Astrocytic inhibition of lateral septal neurons promotes diverse stress responses.

Inhibitory neuronal circuits within the lateral septum (LS) play a key role in regulating mood and stress responses. Even though glial cells can modulate these circuits, the impact of astrocytes on LS neural circuits and their functional interactions remains largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that astrocytes exhibit increased intracellular Ca²⁺ levels in response to aversive sensory and social stimuli in both male and female mice.

Pulmonary Atelectasis After Sedation With Propofol vs Propofol-Ketamine for Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Little is known about the impact of different anesthetic agents used for routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sedation on pulmonary function in children.

Objective: To compare the incidence of pulmonary atelectasis after MRI sedation with propofol vs propofol-ketamine.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This double-masked randomized clinical trial screened 117 consecutive pediatric patients aged 3 to 12 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I to II undergoing elective MRI under deep sedation from November 2, 2022, to April 28, 2023, at a tertiary referral center.

Effect of sp/sp carbon ratio and hydrodynamic size on the biodistribution kinetics of nanodiamonds in mice via intravenous injection.

Background: Nanodiamonds (NDs) have gained a rapidly growing interest in biomedical applications; however, little is known regarding their biokinetics owing to difficulties in measurements and limited synthesis/purification technologies. In this study, we investigated the distribution kinetics of detonation-synthesized NDs in mice via intravenous injection to evaluate the parameters that determine the behavior of the particles. We prepared two distinctive NDs that controlled the sp/sp carbon ratio and particle size by coating them with serum proteins.

DeepTESR: A Deep Learning Framework to Predict the Degree of Translational Elongation Short Ramp for Gene Expression Control.

Controlling translational elongation is essential for efficient protein synthesis. Ribosome profiling has revealed that the speed of ribosome movement is correlated with translational efficiency in the translational elongation ramp. In this work, we present a new deep learning model, called DeepTESR, to predict the degree of translational elongation short ramp (TESR) from mRNA sequence.

TLR2 and the NLRP3 inflammasome mediate IL-1β production in -infected dendritic cells.

is an oral pathogen that is frequently observed in the subgingival plaque of periodontitis patients. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is known to be involved in the immunopathology of periodontal diseases and has been implicated in the destruction of bone. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of IL-1β production by in murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs).

Water extract of Artemisia scoparia Waldst. & Kitam suppresses LPS-induced cytokine production and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages and alleviates carrageenan-induced acute inflammation in mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Artemisia scoparia Waldst. & Kitam (A. scoparia) is a perennial herbal plant that is widely used as a folk remedy in Asian countries.

Plasmonic Microgels for Raman-Based Molecular Detection Created by Simultaneous Photoreduction and Photocross-linking.

Molecular detection in complex mixtures is of great importance in biomedical diagnosis, food safety, and environmental monitoring. Although surface-enhanced Raman scattering serves as one of the most promising detection methods, metal surfaces are prone to contamination, making the direct detection of small molecules in mixtures elusive. Metal nanoparticle-loaded hydrogels have been used for the exclusion of large adhesive molecules and direct detection of small molecules.

The carbon ratio as a modulator of and toxicity of the chemically purified detonation-synthesized nanodiamond via the reactive oxygen species generation.

Nanodiamonds have been suggested as biocompatible materials and are suitable for various biomedical applications, but little is known about how to synthesize safer nanodiamonds. Herein, seven different detonation-synthesized nanodiamonds (DNDs) with sequential carbon ratios were assembled by controlling the chemical purification parameters and the role of carbon ratio on the toxicity of DNDs was investigated. Carbon black and nickel oxide nanoparticles were used as reference particles.

Encapsulation of 3D plasmonic nanostructures with ultrathin hydrogel skin for rapid and direct detection of toxic small molecules in complex fluids.

Nanogap-rich 3D plasmonic nanostructures provide enhanced molecular Raman fingerprints in a nondestructive and label-free manner. However, the molecular detection of small target molecules in complex fluids is challenging due to nonspecific protein adsorption, which prevents access of the target molecules. Therefore, the molecular detection for complex mixtures usually requires a tedious and time-consuming pretreatment of samples.

Microfluidic Designing Microgels Containing Highly Concentrated Gold Nanoparticles for SERS Analysis of Complex Fluids.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is one of the most promising methods to detect small molecules for point-of-care analysis as it is rapid, nondestructive, label-free, and applicable for aqueous samples. Here, microgels containing highly concentrated yet evenly dispersed gold nanoparticles are designed to provide SERS substrates that simultaneously achieve contamination-free metal surfaces and high signal enhancement and reproducibility. With capillary microfluidic devices, water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double-emulsion drops are prepared to contain gold nanoparticles and hydrogel precursors in innermost drop.

Infection Contributes to the Development of Pelvic Endometriosis Through Toll-Like Receptor 2.

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disorder, characterized by the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Among several hypotheses, Sampson's theory of retrograde menstruation is still applicable. Recent studies have reported the importance of inflammation among endometrial tissue, the peritoneum, and immune cells.

SERS-Active-Charged Microgels for Size- and Charge-Selective Molecular Analysis of Complex Biological Samples.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) provides a dramatic increase of Raman intensity for molecules adsorbed on nanogap-rich metal nanostructures, serving as a promising tool for molecular analysis. However, surface contamination caused by protein adsorption and low surface concentration of small target molecules reduce the sensitivity, which severely restricts the use of SERS in many applications. Here, charged microgels containing agglomerates of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) are designed using droplet-based microfluidics to provide a reliable SERS substrate with molecular selectivity and high sensitivity.

Nucleotide-Binding Oligomerization Domain 2 Contributes to Limiting Growth of in the Lung of Mice by Regulating Cytokines and Nitric Oxide Production.

is a prominent cause of pulmonary infection in immunosuppressed patients and those with cystic fibrosis. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD) 2 is a cytosolic receptor which senses a bacterial peptidoglycan component, muramyl dipeptide (MDP). Although nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) contributes to protect host against various microbial infections, it is still unclear whether NOD2 is essential to regulate host immune responses against infection.

Droplet-Guiding Superhydrophobic Arrays of Plasmonic Microposts for Molecular Concentration and Detection.

Droplet-guiding superhydrophobic SERS substrates are created by a combinatorial lithographic technique. Photolithography defines the pattern of a micropillar array with a radial density gradient, whereas colloidal lithography features a nanotip array on the top surface of each micropillar. The nanotip array renders the surface superhydrophobic, and the pattern of micropillars endows the radial gradient of the contact angle, enabling the spontaneous droplet migration toward the center of the pattern.

Uniform Microgels Containing Agglomerates of Silver Nanocubes for Molecular Size-Selectivity and High SERS Activity.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a promising technique for molecular analysis as the molecular fingerprints (Raman spectra) are amplified to detectable levels compared with common spectroscopy. Metal nanostructures localize electromagnetic field on their surfaces, which can lead to dramatic increase of Raman intensity of molecules adsorbed. However, the metal surfaces are prone to contamination, thereby requiring pretreatment of samples to remove adhesive molecules.

Nanostructured plasmonic substrates for use as SERS sensors.

Plasmonic nanostructures strongly localize electric fields on their surfaces via the collective oscillations of conducting electrons under stimulation by incident light at a certain wavelength. Molecules adsorbed onto the surfaces of plasmonic structures experience a strongly enhanced electric field due to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), which amplifies the Raman scattering signal obtained from these adsorbed molecules. This phenomenon is referred to as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS).

NLRP3 inflammasome mediates interleukin-1β production in immune cells in response to Acinetobacter baumannii and contributes to pulmonary inflammation in mice.

Acinetobacter baumannii is a multi-drug resistant, Gram-negative bacteria and infection with this organism is one of the major causes of mortality in intensive care units. Inflammasomes are multiprotein oligomers that include caspase-1, and their activation is required for maturation of interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Inflammasome signalling is involved in host defences against various microbial infections, but the precise mechanism by which A.

Two-Dimensional Atomic-Layered Alloy Junctions for High-Performance Wearable Chemical Sensor.

We first report that two-dimensional (2D) metal (NbSe2)-semiconductor (WSe2)-based flexible, wearable, and launderable gas sensors can be prepared through simple one-step chemical vapor deposition of prepatterned WO3 and Nb2O5. Compared to a control device with a Au/WSe2 junction, gas-sensing performance of the 2D NbSe2/WSe2 device was significantly enhanced, which might have resulted from the formation of a NbxW1-xSe2 transition alloy junction lowering the Schottky barrier height. This would make it easier to collect charges of channels induced by molecule adsorption, improving gas response characteristics toward chemical species including NO2 and NH3.

Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of crude N-acetylneuraminic acid isolated from glycomacropeptide of whey.

Helicobacter pylori colonizes the gastric mucosa of about half of the world's population, causing chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. An increasing emergence of antibiotic-resistant H. pylori arouses demand on alternative non-antibiotic-based therapies.

Withaferin A inhibits inflammatory responses induced by Fusobacterium nucleatum and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in macrophages.

Periodontitis is a progressive chronic inflammatory disease and a major cause of tooth loss in humans. As a withanolides, withaferin A (WA) is known to exhibit strong anti‑inflammatory activity. The present study examined whether WA inhibited inflammatory responses in macrophages in response to two representative periodontal pathogens, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans.

Establishment of a mouse model for pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis by intratracheal instillation of polyhexamethyleneguanidine phosphate.

Although several animal models have been developed to study human pulmonary fibrosis, lack of a perfect model has raised the need for various animal models of pulmonary fibrosis. In this study, we evaluated the pulmonary effect of polyhexamethyleneguanidine phosphate instillation into the lungs of mice to determine the potential of these mice as a murine model of pulmonary fibrosis. Intratracheal instillation of polyhexamethyleneguanidine phosphate induced severe lung inflammation manifested by the infiltration of mononuclear cells and neutrophils and increased production of IL-6, TNF-α, CCL2 and CXCL1.

Nod2-mediated recognition of the microbiota is critical for mucosal adjuvant activity of cholera toxin.

Cholera toxin (CT) is a potent adjuvant for inducing mucosal immune responses. However, the mechanism by which CT induces adjuvant activity remains unclear. Here we show that the microbiota is critical for inducing antigen-specific IgG production after intranasal immunization.

Cephalometric configuration of the occlusal plane in patients with anterior open bite.

Introduction: This study was performed to investigate the cephalometric configuration of the occlusal plane in patients with anterior open bite.

Methods: Of 61 subjects with open bite (overbite ≥3.75 mm) who had been recruited consecutively from January 2006 to November 2013 and had no history of orthodontic treatment, 14 cephalometric landmarks indicating the incisal edge or the buccal or mesiobuccal cusp tips of each tooth were used for K-means clustering to classify the occlusal plane configuration.