Multimodal Characterization of Cardiac Organoids Using Integrations of Pressure-Sensitive Transistor Arrays with Three-Dimensional Liquid Metal Electrodes.

Herein, we present an unconventional method for multimodal characterization of three-dimensional cardiac organoids. This method can monitor and control the mechanophysiological parameters of organoids within a single device. In this method, local pressure distributions of human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiac organoids are visualized spatiotemporally by an active-matrix array of pressure-sensitive transistors.

Tissue extracellular matrix hydrogels as alternatives to Matrigel for culturing gastrointestinal organoids.

Matrigel, a mouse tumor extracellular matrix protein mixture, is an indispensable component of most organoid tissue culture. However, it has limited the utility of organoids for drug development and regenerative medicine due to its tumor-derived origin, batch-to-batch variation, high cost, and safety issues. Here, we demonstrate that gastrointestinal tissue-derived extracellular matrix hydrogels are suitable substitutes for Matrigel in gastrointestinal organoid culture.

Intranasal low-level laser therapy versus acupuncture treatment for allergic rhinitis: A randomized, noninferiority trial.

Introduction: Intranasal low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has already proven its immunosuppressive effects on allergic rhinitis (AR) in experimental studies; however, there is a dearth of clinical evidence supporting its effects in treating AR. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of intranasal LLLT in the treatment of AR compared with acupuncture.

Methods: A total of 80 patients with AR participated and were randomly assigned to the intranasal LLLT or acupuncture treatment (AT) group.

Enhanced Large-Scale Production of -Derived Prodigiosin and Evaluation of Its Bioactivity.

Prodigiosin as a high-valued compound, which is a microbial secondary metabolite, has the potential for antioxidant and anticancer effects. However, the large-scale production of functionally active -derived prodigiosin by fermentation in a cost-effective manner has yet to be achieved. In the present study, we established carbon source-optimized medium conditions, as well as a procedure for producing prodigiosin by fermentation by culturing using 10 L and 200 L bioreactors.

Thermoregulation of Biofilm Formation.

We investigated the effect of temperature on the biofilm formation of and revealed that the biofilm formation increased rapidly at temperatures lower than 25°C. formed the most robust biofilm of a conspicuous mushroom-like structure at 20°C. However, when the temperature increased to 25°C, the biofilm formation rapidly decreased.

Effectiveness and Safety of Herbal Medicine for Atopic Dermatitis: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.

Objectives: Herbal medicine (HM) is attracting attention for treating atopic dermatitis (AD). This overview was conducted to summarize and critically evaluate the current systematic reviews (SRs) on HM for the treatment of AD.

Methods: Through comprehensive searches, all relevant SRs on HM for AD published until May 2020 were included.

Gastrointestinal tract modeling using organoids engineered with cellular and microbiota niches.

The recent emergence of organoid technology has attracted great attention in gastroenterology because the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can be recapitulated in vitro using organoids, enabling disease modeling and mechanistic studies. However, to more precisely emulate the GI microenvironment in vivo, several neighboring cell types and types of microbiota need to be integrated into GI organoids. This article reviews the recent progress made in elucidating the crosstalk between GI organoids and components of their microenvironment.

Effects of membrane thickness on the performance of ionic polymer-metal composite actuators.

In this study, we report the effects of Nafion thickness on the performance of ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) actuators. We analyzed the actuation properties of the IPMC actuators, such as displacement and tip force, under external voltage, as a function of their thickness. In order to understand the relationship between thickness and actuation properties, we developed a semi-quantitative model of voltage induced ionic diffusion and its contribution to bending of the Nafion cantilever.

Aligned Brain Extracellular Matrix Promotes Differentiation and Myelination of Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Oligodendrocytes.

Myelination by oligodendrocytes (OLs) is a key developmental milestone in terms of the functions of the central nervous system (CNS). Demyelination caused by defects in OLs is a hallmark of several CNS disorders. Although a potential therapeutic strategy involves treatment with the myelin-forming cells, there is no readily available source of these cells.

Role of acid responsive genes in the susceptibility of Escherichia coli to ciclopirox.

Antibiotic resistance poses a huge threat to the effective treatment of bacterial infections. To circumvent the limitations in developing new antibiotics, researchers are attempting to repurpose pre-developed drugs that are known to be safe. Ciclopirox, an off-patent antifungal agent, inhibits the growth of Gram-negative bacteria, and genes involved in galactose metabolism and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis are plausible antibacterial targets for ciclopirox, since their expression levels partially increase susceptibility at restrictive concentrations.

Bio-artificial tongue with tongue extracellular matrix and primary taste cells.

Artificial taste devices for tastant sensing and taste information standardization are attracting increasing attention with the exponential growth of the food and beverage industries. Despite recent developments in artificial taste sensors incorporating polymers, lipid membranes, and synthetic vesicles, current devices have limited functionality and sensitivity, and are complex to manufacture. Moreover, such synthetic systems cannot simulate the taste signal transmissions that are critical for complicated taste perception.

Antimicrobial susceptibility and characterization of extended-spectrum β-lactamases in Escherichia coli isolated from bovine mastitic milk in South Korea from 2012 to 2015.

In this study, we aimed to assess trends in antimicrobial resistance and to investigate the characteristics of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing isolates from bovine mastitic milk from 2012 to 2015. A total of 374 Escherichia coli isolates were analyzed (154 in 2012, 113 in 2013, 76 in 2014, and 31 in 2015). No consistent trends in antimicrobial resistance of E.

Detection of novel oxazolidinone and phenicol resistance gene optrA in enterococcal isolates from food animals and animal carcasses.

Altogether 7720 Enterococcus faecalis and 3939 E. faecium isolated from food animals and animal carcasses during 2003-2014 in Korea were investigated to determine if linezolid-resistant (LR) enterococci (≥8μg/ml) are present. Overall, 12 E.

Macrolide resistance mechanisms and virulence factors in erythromycin-resistant Campylobacter species isolated from chicken and swine feces and carcasses.

Resistance to antimicrobials was measured in 73 isolates of Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) and 121 isolates of Campylobacter coli (C. coli) from chicken and swine feces and carcasses in Korea.

Visualization of ion transport in Nafion using electrochemical strain microscopy.

The electromechanical response of a Nafion membrane immersed in water was probed using electrochemical strain microscopy (ESM) to redistribute protons and measure the resulting local strain that is caused by the movement of protons. We also measured the relaxation of protons from the surface resulting from proton diffusion. Using this technique, we can visualize and analyze the local strain change resulting from the redistribution and relaxation of hydrated protons.

Prevalence and characterization of Salmonella in pigs from conventional and organic farms and first report of S. serovar 1,4,[5],12:i:- from Korea.

This study compared the prevalence of Salmonella spp. and their antimicrobial susceptibilities in pigs from conventional and organic farms during 2012-2013 in Korea and characterized them by molecular methods. Altogether, 100 nontyphoid Salmonella were isolated: 47 from 1324 pigs (3.

Molecular Basis of Resistance to Selected Antimicrobial Agents in the Emerging Zoonotic Pathogen Streptococcus suis.

Characterization of 227 Streptococcus suis strains isolated from pigs during 2010 to 2013 showed high levels of resistance to clindamycin (95.6%), tilmicosin (94.7%), tylosin (93.

Indeterminate pulmonary nodules in colorectal cancer.

Aim: To investigate the clinicopathologic parameters of pulmonary metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients after lung operation of indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPNs).

Methods: From a prospective database of CRC patients, 40 cases that underwent lung operation between November 2008 and December 2012 for suspicious metastatic pulmonary nodules on chest computed tomography (CT) were enrolled. The decision to perform a lung operation was made if the patient met the following criteria: (1) completely resected or resectable primary CRC; (2) completely resectable IPNs; (3) controlled or controllable extrapulmonary metastasis; and (4) adequate general condition and pulmonary function to tolerate pulmonary operation.

Molecular characterization of CTX-M β-lactamase and associated addiction systems in Escherichia coli circulating among cattle, farm workers, and the farm environment.

A total of 84 extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli isolates from cattle, farm workers, and the farm environment isolated from February to September 2008 in the Republic of Korea were investigated. All 84 ESBL-producing isolates carried blaCTX-M genes that belonged to the CTX-M-1 (n = 35) or CTX-M-9 (n = 49) family. The most predominant CTX-M type identified was CTX-M-14 (n = 49), followed by CTX-M-32 (n = 26).

Prevalence and molecular characterization of CTX-M β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolated from healthy swine and cattle.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of CTX-M β-lactamases in Escherichia coli among healthy swine and cattle in Korea. A total of 1212 fecal samples obtained from healthy pigs (n=558) and cattle (n=654) were screened for CTX-M-type extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli isolates.

Prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants among Escherichia coli isolated from food animals in Korea.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants in Escherichia coli isolated from food-producing animals and to characterize the PMQR-positive isolates. A total of 365 E. coli isolates which were either nalidixic acid resistant and ciprofloxacin susceptible (NAL(R)-CIP(S); n=185), or nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin resistant (NAL(R)-CIP(R); n=180) were assessed for the presence of PMQR determinants by polymerase chain reaction.

Incidence and Multiplicities of Adenomatous Polyps in TNM Stage I Colorectal Cancer in Korea.

Purpose: In recent years, the incidence of early-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) has markedly increased in the population within the Republic of Korea. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathologic features of adenomatous polyps in TNM stage I CRC patients and in the general population.

Methods: Between March 2003 and September 2009, 168 patients with stage I CRC were enrolled in this study.