Aim To investigate the effects of multi-gly-cosides of Tripterygium wilfordii(GTW)on mitochon-drial dynamics-related proteins and the mechanism of nephroprotective effects in IgA nephrophathy(IgAN)rats.Methods SPF grade male SD rats were random-ly divided into the Control group,modelling group,prednisone group(6.25 mg·kg·d-1)and GTW group(6.25 mg·kg·d-1).The IgAN rat model was established by the method of"bovine serum albumin(BSA)+carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)+lipopolysac-charide(LPS)".The total amount of urinary protein(24 h-UTP)and erythrocyte count in urine were meas-ured in 24 h urine.Blood biochemistry of serum albu-min(ALB),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),urea ni-trogen(BUN),and creatinine(Scr)were measured in abdominal aorta of the rats;immunofluorescence and HE staining were used to observe the histopathology of the kidneys;RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of key proteins regulating mitochondrial division and fu-sion:dynamin-related protein 1(Drp1),mitochondrial fusion protein 1(Mfn1),and mitochondrial fusion pro-tein 2(Mfn2),and PTEN-induced putative kinase 1(Pink1),in the kidney tissue of rats.Results GTW significantly reduced urinary erythrocyte count and 24 h-UTP,decreased serum ALT,BUN and Scr levels,in-creased serum ALB levels,improved renal histopatho-logical status in IgAN rats,increased the protein and mRNA expression levels of Mfn1,Mfn2,and Pink1,and decreased the protein and mRNA expression levels of Drp1 in renal tissues.Conclusions GTW may regu-late mitochondrial structure and maintain the dynamic balance of mitochondrial dynamics by promoting the ex-pression of Mfn1,Mfn2,Pink1 and decreasing Drp1.This may result in a reduction in urinary erythrocyte counts and proteinuria,and an improvement in renal function.

Aim To explore the mechanism of action of Tripterygium glycosides tablets on kidney of rats with IgA nephropathy based on inflammation-related path-ways.Methods Forty-five male SD rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into control group and modeling group.In addition to the blank group,the modeling group used the combination of bovine serum albumin(BSA)+carbon tetrachloride(CC14)+lipopolysac-charide(LPS)to establish the IgA nephropathy rat model.Successfully modeled rats were randomly divid-ed into the model group,the prednisone group and Tripterygium glycosides tablets group,and the treat-ment group was given the drug by gavage from the 13 th week,and the 24 hours urine,blood and kidney tis-sues of the rats were collected and examined after 4 weeks of the administration of the drug.Urine erythro-cyte count,quantitative 24-h urine protein(24 h-UTP),urea nitrogen(BUN),and blood creatinine(Scr)were detected in each group;serum interleukin 1β(IL-1β)and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(Elisa);the pathological changes in the renal tissues of the rats in each group were observed by horizontal hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining;and the renal tis-sues in each group were observed by Western blotting.The expressions of LIGHT,HVEM,LTβR proteins and their mRNAs in rat kidney tissue were detected by Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Tripterygium glycosides tablets significantly reduced the levels of urinary erythrocyte count,24 h-UTP,BUN,and Scr in IgA nephropathy rats(P＜0.01),improved renal histopathology,lowered the levels of se-rum inflammatory factors IL-1β and TNF-α(P＜0.01),and lowered the levels of LIGHT,HVEM,LTβR proteins and their mRNA expression in renal tis-sues(P＜0.01).Conclusions Tripterygium glyco-sides tablets may inhibit the immune response and re-duce the release of inflammatory factors by down-regu-lating the LIGHT-HVEM/LT(3R pathway,thus reduc-ing the inflammatory response,lowering the urinary e-rythrocytes and urinary proteins,improving the renal nephron pathologic injury,and protecting the renal function.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in the characteristics between rental car crashes and non-rental car crashes on Jeju Island, and to investigate the association between rental car crashes and the severity of injuries. Methods: This study analyzed data on traffic accidents that occurred on Jeju Island, South Korea from January 2010 to December 2019. The data on traffic accident-related factors were collected using the Traffic Accident Analysis System operated by the Road Traffic Authority. The primary outcome was a fatal injury and secondary outcomes were severe and minor injuries. We analyzed the differences in the characteristics of each factor between rental car crashes and nonrental crashes. We also analyzed the correlation between rental car accidents and the outcome variables. Results: A total of 40,713 traffic accidents occurred during the study period, of which 4,601 (11.3%) were rental car crashes and 36,112 (88.7%) were non-rental crashes. In the rental car crash group, the proportions of the 20-30s age group and female drivers were higher; however, the proportion of the risky driving behaviors was lower. Also, the incidence rate in summer and daytime was higher, and the proportions of vehicle-to-vehicle crashes, single vehicle crashes, and head-on collisions were higher. According to the results of the Poisson regression test, the rental car crash group showed a higher risk of severe injuries (adjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.14), but there was no significant difference in their risk of fatal injuries. Conclusion Our results suggest the need for traffic accident prevention programs considering the characteristics of rental car crashes on Jeju Island, South Korea.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether there is a difference in mortality and medical resource utilization between geriatric (aged ≥65 years) and super-geriatric patients (aged ≥80 years) with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: We obtained comprehensive data (demographics, injury characteristics, injury severities, and outcomes) of geriatric and super-geriatric TBI patients from an emergency department-based injury surveillance system database from 2011 to 2016. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to compare the mortality and nonroutine discharge (NRDC) status between both groups. Results: Among 442,533 TBI patients, 48,624 were older than 65 years. A total of 48,446 patients (37,140 geriatric and 11,306 super-geriatric) without exclusion criteria were included in the final analysis. Both overall in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28 to 2.74; P=0.001) and NRDC (adjusted odds ratio, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.71; P=0.011) were significantly higher in the super-geriatric group. In the stratified analysis, there were no significant differences in NRDC rate for all stratifications of treatment timing (emergency department vs. ward admission), but mortality remained to be significant for all stratifications. Conclusion Super-geriatric TBI patients showed a significantly higher risk-adjusted overall mortality and more inadequate medical resource utilization than did geriatric TBI patients. However, super-geriatric patients were more likely to undergo NRDC after admission; thus, further research about age-related health inequalities is needed in the treatment of super-geriatric patients.

Arachnoid web is a very rare disease that occurs when the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid is disturbed due to abnormal formation of the arachnoid membrane in the arachnoid space. Consequently, symptoms appear in the form of various myelopathies, such as loss of strength and sensation in the upper and lower extremities, or bladder control disorders. In general, surgical treatment can be considered if symptoms are exhibited. Arachnoid web requires a high consideration of appropriate diagnosis and treatment methods. However, due to its extremely rare occurrence in actual clinical practice, it is difficult to differentiate from other diseases such as herniated intervertebral disc or subdural tumor causing spinal myelopathy. This would effectively lead to a completely different direction of treatment. To date, there have been no case reports of Arachnoid web in Korea, except for collecting and reporting the focal anterior displacement of the thoracic spine, which is a similar lesion in the spinal cord. This article therefore provides information through case reports and literature review.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether there is a difference in mortality and medical resource utilization between geriatric (aged ≥65 years) and super-geriatric patients (aged ≥80 years) with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: We obtained comprehensive data (demographics, injury characteristics, injury severities, and outcomes) of geriatric and super-geriatric TBI patients from an emergency department-based injury surveillance system database from 2011 to 2016. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to compare the mortality and nonroutine discharge (NRDC) status between both groups. Results: Among 442,533 TBI patients, 48,624 were older than 65 years. A total of 48,446 patients (37,140 geriatric and 11,306 super-geriatric) without exclusion criteria were included in the final analysis. Both overall in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28 to 2.74; P=0.001) and NRDC (adjusted odds ratio, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.71; P=0.011) were significantly higher in the super-geriatric group. In the stratified analysis, there were no significant differences in NRDC rate for all stratifications of treatment timing (emergency department vs. ward admission), but mortality remained to be significant for all stratifications. Conclusion Super-geriatric TBI patients showed a significantly higher risk-adjusted overall mortality and more inadequate medical resource utilization than did geriatric TBI patients. However, super-geriatric patients were more likely to undergo NRDC after admission; thus, further research about age-related health inequalities is needed in the treatment of super-geriatric patients.

Arachnoid web is a very rare disease that occurs when the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid is disturbed due to abnormal formation of the arachnoid membrane in the arachnoid space. Consequently, symptoms appear in the form of various myelopathies, such as loss of strength and sensation in the upper and lower extremities, or bladder control disorders. In general, surgical treatment can be considered if symptoms are exhibited. Arachnoid web requires a high consideration of appropriate diagnosis and treatment methods. However, due to its extremely rare occurrence in actual clinical practice, it is difficult to differentiate from other diseases such as herniated intervertebral disc or subdural tumor causing spinal myelopathy. This would effectively lead to a completely different direction of treatment. To date, there have been no case reports of Arachnoid web in Korea, except for collecting and reporting the focal anterior displacement of the thoracic spine, which is a similar lesion in the spinal cord. This article therefore provides information through case reports and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the interpersonal violence (IPV) epidemiology and mortality according to the violence victim-perpetrator relationships. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was done using the comprehensive data of the emergency department (ED)-based Jeju Injury Surveillance System from all EDs in Jeju Island. The demographic characteristics of the victims, the types of perpetrators (spouse, family members, acquaintance, and stranger), injury characteristics and clinical outcomes from the injury were collected. The IPV epidemiology was reported by descriptive statistics. Multivariate Poisson regression was used to analyze the association between the mortality and violence victim-perpetrator relationships. RESULTS: Among the 23,508 violent injury patients enrolled from January 1, 2008, and December 31 of 2016, 19,879 (84.6%) were analyzed; 16 (0.08%) died at the ED. The types of perpetrators were the spouse (10.1%), family members (3.9%), acquaintances (43.4%), and strangers (42.7%). The mortality of the violence victims was increased significantly by the spouse (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 6.336; P=0.043) or family members (IRR, 11.089; P=0.016) compared to strangers. On the other hand, there was no difference between the acquaintances and strangers. CONCLUSION: The epidemiology and mortality of IPV were associated with the violence victim-perpetrator relationships. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and apply prevention programs considering these differences, particularly for intimidate/ family violence because of its high fatality.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Domestic Violence ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Epidemiology ; Friends ; Hand ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Spouses ; Violence

Background: Disease-modifying therapy is the standard treatment for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in remission. The primary objective of the current analysis was to assess the efficacy and safety of two teriflunomide doses (7 mg and 14 mg) in the subgroup of Chinese patients with relapsing MS included in the TOWER study. Methods: TOWER was a multicenter, multinational, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group (three groups), placebo-controlled study. This subgroup analysis includes 148 Chinese patients randomized to receive either teriflunomide 7 mg (n = 51), teriflunomide 14 mg (n = 43), or placebo (n = 54). Results: Of the 148 patients in the intent-to-treat population, adjusted annualized relapse rates were 0.63 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.44, 0.92) in the placebo group, 0.48 (95% CI: 0.33, 0.70) in the teriflunomide 7 mg group, and 0.18 (95% CI: 0.09, 0.36) in the teriflunomide 14 mg group; this corresponded to a significant relative risk reduction in the teriflunomide 14 mg group versus placebo (-71.2%, P = 0.0012). Teriflunomide 14 mg also tended to reduce 12-week confirmed disability worsening by 68.1% compared with placebo (hazard ratio: 0.319, P = 0.1194). There were no differences across all treatment groups in the proportion of patients with treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs; 72.2% in the placebo group, 74.5% in the teriflunomide 7 mg group, and 69.8% in the teriflunomide 14 mg group); corresponding proportions for serious adverse events were 11.1%, 3.9%, and 11.6%, respectively. The most frequently reported TEAEs with teriflunomide versus placebo were neutropenia, increased alanine aminotransferase, and hair thinning. Conclusions: Teriflunomide was as effective and safe in the Chinese subpopulation as it was in the overall population of patients in the TOWER trial. Teriflunomide has the potential to meet unmet medical needs for MS patients in China. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00751881; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00751881?term=NCT00751881&rank=1.
China ; Crotonates ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Multicenter Studies as Topic ; Multiple Sclerosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Toluidines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

Objective:To study the relationship between apoptosis and the pORF5 protein of Chlamydia trachomatis,and further to explore its molecular mechanisms,which could lay a foundation for chlamydial pathogenic mechanisms.Methods:pGEX-6p/pORF5 recombinant expression vector was transformed to XL1-blue E.Coli to express GST-pORF5 fusion protein,and GST-pORF5 fusion protein was purified with Glutathione Sepharose 4B Beads,and cleaved to get pORF5 protein without GST tag by PreScission protease.The pORF5 protein was used to stimulate HeLa cells at different concentrations,then Western blot was used to evaluate the ex-pression of Bax,Bcl-2 and phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt at different time points,Hoechst staining and Flow cytometry were applied to measure the apoptosis of HeLa cells.Before treated with pORF5 protein for 24 h,HeLa cells were pretreated with PI3K inhibitor LY294002 for 1 h,the expression of Bax,Bcl-2 and the phosphorylation of Akt were evaluated by Western blot,apoptosis rates were also determined.Results:The pORF5 protein changed the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 in dose-and time-dependent manners,pORF5 increased the expression of Bcl-2 and decreased the expression of Bax at the concentration of 10 μg/ml,and there was obvious change at concentration of 15 μg/ml for 24 h.The apoptosis rates of pORF5 treated group were reduced by 27.3% and 8.4% respectively when compared with TNF-α treated group(P<0.01) and untreated group (P<0.05).Akt was phosphorylated after stimulated with pORF5 protein for 15 min,and reached its peak at 30 min.PI3K/Akt inhibitor led to the decrease of the expression of Bcl-2 and phosphorylation of Akt and increase of the expression of Bax,furthermore,PI3K/Akt inhibitor reversed pORF5-mediated anti-apoptosis, the apoptosis rate in LY294002 treated group was increased by 13.0%,when compared with the control group(P<0.01).Conclusion:pORF5 protein could inhibit apoptosis through activating PI3K/Akt signal pathway by induction of Bcl-2 and suppression of Bax.