by Takahiro Fujimoto  , Hidetake Kobayashi  , Takeshi Hataoka  , Kazuo Taniguchi  and Keisuke Miura

Received: 17 May 2020;  Published: 09 December 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2004045

Obesity causes serious long-term health problems in people worldwide. Since the effect of dietary advice is possibly limited, weight loss can be a major challenge; therefore, additional weight control techniques may be beneficial. We conducted four experiments to evaluate if auricular acupuncture point stimulation with simple metal beads (AA) rather than the popular use of intradermal needle (DA) to stimulate auricle would support weight loss. In this retrospective study, weight change in Japanese women (aged 18 to [...]

by Hassan-Ali Hakemi

Received: 11 October 2020;  Published: 08 December 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2004023

In this work, the experimental data on flexible PDLC films at the industrial scale and the effect of cure temperature (Tc) on the morphology and electro-optical properties of a UV-cured PDLC system via polymer-induced phase separation (PIPS) method were studied. Under constant UV radiation intebsity and thickness, the morphological parameters such as dimension, number density, and volume fraction of the phase-separated liquid crystal droplets as well as the optical transmissions and switching voltages as a function [...]

by Wangkuk Son  , Jason Lin  and Melissa Puppa

Received: 28 September 2020;  Published: 07 December 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2004044

Cancer cachexia contributes to 30% of cancer-related deaths. There is currently no treatment or standard of care for cancer cachexia. Many nutritional interventions show promise for the treatment and or prevention of cachexia. Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, protein and vitamins either alone or in combination has shown some beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of cancer cachexia. The mechanisms through which many nutritional interventions work to attenuate cachexia are just beginning to be u [...]

by Sylvie Bonin-Guillaume  and Patrice Rat

Received: 09 July 2020;  Published: 07 December 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2004141

Acute or persistent pain is a common occurrence and is often undertreated in older patients, especially those with an inability to communicate verbally (ICV). Regular comprehensive pain assessment, including self-rating and/or behavior scales, is critical but difficult to implement in routine clinical practice. The choice of the most appropriate scale for each patient is not easy, even for trained and skilled medical personnel. Indeed, the use of scales for short pain-behavior exposes to pain under-detection due to [...]

by Jun Gu  , Wei Wang  , Guilin Tang  , Gokce A. Toruner  , Ming Zhao  , Steven Sfamenos  , Zhenya Tang  , Joseph D. Khoury  and L. Jeffrey Medeiros

Received: 13 October 2020;  Published: 07 December 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2004128

Donor cell-derived leukaemia (DCL) is an uncommon complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). DCL might represent up to 5% of the post-HSCT disease relapses, but case numbers reported in the literature might underestimate the frequency. The leukemogenesis of DCL is not well understood due to the limited numbers of cases reported and lack of detailed molecular genetic information from recipients and donors. Although many theories have been proposed for leukemogenesis of DCL, the underl [...]

by Noorhazlina Ali  , Cai Ning Tan  , Jasmine Kang  , Aik Phon Chew  , Caroline Caroline  , Mary Lee  and Wee Shiong Lim

Received: 27 October 2020;  Published: 04 December 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2004140

A locally-adapted, multisensory, psychosocial intervention called Namaste Care program was developed to improve the daily life of persons with advanced dementia (PwAD) through arranging meaningful activities and physical interactions by healthcare staff (Namaste Carers). Congruent with Asian values, the families of PwAD were invited to participate in Namaste Care sessions. The study aimed to explore the influence of Namaste Care on cognitive status and quality of life (QOL) of PwAD, and perceptions and attitudes of [...]

by Shuji Takabayashi  , Takuya Aoshima  , Yukari Kobayashi  , Hisayoshi Takagi  , Eri Akasaka  and Masahiro Sato

Received: 23 September 2020;  Published: 03 December 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2004121

Improved-Genome editing via Oviductal Nucleic Acids Delivery (i-GONAD) was developed for in situ genome editing of the preimplantation embryos present within the oviductal lumen of mice. This method is based on intra-oviductal instillation of genome editing components and subsequent in vivo electroporation (EP) in the entire oviduct. Therefore, i-GONAD differs from the previous methods (i.e., zygote microinjection and in vitro EP) in producing genome-edited mice, which relied on ex vivo handling of preimplantation [...]

by Vincenzo Prisco  , Bernadette Donnarumma  and Lorenzo Prisco

Received: 27 March 2020;  Published: 03 December 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2004079

Anecdotal evidence suggests the possible association of psychiatric disorders with Mӧbius sequence, although the evidence is not conclusive. Intermittent presentation of auto-aggressive outbursts, in particular, could be related to Mӧbius sequence, different from the common psychotic symptoms. The present report describes the clinical case of a young man with Mӧbius syndrome who exhibited a complex representation of severe mental retardation and concomitant psychiatric disorders. Extremely rare psychiatric disorder [...]

by Laura Privalle  , Patricia Back  , Apurv Bhargava  , Zach Bishop  , Krystal Cisneros  , Isabelle Coats  , Ine Criel  , Lien Dhondt  , Travis Draughn  , Barb Fowler  , Brad Franklin  , Durba Ghoshal  , Jim Lor  , Jennifer Massengil  , Sofie Moens  , Tyson Mooney  , Dannyel Nelson  , Karolien Peeters  , Sashi Sathischyandra  , Caroline Staut  , Yoonhui Sung  , Ann Tuttle  , Annelies Van Hoecke  , Annelies Van Raemdonck  , Marie-Laure Verdegem  , Steven Verhaeghe  , Shane Walsh  , Ann Wierckx  , Qiang Zhao  and Rozemarijn Dreesen

Received: 11 September 2020;  Published: 02 December 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2004120

Demonstration of the stability of traits newly introduced into a plant genome via genetic engineering approaches comprise a significant portion of the safety assessment that these products undergo prior to receiving the requisite regulatory approvals enabling commercial authorization. Different regions of the world have different regulatory requirements and many ask similar questions from multiple and overlapping perspectives. The entire central dogma, that is stability at the DNA level, mRNA level and protein leve [...]

by Naoaki Sakata  , Gumpei Yoshimatsu  and Shohta Kodama

Received: 02 October 2020;  Published: 27 November 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2004127

Islet transplantation is a cellular replacement therapy for severe diabetes mellitus. Although the clinical outcome of islet transplant has been improving, the transplant efficacy of this treatment is not superior to that of pancreatic organ transplantation, a similar transplant therapy. Various factors have been characterized as ‘islet transplantation specific’, which includes lack of revascularization and ischemia, innate inflammation, or autoimmunity, affect the therapeutic outcome of this treatment. Among them, [...]