Gut microbiota composition and metabolite profiling in smokers: a comparative study between emphysema and asymptomatic individuals with therapeutic implications.

Background: Diet has a crucial role in the gut microbiota, and dysbiosis in the gut and lungs has been suggested to be associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We compared the diet, microbiome and metabolome between asymptomatic smokers and those with emphysema.

Methods: We enrolled 10 asymptomatic smokers with preserved lung function and 16 smokers with emphysema with severe airflow limitation.

Fermented Korean Red Ginseng Extract Enriched in Rd and Rg3 Protects against Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease through Regulation of mTORC1.

The fermentation of Korean red ginseng (RG) increases the bioavailability and efficacy of RG, which has a protective role in various diseases. However, the ginsenoside-specific molecular mechanism of the fermented RG with (CRG) has not been elucidated in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A mouse model of NAFLD was induced by a fast-food diet (FFD) and treated with CRG (100 or 300 mg/kg) for the last 8 weeks.

Rapid Cellulose-Mediated Microwave Sintering for High-Conductivity Ag Patterns on Paper.

Cellulose-based paper is essential in everyday life, but it also has further potentials for use in low-cost, printable, disposable, and eco-friendly electronics. Here, a method is developed for the cellulose-mediated microwave sintering of Ag patterns on conventional paper, in which the paper plays a significant role both as a flexible insulating substrate for the conductive Ag pattern and as a lossy dielectric media for rapid microwave heating. The anisotropic dielectric properties of the cellulose fibers mean that a microwave electric field applied parallel to the paper substrate provides sufficient heating to produce Ag patterns with a conductivity 29-38% that of bulk Ag in a short period of time (∼1 s) at 250-300 °C.

Sub-second carbon-nanotube-mediated microwave sintering for high-conductivity silver patterns on plastic substrates.

A method of microwave sintering that is mediated by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been developed to obtain high-conductivity Ag patterns on the top of heat-sensitive plastic substrates within a short time. The Ag patterns are printed on CNTs formed on plastic substrates and rapidly heated to a great extent by the heat transferred from the microwave-heated CNTs. The conductivity of the microwave-sintered Ag patterns reaches ∼39% that of bulk Ag within 1 s without substrate deformation.

Fast scanning of a pulsed terahertz signal using an oscillating optical delay line.

We describe a fast measurement of a pulsed terahertz signal generated by a femtosecond laser and a photoconductive antenna using an oscillating optical delay line. The method to measure the amplitude of the retroreflector in the oscillating optical delay line is proposed and the displacement of the retroreflector is exactly calculated to acquire the optical delay time in the fast scan mode. With the different oscillation frequency and amplitude of the retroreflector, the pulsed terahertz signals are measured and analyzed.

[Ectopic splenic tissue mimicking a retroperitoneal tumor. A case report and literature review].

Ectopic splenic tissue can be found as congenital or acquired condition. It is occasionally symptomatic and very rarely can simulate a neoplastic disease, especially when it locates in the retroperitoneal space. A case of ectopic splenic tissue simulating a retroperitoneal tumor is reported.

[Diagnosis and treatment of primary retroperitoneal extra-organic tumors].

Primary retroperitoneal extra-organ tumors (PRET) are a relatively rare group of diverse neoplasms. They are classified in three main groups according to their histogenesis: PRET from mesodermal origin, from ectodermal origin and from embryonic remnants. Most of PRET are malignant, a the most frequent malignant PRET are soft tissue sarcomas.

[Diagnosis and surgical treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma. A review of the literature and report of two cases].

Adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) are rare and represent only 0.05 to 0.2% of all cancers.