Understanding the Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on Lung Endothelial Cells: Brief Mechanisms Unveiled.

As the world grapples with the coronavirus-19 (COVID) pandemic, more reports are coming in regarding Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in endotheliopathy. It is a vascular condition in which endothelial cell injury or damage inflicts anatomical and functional changes in the endothelium, significantly impacting the physiological process and function. Previously, it was assumed that SARS-CoV-2 infects respiratory epithelial cells via spike glycoproteins present on the surface of the virus.

Short-term buoyant microplastic transport patterns driven by wave evolution, breaking, and orbital motion in coast.

Recently, there has been a notable rise in social and scientific interest regarding microplastic pollution in coasts where waves significantly influence flow patterns and material transport. This study explores typical short-term movement of buoyant microplastics driven by surf zone processes including wave transformation, breaking, and orbital motion. To track microplastics, Lagrangian Particle Tracking Model (PTM) coupled with Eulerian wave-current interaction model appropriate for coastal hydrodynamics was used.

Stem Cell-based therapies for COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome.

As the number of confirmed cases and resulting death toll of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to increase around the globe - especially with the emergence of new mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in addition to the known alpha, beta, gamma, delta and omicron variants - tremendous efforts continue to be dedicated to the development of interventive therapeutics to mitigate infective symptoms or post-viral sequelae in individuals for which vaccines are not accessible, viable or effective in the prevention of illness. Many of these investigations aim to target the associated acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS, which induces damage to lung epithelia and other physiologic systems and is associated with progression in severe cases. Recently, stem cell-based therapies have demonstrated preliminary efficacy against ARDS based on a number of preclinical and preliminary human safety studies, and based on promising outcomes are now being evaluated in phase II clinical trials for ARDS.

TJP1 Contributes to Tumor Progression through Supporting Cell-Cell Aggregation and Communicating with Tumor Microenvironment in Leiomyosarcoma.

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a mesenchymal malignancy with a complex karyotype. Despite accumulated evidence, the factors contributing to the development of LMS are unclear. Here, we investigated the role of tight-junction protein 1 (TJP1), a membrane-associated intercellular barrier protein during the development of LMS and the tumor microenvironment.

Anti-Tumor Effects of Sodium Meta-Arsenite in Glioblastoma Cells with Higher Akt Activities.

Glioblastoma is a type of aggressive brain tumor that grows very fast and evades surrounding normal brain, lead to treatment failure. Glioblastomas are associated with Akt activation due to somatic alterations in PI3 kinase/Akt pathway and/or PTEN tumor suppressor. Sodium meta-arsenite, KML001 is an orally bioavailable, water-soluble, and trivalent arsenical and it shows antitumoral effects in several solid tumor cells via inhibiting oncogenic signaling, including Akt and MAPK.

Lagrangian-like Volume Tracking Paradigm for Mass, Momentum and Energy of Nearshore Tsunamis and Damping Mechanism.

There is a gap between model- or theory-based research outputs, which suggest that the runup and amplification of nonbreaking waves generally increase as the sea bottom slopes decrease, and field observations, which indicate that tsunami damage has been rarely reported in places with vast continental shelfs. To resolve this contradiction, we propose a Lagrangian-like volume tracking paradigm to describe the energy, mass, and momentum of travelling nearshore tsunamis and apply the paradigm to analyse the tsunami damping mechanism at typical geophysical scales. The results support the following conclusions: (i) The suggested paradigm is consistent with field observations; continental shelfs with long and mild slopes can effectively diminish tsunami impacts.

The American cockroach peptide periplanetasin-4 inhibits Clostridium difficile toxin A-induced cell toxicities and inflammatory responses in the mouse gut.

Many reports have shown that crude extracts of the American cockroach have therapeutic effects on inflammation. In a previous study, our research group showed that an antimicrobial peptide (Periplanetasin-2) derived from the American cockroach via de novo transcriptome analysis inhibited apoptosis of human colonocytes and inflammatory responses of the mouse gut caused by Clostridium difficile toxin A. Here, we examined whether Periplanetasin-4 (Peri-4), another antimicrobial peptide identified via de novo transcriptome analysis of the American cockroach, could also inhibit the various toxicities induced by C.

Intense focused ultrasound (IFUS) with a modified parameter on facial tightening: A study on its safety and efficacy.

Background: Intense focused ultrasound (IFUS) is a novel treatment modality for skin laxity. The delivery of thermal energy to the deeper tissue layers effectively tightens the skin but can also cause significant fat atrophy, limiting its use in patients with a lean face.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of modified IFUS on facial rejuvenation.

NQO1-Knockout Mice Are Highly Sensitive to Clostridium Difficile Toxin A-Induced Enteritis.

Clostridium difficile toxin A causes acute gut inflammation in animals and humans. It is known to downregulate the tight junctions between colonic epithelial cells, allowing luminal contents to access body tissues and trigger acute immune responses. However, it is not yet known whether this loss of the barrier function is a critical factor in the progression of toxin A-induced pseudomembranous colitis.

Potassium Acetate Blocks Clostridium difficile Toxin A-Induced Microtubule Disassembly by Directly Inhibiting Histone Deacetylase 6, Thereby Ameliorating Inflammatory Responses in the Gut.

Clostridium difficile toxin A is known to cause deacetylation of tubulin proteins, which blocks microtubule formation and triggers barrier dysfunction in the gut. Based on our previous finding that the Clostridium difficile toxin A-dependent activation of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC-6) is responsible for tubulin deacetylation and subsequent microtubule disassembly, we herein examined the possible effect of potassium acetate (PA; whose acetyl group prevents the binding of tubulin to HDAC-6) as a competitive/false substrate. Our results revealed that PA inhibited toxin A-induced deacetylation of tubulin and recovered toxin A-induced microtubule disassembly.

The Insect Peptide CopA3 Increases Colonic Epithelial Cell Proliferation and Mucosal Barrier Function to Prevent Inflammatory Responses in the Gut.

The epithelial cells of the gut form a physical barrier against the luminal contents. The collapse of this barrier causes inflammation, and its therapeutic restoration can protect the gut against inflammation. EGF enhances mucosal barrier function and increases colonocyte proliferation, thereby ameliorating inflammatory responses in the gut.

Antimicrobial Peptide, Lumbricusin, Ameliorates Motor Dysfunction and Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease.

We recently reported that the antimicrobial peptide Lumbricusin (NH2-RNRRWCIDQQA), isolated from the earthworm, increases cell proliferation in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Here, we investigated whether Lumbricusin has neurotropic activity in mouse neural stem cells (MNSCs) and a protective effect in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD). In MNSCs isolated from mouse brains, Lumbricusin treatment significantly increased cell proliferation (up to 12%) and reduced the protein expression of p27(Kip1) through proteasomal protein degradation but not transcriptional regulation.

Neurotropic and neuroprotective activities of the earthworm peptide Lumbricusin.

We recently isolated a polypeptide from the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris that is structurally similar to defensin, a well-known antibacterial peptide. An 11-mer antibacterial peptide (NH2-RNRRWCIDQQA), designated Lumbricusin, was synthesized based on the amino acid sequence of the isolated polypeptide. Since we previously reported that CopA3, a dung beetle peptide, enhanced neuronal cell proliferation, we here examined whether Lumbricusin exerted neurotropic and/or neuroprotective effects.

Effect of antisera from Clostridium difficile-infected mice on toxin-A-induced colonic epithelial cell death signaling.

Clostridium difficile causes mucosal damage and diarrhea by releasing two exotoxins: toxin A and toxin B. C. difficile colitis is associated with alterations in bowel flora and the failure to mount an effective antibody response.

Role of NADH: quinone oxidoreductase-1 in the tight junctions of colonic epithelial cells.

NADH:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) is known to be involved in the regulation of energy synthesis and metabolism, and the functional studies of NQO1 have largely focused on metabolic disorders. Here, we show for the first time that compared to NQO1-WT mice, NQO1-KO mice exhibited a marked increase of permeability and spontaneous inflammation in the gut. In the DSS-induced colitis model, NQO1-KO mice showed more severe inflammatory responses than NQO1-WT mice.

Investigation of Water Safety in Non-treated Drinking Water with Trace Toxic Metals.

The trace toxic metal copper was assayed using mercury immobilized on a carbon nanotube electrode (MCW), with a graphite counter and a reference electrode. In this study, a macro-scale convection motor was interfaced with a MCW three-electrode system, in which a handmade MCW was optimized using cyclic- and square-wave stripping voltammetry. An analytical electrolyte for tap water was used instead of an expensive acid or base ionic solution.

Insect peptide CopA3-induced protein degradation of p27Kip1 stimulates proliferation and protects neuronal cells from apoptosis.

We recently demonstrated that the antibacterial peptide, CopA3 (a D-type disulfide dimer peptide, LLCIALRKK), inhibits LPS-induced macrophage activation and also has anticancer activity in leukemia cells. Here, we examined whether CopA3 could affect neuronal cell proliferation. We found that CopA3 time-dependently increased cell proliferation by up to 31 ± 2% in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, and up to 29 ± 2% in neural stem cells isolated from neonatal mouse brains.

Cytosine deaminase-expressing human neural stem cells inhibit tumor growth in prostate cancer-bearing mice.

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy among men. Prostate cancer-related deaths are largely attributable to the development of hormone resistance in the tumor. No effective chemotherapy has yet been developed for advanced prostate cancer.

Clostridium difficile toxin A inhibits erythropoietin receptor-mediated colonocyte focal adhesion through inactivation of Janus Kinase-2.

Previously, we demonstrated that the erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) is present on fibroblasts, where it regulates focal contact. Here, we assessed whether this action of EpoR is involved in the reduced cell adhesion observed in colonocytes exposed to Clostridium difficile toxin A. EpoR was present and functionally active in cells of the human colonic epithelial cell line HT29 and epithelial cells of human colon tissues.

The insect peptide CopA3 inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophage activation.

We recently demonstrated that the insect peptide CopA3 (LLCIALRKK), a disulfide-linked dimeric peptide, exerts antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities in a mouse colitis model. Here, we examined whether CopA3 inhibited activation of macrophages by LPS. Exposure of an unseparated mouse peritoneal cell population or isolated peritoneal macrophages to LPS markedly increased secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α; these effects were significantly inhibited by CopA3 treatment.

Nanoscale bit formation in highly (111)-oriented ferroelectric thin films deposited on glass substrates for high-density storage media.

PbTiO(3) (PTO) ferroelectric films on Pt(111) bottom electrode layers covering Ta/glass were prepared using pulsed laser deposition. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that the PTO films were preferentially (111)-oriented. The films were highly crystalline and had a smooth surface with root mean square (RMS) roughness of 1.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of musculoskeletal lesions at 3 T with metabolite quantification.

Purpose: To evaluate whether proton MR spectroscopy (MRS) at 3 T with metabolite quantification is helpful for characterizing musculoskeletal lesions and to reveal whether the concentration of choline is correlated with the pathologic degree of malignancy.

Material And Methods: Three-tesla MR images and proton MRS data from 27 consecutive patients with surgically proven musculoskeletal lesions were retrospectively analyzed. We analyzed the presence of choline peaks of malignant tumors according to the degree of malignancies, and we compared them with those of benign lesions.