Exposure of lung fibroblasts to PM and lead (Pb) induces fibrosis and apoptosis in alveolar epithelial cells via a paracrine effect.

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) and heavy metals (HMs) in the air is closely associated with the incidence and exacerbation of pulmonary fibrosis. Although the specific responses of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) and lung fibroblasts to PM or HM exposure have been well defined, the cellular responses of lung fibroblasts to PM or HM exposure and the subsequent interactions with AECs remain poorly investigated. In this study, we demonstrated that human lung fibroblasts exposed to PM or lead (Pb) induced fibrotic changes and apoptosis in AECs.

CXCL11 reprograms M2-biased macrophage polarization to alleviate pulmonary fibrosis in mice.

Background: In understanding the pathophysiology of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), macrophage plasticity has been implicated with a crucial role in the fibrogenic process. Growing evidence indicates that accumulation of M2 macrophages correlates with the progression of PF, suggesting that targeted modulation of molecules that influence M2 macrophage polarization could be a promising therapeutic approach for PF. Here, we demonstrated a decisive role of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 11 (CXCL11) in driving M1 macrophage polarization to alleviate PF in the bleomycin-induced murine model.

Comparison of Union Rates Between Autogenous Iliac Crest Bone Graft and Local Bone Graft as Fusion Materials in Lumbar Fusion Surgery: An Evaluation of Up to 3-Level Fusion.

Objective: To compare the radiologic union rates between autogenous iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) and local bone graft in 1- to 3-level lumbar fusion.

Methods: We reviewed 178 consecutive patients who underwent 1- to 3-level lumbar fusion surgery because of lumbar spinal stenosis. Fusion status of the anterior or posterior column was evaluated by plain radiographs obtained at 24 months postoperatively.

Impaired Osteogenesis of Disease-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from a CFC Syndrome Patient.

Cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) syndrome is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. However, little is known about how aberrant ERK signaling is associated with the defective bone development manifested in most CFC syndrome patients. In this study, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were generated from dermal fibroblasts of a CFC syndrome patient having rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma kinase B (BRAF) gain-of-function mutation.

Long-term consumption of sugar-sweetened beverage during the growth period promotes social aggression in adult mice with proinflammatory responses in the brain.

Overconsumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is known to be a key contributor to the obesity epidemic; however, its effects on behavioral changes are yet to be fully studied. In the present study, we examined the long-term effects of SSB on social aggression in mice. Three-week-old weaned mice started to drink either a 30 w/v% sucrose solution (S30), plain water (CT), or an aspartame solution with sweetness equivalent to the sucrose solution (A30) and continued to drink until they were 11-week-old adults.

A self-aligning knee joint for walking assistance devices.

This paper presents a novel self-aligning knee mechanism for walking assistance devices for the elderly to provide physical gait assistance. Self-aligning knee joints can assist in flexion/extension motions of the knee joint and compensate the knee's transitional movements in the sagittal plane. In order to compensate the center of rotation, which moves with the flexion/extension motion of the human knee joint, a self-aligning knee joint is proposed that adds redundant degrees of freedom (i.

NPCARE: database of natural products and fractional extracts for cancer regulation.

Background: Natural products have increasingly attracted much attention as a valuable resource for the development of anticancer medicines due to the structural novelty and good bioavailability. This necessitates a comprehensive database for the natural products and the fractional extracts whose anticancer activities have been verified.

Description: NPCARE (http://silver.

Comparative Study of Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty for Femur Neck Fractures Treated with Cemented versus Cementless Stem.

Purpose: To compare and analyze clinical and radiologic outcomes of cemented versus cementless bipolar hemiarthroplasty for treatment of femur neck fractures.

Materials And Methods: A total of 180 patients aged 65 years and over older who underwent bipolar hemiarthroplasty for treatment of displaced femur neck fractures (Garden stage III, IV) from March 2009 to February 2014 were included in this study. Among the 180 patients, 115 were treated with cemented stems and 65 patients with cementless stems.

Congenital heart disease at Laos Children's Hospital: Two year experience.

Background: Management of congenital heart disease (CHD) in developing countries is challenging because of limited access to health-care facilities and socioeconomic limitations. The aim of this study was to describe the recent experience with CHD at Children's Hospital, Vientiane, Laos, the only pediatric referral hospital in the country.

Methods: From July 2013 to November 2015, 1009 echocardiograms were carried out in 797 individuals who visited Children's Hospital, in whom CHD was identified in 213.

Development of Analytical Method and Monitoring of Veterinary Drug Residues in Korean Animal Products.

This study was conducted to determine the residual amount of veterinary drugs such as meloxicam, flunixin, and tulathromycin in animal products (beef, pork, horsemeat, and milk). Veterinary drugs have been widely used in the rearing of livestock to prevent and treat diseases. A total of 152 samples were purchased from markets located in major Korean cities (Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Ulsan and Jeju), including Jeju.

Development of the SAIT single-port surgical access robot--slave arm based on RCM mechanism.

An innovative single-port surgical robot has recently been developed by the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT). The robot can reach various surgical sites inside the abdominal cavity from a single incision on the body. It has two 7-DOF surgical tools, a 3-DOF endoscope, a flexible hyper-redundant 6-DOF guide tube, and a 6-DOF manipulator.

Evaluation of effect of galvanic corrosion between nickel-chromium metal and titanium on ion release and cell toxicity.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate cell toxicity due to ion release caused by galvanic corrosion as a result of contact between base metal and titanium.

Materials And Methods: It was hypothesized that Nickel (Ni)-Chromium (Cr) alloys with different compositions possess different corrosion resistances when contacted with titanium abutment, and therefore in this study, specimens (10×10×1.5 mm) were fabricated using commercial pure titanium and 3 different types of Ni-Cr alloys (T3, Tilite, Bella bond plus) commonly used for metal ceramic restorations.

Intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia in adult patients after Fontan operation.

Background: Atrial tachyarrhythmia is a major late complication in adult Fontan patients. This study examined the clinical features and risk factors of late intra-atrial reentrant tachyarrhythmia (IART) in adult patients after Fontan surgery and the mid-term outcome of Fontan conversion with or without antiarrhythmic surgery in these patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on adult patients who were born before 1994 and survived at least 3 months after a Fontan operation at Seoul National University Children's Hospital.

Enhanced SMAD1 Signaling Contributes to Impairments of Early Development in CFC-iPSCs.

Cardio-facio-cutaneous (CFC) syndrome is a developmental disorder caused by constitutively active ERK signaling manifesting mainly from BRAF mutations. Little is known about the role of elevated ERK signaling in CFC syndrome during early development. Here, we show that both SMAD1 and ERK signaling pathways may contribute to the developmental defects in CFC syndrome.

Comparison of the ceiling effect in the Lysholm score and the IKDC subjective score for assessing functional outcome after ACL reconstruction.

Background: To compare the ceiling effect of the Lysholm and IKDC subjective scores for assessing functional outcome after ACL reconstruction and evaluated the correlation with the one-leg hop test.

Methods: A total of 134 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction between 2007 and 2011 were enrolled in this study. All patients fulfilled the postoperative 6- and 12-month evaluations.

A case of progressive ductal constriction in a fetus.

The ductus arteriosus is a normal and essential structure in fetal circulation. Since the introduction of fetal echocardiography, there have been reports of ductal constriction, many of which were related to maternal use of some medications. However, there have been some reports of idiopathic ductal constriction, which usually present in later gestation.

The mental health and quality of life of adult patients with congenital heart disease.

Background: The quality of life (QoL) of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) has gained significant interest. In addition to medical problems, many patients with CHD face psychosocial, educational, and behavioral challenges. However, few studies have examined the relationship between disease severity and QoL in adults with CHD.

Airway compression in children with congenital heart disease evaluated using computed tomography.

Background: Extrinsic airway compression often complicates the course of congenital heart disease (CHD) repair. This study investigated the risk factors and outcome of airway compression evaluated using computed tomography (CT) in CHD patients.

Methods: Of the 2,729 patients who underwent heart surgery for CHD between 1999 and 2007, airway compression was confirmed using CT in 58 (2.