SERS detection of dopamine using metal-chelated Ag nanoshell.

As the concentrations of different neurotransmitters can indicate the presence of certain disorders affecting brain functions, quantitative analyses of neurotransmitters have attracted increasing attention in various fields. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is an outstanding spectroscopic analytical tool that enables detection at the single molecule level with high specificity. As local field enhancement of surface plasmon is effective within nanometers, active interaction between SERS-active noble metals (gold and silver) and analyte molecules enhances the molecular detection capacity of SERS. However, neurotransmitters and noble metal nanoparticles are often not affinitive, because neurotransmitters generally have a hydroxyl group rather than a thiol group. As a result, the interaction between the two typically remains inactive, which makes detection more difficult. To overcome this limitation, in the present work we utilized metal-chelation to attract dopamine, a neurotransmitter molecule, close to the surface of silver nanoparticles. AgNS was capped with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and sequentially integrated with copper ion to bind dopamine in the form of chelate bonding between dopamine and copper. The PVA linked AgNS and metal ions through a coordinate bond between hydroxyl groups and metal ions. This metal-chelation-functionalized nanoprobe allowed us to stably detect dopamine in aqueous solution at a concentration of less than 10-6 M. Therefore, this method provides a convenient and easy-to-prepare option for the effective detection of dopamine, thus meaning it has the potential to be applied to other neurotransmitters.

Modulating intestinal health: Impact of chitooligosaccharide molecular weight on suppressing RAGE expression and inflammatory response in methylglyoxal-induced advanced glycation end-products.

The accumulation of methylglyoxal (MGO) produced in high-temperature processed foods and excessive production in the body contributes to intestinal barrier dysfunction. In this study, we investigated the effects of chitooligosaccharides (COSs) of different molecular weights (<1 kDa, 1-3 kDa, 3-5 kDa, 5-10 kDa, and >10 kDa) on MGO-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction. We investigated the effect of COSs on inhibiting intracellular MGO accumulation/MGO-derived AGEs production and regulating the receptor for AGE (RAGE)-mediated downstream protein expression, including proteins related to apoptosis and inflammation, intestinal barrier integrity, and paracellular permeability. Pretreatment with COSs ameliorated MGO-induced increased RAGE protein expression, activation of apoptotic cascade/inflammatory response, loss of intestinal epithelial barrier integrity, and increased paracellular permeability, ameliorating intestinal dysfunction through MGO scavenging. 1-3 kDa COSs most effectively ameliorated MGO-induced intestinal dysfunction. Our results suggest the potential of COSs in improving intestinal health by ameliorating intestinal barrier dysfunction by acting as an MGO scavenger and highlighting the need for the optimization of the molecular weight of COSs to optimize its protective effects.

Determination of the Combined Effects of Asian Herbal Medicine with Calcium and/or Vitamin D Supplements on Bone Mineral Density in Primary Osteoporosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Our review of 52 RCTs from 5 databases suggests a tendency for notable improvement in BMD when combining herbal medicine with supplements (calcium and vitamin D variants) compared to supplement monotherapy in primary osteoporosis. However, caution is needed in interpreting results due to substantial heterogeneity among included studies. PURPOSE: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether herbal medicine (HM) plus supplements such as calcium (Ca) or vitamin D (Vit.D) improves bone mineral density (BMD) compared to supplements alone in primary osteoporosis (OP) patients. METHODS: We searched 5 databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using HMs with supplements (Ca or Vit.D variants) as interventions for primary OP patients published until August 31, 2022. Meta-analysis using BMD score as the primary outcome was performed using RevMan 5.4 version. Risk of bias in the included studies was assessed useing RoB 2.0 tool. RESULTS: In total, 52 RCTs involving 4,889 participants (1,408 men, 3,481 women) were included, with average BMD scores of 0.690 ± 0.095 g/cm2 (lumbar) and 0.625 ± 0.090 g/cm2 (femoral neck). As a result of performing meta-analysis using BMD scores for all 52 RCTs included in this review, combination of HMs with Ca and Vit.D variants improved the BMD score by 0.08 g/cm2 (lumbar, 38 RCTs, 95% CI: 0.06-0.10, p < 0.001, I2 = 97%) and 0.06 g/cm2 (femoral neck, 19 RCTs, 95% CI: 0.04-0.08, p < 0.001, I2 = 92%)compared to controls. However, statistical significance of the lumbar BMD improvement disappeared after adjusting for potential publication bias. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that combining of HM and supplements tends to be more effective in improving BMD in primary OP than supplements alone. However, caution is needed in interpretation due to the reporting bias and high heterogeneity among studies, and well-designed RCTs are required in the future.

Comparative study on Perfluoro(2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic) acid removal by quaternary ammonium functionalized silica gel and granular activated carbon from batch and column experiments and molecular simulation-based interpretation.

Removing perfluoro(2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic) acid (HFPO-DA) in water treatment is hindered by its hydrophobicity and negative charge. Two adsorbents, quaternary-ammonium-functionalized silica gel (Qgel), specifically designed for anionic hydrophobic compounds, and conventional granular activated carbon (GAC) were investigated for HFPO-DA removal. ANOVA results (p â‰ª 0.001) revealed significant effects on initial concentration, contact time, and adsorbent type. Langmuir model-derived capacities were 285.019 and 144.461 mg/g for Qgel and GAC, respectively, with Qgel exhibiting higher capacity irrespective of pH. In column experiments, selective removal of HFPO-DA removal with Qgel was observed; specifically, in the presence of NaCl, the breakthrough time was extended by 10 h from 26 to 36 h. Meanwhile, the addition of NaCl decreased the breakthrough time from 32 to 14 h for GAC. However, in the presence of carbamazepine, neither of the adsorbents significantly changed the breakthrough time for HFPO-DA. Molecular simulations were also used to compare the adsorption energies and determine the preferential interactions of HFPO-DA and salts or other chemicals with Qgel and GAC. Molecular simulations compared adsorption energies, revealing preferential interactions with Qgel and GAC. Notably, HFPO-DA adsorption energy on GAC surpassed other ions during coexistence. Specifically, with Cl- concentrations from 1 to 10 times, Qgel showed lower adsorption energy for HFPO-DA (-62.50 ± 5.44 eV) than Cl- (-52.89 ± 2.59 eV), a significant difference (p = 0.036). Conversely, GAC exhibited comparable or higher adsorption energy for HFPO-DA (-18.33 ± 40.38 eV) than Cl- (-32.36 ± 29.89 eV), with no significant difference (p = 0.175). This suggests heightened selectivity of Qgel for HFPO-DA removal compared to GAC. Consequently, our study positions Qgel as a promising alternative for effective HFPO-DA removal, contributing uniquely to the field. Additionally, our exploration of molecular simulations in predicting micropollutant removal adds novelty to our study.

Dieckol, Derived from the Edible Brown Algae Ecklonia cava, Attenuates Methylglyoxal-Associated Diabetic Nephropathy by Suppressing AGE-RAGE Interaction.

The formation of advanced glycation end products (AGE) is linked to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this work was to assess the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanism of action of dieckol (DK), isolated from Ecklonia cava, on renal damage induced by methylglyoxal (MGO) in mouse glomerular mesangial cells. The antiglycation properties of DK were evaluated using ELISA. We conducted molecular docking, immunofluorescence analysis, and Western blotting to confirm the mechanism by which DK prevents AGE-related diabetic nephropathy. DK treatment exhibited antiglycation properties through the inhibition of AGE production, inhibition of cross-linking between AGE and collagen, and breaking of its cross-linking. DK pretreatment exhibited protective effects on renal cells by suppressing MGO-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, intracellular MGO and AGE accumulation, activation of the apoptosis cascade and apoptosis-related protein expression, activation of receptor for AGE (RAGE) protein expression, and suppression of the glyoxalase system. Furthermore, DK exhibited a stronger binding affinity for RAGE than AGE, which was confirmed as exerting a competitive inhibitory effect on the AGE-RAGE interaction. These results demonstrated that DK is a potential natural AGE inhibitor that can be utilized to prevent and treat AGE-induced diabetic nephropathy.

No evidence of delay in colorectal cancer diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in Gwangju and Jeonnam, Korea

Objectives: We evaluated whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused delays in the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Korea, where there have been no regional or hospital lockdowns during the pandemic period. Methods: Data on CRC patients (n=1,445) diagnosed in Gwangju Metropolitan City and Jeonnam Province between January 2019 and December 2021 were assessed. The stage at the time of CRC diagnosis, route to diagnosis, time to initial cancer treatment, and length of hospital admission were compared before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Logistic regression was also performed to identify factors associated with the risk for diagnosis in an advanced stage. Results: No negative effects indicating a higher CRC stage at diagnosis or delayed treatment during the pandemic were observed. Instead, the risk for an advanced stage at diagnosis (TNM stage III/IV) decreased in CRC patients diagnosed during the pandemic (odds ratio, 0.768; 95% confidence interval, 0.647 to 0.911). No significant differences in the interval from diagnosis to operation or chemotherapy were observed. Conclusion: No negative effects on CRC diagnosis and treatment were found until the end of 2021, which may be related to the small magnitude of the COVID-19 epidemic, the absence of a lockdown policy in Korea, and the rebound in the number of diagnostic colonoscopy procedures in 2021.

Treatment outcomes and prognostic factors in oral tongue cancer: a 20-year retrospective study at the National Cancer Center, South Korea.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the treatment outcomes and to evaluate the clinicopathological prognostic factors of oral tongue cancer. Patients and. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed treatment results and prognostic factors in 205 patients with oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma who were admitted to the National Cancer Center, South Korea, between January 2001 and December 2020. The patients were treated with surgery and postoperative, definitive radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Results: Eighteen patients (8.8%) were treated with curative RT or CRT, while the rest (91.2%) were treated with surgery with or without postoperative RT or CRT. The median follow-up period was 30 months (range, 0-234 months). The 5-year overall survival (OS) and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) were 72% and 63%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that a positive neck nodal status (N1, N2-3) was significantly associated with poorer 5-year OS and DFS, while perineural invasion was associated with poorer 5-year DFS. Conclusion: Cervical metastasis and perineural invasion are significant prognostic predictors, and combination treatments are necessary for improving OS and DFS in patients with these factors.

Therapeutic Potential of Phlorotannin-Rich Ecklonia cava Extract on Methylglyoxal-Induced Diabetic Nephropathy in In Vitro Model.

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) play a vital role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Methylglyoxal (MGO), one of the major precursors of AGEs, is a highly reactive dicarbonyl compound that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. This study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of phlorotannin-rich Ecklonia cava extract (ECE) on MGO-induced diabetic nephropathy in in vitro models using mouse glomerular mesangial cells. ECE showed anti-glycation activity via breaking of AGEs-collagen cross-links and inhibition of AGEs formation and AGE-collagen cross-linking formation. The renoprotective effects were determined by assessing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and MGO accumulation, cell apoptosis, and the Nrf-2/ARE signaling pathway. MGO-induced renal damage, intracellular ROS production level, and MGO-protein adduct accumulation were significantly decreased by pretreating ECE. Moreover, ECE pretreatment exhibited preventive properties against MGO-induced dicarbonyl stress via activation of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway and reduction of RAGE protein expression in mouse glomerular mesangial cells. Collectively, these results indicated potential anti-glycation properties and prominent preventive effects of ECE against MGO-induced renal damage. Additionally, ECE may be utilized for the management of AGE-related diabetic nephropathy.

Revisiting Thin-Layer Electrochemistry in a Chip-Type Cell for the Study of Electro-organic Reactions.

It is important but challenging to elucidate the electrochemical reaction mechanisms of organic compounds using electroanalytical methods. Particularly, a rapid and straightforward method that provides information on reaction intermediates or other key electrochemical parameters may be useful. In this work, we exploited the advantages of classic thin-layer electrochemistry to develop a thin-layer electroanalysis microchip (TEAM). The TEAM provided better-resolved voltammetric peaks than under semi-infinite diffusion conditions owing to its small height. Importantly, rapid and accurate determination of the number of electrons transferred, n, was enabled by mechanically confining the microliter-scale volume analyte at the electrode, while securing ionic conduction using polyelectrolyte gels. The performance of the TEAM was validated using voltammetry and coulometry of standard redox couples. Utilizing the TEAM, a (spectro)electrochemical analysis of FM 1-43, an organic dye widely used in neuroscience, was successfully performed. Moreover, the TEAM was applied to study the electrochemical oxidation mechanism of pivanilides and alkyltrifluoroborate salts with different substituents and solvents. This work suggests that TEAM is a promising tool to provide invaluable mechanistic information and promote the rational design of electrosynthetic strategies.

Ishige okamurae Ameliorates Methylglyoxal-Induced Nephrotoxicity via Reducing Oxidative Stress, RAGE Protein Expression, and Modulating MAPK, Nrf2/ARE Signaling Pathway in Mouse Glomerular Mesangial Cells.

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) such as methylglyoxal (MGO) play a vital role in the pathogenesis of nephropathy, a diabetic complication. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-glycation and renal protective properties of Ishige okamurae extract (IOE) against AGE-induced oxidative stress. HPLC analysis confirmed that bioactive phlorotannins such as diphlorethohydroxycarmalol and ishophloroglucin A are predominantly present in IOE. IOE showed strong anti-glycation activities via inhibition of AGE formation, inhibition of AGE-protein cross-linking, and breaking of AGE-protein cross-links. In addition, in vitro studies using mesangial cells demonstrated that IOE effectively suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species production, intracellular MGO accumulation, and apoptotic cell death by MGO-induced oxidative stress, in addition to regulating the expression of proteins involved in the receptor for AGEs and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response elements (ARE) signaling pathways. Therefore, IOE can serve as a natural therapeutic agent for the management of AGE-related nephropathy.

Evaluation of the Relationship Between Bioactive Components in Seaweeds and Advanced Glycation End-Products Inhibitory Activities Using Principal Component Analysis.

This study comprehensively presents the relationship between the bioactive substance of 70% (v/v) aqueous ethanol extract of 38 species of seaweeds (SWEs), and anti-glycation activities. The contents of bioactive substance of SWEs, such as total phenolic, total flavonoid and condensed tannins, were determined through a colorimetric analysis. Among the tested species, Ecklonia bicyclis, Ishige foliacea, and Cladophora urightiana var. minor had the highest amount of total phenolic (255.75 mg GAE/g DW), total condensed tannins (63.36 mg CE/g DW), and total flavonoid content (85.26 mg CE/g DW), respectively. Anti-glycation properties of SWEs were evaluated through advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) formation, AGEs-collagen cross-link formation, and AGEs-collagen cross-link breaking assay. Brown algae species exhibited a more prominent inhibitory activity on AGEs formation and AGEs-collagen cross-links, and the breaking of AGEs-collagen cross-links compared to that exhibited by aminoguanidine and ALT-711 (positive controls). Using principal component analysis, we confirmed that the AGEs formation inhibitory property and AGEs-collagen cross-links breaking activity were closely correlated with total phenolic and the condensed tannin contents contained in SWEs. Therefore, the bioactive substances such as phenolics and condensed tannins in seaweeds can be used as predictive indices in selecting compounds for the development of a therapeutic agent that prevents diabetic complications related to the AGEs. In addition, our results suggest that brown algae species, which contains more bioactive substances than green and red algae species, can be utilized as a promising natural resource for the prevention and alleviation of AGEs-related diabetic complications as AGE inhibitor and cross-links breaker.

Antioxidant Effects of Turmeric Leaf Extract against Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Stress In Vitro in Vero Cells and In Vivo in Zebrafish.

Oxidative stress, caused by the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), results in cellular damage. Therefore, functional materials with antioxidant properties are necessary to maintain redox balance. Turmeric leaves (Curcuma longa L. leaves; TL) are known to have antioxidant properties, including 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-Azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) radical scavenging activity in several studies. The antioxidant effects of TL come from distinct bioactive compounds, such as curcumin, total phenolic compounds, and flavonoids. Therefore, in this study, the antioxidant effects of a water extract of TL (TLE) against H2O2 treatment were assessed in vitro Vero cells and in vivo zebrafish models. The intracellular ROS generation and the proportion of sub-G1 phase cells were evaluated in H2O2- or/and TLE-treated Vero cells to measure the antioxidant activity of TLE. TLE showed outstanding intracellular ROS scavenging activity and significantly decreased the proportion of cells in the sub-G1 phase in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, cell death, ROS generation, and lipid peroxidation in the H2O2-treated zebrafish model were attenuated as a consequence of TLE treatment. Collectively, the results from this study suggested that TLE may be an alternative material to relieve ROS generation through its antioxidant properties or a suitable material for the application in a functional food industry.

Skinlike Disposable Tattoo on Elastic Rubber Adhesive with Silver Particles Penetrated Electrode for Multipurpose Applications.

We propose a silver precursor with in situ reduction under an adhesive substrate with a silver precursor penetration effect. It shows a high durability under mechanical deformation resulting from the composite form of the Ag-penetrated electrode adhesive. This stretchable electrode in which the silver particles are tightly penetrated into the adhesive with a confining effect can be used for various purposes since it offers water-proof properties and a high mechanical stability up to 70% strain, radius of curvature 0.5 mm ( R/ R0< 1.5), and electrical resistance of 0.58 ± 0.063 kΩ â–¡-1 by adhering to the multipurpose application.

Difference of stage at cancer diagnosis by socioeconomic status for four target cancers of the National Cancer Screening Program in Korea: Results from the Gwangju and Jeonnam cancer registries.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether stage at cancer diagnosis differed according to patient economic status. METHODS: A total of 10,528 patients with cancer of the stomach, colorectum, breast, or cervix, which are target organs of the Korean National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP; fully implemented in 2005) were extracted from population-based cancer registries. The patients were classified into four groups based on socioeconomic status (SES), as determined using their National Health Insurance (NHI) monthly premium at the time of cancer diagnosis. Cancer stage at diagnosis was defined as early (in situ/local) or late stage (regional/distant) based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) summary stage. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the risk of non-local stage using age, residential area, and community deprivation index as covariates. RESULTS: The lowest SES subjects showed significantly higher risks of being diagnosed at a later stage for stomach, colorectal, and female breast cancer, but not for cervical cancer, compared with the highest SES subjects. The estimated ORs were 1.28 (95% CI, 1.10-1.49), 1.29 (95% CI, 1.03-1.61), and 1.35 (95% CI, 1.02-1.81) in the lowest SES subjects with stomach, colorectal, and breast cancer, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, later stage diagnoses of stomach, colon, and female breast cancer are still associated with SES in Korea in the era of the NCSP for the lower SES population.

Study on ion conductivity and crystallinity of composite polymer electrolytes based on poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(acrylonitrile) containing nano-sized Al2O3 fillers.

In this paper, composite polymer electrolytes were prepared by a blend of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) as a polymer matrix, ethylene carbonate as a plasticizer, LiClO4 as a salt, and by containing a different content of nano-sized Al2O3. The composite films were prepared by using the solution casting method. The crystallinity and ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolytes was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and AC impedance method, respectively. The morphology of composite polymer electrolyte film was analyzed by SEM method. From the experimental results, by increasing the Al2O3 content, the crystallinity of PEO was reduced, and the ionic conductivity was increased. In particular, by a doping of 15 wt.% Al2O3 in PEO/PAN polymer blend, the CPEs showed the superior ionic conductivity. However, when Al2O3 content exceeds 15 wt.%, the ionic conductivity was decreased. From the surface morphology, it was concluded that the ionic conductivity was decreased because the CPEs showed a heterogenous morphology due to immiscibility or aggregation of the ceramic filler within the polymer matrix.