Background: and Purpose: Neural stem cells (NSCs) have the ability to regenerate, proliferate, and differentiate, enabling them to play important roles in the recovery of the damaged nervous system. However, in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), the NSCs are damaged as well. Glia-like cells from human mesenchymal stem cells (ghMSCs) are functionally enhanced adult stem cells. In the present study, we investigated whether ghMSCs could protect NSCs from amyloid beta (Aβ)-mediated toxicity. Methods: Rat NSCs were obtained from E13–14 fetal rat cortices. NSCs were seeded in pre-coated plates, and the next day, cells were simultaneously treated with 20 μM Aβ and 0.4 μm pore insert well-seeded ghMSCs. After 48 hours of co-treatment, cell viability and proliferation were evaluated. After 2 hours of co-treatment, western blotting was performed to measure inflammasome-related factors, such as NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3, caspase-1, and interleukin-1β. Results: The results showed that ghMSCs increased viability and proliferation and reduced the toxicity of NSCs injured by Aβ by reducing the NRLP3 inflammasome activation of NSCs induced by Aβ. Conclusions In this study, we confirmed that ghMSCs could protect NSCs in an in vitro model of AD through the regulation of inflammatory response.

Background: and Purpose: Neural stem cells (NSCs) have the ability to regenerate, proliferate, and differentiate, enabling them to play important roles in the recovery of the damaged nervous system. However, in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), the NSCs are damaged as well. Glia-like cells from human mesenchymal stem cells (ghMSCs) are functionally enhanced adult stem cells. In the present study, we investigated whether ghMSCs could protect NSCs from amyloid beta (Aβ)-mediated toxicity. Methods: Rat NSCs were obtained from E13–14 fetal rat cortices. NSCs were seeded in pre-coated plates, and the next day, cells were simultaneously treated with 20 μM Aβ and 0.4 μm pore insert well-seeded ghMSCs. After 48 hours of co-treatment, cell viability and proliferation were evaluated. After 2 hours of co-treatment, western blotting was performed to measure inflammasome-related factors, such as NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3, caspase-1, and interleukin-1β. Results: The results showed that ghMSCs increased viability and proliferation and reduced the toxicity of NSCs injured by Aβ by reducing the NRLP3 inflammasome activation of NSCs induced by Aβ. Conclusions In this study, we confirmed that ghMSCs could protect NSCs in an in vitro model of AD through the regulation of inflammatory response.

OBJECTIVES: We examined trends in physical activity and sedentary behavior in Korean adolescents, and their association with socioeconomic position (SEP). METHODS: We used data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a nationwide study involving students aged 12-19 conducted between 2009 and 2021. SEP was assessed based on economic status, parental education attainment, and urbanization. Physical activity was categorized into vigorous physical activity, moderate physical activity, and muscle training, and sedentary time was also measured. We conducted the log-binomial regression to calculate prevalence ratios (PRs) and prevalence differences. RESULTS: Our analysis included a total of 593,896 students. We observed an increasing trend in physical activity, but a worsening trend in sedentary behavior. A positive association was found between an adolescent’s physical activity and SEP indicators, except for urbanization. Adolescents with higher economic status engaged in more vigorous physical activity (high: PR, 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25 to 1.28; middle: PR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.04). Similar associations were observed for father’s education (tertiary or above: PR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.13; upper secondary: PR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.07) and mother’s education (tertiary or above: PR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.20; upper secondary: PR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.08). Adolescents with higher economic status also showed a higher compliance rate with the guideline restricting sedentary time to 2 hours per day (high: PR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.25 to 1.30; middle: PR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.05). CONCLUSIONS Adolescents with higher SEP exhibited more physical activity and less sedentary time than those with lower SEP.

Recently we experienced a soft tissue sarcoma originated in the spinal epidural space at upper sacral area and extending into intrapelvic area in a young male patient. It was diagnosed primary Ewing's sarcoma histologically. Ewing's sarcoma is usually found in long bones. But rarely discovered in an extraosseous area. So, spinal epidural Ewing's sarcoma is rare to be found. Only 6 cases were reported in the English literature until 1986. We present the case with review of literatures.
Epidural Space ; Humans ; Male ; Sarcoma ; Sarcoma, Ewing*

OBJECTIVE: Recently, the survival rate and prognosis of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage(S-ICH) has improved, and their enhanced survival has become associated with a consequent rise in the recurrence of S-ICH. The aim of this study is to improve the prevention of recurrent S-ICH. METHODS: Between January 1999 and March 2004, we experienced 48 cases of recurrence. We classified the patients into the two groups; a double ICH group and a triple ICH group. We investigated their brain CTs, MRIs, cerebral angiographies, and medical records, retrospectively. RESULTS: Majority of patients had the intervals at least 12 months, and most of patients underwent conservative treatment. The most common hemorrhage pattern of recurrence was ganglionic-ganglionic (basal ganglia-basal ganglia), and the second attack was contralateral side of the first attack in a large percentage of all patients. Prognosis of patients was worsened in recurrent attack. Nearly all patients had medical history of hypertension, and most patients have taken antihypertensive medication at the arrival of emergency room. CONCLUSION: In treating hypertension for S-ICH patients, we stress that blood pressure must be thoroughly controlled over a long period of time.
Blood Pressure ; Brain ; Cerebral Angiography ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

This study aims to determine the effects of formaldehyde exposure on self-reported symptoms of respiratory-eye mucosa and integumentary system during anatomy practices among Korean medical students. Data were collected using the web-based survey. Study subjects in 1st and 2nd grade medical student, and having anatomy dissection in medical college and medical graduate school. A total of 463 students from the 14 medical college and medical graduate school participated in this study. The results show that 261 (56.4%) of the participants responded feeling discomfort above moderate at anatomy dissection. After anatomy dissection, 104 (43.2%) students responded aggravating the symptom allergic rhinitis, xerophthalmia and so on. 209 (95.0%) of them responded the new symptom's appearance. In the result of multiple logistic regression, women (OR: 2.000, 95% CI: 1.169~3.421) and the students with feeling discomfort (OR: 3.190, 95% CI: 1.807~5.632) were more likely to increase the risk of pre-existing respiratory · eye mucosal system symptom's aggravation than the counter parts. For pre-existing integumentary system symptom's aggravation, risk is significantly higher in elder age group (OR: 2.612, 95% CI: 1.187~5.750) and with disapproval protective equipments (OR: 2.217, 1.006~4.885). In case of new symptom's appearance, people with feeling discomfort above moderate (OR: 5.097, 95% CI: 1.075~24.160) in respiratory · eye mucosal system were more likely to increase the risk of new symptom's appearance. And for integumentary system, risk was higher in people with feeling discomfort (OR: 1.921, 95% CI: 1.218~3.031), in woman (OR: 1.711, 1.090~2.686) and without enough protective equipments preparation (OR: 1.953, 1.189~3.210). This study confirms the protective equipments for minimizing exposure from chemicals for cytological fixation (e,g formaldehyde) is not worn enough and students in anatomy dissection experience discomfort and disease after anatomy dissection. Therefore, this study indicates that the safe guideline in anatomy dissection should be enhanced and institutional strategy to protect student's right of health should be provided.
Female ; Formaldehyde* ; Humans ; Integumentary System* ; Logistic Models ; Mucous Membrane* ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Students, Medical* ; Xerophthalmia

No abstract available.
Hypercalcemia ; Hyperthyroidism

Purpose: To identify the clinical usefulness of serum M protein and to establish a rationale for regular follow-up with serum protein electrophoresis in solitary plasmacytoma. Materials and Methods: Sixty-nine patients with solitary plasmacytoma and solitary plasmacytoma with minimal marrow involvement according to the International Myeloma Working Group criteria were retrospectively reviewed. Results: At a median follow-up of 6.2 years, 5-year local control (LC), 5-year multiple myeloma-free survival (MMFS), 5-year failure-free survival (FFS), and 5-year overall survival (OS) were 82.6%, 44.1%, 41.8%, and 85.1%, respectively. Among the patients whose initial serum M protein was present or not evaluated, 37.3% of patients showed disappearance of serum M protein after various treatment. MMFS of these patients were comparable to non-secretory plasmacytoma with undetectable levels of M protein, and significantly better than patients with persistent M protein. Increase of serum M protein ≥0.1 g/dL was most predictive of treatment failure with area under the curve of 0.731. Conclusion Patients who eventually showed persistence of serum M protein after treatment showed worse MMFS and FFS compared to those whose serum M protein disappeared or who had initially non-secretory disease. The increase of serum M protein level ≥0.1 g/dL from current nadir was predictive of treatment failure. Therefore, regular follow-up with serum M protein is highly recommended especially unless the patient had initially non-secretory disease.

OBJECTIVES: Mushrooms, known for their nutritious and functional components, are considered healthy and medicinal. This study investigated the prospective association between dietary mushroom consumption and the incidence of type 2 diabetes among Korean adults aged ≥40 years. METHODS: In total, 16,666 participants who were not taking anti-diabetic medication or insulin and had normal fasting blood glucose (FBG; <126 mg/dL) were included. We used the cumulative average dietary consumption of mushrooms as an exposure metric, calculated from food frequency questionnaires at every follow-up, along with covariates collected during a baseline survey. To estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for type 2 diabetes, a modified Poisson regression model with a robust error estimator was applied. RESULTS: In multivariable models, dietary mushroom consumption was inversely associated with type 2 diabetes incidence in both genders (men: IRR, 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47 to 0.90; plinearity=0.043 in the highest quartile (Q4) vs. the lowest quartile (Q1); women: IRR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.93; plinearity=0.114 in Q4 vs. Q1). The inverse association remained after adjustment for dietary factors instead of dietary quality index, the baseline FBG, and the exclusion of incidence within the first year. Additionally, no significant interaction was found regarding the risk of type 2 diabetes between dietary mushroom consumption and participants’ gender or other factors. CONCLUSIONS Dietary mushroom consumption was inversely linked with the risk of type 2 diabetes incidence in both genders, indicating the beneficial role of mushrooms in preventing the disease.

Rheumatoid vasculitis is a necrotizing arteritis of unknown causes that affect a subset of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Vasculitis associated with rheumatoid arthritis was first recognized in 1898. It was described frequently in the 1940s through 1960s but is now rarely diagnosed. Typical clinical features include constitutional symptoms, mononeuritis multiplex, skin infarction, ulceration, peripheral gangrene and visceral infarction. Gastrointestinal involvement occurs in 10 to 38% of cases of rheumatoid vasculitis and may include bowel infarction, ulceration, perforation, colitis, stricture, or bleeding. Ischemia of the intestine is the end result of interruption or reduction of its blood supply. However, the clinical manifestations of intestinal ischemia range from mild chronic symptoms to a catastrophic acute episode, depending on the vascular supply involved, the extent of the occlusion or ischemia, and the rapidity of the process. Physicians caring for patients with rheumatoid arthritis should be aware that intestinal ischemia or infarction may occur without overt clinical evidence of systemic rheumatoid vasculitis. Herein we describe a case of rheumatoid vasculitis manifesting as ischemic colitis which was intractable to medical therapy and led to subtotal colectomy.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Colectomy ; Colitis ; Colitis, Ischemic* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Gangrene ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infarction ; Intestines ; Ischemia ; Mononeuropathies ; Polyarteritis Nodosa ; Rheumatoid Vasculitis* ; Skin ; Ulcer ; Vasculitis