This paper presents an innovative design of a six-axis force/torque sensor, which enables ease of manufacturing, cost reduction, and ruggedness in operation. The advantages are realized by ...simplifying the structure of the sensor and reducing manual labor during the manufacturing process. In order to achieve a simple sensor structure, we propose a capacitive-type force sensing scheme in which the sensing elements are aligned in-plane. By using this method, all the sensing elements can be fabricated on single printed circuit board, and thus, manual tasks, such as bonding and coating the sensing elements, can be eliminated. In order to verify the feasibility of the idea, a prototype six-axis force/torque sensor was manufactured, and its performances were evaluated. The characteristics of the prototype are analyzed in terms of condition number, static response, time domain response, hysteresis, repeatability, and time drift.
The human gastrointestinal tract contains a complex and dynamic population of microorganisms, known as the gut microbiota. Although interest in the role of the gut microbiota in human health has ...increased in recent years, there remains no standard sampling protocol for analyzing these organisms. Here, we aimed to characterize the microbial composition of distinct segments of the large intestine and to determine whether rectal swabs are suitable for identifying colon microbiota. A total of 100 participants who underwent screening colonoscopy from October 2019 to October 2020 were included in this study. Large intestinal samples (ascending colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and rectum) were aspirated by colonoscopy. Rectal swabs were collected before colonoscopy, and stool samples were collected before patients began colonoscopy preparation. All samples were subjected to 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. We identified differences in the number of phylum-level operational taxonomic units among large intestinal samples, rectal swabs, and stool. Five major phyla were detected in all samples (
Firmicutes, Bacteroides, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Fusobacteria
), although their relative abundances varied. Notably, we found that the microbial compositions of rectal swabs were most similar to those of the sigmoid colon and rectum, whereas the microbiota in stool were relatively different than those from the large intestine and rectal swabs. Our results reveal the existence of microbial heterogeneity within different large intestinal compartments and further suggest that rectal swabs are an acceptable and practical tool for gut microbiota analysis.
Key points
•
Our findings highlight local microbiome variations within different regions of the large intestine.
•
Stool samples do not appear to fully recapitulate the gut microbiome.
•
Our data from a large population-based cohort indicate that rectal swabs can be used to study the gut microbiome.
Ischemic heart disease (IHD) without diabetes is considered an important challenge to human health and is associated with a poor prognosis, as well as a lack of health awareness. We prospectively ...investigated the relationship between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, a surrogate marker of early insulin resistance, and incident IHD risk in a large cohort of nondiabetic Korean adults using National Health Insurance Service data.
We assessed 16,455 participants (8426 men and 8029 women) without diabetes using data from a health risk assessment study (HERAS) and Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA) data. The participants were divided into four groups according to TyG index quartiles, calculated as ln fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) × fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL)/2. We prospectively assessed hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for IHD using multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression models over a 50-month period that followed the baseline survey.
During the follow-up period, 322 (2.0%) participants developed IHD. HRs of IHD for TyG index quartiles 2-4 were 1.61 (95% CI 1.05-2.48), 1.85 (95% CI 1.21-2.81), and 2.29 (95% CI 1.50-3.51), respectively, after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol intake, and physical activity.
A higher TyG index precedes and significantly predicts future IHD among nondiabetic Koreans. Accordingly, the TyG index may be a useful measure in assessing cardiovascular risk for nondiabetic adults in the preclinical stage.
The objective of this pilot randomized controlled trial was to investigate the effect of alternate day fasting (ADF) and exercise on serum sterol signatures, which are surrogate markers of ...cholesterol absorption and biosynthesis.
We randomly assigned 112 overweight or obese participants to four groups: 1) ADF and exercise (E-ADF); 2) ADF; 3) exercise; and 4) control. We studied 31 completers in this exploratory analysis and measured their serum sterol signatures using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.
After intervention, most serum sterol signatures that correspond to cholesterol metabolism were significantly different between groups (p < 0.05 by analysis of covariance ANCOVA). We found no differences in plant sterols, which are markers of cholesterol absorption. In the exercise group, desmosterol, cholesteryl esters, and oxysterols decreased significantly. Furthermore, only changes in physical activity levels negatively correlated with changes in the metabolic ratios of desmosterol and 7-dehydrocholesterol to cholesterol, which reflect cholesterol biosynthesis (r = −0.411; p = 0.030, and r = −0.540; p = 0.003, respectively).
These findings suggest that exercise with or without ADF improves cholesterol metabolism as measured by serum sterol signatures, and increased physical activity has a greater effect on cholesterol biosynthesis than weight reduction or calorie restriction.
•Desmosterol, cholesteryl esters, and oxysterols decreased in the exercise group.•Increased physical activity has a greater effect on cholesterol biosynthesis than weight reduction or calorie restriction.•Exercise, with or without alternate day fasting, improved cholesterol metabolism.
This study was conducted to compare 3D-printed polycaprolactone (PCL) and polycaprolactone/β-tricalcium phosphate (PCL/β-TCP) membranes with a conventional commercial collagen membrane in terms of ...their abilities to facilitate guided bone regeneration (GBR). Fabricated membranes were tested for dry and wet mechanical properties. Fibroblasts and preosteoblasts were seeded into the membranes and rates and patterns of proliferation were analyzed using a kit-8 assay and by scanning electron microscopy. Osteogenic differentiation was verified by alizarin red S and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining. An in vivo experiment was performed using an alveolar bone defect beagle model, in which defects in three dogs were covered with different membranes. CT and histological analyses at eight weeks after surgery revealed that 3D-printed PCL/β-TCP membranes were more effective than 3D-printed PCL, and substantially better than conventional collagen membranes in terms of biocompatibility and bone regeneration and, thus, at facilitating GBR.
Context: Spinal cord injury (SCI) can cause irreversible damage to neural tissues. However, there is currently no effective treatment for SCI. The therapeutic potential of adipose-derived mesenchymal ...stem cells (ADMSCs) has been emerged.
Objective: We evaluated the effects and safety of the intrathecal transplantation of autologous ADMSCs in patients with SCI.
Participants/Interventions: Fourteen patients with SCI were enrolled (12 for ASIA A, 1 for B, and 1 for D; duration of impairments 3-28 months). Six patients were injured at cervical, 1 at cervico-thoracic, 6 at thoracic, and 1 at lumbar level. Autologous ADMSCs were isolated from lipoaspirates of patients' subcutaneous fat tissue and 9 × 10
7
ADMSCs per patient were administered intrathecally through lumbar tapping. MRI, hematological parameters, electrophysiology studies, and ASIA motor/sensory scores were assessed before and after transplantation.
Results: ASIA motor scores were improved in 5 patients at 8 months follow-up (1-2 grades at some myotomes). Voluntary anal contraction improvement was seen in 2 patients. ASIA sensory score recovery was seen in 10, although degeneration was seen in 1. In somatosensory evoked potential test, one patient showed median nerve improvement. There was no interval change of MRI between baseline and 8 months post-transplantation. Four adverse events were observed in three patients: urinary tract infection, headache, nausea, and vomiting.
Conclusions: Over the 8 months of follow-up, intrathecal transplantation of autologous ADMSCs for SCI was free of serious adverse events, and several patients showed mild improvements in neurological function. Patient selection, dosage, and delivery method of ADMSCs should be investigated further.
The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), composed of triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, is a novel critical marker for assessing the risk of atherogenicity and cardiometabolic ...health. We aimed to prospectively study the association between AIP and incident ischemic heart disease (IHD) risk in a large cohort of non-diabetic Korean adults. Data were assessed from 17,944 participants without diabetes from the Health Risk Assessment Study (HERAS) and Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA) data. The participants were divided into four groups according to AIP quartiles, calculated as log (triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). We prospectively assessed hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for IHD using multivariate Cox proportional-hazard regression models over a 50-month period that followed the baseline survey. During the follow-up period, 332 participants (1.9%) developed IHD. HRs of IHD for AIP quartiles 2–4 were 1.58 (95% CI, 1.03–2.43), 1.82 (95% CI, 1.20–2.78), and 2.11 (95% CI, 1.37–3.24) after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol intake, physical activity, mean arterial blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level, and hypertension medication. Higher AIP levels may precede and predict the development of IHD in non-diabetic Korean adults.
Purpose
This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the effect of environmental cadmium (Cd) exposure and essential metal imbalance on renal tubular damage and oxidative stress in 979 adults living in ...a Cd-polluted area near an abandoned copper (Cu) refinery.
Methods
We analyzed urinary Cd concentrations, renal tubular damage and oxidative stress markers, such as beta-2 microglobulin (β2-MG) and
N
-acetyl-β-
d
-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity and urine malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. The serum copper-to-zinc ratio (CZR) was used as an essential metal imbalance indicator. We divided the subjects into two Cd exposure groups based on the reference level of urinary Cd for renal dysfunction (2 μg/g creatinine).
Results
The geometric mean concentration of urinary Cd in all subjects was 2.25 μg/g creatinine. In both low and high Cd exposure groups, urinary Cd levels were positively correlated with urinary NAG activity, but not with serum CZR. After multivariate adjustment, serum CZR was strongly associated with urinary β2-MG levels in the low Cd exposure group (
β
= 1.360,
P
= 0.019) and was significantly associated with urinary MDA levels, regardless of Cd exposure level. In addition, the risk of renal tubular damage was significantly associated with urinary Cd level, particularly in the lowest or highest CZR tertile groups.
Conclusions
Essential metal imbalance may be a determinant of oxidative stress and renal tubular damage in a chronically Cd-exposed population, and proper zinc supplementation will be effective in preventing adverse health effects due to Cd exposure.
Aims
The C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) has been reported as a novel prognostic marker in serious illness and various inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the ...association of CAR with incidence risk of type 2 diabetes in adults without chronic disease.
Methods
A total of 5904 participants aged 40 to 69 years were selected from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study who were observed over 12 years. Multivariable logistic regression was analyzed to examine the relationship between CAR tertiles and incident diabetes. The predictive power of new-onset diabetes by CAR and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were also measured using the random forest model.
Results
During a mean follow-up period of 7.6 years, 701 subjects (11.9%) developed diabetes. Compared with the lowest CAR group, the highest CAR group was associated with incidence of diabetes (OR 1.60; 95% CI 1.24–1.89) after adjustment for other potential confounding factors. In the random forest model, CAR did not show a significant difference in prediction of new-onset diabetes compared with HOMA-IR (
p
= 0.561).
Conclusions
CAR, which is a ratio of commonly used biomarkers and reflects both oxidative stress and antioxidants, is suggested as a predictor of incident diabetes.
Understanding national trends of heart failure (HF) is crucial for establishing prevention and treatment strategies. We aimed to investigate the 11-year trends of HF in the South Korean population.
...Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, we identified 3,446,256 patients with HF between 2004 and 2014.
The prevalence of HF was 1.42% in 2004, steadily increasing to 1.98% in 2014. However, the age-adjusted prevalence of HF remained stable (1.43% in 2014). The incidence of HF was 6.1/1000 person-years in 2004 and remained at similar levels, reaching 5.4/1000 person-years in 2014. The age-adjusted incidence of HF slowly decreased to 3.94/1000 person-years in 2014. The event rate for hospitalized patients with HF remained stable increasing from 1.40 in 2004 to 1.87/1000 person-years in 2014, and the age-adjusted event rate of hospitalized HF decreased to 1.22 in 2014.
In South Korea, between 2004 and 2014, the prevalence of HF increased while the incidence of HF remained stable. Furthermore, the age-adjusted HF prevalence was stable, and the age-adjusted incidence decreased. This indicates that the aging population is the main cause of the increasing national burden associated with HF and that further attention is warranted in the management of HF in older adults.
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