Innate Immune Training Initiates Efferocytosis to Protect against Lung Injury.

Innate immune training involves myelopoiesis, dynamic gene modulation, and functional reprogramming of myeloid cells in response to secondary heterologous challenges. The present study evaluates whether systemic innate immune training can protect tissues from local injury. Systemic pretreatment of mice with ß-glucan, a trained immunity agonist, reduces the mortality rate of mice with bleomycin-induced lung injury and fibrosis, as well as decreasing collagen deposition in the lungs. ß-Glucan pretreatment induces neutrophil accumulation in the lungs and enhances efferocytosis. Training of mice with ß-glucan results in histone modification in both alveolar macrophages (AMs) and neighboring lung epithelial cells. Training also increases the production of RvD1 and soluble mediators by AMs and efferocytes. Efferocytosis increases trained immunity in AMs by stimulating RvD1 release, thus inducing SIRT1 expression in neighboring lung epithelial cells. Elevated epithelial SIRT1 expression is associated with decreased epithelial cell apoptosis after lung injury, attenuating tissue damage. Further, neutrophil depletion dampens the effects of ß-glucan on macrophage accumulation, epigenetic modification in lung macrophages, epithelial SIRT1 expression, and injury-mediated fibrosis in the lung. These findings provide mechanistic insights into innate immune training and clues to the potential ability of centrally trained immunity to protect peripheral organs against injury-mediated disorders.

Enhanced mechanical deep dewatering of dewatered sludge by a thermal hydrolysis pre-treatment: Effects of temperature and retention time.

This study investigated effects of the thermal hydrolysis pre-treatment on mechanical deep dewaterability of dewatered sludge to extend understanding of dewatering characteristics of thermally hydrolyzed sludge. Floc sizes of dewatered sludge were gradually reduced during the thermal hydrolysis pre-treatment at 170 °C and 185 °C with increasing retention time whereas longer retention time (>60 min) increased floc sizes of thermally hydrolyzed sludges at 200 °C due to formation of undesired refractory organic materials (ROMs), which might hinder the disintegration of dewatered sludge flocs. Similar trends were found for thermal hydrolytic solubilization of dewatered sludge. This demonstrated that the efficiency of the thermal hydrolysis pre-treatment at a higher temperature (200 °C) with longer retention time (≥60 min) could be strongly influenced by the formation of ROMs associated with changes of solid fractions and some free amino acids (i.e., ß-aminobutyric acid, 4-hydroxyproline, and cysteine). Since the trade-off between the degradation of dewatered sludge and the formation of ROMs determined mechanical deep dewaterability of thermally hydrolyzed sludge, the lowest residual weight and moisture content were observed for thermally hydrolyzed sludges at 200 °C with retention time range of 60 min (residual weight = 0.165; moisture content = 55.38%) to 90 min (residual weight = 0.160; moisture content = 59.87%). These observations were intimately correlated to variations of extracellular polymeric substances during the thermal hydrolysis pre-treatment, but not in accordance with the change pattern of capillary suction time (CST) values. This is evident that the CST value was inadequate to estimate mechanical deep dewaterability of thermally hydrolyzed sludge.

Study on the Lateral Carrier Diffusion and Source-Drain Series Resistance in Self-Aligned Top-Gate Coplanar InGaZnO Thin-Film Transistors.

We investigated the lateral distribution of the equilibrium carrier concentration (n0) along the channel and the effects of channel length (L) on the source-drain series resistance (Rext) in the top-gate self-aligned (TG-SA) coplanar structure amorphous indium-gallium-zinc oxide (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs). The lateral distribution of n0 across the channel was extracted using the paired gate-to-source voltage (VGS)-based transmission line method and the temperature-dependent transfer characteristics obtained from the TFTs with different Ls. n0 abruptly decreased with an increase in the distance from the channel edge near the source/drain junctions; however, much smaller gradient of n0 was observed in the region near the middle of the channel. The effect of L on the Rext in the TG-SA coplanar a-IGZO TFT was investigated by applying the drain current-conductance method to the TFTs with various Ls. The increase of Rext was clearly observed with an increase in L especially at low VGSs, which was possibly attributed to the enhanced carrier diffusion near the source/drain junctions due to the larger gradient of the carrier concentration in the longer channel devices. Because the lateral carrier diffusion and the relatively high Rext are the critical issues in the TG-SA coplanar structure-based oxide TFTs, the results in this work are expected to be useful in further improving the electrical performance and uniformity of the TG-SA coplanar structure oxide TFTs.

High-performance and scalable metal-chalcogenide semiconductors and devices via chalco-gel routes.

We report a general strategy for obtaining high-quality, large-area metal-chalcogenide semiconductor films from precursors combining chelated metal salts with chalcoureas or chalcoamides. Using conventional organic solvents, such precursors enable the expeditious formation of chalco-gels, which are easily transformed into the corresponding high-performance metal-chalcogenide thin films with large, uniform areas. Diverse metal chalcogenides and their alloys (MQ x : M = Zn, Cd, In, Sb, Pb; Q = S, Se, Te) are successfully synthesized at relatively low processing temperatures (<400°C). The versatility of this scalable route is demonstrated by the fabrication of large-area thin-film transistors (TFTs), optoelectronic devices, and integrated circuits on a 4-inch Si wafer and 2.5-inch borosilicate glass substrates in ambient air using CdS, CdSe, and In2Se3 active layers. The CdSe TFTs exhibit a maximum field-effect mobility greater than 300 cm2 V-1 s-1 with an on/off current ratio of >107 and good operational stability (threshold voltage shift < 0.5 V at a positive gate bias stress of 10 ks). In addition, metal chalcogenide-based phototransistors with a photodetectivity of >1013 Jones and seven-stage ring oscillators operating at a speed of ~2.6 MHz (propagation delay of < 27 ns per stage) are demonstrated.

Arthroscopic treatment of psoas abscess concurrent with septic arthritis of the hip joint.

PURPOSE: To describe the outcomes of 7 cases of psoas abscess concurrent with septic arthritis of the hip treated by hip arthroscopy alone. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the data of patients who underwent arthroscopic drainage of psoas abscess concurrent with septic arthritis of the hip. Arthroscopic debridement was performed in both the central and peripheral hip joint compartments. In all cases, the iliopsoas compartment was accessed from the peripheral compartment through an anterior capsulotomy without limb traction. After debridement and drainage of the iliopsoas compartment, a suction drain tube was placed in the iliopsoas compartment through an enlarged anterior capsulotomy and another tube in the peripheral compartment. Postoperative intravenous antibiotics were administered on the basis of culture results; in cases with no positive culture, empirical antibiotics were administered for 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: 7 patients underwent arthroscopic debridement and drainage for a psoas abscess concurrent with hip joint septic arthritis. Laboratory tests were normalized within 4 weeks after hip arthroscopy in all patients. At a median follow-up of 16 months (range, 13-30 months) after surgery, infection recurrence was absent in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic debridement alone could be an effective treatment alternative to open surgery for psoas abscess concurrent with hip joint septic arthritis.

Wide-spectral/dynamic-range skin-compatible phototransistors enabled by floated heterojunction structures with surface functionalized SWCNTs and amorphous oxide semiconductors.

Purified semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (sc-SWCNTs) have been researched for optoelectronic applications due to their high absorption coefficient from the visible to even the near-infrared (NIR) region. Nevertheless, the insufficient electrical characteristics and incompatibility with conventional CMOS processing have limited their wide utilization in this emerging field. Here, we demonstrate highly detective and wide spectral/dynamic range phototransistors incorporating floated heterojunction active layers which are composed of low-temperature sol-gel processed n-type amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (a-IGZO) stacked with a purified p-type sc-SWCNT layer. To achieve a high and broad spectral/dynamic range photo-response of the heterogeneous transistors, photochemically functionalized sc-SWCNT layers were carefully implemented onto the a-IGZO channel area with a floating p-n heterojunction active layer, resulting in the suppression of parasitic charge leakage and good bias driven opto-electrical properties. The highest photosensitivity (R) of 9.6 × 102 A W-1 and a photodetectivity (D*) of 4 × 1014 Jones along with a dynamic range of 100-180 dB were achieved for our phototransistor in the spectral range of 400-780 nm including continuous and minimal frequency independent behaviors. More importantly, to demonstrate the diverse application of the ultra-flexible hybrid photosensor platform as skin compatible electronics, the sc-SWCNT/a-IGZO phototransistors were fabricated on an ultra-thin (∼1 µm) polyimide film along with a severe static and dynamic electro-mechanical test. The skin-like phototransistors showed excellent mechanical stability such as sustainable good electrical performance and high photosensitivity in a wide dynamic range without any visible cracks or damage and little noise interference after being rolled-up on the 150 µm-thick optical fiber as well as more than 1000 times cycling.

Effects of repetitive photodynamic therapy using indocyanine green for acne vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: Indocyanine green (ICG) is a photosensitizer recently introduced for the treatment of acne. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using ICG in subjects with acne vulgaris and to evaluate whether there was a difference in the efficacy of ICG-PDT between different numbers of treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects with acne on the face were included. ICG lotion (0.1%) was applied for 30 minutes, and a long pulse diode laser was used. Three or five treatments per subject were performed over 2 weeks. Acne lesion counts and Leeds revised acne grades were evaluated at baseline and 2 weeks after the last treatment. RESULTS: In total, 47 subjects completed the study. After both three and five ICG-PDT sessions, a significant reduction in acne lesions and significant improvement in Leeds revised acne grades were found in all treated subjects compared to baseline. In the subjects receiving five ICG-PDT sessions, the reduction of papules/pustules was greater than in the subjects receiving three ICG-PDT sessions (P < 0.01, respectively). However, there was no significant change in the count of nodules/cysts, although it is a negative trend (P = 0.066). Adverse effects were minimal. CONCLUSION: ICG-PDT using long-pulsed diode laser can be a safe and effective tool for acne vulgaris. Moreover, repetitive treatments of five can cause further improvement of inflammatory acne lesions.

Utility of Stable Isotope and Cytochrome Oxidase I Gene Sequencing Analyses in Inferring Origin and Authentication of Hairtail Fish and Shrimp.

Mislabeling of fishery products continues to be a serious threat to the global market. Consequently, there is an urgent necessity to develop tools for authenticating and establishing their true origin. This investigation evaluates the suitability of stable isotopes and cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequencing in identifying and tracing the origin of hairtail fish and shrimp. By use of COI sequencing, the hairtail fish samples were identified as Trichiurus japonicus and Trichiurus lepturus, while the shrimp samples were identified as Pandalus borealis, Marsupenaeus japonicus, Fenneropenaeus chinensis, Litopenaeus vannamei, Penaeus monodon, and Solenocera crassicornis. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) of stable isotopes further categorized the individuals of the same species based on the country of origin. Natural and farmed shrimp (from the same country) were distinctly differentiated on the basis of stable isotope values. Therefore, these two methods could be cooperatively utilized to identify and authenticate fishery products, the utilization of which would enhance transparency and fair trade.

Estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals modulate the production of inflammatory mediators and cell viability of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages.

Estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous substances that act as competitive inhibitors of estrogen in the endocrine system. By disrupting the endocrine system, EDCs can cause severe disabilities and diseases, including cancers and altered sexual development. Although the influence of these molecules in the endocrine system is evident, the effects of EDCs on the immune system as well as their cytotoxicity have been poorly examined. Therefore, we selected 21 EDCs that are commonly found in Korean ecosystems, such as surface waters and effluents, and studied their immunologic effects by comparing nitric oxide (NO) production and cytotoxicity in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells (RAW cells), a macrophage cell line. Among the EDCs tested, fenitrothion (FTH) inhibited the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), resulting in reduced NO production, while treatment with andostenedione (AD), diethyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), estriol, or molinate decreased production of NO in an iNOS-independent fashion. In contrast, benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) increased the production of NO in RAW cells. In addition, AD, DBP, or FTH inhibited the mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha or interleukin-1 beta. Treatment with 17-α-ethynylestradiol, 17-ß-estradiol, 4-n-butyl phenol, or alachlor induced apoptosis of RAW cells, while dicyclohexyl phthalate and B(a)P caused cell death in an apoptosis-independent manner. These data suggest that EDCs can influence the immune response to pathogens by modulating the functions of macrophages.

Applicability of stable C and N isotope analysis in inferring the geographical origin and authentication of commercial fish (Mackerel, Yellow Croaker and Pollock).

Globalisation of seafood and aquaculture products and their convenient marketing worldwide, increases the possibility for the distribution of mislabelled products; thereby, underlining the need to identify their origin. Stable isotope analysis is a promising approach to identify the authenticity and traceability of seafood and aquaculture products. In this investigation, we measured carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ(13)C and δ(15)N) of three commercial fish, viz. Mackerel, Yellow Croaker and Pollock, originating from various countries. Apart from the species-dependent variation in the isotopic values, marked differences in the δ(13)C and δ(15)N ratios were also observed with respect to the country of origin. This suggests that C and N isotopic signatures could be reliable tools to identify and trace the origin of commercial fish.

Determination of the elemental contents in stream sediments collected from Cheongju city by instrumental neutron activation analysis.

Sediment samples were collected from seven locations of the MeeHo stream in Cheongju city, strained out by a sieve, dried by an oven and pulverized by an agate mortar. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was applied for the determination of the elemental contents in the sediment samples by using the NAA #1 and #2 irradiation holes of the HANARO research reactor and HPGe gamma-ray spectrometers. Twenty-five elements were determined by a relative method with NIST SRM 2711-Montan Soil and the ranges of the elemental contents for the seven locations were identified. The contamination levels for elements such as As, Ba, Cr, Mn, Fe and Zn were compared with the guidelines of USEPA. The detection limits and combined uncertainties for the hazardous elements such as As, Ba, Cr, Mn, Sb, V and Zn were estimated under the given analytical conditions.

Second-generation cementless total hip arthroplasty in patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

The results of cementless total hip arthroplasties in patients with osteonecrosis have been inferior to those in patients with other diagnoses. Fifty-eight primary total hip arthroplasties with insertion of a femoral stem with a circumferentially proximal porous coating and a cementless acetabular component were followed for a mean of 11.1 years. Fifty-seven (98%) of 58 stems were biologically stable, and one stem was loose. There were acetabular revisions in 18 hips (31%) because of polyethylene wear and osteolysis. One hip (1.7%) underwent revision of both acetabular and femoral components. Osteolysis around the acetabular component was seen on radiographs in 22 hips (37.9%). Femoral osteolysis was seen in 9 hips (15.5%), and there was no osteolysis below the lesser trochanter in any hip. Second-generation femoral prostheses provide excellent fixation in patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head. However, a high rate of polyethylene wear and osteolysis in these high-risk patients remains a challenging problem.

Cranial growth after distraction osteogenesis of the craniosynostosis.

The authors describe the continuance of the growth of the distracted cranium after the reshaping of the cranium by distraction osteogenesis (DO) in children with simple symmetric and asymmetric craniosynostosis. From 2000 until 2002, 9 children with simple craniosynostosis underwent cranial reshaping by gradual distraction using an external distraction device. Four patients have symmetric deformities caused by bicoronal and sagittal craniosynostosis, and 5 patients have asymmetric deformities caused by unicoronal and unilambdoidal craniosynostosis. The distraction device was developed and applied by the author. Preoperative simulation surgery was done on the three-dimensional rapid prototyped model and on the three-dimensional computerized tomography scan to determine the favorable osteotomy line. The distraction rate was from 1 to 1.5 mm/d, and the latency period was from 1 to 5 days. The extent of distraction was determined on the basis of the results of simulation surgery and the change of external appearance. Evaluation of the growth of reshaped cranium was processed from the data of the reconstructed three-dimensional computerized tomography scans before operation, immediate end of distraction, and the last follow-up time. The anteroposterior length and bitemporal width were measured in symmetric synostosis cases, and the distance from supratrochlear notch to occiput was measured in asymmetric synostosis cases. The results showed that the immediate morphologic changes of cranium after DO were maintained in both symmetric and asymmetric synostosis up to the last follow-up without evidence of relapse. Cases of asymmetric deformity also showed that the affected side and the unaffected side had grown with the maintenance of the symmetry that was corrected at the immediate end of the distraction. The cranium modified by the DO was well maintained with the children's growth without any signs of recurrent restricted growth of the original disease. The corrected symmetry of asymmetric deformity was well maintained during a long-term follow-up period as well.

Detection and identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in joint biopsy specimens by rpoB PCR cloning and sequencing.

Osteoarticular tuberculosis (OAT) is an extrapulmonary tuberculosis and accounts for 1 to 3% of all tuberculosis cases. We used an rpoB PCR-plasmid TA cloning-sequencing method to detect and identify tubercle bacilli in surgical specimens from patients suspected of having OAT. By comparing the similarities of the rpoB sequences determined with those in GenBank, Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected in 23 of 43 samples. Three of the 23 positive samples had mutations at codon 531, which are commonly observed in rifampin-resistant M. tuberculosis strains. Our results suggest that the rpoB PCR-TA cloning-sequencing method developed, which detects M. tuberculosis and which simultaneously determines its rifampin susceptibility, can also be used efficiently for the diagnosis of OAT.