Monolayer, open-mesh, pristine PEDOT:PSS-based conformal brain implants for fully MRI-compatible neural interfaces.

Understanding brain function is essential for advancing our comprehension of human cognition, behavior, and neurological disorders. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) stands out as a powerful tool for exploring brain function, providing detailed insights into its structure and physiology. Combining MRI technology with electrophysiological recording system can enhance the comprehension of brain functionality through synergistic effects.

A multi-channel collagen conduit with aligned Schwann cells and endothelial cells for enhanced neuronal regeneration in spinal cord injury.

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to Wallerian degeneration and the accompanying disruption of vasculature leads to ischemia, which damages motor and sensory function. Therefore, understanding the biological environment during regeneration is essential to promote neuronal regeneration and overcome this phenomenon. The band of Büngner is a structure of an aligned Schwann cell (SC) band that guides axon elongation providing a natural recovery environment.

Co-Administration of Resolvin D1 and Peripheral Nerve-Derived Stem Cell Spheroids as a Therapeutic Strategy in a Rat Model of Spinal Cord Injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI), primarily caused by trauma, leads to permanent and lasting loss of motor, sensory, and autonomic functions. Current therapeutic strategies are focused on mitigating secondary injury, a crucial aspect of SCI pathophysiology. Among these strategies, stem cell therapy has shown considerable therapeutic potential.

Heparin-Based Hydrogel Micropatches with Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells: A Promising Therapeutic Approach for Neuropathic Pain Relief.

This study explores the therapeutic efficacy of heparin-based hydrogel micropatches containing human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) in treating neuropathic pain caused by nerve damage. Our results showed that hASCs exhibited neuroregenerative and pain-relieving effects when used with heparin-based hydrogel micropatches in the neuropathic pain animal model. The use of this combination also produced enhanced cell viability and nerve regeneration.

Multi-modulation of immune-inflammatory response using bioactive molecule-integrated PLGA composite for spinal fusion.

Despite current developments in bone substitute technology for spinal fusion, there is a lack of adequate materials for bone regeneration in clinical applications. Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) is commercially available, but a severe inflammatory response is a known side effect. Bone graft substitutes that enhance osteogenesis without adverse effects are needed.

Concentration-Dependent Efficacy of Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 Using a HA/β-TCP Hydrogel Carrier in a Mini-Pig Vertebral Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion Model.

Bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) is used in the treatment of degenerative spinal disease and vertebral fractures, spine fusion, dental surgery, and facial surgery. However, high doses are associated with side effects such as inflammation and osteophytes. In this study, we performed spinal fusion surgery on mini-pigs using BMP-2 and a HA/β-TCP hydrogel carrier, and evaluated the degree of fusion and osteophyte growth according to time and dosage.

High-Cost Users of Prescription Drugs: National Health Insurance Data from South Korea.

Importance: In OECD countries, pharmaceutical spending reached around 800 billion USD in 2013, accounting for about 20% of total spending in the retail sector. Pharmaceutical expenditures are steadily increasing in South Korea, necessitating strategies to promote efficiency.

Objective: This study investigated factors associated with high-cost users (HCUs), who account for the majority of outpatient prescriptions in the total South Korean population.

Determinants of Growth in Prescription Drug Spending Using 2010-2019 Health Insurance Claims Data.

Despite policies to manage prescription drug spending and ensure accessibility, prescription drug spending has continued to increase in South Korea. Using nationwide claims data, this study analyzed trends in total pharmaceutical expenditures and pharmaceutical expenditures by drug classification. We conducted a retrospective population-based study using the Korean National Health Insurance claims database from January 2010 through December 2019.

Peripheral Nerve-Derived Stem Cell Spheroids Induce Functional Recovery and Repair after Spinal Cord Injury in Rodents.

Stem cell therapy is one of the most promising candidate treatments for spinal cord injury. Research has shown optimistic results for this therapy, but clinical limitations remain, including poor viability, engraftment, and differentiation. Here, we isolated novel peripheral nerve-derived stem cells (PNSCs) from adult peripheral nerves with similar characteristics to neural-crest stem cells.

Mediating Effects of Anger Expression in the Relationship of Work Stress with Burnout among Hospital Nurses Depending on Career Experience.

Objectives: This study examined the mediating effects of anger expression in the relationship between work stress and burnout among nurses with more than or less than 3 years of career experience.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 454 nurses working at three university hospitals in South Korea. Nurses completed a survey consisting of demographic questions, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the Work Stress Scale, and the Korean version of the Anger Expression Inventory.

Sequentially induced motor neurons from human fibroblasts facilitate locomotor recovery in a rodent spinal cord injury model.

Generation of autologous human motor neurons holds great promise for cell replacement therapy to treat spinal cord injury (SCI). Direct conversion allows generation of target cells from somatic cells, however, current protocols are not practicable for therapeutic purposes since converted cells are post-mitotic that are not scalable. Therefore, therapeutic effects of directly converted neurons have not been elucidated yet.

Acute and 13-week subchronic toxicity studies of hot-water extract of Radix in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Radix (CWR) is a herbal medicinal plant that is well-known and used in Asian countries as a health food. In this study, acute and 13-week subchronic oral toxicity studies of hot-water extract of CWR (CWR-WE) were performed in Sprague-Dawley rats. For the acute toxicity study, CWR-WE was administered once orally to five male and five female rats at doses of 800, 2000, and 5000 mg/kg.

Effect of the type of electrical stimulation on spinal fusion in a rat posterolateral spinal fusion model.

Background Context: Posterolateral fusion (PLF) with autogenous iliac bone graft is one of the most common surgical procedures for lumbar spinal disease. However, its limited success demands new biologically competent graft enhancers or substitutes. Although the use of direct current (DC) electrical stimulation has been shown to increase rate of successful spinal fusions, little is known about the effect of the type of current in DC stimulation.

Subchronic toxicity of Acorus gramineus rhizoma in rats.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Acorus gramineus rhizoma (AGR) is the dry rhizome of Acorus gramineus Solander from the family Araceae that has been used as sedative, analgesic, diuretic, digestive and antifungal agent.

Aim Of The Study: To evaluate the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) and the toxicity of AGR, following repeated oral administration to rats for 13 weeks.

Materials And Methods: AGR was administered by oral gavage to groups of rats (10 per group, each sex) at doses of 0 (control), 25, 74, 222, 667, or 2,000mg/kg/day, 5 times per week for 13 weeks.

Acute and 28-Day Subacute Toxicity Studies of Hexane Extracts of the Roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

Lithospermum erythrorhizon has long been used as a traditional oriental medicine. In this study, the acute and 28-day subacute oral dose toxicity studies of hexane extracts of the roots of L. erythrorhizon (LEH) were performed in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Hypoxia-specific, VEGF-expressing neural stem cell therapy for safe and effective treatment of neuropathic pain.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic cytokine that stimulates the differentiation and function of vascular endothelial cells. VEGF has been implicated in improving nervous system function after injury. However, uncontrolled overexpression of VEGF increases the risk of tumor formation at the site of gene delivery.

Experimental Evaluation of Percutaneous Lumbar Laser Disc Decompression Using a 1414 nm Nd:YAG Laser.

Background: Laser ablation under an epiduroscopic view allows for the vaporization of a small amount of the nucleus pulposus, causing a reduction in intradiscal pressure and relief of radicular pain. Currently, Ho:YAG and Nd:YAG lasers are commonly used for spinal diseases. However, the use of the Nd:YAG laser for intra-spinal procedures can be limited because of thermal injury and low efficacy.

Antiapoptotic Effect of Highly Secreted GMCSF From Neuronal Cell-specific GMCSF Overexpressing Neural Stem Cells in Spinal Cord Injury Model.

Study Design: Neuronal cell-specific gene expression system and neural stem cells (NSCs) were combined for treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI).

Objective: To verify the reproducibility of the neuronal cell-specific therapeutic gene overexpression system, we develop a neuronal cell-specific granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor expression system (NSE-GMCSF), and then examine the characteristics of GMCSF overexpression and protective effect on neural cells in vitro and vivo.

Summary Of Background Data: The stem cell transplantation is considered a promising therapy for SCI.

Enhanced Neurite Outgrowth by Intracellular Stimulation.

Electrical stimulation through direct electrical activation has been widely used to recover the function of neurons, primarily through the extracellular application of thin film electrodes. However, studies using extracellular methods show limited ability to reveal correlations between the cells and the electrical stimulation due to interference from external sources such as membrane capacitance and culture medium. Here, we demonstrate long-term intracellular electrical stimulation of undamaged pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells by utilizing a vertical nanowire electrode array (VNEA).

Multifunctional nanoparticles for gene delivery and spinal cord injury.

Methylprednisolone (MP) is a glucocorticoid that is used as an anti-inflammatory agent to the treat spinal cord injury (SCI). A low molecular weight chitosan was used to synthesize chitosan-MP conjugate, which was used to evaluate the gene therapy, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of MP. The cytotoxicity of chitosan-MP nanoparticles and the transfection efficiency of plasmid DNA were evaluated by MTT and luciferase assays.

Vascular endothelial growth factor-expressing neural stem cell for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Previously, we determined that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) improves the survival of neural stem cells (NSCs) transplanted into an ischemic environment and effectively enhances angiogenesis. Here, we applied NSCs expressing VEGF (SV-VEGF-NSCs) to treat neuropathic pain. In this study, our goal was to verify the therapeutic effect of SV-VEGF-NSCs by transplanting the cells in a sciatic nerve injury model.

Sub-acute toxicity study in female ICR mice following repetitive intramuscular injection of cervical cancer vaccines.

Objectives: The sub-acute toxic effects following repetitive intramuscular injection of two cervical cancer vaccines newly developed against human papillomaviruse (HPV)16/58/18 and HPV16 were investigated in female ICR (CrljOri: CD1) mice, and the no-observedadverse- effect-level (NOAEL) of the cervical cancer vaccines was estimated.

Methods: Female ICR mice (n=15 in each group) were exposed to a 1:1 mixture of two cervical cancer vaccines by repetitive intramuscular injection (once a week, 5 times) for 5 weeks. Mortality, body weight, organ weight, hematological/biochemical parameters, and histopathological effects were examined at different concentrations (0, 1×10(8), 5×10(8), and 2.

Subchronic toxicity study of Coptidis rhizoma in rats.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) is a medical herb from the family Ranunculacease that has been used to treat gastroenteritis, dysentery, diabetes mellitus, and severe skin diseases.

Aim Of The Study: To evaluate the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) and the toxicity of CR, following repeat oral administration to rats for 13 weeks.

Materials And Methods: CR was administered by oral gavage to groups of rats (n=10/group, each sex) at dose levels of 0 (control), 25, 74, 222, 667 or 2000 mg/kg/day 5 times per week for 13 weeks.