Supra-threshold vibration applied to the foot soles enhances jump height under maximum effort.

Previous studies have shown that absence or reduction of cutaneous sensory feedback can diminish human motor performance under maximum effort. However, it has not been explored whether any appropriate intervention in the cutaneous sensory input can augment the output motor performance, particularly in motor tasks such as jumping that involve the kinematic chain of the entire body. Using shoes with active vibrating insoles, we applied mechanical vibration to the soles of 20 young and healthy adults and evaluated the change in the jump height and muscle activation using within-participants repeated measures.

Long-term population dynamics of viable microbes in a closed ecosystem of fermented vegetables.

This study was performed to investigate the succession of various microorganisms naturally present in raw ingredients and the changes in metabolites following long-term fermentation of kimchi. Kimchi was stored at 4 °C for 500 days, and the composition of the microbial community and the nature of metabolites were analyzed using metataxonomics and metabolomics. We confirmed that the taxa belonging to Leuconostoc and Weissella were dominant in the early stages of fermentation, while Latilactobacillus and Levilactobacillus were dominant in the middle and late fermentation stages, respectively.

Expression of Spermine Oxidase Is Associated with Colorectal Carcinogenesis and Prognosis of Patients.

Uncovering tumor markers of colorectal cancer is important for the early detection and prognosis of the patients. Spermine oxidase (SMOX) is upregulated in various cancers. The present study aims to explore the biologic function and expression patterns of SMOX in colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common type of cancer worldwide.

Maternal Nutrient Restriction Disrupts Gene Expression and Metabolites Associated with Urea Cycle, Steroid Synthesis, Glucose Homeostasis, and Glucuronidation in Fetal Calf Liver.

This study aimed to understand the mechanisms underlying the effects of maternal undernutrition (MUN) on liver growth and metabolism in Japanese Black fetal calves (8.5 months in utero) using an approach that integrates metabolomics and transcriptomics. Dams were fed 60% (low-nutrition; LN) or 120% (high-nutrition; HN) of their overall nutritional requirements during gestation.

The Results of Interfacetal Fusion Using Local Bone Combined With an Atlantoaxial Instrumentation.

Background: Many studies have described different C1-2 fusion techniques that have evolved over time. We introduced an easy and effective C1-2 fusion technique using local bone chips combined with atlantoaxial instrumentation.

Objective: To identify the efficacy of interfacetal fusion using local bone combined with atlantoaxial instrumentation by assessment of clinical outcomes and fusion rate.

Enzymatic structural modification of monogalactosyldiacylglycerols for potential modulation of hydrophile-lipophile balance.

This study aimed to enzymatically prepare structured monogalactosyldiacylglycerols (MGDGs) with different hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) values for use as emulsifiers. Acidolysis of Perilla frutescens-derived MGDGs with capric acid (10:0) was conducted to obtain structured MGDGs containing 10:0. Lewatit VP OC 1600-immobilized Rhizomucor miehei lipase was used as the biocatalyst.

Smad4 and p53 synergize in suppressing autochthonous intestinal cancer.

Background: Smad4 and p53 mutations are the most common mutations in human colorectal cancers (CRCs). We evaluated whether and how they are synergistic in intestinal carcinogenesis using novel autochthonous mouse models.

Method: To recapitulate human CRCs, we generated Villin-Cre;Smad4 ;Trp53 mice.

Programming Solitons in Liquid Crystals Using Surface Chemistry.

AC electric fields cause three-dimensional orientational fluctuations (solitons) to form and rapidly propagate in confined films of liquid crystals (LCs), offering the basis of a new class of active soft matter (e.g., for accelerating mixing and transport processes in microscale chemical systems).

Changes in the liver transcriptome and physiological parameters of Japanese Black steers during the fattening period.

We investigated the physiological changes during the fattening period and production characteristics in Japanese Black steers bred and raised using the typical feeding system in Japan. Here, 21 Japanese Black steers aged 12 months were used, with experimental period divided into early (12-14 months of age), middle (15-22 months), and late fattening phases (23-30 months). The liver transcriptome, blood metabolites, hormones, and rumen fermentation characteristics were analyzed.

Reconstruction of a total defect of the lower eyelid with a temporoparietal fascial flap: a case report.

The reconstruction of total lower eyelid defects is challenging to plastic surgeons due to the complicated anatomical structure of the eyelid. In addition, in the setting of cancer excision, the resection is deep, which requires some volume augmentation. However, in some cases, free tissue transfer is not applicable.

Alterations in blood proteins in the prodromal stage of bipolar II disorders.

Although early intervention may help prevent the progression of bipolar disorder, there are some controversies over early pharmacological intervention. In this study, we recruited 40 subjects in the prodromal stage of BD-II (BP), according to bipolar at-risk state criteria. We compared the expression of their plasma proteins with that of 48 BD-II and 75 healthy control (HC) to identify markers that could be detected in a high-risk state.

Maternal Nutrition During Gestation Alters Histochemical Properties, and mRNA and microRNA Expression in Adipose Tissue of Wagyu Fetuses.

We hypothesized that maternal low or high nutrition would give unique effects to morphological and molecular dynamics in adipose tissue of fetus of fatty breed Wagyu (Japanese Black) cattle which produce highly marbled beef. This study aimed to determine the effects of maternal energy intake in Wagyu cows, during gestation on fetal adipose tissue development, histochemical properties, and gene and microRNA (miRNA) expression. Cows were allocated to one of two nutritional energy groups: 120% (HIGH) or 60% nutritional requirements of (LOW).

Verification of rebuild-up effect on superficial cardiac lesion of ventricular tachycardia using 3-D printed phantom in volumetric-modulated arc therapy planning.

The aim of the study was to evaluate dose distributions on the superficial cardiac lesion surrounded by low-density lungs. Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) technique was applied to optimize the dose distribution using the anisotropic analytic algorithm (AAA) and Acuros XB algorithm (AXB) using the 3-D printed cardiac phantom. We used four full and half arcs with 6-MV and 15-MV photons to investigate the rebuild-up effect near the planning target volume (PTV).

Genetic relationships of feed efficiency and growth traits with carcass traits in Japanese Shorthorn cattle.

In this study, we examined genetic parameters for feed efficiency, growth, and carcass traits in Japanese Shorthorn cattle, based on 714 performance tests and 15,790 field carcass records. Feed efficiency traits, including residual feed intake (RFI) and residual body weight gain (RG), were calculated. Single-trait and two-trait animal models were used to estimate heritability and genetic correlations.

The Potential Hepatoprotective Effect of Paeoniae Radix Alba in Thioacetamide-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Rats.

Aim: Acute liver injury (ALI) can occur for various reasons by induced inflammation and apoptosis of liver cells including hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, and hepatic stellate cells. Thioacetamide (TAA), which is a classic hepatotoxin, causes oxidative stress, membrane damage, and accumulation of lipid droplets and subsequently provokes consecutive liver injury. In the current study, we tested whether Paeoniae Radix Alba (PR) could alleviate TAA-induced ALI.

Cohort profile: InTraUterine sampling in early pregnancy (ITU), a prospective pregnancy cohort study in Finland: study design and baseline characteristics.

Purpose: The InTraUterine sampling in early pregnancy (ITU) is a prospective pregnancy cohort study. The overarching aim of ITU is to unravel genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, endocrine, inflammatory and metabolic maternal-placental-fetal mechanisms involved in the programming of health and disease after exposure to prenatal environmental adversity, such as maternal malnutrition, cardiometabolic disorders, infections, medical interventions, mental disorders and psychosocial stress. This paper describes the study protocol, design and baseline characteristics of the cohort.

Supermicrosurgical lymphatic venous anastomosis for intractable lymphocele after great saphenous vein harvesting graft.

Lymphoceles result from either trauma to the lymphatic vessels or after vein graft harvest, which occurs in 10% to 16% of patients. When a lymphocele persists despite conservative treatment, patients can experience undue distress. We have reported the case of successful treatment using lymphatic venous anastomosis (LVA) of an intractable lymphocele that had been refractory to conservative treatment, including stretch bandaging, drainage, and local injection for 2 years after great saphenous vein harvest.

Fingertip reconstruction with a subcutaneous flap and composite graft composed of nail bed and volar pulp skin.

Background: Fingertip injuries are very common; however, the reconstruction of volar pulp defects with nail bed defects is challenging in the absence of the amputated segment. We reconstructed fingertip amputations with nail bed defects using a new surgical approach: a subcutaneous flap and composite graft.

Methods: We treated 10 fingertip amputation patients without an amputated segment, with exposed distal phalangeal bone and full-thickness nail bed defects between February 2018 and December 2020.

Division of a single free flap in multiple digit reconstruction.

Background: Single free flaps are a commonly used reconstructive method for multiple soft tissue defects in digits. We analyzed the flap size, division timing, and degree of necrosis in cases with various types of flap division.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the medical charts of patients who had undergone single free flap reconstruction for multiple soft tissue defects across their digits from 2011 to 2020.

Therapeutic implications of galectin-3 in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrosis can present as an arrhythmogenic substrate that is correlated with higher recurrence after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. Galectin-3, a beta-galactoside-binding lectin, is highly expressed and secreted from macrophages and is important in inflammation and fibrosis. We assessed the clinical implications of serum galectin-3 in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Does coronavirus disease 2019 affect body mass index of children and adolescents who visited a growth clinic in South Korea?: a single-center study.

Purpose: This study investigated the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on body mass index (BMI) of children and adolescents.

Methods: From May to July 2020, the obesity rate of children and adolescents was compared retrospectively to the corresponding rate in the same period in 2019. The change in height, weight, and BMI of the girls who received a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) for precocious puberty (n=53) and the controls (n=31) who visited a growth clinic for early breast budding but were not treated with GnRHa in the first half of 2020 were compared to the corresponding change in the first half of 2019 using a paired t-test.

Clinical cases of zoonotic (subtype IIdA15G1) infections in Korean goats.

is an enteric protozoan, which causes severe diarrhoea in a wide range of vertebrate hosts including ruminants and humans. infections are responsible for immense economic losses to the livestock industry; furthermore, the zoonotic spread of the infection may lead to mortality in immunosuppressed humans. In the present study, we report two cases of severe cryptosporidiosis in goat kids in the Republic of Korea.

Scutellariae Radix and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Mixture Regulate PPAR/RXR Signaling in Reflux Esophagitis.

Objective: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a gastrointestinal disorder in which stomach contents reflux into the esophagus, causing complications such as mucosal damage. GERD is a very common disease and is on the rise worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a Scutellariae Radix and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium mixture (SC) on esophageal mucosal injury in rats with chronic acid reflux esophagitis (CARE).