Prenatal screening for neural tube defects: from maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein to ultrasonography

The two main screening tests during pregnancy are those for chromosomal abnormalities and neural tube defects (NTDs). In particular, for NTDs, measurement of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) levels early in the second trimester (15–18 weeks of gestation) has been considered the gold standard screening test for the past 4 decades. However, with remarkable technological advancements and the widespread use of ultrasound during those periods, mid-trimester ultrasonography has gradually replaced the role of measuring MSAFP levels as a screening method for NTDs. This change was initiated more about 10 years ago in some countries, which have issued national guidelines to use mid-trimester ultrasonography instead of measuring MSAFP levels as a prenatal screening method for NTDs. However, no significant changes have occurred in Korea, where second-trimester ultrasonography is routinely performed with high-quality equipment. We aimed to provide information regarding the importance of changing the screening method for NTDs from MSAFP measurement to ultrasonography, and to detail methods of implementing mid-trimester ultrasonography for screening purposes. We also share our experience of operating a prenatal diagnostic program for NTDs without using MSAFP for more than 15 years

A Study of Parameters Related to the Etch Rate for a Dry Etch Process Using NF 3

The characteristics of the dry etching of SiNx:H thin films for display devices using SF6/O2 and NF3/O2 were investigated using a dual-frequency capacitively coupled plasma reactive ion etching (CCP-RIE) system. The investigation was carried out by varying the RF power ratio (13.56 MHz/2 MHz), pressure, and gas flow ratio. For the SiNx:H film, the etch rates obtained using NF3/O2 were higher than those obtained using SF6/O2 under various process conditions. The relationships between the etch rates and the usual monitoring parameters—the optical emission spectroscopy (OES) intensity of atomic fluorine (685.1 nm and 702.89 nm) and the voltages VH and VL—were investigated. The OES intensity data indicated a correlation between the bulk plasma density and the atomic fluorine density. The etch rate was proportional to the product of the OES intensity of atomic fluorine (I(F)) and the square root of the voltages (Vh+Vl) on the assumption that the velocity of the reactive fluorine was proportional to the square root of the voltages

Intrinsically Stretchable Three Primary Light-Emitting Films Enabled By Elastomer Blend For Polymer Light-Emitting Diodes

Intrinsically stretchable light-emitting materials are crucial for skin-like wearable displays; however, their color range has been limited to green-like yellow lights owing to the restricted stretchable light-emitting materials (super yellow series materials). To develop skin-like full-color displays, three intrinsically stretchable primary light-emitting materials [red, green, and blue (RGB)] are essential. In this study, we report three highly stretchable primary light-emitting films made from a polymer blend of conventional RGB light-emitting polymers and a nonpolar elastomer. The blend films consist of multidimensional nanodomains of light-emitting polymers that are interconnected in an elastomer matrix for efficient light-emitting under strain. The RGB blend films exhibited over 1000 cd/m2 luminance with low turn-on voltage (Von) and the selectively stretched blend films on rigid substrate maintained stable light-emitting performance up to 100% strain even after 1000 multiple stretching cycles

Dual Effect of Chrysanthemum indicum

The risk of bone-related diseases increases due to the imbalance between bone resorption and bone formation by osteoclasts and osteoblasts, respectively. The goal in the development of antiosteoporotic treatments is an agent that will improve bone through simultaneous osteoblast stimulation and osteoclast inhibition without undesirable side effects. To achieve this goal, numerous studies have been performed to identify novel approaches using natural oriental herbs to treat bone metabolic diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effect of Chrysanthemum indicum extract (CIE) on the differentiation of osteoclastic and osteoblastic cells. CIE inhibited the formation of TRAP-positive mature osteoclasts and of filamentous-actin rings and disrupted the bone-resorbing activity of mature osteoclasts in a dose-dependent manner. CIE strongly inhibited Akt, GSK3β, and IκB phosphorylation in RANKL-stimulated bone marrow macrophages and did not show any effects on MAP kinases, including p38, ERK, and JNK. Interestingly, CIE also enhanced primary osteoblast differentiation via upregulation of the expression of alkaline phosphatase and the level of extracellular calcium concentrations during the early and terminal stages of differentiation, respectively. Our results revealed that CIE could have a potential therapeutic role in bone-related disorders through its dual effects on osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation