Real-Time Detection of Nitric Oxide Release in Live Cells Utilizing Fluorinated Xerogel-Derived Nitric Oxide Sensor

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signaling molecule that regulates a diverse range of physiological and cellular processes in many tissues. Therefore, the accurate detection of physiological NO concentration is crucial to the understanding of NO signaling and its biological role. There has been growing interest in the development of electrochemical sensors for direct and real-time monitoring of NO. As the direct electrooxidation of NO requires a relatively high working potential, further surface modification with permselective membranes is required to achieve the desired selectivity for NO via size exclusion or electrostatic repulsion. Here we reported a planar-type NO sensor with a fluorinated xerogel-derived gas permeable membrane for real-time detection of NO release in live cells. First, we evaluated the biocompatibility of xerogel-derived NO permeable membranes modified with fluorinated functional groups by growing RAW 264.7 macrophages on them. And we performed the AFM measurements to examine the morphology of RAW 264.7 macrophages on xerogel membrane. Finally, we successfully detected NO release in RAW 264.7 macrophages, using a planar-type xerogel-derived NO sensor. As a result, fluorinated xerogel-derived membrane could be utilized as both NO permeable and cell-adhesive membranes. Besides, planar-type xerogel-based NO sensors can be easily applied to the cellular sensing system, with a simple coating procedure

Performances Monitoring and Analysis for KASS

The Korea Augmentation Satellite System (KASS) is the future SBAS of the Republic of Korea. It is developed by the Korea Aerospace research Institute (KARI) for the government of the Republic of Korea, and Thales Alenia Space is the industry prime contractor of this development. The function of the KASS is to decompose all possible range error sources and to distribute corrections and/or alerts to its users by means of geostationary satellites. The KASS Processing Station (KPS) is the component of KASS in charge of computing the orbit, clock and ionosphere correction and alert information (below ‘Navigation Overlay Frame’, NOF) using data from a set of reference stations. The KPS is composed of two independent elements: the Processing Set (PS) and the Check Set (CS). The first element is responsible of computing the complete navigation context for the GNSS constellation (orbits and clock) and the ionosphere model, then to prepare and send the NOF to be broadcast to the users. The second element acts as a super user by applying the NOF to the GPS messages checking that this is consistent with an independent set of measurement to control and insure the integrity. The KPS-PS component plays a key role in the KASS performance achievement where the APV-1 service level is required. To feed the KPS, the KASS has specific KASS Reference Station (KRS) located on the Rep. of Korea land masses. Compared to other SBAS, this leads to a very concentrated station network. This particularity makes a specific algorithm adaptation of the KPS-PS necessary, as compared to the EGNOS solution, to provide the desired APV-1 performance. These adaptations regard both orbit determination and all the more ionosphere corrections due to the very low number of Ionosphere Grid Points (IPG) that need be modeled and monitored. To cope with these KASS specificities, Thales Alenia Space has designed, developed and qualified a new complete real time navigation algorithm chain that provides MOPS-compliant NOF messages. The ionosphere model is different from the EGNOS one that favors a local analysis counter to a global approach as the TRIN model [2] used in EGNOS. This new algorithm chain provides the specified APV-1 performance, particularly in the case of strong ionosphere activity, with a very good level of integrity margin. This paper presents the overall KASS system architecture as well as the results obtained using this new algorithm chain under different ionosphere contexts. The APV-1 service availability level is presented and the maximum of safety index on each monitored IGP and satellite is discussed

Multiplex quantitative analysis of microRNA expression via exponential isothermal amplification and conformation-sensitive DNA separation

Expression profiling of multiple microRNAs (miRNAs) generally provides valuable information for understanding various biological processes. Thus, it is necessary to develop a sensitive and accurate miRNA assay suitable for multiplexing. Isothermal exponential amplification reaction (EXPAR) has received significant interest as an miRNA analysis method because of high amplification efficiency. However, EXPAR cannot be used for a broader range of applications owing to limitations such as complexity of probe design and lack of proper detection method for multiplex analysis. Here, we developed a sensitive and accurate multiplex miRNA profiling method using modified isothermal EXPAR combined with high-resolution capillary electrophoresis-based single-strand conformation polymorphism (CE-SSCP). To increase target miRNA specificity, a stem-loop probe was introduced instead of a linear probe in isothermal EXPAR to allow specific amplification of multiple miRNAs with minimal background signals. CE-SSCP, a conformation-dependent separation method, was used for detection. Since CE-SSCP eliminates the need for probes to have different lengths, easier designing of probes with uniform amplification efficiency was possible. Eight small RNAs comprising six miRNAs involved in Caenorhabditis elegans development and two controls were analyzed. The expression patterns obtained using our method were concordant with those reported in previous studies, thereby supporting the proposed method's robustness and utility.113sciescopu

Removal of Blunt Esophageal Foreign Body Using Foley Catheter in Children

Purpose Foreign body ingestion is a common cause for children to visit the emergency department. Removal of esophageal foreign body was usually done by an endoscopy. After Bigler introduced the Foley catheter technique for esophageal foreign body in 1966, many studies were performed regarding such technique. However, only a few researchers in Korea have attempted to report this technique. This study reports a 10-year experience of the Foley catheter removal method for blunt esophageal foreign body at a single center in Korea. Methods Medical records of patients who were treated as esophageal foreign body with Foley catheters between March 2005 and February 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Their clinical characteristics and outcomes were evaluated. Results A total of 73 patients were treated as esophageal foreign body impaction using the Foley catheter method. Foreign body removals were successful in 67 (91.8%) cases. Six failed cases were treated with esophagoscopy or endoscopy. The mean age was 3.7 years old. The most common foreign body was a coin (80.8%). Foreign bodies were lodged at the upper esophagus level most frequently (79.5%), followed by the middle esophagus (12.3%) and the lower esophagus (6.8%). During the removal procedure, 43.8% of patients were sedated, and 95.9% were treated with fluoroscopy. There were no positive correlations between the removal success and sedation (P=0.54) or using a fluoroscopy (P=0.23). In 69 cases (94.5%), there were no serious complications. However, in one patient, complications, such as vomiting, fever, and esophageal ulceration were observed. One patient complained fever and esophageal ulceration. In 3 (60%) of the total 5 patients with button battery ingestion, serious complications, such as fever or esophageal ulceration, occurred. Conclusion Removal of blunt esophageal foreign body using a Foley catheter in children is a useful and relatively safe method. However, patients with button battery ingestion need more attention when trying the Foley catheter removal technique

Unveiling the Role of Ruthenium in Layered Sodium Cobaltite Toward High-Performance Electrode Enabled by Anionic and Cationic Redox

The effect of Ru substitution on the structure and electrochemical properties of P2-type Na0.67CoO2 is investigated. The first-discharge capacities of Na0.67CoO2 and Na0.6 [Co0.78Ru0.22]O2 materials are 128 and 163 mAh g−1 (23.5 mA g−1), respectively. Furthermore, the rate capability is improved due to the electro-conducting nature of Ru doping. Operando X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the Na0.67CoO2 does not undergo a phase transition; however, multiple Na+/vacancy ordered superstructures within the P2 phase appear during Na+ extraction/insertion. In contrast, the Na0.6[Co0.78Ru0.22]O2 material undergoes a P2–OP4 phase transition during desodiation, with no formation of Na+/vacancy ordering within the P2 phase. The increased discharge capacity of Na0.6[Co0.78Ru0.22]O2 is most likely associated with additional cationic Ru4+/Ru5+ redox and increased anionic O2−/(O2n−) redox participation. Combined experimental (galvanostatic cycling, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, differential electrochemical mass spectrometry) and theoretical (density functional theory calculations) studies confirm that Ru substitution provokes the oxygen-redox reaction and that partial O2 release from the oxide lattice is the origin of the reaction. The findings provide new insight for improving the electrode performance of cathode materials via 4d Ru substitution and motivate the development of a new strategy for the design of high-capacity cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries.</p

Tetraarsenic Hexoxide Induces Beclin-1-Induced Autophagic Cell Death as well as Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis in U937 Human Leukemic Cells

Tetraarsenic hexaoxide (As4O6) has been used in Korean folk remedy for the treatment of cancer since the late 1980s, and arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is currently used as a chemotherapeutic agent. However, evidence suggests that As4O6-induced cell death pathway was different from that of As2O3. Besides, the anticancer effects and mechanisms of As4O6 are not fully understood. Therefore, we investigated the anticancer activities of As4O6 on apoptosis and autophagy in U937 human leukemic cells. The growth of U937 cells was inhibited by As4O6 treatment in a dose- and a time-dependent manner, and IC50 for As4O6 was less than 2 μM. As4O6 induced caspase-dependent apoptosis and Beclin-1-induced autophagy, both of which were significantly attenuated by Bcl-2 augmentation and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) treatment. This study suggests that As4O6 should induce Beclin-1-induced autophagic cell death as well as caspase-dependent apoptosis and that it might be a promising agent for the treatment of leukemia

Multiparametric Monitoring of Early Response to Antiangiogenic Therapy: A Sequential Perfusion CT and PET/CT Study in a Rabbit VX2 Tumor Model

Objectives. To perform dual analysis of tumor perfusion and glucose metabolism using perfusion CT and FDG-PET/CT for the purpose of monitoring the early response to bevacizumab therapy in rabbit VX2 tumor models and to assess added value of FDG-PET to perfusion CT. Methods. Twenty-four VX2 carcinoma tumors implanted in bilateral back muscles of 12 rabbits were evaluated. Serial concurrent perfusion CT and FDG-PET/CT were performed before and 3, 7, and 14 days after bevacizumab therapy (treatment group) or saline infusion (control group). Perfusion CT was analyzed to calculate blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), and permeability surface area product (PS); FDG-PET was analyzed to calculate SUVmax, SUVmean, total lesion glycolysis (TLG), entropy, and homogeneity. The flow-metabolic ratio (FMR) was also calculated and immunohistochemical analysis of microvessel density (MVD) was performed. Results. On day 14, BF and BV in the treatment group were significantly lower than in the control group. There were no significant differences in all FDG-PET-derived parameters between both groups. In the treatment group, FMR prominently decreased after therapy and was positively correlated with MVD. Conclusions. In VX2 tumors, FMR could provide further insight into the early antiangiogenic effect reflecting a mismatch in intratumor blood flow and metabolism

Sex-specific in the relationship between hyperuricemia and pulse pressure in non-diabetic Korean adults: the 2017 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background and objective: The present study assesses the relationship between hyperuricemia and pulse pressure (PP) in non-diabetic Korean adults. Material and methods: Data from 5122 subjects (2251 men and 2871 women) in the seventh Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VII-2, 2017) were analyzed. Results: Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and PP were significant factors determining the odds ratios (ORs) for hyperuricemia (uric acid ≥7.0 mg/dL in men or ≥6.0 mg/dL in women) in men and the overall population. In women, SBP, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and PP were not significant factors determining the OR for hyperuricemia. After adjusting for related variables, the OR of hyperuricemia was significantly higher in the high PP group (PP >60.0 mmHg) for men (OR, 1.760; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.152–2.688) and the overall population (OR, 1.557; 95% CI, 1.132–2.140) compared with the normal PP group, but this trend was not seen in women (OR, 1.060; 95% CI, 0.646–1.740). Conclusions: Hyperuricemia was positively associated with PP in non-diabetic Korean men but not in women