Promotion of healthy lifestyle: knowledge and attitudes of primary care physicians

Preretinal neovascularization and chronic retinal oedema are the two major sight-threatening complications that can occur during diabetic retinopathy. Ocular neovascularization is strongly associated with retinal ischaemia, and growth factors have been implicated in its pathogenesis. The ischaemic retina is assumed to secrete growth factors that stimulate residual vessels to proliferate. Interest has focused on basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) and more recently vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF). Histologic studies have demonstrated the presence of growth factor proteins and receptors and/or their mRNA, mainly VEGF, PDGF, and bFGF, in preretinal membranes of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Elevated intravitreal levels of IGF-1 and VEGF correlating with neovascular activity have been found in some patients. However, a direct causal relationship between ischaemia, growth factors and neovascularization has not been clearly demonstrated despite considerable research work. To date, the growth factor correlating most closely with neovascularization is VEGF. As many growth factors seem to be produced during the neovascular process, their specific inhibition probably will have limited effects. Laser photocoagulation of the retina has proved beneficial for regression of new vessels, probably through destruction of the ischaemic retina producing neovascular growth factors, and is currently the only treatment for proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Inhibition of IGF-1 by somatostatin analogs has produced unsatisfactory results. Other vascular inhibitors are currently being studied.     

Laser-assisted preparation of single cells from stained histological slides for gene analysis

Individual cells are prepared from histological tissue sections of routinely formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues using an ultraviolet laser micromanipulator. This technology, in combination with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based gene analysis, will enable researchers to routinely detect a variety of nucleic acid abnormalities underlying cancer, infection, and genetic disease with previously unknown sensitivity: at the single cell level. The utility of this technique is demonstrated by PCR amplification and sequencing of the E-cadherin gene, which codes for a homophilic cell-to-cell adhesion molecule, in early gastric carcinomas of the diffuse type of Lauren's classification. The main characteristics of the laser-assisted microdissection technique are high precision without contamination and easy application. The assignment of individual gene sequences to single cells will now provide a direct link between molecular biology on the one hand and histology and pathology on the other.     

Effect of atomic layer deposition temperature on the performance of top-down ZnO nanowire transistors

This paper studies the effect of atomic layer deposition (ALD) temperature on the performance of top-down ZnO nanowire transistors. Electrical characteristics are presented for 10-μm ZnO nanowire field-effect transistors (FETs) and for deposition temperatures in the range 120°C to 210°C. Well-behaved transistor output characteristics are obtained for all deposition temperatures. It is shown that the maximum field-effect mobility occurs for an ALD temperature of 190°C. This maximum field-effect mobility corresponds with a maximum Hall effect bulk mobility and with a ZnO film that is stoichiometric. The optimized transistors have a field-effect mobility of 10 cm²/V.s, which is approximately ten times higher than can typically be achieved in thin-film amorphous silicon transistors. Furthermore, simulations indicate that the drain current and field-effect mobility extraction are limited by the contact resistance. When the effects of contact resistance are de-embedded, a field-effect mobility of 129 cm²/V.s is obtained. This excellent result demonstrates the promise of top-down ZnO nanowire technology for a wide variety of applications such as high-performance thin-film electronics, flexible electronics, and biosensing.     

Yield stress distribution in injection‐moulded glassy polymers

A methodology for structural analysis simulations is presented that incorporates the distribution of mechanical properties along the geometrical dimensions of injection‐moulded amorphous polymer products. It is based on a previously developed modelling approach, where the thermomechanical history experienced during processing was used to determine the yield stress at the end of an injection‐moulding cycle. Comparison between experimental data and simulation results showed an excellent quantitative agreement, both for short‐term tensile tests as well as long‐term creep experiments over a range of strain rates, applied stresses, and testing temperatures. Changes in mould temperature and component wall thickness, which directly affect the cooling profiles and, hence, the mechanical properties, were well captured by the methodology presented. Furthermore, it turns out that the distribution of the yield stress along a tensile bar is one of the triggers for the onset of the (strong) localization generally observed in experiments. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry     

DEHYDRATION BY DESORPTION AND BY SPRAY DRYING OF DAIRY PROTEINS: INFLUENCE OF THE MINERAL ENVIRONMENT

A drying method by desorption in a water activity meter was used to simulate the conditions of spray drying and to determine the water transfer inside dairy concentrates towards the surface and from the surface to the drying air. The concentrates were also spray dried and solubility index of powders were determined during reconstitution. Whey protein concentrates (WPC) and native phosphocaseinate suspensions (NPCS) were used to study the effect of NaCl (420 mM), CaCl₂ (222 raM), sodium phosphate (173 mM) and sodium citrate (238 mM) on the water transfers. The decrease in water transfer during drying was explained by the high hygroscopicity of added mineral salts to WPC. NaCl addition to NPCS decreased the water transfer during drying, but increased the solubility index. Citrate and phosphate addition to NPCS increased the water transfer during drying and reconstitution. CaCl₂ increased the water transfer during drying but the solubility index was always low. Results are discussed as a function of the aqueous environment, of the nature of mineral salts, of the structure of dairy proteins and of protein solvation.     

Monolithic fabrication of 2 × 2 crosspoint switches inInGaAs-InAlGaAs multiple quantum wells using quantum-well intermixing

In this letter, we report the fabrication of 2 × 2 crosspoint switches, which monolithically integrate passive waveguides, electro-absorption modulators and optical amplifiers onto one chip using sputtered SiO₂ quantum-well intermixing technique. The switches have low insertion loss to be about 4-5 dB and extinction ratios up to 26 dB     

4-Defect repair of grade 4 cystocele

PURPOSE: The 4-defect repair of grade 4 cystocele corrects discrete and severe deficiencies of vesicourethral support. We describe this technique used during pelvic reconstruction in 130 women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a 3-year period 130 patients (age range 35 to 96 years) underwent repair of grade 4 cystocele using the 4-defect repair technique. Cystocele repair had been performed in 60 patients (46%) and hysterectomy had been performed in 85 (65%). A "goalpost incision" is used in the vaginal wall to facilitate separation of the wall from underlying perivesical fascia, entry into the retropubic space, and exposure of the urethropelvic ligament, cardinal ligament and perivesical fascia. The 4 polypropylene sutures are used to provide an anterior vaginal wall sling which is modified to incorporate perivesical fascia and cardinal ligaments. Central defect repair is achieved by approximation of the cardinal ligaments and midline plication of the perivesical fascia over absorbable mesh. RESULTS: A total of 112 patients were available for followup which ranged from 6 to 42 months (mean 21). Repair of grade 4 cystocele was accompanied by other transvaginal repairs in 94 patients (83%), including rectocele repair in 81, hysterectomy in 22 and enterocele repair in 31. Of the patients 92% had excellent objective and subjective results for anatomical cystocele repair. Of the patients with preoperative stress urinary incontinence 90% had excellent or good subjective results. De novo urge incontinence was seen in 7% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The 4-defect repair technique relies on anatomical restoration of 4 distinct deficiencies of pelvic support and is highly effective for relief of symptoms of grade 4 cystocele.     

Proteolytic cleavage and activation of PAK2 during UV irradiation-induced apoptosis in A431 cells

Exposure of mammalian cells to ultraviolet (UV) light elicits a cellular response and can also lead to apoptotic cell death. In this report, we show that a 36-kDa myelin basic protein (MBP) kinase detected by an in-gel kinase assay can be dramatically activated during the early stages of UV irradiation-triggered apoptosis of A431 cells. Immunoblot analysis revealed that this 36-kDa MBP kinase could be recognized by an antibody against the C-terminal regions of a family of p21Cdc42/Rac-activated kinases (PAKs). By using this antibody and a PAK2-specific antibody against the N-terminal region of PAK2 as studying tools, we further demonstrated that UV irradiation caused cleavage of PAK2 to generate a 36-kDa C-terminal catalytic fragment and a 30-kDa N-terminal fragment in A431 cells. The appearance of the 36-kDa C-terminal catalytic fragment of PAK2 matched exactly with the activation of the 36-kDa MBP kinase in A431 cells upon UV irradiation. In addition, UV irradiation also led to activation of CPP32/caspase-3, but not ICH-1L/caspase-2 and ICE/caspase-1, in A431 cells and the kinetics of activation of CPP32/caspase-3 appeared to correlate well with that of DNA fragmentation and of cleavage/activation of PAK2, respectively. Moreover, blockage of activation of CPP32/caspase-3 by pretreating the cells with two specific tetrapeptidic inhibitors for caspases (Ac-DEVD-cho and Ac-YVAD-cmk) could significantly attenuate the extent of cleavage/activation of PAK2 induced by UV irradiation. Collectively, the results demonstrate that cleavage and activation of PAK2 can be induced during the early stages of UV irradiation-triggered apoptosis and indicate the involvement of CPP32/caspase-3 in this process.     

New protein genetic studies in six Amazonian Indian populations

A total of 732 individuals affiliated with six Amazonian Indian populations were variously studied in relation to 26 protein genetic systems. Eleven of them were found to be monomorphic in these groups, in accordance with previous investigations. Similarities and dissimilarities (the latter involving the Rh, Duffy, haptoglobin and transferrin systems) were observed in relation to earlier investigations in four of these populations (Galibi, Palikour, Mundurucu and Tenharim). A dimeric, cathodal variant of albumin was found among two Galibi subjects, and the fairly common occurrence of CP* ACAY among some South American Indian populations was confirmed. The results in the six populations were compared with those from 29 others. When relationships are searched for among tribes of the same linguistic group, the factor that seems to be most influential is geographical localization, an exception being the pattern observed among the Cayapo subgroups. The latter shows genetic differences of the same level of magnitude as those observed among Ge-speaking tribes.