Plane-projection multi-photon microscopy for high-frame-rate Live Tissue Imaging

We present a wide-field multi-photon microscopy that provides optical sectioning at high frame rate under biocompatible laser dosage. Axial resolution comparable to confocal microscopy and 5-frame-per-second live tissue imaging are demonstrated

Caries arresting effect of silver diamine fluoride on dentine carious lesion with S. mutans and L. acidophilus dual-species cariogenic biofilm

Objectives: This in vitro study investigated the effects of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) on dentine carious lesion with cariogenic biofilm. Study Design: Thirty human dentine blocks were inoculated with Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus dual-species biofilm to create carious lesion. They were equally divided into test and control group to receive topical application of SDF and water. After incubation anaerobically using micro-well plate at 37oC for 7 days, the biofilms were evaluated for kinetics, morphology and viability by colony forming units (CFU), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and confocal microscopy (CLSM), respectively. The carious lesion underwent crystal characteristics analysis, evaluation of the changes in chemical structure and density of collagen fibrils using x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and immune-labeling. Results: The log CFU of S. mutans and L. acidophilus in the test group was significantly lower than control group. SEM and CLSM showed confluent biofilm in control group, but not in test group. XRD showed the loss of crystallinity of dentine due to the dissolution of hydroxyapatite crystal structure in test group was less than control group. FTIR showed that log [Amide I: HPO4 2-] for test vs. control group was 0.31±0.10 vs. 0.57±0.13 (p<0.05). The goldlabeling density in test vs. control group was 8.54±2.44/ìm2 vs. 12.91±4.24/ìm2 (p=0.04). Conclusions: SDF had antimicrobial activity against the cariogenic biofilms and reduced demineralization of dentine

Construction and verification of digital electronics contestants' indicators for vocational education in Taiwan

No AbstractKeywords: competency indicator, digital electronics, important-performance analysis, skill competitio

Preventing root caries development under oral biofilm challenge in an artificial mouth

Objectives: To study the preventive effects of chlorhexidine against root caries under oral biofilm in an artificial mouth. Study Design: Sixteen human tooth-root disks were inoculated with a salivary sample that was produced by mixing the unstimulated saliva of three adults who had no untreated caries. The disks were incubated in an artificial mouth fed with a 5% sucrose solution three times daily for one week. Eight disks received a twice daily rinse of 0.12% chlorhexidine (test group). The other eight disks were rinsed in distilled water (control). The biofilm was then studied with three techniques: colony forming unit (CFU) counting, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The changes in the chemical structure of the root surface were studied using Fourier transform infra-Red spectroscopy. Type-I collagen and proteoglycans on the root surface were quantified using immunocytochemical staining. Results: The log CFU for the test and control groups were 4.21 and 8.27, respectively (p<0.001). The CFU count of Streptococci and Lactobacilli were negligible. Both the SEM and the CLSM showed suppressed bacteria growth in the test group. The log [amide-I: HPO 4 2-] of the test and control groups were 1.11 and 1.93, respectively (p=0.02). The mean counts of sound type-I collagen in the test and control groups were 16.8/µm² and 13.0/µm², respectively (p<0.001), whereas the mean counts of intact proteoglycans were 5.6/µm² and 3.5/µm², respectively (P<0.001). Conclusions: Chlorhexidine suppressed the growth of selected cariogenic bacteria in oral biofilm on the root surface and thus protected tooth-root from cariogenic challenge

Wide-field optical sectioning for live-tissue imaging by plane-projection multiphoton microscopy

Optical sectioning provides three-dimensional (3D) information in biological tissues. However, most imaging techniques implemented with optical sectioning are either slow or deleterious to live tissues. Here, we present a simple design for wide-field multiphoton microscopy, which provides optical sectioning at a reasonable frame rate and with a biocompatible laser dosage. The underlying mechanism of optical sectioning is diffuser-based temporal focusing. Axial resolution comparable to confocal microscopy is theoretically derived and experimentally demonstrated. To achieve a reasonable frame rate without increasing the laser power, a low-repetition-rate ultrafast laser amplifier was used in our setup. A frame rate comparable to that of epifluorescence microscopy was demonstrated in the 3D imaging of fluorescent protein expressed in live epithelial cell clusters. In this report, our design displays the potential to be widely used for video-rate live-tissue and embryo imaging with axial resolution comparable to laser scanning microscopy

Spontaneous Dissecting Aneurysm of the Renal Artery: A Case Report

Primary dissecting aneurysms of the renal artery are exceedingly rare. The triad of flank pain, hematuria, and hypertension of acute onset in the absence of urinary obstruction should suggest this rare condition. We report a case of spontaneous dissecting aneurysm of the renal artery treated using conservative medical treatment. The diagnosis, therapeutic management, and outcome are discussed

Substance abuse in adolescence in Taiwan Focus on ketamine

Ketamine is an anesthetic and analgesic agent but has been identified to have abuse potential in recent years. Ketamine abuse is found to be rapidly increasing especially among adolescents and early adults for its relative low cost and lack of immediate severe side effects. Ketamine is a NMDA antagonist and has acute antidepressant effects from recent pharmacological research. The association between abuse potential and antidepressant effects is still uncertain. Though there are no obvious physical withdrawal symptoms of ketamine, strong cravings were noted from chronic ketamine abusers. On the other hand, ketamine can cause severe damage to the urinary system. “Ketamine-induced uropathy” was proposed in recent years, with presentation of severe lower tract urinary symptoms (LUTS; including frequency, urgency, dysuria and hematuria) and urinary system damage. Similar to patients with other substance abuse, ketamine abusers have higher incidence of co-morbid psychiatric diseases. Currently there is still lack of specific medical treatment for managing ketamine abuse, but psychosocial intervention plays an important role especially for adolescents. In this brief review, we hope to call more attention to this emerging problem

地下水引發自由端順向坡土體滑動特性分析

Retrogressive sliding can be observed in groundwater-induced landslides. The major inducing factor of this phenomenon is the fluidization in the down-hillslope and the soil of the bottom-layers. Moreover, when the water content in the area around the groundwater input pipe surpasses 29%, sag in the upper soil layer can also occur. As the groundwater discharge increases in experiments with the same slope, the equilibrium time needed to achieve landslide equilibrium gets shorter and the durations of landslides also decrease. As the slope in experiments with the same level of groundwater discharge increases, the equilibrium time required to achieve landslide equilibrium gets shorter, the landsliding area in a specific time period gets larger and the total landsliding area also decreases.由地下水誘發自由端邊坡滑動現象，崩塌型態屬於後退型崩塌。主要誘發因子為滲透水分造成下層土壤流動化及地下水輸入管鄰近區域因土壤土體底層水分飽和度超過29%而產生土壤下陷現象。在相同坡度的邊坡滑動實驗中，地下水量越增加，達到邊坡滑動平衡的時間越短且發生滑動次數越少；而在相同輸入地下水量的邊坡滑動實驗中，坡度越增加則達邊坡滑動平衡時間越短、有越高比例的滑動面積集中在特定時段，且總滑動面積也會因此減少