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We evaluated the diagnostic validity of the 9-item depression module of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) in elderly Korean patients and suggest an optimal cutoff score to screen for major depressive disorders. The PHQ-9 and an elderly health questionnaire were administered to 1060 subjects older than 60 years, chosen using a stratified random sample of the community. The PHQ-9 was measured and compared with the Geriatric Depression Scale, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory scores. Reliability and validity tests, factor analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were performed. The PHQ-9 indicated that 175 subjects had depressive disorders, and 885 subjects were rated as healthy. The PHQ-9 showed significant positive internal consistency ( r = 0.88) and test-retest reliability ( r = 0.60). The convergent validity with Geriatric Depression Scale and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale was significantly positive ( r = 0.74 and 0.66, respectively). We suggest a score of 5 as the optimal cutoff point when screening for depressive disorders using the PHQ-9. The Korean version of the PHQ-9 is an appropriate diagnostic tool for depression, and a score of 5 is the optimal cutoff for Korean elderly subjects. Screening for depression in the elderly population using the PHQ-9 would be valuable when medically ill patients show depressive symptoms in a primary health care setting.

The quantitative label-free detection of neurotransmitters provides critical clues in understanding neurological functions or disorders. However, the identification of neurotransmitters remains challenging for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) due to the presence of noise. Here, we report spread spectrum SERS (ss-SERS) detection for the rapid quantification of neurotransmitters at the attomolar level by encoding excited light and decoding SERS signals with peak autocorrelation and near-zero cross-correlation. Compared to conventional SERS measurements, the experimental result of ss-SERS shows an exceptional improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio of more than three orders of magnitude, thus achieving a high temporal resolution of over one hundred times. The ss-SERS measurement further allows the attomolar SERS detection of dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and glutamate without Raman reporters. This approach opens up opportunities not only for investigating the early diagnostics of neurological disorders or highly sensitive biomedical SERS applications but also for developing low-cost spectroscopic biosensing applications. Identification of neurotransmitters remains challenging for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) due to presence of noise. Here, the authors present spread spectrum SERS, which by encoding excited light and decoding SERS signals enables detection of unlabelled neurotransmitters at attomolar concentrations.

Chestnut inner skin was known to contain various phenolics as a potential antioxidant, and 3 phenolics (catechin, epicatechin, and gallic acid) were isolated. The relative antioxidant capacity of 3 phenolics in vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity (VCEAC) evaluated by ABTS assay was in decreasing order as follows: gallic acid>catechin>epicatechin>vitamin C. Gallic acid showed the highest inhibitory effect against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in a dose-dependent manner and competitive inhibition. However catechins presented neuroprotective effects on amyloid β-induced neurotoxicity by MTT, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and neutral red uptake assays. Considering above data, it was supposed that gallic acid, catechin, and epicatechin have various antiamnesic effect in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Therefore, it was strongly suggested that chestnut inner skin as phenolics-rich substance can be used in functional food supplement or pharmaceutical industry by utilization of wastage from valuable resources.

Total phenolics and flavonols of aqueous extract from different parts of Cudrania tricuspidata (fruit, root, leaf, and stem) and neuronal cell protective effects against oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity were investigated. The neuronal cell protective effects of aqueous extract from different parts of C. Tricuspidata was examined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and neutral red uptake assay. The overall relative neuronal cell protective effects of C. tricuspidata root by 3 assays were much higher than those of leaf, stem, and fruit. The aqueous extract of C. Tricuspidata root also showed higher total phenolics than those of different parts. Therefore, our study suggested that the aqueous extract of root has strong protective effect on oxidative stress-induced neurotoxicity which is correlated with its high level of phenolics, particularly kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin.

Antioxidant and neuronal cell protective effects of aqueous extract from camellia (Camellia japonica) leaf (CJLE) were evaluated. The 1,1-phenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assays of the CJLE were increased in a dose dependent manner. In neuronal cell viability assay using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide (MTT), the aqueous extract showed protective effect against H2O2-induced neurotoxicity and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release into medium was also inhibited by CJLE (7.13–43.89%). The cell viability of CJLE was higher than vitamin C (200 μM) by neutral red uptake (NRU) assay at a concentration of 250–1,000 μg/mL. Phenolics of CJLE were 21.75 mg/g, and major phenolic compounds were quercetin (120.20mg/100 g) and kaempferol (88.13 mg/100 g). Therefore these data suggested that the CJLE including above phenolics may be useful in the natural antioxidant substance and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Antioxidant capacities (ABTS radical scavenging assay and ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay), mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory effect, and α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) induced melanogenesis inhibitory effect of 60% methanol extracts and ethylacetate fractions from chestnut inner skin in B16F10 cells were investigated to inspect whitening effect. Above research showed that 60% methanol extracts and ethylacetate fractions from chestnut inner skin resulted in a dose-dependent manner on in vitro antioxidant effects. Especially, the ethylacetate fractions inhibited enzyme activity of mushroom tyrosinases with an IC50 value of 160 μg/mL. Ethylacetate fractions from chestnut inner skin also decreased cellular melanin synthesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. Expression of tyrosinase showed that ethylacetate fractions from chestnut inner skin significantly decreased cellular melanogenesis. Consequently, these results suggest that chestnut inner skin extracts can be considered for a whitening agent of human skin.

The antioxidant and neuronal cell protective effects of silica-gel open column chromatographic fractions, obtained from Chinese lizard’s tail (Saururus chinensis) methanolic extract, were investigated. The ABTS radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays indicated that the SC4 fraction (eluted with chloroform/methanol by 4:1, v/v) obtained from Chinese lizard’s tail was more potent radical scavengers and reducing agents than that of other 5 fractions. The SC4 fraction also presented protective effects against H2O2-induced neurotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, our study suggested that the SC4 fraction has strong antioxidant and neuronal protective effects which are correlated with its high level of phenolics, particularly quercitrin and quercetin.

To boost the photoelectrochemical water oxidation performance of hematite photoanodes, high temperature annealing has been widely applied to enhance crystallinity, to improve the interface between the hematite-substrate interface, and to introduce tin-dopants from the substrate. However, when using additional dopants, the interaction between the unintentional tin and intentional dopant is poorly understood. Here, using germanium, we investigate how tin diffusion affects overall photoelectrochemical performance in germanium:tin co-doped systems. After revealing that germanium is a better dopant than tin, we develop a facile germanium-doping method which suppresses tin diffusion from the fluorine doped tin oxide substrate, significantly improving hematite performance. The NiFeO x @Ge-PH photoanode shows a photocurrent density of 4.6 mA cm −2 at 1.23 V RHE with a low turn-on voltage. After combining with a perovskite solar cell, our tandem system achieves 4.8% solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency (3.9 mA cm −2 in NiFeO x @Ge-PH/perovskite solar water splitting system). Our work provides important insights on a promising diagnostic tool for future co-doping system design. Germanium (Ge) has potential as a dopant suitable for the hematite-based photoelectrochemical water splitting system. Here, the authors report the fabrication of Ge doped porous hematite and demonstrate an efficient tandem system of Ge doped porous hematite and the perovskite solar cell.

Background This study aimed to compare the response to growth hormone (GH) therapy according to the presence of GH deficiency (GHD) in short-stature children born small for gestational age (SGA) in Korea and to present appropriate GH dose criteria. Methods We evaluated 27 children born SGA with short stature and GHD (GHD group) and 23 without GHD (non-GHD group) registered in the LG Growth Study. Growth responses and changes in GH dose over a 2-year GH therapy period were compared, and the factors affecting growth response were investigated. Results The standard deviation scores (SDSs) for baseline weight and body mass index (BMI) were significantly lower in boys without GHD than in boys with GHD. The SDS for insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was lower among boys without GHD than among boys with GHD, while the SDS for insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) was higher among girls without GHD than among girls with GHD; however, there was no significant difference when comparing all children with GHD to those without GHD. Regardless of the presence of GHD, the difference between chronological age and bone age decreased annually. Notably, there was significantly rapid bone age progression among patients without GHD. The findings showed differences in GH dose according to GHD starting from the 2nd year of therapy, with the non-GHD group receiving a significantly higher dose. Regarding the factors affecting growth response, younger age and bone age, higher height SDS, BMI SDS and MPH SDS were related to higher growth response (Δheight SDS and Δgrowth velocity), but there was no statistically significant correlation. Conclusion GHD is rare among children born SGA. Nonetheless, if there are any signs of decreased growth velocity or hypopituitarism, the presence of GHD should be assessed before GH therapy, and personalized therapy based on the results is required.

Background To maintain adequate oxygenation is of utmost importance in intraoperative care. However, clinical evidence supporting specific oxygen levels in distinct surgical settings is lacking. This study aimed to compare the effects of 30% and 80% oxygen in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB). Methods This multicenter trial was conducted in three tertiary hospitals from August 2019 to August 2021. Patients undergoing OPCAB were cluster-randomized to receive either 30% or 80% oxygen intraoperatively, based on the month when the surgery was performed. The primary endpoint was the length of hospital stay. Intraoperative hemodynamic data were also compared. Results A total of 414 patients were cluster-randomized. Length of hospital stay was not different in the 30% oxygen group compared to the 80% oxygen group (median, 7.0 days vs 7.0 days; the sub-distribution hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83–1.16; P  = 0.808). The incidence of postoperative acute kidney injury was significantly higher in the 30% oxygen group than in the 80% oxygen group (30.7% vs 19.4%; odds ratio, 1.94; 95% CI 1.18–3.17; P  = 0.036). Intraoperative time-weighted average mixed venous oxygen saturation was significantly higher in the 80% oxygen group (74% vs 64%; P  < 0.001). The 80% oxygen group also had a significantly greater intraoperative time-weighted average cerebral regional oxygen saturation than the 30% oxygen group (56% vs 52%; P  = 0.002). Conclusions In patients undergoing OPCAB, intraoperative administration of 80% oxygen did not decrease the length of hospital stay, compared to 30% oxygen, but may reduce postoperative acute kidney injury. Moreover, compared to 30% oxygen, intraoperative use of 80% oxygen improved oxygen delivery in patients undergoing OPCAB. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03945565; April 8, 2019).