Adult ; Airway Obstruction ; etiology ; Cervical Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tracheostomy ; Wounds, Gunshot ; complications ; diagnostic imaging

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the effect of exopolysaccharide (EPS) from Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum ATCC 27919 in Caco-2 cells on apoptotic and autophagic pathways. Methodology and results: Cell viability was examined by MTS assay and it showed a significant decrease in Caco-2 cells after exposure to EPS. Microscopy imaging and morphological analyses demonstrated that EPS-exposed Caco-2 cells exhibited the main morphological characteristics of apoptosis. EPS-exposed cells showed early apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase in the cell cycle and dead cell assays. qPCR suggested that mRNA expression of substantial apoptotic markers such as cleaved Caspase-3, BAX and PARP-1 were significantly increased in EPS-exposed cells. The autophagy event was demonstrated in EPS-exposed cells by the contrary mRNA expression of Beclin-1 and Bcl-2 and the detection of autophagic LC3-II protein at 24 h exposure. GRP78 mRNA expression was also increased in EPS-exposed cells, indicating the occurrence of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Autophagy activity in EPS-exposed Caco-2 cells preceded apoptosis, suggesting it was a cytoprotective response against ER stress. Research findings set the foundation for therapeutic CRC treatments and provide insight into its regulatory processes.

ABO blood groups have been associated to increased susceptibility in allergic diseases, including asthma and atopic dermatitis. Although few studies demonstrated the association of ABO blood groups with allergic rhinitis, the evidences are still generally scarce and involved certain population. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association of ABO blood groups and allergic rhinitis in the Malaysian population. Further analysis was conducted to investigate the association between ABO blood groups and specific allergens, such as house dust mites, in patients with allergic rhinitis. A total of 163 patients with allergic rhinitis and 163 controls were recruited from AMDI, USM, Penang and HUSM, Kelantan. Blood samples were collected from both groups, and ABO phenotypes were identified using the tube method. The Pearson Chi-square test was employed to determine the association. Statistical significance was set for an alpha error of 5% (p-value < 0.05). O blood was identified as the most common blood group. However, no significant associations of ABO blood groups were observed in the allergic rhinitis patients. The result was also not significant with the O blood group being the highest prevalence and the AB blood group being the least prevalence to house dust mites allergy. This study provides beneficial information for future studies on the predictive role of blood groups in clinical practices. In our study, most of the participants recruited were Malays which might cause genetic bias. Therefore, employing a multi-centered and multiracial approach with larger sample size is recommended for future research.
Rhinitis, Allergic