In this study, we proposed a strategy to fabricate vertically stacked subpixel (VSS) micro-light-emitting diodes (μ-LEDs) for future ultrahigh-resolution microdisplays. At first, to vertically stack ...the LED with different colors, we successfully adopted a bonding-interface-engineered monolithic integration method using SiO
2
/SiN
x
distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs). It was found that an intermediate DBR structure could be used as the bonding layer and color filter, which could reflect and transmit desired wavelengths through the bonding interface. Furthermore, the optically pumped μ-LED array with a pitch of 0.4 μm corresponding to the ultrahigh-resolution of 63 500 PPI could be successfully fabricated using a typical semiconductor process, including electron-beam lithography. Compared with the pick-and-place strategy (limited by machine alignment accuracy), the proposed strategy leads to the fabrication of significantly improved high-density μ-LEDs. Finally, we systematically investigated the effects of surface traps using time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) and two-dimensional simulations. The obtained results clearly demonstrated that performance improvements could be possible by employing optimal passivation techniques by diminishing the pixel size for fabricating low-power and highly efficient microdisplays.
In this study, we proposed a strategy to fabricate vertically stacked subpixel (VSS) micro-light-emitting diodes (μ-LEDs) for future ultrahigh-resolution microdisplays.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common form of cancer and poses a critical public health threat due to the global spread of westernized diets high in meat, cholesterol, and fat. Although ...the link between diet and colorectal cancer has been well established, the mediating role of the gut microbiota remains elusive. In this study, we sought to elucidate the connection between the gut microbiota, diet, and CRC through metagenomic analysis of bacteria isolated from the stool of CRC (n = 89) and healthy (n = 161) subjects. This analysis yielded a dozen genera that were significantly altered in CRC patients, including increased Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Dorea, and Porphyromonas prevalence and diminished Pseudomonas, Prevotella, Acinetobacter, and Catenibacterium carriage. Based on these altered genera, we developed two novel CRC diagnostic models through stepwise selection and a simplified model using two increased and two decreased genera. As both models yielded strong AUC values above 0.8, the simplified model was applied to assess diet-based CRC risk in mice. Mice fed a westernized high-fat diet (HFD) showed greater CRC risk than mice fed a regular chow diet. Furthermore, we found that nonglutinous rice, glutinous rice, and sorghum consumption reduced CRC risk in HFD-fed mice. Collectively, these findings support the critical mediating role of the gut microbiota in diet-induced CRC risk as well as the potential of dietary grain intake to reduce microbiota-associated CRC risk. Further study is required to validate the diagnostic prediction models developed in this study as well as the preventive potential of grain consumption to reduce CRC risk.
Lactobacillus paracasei is a major probiotic and is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, we investigated the effects of L. paracasei-derived extracellular vesicles (LpEVs) on ...LPS-induced inflammation in HT29 human colorectal cancer cells and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice. ER stress inhibitors (salubrinal or 4-PBA) or CHOP siRNA were utilized to investigate the relationship between LpEV-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the inhibitory effect of LpEVs against LPS-induced inflammation. DSS (2%) was administered to male C57BL/6 mice to induce inflammatory bowel disease, and disease activity was measured by determining colon length, disease activity index, and survival ratio. In in vitro experiments, LpEVs reduced the expression of the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, and TNFα and increased the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TGFβ. LpEVs reduced LPS-induced inflammation in HT29 cells and decreased the activation of inflammation-associated proteins, such as COX-2, iNOS and NFκB, as well as nitric oxide. In in vivo mouse experiments, the oral administration of LpEVs also protected against DSS-induced colitis by reducing weight loss, maintaining colon length, and decreasing the disease activity index (DAI). In addition, LpEVs induced the expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-associated proteins, while the inhibition of these proteins blocked the anti-inflammatory effects of LpEVs in LPS-treated HT29 cells, restoring the pro-inflammatory effects of LPS. This study found that LpEVs attenuate LPS-induced inflammation in the intestine through ER stress activation. Our results suggest that LpEVs have a significant effect in maintaining colorectal homeostasis in inflammation-mediated pathogenesis.
A family history of gastric cancer (GC) is a well-known risk factor for GC. However, the association between family history of GC and the risk of GC and gastric adenoma according to the affected ...family members is unclear.
We analyzed the data of participants aged ≥40 years who underwent national GC screening between 2013 and 2014. Participants with and without a family history of GC among first-degree relatives were matched by age and sex in a 1:4 ratio.
During a median follow-up of 4.9 years, 0.96% and 0.46% of 896,721 participants with a family history of GC and 0.65% and 0.32% of 3,586,884 participants without a family history of GC developed GC and gastric adenoma, respectively. A family history of GC among any first-degree relative was a risk factor for GC (adjusted hazard ratio HR 1.48, 95% confidence interval 1.45-1.52) and gastric adenoma (HR 1.44, 95% confidence interval 1.39-1.50). The HRs for GC and gastric adenoma were higher in participants with a family history of GC in parents and siblings (2.26 and 2.19, respectively) than in those with a family history of GC in parents only (1.40 and 1.41, respectively) or siblings only (1.59 and 1.47, respectively). The HRs for GC in participants with vs without a family history of GC were 1.62, 1.55, and 1.42 in the 40-49, 50-59, and ≥60 years' age groups of participants, respectively. Similarly, the HRs for gastric adenoma increased with decreasing age of participants.
A family history of GC was a risk factor for both GC and gastric adenoma. The risk of GC and gastric adenoma of the participants was higher when both parents and siblings had GC.
We evaluated the associations between gastric cancer (GC) family history (FH) and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk and between CRC FH and GC/gastric adenoma risk.
We used data of participants who ...underwent national cancer screening between 2013 and 2014. Participants with GC or CRC FH in first-degree relatives (n = 1 172 750) and those without cancer FH (n = 3 518 250) were matched 1:3 by age and gender.
Of the 1 172 750 participants with a FH, 871 104, 264 040, and 37 606 had FHs of only GC, only CRC, and both GC and CRC, respectively. The median follow-up time was 4.8 years. GC and CRC FHs were associated with increased GC and CRC risks, respectively. GC FH was associated with CRC risk (adjusted hazard ratio 1.05; 95% confidence interval CI 1.01-1.10), whereas CRC FH was not associated with the risk of GC or gastric adenoma. However, gastric adenoma risk increased 1.62-fold (95% CI 1.40-1.87) in participants with FHs of both GC and CRC, demonstrating a significant difference with the 1.39-fold (95% CI 1.34-1.44) increase in participants with only GC FH. Furthermore, GC risk increased by 5.32 times (95% CI 1.74-16.24) in participants with FHs of both GC and CRC in both parents and siblings.
GC FH was significantly associated with a 5% increase in CRC risk. Although CRC FH did not increase GC risk, FH of both GC and CRC further increased the risk of gastric adenoma. FHs of GC and CRC may affect each other's neoplastic lesion risk.
The association between a family history of breast cancer (FHBC) in female first‐degree relatives (FDRs) and cancer risk in men has not been evaluated. This study aimed to compare the risks of ...overall and site‐specific cancers in men with and without FHBC. A population‐based study was conducted with 3 329 106 men aged ≥40 years who underwent national cancer screening between 2013 and 2014. Men with and without FHBC in their female FDRs were age‐matched in a 1:4 ratio. Men without FHBC were defined as those without a family history of any cancer type in their FDRs. Data from 69 124 men with FHBC and 276 496 men without FHBC were analyzed. The mean follow‐up period was 4.7 ± 0.9 years. Men with an FHBC in any FDR (mother or sister) had a higher risk of pancreatic, thyroid, prostate and breast cancers than those without an FHBC (adjusted hazard ratios aHRs (95% confidence interval CI): 1.35 (1.07‐1.70), 1.33 (1.12‐1.56), 1.28 (1.13‐1.44) and 3.03 (1.130‐8.17), respectively). Although an FHBC in any one of the FDRs was not associated with overall cancer risk, FHBC in both mother and sibling was a significant risk factor for overall cancer (aHR: 1.69, 95% CI:1.11‐2.57) and increased the risk of thyroid cancer by 3.41‐fold (95% CI: 1.10‐10.61). FHBC in the mother or sister was a significant risk factor for pancreatic, thyroid, prostate and breast cancers in men; therefore, men with FHBC may require more careful BRCA1/2 mutation‐related cancer surveillance.
What's new?
Family health history can be a marker for shared genetic and environmental factors. However, the association between family history of breast cancer in female first‐degree relatives and cancer risk in men remains understudied. In this population‐based study, men with family history of breast cancer in any female first‐degree relative had a higher risk of pancreatic, thyroid, prostate and breast cancer than men without family history of breast cancer. Family history of breast cancer in both the mother and a sister was associated with increased overall cancer risk. Men with family history of breast cancer may require more careful cancer surveillance.
In Korea, cancer is the third leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults (AYAs). However, cancer incidence and survival trends among AYAs (15-29 years) have never been studied in ...Korea. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the incidence and relative survival rates and their trends among AYAs in Korea.
Cancer incidence data from 1999-2010 were obtained from the Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR). Each cancer was classified into subgroups according to the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) AYA site recode. Percent distributions, age-specific incidence rates, age-standardized incidence rates per million, and annual percent changes (APCs) were calculated for AYAs according to sex. Five-year relative survival rates were estimated for cases diagnosed between 1993 and 2010 and followed up to 2011.
The age-standardized incidence rates of all cancers combined were 196.4 and 367.8 per million for males and females, respectively (male-to-female (M/F) ratio: 0.5). The age-standardized incidence rates increased from 208.7 per million in 1999 to 396.4 per million in 2010, and the APC was 6.3% (P<0.001). The five most common cancers among AYAs were thyroid carcinoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, stomach carcinoma, breast carcinoma, and acute myeloid leukemia. In males, the 5-year relative survival rate improved, from 46.5% in 1993-1995 to 75.9% in 2006-2010. In females, the 5-year relative survival rate also improved, from 66.7% in 1993-1995 to 89.1% in 2006-2010.
Our study showed increases in cancer incidence and improvements in the 5-year relative survival rate among Korean AYAs. This study also provides additional data regarding temporal and geographic trends in cancer that may enhance future efforts to identify factors affecting cancer incidence and responses to treatment among AYAs.
Although renal dysfunction is associated with a higher incidence of malignancies, there is no research on the incidence of specific types of digestive cancer in pre-dialytic chronic kidney disease ...(CKD) patients compared to the general population. This study was conducted on newly diagnosed pre-dialytic CKD patients (n = 35,443) between 2003 and 2013 using the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort in Korea. The risk of digestive cancer development in pre-dialytic CKD patients was calculated as the standardized incidence ratio (SIR). During a median follow-up of 54.9 months, the risk of digestive cancer in CKD patients was significantly higher than in the cohort population SIR; 1.54, 95% confidence interval (95% CI); 1.46-1.62, the SIR of pancreatic cancer was 2.21, and the SIRs of hepatoma, colorectal cancer (CRC), bile duct cancer, and gastric cancer were 2.01, 1.60, 1.40, and 1.25, respectively. Moreover, in CKD patients younger than 40 years, the incidence ratios of hepatoma and CRC were remarkably larger compared with the cohort population of the same age (SIR; 5.98 in hepatoma, 4.58 in CRC). However, the incidence of specific types of digestive cancer seemed to be similar, irrespective of sex. In conclusion, digestive cancers were more frequently observed in CKD-diagnosed patients compared with a cohort population in Korea, which suggests that physicians should closely monitor their patients for the incidence of digestive cancer when they are diagnosed with CKD.
Studies have reported an association between fecal occult blood and increased all-cause, non-colorectal cancer (CRC) as well as CRC mortality. This study aimed to determine whether positive fecal ...immunochemistry test (FIT) results are associated with death from various causes in the South Korean population.
Using the Korean National Cancer Screening Program database, we collected data on patients who underwent FIT between 2009 and 2011.
Of the 5,932,544 participants, 380,789 (6.4%) had positive FIT results. FIT-positive participants had a higher mortality rate than FIT-negative participants from CRC (1.33 and 0.21 per 1,000 person-years, p < 0.001, respectively) and non-CRC causes (10.40 and 7.50 per 1,000 person-years, p < 0.001, respectively). Despite adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, alcohol consumption habits, body mass index, comorbidity, and aspirin use, FIT positivity was associated with an increased risk of dying from all non-CRC causes (adjusted hazard ratio aHR, 1.17; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.15 to 1.18) and CRC (aHR, 5.61; 95% CI, 5.40 to 5.84). Additionally, FIT positivity was significantly associated with increased mortality from circulatory disease (aHR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.17), respiratory disease (aHR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.19), digestive disease (aHR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.48 to 1.66), neuropsychological disease (aHR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.16), blood and endocrine diseases (aHR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.17), and external factors (aHR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.20).
Positive FIT results are associated with an increased risk of mortality from CRC and various other chronic diseases, suggesting that it could be a predictor of mortality independent of its association with CRC.
Tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TMSCs) showed therapeutic effects on acute and chronic murine colitis models, owing to their immunomodulatory properties; therefore, we evaluated enhanced ...therapeutic effects of TMSCs on a murine colitis model using three-dimensional (3D) culture method. The expression of angiogenic factors, VEGF, and anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-10, TSG-6, TGF-β, and IDO-1, was significantly higher in the 3D-TMSC-treated group than in the 2D-TMSC-treated group (P < 0.05). At days 18 and 30 after inducing chronic colitis, disease activity index scores were estimated to be significantly lower in the 3D-TMSC-treated group than in the colitis control (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) and 2D-TMSC-treated groups (P = 0.022 and P = 0.004, respectively). Body weight loss was significantly lower in the 3D-TMSC-treated group than in the colitis control (P < 0.001) and 2D-TMSC-treated groups (P = 0.005). Colon length shortening was significantly recovered in the 3D-TMSC-treated group compared to that in the 2D-TMSC-treated group (P = 0.001). Histological scoring index was significantly lower in the 3D-TMSC-treated group than in the 2D-TMSC-treated group (P = 0.002). These results indicate that 3D-cultured TMSCs showed considerably higher therapeutic effects in a chronic murine colitis model than those of 2D-cultured TMSCs via increased anti-inflammatory cytokine expression.