Objectives: This study sought to identify factors associated with this discrimination by medical professionals in Korea. Subjects and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey. We conducted ...web-based surveys against infectious disease specialists and infectious disease nurse. We evaluated the frequency of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS-related discrimination by medical professionals by health service type on the 5-point scale. We identified the association between several factors and HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination by medical professionals on the 5-point scale. Results: A total of 81 experts, 57 infectious disease specialists (approximately 27% of all infectious disease specialists in Korea) and 24 infectious disease nurse practitioners, participated in this study. The frequency of stigma and discrimination increased significantly when invasive treatment included both outpatient and inpatient services (both P < 0.05). Medical professional's preconceptions, fear of infection, and lack of knowledge have an association with HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination by medical professionals. Conclusion: HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination by medical professionals in Korea might be associated with factors related to the fear of medical professionals.
This study investigated the effect of red ginseng extract (RGE) on the physicochemical properties, sensory test, and antioxidant activity of milk. The milk samples with RGE added at 0.5, 1, 1.5, and ...2% were analyzed during storage at 4°C. The physicochemical properties included composition of milk, pH, titratable acidity, and color. The antioxidant activity of milk samples was determined using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl method, β-carotene bleaching assay, and ferric thiocyanate assay. An increase in the amount of RGE in milk resulted in an increase of lactose and total solids content, titratable acidity, and a* and b* values, whereas fat and protein contents remained unchanged. Also, pH and L* value decreased. The antioxidant activity of milk samples supplemented with RGE was higher than that of the control sample. Sensory evaluation was performed using a quantitative descriptive analysis. Two types of samples were used: (1) sterilized milk fortified with RGE (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2%) and (2) 2% RGE, 2% RGE with oligosaccharide, and 2% RGE with oligosaccharide and cyclodextrin. The addition of oligosaccharide and cyclodextrin could effect an increase of sweetness, a decrease of bitterness and flavor of RGE, and aftertaste. Therefore, milk supplemented with RGE could be useful as a functional food.
Classic findings of intracranial hypotension on MR imaging, such as brain stem slumping, can be variably present and, at times, subjective, potentially making the diagnosis difficult. We hypothesize ...that the angle between the cerebral peduncles correlates with the volume of interpeduncular cistern fluid and is decreased in cases of intracranial hypotension. We aimed to investigate its use as an objective assessment for intracranial hypotension.
Brain MRIs of 30 patients with intracranial hypotension and 30 age-matched controls were evaluated by 2 fellowship-trained neuroradiologists for classic findings of intracranial hypotension and the interpeduncular angle. Group analysis was performed with a Student
test, and receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to identify an ideal angle threshold to maximize sensitivity and specificity. Interobserver reliability was assessed for classic findings of intracranial hypotension using the Cohen κ value, and the interpeduncular angle, using the intraclass correlation.
The interpeduncular angle had excellent interobserver reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient value = 0.833) and was significantly lower in the intracranial hypotension group compared with the control group (25.3° versus 56.3°;
< .001). There was significant correlation between the interpeduncular angle and the presence of brain stem slumping (
< .001) and in cases with ≥3 classic features of intracranial hypotension (
= .01). With a threshold of 40.5°, sensitivity and specificity were 80% and 96.7%, respectively.
The interpeduncular angle is a sensitive and specific measure of intracranial hypotension and is a reliably reproducible parameter on routine clinical MR imaging.
We fabricated nanotubes, nanowires, and double wall nanotubes (DWNTs) of (semi) conducting poly (3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), poly (
p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV), and polypyrrole (PPy) through ...electrochemical polymerization or chemical vapor deposition method by using Al
2O
3 nanoporous template. The formation of the nanotubes, nanowires, and DWNTs was confirmed by SEM and TEM images. The formation of tube or wire, the length, and the thickness of wall of the nanotubes were controlled through various synthetic conditions, such as polymerization time and applied current (or voltage). Inorganic ferromagnetic Ni or organic light emitting PPV materials was synthesized outside or inside the conducting polymer nanotube as the form of DWNT. Two PL peaks were observed for carbonized PPV/light emitting PPV DWNTs. We fabricated nanoholes on the surface of conducting PEDOT-PSS poly (4-styrenesulfornate) films through high-energy ion irradiation. For electrical and optical properties of the nano-systems,
I-V characteristics curves and UV/Vis absorbance spectra were measured. The UV/Vis absorbance spectrum of PPy nanowires varied with the dissolving solvent of template. The applications of the nanotubes, nanowires, and nanoholes of conducting polymers to electrode of capacitor and to nanotip emitters of field emission (FE) are presented.
The lack of suitable donors for all solid-organ transplant programs is exacerbated in lung transplantation by the low utilization of potential donor lungs, due primarily to donor lung injury and ...dysfunction, including pulmonary edema. The current studies were designed to determine if intravenous clinical-grade human mesenchymal stem (stromal) cells (hMSCs) would be effective in restoring alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) in the human ex vivo lung perfusion model, using lungs that had been deemed unsuitable for transplantation and had been subjected to prolonged ischemic time. The human lungs were perfused with 5% albumin in a balanced electrolyte solution and oxygenated with continuous positive airway pressure. Baseline AFC was measured in the control lobe and if AFC was impaired (defined as <10%/h), the lungs received either hMSC (5 × 10(6) cells) added to the perfusate or perfusion only as a control. AFC was measured in a different lung lobe at 4 h. Intravenous hMSC restored AFC in the injured lungs to a normal level. In contrast, perfusion only did not increase AFC. This positive effect on AFC was reduced by intrabronchial administration of a neutralizing antibody to keratinocyte growth factor (KGF). Thus, intravenous allogeneic hMSCs are effective in restoring the capacity of the alveolar epithelium to remove alveolar fluid at a normal rate, suggesting that this therapy may be effective in enhancing the resolution of pulmonary edema in human lungs deemed clinically unsuitable for transplantation.
In this paper we reanalyze the centennial trend estimates of a number of selected geomagnetic indices. We show that the peculiar latitudinal ordering of century long trends is mainly an artifact ...related to different scales. Using a scaling method that takes into account the statistical dispersion of the variables alleviates most of the discrepancies associated with latitude dependence. We demonstrate that geomagnetic activity had a roughly homogenous increase over the Northern Hemisphere during 1901–2000 of about 23%, as registered by digital measures. On the other hand, midlatitude data are shown to possess a distinct disproportion dominantly around solar cycle 15. We also demonstrate that analog indices tend to consistently depict lower activity levels in the early decades, thus considerably larger overall increases of about 32% during the twentieth century. This is likely due to the typically conservative approach in quantifying irregular activity (the K value) in those early years with a large number of quiet days. The recently corrected aa index shows an increase on par with similarly analog but local measures at Niemegk and Sodankylä stations. These results show that after its vital calibration, the widely used aa index does quantify reasonably well the global centennial increase in geomagnetic activity.
Key Points
Long‐term trends registered at latitudes are similar
Midlatitude data possess disproportion around cycle 15
Analog magnetic indices tend to depict larger trends
The design, synthesis, and structural characterization of two microporous metal–organic framework structures, M(bdc)(ted)0.5·2 DMF·0.2 H2O (M = Zn (1), Cu (2); H2bdc = 1,4‐benzenedicarboxylic acid; ...ted = triethylenediamine; DMF: N,N‐dimethylformamide) is reported. The pore characteristics and gas sorption properties of these compounds are investigated at cryogenic temperatures, room temperature, and higher temperatures by experimentally measuring argon, hydrogen, and selected hydrocarbon adsorption/desorption isotherms. These studies show that both compounds are highly porous with a pore volume of 0.65 (1) and 0.52 cm3 g– 1 (2). The amount of the hydrogen uptake, 2.1 wt % (1) and 1.8 wt % (2) at 77 K (1 atm; 1 atm = 101 325 Pa), places them among the group of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) having the highest H2 sorption capacity. Zn(bdc)(ted)0.5·2 DMF·0.2 H2O adsorbs a very large amount of hydrocarbons, including methanol, ethanol, dimethylether (DME), n‐hexane, cyclohexane, and benzene, giving the highest sorption values among all metal–organic based porous materials reported to date. In addition, these materials hold great promise for gas separation.
Microporous metal–organic framework structures M(bdc)(ted)0.5·2 DMF· 0.2 H2O (M = Zn (1), Cu (2); H2bdc = 1,4‐benzenedicarboxylic acid; ted = triethylenediamine; DMF: N,N‐dimethylformamide) exhibit very high gas storage and separation capability for hydrogen and selected hydrocarbons, such as alcohols and dimethylether (DME, see figure). 1 gives the highest sorption values among all metal–organic based porous materials reported to date.
Epidermal keratinocytes form the first-line cellular barrier of the skin for protection against external injuries and maintenance of local tissue homeostasis. Expression of ZBP1 was shown to cause ...necroptotic keratinocyte cell death and skin inflammation in mice. We sought to characterize the relevance of ZBP1 and necroptosis in human keratinocytes and type 1−driven cutaneous acute graft-versus-host disease. in this study, we identify ZBP1 expression, necroptosis, and interface dermatitis as being the hallmarks of acute graft-versus-host disease. ZBP1 expression was dependent on leukocyte-derived IFNγ, and interference with IFNγ signaling by Jak inhibition prevented cell death. In predominantly IL-17−driven psoriasis, both ZBP1 expression and necroptosis could not be detected. Of note, in contrast to the signaling in mice, ZBP1 signaling in human keratinocytes was not affected by RIPK1’s presence. These findings show that ZBP1 drives inflammation in IFNγ-dominant type 1 immune responses in human skin and may further point to a general role of ZBP1-mediated necroptosis.
We studied the activity of a debranching enzyme (TreX) from Sulfolobus solfataricus on glycogen-mimic substrates, branched maltotetraosyl-β-cyclodextrin (Glc4-β-CD), and natural glycogen to better ...understand substrate transglycosylation and the effect thereof on glycogen debranching in microorganisms. The validation test of Glc4-β-CD as a glycogen mimic substrate showed that it followed the breakdown process of the well-known yeast and rat liver extract. TreX catalyzed both hydrolysis of α-1,6-glycosidic linkages and transglycosylation at relatively high (>0.5 mM) substrate concentrations. TreX transferred maltotetraosyl moieties from the donor substrate to acceptor molecules, resulting in the formation of two positional isomers of dimaltotetraosyl-α-1,6-β-cyclodextrin (Glc4)2-β-CD; these were 61,63- and 61,64-dimaltotetraosyl-α-1,6-β-CD. Use of a modified Michaelis-Menten equation to study substrate transglycosylation revealed that the kcat and Km values for transglycosylation were 1.78 × 103 s−1 and 3.30 mM, respectively, whereas the values for hydrolysis were 2.57 × 103 s−1 and 0.206 mM, respectively. Also, enzyme catalytic efficiency (the kcat/Km ratio) increased as the degree of polymerization of branch chains rose. In the model reaction system of Escherichia coli, glucose-1-phosphate production from glycogen by the glycogen phosphorylase was elevated ∼1.45-fold in the presence of TreX compared to that produced in the absence of TreX. The results suggest that outward shifting of glycogen branch chains via transglycosylation increases the number of exposed chains susceptible to phosphorylase action. We developed a model of the glycogen breakdown process featuring both hydrolysis and transglycosylation catalyzed by the debranching enzyme.
Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) can induce tolerance or immunity. We describe a subset of human APCs that express indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and inhibit T cell proliferation in vitro. ...IDO-positive APCs constituted a discrete subset identified by coexpression of the cell-surface markers CD123 and CCR6. In the dendritic cell (DC) lineage, IDO-mediated suppressor activity was present in fully mature as well as immature $CD123^+ DCs$. $IDO^+ DCs$ could also be readily detected in vivo, which suggests that these cells may represent a regulatory subset of APCs in humans.
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