Feasibility of a polydioxanone plate as an adjuvant material in rhinoplasty in Asians

Background Nasal framework-supporting procedures such as septal extension grafts, derotation grafts, and columellar strut grafts are usually required in rhinoplasty in Asian patients because the skin envelope is tight, but the nasal framework is small and weak. Autologous materials are preferred, but they have some limitations related to the amount that can be harvested and the frequency of use. Therefore, synthetic materials have been used to overcome these limitations

Direct cell-to-cell transfer in stressed tumor microenvironment aggravates tumorigenic or metastatic potential in pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer exhibits a characteristic tumor microenvironment (TME) due to enhanced fibrosis and hypoxia and is particularly resistant to conventional chemotherapy. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying TME-associated treatment resistance in pancreatic cancer are not fully understood. Here, we developed an in vitro TME mimic system comprising pancreatic cancer cells, fibroblasts and immune cells, and a stress condition, including hypoxia and gemcitabine. Cells with high viability under stress showed evidence of increased direct cell-to-cell transfer of biomolecules. The resulting derivative cells (CD4

Study on the Applicability of Dynamic Factor Standards by Comparison of Spring Constant Based Dynamic Factor of Ballasted and Concrete Track Structures

Dynamic factor evaluation method calculation methods outlined by Eisenmann (DAFEisenmann) and the American Railway Engineering Association (DAFArea) are used to calculate the dynamic factor during design and for trackside measurement, respectively, in nations where the construction of concrete track structures is relatively new. In this situation, dynamic factor calculation methods may be incorrect, and this is demonstrated by comparison of the respective track types’ total spring constant. A finite element analysis of a standard design railway track is conducted, and the design total spring constant (TSC, or K) obtained from the time history function analysis is compared to the TSC of existing tracks through trackside measurement results. The comparison result shows that TSC obtained by finite element analysis result is 22% higher than that of the trackside measurement value, indicating that the TSC is conservative in the current track design. Considering the proportional relationship between TSC and dynamic factor, it is estimated that the dynamic factor currently being applied in track design is also conservative. Based on these findings, an assessment of the applicability of different dynamic factors (DAFEisenmann and DAFArea), theoretical calculation and field measurement (DAFField) using the probabilistic analysis of wheel loads from the field measurement data is conducted. A correlative analysis between DAFEisenmann and DAFArea shows that DAFEisenmann and DAFArea were estimated to be higher by 33% and 27% in ballasted track and by 39% and 30% in concrete track than the dynamic factor derived from field measurement, respectively, which indicates that the dynamic factor currently in use can potentially lead to over-estimation in track design and maintenance

Study on the Applicability of Dynamic Stability Evaluation Criteria by Comparison of Trackside Measurement Results of Different Track Structures

Countries such as Korea adopt design codes, evaluation criteria and specifications from standards originating abroad; this leads to a lack of distinction of the separate applications of dynamic stability evaluation parameters between various track structures of different track moduli. This paper discusses the applicability of the dynamic stability evaluation method of railway track structures by assessing 10 different types of railway track sections of a newly constructed railway operation line (5 ballasted and 5 concrete type track structures) by field instrumentation testing. Parameters of track support stiffness (TSS), wheel load fluctuation, derailment coefficient, and rail displacement are measured. The respective results are first compared to the standard criteria (design specification) and comparisons between the different track types are presented as ratios. Findings show that while all of the tracks satisfy the design specification requirements, each track type measurement result varies by a noticeable degree, particularly when comparing between concrete and ballast type track structures. Results of the study demonstrate that using the same dynamic stability evaluation criteria can lead to an incorrect assessment of the track performance evaluation of track structure, and a separate evaluation parameter for ballasted and concrete track structures is required

Augmentation of the RNA m6A reader signature is associated with poor survival by enhancing cell proliferation and EMT across cancer types

Cancer: The role of modifications to RNA Studying the effects of a chemical modification of messenger RNA molecules (mRNA), which carry genetic information from DNA to the cell's protein-making machinery, reveals new insights into the role of these modifications in cancer, suggesting potential therapeutic approaches. Researchers in Seoul, South Korea, led by Joon-Yong An at Korea University and Sung-Yup Cho at Seoul National University investigated the most common modifications of mRNA involving methyl groups (CH3): addition ('writing'), having a regulatory effect on the cell ('reading') or removal ('erasing'). The molecular activities involved in reading the modifications were increased in all 11 types of cancer in cancer-sampling databases and their own patient cohort. Changes in writing and erasing of the modifications varied with cancer type. The proteins that mediate the reading responses to RNA methylation are possible targets for new anti-cancer drugs. N-6-Methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification plays a critical role in the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. Alterations in cellular m6A levels and m6A-related genes have been reported in many cancers, but whether they play oncogenic or tumor-suppressive roles is inconsistent across cancer types. We investigated common features of alterations in m6A modification and m6A-related genes during carcinogenesis by analyzing transcriptome data of 11 solid tumors from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and our in-house gastric cancer cohort. We calculated m6A writer (W), eraser (E), and reader (R) signatures based on corresponding gene expression. Alterations in the W and E signatures varied according to the cancer type, with a strong positive correlation between the W and E signatures in all types. When the patients were divided according to m6A levels estimated by the ratio of the W and E signatures, the prognostic effect of m6A was inconsistent according to the cancer type. The R and especially the R2 signatures (based on the expression of IGF2BPs) were upregulated in all cancers. Patients with a high R2 signature exhibited poor prognosis across types, which was attributed to enrichment of cell cycle- and epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related pathways. Our study demonstrates common features of m6A alterations across cancer types and suggests that targeting m6A R proteins is a promising strategy for cancer treatment.N