Juniperus rigida Sieb. extract inhibits inflammatory responses via attenuation of TRIF-dependent signaling and inflammasome activation.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Juniperus rigida Sieb. (J. rigida) is used for medicinal purposes in Asian countries to treat inflammation-related disorders, such as neuralgia, dropsy, and gout.

Bioconverted Jeju Hallabong tangor (Citrus kiyomi × ponkan) peel extracts by cytolase enhance antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity in RAW 264.7 cells.

Background/objectives: Citrus and its peels have been used in Asian folk medicine due to abundant flavonoids and usage of citrus peels, which are byproducts from juice and/or jam processing, may be a good strategy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of bioconversion of Jeju Hallabong tangor (Citrus kiyomi × ponkan; CKP) peels with cytolase (CKP-C) in RAW 264.7 cells.

Cost Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccine for U.S. Children: Live Attenuated and Inactivated Influenza Vaccine.

Introduction: Prior studies showed that live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) is more effective than inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) in children aged 2-8 years, supporting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations in 2014 for preferential LAIV use in this age group. However, 2014-2015 U.S.

Autogenous Mesenchymal Stem Cells from the Vertebral Body Enhance Intervertebral Disc Regeneration via Paracrine Interaction: An in Vitro Pilot Study.

Several in vivo studies have found that transplanting mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into degenerative intervertebral discs (IVDs) leads to regeneration of disc cells. Since the exact underlying mechanisms are not understood, we investigated the mechanisms of action of MSCs in regeneration of degenerative IVDs via paracrine actions. Human MSCs and degenerative disc cells from the same donor vertebrae were directly or indirectly cocultured.

Isomerization of the osmium-tellurium cluster Os3(μ-TeR)2(CO)10: a kinetic and computational study.

The kinetics for the isomerization of the 50e cluster Os3(μ-TeTol-p)2(CO)10 (), where the tellurides bridge two different Os-Os edges, to one in which the tellurides bridge the same open OsOs edge () have been measured experimentally by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The determined activation parameters are ΔH(‡) = 77 ± 9 kJ mol(-1) and ΔS(‡) = -12 ± 28 J mol(-1) K. The conversion of to has been computationally investigated by electronic structure calculations using the model compound Os3(μ-TeMe)2(CO)10.

Multisite silicon neural probes with integrated silicon nitride waveguides and gratings for optogenetic applications.

Optimal optogenetic perturbation of brain circuit activity often requires light delivery in a precise spatial pattern that cannot be achieved with conventional optical fibers. We demonstrate an implantable silicon-based probe with a compact light delivery system, consisting of silicon nitride waveguides and grating couplers for out-of-plane light emission with high spatial resolution. 473 nm light is coupled into and guided in cm-long waveguide and emitted at the output grating coupler.

A model for allometric scaling of mammalian metabolism with ambient heat loss.

Background: Allometric scaling, which represents the dependence of biological traits or processes on body size, is a long-standing subject in biological science. However, there has been no study to consider heat loss to the ambient and an insulation layer representing mammalian skin and fur for the derivation of the scaling law of metabolism.

Methods: A simple heat transfer model is proposed to analyze the allometry of mammalian metabolism.

Mathematical analysis of the effects of valvular regurgitation on the pumping efficacy of continuous and pulsatile left ventricular assist devices.

Background: A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is normally contraindicated in significant aortic regurgitation (AR) and requires intraoperative valve repair or exclusion. Nevertheless, AR can coexist with an LVAD, so a valid question when asked might still be of clinical significance. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of valve regurgitation on the pumping efficacy of continuous and pulsatile LVADs with a computational method.

Computational simulations of the effects of the G229D KCNQ1 mutation on human atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is related to mutations at the genetic level. This includes mutations in genes that encode KCNQ1, a subunit of the I Ks channel. Here, we investigate the mechanism of gain-of-function in I Ks towards the occurrence of AF.

Electrophysiological Rotor Ablation in In-Silico Modeling of Atrial Fibrillation: Comparisons with Dominant Frequency, Shannon Entropy, and Phase Singularity.

Background: Although rotors have been considered among the drivers of atrial fibrillation (AF), the rotor definition is inconsistent. We evaluated the nature of rotors in 2D and 3D in- silico models of persistent AF (PeAF) by analyzing phase singularity (PS), dominant frequency (DF), Shannon entropy (ShEn), and complex fractionated atrial electrogram cycle length (CFAE-CL) and their ablation.

Methods: Mother rotor was spatiotemporally defined as stationary reentries with a meandering tip remaining within half the wavelength and lasting longer than 5 s.

Cost Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccine Choices in Children Aged 2-8 Years in the U.S.

Introduction: Prior evidence found live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) more effective than inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) in children aged 2-8 years, leading CDC in 2014 to prefer LAIV use in this group. However, since 2013, LAIV has not proven superior, leading CDC in 2015 to rescind their LAIV preference statement. Here, the cost effectiveness of preferred LAIV use compared with IIV in children aged 2-8 years is estimated.

Inducibility of human atrial fibrillation in an in silico model reflecting local acetylcholine distribution and concentration.

Vagal nerve activity has been known to play a crucial role in the induction and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it is unclear how the distribution and concentration of local acetylcholine (ACh) promotes AF. In this study, we investigated the effect of the spatial distribution and concentration of ACh on fibrillation patterns in an in silico human atrial model.

Risky business: Microhomology-mediated end joining.

Prevalence of microhomology (MH) at the breakpoint junctions in somatic and germ-line chromosomal rearrangements and in the programmed immune receptor rearrangements from cells deficient in classical end joining reveals an enigmatic process called MH-mediated end joining (MMEJ). MMEJ repairs DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) by annealing flanking MH and deleting genetic information at the repair junctions from yeast to humans. Being genetically distinct from canonical DNA DSB pathways, MMEJ is involved with the fusions of eroded/uncapped telomeres as well as with the assembly of chromosome fragments in chromothripsis.

Enhancement of Emission Lifetime of CNT Emitters by Coating ZnO on the CNT Surface.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been investigated as field-emission sources owing to their high electrical conductivity and high aspect ratio. However, practical applications demand that the emission lifetime of CNTs be further improved. Since ZnO demonstrates impressive electrical and thermal conductivity, when coated on the surface of CNTs, it can allow the CNT field emitters to endure high electrical stress and high temperature.

Influence of Incorporated Pt-Fe2O3 Core-Shell Nanoparticles on the Resistive Switching Characteristics of ZnO Thin Film.

The resistance-switching characteristics of metal oxides have attracted great interest for the non-volatile memory applications such as resistive random access memory. A basic resistive random access memory device has a metal/insulator/metal structure, and its memory effect is achieved by applying voltage to change the resistance of the insulating layer. One of the promising candidates for explaining the resistance-switching mechanism is the formation and rupture of nanoscale conductive filaments.

TNF-α enhance Th2 and Th17 immune responses regulating by IL23 during sensitization in asthma model.

Background: TNF-α has been postulated to be a critical mediator contributing to airway inflammation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of TNF-α in the induction of Th17 and Th2 cells related to asthma pathogenesis.

Objective: To evaluate detailed mechanisms for the modulation of IL-23 by TNF-α in sensitization period.

Accuracy of Xpert(®) MTB/RIF assay compared with AdvanSure™ TB/NTM real-time PCR using bronchoscopy specimens.

Background: The performance of Xpert(®) MTB/RIF assay, an automated nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) that was developed for the detection of tuberculosis (TB), has been evaluated in various clinical settings. However, few studies have compared Xpert with other NAATs, especially its performance using lower respiratory tract specimens (LRTS).

Objective: To compare the practical diagnostic performance of the Xpert assay with that of the AdvanSure™ TB/NTM RT-PCR kit in the detection of pulmonary TB (PTB), using LRTS obtained through bronchoscopy.

Factors affecting medication discontinuation in patients with overactive bladder symptoms.

Objective: To find out the factors affecting medication discontinuation in patients with overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms.

Methods: The clinical data of 125 patients with OAB symptoms who had taken antimuscarinics and behavioral therapy were retrospectively reviewed. Antimuscarinics related outcomes were evaluated by an independent observer with telephone interview.

Qualitative Effects of Monovalent Vaccination Against Rotavirus: A Comparison of North America and South America.

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe gastroenteritis in young children worldwide. The introduction of vaccination programs has led to a significant reduction in number of hospitalizations due to rotavirus in North and South American countries. Little work has been done, however, to examine the differential impact of vaccination as a function of strain distribution and strain-specific vaccine efficacy.

Development and Clinical Validity of a Mild Vascular Cognitive Impairment Assessment Tool for Korean Stroke Patients.

Purpose: The present study was conducted to develop a mild vascular cognitive impairment (MVCI) assessment tool for patients with stroke and to examine its validity, reliability, and clinical adequacy.

Methods: Items of this tool were developed based on previously verified cognitive assessment tools. Face, content, and criterion (concurrent) validities, optimal cut-off score for differentiation of MVCI and normal cognitive function, clinical adequacy, internal consistency, and inter-rater reliability of the assessment tool were determined in 60 stroke patients at a university hospital located in Incheon, South Korea.

Public Trauma after the Sewol Ferry Disaster: The Role of Social Media in Understanding the Public Mood.

The Sewol ferry disaster severely shocked Korean society. The objective of this study was to explore how the public mood in Korea changed following the Sewol disaster using Twitter data. Data were collected from daily Twitter posts from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013 and from 1 March 2014 to 30 June 2014 using natural language-processing and text-mining technologies.

Regulation of NKT cell-mediated immune responses to tumours and liver inflammation by mitochondrial PGAM5-Drp1 signalling.

The receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) plays crucial roles in programmed necrosis and innate inflammatory responses. However, a little is known about the involvement of RIPK3 in NKT cell-mediated immune responses. Here, we demonstrate that RIPK3 plays an essential role in NKT cell function via activation of the mitochondrial phosphatase phosphoglycerate mutase 5 (PGAM5).

Predictive Factors of Atelectasis Following Endoscopic Resection.

Background And Aim: Atelectasis is one of the pulmonary complications associated with anesthesia. Little is known about atelectasis following endoscopic procedures under deep sedation. This study evaluated the frequency, risk factors, and clinical course of atelectasis after endoscopic resection.

Primary Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma With Coexpression of T-Cell Receptors αβ and γδ.

T lymphocytes belong to 2 distinct sublineages that express either αβ or γδ T-cell receptor (TCR) complex. Although malignancy is a great instigator of lineage infidelity, as exemplified by aberrant expression of numerous lineage markers in lymphoma cells, malignant T cells rarely coexpress αβ and γδ TCR complexes. Similarly, only rare cases of CD4/CD8 double-positive primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma have been reported.