Plos One
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Keratinocytes are the most abundant cell type in the epidermis. They prevent desiccation and provide immunological and barrier defense against potential pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The study of this first line of immune defense may be hindered by invasive isolation methods and/or improper culture conditions to support stem cell maintenance and other potential mechanisms contributing to long-term subcultivation in vitro. ⋯ Here, we present evidence that the Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y-27632 can be used to effectively increase the proliferative capabilities of keratinocytes isolated using the suction blister method, similar to what has been previously reported for primary keratinocytes isolated using alternative methods. We show that the increase in passage number is directly correlated to delayed differentiation, and that cells passaged long term with the inhibitor retain their ability to stratify in organotypic raft cultures and respond to cytokine treatment; additionally, the late passage cells have a heterogeneous mix of differentiated and non-differentiated cells which may be predicted by a ratio of select differentiation markers. The described method presents a minimally invasive procedure for keratinocyte isolation and prolonged culture that allows analysis of keratinocyte function in both healthy volunteers and patients with dermatologic diseases.
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Migrants are one of the most deprived and vulnerable groups who receive the least health services in the society. Only a few studies have been conducted on access to healthcare among migrants in Asia, despite hosting 75 million migrants. In Japan, Nepalese migrants constitute the largest South Asian community. Their number increased by three folds from 2011 to 2016. However, little is known about their access to health care in Japan. Based on Andersen's model, we examined the factors associated with access to healthcare among Nepalese migrants in Japan. ⋯ Nepalese migrants have poor access to health care in Japan. The key factors associated with their access to health care are the length of stay (predisposing factor), Japanese language skill and health insurance (enabling factors) and self-rated health status (need factor).
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Visualization of the complex 3D architecture of myocardial scar could improve guidance of radio-frequency ablation in the treatment of ventricular tachycardia (VT). In this study, we sought to develop a framework for 3D holographic visualization of myocardial scar, imaged using late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), on the augmented reality HoloLens. 3D holographic LGE model was built using the high-resolution 3D LGE image. Smooth endo/epicardial surface meshes were generated using Poisson surface reconstruction. ⋯ Upon completion of the animal study, operator and mapping specialist independently completed the perceived usefulness questionnaire in the six-item usefulness scale. Operator and mapping specialist found it useful (usefulness rating: operator, 5.8; mapping specialist, 5.5; 1-7 scale) to have scar information during the intervention. HoloLens 3D LGE provides a true 3D perception of the complex scar architecture with immersive experience to visualize scar in an interactive and interpretable 3D approach, which may facilitate MR-guided VT ablation.
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To use and test a new method of inducing endogenously generated pupillary oscillations (POs) in patients with unilateral optic neuritis (ON), to describe a signal analysis approach quantifying pupil activity and to evaluate the extent to which POs permit to discriminate patients from control participants. ⋯ The new method used to induce POs allowed characterizing the visual afferent pathway defect in ON patients with encouraging accuracy. The method was fast, easy to use, only requiring that participants look ahead, and allows testing many stimulus parameters (e.g. color, stimulus location, size, etc).