Electrical Loop for 433.92MHz Reader Antenna of RFID Systems

A reader antenna for active RFID technology at 433.92MHz, used for cargo container security, is proposed. The proposed antenna consists of two layer radiating elements excited by a single probe simultaneously. An omnidirectional radiation pattern with φ-component of electric field is obtained by an electrical loop with uniform and in-phase current as the radiating source. Measured peak gain is 2.9dBi, and the average gain is 0.92dBi in x-y plane

The presence of high level soluble herpes virus entry mediator in sera of gastric cancer patients

The development of gastric cancer (GC) is closely related to chronic inflammation caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, and herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) is a receptor expressed on the surface of leukocytes that mediates potent inflammatory responses in animal models. However, the role of HVEM in human GC has not been studied. Previously, we showed that the interaction of HVEM on human leukocytes with its ligand LIGHT induces intracellular calcium mobilization, which results in inflammatory responses including induction of proinflammatory cytokine production and anti-bacterial activities. In this study, we report that leukocytes from GC patients express lower levels of membrane HVEM (mHVEM) and have lower LIGHT-induced bactericidal activities than those from healthy controls (HC). In contrast, levels of soluble HVEM (sHVEM) in the sera of GC patients were significantly higher than in those of HC. We found that monocyte membrane-bound HVEM is released into the medium when cells are activated by proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-8, which are elevated in the sera of GC patients. mHVEM level dropped in parallel with the release of sHVEM, and release was completely blocked by the metalloprotease inhibitor, GM6001. We also found that the low level of mHVEM on GC patient leukocytes was correlated with low LIGHT-induced bactericidal activities against H. pylori and S. aureus and production of reactive oxygen species. Our results indicate that mHVEM on leukocytes and sHVEM in sera may contribute to the development and/or progression of GC

Engineering new bone tissue in vitro on highly porous poly(Α-hydroxyl acids)/hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds

Engineering new bone tissue with cells and a synthetic extracellular matrix (scaffolding) represents a new approach for the regeneration of mineralized tissues compared with the transplantation of bone (autografts or allografts). In the present work, highly porous poly( L -lactic acid) (PLLA) and PLLA/hydroxyapatite (HAP) composite scaffolds were prepared with a thermally induced phase separation technique. The scaffolds were seeded with osteoblastic cells and cultured in vitro . In the pure PLLA scaffolds, the osteoblasts attached primarily on the outer surface of the polymer. In contrast, the osteoblasts penetrated deep into the PLLA/HAP scaffolds and were uniformly distributed. The osteoblast survival percentage in the PLLA/HAP scaffolds was superior to that in the PLLA scaffolds. The osteoblasts proliferated in both types of the scaffolds, but the cell number was always higher in the PLLA/HAP composite scaffolds during 6 weeks of in vitro cultivation. Bone-specific markers (mRNAs encoding bone sialoprotein and osteocalcin) were expressed more abundantly in the PLLA/HAP composite scaffolds than in the PLLA scaffolds. The new tissue increased continuously in the PLLA/HAP composite scaffolds, whereas new tissue formed only near the surface of pure PLLA scaffolds. These results demonstrate that HAP imparts osteoconductivity and the highly porous PLLA/HAP composite scaffolds are superior to pure PLLA scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 54: 284–293, 2001Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/34419/1/16_ftp.pd

Efficacy and safety of entecavir plus carnitine complex (GODEX®) compared to entecavir monotherapy in patient with ALT elevated chronic hepatitis B: randomized, multicenter open-label trials. The GOAL study

Background/AimsCarnitine and vitamin complex (Godex®) is widely used in patients with chronic liver disease who show elevated liver enzyme in South Korea. The purpose of this study is to identify the efficacy and safety of carnitine from entecavir combination therapy in Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevated Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) patients.Methods130 treatment-naïve patients with CHB were enrolled from 13 sites. The patients were randomly selected to the entecavir and the complex of entecavir and carnitine. The primary endpoint of the study is ALT normalization level after 12 months.ResultsAmong the 130 patients, 119 patients completed the study treatment. The ALT normalization at 3 months was 58.9% for the monotherapy and 95.2% for the combination therapy (P<0.0001). ALT normalization rate at 12 months was 85.7% for the monotherapy and 100% for the combination group (P=0.0019). The rate of less than HBV DNA 300 copies/mL at 12 months was not statistically significant (P=0.5318) 75.9% for the monotherapy, 70.7% for the combination and it was. Quantification of HBsAg level was not different from the monotherapy to combination at 12 months. Changes of ELISPOT value to evaluate the INF-γ secretion by HBsAg showed the increasing trend of combination therapy compare to mono-treatment.ConclusionsALT normalization rate was higher in carnitine complex combination group than entecavir group in CHB. Combination group was faster than entecavir mono-treatment group on ALT normalization rate. HBV DNA normalization rate and the serum HBV-DNA level were not changed by carnitine complex treatment

Implant surface treatments affect gene expression of Runx2, osteogenic key marker

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM. The aim of this study was to study the effects of various surface treatments to a titanium surface on the expression of Runx2 in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS. Human Osteosarcoma TE-85 cells were cultured on machined, sandblasted, or anodic oxidized cpTi discs. At various times of incubation, the cells were collected and then processed for the analysis of mRNA expression of Runx2 using reverse transcription-PCR. RESULTS. The expression pattern of Runx2 mRNA was differed according to the types of surface treatment. When the cells were cultured on the untreated control culture plates, the gene expression of Runx2 was not increased during the experiments. In the case of that the cells were cultured on the machined cpTI discs, the expression level was intermediate at the first day, but increased constitutively to day 5. In cells on sandblasted cpTi discs, the expression level was highest in the first day sample and the level was maintained to 5 days. In cells on anodized cpTi discs, the expression level increased rapidly to 3 days, but decreased slightly in the 5-th day sample. CONCLUSION. Different surface treatments may contribute to the regulation of osteoblast function by influencing the level of gene expression of key osteogenic factors

Development of predictable stability test for assessment of optimum loading time in dental implant

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The application of a simple, clinically applicable noninvasive test to assess implant stability are considered highly desirable. So far there is still a controversy about correlation of various tests and implant stability. PURPOSE: In order to assess implant stability, the development of a new method is critical. It's possible to assess implant stability by calculating energy and angular momentum during implant installation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation of energy and implant stability. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty three implants were installed in two different types of pig bone. Type I bone was retrieved from the distal aspect of the rib, with more cortical bone. Type II bone came from a more proximal region with less cortical components and a higher content of bone marrow and spongeous trabeculae. Insertion torque, removal torque, ISQ values and angular momentum and energy were measured. Pearson Correlation test was done to analyze the relation between RFA, maximum insertion torque, mean insertion torque, bone type, energy and removal torque. RESULTS: Type I bone showed higher removal torque than type II bone. Energy value was significantly correlated with maximum insertion torque and mean insertion torque. RFA values were related with insertion torques but the significance was lower than Energy value. CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of this study energy values were considered clinically predictable method to measure the implant stability.This study was supported by a grant(2007-434)from the Asan Institue for Life Sciences, seoul, Korea

CELLULAR RESPONSES ON ANODIZED TITANIUM DISCS COATED WITH ,25-DIHYDROXYVITAMIN D3 INCORPORATED POLY (D,L-LACTIDE-CO-GLYCOLIDE) (PLGA) NANOPARTICLES

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: A biochemical approach for surface modification has offered an alternative for physicochemical and morphological methods to obtain desirable bone-implant interfaces. PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate cell responses to poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA)/,25-(OH) coating with reference to cellular proliferation and differentiation in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 96 titanium discs were fabricated and divided into four groups. Group 1 was anodized under 300 V as control. Group 2, 3 and 4 were anodized then coated with 3 ml PLGA/,25-(OH) solutions. Amount of the solutions were 2 ul, 20 ul and 200ul respectively. The osteoblast-like Human Osteogenic Sarcoma (HOS) cells were seeded and cultured for 1, 3 and 7 days. MTSbased cell proliferation assay and ALPase activity test were carried out. RESULTS: PLGA nanoparticles were observed as fine, smooth and round and HOS cells attached to the anodized surfaces through strand-like and sheet-like filopodia. After 3 days of culture, the dendritic filopodia were exaggerated and sheet-like cytoplasmic projections covered the coated titanium surfaces. After 3 days of culture, all of the groups showed increased cellular proliferation and the lowest proliferation rate was measured on group 2. Higher amount of incorporated ,25-(OH) (Group 3 and 4) improved cellular proliferation but the differences were not significant statistically (P > .05). But they increased the rate of ALP activities than the control group at day 3 (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Biodegradable PLGA nanoparticles incorporated with vitamin D metabolite positively affected proliferation and differentiation of cells on the anodized titanium surface.This work was supported by the Korea Research Foundation Grant Funded by the Korean Government (MOEHRD,Basic Research Promotion Fund)(KRF-2007-331-E00245)

DEVELOPMENT OF PREDICTABLE STABILITY TEST FOR ASSESSMENT OF OPTIMUM LOADING TIME IN DENTAL IMPLANT

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The application of a simple, clinically applicable noninvasive test to assess implant stability are considered highly desirable. So far there is still a controversy about correlation of various tests and implant stability. PURPOSE: In order to assess implant stability, the development of a new method is critical. It's possible to assess implant stability by calculating energy and angular momentum during implant installation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation of energy and implant stability. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty three implants were installed in two different types of pig bone. Type I bone was retrieved from the distal aspect of the rib, with more cortical bone. Type II bone came from a more proximal region with less cortical components and a higher content of bone marrow and spongeous trabeculae. Insertion torque, removal torque, ISQ values and angular momentum and energy were measured. Pearson Correlation test was done to analyze the relation between RFA, maximum insertion torque, mean insertion torque, bone type, energy and removal torque. RESULTS: Type I bone showed higher removal torque than type II bone. Energy value was significantly correlated with maximum insertion torque and mean insertion torque. RFA values were related with insertion torques but the significance was lower than Energy value. CONCLUSION: Within the limitation of this study energy values were considered clinically predictable method to measure the implant stability