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Che-Yi Chang,1,2,* Ming-Chen Wang,2,* Takuya Miyagawa,1 Zhi-Yu Chen,1 Feng-Huei Lin,3,4 Ko-Hua Chen,5,6 Guei-Sheung Liu,7 Ching-Li Tseng1 1Graduate Institute of Biomedical Materials and Tissue Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 2Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan, 3Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Nanomedicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, 4Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, 5Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 6Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; 7Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: Neovascularization (NV) of the cornea can disrupt visual function, causing ocular diseases, including blindness. Therefore, treatment of corneal NV has a high public health impact. Epigalloccatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), presenting antiangiogenesis effects, was chosen as an inhibitor to treat human vascular endothelial cells for corneal NV treatment. An arginine–glycine–aspartic acid (RGD) peptide–hyaluronic acid (HA)-conjugated complex coating on the gelatin/EGCG self-assembly nanoparticles (GEH-RGD NPs) was synthesized for targeting the αvβ3 integrin on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in this study, and a corneal NV mouse model was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of this nanomedicine used as eyedrops. HA-RGD conjugation via COOH and amine groups was confirmed by 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The average diameter of GEH-RGD NPs was 168.87±22.5 nm with positive charge (19.7±2 mV), with an EGCG-loading efficiency up to 95%. Images of GEH-RGD NPs acquired from transmission electron microscopy showed a spherical shape and shell structure of about 200 nm. A slow-release pattern was observed in the nanoformulation at about 30% after 30 hours. Surface plasmon resonance confirmed that GEH-RGD NPs specifically bound to the integrin αvβ3. In vitro cell-viability assay showed that GEH-RGD efficiently inhibited HUVEC proliferation at low EGCG concentrations (20 µg/mL) when compared with EGCG or non-RGD-modified NPs. Furthermore, GEH-RGD NPs significantly inhibited HUVEC migration down to 58%, lasting for 24 hours. In the corneal NV mouse model, fewer and thinner vessels were observed in the alkali-burned cornea after treatment with GEH-RGD NP eyedrops. Overall, this study indicates that GEH-RGD NPs were successfully developed and synthesized as an inhibitor of vascular endothelial cells with specific targeting capacity. Moreover, they can be used in eyedrops to inhibit angiogenesis in corneal NV mice. Keywords: RGD peptide, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), hyaluronic acid (HA), vascular endothelial cells, antiangiogenesis, corneal neovascularization

The properties of streamers traveling over the surface of oil-immersed solid dielectrics were experimentally studied under lightning impulse conditions. Streamer polarity and the position of a grounded side electrode significantly affected the relationship between the streamer extension length and the applied voltage. The solid surface charging had also a large effect on the streamer propagation. However, the streamer propagation properties showed a consistent dependence on the potential at solid-liquid interfaces. In addition, the potential drop inside the streamer channel was measured as a function of normalized streamer length. The curve revealed that the potential drop was increased drastically within the region of ~20% from the streamer tip. The streamer appeared to progress with a constant mean velocity.

The magnetic and thermal characteristics of Fe-Zr-Co/Fe-Zr-Co-N multilayered thin films prepared by sputtering and electron cyclotron resonance plasma nitridation were investigated. The results showed that the incorporation of Co to the material dramatically increased its magnetic properties. The soft magnetic properties of the material exhibited excellent stability under heat treatment.

Background: Trappin‐2/pre‐elafin is an endogenous inhibitor of human neutrophil elastase involved in inflammation, innate immunity and vascular remodelling, which consist of the complex pathological process of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Objectives: To clarify the potential role of trappin‐2 in SSc. Methods: Serum trappin‐2 levels were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay in 51 SSc and 18 healthy subjects. Trappin‐2 expression was evaluated in SSc lesional skin and cultured endothelial cells treated with FLI1 siRNA by immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription‐real‐time PCR and/or immunoblotting. Friend leukaemia virus integration 1 (Fli1) binding to the PI3 promoter was assessed by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Results: Since serum trappin‐2 levels inversely correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate in SSc patients with renal dysfunction, SSc patients with normal renal function were analysed. Although serum trappin‐2 levels were comparable between diffuse cutaneous SSc, limited cutaneous SSc and control subjects, the prevalence of digital ulcers or elevated right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) was significantly higher in SSc patients with elevated serum trappin‐2 levels than in those with normal levels. Furthermore, serum trappin‐2 levels were significantly increased in SSc patients with digital ulcers or elevated RVSP compared to those without. Moreover, serum trappin‐2 levels positively correlated with RVSP values in SSc patients. Importantly, trappin‐2 expression was enhanced in small vessels of SSc lesional skin. In cultured endothelial cells, trappin‐2 expression was elevated by gene silencing of FLI1 at mRNA and protein levels and Fli1 occupied the PI3 promoter. Conclusions: Endothelial trappin‐2 up‐regulation partially due to Fli1 deficiency can be associated with the development of SSc vasculopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article present case study of a 29-year-old Japanese woman who was diagnosed with Plexiform fibrohistiocytic tumour (PFT). Topics discussed include observation of elongated clusters and short fascicles of spindle fibroblast-like cells; information on PFT which is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm of intermediate malignancy; and information on treatment of PFT which involves surgical resection, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Abstract: Backgrounds: Acotiamide is a novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitor for treatment of postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) symptoms of functional dyspepsia (FD). This European phase 3 open‐label safety trial has been conducted to evaluate the long‐term safety of acotiamide and explore the efficacy of acotiamide on PDS symptoms using the validated LPDS, quality of life using SF‐36 and SF‐NDI, and work productivity using WPAI. Methods: FD‐PDS patients (defined by ROME III criteria) aged ≥18 years with active PDS symptoms and without predominant overlapping symptoms of epigastric pain syndrome and related disorders were enrolled to receive 100 mg acotiamide three times daily for 1 year. Patients' safety profile and efficacy of acotiamide were monitored. Key Results: The majority of patients (81.6%) maintained exposure to acotiamide for >50 weeks, with a mean duration of 320.3 days. No specific clinically significant safety concerns have been shown, with no deaths, treatment‐related severe/serious adverse events, or any clinically significant laboratory test results. Although being an open‐label trial, acotiamide showed a change in severity larger than the minimum clinically important difference at weeks 1 and 2 for postprandial fullness and early satiation (meal‐related symptoms), and showed improvement of quality of life and work productivity from the first measurement (at week 12) up to 1 year. Conclusions & Inferences: The long‐term safety of acotiamide treatment was confirmed. A clinically important change for PDS symptoms, QoL, and work productivity was suggested; however a controlled trial is required to confirm this hypothetic efficacy of acotiamide. (NCT01973790). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a theme of 'Concrete Structures in the 21st Century', the First fib Congress was successfully held in Osaka, Japan. Organised jointly by the Japan Prestressed Concrete Engineering Association and the Japan Concrete Institute, the Congress ran from 13th October to 19th October 2002. This report introduces the Congress and confirms that it has enabled us to envisage the prospects for concrete structures in the 21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A micro inspection robot for 1-in pipes has been developed. The robot is 23 mm in diameter and 110 mm in length and is equipped with a high-quality micro charge-coupled device (CCD) camera and a dual hand for manipulating small objects in pipes. It can travel through both vertical pipes and curved sections, making possible inspections that would be difficult with conventional endoscopes. Its rate of travel is 6 mm/s and it has a load-pulling power of 1 N. To realize this microrobot, the authors have specially designed and developed several micro devices and micromechanisms: a novel micromechanism called a planetary wheel mechanism for robot drive; a micro electromagnetic motor with a micro planetary reduction gear to drive the planetary wheel mechanism; a micro pneumatic rubber actuator that acts as a hand; a micro CCD camera with high resolution; and a pneumatic wobble motor for rotating the camera and hands. In the paper, the design and performance of these micro devices are reported, the performance of the robot as a whole is described, and an application example is given [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract Background Central administration of γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) induces lower body temperature in animals in hot ambient air. However, it is still unknown whether oral GABA administration affects temperature regulation at rest in a hot environment in humans. Therefore, in the present study, we specifically hypothesized that systemic administration of GABA in humans would induce hypothermia in a hot environment and that this response would be observed in association with decreased heat production. Methods Eight male participants drank a 200-ml sports drink with 1 g of GABA (trial G) or without GABA (trial C), then rested for 30 minutes in a sitting position in a hot environment (ambient air temperature 33°C, relative humidity 50%). Results We found that changes in esophageal temperature from before drinking the sports drink were lower in trial G than in trial C (-0.046 ± 0.079°C vs 0.001 ± 0.063°C; P < 0.05), with lower heat production calculated by oxygen consumption (41 ± 5 W/m2 vs 47 ± 8 W/m2; P < 0.05). Conclusions In this study, we have demonstrated that a single oral administration of GABA induced a larger decrease in body core temperature compared to a control condition during rest in a hot environment and that this response was concomitant with a decrease in total heat production.