Transmembrane proteins with unknown function (TMEMs) as ion channels: electrophysiological properties, structure, and pathophysiological roles.

A transmembrane (TMEM) protein with an unknown function is a type of membrane-spanning protein expressed in the plasma membrane or the membranes of intracellular organelles. Recently, several TMEM proteins have been identified as functional ion channels. The structures and functions of these proteins have been extensively studied over the last two decades, starting with TMEM16A (ANO1).

Employing the sustained-release properties of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles to reveal a novel mechanism of sodium-hydrogen exchanger 1 in neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain is caused by injury or disease of the somatosensory system, and its course is usually chronic. Several studies have been dedicated to investigating neuropathic pain-related targets; however, little attention has been paid to the persistent alterations that these targets, some of which may be crucial to the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain. The present study aimed to identify potential targets that may play a crucial role in neuropathic pain and validate their long-term impact.

Glutamate Permeability of Chicken Best1.

Bestrophin-1 (Best1) is a calcium (Ca)-activated chloride (Cl) channel which has a phylogenetically conserved channel structure with an aperture and neck in the ion-conducting pathway. Mammalian mouse Best1 (mBest1) has been known to have a permeability for large organic anions including gluconate, glutamate, and D-serine, in addition to several small monovalent anions, such as Cl, bromine (Br), iodine (I), and thiocyanate (SCN). However, it is still unclear whether non-mammalian Best1 has a glutamate permeability through the ion-conducting pathway.

Constraining the effectiveness of inherent tracers of captured CO for tracing CO leakage: Demonstration in a controlled release site.

Geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO) is an integral component of cost-effective greenhouse gas emissions reduction scenarios. However, a robust monitoring regime is necessary for public and regulatory assurance that any leakage from a storage site can be detected. Here, we present the results from a controlled CO release experiment undertaken at the K-COSEM test site (South Korea) with the aim of demonstrating the effectiveness of the inherent tracer fingerprints (noble gases, δC) in monitoring CO leakage.

Astrocytes Render Memory Flexible by Releasing D-Serine and Regulating NMDA Receptor Tone in the Hippocampus.

Background: NMDA receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction has been implicated in several psychiatric disorders with impairment of cognitive flexibility. However, the molecular mechanism of how NMDAR hypofunction with decreased NMDAR tone causes the impairment of cognitive flexibility has been minimally understood. Furthermore, it has been unclear whether hippocampal astrocytes regulate NMDAR tone and cognitive flexibility.

Shift of nitrate sources in groundwater due to intensive livestock farming on Jeju Island, South Korea: With emphasis on legacy effects on water management.

Time lags between anthropogenic nitrogen inputs and their impacts to nitrate levels cause a misunderstanding for sources and subsequently misguide the groundwater management.We investigated the hydrochemical data of groundwater samples (n = 172 from 49 wells) with chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)-based groundwater age dating and stable N (δN) and O isotopes (δO) of nitrate to assess the legacy effect of livestock farming to groundwater in an agricultural area where intensive livestock farming started in the 1970s and illegal dumping of manure wastewater in a lava cave was revealed in 2015. Approximately 90% of the groundwater samples had nitrate concentrations exceeding the natural threshold (5.

New Surgical Approach for Secondary Intraocular Lens Implantation Using an Artificial Bag with Optic Capture in Patients with Intraocular Lens Dislocation.

Purpose: We present a newly developed approach to secondary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, which uses an artificial bag with optic capture (i.e., ABC technique) in patients with IOL dislocation.

Relaxin-expressing oncolytic adenovirus induces remodeling of physical and immunological aspects of cold tumor to potentiate PD-1 blockade.

Background: Currently, several antibody (Ab)-based therapies have shown excellent therapeutic effects in the clinic. Nonetheless, Ab penetration into tumor tissues is limited due to abnormal vasculature, tumor interstitial pressure, and excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation, thus demanding novel strategies to overcome these barriers.

Methods: The intratumoral distribution of therapeutic Abs were detected by fluorescence microscopy or positron emission tomography in both human gastric xenograft and syngeneic pancreatic hamster tumor models.

Synthesis and Densification of Nano-Sized W Powders Prepared by Hydrogen Reduction of Ball-Milled WO₃ Powders.

The synthesis and consolidation of nano-sized W powders are attempted with the combination process of hydrogen reduction of ball-milled WO₃ powder and spark plasma sintering. The reduction behavior of WO₃ is analyzed by temperature-programmed reduction. The reaction peaks for reduction of WO₃ are observed in the temperature range of 590-782 °C.

Trastuzumab Induced Chemobrain, Atorvastatin Rescued Chemobrain with Enhanced Anticancer Effect and without Hair Loss-Side Effect.

The authors identified that chemo-brain was induced after trastuzumab (TZB) therapy. In addition, atorvastatin (ATV) could rescue chemo-brain during trastuzumab (TZB) therapy. Enhanced therapeutic effect of TZB was confirmed after ATV therapy.

Role of extracellular matrix and microenvironment in regulation of tumor growth and LAR-mediated invasion in glioblastoma.

The cellular dispersion and therapeutic control of glioblastoma, the most aggressive type of primary brain cancer, depends critically on the migration patterns after surgery and intracellular responses of the individual cancer cells in response to external biochemical cues in the microenvironment. Recent studies have shown that miR-451 regulates downstream molecules including AMPK/CAB39/MARK and mTOR to determine the balance between rapid proliferation and invasion in response to metabolic stress in the harsh tumor microenvironment. Surgical removal of the main tumor is inevitably followed by recurrence of the tumor due to inaccessibility of dispersed tumor cells in normal brain tissue.

The Effect of a Parental Visitation Program on Emergence Delirium Among Postoperative Children in the PACU.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of parental presence on the incidence of emergence delirium (ED) of children in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU).

Design: A quasi-experimental pretest and post-test study with nonequivalent and nonsynchronized control groups.

Methods: About 93 children aged 3 to 6 years undergoing general anesthesia for tonsillectomy were divided into two groups: parental presence and absence.

Stereospecificity of ginsenoside Rg2 epimers in the protective response against UV-B radiation-induced oxidative stress in human epidermal keratinocytes.

Ginseng, referring to the dried roots of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, has been known as a famous traditional folkloric medicine in East Asian countries for a long time.

Strategies of eradicating glioma cells: a multi-scale mathematical model with MiR-451-AMPK-mTOR control.

The cellular dispersion and therapeutic control of glioblastoma, the most aggressive type of primary brain cancer, depends critically on the migration patterns after surgery and intracellular responses of the individual cancer cells in response to external biochemical and biomechanical cues in the microenvironment. Recent studies have shown that a particular microRNA, miR-451, regulates downstream molecules including AMPK and mTOR to determine the balance between rapid proliferation and invasion in response to metabolic stress in the harsh tumor microenvironment. Surgical removal of main tumor is inevitably followed by recurrence of the tumor due to inaccessibility of dispersed tumor cells in normal brain tissue.

Impact of aminophylline on the pharmacodynamics of propofol in beagle dogs.

This study aimed to characterize pharmacodynamic interaction between propofol and aminophylline. Nine beagle dogs were randomly allocated at the propofol rates of 0.75 (group A), 1.