Systemic lupus erythematosus and antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis overlap syndrome complicated by subarachnoid hemorrhage: case-based review.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) overlap syndrome is an inflammatory disorder with a mixed presentation that is characterized by clinical features of both SLE and AAV. Although renal disease predominates, any organ system in the body may be affected. Neurologic manifestation in patients with SLE-AAV overlap syndrome is rare and has only been previously documented as cerebral ischemia. We report a patient with SLE-AAV overlap syndrome diagnosed based on clinical, serologic and biopsy-proven histologic findings who presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) secondary to ruptured right anterior cerebral artery aneurysm. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of SLE-AAV overlap syndrome diagnosed in a patient with a SAH due to an intracranial aneurysm. Neurologic involvement in patients with SLE-AAV overlap syndrome is uncommon and has not been well-studied. Clinicians who encounter patients with neurologic signs that present with symptoms and a serologic profile that correspond to both SLE and AAV criteria, should consider the association between SLE-AAV overlap syndrome and a hemorrhagic stroke, specifically SAH.

Vapor-phase atomic-controllable growth of amorphous Li2S for high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries hold great promise to meet the formidable energy storage requirements of future electrical vehicles but are prohibited from practical implementation by their severe capacity fading and the risks imposed by Li metal anodes. Nanoscale Li(2)S offers the possibility to overcome these challenges, but no synthetic technique exists for fine-tailoring Li(2)S at the nanoscale. Herein we report a vapor-phase atomic layer deposition (ALD) method for the atomic-scale-controllable synthesis of Li(2)S. Besides a comprehensive investigation of the ALD Li(2)S growth mechanism, we further describe the high performance of the resulting amorphous Li(2)S nanofilms as cathodes in Li-S batteries, achieving a stable capacity of ∼ 800 mA · h/g, nearly 100% Coulombic efficiency, and excellent rate capability. Nanoscale Li(2)S holds great potential for both bulk-type and thin-film high-energy Li-S batteries.

Cytotoxicity of cultured macrophages exposed to antimicrobial zinc oxide (ZnO) coatings on nanoporous aluminum oxide membranes.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a widely used commercial material that is finding use in wound healing applications due to its antimicrobial properties. Our study demonstrates a novel approach for coating ZnO with precise thickness control onto 20 nm and 100 nm pore diameter anodized aluminum oxide using atomic layer deposition (ALD). ZnO was deposited throughout the nanoporous structure of the anodized aluminum oxide membranes. An 8 nm-thick coating of ZnO, previously noted to have antimicrobial properties, was cytotoxic to cultured macrophages. After 48 h, ZnO-coated 20 nm and 100 nm pore anodized aluminum oxide significantly decreased cell viability by ≈65% and 54%, respectively, compared with cells grown on uncoated anodized aluminum oxide membranes and cells grown on tissue culture plates. Pore diameter (20-200 nm) did not influence cell viability.

High aspect ratio nanoneedle probes with an integrated electrode at the tip apex.

Many nanoscale characterization techniques require high aspect ratio nanoneedle probes with an integrated electrode that is electrically insulated everywhere except at the tip apex. We report the utilization of electron beam induced deposition, focused ion beam milling, and atomic layer deposition to fabricate such probes at the sub-100 nm length scale. This fabrication method is highly reproducible and enables precise control of the probe dimensions. Subsequent electrodeposition at the integrated electrode enables customized functionalization of the tip apex. These probes have clear applications in scanning electrochemical microscopy-atomic force microscopy, magnetic force microscopy, apertureless near-field optical microscopy, and tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Optimal detection of fetal chromosomal abnormalities by massively parallel DNA sequencing of cell-free fetal DNA from maternal blood.

BACKGROUND: Massively parallel DNA sequencing of cell-free fetal DNA from maternal blood can detect fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Although existing algorithms focus on the detection of fetal trisomy 21 (T21), these same algorithms have difficulty detecting trisomy 18 (T18). METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 1014 patients at 13 US clinic locations before they underwent an invasive prenatal procedure. All samples were processed to plasma, and the DNA extracted from 119 samples underwent massively parallel DNA sequencing. Fifty-three sequenced samples came from women with an abnormal fetal karyotype. To minimize the intra- and interrun sequencing variation, we developed an optimized algorithm by using normalized chromosome values (NCVs) from the sequencing data on a training set of 71 samples with 26 abnormal karyotypes. The classification process was then evaluated on an independent test set of 48 samples with 27 abnormal karyotypes. RESULTS: Mapped sites for chromosomes of interest in the sequencing data from the training set were normalized individually by calculating the ratio of the number of sites on the specified chromosome to the number of sites observed on an optimized normalizing chromosome (or chromosome set). Threshold values for trisomy or sex chromosome classification were then established for all chromosomes of interest, and a classification schema was defined. Sequencing of the independent test set led to 100% correct classification of T21 (13 of 13) and T18 (8 of 8) samples. Other chromosomal abnormalities were also identified. CONCLUSION: Massively parallel sequencing is capable of detecting multiple fetal chromosomal abnormalities from maternal plasma when an optimized algorithm is used.

Integrated ultramicroelectrode-nanopipet probe for concurrent scanning electrochemical microscopy and scanning ion conductance microscopy.

Scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM) has developed into a powerful tool for imaging a range of biophysical systems. In addition, SICM has been integrated with a range of other techniques, allowing for the simultaneous collection of complementary information including near-field optical and electrophysiological properties. However, SICM imaging remains insensitive to electrochemical properties, which play an important role in both biological and nonbiological systems. In this work, we demonstrate the fabrication and application of a nanopipet probe with an integrated ultramicroelectrode (UME) for concurrent SICM and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). The fabrication process utilizes atomic layer deposition (ALD) of aluminum oxide to conformally insulate a gold-coated nanopipet and focused ion beam (FIB) milling to precisely expose a UME at the pipet tip. Fabricated probes are characterized by both scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry and exhibit a 100 nm diameter nanopipet tip and a UME with an effective radius of 294 nm. The probes exhibit positive and negative feedback responses on approach to conducting and insulating surfaces, respectively. The suitability of the probes for SECM-SICM imaging is demonstrated by both feedback-mode and substrate generation/tip collection-mode imaging on patterned surfaces. This probe geometry enables successful SECM-SICM imaging on features as small as 180 nm in size.