The chronic inflammation is the major cause of the lung tissue damage in CF. Biofilm growth in CF lungs is associated with an increased frequency of mutations, slow growth and adaptation of the bacteria to the conditions in the lungs, and to antibiotic therapy. Low bacterial metabolic activity and increase of doubling times of the bacterial cells in CF lungs are responsible for some of the tolerance to antibiotics. Conventional resistance

mechanisms, such as chromosomal beta-lactamase, upregulated efflux pumps, beta-catenin assay and mutations of antibiotic target molecules in the bacteria, also contribute to the survival of P. aeruglnosa biofilms. Biofilms can be prevented by early aggressive antibiotic prophylaxis or therapy, and they can be treated by chronic suppressive therapy.”
“Atomic layer deposition was used to deposit amorphous Er-doped Al2O3 films (0.9-6.2 at. % Er) on Si(100). The Er3+ photoluminescence (PL), Er3+ upconversion luminescence, as well as the Si PL and associated surface passivation properties of the films were studied and related to the structural change of the material during

annealing. The PL signals from Er3+ and Si were strongly dependent on the annealing temperature (T = 450-1000 degrees C), but not directly influenced by the transition from an amorphous to a crystalline phase at T > 900 degrees C. For T > 650 degrees C, broad Er3+ PL centered at 1.54 mu m Citarinostat molecular weight (I-4(13/2)) with a full width at half maximum of 55 nm was observed under excitation of 532 nm light. The PL signal reached a maximum for Er Crenigacestat concentrations in the range of 2-3 at. %. Multiple photon upconversion luminescence was detected at 660 nm (F-4(9/2)), 810 nm (I-4(9/2)), and 980 nm (I-4(11/2)), under excitation of 1480 nm light. The optical

activation of Er3+ was related to the removal of quenching impurities, such as OH (3 at. % H present initially) as also indicated by thermal effusion experiments. In contrast to the Er3+ PL signal, the Si luminescence, and consequently the Si surface passivation, decreased for increasing annealing temperatures. This trade-off between surface passivation quality and Er3+ PL can be attributed to an opposite correlation with the decreasing hydrogen content in the films during thermal treatment. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3595691]“
“Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a postoperative prognostic nomogram for disease-free survival in patients with renal adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods: A total of 224 patients with organ-confined or locally advanced renal adenocarcinoma were treated with radical or partial nephrectomy. The variables included in the model were age, histological type, pathological stage, Fuhrman grade and DNA ploidy. Tumor recurrence was defined as any clinical evidence of recurrence.