Comparative Ocular Pharmacokinetics of Dexamethasone Implants in Rabbits.

Dexamethasone eye implant has been used to treat macular edema and non-infectious uveitis. To date, its ocular pharmacokinetics are not fully characterized, and the development of generic preparations is in progress, as the patent of the original brand expires soon. Therefore, this work was designed to 1) determine the time course of vitreous dexamethasone concentrations following intravitreal implantation in rabbits and 2) explore the alternative use of NDF-SI01 from a pharmacokinetic point of view compared to Ozurdex, which is currentlyused in the market.

In Vivo Evaluation of Ga-Labeled NOTA-EGFRvIII Aptamer in EGFRvIII-Positive Glioblastoma Xenografted Model.

EGFRvIII is expressed only in tumor cells and strongly in glioblastoma and is considered a promising target in cancer diagnosis and therapy. Aptamers are synthetic single-stranded oligonucleotides that bind to biochemical target molecules with high binding affinity and specificity. This study examined the potential of the Ga-NOTA-EGFRvIII aptamer as a nuclear imaging probe for visualizing EGFRvIII-expressing glioblastoma by positron emission tomography (PET).

Pharmacokinetics of collagen dipeptides (Gly-Pro and Pro-Hyp) and tripeptides (Gly-Pro-Hyp) in rats.

Although systemic exposure to peptides, such as Gly-Pro-Hyp, Pro-Hyp, and Gly-Pro, has been reported following administration of collagen hydrolysates from fish scale and porcine skin in vivo, the individual peptide pharmacokinetics remain unknown. We administered the three peptides individually to rats via the intravenous (5 mg/kg) and intragastric (100 mg/kg) routes and then monitored systemic exposure and urinary excretion. The peptides in biological samples were analyzed via liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

The Point-Of-Care Test to Detect Nephrin from Urine in Preeclampsia.

Background: Nephrin is a protein in the glomerular podocyte slit diaphragm; therefore, its presence in urine implies damage to podocytes. This study aimed to determine the usefulness of nephrin as a biomarker in maternal urine to predict preeclampsia (PE).

Methods: This prospective study included pregnant women admitted for delivery at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from March 2019 to May 2020.

Interferometric Imaging, and Beam-Formed Study of a Moving Type-IV Radio Burst with LOFAR.

Unlabelled: Type-IV radio bursts have been studied for over 50 years. However, the specifics of the radio emission mechanisms is still an open question. In order to provide more information about the emission mechanisms, we studied a moving Type-IV radio burst with fine structures (spike group) by using the high-resolution capability of the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) on August 25, 2014.

Bioavailability of xanthorrhizol following oral administration of a supercritical extract of Java turmeric.

Although xanthorrhizol, a sesquiterpenoid oil obtained from the rhizome of Roxb., known as Java turmeric, has many pharmacological effects, its pharmacokinetics remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the pharmacokinetics of xanthorrhizol in mice and rats.

Quantitative determination of ICG-001 in rat plasma using HPLC-MS/MS: A pharmacokinetic study.

Although ICG-001, chemically synthesised from a bicyclic β-turn peptidomimetic template, represents various pharmacological activities, no validated determination methods in biological samples have been reported. This study was designed to establish a quantitative determination method for ICG-001 in rat plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) to validate the analytical method, including stability, and to characterise its pharmacokinetic behaviour in rats. After simple protein precipitation with acetonitrile, ICG-001 was eluted on a reversed-phase column using a mobile phase of water and acetonitrile (3:7 v/v, including 0.

Molecular diagnosis of McArdle disease using whole-exome sequencing.

Whole-exome sequencing (WES) analysis has been used recently as a diagnostic tool for finding molecular defects. In the present study, researchers attempted to analyze molecular defects through WES in a 13-year-old female patient who had not been diagnosed through a conventional genetic approach. DNA was extracted and subjected to WES analysis to identify the genetic defect.

A sensitive analytical method for the determination of SG-SP1 in rat plasma by HPLC-MS/MS and its application to a pharmacokinetic study.

SG-SP1, a newly synthesised gallic acid derivative, blocks histamine release by reducing calcium influx in mast cells and inhibits inflammatory cytokine expression. This derivative has promising anti-allergic potential. Our research was designed to establish a quantitative determination method for SG-SP1 in rat plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), to validate the analytical method including stability and to characterise its pharmacokinetic behaviour in rats.

Nanoelectromechanical modulation of a strongly-coupled plasmonic dimer.

The ability of two nearly-touching plasmonic nanoparticles to squeeze light into a nanometer gap has provided a myriad of fundamental insights into light-matter interaction. In this work, we construct a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) that capitalizes on the unique, singular behavior that arises at sub-nanometer particle-spacings to create an electro-optical modulator. Using in situ electron energy loss spectroscopy in a transmission electron microscope, we map the spectral and spatial changes in the plasmonic modes as they hybridize and evolve from a weak to a strong coupling regime.

Lipopolysaccharide regulates thymic stromal lymphopoietin expression via TLR4/MAPK/Akt/NF-κB-signaling pathways in nasal fibroblasts: differential inhibitory effects of macrolide and corticosteroid.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammatory disease of the sinonasal mucosa. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is associated with T-helper 2 (Th2) response and induced by pathogen, allergen, toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands, and cytokines. Fibroblasts are known to be modulators of wound-healing, from inflammation to tissue remodeling.

TGF-β1 Activates Nasal Fibroblasts through the Induction of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress.

(1) Background: Tissue remodeling and extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation contribute to the development of chronic inflammatory diseases of the upper airway. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is considered to be the key signal for triggering tissue remodeling in pathological conditions. The present study aimed to investigate the role of ER-stress in TGF-β1-stimulated nasal fibroblasts and inferior turbinate organ cultures; (2) Methods: Fibroblasts and organ cultures were pretreated with 4-phenylbutyric acid (PBA) and stimulated with TGF-β1 or thapsigargin (TG).

Dynamic thermal emission control with InAs-based plasmonic metasurfaces.

Thermal emission from objects tends to be spectrally broadband, unpolarized, and temporally invariant. These common notions are now challenged with the emergence of new nanophotonic structures and concepts that afford on-demand, active manipulation of the thermal emission process. This opens a myriad of new applications in chemistry, health care, thermal management, imaging, sensing, and spectroscopy.

Anti-Hermitian photodetector facilitating efficient subwavelength photon sorting.

The ability to split an incident light beam into separate wavelength bands is central to a diverse set of optical applications, including imaging, biosensing, communication, photocatalysis, and photovoltaics. Entirely new opportunities are currently emerging with the recently demonstrated possibility to spectrally split light at a subwavelength scale with optical antennas. Unfortunately, such small structures offer limited spectral control and are hard to exploit in optoelectronic devices.

Thermoplasmonic Ignition of Metal Nanoparticles.

Explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics are energetic materials that can store and quickly release tremendous amounts of chemical energy. Aluminum (Al) is a particularly important fuel in many applications because of its high energy density, which can be released in a highly exothermic oxidation process. The diffusive oxidation mechanism (DOM) and melt-dispersion mechanism (MDM) explain the ways powders of Al nanoparticles (NPs) can burn, but little is known about the possible use of plasmonic resonances in NPs to manipulate photoignition.

Electrical tuning of a quantum plasmonic resonance.

Surface plasmon (SP) excitations in metals facilitate confinement of light into deep-subwavelength volumes and can induce strong light-matter interaction. Generally, the SP resonances supported by noble metal nanostructures are explained well by classical models, at least until the nanostructure size is decreased to a few nanometres, approaching the Fermi wavelength λ of the electrons. Although there is a long history of reports on quantum size effects in the plasmonic response of nanometre-sized metal particles, systematic experimental studies have been hindered by inhomogeneous broadening in ensemble measurements, as well as imperfect control over size, shape, faceting, surface reconstructions, contamination, charging effects and surface roughness in single-particle measurements.

Effect of doxycycline on epithelial-mesenchymal transition the p38/Smad pathway in respiratory epithelial cells.

Purpose: Doxycycline has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, and it also suppresses collagen biosynthesis. This study aimed to confirm the effects and mechanism of doxycycline on transforming growth factor (TGF) beta 1 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cell migration in A549 and primary nasal epithelial cells.

Methods: A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay and phalloidin-fluorescein isothiocyanate staining were used to evaluate cytotoxicity and cellular morphologic changes.

Switching of Photonic Crystal Lasers by Graphene.

Unique features of graphene have motivated the development of graphene-integrated photonic devices. In particular, the electrical tunability of graphene loss enables high-speed modulation of light and tuning of cavity resonances in graphene-integrated waveguides and cavities. However, efficient control of light emission such as lasing, using graphene, remains a challenge.

Diesel Exhaust Particles Enhance MUC4 Expression in NCI-H292 Cells and Nasal Epithelial Cells via the p38/CREB Pathway.

Background: Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs), the major contributors to air pollution, induce inflammatory responses in the nasal epithelium. Overproduction of airway mucins is an important pathogenic finding in inflammatory airway diseases.

Objective: The aims of the present study were to determine the effect of DEPs on the expression of the mucin gene MUC4 and to investigate the underlying mechanism of DEP-induced MUC4 expression in NCI-H292 cells and primary nasal epithelial cells (PNECs).

Baicalin Down-Regulates IL-1β-Stimulated Extracellular Matrix Production in Nasal Fibroblasts.

Purpose: Baicalin, a Chinese herbal medicine, has anti-fibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects. The aims of present study were to investigate the effects of baicalin on the myofibroblast differentiation, extracellular matrix production, migration, and collagen contraction of interleukin (IL)-1β-stimulated nasal fibroblasts and to determine the molecular mechanism of baicalin in nasal fibroblasts.

Methods: Nasal fibroblasts were isolated from the inferior turbinate of patients.

Dynamic Reflection Phase and Polarization Control in Metasurfaces.

Optical metasurfaces are two-dimensional optical elements composed of dense arrays of subwavelength optical antennas and afford on-demand manipulation of the basic properties of light waves. Following the pioneering works on active metasurfaces capable of modulating wave amplitude, there is now a growing interest to dynamically control other fundamental properties of light. Here, we present metasurfaces that facilitate electrical tuning of the reflection phase and polarization properties.

Trichostatin A Inhibits Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition Induced by TGF-β1 in Airway Epithelium.

Background And Objectives: Tissue remodeling is believed to cause recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a novel clinical therapeutic target in many chronic airway diseases related with tissue remodeling. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of trichostatin A (TSA) on transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced EMT in airway epithelium and nasal tissue.

Electrically Tunable Epsilon-Near-Zero (ENZ) Metafilm Absorbers.

Enhancing and spectrally controlling light absorption is of great practical and fundamental importance. In optoelectronic devices consisting of layered semiconductors and metals, absorption has traditionally been manipulated with the help of Fabry-Pérot resonances. Even further control over the spectral light absorption properties of thin films has been achieved by patterning them into dense arrays of subwavelength resonant structures to form metafilms.

Antiallergic Effects of Trichostatin A in a Murine Model of Allergic Rhinitis.

Objectives: Trichostatin A (TSA), an inhibitor of histone deacetylase, has been shown to play an important role in attenuating asthmatic inflammation. However, the effect of TSA in allergic rhinitis is not known. The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of TSA on allergic nasal inflammation and on the induction of regulatory T cells in a murine model of allergic rhinitis.