Comparative Analysis of the Microbiome across the Gut-Skin Axis in Atopic Dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a refractory and relapsing skin disease with a complex and multifactorial etiology. Various congenital malformations and environmental factors are thought to be involved in the onset of the disease. The etiology of the disease has been investigated, with respect to clinical skin symptoms and systemic immune response factors. A gut microbiome-mediated connection between emotional disorders such as depression and anxiety, and dermatologic conditions such as acne, based on the comorbidities of these two seemingly unrelated disorders, has long been hypothesized. Many aspects of this gut-brain-skin integration theory have recently been revalidated to identify treatment options for AD with the recent advances in metagenomic analysis involving powerful sequencing techniques and bioinformatics that overcome the need for isolation and cultivation of individual microbial strains from the skin or gut. Comparative analysis of microbial clusters across the gut-skin axis can provide new information regarding AD research. Herein, we provide a historical perspective on the modern investigation and clinical implications of gut-skin connections in AD in terms of the integration between the two microbial clusters.

Hydrochromic Approaches to Mapping Human Sweat Pores.

Hydrochromic materials, which undergo changes in their light absorption and/or emission properties in response to water, have been extensively investigated as humidity sensors. Recent advances in the design of these materials have led to novel applications, including monitoring the water content of organic solvents, water-jet-based rewritable printing on paper, and hydrochromic mapping of human sweat pores. Our interest in this area has focused on the design of hydrochromic materials for human sweat pore mapping. We recognized that materials appropriate for this purpose must have balanced sensitivities to water. Specifically, while they should not undergo light absorption and/or emission transitions under ambient moisture conditions, the materials must have sufficiently high hydrochromic sensitivities that they display responses to water secreted from human sweat pores. In this Account, we describe investigations that we have carried out to develop hydrochromic substances that are suitable for human sweat pore mapping. Polydiacetylenes (PDAs) have been extensively investigated as sensor matrices because of their stimulus-responsive color change property. We found that incorporation of headgroups composed of hygroscopic ions such as cesium or rubidium and carboxylate counterions enables PDAs to undergo a blue-to-red colorimetric transition as well as a fluorescence turn-on response to water. Very intriguingly, the small quantities of water secreted from human sweat pores were found to be sufficient to trigger fluorescence turn-on responses of the hydrochromic PDAs, allowing precise mapping of human sweat pores. Since the hygroscopic ion-containing PDAs developed in the initial stage display a colorimetric transition under ambient conditions that exist during humid summer periods, a new system was designed. A PDA containing an imidazolium ion was found to be stable under all ambient conditions and showed temperature-dependent hydrochromism corresponding to a colorimetric change near body temperature. This feature enables the use of this technique to generate high-quality images of sweat pores. This Account also focuses on the results of the most recent phase of this investigation, which led to the development of a simple yet efficient and reliable technique for sweat pore mapping. The method utilizes a hydrophilic polymer composite film containing fluorescein, a commercially available dye that undergoes a fluorometric response as a result of water-dependent interconversion between its ring-closed spirolactone (nonfluorescent) and ring-opened fluorone (fluorescent) forms. Surface-modified carbon nanodots (CDs) have also been found to be efficient for hydrochromic mapping of human sweat pores. The results discovered by Lou et al. [ Adv. Mater. 2015 , 27 , 1389 ] are also included in this Account. Sweat pore maps obtained from fingertips using these materials were found to be useful for fingerprint analysis. In addition, this hydrochromism-based approach is sufficiently sensitive to enable differentiation between sweat-secreting active pores and inactive pores. As a result, the techniques can be applied to clinical diagnosis of malfunctioning sweat pores. The directions that future research in this area will follow are also discussed.

Synthesis and structural-optical properties of Ga-doped ZnO nanowires by hot-walled pulsed laser deposition method.

Well-aligned single-crystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) and Ga doped ZnO (GZO) NWs (NWs) were successfully fabricated on Au film catalyzed sapphire substrate using vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) method in hot-walled pulsed laser deposition (HW-PLD). The structural and optical properties of Ga doped ZnO NWs have been investigated depending on various concentration of Ga dopants in ZnO NWs. As increasing Ga concentration, stacking faults were observed by using FE-SEM and an exciton bound to a neutral donor (D(0)X) peak was clearly observed by using PL spectra. From the structural and optical properties, the ZnO NWs by doping could be application to electronic and optoelectronic devices, such as nano-FETs, nano-inverters, nano-logic circuits and nano-sensors.

Characterizations of Ga-doped ZnO nanowires depending on growth temperature and target-substrate distance in hot-walled pulsed laser deposition.

Using a hot-walled pulsed laser deposition (HW-PLD), nanowires (NWs) comprising 3 weight% Ga-doped ZnO (3GZO) have been successfully grown on a sapphire substrate. The structural and optical properties of 3GZO nanostructures have also been systematically investigated with respect to the target-substrate (T-S) distance and the growth temperature. The morphology transformations of nanostructures such as nano-horns, NWs, and clusters are strongly affected by growth temperatures due to different thermal energy. Also, the morphologies of nanostructures--including length, diameter, and density--are strongly affected by the T-S distance, illustrating a close correlation between the growth kinetics and the position in the plume formed by the particles from the GZO target. Also, the exciton that is bound to the neutral donor (D(0)X) peak of the 3GZO nanostructures is found at the low temperature PL spectra, indicating successful Ga-doping into ZnO NWs.

Clinicopathologic findings of colorectal traditional and sessile serrated adenomas in Korea: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Serrated polyps have emerged as important evidence supporting the serrated polyp-neoplasia pathway in colorectal carcinogenesis, an alternate to the classical adenoma-carcinoma sequence. However, there is confusion over the diagnostic criteria for serrated polyps including traditional serrated adenoma (TSA) and sessile serrated adenoma (SSA). In addition, clinical and pathologic characteristics of each are largely unknown and need further exploration. METHODS: The 753 polyps that were previously diagnosed as serrated adenoma (SA) from 14 tertiary care university hospitals in Korea between 2003 and 2005 were evaluated for the clinicopathologic findings of TSA and SSA. RESULTS: Among 753 cases, 420 (55.8%) were reclassified as TSA and 56 (7.4%) as SSA. Among the pathologic parameters, crypt branching, crypt dilatation, and horizontal crypts were more frequent in SSA than in TSA (p < 0.001). SSA was larger than TSA (12.6 +/- 7.3 vs. 9.8 +/- 6.9 mm, p = 0.005), was more likely to be flat type (p = 0.006), and was more frequently located in the proximal colorectum (p = 0.012). There were no significant differences in age, sex, and body mass index between TSA and SSA. CONCLUSIONS: Locationand endoscopic features of the polyps with abnormal crypt morphology in histologic findings could be helpful for the diagnosis and classification of SAs.

Smartphone-Based VOC Sensor Using Colorimetric Polydiacetylenes.

Owing to a unique colorimetric (typically blue-to-red) feature upon environmental stimulation, polydiacetylenes (PDAs) have been actively employed in chemosensor systems. We developed a highly accurate and simple volatile organic compound (VOC) sensor system that can be operated using a conventional smartphone. The procedure begins with forming an array of four different PDAs on conventional paper using inkjet printing of four corresponding diacetylenes followed by photopolymerization. A database of color changes (i.e., red and hue values) is then constructed on the basis of different solvatochromic responses of the 4 PDAs to 11 organic solvents. Exposure of the PDA array to an unknown solvent promotes color changes, which are imaged using a smartphone camera and analyzed using the app. A comparison of the color changes to the database promoted by the 11 solvents enables the smartphone app to identify the unknown solvent with 100% accuracy. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the PDA array sensor was sufficiently sensitive to accurately detect the 11 VOC gases.

Risk factors for delayed postendoscopic mucosal resection hemorrhage in patients with gastric tumor.

OBJECTIVE: Although endoscopic mucosal resection has been recognized as the standard treatment for gastric mucosal neoplasm, postendoscopic mucosal resection hemorrhage remains a major complication of endoscopic mucosal resection, and this problem seems to be increasing owing to the development of invasive techniques. The aims of this study were to determine the incidence and grade of postendoscopic mucosal resection hemorrhage and to identify risk factors for delayed postendoscopic mucosal resection hemorrhage in patients with gastric neoplasm. METHODS: Data of endoscopic mucosal resections performed by three endoscopists were retrospectively collected over 8 years and then analyzed. Immediate postendoscopic mucosal resection hemorrhage was defined as bleeding during the procedure. Delayed postendoscopic mucosal resection hemorrhage was defined when two of the four following parameters were satisfied after the endoscopic mucosal resection period; (i) hematemesis, melena or dizziness, (ii) hemoglobin loss >2 g/dl, (iii) blood pressure decrease >20 mmHg or pulse rate increase >20/min and (iv) Forrest I or IIa-IIb on follow-up endoscopy. RESULTS: A total of 157 patients (mean age: 64 years, male : female=44 : 113) were reviewed. Twenty-nine (18.5%) and 13 patients (8.3%) presented with immediate and delayed postendoscopic mucosal resection hemorrhage, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the patient's age (15 mm; odds ratio 5.90, 95% confidence interval 1.13-30.87) and the experience of the endoscopist (

[A case of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in a patient with liver cirrhosis accompanied by both esophageal and gastric varices].

Malnutrition in patients with liver disease is common. Consequently, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy may be needed for the correction of malnutrition. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy is rarely performed in patients with liver cirrhosis because of the presence of varices and coagulation abnormalities. However, if careful insertion technique along with thorough clinical assessment is undertaken, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy may be successfully performed in patients with liver cirrhosis. Here, we report successful application of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in a patient with liver cirrhosis accompanied by both gastric and esophageal varices.

Fluorometric Measurement of Individual Stomata Activity and Transpiration via a "Brush-on", Water-Responsive Polymer.

Much of atmospheric water originates from transpiration, the process by which plants release H2O from pores, known as stomata, that simultaneously intake CO2 for photosynthesis. Controlling stomatal aperture can regulate the extent of water transport in response to dynamic environmental factors including osmotic stress, temperature, light, and wind. While larger leaf regions are often examined, the extent of water vapor release from individual stomata remains unexplored. Using a "brush-on" sensing material, we can now assess transpiration using a water-responsive, polydiacetylene-based coating on the leaves surfaces. By eliciting a fluorometric signal to passing water vapor, we obtained information regarding the activity of individual stomata. In this demonstration, our results prove that this coating can identify the proportion of active stomata and the extent of transpirational diffusion of water in response to different conditions.

Polydiacetylene-embedded microbeads for colorimetric and volumetric sensing of hydrocarbons.

Rational design of a hydrocarbon sensor that enables visual differentiation of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons (SAHCs) is very difficult owing to the lack of useful functional groups that can interact with the sensor system. Here, we report a microbead embedded with polydiacetylene that undergoes faster swelling and faster blue-to-red color change in response to the hydrocarbons of shorter alkyl chains. Accordingly, visual differentiation among n-pentane, n-heptane, n-nonane, and n-undecane was readily achieved. By taking advantage of the collective effect, construction of a sensor system with amplified response was possible. Combination of microfluidic technology (for bead preparation), PDMS (swellable polymeric matrix), and polydiacetylene (colorimetric material) was key to enabling this unique hydrocarbon sensor.

Photochromic spiropyran-embedded PDMS for highly sensitive and tunable optochemical gas sensing.

A highly sensitive, tunable, flexible and microfluidic compatible gas sensor was developed based on a photochromic spiropyran-embedded PDMS composite.

Endoscopic sonographic evaluation of the thickened gallbladder wall in patients with acute hepatitis.

PURPOSE: Thickening of the gallbladder wall is often observed during abdominal sonographic examination in patients with acute hepatitis. However, there is rarely an opportunity for a histopathologic analysis of these structural changes. Endoscopic sonography (EUS) can accurately delineate the structure of the gallbladder wall and therefore may be useful for visualizing changes in the gallbladder wall in patients with acute hepatitis. Hence, we prospectively studied the ability of EUS to detect specific structural changes in the gallbladder wall in patients with acute hepatitis and examined the effect of high elevation of serum liver enzyme levels on the gallbladder wall. METHODS: A study group of patients diagnosed with acute hepatitis who had gallbladder wall thickening and a control group of patients without acute hepatitis or gallbladder disease underwent EUS between May 1, 1999, and June 1, 2002. EUS was used to measure the thickness of the gallbladder wall and to visualize each of its layers. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels of the patients with acute hepatitis were measured at the time of the EUS examination. Statistically significant differences were determined using an independent t test and the chi-squared test. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The acute hepatitis group comprised 28 men and 24 women with a mean age of 40.8 years. The control group comprised 25 men and 25 women with a mean age of 45.1 years. The mean gallbladder wall thickness +/- standard deviation in the acute hepatitis group (6.3 +/- 2.6 mm) was significantly greater than that in the control group (1.6 +/- 0.4 mm; p < 0.01). The mean thickness of the gallbladder wall for patients in whom both the AST and the ALT levels were 500 U/l or higher (7.0 +/- 2.6 mm) was significantly greater than that for patients with levels below 500 U/l (5.4 +/- 2.3 mm; p < 0.05). In the acute hepatitis group, EUS showed thickened, well-defined muscular and serosal layers of the gallbladder wall in 24 of the patients and a diffusely thickened gallbladder wall, in which each layer was ill defined, in the other 28 patients. The mean thickness of the gallbladder wall for patients with the pattern of ill-defined layers was significantly greater than that for the patients with the pattern of well-defined layers (p < 0.05). The pattern of ill-defined layers was more common among patients in whom the serum AST and ALT levels were at least 500 U/l than among patients with levels below 500 U/l (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We propose that gallbladder wall thickening in patients with acute hepatitis is associated with prominent changes in the muscular and serosal layers. Patients with highly elevated serum liver enzyme levels are more likely to have gallbladder wall thickening and disruption of planes between the muscular and serosal layers than are patients with normal liver enzyme levels.

Comparison of Doppler ultrasonography and the hepatic venous pressure gradient in assessing portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This prospective study aimed to determine whether Doppler ultrasonography can represent the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) as an assessment of the severity of portal hypertension and the response to terlipressin, which reduces the portal pressure in liver cirrhosis. METHODS: The HVPG and the Doppler ultrasonographic parameters, such as the portal venous velocity and the splenic venous velocity, the pulsatility and the resistive index of the hepatic, splenic and renal arteries were measured in 138 patients with liver cirrhosis. The changes in the HVPG and the portal venous velocity after administering terlipressin were evaluated in 43 of the 138 patients. The patients who showed a reduction in the HVPG of more than 20% of the baseline were defined as responders to terlipressin. RESULTS: None of the Doppler ultrasonographic parameters correlated with the HVPG. Both the HVPG (28.0 +/- 19.8%) and the portal venous velocity (29.7 +/- 13.2%) showed a significant reduction after terlipressin administration. However, the portal venous velocity decreased significantly, not only in the responders (31.0 +/- 12.0%) but also in the non-responders (25.2 +/- 16.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Doppler ultrasonography does not represent the HVPG, and is therefore not suitable for replacing HVPG as a means of assessing the severity of portal hypertension and the response to drugs which reduce the portal pressure in liver cirrhosis.

[Comparison of Doppler ultrasonography and hepatic venous pressure gradient in assessing portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis].

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This prospective study aimed to determine if Doppler ultrasonography can be representative of hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) in assessing the severity of portal hypertension and response to drug reducing portal pressure. METHODS: The HVPG and the parameters of Doppler ultrasonography including portal venous velocity (PVV) and splenic venous velocity, the pulsatility and resistive index of hepatic, splenic and renal arteries were measured in 105 patients with liver cirrhosis. In 31 patients the changes of hepatic venous pressure gradient and portal venous velocity after administration of terlipressin were evaluated. The patients who showed a reduction in HVPG of more than 20% of the baseline were defined as responders to terlipressin. RESULTS: Any Doppler ultrasonographic parameters did not correlate with HVPG. Both HVPG and PVV showed a highly significant reduction after the administration of terlipressin(-28.3 +/- 3.9%, -31.2 +/- 2.2% respectively). However, PVV decreased significantly not only in responders(31.7 +/- 2.4%) but also in nonresponders(29.5 +/- 6.1%). CONCLUSION: Doppler ultrasonography can not be representative of HVPG in assessing the severity of portal hypertension and response to drug reducing portal pressure in liver cirrhosis.