MagNeed - Needle-Shaped Electromagnets for Localized Actuation Within Compact Workspaces

Electromagnetic actuation of micro-/milli-sized agents has traditionally relied on large electromagnets positioned at considerable distances from the agents. As a result, the electromagnets consume kilowatts of power to overcome the limited generation of magnetic field gradients. Miniaturized electromagnets offer an alternative approach for reducing power consumption via localized actuation of micro-/milli-sized agents. Typically, the generation of magnetic field gradients in the vicinity of a miniaturized electromagnet is comparable with traditional electromagnetic actuation systems. Miniaturized electromagnets can be positioned near target sites in microfluidic channels or ex vivo vasculatures. Thereby, localized trapping and actuation of magnetic micro-/milli-sized agents are carried out. This study introduces MagNeed - an electromagnetic actuation system composed of three needle-shaped electromagnets (NSEs). MagNeed can determine compact workspaces by positioning the NSEs at different spatial configurations. Each NSE generates magnetic field gradients (up to 3.5 T/m at 5 mm from the NSE tip axis) while keeping a maximum power consumption (0.5 W) and temperature (&lt; 42°C). MagNeed is complemented by a framework that reconstructs the pose of the NSEs. Experiments test MagNeed and framework on a transparent Teflon tube (5 mm inner diameter). MagNeed demonstrates localized trapping and actuation of a 1 mm NdFeB bead against a flow of water and silica gel particles (1-3 mm diameter).</p

Polymorphism of a COLIA1 Gene Sp1 Binding Site in Korean Women with Pelvic Organ Prolapse

PURPOSE: To evaluate the possible influence of G-->T substitution at the Sp1-binding site of the COLIA1 gene on the risk of pelvic organ prolapse (POP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 15 women with advanced stage POP. Fifteen control subjects with uterine myomas among the postmenopausal women were matched for age and parity. DNA was obtained from peripheral blood leukocytes. The fragments of the first intron of the COLIA1 gene were amplified by real time polymerase chain reaction. The polymorphism was identified using LightCycler Technology with hybridization probes. Sequencing reactions were performed on each template using commercial primer. RESULTS: Two groups had no significant difference in medical history, surgical, and smoking history. The homozygous peaks in two groups were noted at 57 on melting curve analysis. Sequencing reactions confirmed the G/G alleles in the 30 specimens tested. We could not find any polymorphism at the Sp1-binding site in COLIA1 gene with advanced stage POP. Statistical significance was considered to be p < .05. CONCLUSION: The polymorphism of the Sp1-binding site in the COLIA1 gene did not contribute to the development of POP in Korea.ope

Human Neural Stem Cells Overexpressing Choline Acetyltransferase Restore Unconditioned Fear in Rats with Amygdala Injury

Amygdala is involved in the fear memory that recognizes certain environmental cues predicting threatening events. Manipulation of neurotransmission within the amygdala affects the expression of conditioned and unconditioned emotional memories such as fear freezing behaviour. We previously demonstrated that F3.ChAT human neural stem cells (NSCs) overexpressing choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) improve cognitive function of Alzheimer’s disease model rats with hippocampal or cholinergic nerve injuries by increasing acetylcholine (ACh) level. In the present study, we examined the effect of F3.ChAT cells on the deficit of unconditioned fear freezing. Rats given N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) in their amygdala 2 weeks prior to cat odor exposure displayed very short resting (freezing) time compared to normal animals. NMDA induced neuronal degeneration in the amygdala, leading to a decreased ACh concentration in cerebrospinal fluid. However, intracerebroventricular transplantation of F3.ChAT cells attenuated amygdala lesions 4 weeks after transplantation. The transplanted cells were found in the NMDA-injury sites and produced ChAT protein. In addition, F3.ChAT-receiving rats recuperated freezing time staying remote from the cat odor source, according to the recovery of brain ACh concentration. The results indicate that human NSCs overexpressing ChAT may facilitate retrieval of unconditioned fear memory by increasing ACh level

Outcome of Management of Local Recurrence after Immediate Transverse Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous Flap Breast Reconstruction

BackgroundNo consensus has been reached regarding the outcome of management of local recurrence after transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap breast reconstruction. This study demonstrated the presentation, management, and outcomes of local recurrence after immediate TRAM breast reconstruction.MethodsA comparison was conducted among 1,000 consecutive patients who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with a pedicled TRAM flap (TRAM group) and 3,183 consecutive patients who underwent only modified radical mastectomy without reconstruction (MRM group) from January 2001 to December 2009. The presentation, treatment, and outcome including aesthetics and overall survival rate were analyzed.ResultsLocal recurrences occurred in 18 (1.8%) patients (TRAM-LR group) who underwent TRAM breast reconstruction and 38 (1.2%) patients (MRM-LR group) who underwent MRM only (P=0.1712). Wide excision was indicated in almost all the local recurrence cases. Skin graft was required in 4 patients in the MRM-LR group, whereas only one patient required a skin graft to preserve the mound shape in the TRAM-LR group. The breast mound was maintained in all 17 patients that survived in the TRAM-LR group even after wide excision. The overall survival rate was 94.4% in the TRAM-LR group and 65.8% in the MRM-LR group (P=0.276).ConclusionsLocal recurrence after immediate TRAM flap breast reconstruction could be detected without delay and managed effectively by multiple modalities without reducing overall survival rates. Breast mound reconstruction with soft autologous tissue allowed for primary closure in most of the cases. In all of the patients who survived, the contour of their reconstructed breast remained