We investigated self-discharge characteristics of Li/S batteries using tetra ethylene glycol dimethylether (TEGDME) electrolyte. The open circuit voltages (OCV) and discharge curves were measured as ...a function of storage time. The self-discharge of the Li/S battery depended on current collectors. Li/TEGDME/S batteries with stainless steel (SUS) current collector showed the highest self-discharge rate of 59% per month. The self-discharge rate of Li/TEGDME/S battery using Al current collector is 34% during initial 80 days, but only 36% after 360 days storage. The discharge capacity decreases only 2% from 80 to 360 days. The self-discharge of Li/S battery using Al current collector is severe during initial 80 days, but is not an important factor after 80 days. Average self-discharge rate of Li/TEGDME/S battery using Al current collector is 3% per month for 1 year.
Abstract Background Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), a member of the CC chemokine family, plays a crucial role in Th2-specific inflammation. We aimed to determine the concentration ...of sputum TARC in children with asthma and eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) and its relation with eosinophilic inflammation, pulmonary function, and bronchial hyper-responsiveness. Methods In total, 90 children with asthma, 38 with EB, and 45 control subjects were enrolled. TARC levels were measured in sputum supernatants using an ELISA. We performed pulmonary function tests and measured exhaled fractional nitric oxide, eosinophil counts in blood, and sputum and serum levels of total IgE in all children. Results Sputum TARC levels were significantly higher in children with asthma than in either children with EB ( p = 0.004) or the control subjects ( p = 0.014). Among patients with asthma, sputum TARC concentration was higher in children with sputum eosinophilia than in those without sputum eosinophilia ( p = 0.035). Sputum TARC levels positively correlated with eosinophil counts in sputum, serum total IgE levels, exhaled fractional nitric, and the bronchodilator response. Negative significant correlations were found between sputum TARC and FEV1/FVC (the ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second and forced expiratory vital capacity) or PC20 (the provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% decrease in the FEV1 ). Conclusion Elevated TARC levels in sputum were detected in children with asthma but not in children with EB. Sputum TARC could be a supportive marker for discrimination of asthma from EB in children showing characteristics of eosinophilic airway inflammation.
Summary
Background
Atopic dermatitis (AD) and contact dermatitis (CD) are both T cell‐mediated eczematous disorders. Interleukin (IL)‐17, expressed by T helper (Th)17 cells, is involved in ...recruitment of inflammatory cells into AD and CD skin.
Aim
In this study, we investigated whether IL‐17 regulates immune dysregulation and affects skin barrier in oxazolone (OXA)‐induced AD‐like and CD‐like disease models in mice, by comparing IL‐17 null mutant (IL‐17−/−) vs. wild‐type (WT) mouse strains in the models.
Methods
IL‐17−/− and WT Balb/c mice were used for OXA induction of AD‐like and CD‐like skin diseases. Ear swelling was measured by a micrometer. Skin biopsies were obtained for RNA isolation and histology. Real‐time quantitative PCR analysis was performed to quantify mRNA expression of Th2 cytokines. Skin permeability was measured by a vapometer, and structural changes in the skin were evaluated by electron and confocal microscopy.
Results
Both OXA‐induced AD and CD responses were alleviated in IL‐17−/− mice relative to WT, as demonstrated by reductions in ear swelling, inflammatory cell infiltration and levels of Th2 cytokines. These endpoints were used to characterize inflammatory dysregulation in both AD and CD models. Skin‐barrier dysfunction, measured by increases in transepidermal water loss and dysfunction of lamellar bodies, and reductions in lipid distribution, were seen in both AD and CD in WT mice. In IL‐17−/− mice, however, these responses were significantly diminished.
Conclusions
The results indicate that the IL‐17 gene may play a role in modulating immune dysregulation and affecting skin barrier in OXA‐induced AD‐like and CD‐like skin disease models in the Balb/c mouse.
The effects of subinhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of antibacterial agents on the biofilm-forming ability of Staphylococcus aureus require further study.
To investigate the effects of sub-MICs of ...chlorhexidine and mupirocin on biofilm formation in clinical meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates.
MRSA isolates were collected from patients with bloodstream infections at a tertiary care hospital. The basal level of biofilm formation and biofilm induction by sub-MICs of chlorhexidine and mupirocin were evaluated by measuring biofilm mass stained with Crystal Violet.
Of the 112 MRSA isolates tested, 63 (56.3%) and 44 (39.3%) belonged to sequence type (ST)5 and ST72 lineages, respectively, which are the predominant healthcare- and community-associated clones in South Korea. ST5 isolates were more likely to have chlorhexidine MIC ≥4 (73.0% vs 29.5%), resistance to mupirocin (23.8% vs 0%), agr dysfunction (73.0% vs 9.1%), and qacA/B gene (58.7% vs 2.3%) compared to ST72 isolates. The basal level of biofilm formation ability was frequently stronger in ST72 isolates compared to ST5 isolates (77.3% vs 12.7%). Sub-MICs of chlorhexidine and mupirocin promoted biofilm formation in 56.3% and 53.6%, respectively, of all isolates. Biofilm induction was more prevalent in ST5 isolates (85.7% for chlorhexidine, 69.8% for mupirocin) than in ST72 isolates (15.9% for chlorhexidine, 27.3% for mupirocin).
Sub-MICs of chlorhexidine and mupirocin promoted biofilm formation in half of the clinical MRSA isolates. Our results suggest that ST5 MRSA biofilm can be induced together with some other bacterial virulent factors following exposure to chlorhexidine, which might confer a survival advantage to this clone in the healthcare environment.
Abstract Purpose Our objective was to investigate the effects of age on patient and graft survival in expanded criteria donor (ECD) renal transplantation. Methods Between February 2000 and December ...2015, we analyzed 405 deceased donor renal transplants, including 128 grafts (31.9%) from ECDs. Based on recipient age and ECD criteria classification, the recipients were divided into four groups: Group I, non-ECD to recipient age <50 years; Group II, non-ECD to recipient age ≥50 years; Group III, ECD to recipient age <50 years; and Group IV, ECD to recipient age ≥50 years. Results Among the four groups, there were significant differences in baseline characteristics (age, body mass index BMI, cause of end-stage renal disease ESRD, number of kidney transplantations, and use of induction agent). The mean modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) glomerular filtration rate (GFR) level at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years after transplantation was significantly lower in patients with ECDs but MDRD GFR level at 7, 9, and 10 years did not differ significantly ( P = .183, .041, and .388, respectively). There were no significant differences in graft survival ( P = .400) and patient survival ( P = .147). Conclusion Our result shows that, regardless of recipient age, kidney transplants donated by deceased ECDs have similar graft and patient survival.
The positive roles of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in osteoblast differentiation and bone mineral density (BMD) maintenance have been clearly demonstrated in both animal experiments and clinical ...investigations. CXXC finger protein 5 (CXXC5), a recently identified negative regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, showed altered cellular localization and function, which were dependent on the cell type in previous studies. However, the in vivo function of CXXC5 has not been clearly investigated yet. Here, we characterized CXXC5 as a negative regulator of osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Deficiency of CXXC5 resulted in elevated BMD in mice without any severe gross developmental abnormalities. CXXC5 exerted a negative-feedback effect on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway via Wnt-dependent binding to Dishevelled (Dvl) during osteoblast differentiation. Suppression of the Dvl-CXXC5 interaction using a competitor peptide resulted in the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and osteoblast differentiation, and accelerated thickness growth of ex vivo-cultured calvariae. Overall, CXXC5 is a negative-feedback regulator induced by Wnt/β-catenin signaling that inhibits osteoblast differentiation and bone formation via interaction with Dvl.
Although core needle biopsy was introduced as a diagnostic alternative to fine-needle aspiration, the utility and safety of core needle biopsy for thyroid nodules in a large population has yet to be ...studied comprehensively. We evaluate core needle biopsy yields on a large-scale basis to investigate its potential in the preliminary diagnosis of thyroid nodules.
Between March 2005 and December 2013, 2448 initially detected thyroid nodules from 2120 consecutive patients who underwent core needle biopsy were retrospectively evaluated. Of these, 72 thyroid nodules from 63 patients were excluded due to prior fine-needle aspiration attempts. The inconclusive and conclusive result rates, diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and unnecessary surgery rate of core needle biopsy were evaluated.
With core needle biopsy as the first-line method, the inconclusive result rate was 11.9% (283/2376) and the conclusive result rate was 88.1% (2093/2376). The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of core needle biopsy for the diagnosis of malignancy were 96.7% (1160/1200), 89.7% (347/387), 100% (813/813), 100% (347/347), and 95.3% (813/853), respectively. There were no major complications and 12 minor complications.
We have demonstrated that first-line use of core needle biopsy may well improve diagnostic accuracy in thyroid nodules, reducing inconclusive or false-negative results and unnecessary operations. Such benefits underscore the promising role of core needle biopsy in managing thyroid nodules and optimizing related surgical decision-making.
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