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Background: Psychological aspect and quality of life should be considered in treating patients with psoriasis., Objective: We sought to ascertain which clinical characteristics including presence of exposed lesions are associated with impairment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with psoriasis., Methods: The EPI-PSODE study was a nationwide, multicenter, cross-sectional study conducted in Korea that included 1260 adult patients with psoriasis. In addition to clinical characteristics including presence of exposed lesions, data were collected using the Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) Screening and Evaluation (PASE), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire Psoriasis (WPAI: PSO) and Medication Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ)., Results: Patients with a DLQI score > 5 (n = 990) were younger, had an earlier onset of psoriasis, scored higher on the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), had higher body surface area (BSA) and had higher PASE scores than patients with DLQI ≤ 5 (n = 266). The group of patients with exposed lesions (n = 871) were younger and male predominance, earlier onset of psoriasis, longer disease duration, higher PASI/BSA score and a higher proportion with drinking and smoking history each than the group of patients without exposed lesions (n = 389). Presence of exposed lesions negatively influenced DLQI, 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) (mental component), presenteeism, total work productivity impairment and total activity impairment in the WPAI: PSO. In multiple regression model, PASI score was the only variable which was significantly associated with all HRQoL measures. Presence of exposed lesions was a significant factor affecting DLQI and SF-36 (mental)., Conclusion: The presence of exposed lesions has a negative impact on quality of life, mental health and work productivity. Therefore, effective treatments are particularly needed for psoriasis patients with exposed lesions., (© 2018 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

The longitudinal spin Seebeck effects with a ferro- or ferrimagnetic insulator provide a new architecture of a thermoelectric device that could significantly improve the energy conversion efficiency. Until now, epitaxial yttrium iron garnet (YIG) films grown on gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) substrates by a pulsed laser deposition have been most widely used for spin thermoelectric energy conversion studies. In this work, we developed a simple route to obtain a highly uniform solution-processed YIG film and used it for the on-chip microelectronic spin Seebeck characterization. We improved the film roughness down to ∼0.2 nm because the extraction of thermally induced spin voltage relies on the interfacial quality. The on-chip microelectronic device has a dimension of 200 μm long and 20 μm wide. The solution-processed 20 nm thick YIG film with a 10 nm Pt film was used for the spin Seebeck energy converter. For a temperature difference of Δ T ≈ 0.036 K applied on the thin YIG film, the obtained Δ V ≈ 28 μV, which is equivalent to S LSSE ≈ 80.4 nV/K, is close to the typical reported values for thick epitaxial YIG films. The temperature and magnetic field-dependent behaviors of spin Seebeck effects in our YIG films suggest active magnon excitations through the noncoherent precession channel. The effective SSE generation with the solution-processed thin YIG film provides versatile applications of the spin thermoelectric energy conversion.

Background: Doxycycline is currently the most frequently used treatment in patients with scrub typhus. However, doxycycline-resistant strains have been found, necessitating the development of a new treatment. Rifampin is known to be effective even for such strains. Our aim in this study was to compare the effects of rifampin and doxycycline treatment in patients with scrub typhus in areas in which resistance to doxycycline has not been reported., Methods: Patients admitted to Chosun University Hospital and regional network hospitals between 2007 and 2009 with a body temperature ≥37.5°C and suspected to have scrub typhus were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups: a group administered doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 5 days and a group administered rifampin 600 mg once daily for 5 days. For treatment outcomes, fever, headache, muscle ache, and rash clearance times were compared between the groups., Results: The rifampin and doxycycline groups showed equivalence in all treatment outcomes evaluated. The proportions of patients with fever clearance within 48 hours were similar between groups. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the occurrence of side effects following drug administration between groups., Conclusions: On the basis of the finding that equivalent treatment effects and safety were found in patient groups that received 600 mg of rifampin and 200 mg of doxycycline, respectively, for 5 days to treat scrub typhus, rifampin may be considered an alternative treatment to doxycycline., Clinical Trials Registration: NCT00568711.

Currently, most MRI probes available for clinical use contain gadolinium, which is a high-risk paramagnetic metal that can cause severe side effects (e.g., nephrogenic systemic fibrosis). To limit such side effects and improve diagnostic efficacy, we developed a novel biocompatible MRI contrast agent using glucose, glycine, and paramagnetic iron ion. Glucose and glycine were polymerized into melanoidin by the nonenzymatic Maillard reaction, and Fe 3+ was chelated stably with the melanoidin during polymerization. The Fe 3+ -melanoidin chelate had biocompatibility, biodegradability, and unique contrast effects on both T 1 - and T 2 -weighted MRI, depending on the pH and oxidative environments. The administration of the Fe 3+ -melanoidin chelate to a mouse model of liver cancer showed highly enhanced liver-to-tumor contrasts on both T 1 - and T 2 -weighted MRI.

Objectives: Heart transplantation (HTX) in mice is used to characterize gene-deficient mice and to test new treatment strategies. The purpose was to establish noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging techniques in mice to monitor pathophysiological changes of the allograft during rejection., Materials and Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging was performed at baseline and days 1 and 6 after isogenic (n = 10, C57BL/6) and allogenic (n = 12, C57BL/6 to BALB/c) heterotopic HTX on a 7 T small animal scanner. Respiratory- and electrocardiogram-gated multislice multi-echo spin echo sequences were acquired, and parameter maps of T2 relaxation time were generated. T2 times in septal, anterior, lateral, and posterior myocardial segments as well as global T2 times were calculated and compared between groups. At day 7 animals were sacrificed and graft pathology was assessed by semiquantitative regional analysis and correlated with magnetic resonance imaging results., Results: Myocardial T2 relaxation time was significantly increased in allogenic (33.4 ± 0.1 ms) and isogenic cardiac grafts (31.8 ± 1.8 ms) on day 1 after HTX compared with healthy donor hearts at baseline (23.1 ± 0.3 ms, P < 0.001). Until day 6 after HTX, myocardial T2 further increased markedly in allografts but not in isografts (43.4 ± 1.9 vs 31.2 ± 1.1 ms, P < 0.001). Mean segmental T2 values as well as mean global T2 values in allogenic compared with isogenic cardiac grafts on day 6 were significantly higher (P < 0.01). Histologically, isogenic grafts were almost normal besides small focal leukocyte infiltrates and signs of interstitial edema, most likely due to ischemia reperfusion injury (histological sum score, 0.9 ± 0.4). In allogenic HTX, histology revealed severe inflammation and tissue edema representing allograft rejection with increased histological scores (5.3 ± 0.7, P < 0.001). Higher histological scores of rejection were significantly associated with increased T2 times on a segmental and a global level., Conclusions: We could show that T2 mapping is a suitable noninvasive imaging method to monitor global and regional HTX pathologies in experimental heart transplantation in mice. Progressive prolongation of T2 time was significantly associated with pathological signs of rejection.

Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a severe complication of major surgery and a risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality. Here, we investigated mechanisms that might contribute to IRI-induced progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Acute kidney injury (AKI) was induced by unilateral IRI for 35 min in CD1 and C57BL/6 (B6) mice. Unilateral IRI was used to overcome early mortality. Renal morphology, NGAL upregulation, and neutrophil infiltration as well as peritubular capillary density were studied by immunohistochemistry. The composition of leukocyte infiltrates in the kidney after IRI was investigated by flow cytometry. Systemic blood pressure was measured with a tail cuff, and renal perfusion was quantified by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Mesangial matrix expansion was assessed by silver staining. Following IRI, CD1 and B6 mice developed similar morphological signs of AKI and increases in NGAL expression, but neutrophil infiltration was greater in CD1 than B6 mice. IRI induced an increase in systemic blood pressure of 20 mmHg in CD1, but not in B6 mice; and CD1 mice also had a greater loss of renal perfusion and kidney volume than B6 mice ( P < 0.05). CD1 mice developed substantial interstitial fibrosis and decreased peritubular capillary (PTC) density by day 14 while B6 mice showed only mild renal scarring and almost normal PTC. Our results show that after IRI, CD1 mice develop more inflammation, hypertension, and later mesangial matrix expansion than B6 mice do. Subsequently, CD1 animals suffer from CKD due to impaired renal perfusion and pronounced permanent loss of peritubular capillaries.

Background: African-Americans are less affected by photoaging than lighter skin individuals. Although scales for photoaging have been developed for Caucasians and Asians, no scale exists for African-Americans., Aim: To develop a photonumeric scale for photoaging and to determine factors that contribute to photoaging in African-Americans., Methods: Five participants' photographs were selected as standards to create a 9-point photonumeric scale (0 = none, 8 = most severe). Three blinded dermatologists used the scale to grade the remaining participants' photographs., Results: Interrater reliabilities were 0.775 (95% CI: 0.635, 0.880) for trial 1 and 0.832 (0.747, 0.883) for trial 2. Intrarater reliabilities, assessed over a 1 week interval, were 0.863 (0.727, 0.940), 0.928 (0.890, 0.954), and 0.866 (0.739, 0.935) for the three graders, indicating strong agreement. Photoaging scores were then correlated with participants' survey on lifestyle factors, which yielded age as a significant predictor (r = 0.91, p < 0.001). Furthermore, multiple regression model to predict facial photoaging (adjusted R 2  = 0.849) selected age (b 1  = 0.111, p < 0.001), sun exposure (b 2  = 0.206, p = 0.014), and gender (b 2  = -0.388, p = 0.063) as the most important variables., Conclusions: A reliable photonumeric scale for photoaging in African Americans was developed. Age, sun exposure, and male gender were found to be contributory factors to photoaging., (Copyright © 2018 National Medical Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) in the intestines play pivotal roles in maintaining the integrity of the mucosa, regulating immune cells, and protecting against pathogenic invasion. Although several extrinsic factors, such as TGF-β, have been identified to contribute to IEL generation, intrinsic regulatory factors have not been determined fully., Objective: Here we investigated the regulation of IEL differentiation and the underlying mechanisms in mice., Methods: We analyzed IELs and the expression of molecules associated with IEL differentiation in wild-type control and microRNA (miRNA)-150 knockout mice. Methotrexate was administered to mice lacking miR-150 and control mice., Results: miR-150 deficiency reduced the IEL population in the small intestine and increased susceptibility to methotrexate-induced mucositis. Evaluation of expression of IEL differentiation-associated molecules showed that miR-150-deficient IELs exhibited decreased expression of TGF-β receptor (TGF-βR) II, CD103, CD8αα, and Runt-related transcription factor 3 in all the IEL subpopulations. The reduced expression of TGF-βRII in miR-150-deficient IELs was caused by increased expression of c-Myb/miR-20a. Restoration of miR-150 or inhibition of miR-20a recovered the TGF-βRII expression., Conclusion: miR-150 is an intrinsic regulator of IEL differentiation through TGF-βRII regulation. miR-150-mediated IEL generation is crucial for maintaining intestinal integrity against anticancer drug-induced mucositis., (Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Folliculotropic mycosis fungoides (FMF) is a variant of mycosis fungoides (MF) that is characterized clinically by variable types of skin eruptions, including plaques, acneiform lesions, and alopecic patches. Histopathologically, FMF is characterized by folliculotropic infiltrates., Objective: This study was conducted to scrutinize the clinical and histopathologic features of FMF in Koreans and the responses to phototherapy., Methods: Twenty Koreans diagnosed with MF who had histopathologic evidence of folliculotropism were enrolled., Results: Eighteen patients had head-and-neck-region infiltration, while five had solitary lesion. In all patients, the atypical lymphocytic infiltrate had a perifollicular distribution. Twelve patients were treated with ultraviolet A (UVA)-1. Eleven of these 12 patients with early-stage FMF experienced >80% improvement (8: complete remission; 3: partial remission). Four patients, including 2 who relapsed after UVA-1, were treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT), reaching complete remission after PDT., Conclusion: As FMF has variable clinical presentations, skin biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis. And both UVA-1 and methyl aminolevulinate-PDT are clinically effective in treatment of early-stage FMF., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: The authors have nothing to disclose.

Obesity is global problem that contributes to disease, and is partly caused by fast-food, high-fat diets. Much attention has been focused on developing anti-obesity foods and chemical materials from natural sources. Seaweed has bioactive properties that influence immune activity and have anti-cancer and anti-obesity effects. Laminaria japonica is a widely consumed seaweed, and has been promoted as a health food in Korea. The bioactive properties of L. japonica include anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammation effects. Most Laminaria japonica are distributed in a simple processing form such as drying, and their availability is very low. Therefore, various types of functional products can be developed if they can be applied to foods through functionalization using fermentation techniques. It is a structural problem that is the most problematic in seaweed processing. In this study, we used fermented Laminaria japonica. To increase physiological activity, fermentation treatment was performed to loosen the structure, thereby increasing the activity of the glycoprotein. First, we screened the anti-obesity potential of an L. japonica fermentation extract (LJF) using 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells. We determined cytotoxicity using an MTS assay and measured LJF for its ability to affect adipogenesis through glucose uptake, triglyceride levels, and Oil Red O staining. We confirmed that LJF inhibited adipocyte differentiation. CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins α/β (C/EBP-α/β) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) are involved in the early and late stages of adipocyte differentiation. LJF significantly reduced the expression levels of C/EBP-α/β and PPAR-γ and decreased the concentration of adiponectin. Thus, our results suggest that LJF inhibits adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells, and may be valuable for its anti-obesity effects.

Here, we introduce a method of tuning the high-detectivity spectra of the organic photodiode (OPD) to fabricate a thin-film filter-less full-color image sensor. The strategically introduced PIN junction enables a selective activation of excitons generated from the photons with low extinction coefficient in the active layer such that the separated holes/electrons can contribute to the external current. In addition, we show that a well-defined PIN junction blocks the injection of nonallowed charge carriers, leading to very low dark current and near-ideal diode characteristics. Consequently, the high specific detectivity over 1.0 × 10 12 Jones are observed from R/G/B-selective thin-film OPDs.

New light is shed on the previously known perovskite material, Cs 2 Au 2 I 6 , as a potential active material for high-efficiency thin-film Pb-free photovoltaic cells. First-principles calculations demonstrate that Cs 2 Au 2 I 6 has an optimal band gap that is close to the Shockley-Queisser value. The band gap size is governed by intermediate band formation. Charge disproportionation on Au makes Cs 2 Au 2 I 6 a double-perovskite material, although it is stoichiometrically a single perovskite. In contrast to most previously discussed double perovskites, Cs 2 Au 2 I 6 has a direct-band-gap feature, and optical simulation predicts that a very thin layer of active material is sufficient to achieve a high photoconversion efficiency using a polycrystalline film layer. The already confirmed synthesizability of this material, coupled with the state-of-the-art multiscale simulations connecting from the material to the device, strongly suggests that Cs 2 Au 2 I 6 will serve as the active material in highly efficient, nontoxic, and thin-film perovskite solar cells in the very near future., (© 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The rare actinomycete Actinoplanes missouriensis forms terminal sporangia containing a few hundred flagellated spores, which can swim in aquatic environments after release from sporangium. However, gene regulation for its characteristic morphological development is largely unknown. Here, we report the functional analysis of an orphan response regulator, TcrA, which is encoded next to the chemotaxis-flagellar gene cluster. The tcrA null (ΔtcrA) mutant formed sporangium, in which sporulation proceeded. However, many distorted spores were produced and some spores ectopically germinated in the mutant sporangia. In addition, spores were hardly released from the mutant sporangia. A comparative RNA-Seq analysis between the wild-type and ΔtcrA strains showed that TcrA upregulated the transcription of more than 263 genes, which were integrated into 185 transcriptional units. In silico searches identified a 21-bp direct repeat sequence, 5'-nnGCA(A/C)CCG-n 4 -GCA(A/C)CCGn-3', as the TcrA box, which was confirmed by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Finally, we identified 34 transcriptional units as the TcrA regulon. TcrA seems to regulate a few hundred genes through the transcriptional activation of three FliA-family sigma factor genes besides its own regulon. We concluded that TcrA is a global transcriptional activator that controls many aspects of sporangium formation, including flagellar biogenesis, spore dormancy and sporangium dehiscence., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The demand for dynamically tunable light modulation in flat optics applications has grown in recent years. Graphene nanostructures have been extensively studied as means of creating large effective index tunability, motivated by theoretical predictions of the potential for unity absorption in resonantly excited graphene nanostructures. However, the poor radiative coupling to graphene plasmonic nanoresonators and low graphene carrier mobilities from imperfections in processed graphene samples have led to low modulation depths in experimental attempts at creating tunable absorption in graphene devices. Here we demonstrate electronically tunable perfect absorption in graphene, covering less than 10% of the surface area, by incorporating multiscale nanophotonic structures composed of a low-permittivity substrate and subwavelength noble metal plasmonic antennas to enhance the radiative coupling to deep subwavelength graphene nanoresonators. To design the structures, we devised a graphical method based on effective surface admittance, elucidating the origin of perfect absorption arising from critical coupling between radiation and graphene plasmonic modes. Experimental measurements reveal 96.9% absorption in the graphene plasmonic nanostructure at 1389 cm -1 , with an on/off modulation efficiency of 95.9% in reflection.

Background: Tsutsugamushi disease is an acute, febrile, infectious disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi . Several studies investigating the histopathologic findings of eschars in tsutsugamushi disease reported leukocytoclastic vasculitis and neutrophil infiltration as the major findings. However, these findings may result from secondary changes following tissue necrosis. The histopathologic findings of perieschar lesions may be important to understand the primary changes associated with tsutsugamushi disease., Objective: To investigate characteristic histopathologic features of perieschar lesions and suppose the mechanism of vascular pathophysiological changes associated with tsutsugamushi disease., Methods: We analyzed histopathological slides of perieschar lesions in 12 patients diagnosed with tsutsugamushi disease., Results: In the epidermis, exocytosis of mononuclear cells (75.0%) and basal vacuolar changes (66.7%) were frequent. In the dermis, perivascular, interstitial, and perineural mononuclear cell infiltration (100.0%, 83.3%, and 83.3%, respectively), as well as thrombosis (83.3%), atypical lymphocyte infiltration (91.7%), and mitotic figures (83.3%) were commonly seen. Lymphocytic vasculitis and mononuclear cell infiltration around eccrine glands were found in all cases, but eosinophil infiltration was only found in one patient (8.3%). However, the characteristic findings of eschar lesions, such as leukocytoclastic vasculitis and neutrophil infiltration, were not found in perieschar lesions., Conclusion: The major histopathologic findings in the perieschar lesions of tsutsugamushi disease were lymphocytic vasculitis and atypical lymphocytic infiltration, mimicking lymphoma. Therefore, we suggest that this lesion should be added to the list of pseudolymphomas. To observe these characteristic histopathologic features, we also recommend that skin biopsies should be performed on perieschar lesions, not eschar lesions., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: The authors have nothing to disclose.

A thin film planar heterojunction organic photodetector (PHJ-OPD) is demonstrated. Different from a conventional sensitizer-doped photodetector, the limited spatial distribution of sensitizer in a PHJ-OPD enables significantly reduced thickness of the active layer without allowing the formation of unnecessary trap sites and electron percolation pathways. As a result, peak external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 120 700% and detectivity over 10 13 Jones are demonstrated with thin active layer thickness of 150 nm, which can be a significant benefit for high-resolution image sensor application. Furthermore, the operating voltage can be decreased to -5 V while maintaining high detectivity over 10 12 Jones. Remarkable thermal stability is also observed with minor change in detectivity for 2 h of continuous operation at 60 °C due to morphological robustness of PHJ. This work opens up a possibility of using a thin film PHJ-OPD as a key unit of high-resolution image sensor.

Although Vibrio cholerae colonizes the small intestine and induces acute inflammatory responses, less is known about the molecular mechanisms of V. cholerae-induced inflammatory responses in the intestine. We recently reported that OmpU, one of the most abundant outer membrane proteins of V. cholerae, plays an important role in the innate immunity of the whole bacteria. In this study, we evaluated the role of OmpU in induction of IL-8, a representative chemokine that recruits various inflammatory immune cells, in the human intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) line, HT-29. Recombinant OmpU (rOmpU) of V. cholerae induced IL-8 expression at the mRNA and protein levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Interestingly, IL-8 was secreted through both apical and basolateral sides of the polarized HT-29 cells upon apical exposure to rOmpU but not upon basolateral exposure. rOmpU-induced IL-8 expression was inhibited by interference of lipid raft formation with nystatin, but not by blocking the formation of clathrin-coated pits with chlorpromazine. In addition, rOmpU-induced IL-8 expression was mediated via ERK1/2 and p38 kinase pathways, but not via JNK signaling pathway. Finally, V. cholerae lacking ompU elicited decreased IL-8 expression and adherence to HT-29 cells compared to the parental strain. Collectively, these results suggest that V. cholerae OmpU might play an important role in intestinal inflammation by inducing IL-8 expression in human IECs., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To evaluate T1 mapping as a non-invasive, functional MRI biomarker in patients shortly after solid organ transplantation to detect acute postsurgical kidney damage and to correlate T1 times with renal function., Methods: 101 patients within 2 weeks after solid organ transplantation (49 kidney transplantation, 52 lung transplantation) and 14 healthy volunteers were examined by MRI between July 2012 and April 2015 using the modified Look-Locker inversion recovery (MOLLI) sequence. T1 times in renal cortex and medulla and the corticomedullary difference were compared between groups using one-way ANOVA adjusted for multiple comparison with the Tukey test, and T1 times were correlated with renal function using Pearson's correlation., Results: Compared to healthy volunteers T1 times were significantly increased after solid organ transplantation in the renal cortex (healthy volunteers 987 ± 102 ms; kidney transplantation 1299 ± 101 ms, p < 0.001; lung transplantation 1058 ± 96 ms, p < 0.05) and to a lesser extent in the renal medulla. Accordingly, the corticomedullary difference was diminished shortly after solid organ transplantation. T1 changes were more pronounced following kidney compared to lung transplantation, were associated with the stage of renal impairment and significantly correlated with renal function., Conclusions: T1 mapping may be helpful for early non-invasive assessment of acute kidney injury and renal pathology following major surgery such as solid organ transplantation., Key Points: • Renal cortical T1 relaxation times are prolonged after solid organ transplantation. • Cortical T1 values increase with higher stages of renal function impairment. • Corticomedullary difference decreases with higher stages of renal function impairment. • Renal cortical T1 relaxation time and corticomedullary difference correlate with renal function. • T1 mapping may be helpful for non-invasive assessment of post-operative renal pathology.

In this report, we introduce a method utilizing ion-assisted aerosol lithography to stack 3D nanostructures vertically. The stacked 3D nanostructures exhibit extraordinary optical properties: the double layer 3D nanostructures show more than 5-fold increased surface enhanced Raman scattering intensities compared to their single layer counterpart. This unusual enhancement of Raman intensity implies the existence of additional vertical hotspots formed by interlayer cavity effects between the lower and upper nanostructures. Allowing for full three-dimensional control in nanofabrication, this work provides a reliable way to create complex-shaped advanced optical nanostructures with non-intuitive bulk optical properties.

Since the delivery kinetics of different cell types are different, the signal from the target cell is greatly affected by the noise signal of the diagnostic system. This is a major obstacle hindering the practical application of intracellular diagnostic systems, such as tumor heterogeneity. To address these issues, here we present a microRNA detection platform using fluorescence-encoded nanostructured DNA-based probes. The nanostructured DNA was designed to include molecular beacons for detecting cytosolic microRNA as well as additional fluorophores. When the intracellular diagnostic system is delivered, fluorescence signals are generated by the molecular beacons, depending on the concentration of the target microRNA. The fluorescence signals are then normalized to the intensity of the additional fluorophore. Through this simple calculation, the concentration of intracellular microRNA can be determined without interference from the diagnosis system itself. And also it enabled discrimination of microRNA expression heterogeneity in five different breast cancer cell lines.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a major human pathogen that is able to survive inside host cells and resist immune clearance. Most particularly, it inhibits several arms of the innate immune response, including phagosome maturation or cytokine production. To better understand the molecular mechanisms by which M. tuberculosis circumvents host immune defenses, we used a transposon mutant library generated in a virulent clinical isolate of M. tuberculosis of the W/Beijing family to infect human macrophages, utilizing a cell line derivative of THP-1 cells expressing a reporter system for activation of the transcription factor NF-κB, a key regulator of innate immunity. We identified several M. tuberculosis mutants inducing a NF-κB activation stronger than that of the wild-type strain. One of these mutants was found to be deficient for the synthesis of cell envelope glycolipids, namely sulfoglycolipids, suggesting that the latter can interfere with innate immune responses. Using natural and synthetic molecular variants, we determined that sulfoglycolipids inhibit NF-κB activation and subsequent cytokine production or costimulatory molecule expression by acting as competitive antagonists of Toll-like receptor 2, thereby inhibiting the recognition of M. tuberculosis by this receptor. Our study reveals that producing glycolipid antagonists of pattern recognition receptors is a strategy used by M. tuberculosis to undermine innate immune defense. Sulfoglycolipids are major and specific lipids of M. tuberculosis , considered for decades as virulence factors of the bacilli. Our study uncovers a mechanism by which they may contribute to M. tuberculosis virulence., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: Multimodal nanomaterials are useful for providing enhanced diagnostic information simultaneously for a variety of in vivo imaging methods. According to our research findings, these multimodal nanomaterials offer promising applications for cancer therapy., Results: Melanin nanoparticles can be used as a platform imaging material and they can be simply produced by complexation with various imaging active ions. They are capable of specifically targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-expressing cancer cells by being anchored with a specific antibody. Ion-doped melanin nanoparticles were found to have high bioavailability with long-term stability in solution, without any cytotoxicity in both in vitro and in vivo systems., Conclusion: By combining different imaging modalities with melanin particles, we can use the complexes to obtain faster diagnoses by computed tomography deep-body imaging and greater detailed pathological diagnostic information by magnetic resonance imaging. The ion-doped melanin nanoparticles also have applications for radio-diagnostic treatment and radio imaging-guided surgery, warranting further proof of concept experimental.

Objectives: IL-17A contributes to acute kidney injury and fibrosis. Therefore, we asked whether IL-17A deficiency or treatment with a IL-17A blocking antibody impacts severe renal ischaemia reperfusion injury (IRI) and the progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD)., Methods: IL-17A-deficient and wild-type (WT) mice underwent transient unilateral renal pedicle clamping for 45 min to induce IRI and subsequent renal fibrosis. Furthermore, a neutralizing anti-IL-17A antibody (mAb) was injected into WT mice before induction of renal IRI intravenously. On days 1, 7 and 21, inflammation, fibrosis, leukocyte infiltration and pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokine expression were assessed in kidneys using histology, qPCR and flow cytometry., Key Findings: IL-17A was significantly increased after renal IRI in WT kidneys. Levels of pro-inflammatory (MCP-1) cytokine and pro-fibrotic (collagen 1α1, fibronectin) transcripts were similar in the experimental groups studied. IL-17A deficiency had no effect on renal T-cell influx or the number, inflammatory phenotype, or spatial distribution of macrophages. Similarly, administration of an IL-17A blocking antibody did not attenuate inflammation., Conclusions: Despite the effects of IL-17 in other inflammation models, neither genetic IL-17A deficiency nor treatment with an IL-17A blocking antibody attenuated IRI and progression to CKD. We conclude that in severe renal IRI IL-17A is not crucially involved in disease progression., (© 2017 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.)

Background: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated, chronic inflammatory disease affecting multiple aspects of patients' lives. Its epidemiology varies regionally; however, nationwide epidemiologic data on psoriasis depicting profile of Korean patients has not been available to date., Objective: To understand nationwide epidemiologic characteristics and clinical features of adult patients with psoriasis visited university hospitals in Korea., Methods: This multicenter, non-interventional, cross-sectional study recruited 1,278 adult patients with psoriasis across 25 centers in Korea in 2013. Various clinical data including PASI, BSA, DLQI, SF-36 and PASE were collected., Results: A total of 1,260 patients completed the study (male:female=1.47:1). The mean age was 47.0 years with a distribution mostly in the 50s (24.9%). Early onset (<40 years) of psoriasis accounted for 53.9% of patients. The mean disease duration was 109.2 months; mean body mass index was 23.9 kg/m 2 ; and 12.7% of patients had a family history of psoriasis. Plaque and guttate types of psoriasis accounted for 85.8% and 8.4%, respectively. Patients with PASI ≥10 accounted for 24.9%; patients with body surface area ≥10 were 45.9%. Patients with DLQI ≥6 accounted for 78.8%. Between PASI <10 and PASI ≥10 groups, significant difference was noted in age at diagnosis, disease duration, blood pressure, waist circumference of female, and treatment experiences with phototherapy, systemic agents, and biologics., Conclusion: This was the first nationwide epidemiologic study of patients with psoriasis in Korea and provides an overview of the epidemiologic characteristics and clinical profiles of this patient population., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: Dr. Hae Jun Song has participated as an advisory board member and has conducted clinical trials for Janssen and has received speaking fees or research support from Janssen. Dr. Chul Jong Park, Dr. Tae Yoon Kim, Dr. Yong Beom Choe, Dr. Seok-Jong Lee, Dr. Nack In Kim, Dr. Jae We Cho, Dr. Jie Hyun Jeon, Dr. Min Soo Jang have no conflict of interest to declare. Dr. Jai Il Youn has conducted clinical trial for Pfizer, Janssen, Lilly, Leo. Dr. Myung Hwa Kim, Dr. Joonsoo Park, Dr. Ki Ho Kim, Dr. Byung Soo Kim have no conflict of interest to declare. Dr. Sang Woong Youn has served as an advisor, received speaker honoraria, and participated in clinical trials for Janssen. Dr. Joo-Heung Lee has no conflict of interest to declare. Dr. Min-Geol Lee has conducted clinical trials for Pfizer, Novartis, Eli Lilly, and Janssen and has received speaking fees from Janssen. Dr. Sung Ku Ahn, Dr. Young Ho Won, Dr. Seok Kweon Yun, Dr. Bong Seok Shin have no conflict of interest to declare. Dr. Seong Jun Seo has conducted clinical trials for Amore, Regeneron, Novartis, Roche. Dr. Ji Yeoun Lee, Dr. Kwang Joong Kim have no conflict of interest to declare. Dr. Young Suck Ro has conducted post-marketing surveillance for Janssen. Mr. Dae Young Yu and Mr. Youngdoe Kim are employee of Janssen Korea. Dr. Jee-Ho Choi has conducted clinical trials for Janssen.

High photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY), photostability CdSe@ZnS/ZnS core/multishell quantum dots (CM-QDs) were first applied for bioimaging. The solubility, stability and biocompatible of the fluorescence imaging probes were constructed by self-assembly of CM-QDs and pH-responsive methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(β-amino ester/amidoamine)-dodecylamine (mPEG-PAEA-DDA) multiblock copolymers. The resulting CM-QDs-loaded mPEG-PAEA-DDA micelles (CM-QDs-PEG-PAEA-DDA) exhibited lower cell cytotoxicity and higher fluorescence intensity than the core/shell CdSe@ZnS QDs-encapsulated mPEG-PAEA-DDA micelles (CS-QDs-PEG-PAEA-DDA). Moreover, the in vivo fluorescence imaging ability confirmed that the CM-QDs-PEG-PAEA-DDA can be employed as a pH-triggerable targeting imaging probe for detection of a rat bearing cerebral ischemia disease. Therefore, we believed that the CM-QDs-PEG-PAEA-DDA may be the next generation of fluorescence imaging probes for targeted diagnosis acidic pathological areas, using pH as a stimulus., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study aimed to investigate whether fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging hyperintensity can be used as a surrogate marker for the severity of ischemic insult and predict lesion growth., Methods: Based on a prospective stroke registry database, we identified patients with ischemic stroke who were treated with endovascular treatment (EVT) within 8 hours of onset and achieved successful recanalization (modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction ≥2B). FLAIR hyperintensity was measured using the signal intensity ratio (SIR), defined as the mean SIR of diffusion-restricted lesions to the corresponding areas in the contralateral hemisphere. Lesion growth was defined as the ratio of final infarct volume on follow-up FLAIR to initial infarct volume on diffusion-weighted imaging., Results: For 69 patients meeting the eligibility criteria, the median FLAIR SIR was 1.17 (interquartile range, 1.08-1.23) and the median lesion growth ratio was 1.70 (interquartile range, 1.35-2.79) (Pearson's r = -.146, P = .231). In multiple linear regression models, the FLAIR SIR was not significantly correlated with the lesion growth ratio. Interestingly, the time interval from initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to successful recanalization was independently correlated with the lesion growth ratio (β = .072, P < .001). With respect to clinical outcomes, the FLAIR SIR was not associated with either discharge modified Rankin scale score ≤2 (β = -3.41, P = .30) or symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation (β = 2.75; P = .63)., Conclusions: Contrary to our hypothesis, FLAIR hyperintensity on initial MRI before EVT was not associated with lesion growth in patients who were recanalized successfully with EVT. Instead, our results suggest that time interval from MRI acquisition to recanalization is an independent predictor of lesion growth., (Copyright © 2017 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Nanoparticle (NP) based model carriers present an emerging strategy for protein delivery. However, constructing a multifunctional nanocarrier with high loading capacity, diagnostic imaging capacity, and controlled release capability is a tremendous challenge for protein delivery systems. Thus, we herein report on the fabrication of redox-responsive magnetic nanovectors (termed RMNs) through self- assembly of Fe 3 O 4 NPs and redox-responsive polymer ligands, which could effectively transport protein and trigger intracellular protein release. These RMNs also exhibited low toxicity, high stability, biocompatibility, and T 2 -weighted contrast-enhancement properties. In addition, they presented a quantized positively charged surface that had the capacity to load cyanine 5.5 (Cy5.5) labeled human serum albumin (HSA) with high loading efficiency (∼84%) via electrostatic interactions and which favored cellular uptake. Notably, studies of the in vitro protein release showed that HSA-Cy5.5-loaded RMNs (RMNs-HSA-Cy5.5) presented minimal cumulative release behavior under physiological conditions but release was rapidly enhanced under high glutathione concentration conditions. Confocal microscopy further revealed that protein was delivered and localized at the perinuclear region of tumor cells. Moreover, the in vivo imaging results confirmed that RMNs-HSA-Cy5.5 could serve as a dual-modal probe for simultaneous near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, which can be used for breast cancer diagnosis, and verified higher tumor accumulation of transported protein in a living body. Overall, we believe that these multifunctional RMNs exhibit great promise for protein delivery, cancer diagnosis and therapy, and multimodal imaging, as well as clinical applications.

Background: Predicting outcomes of acute stroke patients initially presenting with mild neurologic deficits is crucial in decision making regarding thrombolytic therapy. We examined the utility of individual National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score items or clusters of items as predictors of functional outcomes at 3 months after mild stroke., Methods: Using a multicenter stroke registry database, we identified patients with acute ischemic stroke who presented within 4.5 hours of symptom onset and had baseline NIHSS scores less than or equal to 5. Functional outcomes at 3 months were dichotomized as favorable (modified RankinScale [mRS] score 0 or 1) or unfavorable (mRS 2-6). Individual NIHSS items, clusters of items, and the total score were tested for their ability to predict outcomes in multivariable models. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to assess model performance., Results: Of the 2209 patients who met eligibility criteria, 588 (26.6%) exhibited unfavorable functional outcomes at 3 months. Of the 15 items of the NIHSS, all except item 8 (sensory) and item 11 (extinction) were significantly associated with unfavorable functional outcomes in bivariate analysis (P's < .05). Among the multivariable models, the model with the total NIHSS score exhibited an AUC similar to that of the model with all NIHSS items in predicting functional outcomes (.758 [95% confidence interval .739-.775] versus .759 [.740-.776]; P = .75 for pairwise comparison)., Conclusions: Simply using the total NIHSS score was as effective as using all individual items in predicting outcomes of mild stroke patients., (Copyright © 2017 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Obesity and metabolic syndrome have been associated with alterations to the intestinal microbiota. However, few studies examined the effects of obesity on the intestinal immune system. We investigated changes in subsets of intestinal CD4 + T-helper (T H ) cells with obesity and the effects of gut-tropic T H 17 cells in mice on a high-fat diet (HFD)., Methods: We isolated immune cells from small intestine and adipose tissue of C57BL/6 mice fed a normal chow diet or a HFD for 10 weeks and analyzed the cells by flow cytometry. Mice fed a vitamin A-deficient HFD were compared with mice fed a vitamin A-sufficient HFD. Obese RAG1-deficient mice were given injections of only regulatory T cells or a combination of regulatory T cells and T H 17 cells (wild type or deficient in integrin β7 subunit or interleukin 17 [IL17]). Mice were examined for weight gain, fat mass, fatty liver, glucose tolerance, and insulin resistance. Fecal samples were collected before and after T cell transfer and analyzed for microbiota composition by metagenomic DNA sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction., Results: Mice placed on a HFD became obese, which affected the distribution of small intestinal CD4 + T H cells. Intestinal tissues from obese mice had significant reductions in the proportion of T H 17 cells but increased proportion of T H 1 cells, compared with intestinal tissues from nonobese mice. Depletion of vitamin A in obese mice further reduced the proportion of T H 17 cells in small intestine; this reduction correlated with more weight gain and worsening of glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. Adoptive transfer of in vitro-differentiated gut-tropic T H 17 cells to obese mice reduced these metabolic defects, which required the integrin β7 subunit and IL17. Delivery of T H 17 cells to intestines of mice led to expansion of commensal microbes associated with leanness., Conclusions: In mice, intestinal T H 17 cells contribute to development of a microbiota that maintains metabolic homeostasis, via IL17. Gut-homing T H 17 cells might be used to reduce metabolic disorders in obese individuals., (Copyright © 2017 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Lichen aureus (LA) is a variant of pigmented purpuric dermatosis that is characterized clinically by rust macules, papules or plaques, mainly on the legs. In some cases, LA can be difficult to be distinguished from nummular eczema (NE) with the naked eye. Dermoscopy can be applied to skin lesions, revealing additional features that can be highly valuable for correct diagnosis. This study was conducted to investigate characteristic dermoscopic findings of LA and to identify distinctive features that can differentiate it from NE. Fourteen LA patients and 14 NE patients diagnosed by skin biopsy were enrolled. Skin lesions were evaluated via polarized dermoscopy. On dermoscopy, "coppery orange diffuse coloration of background", "round to oval red globules", "gray dots", and "networks of brownish to gray interconnected lines" were more commonly seen in LA (100%, 92.9%, 42.9% and 64.3%, respectively) compared with NE. "Scales", "shiny yellow clods" and "irregularly distributed brownish-red globules" were more commonly seen in NE (100%, 85.7% and 57.1%, respectively) compared with LA. Dermoscopy provides valuable information for diagnosis of LA and aids in differentiating it from NE., (© 2016 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: The authors have nothing to disclose.

Purpose: The purpose was to characterize acute kidney injury (AKI) in C57BL/6 (B6)- and 129/Sv (Sv)-mice by noninvasive measurement of renal perfusion and tissue edema using functional MRI., Methods: Different severities of AKI were induced in B6- and Sv-mice by renal ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI). Unilateral clamping of the renal pedicle for 35 min (moderate AKI) or 45 min (severe AKI) was done. MRI (7-Tesla) was performed 1, 7 and 28 days after surgery using a flow alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) arterial spin labeling (ASL) sequence. Maps of perfusion and T1-relaxation time were calculated. Relative MRI-parameters of the IRI kidney compared to the contralateral not-clipped kidney were compared between AKI severities and between mouse strains using unpaired t-tests. In addition, fibrosis was assessed by Masson Trichrome and collagen IV staining., Results: After moderate AKI relative perfusion impairment was significantly higher in B6- than in Sv-mice at d7 (55±7% vs. 82±8%, p<0.05) and d28 (76±7% vs. 102±3%, p<0.01). T1-values increased in the early phase after AKI in both mouse strains. T1-increase was more severe after prolonged ischemia times of 45 min compared to 35 min in both mouse strains, measured in the renal cortex and outer stripe of outer medulla. Kidney volume loss (compared to the contralateral kidney) occurred already after 7 days but proceeded markedly towards 4 weeks in severe AKI. Early renal perfusion impairment was predictive for later kidney volume loss. The progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the severe AKI model was similar in both mouse strains as revealed by histology., Conclusion: Quantification of renal perfusion and tissue edema by functional MRI allows characterization of strain differences upon AKI. Renal perfusion impairment was stronger in B6- compared to Sv-animals following moderate AKI. Prolonged ischemia times were associated with more severe perfusion impairment and edema formation in the early phase and progression to CKD within 4 weeks of observation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the association between PaCO 2 and patient outcome in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)., Design: A retrospective cohort study., Setting: Single-institutional, university hospital., Participants: All patients admitted to the ICU after CABG between January 2009 and December 2012., Interventions: None., Measurements and Main Results: Based on PaCO 2 status during the first 24 hours after CABG, 1,011 patients were classified into 4 groups: normocapnia, hypocapnia, hypercapnia, and dual hyper/hypocapnia. The 30-day mortality rate was 0.7% (n = 4) for normocapnia, 1.5% (n = 4) for hypocapnia, 2.2% (n = 3) for hypercapnia, and 7.5% (n = 4) for the dual-exposure group. The extubation times were 13.3±21.7 hours, 15.8±21.37 hours, 21.79±39.70 hours, and 42.29±75.35 hours, respectively. After adjusting for confounding variables, the dual hypocapnia and hypercapnia exposure group was associated with increased 30-day mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 8.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.82-35.86; p = 0.006) and delayed extubation (OR = 2.40; 95% CI, 1.24-4.64; p = 0.010)., Conclusions: Exposure to both hypocapnia and hypercapnia within 24 hours after CABG was associated independently with increased risk of 30-day mortality and delayed extubation. Exposure to either hypocapnia or hypercapnia alone was not associated with patient outcome., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: An epidermal cyst is a common keratin-filled epithelial-lined cyst. The treatment of choice for epidermal cysts is surgical excision. If the cyst becomes ruptured, incision and drainage with oral antibiotic therapy or intralesional steroid injection are required., Objective: To analyze the dermoscopic features that can differentiate between ruptured and unruptured epidermal cysts., Methods: The clinical and dermoscopic features of the pathologically confirmed epidermal cysts of two subgroups of 38 patients, 20 with unruptured cysts and 18 with ruptured cysts, were reviewed., Results: With regard to the dermoscopic features, an ivory- white background color and punctum were commonly found in both groups ( p >0.05). The unruptured-cyst group showed higher frequencies of pore sign ( p <0.05), blue-white veil ( p >0.05), no vascular structure, and arborizing telangiectasia ( p <0.05), but the ruptured-cyst group usually had red lacunae ( p >0.05) and peripheral linear branched vessels (with an erythematous rim) ( p <0.05)., Conclusion: Dermoscopy is helpful in differentiating between ruptured and unruptured epidermal cysts.

A stem cell tracking system is in high demand for the determination of cell destinations and for the validation of cell therapeutic efficacy in regenerative transplantation. To date, near-infrared (NIR) imaging technology has received considerable attention in cell behavior monitoring, owing to its patient compatibility, easy accessibility and cost effectiveness. Conventionally, in vivo cell tracking has been visualized by direct in-cell staining with NIR, where it may be achieved by complicated genetic engineering. Such genetic amendment techniques have suffered from serious challenges, which can destroy a cell's metabolism and can accidentally incur unexpected carcinoma. Herein we demonstrate a novel cell nano-modulation method for noninvasive stem cell monitoring. It is simply achieved by conjugating stem cells with lipid-supported, NIR-tagged, polymeric nanoparticles. These engineered cells, which are designated as NIR-labeled light-emitting stem cells (LESCs), maintain their biochemical functionality (i.e., differentiation, quantum efficacy, etc.) even after conjugation. LESCs were used for in situ stem cell monitoring at inoculation sites. It is speculated that the LESC technique could provide a new preparative methodology for in vivo cell tracking in advanced diagnostic medicine, where cell behavior is a critical issue., (© 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Limonium tetragonum has been well-known for its antioxidative properties as a halophyte. This study investigated the antimetastasis effect of solvent-partitioned L. tetragonum extracts (LTEs) and isolated compounds on HT1080 mouse melanoma cell model with a focus on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity and TIMP and MAPK pathways. Upregulation and stimulation of MMPs result in elevated degradation of extracellular matrix which is part of several complications such as metastasis, cirrhosis, and arthritis. The anti-MMP capacity of LTEs was confirmed by their MMP-inhibitory effects, regulation of MMP and TIMP expression, and suppression of MAPK pathway. Among all tested LTEs, 85% aq. MeOH and n-BuOH were found to be most active fractions which later yielded two known flavonoid glycosides, myricetin 3-galactoside and quercetin 3-o-beta-galactopyranoside. Anti-MMP potential of the compounds was confirmed by their ability to regulate MMP expression through inhibited MAPK pathway activation. These results suggested that L. tetragonum might serve as a potential source of bioactive substances with effective anti-MMP properties.

Background/aims: Most studies of poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) have analyzed cognitive levels at specific time points rather than their changes over time. Furthermore, they seldom consider correlations between cognitive domains. We aimed to investigate the effects of these methodological considerations on determining significant PSCI predictors in a longitudinal stroke cohort., Methods: In patients who underwent neuropsychological tests at least twice after stroke, we adopted a multilevel hierarchical mixed-effects model with domain-specific cognitive changes and a multivariate model for multiple outcomes to reflect their correlations., Results: We enrolled 375 patients (median follow-up of 34.1 months). Known predictors of PSCI were generally associated with cognitive levels; however, most of the statistical significances disappeared when cognitive changes were set as outcomes, except age for memory, prior stroke and baseline cognition for executive/attention domain, and baseline cognition for visuospatial function. The multivariate analysis which considered multiple outcomes simultaneously further altered these associations., Conclusions: This study shows that defining outcomes as changes over time and reflecting correlations between outcomes may affect the identification of predictors of PSCI., (© 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

High-quality CdZnSeS/ZnS alloyed core/thick-shell quantum dots (QDs) as energy donors were first exploited in Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) applications. A highly efficient ligand-exchange method was used to prepare low toxicity, high quantum yield, stabile, and biocompatible CdZnSeS/ZnS QDs densely capped with multifunctional polymer ligands containing dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA). The resulting QDs can be applied to construct QDs-based Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) systems by their high affinity interaction with dye cyanine 3 (Cy3)-labeled human serum albumin (HSA). This QD-based FRET protein complex can serve as a sensitive sensor for probing the interaction of clofazimine with proteins using fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. The ability of FRET imaging both in vitro and in vivo not only reveals that the current FRET system can remain intact for 2 h but also confirms the potential of the FRET system to act as a nanocarrier for intracellular protein delivery or to serve as an imaging probe for cancer diagnosis.

Perovskite solar cells have shown unprecedent performance increase up to 22% efficiency. However, their photovoltaic performance has shown fast deterioration under light illumination in the presence of humid air even with encapulation. The stability of perovskite materials has been unsolved and its mechanism has been elusive. Here we uncover a mechanism for irreversible degradation of perovskite materials in which trapped charges, regardless of the polarity, play a decisive role. An experimental setup using different polarity ions revealed that the moisture-induced irreversible dissociation of perovskite materials is triggered by charges trapped along grain boundaries. We also identified the synergetic effect of oxygen on the process of moisture-induced degradation. The deprotonation of organic cations by trapped charge-induced local electric field would be attributed to the initiation of irreversible decomposition.

Identification of mite and tick bite sites provides important clinical information. The predominant mite species in Korea associated with scrub typhus are Leptotrombidium pallidum and Leptotrombidium scutellare The most abundant tick species is Haemaphysalis longicornis To date, there has been no comparative study on preferred bite sites between mites and ticks in humans. This study included a review of medical records and a field study. For mite bite sites, eschars were checked on 506 patients with scrub typhus, confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay or nested polymerase chain reaction on the 56-kDa type-specific antigen gene of Orientia tsutsugamushi Tick bite sites were identified and marked on a diagram for 91 patients who experienced tick bites within the previous year through a field epidemiological investigation. The mite and tick bite sites in Koreans were compared. The most frequently observed mite bite sites were the anterior chest, including the axillae (29.1%) and the abdominal region, including the inguinal area (26.1%). Tick bite sites were most frequent on the lower extremities (33.0%), followed by the abdominal region, including the inguinal area (26.4%), and upper extremities (26.4%). The distribution was significantly different between mite and tick bite sites (P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant difference in the mite bite (P = 0.001), but not tick bite sites (P = 0.985), between men and women. This is the first report on the differences between tick and mite bite sites, and may help clinicians reach a rapid diagnosis of mite- or tick-borne infection., (© The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.)

The effects of supplementing kimchi with acetic acid (TSA)- and citric acid (TSC)-treated skate were investigated during the fermentation process. The chemical and microbiological properties of the product were also investigated. The quality parameters of kimchi were determined by measuring the pH, titratable acidity, reducing sugar content, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), biogenic amines (BAs), and microbial analysis. During fermentation, the kimchi containing skate was observed to have a lower acidity than the control. Treatment of skate with an organic acid increased the acidity and gradually decreased the reducing sugar content during fermentation. Higher concentrations of organic acid resulted in a decrease in VBN and BAs in the TSA and TSC groups compared to those in the kimchi containing skate. The results suggest that supplementing kimchi with skate treated with organic acids affects the histamine content of the products.

Background: Pityriasis lichenoides (PL)-like skin lesions rarely appear as a specific manifestation of mycosis fungoides (MF)., Objective: We investigated the clinicopathological features, immunophenotypes, and treatments of PL-like MF., Methods: This study included 15 patients with PL-like lesions selected from a population of 316 patients diagnosed with MF at one institution., Results: The patients were between 4 and 59 years of age. Four patients were older than 20 years of age. All of the patients had early-stage MF. In all patients, the atypical lymphocytic infiltrate had a perivascular distribution with epidermotropism. The CD4/CD8 ratio was <1 in 12 patients. Thirteen patients were treated with either narrowband ultraviolet B (NBUVB) or psoralen+ultraviolet A (PUVA), and all of them had complete responses., Conclusion: PL-like MF appears to have a favorable prognosis and occurrence of this variant in adults is uncommon. MF should be suspected in the case of a PL-like skin eruption. Therefore, biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis of PL-like MF, and NBUVB is a clinically effective treatment.

The long-term instability of the presently available best commercial phosphor-converted light-emitting diodes (pcLEDs) is the most serious obstacle for the realization of low-cost and energy-saving lighting applications. Emission from pcLEDs starts to degrade after approximately 200 h of operation because of thermal degradation of the phosphors. We propose a new strategy to overcome this thermal degradation problem of phosphors by wrapping the phosphor particles with reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Through the rGO wrapping, we have succeeded in controlling the thermal degradation of phosphors and improving the stability of fabricated pcLEDs. We have fabricated pcLEDs with long-term stability that maintain nearly 98% of their initial luminescence emission intensity even after 800 h of continuous operation at 85 °C and 85% relative humidity. The pcLEDs fabricated using SrBaSi 2 O 2 N 2 :Eu 2+ phosphor particles wrapped with reduced graphene oxide are thermally stable because of enhanced heat dissipation that prevents the ionization of Eu 2+ to Eu 3+ . We believe that this technique can be applied to other rare-earth doped phosphors for the realization of highly efficient and stable white LEDs.

Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a selective α2 adrenergic agonist, is an anesthetic and sedative agent, and is reported to exert neuroprotective effects after hypoxic ischemia. However, there are few studies on the electrophysiological effect of DEX in hippocampal slices under ischemic conditions. The effects of DEX on field potential in hippocampal slices exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) were evaluated. Hippocampal slices were prepared from rats, and the evoked field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) were recorded using the MED 64 system. Hypoxic-ischemia was induced by perfusion with glucose-free artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) bubbled with 95% N2 and 5% CO2, and hippocampal slices were perfused with DEX-added aCSF before, during, and after OGD induction. In the normal hippocampal slices, perfusion with 1 and 10μM DEX did not significantly decrease the normalized fEPSP amplitude, but 100μM DEX significantly reduced the fEPSP amplitude compared with its baseline control. The induction of OGD remarkably decreased the fEPSP amplitude, whereas the pre-, co-, and post-treatment of 10μM DEX gradually promoted recovery after washing out, and consequently the amplitude of fEPSP in DEX pre-, co-, and post-treated OGD slices were significantly higher than that in the untreated OGD slices at 10min and 60min after washing out. In particular, co-treatment with DEX conspicuously promoted the recovery of the fEPSP amplitude at the beginning of washing out. These results suggest the possibility of DEX as a therapeutic agent to prevent hypoxic-ischemic brain damage and promote functional recovery after ischemia., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)