Nanocomposite hydrogel actuators hybridized with various dimensional nanomaterials for stimuli responsiveness enhancement

Hydrogel actuators, that convert external energy, such as pH, light, heat, magnetic field, and ion strength, into mechanical motion, have been utilized in sensors, artificial muscles, and soft robotics. For a practicality of the hydrogel actuators in a wide range of fields, an establishment of robust mechanical properties and rapid response are required. Several solutions have been proposed, for example, setting porous and anisotropy structures to hydrogels with nanocomposite materials to improve the response speed and deformation efficiency. In this review paper, we focused on hydrogel actuators including various nanocomposite by categorizing the dimensional aspects of additive materials. Moreover, we described the role of diverse additive materials in terms of the improvement of mechanical property and deformation efficiency of the hydrogel actuators. We assumed that this review will provide a beneficial guidance for strategies of developing nanocomposite hydrogel actuators and outlooks for the future research directions.11Ysciescopu

Association of ATP7B Mutation Detection Rate with Biochemical Characteristics in Korean Patients with Wilson Disease

Wilson disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the ATP7B gene, yet many patients have either one mutation, or no mutation. We investigated whether the mutation detection rate is associated with any biochemical characteristics of WD. In a study of 71 patients, we used PCR-sequencing to screen for ATP7B mutations in 7 exons (exons 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, and 18) covering 95% of known mutations in Korean patients with WD. We also investigated serum concentrations of various biochemical analytes. Data were analyzed by linear association test and one-way ANOVA. Based on the number of detected ATP7B mutations, a significant difference in serum ceruloplasmin concentration was found among the 3 groups (p < 0.001). Serum ceruloplasmin concentration averaged 3.32 +/- 1.74, 10.8 +/- 5.50, and 14.9 +/- 3.88 mg/dl (mean +/- SD) in the 25, 20, and 26 patients with two, one, and no ATP7B mutations, respectively. We observed 82.9% and 16.7% of mutant allele frequency in WD patients with ceruloplasmin concentration < 10 mg/dl and 10-20 mg/dl, respectively (p < 0.001). Thus serum ceruloplasmin concentrations among WD patients differed according to the number of ATP7B mutations detected.Riordan SM, 2001, J HEPATOL, V34, P165Gow PJ, 2000, GUT, V46, P415Brewer GJ, 2009, NETH J MED, V67, P195Korman JD, 2008, HEPATOLOGY, V48, P1167, DOI 10.1002/hep.22446Mak CM, 2008, CLIN CHEM, V54, P1356, DOI 10.1373/clinchem.2008.103432Mak CM, 2008, CRIT REV CL LAB SCI, V45, P263, DOI 10.1080/10408360801991055Park S, 2007, HUM MUTAT, V28, P1108, DOI 10.1002/humu.20574Kroll CA, 2006, MOL GENET METAB, V89, P134, DOI 10.1016/j.ymgme.2006.03.008Durand F, 2001, GUT, V48, P849Yoo HW, 2002, GENET MED, V4, p43S, DOI 10.1097/01.GIM.0000040260.30727.EBSHIM H, 2003, J NUTR, V133, P1527Roberts EA, 2003, HEPATOLOGY, V37, P1475, DOI 10.1053/jhep.2003.50252Ferenci P, 2003, LIVER INT, V23, P139Cullen LM, 2003, CLIN GENET, V64, P429Seo J, 2004, J TURBUL, V5, DOI 10.1088/1468-5248/5/1/015YANG X, 2005, ZHONGHUA NEI KE ZA Z, V44, P13Brewer GJ, 2005, J HEPATOL, V42, pS13, DOI 10.1016/j.jhep.2004.11.013De Bie P, 2005, J HERED, V96, P803, DOI 10.1093/jhered/esi110CHOI JS, 2006, KOREAN J LAB MED, V26, P449Kim JH, 2006, J GASTROEN HEPATOL, V21, P588, DOI 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2005.04127.xEisenbach C, 2007, WORLD J GASTROENTERO, V13, P1711Kenney SM, 2007, HUM MUTAT, V28, P1171, DOI 10.1002/humu.20586Roberts EA, 2008, HEPATOLOGY, V47, P2089, DOI 10.1002/hep.22261Kok KF, 2008, NETH J MED, V66, P348BREWER GJ, 2009, NETH J MED, V67, P196SALLIE R, 1992, HEPATOLOGY, V16, P1206

Nasal Deformity Due to Tuberculous Chondritis

Tuberculosis (TB) is a common disease worldwide. However, nasal TB is quite rare, and the diagnosis of nasal TB requires a high index of suspicion. The most common symptoms of this unusual presentation are nasal obstruction and nasal discharge. We present a case of nasal TB with involvement of the hard palate presenting with a chronically progressive nasal deformity and ulceration of the hard palate. A biopsy confirmed the diagnosis, and medication for TB was started and the lesions resolved. When a patient presents with chronic ulcerative lesions that do not respond to antibiotic treatment, TB should be included in the differential diagnosis. Biopsy of the lesion can aid in the confirmation of the diagnosis

Positive Result in the Early Passive Phase of the Tilt-table Test: A Predictor of Neurocardiogenic Syncope in Young Men

Background/Aims: This study elucidated the prognostic factors for neurocardiogenic syncope in males in their late teens and early twenties. Methods: Tilt-table testing (TTT) was performed on 665 males (age range, 17 to 27 years) following the Italian protocol. The subjects were tilted head-up at a 70 ° angle on a table for 30 minutes during the passive phase. If the passive phase was negative, the subjects were given sublingual nitroglycerin and tilted to the same angle for 20 minutes during the drugprovocation phase. The subjects with positive results were followed without medication. We analyzed factors related to the recurrence rate of syncope. Results: Of 305 subjects (45.8%) with positive results, 223 (age range, 18 to 26 years) were followed for 12 months. The frequency of previous syncopal episodes ≥ 4 (p = 0.001) and a positive result during the passive phase (p = 0.022) were significantly related to a high recurrence rate. A positive result during the early passive phase ( ≤ 12 minutes) was significantly related to a higher recurrence rate than was that during the late passive phase (&gt; 12 minutes; p = 0.011). Conclusions: A positive result during the early passive phase of TTT and frequent previous syncopal episodes were prognostic factors for neurocardiogenic syncope in men in their late teens and early twenties. Keywords: Syncope, vasovagal; Prognosis; Tilt-table tes

Robot-assisted posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy: single port access

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has become a gold standard in adrenal gland surgery. More recently, some minimally invasive trials have been conducted on single access surgery on the adrenal gland. In this study, we introduce our first experiences of robot-assisted posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy using single-port access and the da Vinci system

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 is upregulated in ischemic muscle, which mediates trafficking of endothelial progenitor cells

BACKGROUND: Trafficking of transplanted endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to an ischemic organ is a critical step in neovascularization. This study was performed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of EPC trafficking in terms of adhesion molecules. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using murine hindlimb ischemia model, we examined expressions of E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) in ischemic muscle by immunofluorescence. ICAM-1 was overexpressed in ischemic muscle compared with nonischemic muscle, whereas expressions of E-selectin, VCAM-1, and PECAM-1 did not show that much difference. ICAM-1 was also upregulated by hypoxia in murine endothelial cells (ECs) as assessed by immunoblot and flow cytometry. EPCs were attached to ECs specifically through ICAM-1/beta-2 integrin interaction in vitro. When EPCs were labeled with fluorescent dye or radioisotope (Tc-99m-HMPAO) and systemically administrated in vivo, EPCs preferentially homed to ischemic muscle. By blocking ICAM-1, EPCs entrapment to ischemic limb in vivo was significantly reduced and neovascularization induced by EPC transplantation was attenuated. CONCLUSIONS: ICAM-1 is upregulated by ischemia, and this is closely associated with EPCs entrapment to ischemic limb. Our findings suggest that ICAM-1 expression might be important in regulating the process of neovascularization through its ability to recruit EPCs

Direct Reprogramming of Rat Neural Precursor Cells and Fibroblasts into Pluripotent Stem Cells

Background: Given the usefulness of rats as an experimental system, an efficient method for generating rat induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells would provide researchers with a powerful tool for studying human physiology and disease. Here, we report direct reprogramming of rat neural precursor (NP) cells and rat embryonic fibroblasts (REF) into iPS cells by retroviral transduction using either three (Oct3/4, Sox2, and Klf4), four (Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc), or five (Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc, and Nanog) genes. Methodology and Principal Findings: iPS cells were generated from both NP and REF using only three (Oct3/4, Sox2, and Klf4) genes without c-Myc. Two factors were found to be critical for efficient derivation and maintenance of rat iPS cells: the use of rat instead of mouse feeders, and the use of small molecules specifically inhibiting mitogen-activated protein kinase and glycogen synthase kinase 3 pathways. In contrast, introduction of embryonic stem cell (ESC) extracts induced partial reprogramming, but failed to generate iPS cells. However, when combined with retroviral transduction, this method generated iPS cells with significantly higher efficiency. Morphology, gene expression, and epigenetic status confirmed that these rat iPS cells exhibited ESC-like properties, including the ability to differentiate into all three germ layers both in vitro and in teratomas. In particular, we found that these rat iPS cells could differentiate to midbrain-like dopamine neurons with a high efficiency. Conclusions/Significance: Given the usefulness of rats as an experimental system, our optimized method would be useful for generating rat iPS cells from diverse tissues and provide researchers with a powerful tool for studying human physiology and disease