Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome in korea: 20 years of clinical observation and evaluation of the ventilation strategy in a single center.

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by hypoventilation due to impaired breathing control by the central nervous system and other symptoms of autonomic dysfunction. Mutations in paired-like homeobox 2 B (PHOX2B) are responsible for most cases of CCHS. Patients with CCHS have various phenotypes and severities, making the diagnosis difficult. This study aimed to present a comprehensive single-center experience of patients with CCHS, including key clinical features, treatment strategies, and outcomes. A retrospective chart review was performed for patients diagnosed with CCHS between January 2001 and July 2023 at Seoul National University Children's Hospital. Finally, we selected 24 patients and collected their demographic data, genotypes, ventilation methods, and clinical features related to autonomic dysfunction. The relationship between the clinical manifestations and genotypes was also examined. All patients used home ventilators, and tracheostomy was performed in 87.5% of patients. Fifteen (62.5%) patients had constipation and nine (37.5%) were diagnosed with Hirschsprung disease. Arrhythmia, endocrine dysfunction, and subclinical hypothyroidism were present in nine (37.5%), six patients (25.0%), and two patients (16.7%), respectively. A significant number of patients exhibited neurodevelopmental delays (19 patients, 79.2%). There was a correlation between the phenotype and genotype of PHOX2B in patients with CCHS. (r = 0.71, p < 0.001).   Conclusion: There was a positive correlation between paired-like homeobox 2 B mutations (especially the number of GCN repeats in the polyalanine repeat mutations sequence) and clinical manifestations. This study also demonstrated how initial treatment for hypoventilation affects neurodevelopmental outcomes in patients with CCHS. What is Known: • Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by hypoventilation and dysfunction of autonomic nervous system. • The disease-defining gene of CCHS is PHOX2B gene - most of the cases have heterozygous PARMs and the number of GCN triplets varies among the patients(20/24 - 20/33). What is New: • We have noted in the Korean patients with CCHS that there is a correlation between genotype (number of GCN repeats) and severity of phenotype. • National support for rare diseases allowed for a prompter diagnosis of patients with CCHS in Korean population.

Heteroepitaxial GaAs thin-films on flexible, large-area, single-crystal-like substrates for wide-ranging optoelectronic applications.

Recent advances in semiconductor based electronic devices can be attributed to the technological demands of ever increasing, application specific markets. These rapidly evolving markets for devices such as displays, wireless communication, photovoltaics, medical devices, etc. are demanding electronic devices that are increasingly thinner, smaller, lighter and flexible. High-quality, III-V epitaxial thin-films deposited on single-crystal substrates have yielded extremely high-performance, but are extremely expensive and rigid. Here we demonstrate heteroepitaxial deposition of GaAs thin-films on large-grained, single-crystal-like, biaxially-aligned, flexible, metallic substrates. We use molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) for the controlled growth of high quality GaAs layers on lattice matched Ge capped, flexible metal substrates. The structural, optical, interfacial and electrical characteristics and properties of the heteroepitaxial GaAs layers are analyzed and discussed. The results show that heteroepitaxial GaAs layers with good crystalline and optoelectronic properties can be realized for flexible, III-V based semiconductor devices. III-V materials integrated on large-grained, single-crystal-like, flexible, metallic substrates offer a potential route towards fabrication of large-area, high-performance electronic devices.

Recent Trends of Bioanalytical Sensors with Smart Health Monitoring Systems: From Materials to Applications.

Smart biosensors attract significant interest due to real-time monitoring of user health status, where bioanalytical electronic devices designed to detect various activities and biomarkers in the human body have potential applications in physical sign monitoring and health care. Bioelectronics can be well integrated by output signals with wireless communication modules for transferring data to portable devices used as smart biosensors in performing real-time diagnosis and analysis. In this review, the scientific keys of biosensing devices and the current trends in the field of smart biosensors, (functional materials, technological approaches, sensing mechanisms, main roles, potential applications and challenges in health monitoring) will be summarized. Recent advances in the design and manufacturing of bioanalytical sensors with smarter capabilities and enhanced reliability indicate a forthcoming expansion of these smart devices from laboratory to clinical analysis. Therefore, a general description of functional materials and technological approaches used in bioelectronics will be presented after the sections of scientific keys to bioanalytical sensors. A careful introduction to the established systems of smart monitoring and prediction analysis using bioelectronics, regarding the integration of machine-learning-based basic algorithms, will be discussed. Afterward, applications and challenges in development using these smart bioelectronics in biological, clinical, and medical diagnostics will also be analyzed. Finally, the review will conclude with outlooks of smart biosensing devices assisted by machine learning algorithms, wireless communications, or smartphone-based systems on current trends and challenges for future works in wearable health monitoring.

Rational design of conductive metal-organic frameworks and aligned carbon nanofibers for enhancing the performance of flexible supercapacitors.

Carbonaceous materials are attractive active materials for the manufacture of flexible electrochemical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) because of their high electrical conductivity, large surface area, and inherent resilience against deformation. However, compared to pseudocapacitors, which store electrochemical energy via faradaic redox reactions, EDLCs generally exhibit inferior energy density. One potential approach to addressing this issue is to incorporate highly porous and electrically conductive materials into carbonaceous material-based EDLCs. In this paper, we present a hybrid electrode consisting of a conductive metal-organic framework (c-MOF) with high electrical conductivity and unique porous structure combined with a mat of aligned carbon nanofibers (ACNFs). Its highly ordered structure facilitates electronic/ionic transport, increasing the areal capacitance by up to 3.9 times compared to randomly-oriented carbon nanofibers (RCNFs). An additional increase in areal capacitance (+64%) is achieved by introducing c-MOF (RCNFs: 25.4 mF cm-2; ACNFs: 98.7 mF cm-2; c-MOF/ACNF: 161.8 mF cm-2). Additionally, an ACNF mat exhibits excellent mechanical flexibility and electrochemical reliability, making it highly suitable for the assembly of freestanding flexible supercapacitors. By optimizing the electrochemical performance of c-MOF/ACNF and its suitability for utilization in flexible energy storage systems, this study presents a promising avenue for the practical implementation of c-MOF-based supercapacitors.

Current understanding of nociplastic pain.

Nociplastic pain by the "International Association for the Study of Pain" is defined as pain that arises from altered nociception despite no clear evidence of nociceptive or neuropathic pain. Augmented central nervous system pain and sensory processing with altered pain modulation are suggested to be the mechanism of nociplastic pain. Clinical criteria for possible nociplastic pain affecting somatic structures include chronic regional pain and evoked pain hypersensitivity including allodynia with after-sensation. In addition to possible nociplastic pain, clinical criteria for probable nociplastic pain are pain hypersensitivity in the region of pain to non-noxious stimuli and presence of comorbidity such as generalized symptoms with sleep disturbance, fatigue, or cognitive problems with hypersensitivity of special senses. Criteria for definitive nociplastic pain is not determined yet. Eight specific disorders related to central sensitization are suggested to be restless leg syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, temporomandibular disorder, migraine or tension headache, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivities, and whiplash injury; non-specific emotional disorders related to central sensitization include anxiety or panic attack and depression. These central sensitization pain syndromes are overlapped to previous functional pain syndromes which are unlike organic pain syndromes and have emotional components. Therefore, nociplastic pain can be understood as chronic altered nociception related to central sensitization including both sensory components with nociceptive and/or neuropathic pain and emotional components. Nociplastic pain may be developed to explain unexplained chronic pain beyond tissue damage or pathology regardless of its origin from nociceptive, neuropathic, emotional, or mixed pain components.

The impact of scrambler therapy on pain and quality of life for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a debilitating disturbance among patients who received chemotherapy, with no effective treatment available. Scrambler therapy (ST) is a noninvasive treatment capable of improving multiple quality-of-life symptoms beyond pain. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ST for pain and nonpain symptoms related to CIPN. METHODS: Ten patients with moderate to severe CIPN symptoms for >3 months were enrolled in a single-arm trial of ST for 10 daily sessions. CIPN-related symptoms were measured throughout the treatment period and up to 6 months thereafter. RESULTS: The worst pain was reduced by 6 months (p = 0.0039). QST demonstrated the greatest improvement in pressure of 60 g (p = 0.308, Cohen's d = 0.42) and cold temperature threshold of 2.5°C (p = 0.9375, Cohen's d = 0.51) in the gastrocnemius area. Symptoms of numbness, tingling, trouble walking, and disturbed sleep had significant improvements at 6 months. Pain medication use decreased by 70% at the end of treatment and by 42% at 6 months. Patient satisfaction was high (82%) and no adverse events with ST treatment were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pilot trial support the use of ST by demonstrating improvement in multiple domains of quality of life for CIPN patients during an extended follow-up of 6 months. However, further large-scale studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Incidence, prevalence, and pattern of medical service utilization of children's rare lung diseases in South Korea.

INTRODUCTION: Children's rare lung diseases are a heterogeneous group of rare lung diseases with significant morbidity and mortality. There is very limited information on the incidence and prevalence of children's rare lung diseases in Asia. We investigated the nationwide incidence, prevalence, and pattern of medical service utilization of children's rare lung diseases in Korea. METHODS: We studied patients who were diagnosed with rare lung diseases coded per International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Edition and registered in the national rare diseases database of confirmed patients. Data was extracted from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Claims database over 2019-2021. RESULTS: Average incidence rate was 12.9 new cases per million children per year, and average prevalence rate was 60.2 cases per million children during the study period of 2019-2021. We found that more than 65% of new cases were diagnosed before 2 years of age. ChILD, primary ciliary dyskinesia, and cystic fibrosis were usually diagnosed after 6 years of age. Congenital airway and lung anomalies were often diagnosed before 2 years of age. Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do residents tended to visit hospitals near their place of residence, while residents of other areas tended to visit hospitals in Seoul regardless of their area of residence. CONCLUSIONS: We examined the epidemiology of rare lung diseases in children in South Korea. Our estimation of the incidence and prevalence could be used for sustainable health care and equitable distribution of health care resources.

Long-term effects of adenotonsillectomy in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Adenotonsillectomy (AT) improves short-term symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children; however, its long-term effects remain unclear. We aimed to verify the therapeutic long-term effects of AT in children with ADHD. METHODS: This retrospective control study included children ages < 18 years who were diagnosed with ADHD and receiving ADHD medications. Participants were divided into groups depending on whether AT was performed (AT [+] or AT [-] groups) and matched 1:1 for age, sex, and year and month of diagnosis using randomized nonreplacement selection. RESULTS: Among patients with ADHD (n = 171,112), 3,615 underwent AT. In both groups, the number of drugs taken gradually increased before and decreased after the AT date (ATD). There was no difference in the number of drugs used before (P = .88) and after ATD (P = .06). Before ATD, the average number of outpatient visits (nOV) did not change in both groups (AT [+]: P = .12; AT [-]: P = .71). After ATD, the average number of outpatient visits decreased only in the AT (+) group (P = .001). However, there was no difference in the average number of outpatient visits between the two groups before (P = .47) and after ATD (P = .17). Before ATD, methylphenidate doses between the groups were not different (P = .06); however, a significant increase was noted after ATD in the AT (+) group (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: AT does not result in significant long-term therapeutic effects in terms of medication use and health care utilization in children with ADHD. CITATION: Lee J, Choi A, Kim S, Kim K. Long-term effects of adenotonsillectomy in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(5):727-733.

The KAAACI Guidelines for Sublingual Immunotherapy.

Allergen immunotherapy is regarded as the only disease-modifying treatment option for various allergic conditions, including allergic rhinitis and asthma. Among the routes of administration of allergens, sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has gained clinical interest recently, and the prescription of SLIT is increasing among patients with allergies. After 30 years of SLIT use, numerous pieces of evidence supporting its efficacy, safety, and mechanism allows SLIT to be considered as an alternative option to subcutaneous immunotherapy. Based on the progressive development of SLIT, the current guideline from the Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology aims to provide an expert opinion by allergy, pediatrics, and otorhinolaryngology specialists with an extensive literature review. This guideline addresses the use of SLIT, including 1) mechanisms of action, 2) appropriate patient selection for SLIT, 3) the currently available SLIT products in Korea, and 4) updated information on its efficacy and safety. This guideline will facilitate a better understanding of practical considerations for SLIT.

Evidence-based management guidelines for noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in children and adolescents.

Noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis is a chronic respiratory disease that carries high socioeconomic and medical burdens and is caused by diverse respiratory illnesses. To improve clinical outcomes, early recognition, active treatment of exacerbations, and prevention of further exacerbations are essential. However, evidence for the treatment and prevention of acute exacerbation of noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, especially in children, is lacking. Therefore, the evidence- and consensus-based guidelines for medical and nonmedical treatment strategies for noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in children and adolescents were developed by the Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease using the methods recommended by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation working group with evidence published through July 2, 2020. This guideline encompasses evidence-based treatment recommendations as well as expert opinions, addressing crucial aspects of the treatment and management of noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in children. This includes considerations for antibiotics and airway clearance strategies, particularly in areas where evidence may be limited. Large, well-designed, and controlled studies are required to accumulate further evidence of management strategies for noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in children and adolescents.

Atmospheric environment and persistence of pediatric asthma: A population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with different outcomes. For children with asthma at the age of 7 years, 67-75% are symptom-free as adults. Data on the important link between childhood and adult asthma are sparse. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate factors associated with persistence of childhood asthma over three years of follow-up by linking data between Korea childhood Asthma Study (KAS) and their matched claims data from Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA). METHODS: We analyzed data from 450 preadolescent children aged 7 to 10 years and classified them into remission or persistence groups. Baseline clinical characteristics and exposure to air pollution materials including PM2.5 and PM10 during three years of follow-up were compared. The main outcome was asthma persistence which was defined as the presence of asthma episodes with healthcare utilization and prescription of asthma medications within three years after KAS enrollment. RESULTS: At the third year of follow-up, after stepwise regression analysis, lower age at enrollment (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.79; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.64-0.96), male sex (aOR: 1.66; 95%CI: 1.05-2.63), proximity from an air-polluting facility (aOR: 2.4; 95%CI: 1.34-4.29), higher level outdoor PM2.5 (aOR: 1.1; 95%CI: 1.02-1.20), and higher rate of doctor-diagnosed food allergy (FA) (aOR: 2.33; 95%CI: 1.06-5.12) were significantly associated with persistence. CONCLUSION: We discovered various independent risk factors for the persistence of childhood asthma. By linking HIRA claims data, we could clarify risk factors for persistence in a well-defined study population.

Facet joint disorders: from diagnosis to treatment.

One of the most common sources of spinal pain syndromes is the facet joints. Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar facet joint pain syndromes comprise 55%, 42%, and 31% of chronic spinal pain syndromes, respectively. Common facet joint disorders are degenerative disorders, such as osteoarthritis, hypertrophied superior articular process, and facet joint cysts; septic arthritis; systemic and metabolic disorders, such as ankylosing spondylitis or gout; and traumatic dislocations. The facet pain syndrome from osteoarthritis is suspected from a patient's history (referred pain pattern) and physical examination (tenderness). Other facet joint disorders may cause radicular pain if mass effect from a facet joint cyst, hypertrophied superior articular process, or tumors compress the dorsal root ganglion. However, a high degree of morphological change does not always provoke pain. The superiority of innervating nerve block or direct joint injection for diagnosis and treatment is still a controversy. Treatment includes facet joint injection in facet joint osteoarthritis or whiplash injury provoking referred pain or decompression in mass effect in cases of hypertrophied superior articular process or facet joint cyst eliciting radicular pain. In addition, septic arthritis is treated using a proper antibiotic, based on infected tissue or blood culture. This review describes the diagnosis and treatment of common facet joint disorders.

Natural bamboo powder and coffee ground as low-cost green adsorbents for the removal of rhodamine B and their recycling performance.

Bamboo and coffee, which are abundant and inexpensive, have been used as green adsorbents for the adsorption of industrial dye rhodamine B (RB). Bamboo and coffee are natural sources of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, making them promising green materials for industrial dye removal. The effects of various adsorption conditions, such as contact time, temperature, dose of bamboo powder (BP), coffee ground (CG), initial concentration of RB, and pH values of RB solution, were measured. Consequently, the kinetics of RB adsorption onto bamboo and coffee was in accordance with the pseudo-second-order model, with an activation energy of 29.51 kJ mol-1 for bamboo and 27.46 kJ mol-1 for coffee. The Langmuir model is well fitted to the whole adsorption period at different temperatures, in which the increase in the tested temperature has improved the adsorption capacity (i.e., BP: 6.76 mg g-1/30 °C, 6.96 mg g-1/40 °C, 7.64 mg g-1/50 °C and CG: 6.53 mg g-1/30 °C, 6.80 mg g-1/40 °C, 7.51 mg g-1/50 °C). Moreover, the spontaneous nature of the adsorption was based on the negative Gibbs free energy values obtained (i.e., from - 11.09 to - 14.30 kJ mol-1 [BP] and from - 10.34 to - 13.07 kJ mol-1 [CG]). These revealed that RB adsorption occurred at physical and chemical adsorption states. In addition, the recycling capability of adsorbents was determined in five cycles. Therefore, these materials are promising candidates for low-cost adsorbents.

KAAACI Guidelines for Allergen Immunotherapy.

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is a causative treatment for various allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, and bee venom allergy that induces tolerance to offending allergens. The need for uniform practice guidelines in AIT is continuously growing because of the increasing discovery of potential candidates for AIT and evolving interest in new therapeutic approaches. This guideline is an updated version of the Korean Academy of Asthma Allergy and Clinical Immunology recommendations for AIT published in 2010. This updated guideline proposes an expert opinion by allergy, pediatrics, and otorhinolaryngology specialists with an extensive literature review. The guideline deals with basic knowledge and methodological aspects of AIT, including mechanisms, clinical efficacy, patient selection, allergens extract selection, schedule and doses, management of adverse reactions, efficacy measurements, and special consideration in pediatrics. The guidelines for sublingual immunotherapy will be covered in detail in a separate article.

Annual Change in Fungal Concentrations and Allergic Sensitization Rates to Alternaria and Cladosporium in Korea During the Period 1998-2022.

PURPOSE: Atmospheric fungi are associated with respiratory allergies in humans, and some fungal spores can cause allergic diseases. Environmental and biological factors influence the concentrations of atmospheric spores. In this study, we evaluated the climate change-induced annual variations in fungal spore concentrations and allergic sensitization rates in the Seoul Metropolitan Area over a period of 25 years. METHODS: Fungal spores and pollen were obtained from Hanyang University Seoul and Guri Hospitals; they were identified and counted for 25 years (1998-2022). The study participants included patients who underwent tests for allergic diseases in both hospitals. Their allergenic sensitization rates were determined via allergic skin prick and serum tests, after which their sensitization rates to allergenic fungi and pollens were calculated. The daily climatic variables were obtained from the Korea Meteorological Administration. RESULTS: The total annual atmospheric fungal concentrations decreased in both areas during the period. Simultaneously, we recruited 21,394 patients with allergies (asthma, 1,550; allergic rhinitis, 5,983; and atopic dermatitis, 5,422) from Seoul and Guri Hospitals for allergenic fungal sensitization evaluations over the period. The allergenic fungal sensitization rates decreased annually in both areas over that time `+(Alternaria [3.5%] and Cladosporium [4.4%] in 1998; Alternaria [0.2%] and Cladosporium [0.2%] in 2022). In contrast, the annual pollen concentrations increased with the sensitization rates to pollen in children. CONCLUSIONS: The atmospheric fungal concentrations decreased annually, with allergic sensitization rate decreasing over the period of 25 years. Allergenic fungal sporulation could decrease with climate changes, such as desertification and drought. Extended monitoring periods and further large-scale studies are required to confirm the causality and to evaluate the impact of climate change.

Determination of the Spatial Distribution of Air Pollutants in Bucheon, Republic of Korea, in Winter Using a GIS-Based Mobile Laboratory.

Driven by industrialization and urbanization, urban air pollution can increase respiratory, heart, and cerebrovascular diseases, and thus mortality rates; as such, it is necessary to improve air quality through the consideration of individual pollutants and emission sources. In Republic of Korea, national and local governments have installed urban and roadside air quality monitoring systems. However, stations are lacking outside metropolitan regions, and roadside stations are sparsely distributed, limiting comparisons of pollutant concentrations with vehicle traffic and floating population levels. Local governments have begun using mobile laboratories (MLs) to supplement the fixed measurement network and investigate road pollution source characteristics based on their spatiotemporal distribution; however, the collected data cannot be used effectively if they are not visualized. Here, we propose a method to collect and visualize global information system (GIS)-based air quality data overlayed with environmental variables to support air quality management measures. Spatiotemporal analyses of ML-derived data from Bucheon, Korea, confirmed that particulate and gaseous pollutant concentrations were high during typical commuting hours, at intersections, and at a specially managed road. During commuting hours, the maximum PM10 concentration reached 200.7 µg/m3 in the Nae-dong, Gyeongin-ro, and Ojeong-dong ready-mix concrete complex areas, and the maximum PM2.5 concentration was 161.7 µg/m3. The maximum NOx, NO2, and NO levels of 1.34 ppm, 0.18 ppm, and 1.18 ppm, respectively, were also detected during commuting hours. These findings support the need for targeted management of air pollution in this region, and highlight the benefit of comprehensively comparing road levels, driving speed, and traffic levels when identifying hotspots of air pollution. Such analyses will contribute to the development of air quality management measures customized to regional characteristics.

Therapeutic effectiveness of probiotics for atopic dermatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with subgroup analysis.

BACKGROUND: The effect of probiotics in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) is inconclusive, partially due to the heterogeneities of AD. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of AD with a subgroup analysis according to country, severity of AD, duration of supplementation, and probiotic strain. METHODS: Original articles reporting the therapeutic efficacy of probiotics for AD were identified by searching PubMed, Cochrane Library databases, and Embase from inception to September 30, 2022. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 1,382 patients with AD from 25 randomized controlled trials. Probiotic supplementation was effective for the treatment of AD, reflected in a significant decrease in the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index (SMD, -4.0; 95%CI, -7.3 to -0.7). The subgroup analysis showed a significant therapeutic effect for AD among patients with mild or moderate AD (SMD, -1.4; 95%CIs -2.2 to -0.7), in those supplemented for more than three months (SMD, -5.1; 95%CIs -9.7 to -0.4), and in those supplemented with a probiotic that contained Lactobacillus spp. strains combined with or without other strains (SMD, -4.4; 95%CIs -8.0 to -0.8). In addition, the therapeutic effects of probiotics showed differences according to country and geographic region. CONCLUSIONS: Probiotics can be beneficial for the treatment of AD, and their therapeutic effect may be individually tailored to improve it based on the severity of AD, strain of probiotics, duration of supplementation, and geographic region.

Black Wheat Extracts (Arriheuk) Regulate Adipogenesis and Lipolysis via Adenosine Monophosphate (AMP) Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK)/Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) Signaling Pathways.

Polyphenols and other compounds with antioxidant properties are found in plants and are one of the main antioxidants proven to reduce body weight and the risk of insulin resistance. Still, the mechanism behind the protective effects against obesity remains unclear. Thus, the study aims to assess the impact of flavonoid-rich arriheuk extract, a purple wheat extract, on mitochondrial function using 3T3-L1 adipocytes and investigate the molecular mechanism behind its protective effects against adipogenesis and lipolysis. The study findings strongly indicate that arriheuk significantly suppressed triglyceride levels and inhibited the expression of transcription factors like C/EBPα and PPARγ in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Furthermore, treatment with arriheuk suppressed the expression of SREBP1c and FAS proteins linked to lipogenesis. In addition, treatment with arriheuk extract decreased the mRNA levels of adipogenic transcription factors, increased glycerol release, and inhibited adipocyte differentiation. Interestingly, the arriheuk-mediated PGC-1α expression triggered mitochondrial biogenesis by promoting the AMPK phosphorylation and SIRT1 expression in adipocytes. Also, arriheuk suppressed adipogenesis and elicited browning through the AMPK- and SIRT1-associated pathways. Collectively, these findings strongly suggest that arriheuk extract regulates browning in 3T3-L1 white adipocytes by triggering the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway, indicating the prospective applications of arriheuk as a functional food to control obesity.

Probing the Ion Transport Properties of Ultrashort Carbon Nanotubes Integrated with Supported Lipid Bilayers via Electrochemical Analysis.

Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) are commonly used to investigate interactions between cell membranes and their environment. These model platforms can be formed on electrode surfaces and analyzed using electrochemical methods for bioapplications. Carbon nanotube porins (CNTPs) integrated with SLBs have emerged as promising artificial ion channel platforms. In this study, we present the integration and ion transport characterization of CNTPs in in vivo environments. We combine experimental and simulation data obtained from electrochemical analysis to analyze the membrane resistance of the equivalent circuits. Our results show that carrying CNTPs on a gold electrode results in high conductance for monovalent cations (K+ and Na+) and low conductance for divalent cations (Ca2+).