Many studies have examined the negative impact on smartphone addiction in adolescents. Recent concerns have focused on predictors of smartphone addiction. This study aimed to investigate the ...association of adolescents' smartphone addiction with family environment (specifically, domestic violence and parental addiction). We further investigated whether self-control and friendship quality, as predictors of smartphone addiction, may reduce the observed risk.
We used the 2013 national survey on internet usage and utilization data from the National Information Agency of Korea. Information on exposure and covariates included self-reported experience of domestic violence and parental addiction, sociodemographic variables, and other variables potentially related to smartphone addiction. Smartphone addiction was estimated using a smartphone addiction proneness scale, a standardized measure developed by national institutions in Korea.
Adolescents who had experienced domestic violence (OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.23-2.45) and parental addiction (OR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.24-3.27) were found to be at an increased risk for smartphone addiction after controlling for all potential variables. Furthermore, on classifying adolescents according to their level of self-control and friendship quality the association between domestic violence and parental addiction, and smartphone addiction was found to be significant in the group with adolescents with lower levels of self-control (OR = 2.87; 95% CI: 1.68-4.90 and OR = 1.95; 95% CI: 1.34-2.83) and friendship quality (OR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.41-3.85 and OR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.26-2.64).
Our findings suggest that family dysfunction was significantly associated with smartphone addiction. We also observed that self-control and friendship quality act as protective factors against adolescents' smartphone addiction.
A rapid and simple dipstick assay based on an aptamer has been developed for the determination of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The dipstick assay format was based on a competitive reaction of the ...biotin-modified aptamer specific to AFB1 between target and cy5-modified DNA probes. Streptavidin and anti-cy5 antibody as capture reagents were immobilized at test and control lines on a membrane of the dipstick assay. After optimization, the limit of detection for the dipstick assay was 0.1 ng/ml AFB1 in buffer. The method was confirmed to be specific to AFB1, and the entire process of the assay can be completed within 30 min. Aqueous methanol (20%) provided a good extraction efficiency, and the matrix influence from corn extracts was successfully reduced through 2-fold dilution. The results of AFB1 analysis for corn samples spiked with known concentration of AFB1 by the dipstick assay and ELISA showed good agreement. The cut-off value of the dipstick assay for corn samples was 0.3 ng/g AFB1. Therefore, the dipstick assay is first reported and considered as a rapid, simple, on-site and inexpensive screening tool for AFB1 determination in grains as well as a corn.
•Aptamers are single-strand oligonucleotides that offer advantages over antibodies.•A dipstick assay based on aptamer has not been reported in any field.•Aptamer-based dipstick assay is first developed for aflatoxin B1 analysis.
Various miRNAs play critical roles in the development and progression of solid tumors. In this study, we describe the role of miR-204-5p in limiting growth and progression of breast cancer. In breast ...cancer tissues, miR-204-5p was significantly downregulated compared with normal breast tissues, and its expression levels were associated with increased survival outcome in patients with breast cancer. Overexpression of miR-204-5p inhibited viability, proliferation, and migration capacity in human and murine breast cancer cells. In addition, miR-204-5p overexpression resulted in a significant alteration in metabolic properties of cancer cells and suppression of tumor growth and metastasis in mouse breast cancer models. The association between miR-204-5p expression and clinical outcomes of patients with breast cancer showed a nonlinear pattern that was reproduced in experimental assays of cancer cell behavior and metastatic capacities. Transcriptome and proteomic analysis revealed that various cancer-related pathways including PI3K/Akt and tumor-immune interactions were significantly associated with miR-204-5p expression. PIK3CB, a major regulator of PI3K/Akt pathway, was a direct target for miR-204-5p, and the association between PIK3CB-related PI3K/Akt signaling and miR-204-5p was most evident in the basal subtype. The sensitivity of breast cancer cells to various anticancer drugs including PIK3CB inhibitors was significantly affected by miR-204-5p expression. In addition, miR-204-5p regulated expression of key cytokines in tumor cells and reprogrammed the immune microenvironment by shifting myeloid and lymphocyte populations. These data demonstrate both cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous impacts of tumor suppressor miR-204-5p in breast cancer progression and metastasis. SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrates that regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling by miR-204-5p suppresses tumor metastasis and immune cell reprogramming in breast cancer.
Forsythiaside A (FA) is an active constituent isolated from
, a beneficial herb used in traditional medicine known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Although various studies have ...suggested that FA has the protective effects, its impacts on arachidonic acid (AA) plus iron in vitro models and carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced mouse liver damage in vivo have not been explored. In this study, HepG2 cells were subjected to AA + iron treatment to induce apoptosis and mitochondrial impairment and determine the molecular mechanisms. FA exhibited protective effects by inhibiting cell damage and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by AA + iron, as assessed via immunoblot and flow cytometry analyses. Further molecular investigations revealed that FA resulted in the activation of extracellular-signal-related protein kinase (ERK), which subsequently triggered the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a critical regulator of cellular oxidative stress. Additionally, FA modulated the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway, which is a significant antioxidant transcription factor regulated by the AMPK pathway. For in vivo studies, mice were orally administered FA and then subjected to induction of CCl₄-based hepatotoxicity. The protective effect of FA was confirmed via blood biochemistry and immunohistochemical analyses. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated the protective effects of FA against oxidative stress both in vitro and in vivo, thus indicating that FA is a potential candidate for liver protection. Our study sheds light on the mechanistic pathways involved in the antioxidant effects of FA, highlighting the hepatoprotective potential of naturally occurring compounds in traditional herbs, such as FA.
Background and Objectives: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections are increasing worldwide. We evaluated the annual trends of NTM isolation on acid-fast bacillus (AFB) culture, compared to that ...of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and the distribution of NTM species nationwide in South Korea. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in a diagnostic center that is a major referral laboratory for the diagnosis of tuberculosis and NTM in South Korea. All laboratory results of AFB culture from January 2014 to December 2019 were collected. All NTM identified were definitively identified to the species level. Results: A total of 345,871 tests were performed for the diagnosis of mycobacteria. The isolation rate of NTM and M. tuberculosis was 3.7% (12,969 cases) and 4.4% (15,081 cases), respectively. The annual isolation rate of NTM increased gradually from 2.7% in 2014 to 4.8% in 2019, whereas that of M. tuberculosis decreased from 6.2% to 3.3%. There were 4988 cases of NTM identified to the species level. M. avium complex (MAC) was the most common species isolated from pulmonary sites (59.8%), followed by M. gordonae (9.2%), M. abscessus (7.0%), and M. fortuitum (5.5%). Extrapulmonary NTM were identified in 29 cases (0.6%). MAC was also the most common NTM species isolated from extrapulmonary sites (65.5%), followed by M. kansasii (10.3%), M. abscessus (6.9%), and M. fortuitum (6.9%). Conclusions: The annual isolation rate of NTM has increased gradually, whereas that of M. tuberculosis has decreased. Follow-up studies of the increases in NTM identification and NTM infections in South Korea are needed.
Abstract
Tantalizing connections between type 2 diabetes and degenerative lumbar spine disorders have become increasingly evident. However, the association of type 2 diabetes with degenerative lumbar ...spine disorders remains unclear. We sought to clarify the association between type 2 diabetes and lumbar spine disorders using nationwide data in Korea. Furthermore, we explored the association of diabetes with the prevalence of spinal procedures. The data in this study was obtained from Korean health claim database. Between 2016 and 2019, totals of 479,680 diabetes and 479,680 age- and sex-matched control subjects were enrolled. Patients with diabetes had more likely to have degenerative lumbar spine disorders and spinal procedures than controls. Using multivariate-adjusted analysis, patients with diabetes were at increased risk of being concomitantly affected by lumbar disc disorder adjusted odds ratio 1.11 (95% confidence interval 1.10–1.12), lumbar spondylotic radiculopathy 1.12 (1.11–1.13), spondylolisthesis 1.05 (1.02–1.08) and spinal stenosis 1.16 (1.15–1.18), compared to controls. Furthermore, diabetic patients had an increased risk of undergoing lumbar spinal injection 1.13 (1.12–1.14), laminectomy 1.19 (1.15–1.23), and fusion surgery 1.35 (1.29–1.42). We demonstrated that type 2 diabetes was significantly associated with lumbar spine disorders and frequent spinal procedures. Our results suggest diabetes as a predisposing factor for lumbar spine disorders.
Background and Purpose
As an osteoclast differentiation factor, receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand (RANKL) is produced by various immune cells and may be involved in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis ...and inflammation. Although RANKL is expressed in most immune cells and tissues, it is not clear how this might affect allergic inflammation.
Experimental Approach
The roles of RANKL in allergic rhinitis (AR) were analysed in an ovalbumin (OVA)‐induced animal model, human subjects, and a human mast cell line (HMC‐1). Small interfering RNA experiments were performed in an OVA‐induced AR model.
Key Results
RANKL and RANKL receptor (RANK) were up‐regulated in serum or nasal mucosal tissues of AR patients and AR mice. RANKL and RANK were colocalised in mast cells of nasal mucosa tissue. Depletion of RANKL by RANKL siRNA ameliorated AR symptoms and reduced AR‐related biomarkers, including thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), IgE, histamine, and inflammatory cell infiltration, whereas recombinant RANKL increased AR responses and TSLP levels. In addition, functional deficiency of TSLP decreased AR responses induced by RANKL. In human mast cells, interaction of RANKL with RANK increased production of TSLP and inflammatory cytokines. Production of TSLP by RANKL stimulation was mediated through activation of the PI3K, MAPK, caspase‐1, and NF‐κB pathways. Furthermore, dexamethasone alleviated RANKL‐induced inflammatory reactions in AR models.
Conclusion and Implications
Collectively, these data suggest that RANKL may induce development of AR through up‐regulation of TSLP.
The learning and inference efficiencies of an artificial neural network represented by a cross‐point synaptic memristor array can be achieved using a selector, with high selectivity (Ion/Ioff) and ...sufficient death region, stacked vertically on a synaptic memristor. This can prevent a sneak current in the memristor array. A selector with multiple jar‐shaped conductive Cu filaments in the resistive switching layer is precisely fabricated by designing the Cu ion concentration depth profile of the CuGeSe layer as a filament source, TiN diffusion barrier layer, and Ge3Se7 switching layer. The selector performs super‐linear‐threshold‐switching with a selectivity of > 107, death region of −0.70–0.65 V, holding time of 300 ns, switching speed of 25 ns, and endurance cycle of > 106. In addition, the mechanism of switching is proven by the formation of conductive Cu filaments between the CuGeSe and Ge3Se7 layers under a positive bias on the top Pt electrode and an automatic rupture of the filaments after the holding time. Particularly, a spiking deep neural network using the designed one‐selector‐one‐memory cross‐point array improves the Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology classification accuracy by ≈3.8% by eliminating the sneak current in the cross‐point array during the inference process.
An artificial neural network consisting of a hardware‐based cross‐point synaptic memristor array should employ selectors with two‐terminal electrodes to prevent an undesired sneak current and to improve learning and inference efficiencies. Here, a highly reliable super‐linear‐threshold‐switching selector with multiple jar‐shaped Cu‐filaments in the amorphous Ge3Se7 resistive switching layer by controlling the Cu ion concentration depth profile is developed.
The dysregulation of lipid metabolism and alterations in the ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) to saturated fatty acids (SFAs) have been implicated in cancer progression and stemness. ...Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), an enzyme involved in lipid desaturation, is crucial in regulating this ratio and has been identified as an important regulator of cancer cell survival and progression. SCD1 converts SFAs into MUFAs and is important for maintaining membrane fluidity, cellular signaling, and gene expression. Many malignancies, including cancer stem cells, have been reported to exhibit high expression of SCD1. Therefore, targeting SCD1 may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. In addition, the involvement of SCD1 in cancer stem cells has been observed in various types of cancer. Some natural products have the potential to inhibit SCD1 expression/activity, thereby suppressing cancer cell survival and self-renewal activity.
This study evaluated the effects of
(Lour.) ohwi extract (RCE) on factors associated with inflammation-related skin lesions in RAW 264.7 and HaCaT cells. RCE inhibited the levels of proinflammatory ...mediators and cytokines such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE
), interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, RCE significantly inhibited the expression of chemokines and cytokines such as MDC/CCL22, TARC/CCL17, RANTES/CCL5, CTSS, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in HaCaT cells costimulated by TNF-α and interferon (IFN)-γ in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that RCE attenuated the TNF-α- and IFN-γ-induced release of proinflammatory chemokines and cytokines probably by suppressing the activation of MAPK (JNK and p38), NF-κB, and STAT1 signaling. Moreover, RCE significantly increased the expression of skin components such as hyaluronic acid and aquaporin, which play important roles in the physical and chemical barriers of the skin. These results suggest that RCE has significant anti-inflammatory and antiatopic activities, which may be beneficial for the topical treatment of inflammatory skin disorders.
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