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Alloys of platinum with alkaline earth metals promise to be active and highly stable for fuel cell applications, yet their synthesis in nanoparticles remains a challenge due to their high negative reduction potentials. Herein, we report a strategy that overcomes this challenge by preparing platinum-magnesium (PtMg) alloy nanoparticles in the solution phase. The PtMg nanoparticles exhibit a distinctive structure with a structurally ordered intermetallic core and a Pt-rich shell. The PtMg/C as a cathode catalyst in a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell exhibits a mass activity of 0.50 A mgPt-1 at 0.9 V with a marginal decrease to 0.48 A mgPt-1 after 30,000 cycles, exceeding the US Department of Energy 2025 beginning-of-life and end-of-life mass activity targets, respectively. Theoretical studies show that the activity stems from a combination of ligand and strain effects between the intermetallic core and the Pt-rich shell, while the stability originates from the high vacancy formation energy of Mg in the alloy.
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BACKGROUND: Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTi) is the first-line therapy for chronic insomnia. Mobile app-based CBTi (MCBTi) can enhance the accessibility of CBTi treatment; however, few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of MCBTi using a multicenter, randomized controlled trial design. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the efficacy of Somzz, an MCBTi that provides real-time and tailored feedback to users, through comparison with an active comparator app. METHODS: In our multicenter, single-blind randomized controlled trial study, participants were recruited from 3 university hospitals and randomized into a Somzz group and a sleep hygiene education (SHE) group at a 1:1 ratio. The intervention included 6 sessions for 6 weeks, with follow-up visits over a 4-month period. The Somzz group received audiovisual sleep education, guidance on relaxation therapy, and real-time feedback on sleep behavior. The primary outcome was the Insomnia Severity Index score, and secondary outcomes included sleep diary measures and mental health self-reports. We analyzed the outcomes based on the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: A total of 98 participants were randomized into the Somzz (n=49, 50%) and SHE (n=49, 50%) groups. Insomnia Severity Index scores for the Somzz group were significantly lower at the postintervention time point (9.0 vs 12.8; t95=3.85; F2,95=22.76; ηp2=0.13; P<.001) and at the 3-month follow-up visit (11.3 vs 14.7; t68=2.61; F2,68=5.85; ηp2=0.03; P=.01) compared to those of the SHE group. The Somzz group maintained their treatment effect at the postintervention time point and follow-ups, with a moderate to large effect size (Cohen d=-0.62 to -1.35; P<.01 in all cases). Furthermore, the Somzz group showed better sleep efficiency (t95=-3.32; F2,91=69.87; ηp2=0.41; P=.001), wake after sleep onset (t95=2.55; F2,91=51.81; ηp2=0.36; P=.01), satisfaction (t95=-2.05; F2,91=26.63; ηp2=0.20; P=.04) related to sleep, and mental health outcomes, including depression (t95=2.11; F2,94=29.64; ηp2=0.21; P=.04) and quality of life (t95=-3.13; F2,94=54.20; ηp2=0.33; P=.002), compared to the SHE group after the intervention. The attrition rate in the Somzz group was 12% (6/49). CONCLUSIONS: Somzz outperformed SHE in improving insomnia, mental health, and quality of life. The MCBTi can be a highly accessible, time-efficient, and effective treatment option for chronic insomnia, with high compliance. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Research Information Service (CRiS) KCT0007292; https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do?seq=22214&search_page=L.
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Terapia Cognitivo-Comportamental , Aplicativos Móveis , Distúrbios do Início e da Manutenção do Sono , Humanos , Distúrbios do Início e da Manutenção do Sono/terapia , Método Simples-Cego , Terapia Cognitivo-Comportamental/métodos , Feminino , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adulto , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Two-dimensional (2D) materials have emerged as promising building blocks for next generation memristive devices, owing to their unique electronic, mechanical, and thermal properties, resulting in effective switching mechanisms for charge transport. Memristors are key components in a wide range of applications including neuromorphic computing, which is becoming increasingly important in artificial intelligence applications. Crossbar arrays are an important component in the development of hardware-based neural networks composed of 2D materials. In this paper, we summarize the current state of research on 2D material-based memristive devices utilizing different switching mechanisms, along with the application of these devices in neuromorphic crossbar arrays. Additionally, we discuss the challenges and future directions for the field.
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Acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) is a rare immune-mediated complication of a viral infection commonly involving the bilateral thalamus and has been reported mainly in children. Here, we describe the MRI findings of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated ANE in two pediatric patients, including a 7-year-old girl with fever and mental change, and a 6-year-old girl with fever and generalized seizures. Brain MRI revealed symmetrical T2 fluid attenuated inversion recovery high-signal intensity lesions in the bilateral thalamus with central hemorrhage. In one patient, the thalamic lesions showed a trilaminar pattern on the apparent diffusion coefficient map. This report emphasizes the importance of creating awareness regarding these findings in patients with COVID-19, particularly in children with severe neurological symptoms. Furthermore, it provides a literature review of several documented cases of COVID-19 presenting with bilateral thalamic hemorrhagic necrosis, suggesting a diagnosis of ANE.
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RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To assess a deep learning application (DLA) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) detection on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the emergency room (ER) and the effect of T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) on its performance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed brain MRIs taken through the ER from March to October 2021 that included diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences. MRIs were processed by the DLA, and sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) were evaluated, with three neuroradiologists establishing the gold standard for detection performance. In addition, we examined the impact of axial T2WI, when available, on the accuracy and processing time of DLA. RESULTS: The study included 947 individuals (mean age ± standard deviation, 64 years ± 16; 461 men, 486 women), with 239 (25%) positive for AIS. The overall performance of DLA was as follows: sensitivity, 90%; specificity, 89%; accuracy, 89%; and AUROC, 0.95. The average processing time was 24 s. In the subgroup with T2WI, T2WI did not significantly impact MRI assessments but did result in longer processing times (35 s without T2WI compared to 48 s with T2WI, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The DLA successfully identified AIS in the ER setting with an average processing time of 24 s. The absence of performance acquire with axial T2WI suggests that the DLA can diagnose AIS with just axial DWI and FLAIR sequences, potentially shortening the exam duration in the ER.
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Objective: The submandibular gland (SMG) produces the most saliva, and factors such as aging and chemotherapy can affect its structure and function. However, there are only temporary treatments available for salivary hypofunction. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) on the function of SMG by using a rat animal model and vismodegib, an antagonist of the sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway. Methods: Vismodegib (10 mg/kg) drug was gavaged orally for 14 days in rats to significantly decrease the SHH signaling proteins [SHH, protein patched homolog 1 (PTCH1), smoothened protein (SMO), glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (GLI1)], induce damage in SMG tissue, and affect salivary functional markers AQP5 and Keratin5. After that, in conjunction with vismodegib administration, PBM was performed using an 850 nm high-power light-emitting diode (LED) device treated daily for 6 days at varying total energy densities of 60, 120, and 180 J/cm2 in at least 3 rats per group. The test results were confirmed by Western blot, immunofluorescence staining, and hematoxylin and eosin staining, and the statistics were t-test or one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey's multiple comparisons tests. Results: Significant decreases in the expression of SHH-related proteins (PTCH1, SMO, GLI1, p < 0.05) with damage of SMG ductal cells were observed with vismodegib administration. However, a significant increase in the expression levels of SHH-related proteins (SHH, SMO, GLI1, p < 0.05) and recovery of SMG ductal cells damaged after vismodegib administration were observed for PBM-treated groups. Salivary functional marker AQP5 also showed the same increase or decrease. Conclusions: This study found that vismodegib damages SMG ductal cells and decreases SHH-related proteins and associated salivary functional markers. Also, 850 nm high-power LED recovered the damaged structure of SMG and increased SHH-related proteins and salivary functional markers. The study results suggest that PBM can restore SMG structure and function through SHH signaling.
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Anilidas , Terapia com Luz de Baixa Intensidade , Piridinas , Glândula Submandibular , Ratos , Animais , Glândula Submandibular/metabolismo , Proteína GLI1 em Dedos de Zinco/metabolismo , Proteína GLI1 em Dedos de Zinco/farmacologia , Transdução de SinaisRESUMO
Background and Objectives: The mechanisms involved in the development of brain metastasis (BM) remain elusive. Here, we investigated whether BM is associated with spine involvement in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: A consecutive 902 patients with metastatic NSCLC were included from the Inha Lung Cancer Cohort. Patients with BM at diagnosis or subsequent BM development were evaluated for both spine involvement in NSCLC and anatomic proximity of BM to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) space. Results: At diagnosis, BM was found in 238 patients (26.4%) and bone metastasis was found in 393 patients (43.6%). In patients with bone metastasis, spine involvement was present in 280 patients. BM subsequently developed in 82 (28.9%) of 284 patients without BM at diagnosis. The presence of spine metastasis was associated with BM at diagnosis and subsequent BM development (adjusted odd ratios and 95% confidence intervals = 2.42 and 1.74-3.37, p < 0.001; 1.94 and 1.19-3.18, p = 0.008, respectively). Most patients with spine metastasis, either with BM at diagnosis or subsequent BM, showed BM lesions located adjacent (within 5mm) to the CSF space (93.8% of BM at the diagnosis, 100% of subsequent BM). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the presence of spine involvement is a risk factor for BM development in NSCLC patients with bone metastasis.
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Neoplasias Encefálicas , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Humanos , Razão de Chances , PacientesRESUMO
Purpose: We investigated the role of CD8+T cells as host immune factors in pediatric patients with Helicobacter pylori gastritis. Methods: Gastric mucosal tissue and blood samples were collected from 39 children, including 11 children with H. pylori infection and 28 children as controls. Anti-CD8 and anti-T-bet antibodies were used for immunohistochemistry of the gastric mucosa. For the cell surface and intracellular staining, peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stained with anti-IL7Rα, anti-CX3CR1, anti-CD8, anti-T-bet, and anti-IFN-γ antibodies. Cytokines of sera such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and CX3CL1 were analyzed using enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: In the immunohistochemistry of gastric mucosa, the frequency of CD8+ and T-bet+ T cells cells was higher in the H. pylori-positive group than in the control group (26.9± 7.8% vs. 16.9±3.3%, p<0.001; 5.0±2.5% vs. 2.2±0.7%, p=0.001). Between the control and H. pylori-positive groups, the frequency of IL-7RαlowCX3CR1+ CD8+ and T-bet+ INF-γ+ CD8+ T cells were not significantly different between surface and intracellular staining, respectively (40.4±24.0% vs. 38.2±17.8%, p=0.914; 40.4±24.0% vs. 38.2±17.8%, p=0.914). In the ELISA, no significant differences in TNF-α and CX3CL1 concentrations were observed between the control and H. pylori-positive groups (34.3±12.1 pg/mL vs. 47.0±22.6 pg/mL, p=0.114/0.5± 0.1 pg/mL vs. 0.5±0.1 pg/mL, p=0.188). Conclusion: CD8+ T and Th1 cells, which secrete IFN-γ, might play important roles in the mucosal immunity of the stomach in children with H. pylori infection.
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Raoultella ornithinolytica is an encapsulated, Gram-negative, nonmotile, rod belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. Infections involving the gastrointestinal tract and the hepatopancreatobiliary system are most frequently reported, especially in immunocompromised patients. The authors present an unusual case of acute complicated sinusitis with orbital and intracranial involvement caused by R. ornithinolytica. The infection was rapidly progressive, even though the patient was a healthy, young person without any co-morbidities. The patient's condition improved after antibiotic treatment and multiple ophthalmic and sinus surgeries. LEARNING POINTS: Raoultella ornithinolytica can cause rapidly progressive infections, even in immunocompetent young individuals.Raoultella ornithinolytica identified in sinusitis can be a true pathogen rather than an innocent bystander.
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Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an underlying cause of various diseases and is strongly associated with mortality. In particular, it has been steadily increasing along with changes in diet and lifestyle habits. The close relationship between sleep apnea and MetS is well established. In addition, these two diseases share a common factor of obesity and have a high prevalence among obese individuals. Nevertheless, the association can vary depending on factors, such as race and sex, and research on the relatively low obesity rates among East Asians is lacking. This study aimed to investigate the association between snoring and MetS in nonobese Koreans. A total of 2478 participants (827 men and 1651 women) were enrolled in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2019 to 2020. We used the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for MetS and a snoring questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to measure the association between MetS and various confounding factors according to age and sex in participants with body mass index (BMI) < 23 kg/m2. MetS was significantly higher in participants with snoring than in those without snoring (26.9% vs. 19.6%; p = 0.007). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, age (odds ratio [OR] 1.070, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.059-1.082, p < .001), sex (OR 1.531, 95% CI 1.139-2.058, p = 0.005), and snoring (OR 1.442, 95% CI 1.050-1.979, p = 0.024) were significantly associated with MetS in patients with a BMI < 23 kg/m2. Finally, regression analysis showed that snoring was significantly associated with MetS in women with a BMI of less than 23 kg/m2, especially with younger ages (40-49 years, OR 4.449, 95% CI 1.088 to 18.197, p = 0.038). Snoring was closely associated with MetS in women aged 40-50 years with a BMI of less than 23 kg/m2 compared to other participants. However, the association was not found in women aged 60 and over. Therefore, sufficient consideration should be given to the possibility of MetS when snoring is present in nonobese middle-aged Asian women.
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Síndrome Metabólica , Adulto , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Humanos , Feminino , Idoso , Síndrome Metabólica/metabolismo , Ronco/complicações , Inquéritos Nutricionais , Obesidade/complicações , Índice de Massa Corporal , República da Coreia/epidemiologia , Fatores de Risco , PrevalênciaRESUMO
STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study compared resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the salience network (SN) between rotating shift workers (RSWs) and controls. Furthermore, we examined whether rsFC of the SN was correlated with sleep, emotion, cognition, and attention. METHODS: The 60 RSWs and 57 controls enrolled in this study completed self-report questionnaires and sleep diaries to assess subjective sleep quality, and polysomnography and actigraphy to evaluate objective sleep and 24-hour rest-activity rhythm parameters. The participants also underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and structural T1 scans. We performed a seed-based rsFC analysis of the SN using the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and anterior insula (AI) as seed regions. Furthermore, AI and ACC rsFC were compared in RSWs and controls, and we analyzed correlations between rsFC and variables of interest showing significant group differences. RESULTS: Compared with controls, RSWs showed reduced rsFC between the ACC and right insula, and increased rsFC of the ACC with the left occipital lobe and right superior frontal gyrus extending to the supplementary motor area (SFG/SMA). Moreover, RSWs showed reduced rsFC between the right AI and right superior parietal lobule (SPL). Finally, rsFC between the ACC and right AI was correlated with 24-hour rest-activity rhythmicity. CONCLUSIONS: Although RSWs did not show sleep disturbance, emotional distress, cognitive impairment, or attention deficits, alterations of right insula, left occipital lobe, right SFG/SMA, and right SPL rsFC in the SN indicate that impairments in salience detection and top-down attentional control may emerge in shift workers over time.
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Mapeamento Encefálico , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Humanos , Mapeamento Encefálico/métodos , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética/métodos , Giro do Cíngulo/diagnóstico por imagem , Córtex Pré-Frontal , Lobo OccipitalRESUMO
Current guidelines recommend that cytotoxic chemotherapy be considered first in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with multiple metastases, and whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is not initially recommended even if brain metastases are present. However, cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents are less effective in brain metastases due to poor blood-brain barrier permeability. We investigated the effect of WBRT in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy on survival in NSCLC patients who were EGFR, ALK, and PD-L1 negative, had an ECOG PS of 2, and had multiple metastases including brain metastases. From January 2005 to December 2018, histologically confirmed NSCLC patients who were EGFR, ALK, and PD-L1 negative, had an ECOG PS of 2, and had multiple metastases including brain metastases were included in this study. Patients were classified into two groups based on receiving WBRT prior to or concurrently with administration of first-line chemotherapeutic agents or receiving chemotherapy only. We compared intracranial progression-free survival (iPFS) and overall survival (OS). Of the 240 NSCLC patients with brain metastases at diagnosis and an ECOG PS of 2, 67 patients were EGFR, ALK, and PD-L1 negative with multiple metastases including brain metastases. Among those patients, 43 (64.2%) received WBRT prior to or concurrently with platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients who received WBRT prior to or concurrently with chemotherapy had better iPFS (7.7 months [4.8-10.6] vs. 3.5 months [2.1-4.9], p = 0.009) and OS (10.8 months [5.9-15.7] vs. 6.1 months [1.9-10.3], p = 0.038) than those who did not receive WBRT. In multivariate analyses, WBRT was significantly associated with iPFS (HR: 1.94 and 95% CI 1.11-3.40, p = 0.020) and OS (HR: 1.92 and 95% CI 1.08-3.42, p = 0.027). In NSCLC patients who are EGFR, ALK, and PD-L1 negative, have an ECOG PS of 2, and have multiple metastases including brain metastases, WBRT prior to or concurrently with chemotherapy could improve iPFS and OS. Therefore, the combination of WBRT with cytotoxic chemotherapy should be considered in these patients.
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Neoplasias Encefálicas , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Humanos , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/tratamento farmacológico , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/radioterapia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/etiologia , Antígeno B7-H1 , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/uso terapêutico , Receptores ErbB/uso terapêutico , Irradiação Craniana/efeitos adversos , Neoplasias Encefálicas/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Encefálicas/radioterapia , Encéfalo/patologia , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study investigated alterations in resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) and hyperarousal biomarkers in patients with chronic insomnia disorder (CID), compared with good sleepers (GS). We also examined the relationships between altered RSFC and hyperarousal biomarkers. METHODS: Fifty patients with CID and 52 GS completed self-reporting questionnaires, and then underwent polysomnography and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. We analyzed RSFC in the amygdala (AMG) and anterior insula (aINS), which are core regions of the salience network that are likely to be involved in hyperarousal. We also analyzed electroencephalography (EEG) relative beta power and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters (e.g. low and high frequency) during sleep. We then tested between-group differences in the RSFC and hyperarousal biomarkers; we examined correlations of RSFC with EEG beta power and HRV. RESULTS: Compared with GS, patients with CID showed more negative RSFC between the right amygdala (R.AMG) and left supramarginal gyrus (L.SMG), but less positive RSFC between the left aINS and bilateral lateral prefrontal cortex. The R.AMG-L.SMG RSFC was negatively correlated with EEG beta power in central regions (C3: râ =â -0.336, pâ =â 0.012; C4: râ =â -0.314, pâ =â 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: Decreased RSFC between the R.AMG and L.SMG in patients with insomnia may reflect the difficulty in cortical top-down regulation of the AMG, indicating daytime hyperarousal. Individuals who experience hyperarousal during the daytime may also exhibit cortical hyperarousal during sleep, as indicated by increased EEG beta power.
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Distúrbios do Início e da Manutenção do Sono , Humanos , Distúrbios do Início e da Manutenção do Sono/diagnóstico por imagem , Sono , Eletroencefalografia , Tonsila do Cerebelo/diagnóstico por imagem , Biomarcadores , Imageamento por Ressonância MagnéticaRESUMO
This study investigated photobiomodulation (PBM) effects in Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling as a potential approach to taste preservation and regeneration. Primary taste cell (TC) cultures were treated with Shh antagonist vismodegib and irradiated using a continuous wave type 630 nm light-emitting diode (10 mW/cm2 ) array, with single or multiple doses of 30 J/cm2 to determine dose inducing significant upregulation effect. Shh, Ptch, Smo, and Gli1 were significantly upregulated at 120 J/cm2 , used as the minimum dose in vivo. Vismodegib was administered via daily oral gavage for 21 days (30 mg/kg) to induce Shh inhibition in the tongue of rat animal models resulting in taste bud damage and taste dysfunction. PBM treatment using a 630 nm laser (3 W/cm2 ) at a radiant exposure of 120 J/cm2 (24 J/cm2 × 5) successfully upregulated the Shh protein expression, regenerated taste buds, and recovered taste function.
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Papilas Gustativas , Paladar , Animais , Ratos , Proteínas Hedgehog/genética , Proteínas Hedgehog/metabolismo , Regulação para Cima , Papilas Gustativas/metabolismoRESUMO
Epigenetic dysregulation characterized by aberrant DNA hypermethylation is a hallmark of cancer, and it can be targeted by hypomethylating agents (HMAs). Recently, we described the superior therapeutic efficacy of a novel HMA, namely, NTX-301, when used as a monotherapy and in combination with venetoclax in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Following a previous study, we further explored the therapeutic properties of NTX-301 based on experimental investigations and integrative data analyses. Comprehensive sensitivity profiling revealed that NTX-301 primarily exerted anticancer effects against blood cancers and exhibited improved potency against a wide range of solid cancers. Subsequent assays showed that the superior efficacy of NTX-301 depended on its strong effects on cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and differentiation. Due to its superior efficacy, low doses of NTX-301 achieved sufficiently substantial tumor regression in vivo. Multiomics analyses revealed the mechanisms of action (MoAs) of NTX-301 and linked these MoAs to markers of sensitivity to NTX-301 and to the demethylation activity of NTX-301 with high concordance. In conclusion, our findings provide a rationale for currently ongoing clinical trials of NTX-301 and will help guide the development of novel therapeutic options for cancer patients.
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Magnesium (Mg) has many unique properties suitable for applications in the fields of energy conversion and storage. These fields presently rely on noble metals for efficient performance. However, among other challenges, noble metals have low natural abundance, which undermines their sustainability. Mg has a high negative standard reduction potential and a unique crystal structure, and its low melting point at 650 °C makes it a good candidate to replace or supplement numerous other metals in various energy applications. These attractive features are particularly helpful for improving the properties and limits of materials in energy systems. However, knowledge of Mg and its practical uses is still limited, despite recent studies which have reported Mg's key roles in synthesizing new structures and modifying the chemical properties of materials. At present, information about Mg chemistry has been rather scattered without any organized report. The present review highlights the chemistry of Mg and its uses in energy applications such as electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and secondary batteries, among others. Future perspectives on the development of Mg-based materials are further discussed to identify the challenges that need to be addressed.
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Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare, progressive, premature aging syndrome with early morbidity due to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Clinical symptoms are very diverse, including non-specific symptoms such as growth retardation, scleroderma, alopecia, and osteoporosis, as well as hypertension and cardiovascular diseases that occur in childhood and adolescence due to accelerated vascular aging. In patients with HGPS, MR angiography is recommended for early diagnosis of asymptomatic stroke or vascular changes and to assess increased risk of cerebrovascular disease. We report the second domestic case of HGPS confirmed by genetic analysis in a 5-year-old child with typical clinical features, and the first English case report in Korea to present brain MR angiography findings.
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Purpose: Sounds play important roles in promoting and disrupting sleep. How our brain processes sleep-related sounds and individual differences in processing sleep-related sounds must be determined to understand the role of sound in sleep. We investigated neural responses to sleep-related sounds and their associations with cognitive appraisals of sleep. Participants and Methods: Forty-four healthy adults heard sleep-related and neutral sounds during functional magnetic resonance imaging using a 3T scanner. They also completed the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep (DBAS) questionnaire, which was used to assess cognitive appraisals of sleep. We conducted a voxel-wise whole-brain analysis to compare brain activation in response to sleep-related and neutral sounds. We also examined the association between the DBAS score and brain activity in response to sleep-related sounds (vs neutral sounds) using region of interest (ROI) and whole-brain correlation analyses. The ROIs included the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), anterior insula (AI), and amygdala. Results: The whole-brain analysis revealed increased activation in the temporal regions and decreased activation in the ACC in response to sleep-related sounds compared to neutral sounds. The ROI and whole-brain correlation analyses showed that higher DBAS scores, indicating a negative appraisal of sleep, were significantly correlated with increased activation of the ACC, right medial prefrontal cortex, and brainstem in response to sleep-related sounds. Conclusion: These results indicate that the temporal cortex and ACC, which are implicated in affective sound processing, may play important roles in the processing of sleep-related sounds. The positive association between the neural responses to sleep-related sounds and DBAS scores suggest that negative and dysfunctional appraisals of sleep may be an important factor in individual differences in the processing of sleep-related sounds.
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Over the last years, the development of highly active and durable Pt-based electrocatalysts has been identified as the main target for a large-scale industrial application of fuel cells. In this work, we make a significant step ahead in this direction by preparing a high-performance electrocatalyst and suggesting new structure-activity design concepts which could shape the future of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst design. For this, we present a new one-dimensional nanowire catalyst consisting of a L10 ordered intermetallic PtCo alloy core and compressively strained high-index facets in the Pt-rich shell. We find the nanoscale PtCo catalyst to provide an excellent turnover for the ORR and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which we explain from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and density functional theory calculations to be due to the high ratio of Pt(221) facets. These facets include highly active ORR and HER sites surprisingly on the terraces which are activated by a combination of sub-surface Co-induced high Miller index-related strain and oxygen coverage on the step sites. The low dimensionality of the catalyst provides a cost-efficient use of Pt. In addition, the high catalytic activity and durability are found during both half-cell and proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) operations for both ORR and HER. We believe the revealed design concepts for generating active sites on the Pt-based catalyst can open up a new pathway toward the development of high-performance cathode catalysts for PEMFCs and other catalytic systems.