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The abnormality of the plasma membrane (PM) is an important biomarker for cell status and many diseases. Hence, visualizing the PM, especially in complex systems, is an emerging field in the life sciences, especially in low-resource settings. Herein, we developed a water-soluble PM-specific probe utilizing electrostatic and hydrophobic interaction strategies with aggregation-induced emission as the signal output. The probe could image the PM with many advanced features (wash-free, ultrafast staining process, excellent PM specificity, and good biocompatibility), which were demonstrated by the PM imaging of neurons. The probe allowed for the first time the imaging of erythrocytes in the complex brain environment through a fluorescence-based method. Moreover, the PM of the epidermal and partial view of the eyeball structure of live zebrafish are also revealed.

Neurodegenerative diseases are debilitating disorders that feature progressive and selective loss of function or structure of anatomically or physiologically associated neuronal systems. Both chronic and acute neurodegenerative diseases are associated with high morbidity and mortality along with the death of neurons in different areas of the brain; moreover, there are few or no effective curative therapy options for treating these disorders. There is an urgent need to diagnose neurodegenerative disease as early as possible, and to distinguish between different disorders with overlapping symptoms that will help to decide the best clinical treatment. Recently, in neurodegenerative disease research, fluorescent-probe-mediated biomarker visualization techniques have been gaining increasing attention for the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. A survey of fluorescent probes for sensing and imaging biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases is provided. These imaging probes are categorized based on the different potential biomarkers of various neurodegenerative diseases, and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Guides to develop new sensing strategies, recognition mechanisms, as well as the ideal features to further improve neurodegenerative disease fluorescence imaging are also explored.

Over-activation of microglia cells in the brain contributes to neurodegenerative processes promoted by the production of various neurotoxic factors including pro-inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide. Recently, accumulating evidence has suggested that mitochondrial dynamics are an important constituent of cellular quality control and function. However, the role of mitochondrial dynamics in microglial activation is still largely unknown. In this study, we determined whether mitochondrial dynamics are associated with the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated immortalization of murine microglial cells (BV-2) by a v-raf/v-myc carrying retrovirus (J2). Excessive mitochondrial fission was observed in lentivirus-transfected BV-2 cells stably expressing DsRed2-mito following LPS stimulation. Furthermore, mitochondrial localization of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) (a key regulator of mitochondrial fission) was increased and accompanied by de-phosphorylation of Ser637 in Drp1. Interestingly, inhibition of LPS-induced mitochondrial fission and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by Mdivi-1 and Drp1 knock-down attenuated the production of pro-inflammatory mediators via reduced nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. Our results demonstrated for the first time that mitochondrial fission regulates mitochondrial ROS production in activated microglial cells and influences the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators through the activation of NF-κB and MAPK. We therefore suggest that mitochondrial dynamics may be essential for understanding pro-inflammatory mediator expression in activated microglial cells. This could represent a new therapeutic approach for preventing neurodegenerative diseases.

Purpose The purpose was to examine gender differences between parental problem drinking (PPD) and early adolescents' Internet addiction (IA). Design and Methods This was a cross-sectional, correlational design with 519 (266 boys and 253 girls) early adolescents. Results PPD had a significant direct effect on IA in boys but not in girls. Significant indirect effects of PPD on IA were evidenced via anxiety-depression and aggression for boys and via family function and aggression for girls. Practice Implications Findings suggest that tailored interventions for the prevention of IA should consider gender.

Backgrounds: Juxtacortical spots on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images can be frequently detected in patients with migraine. However, the origins of the cerebral lesions (including juxtacortical spots on FLAIR images) found in the previous studies are not known. We sought to investigate the association between juxtacortical spots on FLAIR images and right-to-left shunt (RLS) in migraine patients. Methods: Juxtacortical spots on FLAIR images were arbitrarily defined as small areas of hyperintensities in the juxtacortex and cortico-subcortical junction. The presence of RLS was examined by a transcranial Dopper (TCD) with the agitated saline test. The degree of RLS was categorized into four grades according to the number of microemboli: no shunt, 10 MB single spots pattern, and >10 MB shower/curtain pattern. We compared the results for migraine patients (n = 49) with those for healthy controls (n = 49). Results: Juxtacortical spots on FLAIR images occurred in 38/98 subjects; of them, 27/49 (55.1%) had migraines and 11/49 (22.2%) were healthy controls (P = 0.002). The independent factors associated with juxtacortical spots on FLAIR images were female, migraine patients, and RLS by multivariate analysis. In migraine patients, RLS was independently associated with juxtacortical spots on FLAIR images. Conclusion: Our results suggest that juxtacortical spots on FLAIR images were frequently found in migraine patients and might be associated with the presence of RLS in those patients. Further studies are needed to assess whether juxtacortical spots have clinical implications in patients with migraine.

Background: Meridian Massage is a traditional practice that manually stimulates the body's meridian system – the same network of vital energy channels used in acupuncture. The present study was to assess the effect of Meridian Massage on physical growth and infants' health as perceived by mothers. Methods: A study was conducted in a community health center in Korea. A total of 169 healthy infant–mother dyads were assigned to the Meridian Massage group (n= 89) or the gentle touch massage group (n= 80), based on the mother's preference. All massages were conducted by the mothers for 15 min per session, one time daily over a course of 6 weeks. In each group, the infant's weights, heights, and the number of days with illness as perceived by mothers and related clinic visits were measured. Results: Significant differences were observed in weight and height after 6 weeks between the Meridian group and the gentle touch massage group (P < 0.001). Infants in the Meridian Massage group showed a significantly different number of days with perceived clinic visits compared to those in the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Meridian Massage may facilitate physical growth and improve infants' health outcome as perceived by mothers. A randomized controlled trial is required to further explore the effects of Meridian Massage in early infancy.

Background Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a major complication in long-term survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Cutaneous manifestations are frequently the presenting features; therefore, the dermatologist needs to be aware of the wide spectrum of cutaneous cGVHD. Methods We retrospectively evaluated patients’ characteristics, clinical, and histological features of cutaneous cGVHD and analyzed factors influencing the severity of cutaneous cGVHD in 100 Korean HSCT recipients between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2007. Results Clinical manifestations of cutaneous cGVHD mainly presented as lichenoid (60.0%), sclerodermoid (12.0%), or erythematous maculopapular (22.0%) patterns. Other less common findings included xerosis, dyspigmentation, acquired ichthyosis, eczema, exfoliative dermatitis, alopecia, erythema multiforme-like or keratosis pilaris-like eruption. Among 100 patients, 46 patients were investigated for nail involvement, and 29 (63.0%) of them were accompanied with nail abnormalities. Histologically, characteristic lichenoid lesions were observed in 53%, sclerodermoid in 9%, and acute/chronic overlap syndrome in 28% of patients. We also discovered that HSCT from female donors to male recipients increased the severity of cutaneous cGVHD. Conclusions We report a large study about cutaneous cGVHD in Asian patients. Cutaneous cGVHD presented with a wide spectrum of clinical and histological manifestations.

ZnO:Al films were deposited on the low cost soda lime glass substrates by d.c. magnetron sputtering from ZnO:Al (2 wt.%) ceramic target. The electrical and optical properties of surface textured ZnO:Al film deposited at the substrate temperatures of room temperature, 200 °C, 300 °C, and 400 °C were studied. The deposition rate and etch rate of ZnO:Al films was decreased with an increase of substrate temperature, implying that the film density was increased. The electrical resistivity was also decreased. The ZnO:Al film deposited at 300 °C showed low electrical resistivity of about 2×10–4 ohm cm. The refractive index at 550 nm was increased with substrate temperature. It is attributed to Al content increase in the film measured by energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The surface morphologies, wet-chemical etching profiles, and haze characteristics of surface textured ZnO:Al films were analyzed as a function of substrate temperature. The ZnO:Al film deposited at 200 °C showed the largest craters in ZnO:Al film surface and highest haze values in any other sample although the ZnO:Al films deposited at over 200 °C showed higher transmission and lower resistivity than ZnO:Al film deposited at 200 °C. In a further increase of substrate temperature over 200 °C, the film density was increased and wet-chemical etching was not efficient. So, small craters or pinholes which cause low haze values were formed in the ZnO:Al film. The ZnO:Al film deposited at optimum substrate temperature of 200 °C showed high transmittance of 90.3% and 86.2% at the wavelength of 550 nm and 800 nm, respectively. It also showed high haze values of about 70% and 36% at 550 nm and 800 nm, respectively. The Al content in the film was 1.59 (at.%), and refractive index at 550 nm was 2.1. The ZnO:Al film deposited at 200 °C showed low resistivity of about 2.3×10–4ohm cm. (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)