Neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease, present a major health issue and financial burden for health care systems around the world. ...The impact of these diseases will further increase over the next decades due to increasing life expectancies. No cure is currently available for the treatment of these conditions; only drugs, which merely alleviate the symptoms. Oxidative stress has long been associated with neurodegeneration, whether as a cause or as part of the downstream results caused by other factors. Thus, the use of antioxidants to counter cellular oxidative stress within the nervous system has been suggested as a potential treatment option for neurological disorders. Over the last decade, significant research has focused on the potential use of natural antioxidants to target oxidative stress. However, clinical trial results have lacked success for the treatment of patients with neurological disorders. The knowledge that natural extracts show other positive molecular activities in addition to antioxidant activity, however, has led to further research of natural extracts for their potential use as prevention or treatment/management of neurodegenerative diseases. This review will cover several in vitro and in vivo research studies, as well as clinical trials, and highlight the potential of natural antioxidants.
Nanomaterial Patterning in 3D Printing Elder, Brian; Neupane, Rajan; Tokita, Eric ...
Advanced materials (Weinheim),
04/2020, Letnik:
32, Številka:
17
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
The synergistic integration of nanomaterials with 3D printing technologies can enable the creation of architecture and devices with an unprecedented level of functional integration. In particular, a ...multiscale 3D printing approach can seamlessly interweave nanomaterials with diverse classes of materials to impart, program, or modulate a wide range of functional properties in an otherwise passive 3D printed object. However, achieving such multiscale integration is challenging as it requires the ability to pattern, organize, or assemble nanomaterials in a 3D printing process. This review highlights the latest advances in the integration of nanomaterials with 3D printing, achieved by leveraging mechanical, electrical, magnetic, optical, or thermal phenomena. Ultimately, it is envisioned that such approaches can enable the creation of multifunctional constructs and devices that cannot be fabricated with conventional manufacturing approaches.
The seamless integration of nanomaterials with 3D printing technologies can create highly heterogeneous architectures imparted with unique properties and multi‐material devices endowed with advanced functionalities. The latest advances in achieving such synergistic integration by leveraging mechanical, electrical, magnetic, optical, or thermal forces to pattern nanomaterials in a 3D printing process with a myriad of remarkably innovative approaches are described.
Electronic textiles capable of sensing, powering, and communication can be used to non-intrusively monitor human health during daily life. However, achieving these functionalities with clothing is ...challenging because of limitations in the electronic performance, flexibility and robustness of the underlying materials, which must endure repeated mechanical, thermal and chemical stresses during daily use. Here, we demonstrate electronic textile systems with functionalities in near-field powering and communication created by digital embroidery of liquid metal fibers. Owing to the unique electrical and mechanical properties of the liquid metal fibers, these electronic textiles can conform to body surfaces and establish robust wireless connectivity with nearby wearable or implantable devices, even during strenuous exercise. By transferring optimized electromagnetic patterns onto clothing in this way, we demonstrate a washable electronic shirt that can be wirelessly powered by a smartphone and continuously monitor axillary temperature without interfering with daily activities.
Carotenoids and their cleavage products (norisoprenoids) have excellent functional properties with diverse applications in foods, medicaments, cosmetics, etc. Carotenoids can be oxidatively cleaved ...through nonspecific reactions or by carotenoid cleavage oxygenases (CCOs), the product of which could further modify food flavor. This review provides comprehensive information on both carotenoid synthesis and cleavage processes with emphasis on enzyme characterization and biosynthetic pathway optimization. The use of interdisciplinary approaches of bioengineering and computer-aided experimental technology for key enzyme modification and systematic pathway design is beneficial to monitor metabolic pathways and assess pathway bottlenecks, which could efficiently lead to accumulation of carotenoids in microorganisms. The identification of CCOs spatial structures isolated from different species has made a significant contribution to the current state of knowledge. Current trends in carotenoid-related flavor modification are also discussed. In particular, we propose the carotenoid-synthesizing yeast Rhodotorula spp. for the production of food bioactive compounds. Understanding the behavior underlying the formation of norisoprenoids from carotenoids using interdisciplinary approaches may point toward other areas of investigation that could lead to better exploiting the potential use of autochthonous yeast in flavor enhancement.
Recent advances in 3D printing have enabled the creation of novel 3D constructs and devices with an unprecedented level of complexity, properties, and functionalities. In contrast to manufacturing ...techniques developed for mass production, 3D printing encompasses a broad class of fabrication technologies that can enable 1) the creation of highly customized and optimized 3D physical architectures from digital designs; 2) the synergistic integration of properties and functionalities of distinct classes of materials to create novel hybrid devices; and 3) a biocompatible fabrication approach that facilitates the creation and cointegration of biological constructs and systems. This progress report describes how these capabilities can potentially address a myriad of unmet clinical needs. First, the creation of 3D‐printed prosthetics to regain lost functionalities by providing structural support for skeletal and tubular organs is highlighted. Second, novel drug delivery strategies aided by 3D‐printed devices are described. Third, the advancement of medical research heralded by 3D‐printed tissue/organ‐on‐chips systems is discussed. Fourth, the developments of 3D‐printed tissue and organ regeneration are explored. Finally, the potential for seamless integration of engineered organs with active devices by leveraging the versatility of multimaterial 3D printing is envisioned.
Recent advances in 3D printing have enabled the creation of novel 3D constructs and devices with an unprecedented level of complexity, properties, and functionalities. This progress report describes how these capabilities can potentially address a myriad of unmet clinical needs and ultimately to provide better diagnostic tools and treatment strategies.
ZBTB24, encoding a protein of the ZBTB family of transcriptional regulators, is one of four known genes-the other three being DNMT3B, CDCA7 and HELLS-that are mutated in immunodeficiency, centromeric ...instability and facial anomalies (ICF) syndrome, a genetic disorder characterized by DNA hypomethylation and antibody deficiency. The molecular mechanisms by which ZBTB24 regulates gene expression and the biological functions of ZBTB24 are poorly understood. Here, we identified a 12-bp consensus sequence CT(G/T)CCAGGACCT occupied by ZBTB24 in the mouse genome. The sequence is present at multiple loci, including the Cdca7 promoter region, and ZBTB24 binding is mostly associated with gene activation. Crystallography and DNA-binding data revealed that the last four of the eight zinc fingers (ZFs) (i.e. ZF5-8) in ZBTB24 confer specificity of DNA binding. Two ICF missense mutations have been identified in the ZBTB24 ZF domain, which alter zinc-binding cysteine residues. We demonstrated that the corresponding C382Y and C407G mutations in mouse ZBTB24 abolish specific DNA binding and fail to induce Cdca7 expression. Our analyses indicate and suggest a structural basis for the sequence specific recognition by a transcription factor centrally important for the pathogenesis of ICF syndrome.
To evaluate the effectiveness and toxicities of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).
One hundred and eighty-four previously irradiated NPC ...patients with recurrent disease and re-irradiated by IMRT between February 2005 to May 2013 had been reviewed. The disease was re-staged I in 33, II in 27, III in 70 and IV in 54 patients. Seventy-five percent of the patients received cisplatin-based chemotherapy.
The median survival time was 33 months. The 3-year actuarial rates of local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), distant metastases-free survival (DMFS), and overall survival (OS) rates were 85.1, 91.1, and 46.0%, respectively. About 53% of the patients experienced Grade 3-4 late toxicities. Forty-four patients died of massive hemorrhage of the nasopharynx caused by radiation induced mucosal necrosis. Multivariate analysis indicated that chemotherapy and time interval between initial radiotherapy and re-irradiation were independent predictors for DMFS.
IMRT is an effective method for patients with locally recurrent NPC. Massive hemorrhage of the nasopharynx is the major sever late complication and also the leading cause of death. Early recurrence is negative factor for DMFS. Combination of chemotherapy can improve DMFS, but not for OS. Optimal salvage treatment strategies focusing on improvement of survival and minimization of late toxicities are warranted.
The purpose of this research was to develop a case-based method for analyzing online customer reviews and extracting customer preferences through an integration of text mining and Kansei Engineering ...(KE) in an effort to achieve conceptual data-driven design automation and to successfully identify future trends in a particular consumer product.
Design/Methodology/Approach This study’s model merges text mining and KE to extract key descriptive Kansei terminology according to actual customer reviews and use it to forecast consumer preferred product design while reducing certain repetitious tasks of designers. This work first collects online product reviews using text mining. Then, through the application of KE, the customer-preferred design components are identified and incorporated into the product design specifications. Finally, an Application Programming Interface (API) is developed to automatically generate a CAD preliminary design.
Case Study A road bike case study is provided to demonstrate the practicality of proposed method. The online reviews are collected from Amazon.com. The related design elements are classified into six key components which can be modified in the proposed conceptual design automation system.
Originality/value This is the first paper that has applied text mining and KE for use in product development. This work can also reduce the time and cost of product design through the automation of repetitive design tasks. The conceptual design automation system is valuable for designers wishing to identify customer needs and to generate engineering drawings in a timely manner without significant repetition during the design process.
Systemic analyses using large‐scale genomic profiles have successfully identified cancer‐driving somatic copy number variations (SCNVs) loci. However, functions of vast focal SCNVs in “protein‐coding ...gene desert” regions are largely unknown. The integrative analysis of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) expression profiles with SCNVs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) led us to identify the recurrent deletion of lncRNA‐PRAL (p53 regulation‐associated lncRNA) on chromosome 17p13.1, whose genomic alterations were significantly associated with reduced survival of HCC patients. We found that lncRNA‐PRAL could inhibit HCC growth and induce apoptosis in vivo and in vitro through p53. Subsequent investigations indicated that the three stem‐loop motifs at the 5′ end of lncRNA‐PRAL facilitated the combination of HSP90 and p53 and thus competitively inhibited MDM2‐dependent p53 ubiquitination, resulting in enhanced p53 stability. Additionally, in vivo lncRNA‐PRAL delivery efficiently reduced intrinsic tumors, indicating its potential therapeutic application. Conclusions: lncRNA‐PRAL, one of the key cancer‐driving SCNVs, is a crucial stimulus for HCC growth and may serve as a potential target for antitumor therapy. (Hepatology 2016;63:850‐863)
3D printed nervous system on a chip Johnson, Blake N; Lancaster, Karen Z; Hogue, Ian B ...
Lab on a chip,
04/2016, Letnik:
16, Številka:
8
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Bioinspired organ-level in vitro platforms are emerging as effective technologies for fundamental research, drug discovery, and personalized healthcare. In particular, models for nervous system ...research are especially important, due to the complexity of neurological phenomena and challenges associated with developing targeted treatment of neurological disorders. Here we introduce an additive manufacturing-based approach in the form of a bioinspired, customizable 3D printed nervous system on a chip (3DNSC) for the study of viral infection in the nervous system. Micro-extrusion 3D printing strategies enabled the assembly of biomimetic scaffold components (microchannels and compartmented chambers) for the alignment of axonal networks and spatial organization of cellular components. Physiologically relevant studies of nervous system infection using the multiscale biomimetic device demonstrated the functionality of the in vitro platform. We found that Schwann cells participate in axon-to-cell viral spread but appear refractory to infection, exhibiting a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1.4 genomes per cell. These results suggest that 3D printing is a valuable approach for the prototyping of a customized model nervous system on a chip technology.
PDF
