Nanoemulsion is an effective antimicrobial for methicillin-resistant in infected swine skin burn wounds.

Unlabelled: Burns are one of the most common injuries in both civilian and combat settings and are difficult to treat. This is particularly true when the wounds are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant (MRSA). A new generation of safe, broadly effective, and easily applied anti-infection agents is needed to successfully prevent and treat infections.

Electrical Kinetic Model of a Hydroxylated Graphene FET Gas Sensor.

Graphene transistor sensors, with advantages such as facile surface functionalization and high sensitivity, have gained extensive research interest in gas detection applications. This study fabricated back-gated graphene transistors and employed a hydroxylation scheme for the surface functionalization of graphene. On the basis of the interaction mechanisms between gas molecules and graphene's electrical properties, a compact electrical kinetics model considering the gas-solid surface reaction of graphene transistors is proposed.

High efficiency graphene-silicon hybrid-integrated thermal and electro-optical modulators.

Graphene modulators are considered a potential solution for achieving high-efficiency light modulation, and graphene-silicon hybrid-integrated modulators are particularly favorable due to their CMOS compatibility and low cost. The exploitation of graphene modulator latent capabilities remains an ongoing endeavour to improve the modulation and energy efficiency. Here, high-efficiency graphene-silicon hybrid-integrated thermal and electro-optical modulators are realized using gold-assisted transfer.

A novel intranasal peptide vaccine inhibits non-small cell lung cancer with KRAS mutation.

KRAS mutations occur commonly in the lung and can lead to the development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). While the mutated KRAS protein is a neoantigen, it usually does not generate an effective anti-tumor immune response on mucosal/epithelial surfaces. Despite this, mutated KRAS remains a potential target for immunotherapy since immune targeting of this protein in animal models has been effective at eliminating tumor cells.

Expansion of exhausted CD8+ T cells associates with increased pulmonary fungal infection risk in anti-melanoma differentiation associated gene 5 dermatomyositis.

Objectives: Anti-MDA5+ dermatomyositis was associated with poor prognosis due to the high incidence of rapid progressive interstitial lung disease, pulmonary infection. The aim of this study is to investigate the abundance and clinical relevance of exhaustion markers on peripheral CD8 T cells from patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM).

Methods: Twenty-nine healthy controls (HCs) and 71 patients with IIM were enrolled, including 42 with anti-MDA5+ and 18 with anti-MDA5- dermatomyositis (DM) and 11 with anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS).

Decrease in cell counts and alteration of phenotype characterize peripheral NK cells of patients with anti-MDA5-positive dermatomyositis.

Objective: To investigate the levels and phenotypes of peripheral natural killer (NK) cells in anti-MDA5+ dermatomyositis (DM) patients, and their association with clinical features.

Methods: Peripheral NK cell counts (NKCCs) were retrospectively collected from 497 patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies and 60 healthy controls. Multi-color flow cytometry was used to determine the NK cell phenotypes in additional 48 DM patients and 26 healthy controls.

A comprehensive analysis of miRNA/isomiRs profile of hydrosalpinx patients with interventional ultrasound sclerotherapy.

Hydrosalpinx is a chronic inflammatory condition with high recurrence rate, and it is reported among female population having fallopian tubal factor infertility. Previously, we have reported that interventional ultrasound sclerotherapy improves endometrial receptivity and pregnancy rate with negligible adverse effects in patients suffering from hydrosalpinx. During present investigation, we have used next generation sequencing (NGS) to characterize the isomiR profiles from the endometrium of patients suffering from hydrosalpinx before and after interventional ultrasound sclerotherapy.

Effective Treatment of Skin Wounds Co-Infected with Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria with a Novel Nanoemulsion.

Wound infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are particularly difficult to treat and present a great challenge to clinicians. Nanoemulsions (NE) are novel oil-in-water emulsions formulated from soybean oil, water, solvent, and surfactants such as benzalkonium chloride (BZK). An optimal ratio of those components produces nanometer-sized particles with the positive-charged surfactant at their oil-water interface.

Dendrimer-based posaconazole nanoplatform for antifungal therapy.

We examined formulating a new antifungal agent, posaconazole (POS) and its derivatives, with different molecular vehicles. Several combinations of drug and carrier molecules were synthesized, and their antifungal activities were evaluated against . Posaconazole and four of its derivatives were conjugated to either generation 5 (G5) dendrimers or partially modified G5 dendrimers.

HBP1-mediated transcriptional repression of AFP inhibits hepatoma progression.

Background: Hepatoma is a common malignancy of the liver. The abnormal high expression of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is intimately associated with hepatoma progress, but the mechanism of transcriptional regulation and singularly activation of AFP gene in hepatoma is not clear.

Methods: The expression of transcription factor HBP1 and AFP and clinical significance were further analyzed in hepatoma tissues from the patients who received surgery or TACE and then monitored for relapse for up 10 years.

Functionalized nanoparticles with targeted antibody to enhance imaging of breast cancer in vivo.

Background: Targeted contrast nanoparticles for breast tumor imaging facilitates early detection and improves treatment efficacy of breast cancer. This manuscript reports the development of an epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) specific, bi-modal, dendrimer conjugate to enhance computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of HER-2-positive breast cancer. This material employs generation 5 poly(amidoamine) dendrimers, encapsulated gold nanoparticles, chelated gadolinium, and anti-human HER-2 antibody to produce the nanoparticle contrast agent.

High-Temperature-Annealed Flexible Carbon Nanotube Network Transistors for High-Frequency Wearable Wireless Electronics.

Semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are potential active materials for fast-growing flexible/wearable applications with low-power dissipation, especially suitable for increasingly important radio-frequency (RF) wireless biosensor systems. However, the operation frequency of the existing flexible carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNT-FETs) is far below the current state-of-the-art GSM spectrum frequency band (typical 850 MHz) for near-field wireless communication applications. In this paper, we successfully conduct a 900 °C annealing process for the flexible CNT-FETs and hence significantly improve their operation frequency up to 2.

A novel combination of intramuscular vaccine adjuvants, nanoemulsion and CpG produces an effective immune response against influenza A virus.

Background: Vaccination is the most effective approach to prevent infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Adjuvants are often used to induce effective immune responses and overcome the immunological weakness of recombinant HPAI antigens. Given the logistical challenges of immunization to HPAI during pandemic situations, vaccines administered via the intramuscular (I.

Acetylation of alpha-fetoprotein promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a well-established biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we investigated the acetylation state of AFP in vivo. AFP acetylation was regulated by the acetyltransferase CBP and the deacetylase SIRT1.

Chronic restraint stress induces esophageal fibrosis with enhanced oxidative stress in a murine model.

Although the underlying mechanism of stress remains unknown, it has been associated with the pathophysiology of gastroesophageal reflux diseases, the development of which appear to be accelerated by oxidative stress and fibrosis. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of chronic restraint stress on esophageal oxidative stress and fibrosis, as well as the impact of oxidative stress in a murine model whereby 8-week old C57BL/6J male mice were subjected to intermittent chronic restraint stress for a two-week period. The current study demonstrated that chronic restraint stress significantly reduced the body weight of mice compared with the control group.

MDM2 promotes genome instability by ubiquitinating the transcription factor HBP1.

Genome instability is a common feature of tumor cells, and the persistent presence of genome instability is a potential mechanism of tumorigenesis. The E3 ubiquitin ligase MDM2 is intimately involved in genome instability, but its mechanisms are unclear. Our data demonstrated that the transcription factor HBP1 is a target of MDM2.

Recombinant H5 hemagglutinin adjuvanted with nanoemulsion protects ferrets against pathogenic avian influenza virus challenge.

Background: Highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses remain a pandemic risk to the world population. Although vaccines are the best solution to prevent this threat, a more effective vaccine for H5 strains of influenza has yet to be developed. All existing vaccines target only serum antibody against influenza as the primary outcome, while mucosal immunity has not been addressed.

Bipolar Resistive Switching Characteristics of HfO/TiO/HfO Trilayer-Structure RRAM Devices on Pt and TiN-Coated Substrates Fabricated by Atomic Layer Deposition.

The HfO/TiO/HfO trilayer-structure resistive random access memory (RRAM) devices have been fabricated on Pt- and TiN-coated Si substrates with Pt top electrodes by atomic layer deposition (ALD). The effect of the bottom electrodes of Pt and TiN on the resistive switching properties of trilayer-structure units has been investigated. Both Pt/HfO/TiO/HfO/Pt and Pt/HfO/TiO/HfO/TiN exhibit typical bipolar resistive switching behavior.

Nanoemulsion is an effective antimicrobial for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in infected wounds.

Aim: To develop NB-201, a nanoemulsion compound, as a novel microbicidal agent against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection, which is a common threat to public health but with limited therapeutic options.

Materials & Methods: NB-201 was tested in in vitro and in vivo murine and porcine models infected with MRSA.

Results: Topical treatment of MRSA-infected wounds with NB-201 significantly decreased bacterial load and had no toxic effects on healthy skin tissues.

A positive feedback loop between Pim-1 kinase and HBP1 transcription factor contributes to hydrogen peroxide-induced premature senescence and apoptosis.

Oxidative stress can induce cell dysfunction and lead to a broad range of degenerative alterations, including carcinogenesis, aging, and other oxidative stress-related conditions. To avoid undergoing carcinogenesis in response to oxidative stress, cells trigger a succession of checkpoint responses, including premature senescence and apoptosis. Increasing evidence indicates that HO, an important cause of oxidative stress, functions as an important physiological regulator of intracellular signaling pathways that participate in regulation of cell premature senescence and apoptosis.

Atomic Layer Deposited Oxide-Based Nanocomposite Structures with Embedded CoPt Nanocrystals for Resistive Random Access Memory Applications.

AlO- or HfO-based nanocomposite structures with embedded CoPt nanocrystals (NCs) on TiN-coated Si substrates have been prepared by combination of thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD) and plasma-enhanced ALD for resistive random access memory (RRAM) applications. The impact of CoPt NCs and their average size/density on the resistive switching properties has been explored. Compared to the control sample without CoPt NCs, ALD-derived Pt/oxide/100 cycle-CoPt NCs/TiN/SiO/Si exhibits a typical bipolar, reliable, and reproducible resistive switching behavior, such as sharp distribution of RRAM parameters, smaller set/reset voltages, stable resistance ratio (≥10) of OFF/ON states, better switching endurance up to 10 cycles, and longer data retention over 10 s.

Senescence: novel insight into DLX3 mutations leading to enhanced bone formation in Tricho-Dento-Osseous syndrome.

The homeodomain transcription factor distal-less homeobox 3 gene (DLX3) is required for hair, tooth and skeletal development. DLX3 mutations have been found to be responsible for Tricho-Dento-Osseous (TDO) syndrome, characterized by kinky hair, thin-pitted enamel and increased bone density. Here we show that the DLX3 mutation (c.

200 GHz Maximum Oscillation Frequency in CVD Graphene Radio Frequency Transistors.

Graphene is a promising candidate in analog electronics with projected operation frequency well into the terahertz range. In contrast to the intrinsic cutoff frequency (f) of 427 GHz, the maximum oscillation frequency (f) of graphene device still remains at low level, which severely limits its application in radio frequency amplifiers. Here, we develop a novel transfer method for chemical vapor deposition graphene, which can prevent graphene from organic contamination during the fabrication process of the devices.

Screening of Nanoemulsion Formulations and Identification of NB-201 as an Effective Topical Antimicrobial for Staphylococcus aureus in a Mouse Model of Infected Wounds.

Despite advances in antimicrobial therapies, wound infection remains a global public health concern. We aimed to formulate and assess various nanoemulsions (NEs) for potential effectiveness as stable antimicrobial agents suitable for topic application. A total of 106 NEs were developed that varied with respect to nonionic and cationic surfactants.

HBP1-mediated Regulation of p21 Protein through the Mdm2/p53 and TCF4/EZH2 Pathways and Its Impact on Cell Senescence and Tumorigenesis.

The activity of the CDK inhibitor p21 is associated with diverse biological activities, including cell proliferation, senescence, and tumorigenesis. However, the mechanisms governing transcription of p21 need to be extensively studied. In this study, we demonstrate that the high-mobility group box-containing protein 1 (HBP1) transcription factor is a novel activator of p21 that works as part of a complex mechanism during senescence and tumorigenesis.