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There are no effective treatments for relieving neuronal dysfunction after mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). Here, we evaluated therapeutic efficacy of human embryonic stem cell-derived cerebral organoids (hCOs) in a mild TBI model, in terms of repair of damaged cortical regions, neurogenesis, and improved cognitive function.Male C57BL/6 J mice were randomly divided into sham-operated, mild TBI, and mild TBI with hCO groups. hCOs cultured at 8 weeks were used for transplantation. Mice were sacrificed at 7 and 14 days after transplantation followed by immunofluorescence staining, cytokine profile microarray, and novel object recognition test.8W-hCOs transplantation significantly reduced neuronal cell death, recovered microvessel density, and promoted neurogenesis in the ipsilateral subventricular zone and dentate gyrus of hippocampus after mild TBI. In addition, increased angiogenesis into the engrafted hCOs was observed. Microarray results of hCOs revealed neuronal differentiation potential and higher expression of early brain development proteins associated with neurogenesis, angiogenesis and extracellular matrix remodeling. Ultimately, 8W-hCO transplantation resulted in reconstruction of damaged cortex and improvement in cognitive function after mild TBI.hCO transplantation may be feasible for treating mild TBI-related neuronal dysfunction via reconstruction of damaged cortex and neurogenesis in the hippocampus.

C1 laminectomy without fusion (CLWF) is a widely accepted minimally invasive surgical technique to decompress the spinal cord around the craniovertebral junction. In the case presented herein, a 46-year-old man experienced a fracture of the anterior arch of the atlas that occurred during the postoperative period following CLWF to treat cervical myelopathy associated with a retro-odontoid pseudotumor. The findings demonstrate that disruption of the integrity of the posterior arch of the atlas confers an increased risk of anterior arch fracture. Although CLWF is a good surgical option for treating stable cervical myelopathy associated with a retro-odontoid pseudotumor, posterior decompression and fusion could be beneficial for patients with a relatively high inferior facet angle of C1-2 and subaxial arthrodesis.

Simultaneous or concurrent multiplexing techniques with orthogonal sequences have been used to extend the channel capacity of tactile sensor systems. Typically, dynamic sensor signals violate the orthogonality requirement; as such, parallel multiplexing of driving signals should be strictly constrained in industrial practices. This makes it difficult to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of non-static targets in high-order multiplexing. This study proposes a sliding-windowed and compensated multiplexing technique to address the fundamental problems in concurrent multiplexing and improve its applicability. Two construction methods for palindromic sequences were developed to reduce multiplexing errors, based on conventional orthogonal matrices. Then, the orthogonal sequences were expanded to consecutive signal samples within a limited signal window. This increases the received signal and reduces the output latency of data acquisition. Further reduction of residual errors in the expanded signal samples was achieved via the post-processing filter. The proposed method is scalable in order to conform to system requirements in terms of responsiveness, signal errors, and design complexity. Hardware implementation was successfully demonstrated by concurrently stimulating a 16x10 piezoresistive tactile panel. In the experiments, 70%-88% of concurrent multiplexing errors were removed.

Although technological advances and clinical studies on stem cells have been increasingly reported in stroke, research targeting hemorrhagic stroke is still lacking compared to that targeting ischemic stroke. Studies on hemorrhagic stroke are also being conducted, mainly in the USA and China. However, little research has been conducted in Korea. In reality, stem cell research or treatment is unfamiliar to many domestic neurosurgeons. Nevertheless, given the increased interest in regenerative medicine and the increase of life expectancy, attention should be paid to this topic. In this paper, we summarized pre-clinical rodent studies and clinical trials using stem cells for hemorrhagic stroke. In addition, we discussed results of domestic investigations and future perspectives on stem cell research for a better understanding.

Here, SWAT simulation results are calibrated and validated using SWAT-CUP Premium, and R2 (coefficient of determination) values of simulated and observed flows are compared. According to the SWAT analysis of Cheongsong Yongjeon-stream basin, a low accuracy of 0.40 was the R2 (coefficient of determination) value for simulated and observed flows, and the base flow was calculated at an annual average of 46.659 m3/s. During the same period, after calibration and validation using SWAT-CUP Premium, the R2 value of simulated and observed flows was improved to 0.71, and the evaluation indexes showed that NS was 0.51, PBIAS was 37.1, P-factor was 0.73, and R-factor was 0.33, indicating that the relationship between observed and simulated flows was improved. In addition, after calibration and validation, the base flow was 56.951 m3/s, which was a more accurate value compared to the one before calibration and validation.

Kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK)6 is associated with inflammatory diseases and neoplastic progression. KLK6 is aberrantly expressed in several solid tumors and regulates cancer development, metastatic progression, and drug resistance. However, the function of KLK6 in the tumor microenvironment remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the role of KLK6 in the tumor microenvironment. Here, we uncovered the mechanism underlying KLK6-mediated cross-talk between cancer cells and macrophages. Compared with wild-type mice, KLK6−/− mice showed less tumor growth and metastasis in the B16F10 melanoma and Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) xenograft model. Mechanistically, KLK6 promoted the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) from macrophages via the activation of protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1) in an autocrine manner. TNF-α secreted from macrophages induced the release of the C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1) from melanoma and lung carcinoma cells in a paracrine manner. The introduction of recombinant KLK6 protein in KLK6−/− mice rescued the production of TNF-α and CXCL1, tumor growth, and metastasis. Inhibition of PAR1 activity suppressed these malignant phenotypes rescued by rKLK6 in vitro and in vivo. Our findings suggest that KLK6 functions as an important molecular link between macrophages and cancer cells during malignant progression, thereby providing opportunities for therapeutic intervention.

Retrospective cross-sectional study To evaluate the validity and obtain optimal cutoff values of 3 radiologic measurements for the diagnosis of basilar invagination (BI). Two hundred seventy-six patients (46 patients who underwent atlantoaxial fusion for BI and 230 patients who were treated for minor cervical trauma) seen in a single institution from January 2010 to December 2016 were included in this study. Age, sex, and body mass index were adjusted for the patients. The Ranawat index (RI), modified Ranawat method (MRM), and Redlund-Johnell method (RJM) were used to diagnose BI on plain radiographs. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, and diagnostic odds ratio of 3 radiologic measurements were compared. We also calculated the optimized cutoff values of 3 radiologic measurements using the receiver operating characteristic curve in our patients. The mean age of the 130 women and 146 men was 58.3 ± 14.5 years. The mean values of RI, MRM, and RJM in the BI group were 12.5 ± 3.3, 23.1 ± 3.8, and 27.3 ± 3.6 in women and 13.6 ± 2.6, 26.8 ± 4.2, and 34.7 ± 5.1 in men. There was a significant difference between the sexes (P .05). The accuracies of RI, MRM, and RJM were 95%, 89.6%, and 92.3% in women and 93%, 68.2%, and 85.4% in men, respectively. The optimized cutoff values of RI, MRM, and RJM were 14, 26, and 32 mm in women and 15, 29, and 38 mm in men. Three radiologic measurements (RI, MRM, and RJM) are reliable for the diagnosis of BI even in the era of cross-sectional images. The validity of these measurements depends on sex and particular radiologic measurement. The optimized cutoff values of RI, MRM, and RJM were 14, 26, and 32 mm in women and 15, 29, and 37 mm in men. These cutoff values showed high validity when compared to the CT and MRI findings.

Strategies for stem cell-based cardiac regeneration and repair are key issues for the ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients with chronic complications related to ischemic necrosis. Cardiac stem cells (CSCs) have demonstrated high therapeutic efficacy for IHD treatment owing to their specific cardiac-lineage commitment. The therapeutic potential of CSCs could be further enhanced by designing a cellular spheroid formulation. The spheroid culture condition of CSCs was optimized to ensure regulated size and minimal core necrosis in the spheroids. The CSC spheroids revealed mRNA profiles of the factors related to cardiac regeneration, angiogenesis, anti-inflammatory, and cardiomyocyte differentiation with a higher expression level than the CSCs. Intramyocardially delivered CSC spheroids in the rat IHD model resulted in a significant increase in retention rate by 1.82-fold (day 3) and 1.98-fold (day 14) compared to CSCs. Endothelial cell differentiation and neovascularization of the engrafted CSC spheroids were noted in the infarcted myocardium. CSC spheroids significantly promoted cardiac regeneration: i.e., decreased infarction and fibrotic area (11.22% and 4.18%) and increased left ventricle thickness (0.62 mm) compared to the untreated group. Cardiac performance was also improved by 2.04-fold and 1.44-fold increase in the ejection fraction and fractional shortening, respectively. Intramyocardial administration of CSC spheroids might serve as an advanced therapeutic modality with enhanced cell engraftment and regenerative abilities for cardiac repair after myocardial infarction.

Thermoelectric devices are environmentally friendly renewable energy sources that use waste heat to generate electricity. So far, p-type Bi–Sb–Te-based alloys with high thermoelectric properties were fabricated using low-dimensional and single growth methods as small-scale, laboratory-grown samples. However, large-scale fabrication processes are required for commercial applications of thermoelectric devices. In this work, large amounts (2–3 kg) of p-type 20%Bi2Te3–80%Sb2Te3 alloy powders were fabricated using the gas atomization (GA) process under an inert gas atmosphere. Subsequently, a large-scale sample, 64 mm thick and 25 mm in diameter, was consolidated from the as-fabricated GA powders using spark plasma sintering at 673 K. The homogeneity of the microstructure, density, thermoelectric properties, and mechanical properties of the high-thickness sintered bulk were systematically investigated at various positions. The EBSD texture analysis revealed that an almost similar microstructure existed in all positions of the bulk sample, which was comprised of a mixture of coarse grains and fine grains randomly distributed throughout the matrix. The peak electrical conductivity of 1100 Ω−1 cm−1 was obtained from the top position of the thick sample, which had a relatively higher carrier mobility. The maximum power factor of 3.96 mW/mK2 was achieved by the top part of the specimen, because of its higher electrical conductivity. The lowest thermal conductivity of 0.964 W/mK at 350 K was obtained from the bottom part of the specimen. As a result, the maximum figure of merit, ZT of 1.25 was achieved in the bottom position of the high-thickness sample. Homogeneous (within 5% of variation) thermoelectric transport properties were observed throughout the fabricated high-thickness sintered sample, regardless of position.

Objective: There are no effective treatments for relieving neuronal dysfunction after mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). Here, we evaluated therapeutic efficacy of human embryonic stem cell-derived cerebral organoids (hCOs) in a mild TBI model, in terms of repair of damaged cortical regions, neurogenesis, and improved cognitive function. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into sham-operated, mild TBI, and mild TBI with hCO groups. hCOs cultured at 8 weeks were used for transplantation. Mice were sacrificed at 7 and 14 days after transplantation followed by immunofluorescence staining, cytokine profile microarray, and novel object recognition test.Results: 8W-hCOs transplantation significantly reduced neuronal cell death, recovered microvessel density, and promoted neurogenesis in the ipsilateral subventricular zone and dentate gyrus of hippocampus after mild TBI. In addition, increased angiogenesis into the engrafted hCOs was observed. Microarray results of hCOs revealed neuronal differentiation potential and higher expression of early brain development proteins associated with neurogenesis, angiogenesis and extracellular matrix remodeling. Ultimately, 8W-hCO transplantation resulted in reconstruction of damaged cortex and improvement in cognitive function after mild TBI. Conclusion: hCO transplantation may be feasible for treating mild TBI-related neuronal dysfunction via reconstruction of damaged cortex and neurogenesis in the hippocampus.

The goal of the present study was to investigate the impact of C3 involvement on the postoperative kyphosis following cervical laminoplasty in patients with high and low T1S.The data from ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament patients who had undergone laminoplasty between January 2016 and December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into low-and high-T1S groups according to preoperative T1S, and the postoperative alignment change was compared between the groups. The relationships between postoperative cervical kyphosis and preoperative variables, including gender, C3 laminoplasty, T1S, cervical lordosis (CL), C2-7 Sagittal Vertical Axis, and T1S minus CL (T1S-CL) were investigated.Eighty-six patients were divided into 2 groups above and below median preoperative T1S (23.70). There were thirty-three patients (38.3%) in low-T1S group and fifty-three patients (61.7%) in high-T1S group. Twenty-three patients (26.7%) were performed with C3 involved laminoplasty. C3 laminoplasty (odds ratio [OR], 9.67; 2.82-33.16; P = 0.000), high T1S (OR, 4.89; 1.54-15.49; P = 0.007), and mismatched T1S-CL (OR, 5.96; 1.83-19.43; P = 0.003) were significantly associated with postoperative kyphosis. In high-T1S group, the loss of CL was significant (P = 0.017) when C3 laminoplasty was performed, whereas, in low-T1S group, the C3 laminoplasty did not show the statistically significant difference. (P = 0.194).C3 laminoplasty, mismatched T1S-CL, and high T1S were found to increase the risk of postoperative kyphosis following cervical laminoplasty. Patients with high T1 slope tended to exhibit a greater loss of CL when the laminoplasty was performed extending to C3 segment.

Caudal epidural injection (CEI) is commonly used to manage patients with low back or leg pain, but cauda equine syndrome (CES) rarely results from epidural and/or subdural hematoma occurred after the procedure. A 71-year-old man presented at our outpatient department with voiding difficulty and radiating pain in both legs 8 days ago after CEI. The patient also complained pain and numbness of saddle area, CES. He had taken clopidogrel for 8 years after cardiac stent insertion. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed subdural hematoma at the L5-S1-S2 level. The patient underwent urgent surgical treatment for hematoma evacuation. We finally recognized that subdural hematoma in lumbar MRI was found to subdural-extra arachnoid hematoma as considering intraoperative findings. To the best of our knowledge, few cases of this complication have been reported after CEI. Subdural hematoma often is concomitant with subarachnoid hematoma. Subdural and subarachnoid hematoma is associated with poor clinical outcomes due to severe edema of nerve rootlets. However, no evidence of edema and swelling of nerve rootlets was observed during surgery in our case. As a result, the patient achieved full recovery more than we expected unlike the case of subdural and subarachnoid hematoma.

Stress is an emerging and inevitable entity. Stress causes anxiety, depression, imbalance of homeostasis, hormone imbalance, and sleep disturbances that are closely related to the onset of metabolic syndrome. The objective of this study was to investigate effects of Ocimum sanctum extract (TZ-OSE) on anti-anxiety, anti-stress, and control of physiological changes due to sleep disturbance in a rat model with restraint stress and sleep disorder induced. After inducing the rat model with restraint stress, three behavioral tests were performed and blood cortisol concentration was determined. In Elevated plus maze test, the test substance TZ-OSE at dose of 200 mg/kg showed the best effect in increasing time that stayed on the open arms. In tail suspension test (TST) and forced swimming test (FST), TZ-OSE significantly reduced immobility duration time (IMT). TZ-OSE also decreased plasma cortisol concentration. In the model after inducing sleep disturbance, ELISA, Western blotting, and Immuno-histochemistry (IHC) were conducted. TZ-OSE treatment decreased plasma cortisol, norepinephrine, glucose, and acylated ghrelin concentrations in the rat model with sleep disorders induced. Decreases of melatonin and leptin levels in the plasma of the rat model with sleep disorders induced were increased by TZ-OSE treatment. Finally, TZ-OSE treatment decreased metabolism-related markers (p-AMPK, Glut-4, p-ACC) in stomach and muscle tissues and decreased the expression of cortisol in adrenal gland tissues. Taken together, these results suggest that TZ-OSE can decrease anxiety, depression, and stress in vivo, regulate sleep-related factors, and control energy metabolism index factors.

A straightforward and greener PEG-assisted protocol has been disclosed for the cascade synthesis of [1,3]Oxazino quinoline, and chromeno[1,3]oxazin derivatives via three component reaction of multifarious aromatic amines with formaldehyde and 4-hydroxyquinoline-2(1H)-one or 4-methylumbelliferone by using very convenient reaction conditions. This methodology represents a sustainable approach for rapid access to a library of diversity oriented highly pure [1,3]oxazino scaffolds with broad substrate scope.

BackgroundCopeptin has been reported as a predictive biomarker for the prognosis after traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, most of them were in patients with severe TBI and limited value in predicting outcomes in patients with moderate TBI defined as Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score from 9 to 12. We aimed to investigate the predictive value of copeptin in assessing the neurologic outcome following moderate TBI.MethodsPatients were prospectively enrolled between May 2017 and November 2020. We consecutively measured plasma copeptin within 24 h after trauma, days 3, 5, and 7 using ELISA. The primary outcome was to correlate plasma copeptin levels with poor neurologic outcome at 6 months after moderate TBI. The secondary outcome was to compare the prognostic accuracy of copeptin and C-reactive protein (CRP) in assessing the outcome of patient.ResultsA total of 70 patients were included for the final analysis. The results showed that 29 patients (41.4%) experienced a poor neurologic outcome at 6 months. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that increased copeptin (odds ration [OR] = 1.020, 95% CI: 1.005–1.036), GCS score of 9 or 10 (OR = 4.507, 95% CI: 1.266–16.047), and significant abnormal findings on CT (OR = 4.770; 95% CI: 1.133–20.076) were independent risk factors for poor outcomes. Consecutive plasma copeptin levels were significantly different according to outcomes (p < 0.001). Copeptin on day 7 exhibited better prognostic performance than CRP with an area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) difference of 0.179 (95% CI: 0.032–0.325) in predicting 6-month poor outcomes.ConclusionPlasma copeptin level can be a useful marker in predicting 6-month outcomes in patients with moderate TBI.

Objective: To evaluate which radiologic parameters affect clinical outcomes in patients underwent posterior C1–2 fusion for atlantoaxial dislocation.Methods: From January 2014 to December 2017, among 98 patients underwent C1–2 posterior fusion, patients with previous cervical surgery or extending to subaxial spine or basilar invagination were excluded. Finally, 38 patients were included. O–C2, C1–2, C1–C7, C2–C7 cobb angle (CA), T1 slope, C1–7, C2–7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), and posterior atlantodental interval (PADI) were measured at preoperative and postoperative 1 year. The difference between postoperative and preoperative values for each parameter was designated as Δvalue. Postoperative subaxial kyphosis (PSK) was defined to decrease ≥ 10° at subaxial spine. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, Neck Disability Index (NDI) were used to evaluate clinical outcomes.Results: Mean age was 54.4 ± 15.9. Male to female was 14 to 24. Of radiologic parameters, C1–7 SVA and PADI were significantly changed from 26.4 ± 12.9 mm, 17.1 ± 3.3 mm to 22.6 ± 13.0 mm, 21.6 ± 3.4 mm. ΔC1–2 CA was correlated with ΔC1–7 CA and ΔC2–7 SVA. ΔPADI correlates with ΔO–C2 CA. VAS correlates with ΔC1–7 CA (p = 0.03). JOA score also correlates with ΔC2–7 SVA (p = 0.02). NDI was associated with ΔPADI (p < 0.01). The incidence of PSK was 23.7%, and not significant with clinical outcomes.Conclusion: ΔC1–2 CA was correlated with ΔC1C7 CA, ΔC2–7 SVA. ΔC1–7 CA, ΔC2–7 SVA, and ΔPADI were the key radiologic parameters to influence clinical outcomes. Postoperative C1–2 angle should be carefully determined as a factor affecting clinical outcomes and cervical sagittal alignment.

Primary spinal ligament-derived cells (SLDCs) from cervical herniated nucleus pulposus tissue (control, Ctrl) and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) tissue of surgical patients were analyzed for pathogenesis elucidation. Here, we found that decreased levels of ferritin and increased levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), a bone formation marker, provoked osteogenesis in SLDCs in OPLL. SLDCs from the Ctrl and OPLL groups satisfied the definition of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells. RNA sequencing revealed that oxidative phosphorylation and the citric acid cycle pathway were upregulated in the OPLL group. SLDCs in the OPLL group showed increased mitochondrial mass, increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, decreased levels of ROS scavengers including ferritin. ROS and ferritin levels were upregulated and downregulated in a time-dependent manner, and both types of molecules repressed ALP. Osteogenesis was mitigated by apoferritin addition. We propose that enhancing ferritin levels might alleviate osteogenesis in OPLL.

Periodic noise in active sensors is not random and cannot easily be eliminated by successive integration of signal samples. These noise components, often, tend to severely degrade the signal-to-noise ratio of the sensor signals, thereby resulting in detection failures. To facilitate effective reduction of non-random noises, the proposed study presents a digital front-end procedure based on modified independent component analysis (ICA). In comparison with conventional demodulation-based techniques, the proposed method can suppress periodic noise whilst enabling fine detection of the signal phase and magnitude through use of only a few samples. A new cost-effective two-channel ICA-based technique and its initialization method were devised for individual sensor devices. The proposed preprocessing method employing partial in-phase and quadrature demodulation strengthens system immunity against Gaussian random noises, which inevitably exist in most sensing circuits. This paper also discusses results obtained via implementation of a customized logic design for the full scenario of the proposed denoising technique. With regard to the capacitive and visible light sensors, experimental results demonstrate that errors caused by noise components that occur close to the stimulating frequency are suppressed at rates 3.2-5.3 times higher compared to existing processing techniques.

Weissella (W.) cibaria strain Chonnam Medical University (CMU) has shown oral colonizing ability and inhibitory effects on the formation of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) in vitro studies. The present study was conducted to analyze the effects of the W. cibaria CMU on canine oral health. Halitosis, calculus, plaque, gingivitis, and intraoral microbiota were assessed in 3 groups: control (maltodextrin), W. cibaria CMU low concentration (CMU-L, 2 × 107 colony forming unit [CFU]), and high-concentration (CMU-H, 2 × 109 CFU). Halitosis was analyzed using both organoleptic evaluation and measurement of VSCs. Intraoral microbiota were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. From week 4, the total VSC level in the CMU-H group (4.0 ± 1.30 ng/10 mL) was significantly lower than in the control group (6.3 ± 2.28 ng/10 mL). Significant reduction in methyl mercaptan in the CMU-treated groups was also observed. In addition, the plaque index in the CMU-treated groups was significantly decreased. The CMU-treated groups showed significant decreases in Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, and Tannerella forsythia and demonstrated the colonizing ability of W. cibaria CMU in the oral cavity. We demonstrated that W. cibaria CMU suppresses halitosis, colonizes the oral cavity, and inhibits the proliferation of malodor-causing oral bacteria in beagles. According to these results, we expect that W. cibaria CMU could be a new oral hygiene solution by reducing VSC production and inhibiting the growth of oral harmful bacteria in companion animals.

Here, two important isoflavones present in Trifolium pratense, formononetin and biochanin A, were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with UV (HPLC–UV). These isoflavones are marker compounds with anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-oxidant properties, and are also potent phytoestrogens that can be used in hormonal therapies. Till date, no study regarding rapid identification and quantification of T. pratense extract has been conducted. This study developed and validated an optimized method for quantifying formononetin and biochanin A using HPLC–UV. The results showed excellent linearity of the calibration curve (r2 ≥ 0.999), and good resolutions of chromatographic peaks were obtained. Other validation parameters such as specificity, accuracy, and precision demonstrated that our method had good reliability and sensitivity. Furthermore, our method for quantifying formononetin and biochanin A in T. pratense extract is convenient.

Radiation therapy is an effective treatment against various types of cancer, but some radiation-resistant cancer cells remain a major therapeutic obstacle; thus, understanding radiation resistance mechanisms is essential for cancer treatment. In this study, we established radiation-resistant colon cancer cell lines and examined the radiation-induced genetic changes associated with radiation resistance. Using RNA-sequencing analysis, collapsin response mediator protein 4 (CRMP4) was identified as the candidate gene associated with radiation sensitivity. When cells were exposed to radiation, intracellular Ca2+ influx, collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, and cytochrome c release into the cytosol were increased, followed by apoptosis induction. Radiation treatment- or Ca2+ ionophore A23187-induced apoptosis was significantly inhibited in CRMP4-deficient cells, including radiation-resistant or CRMP4-shRNA cell lines. Furthermore, treatment of CRMP4-deficient cells with low levels (10 µM) resulted in higher cell death in the CRMP4-depleted cells compared to CRMP4-expressing control cells. Our results suggest that CRMP4 plays an important role in Ca2+-mediated cell death pathways under radiation exposure and that CRMP4 may be a therapeutical target for colon cancer treatment.

Thermal interface materials (TIMs) are extensively used in electronic devices as efficient heat transfer materials. We fabricated all-carbon TIMs by hybridizing single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with graphite and demonstrated their performance by applying them to a thermoelectric generator (TEG) device. The hybrid carbon TIM exhibited maximum thermal conductivity when the SWCNT content was near 10 wt%. The TIM thermal contact resistance measured by a home-made calorimeter setup was 2.19 × 10−4 m2K/W, which did not vary with temperature but decreased with applied pressure. Post-treatment of the TIM with a silane coupling agent further reduced the TIM thermal contact resistance by 30%. When the TIM was placed between a TEG device and a copper heat reservoir, the TEG output power increased with the temperature difference across the TEG and applied pressure. Moreover, the post-treatment of the TIM enhanced the output power of the TEG device by up to 18.5%. This work provides a simple and effective pathway towards a carbon-based TIM that can be applied to a high temperature TEG.

Background: Radiation therapy, an effective treatment modality against various types of cancer including colorectal cancer, reduces local recurrence rate despite damaging both normal and cancer cells. However, the presence of cancer cells resistant to radiation therapy remains a major therapeutic obstacle; thus, understanding the mechanisms underlying radiation resistance is an important step toward achieving successful outcomes in cancer treatment. Hence, in the present study, radioresistant cell lines were established and the radiation-induced genetic changes associated with radiation resistance were examined.Methods: We generated radioresistant colorectal cancer cell lines and subjected them to RNA sequencing. To know the relationship between CRMP4 downregulation and radiation resistance, western blotting and flow cytometry were used.Results: CRMP4 was identified as the candidate gene associated with radiation sensitivity. The intracellular Ca2+ concentrations increased when cells were exposed to radiation, which in turn, initiated apoptosis. Decreased CRMP4 expression enhanced resistance to radiation and Ca2+ ionophore A23187. Conversely, Ca2+ deficiency by BAPTA-AM caused higher cell death in CRMP4-depleted cells than in CRMP4-expressing cells.Conclusion: Our results indicated that CRMP4 influences Ca2+ signaling pathways involved in apoptosis, and that CRMP4 is critical for radiation sensitivity in colorectal cancer as it can sensitize cancer cells to radiation therapy.

For the successful commercialization of Bi2Te3-based thermoelectric generator (TEG) devices, not only highly efficient TE materials, but also reliable bonding materials with high thermal stability are essential. In this study, we investigated the application of Cu nanoparticle paste (CNP) bonding for increasing the operating temperature of Bi2Te3-based TEG devices. Six-chip TEG devices were fabricated by joining surface-metalized Bi2Te3-based TE chips and Cu electrodes by CNP bonding. The optimal bonding was achieved when spark plasma sintering was carried out at 310–320 °C and 15 MPa. The 6-chip Bi2Te3-based TEG devices showed a maximum output power of 50–60 mW at the hot-side temperature of 400 °C ( ∆ T = 380 °C) and maintained almost the same output power after five thermal cycles. The scanning electron microscopy images of the thermally cycled electrodes further confirmed the robustness of the Cu nanoparticle joints. This work provides an effective method for joining TE chips and Cu electrodes for high-temperature TEG devices.

This study aimed to determine that amla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) extract prevents and alleviates hair loss. We measured cell proliferative activity, 5alpha- reductase inhibitory, TGF-beta1 and DKK-1, IGF-1 and VEGF effect on human dermal papilla cells to investigate therapeutic effect of the amla extract. The cell proliferative activity in human dermal papilla cells was observed to be most prominent in the range of 50 μg/ml. Also, amla extract decreased the expression of 5alpha-reductase in a dose dependent manner in human dermal papilla cells. And IGF-1 and VEGF which were known to accelerate the differentiation and growth of human dermal papilla cells was increased by amla extract in a dose dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that amla extract has hair growth promoting effect and it may be a potent candidate for the prevention of hair loss.

Research on the methodology for predicting and analyzing the performance of a thermoelectric device (TED) can offer various possibilities for enhancing its energy conversion characteristics. In this work, the methodology to determine the electrical contact resistance and the interfacial thermal resistance of a TED was studied. Based on one-dimensional heat transfer equations of power generation mode that includes electrical contact resistance and interfacial thermal resistance, we derived explicit expressions for the open circuit voltage and the short circuit current as the limiting cases of the external electrical load. The measurements of the open circuit voltage and the short-circuit current of TED were carried out for various thermal interface materials (TIMs) between the TED and heat reservoirs under varying compressive forces. The electrical contact resistance and the interfacial thermal resistance of a TED were determined by matching the measured values of the open circuit voltage and the short circuit current of a TED to the results of the analytic model. The electrical contact resistivity of the TED tested was approximately 3 × 10−9 Ωm2, irrespective of the compressive force, the hot-side temperature, and the TIMs. The interfacial thermal resistance varied sensitively with the TIMs and decreased with the compressive forces.

A polycrystalline WSe2 nanocompound was produced via a brief thermal reaction between the atomic elements. It should grow along the in-plane direction with covalent bonds rather than along the through-plane direction with van der Waals forces, leading to both crystallographic and morphological anisotropies. Not only the anisotropies should structurally induce strong phonon scattering but they alleviate possible electron scattering at the van der Waals forces; thus, we greatly reduced thermal conductivity while minimizing electrical conductivity loss. The decoupled conductivities resulted in enhancement in figure of merit, by approximately 70% at 350 °C, thus affording a promising material for mid-temperature thermoelectric operations.

Rho GTPases control a wide range of cellular processes, and their deregulation is associated with promotion of an aggressive and metastatic tumor phenotype in human cancers. Rho guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor 1 (RhoGDI1) plays a key role in regulating the activity of Rho GTPases. However, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we show that protein phosphatase 1B (PPM1B) interacts with RhoGDI1 and functions as its phosphatase. Ectopic expression of PPM1B results in dephosphorylation of RhoGDI1 and, thereby, abates the activation of RhoA, Rac1 and CDC42 by epidermal growth factor (EGF). PPM1B overexpression in Hs578T and SKBR3 human breast cancer cells decreases their motility and invasiveness in vitro and cancer metastasis in vivo. In contrast, knockdown of PPM1B in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 human breast cancer cells that express endogenous PPM1B enhances EGF-induced RhoGDI1 phosphorylation, activation of Rho GTPases, and cancer cell migration and invasion. Knockdown of RhoA or Rac1 by siRNA reverses the enhanced cell migration seen after PP1MB depletion. Collectively, these results indicate that PPM1B negatively regulates cancer cell motility and invasiveness through dephosphorylating RhoGDI1.

Objective Massive intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and major infarction (MI) are devastating cerebral vascular diseases. Decompression craniectomy (DC) is a common treatment approach for these diseases and acceptable clinical results have been reported. Author experienced the postoperative intracranaial pressure (ICP) trend is somewhat different between the ICH and MI patients. In this study, we compare the ICP trend following DC and evaluate the clinical significance. Methods One hundred forty-three patients who underwent DC following massive ICH (81 cases) or MI (62 cases) were analyzed retrospectively. The mean age was 56.3±14.3 (median=57, male : female=89 : 54). DC was applied using consistent criteria in both diseases patients; Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score less than 8 and a midline shift more than 6 mm on brain computed tomography. In all patients, ventricular puncture was done before the DC and ICP trends were monitored during and after the surgery. Outcome comparisons included the ictus to operation time (OP-time), postoperative ICP trend, favorable outcomes and mortality. Results Initial GCS (p=0.364) and initial ventricular ICP (p=0.783) were similar among the ICH and MI patients. The postoperative ICP of ICH patients were drop rapidly and maintained within physiological range if greater than 80% of the hematoma was removed. While in MI patients, the postoperative ICP were not drop rapidly and maintained above the physiologic range (MI=18.8 vs. ICH=13.6 mmHg, p=0.000). The OP-times were faster in ICH patients (ICH=7.3 vs. MI=40.9 hours, p=0.000) and the mortality rate was higher in MI patients (MI=37.1% vs. ICH=17.3%, p=0.007). Conclusion The results of this study suggest that if greater than 80% of the hematoma was removed in ICH patients, the postoperative ICP rarely over the physiologic range. But in MI patients, the postoperative ICP was above the physiologic range for several days after the DC. Authors propose that DC is no need for the massive ICH patient if a significant portion of their hematoma is removed. But DC might be essential to improve the MI patients' outcome and timely treatment decision.