Real-Time Monitoring of Volatile Organic Compound-Mediated Plant Intercommunication Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Nanosensor.

Plants communicate through volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but real-time monitoring of VOCs for plant intercommunication is not practically possible yet. A nanobionic VOC sensor plant is created to study VOC-mediated plant intercommunication by incorporating surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanosensors into a living plant. This sensor allows real-time monitoring of VOC with a sensitivity down to the parts per trillion level.

SERS detection of dopamine using metal-chelated Ag nanoshell.

As the concentrations of different neurotransmitters can indicate the presence of certain disorders affecting brain functions, quantitative analyses of neurotransmitters have attracted increasing attention in various fields. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is an outstanding spectroscopic analytical tool that enables detection at the single molecule level with high specificity. As local field enhancement of surface plasmon is effective within nanometers, active interaction between SERS-active noble metals (gold and silver) and analyte molecules enhances the molecular detection capacity of SERS.

Schisandrol A and gomisin N from extract improve hypogonadism via anti-oxidative stress in TM3 Leydig cells.

Background/objectives: Male hypogonadism is a condition where the body does not produce enough testosterone and significantly impacts health. Age, obesity, genetics, and oxidative stress are some physiological factors that may contribute to testosterone deficiency. Previous studies have shown many pharmacological benefits of () Baillon as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.

In vivo surface-enhanced Raman scattering nanosensor for the real-time monitoring of multiple stress signalling molecules in plants.

When under stress, plants release molecules to activate their defense system. Detecting these stress-related molecules offers the possibility to address stress conditions and prevent the development of diseases. However, detecting endogenous signalling molecules in living plants remains challenging due to low concentrations of these analytes and interference with other compounds; additionally, many methods currently used are invasive and labour-intensive.

The Patient-Derived Cancer Organoids: Promises and Challenges as Platforms for Cancer Discovery.

The cancer burden is rapidly increasing in most countries, and thus, new anticancer drugs for effective cancer therapy must be developed. Cancer model systems that recapitulate the biological processes of human cancers are one of the cores of the drug development process. PDCO has emerged as a unique model that preserves the genetic, physiological, and histologic characteristics of original cancer, including inter- and intratumoral heterogeneities.

Highly sensitive near-infrared SERS nanoprobes for in vivo imaging using gold-assembled silica nanoparticles with controllable nanogaps.

Background: To take advantages, such as multiplex capacity, non-photobleaching property, and high sensitivity, of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based in vivo imaging, development of highly enhanced SERS nanoprobes in near-infrared (NIR) region is needed. A well-controlled morphology and biocompatibility are essential features of NIR SERS nanoprobes. Gold (Au)-assembled nanostructures with controllable nanogaps with highly enhanced SERS signals within multiple hotspots could be a breakthrough.

Lateral Flow Immunoassay with Quantum-Dot-Embedded Silica Nanoparticles for Prostate-Specific Antigen Detection.

Prostate cancer can be detected early by testing the presence of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. Lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) has been used because it is cost effective and easy to use and also has a rapid sample-to-answer process. Quantum dots (QDs) with very bright fluorescence have been previously used to improve the detection sensitivity of LFIAs.

Silver-Assembled Silica Nanoparticles in Lateral Flow Immunoassay for Visual Inspection of Prostate-Specific Antigen.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is the best-known biomarker for early diagnosis of prostate cancer. For prostate cancer in particular, the threshold level of PSA <4.0 ng/mL in clinical samples is an important indicator.

Clinical outcomes of submucosal colorectal cancer diagnosed after endoscopic resection: a focus on the need for surgery.

Background/aims: We aimed to investigate the proportion of and risk factors for residual cancer and/or lymph node metastasis after surgery was performed because of high-risk pathological features in endoscopic resection specimen of suspected superficial submucosal colorectal cancer (SSMC).

Methods: We reviewed medical records of 497 patients (58.8 ± 9.

Effect of Alkylamines on Morphology Control of Silver Nanoshells for Highly Enhanced Raman Scattering.

Morphology control of the surface of a nanostructure is a key issue in modulating its surface plasmon resonance and scattering properties. Here, we studied the effect of alkylamines on morphology control during the one-step fabrication of silver nanoshells (NSs) for highly enhanced Raman scattering. Various types of alkylamines were used to study the effects of chain length, existence of hydroxyl groups, and degree of alkyl chains on the surface morphology of silver NSs.

Estrogen reinforces barrier formation and protects against tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced barrier dysfunction in oral epithelial cells.

Purpose: Epithelial barrier dysfunction is involved in the pathophysiology of periodontitis and oral lichen planus. Estrogens have been shown to enhance the physical barrier function of intestinal and esophageal epithelia, and we aimed to investigate the effect of estradiol (E2) on the regulation of physical barrier and tight junction (TJ) proteins in human oral epithelial cell monolayers.

Methods: HOK-16B cell monolayers cultured on transwells were treated with E2, an estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist (ICI 182,780), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), or dexamethasone (Dexa), and the transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) was then measured.

Mitogen- and Stress-Activated Protein Kinase 1 Regulates Status Epilepticus-Evoked Cell Death in the Hippocampus.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling has been implicated in a wide range of neuronal processes, including development, plasticity, and viability. One of the principal downstream targets of both the extracellular signal-regulated kinase/MAPK pathway and the p38 MAPK pathway is Mitogen- and Stress-activated protein Kinase 1 (MSK1). Here, we sought to understand the role that MSK1 plays in neuroprotection against excitotoxic stimulation in the hippocampus.

Detection of Autoantibodies against Aquaporin-1 in the Sera of Patients with Primary Sjögren's Syndrome.

The pathophysiology of glandular dysfunction in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) has not been fully elucidated. Previously, we reported the presence of autoantibodies to AQP-5 in patients with SS, which was associated with a low resting salivary flow. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of anti-AQP1 autoantibodies.

QTLs and analysis of the candidate gene for amylose, protein, and moisture content in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

In this study, we determined using NIRS the heritability percentage of amylose, protein, and moisture content in polished and unpolished rice in a CNDH population derived from a cross between Cheongcheong and Nagdong rice varieties. The results revealed a higher heritability percentage for the amylose content and compromised heritability for protein and moisture contents. We also conducted QTL analysis of rice for these major components and identified their chromosomal locations on a physical map.

Neuroprotective effect of lithium after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus in mice.

Status epilepticus is the most common serious neurological condition triggered by abnormal electrical activity, leading to severe and widespread cell loss in the brain. Lithium has been one of the main drugs used for the treatment of bipolar disorder for decades, and its anticonvulsant and neuroprotective properties have been described in several neurological disease models. However, the therapeutic mechanisms underlying lithium's actions remain poorly understood.

Effect of rotation preference on spontaneous alternation behavior on Y maze and introduction of a new analytical method, entropy of spontaneous alternation.

Y maze has been used to test spatial working memory in rodents. To this end, the percentage of spontaneous alternation has been employed. Alternation indicates sequential entries into all three arms; e.

The Proteolytic Activity of Porphyromonas gingivalis Is Critical in a Murine Model of Periodontitis.

Background: Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), a periodontal pathogen, has interstrain variability in virulence. The aim of this study is to determine the contribution of the cell invasion ability and proteolytic activity of Pg to its virulence in a murine model of periodontitis.

Methods: Three clinical isolates: KUMC-P1 (P1: low cell invasion ability and low proteolytic activity); KUMC-P4 (P4: low cell invasion ability and high proteolytic activity); and KUMC-P8 (P8: high cell invasion ability and low proteolytic activity), were orally administered into mice.

The presence of bacteria within tissue provides insights into the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic T cell-mediated mucocutaneous disease of unknown etiopathogenesis. Although various antigens have been considered, what actually triggers the inflammatory response of T cells is unknown. In the present study, we propose that intracellular bacteria present within tissues trigger T cell infiltration and provide target antigens.

Status epilepticus stimulates NDEL1 expression via the CREB/CRE pathway in the adult mouse brain.

Nuclear distribution element-like 1 (NDEL1/NUDEL) is a mammalian homolog of the Aspergillus nidulans nuclear distribution molecule NudE. NDEL1 plays a critical role in neuronal migration, neurite outgrowth and neuronal positioning during brain development; however within the adult central nervous system, limited information is available regarding NDEL1 expression and functions. Here, the goal was to examine inducible NDEL1 expression in the adult mouse forebrain.

Neuroprotective effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester in 3-nitropropionic acid-induced striatal neurotoxicity.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), derived from honeybee hives, is a bioactive compound with strong antioxidant activity. This study was designed to test the neuroprotective effect of CAPE in 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP)-induced striatal neurotoxicity, a chemical model of Huntington's disease (HD). Initially, to test CAPE's antioxidant activity, a 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) antioxidant assay was employed, and CAPE showed a strong direct radical-scavenging eff ect.

Mucosal and salivary microbiota associated with recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

Background: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common oral mucosal disorder of unclear etiopathogenesis. Although recent studies of the oral microbiota by high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes have suggested that imbalances in the oral microbiota may contribute to the etiopathogenesis of RAS, no specific bacterial species associated with RAS have been identified. The present study aimed to characterize the microbiota in the oral mucosa and saliva of RAS patients in comparison with control subjects at the species level.

Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation from Smartphones on Learning Ability and Hippocampal Progenitor Cell Proliferation in Mice.

Objectives: Nonionizing radiation is emitted from electronic devices, such as smartphones. In this study, we intended to elucidate the effect of electromagnetic radiation from smartphones on spatial working memory and progenitor cell proliferation in the hippocampus.

Methods: Both male and female mice were randomly separated into two groups (radiated and control) and the radiated group was exposed to electromagnetic radiation for 9 weeks and 11 weeks for male and female mice, respectively.

The neuroprotective mechanism of ampicillin in a mouse model of transient forebrain ischemia.

Ampicillin, a β-lactam antibiotic, dose-dependently protects neurons against ischemic brain injury. The present study was performed to investigate the neuroprotective mechanism of ampicillin in a mouse model of transient global forebrain ischemia. Male C57BL/6 mice were anesthetized with halothane and subjected to bilateral common carotid artery occlusion for 40 min.

Induction of proteinase 3-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies by proteinase 3-homologous bacterial protease in mice.

Proteinase 3 (PR3) is the principal target of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) associated with granulomatosis with polyangiitis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether bacterial PR3-homologous protease can induce autoantibodies to PR3 and ANCA-associated pathology in mice. Among the bacterial proteases that have greater than 30 % identity with PR3, a trypsin-like serine protease of Saccharomonospora viridis, a bacterium that causes hypersensitivity pneumonitis, was chosen.

In Situ Detection of Bacteria within Paraffin-embedded Tissues Using a Digoxin-labeled DNA Probe Targeting 16S rRNA.

The presence of bacteria within the pocket epithelium and underlying connective tissue in gingival biopsies from patients with periodontitis has been reported using various methods, including electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence using bacteria-specific antibodies, and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using a fluorescence-labeled oligonucleotide probe. Nevertheless, these methods are not widely used due to technical limitation or difficulties. Here a method to localize bacteria within paraffin-embedded tissues using DIG-labeled DNA probes has been introduced.