Pathogenesis of Renal Disease in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus—The Role of Autoantibodies and Lymphocytes Subset Abnormalities

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Design of vertically-stacked polychromatic light-emitting diodes

A new design for a polychromatic light-emitting diode (LED) is proposed and demonstrated, LED chips of the primary colors are physically stacked on top of each other. Light emitted from each layer of the stack passes through each other, and thus is mixed naturally without additional optics. As a color-tunable device, a wide range of colors can be generated, making it suitable for display purposes. As a phosphor-free white light LED, luminous efficacy of 30 lm/watt was achieved. © 2009 Optical Society of America.published_or_final_versio

Neuroimaging techniques in epilepsy

Objective: To review state-of-the-art neuroimaging modalities in epilepsy and their clinical applications. Data sources and study selection: PubMed literature searches to March 2010, using the following key words: 'epilepsy', 'positron emission tomography (PET)', 'single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)', 'MR volumetry', 'diffusion tensor imaging', and 'functional MR imaging'. Data extraction All articles including neuroimaging techniques in epilepsy were included in the review. Data synthesis High-field magnetic resonance imaging is fundamental for high-resolution structural imaging. Functional radionuclide imaging (positron emission tomography/single-photon emission computed tomography) can provide additional information to improve overall accuracy, and show good results with high concordance rates in temporal lobe epilepsy. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a useful adjunct consistently demonstrating changing metabolites in the epileptogenic region. Magnetic resonance volumetric imaging shows excellent sensitivity and specificity for temporal lobe epilepsy but thus far it has been inconsistent for extratemporal epilepsy. Diffusion tensor imaging with tractography allows visualisation of specific tracts such as connections with the language and visual cortex to enhance preoperative evaluation. Functional magnetic resonance imaging using blood oxygen level-dependent activation techniques is mainly used in presurgical planning for the high-sensitivity mapping of the eloquent cortex. Both contrast-bolus and arterial spin labelling magnetic resonance perfusion imaging show good correlation with clinical lateralisation of seizure disorder. Conclusion Structural imaging is essential in localisation and lateralization of the seizure focus. Functional radionuclide imaging or advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques can provide complementary information when an epileptogenic substrate is not identified or in the presence of non-concordant clinical and structural findings.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

MRI detection of peritoneal adhesion with dialysate enhancement

This study investigated the use of clinical peritoneal dialysis fluid (dialysate) as a peritoneal contrast agent to visualize peritoneal adhesions in rats at 7 Tesla. Intraperitoneal injection of dialysate (~0.1 mL/g) allowed the MR detection of peritoneal adhesions that were surgically induced in all rats studied (N = 6). MR measurements of adhesion surface areas correlated well with the postmortem estimations (R = 0.99). T1 and T2 values of undiluted dialysate were found to be 3017.5¡Ó35.3 ms and 108.4¡Ó2.0 ms, respectively. These findings demonstrated dialysate-enhanced MRI as a potentially valuable technique in clinical detection and evaluation of post-surgical peritoneal adhesion and to monitor therapeutic interventions (i.e., against peritoneal adhesion) in future preclinical research.published_or_final_versio

Geometrical shaping of InGaN light-emitting diodes by laser micromachining

Geometrical shaping of InGaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) by laser micromachining is introduced. The sapphire substrate is shaped with inclined sidewalls at 50, serving as a prism favoring light redirection for out-coupling from the top window. Compared to conventional cuboid LEDs with a calculated light extraction efficiency next of 18.3%, these shaped LEDs offers a pronounced increase in next of up to 85.2%, verified by experimental results. © 2009 IEEE.published_or_final_versio

Non-viral Smad7 gene delivery and attenuation of postoperative peritoneal adhesion in an experimental model

Background: Postoperative intra-abdominal adhesion is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Smad7, a protein that occupies a strategic position in fibrogenesis, inhibits the transforming growth factor (TGF) β/Smad signalling pathway. In this study the therapeutic potential of exogenous Smad7 in preventing fibrogenesis in postoperative intra-abdominal adhesion was investigated. Methods: Intra-abdominal adhesion was induced in a rodent model by peritoneal abrasion. Smad7 was delivered into the peritoneal cavity by a non-viral ultrasound-microbubble-mediated naked gene transfection system. The effect of Smad7 transgene on adhesion formation was studied by measuring changes in TGF-β, fibrogenic factors, α-SMA and Smad2/3 activation in the anterior abdominal wall. Results: Four weeks after surgical abrasion, all rats developed significant peritoneal adhesion with enhanced TGF-β expression, increased levels of extracellular matrix components and activated myofibroblasts, accompanied by decreased Smad7 expression and increased Smad2/3 activation. In rats treated with the Smad7 transgene, the incidence and severity of peritoneal adhesion were significantly reduced, with biochemical downregulation of fibrogenic factors and inhibition of Smad2/3 activation. Serial quantitation using magnetic resonance imaging revealed a significant reduction in adhesion areas from day 14 onwards. Conclusion: Ultrasound-microbubble-mediated gene transfection provides timely targeted gene delivery for the treatment of postoperative peritoneal adhesions. Copyright © 2009 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.postprin

Toll-like receptor 4 mediates tubular inflammation in diabetic nephropathy

published_or_final_versionThe 15th Medical Research Conference, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, 16 January 2010. In Hong Kong Medical Journal, 2010, v. 16 n. 1, suppl. 1, p. 39, abstract no. 6

Simbolismos, Memórias e Narrativas: Redescobrindo a Rua da Lama da Década de 1980

Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo revelar aspectos simbólicos relacionados ao passado de um espaço na cidade de Vitória/ES, a Rua da Lama, a partir de pessoas que a frequentaram na década de 1980. Esta década foi escolhida por se tratar do início dessa região emblemática na cidade, que até hoje permanece sendo um ponto de encontro de lazer das pessoas. O que torna tal espaço contemporâneo e muito frequentado dentro da cidade. O estudo buscou relacionar os aspectos simbólicos de tal espaço, manifestados nas memórias presentes nas narrativas de seus antigos frequentadores. O objeto de pesquisa, composto por diferentes tipos de organizações, foi definido como espaço organizacional. Devido à complexidade do tema, buscou-se um aporte interdisciplinar dentro dos Estudos Organizacionais, abarcando as Ciências Sociais, História e o referencial de memória na Administração. Para o empreendimento, à luz de uma abordagem interdisciplinar nos Estudos Organizacionais, foi desenvolvida uma pesquisa de cunho qualitativo, utilizando a técnica de entrevistas narrativas para a coleta dos dados, gerando um conteúdo denso, que foram transcritas para posterior análise. Esse tipo de entrevista permitiu a pesquisadora entender de forma mais profunda o universo pesquisado. Após a coleta dos dados, o tratamento foi feito através da análise de conteúdo com as categorizações a posteriori. O período de coleta de dados se deu de maio a outubro de 2015, no qual foram realizadas oito entrevistas narrativas. Como resultado, foram encontradas três categorias seguindo um percurso temático, nomeadas por: O rock da Lama; As diferentes relações simbólicas com o espaço da Lama da década de 1980 e A Rua da Lama como um espaço de transgressão. A reflexão deu conta dos diferentes usos do passado para a reapropriação dos espaços simbólicos

Severe acute respiratory syndrome: patients were epidemiologically linked: Letters to the editor

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Tissue kallikrein mediates pro-inflammatory pathways and activation of protease-activated receptor-4 in proximal tubular epithelial cells.

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