Carbon monoxide (CO) is well-known as toxic gas and intrinsic signaling molecule such as neurotransmitter and blood vessel relaxant. Recently, it has been reported that low concentration of CO exerts therapeutic actions under various pathological conditions including liver failure, heart failure, gastric cancer, and cardiac arrest. However, little has been known about the effect of CO in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease (PD). To test whether CO could exert a beneficial action during oxidative cell death in PD, we examined the effects of CO on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced cell death in C6 glioma cells. Treatment of CO-releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2) significantly attenuated 6-OHDA-induced apoptotic cell death in a dose-dependent manner. CORM-2 treatment decreased Bax/Bcl2 ratio and caspase-3 activity, which had been increased by 6-OHDA. CORM-2 increased phosphorylation of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) which is a transcription factor regulating antioxidant proteins. Subsequently, CORM-2 also increased the expression of heme oxygenase-1 and superoxide dismutases (CuZnSOD and MnSOD), which were antioxidant enzymes regulated by Nrf2. These results suggest that CO released by CORM-2 treatment may have protective effects against oxidative cell death in PD through the potentiation of cellular adaptive survival responses via activation of Nrf2 and upregulation of heme oxygenase-1, leading to increasing antioxidant defense capacity.
Blood Vessels ; Carbon Monoxide* ; Carbon* ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Death* ; Glioma* ; Heart Arrest ; Heart Failure ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; Liver Failure ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neuroprotection ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; Oxidopamine ; Phosphorylation ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Superoxides ; Transcription Factors ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVE: To find factors associated with dysmenorrhea, we surveyed the obstetric and gynecologic histories as well as socioeconomic factors of Vietnamese female residents in Can Tho (southern part of Vietnam) and Bavi (northern part of Vietnam) and Vietnamese female marriage immigrants living in South Korea. METHODS: From March 2010 to March 2011, 3,017 Vietnamese women aged 17 to 42 years (mean, 25.5 years) were recruited. Socioeconomic factors as well as baseline characteristics, including gynecologic history and menstrual patterns, were collected using questionnaires. The relationships between these factors and dysmenorrhea were analyzed using chi-square test, independent t-test and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Dysmenorrhea was found in 58.8% of all women. The mean age and the age at menarche were younger in the women with dysmenorrhea. A longer duration of menstrual flow and severe menstrual volume increased the risk of dysmenorrhea. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was lower in women who had experienced pregnancy, term delivery and breastfeeding. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea in Vietnamese women was also different according to their educational status. When participants were divided according to their religious preferences, atheist women showed a lower prevalence with 55%, and women who were religious had a higher prevalence of dysmenorrhea. The body mass index, menstrual cycle length, monthly income, and duration of residency in Korea were not related with the prevalence of dysmenorrhea. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic factors as well as age, menstrual pattern and obstetric history were related with dysmenorrhea in Vietnamese women.
Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Body Mass Index ; Breast Feeding ; Dysmenorrhea ; Educational Status ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Female ; Humans ; Internship and Residency ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Marriage ; Menarche ; Menstrual Cycle ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea ; Socioeconomic Factors

To investigate factors which affect the activities of daily living (ADL) in severely disabled stroke patients. Medical records of 64 post-stroke patients were reviewed retrospectively. All patients had had rehabilitation for 3 months, and their ADL was assessed using the Korean version of Modified Barthel Index at the time of admission and after 3 months. We also investigated age, onset duration of stroke and the Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) at the time of admission. The ability to roll over, sit, sit to stand, transfer, ambulation, climbing stairs, sitting balance and standing balance were evaluated at the time of admission and after 3 months, either. The factors affecting ADL were K-MMSE and functional ability, such as the ability to roll over, come to sit, sit to stand, sitting and standing balance. The most important factors were the level of K-MMSE and the ability to come to sit. The ability to sit up and the K-MMSE score are the independent factors that can predict the ADL after rehabilitation in severely disabled stroke patient.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Recovery of Function ; Rehabilitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke* ; Treatment Outcome ; Walking

Purpose: We quantitatively analyzed the therapeutic effects of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) and dexamethasone implants used to treat macular edema caused by retinal vein occlusion. Methods: Eighty-three patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) or central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) with macular edema treated from February 2009 to August 2019 via anti-VEGF injections or dexamethasone implants were enrolled. The medical records of 83 eyes were retrospectively analyzed. Horizontal B-scan spectral domain optical coherence tomography images spanning the foveal center were obtained before treatment and 1 month later. These were analyzed with the aid of Image J software and the numbers of pixels corresponding to intraretinal and subretinal fluids calculated. Results: In patients with BRVO, the retinal fluid changes were identical 1 month after injection in both the anti-VEGF injection and the dexamethasone implant groups. For CRVO cases, the dexamethasone implant group exhibited a significantly higher loss of retinal fluid and thus a greater reduction in retinal edema than the anti-VEGF group. Linear regression analysis revealed that in BRVO cases poor final visual acuity was associated with a large amount of fluid at baseline and poor visual acuity 1 and 3 months after treatment. In CRVO cases, poor final visual acuity was associated with a large change in the intraretinal fluid level and poor visual acuity 3 months after treatment. Conclusions The extent of anatomical and visual acuity improvement did not differ between the anti-VEGF injection and the dexamethasone injection groups with BRVO. For CRVO patients, the short-term anatomical improvement was significantly greater in the latter group, but the extent of vision improvement was significantly higher in the former group.

No abstract available.
Humans ; Retinitis Pigmentosa* ; Retinitis*

Purpose: We quantitatively analyzed the therapeutic effects of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) and dexamethasone implants used to treat macular edema caused by retinal vein occlusion. Methods: Eighty-three patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) or central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) with macular edema treated from February 2009 to August 2019 via anti-VEGF injections or dexamethasone implants were enrolled. The medical records of 83 eyes were retrospectively analyzed. Horizontal B-scan spectral domain optical coherence tomography images spanning the foveal center were obtained before treatment and 1 month later. These were analyzed with the aid of Image J software and the numbers of pixels corresponding to intraretinal and subretinal fluids calculated. Results: In patients with BRVO, the retinal fluid changes were identical 1 month after injection in both the anti-VEGF injection and the dexamethasone implant groups. For CRVO cases, the dexamethasone implant group exhibited a significantly higher loss of retinal fluid and thus a greater reduction in retinal edema than the anti-VEGF group. Linear regression analysis revealed that in BRVO cases poor final visual acuity was associated with a large amount of fluid at baseline and poor visual acuity 1 and 3 months after treatment. In CRVO cases, poor final visual acuity was associated with a large change in the intraretinal fluid level and poor visual acuity 3 months after treatment. Conclusions The extent of anatomical and visual acuity improvement did not differ between the anti-VEGF injection and the dexamethasone injection groups with BRVO. For CRVO patients, the short-term anatomical improvement was significantly greater in the latter group, but the extent of vision improvement was significantly higher in the former group.

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key components of the tumor microenvironment and significantly contribute to immune evasion. We investigated the effects of CAFs on the immune function of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We isolated CAFs and normal fibroblasts (NFs) from tumors and normal lung tissues of NSCLC patients, respectively. CAFs were co-cultured with activated T cells to evaluate their immune regulatory function. We investigated the effect of CAF conditioned medium (CAF-CM) on the cytotoxicity of T cells. CAFs were also co-cultured with activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and further incubated with cyclooxygenase- 2 (COX2) inhibitors to investigate the potential role of COX2 in immune evasion. Results: CAFs and NFs were isolated from the lung tissues (n=8) and lymph nodes (n=3) of NSCLC patients. Immune suppressive markers, such as COX2 and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), were increased in CAFs after co-culture with activated T cells. Interestingly, CAFs promoted the expression of programmed death-1 in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and strongly inhibited T cell proliferation in allogenic and autologous pairs of CAFs and T cells. CAF-CM decreased the cytotoxicity of T cells. COX2 inhibitors partially restored the proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and downregulated the expression of COX2, prostaglandin E synthase, prostaglandin E2, and PD-L1 in CAFs. Conclusion CAFs promote immune evasion by suppressing the function of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells via their effects on COX2 and PD-L1 in NSCLC. The immunosuppressive function of CAFs could be alleviated by COX2 inhibitors.

Objective: This work aimed to examine the alterations in glycoconjugates in the small intestines of piglets naturally infected with PEDV using lectin histochemistry. Methods: Six piglets including three PEDV-infected and three non-infected piglets were evaluated. Small intestinal samples were histopathologically examined, and lectin histochemistry was performed. Results: Piglets infected with PEDV had significant histological abnormalities in their small intestines, such as pronounced villous atrophy, varying degrees of villous fusion, and diverse mucosal alterations. Specific regions of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum showed discernible variations in glycoconjugate distribution, as determined by lectin histochemistry.Compared with the controls, the PEDV-infected piglets showed significant changes in N-acetylglucosamine- and galactose-binding lectins (particularly wheat germ agglutinin and Arachis hypogaea (peanut) agglutinin) in multiple intestinal regions. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings can enhance understanding of how viruses such as PEDV impact the glycoconjugate composition of the small intestines and emphasize the potential connection between the pathogenesis of PEDV and glycoconjugate.

Objective: This work aimed to examine the alterations in glycoconjugates in the small intestines of piglets naturally infected with PEDV using lectin histochemistry. Methods: Six piglets including three PEDV-infected and three non-infected piglets were evaluated. Small intestinal samples were histopathologically examined, and lectin histochemistry was performed. Results: Piglets infected with PEDV had significant histological abnormalities in their small intestines, such as pronounced villous atrophy, varying degrees of villous fusion, and diverse mucosal alterations. Specific regions of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum showed discernible variations in glycoconjugate distribution, as determined by lectin histochemistry.Compared with the controls, the PEDV-infected piglets showed significant changes in N-acetylglucosamine- and galactose-binding lectins (particularly wheat germ agglutinin and Arachis hypogaea (peanut) agglutinin) in multiple intestinal regions. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings can enhance understanding of how viruses such as PEDV impact the glycoconjugate composition of the small intestines and emphasize the potential connection between the pathogenesis of PEDV and glycoconjugate.