doi:10.1038/bjc.2012.166 www.bjcancer.com Published online 24 April 2012 (C) 2012 Cancer Research UK”
“Randomly aligned nerve cells in vitro on conventional culture substrata

do not represent the complex neuronal network in vivo and neurites growing in uncontrolled manner may form neuroma. It is of great importance to mimic the organised growth pattern of nerve cells in the study of peripheral nerve repair. The aim of this work was to modify and optimize the photolithographic technique in creating a reusable template in the form of a silicon wafer that could be used to produce contact guidance on biodegradable polymer surface for the orientated growth of nerve cells. Micro-grooves (approximately 3 mu m in depth) were etched into the silicon template using KOH at increased temperature. The originality of this work lies in the low cost and high efficiency method in producing microgrooves PI3K inhibitor on the surface of biodegradable ultra-thin polymer substrates (50-100 mu m), which can be readily rolled up to form clinically implantable nerve conduits. The design of a pattern with small ridge width (i.e., 5 mu m) and bigger groove width (i.e., 20 mu m) favored the alignment of cells along the grooves rather than on the ridges of the patterns,

selleck compound which minimized the effect of cross growing of neurites between adjacent grooves. Effectively, enhanced nerve regeneration could be anticipated from these patterned conduits.”
“Background: Cooperation of all health sectors and early diagnosis of the disease are the key factors for controlling tuberculosis. GSK621 mw This study assesses the patterns of reported tuberculosis

cases in Iran.\n\nMethods: This was a cross sectional study. Tuberculosis cases were defined according to World Health Organization and Iran’s national TB guidelines. Final data were prepared for analysis using SPSS16 software.\n\nResults: Public hospitals, public and private outpatient clinics reported 4111 (39.1%), 3007 (28.6%) and 2839 (27%) cases of TB, respectively. The highest number of reported TB cases was from the public healthcare system. One third of TB cases were reported by private outpatient clinics.\n\nConclusion: It is essential to make a plan such as public-private mix model in Iran. Because of high coverage of private physicians in our country and even in rural areas, it is quite necessary to involve private system in tuberculosis program.”
“Widespread population declines in terrestrial Plethodon salamanders occurred by the 1980s throughout the Appalachian Mountains, the center of global salamander diversity, with no evident recovery. We tested the hypothesis that the historic introduction and spread of the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) Plethodon population declines. We expected to detect elevated prevalence of Bd prior to population declines as observed for Central American plethodontids.