A strategy of materials synthesis, characteristic evaluations, and manufacturing process for a mechanically elastic, biologically safe silicon‐based dopamine detector that is designed to be ...completely transient, i.e., dissolved in water and/or biofluids, potentially in the brain after a desired period of operation, is introduced. Use of inexpensive, bioresorbable iron (Fe)‐based nanoparticles (NPs) is one of the attractive choices for efficient catalytic oxidation of dopamine as an alternative for noble, nontransient platinum (Pt) nanoparticles, based on extensive studies of synthesized materials and catalytic reactions. Arrays of transient dopamine sensors validate electrochemical functionality to determine physiological levels of dopamine and to selectively sense dopamine in a variety of neurotransmitters, illuminating feasibilities for a higher level of soft, transient electronic implants integrated with other components of overall system.
Bioresorbable silicon nanomembranes coated with iron‐containing hybrid nanoparticles for a flexible, transient electrochemical system capable of monitoring physiological levels of dopamine are presented in this article. Results on synthesis of materials, catalytic activity, and manufacturing process highlight the capabilities to apply this technology to biomedical implants. Large‐scale arrays of sensors demonstrate a functional capacity to determine physiological concentrations of dopamine.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Background: The exact role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of TB is poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests that neutrophils are
not simply scavenging phagocytes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis ...( Mtb ) infection.
Methods: Three different types of clinical specimens from patients with active pulmonary TB who underwent lung surgery were examined:
sputum, BAL fluid, and cavity contents. Differential cell separation and quantification were performed for intracellular and
extracellular bacteria, and bacterial length was measured using microscopy.
Results: Neutrophils were more abundant than macrophages in sputum (86.6% ± 2.2% vs 8.4% ± 1.3%) and in BAL fluid (78.8% ± 5.8% vs
11.8% ± 4.1%). Inside the cavity, lymphocytes (41.3% ± 11.2%) were the most abundant cell type, followed by neutrophils (38.8%
± 9.4%) and macrophages (19.5% ± 7.5%). More intracellular bacilli were found in neutrophils than macrophages in sputum (67.6%
± 5.6% vs 25.2% ± 6.5%), in BAL fluid (65.1% ± 14.4% vs 28.3% ± 11.6%), and in cavities (61.8% ± 13.3% vs 23.9% ± 9.3%). The
lengths of Mtb were shortest in cavities (1.9± 0.1 μ m), followed by in sputum (2.9 ± 0.1 μm) and in BAL fluid (3.6 ± 0.2 μm).
Conclusions: Our results show that neutrophils are the predominant cell types infected with Mtb in patients with TB and that these intracellular bacteria appear to replicate rapidly. These results are consistent with
a role for neutrophils in providing a permissive site for a final burst of active replication of the bacilli prior to transmission.
To evaluate the impact of abdominal binder (AB) use on postoperative shoulder pain in patients recovering from laparoscopic gynecologic surgery.
This was a prospective randomized study conducted in a ...tertiary teaching hospital. Overall, 144 patients underwent laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. The postoperative use of an AB for 24 hours was added to the pulmonary recruitment maneuver.
Of 144 consenting patients, 72 patients each were allocated to the AB and control groups, respectively, and 14 patients were excluded. Finally, 130 patients were analyzed, with 68 in the AB group and 62 in the control group. There was no difference in the incidence of postoperative shoulder pain between the 2 groups (55.9% vs 56.5%, P = 1.000). The severity of the worst shoulder pain, measured using a numerical rating scale, did not differ between the 2 groups (Median interquartile range 2 0-5 vs 2 0-5; P = .865). The severity of surgical site pain, pain and nausea medications, and the ambulation time were not different in the 2 groups.
The use of an AB was not beneficial for postoperative shoulder pain following laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. Surgical site pain, ambulation time, and postoperative nausea and vomiting were not improved with the use of an AB.
Identification of highly selective type II kinase inhibitors is described. Two different chiral peptidomimetic scaffolds were introduced on the tail region of non-selective type II kinase inhibitor ...GNF-7 to enhance the selectivity. Kinome-wide selectivity profiling analysis showed that type II kinase inhibitor 7a potently inhibited Lck kinase with great selectivity (IC
50
of 23.0 nM). It was found that 7a and its derivatives possessed high selectivity for Lck over even structurally conserved all Src family kinases. We also observed that 7a inhibited Lck activation in Jurkat T cells. Moreover, 7a was found to alleviate clinical symptoms in DSS-induced colitis mice. This study provides a novel insight into the design of selective type II kinase inhibitors by adopting chiral peptidomimetic moieties on the tail region.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Many people travel to improve their wellbeing perception (WBP), and senior tourists in South Korea are no exception in that they hope to enhance their quality of life through tourism. As such, this ...study explored the significance of WBP in the senior tourism industry in South Korea. The current paper collected samples from 349 senior tourists. Analysis of data indicated that brand prestige contributes to increasing WBP among seniors and improving consumer attitude. In addition, it was found that WBP positively affects both consumer attitude and word-of-mouth (WOM). Lastly, tour guide services moderated the relationship between (1) brand prestige and WBP and (2) consumer attitude and WOM. The current paper then presents theoretical and practical implications of the statistical results.
BACKGROUNDCOVID-19 has brought changes in daily life and increased the medical burden. This study aims to evaluate the delays in healthcare services and related factors in the general population ...during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODSWe took a nationally representative sample and conducted a mobile phone-based survey. The study was conducted anonymously. Of the 3377 subjects who consented to participate, a total of 2097 finished the survey. The primary outcome was respondents' experiences with delayed (1) health screenings, (2) non-urgent medical visits, (3) medical visits for chronic disease, and (4) emergency visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTSOf 2097 respondents, females, residents of the Seoul metropolitan area, those with private insurance, those without chronic diseases, smokers, and drinkers had higher risk of delays in health screening and non-urgent medical visits after adjustment. Among chronic disease patients, those who were over 60 years old (adjusted odds ratio 0.36, 95% CI 0.14-0.92) showed lower risk of delayed medical visit. Residents of the Seoul metropolitan area, those with private insurance, smokers, and drinkers were all associated with experiencing delayed health screening and non-urgent medical visits had higher risk of delays in chronic disease visits and emergent medical visits. CONCLUSIONSDelayed access to healthcare services is associated with poor outcomes and may cause different complications. Efforts are needed to prevent delays in medical use due to infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Considering the possibility of the emergence of infectious diseases, various countermeasures are needed to prevent delays in medical visit.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Our previous study showed that hydrangenol isolated from
leaves exerts antiphotoaging activity in vitro. In this study, we determined its antiphotoaging effect in UVB-irradiated HR-1 hairless mice. ...We evaluated wrinkle formation, skin thickness, histological characteristics, and mRNA and protein expression using qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis in dorsal skins. Hydrangenol mitigated wrinkle formation, dorsal thickness, dehydration, and collagen degradation. Hydrangenol increased the expression of involucrin, filaggrin, and aquaporin-3 (AQP3) as well as hyaluronic acid (HA) production via hyaluronidase (HYAL)-1/-2 downregulation. Consistent with the recovery of collagen composition, the expression of Pro-COL1A1 was increased by hydrangenol. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1/-3, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression was reduced by hydrangenol. Hydrangenol attenuated the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) including ERK and p38, activator protein 1 (AP-1) subunit, and signal transduction and activation of transcription 1 (STAT1). Hydrangenol upregulated the expression of nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO-1), glutamate cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM), and glutamate cysteine ligase catalysis subunit (GCLC). Taken together, our data suggest that hydrangenol can prevent wrinkle formation by reducing MMP and inflammatory cytokine levels and increasing the expression of moisturizing factors and antioxidant genes.
Abstract Objective To determine whether a cardiovascular disease (CVD) health screening program is associated with CVD-related health conditions, incidence of cardiovascular events, mortality, ...healthcare utilization, and costs. Methods Cohort study of a 3% random sample of all Korea National Health Insurance members 40 years of age or older and free of CVD or CVD-related health conditions was conducted. A total 443,337 study participants were followed-up from January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2010. Results In primary analysis, the hazard ratios for CVD mortality, all-cause mortality, incident composite CVD events, myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction, and cerebral hemorrhage comparing participants who attended a screening exam during 2003–2004 compared to those who did not were 0.58 (95% CI: 0.53–0.63), 0.62 (95% CI: 0.60–0.64), 0.82 (95% CI: 0.78–0.85), 0.84 (95% CI: 0.75–0.93), 0.84 (95% CI: 0.79–0.89), and 0.73 (95% CI: 0.67–0.80), respectively. Screening attenders had higher rates of newly diagnosed hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia, lower inpatient days of stay and cost, and lower outpatient cost compared to non-attenders. Conclusions Participation in CVD health screening was associated with lower rates of CVD, all-cause mortality, and CVD events, higher detection of CVD-related health conditions, and lower healthcare utilization and costs.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
The United States (US) is a well-known international tourism destination. However, some states, such as Michigan, remain unfamiliar to international tourists. The current study reflects the rapid ...increase of Chinese residents in the US, targeting this group as potential international tourists to Michigan. This quantitative study seeks to identify factors that determine the visit intentions of this tourist segment. To this end, it examines the relationship between destination image, factors pertaining to the theory of planned behavior (TPB), acculturation, and visit intention. An online survey is conducted, and the collected data are analyzed using partial-least-square structural equation modeling. The results validate the destination image as strongly related to attitudes. Among the TPB factors, perceived behavioral control is most strongly related to visit intention, followed by subjective norms and attitudes. Acculturation partially mediates the relationship between perceived behavioral control and visit intention. The result can be utilized in destinations not renowned as popular international tourism destinations and that need a new business opportunity to revitalize the local economy.
Before edible insects may be used as an alternative food, it is necessary to develop basic product forms and evaluate their characteristics. We made two basic commercial products (defatted powder and ...oil) from mealworm, a popular edible insect. The defatted mealworm powder possessed a sufficient amount of protein, and it had a savory taste due to plentiful free amino acids. Additionally, it had abundant minor nutrients and bioactive compounds. The physicochemical properties of mealworm oil were very similar to vegetable oil, and mealworm oil was also abundant in bioactive nutrients, especially γ-tocopherol. In addition, the predicted shelf life of mealworm oil was suitable for commercial use. Moreover, mealworm had high antioxidant and anti-inflammation activities, which may arise from functional peptides and glucosamine derivatives such as chitin and chitosan. In short, the defatted mealworm powder and mealworm oil could be successfully used as novel food ingredients.
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