Uptake Mechanism of ApoE-Modified Nanoparticles on Brain Capillary Endothelial Cells as a Blood-Brain Barrier Model

Background: The blood-brain barrier (BBB) represents an insurmountable obstacle for most drugs thus obstructing an effective treatment of many brain diseases. One solution for overcoming this barrier is a transport by binding of these drugs to surface-modified nanoparticles. Especially apolipoprotein E (ApoE) appears to play a major role in the nanoparticle-mediated drug transport across the BBB. However, at present the underlying mechanism is incompletely understood. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, the uptake of the ApoE-modified nanoparticles into the brain capillary endothelial cells was investigated to differentiate between active and passive uptake mechanism by flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Furthermore, different in vitro co-incubation experiments were performed with competing ligands of the respective receptor. Conclusions/Significance: This study confirms an active endocytotic uptake mechanism and shows the involvement of low density lipoprotein receptor family members, notably the low density lipoprotein receptor related protein, on the uptake of the ApoE-modified nanoparticles into the brain capillary endothelial cells. This knowledge of the uptake mechanism of ApoE-modified nanoparticles enables future developments to rationally create very specific and effective carriers to overcome the blood-brain barrier

Vestibular Schwannoma or acoustic neuroma

Vestibular schwannoma is the most common tumor of the posterior fossa of the skull. Patients referred with the primary otologic symptoms such as hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, imbalance, and the cranial nerve palsy. Thirty-three patients were operated and treated by a team of otolaryngologist and neurosurgeon, anudiometrist, and internist. Patients'chiefcomplaint was due to 94% hearing loss and 27% tinnitus. They scarcely complain of vertigo. If a patient refers with the palsy or paralysis of facial nerve preoperation, we must think of the facial nerve schwannoma or hemangioma or congential cholestoma or malignant metastases rather than acoustic neuroma. The best way for preoperative diagnosis is audiometry, ABR (Auditory Brain Response), and SDS (speech discrimination score) with 90% success, but computer Tomography (CT) scan and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) are the valuable anatomic diagnostic radiographic devices. The best method of operation is translabirynthine approach (TLA), since it has the advantages such as an easy access to nerve paths and being the nearest path to CPA (Cerebellopontine Angle). Physicians ought to talk to patients about the importance of the microscopic surgery, surgical methods, and their probable diverse effects such as hearing loss, facial nerve palsy, and intracranial problems

Petrous apex lesions outcome in 21 cases

Petrous apex lesions of temporal bone progress slowly. Most of the time not only destruct this area but also involve neighbouring element. The symptoms of the neighbouring neuro-vasculare involvement we can recognize these lesions. The most common symptoms of involvement of the petrous apex are: headache, conductive hearing loss or sensorineural type, paresthesia and anesthesia of the trigeminal nerve, paresia and paralysis of the facial nerve, abducent nerve. In retrospective study which has been in the ENT and HNS wards of Amiralam hospital, 148 patients have been operated due to temporal bone tumor; from these numbers, 21 (13.6%) patients had petrous apex lesions of temporal bone. Eleven (52.9%) patients of these 21 persons were men and the remaining 10 (47-6%) were women. The average age of the patients was 37 years. The common pathology of these patients were glomus jugulare tumors, hemangioma, schwannoma, meningioma, congenital cholesteatoma, giant cell granuloma. The kind of operations that have been done on these patients were: infratemporal, translabyrinthine and middle fossa approaches. The conclusion of this study shows that petrous apex area is an occult site. The symptoms of this lesion are not characteristic, meticulous attention to the history and physical examination are very helpful to recognition of these lesions and it's extention

Preparation and Characterization of Aligned Iron Oxide Carbon Nanotube Thin Film

Thin films of acid-functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (O-MWCNT) with different concentrations and coated O-MWCNT with $Fe_3O_4$ nanoparticles (MWCNT/$Fe_3O_4$) were prepared on glass substrate at 300C by spray pyrolysis technique. In order to study the effect of nanotubes alignment on the physical properties of carbon nanotube films, thin film of iron oxide nanoparticles coated carbon nanotubes was deposited under magnetic field of 0.4 T. All samples were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and the Hall effect experiment. Results show that the electrical conductivity and optical transmittance of carbon nanotubes thin films depend on the concentration of carbon nanotubes and their arrangement at the films. Aligning carbon nanotubes in thin films leads to an obvious improvement in electrical and optical properties of thin films

Figure 2 in Two new species of Niphargus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Iran

Figure 2. Niphargus khayyami sp. nov., holotype, lateral view. The appendages indicated with dashed lines are reconstructed from the other side of the animal.Published as part of <i>Hekmatara, M., Zakšek, V., Baladehi, M. Heidari & Fišer, C., 2013, Two new species of Niphargus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Iran, pp. 1421-1449 in Journal of Natural History 47 (21-22)</i> on page 1425, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2012.743616, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10091614">http://zenodo.org/record/10091614</a&gt

Figure 6 in Two new species of Niphargus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Iran

Figure 6. Niphargus khayyami sp. nov., holotype: pleopod, uropods and telson.Published as part of <i>Hekmatara, M., Zakšek, V., Baladehi, M. Heidari & Fišer, C., 2013, Two new species of Niphargus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Iran, pp. 1421-1449 in Journal of Natural History 47 (21-22)</i> on page 1430, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2012.743616, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10091614">http://zenodo.org/record/10091614</a&gt

Figure 3 in Two new species of Niphargus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Iran

Figure 3. Niphargus khayyami sp. nov., holotype: antennae and mouthparts.Published as part of <i>Hekmatara, M., Zakšek, V., Baladehi, M. Heidari & Fišer, C., 2013, Two new species of Niphargus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Iran, pp. 1421-1449 in Journal of Natural History 47 (21-22)</i> on page 1426, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2012.743616, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10091614">http://zenodo.org/record/10091614</a&gt

Figure 5 in Two new species of Niphargus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Iran

Figure 5. Niphargus khayyami sp. nov., holotype: pereopods III–VII.Published as part of <i>Hekmatara, M., Zakšek, V., Baladehi, M. Heidari & Fišer, C., 2013, Two new species of Niphargus (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Iran, pp. 1421-1449 in Journal of Natural History 47 (21-22)</i> on page 1429, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2012.743616, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10091614">http://zenodo.org/record/10091614</a&gt