Functional ingredients for human health have recently become the focus of research. One such potentially versatile therapeutic component is fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides (FCSPs), ...referred to as fucoidans. The exploitation of marine brown algae provides a rich source of FCSPs because of their role as a structural component of the cell wall. Fucoidans are characterized by a sulfated fucose backbone. However, the structural characterization of FCSPs is impeded by their structural diversity, molecular weight, and complexity. The extraction and purification conditions significantly influence the yield and structural alterations. Inflammation is the preliminary response to potentially injurious inducements, and it is of the utmost importance for modulation in the proper direction. Improper manipulation and/or continuous stimuli could have detrimental effects in the long run. The web of immune responses mediated through multiple modulatory/cell signaling components can be addressed through functional ingredients, benefiting patients with no side effects. In this review, we attempted to address the involvement of FCSPs in the stimulation/downregulation of immune response cell signaling. The structural complexity and its foremost influential factor, extraction techniques, have also attracted attention, with concise details on the structural implications of bioactivity.
•Measles-specific antibodies wane in the absence of boosting by the wild-type virus.•The number of potential measles-susceptible individuals progressively accumulates.•Vaccine-induced immunity is ...less effective than naturally acquired immunity.
In Korea, measles occurs mainly in infants <12months of age, who are unvaccinated. In addition, vaccine populations, including adolescents and young adults, can become infected though importation. Thus, the question arises whether the current level of herd immunity in Korea is now insufficient for protecting against measles infection.
Age-specific measles seroprevalence was evaluated by performing enzyme immunoassays and plaque reduction-neutralization tests on 3050 subjects aged 0–50years (birth cohort 1964–2014) and 480 subjects aged 2–30years (birth cohort 1984–2012).
The overall seropositivity and measles antibody concentrations were 71.5% and 1366mIU/mL, respectively. Progressive decline in antibody levels and seropositivity were observed over time after vaccination in infants, adolescents, and young adults. The accumulation of potentially susceptible individuals in the population was confirmed by comparing data from 2010 and 2014 seroprevalence surveys. The statistical correlation between measles incidence and measles seronegativity was determined.
Waning levels of measles antibodies with increasing time post-vaccination suggests that measles susceptibility is potentially increasing in Korea. This trend may be related to limitations of vaccine-induced immunity in the absence of natural boosting by the wild virus, compared to naturally acquired immunity triggered by measles infection. This study provides an important view into the current measles herd immunity in Korea.
Gastric cancer is a heterogeneous cancer, making treatment responses difficult to predict. Here we show that we identify two distinct molecular subtypes, mesenchymal phenotype (MP) and epithelial ...phenotype (EP), by analyzing genomic and proteomic data. Molecularly, MP subtype tumors show high genomic integrity characterized by low mutation rates and microsatellite stability, whereas EP subtype tumors show low genomic integrity. Clinically, the MP subtype is associated with markedly poor survival and resistance to standard chemotherapy, whereas the EP subtype is associated with better survival rates and sensitivity to chemotherapy. Integrative analysis shows that signaling pathways driving epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1)/IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) pathway are highly activated in MP subtype tumors. Importantly, MP subtype cancer cells are more sensitive to inhibition of IGF1/IGF1R pathway than EP subtype. Detailed characterization of these two subtypes could identify novel therapeutic targets and useful biomarkers for prognosis and therapy response.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that is characterized by irreversible articular cartilage destruction by inflammatory reaction. Among inflammatory stimuli, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) ...is known to play a crucial role in OA pathogenesis by stimulating several mediators that contribute to cartilage degradation. Recently, the marine brown alga
has been reported to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in microglial and human umbilical vein endothelial cell models using lipopolysaccharide and tumor necrosis factor-α, but its beneficial effects on OA have not been investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-osteoarthritic effects of ethanol extract of
(EESS) in SW1353 human chondrocytes and, in parallel, primary rat articular chondrocytes. Our results showed that EESS effectively blocked the generation of reactive oxygen species in IL-1β-treated SW1353 and rat primary chondrocytes, indicating that EESS has a potent antioxidant activity. EESS also attenuated IL-1β-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂, major inflammatory mediators in these cells, which was associated with the inhibition of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression. Moreover, EESS downregulated the level of gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -3 and -13 in SW1353 chondrocytes treated with IL-1β, resulting in their extracellular secretion reduction. In addition, the IL-1β-induced activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) was restored by EESS. Furthermore, EESS reduced the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways upon IL-1β stimulation. These results indicate that EESS has the potential to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects through inactivation of the NF-κB, p38 MAPK, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that EESS may have the potential for chondroprotection, and extracts of
could potentially be used in the prevention and treatment of OA.
Abstract
Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) and beyond‐LIB systems exhibit properties that are determined by electrochemical reactions occurring in their four essential components—the cathode, anode, ...electrolyte, and separator. Advanced analytical methods such as differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) can assist in understanding the electrochemical behavior, which can help in advancing battery technologies. Recent studies have shown that the DEMS‐enabled real‐time gas analysis of electrochemical reactions can provide valuable information on aspects such as gaseous reactants or (side) products, which cannot be obtained appropriately through other characterization techniques. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest developments and advancements in the use of DEMS as a rapid, operando gas‐monitoring method for advanced rechargeable battery systems. Moreover, the significance of DEMS in current and future battery development is also discussed and insights are provided into the various battery chemistries that can benefit from DEMS applications. This review is intended to help readers understand the potential of DEMS to drive innovation in the battery industry.
The paravertebral spread that occurs after erector spinae plane block may be volume-dependent. This cadaveric study was undertaken to compare the extent of paravertebral spread with erector spinae ...plane block using different dye volumes. After randomization, twelve erector spinae plane blocks were performed bilaterally with either 10 ml or 30 ml of dye at the level of T5 in seven unembalmed cadavers except for two cases of unexpected pleural puncture using the 10 ml injection. Direct visualization of the paravertebral space by endoscopy was performed immediately after the injections. The back regions were also dissected, and dye spread and nerve involvement were investigated. A total of five 10 ml injections and seven 30 ml injections were completed for both endoscopic and anatomical evaluations. No paravertebral spread was observed by endoscopy after any of the 10-ml injections. Dye spread to spinal nerves at the intervertebral foramen was identified by endoscopy at adjacent levels of T5 (median: three levels) in all 30 ml injections. In contrast, the cases with two, four, and three out of five were stained at only the T4, T5, and T6 levels, respectively, with the 10 ml injection. Upon anatomical dissection, all blocks were consistently associated with posterior and lateral spread to back muscles and fascial layers, especially with the 30 ml injections, which showed greater dye expansion. In one 30 ml injection, sympathetic nerve involvement and epidural spread were observed at the level of the injection site. Although paravertebral spread following erector spinae plane block increased in a volume-dependent manner, this increase was variable and not pronounced. As the injectate volume increased for the erector spinae blocks, the injectate spread to the back muscles and fascial layers seemed to be predominantly increased compared with, the extent of paravertebral spread.
Introduction
This study proposes an ideal botulinum toxin injection point of the trapezius muscle for shoulder line contouring, pain management, and functional impairment. This study describes the ...intramuscular nerve branching in the trapezius muscle, providing essential information for botulinum neurotoxin injection.
Method
A modified Sihler's method was performed on the trapezius muscles (16 specimens). The intramuscular arborization areas were elucidated regarding the external occipital protuberance superiorly, spinous process of the 12th thoracic vertebra inferiorly and acromion of the scapula.
Result
The intramuscular neural distribution for the superior, middle, and inferior regions of the trapezius muscle had the greatest arborized patterns in the horizontal 1/5–2/5 and vertical 2/10–4/10 sections, the horizontal 1/5–3/5 and vertical 4/10–5/10 sections, and the horizontal 1/5–2/5 and vertical 5/10–7/10 sections, respectively.
Discussion
We propose that BoNT treatments should be directed to the horizontal 1/5–2/5 and vertical 2/10–4/10 sections of the superior trapezius, the horizontal 1/5–3/5 and vertical 4/10–5/10 sections of the middle trapezius and the horizontal 1/5–2/5 and vertical 5/10–7/10 sections of the inferior trapezius. Additionally, injective treatment at the horizontal 2/5–3/5 and vertical 2/10–4/10 nerve entry points should be avoided to prevent nerve trunk damage causing paralysis. According to our guidelines, clinicians can ensure minimal dose injections and fewer adverse effects in botulinum neurotoxin injective treatment.
The scalable synthetic route to colloidal atoms has significantly advanced over the past two decades. Recently, colloidal clusters with DNA‐coated cores called “patchy colloidal clusters” have been ...developed, providing a directional bonding with specific angle of rotation due to the shape complementarity between colloidal clusters. Through a DNA‐mediated interlocking process, they are directly assembled into low‐coordination colloidal structures, such as cubic diamond lattices. Herein, the significant progress in recent years in the synthesis of patchy colloidal clusters and their assembly in experiments and simulations is reviewed. Furthermore, an outlook is given on the emerging approaches to the patchy colloidal clusters and their potential applications in photonic crystals, metamaterials, topological photonic insulators, and separation membranes.
Microspheres, colloidal clusters, spherical patchy particles, patchy colloidal clusters, and asymmetric patchy clusters have been developed sequentially. They can be assembled into opals, the laves phase, colloidal molecules or chains, colloidal cubic diamonds, and colloidal chiral structures, respectively.
The widespread adoption of Li‐ion batteries is currently limited by their unstable electrochemical performance and high flammability under mechanical deformation conditions and a relatively low ...energy density. Herein, high‐energy‐density lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are developed for applications in next‐generation flexible electronics and electric vehicles with long cruising distances. Freestanding high‐S‐loading carbon nanotubes cathodes are assembled with a phosphorus (P)‐doped carbon interlayer coated on commercial separators. Strategies for the active materials and structural design of both the electrodes and separators are highly efficient for immobilizing the lithium polysulfides via multimodal capturing effects; they significantly improve the electrochemical performance in terms of the redox kinetics and cycling stability. The foldable Li–S cells show stable specific capacities of 850 mAh g−1 over 100 cycles, achieving high gravimetric and volumetric energy densities of 387 Wh kgcell−1 and 395 Wh Lcell−1, respectively. The Li–S cells show highly durable mechanical flexibilities under severe deformation conditions without short circuit or failure. Finally, the Li–S battery is explored as a light‐weight and flexible energy storage device aboard airplane drones to ensure at least fivefold longer flight times than traditional Li‐ion batteries. Nanocarbon‐based S cathodes and P‐doped carbon interlayers offer a promising solution for commercializing rechargeable Li–S batteries.
High‐energy‐density flexible lithium‐sulfur (Li–S) batteries are developed with high‐S‐loading freestanding cathodes and P‐doped carbon interlayers on a polyethylene membrane. The multimodal capturing effect via simultaneous physical trapping in micro/mesopores of carbon mixtures, and strong chemical interactions between phosphorus and lithium polysulfides, is highly efficient for immobilizing the polysulfide; thus, leading to significantly improved electrochemical performance for next‐generation flexible/portable electronics.
This study aimed to identify ideal sites for botulinum toxin injection by analyzing the intramuscular nerve patterns of the triceps brachii muscles. A modified Sihler's method was applied to the ...triceps brachii muscle (15 specimens), with long, medial, and lateral heads. The intramuscular arborization areas of the long, medial, and lateral heads of the triceps brachii muscle were measured as a percentage of the total distance from the midpoint of the olecranon (0%) to the anteroinferior point of the acromion (100%), by dividing the medial and lateral parts based on the line connecting the midpoint of the olecranon and the anteroinferior point of the acromion. Intramuscular arborization patterns were observed at the long head at two medial regions, proximally 30%-50% and distally 60%-70%; medial head of 30%-40%; and lateral head of 30%-60%. These results suggest that the treatment of spasticity of the triceps brachii muscles involves botulinum toxin injections in specific areas. The areas corresponding to the areas of maximum arborization are recommended as the most effective and safe points for botulinum toxin injection.
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