Delayed wound healing in diabetes is aggravated by chronic inflammation and impaired keratinocyte migration. Although zinc facilitates skin wound healing, its excessive accumulation may induce cytotoxicity. This study explores the synergistic potential of zinc and the GPR39 agonist TC-G-1008 in enhancing diabetic wound repair. In vitro , cotreatment reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and promoted keratinocyte migration. In vivo , a hydrogel incorporating zinc oxide nanoparticles and TC-G-1008 accelerated wound closure in diabetic mice and suppressed interleukin-1β expression. Notably, TC-G-1008 alone enhanced keratinocyte migration under diabetic conditions, highlighting its critical role in modulating inflammation. These findings support a zincsparing therapeutic approach using GPR39 activation to restore wound healing in diabetic settings.

Background: During daily activities, stability is maintained to enhance the function of muscles surrounding the lumbopelvic and hip structures. The core muscles such as the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO) responsible for this stability. One effective static exercise for strengthening these muscles is the plank. Objects: This study aimed to compare abdominal electromyographic activation when an unstable support surface was applied to the upper and lower extremities during a standard and a knee plank. Methods: A total of 30 adults (15 males and 15 females) participated in this study. Surface electromyography electrodes were placed on the RA, EO, and IO muscles. Data were collected under six conditions for males, including two plank postures (standard and knee planks) and three unstable surface conditions (a dynamic balance cushion applied to the upper extremities, lower extremities, or no cushion). Female participants performed only the knee plank. A mixed-effects model with a random intercept was used to analyze muscle activation across plank posture and surface position, with statistical significance set at α = 0.05. Results: In males, the standard plank elicited greater muscle activation than the knee plank across all muscles (p < 0.0001). Additionally, applying an unstable support surface to the upper extremities significantly increased muscle activation in both plank postures in EO and IO (p < 0.001). Other muscle, RA, was only affected by the unstable support surface in the standard plank position only. In females, the knee plank with upper limb instability resulted in the highest muscle activation for all muscles. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of surface instability in core muscle engagement. However, future studies should further investigate abdominal muscle activation with a more detailed analysis and the inclusion of a control group to enhance comparative validity.

Background: Portable, small computers and smartphones are now considered essential tools in modern society and smartphone ownership and usage rates are rising every year. However, excessive smartphone use can have musculoskeletal and postural implications, leading to “smartphone addiction” and related dysfunctions. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effects of smartphone addiction on scapular position and muscle activity during shoulder abduction in asymptomatic individuals. Methods: A total of 45 participants were classified into high-risk, middle-risk, and low-risk groups based on their smartphone addiction levels. Scapular position was measured using the scapular index, round shoulder posture (RSP), lateral scapular slide test, and scapulohumeral rhythm spine angle. Muscle activity was assessed using electromyography of the upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), serratus anterior (SA), and anterior deltoid (AD) muscles during shoulder abduction. Results: Smartphone addiction was significantly associated with altered scapular position and muscle activity. The high-risk group exhibited greater forward head posture and more pronounced RSP. Additionally, the high-risk group had lower SA activation and higher UT, LT, and AD muscle activity, indicating compensatory mechanisms due to altered scapular positioning. Conclusion: These findings suggest that excessive smartphone use contributes to postural deviations and altered muscle activation patterns, which may lead to musculoskeletal dysfunction over time. Clinicians should consider smartphone use when assessing patients with scapular dysfunction, and future studies should explore interventions to mitigate these effects.

Background: Hamstring shortness (HS) contributes to the limit of hip and knee range of motion and can limit the execution of multi-segmental movement exercises such as squatting, thereby altering the muscle activation. The double leg squat (DS) is fundamental exercise for knee injury rehabilitation programs. However, it may aggravate knee joint injury and cause low back pain. The Bulgarian split squat (BSS) is a one-leg squat exercise with greater knee joint stability than DS. Measuring muscle activation during the squat will provide insight into the contribution of hamstring activation and quadriceps and hamstring (Q:H) ratio to the knee in participants with HS. Objects: This study compares hamstring activation and Q:H ratios during squat exercises in individuals with and without HS. Methods: This study classified 30 healthy participants, based on active knee extension, into two groups: with HS and without HS. Surface electromyography was performed to determine muscle activation of the medial hamstring (MH) and biceps femoris of the hamstrings and coactivation of the Q:H. All participants performed DS and BSS. Results: MH activity was significantly higher in the with HS group than in the without HS group during all exercises, and the Q:H ratio was significantly closer to 1.0 during BBS compared to DS. Additionally, the with HS group had a significantly lower Q:H ratio than without HS group. Conclusion: In comparison between exercises, BBS can bring the Q:H ratio closer to 1.0 compared to DS, which may enhance knee stability. However, in between-group comparisons, the increased tension due to the shortening of the hamstrings leads to heightened hamstring activation, resulting in a Q:H ratio that is closer to 1.0 compared to the without HS group. Therefore, relying solely on the Q:H ratio to assess knee stability may be risky.

Background: Prolonged use of computers and mobile devices has contributed to postural abnormalities such as Rounded Shoulder Posture (RSP), which is characterized by muscle imbalances that can lead to pain and functional limitations. Correcting these imbalances through targeted stretching and strengthening exercises was expected to help improve postural alignment and muscle function. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a six-week integrated exercise program targeting the pectoralis minor (PM), upper trapezius (UT), and lower trapezius (LT) on postural alignment and muscle activation in female adults with RSP. Design: Single-group pre-post test study. Methods: Eighteen female university students (aged 20–22 years) with RSP participated in a six-week intervention consisting of PM stretching, UT stretching, and LT strengthening exercises. RSP severity was assessed using acromion-to-ground distance, PM length was measured with a caliper, and surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to evaluate UT and LT muscle activity. Normality was verified using the Shapiro-Wilk test, and paired t-tests were conducted for statistical analysis (α=0.05). Results: After the intervention, significant improvements were observed in all measured variables. Acromion-to-ground distance decreased (P<0.001), PM length increased (P<0.001), UT activation decreased (P<0.01), and LT activation increased (P<0.01). Conclusion: The six-week integrated exercise program effectively improved postural alignment and muscle activation in women with RSP by addressing muscle shortening, overactivity, and weakness. These findings suggest that combined stretching and strengthening exercises can serve as a practical and effective approach for RSP correction. Future studies with longer durations and diverse populations are recommended to further validate these results and enhance clinical applicability.

코로나19 펜더믹 이후 원격근무의 확산과 도시 중심의 근무 방식의 피 로감 증가로 인해 일과 휴식을 병행할 수 있는 새로운 근무 방식인 워케 이션에 대한 관심이 높아졌다. 특히 강원지역은 우리나라의 대표 워케이 션 장소이며, 자연환경과 관광자원, 디지털 인프라, 교통 접근성 등 워케 이션에 필요한 모든 자원을 고루 갖춘 최적의 장소이다. 본 연구는 강원 지역 워케이션을 중심으로 소셜미디어에서 수집한 키워드를 분석하여 개 괄적인 인식 규명과 함께 향후 적용할 수 있는 활성화 방안을 제언하기 위해 진행되었다. 연구 결과, 첫째, 강릉, 속초, 여행, 프로그램, 숙소, 서 울, 지역, 양양, 함께, 다양한, 관광, 지원, 기업, 영월 등의 키워드가 소 셜미디어상에서 활발하게 논의되고 있었다. 둘째, 중심성 분석 결과, 관 광, 사업, 센터, 체험, 업무 등의 키워드가 높은 연결 중심성을 보여주었 다. 마지막으로, CONCOR 분석 결과, 강원 워케이션 속성, 해양 워케이 션, 워케이션 숙소, 농촌 워케이션 등의 총 5개의 중심 군집이 구성되었 다.

Background: Lower limb strength is crucial for stability and functional movement, such as walking, running, squatting, and balance, with the gluteus maximus (Gmax) being pivotal. Squat exercises are commonly used to strengthen the Gmax; however, the impact of ankle position on muscle activation during squats is not well understood. Objects: This study examined Gmax and lower limb muscle activation patterns in three ankle positions during squats, aiming to optimize rehabilitation strategies and enhance exercise prescriptions. Methods: Surface electromyography recorded the activation levels of the Gmax, vastus medialis oblique (VMO), vastus lateralis oblique (VLO), and biceps femoris (BF) across three ankle positions: neutral (NEU), dorsiflexion (DF), and plantarflexion (PF). A repeated-measures design was employed, involving 30 healthy adults (26 males and 4 females) aged 18–30 years. Muscle activation patterns were statistically analyzed to identify significant variations across these conditions, with the significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: During squats, DF of the ankle joint significantly increased Gmax activation compared with PF and NEU positions, indicating that an ankle position closer to DF may enhance hip extension. In contrast, PF was associated with heightened activation of the VMO and VLO, suggesting that this position may be beneficial for exercises focusing on knee stability. No significant changes were observed in the BF activation across the ankle positions, indicative of its limited involvement in response to variations in ankle positioning. Conclusion: These results underscore the importance of ankle joint positioning in modulating lower-limb muscle engagement during squatting. Ankle DF may be recommended to maximize Gmax activation, which is beneficial for hip-focused strengthening, whereas PF may supports knee stability by targeting quadriceps activation. This study provides evidence for adjusting ankle positioning during squat exercises to optimize specific rehabilitation and performance outcomes.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, caused by the accumulation of misfolded or unfolded proteins, activates the unfolded protein response to maintain cellular homeostasis and is implicated in bacterial infections. This study investigated ER stress activation in THP-1-derived macrophages infected with oral bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis , Prevotella intermedia , Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans , and Streptococcus oralis at an multiplicity of infection of 50 for 4 hours. mRNA and protein expressions related to ER stress were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, while pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured using enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. P. gingivalis induced the highest mRNA expression of XBP1 and PERK, whereas A. actinomycetemcomitans showed elevated GRP78, ATF6, IRE1α, ATF4, and CHOP. P. intermedia strongly expressed PERK, while S. oralis showed higher GRP78, PERK, ATF4, and CHOP expression. Protein analysis revealed S. oralis had the highest phosphorylation levels of eIF2α and IRE1α, while CHOP was most highly expressed in P. intermedia . Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression showed P. intermedia and P. gingivalis elicited the most TNF-α, while P. gingivalis induced the highest IL-1β levels. These findings suggest oral bacteria induce varying levels of ER stress, influencing the progression of oral infectious diseases. Targeting ER stress could offer therapeutic potential for managing inflammatory conditions like periodontitis.

‘2050 탄소중립’ 달성 및 ’국가 온실가스 감축목표(NDC)‘ 상향 등의 환경변화에 대응 하기 위해 2023년 6월 13일 ｢분산에너지 활성화 특별법｣이 제정되고 2024년 6월 14일 시행되고 있다. ｢분산에너지 활성화 특별법｣ 대규모 발전소 건설과 장거리 송전망 건 설 등을 기반한 중앙집중형 전력체계에서 비롯되는 지역 수용성에 대한 사회적 갈등을 해소하고, 수요지 인근의 발전소를 중심으로 전력을 생산하고 소비가 가능한 시스템으 로서 분산에너지를 활성화하고 전력수급의 안정성을 증대하여 에너지 공급체계의 저 탄소화를 위한 것이다. 해양에너지는 전력을 추출할 경우에도 출력 변동이 생기고 육상으로의 송전에 과도 한 비용이 들어서 전 세계적으로 아직 본격적인 실용화 단계에는 이르지 못하였으므 로 해양에너지는 경제적으로 개발비용을 줄이고 안정성과 신뢰성을 확보할 수 있다면 해양에너지의 실용화와 수익성의 확보로 해양에너지 발전사업이 탄력을 받을 것이다. 이러한 점에서 ｢분산에너지 활성화 특별법｣의 시행은 해양에너지의 확대에 기여할 것으로 보인다. 본 논문에서는 쟁점으로는 ① 해양에너지의 수익성 확보와 ② 해양 신재생에너지 사용으로 인한 분산에너지의 간헐성의 문제 및 ③「분산에너지법」의 등록, 사인의 공법행위에 대한 법적 쟁점을 검토한다. 또한「분산에너지 활성화 특별법」의 개선방안에 대해서는 우선 해양에너지의 수 익성 확보를 위한 것으로 ① 분산에너지 범위의 확대 ② 분산에너지특화지역 활성화 ③ 전기사용자의 공급자 선택권의 보완 ④ 지역별 전기요금의 산정근거 확립 ⑤ 분 산에너지의 편익 산정 등을 검토하였고, 두 번째 해양에너지의 간헐성 대책 보완으로 ① 해양 신재생에너지 발전설비 정비 촉진 구역의 지정 ② 분산에너지 통합발전소사 업(VPP) 구축 및 그 밖의 제도적 보완 등을 살펴본다. ｢분산에너지 활성화 특별법｣은 분산에너지의 활성화를 위한 기반이 마련됐다는 점 에서 분명 의미가 있지만 거대한 기득권에 밀려 아직은 갈 길이 멀다. 분산에너지 보급과 확대에 필요한 실효성이 있는 제도를 규정하여야 할 뿐만 아니 라 지원방법에 대해서도 보완하여야 할 것이다.

PURPOSES : In this study, the importance of various goals, accomplishment, composition, and operation factors of autonomous driving living labs was identified, and implications for establishing strategies to expand the performance of autonomous driving living labs are presented based on their analyzed activation factors. METHODS : We set the factors for accomplishing autonomous living labs to promote technology development and commercialization, create an autonomous living ecosystem, secure the sustainability of living labs, resolve social issues related to urban transportation, and perform factor analyses. To identify the determining factors affecting performance, we performed a multiple regression analysis based on the scores of the composition and operation factors of autonomous living lab environments. RESULTS : Among the accomplishments of autonomous driving living labs, it was found that performance activation and physical environmental factors are important for the promotion of technology development and commercialization; performance activation and promotion and communication factors are important for sustainability related to ecosystem creation; and performance activation and physical environmental factors are important for sustainability related to operational experience acquisition. Additionally, operational factors related to the developer are important for the direct resolution of urban transportation problems, and promotion and communication and performance activation factors are important for the indirect resolution of urban transportation problems. CONCLUSIONS : The findings of this study clarify that activation factors differ depending on accomplishments or goals, providing basic data for establishing accomplishment-based strategies.

Background: The plank exercise is widely used in rehabilitation to enhance core muscle activation, spinal stability, and reduce the risk of lower back injuries. Objectives: This study investigated the effects of exercise complexity and instability on core muscle activation, with a particular focus on using a sling suspension system during prone bridge exercises. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Twenty healthy adults performed three variations of prone bridge exercises: Both Limb Prone Bridge (BLPB), Single Limb Prone Bridge (SLPB), and Single Limb Prone Bridge with Hip Abduction (SLPBHA). Electromyography (EMG) was used to measure muscle activation in the erector spinae (ES), multifidus (MF), and internal oblique (IO) muscles. Results: Significant increases in ES muscle activation were observed during SLPBHA compared to BLPB and SLPB (P<.05), indicating that exercise complexity and the introduction of instability significantly enhanced ES activation. However, no significant differences were found in MF and IO activation across the exercise variations (P>.05). Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of exercise complexity and instability, particularly SLPBHA, in enhancing ES muscle activation. The findings support the inclusion of these exercises in core stability training programs aimed at improving spinal stability and preventing lower back injuries.

Background: The peroneus longus (PL) and peroneus brevis (PB) function as the primary muscles of eversion, a movement closely associated with tibial external rotation for ankle mortise stability. Ankle motion and tibial rotation vary based on different ankle and knee positions. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the PL, PB, and biceps femoris (BF) muscle activation and eversion strength during side-lying isometric eversion exercise based on different ankle positions (neutral [N] and plantarflexion [PF]) and knee positions (90° flexion [KF] and extension [KE]). Methods: Thirty healthy adults with an Ankle Joint Functional Assessment Tool score of ≥ 22 were recruited (mean age = 24.8 ± 3.1 years). Maximal isometric eversion strength and submaximal muscle activation of the PL, PB and BF were measured during isometric eversion exercise in side-lying. A 2 × 2 repeated measures analysis of variance was performed to investigate differences in muscle activation and strength. Results: The PL and PB muscle activation showed significant main effects with the knee and ankle positions (p < 0.05); activation was greater in the KE and PF positions than in the KF and N positions. The BF muscle activation showed a significant interaction effect with knee and ankle positions, which was greater in knee extension and ankle plantarflexed (KEPF) position than in knee flexion and ankle plantarflexed (KFPF) position (p < 0.05). Eversion strength showed a significant main effect only in ankle position (p < 0.05) and was greater in the N position than in the PF position. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the KEPF position can be recommended to facilitate contraction of the PL and PB during side-lying eversion exercise. Furthermore, the effects of the knee-ankle positions should be considered for measuring ankle eversion strength and implementing the isometric submaximal side-lying eversion exercise.

In this study, we explored the potential of the Maillard reaction-based time-temperature indicators (TTI) as a tool for predicting and visualizing moisture variations during high-temperature drying. Using activation energy analysis, we found that the Maillard reaction-based TTI could not only visualize but also predict changes in moisture contents during high-temperature drying of 60-80oC. The color changes of the Maillard reaction solutions were distinct enough to be discerned with the naked eye, transitioning from colorless to black via the shift of yellow, light brown, brown, and dark brown. The dynamic characteristics for the color change in the Maillard reaction solutions and the moisture changes in the drying of thin-layer apples could be expressed with high suitability using a logistic model. This suggests that the Maillard reaction-based TTI can potentially be a practical and reliable tool for predicting the moisture changes for the high-temperature drying of thin-layer apples, offering a promising avenue for future research and applications.

산업화로 인한 급격한 도시 개발은 오늘날 도심 골목길의 쇠퇴와 직결 되어 있다. 본 연구는 급격한 도시 개발과 도심 주거지 형태의 변화로 인해 사라질 위기에 처한 지역 문화자원인 골목길의 가치를 분석하고 활 성화 전략을 고민하기 위해 진행되었다. 특히 골목길의 문화적, 사회적, 경제적 가치를 살펴보고 골목길 쇠퇴와 지역공동체 형성 간의 직·간접적 인 상관관계를 규명하고자 한다. 본 연구는 이러한 분석 결과를 바탕으 로 세 가지 결론을 제시하고 있다. 첫째, 골목길은 화석화된 문화유산이 아니라 살아있는 문화유산이다. 따라서 골목은 지역의 과거와 현재의 모 습을 모두 담고 있으며 그 지역의 정체성을 대변한다. 둘째, 골목길은 근 린주구의 공간이며 근린주구 커뮤니티의 장소로서 기능할 수 있다. 왜냐 하면 이미 우리는 골목길이 이웃과의 소통의 장이 될 수 있다는 것을 경 험한 바 있기 때문이다. 셋째, 골목길은 기존 상권과는 다른 새로운 상권 이다. 뿐만 아니라 새로운 문화산업의 중심지이기도 하다. 이러한 세 가 지 이유만으로도 골목길은 중요한 지역 문화 자원이라고 할 수 있으며 보호될 필요가 있다.

인구감소로 인한 지역소멸 위험의 증가는 지역 문화자원의 쇠퇴와 직 결될 수 있다. 본 연구는 인구감소에 따라 사라질 위기에 처한 지역의 문화자원인 서점의 현황을 분석하고, 활성화 전략을 고민하기 위해 진행 되었다. 지역 서점의 활성화를 위해 먼저 전국 서점 현황을 분석하여 지 역별로 살펴보았으며, 이어서 독립서점의 구체적인 사례를 살펴보았다. 이를 통해 지역 사회의 중요한 문화자원으로서 서점의 가치를 재조명하 였다. 이러한 분석 결과를 바탕으로 다음 세 가지 방안을 제안하고자 했 다. 첫째, 지역서점을 단순히 출판물을 판매하는 장소가 아닌 복합문화공 간으로 발전시켜야 한다는 것이다. 지역소멸 위기 시대에 지역 서점은 이제 다양한 문화 체험을 제공하는 복합 문화 공간으로 자리매김해야 한 다. 둘째, 지역서점을 위한 전용 온라인 플랫폼을 구축해야 한다. 프랑스 의 사례에서 보듯, 책을 쉽게 검색하고 구매하고자 하는 사람들의 욕구 는 당연한 것으로 변화하는 라이프스타일을 어느 정도 수용해야 한다. 셋째, 지역서점은 자신이 위치한 지역사회와 연계해야 한다. 서점이 복합 문화 공간으로서 지역 사회와 제휴를 맺을 때 지역 사회와 서점 모두 함 께 성장할 수 있다. 인구감소는 지역 사회의 많은 중요한 자원들의 소실 을 야기할 것이며, 지역 문화 자원의 감소 역시 예외는 아니다.

Moso bamboo, as a kind of renewable functional material, exhibits outstanding development potential. It is promising to prepare activated carbon with good mechanical strength and high specific surface area using moso bamboo as raw material. In this work, we employed a hydraulic extruder to extrude the bamboo charcoal and the adhesive to obtain the moso bamboo activated carbon, and improved the specific surface area of the columnar activated carbon through high-temperature water vapor activation. Through the catalytic role of the water vapor activation process, the formation and expansion of the pores were promoted and the internal pores were greatly increased. The obtained columnar activated carbon shows excellent mechanical strength (93%) and high specific surface area (791.54 m2/ g). Polyacrylamide@asphalt is one of the most effective adhesives in the high-temperature water vapor activation. The average pore size (22.99 nm) and pore volume (0.36 cm3/ g) of the prepared columnar activated carbon showed a high mesoporous ratio (83%). Based on the excellent pore structure brought by the activation process, the adsorption capacity of iodine (1135.75 mg/g), methylene blue (230 mg/g) and carbon tetrachloride (64.03 mg/g) were greatly improved. The resultant moso bamboo columnar activated carbon with high specific surface area, excellent mechanical properties, and outstanding adsorption capacity possesses a wide range of industrial applications and environmental protection potential.

Graphene-based materials modified with transition metals, and their potential utilization as hydrogen storage devices, are extensively studied in the last decades. Despite this widespread interest, a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between graphene-based transition metal systems and H2 molecules remains incomplete. Beyond fundamental H2 adsorption, the activation of H2 molecule, crucial for catalytic reactions and hydrogenation processes, may occur on the transition metal center. In this study, binding modes of H2 molecules on the circumcoronene (CC) decorated with Cr or Fe atoms are investigated using the DFT methods. Side-on (η2-dihydrogen bond), end-on and dissociation modes of H2 binding are explored for high (HS) and low (LS) spin states. Spin state energetics, reaction energies, QTAIM and DOS analysis are considered. Our findings revealed that CC decorated with Cr (CC-Cr) emerges as a promising material for H2 storage, with the capacity to store up to three H2 molecules on a single Cr atom. End-on interaction in HS is preferred for the first two H2 molecules bound to CC-Cr, while the side-on LS is favored for three H2 molecules. In contrast, CC decorated with Fe (CC-Fe) demonstrates the capability to activate H2 through H–H bond cleavage, a process unaffected by the presence of other H2 molecules in the vicinity of the Fe atom, exclusively favoring the HS state. In summary, our study sheds light on the intriguing binding and activation properties of H2 molecules on graphene-based transition metal systems, offering valuable insights into their potential applications in hydrogen storage and catalysis.

Human bitter taste-sensing type 2 receptors (hTAS2Rs) are expressed in various human tissues and may be associated with various cell signaling pathways, cell progression, and cell physiology in each tissue. hTAS2Rs can be a potential drug target because it is also expressed in some cancer cells. Xanthorrhizol (XNT) has various biological activities, such as anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. XNT produces a bitter taste, but the specific hTAS2R activated is unknown, and the hTAS2R-mediated effect of XNT on cancer cells has not been studied. This study discovered the target receptor of XNT among 25 hTAS2Rs and confirmed the possibility of the hTAS2R-mediated inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. XNT activated only one receptor, hTAS2R38 (EC50=1.606±0.021 g/mL), and its activity was inhibited by probenecid, a hTAS2R38 antagonist. When HepG2 and MCF-7 cells were treated with XNT or phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), a known hTAS2R38 agonist, both chemicals inhibited cancer cell proliferation. XNT targets the human bitter taste receptor TAS2R38 and inhibits the proliferation of HepG2 and MCF-7 cells mediated by TAS2R38. This suggests that TAS2R38 may be a new target for disease treatment and a potential new factor for drug development.

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of carrageenan (CGN) as an oral immune adjuvant. During the initial research, the inadvertent shallow insertion of an oral gavage needle confirmed CGN’s effect as an adjuvant for esophageal immunization. However, in oral immunization, antibody formation was not observed regardless of CGN’s presence or absence as an adjuvant. Conversely, when bovine serum albumin (used as an antigen) was introduced into the esophagus along with CGN, it resulted in the production of antigen-specific IgG. An exploration was conducted to ascertain whether CGN’s adjuvant effects were associated with prolonging the antigen’s residence time in the esophagus. Upon introducing the antigen into the esophagus without CGN, it was undetectable at two minutes post-introduction. Conversely, when administered with CGN, the antigen remained detectable in the esophagus for up to five minutes post-introduction. To investigate whether this immune response was elicited through mucosal immune mechanisms in the esophagus, the production of IgA, a representative immunoglobulin of mucosal immunity, was assessed. Following esophageal immunization with CGN as an adjuvant, total IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a were detected in serum, while IgA was not detected. These findings suggest that under specific conditions, the esophagus may serve as a site for initiating a novel immune response.

Background: Lateral instability of the ankle is one of the most common causes of musculoskeletal ankle injuries. The peroneus longus (PL) and peroneus brevis (PB) contribute to ankle stability. In early rehabilitation, isometric exercises have been selected for improvement of ankle stability. To effectively train the peroneal muscles during eversion, it is important to consider ankle and body posture. Objects: This study aimed to compare activation of the PL, PB, and biceps femoris (BF) muscles during eversion in different ankle postures (neutral [N], plantarflexed [PF]) and body postures (sitting and side-lying). Methods: Thirty healthy individuals with no history of lateral ankle sprains within the last 6 months were included in the study. Maximal isometric strength of eversion and muscle activation were measured simultaneously. Muscle activation at submaximal eversion was divided by the highest value obtained from maximal isometric eversion among the four postures (percent maximal voluntary isometric contraction [%MVIC]). To examine the differences in muscle activation depending on posture, a 2 × 2 repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted. Results: There were significant interaction effects of ankle and body postures on PL muscle activation and evertor strength (p < 0.05). The PL muscle activation showed a significantly greater difference in the side-lying and PF conditions than in the sitting and N conditions (p < 0.05). Evertor strength was greater in the N compared to the PF condition regardless of body posture (p < 0.05). In the case of PB and BF muscle activation, only the main effects of ankle and body posture were observed (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Among the four postures, the side-lying-PF posture produced the highest muscle activation. The side-lying-PF posture may be preferred for effective peroneal muscle exercises, even when considering the BF muscle.