TmSpz-like Plays a Fundamental Role in Response to E. coli but Not S. aureus or C. albican Infection in Tenebrio molitor via Regulation of Antimicrobial Peptide Production.

The cystine knot protein Spätzle is a Toll receptor ligand that modulates the intracellular signaling cascade involved in the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-mediated regulation of antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-encoding genes. Spätzle-mediated activation of the Toll pathway is critical for the innate immune responses of insects against Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. In this study, the open reading frame (ORF) sequence of Spätzle-like from T. molitor (TmSpz-like) identified from the RNA sequencing dataset was cloned and sequenced. The 885-bp TmSpz-like ORF encoded a polypeptide of 294 amino acid residues. TmSpz-like comprised a cystine knot domain with six conserved cysteine residues that formed three disulfide bonds. Additionally, TmSpz-like exhibited the highest amino acid sequence similarity with T. castaneum Spätzle (TcSpz). In the phylogenetic tree, TmSpz-like and TcSpz were located within a single cluster. The expression of TmSpz-like was upregulated in the Malpighian tubules and gut tissues of T. molitor. Additionally, the expression of TmSpz-like in the whole body and gut of the larvae was upregulated at 24 h post-E. coli infection. The results of RNA interference experiments revealed that TmSpz-like is critical for the viability of E. coli-infected T. molitor larvae. Eleven AMP-encoding genes were downregulated in the E. coli-infected TmSpz-like knockdown larvae, which suggested that TmSpz-like positively regulated these genes. Additionally, the NF-κB-encoding genes (TmDorX1, TmDorX2, and TmRelish) were downregulated in the E. coli-infected TmSpz-like knockdown larvae. Thus, TmSpz-like plays a critical role in the regulation of AMP production in T. molitor in response to E. coli infection.

Prediction of Infarct Transmurality From C-Reactive Protein Level and Mean Platelet Volume in Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Comparison of the Predictive Values of Cardiac Enzymes.

BACKGROUND: High C-reactive protein (CRP) and mean platelet volume (MPV) levels are associated with poor prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between CRP level or MPV and infarct transmurality in patients with STEMI. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed CRP level, MPV, and infarct transmurality in 112 STEMI patients who were assessed with contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: When the cut-off peak CRP level and MPV were set at 2.35 mg/dl and 7.3 fl using receiver operating characteristic curves analysis, the sensitivity was 67.3/69.2% and specificity was 76.7/76.7% for differentiating between the groups with and those without transmural involvement. Peak CRP level, MPV, peak creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) level, and peak high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) level had comparable predictive values for transmural involvement (area under the curve, 0.749, 0.761, 0.680, and 0.696, respectively). High peak CRP level and MPV were independent predictors of transmural involvement after adjusting for the peak CK-MB level, peak hs-cTnT level, baseline thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade, and left ventricular ejection fraction (odds ratio: 5.16/5.42, 95% confidence interval: 1.84-14.50/2.03-14.47, P = 0.002/0.001, respectively) in the logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that peak CRP level and MPV are predictive markers for transmural involvement. Their predictive power for transmural involvement is independent of and comparable to that of peak CK-MB and hs-cTnT levels.

The effects of pH and surfactants on the absorption and fluorescence properties of ochratoxin A and zearalenone.

The pH and surfactant dependencies of the absorption and fluorescence properties of ochratoxin A (OTA) and zearalenone (ZEN), the main mycotoxins found as contaminants in foods and feeds, were evaluated. Three surfactants with different ionic properties were investigated, namely sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, anionic), Tween 20 (nonionic) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB, cationic). The results show that the effects of pH on the absorption wavelength maxima and fluorescence efficiencies of the mycotoxins, which are a consequence of the presence of acidic phenol and/or carboxyl containing fluorophores, are dependent on the ionic nature of the added surfactants. Specifically, the fluorescence responses to pH changes of OTA and ZEN are similar in the presence or absence of Tween 20 and SDS. By contrast, the pH-dependent fluorescence properties of these mycotoxins are altered when CTAB is present in the solutions. Moreover, unlike OTA, ZEN in aqueous solution displays almost no fluorescence. However, fluorescence enhancement takes place when surfactants are present in aqueous solutions of this mycotoxin. The results of this study demonstrate that the different microenvironments, present in the organized micellar systems created by the individual surfactants, can be potentially employed to modulate the sensitivities and selectivities of the fluorescence detection of OTA or ZEN.

Structurally nanocrystalline-electrically single crystalline ZnO-reduced graphene oxide composites.

ZnO, a wide bandgap semiconductor, has attracted much attention due to its multifunctionality, such as transparent conducting oxide, light-emitting diode, photocatalyst, and so on. To improve its performances in the versatile applications, numerous hybrid strategies of ZnO with graphene have been attempted, and various synergistic effects have been achieved in the ZnO-graphene hybrid nanostructures. Here we report extraordinary charge transport behavior in Al-doped ZnO (AZO)-reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposites. Although the most challenging issue in semiconductor nanocomposites is their low mobilities, the AZO-RGO nanocomposites exhibit single crystal-like Hall mobility despite the large quantity of nanograin boundaries, which hinder the electron transport by the scattering with trapped charges. Because of the significantly weakened grain boundary barrier and the proper band alignment between the AZO and RGO, freely conducting electrons across the nanograin boundaries can be realized in the nanocomposites. This discovery of the structurally nanocrystalline-electrically single crystalline composite demonstrates a new route for enhancing the electrical properties in nanocomposites based on the hybrid strategy.

Enzymatic production of 3,6-anhydro-L-galactose from agarose and its purification and in vitro skin whitening and anti-inflammatory activities.

3,6-Anhydro-L-galactose (L-AHG) constitutes 50% of agarose, which is the main component of red macroalgae. No information is currently available on the mass production, metabolic fate, or physiological effects of L-AHG. Here, agarose was converted to L-AHG in the following three steps: pre-hydrolysis of agarose into agaro-oligosaccharides by using acetic acid, hydrolysis of the agaro-oligosaccharides into neoagarobiose by an exo-agarase, and hydrolysis of neoagarobiose into L-AHG and galactose by a neoagarobiose hydrolase. After these three steps, L-AHG was purified by adsorption and gel permeation chromatographies. The final product obtained was 95.6% pure L-AHG at a final yield of 4.0% based on the initial agarose. In a cell proliferation assay, L-AHG at a concentration of 100 or 200 µg/ mL did not exhibit any significant cytotoxicity. In a skin whitening assay, 100 µg/ mL of L-AHG showed significantly lower melanin production compared to arbutin. L-AHG at 100 and 200 µg/ mL showed strong anti-inflammatory activity, indicating the significant suppression of nitrite production. This is the first report on the production of high-purity L-AHG and its physiological activities.

Stroke or coronary artery disease prediction from mean platelet volume in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The aim of this study was to determine the association of mean platelet volume (MPV) with the development of stroke or coronary artery disease (CAD) in diabetes mellitus (DM). MPV was analyzed in 200 Korean patients with DM. The primary endpoint was composite of ischemic stroke/CAD events. The mean MPV was 7.6 ± 0.8 fl. There were 14 ischemic stroke events and 8 CAD events during a mean of 28.4 months of follow-up. The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the higher tertile MPV group (≥7.9 fl) had a significantly higher stroke/CAD rate compared to the lower tertile MPV group (≤7.3 fl) (29.9% vs. 2.8%, log-rank: p < 0.001). Higher MPV was an independent predictor of stroke/CAD risk after adjusting for 10-year risk ≥10%, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and previous stroke or transient ischemic attack history (hazard ratio: 11.92, 95% confidence interval 2.68-52.92, p = 0.001) in the Cox proportional hazard analysis. When the MPV cut-off level was set to 7.95 fl using the receiver operating characteristic curve, the sensitivity was 91% and the specificity was 80% for differentiating between the group with stroke/CAD and the group without stroke/CAD. This value was more useful in patients with hypertension. The results of this study show that MPV is a predictive marker for stroke/CAD; its predictive power for stroke/CAD is independent of age, gender, hypertension, and hemoglobin A1C.

Interfacial structure and electrical properties of transparent conducting ZnO thin films on polymer substrates.

The effects of polymer substrates on the interfacial structure and the thermal stability of Ga-doped ZnO (GZO) thin films were investigated. The GZO thin films were deposited on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) substrates by rf-magnetron sputtering at room temperature, and thermal stability tests of the GZO thin films on the polymer substrates were performed at 150°C up to 8 h in air. Electrical and structural characterizations of the GZO thin films on the PET and the PEN substrates were carried out, and the origins of the stable interfacial structure and the improved thermal stability of the GZO thin film on the PEN substrate were discussed.

Effects of Just Culture and Empowerment on Patient Safety Activities of Hospital Nurses.

This study investigated the relationship among hospital nurses' perceptions of a just culture, empowerment, and patient safety activities. It also determined the factors affecting the patient safety activities of nurses. This cross-sectional study included 189 nurses from four hospitals in South Korea. The survey was conducted from October to December 2019 using self-report questionnaires including items on socio-demographic characteristics, just culture, empowerment, and patient safety activities. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression analysis with SPSS/WIN 25.0. Patient safety activities correlated positively with just culture (r = 0.369, p < 0.000) and empowerment (r = 0.38, p < 0.000). Additionally, empowerment (ß = 0.213, p = 0.001) and just culture (ß = 0.442, p < 0.000) had statistically significant effects on patient safety activities and explained about 19.5% of the variance in patient safety activities (F = 16.170, p < 0.001). The patient safety at medical institutions can be improved by cultivating a work environment that embraces a just culture and empowers nurses.

Tenebrio molitor Spätzle 1b Is Required to Confer Antibacterial Defense Against Gram-Negative Bacteria by Regulation of Antimicrobial Peptides.

Innate immunity is the ultimate line of defense against invading pathogens in insects. Unlike in the mammalian model, in the insect model, invading pathogens are recognized by extracellular receptors, which activate the Toll signaling pathway through an extracellular serine protease cascade. In the Toll-NF-κB pathway, the extracellular spätzle protein acts as a downstream ligand for Toll receptors in insects. In this study, we identified a novel Spätzle isoform (TmSpz1b) from RNA sequencing database of Tenebrio molitor. TmSpz1b was bioinformatically analyzed, and functionally characterized for the antimicrobial function by RNA interference (RNAi). The 702 bp open reading frame of TmSpz1b encoded a putative protein of 233 amino acid residues. A conserved cystine-knot domain with seven cysteine residues in TmSpz1b was involved in three disulfide bridges and the formation of a spätzle dimer. TmSpz1b was mostly expressed in the hemocytes of T. molitor late instar larvae. The mRNA expression of TmSpz1b was highly induced in the hemocytes after Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans stimulation of T. molitor larvae. TmSpz1b silenced larvae were significantly more susceptible to E. coli infection. In addition, RNAi-based functional assay characterized TmSpz1b to be involved in the positive regulation of antimicrobial peptide genes in hemocytes and fat bodies. Further, the TmDorX2 transcripts were downregulated in TmSpz1b silenced individuals upon E. coli challenge suggesting the relationship to Toll signaling pathway. These results indicate that TmSpz1b is involved in the T. molitor innate immunity, causes the sequestration of Gram-negative bacteria by the regulatory action of antimicrobial peptides, and enhances the survival of T. molitor larvae.

Molecular Cloning and Expression Analysis of Three Suppressors of Cytokine Signaling Genes (SOCS5, SOCS6, SOCS7) in the Mealworm Beetle Tenebrio molitor.

Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) influence cytokine and growth factor signaling by negatively regulating the Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) pathway to maintain homeostasis during immune responses. However, functional characterization of SOCS family members in invertebrates is limited. Here, we identified and evaluated three SOCS genes (type I sub-family) in the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor. The full-length open reading frames (ORFs) of TmSOCS5, TmSOCS6, and TmSOCS7 comprised of 1389, 897, and 1458 nucleotides, encoding polypeptides of 462, 297, and 485 amino acids, respectively. The SH2 and SOCS box domains of the TmSOCS C-terminal region were highly conserved. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these SOCS genes were clustered within the type I subfamily that exhibits the highest amino acid identity with Tribolium castaneum SOCS genes. Contrary to TmSOCS7 expression, the expression levels of TmSOCS5 and TmSOCS6 were lower in the larval, pupal, and adult stages. In larvae and adults, the expression levels of TmSOCS5 and TmSOCS6 were highest in the hemocytes and ovaries, respectively. SOCS transcripts were also highly upregulated in the hemocytes of T. molitor larvae within 3⁻6 h post-infection with the fungus Candida albicans. Collectively, these results provide valuable information regarding the involvement of TmSOCS type-I subfamily in the host immune response of insects.

Lovastatin increases the proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of human gingiva-derived stem cells in three-dimensional cultures.

Lovastatin is a cholesterol-lowering agent that also has effects of cell proliferation and apoptosis. The present study was performed to evaluate the effects of lovastatin on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of three-dimensional cell spheroids formed from human gingiva-derived stem cells (GDSCs) using concave microwells. GDSCs were plated on polydimethylsiloxane-based concave micromolds and grown in the presence of lovastatin at concentrations of 0, 2 and 6 µM. The morphology of the cells was viewed under an inverted microscope, and cell viability was determined with Cell Counting kit-8 on days 2, 7 and 14. Alkaline phosphatase activity assays were performed to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation on days 2 and 8. Alizarin red-S staining was also used to assess the mineralization of the stem cell spheroids at day 14. The results confirmed that GDSCs formed spheroids in concave microwells. No significant changes were noted with longer incubation time, and no significant differences in cell viability were noted between the three lovastatin groups at each time point. Higher osteogenic differentiation was observed in the 2 µM group when compared with the control. Mineralized extracellular deposits were visible after Alizarin red-S staining, and higher mineralization was noted in the 2 and 6 µM lovastatin groups when compared with the 0 µM control. The relative mineralization values of the 0, 2 and 6 µM groups on day 14 were 39.0±9.6, 69.3±6.0 and 60.9±7.5, respectively. This study demonstrated that the application of lovastatin enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of cell spheroids formed from GDSCs. This suggests that combinations of lovastatin and stem cell spheroids may have the potential for use in tissue engineering.

Short-term application of dexamethasone on stem cells derived from human gingiva reduces the expression of RUNX2 and ß-catenin.

Objective Next-generation sequencing was performed to evaluate the effects of short-term application of dexamethasone on human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Methods Human gingiva-derived stem cells were treated with a final concentration of 10-7 M dexamethasone and the same concentration of vehicle control. This was followed by mRNA sequencing and data analysis, gene ontology and pathway analysis, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction of mRNA, and western blot analysis of RUNX2 and ß-catenin. Results In total, 26,364 mRNAs were differentially expressed. Comparison of the results of dexamethasone versus control at 2 hours revealed that 7 mRNAs were upregulated and 25 mRNAs were downregulated. The application of dexamethasone reduced the expression of RUNX2 and ß-catenin in human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Conclusion The effects of dexamethasone on stem cells were evaluated with mRNA sequencing, and validation of the expression was performed with qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. The results of this study can provide new insights into the role of mRNA sequencing in maxillofacial areas.

Effects of Cimicifugae Rhizoma on the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of stem cells.

Cimicifugae Rhizoma, a herb with a long history of use in traditional Oriental medicine is reported to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-complement and anticancer effects. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Cimicifugae Rhizoma extracts on the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of human stem cells derived from gingiva. Stem cells derived from gingiva were grown in the presence of Cimicifugae Rhizoma at final concentrations of 0.1, 1 and 10 µg/ml. Cell proliferation analyses were performed at day 15. For osteogenic differentiation experiments, the stem cells were cultured in osteogenic media containing ß-glycerophosphate, ascorbic acid-2-phosphate and dexamethasone, and osteogenic differentiation was evaluated by analysis of osteocalcin expression at 21 days. For adipogenic differentiation experiments, the stem cells were grown in adipogenic induction medium, and the adipogenic differentiation was evaluated by analysis of adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein at day 14. The cultures grown in the presence of 0.1 µg/ml Cimicifugae Rhizoma showed a significant increase in cellular proliferation at day 15 compared with the control group. The relative osteogenic differentiation in the presence of Cimicifugae Rhizoma for the 0.1, 1 and 10 µg/ml groups was 171.5±13.7, 125.6±28.7 and 150.5±9.0, respectively, when that of the untreated control group on day 21 was considered to be 100%. The relative adipogenic differentiation at day 14 of the 0.1, 1 and 10 µg/ml groups in the presence of Cimicifugae Rhizoma was 97.5±15.0, 102.9±12.8 and 87.0±6.8%, respectively when that of the untreated control group on day 14 was considered to be 100%. Within the limits of this study, Cimicifugae Rhizoma increased the proliferation of stem cells derived from the gingiva, and low concentrations of Cimicifugae Rhizoma may increase the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells.

Phonon-glass electron-crystals in ZnO-multiwalled carbon nanotube nanocomposites.

We propose a strategy for enhancing thermoelectric performance through the realization of a 'phonon-glass electron-crystal' (PGEC) by interface control using multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). By the consolidation of undoped ZnO nanoparticles with MWCNTs (0.5, 1, and 2 wt%) using spark plasma sintering, we fabricated the interface-controlled ZnO-MWCNT nanocomposites, in which ZnO grains were surrounded with a MWCNT network. Both single crystal-like charge transport (electron-crystal) and considerably reduced thermal conductivity (phonon-glass) were achieved simultaneously thanks to the beneficial effects of the MWCNT network, and this led to the enhancement of the thermoelectric figure of merit. We discussed these findings on PGECs in the ZnO-MWCNT nanocomposites from the viewpoint of interface control in detail, and our strategy may provide a promising way to the realization of PGEC in other hybrid thermoelectric materials.

Stroke or left atrial thrombus prediction using antithrombin III and mean platelet volume in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: CHADS2 (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke) and CHA2 DS2 -VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke, vascular disease, age 65 to 74 years, sex category) scores showed just moderate discrimination ability in predicting thromboembolic complications in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). HYPOTHESIS: To determine the association of antithrombin III (AT-III) deficiency and mean platelet volume (MPV) with the development of stroke or left atrial (LA) thrombus in patients with AF. METHODS: AT-III and MPV were analyzed in 352 patients with AF. The primary endpoint was a composite of ischemic stroke event and incidental LA thrombus. RESULTS: There were 50 events (14.2%) during a mean 35.4 months of follow-up. A significantly higher stroke or LA thrombus rate was observed in the low-AT-III group (<70%) than that in the high-AT-III group (≥70%). A significantly higher stroke or LA thrombus rate was observed in the high-MPV group (≥7.0 fL) than that in the low-MPV group (<7.0 fL). AF patients with an MPV ≥7.0 fL and AT-III deficiency had higher stroke or LA thrombus risk than those without an MPV ≥7.0 fL and AT-III deficiency. In the Cox proportional hazard analysis, high MPV was found to be an independent predictor of stroke or LA thrombus risk (hazard ratio: 6.408; 95% confidence interval: 2.874-14.286). Although AT-III deficiency was not an independent predictor of stroke or LA thrombus risk, a trend was observed. CONCLUSIONS: High MPV and AT-III deficiency were predictive markers for stroke or LA thrombus. Their predictive power for stroke was independent of antiplatelet treatment, anticoagulation therapy, and a high CHA2 DS2 -VASc score in patients with AF.

Formation of size-controllable spheroids using gingiva-derived stem cells and concave microwells: Morphology and viability tests.

Human mesenchymal stem cells have previously been isolated and characterized from the gingiva, and gingiva-derived stem cells have been applied for tissue engineering purposes. The present study was performed to generate size-controllable stem cell spheroids using concave microwells. Gingiva-derived stem cells were isolated, and the stem cells of 1×105 (group A) or 2×105 (group B) cells were seeded in polydimethylsiloxane-based, concave micromolds with 600 µm diameters. The morphology of the microspheres was viewed under an inverted microscope, and the changes in the diameter and cell viability were analyzed. The gingiva-derived stem cells formed spheroids in the concave microwells. The diameters of the spheroids were larger in group A compared to group B. No significant changes in shape or diameter were noted with increases in incubation time. Cell viability was higher in group B at each time point when compared with group A. Within the limits of the study, the size-controllable stem cell spheroids could be generated from gingival cells using microwells. The shape of the spheroids and their viability were clearly maintained during the experimental periods.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and mean platelet volume as predictive values after percutaneous coronary intervention for long-term clinical outcomes: a comparable and additive study.

This study was designed to establish the relationship of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and mean platelet volume (MPV) with the development of adverse outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). hsCRP levels and MPV were analysed in 372 patients who underwent PCI, with the primary endpoint as major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE): a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR), ischemic stroke and stent thrombosis. During the follow-up period (mean, 25.8 months), there were 21 cardiac deaths, 10 MIs including four stent thrombosis events, seven ischemic strokes and 29 TVRs. The hsCRP cut-off level was set at 0.31 mg/dl using the receiver operating characteristic curve to differentiate between the groups with and without MACCE. The MPV cut-off level was set at 8.00 fl by the receiver operating characteristic curve to differentiate between the groups with and without MACCE. A Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the high hsCRP group (≥0.31 mg/dl) had a significantly higher cardiac death and MACCE rate than the low hsCRP group (<0.31 mg/dl), and the high MPV group (>8.00 fl) had a significantly higher cardiac death and MACCE rate than the low MPV group (≤8.00 fl). Furthermore, the high hsCRP and MPV groups were significantly associated with an increased risk of MACCE. These results show that hsCRP and MPV are predictive markers after PCI for MACCE; they are also additively associated with a higher risk of MACCE.

Decreased Cystatin C-Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Is Correlated with Prolonged Hospital Stay in Transient Tachypnea of Newborn Infants.

BACKGROUND: Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is a benign disorder with a variable clinical course that often leads to hospitalization. The aim of this study was to assess and validate the relationship between the serum cystatin C level and symptom duration in infants with TTN. METHODS: Forty newborns presenting with TTN and who had undergone serum cystatin C (Cys C) tests on the first day of admission to the Kyung Hee University Hospital (Seoul, Korea) from 2009 to 2013 were included. The serum Cys C level, creatinine (Cr) level, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and tachypnea duration were correlated retrospectively. RESULTS: The median gestation period was 37.8 ± 3.8 weeks and the mean birth weight was 3.2 ± 0.4 kg. Tachypnea duration was 3.3 ± 2.0 days. Serum Cys C and Cr levels were 1.7 ± 0.2 mg/L and 0.8 ± 1.2 mg/dL, respectively. Tachypnea duration was significantly positively correlated with the serum levels of Cys C and significantly negatively correlated with Cys C-based eGFR (p = 0.016), but was not significantly correlated with the serum Cr level or Cr-based eGFR. When tachypnea duration was compared between infants with Cys C level <1.6 mg/L (n = 15; Group A) and infants with Cys C level ≥ 1.6 mg/L (n = 25; Group B), the symptom duration was significantly shorter in Group A infants (p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: Tachypnea duration was shorter with higher Cys C-based eGFR in infants with TTN.

Effects of risedronate on the morphology and viability of gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Risedronate has been used for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal and corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis. The present study was performed to evaluate the effects of risedronate on the morphology and viability of human stem cells derived from the gingiva. Stem cells derived from the gingiva were grown in the presence of risedronate at concentrations that ranged from 1 to 10 µM. The morphology of the cells was viewed under an inverted microscope, and cell proliferation was analyzed with a cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) on days 2, 4 and 7. The untreated control group showed a spindle-shaped, fibroblast-like morphology. The shapes of the cells treated with 1 and 5 µM risedronate were similar to that of the control group on day 2. However, morphology of the 10 µM group markedly differed from that of the control group. The shapes of the cells in the 1, 5 and 10 µM groups were rounder, and pronounced alterations when compared with the untreated control group were noted in all groups on day 7. The cultures growing in the presence of risedronate showed decreased CCK-8 values on day 7. In conclusion, risedronate produced notable alterations in the morphology of the cells and reduced the viability of gingival mesenchymal stem cells.

Evaluation of the effects of Cimicifugae Rhizoma on the morphology and viability of mesenchymal stem cells.

Cimicifugae Rhizoma is a traditional herbal medicine used to treat various diseases in Korea, China and Japan. Cimicifugae Rhizoma is primarily derived from Cimicifuga heracleifolia Komarov or Cimicifuga foetida Linnaeus. Cimicifugae Rhizoma has been used as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic remedy. The present study was performed to evaluate the extracts of Cimicifugae Rhizoma on the morphology and viability of human stem cells derived from gingiva. Stem cells derived from gingiva were grown in the presence of Cimicifugae Rhizoma at final concentrations that ranged from 0.001 to 1,000 µg/ml. The morphology of the cells was viewed under an inverted microscope and the analysis of cell proliferation was performed using a Cell Counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay on days 1, 3, 5 and 7. Under an optical microscope, the control cells exhibited a spindle-shaped, fibroblast-like morphology. The shapes of the cells in the groups treated with 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 µg/ml Cimicifugae Rhizoma were similar to the shapes in the control group. Significant alterations in morphology were noted in the 100 and 1,000 µg/ml groups when compared with the control group. The cells in the 100 and 1,000 µg/ml groups were rounder, and fewer cells were present. The cultures that were grown in the presence of Cimicifugae Rhizoma at a concentration of 0.001 µg/ml on day 1 had an increased CCK-8 value. The cultures grown in the presence of Cimicifugae Rhizoma at a concentration of 10 µg/ml on day 7 had a reduced CCK-8 value. Within the limits of this study, Cimicifugae Rhizoma influenced the viability of stem cells derived from the gingiva, and its direct application onto oral tissues may have adverse effects at high concentrations. The concentration and application time of Cimicifugae Rhizoma should be meticulously controlled to obtain optimal results.