Electrodes should be adhered onto the body steadily under motion, and implanted stably into the tissue without any damages while maintaining conformal contact. Although most electrodes are fabricated ...with biocompatible materials, they should be shielded from tissues to prevent mechanical delamination from the device itself and to avoid adverse effects such as irritation, allergic reactions, or inflammation. Herein, we demonstrate a simple process for the development of a flexible and implantable capacitive electrode based on a minimal incision accessible design with polyimide (PI) and Gold/Titanium (Au/Ti) layers and completely encapsulated in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. Electrodes of three different sizes (recording site diameters of 1.8 mm, 2.8 mm, and 3.8 mm, respectively) were fabricated and examined in this work. Electrocardiography (ECG) was recorded in the dorsal area of the rat for 4 weeks for biological signal checkup. We obtained stable and robust ECG signals owing to the intrinsic property of capacitive coupling, with almost no leakage current compared to the direct contact electrode for the applied current over the range of 0 to 10 mA. These results indicate that our electrode can be used to detect bio-signals effectively in the long term, and can play a role in electroceuticals in the near future.
As the shelf life of platelets collected from donated blood is very short, approximately 5 days, the determination of bacterial contamination in platelets has become necessary. In this study, rapid ...analysis of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial contamination in platelet samples was presented without pre-enrichment using pig serum-derived antibodies against the outer membrane proteins (OMP) of Gram-negative bacteria and antibodies against lipoteichoic acid (LTA) on the surface of Gram-positive bacteria. The anti-OMP antibodies against Gram-negative bacteria were isolated using sequential incubation with (1) the modified Gram-negative bacteria ClearColi, which lacks lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the outer membrane, and (2) the Gram-positive bacteriaBacillus subtilis to filter away nonspecifically bound proteins from ClearColi. The anti-lipoteichoic acid (LTA) antibodies against Gram-positive bacteria were isolated using sequential incubation with (1) the Gram-positive bacteriaB. subtilis and (2) the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli BL21 to filter away nonspecifically bound proteins fromB. subtilis. The feasibility of using the antibodies isolated from pig serum against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria was demonstrated using flow cytometry. Finally, detection of the contamination of platelets with Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria using the impedance immunosensor based on these isolated antibodies was successfully demonstrated.
Abstract Needle-free nonparenteral vaccines offer a number of practical advantages, especially in developing countries. To address the effects of vaccine administration route, we tested mucosal and ...systemic immune responses against human papillomavirus 16 L1(HPV16L1) protein using intranasal, intravaginal, transdermal, sublingual (SL) and intramuscular routes. The SL route provided the most effective mucosal secretory IgA (sIgA) and serum IgG responses. After a 150 μg antigen dose via the SL route, saliva sIgA levels were 7.2- and 5.8-fold higher than those achieved via intravaginal and transdermal routes, respectively. Notably, SL administration even produced 4.6-fold higher levels of vaginal sIgA levels than did intravaginal delivery of 150 μg antigen. To enhance the immunogenicity of SL vaccines, we tested the adjuvanticity of nine molecules: three toll-like receptor agonists, three nucleotide-binding oligomerization-domain agonists, vitamin D3, poly-γ-glutamic acid and cholera toxin subunit B (CTB). Among the molecules tested, CTB provided the most enhanced mucosal sIgA and systemic IgG induction. SL-applied CTB enhanced the production of interleukin-4 and interferon-γ from stimulated CD4+ T cells. Moreover, interferon-γ-producing CD8+ T cell responses were increased 1.7-fold after co-treatment with SL CTB and HPV16L1. These results suggest the potential of the SL route for delivery of HPV16L1 vaccines using CTB as an adjuvant.
The aim of this study was conducted to develop an analytical method to determine the concentration of ceftiofur residue in eel, flatfish, and shrimp. For derivatization and extraction, the sample was ...hydrolyzed with dithioerythritol to produce desfuroylceftiofur, which was then derivatized by iodoacetamide to obtain desfuroylceftiofur acetamide. For purification, the process of solid phase extraction (Oasis HLB) was used. The target analytes were confirmed and quantified in C 18 column using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with 0.1% formic acid in water (A) and 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile (B) as the mobile phase. The linearity of the standard calibration curve was confirmed by a correlation coefficient, r 2 > 0.99. The limit of quantification for ceftiofur was 0.002 mg/kg; the accuracy (expressed as the average recoveries) was 80.6-105%; the precision (expressed as the coefficient of variation) was below 6.3% at 0.015, 0.03, and 0.06 mg/kg. The validated method demonstrated high accuracy and acceptable sensitivity to meet the Codex guideline requirements. The developed method was tested using market samples. As a results, ceftiofur was detected in one sample. Therefore, it can be applied to the analysis of ceftiofur residues in fishery products. KCI Citation Count: 0
Dementia increases the risk of mortality (ROM) in the elderly and estimates of hazard ratio (HR) of dementia for mortality have ranged from 1.7 to 6.3. However, previous studies may have ...underestimated ROM of dementia due to length bias, which occurs when failing to include the persons with rapidly progressive diseases, who died before they could be included in the study. This population-based prospective cohort study conducted on 6,752 randomly sampled Koreans, aged 60 years or older (the Korean Longitudinal Study on Cognitive Aging and Dementia). Cognitive disorders were evaluated at baseline and 2-year follow-up using the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Packet (CERAD-K), and prevalent and incident cases of dementia were identified. The participants' deaths were confirmed through the National Mortality Database of Statistics Korea. We compared the ROM between prevalent and incident dementia, and estimated HR of dementia for mortality using Cox proportional hazards model. Of the 5,097 responders to the 2-year follow-up assessment, 150 participants had dementia from the baseline (prevalent dementia), and 95 participants developed dementia during the 2-year follow-up period (incident dementia). The ROM of participants with incident dementia was about 3 times higher than the ROM of those with prevalent dementia (HR = 3.04, 95% confidence interval CI = 1.34-6.91). Compared to cognitively normal participants at both the baseline and 2-year follow-up assessments, the ROM of those with incident dementia approximately 8 times higher (HR = 8.37, 95 % CI = 4.23-16.54). In conclusion, the ROM of dementia using prevalent cases was underestimated due to length bias, and dementia may be much more fatal than previously estimated. In clinical settings, the ROM of dementia warrants the attention of physicians, particularly in recently incident dementia cases.
Eclipta prostrata (EP) and its compounds are known to have several pharmacological effects including anti-inflammatory effects. In the present study, we demonstrated that EP improves the dextran ...sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis symptoms such as body weight loss, colon length shortening and disease activity index. In DSS-induced colitis tissue, EP controls the protein expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and hypoxia inducible factor-1Formula: see text (HIF-1Formula: see text). In addition, the release of prostaglandin E
and vascular endothelial growth factor-A were significantly reduced by EP administration. EP also inhibited COX-2 and HIF-1Formula: see text expressions in the tumor necrosis factor-Formula: see text stimulated HT-29 cells. These inhibitory effects of EP occurred by reducing the phosphorylation of IFormula: see textB and the translocation of the nuclear factor-Formula: see textB (NF-Formula: see textB). Additionally, we found through HPLC analysis that wedelolactone, which is an inhibitor of NF-Formula: see textB transcription, was contained in water extract of EP. These results indicate that EP can improve colitis symptoms through the modulation of immune function in intestinal epithelial cells and suggests that EP has the potential therapeutic effect to intestinal inflammation.
ZKSCAN5 (also known as ZFP95) is a zinc-finger protein belonging to the Krűppel family. ZKSCAN5 contains a SCAN box and a KRAB A domain and is proposed to play a distinct role during spermatogenesis. ...In humans, alternatively spliced ZKSCAN5 transcripts with different 5′-untranslated regions (UTRs) have been identified. However, investigation of our Macaca UniGene Database revealed novel alternative ZKSCAN5 transcripts that arose due to an exon creation event. Therefore, in this study, we identified the full-length sequences of ZKSCAN5 and its alternative transcripts in Macaca spp. Additionally, we investigated different nonhuman primate sequences to elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying the exon creation event. We analyzed the evolutionary features of the ZKSCAN5 transcripts by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and genomic PCR, and by sequencing various nonhuman primate DNA and RNA samples. The exon-created transcript was only detected in the Macaca lineage (crab-eating monkey and rhesus monkey). Full-length sequence analysis by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) identified ten full-length transcripts and four functional isoforms of ZKSCAN5. Protein sequence analyses revealed the presence of two groups of isoforms that arose because of differences in start-codon usage. Together, our results demonstrate that there has been specific selection for a discrete set of ZKSCAN5 variants in the Macaca lineage. Furthermore, study of this locus (and perhaps others) in Macaca spp. might facilitate our understanding of the evolutionary pressures that have shaped the mechanism of exon creation in primates.
•We firstly identified full-length sequences of ZKSCAN5 gene in nonhuman primates.•We totally identified ten transcripts of ZKSCAN5 gene in Macaca species.•We identified lineage specific transcript by exon creation in Macaca species.•We investigated primate sequences to elucidate the exon creation mechanism.•We analyzed the evolutionary features of ZKSCAN5 transcripts.
Glucocorticoid excess is a critical factor contributing to muscle atrophy. Both endogenous and exogenous glucocorticoids negatively affect the preservation of muscle mass and function. To date, the ...most effective intervention to prevent muscle atrophy is to apply a mechanical load in the form of resistance exercise. However, glucocorticoid-induced skeletal muscle atrophy easily causes fatigue in daily physical activities, such as climbing stairs and walking at a brisk pace, and reduces body movements to cause a decreased ability to perform physical activity. Therefore, providing adequate nutrients in these circumstances is a key factor in limiting muscle wasting and improving muscle mass recovery. The present review will provide an up-to-date review of the effects of various nutrients, including amino acids such as branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate (HMB), fatty acids such as omega-3, and vitamins and their derivates on the prevention and improvement of glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy.
Mg3Sb2-based materials are very promising for thermoelectric applications at low temperatures,and are strong candidates to replace n-type Bi2Te3 for cooling and power generation. Substituting Sb ...atomswith chalcogen elements (S, Se, Te) is a typical method of n-type doping, while doping the Mg site with Group3 elements (Y, Sc) and Lanthanides has also been studied. Unique advantages have been recently reported.
In this study, a La-containing compound, LaSb, was used to fabricate n-type Mg3SbBi. The thermoelectricproperties of polycrystalline Mg3LaxSbBi (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.02) were investigated after synthesis by sequentialprocesses of arc melting, ball milling, and spark plasma sintering. Undoped Mg3SbBi is p-type with poorthermoelectric performance, and switched to n-type with La doping. The electron concentration of Mg3LaxSbBiincreased linearly with La content x, reaching up to 9.4 × 1019 cm-3 at x = 0.02. The power factor and the figureof merit were also maximized in Mg3La0.02SbBi, reaching 1.8 mW m-1K-2 (573 K) and 0.89 (623 K), respectively.
The lattice thermal conductivity decreased with increasing La content above ~500 K, and the minimum valueof 0.73 W m-1K-1 was obtained in Mg3La0.02SbBi. This study shows that La doping using LaSb provides areliable method for n-type doping of Mg3Sb2-based materials. KCI Citation Count: 0
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