Antimicrobial and Antifouling Effects of Petal-Like Nanostructure by Evaporation-Induced Self-Assembly for Personal Protective Equipment.

Although the personal protective equipment (PPE) used by healthcare workers (HCWs) effectively blocks hazardous substances and pathogens, it does not fully rule out the possibility of infection, as pathogens surviving on the fabric surface pose a substantial risk of cross-infection through unintended means. Therefore, PPE materials that exhibit effective biocidal activity while minimizing contamination by viscous body fluids (e.g.

Blood Compatibility of Drug-Inorganic Hybrid in Human Blood: Red Blood Cell Hitchhiking and Soft Protein Corona.

A drug-delivery system consisting of an inorganic host-layered double hydroxide (LDH)-and an anticancer drug-methotrexate (MTX)-was prepared via the intercalation route (MTX-LDH), and its hematocompatibility was investigated. Hemolysis, a red blood cell counting assay, and optical microscopy revealed that the MTX-LDH had no harmful toxic effect on blood cells. Both scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy exhibited that the MTX-LDH particles softly landed on the concave part inred blood cells without serious morphological changes of the cells.

Hyaluronic acid-coated gold nanoparticles as a controlled drug delivery system for poorly water-soluble drugs.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural linear polysaccharide which has been widely used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals including drug delivery systems because of its excellent biocompatibility. In this study, we investigated the one-pot synthesis of HA-coated gold nanoparticles (AuNP-HA) as a drug delivery carrier. The HAs with different molecular weights were produced by e-beam irradiation and employed as coating materials for AuNPs.

Photochemical Consideration in the Interactions between Blood Proteins and Layered Inorganic Materials.

Interactions between layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanomaterials and plasma proteins according to their particle size and surface charge were evaluated. The LDHs with different particle size (150, 350 and 2000 nm) were prepared by adjusting hydrothermal treatment and urea hydrolysis and subsequent organic coating with citrate, malite and serite was applied to control the surface charge (ζ-potential: -15, 6 and 36 mV). Adsorption isotherms and Stern-Volmer plots for fluorescence quenching indicated that the human blood plasma had weak interactions toward all the types of LDHs.

Physicochemical Properties and Hematocompatibility of Layered Double Hydroxide-Based Anticancer Drug Methotrexate Delivery System.

A layered double hydroxide (LDH)-based anticancer delivery system was investigated in terms of crystalline phase, particle size, hydrodynamic radius, zeta potential, etc. through in vitro and in vivo study. Size controlled LDH with anticancer drug methotrexate (MTX) incorporation was successfully prepared through step-by-step hydrothermal reaction and ion-exchange reaction.

Determination of the fate and biological responses of food additive silica particles in commercial foods.

Synthetic amorphous silica (SAS) is widely added to commercial foods as an anticaking agent. Concern about the potential application of nanosized silica in foods has increased as nanomaterials are not intended for use as food additives. This study evaluated the particle size distributions and biological responses of food additive SAS.

Food Additive Titanium Dioxide and Its Fate in Commercial Foods.

Titanium dioxide (TiO) is one of the most extensively utilized food additives (E171) in the food industry. Along with nanotechnology development, the concern about the presence of nanostructured particles in E171 TiO and commercial food products is growing. In the present study, the physicochemical properties of commercially available E171 TiO particles, including particle size distribution, were investigated, followed by their cytotoxicity and intestinal transport evaluation.

Endaural Laser-Assisted Single-Stage Inside-Out Cholesteatoma Surgery (LASIC) to Treat Advanced Congenital Cholesteatoma.

Objectives: Investigation of endaural laser-assisted single-stage inside-out cholesteatoma surgery (LASIC) to treat advanced congenital cholesteatoma (ACC) by a modified staging system based on ossicle status.

Study Design: A retrospective case review.

Setting: A university hospital otology referral clinic.

Bilateral Congenital Cholesteatoma.

Objective: To report the first large case series of extremely rare bilateral congenital cholesteatoma (CC).

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting: University hospital otology referral clinic.

Behavioral consequences of children with sleep-disordered breathing after adenotonsillectomy.

Background: Adenotonsillectomy (AT) has been an effective treatment for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children, and several studies described the risk of postoperative weight gain and obesity in children treated with AT. The present study aimed to evaluate behavioral improvements in children with SDB one year after adenotonsillectomy and to investigate an influence of postoperative weight gain on behaviors.

Methods: The study included 170 children aged 5-11 years who underwent adenotonsillectomy for SDB and 150 controls.

Biochemical markers of bone turnover in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Objective: Several studies have suggested a possible relationship between recurrent benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and altered calcium homeostasis in the endolymph of the inner ear. The present study aimed to evaluate the association between Ca2+ and vitamin D status and BPPV occurrence as well as the status of bone biochemical markers in osteoporotic patients who were diagnosed with idiopathic BPPV.

Methods: The study included total 132 patients who were referred to our clinic between August 2008 and October 2013.

Cochleariform Process Abutment on TBCT in Early Congenital Cholesteatoma.

Objectives: To study the influence of the cochleariform process abutment (CPA) of early congenital cholesteatomas (CC) (ECCs) on surgical outcomes.

Study Design: Retrospective case review.

Setting: University hospital otology referral clinic.

Nanomedicine: Interaction of biomimetic apatite colloidal nanoparticles with human blood components.

This contribution investigates the interaction of two types of biomimetic-apatite colloidal nanoparticles (negatively-charged 47nm, and positively-charged 190nm NPs) with blood components, namely red blood cells (RBC) and plasma proteins, with the view to inspect their hemocompatibility. The NPs, preliminarily characterized by XRD, FTIR and DLS, showed low hemolysis ratio (typically lower than 5%) illustrating the high compatibility of such NPs with respect to RBC, even at high concentration (up to 10mg/ml). The presence of glucose as water-soluble matrix for freeze-dried and re-dispersed colloids led to slightly increased hemolysis as compared to glucose-free formulations.

Transcanal CO2 laser-enabled ablation and resection (CLEAR) for intratympanic membrane congenital cholesteatoma.

Objectives: Cholesteatoma in the tympanic membrane is frequently regarded as congenital but there has been no case series review or comparison study with typical pediatric congenital cholesteatoma (CC).

Methods: All pediatric CC cases from 2009 to 2014 were collected, and a total of 10 cases of intratymapnic membrane CC (ICC) out of 429 CC cases were reviewed. They were compared with 14 cases of iatrogenic intratympanic membrane keratin after pediatric CC surgery (IIKC).

Cytotoxicity, Uptake Behaviors, and Oral Absorption of Food Grade Calcium Carbonate Nanomaterials.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in human body and essential for the formation and maintenance of bones and teeth as well as diverse cellular functions. Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) is widely used as a dietary supplement; however, oral absorption efficiency of CaCO₃ is extremely low, which may be overcome by applying nano-sized materials. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of food grade nano CaCO₃ in comparison with that of bulk- or reagent grade nano CaCO₃ in terms of cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, intestinal transport, and oral absorption.

Hearing loss in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density.

Objective: Several studies suggested the possible relationship between decreased bone mineral density (BMD) of the temporal bone and hearing loss, primarily of the sensorineural type. The aim of the present study is to determine the relationship between BMD and hearing loss and to evaluate the systemic Ca(2+) and vitamin D status with relation to hearing sensitivity in the postmenopausal women who were diagnosed with primary osteoporosis.

Methods: The study involved a total of 324 patients who were referred between 2008 and 2013.

The fate of calcium carbonate nanoparticles administered by oral route: absorption and their interaction with biological matrices.

Background: Orally administered particles rapidly interact with biological fluids containing proteins, enzymes, electrolytes, and other biomolecules to eventually form particles covered by a corona, and this corona potentially affects particle uptake, fate, absorption, distribution, and elimination in vivo. This study explored relationships between the biological interactions of calcium carbonate particles and their biokinetics.

Methods: We examined the effects of food grade calcium carbonates of different particle size (nano [N-Cal] and bulk [B-Cal]: specific surface areas of 15.

Psychological screening for the children with habitual snoring.

Objectives: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is the major determinants of habitual snoring in pediatric population. Behavioral hyperactivity and schooling problems have been repeatedly reported in these children, and it may underlie more extensive behavioral disturbances, particularly for the obese children. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the incidence and characteristics of emotional and behavioral problems using outpatient-based psychological screening tools in the children with habitual snoring.

Utility of psychological screening for the diagnosis of pediatric episodic vertigo.

Background/objectives: Childhood episodic vertigo has been reported to be associated with migraine or childhood periodic syndromes such as benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood. There is discrete evidence that unexpected recurrent vertigo is associated with a high level of depression and anxiety in adults. However, only a few studies describe the frequency and characteristics of psychiatric comorbidity in vertiginous children.

Slc26a7 chloride channel activity and localization in mouse Reissner's membrane epithelium.

Several members of the SLC26 gene family have highly-restricted expression patterns in the auditory and vestibular periphery and mutations in mice of at least two of these (SLC26A4 and SLC26A5) lead to deficits in hearing and/or balance. A previous report pointed to SLC26A7 as a candidate gene important for cochlear function. In the present study, inner ears were assayed by immunostaining for Slc26a7 in neonatal and adult mice.

Flexible integration of laser myringotomy and ventilation tube for bilateral Otitis media with effusion: analysis of laser tympanostomy versus ventilation tube.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of laser myringotomy (LM) compared to ventilation tube (VT), and to assess the clinical success criteria of LM-assisted VT insertion as the flexible alternatives avoiding GA for the treatment of bilateral consistent otitis media with effusion (OME).

Methods And Findings: LM under topical anesthesia was followed by VT insertion in cooperative children using Acuspot® 712 CO2 laser micromanipulator attached microscope. Sixty children failed VT and bilateral laser tympanostomy was done (group LL), and 130 children tolerated VT on one side but LM on the other side (group LV).

Histamine regulates mucin expression through H1 receptor in airway epithelial cells.

Conclusion: The data suggest that histamine up-regulates MUC2 gene regulation and mucin production in airway epithelial cells through histamine 1 receptor (H1R). Histamine appears to play an important role in the early phase of mucin regulation, which might be effectively blocked by an H1R antagonist.

Objective: Histamine is an important inflammatory mediator during the early phase of allergic response and antihistamine is known to have an ability to reduce mucus secretion in inflamed airways.

Mouse model of enlarged vestibular aqueducts defines temporal requirement of Slc26a4 expression for hearing acquisition.

Mutations in human SLC26A4 are a common cause of hearing loss associated with enlarged vestibular aqueducts (EVA). SLC26A4 encodes pendrin, an anion-base exchanger expressed in inner ear epithelial cells that secretes HCO3- into endolymph. Studies of Slc26a4-null mice indicate that pendrin is essential for inner ear development, but have not revealed whether pendrin is specifically necessary for homeostasis.

Epithelial cell stretching and luminal acidification lead to a retarded development of stria vascularis and deafness in mice lacking pendrin.

Loss-of-function mutations of SLC26A4/pendrin are among the most prevalent causes of deafness. Deafness and vestibular dysfunction in the corresponding mouse model, Slc26a4(-/-), are associated with an enlargement and acidification of the membranous labyrinth. Here we relate the onset of expression of the HCO(3) (-) transporter pendrin to the luminal pH and to enlargement-associated epithelial cell stretching.

Failure of fluid absorption in the endolymphatic sac initiates cochlear enlargement that leads to deafness in mice lacking pendrin expression.

Mutations of SLC26A4 are among the most prevalent causes of hereditary deafness. Deafness in the corresponding mouse model, Slc26a4(-/-), results from an abnormally enlarged cochlear lumen. The goal of this study was to determine whether the cochlear enlargement originates with defective cochlear fluid transport or with a malfunction of fluid transport in the connected compartments, which are the vestibular labyrinth and the endolymphatic sac.