This paper presents the construction and characterization of an amperometric immunosensor based on the graphene/gold nanoparticles (AuNPs/GO) nanocomposite for the detection of the bladder cancer biomarker, apolipoprotein A1 (Apo-A1). The morphological analysis of the AuNPs/GO nanocomposite demonstrated an almost spherical shape of AuNPs and the successful coverage of their surface by graphene oxide. An increased G peak and decreased D peak after the association of AuNPs with GO, implied a reduction in graphene defects. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated a significant decrease in the quantity of oxygen-containing functional groups in the AuNPs/GO nanocomposite, as compared to the original GO. Furthermore, the developed sensor demonstrated commendable sensitivity and selectivity, with a wide linear range for Apo-A1 detection. Importantly, the immunosensor exhibited remarkable stability over a period of 14 days, signifying its potential for practical applications.

The wind turbine blades should be designed to possess a high stiffness and should be fabricated with a light and high strength material because they serve under extreme combination of lift and drag forces, converting kinetic energy of wind into shaft work. The goal of this study is to understand the basic knowledge required to curtail the process time consumed during the construction of small wind turbine blades using carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) prepeg composites. The configuration of turbine rotor was determined using the QBlade freeware program. The fluid dynamics module simulated the loads exerted by the wind of a specific speed, and the stress analysis module predicted the distributions of equivalent von Mises stress for representing the blade structures. It was suggested to modify the shape of test specimen from ASTM D638 to decrease the variance in measured tensile strengths. Then, a series of experiments were performed to confirm that the bladder compression molded CFRP prepreg can provide sufficient strength to small wind turbine blades and decrease the cure time simultaneously.

DNA methylation is the most common and well-characterized epigenetic change in human cancer. Recently, the association between GATA-binding protein 5 (GATA5) methylation and carcinogenesis of various types of tumors was investigated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of GATA5 methylation status on clinicopathological features and prognosis in primary non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients with a long-term follow-up period. The GATA5 methylation status was determined for 171 human bladder specimens (eight normal controls [NCs] and 163 primary NMIBC patients) using quantitative pyrosequencing analysis. The primary NMIBC tissues were obtained from patients who underwent transurethral resection (TUR) for histologically diagnosed transitional cell carcinomas between 1995 and 2012 at Chungbuk National University Hospital. GATA5 methylation was significantly higher in NMIBC patients than in NCs and was significantly associated with higher grade and more advanced stage of cancer. Kaplan-Meier estimates showed significant differences in tumor recurrence and progression according to GATA5 methylation status (each p<0.05). Our results show that increased methylation of GATA5 was significantly associated with not only aggressive characteristics but also poor prognosis in primary NMIBC patients. Alteration of GATA5 methylation might be used as a biomarker for prognosis of NMIBC patients. However, prospective and functional investigations are necessary to clarify the role of GATA5 methylation in future clinical management of patients with NMIBC.

In this paper, research development about a bladder press forming system has been carried out for sheet metal forming. The bladder press forming system consists largely of three units as follows forming process unit, driving unit and hydraulic power unit including bladder. Structural analysis of frame of total system by the ANSYS program, flow analysis of bladder by CFX version 14 and hydraulic circuit analysis by AMESim were carried for basic design of bladder press forming system. We can get a good forming results from bladder press system. Developed bladder press forming system will be largely used in aircraft manufacturing industry field.

The objective of this study is to predict the formability of sheet metal for the bladder press. The static implicit finite element method is applied effectively to analyze bladder forming processes using AutoForm software. The material used for forming analysis is AL2024, and the thickness of the plate is 1.6mm, 1.8mm and 2.0mm. Forming force is shown by 101.92kN～87.22kN. The result from the simulation analysis was applied to the bladder press system.

Bladder cancer is a common cancer in smoking men and may correlate with mechanosensitive potassium channels because the urinary bladder is a stretch sensing organ. Two-pore K+ channels (K2P), such as TASK3 and TREK1, have recently been shown to play a critical role in both cell apoptosis and tumorigenesis. Of the channels, TREK1 can be activated by many physiological stimuli, including polyunsaturated fatty acids, and intracellular pH, hypoxia, and neurotransmitters. Here we attempted to determine whether TREK1 is functionally expressed in bladder cancer 253J cells. K2P channels, including TREK1, TREK2, TASK1, TASK3, and TWIK1, were quantified in cultured human bladder cancer 253J cells using real time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. Among them, TREK1-like channel was recorded at a single channel level using the patch-clamp technique. The TREKl-like channel, with single-channel conductance of ~90 pS at −80 mV, was recorded in symmetrical 150 mM KCl using an excised inside-out patch configuration. The current- voltage relationships were linear and were insensitive to tetraethylammonium. The channel was activated by membrane stretch, free fatty acids, and intracellular acidosis. These results with electrophysiological properties resemble to those of K2P channel, for instance, TREK1. Therefore, we conclude that TREK1 channel is functionally present in bladder cancer 253J cells.

A 14-year-old intact female, mixed dog was presented with hematuria and strangury. Mass in the abdominal cavity was seen on radiographs and ultrasound. On the cytological examination in the urethra, clusters of pleomorphic epithelial cell were found. Tissues of the urethra and the urinary bladder were obtained at the time laparotomy and determined the extent of the mass. Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder was found in histopathologic characteristics. Urinary diversion after removal of a complete full section of the TCC in bladder wall was performed. Piroxicam, as a medical therapy for TCC, was orally administrated. Surgical operation and chemotherapy were selected with the goal of maintaining and improving quality of life.

부레를 가시고 있는 어류는 그 부레가 반사강도에 많은 영향을 미치고 있다. 해중에서 어류의 부레가 등방향 반사강도에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위하여 제주도 주변 정치망에서 어획된 독가시치 8마리에 대하여 200 kHz 송수파기를 이용하여 등방향 반사강도를 측정하였다. 등방향 반사강도에 대한 부레의 역할 정도에 관한 조사를 위해서는 X-ray 사진을 이용하여 주사기로서 부레의 가스를 제거하기 전후의 등방향 반사강도를 비교.분석하였다. 독가시치의 유영자세별 등방향 반사강도의 최대치는 수평상태에서 6˚만금 머리를 아래로 향하여 보다 깊은 수심으로 유영하여 가는 자세에서 -30.69 dB 이었다. 부레속에 가스가 있을 때의 실험어의 전장과 체중에 따른 평균 등방향 반사강도를 나타내는식은 각각, TS : -65.16 + 20 log L TS : -50.50 + 20/3 log W 이었다. 또한 부레속의 가스를 제거한 후 실험어의 전장과 체중에 따른 평균 등방향 반사강도를 나타내는 식은 각각, TS : -65.29 + 20 log L TS : -52.62 + 20/3 log W으로서 전장과 체중에 대하여 모두 2.12~2.13 dB의 차이가 있었다. 독가시치는 부레속의 가스를 제거하기 전의 등방향 반사강도가 제거한 후보다 최고5.87 dB, 평균 2.01 dB 높았는데 이는 회귀직선식으로 구한 차이와 거의 같은 값이었다. 그러나. ±30˚ 전후의 유영자세에서 부분적으로 반사강도의 역전현상이 나타났으며. 유영자세 27˚에서 2.12 dB 이나 낮게 나타났다.

본 연구에서는 다양한 약리학적 활성을 가지는 것으로 알려진 감초 열수추출물(GRW)의 항암효능을 알아보기 위하여 인체 방광암 T24 세포에서 생존율 및 증식억제에 미치는 영향과 이와 연관된 apoptosis 유발 여부 및 관련 인자들의 발현 변화를 조사하였다. 먼저 GRW의 처리에 따른 증식억제 정도를 조사한 결과, GRW 처리 농도 의존적으로 생존율 및 증식억제 현상이 나타났으며, 핵의 형태 변화, DNA 단편화 및 apoptosis 유발에 관하여 조사한 결과 역시 GRW 처리 농도 의존적으로 증가됨을 확인할 수 있었다. 이는 GRW의 처리에 의한 암세포의 증식억제 및 형태적 변형이 암세포의 apoptosis 유발과 밀접한 관련이 있음을 시사하여 주는 것으로 사료된다. GRW 처리에 의한 apoptosis 유발에 관여하는 유전자의 탐색을 위하여 apoptosis와 연관성을 가지는 Bcl-2 family에 속하는 유전자의 발현을 조사한 결과 GRW 처리 농도 의존적으로 Bax 단백질의 발현증가와 더불어 Bcl-2 및 Bcl-xL 단백질의 발현감소가 관찰되었다(Fig. 3A). 이는 GRW에 의한 T24 세포의 apoptosis 유발에 Bcl-2 family에 속하는 유전자의 발현 조절이 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 사료된다. 또한 GRW의 처리에 따른 MMP의 소실은 미트콘드리아 막의 교란이 유발되었음을 의미하는 것으로, 이러한 MMP 값의 변동은 Bcl-2 family 단백질의 발현 변화에 의한 것이라 추정된다. 한편 Apoptosis에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려진 caspase(-3/-8/–9)의 발현과 이들의 활성을 억제하는 IAP family (XIAP, cIAP-1, cIAP-2)의 발현에 GRW이 어떠한 영향을 미치는지를 조사한 결과, caspase-3, -8 및 -9의 활성형 단백질 발현 및 정량적 활성증가를 확인하였으며, IAP family 속한 3가지 단백질 모두 발현이 감소하는 것이 관찰되었다. 이상의 결과에서 GRW은 외인적 및 내인적 경로의 개시에 핵심적인 역할을 하는 caspase-8 및 -9의 활성을 모두 증가시켰으며, 이에 따른 caspase-3의 활성증가에 의하여 apoptosis가 유발되었음을 알 수 있었다. 이러한 두 경로의 동시 활성화에는 미트콘드리아의 기능 소실과 Bcl-2 및 IAP family의 발현 변화가 관여하고 있었으며, 특히 Bid의 발현 감소는 GRW에 의한 내인적 경로를 증폭시키는 효과로 작용했을 것이라 추정된다. 방광암의 치료에 보다 효과적인 생리활성을 갖는 물질을 발굴하고 그와 관련된 분자 및 세포수준에서의 기전을 밝히는 것이 중요하기에 본 연구의 결과는 향후 GRW로 수행될 추가 실험을 위한 기초자료로서 그 가치가 매우 높을 것으로 사료된다.

Primary adenocarcinoma is a rare neoplasm of the urinary bladder, constituting approximately 2.5% of all primary bladder malignancies. Signet ring cell variant is even rarer, constituting approximately 0.5% to 2.0% of all primary carcinoma of the urinary bladder. However, glandular differentiation in the urinary bladder is relatively more common than primary adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder. Therefore, diagnosis of primary adenocarcinoma of the urinary bladder can be very challenging, but of significant clinical importance. We report on a case of adenocarcinoma with mucinous and signet ring cell differentiation in the bladder dome in a 49-year-old female.