Use of an empty, Plasmapore-covered titanium cage for interbody fusion after anterior cervical microdiscectomy.

The use of cages of different material and shapes for cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF) has increased during the last few years. The use of additional osteogenic material is controversial. We prospectively evaluated an empty, Plasmapore-covered titanium cage (PCTC) in 45 patients undergoing 58 ACDFs. Patients were evaluated using standard clinical and radiological criteria. Good to excellent outcome was achieved in 93%, 78% and 75% after 3, 12 and 48 months, respectively. Sixty-five percent of patients could resume their prior work after 48 months. Disc space height and lordosis could be preserved in all cases. Two percent of the treated levels showed subsidence and 2% increased segmental motion. There were no procedure-related complications. Implantation of an empty PCTC after microsurgical anterior cervical discectomy is a safe procedure with good results and low incidence of complications. Disc height and lordosis can be preserved with low incidence of subsidence and good fusion rates.

Analysis of micro- and nano-structures of the corneal surface of Drosophila and its mutants by atomic force microscopy and optical diffraction.

Drosophila melanogaster is a model organism instrumental for numerous biological studies. The compound eye of this insect consists of some eight hundred individual ommatidia or facets, ca. 15 µm in cross-section. Each ommatidium contains eighteen cells including four cone cells secreting the lens material (cornea). High-resolution imaging of the cornea of different insects has demonstrated that each lens is covered by the nipple arrays--small outgrowths of ca. 200 nm in diameter. Here we for the first time utilize atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate nipple arrays of the Drosophila lens, achieving an unprecedented visualization of the architecture of these nanostructures. We find by Fourier analysis that the nipple arrays of Drosophila are disordered, and that the seemingly ordered appearance is a consequence of dense packing of the nipples. In contrast, Fourier analysis confirms the visibly ordered nature of the eye microstructures--the individual lenses. This is different in the frizzled mutants of Drosophila, where both Fourier analysis and optical imaging detect disorder in lens packing. AFM reveals intercalations of the lens material between individual lenses in frizzled mutants, providing explanation for this disorder. In contrast, nanostructures of the mutant lens show the same organization as in wild-type flies. Thus, frizzled mutants display abnormal organization of the corneal micro-, but not nano-structures. At the same time, nipples of the mutant flies are shorter than those of the wild-type. We also analyze corneal surface of glossy-appearing eyes overexpressing Wingless--the lipoprotein ligand of Frizzled receptors, and find the catastrophic aberration in nipple arrays, providing experimental evidence in favor of the major anti-reflective function of these insect eye nanostructures. The combination of the easily tractable genetic model organism and robust AFM analysis represents a novel methodology to analyze development and architecture of these surface formations.

Investigations on doping of amorphous and nano-crystalline silicon films deposited by catalytic chemical vapour deposition

Hydrogenated amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon, deposited by catalytic chemical vapour deposition, have been doped during deposition by the addition of diborane and phosphine in the feed gas, with concentrations in the region of 1%. The crystalline fraction, dopant concentration and electrical properties of the films are studied. The nanocrystalline films exhibited a high doping efficiency, both for n and p doping, and electrical characteristics similar to those of plasma-deposited films. The doping efficiency of n-type amorphous silicon is similar to that obtained for plasma-deposited electronic-grade amorphous silicon, whereas p-type layers show a doping efficiency of one order of magnitude lower. A higher deposition temperature of 450°C was required to achieve p-type films with electrical characteristics similar to those of plasma-deposited films.

Characterization of nano-oxide layers fabricated by ion beam oxidation

In this paper, a remote O2 ion source is used for the formation of nano-oxide layers. The oxidation efficiency was measured in CoFe-oxide films, and a decrease of the oxide layer with the pan angle and the oxidation pressure is observed. For the same oxidation pressure, the oxidation efficiency depends on the O2 content in the Ar-O2 plasma. These results were applied in optimizing the fabrication of Al2O3 barrier for tunnel junctions. This method was also used to fabricate junctions with Fe-oxide layers inserted at the Al2O3-CoFe interface. TEM and magnetization data indicate that after anneal at 385°C, a homogeneous ferromagnetic Fe-oxide layer (Fe3O4?) is formed.

Ionic-covalent transition in titanium oxides

The nature of the chemical bond in three titanium oxides of different crystal structure and different formal oxidation state has been studied by means of the ab initio cluster-model approach. The covalent and ionic contributions to the bond have been measured from different theoretical techniques. All the analysis is consistent with an increasing of covalence in the TiO, Ti2O3, and TiO2 series as expected from chemical intuition. Moreover, the use of the ab initio cluster-model approach combined with different theoretical techniques has permitted us to quantify the degree of ionic character, showing that while TiO can approximately be described as an ionic compound, TiO2 is better viewed as a rather covalent oxide.

New insight on bio-sensing by nano-fabricated memristors

We report here on a new insight for bio- sensing based on the memristive effect of functional- ized Schottky-barrier memristive silicon nanowire in dry environment. The device concept is discussed. Elec- trical measurements confirm the bio-detection by the narrowing of the memristive Ids − Vds hysteresis upon interaction of antigen with antibody-functionalized nanowire.

Accuracy and predictability in use of AO three-dimensionally preformed titanium mesh plates for posttraumatic orbital reconstruction: a pilot study.

The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the accuracy and predictability of new three-dimensionally preformed AO titanium mesh plates for posttraumatic orbital wall reconstruction.We analyzed the preoperative and postoperative clinical and radiologic data of 10 patients with isolated blow-out orbital fractures. Fracture locations were as follows: floor (N = 7; 70%), medial wall (N = 1; 1%), and floor/medial wall (N = 2; 2%). The floor fractures were exposed by a standard transconjunctival approach, whereas a combined transcaruncular transconjunctival approach was used in patients with medial wall fractures. A three-dimensional preformed AO titanium mesh plate (0.4 mm in thickness) was selected according to the size of the defect previously measured on the preoperative computed tomographic (CT) scan examination and fixed at the inferior orbital rim with 1 or 2 screws. The accuracy of plate positioning of the reconstructed orbit was assessed on the postoperative CT scan. Coronal CT scan slices were used to measure bony orbital volume using OsiriX Medical Image software. Reconstructed versus uninjured orbital volume were statistically correlated.Nine patients (90%) had a successful treatment outcome without complications. One patient (10%) developed a mechanical limitation of upward gaze with a resulting handicapping diplopia requiring hardware removal. Postoperative orbital CT scan showed an anatomic three-dimensional placement of the orbital mesh plates in all of the patients. Volume data of the reconstructed orbit fitted that of the contralateral uninjured orbit with accuracy to within 2.5 cm(3). There was no significant difference in volume between the reconstructed and uninjured orbits.This preliminary study has demonstrated that three-dimensionally preformed AO titanium mesh plates for posttraumatic orbital wall reconstruction results in (1) a high rate of success with an acceptable rate of major clinical complications (10%) and (2) an anatomic restoration of the bony orbital contour and volume that closely approximates that of the contralateral uninjured orbit.

Bicelles: new nano systems for skin applications

Bicellar systems are lipid nanostructures formed by long- and short-chained phospholipids dispersed in aqueoussolution. Because of their attractive combination of lipid composition, small size and morphological versatility, bicellesbecame new targets for skin research. Bicelles modify the skin biophysical parameters and modulate the skin barrier function acting as enhancers for drug penetration. Moreover, these aggregates have the ability to penetrate through the narrowintercellular spaces of the skin stratum corneum and to reinforce its lipid lamellae. Their structures allows for the incorporation of different molecules that can be carried through the skin layers. Theremarkable versatility of bicelles is their most important characteristic, which makes it possible their use in different fields.These aggregates represent new nanosystems for skin applications. In this work we provide an overview of the main properties ofbicelles and their effects on the skin.

Computer-aided volume measurement of posttraumatic orbits reconstructed with AO titanium mesh plates: accuracy and reliability

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate the accuracy and reliability of "freehand" posttraumatic orbital wall reconstruction with AO (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Osteosynthese) titanium mesh plates by using computer-aided volumetric measurement of the bony orbits. METHODS: Bony orbital volume was measured in 12 patients from coronal CT scan slices using OsiriX Medical Image software. After defining the volumetric limits of the orbit, the segmentation of the bony orbital region of interest of each single slice was performed. At the end of the segmentation process, all regions of interest were grouped and the volume was computed. The same procedure was performed on both orbits, and thereafter the volume of the contralateral uninjured orbit was used as a control for comparison. RESULTS: In all patients, the volume data of the reconstructed orbit fitted that of the contralateral uninjured orbit with accuracy to within 1.85 cm3 (7%). CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study has demonstrated that posttraumatic orbital wall reconstruction using "freehand" bending and placement of AO titanium mesh plates results in a high success rate in re-establishing preoperative bony volume, which closely approximates that of the contralateral uninjured orbit.

Nano-particle vaccination combined with TLR-7 and -9 ligands triggers memory and effector CD8⁺ T-cell responses in melanoma patients.

Optimal vaccine strategies must be identified for improving T-cell vaccination against infectious and malignant diseases. MelQbG10 is a virus-like nano-particle loaded with A-type CpG-oligonucleotides (CpG-ODN) and coupled to peptide(16-35) derived from Melan-A/MART-1. In this phase IIa clinical study, four groups of stage III-IV melanoma patients were vaccinated with MelQbG10, given (i) with IFA (Montanide) s.c.; (ii) with IFA s.c. and topical Imiquimod; (iii) i.d. with topical Imiquimod; or (iv) as intralymph node injection. In total, 16/21 (76%) patients generated ex vivo detectable Melan-A/MART-1-specific T-cell responses. T-cell frequencies were significantly higher when IFA was used as adjuvant, resulting in detectable T-cell responses in all (11/11) patients, with predominant generation of effector-memory-phenotype cells. In turn, Imiquimod induced higher proportions of central-memory-phenotype cells and increased percentages of CD127(+) (IL-7R) T cells. Direct injection of MelQbG10 into lymph nodes resulted in lower T-cell frequencies, associated with lower proportions of memory and effector-phenotype T cells. Swelling of vaccine site draining lymph nodes, and increased glucose uptake at PET/CT was observed in 13/15 (87%) of evaluable patients, reflecting vaccine triggered immune reactions in lymph nodes. We conclude that the simultaneous use of both Imiquimod and CpG-ODN induced combined memory and effector CD8(+) T-cell responses.