Article
Dermatology
Stephan Forchhammer, Sonja Grunewald, Matthias Moehrle, Gisela Metzler, Thomas Eigentler, Anne-Kristin Muench, Hanna Ogrzewalla
Summary: Ex-vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy provides a rapid alternative to routine histological processing using haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections. Previous studies suggest high diagnostic accuracy in basal cell carcinoma. This study investigates the diagnostic accuracy of confocal laser scanning microscopy reporting of basal cell carcinoma in a real-life setting and compares reporting by dermatopathologists inexperienced in use of confocal laser scanning microscopy with reporting by an expert in confocal laser scanning microscopy. The results showed lower diagnostic accuracy than published data regarding artificial settings, with poor accuracy in tumor margin control. Prior knowledge of haematoxylin and eosin trained pathologists can be partially transferred to the reporting of confocal laser scanning microscopy scans; however, specific training is recommended.
ACTA DERMATO-VENEREOLOGICA
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Yao Wang, Birger Koopmann, Andreas von Tiedemann
Summary: This study evaluates several methods for assessing the viability and germination rate of Plasmodiophora brassicae resting spores and confirms the suitability of various microscopic and molecular genetic methods. These methods are crucial for studying factors regulating survival, dormancy, and germination of P. brassicae in the soil, and for developing novel control strategies.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Kazusato Oikawa, Keiko Midorikawa, Yutaka Kodama, Keiji Numata
Summary: Organelles contribute to plant growth through their movements and interactions. In this study, a high-throughput method was developed to quantitatively evaluate the interactions between peroxisomes and chloroplasts in living plant cells using distance transformation algorithm and high-resolution 3D fluorescent images. The results showed that the distance between peroxisomes and chloroplasts was shorter in the light conditions.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Agnieszka Nawrocka, Ireneusz Piwonski, Salvatore Sauro, Annalisa Porcelli, Louis Hardan, Monika Lukomska-Szymanska
Summary: This paper conducted a literature review on four microscopic methods commonly used in dental research, which are confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). These microscopic techniques differ in their principles and require specific protocols for specimen preparation, but all play a significant role in describing and evaluating the adhesive bonding process and enamel surface condition.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Hira Waheed, Ch Tahir Mehmood, Yongyu Yang, Weiyu Tan, Saisai Fu, Yeyuan Xiao
Summary: This study investigated the biofilm formation potential of anaerobic microbes on polymeric membranes and found that different membrane materials can affect the formation of biofilms, with fibrous surfaces being more favorable for biofilm formation. The growth stage was crucial for biofilm formation, with interactions between substrata and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) playing a key role in bacterial cell cohesion in mature biofilms.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Yasmine Dergham, Pilar Sanchez-Vizuete, Dominique Le Coq, Julien Deschamps, Arnaud Bridier, Kassem Hamze, Romain Briandet
Summary: This study compared various multicellular communities of B. subtilis, finding that certain gene mutations affected biofilm formation but promoted swarm growth, while other genes had different effects. There were specificities in the impact of different genes on biofilm models.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jian Zhang, Wei Shen, Cynthia Collings, Kirk A. Vander Meulen, Brian G. Fox, Leida M. Vazquez Ramos, James A. Dumesic, Shi-You Ding
Summary: Thermochemical pretreatment is crucial for processing lignocellulosic biomass to produce biofuels and biomaterials. γ-Valerolactone (GVL) has been used as a green solvent to dissolve lignin effectively. This study compared the performance of HCl and H2SO4 as catalysts in GVL pretreatment, finding that GVL-HCl at 100°C showed similar effectiveness to GVL-H2SO4 at 120°C in terms of xylan and lignin removal. Real-time imaging revealed that GVL-HCl pretreatment at lower temperature could rapidly remove lignin from cell walls and optimize the efficiency of GVL-based pretreatment.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Nicole Schonbachler, Thomas Thurnheer, Pune Nina Paque, Thomas Attin, Lamprini Karygianni
Summary: This study compared the antimicrobial potential of different natural mouthrinses using in vitro and in situ biofilm models. The results showed a less pronounced effect of all mouthrinses on in situ biofilms compared to in vitro biofilms, with 0.2% chlorhexidine exhibiting the highest antimicrobial effect.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Ana S. Oliveira, Ligia M. Saraiva, Sandra M. Carvalho
Summary: Staphylococcus epidermidis is a skin bacterium that forms antibiotic-resistant biofilms, and this study explores how it survives toxic concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) produced by the immune system. The research found that NO reduces biofilm mass and increases lactate production while decreasing acetate production in two clinical isolates of S. epidermidis. The study also revealed that NO induces genes involved in polysaccharide production and amino sugar metabolism, but the strains have different mechanisms for boosting lactate production. The analysis of biofilm structure showed that NO stimulates polysaccharide and protein production and affects structure, independently of lactate production. Overall, the resistance to NO is achieved through remodeling the matrix and adapting metabolic processes.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Andra C. Dumitru, Amaury Stommen, Melanie Koehler, Anne-Sophie Cloos, Jinsung Yang, Arnaud Leclercqz, Donatienne Tyteca, David Alsteens
Summary: Recent studies have shown that PIEZO1 ion channels are activated by mechanical stimuli, triggering intracellular chemical signals, and their gating and activation are modulated by plasma membrane tension or local curvature changes. The research found the existence of submicrometric PIEZO1 clusters on red blood cells, and these clusters increase in abundance in regions of higher membrane tension and lower curvature upon interaction with the allosteric modulator Yodal. Additionally, it was demonstrated that PIEZO1 ion channels interact with the spectrin cytoskeleton in both resting and activated states, suggesting a strong interplay between plasma membrane tension gradients, curvature, and cytoskeleton association of PIEZO1.
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Aref Abbasi Moud, Amir Sanati-Nezhad, Seyed Hossein Hejazi
Summary: This study evaluates the stability and self-healing ability of cellulose nanocrystal hydrogels using quantitative fluorescence signal analysis. Hydrogel samples with lower cellulose nanocrystal concentrations collapse more rapidly under gravity, while increasing concentration inhibits particle mobility and hinders the self-healing process.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Alexander E. Filippov, Wencke Krings, Stanislav N. Gorb
Summary: Suspension feeding via setae collecting particles is common within Crustacea. Despite decades of study on the mechanisms and structures involved, the interplay between different setae types and their particle collecting capacities remains partly mysterious. This study presents a numerical modeling approach that explores the relationship between mechanical property gradients, mechanical behavior, setae adhesion, and feeding efficiency. By altering parameters, it was discovered that the system performs best when long and short setae have different mechanical properties and degrees of adhesion. This research has implications for understanding the biomechanical adaptations of suspension feeding structures and can inspire biomimetic applications in filtration technologies.
BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Optics
Jakob G. P. Lingg, Thomas S. Bischof, Bernardo A. Arus, Emily D. Cosco, Ellen M. Sletten, Christopher J. Rowlands, Oliver T. Bruns, Andriy Chmyrov
Summary: The development of fluorophores with photoemission beyond 1000 nm provides the opportunity to develop novel fluorescence microscopes sensitive to those wavelengths. Imaging at wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum enables imaging depths of hundreds of microns in intact tissue, making this attractive for volumetric imaging applications.
LASER & PHOTONICS REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
Yutang Li, Qiang Wu, Jianzhong He, Daxian Zhang, Jianxun Fu, Linzhu Wang
Summary: This article aims to investigate the agglomeration behavior of cerium oxide particles at the interface of high-temperature melts. The attractive force between particles is analyzed using high-temperature confocal laser scanning microscopy and the Kralchevsky-Paunov model. The results show that the agglomeration behavior is influenced by the distance between particles and the radius ratio.
STEEL RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Liliana Perez-Lavalle, Antonio Valero, Manuel Cejudo-Gomez, Elena Carrasco
Summary: Fresh strawberries are popular and consumed frequently, but outbreaks caused by food-borne pathogens have been associated with their consumption. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Thompson can form biofilms on the surface of strawberries during storage, which allows the bacteria to survive and spread. This is crucial for food safety.
Article
Polymer Science
Chie Kojima, Yasuhito Suzuki, Yuka Ikemoto, Masaru Tanaka, Akikazu Matsumoto
Summary: PEG and PEGylated dendrimers were analyzed for their hydration behaviors using X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. Different crystal structures were observed in PEG/water mixtures with varying water content. The hydration state of PEGylated dendrimers was found to be different from that of PEG. These findings highlight the importance of comprehensive studies on eutectic mixtures of PEG compounds and water.
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Mostafa Mabrouk, Hanan H. Beherei, Shohei Shiomoto, Yukiko Tanaka, Lamyaa Osama, Masaru Tanaka
Summary: This study prepared composite biomaterials of PHEMA/titanium-doped BGT for bone regeneration using the IW concept. The distribution and stability of the composites were confirmed, and the titanium doping improved the biomineralization properties. The IW level ranged from 10.4 wt% to 25.6 wt% with increasing titanium concentration. Cell viability tests showed that the growth rate increased with increasing titanium concentration, and an appropriate titanium concentration for cell adhesion was estimated to be 5%. Hydrated PHEMA gels with 5% BGT exhibited a high IW level of 19.3% and less hydrophilic wettability.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Dermatology
Mayu Kanamoto, Shunsuke Takahagi, Shunya Aoyama, Yuri Kido, Mikako Nakanishi, Miki Naito, Machi Kanna, Takeshi Yamamotoya, Akio Tanaka, Michihiro Hide, Tomoichiro Asano, Yusuke Nakatsu
Summary: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is caused by both genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Pin1, an enzyme abundantly expressed in keratinocytes, is found to bind to the NF-κB subunit p65, possibly contributing to increased expression of IL-33 in human keratinocyte cells.
JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Tsuyoshi Ohta, Masaru Tanaka, Seitaro Taki, Hiroyuki Nakagawa, Satoru Nagase
Summary: Honeycomb-like structured films (HCFs), as three-dimensional porous scaffolds, can inhibit the growth, differentiation, proliferation, and motility of ovarian cancer cells by inducing abnormal focal adhesion and morphological changes, providing a novel device for inhibiting residual tumor growth after surgery and improving the prognosis for patients with advanced ovarian cancer.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Riku Saeki, Shingo Kobayashi, Rena Shimazui, Teruki Nii, Akihiro Kishimura, Takeshi Mori, Masaru Tanaka, Yoshiki Katayama
Summary: Polypropyleneimine (PPI) was compared with polyethyleneimine (PEI) as a transfection reagent and showed better responsiveness to endosomal pH and higher condensation ability of plasmid DNA. Although PPI had somewhat higher cytotoxicity than PEI, its transfection efficacy was comparable to or better than PEI in some cell lines. Therefore, PPI could be an alternative transfection reagent.
ANALYTICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Masatoshi Nomura, Yuhki Yokoyama, Daishi Yoshimura, Yasuhisa Minagawa, Aki Yamamoto, Yukiko Tanaka, Naoko Sekiguchi, Daiki Marukawa, Momoko Ichihara, Hiroaki Itakura, Kenichi Matsumoto, Yoshihiro Morimoto, Hideo Tomihara, Akira Inoue, Takayuki Ogino, Norikatsu Miyoshi, Hidekazu Takahashi, Hidenori Takahashi, Mamoru Uemura, Shogo Kobayashi, Tsunekazu Mizushima, Takahisa Anada, Masaki Mori, Yuichiro Doki, Masaru Tanaka, Hidetoshi Eguchi, Hirofumi Yamamoto
Summary: In this study, a simple detection method using poly(2-methoxyethyl acrylate) (PMEA)-coated plates was established for the detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients' blood samples. The efficacy of PMEA coating was confirmed through adhesion and spike tests. The study enrolled 41 CRC patients, and CTCs were successfully captured using PMEA. Cytological examination and cell culture provided valuable information about the presence and characteristics of CTCs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuhki Yanase, Daiki Matsubara, Shunsuke Takahagi, Akio Tanaka, Koichiro Ozawa, Michihiro Hide
Summary: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a common skin disorder characterized by persistent skin edema, flare, and itch for more than 6 weeks. The underlying mechanism involves the activation of mast cells and basophils by auto-antibodies, as well as the involvement of the coagulation and complement system. This review summarizes the behaviors, markers, and targets of basophils in relation to the coagulation-complement system and provides insights for CSU treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Shunsuke Takahagi, Michihiro Hide, Yumi Aoyama, Atsushi Fukunaga, Hiroyuki Murota
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of icatibant in treating sweating-induced dermal pain and to establish the role of bradykinin in pain induction. The methods include a randomized controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of icatibant injection in treating sweating-induced dermal pain. The findings may contribute to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of dermal pain and suggest potential treatment options.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Panyue Wen, Wendong Ke, Anjaneyulu Dirisala, Kazuko Toh, Masaru Tanaka, Junjie Li
Summary: The stealth effect is crucial for enhancing the capabilities of nanomaterials in drug delivery applications. Through analyzing the efficiency and factors involved, we propose an integrated perspective on engineering stealth nanomaterials. The analysis reveals a common pharmacokinetics behavior, known as the pseudo-stealth effect, which leads to a rapid drop in blood concentration despite a relatively long b-phase. We suggest that a holistic approach, considering surface structure and geometry, is essential for improving the stealth effect.
ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daiki Matsubara, Takuma Kunieda, Yuhki Yanase, Shunsuke Takahagi, Kazue Uchida, Tomoko Kawaguchi, Kaori Ishii, Akio Tanaka, Koichiro Ozawa, Michihiro Hide
Summary: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a condition characterized by recurring wheal and flare with itch for more than 6 weeks. Activation of the extrinsic coagulation system has been associated with CSU severity. This study investigated the time course of sequential stimulation with tissue factor inducers (TFIs) on vascular endothelial cells and found that the priming effect of TFIs can persist for a half day or longer, leading to synergistic TF expression and activation of the coagulation cascade.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Dermatology
Michihiro Hide, Isao Ohsawa, Christina Nurse, Ming Yu
Summary: The safety and efficacy of lanadelumab for the prevention of HAE attacks were studied in Japanese patients. Results showed a significant reduction in HAE attack rate in patients treated with lanadelumab over a 52-week period. These findings support the use of lanadelumab as prophylactic therapy for Japanese patients with HAE, consistent with global phase 3 studies.
JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Dermatology
Michihiro Hide, Yi Wang, Nobuhito Dote, Kou Miyakawa, Kenkichi Sugiura, Kazuyuki Ishida
Summary: We evaluated the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of subcutaneous weight-adjusted icatibant for the treatment of acute hereditary angioedema attacks in Japanese pediatric patients. Two patients (aged 10-13 and 6-9 years) received icatibant for a total of four attacks. Each attack was abdominal and/or cutaneous and was treated with a single icatibant injection. Mild or moderate injection-site reactions were the only adverse events reported. Time to onset of symptom relief was 0.9-1.0 h. Icatibant was rapidly absorbed, with a pharmacokinetic profile consistent with previous studies. Simulated exposure levels were consistent with non-Japanese pediatric patients. These results support the safety and efficacy of icatibant in Japanese pediatric patients.
JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Ryohei Koguchi, Katja Jankova, Yukiko Tanaka, Aki Yamamoto, Daiki Murakami, Qizhi Yang, Bruno Ameduri, Masaru Tanaka
Summary: Hydrophilic materials can be made water insoluble by copolymerizing hydrophilic monomers with hydrophobic ones. By adding small amounts of fluorine to the copolymers, the hydrophilicity can be improved and excellent bio-inert properties can be achieved.
BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Shingo Kobayashi, Masaru Tanaka
Summary: Ring-opening metathesis polymerisation (ROMP) has become a popular method to synthesize complex functional polymers, due to the high tolerance of metathesis catalysts towards functional groups. It has emerged as an indispensable approach for designing and synthesizing polymeric biomaterials, enabling precise control over polymer structure and introduction of complex polar functional groups inaccessible by conventional polymerization methods. In this review, examples of precision polymer synthesis with polar functional groups are presented, along with their utilization as soft biomaterials in biotechnology and biomedical fields. Specifically, ROMP of functionalized monocyclic alkenes and synthesis of biomaterials using functionalized norbornene are discussed.
MOLECULAR SYSTEMS DESIGN & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Sungrim Seirin-Lee, Daiki Matsubara, Yuhki Yanase, Takuma Kunieda, Shunsuke Takahagi, Michihiro Hide
Summary: The researchers used a combination of mathematical modelling, in vitro experiments, and clinical data analysis to infer the pathological state of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) patients based on the geometric features of their skin eruptions.
COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Daniela Rubanova, Svitlana Skoroplyas, Alena Libanska, Eva Randarova, Josef Bryja, Michaela Chorvatova, Tomas Etrych, Lukas Kubala
Summary: This study explored the use of nanocarriers to deliver dexamethasone for treating rheumatoid arthritis. The results showed that this method increased the accumulation of dexamethasone in the arthritic area, had a dose-dependent healing effect, and reduced the accumulation of the RA mediator RANKL. This study provides a feasible strategy for improving rheumatoid arthritis therapy.
NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2024)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Thanpisit Lomphithak, Apiwit Sae-Fung, Simone Sprio, Anna Tampieri, Siriporn Jitkaew, Bengt Fadeel
Summary: In this study, iron-doped hydroxyapatite (FeHA) was evaluated as a potential nanomedicine approach for treating PDAC. The results showed that FeHA, in combination with a sublethal dose of the GPX4 inhibitor RSL3, could trigger ferroptosis in KRAS mutant PANC-1 cells while sparing normal human cells. The induction of ferroptosis by FeHA plus RSL3 was found to be dependent on the metalloreductase STEAP3 in PDAC cells.
NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2024)
Review
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Marco Felipe Salas-Orozco, Ana Cecilia Lorenzo-Leal, Idania de Alba Montero, Nuria Patino Marin, Miguel Angel Casillas Santana, Horacio Bach
Summary: The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in severe infections is a growing concern, particularly in hospital environments. Metal-based nanomaterials have shown potential as an alternative to combat these bacteria, but there is a risk of bacterial resistance and environmental accumulation.
NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2024)
