPPArray) are employed to identify aAb in plasma samples from a set of 50 sCRC patients compared to seven healthy donors. Our goal was to establish a systematic workflow based on NAPPArray to define differential aAb profiles between healthy individuals and sCRC patients as well as between non-metastatic (n = 38) and metastatic (n = 12) sCRC, in order to gain insight into the role of the humoral immune system in controlling the development and progression of sCRC. Our results showed aAb profile based on 141 TAA including TAAs associated with biological cellular processes altered in genesis and progress of sCRC (e.g., FSCN1, VTI2 and RPS28) that discriminated healthy donors vs. sCRC patients. In addition, the potential capacity of discrimination (between non-metastatic vs. metastatic sCRC) of 7 TAAs (USP5, ML4, MARCKSL1, CKMT1B, HMOX2, VTI2, TP53) have been analyzed individually in an independent cohort of sCRC patients, where two of them (VTI2 and TP53) were validated (AUC ~75%). In turn, these findings provided novel insights into the immunome of sCRC, in combination with transcriptomics profiles and protein antigenicity characterizations, wich might lead to the identification of novel sCRC biomarkers that might be of clinical utility for early diagnosis of the tumor. These results explore the immunomic analysis as potent source for biomarkers with diagnostic and prognostic value in CRC. Additional prospective studies in larger series of patients are required to confirm the clinical utility of these novel sCRC immunomic biomarkers.

Assessing a Novel Method of Calculation of the Cobb Angle for Scoliosis: Interexaminer Reliability and Student Satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this pilot study were to compare the interexaminer reliability of 2 different methods of Cobb angle measurement and to determine whether the participants considered 1 of the 2 methods easier to learn, understand, and apply. METHODS: Entry-level anatomy students who have familiarity with vertebral column anatomy but have not had previous radiology training were instructed on how to measure a Cobb angle. Each student measured 2 curves (thoracic and lumbar) on a single radiograph, first with the traditional method of Cobb angle measurement and second with a novel method of Cobb angle measurement using a digital level. RESULTS: The variance of measurements decreased by using the novel method from thoracic to lumbar measurements and for the moderate and severe scoliosis films. All decreases in variance were statistically significant except for the lumbar measurement variance for the severe scoliosis film. The novel method of Cobb angle measurement with these same participants showed interexaminer reliability. More than 78% of naive participants considered the proposed method easier to learn, understand, and apply when compared with the traditional method. CONCLUSION: In this group of naive students, there was improved interrater reliability, greater satisfaction, and reduced measurement variances in some cases, with a novel method using a digital level to measure the Cobb angle compared with the traditional method of measurement.

Remodelling of supraspinal neuroglial network in neuropathic pain is featured by a reactive gliosis of the nociceptive amygdala.

BACKGROUND: Many brain areas participate to supraspinal control of nociception. In these regions, few studies have investigated the role of glial cells in supraspinal plasticity and the effect of 7-day intrathecal nerve growth factor-like (BB14®, Blueprint Biotech, Milano, Italy) treatment. METHODS: In male Sprague-Dawley rats, we evaluated by immunohistochemistry the morphological and molecular rearrangement of neuroglial network occurring in several supraspinal brain regions involved in pain processing following spared nerve injury (SNI) of the sciatic nerve. In particular, the medial prefrontal cortex, the amygdala (Amy), the nucleus accumbens (Acb), the thalamus and the periaqueductal gray were analysed. RESULTS: Despite the modifications occurring in the dorsal horn of spinal cord following SNI, no significant changes in the Iba1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression were detected in all the analysed supraspinal regions, except for the Amy, showing a remarkable GFAP increase. Interestingly, neuropathic rats also displayed a significant increase of glial transporters (GTs) in all the supraspinal regions. Finally, the analysis of vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (vGLUT1) and vesicular gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporter (vGAT) expression revealed a significant enhancement of glutamatergic/GABAergic ratio in all selected brain regions of SNI animals, except for Acb. Both glial activation in the Amy and alteration of GTs and vGLUT/vGAT levels observed in neuropathic animals were largely reversed by BB14® treatment. CONCLUSIONS: All together, these data strengthen the role of supraspinal neuroglial network plasticity in the establishment of neuropathic pain syndrome. The hallmark is represented by the divergence between glial reaction confined to Amy and the widespread changes in the GT distribution and glutamate/GABA ratio detected in the other supraspinal region.

Photodynamic therapy in a case of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy associated with choroidal nevus.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report the clinical findings and management of a case of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy associated with choroidal nevus. METHODS: A 59-year-old woman with a subfoveal vascular network with polypoidal lesions associated with choroidal nevus was treated with photodynamic therapy. The initial visual acuity was 1/60. Treatment was performed according to identical parameters to those used for choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration and was repeated 3 months after the first application. The patient was prospectively followed with optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine angiography. RESULTS: After the second treatment, total occlusion of the polypoidal lesions was observed but the vascular network remained still patent. During the 5-year follow-up, no recurrence was observed and the visual acuity rose to 1/10. CONCLUSION: In our experience, photodynamic therapy had positive results and this indicates the possibility that it could be a useful tool to manage these lesions and to improve their prognosis.

What the genome sequence is revealing about trypanosome antigenic variation.

African trypanosomes evade humoral immunity through antigenic variation, whereby they switch expression of the gene encoding their VSG (variant surface glycoprotein) coat. Switching proceeds by duplication of silent VSG genes into a transcriptionally active locus. The genome project has revealed that most of the silent archive consists of hundreds of subtelomeric VSG tandem arrays, and that most of these are not functional genes. Precedent suggests that they can contribute combinatorially to the formation of expressed, functional genes through segmental gene conversion. These findings from the genome project have major implications for evolution of the VSG archive and for transmission of the parasite in the field.

Evaluation of Chapman's neurolymphatic reflexes via applied kinesiology: a case report of low back pain and congenital intestinal abnormality.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the applied kinesiologic evaluation of Chapman's neurolymphatic (NL) reflexes in the management of a person with an unusual congenital bowel abnormality and its role in the manifestation of low back pain. The theoretical foundations of these reflexes will be elaborated on and practical applications discussed. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 29-year-old man had chronic low back pain. Radiographs of the patient's lumbar spine and pelvis were normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a mild protrusion of the fifth lumbar disk. Oral anti-inflammatory agents, cortisone injections, and chiropractic manipulative therapy provided little relief. Though generally in robust health, the patient was aware of a congenital intestinal abnormality diagnosed when he was a child; it was thought to be of no consequence with regard to his current back condition. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: The patient's history, combined with applied kinesiology examination, indicated a need to direct treatment to the large bowel. The essential diagnostic indicators were the analysis of the Chapman's neurolymphatic reflexes themselves, coupled with an evaluation of the traditional acupuncture meridians. The primary prescribed therapy was the stimulation of these reflexes by the patient at home. This intervention resulted in the resolution of the patient's musculoskeletal symptomatology, as well as improved bowel function. CONCLUSION: The rather remarkable outcome from the application of this relatively simple, yet valuable, diagnostic and therapeutic procedure represents a thought-provoking impetus for future study and clinical application.

Repair of UV damage in Halobacterium salinarum.

Halobacterium is one of the few known Archaea that tolerates high levels of sunlight in its natural environment. Photoreactivation is probably its most important strategy for surviving UV irradiation and we have shown that both of the major UV photoproducts, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and (6-4) photoproducts, can be very efficiently repaired by photoreactivation in this organism. There are two putative photolyase gene homologues in the published genome sequence of Halobacterium sp. NRC-1. We have made a mutant deleted in one of these, phr2, and confirmed that this gene codes for a CPD photolyase. (6-4) photoproducts are still photoreactivated in the mutant so we are currently establishing whether the other homologue, phr1, codes for a (6-4) photolyase. We have also demonstrated an excision repair capacity that operates in the absence of visible light but the nature of this pathway is not yet known. There is probably a bacteria-type excision-repair mechanism, since homologues of uvrA, uvrB, uvrC and uvrD have been identified in the Halobacterium genome. However, there are also homologues of eukaryotic nucleotide-excision-repair genes ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD3, RAD25 and RAD2 ) so there may be multiple repair mechanisms for UV damage in Halobacterium.

Sarcoma alveolar das partes moles em localizaçäo orbitária / Alveolar soft part sarcoma of the orbit

Um caso de sarcoma alveolar das partes moles orbitárias apresentado numa criança de 16 meses de idade, produzindo acentuado exoftalmo esquerdo. Uma biópsia transcutânea evidenciou tecido compatível com sarcoma alveolar das partes moles. A doente faleceu em parada respiratória após curto tempo de internaçäo, e a necrópsia confirmou tratar-se de sarcoma alveolar das partes moles primário na órbita esquerda, invadindo por contiguidade a grande asa do esfenóide e a sela túrcica com metástases para ambos os pulmöes. Säo analisados os aspectos clínicos, histopatológicos e diagnóstico diferencial, acentuando-se a necessidade de incluir esse tumor no diagnóstico diferencial dos tumores orbitários, tanto na infância quanto em adultos

Eponimos em oftalmologia Sir Charles Bell / Eponyms in ophtalmology Sir Charles Bell

O autor apresenta na íntegra a preleçäo feita por Bell a seus alunos do Middlesex Hospital de Londres, em 1830, com apresentaçäo do doente, versando sobre paralisia traumática do nervo facial esquerdo, permitindo a Bell demonstrar em público o fenômeno do giro ocular para cima e para fora quando as pálpebras säo fechadas, constituindo o que passou a chamar-se o Fenômeno de Bell. Um resumo biográfico sobre Charles Bell é inserido, enfatizando-se o seu papel relevante na formulaçäo de uma nova concepçäo de todo o sistema nervoso central com a descoberta da funçäo motora das raízes anteriores e a funçäo sensitiva das raízes posteriores dos nervos medulares, a qual tornou-se a base dos atuais conhecimentos da neurologia