No abstract available.
Myasthenia Gravis*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: For the hearing-impaired population, quality of sound when listening to speech on mobile phone is often dissatisfactory. Even with a turning up the volume, they feel mobile speech unclear and desire the mobile sounds to be amplified as suited for the hearing characteristics. The purpose of this study was to estimate the appropriateness of NAL-NL1 fitting formula for the hearing-impaired mobile communication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: NAL-NL1 and a modified fitting formula (M-formula) were applied for sound amplification in consideration of individual hearing loss. Amplified speech material was presented for a word-recognition score (WRS) test in each subject. To simulate actual mobile phone sound, all speech material was filtered in 8 kHz low-pass filter and presented through a mobile phone to the subjects. Speech material was categorized into a speech-without-noise group and noisy speech group. RESULTS: Amplified sound with NAL-NL1 formula had a slightly better WRS than amplified speech with M-formula in speech-without-noise environments. However, in the noisy speech group, M-formula showed better WRS than NAL-NL1. CONCLUSIONS: For a good speech-perception in mobile phones, more high-frequency speech components need to be provided, especially for noisy environments. This study showed the possibility that specified fitting strategies may be applied for mobile phones to improve hearing in various environments, as with hearing aids.
Cellular Phone ; Hearing ; Hearing Aids ; Hearing Loss ; Noise

BACKGROUND: Hepatobiliary and vascular structure anatomy must be understood to ensure donor safety during living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). The purpose of this study was to determine the role of pretransplant magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) for understanding the anatomy. METHODS: Eighteen LDLT were analyzed retrospectively through medical records and radiological images. Pretransplant MRC and intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) were reviewed to evaluate the accuracy of pretransplant MRC. RESULTS: The MRC results of 13 donors were acceptable for a living donor operation. However, 5 donor MRC results required further evaluation to identify the biliary anatomy by IOC. In 2 cases, the use of an intravenous low-dose morphine injection helped to obtain a more qualified MRC image. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the small study size, the results showed that MRC can help provide information on donor biliary anatomy to ensure a safe donor operation.
Cholangiography ; Dietary Sucrose ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Magnetics ; Magnets ; Medical Records ; Morphine ; Retrospective Studies ; Tissue Donors

Periodontal disease is one of the most prevalent chronic disorders worldwide. It is accompanied by inflammation of the gingiva and destruction of periodontal tissues, leading to alveolar bone loss. Here, we focused on the role of adipokines, which are locally expressed by periodontal tissues, in the regulation of catabolic gene expression leading to periodontal inflammation. The expression of the nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) adipokine was dramatically increased in inflamed human and mouse gingival tissues. NAMPT expression was also increased in lipopolysaccharide- and proinflammatory cytokine-stimulated primary cultured human gingival fibroblasts (GF). Adenovirus-mediated NAMPT (Ad-Nampt) overexpression upregulated the expression and activity of COX-2, MMP1 and MMP3 in human GF. The upregulation of IL-1β- or Ad-Nampt-induced catabolic factors was significantly abrogated by the intracellular NAMPT (iNAMPT) inhibitor, FK866 or by the sirtuin (SIRT) inhibitor, nicotinamide (NIC). Recombinant NAMPT protein or extracellular NAMPT (eNAMPT) inhibition using a blocking antibody did not alter NAMPT target gene expression levels. Moreover, intragingival Ad-Nampt injection mediated periodontitis-like phenotypes including alveolar bone loss in mice. SIRT2, a part of the SIRT family, was positively associated with NAMPT actions in human GF. Furthermore, in vivo inhibition of the NAMPT-NAD⁺-SIRT axis by NIC injection in mice ameliorated the periodontal inflammation and alveolar bone erosion caused by intragingival injection of Ad-Nampt. Our findings indicate that NAMPT is highly upregulated in human GF, while its enzymatic activity acts as a crucial mediator of periodontal inflammation and alveolar bone destruction via regulation of COX-2, MMP1, and MMP3 levels.
Adipokines ; Alveolar Bone Loss ; Animals ; Fibroblasts* ; Gene Expression* ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Mice ; Niacinamide ; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase ; Periodontal Diseases ; Periodontitis* ; Phenotype ; Up-Regulation

We found an Fig. 1 error in our published article.