A High-Precision Micropipette Sensor for Cellular-Level Real-Time Thermal Characterization

We report herein development of a novel glass micropipette thermal sensor fabricated in a cost-effective manner, which is capable of measuring steady thermal fluctuation at spatial resolution of similar to 2 mu m with an accuracy of +/- 0.01 degrees C. We produced and tested various micrometer-sized sensors, ranging from 2 mu m to 30 mu m. The sensor comprises unleaded low-melting-point solder alloy (Sn-based) as a core metal inside a pulled borosilicate glass pipette and a thin film of nickel coating outside, creating a thermocouple junction at the tip. The sensor was calibrated using a thermally insulated calibration chamber, the temperature of which can be controlled with an accuracy of +/- 0.01 degrees C, and the thermoelectric power (Seebeck coefficient) of the sensor was recorded from 8.46 to 8.86 mu V/degrees C. We have demonstrated the capability of measuring temperatures at a cellular level by inserting our temperature sensor into the membrane of a live retinal pigment epithelium cell subjected to a laser beam with a focal spot of 6 mu m. We measured transient temperature profiles and the maximum temperatures were in the range of 38-55 +/- 0.5 degrees C.open111212sciescopu

Unidentified Bright Objects on Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Affect Vestibular Neuritis

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the differences in clinical manifestations of in two groups of vestibular neuritis (VN) patients with or without unidentified bright objects (UBOs).MethodsA prospective, observational study with 46 patients diagnosed with VN between May 2013 and November 2013 was executed. A caloric test, a cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) test, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), spontaneous nystagmus test, head impulse test, and head-shaking nystagmus test were performed.ResultsOf the patients, 56.5% (n=26) were classified as UBO-positive by MRI. These showed lower caloric weakness and more prominent cVEMP asymmetry compared with the UBO-negative group (P0.05).ConclusionUBOs on T2-weighted or fluid attenuated inversion recovery MRI may affect the patterns of the vestibular nerve in patients with VN

Carcinosarcoma of the Maxillary Sinus

Carcinosarcoma is a highly malignant tumor characterized by dual malignant histologic differentiation of epithelial and mesenchymal components. The tumor is extremely rare in the sinonasal tract. We report a case of a 62-year-old man with carcinosarcoma involving the maxillary sinus

THE EFFECTS OF WEARING SPANDEX WEAR WITH COMPRESSION BAND ON MUSCLE ACTIVITY DURING A GOLF SWING

The purpose of this study was to determine how spandex wear with compressive band affects muscle activities during a golf swing. This study showed that average and maximum nEMG (normalized EMG) values of left AO (external abdominal oblique) were less in EG (experimental group) compared with CG (control group) during back swing, whereas those of left PM (pectoralis major) in EG were greater than CG. It is more likely that EG performed effectively golf swing without excess muscle activity. Thus, the spandex wear with compressive band played an important role in improving swing performance with injury prevention. This has led to suggestions of the need for further kinetic and kinematic analyses to evaluate its function

KINEMATIC ANALYSIS OF THE WOMEN’S JAVELIN THROW AT THE IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, DAEGU 2011

The purpose of this study was to analyze the kinematic variables for the women's javelin throw at the IAAF World Championships, Daegu 2011. Three-dimensional motion analyses of the eight players who qualified for the final round were carried out to obtain the data. The results showed that average release, attitude, and attack angles were 38.0±2.0°, 40.4±4.3°, and 3.7±1.1°, respectively. At the release, the average inclination angle of the trunk, upper arm, forearm were 60.8±8.3°, 47.3±10.1°, and 62.6±10.6°, respectively. Moreover, the release velocity and the release height results averaged 25.60±1.16 m/s and 1.86±0.05 m. The crossover phase and delivery phase had average distances of 1.88±0.31 m and 1.53±0.21 m. After release, the average distance between the landing foot and the foul line was 1.72±0.63 m

Low Resistin Level is Associated with Poor Hospitalization-Free Survival in Hemodialysis Patients

Malnutrition and inflammation are related to high rates of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. Resistin is associated with nutrition and inflammation. We attempted to determine whether resistin levels may predict clinical outcomes in hemodialysis patients. We conducted a prospective evaluation of 100 outpatients on hemodialysis in a single dialysis center (male, 46%; mean age, 53.7 ± 16.4 yr). We stratified the patients into 4 groups according to quartiles of serum resistin levels. During the 18-month observational period, patients with the lowest quartile of serum resistin levels had poor hospitalization-free survival (log rank test, P = 0.016). After adjustment of all co-variables, patients with the lowest quartile of serum resistin levels had poor hospitalization-free survival, compared with reference resistin levels. Higher levels of interleukin-6 were an independent predictor of poor hospitalization-free survival. In contrast, serum resistin levels were not correlated with interleukin-6 levels. The current data showed that low resistin levels may independently predict poor hospitalization free survival in hemodialysis patients

THE EFFECTS OF WEARING SPANDEX GARMENT WITH COMPRESSION BAND ON KINEMATIC VARIABLES DURING A GOLF SWING

The purpose of this study was to investigate how spandex garment with compressive band affects kinematic variables during a golf swing. The X-factor and angular velocity of the club in EG were increased during the down swing phase, whereas the significant changes of other kinematic variables were not found in this study. Thus, the effects of wearing spandex garment with compression band cannot be explained as a function of the kinematic variables of interest. It is clear that wearing spandex garment with compressive band may enhance joint stability, which in turn may affect joint kinetics and muscle activation. This has led to suggestions of the need for further kinetic and EMG analyses to evaluate its function