Modularity-based mathematical modeling of ligand inter-nanocluster connectivity for unraveling reversible stem cell regulation.

The native extracellular matrix is continuously remodeled to form complex interconnected network structures that reversibly regulate stem cell behaviors. Both regulation and understanding of its intricate dynamicity can help to modulate numerous cell behaviors. However, neither of these has yet been achieved due to the lack of designing and modeling such complex structures with dynamic controllability.

Effect of Voice and Articulation Parameters of a Home-Based Serious Game for Speech Therapy in Children With Articulation Disorder: Prospective Single-Arm Clinical Trial.

Background: Articulation disorder decreases the clarity of language and causes a decrease in children's learning and social ability. The demand for non-face-to-face treatment is increasing owing to the limited number of therapists and geographical or economic constraints. Non-face-to-face speech therapy programs using serious games have been proposed as an alternative.

Ipsilateral Motor Evoked Potentials in a Preschool-age Child With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Case Report.

To the best of our knowledge, the upper age limit at which post-neonatal cerebral palsy (CP) can manifest remains uncertain. This uncertainty is attributed to the lack of objective parameters for assessing the developing brain. In a previous study, we reported that an ipsilateral corticospinal projection associated with brain injury, as manifested in the paretic hand of a CP patient, had never been observed in individuals aged > 2 years.

Neuromuscular complications of the lower extremity after thrombectomy in a patient with superficial femoral artery occlusion: Case series.

Background: Ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury may result in rhabdomyolysis and compartment syndrome when blood supply returns after thrombectomy for patients with acute limb ischemia.

Objective: We highlight the value of early diagnosis and treatment in post-thrombectomy patients with IR injuries in their lower legs.

Case Description: Two patients received thrombectomy due to left superficial femoral artery occlusion.

Photoswitchable Microgels for Dynamic Macrophage Modulation.

Dynamic manipulation of supramolecular self-assembled structures is achieved irreversibly or under non-physiological conditions, thereby limiting their biomedical, environmental, and catalysis applicability. In this study, microgels composed of azobenzene derivatives stacked via π-cation and π-π interactions are developed that are electrostatically stabilized with Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-bearing anionic polymers. Lateral swelling of RGD-bearing microgels occurs via cis-azobenzene formation mediated by near-infrared-light-upconverted ultraviolet light, which disrupts intermolecular interactions on the visible-light-absorbing upconversion-nanoparticle-coated materials.

Submolecular Ligand Size and Spacing for Cell Adhesion.

Cell adhesion occurs when integrin recognizes and binds to Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) ligands present in fibronectin. In this work, submolecular ligand size and spacing are tuned via template-mediated in situ growth of nanoparticles for dynamic macrophage modulation. To tune liganded gold nanoparticle (GNP) size and spacing from 3 to 20 nm, in situ localized assemblies of GNP arrays on nanomagnetite templates are engineered.

Manipulating Nanoparticle Aggregates Regulates Receptor-Ligand Binding in Macrophages.

The receptor-ligand interactions in cells are dynamically regulated by modulation of the ligand accessibility. In this study, we utilize size-tunable magnetic nanoparticle aggregates ordered at both nanometer and atomic scales. We flexibly anchor magnetic nanoparticle aggregates of tunable sizes over the cell-adhesive RGD ligand (Arg-Gly-Asp)-active material surface while maintaining the density of dispersed ligands accessible to macrophages at constant.

Discrepancy between self-awareness and actual diagnosis and treatment of the conditions among adolescent with scoliosis in middle-school age.

[Purpose] The purpose of this research was to determine the awareness of the actual conditions of the diagnosis and treatment of scoliosis by focusing on middle-school students in order to provide a basis for active education and treatment of scoliosis. [Subjects and Methods] The survey was conducted among 4,782 students. The students performed Adam's forward bend test, and some of the students who showed predictive features of scoliosis were further examined for the spine structure with rasterstereography.

Effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching and deep-breathing exercises on upper extremity lymphedema in stroke patients.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of deep-breathing and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching exercises on upper limb lymphedema in stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] The study consisted of 10 patients with lymphedema that had occurred after stroke. Neurodevelopmental treatment was applied in the same manner as that used for the existing treatment.

Efficacy of preoperative percutaneous cholecystostomy in the management of acute cholecystitis according to severity grades.

Background/aims: The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the efficacy of percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) for patients with acute cholecystitis (AC) according to severity.

Methods: A total of 325 patients who underwent cholecystectomy between January 2008 and October 2010 were enrolled. Patients were classified into three groups based on severity grade according to the Tokyo guidelines for AC: grade I (mild), grade II (moderate), and grade III (severe).

[A Study on the Classification of Nursing Management Competencies and Development of related Behavioral Indicators in Hospitals].

Purpose: The aim of this study was to classify nursing management competencies and develop behavioral indicators for nurse managers in hospitals. Also, levels of importance and performance based on developed criteria were to be identified and compared.

Methods: Using expert survey we classified nursing management competencies and behavioral indicators with data from 34 nurse managers and professors.

Effect of duration of smartphone use on muscle fatigue and pain caused by forward head posture in adults.

[Purpose] The effect of duration of smartphone use on neck and shoulder muscle fatigue and pain was investigated in adults with forward head posture. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-four adults with forward head posture were classified into groups by duration of smartphone use: 11 used a smartphone for 10 minutes each (group 1), 12 for 20 minutes each (group 2), and 11 for 30 minutes each (group 3). Fatigue cervical erector spinae and upper trapezius muscles was measured by electromyography, and pain before and after the experiment was evaluated using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores.

Effects of kinesio tape compared with non-elastic tape on hand grip strength.

[Purpose] Many assumptions have been made about taping and several studies have considered tape application methods; however, the true effect of taping on muscle strength remains unclear. Most previous studies compared application techniques using Kinesio tape (KT), but studies that compared muscle strength using non-elastic tape (NT) are limited. Moreover, no studies have applied KT and NT in the same way to assess grip strength in normal subjects.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes change morpho-functional and GABA characteristics of mouse cortical astrocytes.

Background: Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MW-CNTs) have been extensively explored for their possible beneficial use in the nervous system. CNTs have shown to modulate neuronal growth and electrical properties, but its effect that varying length of MW-CNTs on primary astrocyte roles have not been clearly demonstrated yet.

Results: We investigate here the effect of MW-CNTs on astrocytic morphology, cell-cell interaction and the distribution of intracellular GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid).

House dust mite allergen suppresses neutrophil apoptosis by cytokine release via PAR2 in normal and allergic lymphocytes.

House dust mite (HDM) is an essential allergen in allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. The pathogenic mechanism of allergy is associated with cytokine release of lymphocytes and constitutive apoptosis of neutrophils. In this study, we examined whether HDM induces cytokine release of lymphocytes and whether the secretion of cytokines is involved in modulation of neutrophil apoptosis.

Preparation of nano/macroporous polycaprolactone microspheres for an injectable cell delivery system using room temperature ionic liquid and camphene.

The nano/macroporous polycaprolactone (PCL) microspheres with cell active surfaces were developed as an injectable cell delivery system. Room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) and camphene were used as a liquid mold and a porogen, respectively. Various-sized spheres of 244-601μm with pores of various size and shape of 0.

Production of CNT-taxol-embedded PCL microspheres using an ammonium-based room temperature ionic liquid: as a sustained drug delivery system.

We describe a one-pot method for the mass production of polymeric microspheres containing water-soluble carbon-nanotube (w-CNT)-taxol complexes using an ammonium-based room temperature ionic liquid. Polycaprolactone (PCL), trioctylmethylammonium chloride (TOMAC; liquid state from -20 to 240°C), and taxol were used, respectively, as a model polymer, room temperature ionic liquid, and drug. Large quantities of white colored PCL powder without w-CNT-taxol complexes and gray colored PCL powders containing w-CNT-taxol (1:1 or 1:2 wt/wt) complexes were produced by phase separation between the hydrophilic TOMAC and the hydrophobic PCL.

Improvement of H2S sensing properties of SnO2-based thick film gas sensors promoted with MoO3 and NiO.

The effects of the SnO2 pore size and metal oxide promoters on the sensing properties of SnO2-based thick film gas sensors were investigated to improve the detection of very low H2S concentrations (<1 ppm). SnO2 sensors and SnO2-based thick-film gas sensors promoted with NiO, ZnO, MoO3, CuO or Fe2O3 were prepared, and their sensing properties were examined in a flow system. The SnO2 materials were prepared by calcining SnO2 at 600, 800, 1,000 and 1,200 °C to give materials identified as SnO2(600), SnO2(800), SnO2(1000), and SnO2(1200), respectively.

Safety and efficacy of deep sedation with propofol alone or combined with midazolam administrated by nonanesthesiologist for gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Background/aims: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is accepted as a treatment for gastric neoplasms and usually requires deep sedation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy profiles of deep sedation induced by continuous propofol infusion with or without midazolam during ESD.

Methods: A total of 135 patients scheduled for ESDs between December 2008 and June 2010 were included in this prospective study and were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the propofol group or the combination group (propofol plus midazolam).

Timing of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia is a prognostic factor in patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer: a retrospective analysis in gemcitabine-plus-platinum-treated patients.

Purpose: Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN) has been associated with better therapeutic results in studies of various tumors. Herein, we explored the relationship between timing (onset) of CIN and clinical outcomes of patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Patients with stage IV NSCLC receiving at least two cycles of first-line doublet chemotherapy (gemcitabine plus platinum) were reviewed retrospectively.

Effects of textural properties on the response of a SnO2-based gas sensor for the detection of chemical warfare agents.

The sensing behavior of SnO(2)-based thick film gas sensors in a flow system in the presence of a very low concentration (ppb level) of chemical agent simulants such as acetonitrile, dipropylene glycol methyl ether (DPGME), dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), and dichloromethane (DCM) was investigated. Commercial SnO(2) [SnO(2)(C)] and nano-SnO(2) prepared by the precipitation method [SnO(2)(P)] were used to prepare the SnO(2) sensor in this study. In the case of DCM and acetonitrile, the SnO(2)(P) sensor showed higher sensor response as compared with the SnO(2)(C) sensors.

[Prevalence and risk factors of gallbladder polyp in adults living in Daegu and Gyeongbuk provinces].

Background/aims: Although there are various reports on the prevalence of gallbladder (GB) polyp according to the race or area, there is no report on Daegu and Gyeongbuk provinces. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence and related risk factors of GB polyp in health screening population of Daegu and Gyeongbuk provinces.

Methods: Of 28,911 adult health screening examinees from January 1997 to May 2003, age and gender-matched 8,008 (3,896 men, 4,112 women) were randomly selected to evaluate the prevalence.