Evaluating the biomechanics of soft tissues at depths well below their surface, and at high precision and in real time, would open up diagnostic opportunities. Here, we report the development and ...application of miniaturized electromagnetic devices, each integrating a vibratory actuator and a soft strain-sensing sheet, for dynamically measuring the Young's modulus of skin and of other soft tissues at depths of approximately 1-8 mm, depending on the particular design of the sensor. We experimentally and computationally established the operational principles of the devices and evaluated their performance with a range of synthetic and biological materials and with human skin in healthy volunteers. Arrays of devices can be used to spatially map elastic moduli and to profile the modulus depth-wise. As an example of practical medical utility, we show that the devices can be used to accurately locate lesions associated with psoriasis. Compact electronic devices for the rapid and precise mechanical characterization of living tissues could be used to monitor and diagnose a range of health disorders.
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), including coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral artery disease, carries a high morbidity and mortality. Risk factor control ...is especially important for patients with ASCVD to reduce recurrent cardiovascular events. Clinical guidelines have been developed by the Taiwan Society of Cardiology, Taiwan Society of Lipids and Atherosclerosis, and Diabetes Association of Republic of China (Taiwan) to assist health care professionals in Taiwan about the control of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes mellitus. This article is to highlight the recommendations about blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar control for ASCVD. Some medications that are beneficial for ASCVD were also reviewed. We hope the clinical outcomes of ASCVD can be improved in Taiwan through the implementation of these recommendations.
In the current literature, studies assessing the role of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection in psoriasis have reported conflicting data. Therefore, we investigated the association between HP ...infection and psoriasis using a nationwide population-based longitudinal cohort study.
We identified 41,539 patients with HP infection and 83,078 matched controls between 2000 and 2013 from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Research Database of the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Propensity score analysis was used to match age, sex, comorbidities, and medical visits at a ratio of 1:2. Multiple Cox regression analysis was used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratio of psoriasis. Furthermore, sensitivity tests and a stratified analysis were conducted.
The incidence rates of psoriasis did not differ significantly between the HP and control cohorts (4.58 vs 4.20 per 100,000 person-months, crude relative risk: 1.092, 95% confidence interval: 0.917-1.302). After multivariate adjustment, no significant difference in psoriasis risk was observed in patients with HP infection (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.081, 95% confidence interval: 0.907-1.288). Risk of psoriasis was significantly higher in men and the elderly, and in those with diabetes, hyperlipidemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or tuberculosis. Stratified analysis also confirmed that HP infection was not correlated with an increased risk of psoriasis based on follow-up duration, sex, and age.
This retrospective population-based longitudinal cohort study, conducted in Taiwan, found no association between HP infection and risk of psoriasis. Further research may be warranted.
RNA live-cell imaging systems have been used to visualize subcellular mRNA distribution in living cells. The RNA-binding protein (RBP)-based RNA imaging system exploits specific RBP and the ...corresponding RNA recognition sequences to indirectly label mRNAs. Co-expression of fluorescent protein-fused RBP and target mRNA conjugated with corresponding RNA recognition sequences allows for visualizing mRNAs by confocal microscopy. To minimize the background fluorescence in the cytosol, the nuclear localization sequence has been used to sequester the RBP not bound to mRNA in the nucleus. However, strong fluorescence in the nucleus may limit the visualization of nucleus-localized RNA and sometimes may interfere in detecting fluorescence signals in the cytosol, especially in cells with low signal-to-noise ratio.
We eliminated the background fluorescence in the nucleus by using the split fluorescent protein-based approach. We fused two different RBPs with the N- or C-terminus of split fluorescent proteins (FPs). Co-expression of RBPs with the target mRNA conjugated with the corresponding RNA recognition sequences can bring split FPs together to reconstitute functional FPs for visualizing target mRNAs. We optimized the system with minimal background fluorescence and used the imaging system to visualize mRNAs in living plant cells.
We established a background-free RNA live-cell imaging system that provides a platform to visualize subcellular mRNA distribution in living plant cells.
Power consumption is one of the major issues associated with deploying a wireless sensor to monitor natural environments in the real world. It is not practical to frequently replace the battery of a ...sensor that is located in a remote mountainous area. While considering to save valuable energy, the sensor must be able to detect a particular event in a timely manner and report data. To satisfy these requirements, in this paper, we present a wireless sensor system, termed SMARTCONE, which is designed to monitor the slope movement and minimize the standby power consumption, while remaining active to detect events. Multiple SMARTCONEs need to synchronously change their operation modes to collect the physical parameters and transmit raw vibration data simultaneously. SMARTCONE is consuming a power of only 0.05 mA at 3.6 V in standby mode, which is significantly less than that consumed by the previous design. As far as we know, SMARTCONE is an unprecedented instrument for the monitoring of slope movement; no other instruments can achieve such a low-energy consumption while being triggered by external vibration and managed remotely. These complicated issues are considered while designing the SMARTCONE, whose performance is then evaluated. In order to prevent redundant effort and to reduce the entry-level knowledge required by the users who wish to design a system, and to promote the use of this design for monitoring natural environments, we would like to open source the design of SMARTCONE for the public. It can be modified for use in other applications to satisfy their requirements without the need to build from scratch.
Correction: Journal of Translational Medicine (2023) 21:530 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-023-04390-2 Following publication of the original article 1, we have been notified about the errors in Fig. ...7A, B, G. In Fig. 7A, B, the label of NMIgG should be revise to “–” in the EpAb2-6 and Crizotinib combine treatment group. H Body-weights of each treatment group in the HT29 orthotopic animal model after indicated treatments. H Body-weights of each treatment group in the HT29 orthotopic animal model after indicated treatments. Han-Chung Wu 1,2 Show authors Journal of Translational Medicine volume 22, Article number: 36 (2024) Cite this article 80 Accesses Metrics details The Original Article was published on 05 August 2023 Correction: Journal of Translational Medicine (2023) 21:530 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-023-04390-2 Following publication of the original article 1, we have been notified about the errors in Fig. 7A, B, G. In Fig. 7A, B, the label of NMIgG should be revise to “–” in the EpAb2-6 and Crizotinib combine treatment group. H Body-weights of each treatment group in the HT29 orthotopic animal model after indicated treatments.
Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) involves host genetics, environmental and viral factors. In clinical observations, patients of young and old ages were found to have higher recurrence and ...metastatic rates. Methods: Cytokine array was employed to screen druggable target(s). The candidate target(s) were confirmed through patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) and a new EBV-positive cell line, NPC-B13. Results: Overexpression of epithelial growth factor (EGF) and EGF receptor (EGFR) was detected in young patients than in older patients. The growth of NPC PDX tumors and cell lines was inhibited by EGFR inhibitors (EGFRi) cetuximab and afatinib when used separately or in combination with the cell cycle blocker palbociclib. Western blot analysis of these drug-treated PDXs demonstrated that the blockade of the EGF signaling pathway was associated with a decrease in the p-EGFR level and reduction in PDX tumor size. RNA sequencing results of PDX tumors elucidated that cell cycle-related pathways were suppressed in response to drug treatments. High EGFR expression (IHC score ≥ grade 3) was correlated with poor survival in metastatic patients (p = 0.008). Conclusions: Our results provide encouraging preliminary data related to the combination treatment of EGFRi and palbociclib in patients with NPC.
Lithium metal is considered as an ideal anode material for lithium-ion batteries, because of its highest theoretical specific capacity, energy density, low reduction potential, and lightweight. ...However, its practical application is being hindered by factors such as the presence of uncontrolled interfacial reactions with liquid electrolytes, unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), dendrite formation due to inhomogeneous lithium-deposition and poor cycle life. Herein, Lithium ion conducting composite film comprising of cubic garnet (Li7La2.75Ca0.25Zr1.75Nb0.25O12) (LLCZN), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and lithium perchlorate (LiClO4) salt is prepared by electrospinning. The composite film induces inorganic-rich solid electrolyte interphase which is mechanically stable to suppress the formation of lithium dendrites. The Li‖Cu@LLCZN/PVDF(84:16)LiClO4 cell exhibits negligible polarization compared to a bare copper one (Li‖Cu) performed in 1 M LiPF6 ethylene carbonate (EC) diethyl carbonate (DEC) (1:1 v/v ratio) electrolyte at a current density of 0.2 mA cm−2. Moreover, the anode free full cell configuration (Cu@LLCZN/PVDF‖NMC) demonstrates improved capacity retention of 58.66% and average coulombic efficiency of 97.6% after 30th cycles. The as-synthesized composite film induces inorganic rich (LiF and LiCl) SEI and gives required mechanical strength to suppress the lithium dendrite formation. These features endow the Cu anode with stable interface chemistry which is essential to the realization of anode-free lithium metal batteries.
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•Cubic garnet composite film modified copper.•Film-induced SEI obtained during in situ charge-discharge process.•Mechanical strength of the composite strong enough to suppress dendrite.•Inorganic-rich SEI improves the electrochemical stability of the anode free battery.
In this study, non-stoichiometry lead-free piezoelectric ceramic Li0.058(K0.48Na0.535)0.966(Nb0.9Ta0.1)O3 (LKNNT) thick films were deposited on Pt/Ti/Si substrates using spin-coating method ...technology to form a LKNNT/Pt/Ti/Si structure of the micro-pressure thick films. Additionally, the influence on the crystalline properties, surface microstructure images, and mechanical properties, and the piezoelectric properties of the non-stoichiometry lead-free piezoelectric ceramic Li0.058(K0.48Na0.535)0.966(Nb0.9Ta0.1)O3 (LKNNT) thick films were observed, analyzed, and calculated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), focused ion beam (FIB) microscopy, nano-indention technology, and other instruments. This study was divided into two parts: The first part was the investigation into the fabrication parameters and properties of the bottom layer (Pt) and buffer layer (Ti). The Pt/Ti/Si structures were achieved by the DC sputtering method, and then the rapid thermal annealing (RTA) post-treatment process was used to re-arrange the grains and reduce defects in the lead-free Li0.058(K0.48Na0.535)0.966(Nb0.9Ta0.1)O3 (LKNNT) thick films. In the second part, lead-free Li0.058(K0.48Na0.535)0.966(Nb0.9Ta0.1)O3 (LKNNT) powder was prepared by the solid-state reaction method, and then acetic acid (C2H4O2) solvent was added to form a slurry for spin-coating technology processing. The fabrication parameters, thick film micro-structure, crystalline properties, nano-indention technology, and the piezoelectric coefficient characteristics of the developed lead-free Li0.058(K0.48Na0.535)0.966(Nb0.9Ta0.1)O3 (LKNNT)/Pt/Ti/Si structure of the micro-pressure thick film devices a were investigated. According to the experimental results, the optimal fabrication processing parameters of the lead-free Li0.058(K0.48Na0.535)0.966(Nb0.9Ta0.1)O3 (LKNNT) were an RTA temperature of 500 °C, a Ti buffer-layer thickness of 273.9 nm, a Pt bottom electrode-layer thickness of 376.6 nm, a theoretical density of LKNNT of 4.789 g/cm3, a lattice constant of 3.968 × 10−8 cm, and a d33 value of 150 pm/V. Finally, regarding the mechanical properties of the micro-pressure devices for when a microforce of 3 mN was applied, the thick film revealed a hardness of 60 MPa, a Young’s modulus of 13 GPa, and an elasticity interval of 1.25 μm, which are suitable for future applications of micro-pressure devices.
Whether and how a local virus infection affects the hematopoietic system in the bone marrow is largely unknown, unlike with systemic infection. In this study, we showed that influenza A virus (IAV) ...infection leads to demand-adapted monopoiesis in the bone marrow. The beta interferon (IFN-β) promoter stimulator 1 (IPS-1)-type I IFN-IFN-α receptor 1 (IFNAR1) axis-mediated signaling was found to induce the emergency expansion of the granulocyte-monocyte progenitor (GMP) population and upregulate the expression of the macrophage colony-stimulating factor receptor (M-CSFR) on bipotent GMPs and monocyte progenitors via the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), leading to a scaled-back proportion of granulocyte progenitors. To further address the influence of demand-adapted monopoiesis on IAV-induced secondary bacterial infection, IAV-infected wild-type (WT) and
mice were challenged with Streptococcus pneumoniae. Compared with WT mice,
mice did not demonstrate demand-adapted monopoiesis, had more infiltrating granulocytes, and were able to effectively eliminate the bacterial infection.
Our findings show that influenza A virus infection induces type I interferon (IFN)-mediated emergency hematopoiesis to expand the GMP population in the bone marrow. The type I IFN-STAT1 axis was identified as being involved in mediating the viral-infection-driven demand-adapted monopoiesis by upregulating M-CSFR expression in the GMP population. As secondary bacterial infections often manifest during a viral infection and can lead to severe or even fatal clinical complications, we further assessed the impact of the observed monopoiesis on bacterial clearance. Our results suggest that the resulting decrease in the proportion of granulocytes may play a role in diminishing the IAV-infected host's ability to effectively clear secondary bacterial infection. Our findings not only provide a more complete picture of the modulatory functions of type I IFN but also highlight the need for a more comprehensive understanding of potential changes in hematopoiesis during local infections to better inform clinical interventions.
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