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Abstract: Several sesquiterpene lactones that have been isolated from medicinal plants are known to have many pharmacological activities. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of zedoarondiol, a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from the rhizoma of Curcuma heyneana, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage cells. Zedoarondiol dose-dependently inhibited LPS-stimulated nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) productions in RAW 264.7 macrophage and in mouse peritoneal macrophage cells. Consistent with these findings, in RAW 264.7 cells, zedoarondiol suppressed the LPS-stimulated protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the mRNA expressions of iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, molecular data revealed that zedoarondiol inhibited LPS-stimulated DNA binding activity and the transcription activity of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and this effect was accompanied by decreases in the degradation and phosphorylation of inhibitory κB (IκB)-α, and in the subsequent blocking of NF-κB translocations to the nucleus. Furthermore, zedoarondiol attenuated the phosphorylations of IκB kinase (IKK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Taken together, the findings of the present study indicate that zedoarondiol inhibits iNOS, COX-2, and pro-inflammatory cytokine expressions by suppressing the phosphorylations of IKK and MAPKs, and by subsequently inactivating the NF-κB pathway. These relations reveal, in part, the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory properties of zedoarondiol. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The effects of polishing pressure and abrasive on the chemical mechanical polishing of blanket and patterned aluminum thin films were investigated. The CMP process experiments were conducted using a soft pad and slurry mainly composed of acid solution and Al2O3 abrasive. The result of the blanket film showed that, as the concentration of abrasive in the slurry increased, surface roughness deteriorated but waviness improved. The planarity of the patterned Al films was slowly improved by the CMP when the widths of the gaps between the patterns were relatively small. An attempt was made to find the optimum CMP process conditions by which the patterned Al thin film could be planarized with a fine surface. The most satisfactory film surface was obtained when the applied pressure was low (10 kPa) and the abrasive concentration was relatively high (5 wt.%). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We present a disposable thermo-pneumatic micropump with microscale check valves for easy incorporation in a fully integrated biochip. The microfluidic device is comprised of biocompatible materials: glass and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The chip consists of a glass substrate and three PDMS layers. In the chip, a Cr/Au heater is fabricated by micromachining on a glass substrate, while the flow channel, pump chamber, and valves are made by replica molding using layers of PDMS. The glass-based heater chip and the PDMS-based micropump chip are assembled and clamped together to enable operation of the system, and then the components are separable such that the heater chip can be used repeatedly and the PDMS chip can be used in a disposable manner. The operation of the micropump was investigated experimentally, as well as through simulations using fluid dynamics software. Superior pumping performance was achieved when the duty ratio of the voltage applied to the heater was 33%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Computational techniques can enhance personalized hyperthermia-treatment planning by calculating tissue energy absorption and temperature distribution. This study determined the effect of tumor properties on energy absorption, temperature mapping, and thermal dose distribution in mild radiofrequency hyperthermia using a mouse xenograft model. We used a capacitive-heating radiofrequency hyperthermia system with an operating frequency of 13.56 MHz for in vivo mouse experiments and performed simulations on a computed tomography mouse model. Additionally, we measured the dielectric properties of the tumors and considered temperature dependence for thermal properties, metabolic heat generation, and perfusion. Our results showed that dielectric property variations were more dominant than thermal properties and other parameters, and that the measured dielectric properties provided improved temperature-mapping results relative to the property values taken from previous study. Furthermore, consideration of temperature dependency in the bio heat-transfer model allowed elucidation of precise thermal-dose calculations. These results suggested that this method might contribute to effective thermoradiotherapy planning in clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To retrospectively determine the effect of an arm traction device on image quality and radiation exposure during a neck computed tomography (CT) scan.Materials and Methods: Standard neck CT examinations with an automatic tube current modulation technique were compared for two groups (intervention group: patients with an arm traction device, n=45; control group: no particular positioning optimization, n=45). Image quality was the primary outcome and was assessed using image noise and the streak artifact. The secondary outcome was radiation exposure, which was measured by the volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and dose-length product. Potential confounders, including the effective diameter of the neck and scan length, were also assessed.Results: Image noise and the streak artifact at the lower neck and the supraclavicular fossa were significantly improved in the intervention group compared with the control group (p<0.001). There was a significant decrease in the CTDIvol in the intervention group versus the control group (p=0.042). DLP showed a tendency toward a decrease in the intervention group that was non-significant (p=0.106). The effective diameter and scan length showed no statistical difference between the two groups.Conclusion: An arm traction device improves the image quality in the lower neck and the supraclavicular fossa during a neck CT. Application of this device also reduces the tendency for radiation exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Methamphetamine, a derivative of amphetamine, has been well known to cause mental problems in humans; however, its physical effects are little known. Despite relevant information on the effect of methamphetamine abuse on bone quality being available, data regarding the frequency of osteoporosis in methamphetamine abusers are limited.Methods: We selected 46 hospitalized male methamphetamine abusers and 188 reference male controls in whom any conditions affecting bone metabolism were ruled out. Bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar spine was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). We compared the BMD between methamphetamine abusers and controls and evaluated the frequency of osteoporosis in both groups.Results: The mean BMD value was lower in methamphetamine abusers (mean+/-SD, 0.71+/-0.07 g/cm(2)) than in the controls (mean+/-SD, 0.98+/-0.14 g/cm(2)). The frequency of osteoporosis was 22% according to WHO diagnostic guidelines, and osteopenia at the lumbar spine was 76%. The correlation between the extent of methamphetamine abuse and BMD was very clear.Conclusion: There was considerable loss of bone mineral in a high percentage of methamphetamine abusers. Our study is the first clinical study to determine the frequency of osteoporosis in male methamphetamine abusers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Conventional immunoassays are labor intensive, expensive and time consuming and require large pieces of equipment for detection. Therefore, we have developed and characterized a novel immunoassay methodology comprised of microbeads and microbiochips. In this method, microbeads are used to filter and immobilize antibodies and an immuno-gold silver staining (IGSS) method is then used to amplify electrical signals that correspond to the bound antibodies. The chip used for this system is composed of an inexpensive and biocompatible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer over a Pyrex glass substrate that contains a platinum (Pt) microelectrode, which is used to detect the electrical signal in this system, the microelectrode is fabricated on the substrate and a microchannel and pillar-type microfilter is formed in the PDMS layer. A sandwich immunoassay approach was applied to detect alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a cancer biomarker, using this system. The results of this study showed that the time required for a complete assay was reduced by 1h and a detection limit as low as 1ng/mL was attained when this system used, which indicates that similar bead-based electrical detection systems could be used for the diagnosis of many forms of cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]