Vaccines and therapeutics are urgently needed for the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we screen human monoclonal antibodies (mAb) targeting the ...receptor binding domain (RBD) of the viral spike protein via antibody library constructed from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a convalescent patient. The CT-P59 mAb potently neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 isolates including the D614G variant without antibody-dependent enhancement effect. Complex crystal structure of CT-P59 Fab/RBD shows that CT-P59 blocks interaction regions of RBD for angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor with an orientation that is notably different from previously reported RBD-targeting mAbs. Furthermore, therapeutic effects of CT-P59 are evaluated in three animal models (ferret, hamster, and rhesus monkey), demonstrating a substantial reduction in viral titer along with alleviation of clinical symptoms. Therefore, CT-P59 may be a promising therapeutic candidate for COVID-19.
Among the various materials found inside microplastic pollution, nanosized microplastics are of particular concern due to difficulties in quantification and detection; moreover, they are predicted to ...be abundant in aquatic environments with stronger toxicity than microsized microplastics. Here, we demonstrated a stronger accumulation of nanosized microbeads in the marine rotifer Brachionus koreanus compared to microsized ones, which was associated with oxidative stress-induced damages on lipid membranes. In addition, multixenobiotic resistance conferred by P-glycoproteins and multidrug resistance proteins, as a first line of membrane defense, was inhibited by nanoplastic pre-exposure, leading to enhanced toxicity of 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether and triclosan in B. koreanus. Our study provides a molecular mechanistic insight into the toxicity of nanosized microplastics toward aquatic invertebrates and further implies the significance of synergetic effects of microplastics with other environmental persistent organic pollutants.
Objective
Periodontitis and osteoarthritis are major public health concerns that result in decreased quality of life among middle‐aged and older adults. We sought to examine whether the severity of ...periodontitis is related to osteoarthritis according to the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Methods
This study included 3,527 participants age ≥50 years from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Periodontitis was assessed using the Community Periodontal Index; severe periodontitis was defined as periodontal tissue forming deep periodontal pockets ≥6‐mm depth. Osteoarthritis was defined as Kellgren/Lawrence grade ≥2 on radiographic images of the knee or hip area with joint pain. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for osteoarthritis according to the severity of periodontitis, stratified by type 2 diabetes mellitus, were calculated using multiple logistic regression analyses.
Results
Participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus were more likely to have osteoarthritis as the severity of periodontitis increased (nonsevere periodontitis OR 1.23 95% CI 0.67–2.32; severe periodontitis OR 3.01 95% CI 1.51–5.84) after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol consumption, regular exercise, education level, household income, hypertension, and frequent tooth‐brushing. However, this positive association was not found in individuals without type 2 diabetes mellitus after adjusting for the same covariables.
Conclusion
Severe periodontitis was positively and significantly associated with osteoarthritis in middle‐aged and older individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Our findings suggest that the oral inflammation manifesting in periodontitis may be at least partly involved in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis, particularly in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Using a simple, rapid solvent evaporation process, the authors produced 3D carbon nanotube (CNT)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) foams with both high thermoelectric (TE) and good mechanical performance ...and used them to fabricate highly flexible and durable TE generators. The numerous pores and interfaces in the CNT/PDMS foams, which have porosities exceeding 87%, afford very low thermal conductivity of 0.13 W m−1 K−1. The foam has a zT value of 6.6 × 10−3, which is twice as high as that of pristine CNT foam. Importantly, the CNT/PDMS foam exhibits good tensile strength of 0.78 MPa, elongation greater than 20%, and excellent resilience even at compressive strain of 80%. This foam is used to fabricate a highly flexible TE foam generator that exhibits a moderate output power of 1.9 µW generated from the large temperature gradient of 18.1 K produced by applied heat. The authors also demonstrate a practical TE foam generator that produces sustainable output power of 3.1 µW under a compressive strain of 80% and 38.2 nW under the continuous vibrational stress produced by a car engine. The TE foam generator also exhibits excellent stability and durability under cyclic bending and harsh vibrational stress.
An elastic carbon nanotube (CNT)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) foam with high thermoelectric performance is facilely prepared using a rapid solvent evaporation method. The many pores effectively decrease the thermal conductivity of the CNT/PDMS foam and the PDMS plays a significant role by providing a self‐supporting structure. Finally, a flexible and durable CNT/PDMS foam power generator with a vertical structure is successfully demonstrated.
Plastic is regarded as a major environmental concern. In particular, nanoplastics and microplastics (NMPs) are attracting global attention due to their potential impact on aquatic organisms. Here, we ...examined the effects of NMPs (50 nm polystyrene microbead nanoplastics NPs and 45 µm microplastics MPs) on oxidative status and gut microbiota in the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma. The NP-exposed group exhibited stronger oxidative stress with higher activation levels of antioxidants compared to the MP-exposed group. However, the MP-exposed group demonstrated induction of intestinal damage (e.g., increased mucus ratio) with further alterations of gut microbiota, compared to the NP-exposed group. In particular, MPs caused more significant alterations of microbiota composition at both phylum and genus levels. Thus, in this study we show distinct toxicity pathways of NPs and MPs, an oxidative stress-mediated pathway (e.g., antioxidants) induced by NP exposure and dysbiosis of gut microbiota in association with immune dysfunction induced by MP exposure. Our results are helpful for expanding our knowledge about the impacts of NMPs as potentially harmful substances in the aquatic environment.
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•Size-dependent effects of NMPs were detected in the gut and liver of marine medaka.•Nanoplastics induced oxidative stress-mediated responses.•Microplastics altered microbiota composition resulting in dysbiosis.
A rapid solvent evaporation method based on the triple point of a processing solvent is presented to prepare carbon nanotube (CNT) foam with a porous structure for thermoelectric (TE) power ...generators. The rapid solvent evaporation process allows the preparation of CNT foam with various sizes and shapes. The obtained highly porous CNT foam with porosity exceeding 90% exhibits a low thermal conductivity of 0.17 W m−1 K−1 with increased phonon scattering, which is 100 times lower than that of a CNT film with a densely packed network. The aforementioned structural and thermal properties of the CNT foam are advantageous to develop a sufficient temperature gradient between the hot and cold parts to enhance TE output characteristics. To improve the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient further, p‐ and n‐molecular dopants are easily introduced into the CNT foam, and the optimized condition is investigated based on the TE properties. Finally, optimized p‐ and n‐doped CNT foams are used to fabricate a vertical and flexible TE power generator with a combination of series and parallel mixed circuits. The maximum output power and output power per weight of the TE generator reach 1.5 µW and 82 µW g−1, respectively, at a temperature difference of 13.9 K.
As a flexible thermoelectric (TE) material, freely shapable and 3D porous carbon nanotube (CNT) foam is prepared via a rapid solvent evaporation method. The porous and vertical CNT structure exhibits low thermal conductivity owing to the increased phonon scattering effect. The flexible TE power generator exhibits a maximum output power of 1.5 µW at a temperature difference of 13.9 K.
Microplastic pollution causes a major concern in the marine environment due to their worldwide distribution, persistence, and adverse effects of these pollutants in the marine ecosystem. Despite its ...global presence, there is still a lack of information on the effect of microplastics on marine organisms at the molecular level. Herein we demonstrated ingestion and egestion of nano- (0.05 μm) and micro-sized (0.5 and 6 μm) polystyrene microbeads in the marine copepod Paracyclopina nana, and examined molecular responses to exposure to microbeads with in vivo endpoints such as growth rate and fecundity. Also, we proposed an adverse outcome pathway for microplastic exposure that covers molecular and individual levels. This study provides the first insight into the mode of action in terms of microplastic-induced oxidative stress and related signaling pathways in P. nana.
Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of radiocontrast media (RCM) induced hypersensitivity and can be life-threatening if profound hypotension is combined. With increased use of iodine based RCM, ...related hypersensitivity is rapidly growing. However, the clinical characteristics and risk factors of RCM induced anaphylaxis accompanied by hypotension (anaphylactic shock) are not clearly defined. This study was performed to investigate the risk factors of RCM induced anaphylactic shock and the clinical value of RCM skin testing to identify causative agents in affected patients.
We analyzed the data of RCM induced anaphylaxis monitored by an inhospital pharmacovigilance center at a tertiary teaching hospital from January 2005 to December 2012 and compared the clinical features and skin test results according to the accompanying hypotension.
Among total of 104 cases of RCM induced anaphylaxis, 34.6% of patients, developed anaphylaxis on their first exposure to RCM. Anaphylactic patients presenting with shock were older (57.4 vs. 50.1 years, p = 0.026) and had a history of more frequently exposure to RCM (5.1±7.8 vs. 1.9±3.3, p = 0.004) compared to those without hypotension. Among RCMs, hypotension was more frequent in anaphylaxis related to iopromide compared to other agents (85.0% vs. 61.4%, p = 0.011). Skin tests were performed in 51 patients after development of RCM induced anaphylaxis. Overall skin test positivity to RCM was 64.7% and 81.8% in patients with anaphylactic shock.
RCM induced anaphylactic shock is related to multiple exposures to RCM and most patients showed skin test positivity to RCM.
In this study, we assessed the biocompatibility and bioactivity of various pulp capping materials—ProRoot MTA (Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialties), Biodentine (Septodont), TheraCal LC (Bisco), and ...Dycal (Dentsply Caulk)—on human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). Experimental disks (diameter, 7 mm; height, 4 mm) were stored in a humified incubator at 37 °C for 48 h. Then, the pulp capping materials were tested for cytotoxic effects by methyl-thiazoldiphenyl-tetrazolium and scratch wound healing assays, and for mineralization potential by Alizarin red S (ARS) staining assay and alkaline phosphatase enzyme (ALP) activity. Cell viability and cell migration did not significantly differ between ProRoot MTA, Biodentine, and control (p > 0.05). TheraCal LC exhibited slower cell migration on days 2–4 compared to control (p < 0.05), and Dycal showed no cell migration. ALP activity was highest with Biodentine on days 10 and 14, and was lowered with TheraCal LC and Dycal (p < 0.05). In the ARS assay, hDPSCs grown in ProRoot MTA and TheraCal LC eluates showed significantly increased mineralized nodule formation on day 21 compared to Biodentine, Dycal, and control (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that ProRoot MTA, Biodentine, and TheraCal LC exhibit better biocompatibility and bioactivity than Dycal.
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