Parental perspectives and concerns regarding exotropia surgery and comparison with clinicians' predictions.

PURPOSE: To evaluate parental perspectives and concerns regarding exotropia surgery and compare them with clinicians' predictions of parental responses in Korean pediatric patients with intermittent exotropia. METHODS: This survey study included the parents of pediatric patients with intermittent exotropia who underwent surgery and clinicians at five hospitals from June 2022 to February 2023, who participated in the Survey of Parental Attitude and Concerns of Exotropia surgery (SPACE) study 1. Parental attitudes and concern about exotropia surgery were assessed using a questionnaire. Clinicians' estimation of each item corresponding to the parental questionnaire was also assessed and compared with parental responses. RESULTS: A total of 266 parents and 41 clinicians were included. More parents responded that information about surgery was most helpful or most commonly received from clinicians than clinicians estimated (P = 0.001). More parents reported actively communicating with the child about surgery than clinicians estimated (P < 0.001). Parents showed a higher level of concern for general anesthesia and the hospital environment than clinicians thought they would (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, resp.). In the postoperative follow-up items, parents showed high levels of concern regarding postoperative infection (P < 0.001), conjunctival redness (P = 0.040), persistent overcorrection (P < 0.001), and glasses wearing (P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Parental perspectives and concerns regarding pediatric intermittent exotropia surgery differed from clinicians' estimations thereof. More parents obtain information on exotropia surgery from clinicians and actively talk about surgery with their child than estimated by clinicians. Parents had a higher level of concern regarding general anesthesia, hospital environment, postoperative infection, conjunctival redness, persistent overcorrection, and glasses wearing compared with clinician estimations.

A general analytical solution for fluid flow and heat convection through arbitrary-shaped triangular ducts: A variational analysis.

This paper presents an analytical solution for fluid flow and heat transfer inside arbitrarily-shaped triangular ducts for the first time. The former analytical solutions are limited to the special case of isosceles triangular ducts. The literature has no report about the analytical solution for the general case of arbitrarily-shaped triangular ducts. Due to the significant role of fluid flow through non-circular channels in industry and the large number of triangular shapes, a method for solving the heat transfer problem for all triangular shapes is needed. The heat transfer of a fluid flow through a channel with an arbitrary triangular cross-section for the case of constant heat flux at the walls is solved in this work for the first time, considering viscous dissipation. Here, the functionals of flow and heat transfer equations are derived, and the resulting Euler-Lagrange equations are solved using the Ritz method. The effect of the duct geometry on the velocity profile and friction coefficient is studied in detail. The effect of the Brinkman number on the temperature distribution and Nusselt number is investigated for both cooling and heating cases. The results reveal that the critical Brinkman Number distinguishes between the cooling and heating cases and represents the critical point at which the Nusselt number approaches infinity. The value of the Nusselt number decreases with the increase of the Brinkman number in both the wall cooling and heating modes. It is also found that the equilateral triangle exhibits the minimum friction coefficient and the maximum value of the Poiseuille number.

Structural identification and quantification of unreported sialylated N-glycans in bovine testicular hyaluronidase by LC-ESI-HCD-MS/MS.

Bovine testicular hyaluronidase (BTH), which accelerates the absorption and dispersion of drugs by decomposing hyaluronan in subcutaneous tissues, has been used in medical applications, including local anesthesia, ophthalmology, and dermatosurgery. The requirement of N-glycans for the activity of human hyaluronidase has been reported, and BTH has greater activity than human hyaluronidase. However, the N-glycan characteristics of BTH are unclear. From a commercial BTH source containing additional proteins, purified BTH (pBTH) was obtained using size exclusion chromatography, and the structures and quantities of its N-glycans were analyzed using liquid chromatography (LC)-electrospray ionization-higher energy collisional dissociation (HCD)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). In pBTH, 32 N-glycans were identified, with 12 sialylations (39.0% of total N-glycan content), nine core-fucosylations (31.5%), six terminal galactosylations (14.6%), five high-mannosylations (13.7%), and four bisecting N-acetylglucosamine structures (7.8%). The presence of sialylated glycopeptides in pBTH was confirmed by nano-LC-HCD-MS/MS analysis. The absolute quantity of all N-glycans was calculated as 1.4 pmol (0.6 pmol for sialylation) in pBTH (1.0 pmol). The sialylation level (related to half-life, thermal stability, resistance to proteolysis, and solubility) was 24.4 times higher than that of human hyaluronidase. The hyaluronan degradation activity of de-sialylated pBTH decreased to 41.2 ± 4.2%, showing that sialylated N-glycans were required for pBTH activity as well. This is the first study to identify and quantify 32 N-glycans of pBTH and investigate their structural roles in its activity. The presence of larger amounts of sialylated N-glycans in pBTH than in human hyaluronidase suggests a greater utilization of pBTH.

Comparison of sialylated and fucosylated N-glycans attached to Asn 6 and Asn 41 with different roles in hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1 (HAPLN1).

Hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1 (HAPLN1) is an extracellular matrix protein stabilizing interactions between hyaluronan and proteoglycan. Although HAPLN1 is being investigated for various biological roles, its N-glycosylation is poorly understood. In this study, the structure of N-glycopeptides of trypsin-treated recombinant human HAPLN1 (rhHAPLN1) expressed from CHO cells were identified by nano-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 66 N-glycopeptides were obtained, including 16 and 12 N-glycans at sites Asn 6 (located in the N-terminal region) and Asn 41 (located in the Ig-like domain, which interacts with proteoglycan), respectively. The quantities (%) of each N-glycan relative to the totals (100 %) at each site were calculated. Tri- and tetra-sialylation (to resist proteolysis and extend half-life) were more abundant at Asn 6, and di- (core- and terminal-) fucosylation (to increase binding affinity and stability) and sialyl-Lewis X/a epitope (a major ligand for E-selectin) were more abundant at Asn 41. These results indicate that N-glycans attached to Asn 6 (protecting HAPLN1) and Asn 41 (supporting molecular interactions) play different roles in HAPLN1. This is the first study of site-specific N-glycosylation in rhHAPLN1, which will be useful for understanding its molecular interactions in the extracellular matrix.

Supplementation with fibroblast growth factor 7 during in vitro maturation of porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes improves oocyte maturation and early embryonic development.

In vitro generation of porcine embryos is an indispensable method in the realms of both agriculture and biomedicine. Nonetheless, the extant procedures encounter substantial obstacles pertaining to both the caliber and efficacy of the produced embryos, necessitating extensive research to in vitro maturation (IVM), the seminal commencement phase. One potentially fruitful approach may lie in refining the media and supplements composition utilized for oocyte maturation. Fibroblast growth factor-7 (FGF7), alternatively termed keratinocyte growth factor, is a theca-derived cytokine integral to folliculogenesis. This study aimed to examine the ramifications of supplementing FGF7 during the IVM phase. To determine the FGF7 location and its receptor in porcine ovaries, immunohistochemistry was executed based on follicle size categories (1-2, 3-6, and 7-9 mm). Regardless of follicle size, it was determined that FGF7 was expressed in theca and granulosa cells (GCs), whereas the FGF7 receptor was only expressed in the GCs of the larger follicles. During the IVM process, the maturation medium was supplied with various concentrations of FGF7, aiming to mature porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). The data indicated a significant augmentation in the nuclear maturation rate only within the group treated with 10 ng/mL of FGF7 (p < 0.05). Post-IVM, the oocytes diameter exhibited a significant expansion in all groups that received FGF7 supplementation (p < 0.05). Additionally, all FGF7-supplemented groups exhibited a substantial elevation in intracellular glutathione levels, coupled with a noticeable reduction in reactive oxygen species levels (p < 0.05). With respect to gene expressions related to apoptosis, FGF7 treatment elicited a downregulation of pro-apoptotic genes and an upregulation of anti-apoptotic genes. The expression of genes associated with antioxidants underwent a significant enhancement (p < 0.05). In terms of the FGF7 signaling pathway-associated genes, there was a significant elevation in the mRNA expression of ERK1, ERK2, c-kit, and KITLG (p < 0.05). Remarkably, the group of 10 ng/mL of FGF7 demonstrated an appreciable uptick in the blastocyst formation rate during embryonic development post-parthenogenetic activation (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the FGF7 supplementation during IVM substantially augments the quality of matured oocytes and facilitates the subsequent development of parthenogenetically activated embryos. These results offer fresh perspectives on improved maturation and following in vitro evolution of porcine oocytes.

Tetraploid embryo aggregation produces high-quality blastocysts with an increased trophectoderm in pigs.

Tetraploid complementation is an ideal method for demonstrating the differentiation potential of pluripotent stem cells. In this study, we selected the most efficient tetraploid production method for porcine embryos and investigated whether tetraploid blastomere aggregation could enhance the quality of tetraploid embryos. Three methods were investigated to produce tetraploid embryos: First, tetraploid embryos were produced using electro-fusion of two-cell stage parthenogenetic blastomere (FUTP). Second, somatic cell was injected into the mature oocyte and fused to produce tetraploid embryos. Third, oocytes were matured with Cytochalasin B (CB) for the late 22 h of in vitro maturation to inhibit the first polar body (PB1). Following that, non-PB1 oocytes were treated with CB for 4 h after parthenogenetic activation. There was no significant difference in the blastocyst development rate and tetraploid production rate of the embryos produced through the three methods. However, FUTP-derived blastocysts had a significantly lower percentage of apoptotic cells compared to other methods. The developmental competence of embryos, expression of trophectoderm cell marker genes, and distribution of YAP1 protein were investigated in tetraploid embryos produced using the FUTP method. The FUTP method most effectively prevented apoptosis during porcine tetraploid embryo formation. Tetraploid aggregation-derived blastocysts have a high proportion of trophectoderm with increased expression of the CDX2 mRNA and high YAP1 intensity. High-quality blastocysts derived from a tetraploid embryo aggregation can serve as suitable source material for testing the differentiation potential of pluripotent stem cells for blastocyst complementation in pigs.

An analytical study on nonlinear viscoelastic lubrication in journal bearings.

This paper presents a novel analytical solution for journal-bearing viscoelastic lubrication using the perturbation method. The nonlinear Giesekus model was used for the constitutive equations to study the effects of fluid elasticity, shear-thinning viscometric functions, and strain-hardening elongational viscosity of viscoelastic lubrication. The investigation focuses on the impact of characteristic parameters such as mobility factor, eccentricity ratio, and Weissenberg number on the fluid film pressure distribution, load capacity, and shear stress. Although distinguishing between the normal stress differences and extensional viscosity in mixed viscoelastic flows is complicated, we investigated the role and contribution of these two factors. By increasing the elasticity of the fluid, the portion of both mentioned parameters increases consequently. Furthermore, analyses and comparisons show the contributions of the first normal stress and elongational viscosity to the load capacity of the bearing through the stress ratio and flow type parameter for the first time. The research findings indicate that fluid elasticity enhances the load capacity of the bearing compared to a Newtonian lubricant with the same effective viscosity. Moreover, the bearing load capacity is divided into two regions. In the linear region, the mobility factor and Weissenberg numbers have minimal effects leading to a linear increase in the load distribution, and in the exponential region, the load capacity changes are considerable. This research provides valuable insights into the behavior of viscoelastic lubrication in journal-bearing systems.

Giant Duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) Root Growth as a Simple and Sensitive Indicator of Copper and Chromium Contamination.

Aquatic environment are often contaminated with heavy metals from various industrial sources. However, physicochemical techniques for pollutant detection are limited, thus prompting the need for additional bioassays. We investigated the use of greater duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) as a bioindicator of metal pollution. We exposed S. polyrhiza to four pollutants (namely, silver, cadmium, copper, and chromium) and assessed metal toxicity by measuring its frond area and the length of its regrown roots. The plant displayed significant differences in both frond size and root growth in response to the four metals. Silver was the most toxic (EC50 = 23 µg L-1) while copper the least (EC50 = 365-607 µg L-1). Direct comparisons of metal sensitivity and the reliability of the two endpoint assays showed that root growth was more sensitive (lower in terms of 50% effective concentration) to chromium, cadmium, and copper, and was more reliable (lower in terms of coefficient of variation) than those for frond area. Compared to conventional Lemna-based tests, the S. polyrhiza test is easier to perform (requiring only one 24-well plate, 3 mL of medium and a 72-h exposure). Moreover, it does not require livestock cultivation/maintenance, making it more suitable for repeated measurements. Measurements of S. polyrhiza root length may be suitable for assessment when copper and chromium in municipal and industrial wastewater exceed the environmentally permissible levels.

Myo-inositol improves the viability of boar sperm during liquid storage.

Introduction: Liquid preservation of boar semen is a highly preferred method for semen preservation in pig production. However, oxidative stress is the main challenge during the liquid preservation of boar semen in a time dependent manner. Therefore, supplementation of sperm with antioxidants during storage to protect them from oxidative stress has been the focus of recent research. Myo-inositol (Myo-Ins), the most active form of inositol, which belongs to the vitamin (Vit.) (B1 group has been shown to improve semen quality) (1). This study aimed to investigate whether Myo-Ins supplementation protects boar sperm in liquid preservation against oxidative stress and determine the appropriate concentration of Myo-Ins to be used in this regard. Methods: Boar sperm was diluted with a semen extender with different concentrations of Myo-Ins (2, 4, 6, and 8 mg/mL) depending on the previous studies (1, 24). Sperm motility and viability, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), semen time survival, and gene expression were measured and analyzed on days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 for the different samples. Results: Different concentrations of Myo-Ins exerted different protective effects on the boar sperm quality. The addition of 2 mg/mL Myo-Ins resulted in higher sperm motility and viability, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity, MMP, and effective survival time. Investigation of mRNA expression patterns via qRT-PCR suggested that the 2 mg/mL Myo-Ins sample had increased expression of antioxidative genes. Conclusion: The addition of Myo-Ins to semen extender improved the boar semen quality by decreasing the effects of oxidative stress during liquid preservation at 17°C. Additionally, 2 mg/mL is the optimum inclusion concentration of Myo-Ins for semen preservation.

Identification, quantification, and structural role of N-glycans in two highly purified isoforms of sheep testicular hyaluronidase.

Animal-derived hyaluronidase, which hydrolyzes the polysaccharide hyaluronic acid, has been used in medical applications despite its limited purity. Additionally, the N-glycan characterization of sheep testicular hyaluronidase (STH) and its structural role remain poorly understood. In this study, STH was purified from the commercially available STH preparation (containing at least 14 impurity proteins) using heparin-affinity chromatography followed by size exclusion chromatography. The structure and quantity of N-glycans of STH were investigated using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-high energy collision dissociation-tandem mass spectrometry. Two isoforms, H3S1 and H3S2, of STH were obtained (purity >98 %) with a yield of 3.4 % and 5.1 %, respectively. Fourteen N-glycans, including nine core-fucosylated N-glycans (important for the stability and function of glycoproteins), were identified in both H3S1 and H3S2, with similar quantities of each N-glycan. The amino acid sequences of the proteolytic peptides of H3S1 and H3S2 were compared with those reported in STH. The hyaluronic acid-degrading activity of deglycosylated H3S1 and H3S2 was reduced to 70.8 % and 71.1 % compared to that (100 %) of H3S1 and H3S2, respectively. This is the first report of N-glycan characterization of two highly purified isoforms of STH. These H3S1 and H3S2 will be useful for medical use without unwanted effects of partially purified STH.

Experimental study on flow and turbulence characteristics of jet impinging on cylinder using three-dimensional Lagrangian particle tracking velocimetry.

When a round jet impinges on a convex cylindrical surface, complex three-dimensional (3D) flow structures occur, accompanied by the Coanda effect. To characterize the flow and turbulence properties of the general system, ensemble averages of 3D Lagrangian particle tracking velocimetry measurements were taken. The radial bin-averaging method was used in post-processing the tracked particles and corresponding instantaneous velocity vectors to generate appropriate ensemble-averaged statistics. Two impinging angles were selected, and at a fixed Reynolds number, the ensemble-averaged volumetric velocity field and turbulent stress tensor components were measured. The flow and turbulence characteristics of the impinging jet on the cylinder were notably different based on the impinging angle, especially in the downstream region. Surprisingly, the attached wall jet with a half-elliptic shape was abruptly thickened in the wall-normal direction, similar to the axis switching phenomenon observed in elliptic jets in the case of oblique impingement. In the jet-impinging region, the flow spread in all directions with high mean vorticity values. With the development of a 3D curved wall jet, both the Coanda effect and centrifugal force played a significant role in the flow behavior. A notable feature of the self-preserving region was the similarity of mean velocity profiles with scaling by the maximum velocity and the jet half-width for both impinging angle cases. Local isotropy of turbulent normal stresses was observed in this region, supporting the existence of self-preservation in the 3D curved wall jet. The volumetric ensemble-averaged Reynolds stress tensor revealed strong inhomogeneous turbulence in the boundary layer region and the curvature effect on the Reynolds shear stress in the free shear layer.

Neurotrophin-4 promotes the specification of trophectoderm lineage after parthenogenetic activation and enhances porcine early embryonic development.

Neurotrophin-4 (NT-4), a neurotrophic factor, appears to affect early embryonic development because it is secreted not only by neurons but also by oviductal and uterine epithelial cells. However, no studies have characterized the effects of NT-4 on early embryonic development in pigs. In this study, we applied the experimental model of parthenogenetic-activation (PA)-derived embryos. Herein, we investigated the effect of NT-4 supplementation during the in vitro culture (IVC) of embryos, analyzed the transcription levels of specific genes, and outlined the first cell lineage specification for porcine PA-derived blastocysts. We confirmed that NT-4 and its receptor proteins were localized in both the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) in porcine blastocysts. Across different concentrations (0, 1, 10, and 100 ng/mL) of NT-4 supplementation, the optimal concentration of NT-4 to improve the developmental competence of porcine parthenotes was 10 ng/mL. NT-4 supplementation during porcine IVC significantly (p < 0.05) increased the proportion of TE cells by inducing the transcription of TE lineage markers (CDX2, PPAG3, and GATA3 transcripts). NT-4 also reduced blastocyst apoptosis by regulating the transcription of apoptosis-related genes (BAX and BCL2L1 transcripts) and improved blastocyst quality via the interaction of neurotrophin-, Hippo-yes-associated protein (Hippo-YAP) and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathway. Additionally, NT-4 supplementation during IVC significantly (p < 0.05) increased YAP1 transcript levels and significantly (p < 0.01) decreased LATS2 transcript levels, respectively, in the porcine PA-derived blastocysts. We also confirmed through fluorescence intensity that the YAP1 protein was significantly (p < 0.001) increased in the NT-4-treated blastocysts compared with that in the control. NT-4 also promoted differentiation into the TE lineage rather than into the ICM lineage during porcine early embryonic development. In conclusion, 10 ng/mL NT-4 supplementation enhanced blastocyst quality by regulating the apoptosis- and TE lineage specification-related genes and interacting with neurotrophin-, Hippo-YAP-, and MAPK/ERK signaling pathway during porcine in vitro embryo development.

On viscoelastic drop impact onto thin films: axisymmetric simulations and experimental analysis.

This study investigates the effect of fluid elasticity on axisymmetric droplets colliding with pre-existing liquid films, using both numerical and experimental approaches. The numerical simulations involve solving the incompressible flow momentum equations with viscoelastic constitutive laws using the finite volume method and the volume of fluid (VOF) technique to track the liquid's free surface. Here, the Oldroyd-B model is used as the constitutive equation for the viscoelastic phase. Experiments are also performed for dilute viscoelastic solutions with 0.005% and 0.01% (w/w) polyacrylamide in 80:20 glycerin/water solutions, in order to ensure the validity of the numerical solution and to investigate the elasticity effect. The formation and temporal evolution of the crown parameters are quantified by considering the flow parameters, including the fluid's elasticity. The results indicate that the axisymmetric numerical solutions reasonably agree with the experimental observations. Generally, the fluid's elasticity can enlarge the crown dimension at different thicknesses of the fluid film. Moreover, at intermediate values of the Weissenberg number, the extensional force in the crown wall can control the crown propagation. Furthermore, the results reveal that the effects of the Weber number and the viscosity ratio on this problem are more significant at higher values of the Weissenberg number.

Fragmentation stability and retention time-shift obtained by LC-MS/MS to distinguish sialylated N-glycan linkage isomers in therapeutic glycoproteins.

Sialylated N-glycan isomers with α2-3 or α2-6 linkage(s) have distinctive roles in glycoproteins, but are difficult to distinguish. Wild-type (WT) and glycoengineered (mutant) therapeutic glycoproteins, cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4-immunoglobulin (CTLA4-Ig), were produced in Chinese hamster ovary cell lines; however, their linkage isomers have not been reported. In this study, N-glycans of CTLA4-Igs were released, labeled with procainamide, and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) to identify and quantify sialylated N-glycan linkage isomers. The linkage isomers were distinguished by comparison of 1) intensity of the N-acetylglucosamine ion to the sialic acid ion (Ln/Nn) using different fragmentation stability in MS/MS spectra and 2) retention time-shift for a selective m/z value in the extracted ion chromatogram. Each isomer was distinctively identified, and each quantity (>0.1%) was obtained relative to the total N-glycans (100%) for all observed ionization states. Twenty sialylated N-glycan isomers with only α2-3 linkage(s) in WT were identified, and each isomer's sum of quantities was 50.4%. Furthermore, 39 sialylated N-glycan isomers (58.8%) in mono- (3 N-glycans; 0.9%), bi- (18; 48.3%), tri- (14; 8.9%), and tetra- (4; 0.7%) antennary structures of mutant were obtained, which comprised mono- (15 N-glycans; 25.4%), di- (15; 28.4%), tri- (8; 4.8%), and tetra- (1; 0.2%) sialylation, respectively, with only α2-3 (10 N-glycans; 4.8%), both α2-3 and α2-6 (14; 18.4%), and only α2-6 (15; 35.6%) linkage(s). These results are consistent with those for α2-3 neuraminidase-treated N-glycans. This study generated a novel plot of Ln/Nn versus retention time to distinguish sialylated N-glycan linkage isomers in glycoprotein.

Antioxidant effect of ergothioneine on in vitro maturation of porcine oocytes.

BACKGROUND: Ergothioneine (EGT) is a natural amino acid derivative in various animal organs and is a bioactive compound recognized as a food and medicine. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of EGT supplementation during the in vitro maturation (IVM) period on porcine oocyte maturation and subsequent embryonic development competence after in vitro fertilization (IVF). METHODS: Each EGT concentration (0, 10, 50, and 100 µM) was supplemented in the maturation medium during IVM. After IVM, nuclear maturation, intracellular glutathione (GSH), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels of oocytes were investigated. In addition, the genes related to cumulus function and antioxidant pathways in oocytes or cumulus cells were investigated. Finally, this study examined whether EGT could affect embryonic development after IVF. RESULTS: After IVM, the EGT supplementation group showed significantly higher intracellular GSH levels and significantly lower intracellular ROS levels than the control group. Moreover, the expression levels of hyaluronan synthase 2 and Connexin 43 were significantly higher in the 10 µM EGT group than in the control group. The expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1) were significantly higher in the oocytes of the 10 µM EGT group than in the control group. In the assessment of subsequent embryonic development after IVF, the 10 µM EGT treatment group improved the cleavage and blastocyst rate significantly than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation of EGT improved oocyte maturation and embryonic development by reducing oxidative stress in IVM oocytes.

The effect of C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 supplementation on in vitro maturation of porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes and subsequent developmental competence after parthenogenetic activation.

Porcine embryos are used for a variety of applications. However, the maturation rate in vitro remains low, and novel in vitro maturation (IVM) techniques that facilitate the collection of mature oocytes are necessary. C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) is a key periovulatory chemokine present in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). We aimed to examine the effects of CCL2 supplementation during IVM on oocyte maturation and embryonic development. The CCL2 concentration was significantly higher in porcine follicular fluid (pFF) derived from follicles >8 mm in size than in pFF derived from smaller follicles. There was a significant increase in CCL2 mRNA levels in all follicular cells after IVM compared with that before IVM. We analyzed the localization of CCL2 and its receptor, the CCL2 receptor, in follicular cells. During IVM, different concentrations of CCL2 were added to COCs cultured in a maturation medium. After IVM, the group treated with 100 ng/mL CCL2 showed significantly higher metaphase II rates than the control group. All CCL2-treatment groups showed a significant increase in intracellular glutathione levels and a significant decrease in reactive oxygen species levels, compared to the control. In CCs treated with 100 ng/mL CCL2, the mRNA levels of BAX, CASP3, and NPR2 were significantly decreased. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of SOD1, SOD2, and CD44 were significantly increased. In oocytes treated with 10 ng/mL CCL2, mRNA levels of BAX and CASP3 were significantly decreased, whereas, NRF2 and NPM2 were significantly increased. ERK1 exhibited significantly increased mRNA expression in both CCs and oocytes treated with 10 ng/mL CCL2. The protein expression ratio of phosphorylated ERK1/2 to total ERK1/2 was significantly increased in CCs treated with 10 ng/mL CCL2. After parthenogenetic activation, cleavage rates were significantly improved in the 100 ng/mL CCL2 treatment group, and blastocyst formation rates were significantly enhanced in the 10 ng/mL CCL2 treatment group. Overall, our results suggest that IVM medium along with CCL2 improves porcine oocyte maturation and the development of parthenogenetically-activated embryos.

Association of ITM2A rs1751094 polymorphism on X chromosome in Korean pediatric patients with autoimmune thyroid disease.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) manifests with a female predominance, and much attention has been directed towards the integral membrane protein 2 A (ITM2A) gene located on the X chromosome. METHODS: In a study of 166 pediatric patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), the ITM2A rs1751094 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was genotyped. The sample comprised 143 females and 23 males, with 67 patients diagnosed with Hashimoto chronic thyroiditis (HD) and 99 with Graves' disease (GD). In the 99 GD patients, 49 (49.5%) exhibited thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Among the 85 GD patients, 70.6% (60/85) were considered intractable GD. The results were compared to those from 198 healthy Korean individuals, including 97 females and 101 males. RESULTS: The frequency of the rs1751094 C allele and CC/AC genotype were higher in AITD, GD and HD patients compared to controls, while the frequency of the A allele and AA genotype were lower. The results were more pronounced in female AITD and GD patients compared to male patients. The association was also found in intractable GD and TAO patients. Target SNP fits Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the ITM2A gene polymorphism on the X chromosome may contribute to the immunological basis of female-predominant AITD in Korean children.

The subjective controllability of exotropia and its effect on surgical outcomes in patients with intermittent exotropia.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We evaluate the clinical characteristics of intermittent exotropia with controllability and compare surgical outcomes between patients with and without controllability. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of patients aged 6-18 years with intermittent exotropia who underwent surgery between September 2015 and September 2021. Controllability was defined as the patient's subjective awareness of exotropia or diplopia associated with the presence of exotropia and ability to instinctively correct the ocular exodeviation. Surgical outcomes were compared between patients with and without controllability, with a favorable surgical outcome defined as an ocular deviation between ≤ 10 PD of exotropia and ≤ 4 PD of esotropia at distance and near. RESULTS: Among 521 patients, 130 (25%, 130/521) had controllability. The mean age of onset (7.7 years) and surgery (9.9 years) were higher in patients with controllability than in those without controllability (p < 0.001). The mean control scores of patients with controllability (distance: 1.9, near: 1.5) were lower compared with patients without controllability (distance: 3.0, near: 2.2), reflecting a better level of control. Patients with controllability had a better surgical outcome than those without controllability, as analyzed by log-rank test (p < 0.001). Larger preoperative ocular exodeviation at distance (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.083, confidence interval [CI] = 1.018-1.151, p = 0.012) and near (HR = 1.102, CI = 1.037-1.172, p = 0.002) were significantly related to recurrence in patients with controllability. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with controllability showed better surgical outcomes, later exotropia onset, and better level of control than patients without controllability. Preoperative ocular exodeviation was a significant factor influencing favorable outcomes in patients with controllable exotropia.

Thermomonas paludicola sp. nov., isolated from a lotus wetland.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped and motile bacterium, designated IMCC34681T, was isolated from a lotus wetland in the Republic of Korea. Cellular growth occurred at 10-37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 6-9 (optimum, pH 7) and with 0-2 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0.5 % NaCl). The results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that IMCC34681T represented a member of the genus Thermomonas, sharing 95.3-96.9 % similarities with type strains of species of the genus. The whole-genome sequence of IMCC34681T was 2.72 Mbp in size with 66.2 % DNA G+C content. The IMCC34681T genome shared the highest average nucleotide identity (ANI) value, 82.8 %, with that of Thermomonas brevis KACC 16975T among species of the genus Thermomonas, indicating that the strain represents a novel genomic species. The major respiratory quinone of the strain was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8) and the predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 (25.7 %) and iso-C14 : 0 (20.8 %). The strain harboured diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified lipid as major fatty polar lipids. On the basis of the phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic characteristics, IMCC34681T was assigned to the genus Thermomonas as the type strain of a novel species, for which the name Thermomonas paludicola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IMCC34681T (=KACC 21793T=NBRC 114635T).

Bioresorbable, wireless, and battery-free system for electrotherapy and impedance sensing at wound sites.

Chronic wounds, particularly those associated with diabetes mellitus, represent a growing threat to public health, with additional notable economic impacts. Inflammation associated with these wounds leads to abnormalities in endogenous electrical signals that impede the migration of keratinocytes needed to support the healing process. This observation motivates the treatment of chronic wounds with electrical stimulation therapy, but practical engineering challenges, difficulties in removing stimulation hardware from the wound site, and absence of means to monitor the healing process create barriers to widespread clinical use. Here, we demonstrate a miniaturized wireless, battery-free bioresorbable electrotherapy system that overcomes these challenges. Studies based on a splinted diabetic mouse wound model confirm the efficacy for accelerated wound closure by guiding epithelial migration, modulating inflammation, and promoting vasculogenesis. Changes in the impedance provide means for tracking the healing process. The results demonstrate a simple and effective platform for wound site electrotherapy.