Long-Lasting, Transparent Antibacterial Shield: A Durable, Broad-Spectrum Anti-Bacterial, Non-Cytotoxic, Transparent Nanocoating for Extended Wear Contact Lenses.

The increasing incidence of serious bacterial keratitis, a sight-threatening condition often exacerbated by inadequate contact lens (CLs) care, highlights the need for innovative protective technology. This study introduces a long-lasting antibacterial, non-cytotoxic, transparent nanocoating for CLs via a solvent-free polymer deposition method, aiming to prevent bacterial keratitis. The nanocoating comprises stacked polymer films, with poly(dimethylaminomethyl styrene-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) (pDE) as a biocompatible, antibacterial layer atop poly(2,4,6,8-tetramethyl-2,4,6,8-tetravinylcyclotetrasiloxane) (pV4D4) as an adhesion-promoting layer. The pD6E1-grafted (g)-pV4D4 film shows non-cytotoxicity toward two human cell lines and antibacterial activity of >99% against four bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an antibiotic-resistant bacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which causes ocular diseases. Additionally, the film demonstrates long-lasting antibacterial activity greater than 96% against MRSA for 9 weeks in phosphate-buffered saline. To the best knowledge, this duration represents the longest reported long-term stability with less than 5% decay of antibacterial performance among contact-killing antibacterial coatings. The film exhibits exceptional mechanical durability, retaining its antibacterial activity even after 15 washing cycles. The pD6E1-g-pV4D4-coated CL maintains full optical transmittance compared to that of pristine CL. It is expected that the unprecedentedly prolonged antibacterial performance of the coating will significantly alleviate the risk of infection for long-term CL users.

Retinal Proteome Analysis Reveals a Region-Specific Change in the Rabbit Myopia Model.

Uncovering region-specific changes in the myopic retina can provide clues to the pathogenesis of myopia progression. After imposing form deprivation myopia in the right eye of 6-week-old rabbits, we investigated the proteome profile of each retinal region (central, mid-periphery, and far-periphery retina), using accurate high-resolution mass spectrometry. Protein expression was analyzed using gene ontology and network analysis compared with that of the control, the left eyes. Among 2065 proteins detected from whole retinal samples, 249 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified: 164 DEPs in the far-periphery, 39 in the mid-periphery, and 83 in the central retina. In network analysis, the far-periphery retina showed the most significant connectivity between DEPs. The regulation of coagulation was the most significant biological process in upregulated DEPs in the far-periphery retina. Proteasome was the most significant Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway in downregulated DEPs in the central retina. Antithrombin-III, fibrinogen gamma chain, and fibrinogen beta chain were identified as hub proteins for myopia progression, which were upregulated in the far-periphery retina. Proteomic analysis in this study suggested that oxidative stress can be the primary pathogenesis of myopia progression and that the far-periphery retina plays a role as the key responder.

Plastid Genomes of the Early Vascular Plant Genus Selaginella Have Unusual Direct Repeat Structures and Drastically Reduced Gene Numbers.

The early vascular plants in the genus Selaginella, which is the sole genus of the Selaginellaceae family, have an important place in evolutionary history, along with ferns, as such plants are valuable resources for deciphering plant evolution. In this study, we sequenced and assembled the plastid genome (plastome) sequences of two Selaginella tamariscina individuals, as well as Selaginella stauntoniana and Selaginella involvens. Unlike the inverted repeat (IR) structures typically found in plant plastomes, Selaginella species had direct repeat (DR) structures, which were confirmed by Oxford Nanopore long-read sequence assembly. Comparative analyses of 19 lycophytes, including two Huperzia and one Isoetes species, revealed unique phylogenetic relationships between Selaginella species and related lycophytes, reflected by structural rearrangements involving two rounds of large inversions that resulted in dynamic changes between IR and DR blocks in the plastome sequence. Furthermore, we present other uncommon characteristics, including a small genome size, drastic reductions in gene and intron numbers, a high GC content, and extensive RNA editing. Although the 16 Selaginella species examined may not fully represent the genus, our findings suggest that Selaginella plastomes have undergone unique evolutionary events yielding genomic features unparalleled in other lycophytes, ferns, or seed plants.

Genome and evolution of the shade-requiring medicinal herb Panax ginseng.

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, reputed as the king of medicinal herbs, has slow growth, long generation time, low seed production and complicated genome structure that hamper its study. Here, we unveil the genomic architecture of tetraploid P. ginseng by de novo genome assembly, representing 2.98 Gbp with 59 352 annotated genes. Resequencing data indicated that diploid Panax species diverged in association with global warming in Southern Asia, and two North American species evolved via two intercontinental migrations. Two whole genome duplications (WGD) occurred in the family Araliaceae (including Panax) after divergence with the Apiaceae, the more recent one contributing to the ability of P. ginseng to overwinter, enabling it to spread broadly through the Northern Hemisphere. Functional and evolutionary analyses suggest that production of pharmacologically important dammarane-type ginsenosides originated in Panax and are produced largely in shoot tissues and transported to roots; that newly evolved P. ginseng fatty acid desaturases increase freezing tolerance; and that unprecedented retention of chlorophyll a/b binding protein genes enables efficient photosynthesis under low light. A genome-scale metabolic network provides a holistic view of Panax ginsenoside biosynthesis. This study provides valuable resources for improving medicinal values of ginseng either through genomics-assisted breeding or metabolic engineering.

Exceptional reduction of the plastid genome of saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea): Loss of the ndh gene suite and inverted repeat.

UNLABELLED: • PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Land-plant plastid genomes have only rarely undergone significant changes in gene content and order. Thus, discovery of additional examples adds power to tests for causes of such genome-scale structural changes.• METHODS: Using next-generation sequence data, we assembled the plastid genome of saguaro cactus and probed the nuclear genome for transferred plastid genes and functionally related nuclear genes. We combined these results with available data across Cactaceae and seed plants more broadly to infer the history of gene loss and to assess the strength of phylogenetic association between gene loss and loss of the inverted repeat (IR).• KEY RESULTS: The saguaro plastid genome is the smallest known for an obligately photosynthetic angiosperm (∼113 kb), having lost the IR and plastid ndh genes. This loss supports a statistically strong association across seed plants between the loss of ndh genes and the loss of the IR. Many nonplastid copies of plastid ndh genes were found in the nuclear genome, but none had intact reading frames; nor did three related nuclear-encoded subunits. However, nuclear pgr5, which functions in a partially redundant pathway, was intact.• CONCLUSIONS: The existence of an alternative pathway redundant with the function of the plastid NADH dehydrogenase-like complex (NDH) complex may permit loss of the plastid ndh gene suite in photoautotrophs like saguaro. Loss of these genes may be a recurring mechanism for overall plastid genome size reduction, especially in combination with loss of the IR.

Developmental changes in organization of structural brain networks.

Recent findings from developmental neuroimaging studies suggest that the enhancement of cognitive processes during development may be the result of a fine-tuning of the structural and functional organization of brain with maturation. However, the details regarding the developmental trajectory of large-scale structural brain networks are not yet understood. Here, we used graph theory to examine developmental changes in the organization of structural brain networks in 203 normally growing children and adolescents. Structural brain networks were constructed using interregional correlations in cortical thickness for 4 age groups (early childhood: 4.8-8.4 year; late childhood: 8.5-11.3 year; early adolescence: 11.4-14.7 year; late adolescence: 14.8-18.3 year). Late childhood showed prominent changes in topological properties, specifically a significant reduction in local efficiency, modularity, and increased global efficiency, suggesting a shift of topological organization toward a more random configuration. An increase in number and span of distribution of connector hubs was found in this age group. Finally, inter-regional connectivity analysis and graph-theoretic measures indicated early maturation of primary sensorimotor regions and protracted development of higher order association and paralimbic regions. Our finding reveals a time window of plasticity occurring during late childhood which may accommodate crucial changes during puberty and the new developmental tasks that an adolescent faces.

Proteomic analysis of CD29+ Müller cells reveals metabolic reprogramming in rabbit myopia model.

The prevalence of myopia is rapidly increasing, significantly impacting the quality of life of affected individuals. Prior research by our group revealed reactive gliosis in Müller cells within myopic retina, prompting further investigation of their role in myopia, which remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed protein expression changes in CD29+ Müller cells isolated from a form deprivation-induced rabbit model of myopia using magnetic activated cell sorting to investigate the role of these cells in myopia. As the principal glial cells in the retina, Müller cells exhibited significant alterations in the components of metabolic pathways, particularly glycolysis and angiogenesis, including the upregulation of glycolytic enzymes, such as lactate dehydrogenase A and pyruvate kinase, implicated in the adaptation to increased metabolic demands under myopic stress. Additionally, a decrease in the expression of proteins associated with oxygen transport suggested enhanced vulnerability to oxidative stress. These findings highlight the proactive role of CD29+ Müller cells in modifying the retinal environment in response to myopic stress and provide valuable insights into mechanisms that could help mitigate myopia progression.

Comparing Montreal Cognitive Assessment Performance in Parkinson's Disease Patients: Age- and Education-Adjusted Cutoffs vs. Machine Learning.

OBJECTIVE: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is recommended for general cognitive evaluation in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. However, age- and education-adjusted cutoffs specifically for PD have not been developed or systematically validated across PD cohorts with diverse education levels. METHODS: In this retrospective analysis, we utilized data from 1,293 Korean patients with PD whose cognitive diagnoses were determined through comprehensive neuropsychological assessments. Age- and education-adjusted cutoffs were formulated based on 1,202 patients with PD. To identify the optimal machine learning model, clinical parameters and MoCA domain scores from 416 patients with PD were used. Comparative analyses between machine learning. METHODS: and different cutoff criteria were conducted on an additional 91 consecutive patients with PD. RESULTS: The cutoffs for cognitive impairment decrease with increasing age within the same education level. Similarly, lower education levels within the same age group correspond to lower cutoffs. For individuals aged 60-80 years, cutoffs were set as follows: 25 or 24 years for those with more than 12 years of education, 23 or 22 years for 10-12 years, and 21 or 20 years for 7-9 years. Comparisons between age- and education-adjusted cutoffs and the machine learning method showed comparable accuracies. The cutoff method resulted in a higher sensitivity (0.8627), whereas machine learning yielded higher specificity (0.8250). CONCLUSION: Both the age- and education-adjusted cutoff. METHODS: and machine learning. METHODS: demonstrated high effectiveness in detecting cognitive impairment in PD patients. This study highlights the necessity of tailored cutoffs and suggests the potential of machine learning to improve cognitive assessment in PD patients.

Exploration of the changes in the perceptions of medical students about cadaver dissections using metaphors.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the changes in metaphors used by medical students before and after the dissection of a cadaver. This will help qualitatively understand the meaning of cadaver dissections. METHODS: The metaphorical expressions about the practice of dissection that were used before and after the dissection exercises were collected from 147 Korean medical students. The collected qualitative data were categorised through a repeated comparative analysis. RESULTS: The results of the analysis identified seven types of metaphors that were used before the dissection practice: 'rite of passage', 'first step', 'precious opportunity', 'fog', 'hell', 'thrill', and 'double-edged sword'. After the cadaver dissection, nine types of metaphors were used: 'introspection', 'hell', 'precious opportunity', 'treasure hunt', 'turning point', 'debt', 'mist', 'bittersweet candy', and 'buzzer beater'. In general, before a cadaver dissection, students recognised the importance of the practice of cadaver dissection as being a 'gateway' or a 'growing pain'. Metaphors such as 'introspection' and 'mirror' were used with an improved attitude. However, some students continued to use negative metaphors, such as 'hell', before and after the cadaver dissection and maintained negative feelings about it. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that, for many medical students, cadaver dissection is a crucial stage of self-reflection and for the formation of their identities as doctors. The consideration of students' perceptions during all cadaver dissections is therefore essential.

The complete chloroplast genome of Sinomenium acutum (Menispermaceae).

We generated the complete chloroplast genome sequence of Sinomenium acutum, a species of the Menispermaceae family, and characterized from the de novo assembly of Illumina HiSeq paired-end sequencing data. The total length of the chloroplast genome of S. acutum was 162,787 bp with a large single-copy (LSC) region of 91,430 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 21,245 bp, and a pair of identical inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 25,056 bp. The total of 131 genes were annotated in the chloroplast genome of Sinomenium acutum, including 85 protein-coding genes, 38 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The phylogenetic analysis of S. acutum with 18 related species revealed the closest taxonomical relationship with Menispermum dauricum in the Menispermaceae family.

The complete chloroplast genome of Typhonium giganteum (Araceae).

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Typhonium giganteum, a species of the Araceae family, was characterized from the de novo assembly of HiSeq (Illumina Co.) paired-end sequencing data. The chloroplast genome of T. giganteum was 165,289 bp in length, with a large single-copy (LSC) region of 91,747 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 22,550 bp, and a pair of identical inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 25,496 bp. The genome contained a total of 132 genes, including 86 protein-coding genes, 38 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The phylogenetic analysis of T. giganteum with 12 related species revealed the closest taxonomical relationship with Pinellia pedatisecta in the Araceae.

Comprehensive comparative analysis of chloroplast genomes from seven Panax species and development of an authentication system based on species-unique single nucleotide polymorphism markers.

BACKGROUND: Panax species are important herbal medicinal plants in the Araliaceae family. Recently, we reported the complete chloroplast genomes and 45S nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences from seven Panax species, two (P . quinqu e folius and P . trifolius) from North America and five (P . ginseng, P . notoginseng, P . japonicus, P . vietnamensis, and P . stipuleanatus) from Asia. METHODS: We conducted phylogenetic analysis of these chloroplast sequences with 12 other Araliaceae species and comprehensive comparative analysis among the seven Panax whole chloroplast genomes. RESULTS: We identified 1,128 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in coding gene sequences, distributed among 72 of the 79 protein-coding genes in the chloroplast genomes of the seven Panax species. The other seven genes (including psaJ, psbN, rpl23, psbF, psbL, rps18, and rps7) were identical among the Panax species. We also discovered that 12 large chloroplast genome fragments were transferred into the mitochondrial genome based on sharing of more than 90% sequence similarity. The total size of transferred fragments was 60,331 bp, corresponding to approximately 38.6% of chloroplast genome. We developed 18 SNP markers from the chloroplast genic coding sequence regions that were not similar to regions in the mitochondrial genome. These markers included two or three species-specific markers for each species and can be used to authenticate all the seven Panax species from the others. CONCLUSION: The comparative analysis of chloroplast genomes from seven Panax species elucidated their genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships, and 18 species-specific markers were able to discriminate among these species, thereby furthering efforts to protect the ginseng industry from economically motivated adulteration.

Particulate Matter Exposure During Oocyte Maturation: Cell Cycle Arrest, ROS Generation, and Early Apoptosis in Mice.

Particulate matter (PM) is a general atmospheric pollutant released into the air by an anthropogenic and naturally derived mixture of substances. Current studies indicate that fine dust can result in different health defects, including endothelial dysfunction, asthma, lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, uterine leiomyoma, deterioration in sperm quality, and overall birth impairment. However, the most prominent effects of PM10 (diameter < 10 µM) exposure on the female reproductive system, especially with respect to oocyte maturation, remain unclear. In the present study, maturing mouse oocytes were treated with PM10 and the phenotypes of the resulting toxic effects were investigated. Exposure to PM10 led to impairment of maturation capacity by inducing cell cycle arrest and blocking normal polar body extrusion during in vitro maturation and activation of fertilization of mouse oocytes. Additionally, defects in tubulin formation and DNA alignment were observed in PM10-treated oocytes during metaphase I to anaphase/telophase I transition. Moreover, PM10 induced reactive oxygen species generation, mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA damage, and early apoptosis. Taken together, these results indicate that PM10 exposure leads to a decline in oocyte quality and affects the subsequent embryonic development potential of mammalian oocytes.

Changes in brain activation induced by the training of hypothesis generation skills: an fMRI study.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the learning-related changes in brain activation induced by the training of hypothesis generation skills regarding biological phenomena. Eighteen undergraduate participants were scanned twice with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) before and after training over a period of 2 months. The experimental group underwent eight biological hypothesis generation training programs, but the control group was not given any during the 2-month period. The results showed that the left frontal gyri, the cingulate gyrus, and the cuneus were activated during hypothesis generation. In addition, the brain activation of the trained group increased in the left inferior and the superior frontal gyri, which are related to working memory load and higher-order inferential processes. However, the activation after training decreased in the occipito-parietal route, which is associated with the perception and the analysis processes of visual information. Furthermore, the results have suggested that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) region is the critical area in the training of hypothesis generation skills.

The complete chloroplast genome of Hemerocallis Fulva.

We have sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of Hemerocallis fulva, a species of the Asphodelaceae family, through Illumina HiSeq paired-end sequencing. The total size of chloroplast genome of Hemerocallis fulva was 155,855 bp with a large single-copy (LSC) region of 84,607 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,508 bp, and a pair of identical inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 26,370 bp. The genome contained a total of 112 genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 29 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 4 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The phylogenetic analysis of Hemerocallis fulva with 10 related species exhibited the closest taxonomical relationship with Aloe species in the Asphodelaceae family.

Efficacy of automated percutaneous lumbar discectomy for lumbar disc herniation in young male soldiers.

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) often results in back pain and radicular pain and is frequently treated with minimally invasive non-surgical methods in Korean Armed Forces Hospitals. Automated percutaneous lumbar discectomy (APLD) has been reported to have good clinical outcomes with low complication rates; however, the clinical efficacy of APLD performed in young male soldiers is uncertain. In order to clarify the efficacy of APLD for the treatment of LDH in young male soldiers, we designed a retrospective case-control study to compare patients who received APLD with patients treated with epidural steroid injection (ESI) alone.A total of 181 patients were enrolled and divided into the APLD (n = 92) and ESI (n = 89) groups according to the treatment modality. A simple logistic regression analysis was conducted to clarify the difference between the two. To optimize patient selection, APLD group was additionally divided for subgroup analysis into favorable (n = 59) and unfavorable (n = 33) groups based on satisfaction scales. A simple logistic analysis was also performed.The differences between pre- and postoperative numerical rating scale of pain (P = .0027) and hospital-own satisfaction scale (P = .0045) of the APLD group were significantly better compared to those of the ESI group. In terms of subgroup analysis, single-level pathology (P = 0.244) and protruded disc (P = .0443) were associated with favorable outcomes, whereas dual pathology and extruded disc were related with unfavorable outcomes.APLD using Dekompressor, performed in young male soldiers with back and radicular pain owing to LDH, showed better clinical outcomes compared to the ESI only therapy. Additionally, a single-level pathology with protruded disc was associated with favorable outcomes and may be indicated for treatment.

Potential Applications of Non-thermal Plasma in Animal Husbandry to Improve Infrastructure.

Infrastructure in animal husbandry refers to fundamental facilities and services necessary for better living conditions of animals and its economy to function through better productivity. Mainly, infrastructure can be divided into two categories: hard infrastructure and soft infrastructure. Physical infrastructure, such as buildings, roads, and water supplying systems, belongs to hard infrastructure. Soft infrastructure includes services which are required to maintain economic, health, cultural and social standards of animal husbandry. Therefore, the proper management of infrastructure in animal husbandry is necessary for animal welfare and its economy. Among various technologies to improve the quality of infrastructure, non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology is an effectively applicable technology in different stages of animal husbandry. NTP is mainly helpful in maintaining better health conditions of animals in several ways via decontamination from microorganisms present in air, water, food, instruments and surfaces of animal farming systems. Furthermore, NTP is used in the treatment of waste water, vaccine production, wound healing in animals, odor-free ventilation, and packaging of animal food or animal products. This review summarizes the recent studies of NTP which can be related to the infrastructure in animal husbandry.

Effects of medical communication curriculum on perceptions of Korean medical school students.

PURPOSE: The study examines changes in students' self-assessment of their general communication (GC) and medical communication (MC) competencies, as well as perceptions of MC concepts. METHODS: Participants included 108 second year medical students enrolled at a Korean medical school studying an MC curriculum. It was divided into three sections, and participants responded to questionnaires before and after completing each section. To assess perceived GC and MC competency, items based on a 7-point Likert scale were employed; a single open-ended item was used to examine students' perceptions of MC. Statistical analysis was conducted to gauge GC and MC competency, whereas semantic network analysis was used to investigate students' perceptions of MC. RESULTS: Students perceived their GC competency to be higher than MC. Perceived MC competency differed significantly across the three sections, whereas no differences were found for GC. There were no statistically significant differences after completing the curriculum's second and third sections; however, the vocabulary students used to describe MC concepts became more scholarly and professional. In the semantic networks, the link structure between MC-related words decreased in linearity and looseness, becoming more complex and clustered. The words 'information' and 'transfer' proved integral to students' perceptions; likewise, 'empathy' and 'communication' became closely connected in a single community from two independent communities. CONCLUSION: This study differed from prior research by conducting an in-depth analysis of changes in students' perceptions of MC, and its findings can be used to guide curriculum development.

The complete chloroplast genome of Codonopsis lanceolata (Campanulaceae).

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Codonopsis lanceolata was determined by next generation sequencing. The total length of chloroplast genome of C. lanceolata was 169,447 bp long, including a large single-copy (LSC) region of 85,253 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 8060 bp, and a pair of identical inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 38,067 bp. A total of 110 genes was annotated, resulting in 79 protein-coding genes, 27 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis of C. lanceolata with related chloroplast genome sequences in this study provided the taxonomical relationship of C. lanceolata in the genus Campanula.

The complete chloroplast genome of Caltha Palustris (Ranunculaceae).

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Caltha palustris, a species of the Ranunculaceae family, was characterized from the de novo assembly of HiSeq (Illumina Co.) paired-end sequencing data. The chloroplast genome of C. palustris was 155,292 bp in length, with a large single-copy (LSC) region of 84,120 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,342 bp, and a pair of identical inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 26,415 bp. The genome contained a total of 114 genes, including 80 protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 4 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The phylogenetic analysis of C. palustris with 14 related species revealed the closest taxonomical relationship with Hydrastis canadensis in the Ranunculaceae family.