Image_1_Metabolic activity of visceral adipose tissue is associated with age-related macular degeneration: a pilot 18F-FDG PET/CT study.tif

BackgroundObesity is known to increase the risk and severity of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Increased inflamed metabolic activity of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is considered as a crucial underlying mechanism for the harmful effects of obesity. In this study, we aimed to investigate the inflamed metabolic activity of VAT with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and their association with AMD.Materials and methodsA total of 57 elderly participants (aged ≥ 50 years) who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT for health screening and subsequent fundoscopic exam for complaint of recently impaired vision were enrolled. The metabolic activity of VAT was measured from the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of VAT. The early AMD participant was defined as the participant with either eye satisfying AMD and without any sign of advanced AMD (neovascular AMD or geographic atrophy). The late AMD participant was defined as the participant with either eye satisfying advanced AMD.ResultsVAT SUVmax was highest in participants with late AMD, intermediate in early AMD, and lowest in non-AMD participants. The levels of systemic inflammation surrogate markers were also highest in late AMD group. Furthermore, VAT SUVmax was positively correlated with systemic inflammation surrogate markers and independently associated with the late AMD.ConclusionsThe metabolic activity of VAT evaluated by 18F-FDG PET/CT was associated with the severity of AMD and synchronized with the level of systemic inflammation. Thus, VAT SUVmax could be potentially employed as a surrogate marker of obesity-driven VAT inflammation associated with AMD.</p

Supplementary_Video_Legend_Final – Supplemental material for Modulation of Cerebellar Cortical Plasticity Using Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Poststroke Sensorimotor Function Recovery

Supplemental material, Supplementary_Video_Legend_Final for Modulation of Cerebellar Cortical Plasticity Using Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Poststroke Sensorimotor Function Recovery by Hongchae Baek, Ki Joo Pahk, Min-Ju Kim, Inchan Youn and Hyungmin Kim in Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair</p

Selective Cell–Cell Adhesion Regulation via Cyclic Mechanical Deformation Induced by Ultrafast Nanovibrations

The adoption of dynamic mechanomodulation to regulate cellular behavior is an alternative to the use of chemical drugs, allowing spatiotemporal control. However, cell-selective targeting of mechanical stimuli is challenging due to the lack of strategies with which to convert macroscopic mechanical movements to different cellular responses. Here, we designed a nanoscale vibrating surface that controls cell behavior via selective repetitive cell deformation based on a poroelastic cell model. The vibrating indentations induce repetitive water redistribution in the cells with water redistribution rates faster than the vibrating rate; however, in the opposite case, cells perceive the vibrations as a one-time stimulus. The selective regulation of cell–cell adhesion through adjusting the frequency of nanovibration was demonstrated by suppression of cadherin expression in smooth muscle cells (fast water redistribution rate) with no change in vascular endothelial cells (slow water redistribution rate). This technique may provide a new strategy for cell-type-specific mechanical stimulation