Membrane contact

The use of photochromism to increase the credibility of consumer goods has shown great promise. To provide mechanically dependable anticounterfeiting nanofibres, it has also been critical to improve the engineering processes of authentication patterns. Mechanically robust and photoluminescent electrospun poly(ethylene oxide)/glass (PGLS) nanofibres (150-350 nm) immobilized with nanoparticles of lanthanide-doped aluminate (NLA; 8-15 nm) were developed using electrospinning technology for anticounterfeiting purposes...

The excitation by magnetic field was established to mitigate the membrane fouling of magnetic biochar (MB)-supplemented membrane bioreactor (MBR) in this study. The results showed that the transmembrane pressure (TMP) increase rates decreased by about 8 % after introducing the magnetic field compared with the magnetic biochar-MBR (MB-MBR). Membrane characterization suggested that the flocs in the magnetic field-magnetic biochar-MBR (MF-MB-MBR) formed a highly permeable developed cake layer, and a fluffier and more porous deposited layer on membrane surface, which minimized fouling clogging of the membrane pores...

OBJECTIVE: The PN Naloxone Nasal Swab (Pocket Naloxone Corp., Bethesda, MD) is a swab optimized for drug delivery and intended for use by non-medical personnel for the emergency treatment of opioid overdose. The aim of this study (PNC-20-003) is to determine the safety of this nasal swab in a real-world environment. METHODS: This was a single-institution, quantitative-qualitative prospective trial performed at an outpatient clinic. Patients with normal or abnormal nasal structure were recruited...

Developing high-efficiency membrane for oil and dye removal is very urgent, because wastewater containing them can cause great damage to human and environment. In this study, a coated membrane was fabricated by applying DAC and PEI onto the commercial PVDF microfiltration membrane for supplying the demand. The coated membrane presents superhydrophlic and superoleophobic properties with a water contact angle of 0o and underwater oil contact angle exceed 150°, as well as excellent low underwater oil adhesion performance...

Oral candidiasis is a fungal infection affecting the oral mucous membrane, and this research specifically addresses on a localized treatment through fluconazole-loaded ibuprofen in situ gel-based oral spray. The low solubility of ibuprofen is advantageous for forming a gel when exposed to an aqueous phase. The 1% w/w fluconazole-loaded in situ gel oral sprays were developed utilizing various concentrations of ibuprofen in N-methyl pyrrolidone. The prepared solutions underwent evaluation for viscosity, surface tension, contact angle, water tolerance, gel formation, interface interaction, drug permeation, and antimicrobial studies...

Cell electrofusion is a key process in many research fields, such as genetics, immunology, and cross-breeding. The electrofusion efficiency is highly dependent on the buffer osmotic pressure properties. However, the mechanism by which the buffer osmotic pressure affects cell electrofusion has not been theoretically or numerically understood. In order to explore the mechanism, the microfluidic structure with paired arc micro-cavities was first evaluated based on the numerical analysis of the transmembrane potential and the electroporation induced on biological cells when the electrofusion was performed on this structure...

BACKGROUND: Neurodegenerative diseases are increasingly recognized for their association with oxidative stress, which leads to progressive dysfunction and loss of neurons, manifesting in cognitive and motor impairments. This study aimed to elucidate the neuroprotective role of peroxiredoxin II (Prx II) in counteracting oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial damage, a key pathological feature of neurodegeneration. METHODS: We investigated the impact of Prx II deficiency on endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial dysfunction using HT22 cell models with knocked down and overexpressed Prx II...

More than one percent of people have epilepsy worldwide. Levetiracetam (LEV) is a successful new-generation antiepileptic drug (AED), and its derivative, brivaracetam (BRV), shows improved efficacy. Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2a (SV2A), a putative membrane transporter in the synaptic vesicles (SVs), has been identified as a target of LEV and BRV. SV2A also serves as a receptor for botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), which is the most toxic protein and has paradoxically emerged as a potent reagent for therapeutic and cosmetic applications...

OBJECTIVES: The frenum is a mucous membrane fold that attaches the lip and the cheek to the alveolar mucosa, the gingiva, and the underlying periosteum. Frenectomy is the surgical removal of the whole frenum, including the area connected to the bones. This study's purpose was to compare the healing period and postsurgical pain experienced by patients operated with diode and erbium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet (Er:YAG) lasers. METHODS: Twenty referred patients need to excision of the abnormal upper labial frenum were included in this study...

Endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane (ER-PM) junctions mediate Ca2+ flux across neuronal membranes. The properties of these membrane contact sites are defined by their lipid content, but little attention has been given to glycosphingolipids (GSLs). Here, we show that GM1-ganglioside, an abundant GSL in neuronal membranes, is integral to ER-PM junctions; it interacts with synaptic proteins/receptors and regulates Ca2+ signaling. In a model of the neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease, GM1-gangliosidosis, pathogenic accumulation of GM1 at ER-PM junctions due to β-galactosidase deficiency drastically alters neuronal Ca2+ homeostasis...

Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in plastic and paper products, and its exposure can occur through skin contact or oral ingestion. The hazardous effects of BPA absorbed through the skin may be more severe; however, few studies have investigated the skin toxicity of BPA. This study investigated the effects of BPA on human epidermal keratinocyte cell lines, which is relevant for skin exposure. BPA treatment reduced cell viability in a time- and concentration-dependent manner and elevated oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress...

Phosphatidylinositol (PI) is the precursor lipid for the minor phosphoinositides (PPIns), which are critical for multiple functions in all eukaryotic cells. It is poorly understood how phosphatidylinositol, which is synthesized in the ER, reaches those membranes where PPIns are formed. Here, we used VT01454, a recently identified inhibitor of class I PI transfer proteins (PITPs), to unravel their roles in lipid metabolism, and solved the structure of inhibitor-bound PITPNA to gain insight into the mode of inhibition...

Optical and acoustic tweezers, despite operating on different physical principles, offer non-contact manipulation of microscopic and mesoscopic objects, making them essential in fields like cell biology, medicine, and nanotechnology. The advantages and limitations of optical and acoustic manipulation complement each other, particularly in terms of trapping size, force intensity, and flexibility. We use photoacoustic effects to generate localized Lamb wave fields capable of mapping arbitrary laser pattern shapes...

Neuronal endosomal and lysosomal abnormalities are among the early changes observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD) before plaques appear. However, it is unclear whether distinct endolysosomal defects are temporally organized and how altered γ-secretase function or amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolism contribute to these changes. Inhibiting γ-secretase chronically, in mouse embryonic fibroblast and hippocampal neurons, led to a gradual endolysosomal collapse initiated by decreased lysosomal calcium and increased cholesterol, causing downstream defects in endosomal recycling and maturation...

In the past decade, a growing amount of evidence has demonstrated that organelles do not act autonomously and independently but rather communicate with each other to coordinate different processes for proper cellular function. With a highly extended network throughout the cell, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays a central role in interorganelle communication through membrane contact sites. Here, we highlight recent evidence indicating that the ER also forms contacts with membrane-less organelles. These interactions contribute to the dynamic assembly and disassembly of condensates and controlled protein secretion...

OBJECTIVE: To synthesize the existing evidence on perinatal outcomes following autologous cryopreserved ovarian tissue transplantation (ACOTT), concurrently identifying key factors influencing these outcomes. DATA SOURCES: We performed a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases to identify relevant studies on the impact of ACOTT on perinatal outcomes from inception until October 22, 2023. Where there is missing information, the authors were contacted for updated data...

Research-based education at the undergraduate level is ideal for fostering the training of future scientists. In an undergraduate Developmental Biology course, this learning strategy requires the availability of model species and enough research reagents, not only for technique training but also for the development of student original projects. This might be challenging in most countries, where resources are limited. Hence, there is a need to develop low-cost solutions for use in the classroom. In this study, we describe the optimization and use of two low-cost protocols in zebrafish embryos for hands-on practical sessions and project-based learning in a Developmental Biology undergraduate course in Ecuador...

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of trans-epithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy (TE-PTK) as a treatment for recurrent corneal erosion syndrome (RCES) in patients with symptoms refractory to conventional treatments. METHODS: All patients who received TE-PTK treatment for RCES had failed 3 or more conventional treatments and were reviewed, and if met criteria, approved by healthcare workers of the British Columbia public health authority (Medical Services Plan (MSP)...

BACKGROUND: Varicose veins affect approximately 25% of people in industrialized countries. METHODS: The study aimed at detecting apoptotic cells and histopathological changes in varicose vein walls. Patients (N.=41) with varicose veins and 30 control group patients were divided into two groups according to their age (younger and older than 50 years). Apoptosis was determined by the TUNEL assay, elastin and collagen IV expression by immunohistochemistry and ultrastructural changes by transmission electron microscopy...

Low-cost and portable nitrate and phosphate sensors are needed to improve farming efficiency and reduce environmental and economic impact arising from the release of these nutrients into waterways. Ion selective electrodes (ISEs) could provide a convenient platform for detecting nitrate and phosphate, but existing ionophore-based nitrate and phosphate selective membrane layers used in ISEs are high cost, and ISEs using these membrane layers suffer from long equilibration time, reference potential drift, and poor selectivity...