Background and Purpose
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a multifactorial skin condition with complex interactions of innate and adaptive immune responses. There are several existing therapies for AD, ...including topical glucocorticosteroids, emollients, phototherapies, calcineurin inhibitors and immunosuppressants, such as cyclosporine A. Although these therapies reduce inflammation, they also cause serious side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new therapeutic approaches for AD treatment without side effects. There are several studies on natural materials or toxins, such as herbs, ginseng extract and snake venom, for AD treatment. However, treatment of AD with bee venom and its major component, melittin has rarely been studied.
Experimental Approach
Effects of bee venom and melittin were studied in a model of AD in vivo induced by 1‐chloro‐2,4‐dinitrobenzene (DNCB) in female Balb/c mice and in cultures of human keratinocytes, stimulated by TNF‐α/IFN‐γ. The potential pharmacological effects of bee venom and melittin on these in vivo and in vitro AD‐like skin disease models were studied.
Key Results
Bee venom and melittin exhibited potent anti‐atopic activities, shown by decreased AD‐like skin lesions, induced by DNCB in mice. In vitro studies using TNF‐α/IFN‐γ‐stimulated human keratinocytes showed that bee venom and melittin inhibited the increased expression of chemokines, such as CCL17 and CCL22, and pro‐inflammatory cytokines, including IL‐1β, IL‐6 and IFN‐γ, through the blockade of the NF‐κB and STAT signalling pathways.
Conclusions and Implications
Our results suggest that bee venom and melittin would be suitable for epicutaneous application, as topical administration is often appropriate for the treatment of AD.
Despite the rapid development of various wearable generators to harvest energy from human activity, they are limited to single or intermittent power generation. Here, stretchable and washable energy ...harvesting fabric is reported, which enables biomechanical and biochemical generation through co‐weaving triboelectric generator (TEG) and perspiration electric generator (PEG)‐based fibers. The two energy harvesting approaches can work individually or simultaneously, thereby combating humidity and increasing the electrical output. The maximum output power density of TEG‐ and PEG‐based fibers can achieve 166 and 5.4 µW cm−2, respectively. The woven‐structured patch‐type energy harvester is conformable with clothing. It can harvest energy from human movements and sweat to drive the wearable Internet of Things (IoT) without charging systems. This synergistic and complementary energy harvester can provide a viable standalone power source relying solely on human activity for wearable electronics.
A woven‐structured energy harvester that operates using dual bio‐physicochemical sources is developed by co‐weaving triboelectric generator (TEG)‐based and perspiration electric generator (PEG)‐based fibers. These two types of fibers can work either individually or simultaneously, making them resistant to humidity and increasing their electrical output. The woven‐structured energy harvester can continuously power Internet of Things (IoT) devices and demonstrate remarkable washing durability.
Background
The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of computed tomography (CT) attenuation and F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) ...to predict peritoneal recurrence-free survival (RFS) as well as RFS and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC).
Methods
We retrospectively enrolled 117 patients with AGC who underwent staging FDG positron emission tomography (PET)/CT and subsequent curative surgical resection. CT attenuation and FDG uptake (SUV) of VAT and maximum FDG uptake of primary tumor (SUVmaxT) were measured from PET/CT images. The relationship of VAT attenuation and SUV with clinico-histopathologic factors and survival was assessed.
Results
There was a significant positive correlation between VAT attenuation and SUV (
p
< 0.001,
r
= 0.799). In correlation analyses, both VAT attenuation and SUV showed significant positive correlations with T stage, TNM stage, tumor size, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (
p
< 0.05), and patients who experienced recurrence during the first 3-year after surgery had significantly higher VAT attenuation and SUV than those who had no recurrence (
p
< 0.05). Patients with high VAT attenuation and SUV showed significantly worse RFS, peritoneal RFS, and OS than those with low values (
p
< 0.05). On multivariate survival analysis, VAT attenuation was significantly associated with peritoneal RFS and OS and VAT SUV was significantly associated with OS (
p
< 0.05).
Conclusions
CT attenuation and FDG uptake of VAT on staging FDG PET/CT were correlated with tumor characteristics and were significant predictive factors for peritoneal RFS and OS in patients with AGC.
Ozone levels have been declining in the Los Angeles, CA, USA area for the last four decades, but there was a recent uptick in the 4th highest daily maximum 8-h (MDA8) ozone concentrations from 2014 ...to 2018 despite continued reductions in the estimated precursor emissions. In this study, we assess the emissions and meteorological impacts on the 4th highest MDA8 ozone concentrations to better understand the factors affecting the observed MDA8 ozone using a two-step generalized additive model (GAM)/least squares approach applied to the South Coast Air Basin (SoCAB) for the 1990 to 2019 period. The GAM model includes emissions, meteorological factors, large-scale climate variables, date, and the interactions between meteorology and emissions. A least squares method was applied to the GAM output to better capture the 4th highest MDA8 ozone. The resulting two-step model had an R2 of 0.98 and a slope of 1 between the observed and predicted 4th highest MDA8 ozone. Emissions and the interactions between the maximum temperature and emissions explain most of the variation in the peak MDA8 ozone concentrations. Declining emissions have lowered the 4th highest MDA8 ozone concentration. Meteorology explains the higher than expected 4th-high, ozone levels observed in 2014–2018, indicating that meteorology was a stronger forcer than the continued reductions in emissions during that time period. The model was applied to estimate future ozone levels. Meteorology developed from climate modeling of the representative concentration pathway (RCP) scenarios, and two sets of emissions were used in the application. The modeling results indicated climate trends will push ozone levels slightly higher if no further emissions reductions are realized and that of two emissions trajectories modeled, the more stringent is required to reliably meet the federal ozone standard given annual meteorological variability.
Display omitted
•Emissions impact on the 4th highest MDA8 are decreasing with reduced emissions.•Meteorological impacts led to increases in the 4th highest MDA8 in recent years.•Predicted O3 with SCAQMD reduced emissions would attain NAAQS despite climate change.
Abstract To demonstrate how a mega city can lead in decarbonizing beyond legal mandates, the city of Los Angeles (LA) developed science-based, feasible pathways towards utilizing 100% renewable ...energy for its municipally-owned electric utility. Aside from decarbonization, renewable energy adoption can lead to co-benefits such as improving urban air quality from reductions in combustion-related emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NO x ), primary fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and others. Herein, we quantify changes to air pollutant concentrations and public health from scenarios of 100% renewable electricity adoption in LA in 2045, alongside aggressive electrification of end-use sectors. Our analysis suggests that while ensuring reliable electricity supply, reductions in emissions of air pollutants associated with the 100% renewable electricity scenarios can lead to 8% citywide reductions of PM 2.5 concentration while increasing ozone concentration by 5% relative to a 2012 baseline year, given identical meteorology conditions. The combination of these concentration changes could result in net monetized public health benefits (driven by avoided deaths) of up to $1.4 billion in year 2045 in LA, results potentially replicable for other city-scale decarbonization scenarios.
Since the majority of patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) develop insulin resistance and/or diabetes mellitus (DM) prior to PC diagnosis, PC-induced diabetes mellitus (PC-DM) has been a focus for a ...potential platform for PC detection. In previous studies, the PC-derived exosomes were shown to contain the mediators of PC-DM. In the present study, the response of normal pancreatic islet cells to the PC-derived exosomes was investigated to determine the potential biomarkers for PC-DM, and consequently, for PC. Specifically, changes in microRNA (miRNA) expression were evaluated. The miRNA specimens were prepared from the untreated islet cells as well as the islet cells treated with the PC-derived exosomes (from 50 patients) and the healthy-derived exosomes (from 50 individuals). The specimens were subjected to next-generation sequencing and bioinformatic analysis to determine the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) only in the specimens treated with the PC-derived exosomes. Consequently, 24 candidate miRNA markers, including IRS1-modulating miRNAs such as hsa-miR-144-5p, hsa-miR-3148, and hsa-miR-3133, were proposed. The proposed miRNAs showed relevance to DM and/or insulin resistance in a literature review and pathway analysis, indicating a potential association with PC-DM. Due to the novel approach used in this study, additional evidence from future studies could corroborate the value of the miRNA markers discovered.
Peanut sprouts (PS), which are germinated peanut seeds, have recently been reported to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity effects. However, the underlying mechanisms by which PS ...modulates lipid metabolism are largely unknown. To address this question, serial doses of PS extract (PSE) were added to 3T3-L1 cells during adipocyte differentiation. PSE (25 µg/mL) significantly attenuated adipogenesis by inhibiting lipid accumulation in addition to reducing the level of adipogenic protein and gene expression with the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Other adipocyte cell models such as mouse embryonic fibroblasts C3H10T1/2 and primary adipocytes also confirmed the anti-adipogenic properties of PSE. Next, we investigated whether PSE attenuated lipid accumulation in mature adipocytes. We found that PSE significantly suppressed lipogenic gene expression, while fatty acid (FA) oxidation genes were upregulated. Augmentation of FA oxidation by PSE in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes was confirmed via a radiolabeled-FA oxidation rate experiment by measuring the conversion of ³H-oleic acid (OA) to ³H-H₂O. Furthermore, PSE enhanced the mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR), especially maximal respiration, and beige adipocyte formation in adipocytes. In summary, PSE was effective in reducing lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes through mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation involved in AMPK and mitochondrial activation.
Acne vulgaris is the most common disease of the pilosebaceous unit. The pathogenesis of this disease is complex, involving increased sebum production and perifollicular inflammation. Understanding ...the factors that regulate sebum production is important in identifying novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of acne. Bee Venom (BV) and melittin have multiple effects including antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory activities in various cell types. However, the anti-lipogenic mechanisms of BV and melittin have not been elucidated. We investigated the effects of BV and melittin in models of Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) or
(
)-induced lipogenic skin disease.
or IGF-1 increased the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) and proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), transcription factors that regulate numerous genes involved in lipid biosynthesis through the protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/SREBP signaling pathway. In this study using a
or IGF-1 stimulated lipogenic disease model, BV and melittin inhibited the increased expression of lipogenic and pro-inflammatory factor through the blockade of the Akt/mTOR/SREBP signaling pathway. This study suggests for the first time that BV and melittin could be developed as potential natural anti-acne agents with anti-lipogenesis, anti-inflammatory, and anti-
activity.
(
) bacteria cause almost all primary skin infections in humans. Bee venom (BV) and melittin (Mel) have multiple effects, including antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. This study aims to ...demonstrate their effects on bacterial mouse skin infection using
. The dorsal skin was tape-stripped, then
was topically applied. BV or Mel were topically applied to the lesion. The tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, while immunohistochemical staining was performed with anti-neutrophil.
-infected skin revealed increased epidermal and dermal layers, but it was reduced in the BV and Mel groups. Finding increased neutrophils in the mice infected with
, but the BV and Mel mice showed decreased expression. These results suggest that BV and Mel treatments could reduce the inflammatory reactions and help improve lesions induced by
skin infection. This study provides additional assessment of the potential therapeutic effects of BV and Mel in managing skin infection caused by
, further suggesting that it could be a candidate for developing novel treatment alternative for streptococcal skin infections.
This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) technology for detecting the presence and severity of microleakage of pit and fissure sealants. ...The areas of interest (AOIs) were 160 pits and fissures of 40 extracted permanent teeth. Fluorescent images were acquired using a QLF device, and the maximum fluorescence loss ΔF
of each AOI was analyzed. After staining and cross-sectioning of the teeth, histological dye penetration was scored on a scale of 0 to 3. The relationship between ΔF
and microleakage depth was analyzed, and the areas under the curve (AUCs) were calculated. The │ΔF
│ increased as microleakage depth increased. The ΔF
values of microleakage areas showed a strong significant correlation with the histological scores of dye penetration (r = - 0.72, P = 0.001). AUC analysis showed a high diagnostic accuracy for microleakage depth (AUC = 0.83-0.91). The highest AUC of 0.91 was found when differentiating the outer half microleakage of the sealant (histological score 0 vs. 1-3). QLF technology is effective in assessing the presence and severity of microleakage, suggesting its potential for noninvasive detection and monitoring of sealant microleakage in clinical settings.
PDF
