Real-Time Ultraviolet Monitoring System with Low-Temperature Solution-Processed High-Transparent p-n Junction Photodiode with a Fast Responsive and High Rectification Ratio.

We introduce an enhanced performance organic-inorganic hybrid p-n junction photodiode, utilizing poly[bis(4-phenyl) (2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)amine] (PTAA) and ZnO, fabricated through a solution-based process at a low temperature under 100 °C. Improved interfacial electronic structure, characterized by shallower Gaussian standard deviation of the density-of-state distribution and a larger interface dipole, has resulted in a remarkable fold increase of ∼102 in signal-to-noise ratio for the device. This photodiode exhibits a high specific detectivity (2.32 × 1011 Jones, cm×Hz×W-1) and exceptional rectification ratio (5.47 × 104 at ±1 V). The primary light response, concentrated in the optimal thickness of the PTAA layer, contributes to response over the entire UVA region and rapid response speed, with rise and fall times of 0.24 and 0.64 ms, respectively. Furthermore, this work demonstrates immense potential of our device for health monitoring applications by enabling real-time and continuous measurements of UV intensity.

Diabetes-induced muscle wasting: molecular mechanisms and promising therapeutic targets.

Diabetes has become a serious public health crisis, presenting significant challenges to individuals worldwide. As the largest organ in the human body, skeletal muscle is a significant target of this chronic disease, yet muscle wasting as a complication of diabetes is still not fully understood and effective treatment methods have yet to be developed. Here, we discuss the targets involved in inducing muscle wasting under diabetic conditions, both validated targets and emerging targets. Diabetes-induced skeletal muscle wasting is known to involve changes in various signaling molecules and pathways, such as protein degradation pathways, protein synthesis pathways, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress inflammation. Recent studies have shown that some of these present potential as promising therapeutic targets, including the neuregulin 1/epidermal growth factor receptor family, advanced glycation end-products, irisin, ferroptosis, growth differentiation factor 15 and more. This study's investigation and discussion of such pathways and their potential applications provides a theoretical basis for the development of clinical treatments for diabetes-induced muscle wasting and a foundation for continued focus on this disease.

Organelle Proximity Analysis for Enhanced Quantification of Mitochondria-Endoplasmic Reticulum Interactions in Single Cells via Super-Resolution Microscopy.

Mitochondria (MT) and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) maintain lipid and calcium homeostasis through membrane contacts, particularly MT-ER contacts (MERCs), spanning distances from 10 to 50 nm. However, the variation of different distance ranges and the metabolic factors influencing this variation remain poorly understood. This study employed microfluidic chip-based super-resolution microscopy in conjunction with a Moore-Neighbor tracing-incorporated organelle proximity analysis algorithm. This approach enabled precise three-dimensional localization of single-fluorescence protein molecules within narrow and irregular membrane proximities. It achieved lateral localization precision of less than 20 nm, resulting in a minimum MERC distance of approximately 8 nm in spatial and mean distances across multiple threshold ranges. Additionally, we demonstrated that the MERC distance variation was correlated with MT size rather than ER width. The proportion of each distance range varied significantly after the stimuli. Free cholesterol showed a negative correlation with various distances, while distances of 10-30 nm were associated with glucose, glutamine, and pyruvic acid. Furthermore, the 30-40 nm range was influenced by citric acid. These results underscore the role of advanced subcellular organelle analysis in elucidating the single-molecule behavior and organelle morphology in single-cell studies.

Super-resolution Multispectral Imaging Nanoimmunosensor for Simultaneous Detection of Diverse Early Cancer Biomarkers.

In medical diagnosis, relying on only one type of biomarker is insufficient to accurately identify cancer. Blood-based multicancer early detection can help identify more than one type of cancer from a single blood sample. In this study, a super-resolution multispectral imaging nanoimmunosensor (srMINI) based on three quantum dots (QDs) of different color conjugated with streptavidin was developed for the simultaneous screening of various cancer biomarkers in blood at the single-molecule level. In the experiment, the srMINI chip was used to simultaneously detect three key cancer biomarkers: carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), C-reactive protein (CRP), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The srMINI chip exhibited 108 times higher detection sensitivity of 0.18-0.5 ag/mL (1.1-2.6 zM) for these cancer biomarkers than commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits because of the absence of interfering signals from the substrate, establishing considerable potential for multiplex detection of cancer biomarkers in blood. Therefore, the simultaneous detection of various cancer biomarkers using the developed srMINI chip with high diagnostic precision and accuracy is expected to play a decisive role in early diagnosis or community screening as a single-molecule biosensor.

Utility of block-matching and 3D filter for reproducibility of lung density and denoising in low-dose chest CT: A pilot study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to acquire an image quality consistent with that of full-dose chest computed tomography (CT) when obtaining low-dose chest CT images and to analyze the effects of block-matching and 3D (BM3D) filters on lung density measurements and noise reduction in lung parenchyma. METHODS: Using full-dose chest CT images, we evaluated lung density measurements and noise reduction in lung parenchyma images for low-dose chest CT. Three filters (median, Wiener, and the proposed BM3D) were applied to low-dose chest CT images for comparison and analysis with images from full-dose chest CT. To evaluate lung density measurements, we measured CT attenuation at the 15th percentile of the lung CT histogram. The coefficient of variation (COV) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were used to evaluate the noise level. RESULTS: The 15th percentile of the lung CT histogram showed the smallest difference between full- and low-dose CT when applying the BM3D filter, and the highest difference between full- and low-dose CT without filters (full-dose =  - 926.28 ± 0.32, BM3D =  - 926.65 ± 0.32, and low-dose =  - 959.43 ± 0.95) (p < 0.05). The COV was smallest when applying the BM3D filter, whereas the CNR was the highest (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study prove that the BM3D filter can reduce image noise while increasing the reproducibility of the lung density, even for low-dose chest CT.

Effect of diabetes on mortality and liver transplantation in alcoholic liver cirrhotic patients with acute decompensation.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have investigated the influence of diabetes on alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients, leaving its impact unclear. Thus, we conducted a study to reveal the association of diabetes and clinical outcomes of such patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively collected data from multicenter pertaining to 965 patients diagnosed with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, all of whom were admitted due to acute decompensation between 2015 and 2019. Risk of major precipitating factors and incidences of death or liver transplantation in patients with and without diabetes was comparatively assessed. Propensity score (PS) matching was performed at a 1:2 ratio for accurate comparisons. RESULTS: The mean age was 53.4 years, and 81.0% of the patients were male. Diabetes was prevalent in 23.6% of the cohort and was positively correlated with hepatic encephalopathy and upper gastrointestinal bleeding, although not statistically significant. During a median follow-up of 903.5 person-years (PYs), 64 patients with and 171 without diabetes died or underwent liver transplantation, with annual incidence of 33.6/100 PYs and 24.0/100 PYs, respectively. In the PS-matched cohort, the incidence of death or liver transplantation was 36.8/100 PYs and 18.6/100 PYs in the diabetes and matched control group, respectively. After adjusting for various factors, coexisting diabetes significantly heightened the risk of death or liver transplantation in the short and long term, in addition to prolonged prothrombin time, low serum albumin, elevated total bilirubin and creatinine, and decreased serum sodium levels. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes increases the risk of death or liver transplantation in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

Exploration of Immune-Modulatory Effects of Amivantamab in Combination with Pembrolizumab in Lung and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are effective first-line therapy for solid cancers. However, low response rate and acquired resistance over time has led to the need for additional therapeutic options. Here, we evaluated synergistic antitumor efficacy of EGFR × MET targeting bispecific antibody, amivantamab with PD-L1 immunotherapy, pembrolizumab in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and lung squamous cell carcinoma tumor-bearing humanized patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. We demonstrated that pembrolizumab or amivantamab alone was ineffective and that combination treatment induced a significant reduction of tumor growth in both models (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.01, respectively). It appeared that combination of amivantamab and pembrolizumab significantly enhanced infiltration of granzyme B-producing CD8 T cells was in the TME of HNSCC PDX (P < 0.01) and enhanced neoantigen-associated central memory CD8 T cells in circulating immune cells. Analysis of single-cell RNA transcriptomics suggested that the tumor cells dramatically upregulated EGFR and MET in response to PD-L1 immunotherapy, potentially creating a metabolic state fit for tumor persistence in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and rendered pembrolizumab ineffective. We demonstrated that EGFRHIGHMETHIGH subcluster displayed an increased expression of genes implicated in production of lactate [SLC16A3 and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA)] compared to the EGFRLOWMETLOW cluster. Accumulation of lactate in the TME has been associated with immunosuppression by hindering the infiltration of tumor killing CD8 T and NK cells. This study proved that amivantamab reduced glycolytic markers in the EGFRHIGHMETHIGH subcluster including SLC16A3 and LDHA and highlighted remodeling of the TME by combination treatment, providing rationale for additional therapy of amivantamab with PD-1 immunotherapy. SIGNIFICANCE: Amivantamab in synergy with pembrolizumab effectively eradicated EGFRHIGHMETHIGH tumor subcluster in the tumor microenvironment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and overcame resistance against anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.

Gamma irradiation-engineered macrophage-derived exosomes as potential immunomodulatory therapeutic agents.

The modulation of macrophage polarization is a promising strategy for maintaining homeostasis and improving innate and adaptive immunity. Low-dose ionizing radiation has been implicated in macrophage immunomodulatory responses. However, studies on the relationship between exosomes and regulation of macrophage polarization induced by ionizing radiation are limited. Therefore, this study investigated the alterations in macrophages and exosomes induced by gamma irradiation and elucidated the underlying mechanisms. We used the mouse macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 to generate macrophages and performed western blot, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, and gene ontology analyses to elucidate the molecular profiles of macrophage-derived exosomes under varying treatment conditions, including 10 Gy gamma irradiation. Exosomes isolated from gamma-irradiated M1 macrophages exhibited an enhanced M1 phenotype. Irradiation induced the activation of NF-κB and NLRP3 signaling in M1 macrophages, thereby promoting the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Cytokine expression was also upregulated in gamma-irradiated M1 macrophage-released exosomes. Therefore, gamma irradiation has a remarkable effect on the immunomodulatory mechanisms and cytokine profiles of gamma-irradiated M1 macrophage-derived exosomes, and represents a potential immunotherapeutic modality.

Novel Lipid Nanocomplex Co-Carrying Bcl2 siRNA and Quantum Dots for EGF Receptor-Targeted Anti-Cancer Theranosis.

Many different types of nanoparticles have been suggested for tumor-targeted theranosis. However, most systems were prepared through a series of complicated processes and could not even overcome the blood-immune barriers. For the accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of cancers, herein we suggested the lipid micellar structure capturing quantum dot (QD) for cancer theranosis. The QD/lipid micelles (QDMs) were prepared using a simple self-assembly procedure and then conjugated with anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies for tumor targeting. As a therapeutic agent, Bcl2 siRNA-cholesterol conjugates were loaded on the surface of QDMs. The EGFR-directed QDMs containing Bcl2 siRNA, so-called immuno-QDM/siBcl2 (iQDM/siBcl2), exhibited the more effective delivery of QDs and siBcl2 to target human colorectal cancer cells in cultures as well as in mouse xenografts. The effective in vivo targeting of iQDM/siBcl2 resulted in a more enhanced therapeutic efficacy of siBcl2 to the target cancer in mice. Based on the results, anti-EGFR QDM capturing therapeutic siRNA could be suggested as an alternative modality for tumor-targeted theranosis.

Bariatric intervention improves metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis in patients with obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Bariatric intervention has been reported to be an effective way to improve metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in obese individuals. The current systemic review aimed to assess the changes in MRI-determined hepatic proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (NAS) after bariatric surgery or intragastric balloon/gastric banding in MASLD patients with obesity. METHODS: We searched various databases including PubMed, OVID Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. Primary outcomes were the changes in intrahepatic fat on MRI-PDFF and histologic features of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). RESULTS: Thirty studies with a total of 3,134 patients were selected for meta-analysis. Bariatric intervention significantly reduced BMI (ratio of means, 0.79) and showed 72% reduction of intrahepatic fat on MRI-PDFF at 6 months after bariatric intervention (ratio of means, 0.28). Eight studies revealed that NAS was reduced by 60% at 3-6 months compared to baseline, 40% at 12-24 months, and 50% at 36-60 months. Nineteen studies revealed that the proportion of patients with steatosis decreased by 44% at 3-6 months, 37% at 12-24 months, and 29% at 36-60 months; lobular inflammation by 36% at 12-24 months and 51% at 36-60 months; ballooning degeneration by 38% at 12-24 months; significant fibrosis (≥F2) by 18% at 12-24 months and by 17% at 36-60 months after intervention. CONCLUSION: Bariatric intervention significantly improved MRI-PDFF and histologic features of MASH in patients with obesity. Bariatric intervention might be the effective alternative treatment option for patients with MASLD who do not respond to lifestyle modification or medical treatment.

Evaluation of Non-invasive Fat Reduction Using a Resistive Electric Transfer-based Radiofrequency Device With Multi-channel Handpieces.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Various devices for non-invasive body shape correction are being developed along with the growth of the beauty industry. Radiofrequency (RF) can selectively reduce subcutaneous fat without causing skin damage. The efficacy of the procedure can be improved by applying RF to a large area simultaneously with multiple handpieces. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of a new RF device with multi-channel handpieces. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In ex vivo experiments, the RF device was used to treat porcine tissue comprising the skin, subcutaneous, and muscle layers. The device's safety was evaluated by temperature measurements of porcine tissue and histological analysis. In in vivo experiments, the dorsal skin of pigs was treated with the RF device. The safety and efficacy of the device were evaluated by measuring the skin temperature, subcutaneous fat layer thickness, and conducting histological analysis. RESULTS: The skin temperature did not exceed the set temperature during treatment, and skin damage was not observed in histologic analysis in both ex vivo and in vivo experiments. In in vivo experiments, the subcutaneous fat layer thickness and subcutaneous lipocyte size were decreased after treatment. In addition, the fibrous tissue between subcutaneous lipocytes was increased in the RF treatment group compared with the non-treatment group. CONCLUSION: The RF device used in this study effectively reduced the size of subcutaneous lipocytes and increased fibrous tissue without skin damage. Therefore, the safe and effective use of this device for non-invasive fat reduction may be possible in clinical settings.

Validation of MELD 3.0 in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis using prospective KACLiF cohort.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) is a reliable prognostic tool for short-term outcome prediction in patients with end-stage liver disease. MELD 3.0 was introduced to enhance the predictive accuracy. This study assessed the performance of MELD 3.0, in comparison to MELD and MELD-Na, in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. METHODS: This multicenter prospective cohort study comprised patients with alcoholic cirrhosis admitted for acute deterioration of liver function in the Republic of Korea between 2015 and 2019. This study compared the predictive abilities of MELD, MELD-Na, and MELD 3.0, for 30-day and 90-day outcomes, specifically death or liver transplantation, and explored the factors influencing these outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 1096 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 53.3 ± 10.4 years, and 82.0% were male. The mean scores for MELD, MELD-Na, and MELD 3.0 at the time of admission were 18.7 ± 7.2, 20.6 ± 7.7, and 21.0 ± 7.8, respectively. At 30 and 90 days, 7.2% and 14.1% of patients experienced mortality or liver transplantation. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for MELD, MELD-Na, and MELD 3.0 at 30 days were 0.823, 0.820, and 0.828; and at 90 days were 0.765, 0.772, and 0.776, respectively. Factors associated with the 90-day outcome included concomitant chronic viral hepatitis, prolonged prothrombin time, elevated levels of aspartate transaminase, bilirubin, and creatinine, and low albumin levels. CONCLUSION: MELD 3.0 demonstrated improved performance compared to previous models, although the differences were not statistically significant.

Prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in pediatrics and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: As childhood obesity escalates worldwide, the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in pediatric and adolescent populations is also increasing. However, systematic studies and meta-analyses evaluating the prevalence of pediatric NAFLD remain limited. METHODS: The MEDLINE, Korean Medical Database (KMBASE), Embase, Global Health, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from January 1997 to April 2023. Search terms included NAFLD or steatosis; nonalcoholic or steatohepatitis; child(ren), adolescent, or teenager; and prevalence, incidence, or epidemiology. A random-effects meta-analysis model was used to estimate the prevalence of pediatric NAFLD. RESULTS: A total of 2116 publications were found, of which 62 were included in the meta-analysis. Among them, 27 reported the prevalence in the general population and 39 in the obese population. The worldwide pooled prevalence of pediatric NAFLD was 13% [95% confidence interval (CI) 9-18%] in the general population and 47% (95% CI 41%-53%) in the obese population. Among 16 studies in the general population and 18 in the obese population, NAFLD prevalence varied by gender. In the general population, the prevalence of NAFLD was 15% (95% CI 8%-23%) in males and 10% (95% CI 6%-15%) in females. In the obese population, it was 54% (95% CI 46%-61%) in males and 39% (95% CI 30%-49%) in females. CONCLUSIONS: The global prevalence of pediatric NAFLD is rising in both the general and obese populations. Given the increasing rates of childhood obesity, epidemiological studies on the prevalence and incidence of NAFLD are needed.

Outcomes of root canal treatments with three different sealers for 120 fractured maxillary fourth premolar teeth in small-to medium-sized dogs.

Introduction: Tooth fracture is one of the most common traumatic maxillofacial injuries in dogs and cats. For fractures with pulp exposure occurring in functionally important teeth, the literature indicates that root canal treatment (RCT) is an effective therapy option that may be the remedy of choice before extraction. The most commonly reported fractures in the United States involve canine teeth; however, fractures of the maxillary fourth premolars are more common in Korea, where there are many small-and medium-sized dogs. RCT mechanically and chemically removes pulp tissue and bacteria (cleaning and shaping) from the infected root canal, and obturates the root canal with filling material to restore tooth functionality without inflammation. Various techniques, instruments, and materials used in humans have been modified for application in veterinary dentistry. Methods: This study analyzed the results of RCT of the maxillary fourth premolar in 120 small-and medium-sized dogs (weighing less than 25 kg) using three different sealers (silicone-based sealer, bioceramic sealer, and calcium hydroxide-based sealer) through a simple application of the single-cone technique. Results: The overall success rate of RCT in maxillary fourth premolars was 90.83%, with 8.33% no evidence of failure (NEF) and 0.83% failure. Discussion: There were no significant differences between the three different sealers. Furthermore, preexisting periapical lesion (PAL) was reconfirmed as a factor in reducing the success rate of RCT. In addition, the working length and master apical file of each root were analyzed in our study as a novel reference for endodontic veterinarians.

A novel acrylic orthodontic device for treatment of linguoverted mandibular canine teeth in small dogs.

Linguoverted mandibular canine teeth (LMC) is a common malocclusion in dogs. Several inclined bite-plane techniques using acrylic resin have been introduced to correct LMC in dogs. Although these techniques have suggested modifications to overcome shortcomings, there are still limitations; e.g., high technical sensitivity, as the viscous acrylic resin must still be fabricated in the oral cavity. The authors developed a novel method for small-breed dogs that uses a doughy acrylic resin form to achieve an easy intraoral design and extraoral fabrication. Eight small-breed dogs were presented to evaluate and treat malocclusion causing palatal trauma. First, a Class-1 malocclusion with linguoversion of the mandibular canine teeth (6 dogs with unilateral LMC and 2 dogs with bilateral) was diagnosed based on oral examination. Dogs were treated with the new method using a doughy acrylic resin form for 6 to 7 wk and had posttreatment follow-up 1 y after the procedure. All treated canine teeth were in correct positions 1 y after the appliances were removed. Key clinical message: The authors believe that the new method using a doughy acrylic resin form could be a good alternative for veterinarians to use when treating LMC.

Un nouveau dispositif orthodontique en acrylique pour le traitement des canines mandibulaires linguoverties chez les petits chiens. Les canines mandibulaires linguoverties (LMC) sont une malocclusion courante chez le chien. Plusieurs techniques de plan de morsure incliné utilisant de la résine acrylique ont été introduites pour corriger la LMC chez le chien. Bien que ces techniques aient suggéré des modifications pour surmonter les lacunes, elles présentent encore des limites; par exemple, une sensibilité technique élevée, car la résine acrylique visqueuse doit encore être fabriquée dans la cavité buccale. Les auteurs ont développé une nouvelle méthode pour les chiens de petite race qui utilise une forme pâteuse de résine acrylique pour obtenir une conception intra-orale et une fabrication extra-orale faciles. Huit chiens de petite race ont été présentés pour évaluer et traiter une malocclusion provoquant un traumatisme palatin. Tout d'abord, une malocclusion de classe 1 avec linguoversion des canines mandibulaires (6 chiens avec LMC unilatérale et 2 chiens avec bilatérale) a été diagnostiquée sur la base d'un examen oral. Les chiens ont été traités avec la nouvelle méthode en utilisant une forme pâteuse de résine acrylique pendant 6 à 7 semaines et ont fait l'objet d'un suivi post-traitement 1 an après la procédure. Toutes les canines traitées étaient dans la bonne position un an après le retrait des appareils.Message clinique clé:Les auteurs estiment que la nouvelle méthode utilisant une forme pâteuse de résine acrylique pourrait être une bonne alternative que les vétérinaires pourraient utiliser lors du traitement du LMC.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Exploring aryl hydrocarbon receptor expression and distribution in the tumor microenvironment, with a focus on immune cells, in various solid cancer types.

Introduction: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor that performs various functions upon ligand activation. Several studies have explored the role of AhR expression in tumor progression and immune surveillance. Nevertheless, investigations on the distribution of AhR expression, specifically in cancer or immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), remain limited. Examining the AhR expression and distribution in the TME is crucial for gaining insights into the mechanism of action of AhR-targeting anticancer agents and their potential as biomarkers. Methods: Here, we used multiplexed immunohistochemistry (mIHC) and image cytometry to investigate the AhR expression and distribution in 513 patient samples, of which 292 are patients with one of five solid cancer types. Additionally, we analyzed the nuclear and cytosolic distribution of AhR expression. Results: Our findings reveal that AhR expression was primarily localized in cancer cells, followed by stromal T cells and macrophages. Furthermore, we observed a positive correlation between the nuclear and cytosolic expression of AhR, indicating that the expression of AhR as a biomarker is independent of its localization. Interestingly, the expression patterns of AhR were categorized into three clusters based on the cancer type, with high AhR expression levels being found in regulatory T cells (Tregs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Discussion: These findings are anticipated to serve as pivotal evidence for the design of clinical trials and the analysis of the anticancer mechanisms of AhR-targeting therapies.

Evaluation of Biocompatibility and Healing Properties of Dural Substitutes Produced by Electrospinning Technology.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Dural reconstruction is a critical process after neurosurgical procedures. Improper dural repair leads to serious side-effects, such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage or infection. This is why it is important to properly repair the dura using a dural substitute, and research into dural substitutes is ongoing. The ideal dural substitute should be non-toxic, biocompatible, and capable of maintaining adequate tension and preventing cerebrospinal fluid leakage for extended periods in vivo. This study evaluated the biocompatibility and healing properties of Safe-Seal, poly-L-lactic acid synthetic bioabsorbable dural substitute produced by electrospinning technology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Safe-Seal, was created by electrospinning, which is a technique for nanofiberizing polymers into three-dimensional structures, and its cytotoxicity was evaluated. The animal study used 30 rats, divided into three groups assessed at two time points (4 and 12 weeks). The study groups were a negative control group with no treatment, an experimental group with Safe-Seal (TDM Co. Ltd., Gwangju, Republic of Korea) implantation, and a positive control group with a commercial product, Redura® (Medprin Biotech, Frankfurt, Germany) implantation. RESULTS: Safe-Seal exhibited no cytotoxic or adverse effects in the in vivo animal study. Histologically, Safe-Seal displayed less inflammatory cell infiltration, less adhesion to brain tissue, and connectivity with the surrounding dura mater as compared to the negative control group and without any significant differences from Redura® in all evaluation criteria. CONCLUSION: Safe-Seal presented adequate biocompatibility in vivo and contributed to the healing of the dura mater at a similar level to that of Redura® when applied to dural defects.

Anti-cancer effects of plant-derived Micromonospora sp. M2 against A549 and MCF-7 cell lines.

The huge diversity of secondary bioactive metabolites, such as antibiotic and anticancer compounds produced by Micromonospora sp., makes it an attractive target for study. Here, we explored the anti-proliferative activities of Micromonospora sp. M2 extract (MBE) in relation to its pro-oxidative activities in A549 and MCF7 cell lines. Anti-proliferative effects were assessed by treating cells with MBE. We found that treatment with MBE decreased cell proliferation and increased intracellular reactive oxygen species, and that these observations were facilitated by the suppression of the PI3K-AKT pathway, alterations to the Bcl/Bad ratio, and increased caspase activity. These observations also demonstrated that MBE induced apoptotic cell death in cell lines. In addition, the phosphorylation of P38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) were upregulated following MBE treatment in both cell lines. Collectively, these results indicate that MBE acts as an anticancer agent via oxidative stress and JNK/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activation, enhancing apoptotic cell death in cell lines.

Low-Power Phototransistor with Enhanced Visible-Light Photoresponse and Electrical Performances Using an IGZO/IZO Heterostructure.

In this study, we demonstrated the effective separation of charge carriers within the IGZO/IZO heterostructure by incorporating IZO. We have chosen IGZO for its high mobility and excellent on-off switching behavior in the front channel of our oxide-oxide heterostructure. Similarly, for an additional oxide layer, we have selected IZO due to its outstanding electrical properties. The optimized optoelectronic characteristics of the IGZO/IZO phototransistors were identified by adjusting the ratio of In:Zn in the IZO layer. As a result, the most remarkable traits were observed at the ratio of In:Zn = 8:2. Compared to the IGZO single-layer phototransistor, the IGZO/IZO(8:2) phototransistor showed improved photoresponse characteristics, with photosensitivity and photoresponsivity values of 1.00 × 107 and 89.1 AW-1, respectively, under visible light wavelength illumination. Moreover, the electrical characteristics of the IGZO/IZO(8:2) transistor, such as field effect mobility (µsat) and current on/off ratio (Ion/Ioff), were highly enhanced compared to the IGZO transistor. The µsat and Ion/Ioff were increased by about 2.1 times and 2.3 times, respectively, compared to the IGZO transistor. This work provides an approach for fabricating visible-light phototransistors with elevated optoelectronic properties and low power consumption based on an oxide-oxide heterostructure. The phototransistor with improved performance can be applied to applications such as color-selective visible-light image sensors and biometric sensors interacting with human-machine interfaces.