Transformation optical design of a bending waveguide by use of isotropic materials

Based on the effective medium theory, we designed a simplified transformation media bending waveguide by use of only three kinds of isotropic material in an alternating layered structure. The design can be used to guide incoming waves smoothly along the bending part of a waveguide with slight distortions. Numerical simulations are performed to illustrate its functionality. (C) 2009 Optical Society of Americ

RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of differentially expressed genes in the peripheral serum of ankylosing spondylitis patients

Abstract Background Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic progressive autoimmune disease characterized by spinal and sacroiliac arthritis, but its pathogenesis and genetic basis are largely unclear. Methods We randomly selected three serum samples each from an AS and a normal control (NC) group for high-throughput sequencing followed by using edgeR to find differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, Reactome pathway analyses, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis were used to comprehensively analyze the possible functions and pathways involved with these DEGs. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed using the STRING database and Cytoscape. The modules and hub genes of these DEGs were identified using MCODE and CytoHubba plugins. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to validate the expression levels of candidate genes in serum samples from AS patients and healthy controls. Results We successfully identified 100 significant DEGs in serum. When we compared them with the NC group, 49 of these genes were upregulated in AS patients and 51 were downregulated. GO function and pathway enrichment analysis indicated that these DEGs were mainly enriched in several signaling pathways associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress, including protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, unfolded protein response, and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. We also constructed a PPI network and identified the highly connected top 10 hub genes. The expression levels of the candidate hub genes PPARG, MDM2, DNA2, STUB1, UBTF, and SLC25A37 were then validated by RT-qPCR analysis. Finally, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis suggested that PPARG and MDM2 may be the potential biomarkers of AS. Conclusions These findings may help to further elucidate the pathogenesis of AS and provide valuable potential gene biomarkers or targets for the diagnosis and treatment of AS

Adiponectin gene therapy prevents islet loss after transplantation

Significant pancreatic islet dysfunction and loss shortly after transplantation to the liver limit the widespread implementation of this procedure in the clinic. Nonimmune factors such as reactive oxygen species and inflammation have been considered as the primary driving force for graft failure. The adipokine adiponectin plays potent roles against inflammation and oxidative stress. Previous studies have demonstrated that systemic administration of adiponectin significantly prevented islet loss and enhanced islet function at post‐transplantation period. In vitro studies indicate that adiponectin protects islets from hypoxia/reoxygenation injury, oxidative stress as well as TNF‐α‐induced injury. By applying adenovirus mediated transfection, we now engineered islet cells to express exogenous adiponectin gene prior to islet transplantation. Adenovirus‐mediated adiponectin transfer to a syngeneic suboptimal islet graft transplanted under kidney capsule markedly prevented inflammation, preserved islet graft mass and improved islet transplant outcomes. These results suggest that adenovirus‐mediated adiponectin gene therapy would be a beneficial clinical engineering approach for islet preservation in islet transplantation

8-Year Long-Term Outcome Comparison: Two Ways to Exclude the Internal Iliac Artery during Endovascular Aorta Repair (EVAR) Surgery.

To evaluate the 8-year long-term outcome after internal iliac artery (IIA) coverage with or without embolization in EVAR.From January 2006 to December 2013, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) subjects that underwent EVAR and IIA exclusion were recruited and analyzed retrospectively. All the subjects were divided into group A or B based on the presence or absence of intraoperative IIA embolization before coverage (group A: without embolization; group B: with embolization). The 30-day mortality, stent patency, and the incidences of endoleaks and ischemia of the buttocks and lower limbs were compared. The follow-up period was 96 months.There were 137 subjects (A: 74 vs. B: 63), 124 male (91.1%) and 13 female (9.5%), with a mean age of 71.6 years. There were no significant differences in the early outcomes of intraoperative blood loss (87.23±14.07 ml; A: 86.53±9.57 ml vs. B: 88.06±18.04 ml, p = .545) and surgery time (87.13±9.25 min; A: 85.99±7.07 min vs. B: 88.48±11.19 min, p = .130). However, there were significant differences in contrast consumption (65.18±9.85 ml; A: 61.89±7.95 ml vs. B: 69.05±10.50 ml, p<.001) and intraoperative X-ray time (5.9±0.86 min; A: 5.63±0.49 min vs. B: 6.22±1.07 min, P<.001). The 30-day mortality was approximately 0.73%. In the follow-up analysis, no significant differences were identified in the incidence of endoleak (22 subjects; type I: A: 2 vs. B: 2, p = 1.000; type II: A: 8 vs. B: 4, p = .666; type III: A: 4 vs. B: 3, p = 1.000), occlusion (5 subjects; 4.35%; A: 1 vs. B: 4, p = .180), or ischemia (9 subjects; 7.83%; A: 3 vs. B: 6, p = .301). In the analysis of group B, although there were no significant differences between subjects with unilateral and bilateral IIA embolization, but longer hospital stays were required (P<.001), and a more severe complication (skin and gluteus necrosis) occurred in 1 subject with bilateral IIA embolization.IIA could be excluded during EVAR. IIA coverage without embolization had a good surgical and prognostic outcome, and this procedure was not different significantly from coverage with embolization in terms of endoleaks, patency and ischemia

*n₁: abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA); n₂: right common iliac artery aneurysm (CIAA); n₃: left CIAA; n₄: right internal iliac artery aneurysm (IIAA); and n₅: left IIAA.

<p>*n_<b>1</b>: 47; n_<b>1+2</b>: 17; n_<b>1+3</b>: 5; n_<b>1+4</b>: 6; n_<b>1+5</b>: 3; n_<b>1+2+3</b>: 25; n_<b>1+2+5</b>: 7; n_<b>1+2+4</b>: 2; n_<b>1+3+4</b>: 1; n_<b>1+3+5</b>:1; n_<b>1+4+5</b>: 3; n_{<b>1+2+3+4</b>}: 4; n_{<b>1+2+4+5</b>}: 2; n_{<b>1+2+3+5</b>}: 5; and n_{<b>1+2+3+4+5</b>}: 9. n_<b>1+2</b> represents an AAA that invaded the right common iliac artery; the others were considered likely. * Fig 2 is just an illustration; we cannot show the exact anatomical details.</p

8-Year Long-Term Outcome Comparison: Two Ways to Exclude the Internal Iliac Artery during Endovascular Aorta Repair (EVAR) Surgery - Table 2

<p>CIA: Common Iliac Artery; IIA: Internal Iliac Artery</p><p>mm: millimeter</p><p>p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.</p><p>8-Year Long-Term Outcome Comparison: Two Ways to Exclude the Internal Iliac Artery during Endovascular Aorta Repair (EVAR) Surgery - Table 2 </p

Early outcome comparisons between groups A and B.

<p>p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.</p><p>Intraoperative blood loss and contrast consumption were measured in milliliters, and surgery time and intraoperative X-ray time were measured in minutes.</p><p>Early outcome comparisons between groups A and B.</p

There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative ischemia between groups B1 (subjects with unilateral IIA exclusion, n = 4) and B2 (bilateral IIA exclusion, n = 2).

<p>However, B1 was obviously different from B2 in terms of hospital stays and the severity of the ischemic complications. The two subjects in B2 had hospital stays of 12 and 17 days; by contrast, the hospital stays of the subjects in B1 were 3, 5, 5, and 6 days (P < .001). A severe ischemic complication (gluteal skin necrosis) occurred in one subject in group B2 with a claudication distance of less than 100 meters. Gluteal soreness with a claudication distance of approximately 150 meters occurred in another subject in group B2. By contrast, gluteal ischemia and limb ischemia in group B1 were mild.</p

a: No significant difference was found in the survival analysis of endoleak between groups A and B (A: group A, B: group B) (P = .537).

<p>Internal iliac artery (IIA) coverage with embolization did not reduce the long-term risk of endoleak. b: No significant difference was identified in the survival analysis of patency between groups A and B (A: group A, B: group B) (P = .143). The incidence of occlusion during follow-up was not significantly different between groups A and B. c: No significant difference was found in the survival analysis of ischemic complications between groups A and B (A: group A, B: group B) (P = .260). However, the incidence of ischemic complications was higher in group B than in group A (A: 4.84% vs B: 11.11%), and more severe ischemic complications occurred in group B.</p