Three-dimensional surface lattice plasmon resonance effect from plasmonic inclined nanostructures via one-step stencil lithography.

Plasmonic nanostructures allow the manipulation and confinement of optical fields on the sub-wavelength scale. The local field enhancement and environmentally sensitive resonance characteristics provided by these nanostructures are of high importance for biological and chemical sensing. Recently, surface lattice plasmon resonance (SLR) research has attracted much interest because of its superior quality factor (-factor) compared to that of localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR), which is facilitated by resonant plasmonic mode coupling between individual nanostructures over a large area.

Specific wavelength peak emulation with amorphous metastructures.

The conventional design process for metasurfaces is time-consuming and computationally expensive. To address this challenge, we utilize a deep convolutional generative adversarial network (DCGAN) to generate new nanohole metastructure designs that match a desired transmittance spectrum in the visible range. The trained DCGAN model demonstrates an exceptional performance in generating diverse and manufacturable metastructure designs that closely resemble the target optical properties.

Quantitative comparison of EGFR expression levels of optically trapped individual cells using a capacitance biosensor.

Cellular endocytosis is an essential phenomenon which induces cellular reactions, such as waste removal, nutrient absorption, and drug delivery, in the process of cell growth, division, and proliferation. To observe capacitance responses upon endocytosis on a single-cell scale, this study combined an optical tweezer that can optically place a single cell on a desired location with a capacitance sensor and a cell incubation chamber. Single HeLa cancer cell was captured and moved to a desired location through optical trapping, and the single-cell capacitance change generated during the epidermal growth factor (EGF) molecule endocytosis was measured in real time.

A clinical comparison of an endothelin receptor antagonist and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors for treating digital ulcers of systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of an endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) and phosphodiesterase type5 inhibitors (PDE5is) for treating SSc-related digital ulcers (DUs).

Methods: This prospective, multicentre, observational cohort study recruited patients with active SSc-related DUs from 13 medical centres in South Korea. The primary outcome was time to cardinal ulcer (CU) healing.

Experimental confirmation of plasmonic field cancellation under specific conditions of trapezoidal nanopatterns.

In this study, we investigated plasmonic field localization with trapezoidal nanopatterns under normal incident light excitation to find optimum structures for sensing and imaging. A finite element method was used to calculate the fundamental characteristics of the localized surface plasmon with varied trapezoidal nanopatterns. First, we describe how to localize the plasmonic fields on the trapezoidal patterns and then report our results from the investigation of the optimum properties of the nanopatterns for maximized field intensity.

Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics and Mortality in Korean Patients with Systemic Sclerosis: A Nationwide Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: We aimed to investigate demographic and clinical features and predictors of mortality in Korean patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: We performed a retrospective multicenter medical chart review in Korean patients diagnosed with SSc from 1986 to 2016 at 11 university hospitals representing each geographic area of Korea. SSc patients were defined according to the American College of Rheumatology preliminary classification criteria and subtyped as limited cutaneous (lcSSc) or diffuse cutaneous (dcSSc) SSc.

Plasmon-Coupled Whispering Gallery Modes on Nanodisk Arrays for Signal Enhancements.

Metallic nanostructures including single and double nanodisks are successfully used to enhance the localized electric field in vicinity of microcavity in whispering gallery mode (WGM) sensor. We demonstrate numerical calculations of plasmonic coupling of WGMs to single and double nanodisk arrays on a planar substrate. We then experimentally confirmed that the resonance wavelength of WGM sensor was dramatically shifted by adoption of single and double nanodisks on the surface of microcavity in the WGM sensor.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Shungite against Ultraviolet B Irradiation-Induced Skin Damage in Hairless Mice.

As fullerene-based compound applications have been rapidly increasing in the health industry, the need of biomedical research is urgently in demand. While shungite is regarded as a natural source of fullerene, it remains poorly documented. Here, we explored the effects of shungite against ultraviolet B- (UVB-) induced skin damage by investigating the physiological skin parameters, immune-redox profiling, and oxidative stress molecular signaling.

Effect of steaming, freezing, and re-steaming on the texture properties of non-glutinous rice cakes.

The effects of steaming time (6, 8, and 10 min), freezing storage period, and re-steaming for thawing on the textural properties of non-glutinous rice cakes () were investigated. As the steaming time increased, the rice cakes softened. In particular, the sample that was steamed for 10 min showed lower hardness than those steamed for shorter periods.

Physicochemical and Gelatinization Properties of Starches Separated from Various Rice Cultivars.

Unlabelled: Morphological, viscoelastic, hydration, pasting, and thermal properties of starches separated from 10 different rice cultivars were investigated. Upon gelatinization, the G' values of the rice starch pastes ranged from 37.4 to 2057 Pa at 25 °C, and remarkably, the magnitude depended on the starch varieties.

Two cases of meningocele and meningoencephalocele in Jeju native pigs.

Background: Meningocele and meningoencephalocele of the skull are congenital deformities. Various species, such as pigs, dogs, and cats, are susceptible to congenital meningocele and meningoencephalocele and the incidence is higher in large white and landrace pigs.

Case Presentation: In this study, swelling was observed in the fontanel areas of the median planes of the skull cap in two female piglets of the same litter.

Validity of SW982 synovial cell line for studying the drugs against rheumatoid arthritis in fluvastatin-induced apoptosis signaling model.

Background & Objectives: To study effects of drugs against rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synoviocytes or fibroblast like synoviocytes (FLS) are used. To overcome the drawbacks of using FLS, this study was conducted to show the validity of SW982 synovial cell line in RA study.

Methods: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, Annexin V propidium iodide (PI) staining, mitochondrial membrane potential assay, Triton X-114 Phase partitioning, and immunolot for apoptosis signaling in SW982 human synovial cell line were performed.

Anti-obesity effect of alkaline reduced water in high fat-fed obese mice.

Whether or not alkaline reduced water (ARW) has a positive effect on obesity is unclear. This study aims to prove the positive effect of ARW in high-fat (HF) diet-induced obesity (DIO) in C57BL/6 mice model. Toward this, obesity was induced by feeding the C57BL/6 male mice with high-fat diet (w/w 45% fat) for 12 weeks.

The effects of artificial activation timing on the development of SCNT-derived embryos and newborn piglets.

This study investigated the effects of two different activation regimens on the developmental potential of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos and postnatal survivability of the cloned piglets. In vitro matured oocytes were enucleated and reconstructed with porcine fetal fibroblasts. On the basis of the activation regimen used, the reconstructed porcine embryos were allocated into two groups: Group 1-simultaneous electrical pulses and activation group (SFA group); and Group 2-electrical fusion without calcium followed by electrical pulses with calcium after colcemid and cytochalasin B treatment for 5h (DA group).

Status of bovine mastitis and associated risk factors in subtropical Jeju Island, South Korea.

The present investigation was carried out to study the prevalence of mastitis in 136 Holstein cows from a subtropical province of South Korea. Out of 527 milk samples studied, 22.6 % were found positive for mastitis.

Expression of CD133 in neuroendocrine neoplasms of the digestive tract: a detailed immunohistochemical analysis.

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) are potentially malignant with variable biologic behavior that originates from neuroendocrine cells of digestive tract. Recently, the existence of cancer stem cells (CSC) was demonstrated in tumors of gastrointestinal tract. CD133 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that serves as a CSC marker in various malignancies.

CD133 expression is not an independent prognostic factor in stage II and III colorectal cancer but may predict the better outcome in patients with adjuvant therapy.

Background: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are notorious for their capacity of tumor progression, metastasis or resistance to chemo-radiotherapy. However, the undisputed role of cancer stem marker, CD133, in colorectal cancers (CRCs) is not clear yet.

Methods: We assessed 271 surgically-resected stage II and III primary CRCs with (171) and without (100) adjuvant therapy after surgery.

Anal myolipoma: a new benign entity in patients with an anal tumor?

A myolipoma is an extremely rare benign neoplasm, occurring most frequently in adults in the deep soft tissue of the abdomen or retroperitoneum. We experienced a case of an anal myolipoma occurring in a 30-year-old woman, and it was surgically resected. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a myolipoma arising from the anus, so such a possibility needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Immunohistochemical localization of galectin-3 in boar testis and epididymis.

The presence and distribution of galectin-3, a beta-galactoside-binding protein, in boar testis and epididymis was studied. Western blot analysis detected galectin-3 in boar testis and epididymis. In particular, intense galectin-3 immunoreaction was seen in the tail of the epididymis, while it was moderate in the head and body.

A rapid competitive binding nonseparation electrochemical enzyme immunoassay (NEEIA) test strip for microcystin-LR (MCLR) determination.

A competitive binding nonseparation electrochemical enzyme immunoassay (NEEIA) is described for the determination of microcystin-LR (MCLR) using a double-sided microporous gold electrode in cartridge-type cells. A gold film sputtered on one side of porous nylon membrane constitutes a working electrode, while another gold film formed on the opposite side serves as a pseudo reference electrode. After immobilizing MCLR antibody on working electrode by physical adsorption, the double-sided electrode was placed simply in a diffusion U-type or within a dry strip-type cell with a conjugate pad pre-loaded with a glucose oxidase labeled MCLR (GOx-MCLR) on working electrode side.

Temporal expression of osteopontin and CD44 in rat brains with experimental cryolesions.

Expression of osteopontin and CD44 in the brain was studied after cryolesioning to understand how osteopontin and its receptor, CD44, are involved in processes in the brains of rats with cryolesions. Western blot analysis showed that osteopontin increased significantly at days 4 and 7 post-injury and declined slightly thereafter in cryolesioned brains in comparison with levels in sham-operated controls. An immunohistochemical study localized osteopontin in activated microglia/macrophages in the core lesions, where the majority of macrophages proliferate.

Association of reduced CD4 T cell responses specific to varicella zoster virus with high incidence of herpes zoster in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To examine whether the high incidence of herpes zoster in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with the frequency of memory T cells specific to varicella zoster virus (VZV).

Methods: Whole blood samples from 47 subjects [24 patients with SLE, 11 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a disease control, and 12 healthy negative controls] were stimulated with VZV antigen, stained for surface CD4 and CD8 and intracellularly stained for the cytokines interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 4 (IL-4), and IL-10, followed by flow cytometry analyses. Correlations of VZV-specific T cell frequencies with the clinical status of patients were analyzed.

Expression of PSD95 in the rat sciatic nerve.

This study was designed to elucidate the existence of PSD95 in the rat sciatic nerve. Immunohistochemical stains of cryosection and teased fiber of sciatic nerves were performed with goat polyclonal antibody against PSD95. Western blot analysis was also accomplished with the same antibody.

Clinical and genetic risk factors of herpes zoster in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the clinical and genetic risk factors that influence herpes zoster occurrence in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Three hundred three SLE patients meeting the American College of Rheumatology criteria were enrolled in this study. Herpes zoster was diagnosed when classic grouped vesicles were noted.

Histochemical characterization of the lectin-binding sites in the equine vomeronasal organ.

The binding specificities of various lectins, such as the Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), soybean agglutinin (SBA), and the Bandeiraea simplicifolia BS-1 (Isolectin B4), Triticum vulgaris (WGA), Arachis hypogaea (PNA), and Ulex europaeus (UEA-I) lectins, were studied in the vomeronasal organ of the horse. The microvilli of the vomeronasal sensory epithelium were positive for DBA, SBA, Isolectin B4, WGA, PNA, and UEA-I. The receptor cells showed intense reactivity for DBA and WGA.