Effects of hip brace on coxa valga in nonambulatory children with cerebral palsy: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Coxa valga, measured as the neck-shaft angle (NSA) or head-shaft angle (HSA), is regarded as a potential risk factor for hip dislocation in patients with cerebral palsy. We investigated the effects of a novel hip brace on coxa valga.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted from July 2019 to November 2021.

Efficacy of a Hip Brace for Hip Displacement in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: There is no consensus on interventions to slow the progress of hip displacement in patients with cerebral palsy.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of a novel hip brace in preventing progressive hip displacement in patients with cerebral palsy.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This 2-group randomized clinical trial was conducted at 4 tertiary hospitals in South Korea from July 2019 to November 2021.

An ultrasound-responsive dual-modal US/T -MRI contrast agent for potential diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Background: Interest in an ultrasound-mediated delivery system for effective T -MRI of prostate cancer without adverse effects has steadily increased.

Purpose: To develop an ultrasound-responsive dual-modal ultrasound (US)/T -MRI contrast agent for efficient diagnosis of prostate cancer cells overexpressing prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and assess their potential.

Study Type: In vitro.

Smart Gold Nanoparticle-Stabilized Ultrasound Microbubbles as Cancer Theranostics.

Smart gold nanoparticle-stabilized microbubbles (SAuMBs) composed of a gas-filled core and shell including smart gold nanoparticles (SAuNPs) which can be aggregated in tumors were applied as ultrasound-mediated cancer theranostics. The gas core in the microstructure enabled the detection of tumors using ultrasound and facilitated the delivery of SAuNPs by sonoporation. The SAuNPs spontaneously aggregated in tumors, which allowed photoacoustic (PA) monitoring and photothermal treatment (PTT) of tumors.

Ions doped melanin nanoparticle as a multiple imaging agent.

Background: Multimodal nanomaterials are useful for providing enhanced diagnostic information simultaneously for a variety of in vivo imaging methods. According to our research findings, these multimodal nanomaterials offer promising applications for cancer therapy.

Results: Melanin nanoparticles can be used as a platform imaging material and they can be simply produced by complexation with various imaging active ions.

Fluorescent Property of Chitosan Oligomer and Its Application as a Metal Ion Sensor.

An aqueous solution was successfully prepared using a low-molecular-weight chitosan oligomer and FITC, and its structural and fluorescent properties were observed by using ¹H NMR, C NMR, FT-IR, XRD, UV-Vis, and PL spectrometry. Its application as a metal ion sensor was also evaluated. The fluorescence in the water-soluble chitosan oligomer was a result of the carbamato anion (NHCOO-), and a synthesized FITC-labeled chitosan oligomer exhibited an effective detection effect for copper ion as well as energy transfer by the ion near FITC that caused a fluorescence decrease (quenching).

Synthesis of ultrasound contrast agents: characteristics and size distribution analysis (secondary publication).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish a method for ultrasound (US) contrast agent synthesis and to evaluate the characteristics of the synthesized US contrast agent.

Methods: A US contrast agent, composed of liposome and sulfur hexafluoride (SF), was synthesized by dissolving 21 μmol 1,2-dihexadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC, CHNOP), 9 μmol cholesterol, and 1.9 μmol of dihexadecylphosphate (DCP, [CH(CH)15O]P(O)OH) in chloroform.

One-pot synthesis of injectable methylcellulose hydrogel containing calcium phosphate nanoparticles.

A thermo-sensitive hydrogel based on calcium phosphate nanoparticles was prepared using a novel one-pot method in which added precursor salts induced a salt-out effect in the methylcellulose (MC) solution. The calcium phosphate nanoparticles were synthesized in situ from precursor ions (Ca and HPO) in the hydrogel, and residual ions (HPO and Cl) in the formation of the nanoparticles decreased the gelation temperature of the MC solution. This one-pot synthesis was an effective way to streamline the previous multi-step process and to easily prepare a thermo-sensitive hydrogel containing bioactive nanoparticles.

Gelation Behaviors and Mechanism of Silk Fibroin According to the Addition of Nitrate Salts.

Silk fibroin (SF) is a typical fibrous protein that is secreted by silkworms and spiders. It has been used in a variety of areas, and especially for tissue-engineering scaffolds, due to its sound processability, mechanical properties, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. With respect to gelation, the SF gelation time is long in aqueous solutions, so a novel approach is needed to shorten this time.

Ultrasound-Guided Delivery of siRNA and a Chemotherapeutic Drug by Using Microbubble Complexes: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluations in a Prostate Cancer Model.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound and microbubble-liposome complex (MLC)-mediated delivery of siRNA and doxorubicin into prostate cancer cells and its therapeutic capabilities both in vitro and in vivo.

Materials And Methods: Microbubble-liposome complexes conjugated with anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (Her2) antibodies were developed to target human prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 and LNCaP. Intracellular delivery of MLC was observed by confocal microscopy.

Theragnostic ultrasound using microbubbles in the treatment of prostate cancer.

The use of gas-filled microbubbles in perfusion monitoring as intravascular ultrasound contrast agents has recently become more common. Additionally, microbubbles are employed as carriers of pharmaceutical substances or genes. Microbubbles have great potential to improve the delivery of therapeutic materials into cells and to modify vascular permeability, causing increased extravasation of drugs and drug carriers.

Optimization of ultrasound parameters for microbubble-nanoliposome complex-mediated delivery.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the optimal ultrasound (US) parameters for gene and drug delivery.

Methods: In order to target SkBr3, which is a breast cancer cell overexpressing the Her2 receptor, trastuzumab (Herceptin) was used. Micobubble-nanoliposome complex (MLC) was mixed with trastuzumab and stored overnight.

Enhancement of cancer specific delivery using ultrasound active bio-originated particles.

A hybrid multifunctional particle comprising of a microbbule (MB), liposome (Lipo), and an Fe ion chelated melanin nanoparticle (MNP(Fe)) was applied for ultrasound mediated cancer targeting as a theranostic agent.

Allomyrina dichotoma (Arthropoda: Insecta) larvae confer resistance to obesity in mice fed a high-fat diet.

To clarify the anti-obesity effect of Allomyrina dichotoma larvae (ADL), we previously reported that ADL block adipocyte differentiation on 3T3-L1 cell lines through downregulation of transcription factors, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARG) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α (CEBPA). In this study, we tested whether ADL prevent obesity in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and further investigated the mechanism underlying the effects of ADL. All mice were maintained on a normal-fat diet (NFD) for 1 week and then assigned to one of five treatment groups: (1) NFD; (2) HFD; (3) HFD and 100 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1) ADL; (4) HFD and 3000 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1) ADL; or (5) HFD and 3000 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1) yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis, positive control).

Ultrasound-mediated gene and drug delivery using a microbubble-liposome particle system.

Theranostic agents present a promising clinical approach for cancer detection and treatment. We herein introduce a microbubble and liposome complex (MB-Lipo) developed for ultrasound (US) imaging and activation. The MB-Lipo particles have a hybrid structure consisting of a MB complexed with multiple Lipos.

Trastuzumab-conjugated liposome-coated fluorescent magnetic nanoparticles to target breast cancer.

Objective: To synthesize mesoporous silica-core-shell magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) encapsulated by liposomes (Lipo [MNP@m-SiO2]) in order to enhance their stability, allow them to be used in any buffer solution, and to produce trastuzumab-conjugated (Lipo[MNP@m-SiO2]-Her2Ab) nanoparticles to be utilized in vitro for the targeting of breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: The physiochemical characteristics of Lipo[MNP@m-SiO2] were assessed in terms of size, morphological features, and in vitro safety. The multimodal imaging properties of the organic dye incorporated into Lipo[MNP@m-SiO2] were assessed with both in vitro fluorescence and MR imaging.

Fabrication of microfibrous and nano-/microfibrous scaffolds: melt and hybrid electrospinning and surface modification of poly(L-lactic acid) with plasticizer.

Biodegradable poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA) fibrous scaffolds were prepared by electrospinning from a PLA melt containing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as a plasticizer to obtain thinner fibers. The effects of PEG on the melt electrospinning of PLA were examined in terms of the melt viscosity and fiber diameter. Among the parameters, the content of PEG had a more significant effect on the average fiber diameter and its distribution than those of the spinning temperature.

Microarray expression profiling of Spodoptera litura in response to oxidative stress.

To examine the expression profile of oxidative stress responsive genes in Spodoptera litura, we constructed a cDNA library from S. litura injected with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). Using a microarray chip composed of 2,964 cDNAs, we screened gene expression at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 h post H(2)O(2) injection.

Plasma-treated silk fibroin nanofibers for skin regeneration.

Silk fibroin (SF) nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning and treated with plasma in the presence of oxygen or methane gas to modify their surface characteristics. The surface characteristics of the SF nanofibers after plasma treatment were examined using contact angle measurements and XPS analysis. The hydrophilicity of the electrospun SF nanofibers decreased slightly by the CH(4) plasma treatment.

Superhydrophobicity of PHBV fibrous surface with bead-on-string structure.

A poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) fibrous surface with various bead-on-string structures was fabricated by electrospinning. PHBV was electrospun at various concentrations and then CF4 plasma treatment was employed to further improve the hydrophobicity of the PHBV fiber surfaces. The surface morphology of the electrospun PHBV mats was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).