Application of Virtual and Augmented Reality to the Field of Adult Education

This research reviews the extant literature and web resources on Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) to provide new insights and future direction of adult learning. Based on the review, we discuss implications for research and practice on the use of VR and AR in the field of Adult Education

Glutaminase 1 inhibition reduces thymidine synthesis in NSCLC

AbstractWe found that non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is remarkably sensitive to the regulation of glutamine supply by testing the metabolic dependency of 11 cancer cell lines against regulation of glycolysis, autophagy, fatty acid synthesis, and glutamine supply. Glutamine is known as a key supplement of cancer cell growth that is converted to α-ketoglutarate for anabolic biogenesis via glutamate by glutaminase 1 (GLS1). GLS1 inhibition using 10 μM of bis-2-(5-phenylacetamido-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)ethyl sulfide (BPTES) showed about 50% cell growth arrest by SRB assay. By testing the synergistic effects of conventional therapeutics, BPTES combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), an irreversible inhibitor of thymidylate synthase, significant effects were observed on cell growth arrest in NSCLC. We found that GLS1 inhibition using BPTES reduced metabolic intermediates including thymidine and carbamoyl phosphate. Reduction of thymidine and carbamoyl-phosphate synthesis by BPTES treatment exacerbated pyrimidine supply by combination with 5-FU, which induced cell death synergistically in NSCLC

Early Union of Grafted Bone in Ankylosing Spondylitis: Comparative Study with Degenerative Spinal Disease

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) achieve early bone union compared to those with other spinal diseases. This study compared the time to bone union after surgery between AS patients and degenerative spinal disease patients. Patients with degenerative spinal diseases (control group) and AS (experimental group) underwent pedicle subtraction osteotomy followed by posterolateral fusion, and decompression and posterolateral fusion, respectively. There were 10 patients in the experimental group. The control group included 26 patients who were less than 50 years of age and underwent two-level autogenous grafting after decompression and spinal fusion. Autogenous grafts and a range of bone substitutes were used in the experimental group, whereas only autogenous grafts were used in the control group. Bone union was determined on the radiographs and 3-dimensional CT scan images. The level of union was assessed using the Lenke's and Christensen's classification systems. In the experimental group, the mean age was 41.3 years (range, 30 to 67 years), the mean follow-up period was 21.7 months (range, 12 to 43 months), and bone union was confirmed at an average of 3.5 months (range, 3 to 5 months) after surgery. In the control group, the mean age was 43.1 years (range, 35 to 50 years), the mean follow-up period was 21.8 months (range, 12 to 74 months), and bone union was observed at an average of 5.6 months (range, 4 to 12 months) after surgery. The difference in the time to bone union between the two groups was significant (p = 0.023). The union of grafted bone was obtained earlier in patients with AS than in those with degenerative spinal diseases. Therefore, future studies should examine the factors affecting the early union in AS patients

Independent association of thigh muscle fat density with vascular events in Korean adults

Background We aimed to explore the associations between thigh muscle fat density and vascular events. Methods A total of 3,595 adults (mean age, 57.2 years; women, 1,715 [47.7%]) without baseline cardiovascular events from the Korean Atherosclerosis Study-2 were included. Muscle and fat area at the mid-thigh level were measured by computed tomography (CT) using the following Hounsfield Unit range: 0–30 for low density muscle (LDM); 31–100 for normal density muscle (NDM); and − 250 to − 50 for fat. Results During a median follow-up period of 11.8 (4.3–13.9) years, vascular events occurred in 11.6% of men and 5.9% of women. Individuals with vascular events had a larger LDM area (men: 48.8 ± 15.5 cm2 vs. 44.6 ± 14.5 cm2; women: 39.4 ± 13.2 cm2 vs. 35.0 ± 11.8 cm2, both P < 0.001) compared with those who did not have vascular events during the follow-up of at least 5 years. The LDM/NDM ratio was also independently associated with vascular events after adjusting for cardiometabolic risk factors. Moreover, the LDM/NDM ratio improved the prognostic value for vascular events when added to conventional risk factors. Conclusions The current study suggests that a higher thigh muscle fat infiltration is associated with an increased risk of developing vascular events among Korean adults

Transition from Pemphigus Foliaceus to Pemphigus Vulgaris: Case Report with Literature Review

The transition between the main subtypes of pemphigus, pemphigus vulgaris (PV), and pemphigus foliaceus (PF) has rarely been reported. Moreover, the development of PV in a patient with PF is much more unusual than that of PF in a patient with PV. We report a 48-year-old man who presented with cutaneous lesions showing the typical clinical and histological features of PF. Five years later, his skin lesions became extensive and he developed oral erosions. His condition did not respond well to steroids and azathioprine. Histological examination of a vesicle disclosed suprabasal acantholysis in contrast to the subcorneal acantholysis discovered upon initial histological evaluation. Indirect immunofluorescence revealed IgG antikeratinocyte cell surface antibodies at a titer of 1:640. The titer was 1:160 at initial diagnosis. Upon immunoblotting, the patient's serum reacted with 130 kiloDalton (kDa) and 160 kDa proteins, suggesting desmoglein (Dsg) 3 and 1, respectively. We herein report an unusual case of PV that developed from PF during the disease's flare-up

Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma Presenting as Bilateral Cheek Masses

Mandibular metastasis of thyroid carcinoma is extremely rare. We present the case of a 46-year-old woman who had bilateral huge cheek masses that had grown rapidly over several years. Intra-oral mucosal tissue biopsy and imaging work-up including computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging were performed and the initial diagnosis was presumed to be central giant cell granuloma. Incidentally detected thyroid lesions were studied with ultra-sonography guided fine needle aspiration and diagnosed as simple benign nodules. Due to continuous oral bleeding and the locally destructive feature of the lesions, we decided to excise the mass surgically. To avoid functional deficit, a stepwise approach was performed: Firstly, the larger left mass was excised and the mandible was reconstructed with a fibular free flap. The final pathologic diagnosis was follicular thyroid cancer. Postoperative I-131 thyroid scan and whole body positron-emissions-tomography were performed. Right side mass was revealed as a thyroid malignancy. Multiple bony metastases were detected. Since further radioactive iodine therapy was required, additional total thyroidectomy and right side mandibulectomy with fibular free flap reconstruction was performed. The patient also underwent high dose radioactive iodine therapy and palliative extra-beam radiotherapy for the metastatic lumbar lesion. Follicular thyroid carcinoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis for mandibular mass lesions

Immobilization of Lead in Contaminated Firing Range Soil Using Biochar

Soybean stover-derived biochar was used to immobilize lead (Pb) in military firing range soil at a mass application rate of 0 to 20 wt.% and a curing period of 7 days. The toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. The mechanism responsible for Pb immobilization in military firing range soil was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy analyses. The treatment results showed that TCLP Pb leachability decreased with increasing biochar content. A reduction of over 90 % in Pb leachability was achieved upon treatment with 20 wt.% soybean stover-derived biochar. SEM-EDX, elemental dot mapping and XAFS results in conjunction with TCLP leachability revealed that effective Pb immobilization was probably associated with the pozzolanic reaction products, chloropyromorphite and Pb-phosphate. The results of this study demonstrated that soybean stover-derived biochar was effective in immobilizing Pb in contaminated firing range soil

Microporation is a valuable transfection method for efficient gene delivery into human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an attractive source of adult stem cells for therapeutic application in clinical study. Genetic modification of MSCs with beneficial genes makes them more effective for therapeutic use. However, it is difficult to transduce genes into MSCs by common transfection methods, especially nonviral methods. In this study, we applied microporation technology as a novel electroporation technique to introduce enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and brain-derived neurotropfic factor (BDNF) plasmid DNA into human umbilical cord blood-derived MSCs (hUCB-MSCs) with significant efficiency, and investigated the stem cell potentiality of engineered MSCs through their phenotypes, proliferative capacity, ability to differentiate into multiple lineages, and migration ability towards malignant glioma cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using microporation with EGFP as a reporter gene, hUCB-MSCs were transfected with higher efficiency (83%) and only minimal cell damage than when conventional liposome-based reagent (<20%) or established electroporation methods were used (30-40%). More importantly, microporation did not affect the immunophenotype of hUCB-MSCs, their proliferation activity, ability to differentiate into mesodermal and ectodermal lineages, or migration ability towards cancer cells. In addition, the BDNF gene could be successfully transfected into hUCB-MSCs, and BDNF expression remained fairly constant for the first 2 weeks <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo</it>. Moreover, microporation of BDNF gene into hUCB-MSCs promoted their <it>in vitro </it>differentiation into neural cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Taken together, the present data demonstrates the value of microporation as an efficient means of transfection of MSCs without changing their multiple properties. Gene delivery by microporation may enhance the feasibility of transgenic stem cell therapy.</p

Benign Metastasizing Leiomyoma with Multiple Lymph Node Metastasis: A Case Report

This is a case report about benign metastasizing leiomyoma with multiple lymph node metastasis. A 34-year-old woman received an abdominal myomectomy for a suspicious leiomyoma. On the pathology report, atypical leiomyoma was suspected. Due to the suspicion of multiple lymph node metastasis on pelvis computed tomography (CT) 1 year after the operation, she was transferred to the Samsung Medical Center on October, 2009 for further work up. According to original slide review, it was determined to be a benign leiomyoma with a mitotic count <5/10 high-power fields, little cytological atypia and no tumor cell necrosis. Additional immunostaining was done. Multiple lymph node metastasis and a small lung nodule were identified on positron emission tomogarphy-CT and chest CT. Extensive debulking surgery and diagnostic video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) wedge resection were subsequently done. Metastatic lesions were reported to have a histology similar to that of the original mass. VATS right upper lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection was performed because of the pathology result of VATS (adenocarcinoma). She started taking an aromatase inhibitor (Letrozole®) and there was no evidence of recurrence of disease on an imaging study and no post-operative complications until recently