Multicomponent-Loaded Vesosomal Drug Carrier for Controlled and Sustained Compound Release.

Liposomes have been extensively adopted in drug delivery systems with clinically approved formulations. However, hurdles remain in terms of loading multiple components and precisely controlling their release. Herein, we report a vesosomal carrier composed of liposomes encapsulated inside the core of another liposome for the controlled and sustained release of multiple contents. The inner liposomes are made of lipids with different compositions and are co-encapsulated with a photosensitizer. Upon induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the contents of the liposomes are released, with each type of liposome displaying distinct kinetics due to the variance in lipid peroxidation for differential structural deformation. In vitro experiments demonstrated immediate content release from ROS-vulnerable liposomes, followed by sustained release from ROS-nonvulnerable liposomes. Moreover, the release trigger was validated at the organismal level using Caenorhabditis elegans. This study demonstrates a promising platform for more precisely controlling the release of multiple components.

Cerebral white matter abnormalities in patients with charcot-marie-tooth disease.

Here, we report the structural evidence of cerebral white matter abnormalities in Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) patients and the relationship between these abnormalities and clinical disability. Brain diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was performed in CMT patients with demyelinating (CMT1A/CMT1E), axonal (CMT2A/CMT2E), or intermediate (CMTX1/DI-CMT) peripheral neuropathy. Although all patients had normal brain magnetic resonance imaging, all genetic subgroups except CMT1A had abnormal DTI findings indicative of significant cerebral white matter abnormalities: decreased fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity, and increased radial diffusivity. DTI abnormalities were correlated with clinical disability, suggesting that there is comorbidity of central nervous system damage with peripheral neuropathy in CMT patients. ANN NEUROL 2017;81:147-151.

Stabilization and fabrication of microbubbles: applications for medical purposes and functional materials.

Microbubbles with diameters ranging from a few micrometers to tens of micrometers have garnered significant attention in various applications including food processing, water treatment, enhanced oil recovery, surface cleaning, medical purposes, and material preparation fields with versatile functionalities. A variety of techniques have been developed to prepare microbubbles, such as ultrasonication, excimer laser ablation, high shear emulsification, membrane emulsification, an inkjet printing method, electrohydrodynamic atomization, template layer-by-layer deposition, and microfluidics. Generated bubbles should be immediately stabilized via the adsorption of stabilizing materials (e.g., surfactants, lipids, proteins, and solid particles) onto the gas-liquid interface to lower the interfacial tension. Such adsorption of stabilizers prevents coalescence between the microbubbles and also suppresses gas dissolution and resulting disproportionation caused by the presence of the Laplace overpressure across the gas-liquid interface. Herein, we comprehensively review three important topics of microbubbles: stabilization, fabrication, and applications.

Quality of Life and Health in Patients with Chronic Periodontitis: A Qualitative Study.

PURPOSE: Periodontal disease causes tooth loss if not treated early, and advanced periodontitis can cause a decline in various oral functions. These results diminish the health-related quality of life (QOL) for various populations. Thus, early detection and management of the disease, as well as a systematic strategy for the prevention of periodontal disease, are necessary. METHODS: Adults, 19 years of age or older and diagnosed with chronic gingivitis or chronic periodontitis under the ICD-10 codes, were selected to participate in the study. A total of 20 participants were informed of the purpose of the study and gave consent to participate in in-depth interviews. RESULTS: The treatment of periodontal disease improved health-related QOL and enabled the participants to have positive dental care health behaviors. Furthermore, the participants recognized the severity of periodontal disease and the importance of dental examinations. It enabled them to be aware of the societal need for dental care awareness. CONCLUSIONS: This study was an in-depth examination of the health-related QOL of periodontal patients through a qualitative research methodology. We expect that this study will expand research on health-related QOL due to periodontal disease and revitalize the dental health system and practices.

High-density EEG recordings of the freely moving mice using polyimide-based microelectrode.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) indicates the averaged electrical activity of the neuronal populations on a large-scale level. It is widely utilized as a noninvasive brain monitoring tool in cognitive neuroscience as well as a diagnostic tool for epilepsy and sleep disorders in neurology. However, the underlying mechanism of EEG rhythm generation is still under the veil. Recently introduced polyimide-based microelectrode (PBM-array) for high resolution mouse EEG is one of the trials to answer the neurophysiological questions on EEG signals based on a rich genetic resource that the mouse model contains for the analysis of complex EEG generation process. This application of nanofabricated PBM-array to mouse skull is an efficient tool for collecting large-scale brain activity of transgenic mice and accommodates to identify the neural correlates to certain EEG rhythms in conjunction with behavior. However its ultra-thin thickness and bifurcated structure cause a trouble in handling and implantation of PBM-array. In the presented video, the preparation and surgery steps for the implantation of PBM-array on a mouse skull are described step by step. Handling and surgery tips to help researchers succeed in implantation are also provided.