A simple method was developed to fabricate polyethylene glycol (PEG) nanostructures using capillary lithography mediated by ultraviolet (UV) exposure. Acrylate-containing PEG monomers, such as PEG dimethacrylate (PEG-DMA, MW = 330), were photo-cross-linked under UV exposure to generate patterned structures. In comparison to unpatterned PEG films, hydrophobicity of PEG nanostructure modified surfaces was significantly enhanced. This could be attributed to trapped air in the nanostructures as supported by water contact angle measurements. Proteins (fibronectin, immunoglobulin, and albumin) and cells (fibroblasts and P19 EC cells) were examined on the modified surfaces to test for the level of protein adsorption and cell adhesion. It was found that proteins and cells preferred to adhere on nanostructured PEG surfaces in comparison to unpatterned PEG films; however, this level of adhesion was significantly lower than that of glass controls. These results suggest that capillary lithography can be used to fabricate PEG nanostructures capable of modifying protein and cell adhesive properties of surfaces.

Retention efficiencles of 0.6 to 7 l m diameter particles were determined for the pelagic tunicate Oikopleura vanhoeffenj by offering individuals a graded series of latex microspherrs and measuring the change in volume proportion directly by microscope counts of the number of beads of each size in suspension vs in the gut. Beads the size of free-liv~ng bacteria (0.6 pm) were retained with a mean efficiency of 44 t 8 % ( ? 95 % CI), whereas 1, 3 and 7 Gm beads were retained with mean efficiencies of 58 5 8 "h, 88 + 6 " ; ) and 91 + 3 ' ? , S , respectively. These results support our earlier ultrastructural predictions of a coarse pharyngeal filter mesh, and show that the food concentrating filter does not alone determine the size composition of the ingested ration. Retention of sub-micrometer particles (0.6 and 1 pm bedds) was dependent on body size. with mean values of <20 ' :; for specimens longer than 3 mm. These retention spectra are similar to those of salps and ascidians, but show that appendicularians retain sub-micrometer particles more efficiently than d o salps. We conclude that 0 . vanhoeffeni is capable of mediating a shunt of microbial biomass directly from bacteria, other picoplankton and small nanoflagellates to large metazoans, ~ncluding known fish predators of appendicularians.

Pyogenic granuloma is a benign, rapidly growing hemorrhagic lesion of unknown origin. This disorder, however, is obscure to many rhinologists, because the nose is a relatively rare location for the lesion. In the practice of otorhinolaryngology, nasal packing is a very common procedure for nasal bleeding and postoperative hemostasis. However, few pyogenic granulomas occurring from nasal packing have been reported in the literature. A 56-year-old man underwent nasal packing with vaseline gauze because of nasal bleeding. Two months later, a dark brown nasal tumor was found in his nasal cavity. He underwent endoscopic endonasal removal of the tumor. The pathology result showed a pyogenic granuloma. This is the third case recorded in the literature of a confirmed pyogenic granuloma occuring as a complication of nasal packing. This uncommon lesion should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a rapidly growing hemorrhagic lesion within the nasal fossa.

Acute ophthalmoplegia (AO) commonly occurs in anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome and manifests as various combinations of external and internal ophthalmoplegia. Internal ophthalmoplegia is fairly common and unilateral involvement may occur in AO.

The proper interval for repeating an interferon-c release assay (IGRA) among tuberculosis contacts with initially negative results is unknown. The interval for IGRA conversion after exposure to patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis in an outbreak setting was evaluated.In a platoon of 32 soldiers, four active pulmonary tuberculosis patients, in addition to one index patient, were diagnosed during a contact investigation. For the other 27 contacts, a tuberculin skin test (TST) and QuantiFERON1 TB-Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assay were performed. For soldiers with a negative result on the initial QFT-GIT assay, the test was repeated at 2, 4, 8, 14, 18 and 30 weeks until positive conversion occurred. When conversion was identified, the subject was treated for latent tuberculosis infection.Initially, 17 (63.0%) soldiers gave positive QFT-GIT results, whereas 21 (77.8%) showed positive TST results. Among 10 participants with initially negative QFT-GIT results, three showed conversion at 2 weeks, three at 4 weeks and three at 14 weeks. Conversion did not occur during the 30-week observation period in one contact.Based on the tuberculosis exposure time-points among the contacts, IGRA conversion generally occurred 4-7 weeks after exposure, although it could occur as late as 14-22 weeks after exposure.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder. Patients with AD often experience psychological distress and poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to investigate the association of several psychological health statuses and poor HRQoL in an adult population with AD in South Korea. A total of 37,578 adults who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional health survey between 2008 and 2013 were included. HRQoL was assessed by EuroQoL (EQ) 5-dimension questionnaire and EQ-visual analogue scale scores. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the association of stress, sleep duration, depressive mood, depression, suicidal ideation, and HRQoL with AD relative to matched controls. After adjusting in patients with AD confounding factors, stress, depressive mood, depression, suicidal ideation and poor HRQoL were significantly associated with AD. Dermatologists should be concerned with improving HRQoL and managing the psychological health status of adult patients with AD.

Our results suggest that NK2R G231E G>A and TBX21 H33Q C>G are genetic predictors of response to ICS, at least with respect to asthma control status and changes in FEV(1)%, in Korean patients with asthma. Further prospective validation of those associations is necessary.

No abstract