(C) Rigosertib 2008, The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. All rights reserved.”
“Background: The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of antibiotic therapy on fat assimilation in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).\n\nMaterials and methods: Twenty six pancreatic insufficient CF patients with bronchopulmonary exacerbation and diagnosed SIBO (positive hydrogen methane breath test) entered the study. (13)C mixed triglyceride breath test was performed

before and after antibiotic therapy. Sixteen subjects were treated intravenously (ceftazidime and amikacin), ten patients orally (ciprofloxacin).\n\nResults: Cumulative percentage dose recovery changed significantly in the subgroup receiving antibiotics orally [median (mean +/- SEM): 3.6% (4.5 +/- 1.3%) vs. 7.2 (6.9 +/- 1.6%); p=0.019]. In the subgroup with intravenous drug administration, the tendency towards

improvement was noted [2.7 (4.3 +/- 1.5%) vs. 5.2 (5.7 +/- 0.8%); p=0.109].\n\nConclusions: Antibiotic therapy applied in CF patients with SIBO in the course of pulmonary exacerbation results in a significant improvement of fat digestion and absorption. (C) 2011 European MK-4827 Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Background: Ovarian vein thrombosis (OVT) is a rare but potentially serious postpartum complication, which occurs in 0.05% to 0.18% of pregnancies and is diagnosed on the right side in 80% to 90% of the cases.\n\nCase Report: A 32-year-old woman presented at 15 days postpartum to our emergency department with severe abdominal pain, fever, and abdominal distension. Abdominal examination revealed right lower quadrant pain with rebound tenderness. The plain abdominal radiography evidenced a diffuse fecal stasis; abdominal ultrasound showed the presence of free fluid in the Douglas’ pouch and between small bowel loops. Diagnosis of acute appendicitis was made. The patient immediately underwent explorative laparoscopy; at surgery, a woody tumoration consistent

with right ovarian vein thrombosis SBE-β-CD research buy was found. Laparoscopic ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis. Anticoagulation therapy and antibiotics were instituted. CT-scan confirmed the presence of thrombosis up to the vena cava. The patient was discharged on postoperative clay 4. At 1-month follow-up, she remained stable and symptom free.\n\nDiscussion: Even though postpartum ovarian vein thrombosis is rare, recognition and treatment is needed to institute adequate therapy and avoid potential serious sequelae. The diagnosis can be established by ultrasound, CT scan, and MRI examinations, although, as in the case described, the limitation of ultrasound includes obscuration of the gonadic vein by overlying bowel gas.\n\nConclusion: OVT should be considered in any woman in the postpartum period with lower abdominal pain, fever, and leucocytosis.

Then, the H2O2 concentration and catalase activity variation in the cells were studied in exponential and stationary phases at various ODs and were compared to those of wild Geneticin type cells and empty vector transformed cells. It was revealed that empty vector introduction and periplasmic recombinant protein expression increased significantly the H2O2 concentration

of the cells. However, the H2O2 concentration in mIL-4 expressing cells was significantly higher than its concentration in empty vector transformed cells, demonstrating more effects of recombinant mIL-4 expression on H2O2 elevation. Likewise, although catalase activity was reduced in foreign DNA introduced cells, it was more lowered following expression of recombinant proteins. Correlation between H2O2 concentration elevation and catalase activity reduction with cell growth depletion is also demonstrated. It was also found that recombinant protein expression results in cell size increase. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta is a key mediator of proliferative vitreoretinopathy, but the cellular mechanisms

by which TGF-beta induces extracellular matrix protein (ECM) synthesis are not fully understood. This study examined whether the PI3K/Akt pathway is involved in TGF-beta 2-induced collagen expression in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.\n\nHuman Blebbistatin nmr retinal pigment epithelial cells ARPE-19 were cultured and stimulated with TGF-beta 2. The role of the PI3K/Akt pathway was evaluated using the biochemical inhibitor, wortmannin. The effect of wortmannin on the expression of type I collagen mRNA (COL1A1, COL1A2) induced by TGF-beta 2 was evaluated by real-time RT-PCR. The effect of wortmannin on the synthesis of type I collagen induced by TGF-beta 2 was assessed by an immunocytochemical analysis with anti-type I collagen antibody. Luciferase

find more reporter assays were performed to examine the effect of wortmannin on the transcriptional activities of COL1A2. A luciferase assay using a mutation construct of the Smad binding site in COL1A2 promoter (Smad-mut/Luc) was also performed to examine the crosstalk between the Smad pathway and the PI3K/Akt pathway. The effects of wortmannin on the transcriptional activity of Smad3 were also examined using CAGA12-Luc. Moreover, the effect of wortmannin on TGF-beta 2-induced Smad7 mRNA expression was evaluated.\n\nThe biochemical blockade of PI3K/Akt activation inhibited TGF-beta 2-induced type I collagen mRNA expression and type I collagen synthesis. The blockade of PI3K/Akt pathway inhibited the increase in COL1A2 promoter activities when induced by TGF-beta 2 and reduced TGF-beta 2 induction of Smad-mut/Luc promoter activity and CAGA12-Luc activity. Moreover, wortmannin increased the TGF-beta 2-induced Smad7 mRNA expression levels.

The development of protection in mice was investigated for the intra-peritoneal and intranasal immunisation routes. The results showed that CpG ODN alone, or in combination with aluminum hydroxide, gave enhancement in anti-pertussis toxin, anti-filamentous haemagglutinin and especially

anti-pertactin titers after mucosal immunisation. Higher macrophage NO levels indicating activation were found when the antigens were co-formulated with CpG ODN. Vaccines containing CpG ODN gave enhanced humoral and CMI responses with a shift Androgen Receptor Antagonists library toward Th-1 and increased protection against challenge infection with B. pertussis in mice.”
“Using a recently developed high-resolution ON-01910 inhibitor noninvasive ultrasonic method, we recently demonstrated that the intima-media complex of the common carotid artery show a bidirectional multiphasic longitudinal displacement of the same magnitude as the diameter change during the cardiac cycle. The longitudinal movement of the adventitial region was smaller, thus, we identified shear strain and, thus, shear stress, within the arterial wall. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intra-observer variability of measurement of the longitudinal displacement of the intima-media complex and the

intramural shear strain of the common carotid artery in vivo using the new ultrasonic method. The evaluation was carried out by comparing two consecutive Ilomastat cost measurements on the common carotid artery of 20 healthy human subjects. According to the method of Bland Altman, we show that

the systematic and random differences for the different phases of movement are acceptable in comparison to the measured displacement and no significant differences between the two measurements could be detected (p > 0.05 for all measured parameters). The coefficient of variation (CV) for measurement of the different phases of movement was <= 16%, including short-term physiologic variations. The higher variability in the measurement of the intramural shear strain (CV = 24%) has several explanations, which are discussed. In conclusion, this study shows that the present first ultrasonic method for high-resolution measurement of the longitudinal movement of the arterial wall is reliable and satisfactory for the further research of the longitudinal movement of the arterial wall in vivo. Further studies on the longitudinal movement of the arterial wall are important for developing an improved understanding of the physiology and the pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system. (E-mail: [email protected]) (c) 2010 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.

The primary outcome was clinicians’ interpretation of the beneficial effect of the experimental treatment (0 to 10 scale). Participants were blinded GSK1838705A solubility dmso to study hypothesis. Results Three hundred clinicians were randomly assigned using a Web-based system; 150 clinicians assessed

an abstract with spin and 150 assessed an abstract without spin. For abstracts with spin, the experimental treatment was rated as being more beneficial (mean difference, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.07 to 1.35; P = .030), the trial was rated as being less rigorous (mean difference, -0.59; 95% CI, -1.13 to 0.05; P = .034), and clinicians were more interested in reading the full-text article (mean difference, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.08 to 1.47; P = .029). There was no statistically significant difference in the clinicians’ rating of the importance of the study or the need to run another trial. Conclusion Spin in abstracts can have an impact on clinicians’ interpretation of the trial

results. (C) 2014 by American Society of Clinical Oncology”
“Expression of the cytokine interleukin-13 (IL13) is critical for Th2 immune responses and Th2-mediated allergic diseases. Activation of human IL13 expression involves chromatin remodeling and formation of multiple DNase I-hypersensitive sites throughout the locus. Among these, HS4 is detected in the distal IL13 promoter in both naive and polarized CD4(+) T cells. We show herein that HS4 acts as a position-independent, orientation-dependent positive regulator of IL13 proximal promoter activity in transiently transfected, activated human CD4(+) Jurkat T cells and primary GDC-941 murine Th2 cells. The 3′-half of HS4 (HS4-3′) was responsible for IL13 up-regulation and bound nuclear factor (NF) 90 and NF45, as

demonstrated by DNA affinity chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and gel shift analysis. Notably, the CTGTT NF45/NF90-binding motif within HS4-3′ was critical for HS4-dependent upregulation of IL13 expression. Moreover, transfection of HS4-IL13 reporter vectors into primary, in vitro differentiated Th2 cells from wild-type, NF45(+/-), or NF90(+/-) mice showed that HS4 activity was exquisitely dependent on the HM781-36B supplier levels of endogenous NF45 (and to a lesser degree NF90), because HS4-dependent IL13 expression was virtually abrogated in NF45(+/-) cells and reduced in NF90(+/-) cells. Collectively, our results identify NF45 and NF90 as novel regulators of HS4-dependent human IL13 transcription in response to T cell activation.”
“We recently showed that streptozotocin (STZ) injections in rats lead to the development of painful peripheral diabetic neuropathy (PDN) accompanied by enhancement of Ca(V)3.2 T-type calcium currents (T-currents) and hyperexcitability in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Here we used the classical peripherally acting T-channel blocker mibefradil to examine the role of Ca(V)3.2 T-channels as pharmacological targets for treatment of painful PDN.

).

Using an image-guided probe over the skin surface, we navigated the dorsal fusion mass to identify a thin area at the L4-L5 level. A small incision was made and the image-guided probe was used to target the selected thin area and drill an adequate opening in the fusion mass. We inserted a Tuohy needle through the bony defect for passage of the intrathecal catheter. We confirmed adequate catheter placement using free flowing cerebrospinal fluid and fluoroscopy. The remainder of the IDDS implant proceeded per routine. Results: The patient tolerated the procedure well and had no complications. The morphine IDDS improved his overall pain and function with minimal HDAC inhibitor side effects. Conclusions: This is the first case report

using 3D cone beam computed tomography-based image check details guidance for the placement of an intrathecal catheter through a bony fusion mass. This technique appears to be a viable option for IDDS implantation in patients with difficult anatomy.”
“Aim: Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection can cause a variety of neurological deficits of delayed onset in infants who are asymptomatic at birth. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of congenital CMV infection among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Nagasaki, Japan. Methods: Twenty-nine children with ASD who were born in Nagasaki and had no other major neurological deficits were recruited. Two of the patients were excluded due to significant perinatal events. The remaining 27 children were investigated retrospectively for congenital CMV infection by analyzing dried blood spot samples

or dried umbilical cords for CMV DNA using real-time PCR. Results: CMV DNA was detected in two (7.4%) of the 27 children. Neither of the patients had perinatal histories suggestive of congenital CMV disease or other neurological deficits, including hearing impairment and epilepsy. The severity of their autistic disorders varied considerably. Conclusions: The rate of congenital CMV infection in this study (two of 27 children with ASD), which was significantly (p = 0.004) higher than the incidence of congenital CMV infection in Nagasaki (0.31%, 10/3230 live births), suggests the involvement of congenital CMV infection in a portion of LEE011 mouse children with ASD, although definite diagnosis was not obtained due to limited clinical data of the study subjects. (C) 2014 The Japanese Society of Child Neurology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“In this study, the influence of physiologically relevant media on the compound position in a biopharmaceutical classification system (BCS) which resembled the intestinal absorption was investigated. Both solubility and permeability limited compounds (n = 22) were included to analyze the importance of each of these on the final absorption.

This study aims to understand the scope of educational information and current practices on newborn care from the perspectives of prenatal mothers and health workers.\n\nMethods: A qualitative descriptive methodology was used. In-depth interviews were conducted with lactating mothers (n = 31) of babies younger than five months old across Masindi in western Uganda. Additional interviews with health workers (n = 17) and their employers or trainers (n = 5) were conducted to strengthen our findings. GSK2879552 Data were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. A thematic content analysis was performed using NVivo 8.\n\nResults: Vertical programmes received more attention

than education for newborn care during prenatal sessions. In addition, attitudinal and communication problems existed among health workers thereby largely ignoring the fundamental principles of patient autonomy and patient-centred care. The current newborn care practices

were largely influenced by relatives’ cultural beliefs rather than by information provided during prenatal sessions. There is a variation in the training curriculum for health workers deployed to offer recommended prenatal and immediate newborn care in the different tiers of health care.\n\nConclusions: Findings revealed Selleck CBL0137 serious deficiencies in prenatal care organisations in Masindi. Pregnant mothers remain inadequately prepared for childbirth and newborn care, despite their initiative to follow prenatal sessions. These findings call for realignment of prenatal care by integrating education on newborn care practices into routine antenatal care services and be based on principles of patient-centred care.”
“In this paper, we compare the Generalised Linear Model (GLM) and Generalised Additive Model (GAM) for modelling the particle number concentration (PNC) of outdoor, airborne ultrafine particles in Helsinki, Finland. We examine temporal trends in PNC and examine the relationship between PNC and rainfall, wind speed and direction, humidity, temperature and solar insolation. Model choice is via the Vorinostat molecular weight Akaike

Information Criterion (AIC).\n\nWe have shown that the Generalised Additive Model provides a better fit than the equivalent Generalised Linear Model (ELM) when fitting models with the same covariates with equivalent degrees of freedom (AIC and BIC for the GAM are 10266.52 and 10793.04, AIC and BIC for the ELM are 10297.19 and 10885.97, both have an R-2 value of 0.836). We also present results that show that modelling both temporal trends and the effect of rainfall, wind speed and direction, humidity, temperature and solar insolation yields a better fitting model, according to the AIC, than either temporal trends or meteorological conditions by themselves.\n\nThe model is applicable to any longitudinal monitoring-type measurement campaign where long time series are recorded. Use of this technique may be inappropriate for very short measurement campaigns.

5 (girls) or 2.5-17 years (boys) were included. Bone age was determined manually by three experts (according to Greulich and Pyle). Automated determination of bone age was performed using the image analysis software BoneXpert (TM). There was a strong correlation between the automatic and the manual method (r = 0.983, p smaller than 0.001). The automatic method tended to generate higher bone age values (0.64 +/- 0.73 years) in the younger patients (4-5 years) and to underestimate retardation or acceleration of bone age. The so-called “bone health index” (BHI) was reduced in comparison to click here the reference

population. Bone health index standard deviation score (BHI-SDS) was not related to the stage of CKD, but weakly negatively correlated with plasma PTH concentrations (r = 0.12, p = 0.019). BoneXpert Buparlisib inhibitor (TM) allows an objective, time-saving, and in general valid bone age assessment in children with CKD. Possible underestimation of retarded or accelerated bone age should be taken into account. Validation of the BHI needs further study.”
“Trastuzumab is a fully humanised monoclonal antibody directed at the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) which has been a component of standard therapy for advanced and resected HER-2-positive breast cancers for almost a decade.\n\nHER-2 over-expression, defined as HER-2 protein over-expression using immunohistochemistry scored as 3+ and/or erbB-2 amplification detected

by fluorescent in situ hybridisation, was detected in 22.1% of 3807 patients with advanced gastric and oesophagogastric junction (OGJ) adenocarcinoma screened for eligibility for the phase III ToGA study. The validated scoring system for HER-2 positivity in gastric cancers differs from that recommended for breast cancer due to an increased frequency of incomplete membranous immunoreactivity BMS-777607 clinical trial and heterogeneity of HER-2 expression in gastric cancers. The highest rates of HER-2 over-expression are observed in patients with OGJ rather than gastric tumours and intestinal-type rather than diffuse or mixed histology.\n\nThe international multicentre randomised phase III ToGA

study assessed the addition of trastuzumab to a cisplatin plus fluoropyrimidine (FP) chemotherapy doublet for patients with HER-2-positive advanced gastric or OGJ adenocarcinoma. The investigators reported a clinically and statistically significant benefit in terms of response rate (47.3% versus 34.5%, p = 0.0017), median progression-free survival (6.7 versus 5.5 months, p = 0.0002) and median overall survival (13.8 versus 11.1 months, p = 0.0046). Trastuzumab plus FP chemotherapy is now the standard of care for patients with advanced gastric and OGJ cancers which over-express HER-2.\n\nFurther research to evaluate trastuzumab delivered beyond progression, in combination with alternative first-line chemotherapy regimens, and in the perioperative and adjuvant setting is urgently needed.

CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms previous concerns about the applicability of the ECVAM prediction model to a more diverse chemical set, and underscores the challenges associated with developing embryotoxicity prediction models. Birth Defects Res (Part B) 92:111-121, 2011. (C) 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.”
“Objective: Fer-1 research buy To assess interest in quitting smoking and quitting activity, and the use of pharmacotherapy and behavioural cessation support, among Australian smokers between 2002 and 2009.\n\nMethods:

Data were taken from 3303 daily smokers taking part in a minimum of two consecutive waves of the International Tobacco Control Four Country Survey. Using weighted data to control for sampling and attrition, we explored any effects due to age, sex, whether living in a metropolitan or regional area, and nicotine dependence.\n\nResults: Around 40% of smokers reported trying to quit and, of these, about 23% remained abstinent for at least one month when surveyed. Low socioeconomic smokers were less likely to be interested in quitting and less likely to make a quit attempt. Reported use of prescription medication to quit smoking rose sharply at the last wave with the addition of varenicline to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme. Among those who tried, use of help rose

gradually from 37% in 2002 to almost 59% in 2009 (including 52% using pharmacotherapy and 15% using behavioural forms of support).\n\nImplications: Use of help to quit is now the norm, especially among more dependent smokers. This may reflect a realization among smokers that quitting unassisted is more likely MLN2238 datasheet to fail than quitting with help, as well as the cumulative effect of promoting the use of help. Given the continuing high levels PCI-34051 molecular weight of failed quit attempts, services need to be able to expand to meet this increasing demand.”
“Microwave irradiation of 2-amino-3-aryl-1,8-naphthyridines

1 with phthalic anhydride 2 in the presence of catalytic amount of DMF provides a fast, efficient and simple method for the synthesis of N-(3-aryl-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)-phthalimides 3 in excellent yields.”
“Objective: We tested the hypothesis that weekday bedtime use of six technologies would be significantly associated with eight sleep parameters studied relating to sleep quantity, sleep quality, and parasomnias. Methods: In our cross-sectional study, we previously administered validated age-appropriate questionnaires (School Sleep Habits Survey, Technology Use Questionnaire). Participating adolescents (n = 738; 54.5% boys) were aged 11-13 years and were from the Midlands region of the United Kingdom in 2010. Results: Frequent use of all technology types was significantly inversely associated with weekday sleep duration (hours). Frequent music listeners and video gamers had significantly prolonged sleep onset (beta = 7.03 [standard error SE, 2.66]; P smaller than .01 and beta = 6.17 [SE, 2.42]; P smaller than .

M. radula and T. parviflora also occur in the well-drained soil of the cerrado sensu stricto that surrounds the palm swamp. Root and shoot anatomy of the three species show aerenchyma in plants growing in the waterlogged palm swamp area. In the cortex of roots of L. bergii and T. parviflora this aerenchyma develops in a schizolysigenous way. Aerenchymatous spaces occur also in the stems. During secondary growth, the phellogen produces an aerenchymatous polyderm. This latter is formed by two cell types, braciform and compact cells, and shows deposition of suberin in the cell walls. In the emerging organs the polyderm does not form gas spaces. The

primary aerenchyma is constitutive and occurs also in the root of M. radula and T. parviflora, even when these species are growing in the well-drained soil of cerrado sensu stricto. (c) 2012 GW4869 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.”
“To investigate the effects of subacromial tenoxicam injection during physical therapy after rotator cuff tear and subacromial decompression.\n\nThis is

a prospective controlled YAP-TEAD Inhibitor 1 Stem Cells & Wnt inhibitor clinical study. Fourteen patients who had a moderate-size rotator cuff tear were included in the study. Two injections of tenoxicam were made to patients in the tenoxicam group into the subacromial space, and two injections of serum physiologic were made to patients in the control group. The same rehabilitation program was done to both of the two groups. Passive anterior shoulder flexion was evaluated, and VAS score was noted at the end of 3 weeks following the operation. The first week of painless full range of motion achieved was noted.\n\nThe mean passive anterior shoulder flexion was 137.1A degrees (range, 130-145A degrees) for tenoxicam group and 121.4A degrees for control group. The mean VAS score was 2.42 (range, 1-3) for tenoxicam group and 4 (range, 3-5) for the control group.

The mean first week of painless full range of motion was being achieved in 6.14 (range, 6-7) in the tenoxicam group and 8.28 (range, 8-9) in the control group. Statistically significant difference was observed between the tenoxicam and control groups in terms of the mean passive anterior shoulder flexion, the VAS score during flexion and the first day of painless full range of motion achieved.\n\nSubacromial tenoxicam injection after rotator RG-7112 purchase cuff tear and subacromial decompression may help the physical therapy.”
“The prostate gland plays an important role in male reproduction. Inflammation of the prostate gland (prostatitis) is a common health problem affecting many young and middle aged men. Prostatitis is considered a correctable cause of male infertility, but the pathophysiology and appropriate treatment options of prostatitis in male infertility remain unclear. This literature review will focus on current data regarding prostatitis and its impact on male infertility.

The support surface was previously modified with a NaA zeolite by dip coating and hydrothermal synthesis. The composition and crystalline structures of the alloy films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The membrane reactor was designed and built to use either the Pd or the Pd-Ag composite membrane whose crystalline structure and typical morphology were not affected after

different reaction conditions. The Pd membrane showed the best behavior in the membrane reactor with the highest methane conversion, H(2)/CH(4) selectivity and permeation flux. After operation of the membranes at 450-500 degrees C on stream for up to 570 h no modification of the permeation parameters was observed. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“In

this study, an L-valine-producing strain was developed from Corynebacterium DAPT glutamicurn ATCC13869 through deletion of the three genes aceE, alaT and ilvA combined with the overexpression of six genes ilvB, ilvN, ilvC, lrp(1), brnF and brnE. Overexpression CBL0137 mouse of lrp(1) alone increased L-valine production by 16-fold. Deletion of the aceE, alaT and ilvA increased L-valine production by 44-fold. Overexpression of the six genes ilvB, ilvN, ilvC, lrp(1), brnE and brnF in the triple deletion mutant WCC003 further increased L-valine production. The strain WCC003/pJYW-4-ilvBNC(1)-lrp(1)-brnFE produced 243

mM L-valine in flask cultivation and 437 mM (51 g/L) L-valine in fed-batch fermentation and lacked detectable amino-acid IWR-1-endo price byproduct such as L-alanine and L-isoleucine that are usually found in the fermentation of L-valine-producing C. glutamicum. (C) 2015 International Metabolic Engineering Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“We describe and demonstrate a fabrication process for silicon sieves with highly-uniform, micron-sized pyramidal shaped pores featuring squared apertures. These sieves are fabricated over areas of several square millimetres by means of double-side standard UV-lithography and wet etching in (100)-silicon. We intend to use these sieves for hydrodynamic cell capture devices (sieves), suitable for integration of electrodes for electrophysiological measurements of neuronal networks. For the fabrication process, standard plain silicon wafers are used, without the need for etch-stop layers or silicon-on-insulator. To ensure that the sieve contains pores with identical aperture sizes by merely the use of a timed etch-stop, sacrificial octahedral structures are formed underneath each pore by means of corner lithography. These sacrificial structures counteract non-uniformities in the thickness of the layer defining the sieve, resulting from the deep ( bigger than 500 mu m) anisotropic backside wet etch process.