Mapping Cell Membrane Organization and Dynamics Using Soft Nanoimprint Lithography.

Membrane shape is a key feature of many cellular processes, including cell differentiation, division, migration, and trafficking. The development of nanostructured surfaces allowing for the in situ manipulation of membranes in living cells is crucial to understand these processes, but this requires complicated and limited-access technologies. Here, we investigate the self-organization of cellular membranes by using a customizable and benchtop method allowing one to engineer 1D SiO2 nanopillar arrays of defined sizes and shapes on high-performance glass compatible with advanced microscopies. As a result of this original combination, we provide a mapping of the morphology-induced modulation of the cell membrane mechanics, dynamics and steady-state organization of key protein complexes implicated in cellular trafficking and signal transduction.

Soft-chemistry-based routes to epitaxial α-quartz thin films with tunable textures.

Piezoelectric nanostructured quartz films of high resonance frequencies are needed for microelectronic devices; however, synthesis methods have been frustrated by the inhomogeneous crystal growth, crystal twinning, and loss of nanofeatures upon crystallization. We report the epitaxial growth of nanostructured polycrystalline quartz films on silicon [Si(100)] substrates via the solution deposition and gelation of amorphous silica thin films, followed by thermal treatment. Key to the process is the combined use of either a strontium (Sr(2+)) or barium (Ba(2+)) catalyst with an amphiphilic molecular template. The silica nanostructure constructed by cooperative self-assembly permits homogeneous distribution of the cations, which are responsible for the crystallization of quartz. The low mismatch between the silicon and α-quartz cell parameters selects this particular polymorph, inducing epitaxial growth.

[Bladder amyloidosis: report of 2 cases]. / Amiloidosis vesical: presentación de dos casos.

Two cases of amyloidosis of the bladder are reported: 1) a 45 year old man with haematuria. Cystoscopic examination reveals several tumours in the wall of the bladder. Transuretral resection was performed and histopathological examination revealed primary amyloidosis. Systemic amyloidosis was excluded. He was treated with oral colchicine with success. 2) a 71 year old male with diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic amyloidosis visited our hospital with massive haematuria. Transuretral resection was unsuccessful and was necessary surgical ligation of hypogastric arteries.

Amiloidosis vesical: presentación de dos casos / Amyloidosis of the bladder: report of two cases

Presentamos dos casos de amiloidosis vesical: 1) varón de 45 años con clínica de hematurias y hallazgo endoscópico de formaciones tumorales vesicales. Se practicó resección transuretral con el diagnóstico histológico de amiloidosis vesical. Se excluyó mediante biopsia la afectación de otros órganos, siendo tratado con colchicina oral con buen resultado; 2) mujer de 71 años afecta de ami-loidosis sistémica con artritis reumatoide que presentó hematuria masiva tratada con RTU hemos-tática sin éxito, practicándose ligadura quirúrgica de arterias hipogástricas (AU)