Particulate matter-induced gene expression patterns in human-derived cells based on 11 public gene expression datasets.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to particulate matter (PM) and house dust mite (HDM) can change the expression patterns of inflammation-, oxidative stress-, and cell death-related genes. We investigated the changes in gene expression patterns owing to PM exposure. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the changes in gene expression patterns following PM exposure. METHODS: We searched for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) following PM exposure using five cell line-based RNA-seq or microarray datasets and six human-derived datasets. The enrichment terms of the DEGs were assessed. RESULTS: DEG analysis yielded two gene sets. Thus, enrichment analysis was performed for each gene set, and the enrichment terms related to respiratory diseases were presented. The intersection of six human-derived datasets and two gene sets was obtained, and the expression patterns following PM exposure were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Two gene sets were obtained for cells treated with PM and their expression patterns were presented following verification in human-derived cells. Our findings suggest that exposure to PM2.5 and HDM may reveal changes in genes that are associated with diseases, such as allergies, highlighting the importance of mitigating PM2.5 and HDM exposure for disease prevention.

Spatial summation of thermal sensitivity is limited to small areas: Comparisons of the forehead, forearm, abdomen, and foot.

The purpose of the present study was to examine if spatial summation in thermal sensitivity exists when stimulating areas larger than about 1% of body surface area (BSA) (approximately 200 cm2). We hypothesized that spatial summation would exist within a limited area and the effect would be insignificant for over the 1%BSA. Fifteen young males participated in this study and we measured their warmth and hot sensation thresholds on the four body regions (the forehead, forearm, abdomen, and instep) using the three sizes of radiant film heaters (10 × 10, 15 × 15, and 20 × 20 cm2 heating film area). The heating panel was kept at a distance of 10 cm from the skin and the surface temperature of the heating panel increased by 1 °C·s-1. The results showed that warmth and hot sensation thresholds were higher for the 100 cm2 condition than the 225 or 400 cm2 conditions (P < 0.05), but no differences were found between the 225 and 400 cm2 conditions. Secondly, the instep was most insensitive to the gradual increase of radiant heat among the four body regions for all three stimulating film sizes, even though the hot threshold was lowest for the instep because the initial foot temperature was lower than other skin temperatures. In summary, spatial summation in thermal sensitivity was found for the 100 and 225 cm 2 conditions, but not for the 225 and 400 cm2 conditions. These results suggest that spatial summation exists but limited to small stimulating areas, smaller than approximately 1% BSA.

High Expression of Tetraspanin 5 as a Prognostic Marker of Colorectal Cancer.

Cancer is a major disease and the leading cause of death worldwide, with colorectal cancer (CRC) being the third-most common cancer in Korea. The survival rate associated with CRC reduces as the disease stage increases. Therefore, its early detection and treatment can greatly increase patient survival rates. In this study, we identified the tetraspanin 5 (TSPAN5) gene as an important biomarker for predicting the prognosis of patients with CRC. A TMA slide was used for statistical analysis. pN and clinical stage were found to be significant factors according to chi-square analysis, whereas pT, pN, metastasis, clinical stage, and TSPAN5 expression were significant according to Cox regression analysis. In order to prove the usefulness of TSPAN5, which is overexpressed in patients with metastatic CRC, as a biomarker, proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumorigenicity were examined using cell lines inhibited using small interfering RNA. The evaluations confirmed that TSPAN5 suppression, in turn, suppressed proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumorigenesis, which are characteristic of cancer cells. Therefore, the evaluation of TSPAN5 expression may help observe the prognosis of CRC and determine an appropriate treatment method for patients with CRC.

High expression of LY6E is an independent prognostic factor of colorectal cancer patients.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is common cancer worldwide, and the 5­year relative survival rate of CRC patients with distant metastasis is as low as 14%. Therefore, identifying markers of CRC is important for the early detection of CRC and applying appropriate treatment strategies. The lymphocyte antigen 6 family (LY6 family) is closely related to the behavior of various cancer types. Among the LY6 family, the lymphocyte antigen 6 complex, locus E (LY6E), which is specifically highly expressed in CRC. Hence, the effects of LY6E on cell function in CRC and its role in CRC recurrence and metastasis were investigated. Reverse transcription­quantitative PCR, western blotting and in vitro functional studies were carried out using four CRC cell lines. Immunohistochemical analysis of 110 CRC tissues was performed to explore the biological functions and expression patterns of LY6E in CRC. LY6E was overexpressed CRC tissues compared with that in adjacent normal tissues. High expression of LY6E in CRC tissues was an independent prognostic factor of worse overall survival (P=0.048). Knockdown of LY6E using small interfering RNA inhibited CRC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and soft agar colony formation, indicating some of its effects on CRC carcinogenic functions. High expression of LY6E may have oncogenic functions in CRC and be useful as a valuable prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target for CRC.

Expression of Spermine Oxidase Is Associated with Colorectal Carcinogenesis and Prognosis of Patients.

Uncovering tumor markers of colorectal cancer is important for the early detection and prognosis of the patients. Spermine oxidase (SMOX) is upregulated in various cancers. The present study aims to explore the biologic function and expression patterns of SMOX in colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common type of cancer worldwide. We used quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot, and in vitro functional studies in four CRC cell lines knocked down by SMOX siRNA and immunohistochemistry in 350 cases of CRC tissues. The results showed that SMOX was overexpressed in CRC cell lines and clinical samples. SMOX overexpression in tumor tissues was an independent prognostic factor, worsening overall survival (p = 0.001). The knock-down of SMOX inhibited CRC cell proliferation, invasion, and soft agar colony formation, uncovering its carcinogenic functions. This study indicated that SMOX overexpression could be an important oncogene in CRC and might serve as a valuable prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target for CRC.

Experimental and Computational Investigation of Intra- and Interlayer Space for Enhanced Depth Filtration and Reduced Pressure Drop.

The buildup of pressure drop with mass loading of particles aggravates the breathing resistance and energy consumption of filters. This study investigated the role of intra- and interlayer space of filter media on the pressure drop development with continued particle loading. Five basic morphologies, including microfibers, nanofibers, microbeads-on-strings, and a mix of those morphologies were fabricated via electrospinning. Then the variations of layered constructions were made, to include a total 14 different filter structures. For a single layer filter media, the pore size rather than the percent porosity had a major impact on the pressure drop. For dual layers, the space between the layers and the placement order of webs were important factors affecting the pressure drop and depth loading of particles. Computational modeling was used to interpret the role of the interlayer space on the pressure drop, by monitoring the air flow and particle movement within the filter constructions, where the computational prediction corresponded to the tendency of the experimental findings. The novelty of this study lies in the combined approach of the experimental and computational work to understand the particle capture phenomenon during the mass loading.

Erratum: Facile Functionalization via Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition for the Effective Filtration of Oily Aerosol. Polymers 2019, 11, 1490.

The authors wish to make a change to the published paper [...].

Erratum: Design of Web-to-Web Spacing for the Reduced Pressure Drop and Effective Depth Filtration. Polymers 2020, 11, 1882.

The authors wish to make a change to the published paper [...].

Design of Web-to-Web Spacing for the Reduced Pressure Drop and Effective Depth Filtration.

The study aims at lowering the pressure drop and extending the service life at a given set of filter materials implementing a space between the filter layers. As design factors, the web-to-web space was implemented by inserting either a bulk air gap or porous spacer web between the filter webs. The effect of spacing, either by the air gap or by the spacer web, on the pressure drop reduction was apparent for 4-layer constructions, and the effect was greater at the higher face velocity. The use of spacer web was more effective than the air gap in reducing the pressure drop, because the porous, fluffy spacer web acted as an effective air flow channel between the compact filter layers. The loading capacity was also increased with the spacer web implementation, effectively delaying the clogging point and extending the service life. Employing both experimental investigation and numerical simulation, this study intended to provide a practical design solution to the important problem in the field of air filtration. The results of this study can be used as a practical design guide to reduce pressure drop via depth filtration.

Facile Functionalization via Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition for the Effective Filtration of Oily Aerosol.

With the growing concern about the health impacts associated with airborne particles, there is a pressing need to design an effective filter device. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of plasma-based surface modifications on static charges of electrospun filter media and their resulting filtration performance. Polystyrene (PS) electrospun web (ES) had inherent static charges of ~3.7 kV due to its electric field-driven process, displaying effective filtration performance. When oxygen species were created on the surface by the oxygen plasma process, static charges of electret media decreased, deteriorating the filter performance. When the web surface was fluorinated by the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), the filtration efficiency against oily aerosol significantly increased due to the combined effect of decreased wettability and strong static charges (~-3.9 kV). Solid particles on the charged media formed dendrites as particles were attracted to other layers of particles, building up a pressure drop. The PECVD process is suggested as a facile functionalization method for effective filter design, particularly for capturing oily aerosol.

Body regional heat pain thresholds using the method of limit and level: a comparative study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare cutaneous heat pain thresholds using the method of limit and level. METHODS: Sixteen young males (23.2 ± 3.2 year, 174.9 ± 4.9 cm, and 70.1 ± 8.6 kg) participated in this study. The thermode temperature increased at a constant rate of 0.1 °C s-1 from 33 °C for the method of limit, whereas the method of level consisted of 3 s heat pulses increasing from 44 °C to 50 °C in 100 s separated by 5 s intervals. All measurements were conducted on 14 body regions (the forehead, neck, chest, abdomen, upper back, upper arm, forearm, waist, hand, palm, thigh, calf, foot, and sole) in 28 °C, 35% relative humidity. RESULTS: The results are as follows. Heat pain thresholds were on average 3.2 ± 2.1 °C higher for the method of level than for the method of limit (P < 0.05). Second, the correlation coefficient between values by two methods was 0.819 (P < 0.01). Third, lower body regions (thigh, calf, and sole) had higher heat pain thresholds than upper body regions (chest) by the method of level only (P < 0.05). Fourth, body regional subcutaneous fat thickness showed no relationship with heat pain thresholds except the upper arm. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that cutaneous heat pain thresholds vary based on the type of heat stimuli and body regions. The method of limit could be applied for predicting accumulated thermal pain starting from moderate heat, whereas the method of level may be applicable for predicting acute heat pain to flames or high heat.