Kirigami-Inspired Organic and Inorganic Film-Based Flexible Thermoelectric Devices with Built-In Heat Sink

Thermoelectric (TE) devices can convert heat to electricity directly, which offers a unique opportunity to realize waste heat recovery. However, conventional TE devices inevitably use heat sinks, which are bulky, rigid and heavy, limiting practical applications. Herein, we propose a fully integrated film-based TE device with intrinsically built-in fins as heat sink in a hexagonal honeycomb device structure, that simultaneously achieves high TE performance and conformability, as confirmed by experiments and modelling. A flexible Kapton substrate with copper electrodes, integrating either carbon nanotube (CNT) veils or bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) TE ‘legs’, both of n- and p-type, achieved a remarkable specific power of 185.4 nW K−2 for a Bi2Te3-based device and 53.1 nW K−2 for a CNT-based device, thanks to the heat dissipation effect granted by the built-in fins. Besides, the addition of oriented polymer films interconnects, contracting when above their glass transition temperature, allowed a single substrate two-dimensional (2D) TE device to self-fold into a three-dimensional (3D) hexagonal honeycomb structure, with built-in fins, contactlessly and autonomously. The demonstrated shape-programmed kirigami-inspired scalable TE device paves the way for realising self-powered applications comprising hundreds of TE legs with both inorganic (e.g., Bi2Te3) and organic (e.g. CNT veils) TE materials and integrated heat sinks

Distribution of eosinophils in the gastrointestinal tract of children with no organic disease

Background This study aimed to assess the eosinophil (eos) density of the mucosa of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in children undergoing endoscopic procedures following an extensive workup, without diagnosis of an organic disease. Methods Biopsies from GI endoscopies performed at 3 major children’s hospitals (Athens, Madrid and Rome), between January 2012 and June 2018, were evaluated by a single pathologist in each center. Peak eos counts were expressed /high power field and /mm2. Other histological abnormalities were also reported. Results A total of 111 children (median age 11 years; 48 boys) underwent upper endoscopy (333 biopsies), while 44 (median age 12; 25 boys) underwent ileocolonoscopy (262 biopsies). The median (interquartile range) eos/mm2 were as follows: esophagus 0 (0-0); stomach 0 (0-3); duodenum 22 (13-29); ileum 29 (19-46); cecum 39 (25-71); ascending colon 24 (20-41); transverse colon 27 (21-57); descending colon 21 (13-27); sigmoid colon 22 (13-30); and rectum 10 (6-22). Geographical variations in GI tissue eos counts were found amongst the participating centers, but the causative factors need further evaluation. Functional GI disorders according to the Rome IV criteria were diagnosed in 73 children (37 boys, median age 13 years). No differences were found between children with or without functional GI disorder diagnosis, with regard to eos density in the GI tract. Conclusion The reported peak counts of GI tissue eos in children with no organic diseases provide normative values that may be useful in the evaluation of children with GI symptoms suggestive of eosinophilic GI disorders

MicroRNA expression profiles in pediatric dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors.

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015Among noncoding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been most extensively studied, and their biology has repeatedly been proven critical for central nervous system pathological conditions. The diagnostic value of several miRNAs was appraised in pediatric dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNETs) using miRNA microarrays and receiving operating characteristic curves analyses. Overall, five pediatric DNETs were studied. As controls, 17 samples were used: the FirstChoice Human Brain Reference RNA and 16 samples from deceased children who underwent autopsy and were not present with any brain malignancy. The miRNA extraction was carried out using the mirVANA miRNA Isolation Kit, while the experimental approach included miRNA microarrays covering 1211 miRNAs. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to validate the expression profiles of miR-1909* and miR-3138 in all samples initially screened with miRNA microarrays. Our findings indicated that miR-3138 might act as a tumor suppressor gene when down-regulated and miR-1909* as a putative oncogenic molecule when up-regulated in pediatric DNETs compared to the control cohort. Subsequently, both miRNA signatures might serve as putative diagnostic biomarkers for pediatric DNETs.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Reporting new cases of anaemia in primary care settings in Crete, Greece: a rural practice study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Early diagnosis of anaemia represents an important task within primary care settings. This study reports on the frequency of new cases of anaemia among patients attending rural primary care settings in Crete (Greece) and to offer an estimate of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) frequency in this study group.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>All patients attending the rural primary health care units of twelve general practitioners (GPs) on the island of Crete for ten consecutive working days were eligible to participate in this study. Hemoglobin (Hb) levels were measured by portable analyzers. Laboratory tests to confirm new cases of anaemia were performed at the University General Hospital of Heraklion.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One hundred and thirteen out of 541 recruited patients had a low value of Hb according to the initial measurement obtained by the use of the portable analyzer. Forty five (45.5%) of the 99 subjects who underwent laboratory testing had confirmed anaemia. The mean value of the Hb levels in the group with confirmed anaemia, as detected by the portable analyzer was 11.1 g/dl (95% Confidence Interval (CI) from 10.9 to 11.4) and the respective mean value of the Hb levels obtained from the full blood count was 11.4 g/dl (95% CI from 11.2 to 11.7) (<it>P </it>= 0.01). Sixteen out of those 45 patients with anaemia (35.6%) had IDA, with ferritin levels lower than 30 ng/ml.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Keeping in mind that this paper does not deal with specificity or sensitivity figures, it is suggested that in rural and remote settings anaemia is still invisible and point of care testing may have a place to identify it.</p

Effect of religiosity/spirituality and sense of coherence on depression within a rural population in Greece: the Spili III project

Background: Recent research has addressed the hypothesis that religiosity/spirituality and sense of coherence buffer the negative effects of stress on numerous health issues. The aim of the current study was to further this work by exploring potential links between psycho-social factors such as religiosity/ spirituality and sense of coherence with depression. Methods: A total of 220 subjects of the SPILI III cohort (1988-2012) attending a primary care setting in the town of Spili on rural Crete represented the target group. All participants underwent a standardized procedure. Validated questionnaires were used to evaluate sense of coherence, depression levels and religious and spiritual beliefs. A multiple linear regression analysis of the Beck Depression Inventory Scale (BDI) in relation to demographic characteristics, scores on the Royal Free Interview for Spiritual and Religious Beliefs scale (RFI-SRB) and Sense of Coherence scale (SOC) was used. Results: A significant inverse association was found between BDI and RFI-SRB scale (B-coef=-0.6999, p<0.001), as well as among BDI and SOC scale (B-coef=-0.556, p<0.001). Conclusions: The findings of the current observational study indicate that highly religious participants are less likely to score high in the depression scale. Furthermore, participants with high SOC scored significantly low in the BDI scale. Further research is required in order to explore the potential effect of SOC and religiosity/spirituality in mental health

Cyclin D1 and D3 expression in melanocytic skin lesions

Cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases, as well as proteins cooperating with them are responsible for cell cycle regulation which is crucial for normal development, injury repair, and tumorigenesis. D-type cyclins regulate G1 cell cycle progression by enhancing the activities of cyclin-dependent kinases, and their expression is frequently altered in tumors. Disturbances in cyclin expression were also reported in melanocytic skin lesions. The objective of the study was to evaluate the expression of cyclins D1 and D3 in common, dysplastic, and malignant melanocytic skin lesions. Forty-eight melanocytic skin lesions including common nevi (10), dysplastic nevi (24), and melanomas (14) were diagnosed by dermoscopy and excised. Expression of cyclin D1 and D3 was detected by immunohistochemistry and quantified as percentage of immunostained cell nuclei in each sample. In normal skin, expression of cyclins D1 and D3 was not detected. The mean percentage of cyclin D1-positive nuclei was 7.75% for melanoma samples, 5% for dysplastic nevi samples, and 0.34% for common nevi samples. For cyclin D3, the respective values were 17.8, 6.4, and 1.8%. Statistically significant differences in cyclin D1 expression were observed between melanomas and common nevi as well as between dysplastic and common nevi (p = 0.0001), but not between melanomas and dysplastic nevi. Cyclin D3 expression revealed significant differences between all investigated lesion types (p = 0.0000). The mean cyclin D1 and D3 scores of melanomas with Breslow thickness <1 mm and >1 mm were not significantly different. G1/S abnormalities are crucial for the progression of malignant melanoma, and enhanced cyclin D1 and D3 expression leading to increased melanocyte proliferation is observed in both melanoma and dysplastic nevi. In histopathologically ambiguous cases, lower cyclin D3 expression in dysplastic nevi can be a diagnostic marker for that lesion type

Recurrent, low-frequency coding variants contributing to colorectal cancer in the Swedish population

<div><p>Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified dozens of common genetic variants associated with risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the majority of CRC heritability remains unclear. In order to discover low-frequency, high-risk CRC susceptibility variants in Swedish population, we genotyped 1 515 CRC patients enriched for familial cases, and 12 108 controls. Case/control association analysis suggested eight novel variants associated with CRC risk (OR 2.0–17.6, p-value < 2.0E-07), comprised of seven coding variants in genes <i>RAB11FIP5</i>, <i>POTEA</i>, <i>COL27A1</i>, <i>MUC5B</i>, <i>PSMA8</i>, <i>MYH7B</i>, and <i>PABPC1L</i> as well as one variant downstream of <i>NEU1</i> gene. We also confirmed 27 out of 30 risk variants previously reported from GWAS in CRC with a mixed European population background. This study identified rare, coding sequence variants associated with CRC risk through analysis in a relatively homogeneous population. The segregation data suggest a complex mode of inheritance in seemingly dominant pedigrees.</p></div

Measuring the burden of herpes zoster and post herpetic neuralgia within primary care in rural Crete, Greece

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Research has indicated that general practitioners (GPs) have good clinical judgment in regards to diagnosing and managing herpes zoster (HZ) within clinical practice in a country with limited resources for primary care and general practice. The objective of the current study was to assess the burden of HZ and post herpetic neuralgia (PHN) within rural general practices in Crete, Greece.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The current study took place within a rural setting in Crete, Greece during the period of November 2007 to November 2009 within the catchment area in which the Cretan Rural Practice-based Research Network is operating. In total 19 GP's from 14 health care units in rural Crete were invited to participate, covering a total turnover patient population of approximately 25, 000 subjects. For the purpose of this study an electronic record database was constructed and used as the main tool for monitoring HZ and PHN incidence. Stress related data was also collected with the use of the Short Anxiety Screening Test (SAST).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The crude incidence rate of HZ was 1.4/1000 patients/year throughout the entire network of health centers and satellite practices, while among satellite practices alone it was calculated at 1.3/1000 patients/year. Additionally, the standardised incidence density within satellite practices was calculated at 1.6/1000 patients/year. In regards to the stress associated with HZ and PHN, the latter were found to have lower levels of anxiety, as assessed through the SAST score (17.4 ± 3.9 vs. 21.1 ± 5.7; <it>p </it>= 0.029).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The implementation of an electronic surveillance system was feasible so as to measure the burden of HZ and PHN within the rural general practice setting in Crete.</p