Detection of sow pregnancy in day-20 urine samples using monoclonal antibody against synthesized porcine early pregnancy factor: Preliminary results.

Early diagnosis of pregnancy is directly related to cost-effective livestock production. We produced a rat monoclonal antibody (mAb) against synthesized porcine early pregnancy factor (pEPF) using conventional hybridoma technology and used it as a tool for the detection of early pregnancy in Duroc sows. The rat pEPF-mAb showed reactivity to uterine tissues of pregnant sows 20 or 30 days post-mating (day 0 defined as the day of mating) and non-pregnant sows (confirmed signs of estrus) in western blotting.

Self-assembled nanonization of fatty acid-conjugated vaccine antigen for enhanced thermal stability.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the enhanced thermal stability and physicochemical properties of fattigated vaccine antigens. High molecular weight influenza hemagglutinin (Heg) was used as a model antigen because of low heat stability requiring cold chamber. Heg was conjugated with long-chain oleic acid (C18) and short-chain 3-decenoic acid (C10) to prepare fattigated Heg.

Bioengineered amyloid peptide for rapid screening of inhibitors against main protease of SARS-CoV-2.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has evoked a worldwide pandemic. As the emergence of variants has hampered the neutralization capacity of currently available vaccines, developing effective antiviral therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants becomes a significant challenge. The main protease (M) of SARS-CoV-2 has received increased attention as an attractive pharmaceutical target because of its pivotal role in viral replication and proliferation.

3D Bioprinting of Hyaline Articular Cartilage: Biopolymers, Hydrogels, and Bioinks.

The musculoskeletal system, consisting of bones and cartilage of various types, muscles, ligaments, and tendons, is the basis of the human body. However, many pathological conditions caused by aging, lifestyle, disease, or trauma can damage its elements and lead to severe disfunction and significant worsening in the quality of life. Due to its structure and function, articular (hyaline) cartilage is the most susceptible to damage.

Heterosynaptic MoS Memtransistors Emulating Biological Neuromodulation for Energy-Efficient Neuromorphic Electronics.

Heterosynaptic neuromodulation is a key enabler for energy-efficient and high-level biological neural processing. However, such manifold synaptic modulation cannot be emulated using conventional memristors and synaptic transistors. Thus, reported herein is a three-terminal heterosynaptic memtransistor using an intentional-defect-generated molybdenum disulfide channel.

Synthesis of Fully Deacetylated Quaternized Chitosan with Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity and Low Cytotoxicity.

Fully deacetylated quaternary chitosan (DQCTS) was prepared by replacing the carboxyl group of chitosan with a quaternary ammonium salt. The DQCTS was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The antimicrobial activity of DQCTS was evaluated using the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) methods and time-kill assay.

3D-Printed Pectin/Carboxymethyl Cellulose/ZnO Bio-Inks: Comparative Analysis with the Solution Casting Method.

Bio-inks consisting of pectin (Pec), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO) were used to prepare films by solution casting and 3D-printing methods. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) was conducted to observe that the surface of samples made by 3D bioprinter was denser and more compact than the solution cast samples. In addition, Pec/CMC/ZnO made by 3D-bioprinter (Pec/CMC/ZnO-3D) revealed enhanced water vapor barrier, hydrophobicity, and mechanical properties.

Selective Butyrate Esterase Probe for the Rapid Colorimetric and Fluorogenic Identification of .

Clinical identification of the pathogenic bacterium in cultures relies on the detection of bacterial butyrate esterase (C4-esterase) using a coumarin-based fluorogenic substrate, 4-methylumbelliferyl butyrate. However, this classical probe may give false-positive responses because of its poor stability and lack of specificity. Here, we report a new colorimetric and fluorogenic probe design employing a -ester-substituted boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dye for the specific detection of C4-esterase activity expressed by .

Treatment Strategy for Impending Instability in Spinal Metastases.

Backgroud: Determining surgical management of a spinal metastasis is difficult owing to the involvement of multiple factors. The spinal instability neoplastic score (SINS) system is a reliable tool to evaluate instability in spinal metastases. The intermediate SINS (scores 7-12) indicates impending instability, which makes it difficult to determine the proper treatment strategy.

Comparative antibacterial and antifungal activities of sulfur nanoparticles capped with chitosan.

The antimicrobial activity of sulfur nanoparticles (SNPs) was compared with elemental sulfur and sulfur-containing salts (sodium thiosulfate and sodium metabisulfite) against bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus) and fungi (Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans) using the paper disc, broth microdilution, and time-kill assay methods. The results of the paper disc and MIC tests showed stronger antimicrobial activity of SNPs compared to the elemental sulfur and sulfur-containing salts. SNPs showed more potent activity against bacteria than fungi.

Kaposiform Hemangioendothelioma in Adolescent-Onset Scoliosis: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) is a vascular tumor of very low incidence, which occurs mostly in children and infants. The tumor is recognized for its locally aggressive, yet rarely metastatic behavior. It may cause consumptive coagulopathy known as Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon.

Optoelectronics of Multijunction Heterostructures of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides.

Among p-n junction devices with multilayered heterostructures with WSe and MoSe, a device with the MoSe-WSe-MoSe (NPN) structure showed a remarkably high photoresponse, which was 1000 times higher than the MoSe-WSe (NP) structure. The ideality factor of the NPN structure was estimated to be ∼1, lower than that of the NP structure. It is claimed that the NPN structure formed a thinner depletion region than that of the NP structure because of the difference of carrier concentrations of MoSe and WSe.

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Quinoa ( Willd.) Seeds Cultivated in Korea.

The objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of quinoa cultivated in Korea and to compare it with imported quinoa from the USA and Peru. The highest amount of total flavonoid contents (TFC) with 20.91 mg quercetin equivalents/100 g was measured in quinoa seed extract cultivated in Korea, while the total phenolic contents (TPC) were significantly higher in quinoa from the USA (16.

Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of the distal oblique bundle in the distal interosseous membrane of the forearm.

Background: Some cadaveric studies have reported the role of the distal oblique bundle (DOB) in the distal radioulnar joint stability. We aimed to determine whether the presence of the DOB can be identified and its thickness can be measured in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 468 wrist and forearm MRIs.

Validation of a fibula graft cutting guide for mandibular reconstruction: experiment with rapid prototyping mandible model.

Objective: We examined whether cutting a fibula graft with a surgical guide template, prepared with computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), would improve the precision and accuracy of mandibular reconstruction.

Methods: Thirty mandibular rapid prototype (RP) models were allocated to experimental (N = 15) and control (N = 15) groups. Thirty identical fibular RP models were assigned randomly, 15 to each group.

Novel three-dimensional position analysis of the mandibular foramen in patients with skeletal class III mandibular prognathism.

Purpose: To analyze the relative position of the mandibular foramina (MnFs) in patients diagnosed with skeletal class III malocclusion.

Materials And Methods: Computed tomography (CT) images were collected from 85 patients. The vertical lengths of each anatomic point from the five horizontal planes passing through the MnF were measured at the coronoid process, sigmoid notch, condyle, and the gonion.

Anterior tympanic plate fracture following extraction of the lower molar.

The present case report describes an external auditory canal injury following extraction of the lower molar. The external auditory canal was torn in the same fashion that occurs in an anterior tympanic plate fracture. This case demonstrates one of the rare complications associated with dental extractions.

SAFETY OF A CRM197-CONJUGATED HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE TYPE B VACCINE IN KOREAN CHILDREN.

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a major cause of meningitis and pneumonia with high morbidity and mortality rates in young children. The introduction of effective and well-tolerated conjugate Hib vaccines, has nearly eradicated this disease in many countries. We investigated the safety of the Hib PRP-CRM197 vaccine in a multi-center post-marketing surveillance (PMS) study.

Clinical Performance of the 1st American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Clinical Guideline on Prevention of Symptomatic Pulmonary Embolism after Total Knee Arthroplasty in Korean Patients.

We sought to document the clinical performance of the 1st American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) guideline on the prevention of symptomatic pulmonary embolism (PE) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in Korean patients, in terms of the proportions of the each risk-stratified group, efficacy and safety. Consecutive 328 patients underwent TKA were preoperatively assessed for the risks of PE and bleeding and categorized into 4 groups: 1) standard risk, 2) high risk for PE, 3) high risk for bleeding, and 4) high risks both for PE and bleeding. One of three options was administered according to the groups (aspirin in group 1 or 4; enoxaparin and following aspirin in group 2; antithrombotic stocking in group 3).

dNP2 is a blood-brain barrier-permeable peptide enabling ctCTLA-4 protein delivery to ameliorate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Central nervous system (CNS)-infiltrating effector T cells play critical roles in the development and progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, current drugs for MS are very limited due to the difficulty of delivering drugs into the CNS. Here we identify a cell-permeable peptide, dNP2, which efficiently delivers proteins into mouse and human T cells, as well as various tissues.

Short-term effects of high-intensity laser therapy on frozen shoulder: A prospective randomized control study.

Background: Frozen shoulder, which is characterized by shoulder pain and limitation of the range of motion (ROM), is a common disorder. High-intensity laser therapy (HILT) was recently introduced in the musculoskeletal therapeutic field.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of HILT in patients with frozen shoulder.

Risk factors for osteoarthritis and contributing factors to current arthritic pain in South Korean older adults.

Purpose: Although previous studies have focused on risk factors for osteoarthritis, there is some debate on this issue. Furthermore, associated factors with arthritic symptom (arthralgia) have not been sufficiently investigated, despite its clinical importance in the management of osteoarthritis. This study was performed to examine the risk factors for osteoarthritis and the contributing factors to current arthritic pain in older adults.