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[Display omitted] Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are observed in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), although their role remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the influence of NETs on the CRS epithelium. Forty-five sinonasal biopsy specimens were immunofluorescence-stained to identify NETs and p63+ basal stem cells. Investigators treated human nasal epithelial cells with NETs and studied them with immunofluorescence staining, Western blotting, and quantitative real-time PCR. NET inhibitors were administered to a murine neutrophilic nasal polyp model. NETs existed in tissues in patients with CRS with nasal polyps, especially in noneosinophilic nasal polyp tissues. p63+ basal cell expression had a positive correlation with the release of NETs. NETs induced the expansion of Ki-67+p63+ cells. We found that ΔNp63, an isoform of p63, was mainly expressed in the nasal epithelium and controlled by NETs. Treatment with deoxyribonuclease (DNase) I or Sivelestat (NET inhibitors) prevented the overexpression of ΔNp63+ epithelial stem cells and reduced polyp formation. These results reveal that NETs are implicated in CRS pathogenesis via basal cell hyperplasia. This study suggests a novel possibility of treating CRS by targeting NETs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly impermeable gas barrier coating is developed by intercalating ethylenediamine (EDA) into the nanochannels of graphene oxide (GO). The diffusion of EDA is facilitated in aqueous GO liquid crystal (LC) scaffolds, and the intercalation can be achieved spontaneously in a few seconds. The intercalated EDA not only crosslinks GO but also induces chemical reduction of GO to RGO, making the RGO/EDA coating stable in water. Remarkably, the RGO/EDA coating exhibits extremely low gas permeability ranging from 0.006 to 0.02 barrer for He, H 2 , N 2 , and CO 2 , similar to that of a neat GO film and exceeding the barrier performance of conventional polymers or their composite materials with graphene or nanoclay. The excellent barrier properties can be attributed to the high tortuosity caused by the well-aligned structure of high-aspect-ratio graphene sheets. In addition, the viscoelastic rheological properties of the GOLC could be beneficial for coating RGO/EDA on various substrates with different geometries where gas barrier properties are needed. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare earth elements (REEs) have become crucial resources in the electric vehicle industry; however, their recycling remains challenging. In this study, we developed a carboxymethylated cellulose nanofibril aerogel crosslinked with citric acid (CMCNF-CA aerogel) through thermal treatment and employed it as an adsorbent for REE recovery. The CMCNF-CA aerogel possesses a substantial amount of free –COOH groups, resulting in a strong negative charge. This unique characteristic enables the aerogel to exhibit excellent adsorption capacities of 200 mg/g for lanthanum(La3+) and 170 mg/g for cerium(Ce3+). The findings from FTIR and XPS analyses provide insights into the adsorption mechanism. It is revealed that hydroxo-complexes, such as La-(OH) x and Ce-(OH) x , are adsorbed onto the CMCNF-CA aerogel through strong electrostatic interactions with the –COOH groups. This leads to the formation of metal ionic crosslinking. Remarkably, the CMCNF-CA aerogel maintains its high adsorption performance even after undergoing five consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles. Based on these results, we demonstrate that the CMCNF-CA aerogel is an efficient and reusable adsorbent for the sustainable recovery of La3+ and Ce3+ from aqueous solutions. This study offers promising prospects for addressing the challenges in the recycling of REEs, highlighting the potential of the CMCNF-CA aerogel as a practical solution in the field of REE recovery. [Display omitted] • Recycling of lanthanum(La3+) and cerium(Ce3+) is necessary due to increasing demand. • Carboxymethylcellulose nanofibril(CMCNF-CA) aerogel is prepared to recycle La3+/Ce3+. • CMCNF–CA aerogel has plenty of–COOH groups, which induce a strong negative charge. • La3+ and Ce3+ was adsorbed by ionophorically crosslinking on -COOHs of CMCNF-CA. • CMCNF–CA shows excellent La3+(200 mg/g) and Ce3+(170 mg/g) adsorption capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Template-free synthesis of faujasite type zeolite was investigated in the presence of graphene oxide (GO) in the synthesis sol. Nano-sized FAU/EMT, nano-sized FAU, and micro-sized FAU can be obtained depending on synthesis conditions such as precursor molar ratios, crystallization temperature, and the use of freeze-drying to alter water content. The obtained GO/Faujasite powder was shaped in the form of a disk by vacuum filtration. The shaped GO/Faujasite powder is electrically conductive (∼0.4 S/m & 2000–3000 Ω/sq), mechanically stable (Young's modulus: ∼7 MPa) and contains micropores, mesopores, and macropores. Furthermore, the GO/Faujasite disk exhibits high methylene blue adsorption capacity and can be regenerated by thermal annealing at 300 °C without significant capacity loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A graphite grid was fabricated using reactive ion etching with a stencil mask. The graphite film was synthesized through chemical vapor deposition on commercial Ni foil and was simply etched with a stencil mask using oxygen plasma during reactive ion etching. It had ∼85% optical transmittance at a 550-nm wavelength and ∼120 Ω/sq sheet resistance. Graphite grids placed on a human hand used to distinguish its motions showed high strain-sensing performance: its gauge factor ranged from 100 to 350, and its response times for strain loading and for release were short (10 and 80 ms, respectively). Because the graphite-based structures could be prepared in large quantities and because etching with a reusable stencil mask is very simple, mass production of high-performance motion sensors using the well-structured graphite grid is commercially feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new and simple method to prepare three-dimensional (3D) graphene foams is developed. It uses 3D Ni nanowire foams as a catalyst for chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Ni nanowires were synthesized on a large scale by the reduction of Ni ions under an applied magnetic field, and then assembled into a 3D film by filtrating a bulk Ni nanowire solution or by pressing Ni nanowire powder. An additional CVD process was conducted to develop graphene on the 3D Ni nanowire foam at 670 °C, which is considerably lower than the conventional growth temperatures of around 1000 °C. The resulting 3D graphene exhibited higher electrical conductivity (17.5 S/cm) as well as a higher specific surface area (145 m 2 /g) due to its highly dense and interconnected structure, with pores on the order of several microns. The 3D graphene foam also exhibited excellent electrical and mechanical properties under repeated mechanical deformations (stretching, bending and folding), demonstrating their potential for use in such applications as the electrodes in wearable devices and electrochemical catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: There have been few studies about the effect of histamine on ciliary beat frequency (CBF) in the acute phase of allergic rhinitis. Objective: The present study was designed to investigate CBF in the acute phase of allergic rhinitis and the effect of histamine on CBF. Materials and Methods: Nasal septal mucosae were obtained from 13 mice that had been systemically immunized and locally challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) (group A), 11 OVA immunized and phosphate-buffered saline–challenged mice (group B), and 12 nontreated negative control mice (group C). The CBFs were observed within 20 minutes of local challenge with OVA. Ciliary beat frequencies were measured before and after treatment with 10−5, 10−3, and 10−1 mol/L histamine and after administering antihistamine or Dulbecco''s modified Eagle''s medium to histamine-exposed mucosa. Results: The baseline CBF in group A was higher than in groups B and C. After treatment with 10−1 mol/L histamine, CBF in all groups decreased to 0 within 5 to 7 minutes, whereas treatment with 10−5 or 10−3 mol/L histamine had no effect. The application of 100 μmol/L fexofenadine or Dulbecco''s modified Eagle''s medium solution restored histamine-induced ciliostasis to near baseline CBF after 10 minutes. Conclusions: Ciliary beat frequency increased in the acute phase of a mouse model of allergic rhinitis. Physiologic concentrations of histamine had no effect on CBF, and thus, it appears that other mechanisms control CBF in the acute phase of allergic rhinitis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Granular glands in the skins of frogs synthesize and secrete a remarkably diverse range of peptides capable of antimicrobial activity. These anuran skin antimicrobial peptides are commonly hydrophobic, cationic and form an amphipathic α-helix in a membrane mimetic solution. Recently, they have been considered as useful target molecules for developing new antibiotics drugs. Esculentin-1c is a 46-amino acid residue peptide isolated from skin secretions of the European frog, Rana esculenta. It displays the most potent antimicrobial activity among bioactive molecules. Esculentin-1c has the longest amino acids among all antimicrobial peptides. The present study solved the solution structure of esculentin-1c in TFE/water by NMR, for the first time. We conclude that this peptide is comprised of three α-helices with each helix showing amphipathic characteristics, which seems to be a key part for permeating into bacterial membranes, thus presenting antimicrobial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Objective: To assess the relationship between clinical endpoints for induction of anesthesia and the electroencephalographic (EEG) bispectral index (BIS) and effect-site concentration (CE) values when using a target-controlled infusion (TCI) of either thiopental sodium or propofol, by hypothesizing that yawning may be a useful alternative to other commonly used clinical signs for determining loss of consciousness.Design: Randomized observational clinical study.Setting: Operating room of a university-based hospital.Patients: 60 healthy adult patients (aged 20–50 yrs) scheduled for elective surgery with general anesthesia.Interventions: During a TCI of propofol (n = 30) or thiopental (n = 30), clinical endpoints for loss of verbal responsiveness (LOV), loss-of-eyelash reflex (LOE), occurrence of yawning, and apnea were assessed at 15-second intervals. In addition, BIS and CE values were recorded at each of the endpoints.Measurements and Main Results: In both anesthetic groups, the sequence of occurrence of the clinical endpoints was similar, namely LOV, LOE, yawning, and, lastly, apnea. Compared with LOV and LOE, yawning was associated with lower BIS and higher CE values with both anesthetics. The frequency of yawning was higher with thiopental than propofol (83% vs. 63%, respectively). However, the frequency of apnea was higher with propofol than thiopental (77% vs. 53%, respectively).Conclusion: The correlation of the clinical endpoints with BIS and CE values was highest for LOV. Yawning was as unreliable as LOE for determining the onset of unconsciousness during induction of anesthesia. This clinical sign failed to be observed in 17% and 37% of patients induced with thiopental and propofol, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), which are members of the TGF-β superfamily, regulate bone remodeling by stimulating osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Although the association between osteitis and poor surgical outcomes is well known in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), BMPs have not been fully investigated as potential biomarkers for the prognosis of CRS. Our aim was to investigate the role of BMPs in osteitis in patients with CRS with nasal polyps (NPs) (CRSwNPs), as well as associations between BMPs and inflammatory markers in sinonasal tissues from patients with CRSwNP. We investigated the expression of 6 BMPs (BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-6, BMP-7, BMP-9, and BMP-10) and their cellular origins in NPs of human subjects by using immunohistochemistry and ELISA of NP tissues. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to identify associations between BMPs and inflammatory markers. Air-liquid interface cell culture of human nasal epithelial cells was performed to evaluate the induction of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition by BMPs. Of the 6 BMPs studied, BMP-2 and BMP-7 were associated with refractoriness. Only BMP-2 concentrations were higher in patients with severe osteitis and advanced disease extent according to the computed tomography findings. Eosinophils and some macrophages were identified as cellular sources of BMP-2 in immunofluorescence analysis. An in vitro experiment revealed that BMP-2 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in air-liquid interface–cultured human nasal epithelial cells, particularly in a T H 2 milieu. BMP-2 could reflect the pathophysiology of mucosa and bone remodeling and may be a novel biomarker for refractory CRSwNP. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin (SAE) superantigens are detected in nasal polyps (NPs), and SAE-specific IgE predicts asthma comorbidity in patients with NPs. However, roles of SAE superantigens and superantigen-related T-cell responses remain to be elucidated in nonasthmatic patients. We investigated the presence of SAEs and SAE-related T-cell receptor (TCR) Vβ (TCRVβ) in nonasthmatic NPs, the phenotypes and functions of SAE-related T cells, and the clinical implication of SAE-related T-cell expansion. Sinonasal tissue samples were obtained from patients with nonasthmatic chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with NPs (CRSwNP), patients with CRS without NPs (CRSsNP), and control subjects. SAE genes were detected by PCR, and the TCRVβ distribution and T-cell phenotypes were examined by flow cytometry. Various SAE genes were detected not only in NPs but also in sinonasal mucosa from patients with CRSsNP and from controls. The S aureus enterotoxin I (SEI) gene was detected in all NPs. The fraction of SEI–responsive TCRVβ+ (TCRVβ1+ and Vβ5.1+) CD4+ T cells was significantly increased only in NPs and the ethmoidal mucosa of patients with CRSwNP, indicating superantigen-induced expansion. The expanded TCRVβ5.1+ CD4+ T cells expressed proliferation marker Ki-67 and the T H 2 transcription factor GATA3. Furthermore, TCRVβ5.1+ CD4+ T cells in NPs highly expressed T H 2 markers, including IL-17RB, thymic stromal lymphoprotein receptor, and chemoattractant receptor–homologous molecule expressed on T H 2 cells, with a potent T H 2 cytokine–producing ability. Moreover, the expansion of TCRVβ1+ or Vβ5.1+ CD4+ T cells was associated with the Lund-Mackay computed tomography score, indicating disease extent. In nonasthmatic patients with CRSwNP, superantigen-related expansion of CD4+ T cells with T H 2 differentiation was associated with the disease extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]