Temporal response of medical liquid crystal displays

Displays based on liquid crystal technology suffer from slow temporal response due to the dynamics of the molecular rearrangement in response to a pixel voltage change. A slow display can affect the visualization by the human observer of subtle contrast in dynamic presentation of volumetric image datasets or real-time image sequences. In this paper, we describe a measurement method for the characterization of the temporal response of medical liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The ratio of luminance difference to noise at the gray levels of concern determines the reliability of measurements. Coefficients of variations are used to represent the measurement reliability. We optimized the repeatability of most response time measurements to less than 10%. However, poor repeatability is encountered for the response of adjacent gray levels. 256 X 255 inter-gray-level transition time matrices were measured for four medical displays and one high-definition TV LCD display. Response times range from below 20 ms to above 150 ms. For each display, response times are not uniformly distributed, with a faster response for large gray-level transitions. Transition times are smaller when the starting gray level is between 10 and 20 for a target between 25 and 150. The difference could be over 100 ms for different transitions within a display. For transitions with poor temporal response, the luminance after 1, 3, and 5 frames reaches only 12, 45, and 75% of the target value, respectively. We also found that LCD response time depends on temperature, with 1 h warm-up reducing the response time by a factor of 2.     

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) reduces the invasive and metastatic properties of cervical cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

OBJECTIVES: Arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) was found to induce apoptosis in certain types of cancer cells including acute promyelocytic leukemia, and recently in solid tumors. We have previously demonstrated that As(2)O(3) has a therapeutic effect on cervical cancer by apoptosis promotion in vitro and in vivo. Here we further our study on the role of arsenic trioxide in regulating invasive activity of cervical cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The effects of As(2)O(3) on human cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa, SiHa, Caski) adhesion, migration and invasion were observed by means of cell adhesion test, cell migration test and cell invasion test. The effects of As(2)O(3) on p-IkappaB, MMP-2, E-cadherin, caveolin-1 and beta-catenin protein expressions of tumor cells were determined by Western blot. In addition, the effects of As(2)O(3) on NF-kappaB activity of tumor cells were analyzed by immunoblot in whole lysates, cytosol and nucleus, respectively. In animal experiments, cervical cancer cells TC-1 were injected into tail veins of C57BL/6 mice and then the mice were treated by intraperitoneal injection of different doses As(2)O(3). Lung weights and the foci on the surface of lungs were measured. RESULTS: As(2)O(3) inhibited attachment of tumor cells to Fibronectin and Matrigel, reduced cell motility and inhibited tumor invasion potential. As(2)O(3) treatment also resulted in a positive regulation of caveolin-1, upregulation of E-cadherin and decreased activity of beta-catenin, NF-kappaB and NF-kappaB-regulated gene MMP-2. In animal experiments, lung weights in PBS group (0.31+/-0.07 g) were significantly elevated compared with those in As(2)O(3)-treated groups (0.21+/-0.03 g and 0.17+/-0.03 g) also As(2)O(3) reduced number of metastatic lesions of lungs (15.4+/-3.5 vs. 8.3+/-2.0 and 6.3+/-2.3) in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to report the effectiveness of As(2)O(3) as an inhibitor of cervical cancer invasion both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting a potential clinical application of As(2)O(3) in cervical cancer therapies combining apoptosis induction and metastasis inhibition.     

Further evidence for association of GRK3 to bipolar disorder suggests a second disease mutation

OBJECTIVES: Two genome-wide linkage surveys suggest chromosome 22q12 may contain a susceptibility locus for bipolar disorder (BPD) in the immediate region of the gene G protein receptor kinase-3 (GRK3). We previously published evidence that a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter region of GRK3, designated P5, was associated with BPD. This SNP, however, was too rare (allele frequency 0.007) to explain the evidence for linkage. METHODS: To identify other SNPs or haplotypes associated with illness, we have now sequenced an additional 28-kb genomic segment of GRK3 and tested an additional 35 SNPs for association with BPD in 181 Caucasian nuclear families. RESULTS: Transmission disequilibrium test analyses identified two closely related disease-associated haplotypes defined by four SNPs located upstream of the promoter region: transmission to nontransmission ratios=54:22 and 20:9, odds ratios=2.50 and 2.36, and P values=0.0009 and 0.05. The best P value remained significant after correction for multiple testing. These two haplotypes were found on an entirely different set of chromosomes from the previously identified SNP P5. They had a combined frequency of approximately 0.10 and, therefore, a much greater population attributable risk for disease than the previously identified P5 haplotype. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide evidence that at least two distinct haplotypes, and possibly two or more different underlying mutations, in GRK3 might be associated with BPD. These new findings add support for the hypothesis that a dysregulation in GRK3 expression alters signaling desensitization and thereby predisposes to the development of BPD.     

Fabrication and Properties of Cellulose Hydrated Membrane with Unique Structure

By employing a pre‐gelation processing of cellulose solution, this work has presented a new method to prepare cellulose hydrated membranes in NaOH/thiourea aqueous solvent system. The morphology and structure of the hydrated membranes obtained at different pre‐gelation temperatures were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wide‐angle X‐ray diffractometry (WAXD), and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR). The mechanical properties of the membranes were studied by tensile testing. Using a double‐cell method, permeation of three model drugs (ceftazidine, cefazolin sodium, thiourea) through the hydrate membranes was determined in phosphate buffer solution at body‐like temperature (37 °C). The results indicate that the membranes were packed densely by many hydrated nanospheres and exhibited good mechanical properties. At a relatively low pre‐gelation temperature, the strain and the stress at break of the membranes are even up to 192% and 1.97 MPa, which are much larger than that of the hydrated membranes prepared by the general solution casting method. For the first time, the formation process of the hydrated membrane from gel state in water was investigated by ATR‐FTIR spectrum, indicating a non‐solvent‐induced phase‐separation mechanism.

     

Fabrication and characterization of hydrophilic electrospun membranes made from the block copolymer of poly(ethylene glycol-co-lactide)

To improve the hydrophilicity, pliability, and egradability of some biodegradable polymers such as polylactide (PLA), a triblock copolymer, and poly(ethylene glycol-co-lactide) (PELA) has been electrospun into fibrous membranes in the fiber sizes of 7.5 microm to 250 nm. The relationship between electrospinning parameters (such as voltage, concentration, and feeding rate) and the fiber diameters has been investigated. The characterizations for the structure and morphology of electrospun membranes were carried out using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), (1)H NMR, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The hydrophilicity of the membrane was determined by contact angle measurements in bi-distilled water, and it was shown that the hydrophilicity of the copolymer could be adjusted by the content of the poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) segment in the copolymer. The results of in vitro degradation study showed that the submicrostructure of the fibrous membrane and the incorporation of hydrophilic PEG into PLA block could accelerate the degradation of the membrane in regards to the changes of inherent viscosity, tensile strength, and weight loss.     

Decrease and dysfunction of endothelial progenitor cells in umbilical cord blood with maternal pre-eclampsia

BACKGROUND: The pre-eclampsia is characterized by placental defective angiogenesis and maternal vascular/endothelial dysfunction. Recently, the decrease and senescence of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) has been observed in maternal circulation with pre-eclampsia. Given the essential involvement of EPC in neovascularization and reendothelialization, we investigate whether or not the depletion of EPC is existent in placental/fetal circulation with maternal pre-eclampsia. METHODS: Samples of venous cord blood were collected during the labor of preeclamptic mothers (n = 14) and normotensive controls (n = 10). Circulating EPC were enumerated as AC133+/KDR+ cells via fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. Additionally, EPC were expanded in vitro and identified by DiI-acLDL uptake and lectin staining by direct fluorescent staining under a laser scanning confocal microscope. EPC proliferation, migration and vasculogenesis activities were determined by MTT, modified Boyden chamber assay and in vitro vasculogenensis assay. RESULT: The placental/fetal circulating EPC numbers were significantly decreased in the pre-eclampsia group compared with the control (median, 200; range, 100-440 cells/mL vs 390; 270-440 cells/mL, P < 0.001), and after in vitro cultivation the numbers of EPC also decreased in pre-eclampsia group (19.5; 5.0-32.0 vs 39.5; 31.2-52.0 EPC/x200 field; P < 0.001). Both circulating EPC and cultivated EPC were inversely correlated with cord blood level of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1). In addition, the EPC from patients with pre-eclampsia were significantly impaired in their proliferation, migration and vasculogenesis capacities. CONCLUSION: The present study documented the decrease and dysfunction of placental/fetal circulating EPC in patients with pre-eclampsia. The alteration is probably associated with the increased sFlt-1 levels in the umbilical cord blood.     

体内成熟与体外成熟的卵母细胞纺锤体位置及其与胚胎发育的关系

目的研究体内成熟与体外成熟卵母细胞的纺锤体位置及其与胚胎发育的关系。方法对134个体内成熟卵母细胞在卵母细胞胞质内单精子注射法（ICSI）操作时用纺锤体实时观察仪进行纺锤体位置的观察,体内成熟卵母细胞来自单纯因男性不育而进行ICSI治疗的患者15例（体内成熟组）。另外对45个体外成熟的卵母细胞观察纺锤体位置,体外成熟卵母细胞来自因多囊卵巢综合征致不孕而进行治疗的患者5例（体外成熟组）。纺锤体的位置按照其与第一极体之间的角度不同分为Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ和Ⅴ级。并观察两组成熟卵母细胞的受精及其胚胎发育情况。结果体内成熟组和体外成熟组患者的卵母细胞中可观察到纺锤体的分别占83．6％（112／134）和82．2％（37／45）。体内成熟组患者卵母细胞纺锤体的位置Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ和Ⅴ级分别为22．4％、55．2％、3．O％、3．O％、16．4％,体外成熟组则分别为17．8％、51．1％、8．9％、4．4％、17．8％,两组各级间分别比较,差异均无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。在体内成熟组卵母细胞中,纺锤体离第一极体较近（Ⅰ级）者受精率较高（93．3％）,显著高于其他各级（分别为73．0％、2／4、1／4、63．6％,P〈0．05）。结论体内成熟与体外成熟卵母细胞间纺锤体位置未见显著差异;纺锤体的位置与卵母细胞受精率有一定相关性。