Use of functional magnetic resonance imaging to identify cortical loci for lower limb movements and their efficacy for individuals after stroke

BACKGROUND

Identification of cortical loci for lower limb movements for stroke rehabilitation is crucial for better rehabilitation outcomes via noninvasive brain stimulation by targeting the fine-grained cortical loci of the movements. However, identification of the cortical loci for lower limb movements using functional MRI (fMRI) is challenging due to head motion and difficulty in isolating different types of movement. Therefore, we developed a custom-made MR-compatible footplate and leg cushion to identify the cortical loci for lower limb movements and conducted multivariate analysis on the fMRI data. We evaluated the validity of the identified loci using both fMRI and behavioral data, obtained from healthy participants as well as individuals after stroke.

METHODS

We recruited 33 healthy participants who performed four different lower limb movements (ankle dorsiflexion, ankle rotation, knee extension, and toe flexion) using our custom-built equipment while fMRI data were acquired. A subgroup of these participants (Dataset 1; n = 21) was used to identify the cortical loci associated with each lower limb movement in the paracentral lobule (PCL) using multivoxel pattern analysis and representational similarity analysis. The identified cortical loci were then evaluated using the remaining healthy participants (Dataset 2; n = 11), for whom the laterality index (LI) was calculated for each lower limb movement using the cortical loci identified for the left and right lower limbs. In addition, we acquired a dataset from 15 individuals with chronic stroke for regression analysis using the LI and the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) scale.

RESULTS

The cortical loci associated with the lower limb movements were hierarchically organized in the medial wall of the PCL following the cortical homunculus. The LI was clearer using the identified cortical loci than using the PCL. The healthy participants (mean ± standard deviation: 0.12 ± 0.30; range: - 0.63 to 0.91) exhibited a higher contralateral LI than the individuals after stroke (0.07 ± 0.47; - 0.83 to 0.97). The corresponding LI scores for individuals after stroke showed a significant positive correlation with the FMA scale for paretic side movement in ankle dorsiflexion (R2 = 0.33, p = 0.025) and toe flexion (R2 = 0.37, p = 0.016).

CONCLUSIONS

The cortical loci associated with lower limb movements in the PCL identified in healthy participants were validated using independent groups of healthy participants and individuals after stroke. Our findings suggest that these cortical loci may be beneficial for the neurorehabilitation of lower limb movement in individuals after stroke, such as in developing effective rehabilitation interventions guided by the LI scores obtained for neuronal activations calculated from the identified cortical loci across the paretic and non-paretic sides of the brain.

Evaluation of advective solute infiltration into porous media by pulsed focused ultrasound-induced acoustic streaming effects

PURPOSE

Acoustic streaming induced by applying transcranial focused ultrasound (FUS) promotes localized advective solute transport in the brain and has recently garnered research interest for drug delivery and enhancement of brain waste clearance. The acoustic streaming behavior in brain tissue is difficult to model numerically and thus warrants an in vitro examination of the effects of using different sonication parameters, in terms of frequency, intensity, and pulse duration (PD).

METHODS

Melamine and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) foams were used to mimic the porous brain tissue, which contains leptomeningeal fenestrations and perivascular space, while agar hydrogel was used to emulate denser neuropil. FUS was delivered to these media, which were immersed in a phosphate-buffered saline containing toluidine blue O dye, across various frequencies (400, 500, and 600 kHz; applicable to transcranial delivery) in a pulsed mode at two different spatialpeak pulse-average intensities (3 and 4 W/cm2).

RESULTS

Image analysis showed that the use of 400 kHz yielded the greatest dye infiltration in melamine foam, while sonication had no impact on infiltration in the agar hydrogel due to the dominance of diffusional transport. Using a fixed spatial-peak temporal-average intensity of 0.4 W/cm2 at 400 kHz, a PD of 75 ms resulted in the greatest infiltration depth in both melamine and PVA foams among the tested range (50-150 ms).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest the existence of a specific frequency and PD that induce greater enhancement of solute/fluid movement, which may contribute to eventual in vivo applications in promoting waste clearance from the brain.

Non-thermal Acoustic Enhancement of Chemotherapeutic Effects of Cisplatin on Xenografted Cervical Cancer in Mice

BACKGROUND/AIM

We examined the effect of low-intensity focused ultrasound (FUS) on unbinding cisplatin from plasma proteins and enhancing its chemotherapeutic efficacy using a mouse model of xenograft human cervical cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

FUS, operating in a pulsed mode, was applied to a dialysis cassette immersed in a normal saline bath containing both bovine serum albumin (BSA) and cisplatin, and the unbound level of cisplatin diffused into the cassette was measured. To assess the in vivo efficacy of the technique, athymic nu/nu mice were inoculated with human cervical cancer cells under four different combinatory conditions, with and without the administration of cisplatin and FUS. FUS was delivered to the tumor mass for 1 h across four separate sessions spanning a period of 10 days, following the intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin.

RESULTS

In vitro equilibrium dialysis revealed that non-thermal application of FUS increased the concentration of unbound cisplatin compared to cassettes that were not exposed to sonication, suggesting successful unbinding. Assessment of tumor growth in vivo showed that FUS following cisplatin administration resulted in a significant reduction in tumor growth, whereas the administration of cisplatin alone exhibited plateau growth. Without administration of cisplatin, equivalent rates of aggressive tumor growth were observed regardless of the application of FUS.

CONCLUSION

Pulsed application of FUS can unbind cisplatin from albumin and enhance its tumoricidal effects in cervical cancer. Further assessment of intratumoral/systemic cisplatin concentration is required to quantify its selective delivery to the tumor.

A preliminary study about the potential risks of the UV-weathered microplastic: The proteome-level changes in the brain in response to polystyrene derived weathered microplastics

The growing use of plastic materials has resulted in a constant increase in the risk associated with microplastics (MPs). Ultra-violet (UV) light and wind break down modify MPs in the environment into smaller particles known as weathered MPs (WMPs) and these processes increase the risk of MP toxicity. The neurotoxicity of weathered polystyrene-MPs remains unclear. Therefore, it is important to understand the risks posed by WMPs. We evaluated the chemical changes of WMPs generated under laboratory-synchronized environmentally mimetic conditions and compared them with virgin MPs (VMPs). We found that WMP had a rough surface, slight yellow color, reduced molecular weight, and structural alteration compared with those of VMP. Next, 2 μg of ∼100 μm in size of WMP and VMP were orally administered once a day for one week to C57BL/6 male mice. Proteomic analysis revealed that the WMP group had significantly increased activation of immune and neurodegeneration-related pathways compared with that of the VMP group. Consistently, in in vitro experiments, the human brain-derived microglial cell line (HMC-3) also exhibited a more severe inflammatory response to WMP than to VMP. These results show that WMP is a more profound inflammatory factor than VMP. In summary, our findings demonstrate the toxicity of WMPs and provide theoretical insights into their potential risks to biological systems and even humans in the ecosystem.

Disease-microenvironment modulation by bare- or engineered-exosome for rheumatoid arthritis treatment

BACKGROUND

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles secreted by eukaryotic cells and have been extensively studied for their surface markers and internal cargo with unique functions. A deeper understanding of exosomes has allowed their application in various research areas, particularly in diagnostics and therapy.

MAIN BODY

Exosomes have great potential as biomarkers and delivery vehicles for encapsulating therapeutic cargo. However, the limitations of bare exosomes, such as rapid phagocytic clearance and non-specific biodistribution after injection, pose significant challenges to their application as drug delivery systems. This review focuses on exosome-based drug delivery for treating rheumatoid arthritis, emphasizing pre/post-engineering approaches to overcome these challenges.

CONCLUSION

This review will serve as an essential resource for future studies to develop novel exosome-based therapeutic approaches for rheumatoid arthritis. Overall, the review highlights the potential of exosomes as a promising therapeutic approach for rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

Non-invasive enhancement of intracortical solute clearance using transcranial focused ultrasound

Transport of interstitial fluid and solutes plays a critical role in clearing metabolic waste from the brain. Transcranial application of focused ultrasound (FUS) has been shown to promote localized cerebrospinal fluid solute uptake into the brain parenchyma; however, its effects on the transport and clearance of interstitial solutes remain unknown. We demonstrate that pulsed application of low-intensity FUS to the rat brain enhances the transport of intracortically injected fluorescent tracers (ovalbumin and high molecular-weight dextran), yielding greater parenchymal tracer volume distribution compared to the unsonicated control group (ovalbumin by 40.1% and dextran by 34.6%). Furthermore, FUS promoted the drainage of injected interstitial ovalbumin to both superficial and deep cervical lymph nodes (cLNs) ipsilateral to sonication, with 78.3% higher drainage observed in the superficial cLNs compared to the non-sonicated hemisphere. The application of FUS increased the level of solute transport visible from the dorsal brain surface, with ~ 43% greater area and ~ 19% higher fluorescence intensity than the unsonicated group, especially in the pial surface ipsilateral to sonication. The sonication did not elicit tissue-level neuronal excitation, measured by an electroencephalogram, nor did it alter the molecular weight of the tracers. These findings suggest that nonthermal transcranial FUS can enhance advective transport of interstitial solutes and their subsequent removal in a completely non-invasive fashion, offering its potential non-pharmacological utility in facilitating clearance of waste from the brain.

Transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation of cortical and thalamic somatosensory areas in human

The effects of transcranial focused ultrasound (FUS) stimulation of the primary somatosensory cortex and its thalamic projection (i.e., ventral posterolateral nucleus) on the generation of electroencephalographic (EEG) responses were evaluated in healthy human volunteers. Stimulation of the unilateral somatosensory circuits corresponding to the non-dominant hand generated EEG evoked potentials across all participants; however, not all perceived stimulation-mediated tactile sensations of the hand. These FUS-evoked EEG potentials (FEP) were observed from both brain hemispheres and shared similarities with somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) from median nerve stimulation. Use of a 0.5 ms pulse duration (PD) sonication given at 70% duty cycle, compared to the use of 1 and 2 ms PD, elicited more distinctive FEP peak features from the hemisphere ipsilateral to sonication. Although several participants reported hearing tones associated with FUS stimulation, the observed FEP were not likely to be confounded by the auditory sensation based on a separate measurement of auditory evoked potentials (AEP) to tonal stimulation (mimicking the same repetition frequency as the FUS stimulation). Off-line changes in resting-state functional connectivity (FC) associated with thalamic stimulation revealed that the FUS stimulation enhanced connectivity in a network of sensorimotor and sensory integration areas, which lasted for at least more than an hour. Clinical neurological evaluations, EEG, and neuroanatomical MRI did not reveal any adverse or unintended effects of sonication, attesting its safety. These results suggest that FUS stimulation may induce long-term neuroplasticity in humans, indicating its neurotherapeutic potential for various neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions.

Transcranial focused ultrasound-mediated unbinding of phenytoin from plasma proteins for suppression of chronic temporal lobe epilepsy in a rodent model

The efficacy of many anti-epileptic drugs, including phenytoin (PHT), is reduced by plasma protein binding (PPB) that sequesters therapeutically active drug molecules within the bloodstream. An increase in systemic dose elevates the risk of drug side effects, which demands an alternative technique to increase the unbound concentration of PHT in a region-specific manner. We present a low-intensity focused ultrasound (FUS) technique that locally enhances the efficacy of PHT by transiently disrupting its binding to albumin. We first identified the acoustic parameters that yielded the highest PHT unbinding from albumin among evaluated parameter sets using equilibrium dialysis. Then, rats with chronic mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) received four sessions of PHT injection, each followed by 30 min of FUS delivered to the ictal region, across 2 weeks. Two additional groups of mTLE rats underwent the same procedure, but without receiving PHT or FUS. Assessment of electrographic seizure activities revealed that FUS accompanying administration of PHT effectively reduced the number and mean duration of ictal events compared to other conditions, without damaging brain tissue or the blood-brain barrier. Our results demonstrated that the FUS technique enhanced the anti-epileptic efficacy of PHT in a chronic mTLE rodent model by region-specific PPB disruption.

Transverse single-spin asymmetry of very forward neutral pion

We present in this talk a recent work on the transverse single-spin asymmetry of the very forward neutral pion in polarized p+p collisions at √S = 510 GeV. The triple-Regge formalism remarkably well desribes the RHICf data at pT < 1 GeV. We found that the neutral pion production at low pT is interpreted as a diffractive one.

Effects of focused ultrasound pulse duration on stimulating cortical and subcortical motor circuits in awake sheep

Low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) offers new functional neuromodulation opportunities, enabling stimulation of cortical as well as deep brain areas with high spatial resolution. Brain stimulation of awake sheep, in the absence of the confounding effects of anesthesia on brain function, provides translational insight into potential human applications with safety information supplemented by histological analyses. We examined the effects of tFUS pulsing parameters, particularly regarding pulse durations (PDs), on stimulating the cortical motor area (M1) and its thalamic projection in unanesthetized, awake sheep (n = 8). A wearable tFUS headgear, custom-made for individual sheep, enabled experiments to be conducted without using anesthesia. FUS stimuli, each 200 ms long, were delivered to the M1 and the thalamus using three different PDs (0.5, 1, and 2 ms) with the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) adjusted to maintain a 70% duty cycle at a derated in situ spatial-peak temporal-average intensity (Ispta) of 3.6 W/cm2. Efferent electromyography (EMG) responses to stimulation were quantified from both hind limbs. Group-averaged EMG responses from each of the hind limbs across the experimental conditions revealed selective responses from the hind limb contralateral to sonication. The use of 0.5 and 1 ms PDs generated higher EMG signal amplitudes compared to those obtained using a 2 ms PD. Faster efferent response was also observed from thalamic stimulation than that from stimulating the M1. Post-sonication behavioral observation and histological assessment performed 24 h and 1 month after sonication were not indicative of any abnormalities. The results suggest the presence of pulsing scheme-dependent effects of tFUS on brain stimulation and attest its safety in awake large animals.

High Incidence of Intracerebral Hemorrhaging Associated with the Application of Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Following Acute Cerebrovascular Injury by Intracortical Injection

Low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound (FUS) has gained momentum as a non-/minimally-invasive modality that facilitates the delivery of various pharmaceutical agents to the brain. With the additional ability to modulate regional brain tissue excitability, FUS is anticipated to confer potential neurotherapeutic applications whereby a deeper insight of its safety is warranted. We investigated the effects of FUS applied to the rat brain (Sprague-Dawley) shortly after an intracortical injection of fluorescent interstitial solutes, a widely used convection-enhanced delivery technique that directly (i.e., bypassing the blood-brain-barrier (BBB)) introduces drugs or interstitial tracers to the brain parenchyma. Texas Red ovalbumin (OA) and fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-d) were used as the interstitial tracers. Rats that did not receive sonication showed an expected interstitial distribution of OA and FITC-d around the injection site, with a wider volume distribution of OA (21.8 ± 4.0 µL) compared to that of FITC-d (7.8 ± 2.7 µL). Remarkably, nearly half of the rats exposed to the FUS developed intracerebral hemorrhaging (ICH), with a significantly higher volume of bleeding compared to a minor red blood cell extravasation from the animals that were not exposed to sonication. This finding suggests that the local cerebrovascular injury inflicted by the micro-injection was further exacerbated by the application of sonication, particularly during the acute stage of injury. Smaller tracer volume distributions and weaker fluorescent intensities, compared to the unsonicated animals, were observed for the sonicated rats that did not manifest hemorrhaging, which may indicate an enhanced degree of clearance of the injected tracers. Our results call for careful safety precautions when ultrasound sonication is desired among groups under elevated risks associated with a weakened or damaged vascular integrity.

Spectral dynamic causal modeling of mindfulness, mind-wandering, and resting-state in the triple network using fMRI

OBJECTIVE

Functional connectivity in intrinsic brain networks, namely, the triple network, which includes the salience network, default mode network (DMN) and central executive network (CEN), has been suggested as prominent, major networks involved in human cognition and mental state-mindfulness, mind-wandering and resting-state. Despite the established roles of functional connections within and between intrinsic networks, there has been limited research on the effective connectivity of mindfulness, mind-wandering and resting-state using the triple network, as well as on their direct comparisons.

METHODS

We employed spectral dynamic causal modeling to compare effective connectivity patterns across mindfulness (i.e. attention focused on physical sensations of breathing), mind-wandering (i.e. connecting thoughts) and resting-state (i.e. relaxing while remaining calm and awake) conditions using functional MRI data of healthy subjects who underwent ambulatory training by practicing mindfulness and mind-wandering (N = 59).

RESULTS

When comparing mindfulness and mindwandering conditions, our analysis results revealed that salience network and CEN interacted depending on mindfulness or mind-wandering. When mindfulness or mind-wandering was compared to resting-state, mindfulness increased the effective connectivity from the left CEN to salience network through DMN, whereas mindwandering increased the effective connectivity from the DMN to right CEN.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine possible differences in effective connectivity patterns among mindfulness, mind-wandering and resting-state using the triple network. We believe that our findings will provide deeper insights into the neural substrates of mindfulness compared to mind-wandering and resting-state.

Electronic Cigarette Vaping Did Not Enhance the Neural Process of Working Memory for Regular Cigarette Smokers

Background

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) as substitute devices for regular tobacco cigarettes (r-cigs) have been increasing in recent times. We investigated neuronal substrates of vaping e-cigs and smoking r-cigs from r-cig smokers.

Methods

Twenty-two r-cig smokers made two visits following overnight smoking cessation. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were acquired while participants watched smoking images. Participants were then allowed to smoke either an e-cig or r-cig until satiated and fMRI data were acquired. Their craving levels and performance on the Montreal Imaging Stress Task and a 3-back alphabet/digit recognition task were obtained and analyzed using two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance. Regions-of-interest (ROIs) were identified by comparing the abstained and satiated conditions. Neuronal activation within ROIs was regressed on the craving and behavioral data separately.

Results

Craving was more substantially reduced by smoking r-cigs than by vaping e-cigs. The response time (RT) for the 3-back task was significantly shorter following smoking r-cigs than following vaping e-cigs (interaction: F (1, 17) = 5.3, p = 0.035). Neuronal activations of the right vermis (r = 0.43, p = 0.037, CI = [-0.05, 0.74]), right caudate (r = 0.51, p = 0.015, CI = [0.05, 0.79]), and right superior frontal gyrus (r = −0.70, p = 0.001, CI = [−0.88, −0.34]) were significantly correlated with the RT for the 3-back task only for smoking r-cigs.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that insufficient satiety from vaping e-cigs for r-cigs smokers may be insignificant effect on working memory function.

Microglial phagocytosis of polystyrene microplastics results in immune alteration and apoptosis in vitro and in vivo

The remarkable increase in plastic usage and widespread microplastic (MP) pollution has emerged as a substantial concern today. Many recent studies have revealed MPs as potentially hazardous substances in mammals. Despite several reports on the impact of small MPs in the brain and behaviors in aquatic animals, it is still unclear how small MPs affect the brain and its underlying cellular physiology in terrestrial animals. In this study, we investigated the accumulation of polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs) in mouse brain after oral treatment using three types of fluorescent PS-MPs of different sizes (0.2,2 and 10 μm). We found that PS-MPs were deposited in microglial cells of the brain. Following differential treatment of PS-MPs in human microglial HMC-3 cells, we identified changes in cellular morphology, immune responses, and microglial apoptosis induced by phagocytosis of 0.2 and 2 μm PS-MPs. By analyzing the PS-MP-treated HMC-3 cell transcriptome, we showed that PS-MPs treatment altered the expression of clusters of immune response genes, immunoglobulins, and several related microRNAs. In addition, we confirmed alterations in microglial differentiation marker expression with the activation of NF-κB, pro-inflammatory cytokines and apoptotic markers in PS-MP-treated human microglial cells and in mouse brain. Our findings suggest a potential risk of small PS-MPs in microglial immune activation, which leads to microglial apoptosis in murine and human brains.

Toxicity impact of hydrogen peroxide on the fate of zebrafish and antibiotic resistant bacteria

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is applied in various environments. It could be present at concentrations ranging from nanomolar to micromolar in a water system. It is produced through pollutants and natural activities. Since few studies have been conducted about the impact of naturally produced H₂O₂ on aquatic organisms, the objective of the present study was to monitor changes in responses of aquatic model organisms such as zebrafish and antibiotic-resistant bacteria to different exogenous H₂O₂ exposure. Increases in exposure concentration and time induced decreases in the perception of zebrafish larvae (up to 69%) and movement of adult zebrafish (average speed, average acceleration, movement distance, and activity time) compared to the control (non-exposed group). In addition, as a function of H₂O₂ exposure concentration (0-100,000 nM) and time, up to 20-fold increase (p = 5.00*10^-6) of lipid peroxidation compared to control was observed. For microorganisms, biofilm, an indirect indicator of resistance to external stressors, was increased up to 68% and gene transfer was increased (p = 2.00*10^-6) by more than 30% after H₂O₂ exposure. These results imply that naturally generated H₂O₂ could adversely affect aquatic environment organisms and public health. Thus, more careful attention is needed for H₂O₂ production in an aquatic system.

N-doped porous carbons derived from Zn-porphyrin-MOF

N-doped porous metal–organic framework (MOF)-derived carbons (MDCs) were directly synthesized from a new Zn-DpyDtolP-MOF (ZnDpyDtolP·1/2DMF, H₂DpyDtolP = 5,15-di(4-pyridyl)-10,20-di(4-methylphenyl)porphyrin) containing a 3D hexagonal network through a self-templated carbonization method. KOH-activated MDC derivatives denoted as MDC-700-nKOH were also prepared with different weight ratios of KOH activator to MDC (MDC : KOH = 1 : n, where n = 1, 2). Compared to bare MDC, MDC-700-nKOH showed effective improvements of both gas sorption and electrochemical capacitive properties. More developed microporosity by KOH activation might induce great enhancement of high operating capacitive performances. The N-doped MDC-700-2KOH had high maximum gravimetric specific capacitance (555.6 F g⁻¹) and specific energy (40.4 W h kg⁻¹) at 0.1 A g⁻¹ in 1 M H₂SO₄. Even at a high current density of 190 A g⁻¹ in 6 M KOH, it exhibited high capacitive performance with a large specific power of 80 423 W kg⁻¹. MDC-700-nKOH electrodes also showed good recycling properties of electrochemical capacitance up to 30 000 cycles.

The porphyrin-based Zn-MOF is directly carbonized and activated by KOH for the generation of N-doped porous carbons acting as high performance supercapacitor electrode materials.

Long-term seasonal and temporal changes of hydrogen peroxide from cyanobacterial blooms in fresh waters

In water, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is produced through abiotic and biotic reactions with organic matter, including algal cells. The production of H₂O₂ is influenced by harmful algal cell communities and toxicity. However, only a few studies have been conducted on H₂O₂ concentrations in natural water. Particularly, the seasonal and temporal patterns of H₂O₂ concentration suggest that H₂O₂ generation from aquatic microorganisms could be identified to compare of photochemical production from dissolved organic matter. Study area is a source of raw water and is a large artificial lake located near a metropolitan city. Due to various environmental conditions, harmful algal blooms frequently occur in summer. The purpose of this study was to trace the H₂O₂ concentration and water quality parameters of study area where algal bloom occurs and what factors directly affect the H₂O₂ concentration. Experiments were performed on the influencing factors via water samples from study area and lab-scale culture tank. The lake produces an average of 553 nM H₂O₂, which increases by more than three times (1460 nM) in summer compared the winter. The lake (18.6-23.8 nMh^-1) produced more H₂O₂ than streams (7.4-9.0 nMh^-1) during daylight hours. All water sites presented the lowest production rates in dark conditions (1.1-1.5 nMh^-1). Daytime environment increased the generation rate more than the nighttime. The trend of H₂O₂ produced by algal cells was similar to that of the growth of algal cells. The exposure to external substances (heavy metals and antibiotics) increased the incidence by approximately five times; antibiotics were more influential than heavy metals.

Transcutaneous application of ultrasound enhances the effects of finasteride in a murine model of androgenic alopecia

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate if transcutaneous application of low-intensity ultrasound can locally enhance the effects of finasteride on hair growth in a murine model of androgenic alopecia (AA).

Methods

AA mice (injected twice per week with testosterone enanthate, n=11), under daily oral administration of finasteride, received 1-MHz ultrasound for 1 hour at the unilateral thigh area five times per week for 5 weeks. Non-thermal and non-cavitational ultrasound was delivered in a pulsed manner (55-ms pulse duration with a repetition frequency of 4 Hz). Skin temperature was measured during sonication, and the measurements were validated with numerical simulations of sonication-induced tissue temperature changes. Hair growth was assessed both photographically and histologically.

Results

We found more hair growth on the sonicated thigh area than on the unsonicated thigh, beginning from week 3 through the end of the experiment. Histological analyses showed that the number of hair follicles doubled in the skin sections that received sonication compared to the unsonicated zone, with thicker follicular diameter and skin. An over five-fold increase was also observed in the anagen/telogen ratio in the sonicated area, suggesting an enhanced anagen phase. Skin temperature was unaltered by the administered sonication.

Conclusion

The findings of the present study suggest that pulsed application of ultrasound promotes hair growth, potentially by disrupting the binding of albumin to finasteride. This may suggest further applications to enhance the pharmacological effects of other relevant drugs exhibiting high plasma protein binding.

Anti-colitic effects of the modified Bojanggunbi-tang on dextran sulfate sodium-induced mouse colitis model

Bojanggunbi-tang (BGT) is a well-known and widely used herbal prescription in Korea for colon diseases, with well-documented pharmacological effects on the digestive system. The current study aimed to develop a new simple and effective prescription using the original prescription. mBGT, a modified BGT, was developed by mixing the extracts of Lonicera japonica Thunb., Alisma orientalis and Atractylodes macrocephala based on a literature review and screening of 16 kinds of component herbs of BGT. A colitis mouse (Male, BALB/c) model was induced using dextran sulfate sodium (5%). The effects of BGT and mBGT on body weight, histological damage, clinical score, macroscopic score and colon length were compared. The mechanisms of action were analyzed based on cytokine production in colon tissue. mBGT at 300mg/kg showed similar effectiveness to that of BGT on colon shortening (P<0.01), clinical score (P<0.05), macroscopic score (P<0.01) and histological damage (P<0.01). In addition, mBGT decreased cytokines, including Interleukin 1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha and Interleukin 17, in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, mBGT could be a substitute prescription for BGT in clinics and a candidate for the development of a new BGT-based therapeutic agent against colitis.

Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans in Active Duty Military Personnel: A Case Report

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is an uncommon, soft tissue sarcoma with a high rate of local recurrence, low rate of distant metastasis, and infiltrative growth. We report two cases of DFSP in young active duty military personnel. Both cases underwent primary excision at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital with positive surgical margins and underwent re-excision at Samsung Medical Center. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is a rare finding, and wide local excision with or without skin flap remains the procedure of choice. Awareness of DFSP in young patients is important for proper diagnosis and treatment and to achieve local control. Complete excision of the tumor with a clear surgical margin and thorough surveillance after surgery are recommended for service members to maintain their active duty status and to prevent ineffective combat conditions.

Transcranial focused ultrasound modulates cortical and thalamic motor activity in awake sheep

Transcranial application of pulsed low-intensity focused ultrasound (FUS) modulates the excitability of region-specific brain areas, and anesthetic confounders on brain activity warrant the evaluation of the technique in awake animals. We examined the neuromodulatory effects of FUS in unanesthetized sheep by developing a custom-fit headgear capable of reproducibly placing an acoustic focus on the unilateral motor cortex (M1) and corresponding thalamic area. The efferent responses to sonication, based on the acoustic parameters previously identified in anesthetized sheep, were measured using electromyography (EMG) from both hind limbs across three experimental conditions: on-target sonication, off-target sonication, and without sonication. Excitatory sonication yielded greater amplitude of EMG signals obtained from the hind limb contralateral to sonication than that from the ipsilateral limb. Spurious appearance of motion-related EMG signals limited the amount of analyzed data (~ 10% selection of acquired data) during excitatory sonication, and the averaged EMG response rates elicited by the M1 and thalamic stimulations were 7.5 ± 1.4% and 6.7 ± 1.5%, respectively. Suppressive sonication, while sheep walked on the treadmill, temporarily reduced the EMG amplitude from the limb contralateral to sonication. No significant change was found in the EMG amplitudes during the off-target sonication. Behavioral observation throughout the study and histological analysis showed no sign of brain tissue damage caused by the acoustic stimulation. Marginal response rates observed during excitatory sonication call for technical refinement to reduce motion artifacts during EMG acquisitions as well as acoustic aberration correction schemes to improve spatial accuracy of sonication. Yet, our results indicate that low-intensity FUS modulated the excitability of regional brain tissues reversibly and safely in awake sheep, supporting its potential in theragnostic applications.

Mixed-effects multilevel analysis followed by canonical correlation analysis is an effective fMRI tool for the investigation of idiosyncrasies

We report that regions-of-interest (ROIs) associated with idiosyncratic individual behavior can be identified from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data using statistical approaches that explicitly model individual variability in neuronal activations, such as mixed-effects multilevel analysis (MEMA). We also show that the relationship between neuronal activation in fMRI and behavioral data can be modeled using canonical correlation analysis (CCA). A real-world dataset for the neuronal response to nicotine use was acquired using a custom-made MRI-compatible apparatus for the smoking of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Nineteen participants smoked e-cigarettes in an MRI scanner using the apparatus with two experimental conditions: e-cigarettes with nicotine (ECIG) and sham e-cigarettes without nicotine (SCIG) and subjective ratings were collected. The right insula was identified in the ECIG condition from the χ² -test of the MEMA but not from the t-test, and the corresponding activations were significantly associated with the similarity scores (r = -.52, p = .041, confidence interval [CI] = [-0.78, -0.17]) and the urge-to-smoke scores (r = .73, p <.001, CI = [0.52, 0.88]). From the contrast between the two conditions (i.e., ECIG > SCIG), the right orbitofrontal cortex was identified from the χ² -tests, and the corresponding neuronal activations showed a statistically meaningful association with similarity (r = -.58, p = .01, CI = [-0.84, -0.17]) and the urge to smoke (r = .34, p = .15, CI = [0.09, 0.56]). The validity of our analysis pipeline (i.e., MEMA followed by CCA) was further evaluated using the fMRI and behavioral data acquired from the working memory and gambling tasks available from the Human Connectome Project.

Focused ultrasound enhances the anesthetic effects of topical lidocaine in rats

BACKGROUND

High-intensity ultrasound has been used to induce acoustic cavitation in the skin and subsequently enhances skin permeability to deliver hydrophobic topical medications including lidocaine. In contrast, instead of changing skin permeability, pulsed application of low-intensity focused ultrasound (FUS) has shown to non-invasively and temporarily disrupt drug-plasma protein binding, thus has potential to enhance the anesthetic effects of hydrophilic lidocaine hydrochloride through unbinding it from serum/interstitial α1-acid glycoprotein (AAG).

METHODS

FUS, operating at fundamental frequency of 500 kHz, was applied pulse-mode (55-ms pulse duration, 4-Hz pulse repetition frequency) at a spatial-peak pulse-average intensity of 5 W/cm2. In vitro equilibrium dialysis was performed to measure the unbound concentration of lidocaine (lidocaine hydrochloride) from dialysis cassettes, one located at the sonication focus and the other outside the sonication path, all immersed in phosphate-buffered saline solution containing both lidocaine (10 µg/mL) and human AAG (5 mg/mL). In subsequent animal experiments (Sprague-Dawley rats, n = 10), somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP), elicited by electrical stimulations to the unilateral hind leg, was measured under three experimental conditions-applications of FUS to the unilateral thigh area at the site of administered topical lidocaine, FUS only, and lidocaine only. Skin temperature was measured before and after sonication. Passive cavitation detection was also performed during sonication to evaluate the presence of FUS-induced cavitation.

RESULTS

Sonication increased the unbound lidocaine concentration (8.7 ± 3.3 %) from the dialysis cassette, compared to that measured outside the sonication path (P < 0.001). Application of FUS alone did not alter the SSEP while administration of lidocaine reduced its P23 component (i.e., a positive peak at 23 ms latency). The FUS combined with lidocaine resulted in a further reduction of the P23 component (in a range of 21.8 - 23.4 ms after the electrical stimulations; F(2,27) = 3.2 - 4.0, P < 0.05), indicative of the enhanced anesthetic effect of the lidocaine. Administration of FUS neither induced cavitation nor altered skin conductance or temperature, suggesting that skin permeability was unaffected.

CONCLUSIONS

Unbinding lidocaine from the plasma proteins by exposure to non-thermal low-intensity ultrasound is attributed as the main mechanism behind the observation.

The diagnostic value of phase angle, an integrative bioelectrical marker, for identifying individuals with dysmobility syndrome: the Korean Urban-Rural Elderly study

Low phase angle, a non-invasive bioimpedance marker, is associated with elevated odds of dysmobility syndrome and its components. Phase angle (estimated cutoffs: < 4.8° in men; < 4.5° in women) can be used to detect dysmobility syndrome in community-dwelling older adults as a simple, integrative screening tool.

INTRODUCTION

Dysmobility syndrome uses a score-based approach to predict fracture risk that incorporates the concepts of osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and obesity. Low phase angle (PhA), a simple, non-invasive bioelectrical impedance marker, was associated with low lean mass, high fat mass, and poor muscle function. We aimed to investigate the association between PhA and dysmobility syndrome, with the exploration of the diagnostic cutoffs.

METHODS

In a community-dwelling Korean older adult cohort, dysmobility syndrome was defined as the presence of ≥ 3 of the following components: osteoporosis, low lean mass, falls in the preceding year, low grip strength, high fat mass, and poor timed up and go performance.

RESULTS

Among the 1825 participants (mean age 71.6, women 66.7%), subjects were classified into sex-stratified PhA tertiles. The prevalence of dysmobility syndrome increased from the highest PhA tertile group to the lowest (15.50 to 2.45% in men; 33.41 to 12.25% in women, P for trend < 0.001). The mean PhA values decreased as the dysmobility score increased (5.33° to 4.65° in men; 4.76° to 4.39° in women, P for trend < 0.001). Low PhA (cutoff: < 4.8° in men; < 4.5° in women) was associated with twofold elevated odds of dysmobility syndrome after adjusting for age, sex, and conventional risk factors. Low PhA improved the identification of individuals with dysmobility syndrome when added to the conventional risk model (area under the curve, 0.73 to 0.75, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Low PhA was associated with dysmobility syndrome and its components, independent of age, sex, body mass index, nutritional status, and inflammation.

Defining an international cut-off of two-legged countermovement jump power for sarcopenia and dysmobility syndrome

We aimed to establish jump power cut-offs for the composite outcome of either sarcopenia (EWGSOP2) or dysmobility syndrome using Asian and Caucasian cohorts. Estimated cut-offs were sex specific (women: < 19.0 W/kg; men: < 23.8 W/kg) but not ethnicity specific. Jump power has potential to be used in definitions of poor musculoskeletal health.

PURPOSE

Weight-corrected jump power measured during a countermovement jump may be a useful tool to identify individuals with poor musculoskeletal health, but no cut-off values exist. We aimed to establish jump power cut-offs for detecting individuals with either sarcopenia or dysmobility syndrome.

METHODS

Age- and sex-matched community-dwelling older adults from two cohorts (University of Wisconsin-Madison [UW], Korean Urban Rural Elderly cohort [KURE], 1:2) were analyzed. Jump power cut-offs for the composite outcome of either sarcopenia defined by EWGSOP2 or dysmobility syndrome were determined.

RESULTS

The UW (n = 95) and KURE (n = 190) cohorts were similar in age (mean 75 years) and sex distribution (68% women). Jump power was similar between KURE and UW women (19.7 vs. 18.6 W/kg, p = 0.096) and slightly higher in KURE than UW in men (26.9 vs. 24.8 W/kg, p = 0.050). In UW and KURE, the prevalence of sarcopenia (7.4% in both), dysmobility syndrome (31.6% and 27.9%), or composite of either sarcopenia or dysmobility syndrome (32.6% and 28.4%) were comparable. Low jump power cut-offs for the composite outcome differed by sex but not by ethnicity (< 19.0 W/kg in women; < 23.8 W/kg in men). Low jump power was associated with elevated odds of sarcopenia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.07), dysmobility syndrome (aOR 4.32), or the composite of sarcopenia or dysmobility syndrome (aOR 4.67, p < 0.01 for all) independent of age, sex, height, and ethnicity.

CONCLUSION

Sex-specific jump power cut-offs were found to detect the presence of either sarcopenia or dysmobility syndrome in older adults independent of Asian or Caucasian ethnicity.

Transcriptome profiling of olive flounder responses under acute and chronic heat stress

BACKGROUND

The olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) is a saltwater fish, which is valuable to the economy. The olive flounder strives to adapt to environmental stressors through physiological, biochemical, and transcriptional responses. The rise in water temperature threatens the growth, development, reproduction, and survival of olive flounder. Each organ in the olive flounder can differentially respond to heat stress.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study is to investigate organ-specific transcriptional changes in olive flounder tissues during heat stress.

METHODS

In this study, transcriptome dynamics of the gill, liver, and muscle of olive flounder to acute or chronic heat stress were investigated.

RESULTS

Principal component analysis plotting revealed that the transcriptome of each organ is quite separated. K-means clustering, gene ontology, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis showed the differential transcriptome responses of each organ to heat stress. Heat stress commonly affects the pathways involved in the correct protein folding, DNA repair, and cell cycle.

CONCLUSION

Our results may provide a valuable molecular basis of heat acclimation in fishes.

Algal softening followed by ozonation: The fate of persistent micropollutants and natural organic matter in groundwater

A proof-of-concept study evaluates the performance of a novel strategy using photosynthetic microorganisms to soften groundwater instead of using caustic chemicals. The microalga Scenedesmus quadricauda was used to increase the pH of the groundwater via natural photosynthesis. This work applied softening as a pretreatment to ozonation of hard groundwater and mainly focused on investigating the multiple effects of algal softening on the degradation of persistent micropollutants upon subsequent ozonation. The algae-induced alkaline conditions (pH > 10) were favorable to catalyze the formation of OH radicals directly from O₃ molecules. Moreover, algal softening removed the strong radical-scavenging carbonate species (HCO₃^- and CO₃^2-) to a much greater extent than that achieved by chemical softening, which was attributed to the combination of mineral carbonation and metabolic CO₂ reduction. The fate of the natural organic matter (NOM) was characterized with spectroscopy, chromatography, and bioassay, which indicates that algal treatment decomposed the NOM to be less susceptible to attack by OH radicals. Consequently, the ozonation of alkaline groundwater achieved a better removal of the micropollutant residues in groundwater. Carbamazepine and diclofenac were used as model chemicals of persistent groundwater contaminants and were almost completely removed with an addition of 1.25 mg O₃ L^-1 (0.63 mg-O₃ mg-C^-1).

Analysis of the effects of Cu-MOFs on fungal cell inactivation

Three dimensional (3D) copper metal organic frameworks (Cu-MOFs) containing glutarates and bipyridyl ligands (bpa = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane, bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene, or bpp = 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane) were synthesized by using previously reported hydrothermal reactions or a layering method. All three Cu-MOFs contained well-defined one dimensional (1D) channels with very similar pore shapes and different pore dimensions. The bulk purities of the Cu-MOFs were confirmed using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and infrared spectroscopy (IR) spectra. When the three types of Cu-MOFs were applied to Candida albicans cells and Aspergillus niger spores, an average of about 50-80% inactivation was observed at the highest concentration of Cu-MOFs (2 mg mL^-1). The efficiency of the fungal inactivation was not significantly different among the three different types (bpa, bpe, bpp). Treatment of the fungi using Cu-MOFs induced an apoptosis-like death and this was more severe in A. niger than C. albicans. This may be due to elevation of the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in A. niger. Generation of the reactive species in solution by Cu-MOFs was observed. However, there was a dramatic variation in the levels observed among the three types. Our results suggest that Cu-MOFs can produce antifungal effects and induce apoptosis-like death of the fungi, which was probably caused by the elevated level of intracellular reactive species.

Does serum vitamin D level affect the association between cardiovascular health and cognition? Results of the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center (CMERC) study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Few studies have assessed the role of vitamin D in the association between cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive function. Here, the aim was to investigate the association between cardiovascular health (CVH) and cognitive function according to vitamin D level in a middle-aged Korean population.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 840 men and 1811 women (mean age 57.2 years) from the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center study baseline enrolment (2013-2018). Life's Simple 7 tools from the American Heart Association were used to assess CVH. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Estimation for Dementia Screening (MMSE-DS), and the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was measured.

RESULTS

In the adjusted generalized linear regression models, no significant association between a high Life's Simple 7 score (4-7 metric at optimal level) and MMSE-DS score (β = 0.01, P = 0.93) was found. Amongst men with a high vitamin D level, the high Life's Simple 7 score group showed a significantly higher MMSE-DS score (β = 0.48, P = 0.03). However, amongst men in the low vitamin D group, the association was opposite with no statistical significance (β = -0.23, P = 0.08). In women, the results were similar, but both strata according to vitamin D level showed no statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that vitamin D is an effect modifier in the association between CVH and cognition, especially in men.

Porous Carbon-Based Supercapacitors Directly Derived from Metal-Organic Frameworks

Numerously different porous carbons have been prepared and used in a wide range of practical applications. Porous carbons are also ideal electrode materials for efficient energy storage devices due to their large surface areas, capacious pore spaces, and superior chemical stability compared to other porous materials. Not only the electrical double-layer capacitance (EDLC)-based charge storage but also the pseudocapacitance driven by various dopants in the carbon matrix plays a significant role in enhancing the electrochemical supercapacitive performance of porous carbons. Since the electrochemical capacitive activities are primarily based on EDLC and further enhanced by pseudocapacitance, high-surface carbons are desirable for these applications. The porosity of carbons plays a crucial role in enhancing the performance as well. We have recently witnessed that metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) could be very effective self-sacrificing templates, or precursors, for new high-surface carbons for supercapacitors, or ultracapacitors. Many MOFs can be self-sacrificing precursors for carbonaceous porous materials in a simple yet effective direct carbonization to produce porous carbons. The constituent metal ions can be either completely removed during the carbonization or transformed into valuable redox-active centers for additional faradaic reactions to enhance the electrochemical performance of carbon electrodes. Some heteroatoms of the bridging ligands and solvate molecules can be easily incorporated into carbon matrices to generate heteroatom-doped carbons with pseudocapacitive behavior and good surface wettability. We categorized these MOF-derived porous carbons into three main types: (i) pure and heteroatom-doped carbons, (ii) metallic nanoparticle-containing carbons, and (iii) carbon-based composites with other carbon-based materials or redox-active metal species. Based on these cases summarized in this review, new MOF-derived porous carbons with much enhanced capacitive performance and stability will be envisioned.

fMRI volume classification using a 3D convolutional neural network robust to shifted and scaled neuronal activations

Deep-learning methods based on deep neural networks (DNNs) have recently been successfully utilized in the analysis of neuroimaging data. A convolutional neural network (CNN) is a type of DNN that employs a convolution kernel that covers a local area of the input sample and moves across the sample to provide a feature map for the subsequent layers. In our study, we hypothesized that a 3D-CNN model with down-sampling operations such as pooling and/or stride would have the ability to extract robust feature maps from the shifted and scaled neuronal activations in a single functional MRI (fMRI) volume for the classification of task information associated with that volume. Thus, the 3D-CNN model would be able to ameliorate the potential misalignment of neuronal activations and over-/under-activation in local brain regions caused by imperfections in spatial alignment algorithms, confounded by variability in blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) responses across sessions and/or subjects. To this end, the fMRI volumes acquired from four sensorimotor tasks (left-hand clenching, right-hand clenching, auditory attention, and visual stimulation) were used as input for our 3D-CNN model to classify task information using a single fMRI volume. The classification performance of the 3D-CNN was systematically evaluated using fMRI volumes obtained from various minimal preprocessing scenarios applied to raw fMRI volumes that excluded spatial normalization to a template and those obtained from full preprocessing that included spatial normalization. Alternative classifier models such as the 1D fully connected DNN (1D-fcDNN) and support vector machine (SVM) were also used for comparison. The classification performance was also assessed for several k-fold cross-validation (CV) schemes, including leave-one-subject-out CV (LOOCV). Overall, the classification results of the 3D-CNN model were superior to that of the 1D-fcDNN and SVM models. When using the fully-processed fMRI volumes with LOOCV, the mean error rates (± the standard error of the mean) for the 3D-CNN, 1D-fcDNN, and SVM models were 2.1% (± 0.9), 3.1% (± 1.2), and 4.1% (± 1.5), respectively (p = 0.041 from a one-way ANOVA). The error rates for 3-fold CV were higher (2.4% ± 1.0, 4.2% ± 1.3, and 10.1% ± 2.0; p < 0.0003 from a one-way ANOVA). The mean error rates also increased considerably using the raw fMRI 3D volume data without preprocessing (26.2% for the 3D-CNN, 75.0% for the 1D-fcDNN, and 75.0% for the SVM). Furthermore, the ability of the pre-trained 3D-CNN model to handle shifted and scaled neuronal activations was demonstrated in an online scenario for five-class classification (i.e., four sensorimotor tasks and the resting state) using the real-time fMRI of three participants. The resulting classification accuracy was 78.5% (± 1.4), 26.7% (± 5.9), and 21.5% (± 3.1) for the 3D-CNN, 1D-fcDNN, and SVM models, respectively. The superior performance of the 3D-CNN compared to the 1D-fcDNN was verified by analyzing the resulting feature maps and convolution filters that handled the shifted and scaled neuronal activations and by utilizing an independent public dataset from the Human Connectome Project.

Gas sorption and supercapacitive properties of hierarchical porous graphitic carbons prepared from the hard-templating of mesoporous ZnO/Zn(OH)2 composite spheres

Three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical porous carbon materials (PCMs) with graphitic carbon walls are facilely prepared through the hard-templating of acid-labile mesoporous ZnO/Zn(OH)₂ spheres. Furfuryl alcohol or phloroglucinol is employed as a carbon precursor for two hierarchical porous carbon materials (PCM-F and PCM-P). The basic surfaces of ZnO/Zn(OH)₂ are highly suited to the polymerization of the carbon precursors without extra catalysts. After carbonization followed by mild acid etching, hierarchical PCMs are obtained. These PCMs consist of interconnected turbostratic carbon wall structures. Gas sorption analysis indicates the surface areas of PCM-F and PCM-P are 1013 and 1075 m² g^-1, respectively. The corresponding pore volumes are very large, 3.39 and 3.01 cm³ g^-1, respectively. The uptake abilities for carbon dioxide and hydrogen are investigated at 196 and 77 K, respectively. The PCM-P reveals higher uptake of H₂ (1.19 wt%) and CO₂ (282.0 cm³ g^-1) than for PCM-F. In contrast, PCM-F shows a high gravimetric specific capacitance of 329.5 F g^-1 based on galvanostatic charge/discharge curves at a current density of 0.1 A g^-1. The PCM-F exhibits stable capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles at a current density of 5 A g^-1.

Identifying key gait features associated with the radiological grade of knee osteoarthritis

PURPOSE

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is characterized by pain and decreased gait function. This study assessed key features that can be used as mechanical biomarkers for KOA severity and progression. The identified features were validated statistically and were further examined by developing a classification model based on a machine-learning algorithm.

METHODS

The study included 227 volunteers with various grades of KOA. The severity of KOA was graded using the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) system. A total of 165 features were extracted from the gait data. The key features were selected using neighborhood component analysis. The selected features were validated using the t-test. Then, the features were examined by building a classification model using a random forest algorithm.

RESULTS

Twenty features were identified that could discriminate the grade of KOA, including nine features extracted from the knee joint, seven from the hip, two from the ankle and two from the spatiotemporal gait parameters. The t-test showed that some features differed significantly between health and sever group, while some were significantly different among the severe group, and others were significantly different for all KL grades. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for classification were 0.974, 0.992, 0.845, 0.894, and 0.905 for KL grades 0 through 4, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Key gait features reflecting the grade of KOA were identified. The results of the statistical analysis and machine-learning algorithm show that the features can discriminate the severity of disease according to the KL grade.

Dermatologist-level classification of malignant lip diseases using a deep convolutional neural network

BACKGROUND

Deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) can classify skin diseases at a level equivalent to a dermatologist, but their performance in specific areas requires further research.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the performance of a trained DCNN-based algorithm in classifying benign and malignant lip diseases.

METHODS

A training set of 1629 images (743 malignant, 886 benign) was used with Inception-Resnet-V2. Performance was evaluated using another set of 344 images and 281 images from other hospitals. Classifications by 44 participants (six board-certified dermatologists, 12 dermatology residents, nine medical doctors not specialized in dermatology and 17 medical students) were used for comparison.

RESULTS

The outcomes based on the area under curve, sensitivity and specificity were 0·827 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0·782-0·873], 0·755 (95% CI 0·673-0·827) and 0·803 (95% CI 0·752-0·855), respectively, for the set of 344 images; and 0·774 (95% CI 0·699-0·849), 0·702 (95% CI 0·579-0·808) and 0·759 (95% CI 0·701-0·813), respectively, for the set of 281 images. The DCNN was equivalent to the dermatologists and superior to the nondermatologists in classifying malignancy. After referencing the DCNN result, the mean ± SD Youden index increased significantly for nondermatologists, from 0·201 ± 0·156 to 0·322 ± 0·141 (P < 0·001).

CONCLUSIONS

DCNNs can classify lip diseases at a level similar to dermatologists. This will help unskilled physicians discriminate between benign and malignant lip diseases. What's already known about this topic? Deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) can classify malignant and benign skin diseases at a level equivalent to dermatologists. The lips are a unique feature in terms of histology and morphology. Previous studies of DCNNs have not investigated tumours on specific locations. What does this study add? This study shows that DCNNs can distinguish rare malignant and benign lip disorders at the same rate as dermatologists. DCNNs can help nondermatologists to distinguish malignant lip diseases. What are the clinical implications of this work? DCNNs can distinguish malignant and benign skin diseases even at specific locations such as the lips, as well as board-certified dermatologists. Malignant lip diseases are rare and difficult for less trained doctors to differentiate them from benign lesions. This study shows that in dermatology, DCNN can help improve decision-making processes for rare skin diseases in specific areas of the body.

Cobalt(II)-coordination polymers containing glutarates and bipyridyl ligands and their antifungal potential

Three new Co^II-coordination polymers (Co-CPs) containing glutarates and bipyridyl ligands, formulated as [Co₂(Glu)₂(µ-bpa)₂]·(H₂O)₄ (1), [Co₄(Glu)₄(µ-bpp)₂] (2), and [Co₂(Glu)₂(µ-bpe)₂]·(H₂O)_0.5 (3), were prepared, and their structures were determined by X-ray crystallography. Glutarates bridge Co^II ions to form 2D sheets, and the sheets are connected either by bpa or by bpp ligands to form 3D networks 1 and 2, respectively. Both frameworks 1 and 2 are two-fold interpenetrated, and there is no significant void volume in either network. Four glutarates bridge two Co^II ions to form chains, and these chains are connected by bpe ligands to form the 2D sheet 3. The antifungal properties of these new Co-CPs were tested against two model fungal pathogens, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Under the maximum concentration of Co-CPs, 2.0 mg mL^-1, the inhibition rates of Co-CPs against A. niger were much lower (44-62%) than those (90-99.98%) observed in C. albicans. The results indicate that 1-3 can inactivate C. albicans cells more efficiently than A. niger spores in the same treatment time, and the greater inactivation of C. albicans can be explained by dramatic changes in the morphology of C. albicans cells. We also found that Co-CPs could generate the reactive species NO and H₂O₂, and these species might play a role in inactivating fungal cells. Additionally, degradation tests confirmed that the leaching of Co^II ions from Co-CPs was not significant. The small amount of leached Co^II ions and the robust Co-CPs themselves as well as the reactive species generated by Co-CPs can actively participate in fungal inactivation.

Comparison of pre-oxidation between O3 and O3/H2O2 for subsequent managed aquifer recharge using laboratory-scale columns

A hybrid process of managed aquifer recharge with pre-oxidation was investigated as part of a multiple-barrier approach for safe water production. This study evaluated O₃ and O₃/H₂O₂ for the pre-oxidation of urban surface water prior to managed aquifer recharge (MAR) and compared their effectiveness with respect to trace organic contaminants (TrOCs), biostability, and trihalomethane formation potential. The combination of pre-oxidation and MAR was performed using long-term column studies, and the results confirmed the removal of 64 and 56% dissolved organic carbon by using O₃ and O₃/H₂O₂, respectively. MAR combined with O₃ and O₃/H₂O₂ achieved >50% removal of dissolved organic carbon with the first 5 days of residence time. O₃ alone showed better performance in alleviating trihalomethane formation potential during chlorination compared to using O₃/H₂O₂. The pre-oxidation of urban surface water was effective in attenuating selected TrOCs (35 - >99% removal), and subsequent MAR achieved >99% removal of selected TrOCs within the first 5 days, regardless of pretreatment methods examined in this study. The results of this study provide an understanding of the effects of O₃ and O₃/H₂O₂ as pre-oxidation processes on urban surface water prior to MAR, as well as the resulting impact on MAR.

Treatment of reverse osmosis concentrate using an algal-based MBR combined with ozone pretreatment

Algal treatment was combined with ozone pretreatment for treatment of synthetic reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) prior to microfiltration. The research mainly focused on minimizing the fouling of polyvinylidene-fluoride membranes and maximizing the restoration of membrane permeability. The algal treatment alone was only moderately effective for the mitigation of fouling in microfiltration, while a markedly improved performance was achieved when the algal treatment followed ozonation. The combination of ozonation and algal treatment reduced membrane permeability decline and significantly (p < 0.05) increased the reversibility of fouling after hydraulic washing. A longitudinal evaluation was also performed with a goal of achieving a robust removal of contaminants. Ozonation followed by algal treatment was very effective in attenuating both caffeine and carbamazepine, as well as removing organic matter and inorganic nutrients from ROC in a single bioreactor. In this study, an alkaline condition (∼pH 12), produced by microalgae in the light without supplemental aeration was applied for in-situ cleaning of fouled membranes. The result showed that the algal-induced cleaning successfully restored the permeability of organic-fouled membranes during the filtration of both raw and algal-treated ROC. This in-situ strategy offers a novel option for periodic cleaning of fouled membranes while maintaining operational simplicity, especially for existing submerged membrane filtration facilities.

A proof of concept study for wastewater reuse using bioelectrochemical processes combined with complementary post-treatment technologies

This article describes a proof-of-concept study designed for the reuse of wastewater using microbial electrochemical cells (MECs) combined with complementary post-treatment technologies. This study mainly focused on how the integrated approach works effectively for wastewater reuse. In this study, microalgae and ultraviolet C (UVC) light were used for advanced wastewater treatment to achieve site-specific treatment goals such as agricultural reuse and aquifer recharge. The bio-electrosynthesis of H₂O₂ in MECs was carried out based on a novel concept to integrate with UVC, especially for roust removal of trace organic compounds (TOrCs) resistant to biodegradation, and the algal treatment was configured for nutrient removal from MEC effluent. UVC irradiation has also proven to be an effective disinfectant for bacteria, protozoa, and viruses in water. The average energy consumption rate for MECs fed acetate-based synthetic wastewater was 0.28±0.01 kWh per kg of H₂O₂, which was significantly more efficient than are conventional electrochemical processes. MECs achieved 89±2% removal of carbonaceous organic matter (measured as chemical oxygen demand) in the wastewater (anolyte) and concurrent production of H₂O₂ up to 222±11 mg L^-1 in the tapwater (catholyte). The nutrients (N and P) remaining after MECs were successfully removed by subsequent phycoremediation with microalgae when aerated (5% CO₂, v/v) in the light. This complied with discharge permits that limit N to 20 mg L^-1 and P to 0.5 mg L^-1 in the effluent. H₂O₂ produced on site was used to mediate photolytic oxidation with UVC light for degradation of recalcitrant TOrCs in the algal-treated wastewater. Carbamazepine was used as a model compound and was almost completely removed with an added 10 mg L^-1 of H₂O₂ at a UVC dose of 1000 mJ cm^-2. These results should not be generalized, but critically discussed, because of the limitations of using synthetic wastewater.

The Regulatory Region of Muscle-Specific Alpha Actin 1 Drives Fluorescent Protein Expression in Olive Flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

To develop a promoter capable of driving transgene expression in non-model fish, we identified and characterized the muscle-specific alpha-actin gene in olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus (PoACTC1). The regulatory region of PoACTC1 includes putative regulatory elements such as a TATA box, two MyoD binding sites, three CArG boxes, and a CCAAT box. Microinjection experiments demonstrated that the regulatory region of PoACTC1, covering from -2,126 bp to +751 bp, just prior to the start codon, drove the expression of red fluorescent protein in developing zebrafish embryos and hatching olive flounder. These results suggest that the regulatory region of PoACTC1 may be useful in developing a promoter for biotechnological applications such as transgene expression in olive flounder.

Antibacterial activities of Cu-MOFs containing glutarates and bipyridyl ligands

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can be utilized as antibacterial agents due to their effective antibacterial activities. Four three-dimensional (3D) Cu-MOFs formulated as [Cu₂(Glu)₂(μ-L)]·x(H₂O) (Glu is glutarate, and L is bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine (1), bpa = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (2), bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (3), and bpp = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)propane (4)) were synthesized by hydrothermal reactions or modified literature methods. Their solid-state structures were slightly modified to increase their hydrolytic stabilities in aqueous solution. Despite the seemingly sufficient void spaces in all the solvent-free MOFs, only the thermally activated form of MOF 2 displayed selective gas uptake ability for CO₂ over N₂ and H₂. The antibacterial activities of the four Cu-MOFs, 1, 2, 3, and 4, were investigated by determining their minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values against five strains of bacteria, including E. coli, S. aureus, K. pneumonia, P. aeruginosa, and MRSA, which can be easily met in our daily surrounding environments. Although these Cu-MOFs were found to be structurally very stable in aqueous medium during antibacterial activity tests, they exhibited excellent antibacterial activities against all five kinds of bacteria, including Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus and MRSA) and Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli, K. pneumonia, and P. aeruginosa), with very low MBCs. The robust 3D frameworks with surface active metal sites rather than the small amount of leached Cu^II ions may participate more strongly in inactivating various kinds of bacteria and reduce potential cytotoxicity mainly caused by leached metal ions.

Dual-responsive Gemini Micelles for Efficient Delivery of Anticancer Therapeutics

Polymeric micelles as drug delivery vehicles are popular owing to several advantages. In this study, a gemini amphiphile (gemini mPEG-Cys-PMT) consisting of hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) and hydrophobic poly(methionine) with cystine disulfide spacer was synthesized and its micellar properties for thiol- or reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent intracellular drug delivery were described. The cleavage of cystine linkage in a redox environment or the oxidation of methionine units in a ROS environment caused the destabilization of micelles. Such redox- or ROS-triggered micellar destabilization led to enhanced release of encapsulated doxorubicin (DOX) to induce cytotoxicity against cancer cells. Further, the therapeutic effects of the DOX-loaded micelles were demonstrated using the KB cell line. This study shows that thiol and ROS dual-responsive gemini micelles are promising platforms for nano-drug delivery in various cancer therapies.