Purpose: Edible insect extracts have been used as an alternative source for medicinal supplements due to their significant antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activity. Recent studies have reported that anti-microbial peptides from insects have neuroprotective effects on dopamine toxins. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective functions of mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) extract (MWE) on N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)–induced cellular toxicity in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Methods: Cellular toxicity induced by the MPTP toxin and the impact of MWE on cell survival were analyzed using MTT assays. DAPI staining was performed to observe apoptotic phenomena caused by MPTP. Changes in caspase-3 activity and protein expression were observed using enzyme activity assays and western blot assays, respectively. Results: MWE exerted significant antioxidant activity, which was measured by both DPPH and ABTS radical assays, with a dose-dependent relationship. Furthermore, MWE resulted in cellular proliferation in SH-SY5Y cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, MWE pretreatment significantly inhibited MPTP-induced cytotoxicity, with a dose-dependent relationship. The morphological characteristics of apoptosis and increased reactive oxygen species induced by MPTP were also significantly reduced by MWE pretreatment. Conclusion MWE treatment significantly attenuated MPTP-induced changes in the levels of proteins associated with apoptosis, such as caspase-3 and PARP. These findings suggest that MWE exerts neuroprotective effects on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells subject to MPTP-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration.

Objectives: To determine whether the clinical aspect of aplastic anemia is influenced by pregnancy. METHODS: We reviewed 37 cases of pregnant aplastic anemia patients during Jan. 1989 to Dec. 1998, and examined age, parity, progress of pregnancy, termination methods, obstetrics & neonatal complications, hematologic change, and treatment modality by medical records. RESULTS: According to onset of disease, patients were divided into pre-pregnant diagnosed group(n=12) and during-pregnancy diagnosed group(n=25). Mean age of diagnosis was 29.4yr, 89.2% were nulliparous, and 51.4% were severe aplastic anemic patients. All patients underwent 50 pregnancy. Mean gestational period was 37wks, birth weight was 2569gram, and, except in 7 cases of abortion, 43 cases were delivered transvaginally or transabdominally(51.2% vs. 48.8%). Preeclampsia, eclampsia, preterm labor, restricted growth, and distress were complicated and decreased hemoglobin, hematocrit, reticulocyte, platelet were reversed after termination in pregnancy associated group. Treatment modality during pregnancy included transfusion, steroid, anti-lymphocytic globulin, anti-thymocytic globulin and IVGV, and remission rate was 45.5% in pregnancy associated group. CONCLUSION: We concluded that pregnancy is associated with aplastic anemia as a high risk factor, and intensive treatment is needed.
Anemia, Aplastic* ; Birth Weight ; Blood Platelets ; Diagnosis ; Eclampsia ; Female ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Obstetrics ; Parity ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy* ; Reticulocytes ; Risk Factors

Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the appropriateness of transfer of patients from a long-term care hospital to the emergency department (ED). Methods: We conducted a retrospective study in a Wide Regional Emergency Center in Gyeongsangnam-do between January 2019 and December 2019. The patients were divided into groups (direct visit, transferred from other hospitals, and transferred from long-term care hospitals [LTCHs]). The baseline characteristics, Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS), vital signs, length of stay, ED disposition, cost, clinical outcome, and instances of application of the “Act on decisions on life-sustaining treatment” were collected. Results: A total of 30,142 patients were enrolled during the study period. Twenty-one thousand, nine hundred and sixty-five patients were in the direct visit group, 7,057 patients were transferred from other hospitals, and 1,120 patients were transferred from LTCHs. Hospital admission was higher in cases of transfer from other hospitals and LTCHs (LTCHs, 63.8%; transferred from other hospitals, 64.1%, direct visit, 30.1%; P<0.001). Re-transfer and mortality in the ED were much higher (re-transfer: LTCHs, 11.0%; transferred from other hospitals 3.8%, direct visit 1.9%; P<0.001 and mortality in ED: 2.9%, 0.8%, 1.4%; respectively P<0.001). In the LCTH group after admission, mortality was higher (mortality: 16.2%, 5.4%, 7.1% for LTCH transfers and direct respectively; P<0.001). The implementation rate of the “Act on decisions on life-sustaining treatment”, the well-dying law, was higher in the LTCHs (26.6%, 12.5%, and 11.4% LTCH transfers, and direct respectively; P<0.001). Conclusion In the LTCH group, re-transfer, mortality, and the implementation rate of the “Act on decisions on life-sustaining treatment” were higher than in the other groups.

BACKGROUND: Since postoperative cognitive impairement is common in elderly patients and normal cognitive function is important for proper use of patient controlled analgesia (PCA), we compared the efficacy, adverse effect and postoperative cognitive impairment among postoperative elderly patients given the PCA morphine, fentanyl and meperidine. METHODS: Forty-five elderly patients were randomly allocated to receive patient-controlled analgesia with either morphine, fentanyl or meperidine following upper abdominal surgery. Patients were evaluated for used doses, adverse effects, visual analogue scale, the satisfaction for analgesia during postoperative 2 days and the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) and the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) at posoperative 1 day. RESULTS: Patients receiving the PCA fentanyl used more opioid based on a dose expressed as morphine equivalents using the putative potency ratios of 1:10:0.01 (morphine/meperidine/fentanyl). But adverse effects, visual analogue scale, and the satisfaction for analgesia were not statistically different between groups. The decrease in MMSE in the PCA-meperidine group was significantly greater than that seen in the PCA-fentanyl group and the PCA-morphine group. SPMSQ were not statistically different between groups. CONCLUSION: The present result suggest that PCA is effective method in posterative elderly without serious complications. But PCA meperidine may be avoided in the elderly because it can contribute to decrease postoperative cognitive function.
Aged* ; Analgesia ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled* ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Meperidine ; Morphine ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis

BACKGROUND: Since postoperative cognitive impairement is common in elderly patients and normal cognitive function is important for proper use of patient controlled analgesia (PCA), we compared the efficacy, adverse effect and postoperative cognitive impairment among postoperative elderly patients given the PCA morphine, fentanyl and meperidine. METHODS: Forty-five elderly patients were randomly allocated to receive patient-controlled analgesia with either morphine, fentanyl or meperidine following upper abdominal surgery. Patients were evaluated for used doses, adverse effects, visual analogue scale, the satisfaction for analgesia during postoperative 2 days and the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) and the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) at posoperative 1 day. RESULTS: Patients receiving the PCA fentanyl used more opioid based on a dose expressed as morphine equivalents using the putative potency ratios of 1:10:0.01 (morphine/meperidine/fentanyl). But adverse effects, visual analogue scale, and the satisfaction for analgesia were not statistically different between groups. The decrease in MMSE in the PCA-meperidine group was significantly greater than that seen in the PCA-fentanyl group and the PCA-morphine group. SPMSQ were not statistically different between groups. CONCLUSION: The present result suggest that PCA is effective method in posterative elderly without serious complications. But PCA meperidine may be avoided in the elderly because it can contribute to decrease postoperative cognitive function.
Aged* ; Analgesia ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled* ; Fentanyl ; Humans ; Meperidine ; Morphine ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis

OBJECTS: It has been reported that the incidence of tardive dyskinesia(TD), the remarkable abnormal involuntary movement, was higher in the schizophrenics with high blood sugar levels and that TD had been improved by small amount of insulin-injection for 90 days. And also it was generally known that the blood lipids were higher in the schizophrenics with tardive dyskinesia. Thus, we tried to replicate the correlations of abnormal involuntary movements with blood sugar levels and blood lipids in chronic schizophrenics treated with antipsychotics. METHODS: Thirty-eight male schizophrenic inpatients who were stable in clinical state with medications, were included. The patients who had been already diagnosed as diabetes mellitus(DM), organic brain disorder, substance-related disorder, physical illness were excluded and also we excluded female patients to remove the hormonal effect on TD. Eleven patients who ranked higher(above five) in the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale(AIMS) were assigned into 2 groups, a dibenese group and a placebo group. Diabinese or placebos were administrated for 3 weeks with antipsychotics and AIMS was rechecked. RESULTS: There were no correlations between the total AIMS scores and blood sugar and lipids levels in all subjects. The means of total and subscale scores(objective, face, and extremity) of AIMS did not reveal statistical significances between diabinese and placebo groups. However(total, jaw, face, upper arm, and objective feeling), were statistically higher in the diabinese group than those in the placebo group. And correlations of total cholesterol(TC) with fast blood sugar(FBS), weight with body mass index(BMI) and waist, total glycerol (TG) with BMI were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: In this study, there were statistical significances in the changes in ratings of AIMS scores between the diabinese group and the placebo group. Application of oral hypoglycemic agent might be a way of improving abnormal involuntary movements in schizophrenics with abnormal involuntary movements or TD. Althogugh it was not certain that there were correlations of abnormal involuntary movement with blood sugar and lipids, correlations of TC/TG with AIMS, of FBS with AIMS cautiously suggest that the regular check of HbA1C, waist, and weight are recommended for schizophrenics.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Arm ; Blood Glucose* ; Brain Diseases ; Chlorpropamide ; Dyskinesias* ; Female ; Glycerol ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hyperlipidemias ; Incidence ; Inpatients ; Jaw ; Male ; Movement Disorders ; Placebos ; Schizophrenia

Despite the well-established benefits of statin treatments in lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), a significant residual risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains. Triglycerides (TGs) have long been recognized as potential residual risk factors in this context, but recent studies now disclose the substantial role of TG-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) and cholesterol components of metabolized TRLs (commonly referred to as remnant cholesterol) in atherogenesis, not just TGs alone. Evidence derived through diverse sources, including preclinical studies of pathogenic mechanisms, epidemiologic investigations, and genetic research, has consistently supported the considerable contribution of TRLs and remnant cholesterol in predicting occurrences of ASCVD. As emerging biomarkers for predicting atherosclerosis, they have thus become prioritized therapeutic targets, meant to augment LDL-C lowering efforts in individuals at high risk of ASCVD. However, routine clinical testing for remnant cholesterol and TRLs is still in question, necessitating further research into appropriate treatment plans if levels are elevated. New therapies targeting proteins in TG metabolic pathways, particularly angiopoietin-like protein 3 and apolipoprotein C-III, have shown potential advantages in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertriglyceridemia by reducing blood levels of TGs and remnant cholesterol. The aim of this review is to summarize existing evidence linking elevated TRLs and remnant cholesterol with development of ASCVD and to explore additional guidance for clinical therapy.

Although some clinical trials have demonstrated reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease with the use of omega-3 fatty acids, others have found an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). AF is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia worldwide. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates and significant public health burden. Previous studies of the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on AF occurrence have reported contradictory results. Here we reviewed the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on the risk of AF.

Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Transplants