Coronavirus disease was first reported in December 2019, and the World Health Organization declared it as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The virus is known to attack various vital organs, including the respiratory system. Patients sometimes require positive pressure ventilation and tracheostomy. Because tracheostomy is a droplet-spreading procedure, medical staff should protect themselves against the risk of transmission of this contagious viral disease. In our case, we performed tracheostomy for a 70-year-old man with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who had required more oxygen with gradual weakness of respiratory muscle to maintain his arterial oxygen saturation. We focused on the risks of the medical staffs and patients, and minimized them at the same time using temporary balloon over-inflation, pre-operative adjustment of endotracheal tube position, and attachment of a transparent film dressing to the surgical field without stopping the ventilator while following routine safety measures. Fourteen days after the tracheostomy, all participating medical staff members were healthy and asymptomatic. The patient was discharged 105 days after the COVID-19 diagnosis.

OBJECTIVES: Lysosome is the cell-organelle which is commonly used as biomonitoring tool in environmental pollution. In this study, the lysosomal proteomic of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was analyzed for utilization in the detection of toxic substances in mine water samples. METHODS: This work informs the expression of lysosomal proteomic in yeast in response with toxic chemicals, such as sodium meta-arsenite and tetracycline, for screening specific biomarkers. After that, a recombinant yeast contained this biomarker were constructed for toxic detection in pure toxic chemicals and mine water samples. RESULTS: Each chemical had an optimal dose at which the fluorescent protein intensity reached the peak. In the case of water samples, the yeast showed the response with sample 1, 3, 4, and 5; whereas there is no response with sample 2, 6, and 7. CONCLUSIONS: The recombinant yeast showed a high ability of toxic detection in response with several chemicals such as heavy metals and pharmaceuticals. In the case of mine water samples, the response varied depending on the sample content.
Environmental Monitoring ; Environmental Pollution ; Lysosomes ; Mass Screening ; Metals, Heavy ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae* ; Sodium ; Tetracycline ; Water* ; Yeasts ; Biomarkers

Direct carotid cavernous fistula (CCF), which is an abnormal communication between the intracavernous carotid artery and the cavernous sinus, is a very rare condition that is generally associated with head trauma, intracavernous aneurysms, and certain connective-tissue diseases. The case of a patient with an infarction in the anterior choroidal artery territory is described herein. Cerebral angiography was performed during consecutive workups to investigate the discrepancy between the magnetic resonance angiography data. An unexpected direct CCF of the ipsilateral side of the infarction was found. It is possible that the CCF had influenced the development of the infarction in the anterior choroidal artery territory.
Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Carotid Arteries ; Cavernous Sinus ; Caves ; Cerebral Angiography ; Cerebral Infarction ; Choroid ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Fistula ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography

Direct carotid cavernous fistula (CCF), which is an abnormal communication between the intracavernous carotid artery and the cavernous sinus, is a very rare condition that is generally associated with head trauma, intracavernous aneurysms, and certain connective-tissue diseases. The case of a patient with an infarction in the anterior choroidal artery territory is described herein. Cerebral angiography was performed during consecutive workups to investigate the discrepancy between the magnetic resonance angiography data. An unexpected direct CCF of the ipsilateral side of the infarction was found. It is possible that the CCF had influenced the development of the infarction in the anterior choroidal artery territory.
Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Carotid Arteries ; Cavernous Sinus ; Caves ; Cerebral Angiography ; Cerebral Infarction ; Choroid ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Fistula ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether prunetin significantly affects tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced MUC5AC mucin gene expression, production, inhibitory kappa B (IkappaB) degradation and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) p65 translocation in human airway epithelial cells. METHODS: Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with prunetin for 30 minutes and then stimulated with TNF-alpha for 24 hours or the indicated periods. MUC5AC mucin gene expression and mucin protein production were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The effect of prunetin on TNF-alpha-induced degradation of IkappaB and translocation of NF-kappaB p65 was investigated by western blot analysis. RESULTS: We found that incubation of NCI-H292 cells with prunetin significantly inhibited mucin production and down-regulated the MUC5AC gene expression induced by TNF-alpha. Prunetin inhibited TNF-alpha-induced degradation of IkappaB and translocation of NF-kappaB p65. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that prunetin inhibits the NF-kappaB signaling pathway, which may explain its role in the inhibition of MUC5AC mucin gene expression and production regulated by the NF-kappaB signaling pathway.
Blotting, Western ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epithelial Cells* ; Gene Expression* ; Humans* ; Isoflavones ; Mucin 5AC ; Mucins* ; NF-kappa B* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND: It is valuable to find the potential activity of regulating the excessive mucin secretion by the compounds derived from various medicinal plants. We investigated whether aqueous extract of the root bark of Morus alba L. (AMA), kuwanon E, kuwanon G, mulberrofuran G, and morusin significantly affect the secretion and production of airway mucin using in vivo and in vitro experimental models. METHODS: Effect of AMA was examined on hypersecretion of airway mucin in sulfur dioxide-induced acute bronchitis in rats. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with ethanolic extract, kuwanon E, kuwanon G, mulberrofuran G, or morusin for 30 minutes and then stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 24 hours. The MUC5AC mucin secretion and production were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: AMA stimulated the secretion of airway mucin in sulfur dioxide-induced bronchitis rat model; aqueous extract, ethanolic extract, kuwanon E, kuwanon G, mulberrofuran G and morusin inhibited the production of MUC5AC mucin induced by PMA from NCI-H292 cells, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that extract of the root bark and the natural products derived from Morus alba L. can regulate the secretion and production of airway mucin and, at least in part, explains the folk use of extract of Morus alba L. as mucoregulators in diverse inflammatory pulmonary diseases.
Animals ; Biological Products* ; Bronchitis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Ethanol ; Lung Diseases ; Models, Animal ; Models, Theoretical ; Morus* ; Mucins* ; Plants, Medicinal ; Rats ; Sulfur

BACKGROUND: In this study, we investigated whether lobetyolin, lobetyol, and methyl linoleate derived from Codonopsis pilosula affect MUC5AC mucin secretion, production, and gene expression from airway epithelial cells. METHODS: Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with lobetyolin, lobetyol, or methyl linoleate for 30 minutes and then stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 24 hours. The MUC5AC mucin gene expression, and mucin protein production and secretion were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. RESULTS: Lobetyolin, lobetyol, and methyl linoleate inhibited the gene expression of MUC5AC mucin induced by PMA; lobetyolin did not affect PMA-induced MUC5AC mucin production. However, lobetyol and methyl linoleate inhibited the production of MUC5AC mucin; lobetyolin and lobetyol did not significantly affect PMA-induced MUC5AC mucin secretion from NCI-H292 cells. However, methyl linoleate decreased the MUC5AC mucin secretion. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that among the three compounds, methyl linoleate can regulate gene expression, production, and secretion of MUC5AC mucin by directly acting on the airway epithelial cells.
Codonopsis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epithelial Cells* ; Gene Expression* ; Linoleic Acid* ; Mucins* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether chrysin affected MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression induced by phorbol ester (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, PMA) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) from human airway epithelial cells. METHODS: Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with varying concentrations of chrysin for 30 minutes, and were then stimulated with PMA and EGF for 24 hours, respectively. MUC5AC mucin gene expression and mucin protein production were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Concentrations of 10microM and 100microM chrysin were found to inhibit the production of MUC5AC mucin protein induced by PMA; A concentration of 100microM chrysin also inhibited the production of MUC5AC mucin protein induced by EGF; 100microM chrysin inhibited the expression of MUC5AC mucin gene induced by PMA or EGF. The cytotoxicity of chrysin was checked by lactate dehydrogenase assay, and there was no cytotoxic effect observed for chrysin. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that chrysin can inhibit mucin gene expression and the production of mucin protein by directly acting on airway epithelial cells.
Epidermal Growth Factor ; Epithelial Cells ; Flavonoids ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Mucins ; Phorbols ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether wogonin and apigenin significantly affect the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway involved in MUC5AC mucin gene expression, and production from cultured airway epithelial cells; this was based on our previous report that apigenin and wogonin suppressed MUC5AC mucin gene expression and production from human airway epithelial cells. METHODS: Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with wogonin or apigenin for 15 minutes or 24 hours and then stimulated with epidermal growth factor (EGF) for 24 hours or the indicated periods. RESULTS: We found that incubation of NCI-H292 cells with wogonin or apigenin inhibited the phosphorylation of EGFR. The downstream signals of EGFR such as phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 were also inhibited by wogonin or apigenin. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that wogonin and apigenin inhibits EGFR signaling pathway, which may explain how they inhibit MUC5AC mucin gene expression and production induced by EGF.
Apigenin* ; Epidermal Growth Factor* ; Epithelial Cells* ; Gene Expression* ; Humans ; Mucins* ; Phosphorylation ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor*

A method of rapidly decaying livestock carcasses is sought through Corine glutamicum, and furthermore, lysosomes are used to remove toxic microorganisms from livestock carcasses. The landfill was constructed on a laboratory scale. Optimized growth conditions of C. glutamicum that could quickly decay livestock carcasses were determined. Lysosomes were extracted from egg whites and used to treat contaminated soil to confirm their antimicrobial activities. Condition of C. glutamicum was activated, regardless both anaerobic and aerobic conditions, soil exists and, to be close to the optimum conditions as possible temperatures, moisture content was about 1/10 of the culture. Lysosomes were found to be effective in clearing soil contamination. C. glutamicum can accelerate the decay of livestock carcasses. A combination of C. glutamicum and lysomes could be used to treat soil contamination caused by decomposition of livestock.
Burial ; Corynebacterium glutamicum ; Corynebacterium ; Egg White ; Livestock ; Lysosomes ; Methods ; Soil ; Waste Disposal Facilities