Search

Background: In cases of wrist arthritis, proximal row carpectomy (PRC) has been widely utilized and shown favorable long-term outcomes. However, its applicability is limited in cases where arthritis extends to the lunate fossa or capitate. Recently, surgical approaches combining various methods of interposition arthroplasty have been introduced to overcome these drawbacks. The purpose of this study was to perform PRC and interposition arthroplasty with dorsal capsule and acellular dermal matrix(ADM),and analyze the clinical outcomes of these procedures. Methods: Fourteen cases who underwent PRC and interposition arthroplasty using both dorsal capsular flap and ADM were retrospectively recruited. The researchers assessed the patients' Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores, range of motion (ROM), retear, and radiocarpal distance (RCD). Results: One year post-surgery, both the VAS pain scores, DASH scores, and ROM showed statistically significant improvement compared to before the surgery. Upon reviewing the radiological results, the postoperative mean RCD was 4.8 ± 0.8 mm and one year follow up mean RCD was 3.6 ± 0.5 mm at one year post-surgery. Moreover, in the one year follow-up, there was no observed failure of the allodermis graft in any of the cases. Conclusion: The PRC and interposition arthroplasty with ADM demonstrated significantly improved clinical outcomes after surgery, showing a maintain of RCD without graft failure effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofoundries represent advanced automation facilities pivotal for streamlining the Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) paradigm in biomanufacturing and synthetic biology, suitable for both academic research and industrial applications. Nonetheless, establishing such a platform demands significant financial and temporal resources while maintaining a forward-looking perspective on automation, equipment compatibility, and operational efficiency. Despite its challenges, international collaborations between global biofoundries may offer solutions. The automated DBTL framework in biofoundries has transformed the production of bioproducts using engineered microbes. As the field advances, biofoundries are essential for streamlining and standardizing biotechnological processes, addressing efficiency, cost, and consistency challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate progressive tunnel widening and its correlation with postoperative outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using allografts. Methods: Sixty-five patients who underwent ACL reconstruction using a tibialis anterior allograft between 2015 and 2017 were enrolled. Femoral and tibial tunnel widths were measured on anteroposterior (AP) and lateral radiographs immediately and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Average femoral and tibial tunnel widths in AP and lateral views were calculated at three different measurement points. Tunnel widening was calculated as the difference in tunnel width immediately and 2 years postoperatively. The correlation between tunnel widening and the postoperative results was analysed. Results: Tunnel width changes between immediate and 2 years postoperatively were as follows, in AP and lateral views, respectively: femur, 3.0 mm ± 1.5 mm and 2.4 mm ± 1.4 mm; and tibia, 2.8 mm ± 1.4 mm and 2.9 mm ± 1.5 mm. Femoral tunnel widths significantly increased until 1 year, but not from 1 to 2 years postoperatively. Tibial tunnel width significantly increased until 2 years postoperatively. In all tunnels, the increments in tunnel widening decreased over time. Increased knee laxity significantly correlated with greater femoral tunnel widening in AP (r = 0.346, P = 0.006) and lateral views (r = 0.261, P = 0.049). Conclusion: Femoral tunnel widths gradually increased until 1 year postoperatively, and tibial tunnel widths increased until 2 years after ACL reconstruction with allografts. The tunnel widening rate gradually decreased over time. Femoral tunnel widening of 3.7 mm and 3.2 mm on AP and lateral views, respectively, were the cut-off values for postoperative knee laxity. Level of evidence: Level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly soluble small molecules are crucial to realizing large-area solution-processible organic light-emitting diodes with consistent performance. In this study, a series of solution-processable hole transporting materials (HTMs) based on 1,4- and 2,6-phenylnaphthalene (NP) cores were synthesized. The cores had an asymmetric and twisted structure, which enhanced the solubility and thermal stability of the materials. Density functional theory calculations and MD simulations revealed that the 2,6-NP core exhibited a coplanar core structure, leading to a reduced hole reorganization energy and enhanced hole mobility compared to those of the 1,4-NP core. Furthermore, the 2,6-NP-core materials exhibited a higher solubility than the 1,4-NP-core materials. 2,6-NPNP also exhibited the highest solubility, approximately 50 times higher than that of the commercialized HTM N,N′-di(1-naphthyl)-N,N′-diphenyl-(1,1′-biphenyl)-4,4′-diamine (NPB). Remarkably, when 2,6-NPNP was used as the HTM, the turn-on (V on = 2.54 V) and operating voltages (V op = 5.67 V @ 1000 nit) of the solution-processed OLED were lower than that of the vacuum-deposited device using NPB as the HTM. Furthermore, the external quantum efficiency, current efficiency, and power efficiency of the former were 1.63 %, 4.49 cd A−1, and 3.78 lm W−1, respectively, which were higher than those of NPB. [Display omitted] • Novel phenylnaphthalene core-based HTMs were newly synthesized for solution-processable OLEDs. • These new HTMs exhibited superior solubility, thermal stability, and film-forming properties. • The EL performance for these HTMs were higher in dry process than in wet process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Genetic and behavioral risk factors have been suggested to play a role in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. However, population-based familial risk estimates are unavailable. Purpose: To quantify familial risk of ACL injury among first-degree relatives (FDRs) after controlling for certain behavioral risk factors. To estimate the combined effect of family history and body mass index (BMI) or physical activity on the risk of ACL injury. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Using nationwide data from the Korean National Health Insurance and National Health Screening Program databases on kinship, lifestyle habits, and anthropometrics, 5,184,603 individuals with blood-related FDRs were identified from 2002 to 2018. Familial risk of ACL injury, as represented as incidence risk ratios (IRRs) with 95% CIs, was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models among individuals with versus without affected FDRs. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and behavioral risk factors. Interaction testing between familial history and BMI or physical activity was performed on an additive scale. Results: The risk of ACL injury was 1.79-fold higher (IRR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.73-1.85) among individuals with versus without affected FDRs, and the incidence was 12.61 per 10,000 person-years. The IRR (95% CI) was highest with affected twins at 4.49 (3.01-6.69), followed by siblings at 2.31 (2.19-2.44), the father at 1.58 (1.49-1.68), and the mother at 1.52 (1.44-1.61). High BMI and high level of physical activity were significantly associated with the risk of ACL injury. Individuals with positive family history and either high BMI or physical activity had a 2.59- and 2.45-fold increased risk of injury as compared with the general population, respectively, and the combined risks exceeded the sum of their independent risks. Conclusion: Familial factors are risk factors for ACL injury with an additional contribution of 2 behavioral factors: BMI and physical activity level. A significant interaction was observed between family history of ACL injury and high BMI/level of physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim was to compare tunnel widening of autogenous hamstring anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) using cortical button versus cross-pin femoral fixation. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched from inception to 11 April 2019. The study included all levels of evidence in studies that reported femoral tunnel widening and compared cortical button and cross-pin femoral fixation for ACLR. Results: Six studies were included, covering a total of 344 knees. Using transtibial techniques for ACLR, the mean absolute amount of femoral tunnel widening was significantly greater with cortical button fixation than with transfemoral cross-pin fixation (−0.30 mm; 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.56,−0.05 mm; p= 0.02). Using the transtibial technique, the mean relative percentage of femoral tunnel widening was significantly greater with cortical button fixation than with transfemoral cross pin fixation (−5.73%; 95% CI −10.32, −1.14% ; p= 0.01). Conclusion: The present meta-analysis revealed greater widening of the femoral tunnel when using cortical button fixation for hamstring ACLR via the transtibial technique than when using transfemoral cross-pin fixation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Only limited data are available regarding postural stability between anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-injured patients with medial meniscus (MM) tear and those with lateral meniscus (LM) tear. The purpose of this study was to compare preoperative postural stability for both involved and uninvolved knees in ACL rupture combined with MM and LM tears. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant difference in postural stability between these two groups. Methods: Ninety-three ACL-injured patients (53 combined with MM tears vs. 40 combined with LM tears) were included. Static and dynamic postural stability were evaluated with the overall stability index (OSI), anterior–posterior stability index (APSI), and medial–lateral stability index (MLSI) using stabilometry. Knee muscle strength was evaluated using an isokinetic testing device. Results: In the static postural stability test, none of the stability indices showed significant differences between the two groups for both knees (p > 0.05). In the dynamic postural stability test for involved side knees, the OSI and APSI were significantly higher in the LM tear group compared to the MM tear group (OSI: 2.0 ± 0.8 vs. 1.6 ± 0.5, p = 0.001; APSI: 1.5 ± 0.6 vs. 1.3 ± 0.5, p = 0.023), but not the MLSI (p > 0.05). In the static and dynamic postural stability tests in each group, there were no significant differences between the involved and uninvolved side knees (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the knee muscle strength between the two groups (p > 0.05). All postural stability showed no significant correlation with knee muscle strength (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Dynamic postural stability was poorer in patients with ACL rupture combined with LM tear than in those with MM tear. Therefore, close monitoring for postural stability would be necessary during preoperative and postoperative rehabilitation, especially for patients with ACL rupture combined with LM tear. Level of evidence: Level III [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Severe open tibia fractures are disastrous injuries associated with a high incidence of complications. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is a novel treatment for open tibia fractures; however, its efficacy remains unclear. This is a systematic review and meta-analysis performed to evaluate the effect of NPWT on decreasing the infection rate, amputation rate, nonunion rate, and flap-related complications in open tibia fractures.Methods: The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched. Complications were evaluated in terms of the rates of infection, amputation, nonunion, and flap-related complications.Results: Twelve studies were included. In the meta-analysis, NPWT showed significantly lower soft-tissue infection rate (odds ratio [OR] 0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.34-0.68, P < 0.0001), nonunion rate (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.39-0.95, P = 0.03), flap necrosis rate (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.21-0.63, P = 0.0003), and flap revision rate (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.22-0.89, P = 0.02) than conventional wound management. However, no significant difference was found in osteomyelitis rate (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.09-3.28, P = 0.50) and amputation rate (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.36-2.22, P = 0.80) between the 2 groups.Conclusion: Lower rates of soft-tissue infection, nonunion, flap necrosis, and flap revision were observed in the NPWT group than in the conventional dressing group. However, additional high-quality studies are warranted to verify the efficacy of NPWT in the treatment of severe open tibia fractures. We could not make a definitive conclusion about the comparative efficacy of the 2 methods in terms of complications because of insufficient data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a two-dimensional piezoelectric laser scanner designed and tested to obtain a large steering angle of 1° and fast response characteristics of 200 Hz. To overcome the relatively small expansion capability of piezoelectric actuators, the displacement amplification mechanisms with two levers in series are employed to magnify the end tip of the lever which is connected to a 0.5-in. glass mirror. For fast response characteristics, the natural frequencies of the hinge mechanisms were calculated by using the finite element analysis technique. In order to evaluate the performance of the proposed scanner, the hinge mechanism has been manufactured of titanium alloy and the natural frequencies of the hinge mechanism have been measured by sine sweep test. Also, the actual machining test on the burning paper has been done by using a high power laser, and it is shown that the proposed laser scanner is capable of steering the laser beam 1° with a frequency of 200 Hz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the so-called ‘shuttle effect’ is the key obstacle for the practical development of lithium-sulfur batteries, the present attempt is to make the separator less permeable for polysulfides. For this purpose, we synthesized Ni-based metal-organic framework (Ni-MOF) particles and coated them with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) onto the polyethylene (PE) separator. The Ni-MOF particles on separator effectively blocked the migration of lithium polysulfides toward the anode side owing to the strong interaction between Ni-MOFs and lithium polysulfides. The highly conductive MWCNTs in the coating layer allowed reutilization of the trapped reaction intermediates during the subsequent cycles. Due to these beneficial effects of coating materials, the lithium-sulfur cell assembled with Ni-MOF/MWCNT-coated PE separator initially delivered a high discharge capacity of 1358 mAh g −1 with good cycling stability and high-rate performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: TMC1, which encodes transmembrane channel-like protein 1, forms the mechanoelectrical transduction (MET) channel in auditory hair cells, necessary for auditory function. TMC1 variants are known to cause autosomal dominant (DFNA36) and autosomal recessive (DFNB7/11) non-syndromic hearing loss, but only a handful of TMC1 variants underlying DFNA36 have been reported, hampering analysis of genotype-phenotype correlations. Methods: In this study, we retrospectively reviewed 338 probands in an in-house database of genetic hearing loss, evaluating the clinical phenotypes and genotypes of novel TMC1 variants associated with DFNA36. To analyze the structural impact of these variants, we generated two structural models of human TMC1, utilizing the Cryo-EM structure of C. elegans TMC1 as a template and AlphaFold protein structure database. Specifically, the lipid bilayer-embedded protein database was used to construct membrane-embedded models of TMC1. We then examined the effect of TMC1 variants on intramolecular interactions and predicted their potential pathogenicity. Results: We identified two novel TMC1 variants related to DFNA36 (c.1256T > C:p.Phe419Ser and c.1444T > C:p.Trp482Arg). The affected subjects had bilateral, moderate, late-onset, progressive sensorineural hearing loss with a down-sloping configuration. The Phe419 residue located in the transmembrane domain 4 of TMC1 faces outward towards the channel pore and is in close proximity to the hydrophobic tail of the lipid bilayer. The non-polar-to-polar variant (p.Phe419Ser) alters the hydrophobicity in the membrane, compromising protein-lipid interactions. On the other hand, the Trp482 residue located in the extracellular linker region between transmembrane domains 5 and 6 is anchored to the membrane interfaces via its aromatic rings, mediating several molecular interactions that stabilize the structure of TMC1. This type of aromatic ring-based anchoring is also observed in homologous transmembrane proteins such as OSCA1.2. Conversely, the substitution of Trp with Arg (Trp482Arg) disrupts the cation-π interaction with phospholipids located in the outer leaflet of the phospholipid bilayer, destabilizing protein-lipid interactions. Additionally, Trp482Arg collapses the CH-π interaction between Trp482 and Pro511, possibly reducing the overall stability of the protein. In parallel with the molecular modeling, the two mutants degraded significantly faster compared to the wild-type protein, compromising protein stability. Conclusions: This results expand the genetic spectrum of disease-causing TMC1 variants related to DFNA36 and provide insight into TMC1 transmembrane protein-lipid interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limitation of current anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) cancer therapy is transitory responses, inevitable relapses and its insufficient tumor-targeting. Thus, multifaceted approaches, including the development of bispecific antibodies and combination strategies targeting different pathways have been proposed as an alternative. Here, we developed a novel multi-paratopic VEGF decoy receptor, Cetuximab-VEGF-Grab and Trastuzumab-VEGF-Grab, by genetically fusing VEGF decoy receptor (VEGF-Grab) to a single chain Fv of anti-Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) antibody (Cetuximab and Trastuzumab). These multi-paratopic VEGF decoy receptor, which recognize VEGF and EGFR family (EGFR or HER2), effectively suppressed both VEGF and EGFR pathways in vitro , to levels similar to those of the parental VEGF-Grab and anti-EGFR antibodies. In addition, the concurrent binding of multi-paratopic VEGF decoy receptor to VEGF and EGFR family enabled their specific localization to EGFR + tumor in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, Cetuximab-VEGF-Grab and Trastuzumab-VEGF-Grab exhibited the enhanced anti-tumor activities compared to VEGF-Grab in EGFR + tumor xenograft mouse model via anti-EGFR and the targeted anti-angiogenic activities. These results indicate that multi-paratopic VEGF decoy receptor can be a promising agent, combining tumor-targeted anti-angiogenic therapy with efficient blockade of proliferative signals mediated by EGFR family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The incidence and extent of graft extrusion after meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT) may differ in patients undergoing medial and lateral meniscus transplantation due to the use of different surgical techniques. This meta-analysis was therefore designed to quantify the extent and incidence of graft extrusion after meniscus allograft transplantation. Methods. Following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, all studies reporting absolute extrusion, relative percentage of extrusion (RPE), or frequency of major extrusions (>3 mm) on magnetic resonance imaging in patients undergoing medial or lateral MAT were included. Results. The pooled mean absolute extrusion following all MATs was 3.15 mm but was significantly greater following medial than lateral MAT (3.26 versus 3.01 mm; p=0.001). The pooled mean RPE following all MATs was 32.79% and was significantly greater after medial than lateral MAT (32.69% versus 28.81%; p<0.001). The pooled mean proportion of knees with major (>3 mm) extrusion was 53% (95% CI: 49% to 58%) and was significantly greater after medial than lateral MAT (61% versus 39%; p<0.001). Conclusion. Mean graft extrusion after arthroscopic assisted MAT using bony fixation was 3.2 mm, with major graft extrusion > 3 mm occurring in about 50% of transplanted menisci. Graft extrusion was significantly greater after medial than lateral MAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the laminar heat transfer characteristics of a milli-scale confined slot jet impinging on concave and convex surfaces at a uniform wall temperature. The flow at the nozzle exit had a fully developed velocity profile. The effects of Reynolds number, dimensionless nozzle-to-surface distance, and target surface geometry on heat transfer were investigated. The results revealed that the axial distributions of local Nusselt numbers exhibited a peak at the stagnation point and decreased monotonically in the wall jet region for all values of Re and H / B tested. The local Nusselt numbers for the concave surface were, at maximum, 47% larger than those for the convex surface in the region corresponding to x / B ≤ 2.0. This is due to the larger unsteady lateral distortions and earlier flapping motion of the jet column for the convex surface than for the concave surface, resulting in a larger heat transfer reduction for the convex surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We demonstrate a fully conjugated donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D) triblock copolymer, PBDTT-PNDIBT-PBDTT, which contains PBDTT as the donor block and PNDIBT as the acceptor block. The polymer was synthesized by end-capping each block with a reactive unit, followed by condensation copolymerization between the two blocks. The physical, optical, and electrochemical properties of the polymer were investigated by comparing those of donor- and acceptor-homopolymers (i.e., PBDTT and PNDIBT), which are the oligomeric monomers, and their blends. On using the newly synthesized block copolymer, ambipolar charge transport behavior was observed in the corresponding thin-film transistor, and the behavior was compared to that of blend film of donor- and acceptor-homopolymers. Owing to the presence of donor and acceptor blocks in a single polymer chain, it was found that the triblock copolymer can store two-level information; the ability to store this information is one of the most intriguing challenges in memory applications. In this study, we confirmed the potential of the triblock copolymer in achieving distinct two-stage data storage by utilizing the ambipolar charge trapping phenomenon, which is expected in donor and acceptor containing random and block copolymers in a thin-film transistor. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 3223-3235 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction for patients with PCL insufficiency has been associated with postoperative improvements in proprioceptive function due to mechanoreceptor regeneration. However, it is unclear whether reconstructed PCL or contralateral normal knees have better proprioceptive function outcomes. This meta-analysis was designed to compare the proprioceptive function of reconstructed PCL or contralateral normal knees in patients with PCL insufficiency. All studies that compared proprioceptive function, as assessed with threshold to detect passive movement (TTDPM) or joint position sense (JPS) in PCL reconstructed or contralateral normal knees were included. JPS was calculated by reproducing passive positioning (RPP). Five studies met the inclusion/exclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. The proprioceptive function, defined as TTDPM (95% CI: 0.25 to 0.51°; P<0.00001) and RPP (95% CI: 0.19 to 0.45°; P<0.00001), was significantly different between the reconstructed PCL and contralateral normal knees. The mean difference in angle of error between the reconstructed PCL and contralateral normal knees was 0.06° greater in TTDPM than by RPP. In addition, results from subgroup analyses, based on the starting angles and the moving directions of the knee, that evaluated TTDPM at 15° flexion to 45° extension, TTDPM at 45° flexion to 110° flexion, RPP in flexion, and RPP in extension demonstrated that mean angles of error were significantly greater, by 0.38° (P = 0.0001), 0.36° (P = 0.02), 0.36° (P<0.00001), and 0.23° (P = 0.04), respectively, in reconstructed PCL than in contralateral normal knees. The proprioceptive function of PCL reconstructed knees was decreased, compared with contralateral normal knees, as determined by both TTDPM and RPP. In addition, the amount of loss of proprioception was greater in TTDPM than in RPP, even with minute differences. Results from subgroup analysis, that evaluated the mean angles of error in moving directions through RPP, suggested that the moving direction of flexion has a significantly greater mean for angles of error than the moving direction of extension. Although the level of differences between various parameters were statistically significant, further studies are needed to determine whether the small differences (>1°) of the loss of proprioception are clinically relevant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two regioisomeric D1-A-D-A-D1 type π-conjugated molecules (1,4-bis{5-[4-(5-fluoro-7-(5-hexylthiophen-2-yl)benzo[ c][1,2,5]thiadiazole)]­thiophen-2-yl}-2,5-bis(hexyldecyloxy)benzene (Prox-FBT) and 1,4-bis{5-[4-(6-fluoro-7-(5-hexylthiophen-2-yl)benzo[ c][1,2,5]thiadiazole)]­thiophen-2-yl}-2,5-bis(hexyldecyloxy)benzene (Dis-FBT)) are synthesized, by controlling the fluorine topology to be proximal or distal relative to the central core. The different F geometries are confirmed by the 1H-1H nuclear Overhauer effect spectroscopy (NOESY). Clearly different optical, electrochemical, and thermal transition behaviors are obtained, i.e., stronger absorption, deeper valance band (by ≈0.2 eV), and higher melting/recrystallization temperatures (by 7-20 °C) are observed for Dis-FBT. The different intermolecular packing and unit cell structures are also calculated for the two regioisomers, based on the powder X-ray diffraction and 2D grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray diffraction measurements. A tighter π-π packing with a preferential monoclinic face-on orientation is extracted for Dis-FBT, compared to Prox-FBT with bimodal orientations. Different topological structures significantly affect the electrical and photovoltaic properties, where Prox-FBT shows higher parallel hole mobility (2.3 × 10−3 cm2 V−1 s−1), but Dis-FBT demonstrates higher power conversion efficiency (5.47%) with a larger open-circuit voltage of 0.95 V (vs 0.79 V for Prox-FBT). The findings suggest that small changes in the topological geometry can affect the electronic structure as well as self-assembly behaviors, which can possibly be utilized for fine-adjusting the electrical properties and further optimization of optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is one of the most effective cancer treatments owing to its ability to selectively kill cancer cells, without affecting normal cells. However, it has been reported that several gastric cancer cells show resistance to TRAIL because of a scarcity of death receptor 5 (DR5) expressed on the cell surface. In this study, we show that cyclopamine sensitizes gastric cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by elevating the expression of DR5. Interestingly, survivin hampers the existence of DR5 protein under normal conditions and cyclopamine decreases the expression of survivin, thus acting as a TRAIL sensitizer. Mechanistically, cyclopamine induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress via reactive oxygen species (ROS) and CHOP, the last protein of the ER stress pathway and it regulates the proteasome degradation of survivin. Taken together, our results indicate that cyclopamine can be used for combination therapy in TRAIL-resistant gastric cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmid-based gene expression is a fundamental tool in the field of biotechnology. However, overexpression of genes of interest with multi-copy plasmids often causes detrimental effects on host cells. To overcome this problem, chromosomal integration of target genes has been used for decades; however, insufficient protein expression occurred with this method. In this study, we developed a novel cloning and expression system named the chromosomal vector (ChroV) system, that has features of stable and high expression of target genes on the F′ plasmid in the Escherichia coli JM109(DE3) strain. We used an RMT cluster (KCTC 11994BP) containing a silent cat gene from a previous study to clone a gene into the F′ plasmid. The ChroV system was applied to clone two model targets, GFPuv and carotenoids gene clusters (4 kb), and successfully used to prove the inducible tightly regulated protein expression in the F′ plasmid. In addition, we verified that the expression of heterologous genes in ChroV system maintained stably in the absence of antibiotics for 1 week, indicating ChroV system is applicable to antibiotics-free production of valuable proteins. This protocol can be widely applied to recombinant protein expression for antibiotics-free, stable, and genome-based expression, providing a new platform for recombinant protein synthesis in E. coli. Overall, our approach can be widely used for the economical and industrial production of proteins in E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Although three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) has been used to compare femoral tunnel position following transtibial and anatomical anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, no consensus has been reached on which technique results in a more anatomical position because methods of quantifying femoral tunnel position on 3D-CT have not been consistent. This meta-analysis was therefore performed to compare femoral tunnel location following transtibial and anatomical ACL reconstruction, in both the low-to-high and deep-to-shallow directions.Methods: This meta-analysis included all studies that used 3D-CT to compare femoral tunnel location, using quadrant or anatomical coordinate axis methods, following transtibial and anatomical (AM portal or OI) single-bundle ACL reconstruction.Results: Six studies were included in the meta-analysis. Femoral tunnel location was 18 % higher in the low-to-high direction, but was not significant in the deep-to-shallow direction, using the transtibial technique than the anatomical methods, when measured using the anatomical coordinate axis method. When measured using the quadrant method, however, femoral tunnel positions were significantly higher (21 %) and shallower (6 %) with transtibial than anatomical methods of ACL reconstruction.Conclusion: The anatomical ACL reconstruction techniques led to a lower femoral tunnel aperture location than the transtibial technique, suggesting the superiority of anatomical techniques for creating new femoral tunnels during revision ACL reconstruction in femoral tunnel aperture location in the low-to-high direction. However, the mean difference in the deep-to-shallow direction differed by method of measurement.Level Of Evidence: Meta-analysis, Level II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) cannot always accurately correct limb alignment, resulting in under- or over-correction. This study assessed the relationship between soft tissue laxity of the knee joint and alignment correction in open-wedge HTO.Methods: This prospective study involved 85 patients (86 knees) undergoing open-wedge HTO for primary medial osteoarthritis. The mechanical axis (MA), weight-bearing line (WBL) ratio, and joint line convergence angle (JLCA) were measured on radiographs preoperatively and after 6 months, and the differences between the pre- and post-surgery values were calculated. Post-operative WBL ratios of 57-67 % were classified as acceptable correction. WBL ratios <57 and >67 % were classified as under- and over-corrections, respectively.Results: Preoperative JLCA correlated positively with differences in MA (r = 0.358, P = 0.001) and WBL ratio (P = 0.003). Difference in JLCA showed a stronger correlation than preoperative JLCA with differences in MA (P < 0.001) and WBL ratio (P < 0.001). Difference in JLCA was the only predictor of both difference in MA (P < 0.001) and difference in WBL ratio (P < 0.001). The difference between pre- and post-operative JLCA differed significantly between the under-correction, acceptable-correction, and over-correction groups (P = 0.033). Preoperative JLCA, however, did not differ significantly between the three groups. Neither preoperative JLCA nor difference in JLCA correlated with change in posterior slope.Conclusions: Preoperative degree of soft tissue laxity in the knee joint was related to the degree of alignment correction, but not to alignment correction error, in open-wedge HTO. Change in soft tissue laxity around the knee from before to after open-wedge HTO correlated with both correction amount and correction error. Therefore, a too large change in JLCA from before to after open-wedge osteotomy may be due to an overly large reduction in JLCA following osteotomy, suggesting alignment over-correction during surgery.Level Of Evidence: II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We synthesized isoindigo-based two donor-acceptor (D-A) copolymers to optimize the morphology in ternary blend films with two p-type polymers and n-type phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC 61 BM). Compared to binary systems with a single copolymer and PC 61 BM, the ternary polymer solar cell with two copolymers and PC 61 BM showed highly enhanced power conversion efficiency of 5.13% with a high short circuit current of 13.23 mA cm −2 . These results were supported by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations of the surface and internal morphology of the thin film, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phloretin is one of the apple polyphenols with anticancer activities. Since tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) serves important roles in inducing apoptosis, the present study examined the effect of phloretin on TRAIL-induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells. Treatment with both phloretin and TRAIL markedly suppressed the survival of cancer cells from several colon cancer cell lines compared with that of cells treated with either TRAIL or phloretin. Additionally, decreased numbers of colonies were observed following addition of phloretin and TRAIL. Furthermore, TRAIL- and phloretin-treated HT-29-Luc cells exhibited decreased luciferase activity. Increased apoptosis was observed in phloretin- and TRAIL-treated HT-29-Luc colon cancer cells, accompanying elevated levels of cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, and caspase-3, −8 and −9. The expression levels of MCL1 apoptosis regulator BCL2 family member (Mcl-1) were decreased following addition of phloretin in colon cancer cells. In addition, overexpression of Mcl-1 in phloretin- and TRAIL-treated HT-29-Luc cells resulted in increased cell survival. Treatment of HT-29-Luc cells with a combination of cycloheximide (CHX) and phloretin led to a more prominent decrease in Mcl-1 expression compared with that in cells treated with CHX alone, while Mcl-1 expression was recovered by treatment with MG132. Binding of ubiquitin with Mcl-1 was verified using immunoprecipitation. Intraperitoneal injection of both TRAIL and phloretin into tumor xenografts was associated with a decreased tumor volume compared with that following injection with either TRAIL or phloretin. Overall, the present results suggest a synergistic effect of phloretin on TRAIL-induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colon cancer patients with mutant KRAS are resistant to cetuximab, an antibody directed against the epidermal growth factor receptor, which is an effective clinical therapy for patients with wild-type KRAS . Numerous combinatorial therapies have been tested to overcome the resistance to cetuximab. However, no combinations have been found that can be used as effective therapeutic strategies. In this study, we demonstrate that L -ascorbic acid partners with cetuximab to induce killing effects, which are influenced by sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 2 (SVCT-2) in human colon cancer cells with a mutant KRAS . L -Ascorbic acid treatment of human colon cancer cells that express a mutant KRAS differentially and synergistically induced cell death with cetuximab in a SVCT-2-dependent manner. The ectopic expression of SVCT-2 induced sensitivity to L -ascorbic acid treatment in human colon cancer cells that do not express SVCT-2, whereas the knockdown of endogenous SVCT-2 induced resistance to L -ascorbic acid treatment in SVCT-2-positive cells. Moreover, tumor regression via the administration of L -ascorbic acid and cetuximab in mice bearing tumor cell xenografts corresponded to SVCT-2 protein levels. Interestingly, cell death induced by the combination of L -ascorbic acid and cetuximab resulted in both apoptotic and necrotic cell death. These cell death mechanisms were related to a disruption of the ERK pathway and were represented by the impaired activation of RAFs and the activation of the ASK-1–p38 pathway. Taken together, these results suggest that resistance to cetuximab in human colon cancer patients with a mutant KRAS can be bypassed by L -ascorbic acid in an SVCT-2-dependent manner. Furthermore, SVCT-2 in mutant KRAS colon cancer may act as a potent marker for potentiating L -ascorbic acid co-treatment with cetuximab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We successfully synthesized new D-A copolymers that employ 1,10-bithienopyrrolodione (biTPD), thiophene, and selenophene-based donor monomeric units. Two polymers, PBTPDEBT and PBTPDEBS, exhibited high degrees of crystallinity and unique polymer chain arrangements on the substrate, which is attributed to their enhanced coplanarity and intermolecular interactions between the polymer chains. Among the thin-film transistor devices made of PBTPDEBT and PBTPDEBS, the annealed PBTPDEBS device displayed relatively high hole mobility, which was twice that of the PBTPDEBT-based device. In addition, an organic photovoltaic device based on a PBTPDEBS:PC71BM blend displayed the maximum power conversion efficiency of 3.85%. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 1228-1235 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conjugated polymers are of great interest and have been extensively examined as colorimetric and fluorometric sensors for biologically important species. Here, we report the systematic investigation of diketopyrrolopyrrole based conjugated polymers (PDTDPPT, PDTDPPSe and PDTDPPTe) bearing S, Se, and Te towards oxidative addition of Br 2 using absorption spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, atomic force microscopy, and density functional theory calculations. PDTDPPTe polymer displays a highly sensitive, selective, and rapid response to Br 2 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to compare proprioception and postural stability in patients with acute (time from injury ≤ 3 months) and chronic (time from injury > 3 months) ACL tears, and to evaluate the correlation between time interval after ACL injury and proprioception. Thigh muscle strength, postural stability, and joint position sense were compared in 48 patients with acute ACL tears and in 28 with chronic ACL tears. Maximal torque (60°/sec) of the quadriceps and hamstring was evaluated using an isokinetic testing device. Postural stability was determined from the anterior-posterior (APSI), medial-lateral (MLSI), and overall (OSI) stability indices using stabilometry. Joint position sense was also tested by reproduction of passive positioning (RPP). Muscle strengths and stability indices on both the involved and uninvolved sides were similar in the acute and chronic ACL tear groups. RPP on the involved side was significantly greater in the chronic than in the acute ACL tear group (7.8° vs. 5.6°, P = 0.041). Two of three stability indices (APSI, OSI) and RPP were significantly greater on the involved than the uninvolved side in the chronic ACL tear group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the laminar heat transfer characteristics of a milli-scale confined slot jet impinging upon concave and convex surfaces at a uniform heat flux. The flow at the nozzle exit has a fully-developed velocity profile. The effects of Reynolds number ( Re ), nozzle-to-surface distance ( H/B ) and the geometrical shape of target surface on local heat transfer are investigated. The heat transfer measurements are conducted at Reynolds numbers ranging from of 200 to 600 and H/B from 2 to 12. The results show that the local Nusselt numbers for both surfaces increase with increasing Reynolds number. The axial distributions of local Nusselt numbers exhibit the peak at the stagnation point and monotonically decrease in the wall jet region, showing a bell-shaped for all Re’ s and H/B’ s tested. The results also show that the peak stagnation point Nusselt numbers occur at around H/B = 5–7 for the convex surface. On the contrary, the stagnation point Nusselt numbers for the concave surface tend to gradually decrease as the nozzle-to-surface distance increases. The stagnation point Nusselt numbers for the concave surface are higher than those for the convex surface at all Re ’s and H/B ’s tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The majority of chordomas show activation of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR). Based on in vitro intertumoral variation in response to recombinant PDGF protein and PDGFR inhibition, and variable tumor response to imatinib, we hypothesized that chordomas resistant to PDGFR inhibition may possess downstream activation of the pathway. Methods: Molecular profiling was performed on 23 consecutive chordoma primary tissue specimens. Primary cultures established from 20 of the 23 specimens, and chordoma cell lines, UCH-1 and UCH-2, were used for in vitro experiments. Results: Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) locus was observed in 6 specimens (26%). PTEN disruption statistically correlated with increased Ki-67 proliferation index, an established marker of poor outcome for chordoma. Compared to wild type, PTEN deficient chordomas displayed increased proliferative rate, and responded less favorably to PDGFR inhibition. PTEN gene restoration abrogated this growth advantage. Chordomas are characterized by intratumoral hypoxia and local invasion, and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are capable of attenuating both hypoxic signaling and cell migration. The combination of PDGFR and HDAC inhibition effectively disrupted growth and invasion of PTEN deficient chordoma cells. Conclusions: Loss of heterozygosity of the PTEN gene seen in a subset of chordomas is associated with aggressive in vitro behavior and strongly correlates with increased Ki-67 proliferative index. Combined inhibition of PDGFR and HDAC attenuates proliferation and invasion in chordoma cells deficient for PTEN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We synthesized new diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based small molecules i.e., TVT(DPP) 2 and NDT(DPP) 2 , containing ( E )-1,2-di(thiophen-2-yl)ethene and naphtho[1,2- b :5,6- b ′]dithiophene, respectively, as electron-donating moieties with almost identical conjugation lengths. To study the effect of the conjugation bridge between the DPP units on the performance of thin-film transistors (TFTs) and photovoltaic (PV) devices, we performed theoretical calculations and investigated the photophysical and electrochemical properties. Finally, TFTs and PV devices were fabricated, and their charge carrier mobilities and power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) with [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC 61 BM) were measured. The hole mobility of TVT(DPP) 2 was found to be larger than that of NDT(DPP) 2 . The solution-processed bulk-heterojunction PV devices based on TVT(DPP) 2 and NDT(DPP) 2 gave maximum PCEs of 2.21% and 3.03%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), such as proportion and multilineage potential, can be affected by donor age. However, the qualitative and quantitative features of ACL MSCs isolated from younger and older individuals have not yet been compared directly. This study assessed the phenotypic and functional differences in ACL-MSCs isolated from younger and older donors and evaluated the correlation between ACL-MSC proportion and donor age. Torn ACL remnants were harvested from 36 patients undergoing ACL reconstruction (young: 29.67 ± 10.92 years) and 33 undergoing TKA (old: 67.96 ± 5.22 years) and the proportion of their MSCs were measured. The mean proportion of MSCs was slightly higher in older ACL samples of the TKA group than of the younger ACL reconstruction group (19.69 ± 8.57% vs. 15.33 ± 7.49%, p = 0.024), but the proportions of MSCs at passages 1 and 2 were similar. MSCs from both groups possessed comparable multilineage potentiality, as they could be differentiated into adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes at similar level. No significant correlations were observed between patient age and MSC proportions at passages 0–2 or between age and MSC proportion in both the ACL reconstruction and TKA groups. Multiple linear regression analysis found no significant predictor of MSC proportion including donor age for each passage. Microarray analysis identified several genes that were differentially regulated in ACL-MSCs from old TKA patients compared to young ACL reconstruction patients. Genes of interest encode components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and may thus play a crucial role in modulating tissue homeostasis, remodeling, and repair in response to damage or disease. In conclusion, the proportion of freshly isolated ACL-MSC was higher in elderly TKA patients than in younger patients with ACL tears, but their phenotypic and multilineage potential were comparable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TRAIL has been shown to induce apoptosis in cancer cells, but in some cases, certain cancer cells are resistant to this ligand. In this study, we explored the ability of representative HSP90 (heat shock protein 90) inhibitor NVP-AUY922 to overcome TRAIL resistance by increasing apoptosis in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. The combination of TRAIL and NVP-AUY922 induced synergistic cytotoxicity and apoptosis, which was mediated through an increase in caspase activation. The treatment of NVP-AUY922 dephosphorylated JAK2 and STAT3 and decreased Mcl-1, which resulted in facilitating cytochrome c release. NVP-AUY922-mediated inhibition of JAK2/STAT3 signaling and down-regulation of their target gene, Mcl-1, occurred in a dose and time-dependent manner. Knock down of Mcl-1, STAT3 inhibitor or JAK2 inhibitor synergistically enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Taken together, our results suggest the involvement of the JAK2-STAT3-Mcl-1 signal transduction pathway in response to NVP-AUY922 treatment, which may play a key role in NVP-AUY922-mediated sensitization to TRAIL. By contrast, the effect of the combination treatments in non-transformed colon cells was minimal. We provide a clinical rationale that combining HSP90 inhibitor with TRAIL enhances therapeutic efficacy without increasing normal tissue toxicity in CRC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on graft extrusion in sagittal and coronal planes after medial and lateral meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT). Topics covered include anterior cartilage meniscus distance (ACMD), posterior cartilage meniscus distance (PCMD) horns, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after MAT.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most lethal and aggressive astrocytoma of primary brain tumors in adults. Although there are many clinical trials to induce the cell death of glioblastoma cells, most glioblastoma cells have been reported to be resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Here, we showed that gingerol as a major component of ginger can induce TRAIL-mediated apoptosis of glioblastoma. Gingerol increased death receptor (DR) 5 levels in a p53-dependent manner. Furthermore, gingerol decreased the expression level of anti-apoptotic proteins (survivin, c-FLIP, Bcl-2, and XIAP) and increased pro-apoptotic protein, Bax and truncate Bid, by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). We also found that the sensitizing effects of gingerol in TRAIL-induced cell death were blocked by scavenging ROS or overexpressing anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2). Therefore, we showed the functions of gingerol as a sensitizing agent to induce cell death of TRAIL-resistant glioblastoma cells. This study gives rise to the possibility of applying gingerol as an anti-tumor agent that can be used for the purpose of combination treatment with TRAIL in TRAIL-resistant glioblastoma tumor therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism underlying the development of gap differences in total knee arthroplasty using the navigation-assisted gap technique and to assess whether these gap differences have statistical significance. Methods: Ninety-two patients (105 knees) implanted with cruciate-retaining prostheses using the navigation-assisted gap balancing technique were prospectively analysed. Medial extension and flexion gaps and lateral extension and flexion gaps were measured at full extension and at 90° of flexion. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare the mean values of these four gaps. The correlation coefficient between each pair of gaps was assessed using Pearson's correlation analysis. Results: Mean intra-operative medial and lateral extension gaps were 20.6 ± 2.1 and 21.7 ± 2.2 mm, respectively, and mean intra-operative medial and lateral flexion gaps were 21.6 ± 2.7 and 22.1 ± 2.5 mm, respectively. The pairs of gaps differed significantly ( P < 0.05 each), except for the difference between the medial flexion and lateral extension gaps (n.s.). All four gaps were significantly correlated with each other, with the highest correlation between the medial and lateral flexion gaps ( r = 0.890, P < 0.001) and the lowest between the medial flexion and lateral extension gaps ( r = 0.701, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Medial and lateral flexion and extension gaps created using the navigation-assisted gap technique differed significantly, although the differences between them were <2 mm, and the gaps were closely correlated. Clinical relevance: These narrow ranges of statistically acceptable gap differences and the strong correlations between gaps should be considered by surgeons, as should the risks of soft tissue over-release or unintentional increases in extension or flexion gap after preparation of the other gap. Level of evidence: III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based conjugated polymer (P(DPP-BDT)) containing benzodithiophene (BDT) was successfully synthesizedviaStille coupling reaction. The synthesized polymer shows good solubility in common organic solvents and good self-film-forming properties. The electrical properties of the polymer were evaluated in organic thin film transistors (OTFTs). The TFT made of pristine P(DPP-BDT) film exhibits good carrier mobility of 0.38∼0.40 cm2V−1s−1(Ion/off= 106,Vth= −9 V), which is close to the mobility of TFT made of the thermally annealed film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study is concerned with measuring local heat transfer downstream of an asymmetric abrupt expansion and an asymmetric abrupt expansion followed by an asymmetric abrupt contraction (called “asymmetric cavity”) in a circular tube at a uniform wall temperature. The effects of geometry and three-dimensionality of the flow caused by asymmetric expansion on heat transfer characteristics are also examined. The flow just upstream of the expansion is unheated and fully developed at the entrance to the heated asymmetric abrupt expansion region. Local heat transfer coefficients are measured using a specially designed isothermal heat flux sensor. Measurements for the asymmetric abrupt expansion are made at a small to large diameter ratio of d/D = 0.4 and 0.533 for Reynolds numbers of ReD = 17,300 and 21,900, respectively. The eccentricities of the tube axis (e/D) are 0.25 and 0.17 for d/D = 0.4, and 0.195 and 0.065 for d/D = 0.533. For the asymmetric cavity, all tests are made at d/D = 0.4 and ReD = 17,300 with various cavity lengths for e/D = 0 and 0.25, respectively. For both cases, the variations of local Nusselt number are observed along the wall of downstream circular tube at several angular positions around the tube circumference. In general, the local Nusselt numbers downstream of an asymmetric abrupt expansion are substantially higher than the fully developed values for the range of Reynolds numbers, diameter ratios and eccentricities investigated, due to high turbulence and mixing action in the recirculation region. And the maximum Nusselt numbers occur between 10 and 15 step heights from the expansion step. The Nusselt number distributions for the asymmetric cavity show a dramatic increase to the maximum values as the downstream region of the cavity is approached. This behavior is attributed to a periodic vortex shedding, subsequent impingement on the downstream corner region of the cavity and three-dimensionality effects which cause an increase in turbulence intensity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Most glioblastoma cells have been reported to be resistant to TRAIL. [•] PEITC generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cancer cells. [•] PEITC enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis through the upregulation of DR5 receptor. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sugar transport is very critical in developing an efficient and rapid conversion process of a mixture of sugars by engineered microorganisms. By using expressed sequence tag data generated for the fructophilic yeast Candida magnoliae JH110, we identified two fructose-specific transporters, CmFSY1 and CmFFZ1, which show high homology with known fructose transporters of other yeasts. The CmFSY1 and CmFFZ1 genes harbor no introns and encode proteins of 574 and 582 amino acids, respectively. Heterologous expression of the two fructose-specific transporter genes in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which is unable to utilize hexoses, revealed that both transporters are functionally expressed and specifically transport fructose. These results were further corroborated by kinetic analysis of the fructose transport that showed that CmFsy1p is a high-affinity fructose-proton symporter with low capacity ( K = 0.13 ± 0.01 mM, V = 2.1 ± 0.3 mmol h [gdw]) and that CmFfz1p is a low-affinity fructose-specific facilitator with high capacity ( K = 105 ± 12 mM, V = 8.6 ± 0.7 mmol h [gdw]). These fructose-specific transporters can be used for improving fructose transport in engineered microorganisms for the production of biofuels and chemicals from fructose-containing feedstock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Reversine inhibits adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. [•] Reversine-induced TGF-β pathway is required for its anti-adipogenic function. [•] Reversine converts 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into mesenchymal stem cell-like cells. [•] Reversine-pretreated 3T3-L1 preadipocytes undergo osteogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Successful outcomes following high tibial osteotomy (HTO) require precise realignment of the mechanical axis of the lower extremity. The present study investigated whether the weight-bearing limb scanogram (WBS) technique provided a more accurate mechanical axis realignment than the navigation technique in open high tibial osteotomy (OHTO). Methods: This prospective study involved 80 knees (78 patients) undergoing OHTO. The WBS technique was used in 40 knees and the navigation technique in 40 knees. Each technique was performed by a different surgeon in a different hospital. Postoperative coronal limb alignment was assessed using the weight-bearing line (WBL) ratio on full-length standing hip-to-ankle radiographs. Results: We found that the mean postoperative WBL ratio was greater in the WBS compared to the navigation group (p=0.001), and hence the ratio for the WBS group was closer to the ratio target of 62%. There was a greater proportion of WBL ratio outliers in the navigation group than the WBS group (25% vs. 10%, p=0.034). Conclusion: We conclude that the WBS technique was more accurate than the navigation technique for restoration of coronal leg alignment in OHTO. Level Of Evidence: Level II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Novel naphtho[1,2- b:5,6- b′]dithiophene (NDT) and diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-containing donor-acceptor conjugated polymers (PNDTDPPs) with different branched side chains were synthesized via Pd(0)-catalyzed Stille coupling reaction. Octyldodecyl (OD) and dodecylhexadecyl (DH) groups were tethered to the DPP units as the side chains. The soluble fraction of PNDTDPP-OD polymer in chloroform has much lower molecular weight than that of PNDTDPP-DH polymer. PNDTDPP-DH polymer bearing relatively longer DH side chains exhibited much better charge-transport behavior than PNDTDPP-OD polymer with shorter OD side chains. The thermally annealed PNDTDPP-DH polymer thin films exhibited an outstanding charge carrier mobility of ∼1.32 cm2 V−1 s−1 ( Ion/ Ioff ∼ 108) measured under ambient conditions, which is almost six times higher than that of thermally annealed PNDTDPP-OD polymer thin films. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 5280-5290 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Local Nusselt numbers in a spirally fluted circular tube are presented. Thermochromic liquid crystals and shroud-transient technique are used to measure spatially-resolved surface temperature distributions, which are used to deduce local Nusselt numbers. The Reynolds number Re ranges from 30,000 to 70,000, a spiral angle θ is fixed at 60° and the dimensionless streamwise distance z/d ranges from 0 to 4.5. The results show that in general, the local Nusselt numbers monotonically decrease with a distance away from both windward and leeward crests of the spiral flute and reach a minimum value near its valley for all Re''s and z/d''s tested. The local Nusselt numbers in the spirally fluted tube are maximum 179–89.3% higher for Re = 30,000–70,000 near the windward crest at z/d = 4.5 than the fully developed values in the smooth tube. It is also found that the average Nusselt numbers are 52–23.7% higher for Re = 30,000–70,000 than the fully developed values in the smooth tube. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: The purpose of this cadaveric study was to study the effect of plane of osteotomy on incidence of lateral cortex fracture and to define a "safe zone" through which medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) could be performed with minimal risk of lateral cortex fracture.Methods: Medial open HTO was performed in nine fresh frozen human cadavers (18 knees) with each specimen randomly assigned to a "safe zone" osteotomy (group A, between the tip of the fibular head and the circumference line of the fibular head), or a lower level osteotomy (group B, distal to the circumference line of the fibular head).Results: Six out of nine knees developed lateral cortex fracture in group B compared to none in group A (P = 0.009) when the osteotomy site was distracted to a maximum of 20 mm.Conclusion: Directing the plane of the osteotomy toward the "safe zone" significantly reduces the risk of lateral cortex fracture compared to an osteotomy, which is directed at a lower level. Confining the plane of a medial open HTO to within the "safe zone" can prevent lateral cortex fracture and subsequent loss of correction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We investigated the molecular basis of the ability of wogonin to control the intracellular signaling cascades of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). This activity induces antitumor activities in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells. Recently, the evolutionarily conserved serine/threonine kinase AMPK has emerged as a possible target for tumor control. We investigated the effects of wogonin on apoptosis regulation and the activation of AMPK. Wogonin treatment resulted in a series of antitumor effects such as cell death and apoptotic appearance. Activation of AMPK suppressed downstream substrates, such as the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein-1 (4E-BP1), and resulted in a general decrease in translation. Moreover, wogonin-activated AMPK decreased the activity and/or expression of lipogenic enzymes such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Furthermore, in GBM cells, wogonin blocked cell cycle progression at the G1 phase and induced apoptosis by inducing p53 expression and further upregulating p21 expression. Taken together, our findings demonstrated that wogonin has the potential to be a chemopreventive and therapeutic agent against human GBM. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: During medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO), sometimes the plate tends to be positioned anteromedially. The plate position can affect the length of the proximal screw, which significantly affects stability after osteotomy. Therefore, research on the correlation among plate position, screw length, and clinical outcomes is needed. Methods: This retrospective review examines 196 knees in 175 patients who underwent MOWHTO from May 2012 to December 2018, for symptomatic medial compartment osteoarthritis with a varus alignment of > 5°. We evaluated the anteroposterior plate position, length of proximal screw, and postoperative computed tomography (CT). We reviewed patients' clinical outcome scores, presence of lateral hinge fracture, neurovascular complications, and infection. The correlation among proximal plate position, proximal screw length, and clinical outcomes was evaluated using Pearson's correlation analysis. A subgroup analysis by screw angle (> 48 ° or < 48 °) was also performed using chi-square test and Student t-test. Results: The mean proximal plate position was 16.28% (range, 5.17–44.74) of the proximal tibia's anterior-to-posterior distance ratio, and the proximal screw length averaged 63.8 mm (range, 44–80 mm). Proximal posteromedial plate position and proximal screw length were significantly correlated (r2 = 0.667, P <.001), as were screw angle and length (r2 = 0.746, P <.001). Medial plating (< 48°) can use a longer proximal screw; nevertheless, no significant difference occurred in clinical outcomes between the two groups. Also, no differences occurred in complication rate, including hinge fracture. Conclusion: With more medially positioned plating during MOWHTO, we can use longer proximal screws. However, there was no significant difference in clinical outcomes and the incidence of lateral hinge fractures regardless of plate position and screw length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In lateral meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT) using the keyhole method, precise trough drilling is critical for ensuring the graft is placed at the correct anatomic position to minimize the risk of extrusion. However, no study has focused on the effect of bony trough axial obliquity on graft extrusion. Our purpose was to investigate whether bony trough axial obliquity and bony trough position correlate with graft extrusion in lateral MAT using the keyhole method. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that drilling the tibial bony trough at a greater axial angle would increase the risk of graft extrusion. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: The study involved 49 patients who underwent lateral MAT between 2009 and 2010 following total or subtotal meniscectomy. The mean patient age at the time of surgery was 34 years (range, 19-52 years). Graft extrusion and bony trough parameters (absolute and relative distance at the anterior, center, and posterior cuttings of the bony trough, and axial trough angle [ATA]) were assessed using conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed on postoperative day 2. The correlation between graft extrusion and MRI trough parameters was analyzed, and multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of graft extrusion. Results: Of the 7 MRI measurement parameters, the ATA (r = .355, P = .012), absolute anterior distance (r = .301, P = .031), and relative anterior distance (r = .307, P = .032) were found to positively correlate with absolute extrusion. The ATA (r = .296, P = .037) and relative anterior distance (r = .296, P = .039) were also found to correlate with relative extrusion. The ATA was found to be a predictor of absolute extrusion (β = .36, P = .012) and relative extrusion (β = .33, P = .019). Conclusion: The risk of graft extrusion increases as the axial plane trough angle increases. The angle can be reduced by ensuring that the bony trough starting point is not created in too lateral a position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although computer-assisted navigation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has many advantages, undetected tracker pin movement can result in poor lower limb alignment and component position. Osteoporosis may be an underlying cause of tracker pin movement. The present prospective case–control study compared 6-month radiographic outcomes in 44 osteoporotic and 56 non-osteoporotic knees undergoing navigation TKAs. Osteoporotic knees were defined as those having a T-score of −2.5 or less either in the femoral neck or lumbar spine or both. At postoperative 6months'' follow-up, the average coronal tibial component position was greater valgus in osteoporotic group than in nonosteoporotic group (non-osteoporotic=varus 0.7°±1.8°; osteoporotic=valgus 1.2°±3.4°; p =0.041). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that being in the osteoporotic group was a predictor of tibial coronal component position (β=0.321, p =0.039). In addition, preoperative lumbar spine bone mineral density was found to be a predictor of coronal and sagittal alignments of the tibial component (β=0.406, p =0.015, β=−0.463, p =0.007). The present study found that osteoporosis affected tibial component position in computer-assisted navigation TKA. Clinicians should be particularly aware of the possibility of undetectable tracker pin movement during navigation TKA in osteoporotic knees. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tuberculous arthritis is difficult to diagnose early because of its atypical insidious clinical manifestations and non-specific imaging findings. Specifically, monoarticular tuberculosis of the knee may mimic pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS). The present report describes a young patient with tuberculous arthritis of the knee. Proper diagnosis was delayed due to magnetic resonance imaging findings, such as hemosiderin deposits and a nodular mass around the knee joint, suggesting the diffuse type of PVNS. These findings suggest that the first step in the diagnosis of tuberculous knee arthritis is to have a high index of suspicion. Level of evidence IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]