Purpose: We report a case of regressed retinal astrocytic hamartomas (RAHs) in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) patients by mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor (everolimus) treatment. Case summary: A 12-year-old girl diagnosed with TSC visited for regular checkups. The patient had undergone regular fundus examinations every year after the finding of multiple RAHs in both eyes in the initial screening at 3 months of age. There was no change in the size or thickness of the lesions until she reached 10 years of age. Two months later, the patient started systemic everolimus (5 mg, AFINITOR®, Novartis, Basel, Switzerland) treatment for 17 months under the care of a pediatric neurologist for seizure control. Subsequent fundus examination and measurements by optical coherence tomography showed improvement in the maximal thickness of all lesions, specifically, a reduction of 25%. Conclusions mTOR inhibitors are targeted agents that regress systemic hamartomas and control convulsions without serious side effects in TSC patients. The particular one used in this study, Afinitor everolimus, reduced the RAH size in our patient. Thus, in cases where an RAH affects vision due to its location, everolimus can considered as a therapeutic option.

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of video-oculographic waveform analysis in nystagmus patients. Methods: We carried out an observational case study in 18 patients (age, 7-32 years) with nystagmus who visited our clinic regularly for more than 1 year. Video-oculography (VOG) recording was performed (SLVNG®; SLMED, Seoul, Korea/3D Video-Oculography®; SMI, Teltow, Germany), and the velocity, peak velocity, and frequency of ocular movement were evaluated. The results of VOG analysis were compared to the diagnosis based on clinical examination and video recording. Results: Eleven patients showed corresponding results, while the results differed between presumed diagnosis by VOG waveform analysis and clinical diagnosis in seven patients. Two of the discordant group showed additional waveforms that were not found on clinical examination. In addition, the number of inverse cases was two. The VOG waveform results corresponded to the diagnosis based on video recording in 16 patients. Conclusions Video-oculography is useful for diagnosis and management of nystagmus patients as it is noninvasive, comfortable, and can be performed in patients with difficulties with electronystagmography, such as pediatric patients. In addition, its waveform analysis and quantification are reliable taking into consideration diagnosis based on clinical examination and video recording.

Purpose: We report a case of regressed retinal astrocytic hamartomas (RAHs) in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) patients by mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor (everolimus) treatment. Case summary: A 12-year-old girl diagnosed with TSC visited for regular checkups. The patient had undergone regular fundus examinations every year after the finding of multiple RAHs in both eyes in the initial screening at 3 months of age. There was no change in the size or thickness of the lesions until she reached 10 years of age. Two months later, the patient started systemic everolimus (5 mg, AFINITOR®, Novartis, Basel, Switzerland) treatment for 17 months under the care of a pediatric neurologist for seizure control. Subsequent fundus examination and measurements by optical coherence tomography showed improvement in the maximal thickness of all lesions, specifically, a reduction of 25%. Conclusions mTOR inhibitors are targeted agents that regress systemic hamartomas and control convulsions without serious side effects in TSC patients. The particular one used in this study, Afinitor everolimus, reduced the RAH size in our patient. Thus, in cases where an RAH affects vision due to its location, everolimus can considered as a therapeutic option.

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of video-oculographic waveform analysis in nystagmus patients. Methods: We carried out an observational case study in 18 patients (age, 7-32 years) with nystagmus who visited our clinic regularly for more than 1 year. Video-oculography (VOG) recording was performed (SLVNG®; SLMED, Seoul, Korea/3D Video-Oculography®; SMI, Teltow, Germany), and the velocity, peak velocity, and frequency of ocular movement were evaluated. The results of VOG analysis were compared to the diagnosis based on clinical examination and video recording. Results: Eleven patients showed corresponding results, while the results differed between presumed diagnosis by VOG waveform analysis and clinical diagnosis in seven patients. Two of the discordant group showed additional waveforms that were not found on clinical examination. In addition, the number of inverse cases was two. The VOG waveform results corresponded to the diagnosis based on video recording in 16 patients. Conclusions Video-oculography is useful for diagnosis and management of nystagmus patients as it is noninvasive, comfortable, and can be performed in patients with difficulties with electronystagmography, such as pediatric patients. In addition, its waveform analysis and quantification are reliable taking into consideration diagnosis based on clinical examination and video recording.

The fruit of the black raspberry (Rubus coreanus Miquel) has been employed in traditional medicine, and recent studies have demonstrated its measureable biological activities. However, the root of the black raspberry has not been studied. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of the root and unripe fruit polyphenols of the black raspberry. Both polyphenols proved to have anti-inflammatory activity as evidenced by the decreased nitric oxide (NO), cytokines (IL-1beta , IL-6, and IL-10) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. However, root polyphenols showed stronger anti-inflammatory activity than fruit polyphenols. LPS-induced mRNA and protein expressions of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 levels were also decreased, confirming the anti-inflammatory activity. Root polyphenols showed lethal activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), and Bacillus anthracis. In contrast, the black raspberry fruit did not demonstrate these properties. These data provide the first demonstration that black raspberry root has potential anti-inflammatory and anti-superbacterial properties that can be exploited as alternatives for use in the food and cosmetic industries and/or as pharmaceuticals.
Acinetobacter baumannii ; Bacillus anthracis ; Cosmetics ; Cytokines ; Dinoprostone ; Fruit ; Interleukin-6 ; Macrophages ; Medicine, Traditional ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Polyphenols ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; RNA, Messenger

No abstract available.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Bone Density* ; Estrogens* ; Etidronic Acid* ; Female ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal*

PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop a multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and ultrasonography (USG) fusion imaging system for imaging prostate cancer and to verify its diagnostic capability by applying the hybrid imaging system to a prostate cancer phantom. METHODS: A multi-channel NIRS system using the near-infrared 785-nm wavelength with 12 channels and four detectors was developed. After arranging the optical fibers around a USG transducer, we performed NIRS imaging and grayscale USG imaging simultaneously. Fusion imaging was obtained by processing incoming signals and the spatial reconstruction of NIRS, which corresponded with grayscale USG acquired at the same time. The NIRS-USG hybrid system was applied to a silicone-based optical phantom of the prostate gland containing prostate cancer to verify its diagnostic capability qualitatively. RESULTS: The NIRS-USG hybrid imaging system for prostate cancer imaging simultaneously provided anatomical and optical information with 2-dimensional registration. The hybrid imaging system showed more NIR attenuation over the prostate cancer model than over the model of normal prostate tissue. Its diagnostic capability to discriminate a focal area mimicking the optical properties of prostate cancer from the surrounding background mimicking the optical properties of normal prostate tissue was verified by applying the hybrid system to a silicone-based optical phantom of prostate cancer. CONCLUSION: This study successfully demonstrated that the NIRS-USG hybrid system may serve as a new imaging method for improving the diagnostic accuracy of prostate cancer, with potential utility for future clinical applications.
Diagnosis ; Methods ; Optical Fibers ; Prostate ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; Transducers ; Ultrasonography

Objective: : Patients with mild ischemic stroke experience various sequela and residual symptoms, such as anxious behavior and deficits in movement. Few approaches have been proved to be effective and safe therapeutic approaches for patients with mild ischemic stroke by acute stroke. Sildenafil (SIL), a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE5i), is a known remedy for neurodegenerative disorders and vascular dementia through its angiogenesis and neurogenesis effects. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of PDE5i in the emotional and behavioral abnormalities in rats with mild ischemic stroke. Methods: : We divided the rats into four groups as follows (n=20, respectively) : group 1, naïve; group 2, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo30); group 3, MCAo30+SIL-pre; and group 4, MCAo30+SIL-post. In the case of drug administration groups, single dose of PDE5i (sildenafil citrate, 20 mg/kg) was given at 30-minute before and after reperfusion of MCAo in rats. After surgery, we investigated and confirmed the therapeutic effect of sildenafil on histology, immunofluorescence, behavioral assays and neural oscillations. Results: : Sildenafil alleviated a neuronal loss and reduced the infarction volume. And results of behavior task and immunofluorescence shown possibility that anti-inflammation process and improve motor deficits sildenafil treatment after mild ischemic stroke. Furthermore, sildenafil treatment attenuated the alteration of theta-frequency rhythm in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, a known neural oscillatory marker for anxiety disorder in rodents, induced by mild ischemic stroke. Conclusion : PDE5i as effective therapeutic agents for anxiety and movement disorders and provide robust preclinical evidence to support the development and use of PDE5i for the treatment of mild ischemic stroke residual disorders.

Background: As the number of large-scale studies involving multiple organizations producing data has steadily increased, an integrated system for a common interoperable format is needed. In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a number of global efforts are underway to develop vaccines and therapeutics. We are therefore observing an explosion in the proliferation of COVID-19 data, and interoperability is highly requested in multiple institutions participating simultaneously in COVID-19 pandemic research. Results: In this study, a laboratory information management system (LIMS) approach has been adopted to systemically manage various COVID-19 non-clinical trial data, including mortality, clinical signs, body weight, body temperature, organ weights, viral titer (viral replication and viral RNA), and multiorgan histopathology, from multiple institutions based on a web interface. The main aim of the implemented system is to integrate, standardize, and organize data collected from laboratories in multiple institutes for COVID-19 non-clinical efficacy testings. Six animal biosafety level 3 institutions proved the feasibility of our system. Substantial benefits were shown by maximizing collaborative high-quality non-clinical research. Conclusions This LIMS platform can be used for future outbreaks, leading to accelerated medical product development through the systematic management of extensive data from non-clinical animal studies.

Viral load and the duration of viral shedding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are important determinants of the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019.In this study, we examined the effects of viral doses on the lung and spleen of K18-hACE2 transgenic mice by temporal histological and transcriptional analyses. Approximately, 1×105 plaque-forming units (PFU) of SARS-CoV-2 induced strong host responses in the lungs from 2 days post inoculation (dpi) which did not recover until the mice died, whereas responses to the virus were obvious at 5 days, recovering to the basal state by 14 dpi at 1×102 PFU. Further, flow cytometry showed that number of CD8+ T cells continuously increased in 1×102 PFU-virusinfected lungs from 2 dpi, but not in 1×105 PFU-virus-infected lungs. In spleens, responses to the virus were prominent from 2 dpi, and number of B cells was significantly decreased at 1×105PFU; however, 1×102 PFU of virus induced very weak responses from 2 dpi which recovered by 10 dpi. Although the defense responses returned to normal and the mice survived, lung histology showed evidence of fibrosis, suggesting sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our findings indicate that specific effectors of the immune response in the lung and spleen were either increased or depleted in response to doses of SARS-CoV-2. This study demonstrated that the response of local and systemic immune effectors to a viral infection varies with viral dose, which either exacerbates the severity of the infection or accelerates its elimination.