Background: The purpose of this study is to analyze whether there is a change in patterns of medical use among those likely to be converted their health insurance qualifications when the family support rule is alleviated. There is no empirical analysis that converting health insurance qualification will affect the increase in medical use. Methods: For analysis, data were extracted from the national health insurance eligibility and medical care database. To identify analysis targets similar to that of medical aids’ characteristics among health insurance coverage, we compared income, property level, and medical use patterns through basic statistical analysis and used a difference-in-difference (DID) analysis to estimate the net effect of changes in medical use following the change of qualifications. Results: The main results are as follows. The results show that those who are under the 5% income group (1st income group) of health insurance coverage are the most similar to the medical aids group. DID analysis shows that changes in the medical use of people who maintain their national insurance qualification and who are not. As a results, the number of hospitalized days of converting group was reduced by 3.5 days while outpatient days were increased by 1.8 days. Conclusion As a result, there was not much difference in the patterns of medical use for the under 5% income group who are likely to be eligible for expanded medical aids when the family support rule is alleviated. In addition, more than 30% of them are in arrears with their health insurance premiums, causing inconvenience in using medical services. These findings suggest the need of abolishing the criteria obligated to support family, and great efforts should be made to contribute to non-paid poor and remove their medical blind spot.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Brain senescence causes cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration. It has also been demonstrated that curcumin (Cur) and hesperetin (Hes), both antioxidant polyphenolic compounds, mediate anti-aging and neuroprotective effects. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate whether Cur, Hes, and/or their combination exert anti-aging effects in D-galactose (Dg)-induced aged neuronal cells and rats.MATERIALS/METHODS: SH-SY5Y cells differentiated in response to retinoic acid were treated with Cur (1 μM), Hes (1 μM), or a combination of both, followed by 300 mM Dg.Neuronal loss was subsequently evaluated by measuring average neurite length and analyzing expression of β-tubulin III, phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases, and neurofilament heavy polypeptide. Cellular senescence and related proteins, p16 and p21, were also investigated, including their regulation of antioxidant enzymes. In vivo, brain aging was induced by injecting 250 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) Dg. The effects of supplementing this model with 50 mg/kg b.w. Cur, 50 mg/kg b.w. Hes, or a combination of both for 3 months were subsequently evaluated. Brain aging was examined with a step-through passive avoidance test and apoptosis markers were analyzed in brain cortex tissues. RESULTS: Cur, Hes, and their combination improved neuron length and cellular senescence by decreasing the number of β-gal stained cells, down-regulated expression of p16 and p21, and up-regulated expression of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase 1, glutathione peroxidase 1, and catalase. Administration of Cur, Hes, or their combination also tended to ameliorate cognitive impairment and suppress apoptosis in the cerebral cortex by downregulating Bax and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase expression and increasing Bcl-2 expression. CONCLUSIONS Cur and Hes appear to attenuate Dg-induced brain aging via regulation of antioxidant enzymes and apoptosis. These results suggest that Cur and Hes may mediate neuroprotective effects in the aging process, and further study of these antioxidant polyphenolic compounds is warranted.

BACKGROUND: Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) is a degenerative disease affecting the cartilage and subchondral bone, leading to temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction. The complex nature of TMJOA warrants effective alternative treatments, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown promise in regenerative therapies. The aim of this study is twofold: firstly, to ascertain the optimal interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-primed MSC cell line for TMJOA treatment, and secondly, to comprehensively evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of IFN-γ-primed mesenchymal stem cells derived from the human umbilical cord matrix in a rat model of TMJOA. METHODS: We analyzed changes in the expression of several key genes associated with OA protection in MSC-secreted compounds. Following this, we performed co-culture experiments using a transwell system to predict gene expression changes in primed MSCs in the TMJOA environment. Subsequently, we investigated the efficacy of the selected IFN-γ-primed human umbilical cord matrix-derived MSCs (hUCM-MSCs) for TMJOA treatment in a rat model. RESULTS: IFN-γ-primed MSCs exhibited enhanced expression of IDO, TSG-6, and FGF-2. Moreover, co-culturing with rat OA chondrocytes induced a decrease in pro-inflammatory and extracellular matrix degradation factors. In the rat TMJOA model, IFN-γ-primed MSCs with elevated IDO1, TSG-6, and FGF2 expression exhibited robust anti-inflammatory and therapeutic capacities, promoting the improvement of the inflammatory environment and cartilage regeneration. CONCLUSION These findings underscore the importance of prioritizing the mitigation of the inflammatory milieu in TMJOA treatment and highlight IFN-γ-primed MSCs secreting these three factors as a promising, comprehensive therapeutic strategy.

Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) have emerged as potential regulators of macrophage function. We have investigated mechanisms of SOCS3 action on type 2 macrophage (M2) differentiation induced by glucocorticoid using human monocytic cell lines and mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages. Treatment of THP1 monocytic cells with dexamethasone (Dex) induced ROS generation and M2 polarization promoting IL-10 and TGF-β production, while suppressing IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 production. SOCS3 over-expression reduced, whereas SOCS3 ablation enhanced IL-10 and TGF-β induction with concomitant regulation of ROS. As a mediator of M2 differentiation, glucocorticoidinduced leucine zipper (GILZ) was down-regulated by SOCS3 and up-regulated by shSOCS3. The induction of GILZ and IL-10 by Dex was dependent on ROS and p38 MAPK activity. Importantly, GILZ ablation led to the inhibition of ROS generation and anti-inflammatory cytokine induction by Dex. Moreover, GILZ knock-down negated the up-regulation of IL-10 production induced by shSOCS3 transduction. Our data suggest that SOCS3 targets ROS- and p38-dependent GILZ expression to suppress Dex-induced M2 polarization.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and has a high recurrence rate, which is associated with cancer stem cells (CSCs).β-carotene (BC) possesses antioxidant activity and several anticancer mechanisms. However, no investigation has examined its effect on colon cancer stemness.MATERIALS/METHODS: CD133 + CD44 + HCT116 and CD133+ CD44+ HT-29 cells were isolated and analyzed their self-renewal capacity by clonogenic and sphere formation assays.Expressions of several CSCs markers and Wnt/β-catenin signaling were examined. In addition, CD133+ CD44+ HCT116 cells were subcutaneously injected in xenograft mice and analyzed the effect of BC on tumor formation, tumor volume, and CSCs markers in tumors. RESULTS: BC inhibited self-renewal capacity and CSC markers, including CD44, CD133, ALDH1A1, NOTCH1, Sox2, and β-catenin in vitro. The effects of BC on CSC markers were confirmed in primary cells isolated from human CRC tumors. BC supplementation decreased the number and size of tumors and delayed the tumor-onset time in xenograft mice injected with CD133+ CD44+ HCT116 cells. The inhibitory effect of BC on CSC markers and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in tumors was confirmed in vivo as well. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that BC may be a potential therapeutic agent for colon cancer by targeting colon CSCs.

Objective: This research measures the regional GMV (rGMV) of the cerebellum, attention, Executive Function (EF) and we aimed to identify their correlation and sex differences in children and adolescents. Methods: Subjects comprised 114 children (male = 62, female = 52, 12.44 ± 2.99 years old) from South Korea. Participants were divided into three groups by age (age 6−9, 10−13, and 14−17). The Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), and Advanced Test of Attention (ATA) were used to estimate executive function. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images were analyzed with Regional Voxel-Based Morphometry Analysis. Results: The correlations between cerebellar rGMV and SCWT, WCST, and ATA subcategories showed difference by age and sex. In 6−9 age group, girls showed more overall correlations with cerebellar regions than boys, in WCST Categories Completed and ATA results. In age 10−13 group, more regions of cerebellum corresponded to SCWT subcategories in girls. Nevertheless, more correlation between cerebellar rGMV, WCST subcategories and some ATA subtests were observed in boys in the same age group. In the adolescent group, aged 14−17, boys showed more correlation with cerebellar rGMV, while girls showed little correlation. Conclusion This study highlights that sex-different cerebellum maturation in adolescence might be correlated with EF and attention. These results provides evidence that cerebellum modulates higher cognitive functioning during child development.

Background: Spinal anesthesia-induced hypotension (SAH) frequently occurs in older patients, many of whom have mild left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction, often asymptomatic at rest. This study investigated the association between preoperative echocardiographic measurements and SAH in older patients with mild LV diastolic dysfunction. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study using data from electronic medical records. The patients ≥ 65 years old who underwent spinal anesthesia for urologic surgery between January 2016 and December 2017 and whose preoperative echocardiography within 6 months before surgery revealed grade I LV diastolic dysfunction were recruited. SAH was investigated using the anesthesia records. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed. Results: A total of 163 patients were analyzed. SAH and significant SAH developed in 55 (33.7%) patients. The mitral inflow E velocity was an independent risk factor for SAH (odds ratio [OR], 0.886; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.845–0.929; P < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve for mitral inflow E velocity to predict SAH was 0.819 (95% CI, 0.752–0.875; P < 0.001). If mitral inflow E velocity was ≤ 60 cm/s, SAH was predicted with a sensitivity of 83.6% and specificity of 70.4%. Conclusions The preoperative mitral inflow E velocity demonstrated the greatest predictability of SAH in older patients with mild LV diastolic dysfunction. This may assist in identifying patients at high risk of SAH and guiding preventive strategies in the future.