Optimizing Antioxidant and Biological Activities of : Synergistic Role of Inner Shell and Extraction Methods.

This study comprehensively evaluated how the inclusion of the inner shell and the choice of extraction method influence the antioxidant activity of (QF). Eight QF extracts were prepared with or without the inner shell using stirring (S) and ultrasonication (U) with 80% ethanol, boiled water (B) and autoclave (A) with distilled water. Among them, the ultrasonication extract with inner shell (IU) exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity, showing strong DPPH radical scavenging (228.

Seasonal effect of PM exposure in patients with COPD: a multicentre panel study.

: Exposure to particulate matter <2.5 μm (PM) is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but most studies lack individual PM measurements. Seasonal variation and their impact on clinical outcomes remain understudied.

Association between body mass index and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in young individuals: a nationwide population‑based cohort study.

Body mass index (BMI) is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk. We investigated the association between BMI and the risk of COPD among young individuals. Using the Korean National Health Information Database, we screened individuals aged 20-39 years who participated in the national health examination between 2009 and 2012.

Establishing Reference Values for a New Computerized Cognitive Function Test Program for Children.

Objective: To establish reference values for the computerized cognitive test and evaluate cognitive function improvements across different age groups, we introduce the computerized Cognitive Function Test program (eCFT), specifically designed for children. We aimed to establish eCFT reference values and assess cognitive function improvements across different age groups.

Methods: We included children aged 3-6 years with confirmed normal cognition based on the Korean Developmental Screening Test for Infants and Children and Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children-II.

Stabilin-2 mediated apoptotic cell phagocytosis induces interleukin-10 expression by p38 and Pbx1 signaling.

Apoptotic cell death occurs under normal physiological conditions, such as development, tissue remodeling, and inflammation. Appropriate removal of apoptotic cells by phagocytes and the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 are important mechanisms for maintaining tissue homeostasis. Apoptotic cell phagocytosis is mediated by several phosphatidylserine recognition receptors on non-professional or professional phagocytes, such as neighboring epithelial cells or macrophages.

Lifestyle practices that reduce seasonal PM exposure and their impact on COPD.

Particulate matter (PM) is a major air pollutant that has led to global health concerns and can cause and exacerbate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We asked patients with COPD to complete a detailed questionnaire about their lifestyle practices to reduce PM exposure and analyzed the relationship between ambient PM concentrations and lifestyle practices. We prospectively enrolled 104 COPD patients from four hospitals in different areas of Korea.

CyTOF analysis for differential immune cellular profiling between latent tuberculosis infection and active tuberculosis.

Limited data exist about the comparative immune cell population profile determined by cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF) analysis between active tuberculosis (TB) and latent TB infection (LTBI). In this study, we performed CyTOF analysis using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to compare the differential immune cellular profile between active TB and LTBI. A total of 51 subjects (active TB [n = 34] and LTBI [n = 17]) were included.

High Internal Phase Emulsion Stabilization through Restricted Interdrop Fusion across Water Drainage Channels.

This study introduces a promising approach to stabilize high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) in which droplets are enveloped by octadecane (C18)-grafted bacterial cellulose nanofibers (BCNF), which are mainly surrounded by carboxylate anions and hydrophobically modified with C18 alkyl chains. For this purpose, BCNF, in which two octadecyl chains were grafted onto each of several cellulose unit rings on 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-mediated oxidized BCNFs, was fabricated using the Schiff base reaction. The wettability of BCNF was adjusted by controlling the amount of the grafted C18 alkyl chain.

Hydrophobically modified silica nanolaces-armored water-in-oil pickering emulsions with enhanced interfacial attachment energy.

Hypothesis: Anisotropic particles with a high aspect ratio led to favorable interfacial adhesion, thus enabling Pickering emulsion stabilization. Herein, we hypothesized that pearl necklace-shaped colloid particles would play a key role in stabilizing water-in-silicone oil (W/S) emulsions by taking advantage of their enhanced interfacial attachment energy.

Experiments: We fabricated hydrophobically modified silica nanolaces (SiNLs) by depositing silica onto bacterial cellulose nanofibril templates and subsequently grafting alkyl chains with tuned amounts and chain lengths onto the nanograins comprising the SiNLs.

TGFBI remodels adipose metabolism by regulating the Notch-1 signaling pathway.

Extracellular matrix proteins are associated with metabolically healthy adipose tissue and regulate inflammation, fibrosis, angiogenesis, and subsequent metabolic deterioration. In this study, we demonstrated that transforming growth factor-beta (TGFBI), an extracellular matrix (ECM) component, plays an important role in adipose metabolism and browning during high-fat diet-induced obesity. TGFBI KO mice were resistant to adipose tissue hypertrophy, liver steatosis, and insulin resistance.

Microfluidic macroemulsion stabilization through in situ interfacial coacervation of associative nanoplatelets and polyelectrolytes.

Hypothesis: Since macroemulsions tend to break down to lower free energy, they hardly retain their initial drop state. Therefore, studies are being conducted to overcome this based on advanced interface engineering techniques, but it is still challenging. Herein we hypothesize that the stability of giant droplets can be secured without chemical bonding through the interfacial coacervation of polyelectrolyte and associative nanoplatelets.

Periostin is a novel histological biomarker for the diagnosis of chondroid tumor.

Background: The chondroid tumor is generally classified into three types, enchondroma, low-grade chondrosarcoma, and high-grade chondrosarcoma. A histological evaluation of a biopsy sample is the best predictor of the clinical course in most patients with carcinomas or sarcomas. Sometimes serological or molecular markers are used as prediction markers, but there has been no reliable marker for chondroid tumor diagnosis.

Determining the effect of ellagic acid on the proliferation and migration of pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Background: Ellagic acid is a natural dietary compound found in several berries and fruits. It inhibits fibrosis, inflammation and carcinogenesis. We tried to find out what role ellagic acid plays in pancreatic cancer to see if it can be used as an adjuvant for chemotherapy.

Microfluidic production of monodisperse emulsions for cosmetics.

Droplet-based microfluidic technology has enabled the production of emulsions with high monodispersity in sizes ranging from a few to hundreds of micrometers. Taking advantage of this technology, attempts to generate monodisperse emulsion drops with high drug loading capacity, ordered interfacial structure, and multi-functionality have been made in the cosmetics industry. In this article, we introduce the practicality of the droplet-based microfluidic approach to the cosmetic industry in terms of innovation in productivity and marketability.

Chest CT abnormalities in COVID-19: a systematic review.

Computed tomography (CT) of the chest is one of the main diagnositic tools for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. To document the chest CT findings in patients with confirmed COVID-19 and their association with the clinical severity, we searched related literatures through PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science (inception to May 4, 2020) and reviewed reference lists of previous systematic reviews. A total of 31 case reports (3768 patients) on CT findings of COVID-19 were included.

Nanocages displaying SIRP gamma clusters combined with prophagocytic stimulus of phagocytes potentiate anti-tumor immunity.

Antigen-presenting cells (APCs), including macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), play a crucial role in bridging innate and adaptive immunity; thereby, innate immune checkpoint blockade-based therapy is an attractive approach for the induction of sustainable tumor-specific immunity. The interaction between the cluster of differentiation 47 (CD47) on tumor and signal-regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) on phagocytic cells inhibits the phagocytic function of APCs, acting as a "don't eat me" signal. Accordingly, CD47 blockade is known to increase tumor cell phagocytosis, eliciting tumor-specific CD8 T-cell immunity.

Endothelial angiogenic activity and adipose angiogenesis is controlled by extracellular matrix protein TGFBI.

Several studies have suggested that extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and the microenvironment are tightly associated with adipogenesis and adipose angiogenesis. In the present study, we demonstrated that transforming growth factor-beta induced (TGFBI) suppresses angiogenesis stimulated by adipocyte-conditioned medium (Ad-CM), both in vitro and in vivo. TGFBI knockout (KO) mice exhibited increased numbers of blood vessels in adipose tissue, and blood vessels from these mice showed enhanced infiltration into Matrigel containing Ad-CM.

The impact of life behavior and environment on particulate matter in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: The effect of exposure to particulate matter (PM) on human health is a global public health concern. To develop an effective strategy to reduce PM exposure, we performed detailed questionnaire surveys regarding the type of lifestyle required to avoid PM exposure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We correlated the data with real-time PM concentration during the winter season.

The role of CECR1 in the immune-modulatory effects of butyrate and correlation between ADA2 and M1/M2 chemokines in tuberculous pleural effusion.

Objectives: The Cat Eye Syndrome Critical Region, Candidate 1 (CECR1) gene encoding adenosine deaminase 2 (ADA2) is mainly expressed by macrophages. Given the immunomodulatory functions of butyrate, we examined the effect of butyrate on CECR1 expression of macrophages and the relationship between ADA2 and M1/M2 macrophages-associated chemokines in pleural fluid of patients with tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE).

Methods: Expression of CECR1 was evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated and/or butyrate treated THP-1 cells.

Capping protein regulator and myosin 1 linker 3 regulates transcription of key cytokines in activated phagocytic cells.

We have recently reported that capping protein regulator and myosin 1 linker 3 (CARMIL3), first identified as an oncofetal-like gene, is required for metastasis of breast and prostate cancer cells via regulating the actin cytoskeletal dynamics near the plasma membrane. Here, we demonstrate a novel function of CARMIL3 as an essential regulator of the transcription of several key proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages engulfing apoptotic cells and/or exposed to lipopolysaccharides (LPS). CARMIL3-deficient macrophages expressed strongly abrogated levels of interleukin (IL)-6, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-23 in response to LPS, whereas IL-10 expression was enhanced.

Organizing an in-class hackathon to correct PDF-to-text conversion errors of Genomics & Informatics 1.0.

This paper describes a community effort to improve earlier versions of the full-text corpus of Genomics & Informatics by semi-automatically detecting and correcting PDF-to-text conversion errors and optical character recognition errors during the first hackathon of Genomics & Informatics Annotation Hackathon (GIAH) event. Extracting text from multi-column biomedical documents such as Genomics & Informatics is known to be notoriously difficult. The hackathon was piloted as part of a coding competition of the ELTEC College of Engineering at Ewha Womans University in order to enable researchers and students to create or annotate their own versions of the Genomics & Informatics corpus, to gain and create knowledge about corpus linguistics, and simultaneously to acquire tangible and transferable skills.

Promotion of Chondrosarcoma Cell Survival, Migration and Lymphangiogenesis by Periostin.

Background/aim: Periostin exists as an extracellular matrix protein in several carcinomas and is related to metastasis and poor prognosis. It is mainly secreted from cancer associated fibroblasts, and not from carcinoma cells. As a tumor microenvironment component, periostin usually mediates tumor cell stemness, metastasis, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.

TGFBI Expression Predicts the Survival of Patients With Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background/aim: This study was conducted to investigate transforming growth factor beta-induced protein (TGFBI) expression and analyze the clinical and prognostic significance of TGFBI in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).

Patients And Methods: We evaluated TGFBI expression by immunohistochemistry in 94 patients with OPSCC. For comprehensive analysis, TGFBI expression was subdivided into tumor cell score (T), stroma score (S), and the sum of two scores (TS) calculated using H-score.