Acrylated adhesive proteinic microneedle patch for local drug delivery and stable device implantation.

Microneedle patches have been developed as favorable platforms for delivery systems, such as the locoregional application of therapeutic drugs, and implantation systems, such as electronic devices on visceral tissue surfaces. However, the challenge lies in finding materials that can achieve both biocompatibility and stable fixation on the target tissue. To address this issue, utilizing a biocompatible adhesive biomaterial allows the flat part of the patch to adhere as well, enabling double-sided adhesion for greater versatility. In this work, we propose an adhesive microneedle patch based on mussel adhesive protein (MAP) with enhanced mechanical strength via ultraviolet-induced polyacrylate crosslinking and Coomassie brilliant blue molecules. The strong wet tissue adhesive and biocompatible nature of engineered acrylated-MAP resulted in the development of a versatile wet adhesive microneedle patch system for in vivo usage. In a mouse tumor model, this microneedle patch effectively delivered anticancer drugs while simultaneously sealing the skin wound. Additionally, in an application of rat subcutaneous implantation, an electronic circuit was stably anchored using a double-sided wet adhesive microneedle patch, and its signal location underneath the skin did not change over time. Thus, the proposed acrylated-MAP-based wet adhesive microneedle patch system holds great promise for biomedical applications, paving the way for advancements in drug delivery therapeutics, tissue engineering, and implantable electronic medical devices.

A Customizable Proteinic Bioadhesive Patch with Water-Switchable Underwater Adhesiveness, Adjustable Biodegradability, and Modifiable Stretchability for Healing Diverse Internal Wounds.

Customizable bioadhesives for individual organ requirements, including tissue type and motion, are essential, especially given the rise in implantable medical device applications demanding adequate underwater adhesion. While synthetic bioadhesives are widely used, their toxicity upon degradation shifts focus to biocompatible natural biomaterials. However, enhancing the adhesive strengths of these biomaterials presents ongoing challenges while accommodating the unique properties of specific organs. To address these issues, three types of customized underwater bioadhesive patches (CUBAPs) with strong, water-responsive adhesion and controllable biodegradability and stretchability based on bioengineered mussel adhesive proteins conjugated with acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid are proposed. The CUBAP system, although initially nonadhesive, shows strong underwater adhesion upon hydration, adjustable biodegradation, and adequate physical properties by adjusting the ratio of poly(acrylic acid) and poly(methacrylic acid). Through ex vivo and in vivo evaluations using defective organs and the implantation of electronic devices, the suitability of using CUBAPs for effective wound healing in diverse internal organs is demonstrated. Thus, this innovative CUBAP system offers strong underwater adhesiveness with tailored biodegradation timing and physical properties, giving it great potential in various biomedical applications.

Heightened but Inefficient Thought-Action Fusion in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: New Insight From a Multiple Trial Version of the Classic Thought-Action Fusion Experiment

Objective@#Thought-action fusion (TAF), which is a tendency to make the relationship between one’s thoughts and external consequences, is a dysfunctional belief linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). While the TAF is commonly evaluated using the Thought-Action Fusion Scale (TAFS), it cannot fully reflect the actual experience of experimentally evoked TAF. In the present study, we applied a multiple-trial version of the classic TAF experiment and evaluate two variables, reaction time (RT) and emotional intensity (EI). @*Methods@#Ninety-three patients with OCD and 45 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. The participants were asked to read the name of a close or neutral person embedded in different positive (PS) or negative (NS) TAF statements. During the experiments, RT and EI were gathered. @*Results@#The OCD patients presented with longer RT and lower EI in the NS condition than HCs. In each group, the HCs showed a significant relationship between RT in the NS condition and TAFS scores, whereas the patients did not, although they had higher TAFS scores than the HCs. In contrast, the patients showed a trend toward a correlation between RT in the NS condition and guilt. @*Conclusion@#These findings may indicate our multiple-trial version of the classical TAF showed reliable results of the two new variables, especially RT, in the task and allow to newly identify paradoxical patterns in which the TAFS scores are high but actual performance is impaired, that is, the inefficient activation of TAF in OCD.

Fibro-inflammatory recovery and type 2 diabetes remission following a low calorie diet but not exercise training: A secondary analysis of the DIASTOLIC randomised controlled trial.

AIMS: To investigate the relationship between fibro-inflammatory biomarkers and cardiovascular structure/function in people with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) compared to healthy controls and the effect of two lifestyle interventions in T2D. METHODS: Data were derived from the DIASTOLIC randomised controlled trial (RCT) and includes a comparison between those with T2D and the matched healthy volunteers recruited at baseline. Adults with T2D without cardiovascular disease (CVD) were randomized to a 12-week intervention either: (1) exercise training, (2) a low-energy (∼810 kcal/day) meal-replacement plan (MRP) or (3) standard care. Principal Component and Fisher's linear discriminant analysis were used to investigate the relationships between MRI acquired cardiovascular outcomes and fibro-inflammatory biomarkers in cases versus controls and pre- and post-intervention in T2D. RESULTS: At baseline, 83 people with T2D (mean age 50.5 ± 6.4; 58% male) and 36 healthy controls (mean age 48.6 ± 6.2; 53% male) were compared and 76 people with T2D completed the RCT for pre- post-analysis. Compared to healthy controls, subjects with T2D had adverse cardiovascular remodelling and a fibro-inflammatory profile (20 differentially expressed biomarkers). The 3D data visualisations showed almost complete separation between healthy controls and those with T2D, and a marked shift towards healthy controls following the MRP (15 biomarkers significantly changed) but not exercise training. CONCLUSIONS: Fibro-inflammatory pathways and cardiovascular structure/function are adversely altered before the onset of symptomatic CVD in middle-aged adults with T2D. The MRP improved the fibro-inflammatory profile of people with T2D towards a more healthy status. Long-term studies are required to assess whether these changes lead to continued reverse cardiac remodelling and prevent CVD.

Development and Evaluation of a Sexual Health Improvement Program for Women with Gynecologic Cancer

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to develop a SHIP (Sexual Health Improvement Program) for women with gynecologic cancer and to evaluate the program effect. @*Methods@#The SHIP was developed using a needs assessment derived from an in-depth interview and analysis of literature based on the sexual health framework. This program consisted of providing information about sexuality, Kegel exercises, group art activities, and psychodrama and group counseling. The program was held for two hours, once a week for six weeks. A pre-post quasi-experimental design was employed (experimental group 15 and control group 15). Data collecting was conducted by using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), as well as body image and sexual communication questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 18.0. @*Results@#The SHIP experimental group showed significantly increased scores for FSFI (U=31.00, p<.001), body image (U=50.00, p=.009), and sexual communication (U=26.00, p<.001) compared with the control group. @*Conclusion@#The SHIP adopted in this study was found to be an effective method to increase sexual function, body image, and sexual communication for women with gynecologic cancer, and is therefore recommended.

Development and Evaluation of a Sexual Health Improvement Program for Women with Gynecologic Cancer

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to develop a SHIP (Sexual Health Improvement Program) for women with gynecologic cancer and to evaluate the program effect. @*Methods@#The SHIP was developed using a needs assessment derived from an in-depth interview and analysis of literature based on the sexual health framework. This program consisted of providing information about sexuality, Kegel exercises, group art activities, and psychodrama and group counseling. The program was held for two hours, once a week for six weeks. A pre-post quasi-experimental design was employed (experimental group 15 and control group 15). Data collecting was conducted by using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), as well as body image and sexual communication questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 18.0. @*Results@#The SHIP experimental group showed significantly increased scores for FSFI (U=31.00, p<.001), body image (U=50.00, p=.009), and sexual communication (U=26.00, p<.001) compared with the control group. @*Conclusion@#The SHIP adopted in this study was found to be an effective method to increase sexual function, body image, and sexual communication for women with gynecologic cancer, and is therefore recommended.

The Neural Correlates of Positive Versus Negative Thought-action Fusion in Healthy Young Adults

Objective@#Thought-action fusion (TAF), one of the most-studied dysfunctional beliefs in obsessive-compulsive disorder, represents an individual’s belief that his/her thoughts directly influence events. TAF belief types are divided into personal thoughts relating to positive (positive TAF) and negative outcomes (negative TAF). However, the neural mechanisms underlying both aspects of the TAF response remain elusive. @*Methods@#This functional magnetic resonance imaging study aimed to investigate the neural circuits related to positive and negative TAF and their relationships with psychological measures. Thirty-one healthy male volunteers participated in a modified TAF task wherein they were asked to read the name of a close person embedded in positive statements (PS) or negative statements (NS). @*Results@#Conjunction analysis revealed activation of the fusiform and lingual gyri, midcingulate and superior medial frontal gyri, inferior orbitofrontal gyrus, and temporoparietal junction. The NS ＞ PS comparison showed additional activation in the precuneus and medial prefrontal cortex, superior frontal gyrus, insula, globus pallidus, thalamus, and midbrain. Precuneus activity was associated with the TAF score among these areas. Moreover, activity in the inferior orbitofrontal gyrus, insula, superior, middle and medial frontal gyri, globus pallidus, inferior parietal lobule, and precuneus was associated with dimensional obsessive-compulsive scores. In contrast, the PS ＞ NS comparison revealed no significant activation. @*Conclusion@#These results suggest that negative TAF, relative to positive TAF, recruits additional regions for self-referential processing, salience, and habitual responding, which may contribute to the activation of the belief that a negative thought increases the probability of that negative outcome.

Characteristics of Early Maladaptive Schemas in Individuals with Schizophrenia: A Comparative Study Relative to Major Depressive Disorder / 대한정신분열병학회지

Objectives@#This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of early maladaptive schemas and their associations with clinical symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. @*Methods@#Forty-eight patients with schizophrenia, 49 patients with major depressive disorder, and 50 healthy controls completed the Young Schema Questionnaire and symptom measures including the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale-Expanded (BPRS-E). @*Results@#The schizophrenia group had significantly higher scores than the healthy controls and lower scores than the depression group in most schemas. Compared with healthy controls, the schizophrenia group exhibited higher scores in 10 schemas, i.e., mistrust, social isolation, failure, dependence, vulnerability to harm, enmeshment, insufficient self-control, subjugation, emotional inhibition, and negativity schemas (all p<0.001). Moreover, vulnerability to harm, enmeshment, subjugation, and negativity schemas were correlated with total scores of the BPRS-E (0.37≤r≤0.43, all p<0.05). Regarding the five BPRS domains, emotional deprivation schema showed significant relationships with negative (r=0.50, p=0.005) and disorganization (r=0.39, p=0.033) symptoms, while no schemas showed correlations with positive symptoms. @*Conclusion@#These results suggest that most schemas in patients with schizophrenia pertain to impaired autonomy and performance as well as disconnection and rejection domains and may improve our understanding and the treatment of schizophrenia from a perspective of schema therapy focused on these domains.

The Effects of Preclinical Clinical Performance Examination on Nursing Students' Confidence in Nursing Skills and Critical Thinking Competence / 한국간호교육학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of preclinical clinical performance examination (CPX) on nursing students' confidence in their nursing skills and critical thinking competence. METHODS: The design of this research was one-group pretest-posttest, and the participants were 112 nursing students. The preclinical CPX consisted of a clinical examination, patient-nurse relationship, oral test of related knowledge, written test of the nursing process, and debriefing using comprehensive scenarios based on real patient cases. The confidence of nursing skills consisted of an 8-item NRS and the critical thinking competence consisted of a 12-item 4-point scale developed by researchers and measured in both the pretest and posttest. The collected data were analyzed using paired t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The score for confidence in nursing skills (t=10.60, p<.001) and that for critical thinking competence (t=7.03, p<.001) increased significantly after preclinical CPX. CONCLUSION: This study showed that preclinical CPX was effective in improving nursing students' confidence in their nursing skills and critical thinking competence. Therefore, preclinical CPX is expected to be utilized in nursing practice education. Additional studies including those on control groups are recommended to compare differences between the preclinical CPX group and control group.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha effects on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell mobilization in rats with acute myocardial infarction / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Increasing autologous stem cellmobilization is conceived to achieve effectively repair of cardiac ischemic injury. Therefore, it is important to seek a specific and effective mobilization agent. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α) on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cellmobilization in myocardial infarction. METHODS:Left anterior descending artery was ligated to establish a rat model of acute myocardial infarction in 90 outbreeding Sprague-Dawley rats, and then the models were randomly divided into three groups. In HIF-1α-antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) group, HIF-1α-ASODN was infused into the tail vein to restrain the expression of HIF-1αin infarcted ischemic tissue. In HIF-1α-missense oligonucleotide (MSODN) group or control group, an equal volume of HIF-1α-MSODN or saline was injected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After 30 hours and 7 days of modeling, the number of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the peripheral blood of the control group were similar to the HIF-1α-MSODN group, but significantly higher than the HIF-1α-ASODN group. After 7 days of modeling, the expressions of HIF-1αprotein, vascular endothelial growth factor protein and mRNA in the ischemic myocardial tissues of the control group were similar to the HIF-1α-MSODN group, but significantly higher than the HIF-1α-ASODN group. After 7, 14 and 28 days of modeling, the capil ary density in the ischemic myocardial tissues of the control group was similar to the HIF-1α-MSODN group, but significantly higher than the HIF-1α-ASODN group. These findings indicate that after acute myocardial infarction, high expression of HIF-1αexhibits a causal relationship with mobilization of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, initiating a series of self-healing process of myocardial tissues.

A Study on the Predictive Factors of Sexual Function in Women with Gynecologic Cancer

PURPOSE: This study was to identify predictors of sexual function in gynecologic cancer patients. METHODS: The participants were 154 patients treated at a university medical center in A city, Korea. The data collection was performed through a structured questionnaire from July to December, 2010. The instruments used in this study were Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) perceived health status scale, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, body image, and depression. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test and stepwise multiple regression with the SPSS 18.0. RESULTS: The mean score of perceived health status was 8.42 and sexual function was 8.42. The lowest score among sexual function was lubrication. The scores of sexual function was significantly different by age, job, marital status, period after diagnosis of cancer and diagnosis. There were significant correlations between sexual function, perceived health status, ECOG performance, body image and depression. In multiple regression analysis, predictors were identified as ECOG performance, age, diagnosis and period after diagnosis of cancer (Adj.R2=.28). The most powerful predictor of female sexual function was ECOG performance (19.0%). CONCLUSION: The above findings indicate that it is necessary to develop a more effective and personalized sexual function improvement program for gynecologic cancer patient.

The Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Acupressure for Nausea and Vomiting in Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy / 종양간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was to analyze the characteristics and effect size of intervention studies that used acupressure for the control of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). METHODS: Nine electronic databases including Korea Education Research and Information, the National Assembly Library, KISS, Korea Med, NDSL, PubMed, EBSCO, Cochrane library, and OVID (to December, 2009) were searched. Thirteen studies of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or controlled clinical trials (CCTs) were selected. Data were analyzed by SPSS/WIN 18.0. RESULTS: Overall effect size of acupressure was moderate (0.684). Nausea had a moderate effect size (0.770) and nausea and vomiting had a high effect size (0.899). Acupressure using sticker needles had a high effect size (1.368) among finger acupressure, si-acupuncture, and wrist band treatment. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that acupressure using sticker needles on the spots of nei-guan, chok-samni and hap-kok can reduce the levels of nausea and vomiting in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. For improving the reliability of the meta-analysis results, further randomized controlled trials with better study methodology are needed.

The Type and Importance of Oriental Health Promotion Services and Nursing: By Delphi Method / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: To identify the agreed opinion of experts on oriental health promotion services and nursing in Korea. METHOD: The study is based on the 3-round Delphi method. As a Delphi panel, a total of 28 people with at least three years of experience in the area of oriental medicine consisted of this. RESULTS: The experts suggested that Yangsaeng, lectures on prevention of CVA, correct understanding of the misuse/abuse of oriental medicine, daily health care, meridian/acupoints massage, and Kigong therapy should be included in the promoting oriental health nursing servies. CONCLUSION: The agreed opinions by the experts on the oriental health promotion services and nursing, can help enhance the understanding of oriental health promotion. The curriculum should be developed further and tested with the development of the Korean oriental nursing intervention methods which is appropriate to Korean culture.

The relationship between volatile organic profiles and emission sources in ozone episode region-a case study in Southern Taiwan.

This study investigates the relationship between volatile organic profiles in the atmosphere and emission sources in an ozone non-attainment in region Southern Taiwan. Dynamometer test of vehicles and stack sampling from industrial facilities were conducted to obtain the fingerprints of emissions from on-road mobile sources and stationary sources, respectively. In addition, field sampling of non-methane organic compounds (NMOC) concentration at monitoring stations during episode seasons were also collected by canisters. The influences of different emissions sources on airborne concentrations were estimated by back-trojectory analysis and chemical mass balance model (CMB 8.0) calculation. Field measurement data indicated that the daily average concentration of NMOC ranges between 26.4 and 69.8 ppb at different sites. The mass fraction for paraffins, oleffins and aromatics in airborne samples at these sites were 28-47%, 7-12% and 41-52%, respectively. Toluene was the dominant species among these species, followed by isopentane, n-butane and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene. The source apportionment of airborne NMOC in the ozone non-attainment region, based on CMB simulation, is passenger cars (28-51%), motorcycles (9-24%), industrial sources (14-33%), solvent application (13-46%) and biogenic emissions (< 1-2.4%), respectively. Both field measurement and model analysis showed that the vehicle exhaust and industrial emission are the dominant contributors of NMOC in the region.

A Case of Dorsal Nasal Cyst after Augmentation Rhinoplasty / 대한이비인후과학회지

Augmentation rhinoplasty is one of the most popular aesthetic procedures for orientals. Various materials have been used for augmenting the nasal dorsum. Complications that may occur right after rhinoplasty are generally attributed to failure to obtain the desired aesthetic, functional and psychological results. Other complications include postoperative hemorrhage and infection including cellulitis, abscess formation and toxic shock. Serious life-threatening complications such as intracranial or general infection that occurred in the preantibiotic era are fortunately infrequent. Dorsal nasal cyst formation is also considered a rare complication of augmentation rhinoplasty. The cause of this complication is not well known untill now; however, the entrapment of nasal mucosa and subsequent growth through osteotomy sites are thought to be the basis for the formation of these mass. Dorsal nasal cyst formation of post-augmentaion rhinoplasty was reported in a few case around the world but not in Korea. However, we experienced one case of dorsal nasal cyst formation after augmentation rhinoplasty in our clinic. Therefore, we present the case report of dorsal nasal cyst formation as a rare post-augmentation rhinoplasty with inferior turbinate bone and cartilage.