High-resolution electrohydrodynamic inkjet printing of stretchable metal oxide semiconductor transistors with high performance

As demands for high pixel densities and wearable forms of displays increase, high-resolution printing technologies to achieve high performance transistors beyond current amorphous silicon levels and to allow low-temperature solution processability for plastic substrates have been explored as key processes in emerging flexible electronics. This study describes electrohydrodynamic inkjet (e-jet) technology for direct printing of oxide semiconductor thin film transistors (TFTs) with high resolution (minimum line width: 2 μm) and superb performance, including high mobility (∼230 cm² V^-1 s^-1). Logic operations of the amplifier circuits composed of these e-jet-printed metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) TFTs demonstrate their high performance. Printed In₂O TFTs with e-jet printing-assisted high-resolution S/D electrodes were prepared, and the direct printing of passivation layers on these channels enhanced their gate-bias stabilities significantly. Moreover, low process temperatures (<250 °C) enable the use of thin plastic substrates; highly flexible and stretchable TFT arrays have been demonstrated, suggesting promise for next-generation printed electronics.

MP5: STABLE ISOTOPE LABELED BY AMINO ACID IN CULTURE (SILAC) STRATEGY TO ANALYZE HUMAN MIDDLE EAR EPITHELIAL CELLS (HMEEC) SECRETOME IN RESPONSE TO NTHI LYSATES: EVIDENCE OF THE IMPLICATION OF EXOSOMES IN OTITIS MEDIA

Purpose of Study

This study aimed at characterizing the secretome of HMEEC-1 and to evaluate its regulation in response to NTHi lysates and better understand the pathogenesis of Otitis Media (OM).

Methods Used

HMEEC-1 were labeled with heavy isotopes of arginine and lysine to obtain a spike-in standard that was mixed with the conditions of interest (control or treated 24 hrs, secretions recovered 24 hrs or 48 hrs) and separated by SDS-PAGE. Peptides generated by in-gel digestion were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Middle ear effusions (MEEs) from patients having chronic OM were analyzed to validate the results obtained with HMEEC.

Summary of Results

767 proteins were detected by MS in HMEEC secretions. The more abundant proteins detected were components of the extracellular matrix, proteins implicated in the innate immune response, and surprisingly proteins implicated in the processing and packaging of RNA. These proteins were heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoproteins A2/B1 (hnRNPA2B1) and K (hnRNPK) enriched at the 24 hrs time point (1.99 and 1.78 fold change respectively) and Q at 48 hrs (hnRNPQ, fold change 4.76) in response to NTHi lysates. We then hypothesized that these proteins were implicated in the packaging of miRNAs in exosomes in response to NTHi lysates. An exosome marker assay showed the presence of exosomes in both the cell secretions and MEEs. A western blot analysis of MEE exosome proteins showed the presence of hnRNPs as in cell secretions. Finally, a Nanostring chip assay demonstrated the presence of 8 miRNA in MEEs, mostly reported to be produced by epithelial cells and neutrophils.

Conclusions

We characterized the secretome of HMEEC in response to NTHi lysates treatment that show a potential implication of exosomes in the pathogenesis of OM. We demonstrated the presence of exosomes in HMEEC secretions and MEEs, transporting miRNAs packaged by hnRNP proteins.

Effects of Nutritional Supplements on Muscle Mass and Activities of Daily Living in Elderly Rehabilitation Patients with Decreased Muscle Mass: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of nutritional intervention with resistance training on skeletal muscle mass in elderly patients with disabilities in a convalescent rehabilitation setting.

DESIGN

A randomized controlled trial. (UMIN Clinical Trials Registry ID: UMIN000006238).

SETTING

A rehabilitation hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

39 elderly patients with decreased skeletal muscle mass in an inpatient convalescence rehabilitation unit.

INTERVENTIONS

A combination of resistance training plus nutritional supplementation (R/N group) or resistance training alone (R group). The training and supplementation were conducted essentially from the patient's admission to discharge (2-6 months).

OUTCOME MEASURES

The patients were evaluated at the time of admission and at the end of the intervention for skeletal muscle mass (calf circumference [CC] as a primary outcome, and arm circumference [AC]), hand grip strength (HG), Mini-Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA®-SF) score, serum albumin level (Alb), body mass index (BMI), and activities of daily living (ADL) as represented by the Barthel Index (BI) score.

RESULTS

Significant treatment effects were seen for CC, AC, BI, Alb in the R/N group compared to the R group. A mean treatment effect of 3.2 (95%CI: 2.0-4.4) was seen in CC, 1.4 (95%CI: 0.8-2.1) was seen in AC, 11.2 (95%CI: 0.5-21.8) was seen in BI, 0.3 (95%CI: 0.1-0.5) was seen in Alb.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that nutritional intervention added to resistance training during convalescent rehabilitation may improve skeletal muscle mass and activities of daily living.

Loss of CD147 results in impaired epithelial cell differentiation and malformation of the meibomian gland

Meibomian gland dysfunction is a leading cause of ocular surface disease. However, little is known about the regulatory processes that control the development and maintenance of this sebaceous gland. Here, we identify a novel function for CD147, a transmembrane protein that promotes tissue remodeling through induction of matrix metalloproteinases, in regulating meibocyte differentiation and activity. We found that CD147 localized along basal cells and within discrete membrane domains of differentiated meibocytes in glandular acini containing gelatinolytic activity. Induction of meibocyte differentiation in vitro promoted CD147 clustering and MMP9 secretion, whereas RNAi-mediated abrogation of CD147 impaired MMP9 secretion, concomitant with a reduction in the number of proliferative cells and cytoplasmic lipids. Meibomian glands of CD147 knockout mice had a lower number of acini in both the superior and inferior tarsal plates of the eyelids, and were characterized by loss of lipid-filled meibocytes compared with control mice. Together, our data provide evidence showing that gelatinolytic activity in meibocytes is dependent on CD147, and supports a role for CD147 in maintaining the normal development and function of the meibomian gland.

Docosahexaenoic acid induces the degradation of HPV E6/E7 oncoproteins by activating the ubiquitin-proteasome system

The oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) E6/E7 proteins are essential for the onset and maintenance of HPV-associated malignancies. Here, we report that activation of the cellular ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS) by the omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), leads to proteasome-mediated degradation of E6/E7 viral proteins and the induction of apoptosis in HPV-infected cancer cells. The increases in UPS activity and degradation of E6/E7 oncoproteins were associated with DHA-induced overproduction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). Exogenous oxidative stress and pharmacological induction of mitochondrial ROS showed effects similar to those of DHA, and inhibition of ROS production abolished UPS activation, E6/E7 viral protein destabilization, and apoptosis. These findings identify a novel role for DHA in the regulation of UPS and viral proteins, and provide evidence for the use of DHA as a mechanistically unique anticancer agent for the chemoprevention and treatment of HPV-associated tumors.