Organic flexible memristor with reduced operating voltage and high stability by interfacial control of conductive filament growth

This work was supported in part through the BK21 Program funded by Ministry of Education of Korea.Herein, the underlying mechanisms for the growth of conductive filaments (CFs) at a metal–polymer electrolyte interface through ion migration in organic electrochemical metallization (ECM) memristor are presented. It is observed that the free volume of voids (nanopores) in the polymer electrolyte serves as the pathways of metal‐cations whereas the interfacial topography between an active electrode and a polymer electrolyte determines the nucleation sites of the CFs. The growth kinetics of the CFs and the resultant resistive memory are found to vary with the molecular weight of the polymer electrolyte and the metal protrusions at the interface. Our direct observations show that the free volume of voids of the polymer electrolyte, varied with the molecular weight, dictates the ion transport for the growth and the disruption of the CFs. Our organic ECM‐based memristor with a hetero‐electrolyte exhibits high mechanical flexibility, low switching voltages reduced by about three times compared to those of conventional devices, and stable memory retention for longer than 104 s under repeated cycles of bending.PostprintPeer reviewe

Esophageal Thermal Injury by Hot Adlay Tea

Reversible thermal injury to the esophagus as the result of drinking hot liquids has been reported to generate alternating white and red linear mucosal bands, somewhat reminiscent of a candy cane. This phenomenon is associated with chest pain, dysphagia, odynophagia, and epigastric pain

Adenosquamous Carcinoma of Extrahepatic Bile Duct: A Case Report

Most malignant tumors originating from the biliary tract are adenocarcinomas, and adenosqamous carcinoma of Klatskin's tumor is a very rare finding. An 83-yr-old man was admitted to our hospital because of jaundice. The abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed wall thickening and luminal stenosis of both the intrahepatic duct confluent portion and the common hepatic duct. These findings were compatible with Klatskin's tumor, Bismuth type III. Considering the patient's old age, palliative combined modality therapy was performed. After percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, biopsy was performed via percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy. The histopathologic findings showed adenosquamous carcinoma. External radiotherapy and intraluminal brachytherapy through the endobiliary Y-type stent were then done. Nine months after the radiotherapy, the laboratory findings and the abdominal computed tomography revealed biliary obstruction and progressive hepatic metastasis. The combined modality therapy of external radiotherapy, intraluminal brachytherapy and stenting assisted him to live a normal life until he finally experienced biliary obstruction

Newly Diagnosed Sarcopenia and Alzheimer’s Disease in an Older Patient With Chronic Inflammation

A 78-year-old man presented with the aggravation of weakness in the lower extremities, gait disturbance, and cognitive impairment. He was diagnosed with sarcopenia, distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy, and Alzheimer’s disease. Low-grade chronic elevation of inflammatory markers was also revealed. We assumed that chronic low-grade inflammation with aging, also called “inflammaging,” contributed to the development of multiple comorbidities. After multidisciplinary treatment and comprehensive rehabilitation, he could ambulate again with minimal to moderate assistance. Various age-related disorders should be suspected when older patients present with chronic low-grade inflammation

IKBKB siRNA-Encapsulated Poly (Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid) Nanoparticles Diminish Neuropathic Pain by Inhibiting Microglial Activation

Activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in microglia plays a decisive role in the progress of neuropathic pain, and the inhibitor of kappa B (IκB) is a protein that blocks the activation of NF-κB and is degraded by the inhibitor of NF-κB kinase subunit beta (IKBKB). The role of IKBKB is to break down IκB, which blocks the activity of NF-kB. Therefore, it prevents the activity of NK-kB. This study investigated whether neuropathic pain can be reduced in spinal nerve ligation (SNL) rats by reducing the activity of microglia by delivering IKBKB small interfering RNA (siRNA)-encapsulated poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles. PLGA nanoparticles, as a carrier for the delivery of IKBKB genes silencer, were used because they have shown potential to enhance microglial targeting. SNL rats were injected with IKBKB siRNA-encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles intrathecally for behavioral tests on pain response. IKBKB siRNA was delivered for suppressing the expression of IKBKB. In rats injected with IKBKB siRNA-encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles, allodynia caused by mechanical stimulation was reduced, and the secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators due to NF-κB was reduced. Delivering IKBKB siRNA through PLGA nanoparticles can effectively control the inflammatory response and is worth studying as a treatment for neuropathic pain