Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is a highly effective technique for fabricating cell-loaded constructs in tissue engineering. However, the versatility of fabricating precise and complex ...cell-loaded hydrogels is limited owing to the poor crosslinking ability of cell-containing hydrogels. Herein, we propose an optic-fiber-assisted bioprinting (OAB) process to efficiently crosslink methacrylated hydrogels. By selecting appropriate processing conditions for the photo-crosslinking technique, we fabricated biofunctional cell-laden structures including methacrylated gelatin (Gelma), collagen, and decellularized extracellular matrix. To apply the method to skeletal muscle regeneration, cell-laden Gelma constructs were processed with a functional nozzle having a topographical cue and an OAB process that could induce a uniaxial alignment of C2C12 and human adipose stem cells (hASCs). Significantly higher degrees of cell alignment and myogenic activities in the cell-laden Gelma structure were observed compared with those in the cell construct that was printed using a conventional crosslinking method. Moreover, an in vivo regenerative potential was observed in volumetric muscle defects in a mouse model. The hASC-laden construct significantly induced greater muscle regeneration than the cell construct without topographical cues. Based on the results, the newly designed bioprinting process can prove to be highly effective in fabricating biofunctional cell-laden constructs for various tissue engineering applications.
Background
We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-muscle specific tyrosine kinase (MuSK) antibody (Ab) in a large cohort of ...anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) Ab-negative generalized myasthenia gravis (MG), and also to investigate clinical contexts for the diagnosis of MuSK MG.
Methods
A retrospective study of 160 patients with a clinical suspicion of AChR Ab-negative generalized MG was performed. The serum samples were tested for anti-clustered AChR Ab by cell-based assay (CBA), anti-MuSK Ab by ELISA, CBA and/or radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA). Clinical data were compared between anti-MuSK Ab-positive MG and double seronegative (AChR and MuSK) MG groups.
Results
After excluding non-MG and clustered AChR Ab-positive patients, we identified 89 patients as a cohort of AChR Ab-negative generalized MG. Anti-MuSK Ab was positive by ELISA in 22 (24.7%) patients. While CBA identified five additional anti-MuSK Ab-positive patients, the results of ELISA were mostly consistent with CBA and RIPA with Cohen’s kappa of 0.80 and 0.90, respectively (
p
< 0.001). The most frequent differential diagnosis was motor neuron disease particularly of bulbar onset which showed remarkably overlapping clinical and electrophysiological features with MuSK MG at presentation.
Conclusion
While confirming the highest sensitivity of CBA for detecting anti-MuSK Ab, our results highlight the clinical pitfalls in making a diagnosis of MuSK MG and may support a diagnostic utility of MuSK-ELISA in clinical practice.
Under ambient conditions, the catalytic and electrocatalytic syntheses of ammonia from nitrogen and various proton sources including wet tetrahydrofuran (THF) and the protic solvents methanol and ...water were performed using titanocene dichloride ((η5-C5H5)2TiCl2, commonly abbreviated to CP2TiCl2) in a two-electrode cell containing 1.0 M LiCl as the electrolyte. The highest rate of ammonia synthesis, 9.5 × 10–10 mol·cm–2·sec–1·M CP2TiCl2 –1, was achieved at −1 V in water, whereas the highest faradaic efficiency (0.95%) was achieved at −2 V in THF. On account of its lower Gibbs free energy, density functional theory calculations suggest that the nitrogen-reduction reaction catalyzed by CP2TiCl2 in the presence of THF, methanol, or water preferably occurs via the Cp2TiClN2 intermediate rather than Cp2TiN2N2. Future strategies to improve both the rate of ammonia synthesis and its faradaic efficiency must consider ways of maximizing nitrogen selectivity to the catalytic active sites by controlling the transfer rates of protons and/or nitrogen.
•TNF-α is important during sensitization period in low dose LPS/OA model.•TNF-α enhances both Th2 and Th17 immune response regulating by IL-23.•TNF-α upregulates the population of IL-23 secreting ...CD11c+ cells in sensitization.•IL-23p19-secreting CD11c+ cells by TNF-α can induce Th2 and Th17 cells.
TNF-α has been postulated to be a critical mediator contributing to airway inflammation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of TNF-α in the induction of Th17 and Th2 cells related to asthma pathogenesis.
To evaluate detailed mechanisms for the modulation of IL-23 by TNF-α in sensitization period.
During sensitization period, 10μg of rat anti-mouse TNF-α mAb was intravenously administrated one hour before the application of OVA and 0.1μg of LPS. To see the relation between TNF-α and associated effectors cytokine, we replenished TNF-α KO mice with IL-23 during sensitization period. To assess cellular resources, CD11c+ cells isolated from lung tissue after sensitization were treated with anti-TNF-α Ab.
Treatment of anti-TNF-α mAb during sensitization period significantly reduced airway eosinophilia, serum OVA-specific IgE levels and methacholine AHR compared to isotype Ab. Anti-TNF-α mAb treated mice showed significant reduction in the levels of IL-23 after sensitization in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) as well as IL-17A, IL-4 levels in BALF after challenge compared with isotype Ab treated mice. Supplementation of IL-23 in TNF-α KO mice resulted in complete restoration of eosinophilic airway inflammation, AHR, and IL-17A and IL-4 expression in CD4+ T cells. Anti-TNF-α mAb treatment after sensitization significantly diminished the population of IL-23p19-secreting CD11c+ cells in lung.
TNF-α plays an important role in the development of airway inflammation by enhancing IL-23/Th17 and Th2 immune responses.
Abstract
Aims
A comprehensive nationwide study on the incidence and outcomes of COVID-19 vaccination-related myocarditis (VRM) is in need.
Methods and results
Among 44 276 704 individuals with at ...least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccination, the incidence and clinical courses of VRM cases confirmed by the Expert Adjudication Committee of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency were analyzed. COVID-19 VRM was confirmed in 480 cases (1.08 cases per 100 000 persons). Vaccination-related myocarditis incidence was significantly higher in men than in women (1.35 vs. 0.82 per 100 000 persons, P < 0.001) and in mRNA vaccines than in other vaccines (1.46 vs. 0.14 per 100 000 persons, P < 0.001). Vaccination-related myocarditis incidence was highest in males between the ages of 12 and 17 years (5.29 cases per 100 000 persons) and lowest in females over 70 years (0.16 cases per 100 000 persons). Severe VRM was identified in 95 cases (19.8% of total VRM, 0.22 per 100 000 vaccinated persons), 85 intensive care unit admission (17.7%), 36 fulminant myocarditis (7.5%), 21 extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy (4.4%), 21 deaths (4.4%), and 1 heart transplantation (0.2%). Eight out of 21 deaths were sudden cardiac death (SCD) attributable to VRM proved by an autopsy, and all cases of SCD attributable to VRM were aged under 45 years and received mRNA vaccines.
Conclusion
Although COVID-19 VRM was rare and showed relatively favorable clinical courses, severe VRM was found in 19.8% of all VRM cases. Moreover, SCD should be closely monitored as a potentially fatal complication of COVID-19 vaccination.
Structured Graphical Abstract
Structured Graphical Abstract
Study flowchart and summary of the percentage of patients with adverse outcomes among 480 cases of COVID-19 vaccination-related myocarditis. VRM, vaccine-related myocarditis; SCD, sudden cardiac death; ICU, intensive care unit; ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Red algae (Rhodophyta) underwent two phases of large-scale genome reduction during their early evolution. The red seaweeds did not attain genome sizes or gene inventories typical of other ...multicellular eukaryotes. We generated a high-quality 92.1 Mb draft genome assembly from the red seaweed Gracilariopsis chorda, including methylation and small (s)RNA data. We analyzed these and other Archaeplastida genomes to address three questions: 1) What is the role of repeats and transposable elements (TEs) in explaining Rhodophyta genome size variation, 2) what is the history of genome duplication and gene family expansion/reduction in these taxa, and 3) is there evidence for TE suppression in red algae? We find that the number of predicted genes in red algae is relatively small (4,803-13,125 genes), particularly when compared with land plants, with no evidence of polyploidization. Genome size variation is primarily explained by TE expansion with the red seaweeds having the largest genomes. Long terminal repeat elements and DNA repeats are the major contributors to genome size growth. About 8.3% of the G. chorda genome undergoes cytosine methylation among gene bodies, promoters, and TEs, and 71.5% of TEs contain methylated-DNA with 57% of these regions associated with sRNAs. These latter results suggest a role for TE-associated sRNAs in RNA-dependent DNA methylation to facilitate silencing. We postulate that the evolution of genome size in red algae is the result of the combined action of TE spread and the concomitant emergence of its epigenetic suppression, together with other important factors such as changes in population size.
Background
The hypothetical concept of cognitive reserve (CR) has been proposed to explain why someone can manage to function normally even in the presence of brain pathology. However, it still ...remains to be determined what components constitute such resilience against Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. In the current study we investigated the characteristics of cognitively normal (CN) elders with high CR.
Method
We included CN participants from the Gwangju Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia Cohort in Korea. We selected a group of CN individuals who showed a significant amyloid‐beta (aß) deposition at baseline and stayed CN over the follow‐up period. They were defined as high CR group. For comparison purpose, individuals with a significant aß deposition at baseline but converted to MCI at follow‐up were also included. In the final analysis, 94 high CR group and 24 control group were included. Group comparisons in socio‐demographic, clinical and cognitive variables were performed using χ2 tests and ANOVA controlling for age, education, gender, and follow‐up month.
Result
Mean follow‐up month were 43.37. There were no group differences in education, gender, socio‐economic status, family history of dementia or stroke, medical conditions, body mass index, subjective memory complaints, and instrumental activities of daily living. However, high CR group was younger and had shorter follow‐up period, therefore such variables were controlled when cognitive tests were compared. High CR group was more religious (p < 0.001), showed higher complexity in former job (p = 0.009), and higher level of executive functoning (Digit Dpan Backward, p = 0.012; Fluency test, p = 0.008; Boston Naming Test, p = 0.014; Trail Making Test part B, p = 0.017) than control group. There were no group differences in episodic memory tests and visuospatial abilities.
Conclusion
Individuals with high CR could cope better with AD pathology. Many factors have been suggested to be associated with CR. Regarding cognitive process involved, our findings suggest that executive function plays an important role in constituting high CR. Preserved executive function may, at least in part, underlie CR.
An advanced ammonia borane (AB)-based H2 power-pack is designed to continually drive an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for 57 min using a 200-We polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). In a ...flight test with the UAV platform integrated with the developed power-pack, pure hydrogen with an average flow rate of 3.8 L(H2) min−1 is generated by autothermal H2-release from AB with tetraethylene glycol dimethylether (T4EGDE) as a promoter. During take-off, a hybridized power management system (PMS) consisting of the fuel cell and an auxiliary lithium-ion battery supplies 500 We at full power simultaneously, while the fuel cell alone provides 150–200 We and further recharges the auxiliary battery upon cruising. Gaseous byproducts identified by in situ Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy during AB dehydrogenation are sequestrated using a mixed absorbent in an H2 purification system. In addition, a real-time monitoring system is employed to determine the remaining filter capacity of the purifier at a ground control system for rapidly responding unpredictable circumstances during flight. Separate experiments are conducted to screen potential materials and methods for enhancing filter capacity in the current H2 refining system. A prospective reactor concept for long-term fuel cell applications is proposed based on the results.
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•A portable power-pack fueled by ammonia borane (AB) was newly designed to power an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).•The power-pack was demonstrated to drive a UAV for 57 min with fast load-following ability and rapid response time.•In situ monitoring system was introduced to determine the filter capacity of hydrogen purification equipment.
Panax ginseng
CA Meyer has a variety of biological effects, including antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. Ginseng requires long-term cultivation, but this can be shortened using hydroponic ...systems to facilitate the commercial development of ginseng as a functional food. However, the characteristics of short-term-cultured (< 30 days) hydroponic ginseng (sHCG) are unclear. We investigated the characteristics of 21-day-cultured sHCG compared 5-year-old normally cultured ginseng. The free radical-scavenging activity and total ginsenoside and phenolic contents were significantly higher in sHCG than in normally cultured ginseng. Fifteen ginsenosides were detected in sHCG, and the concentrations of most were higher in shoots than roots. These findings suggest that 21-day-cultured sHCG, due to its enhanced antioxidant activity and higher concentrations of total phenolics and ginsenosides (including Rd and Re), has potential as a functional food.
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