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Objective: DCM is the most common cause of spinal cord dysfunction worldwide. Despite significant global research interest, many patients remain significant handicapped by this condition. Our objective was to quantify research activity and the prevailing themes in DCM research over the last 20 years.[for full text, please go to the a.m. URL], 68. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC), 7. Joint Meeting mit der Society of British Neurological Surgeons (SBNS)

Surfaces -defined as the interfaces between solids and liquids- have attracted much attention in optics and biology, such as total internal reflection imaging (TIRF) and DNA microarrays. Within the context of optofluidics however, surfaces have received little attention. In this paper, we describe how surfaces can define or enhance optofluidic function. More specifically we discuss chemical interfaces that control the orientation of liquid crystals and the stretching of individual nucleic acids, diffractive and plasmonic nanostructures for lasing and opto-thermal control, as well as microstructures that read pressure and form chemical patterns. © 2010 SPIE.

Antigen targeting and adjuvancy schemes that respectively facilitate delivery of antigen to dendritic cells and elicit their activation have been explored in vaccine development. Here we investigate whether nanoparticles can be used as a vaccine platform by targeting lymph node-residing dendritic cells via interstitial flow and activating these cells by in situ complement activation. After intradermal injection, interstitial flow transported ultra-small nanoparticles (25 nm) highly efficiently into lymphatic capillaries and their draining lymph nodes, targeting half of the lymph node-residing dendritic cells, whereas 100-nm nanoparticles were only 10% as efficient. The surface chemistry of these nanoparticles activated the complement cascade, generating a danger signal in situ and potently activating dendritic cells. Using nanoparticles conjugated to the model antigen ovalbumin, we demonstrate generation of humoral and cellular immunity in mice in a size- and complement-dependent manner.