Olfactory impairment is the most common clinical manifestation among the elderly, and its prevalence increases sharply with age. Notably, growing evidence has shown that olfactory dysfunction is the first sign of neurodegeneration, indicating the importance of olfactory assessment as an early marker in the diagnosis of neurological disorders. In this review, we describe the nature of olfactory dysfunction and the advantage of using animal models in olfaction study, and we include a brief introduction to olfactory behavior tests widely used in this field. The contribution of microglia in the neurodegenerative processes including olfactory impairment is then discussed to provide a comprehensive description of the physiopathological role of interactions between neurons and microglia within the olfactory system.
Aged ; Behavior Rating Scale ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Microglia ; Models, Animal ; Nervous System Diseases ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neurons ; Prevalence ; Smell

Tissue-specific adult stem cells are pivotal in maintaining tissue homeostasis, especially in the rapidly renewing intestinal epithelium. At the heart of this process are leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5-expressing crypt base columnar cells (CBCs) that differentiate into various intestinal epithelial cells. However, while these CBCs are vital for tissue turnover, they are vulnerable to cytotoxic agents. Recent advances indicate that alternative stem cell sources drive the epithelial regeneration post-injury. Techniques like lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing, combined with in vitro organoid systems, highlight the remarkable cellular adaptability of the intestinal epithelium during repair. These regenerative responses are mediated by the reactivation of conserved stem cells, predominantly quiescent stem cells and revival stem cells. With focus on these cells, this review unpacks underlying mechanisms governing intestinal regeneration and explores their potential clinical applications.

Tissue-specific adult stem cells are pivotal in maintaining tissue homeostasis, especially in the rapidly renewing intestinal epithelium. At the heart of this process are leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5-expressing crypt base columnar cells (CBCs) that differentiate into various intestinal epithelial cells. However, while these CBCs are vital for tissue turnover, they are vulnerable to cytotoxic agents. Recent advances indicate that alternative stem cell sources drive the epithelial regeneration post-injury. Techniques like lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing, combined with in vitro organoid systems, highlight the remarkable cellular adaptability of the intestinal epithelium during repair. These regenerative responses are mediated by the reactivation of conserved stem cells, predominantly quiescent stem cells and revival stem cells. With focus on these cells, this review unpacks underlying mechanisms governing intestinal regeneration and explores their potential clinical applications.

Tissue-specific adult stem cells are pivotal in maintaining tissue homeostasis, especially in the rapidly renewing intestinal epithelium. At the heart of this process are leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5-expressing crypt base columnar cells (CBCs) that differentiate into various intestinal epithelial cells. However, while these CBCs are vital for tissue turnover, they are vulnerable to cytotoxic agents. Recent advances indicate that alternative stem cell sources drive the epithelial regeneration post-injury. Techniques like lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing, combined with in vitro organoid systems, highlight the remarkable cellular adaptability of the intestinal epithelium during repair. These regenerative responses are mediated by the reactivation of conserved stem cells, predominantly quiescent stem cells and revival stem cells. With focus on these cells, this review unpacks underlying mechanisms governing intestinal regeneration and explores their potential clinical applications.

Tissue-specific adult stem cells are pivotal in maintaining tissue homeostasis, especially in the rapidly renewing intestinal epithelium. At the heart of this process are leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5-expressing crypt base columnar cells (CBCs) that differentiate into various intestinal epithelial cells. However, while these CBCs are vital for tissue turnover, they are vulnerable to cytotoxic agents. Recent advances indicate that alternative stem cell sources drive the epithelial regeneration post-injury. Techniques like lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing, combined with in vitro organoid systems, highlight the remarkable cellular adaptability of the intestinal epithelium during repair. These regenerative responses are mediated by the reactivation of conserved stem cells, predominantly quiescent stem cells and revival stem cells. With focus on these cells, this review unpacks underlying mechanisms governing intestinal regeneration and explores their potential clinical applications.

The objective of this study is to investigate the clinical and demographic factors that influence the quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This is a crosssectional observational study of 47 patients in 2 hospitals with PD. All participants were asked to complete a disease-specific quality of life (QoL) questionnaire (PDQ-39). We gave a structured questionnaire interview and did a complete neurological examination on the same day. Additionally, we measured depression and dependency with the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-SF) and the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI).The PDQ-39 had a significant relationship with each motor part of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, the Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), the GDS-SF, and the K-MBI (p < 0.05). The factors that independently contributed to the PDQ-39 scores were K-MMSE, GDS-SF, and K-MBI (p < 0.05). Factors having the greatest influence on the PDQ-39 were K-MBI, K-MMSE, and GDS-SF in that order. In addition, the mobility item in the K-MBI was independently a significant relating factor in the PDQ-39 (p < 0.05). These results demonstrated that dependency, especially with the mobility issue, was the greatest influence on the QoL in patients with PD.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is oncogenic and can transform B cells from a benign to a malignant phenotype. EBV infection is also associated with lymphoid interstitial pneumonia (LIP). Here, we report the case of a 14-year-old boy who was diagnosed with a latent EBV infection and underlying LIP, without any associated immunodeficiency. He had been EBV-seropositive for 8 years. The first clinical presentations were chronic respiratory symptoms and recurrent pneumonia. The symptoms worsened in the following 2 years. The results of in situ hybridization were positive for EBV, which led to a diagnosis of LIP. The diagnosis was confirmed by the results of a thoracoscopic lung biopsy. The EBV titer of the bronchoalveolar lavage specimens obtained after acyclovir treatment was found to be fluctuating. The patient had latent EBV infection for 8 years, until presented at the hospital with intermittent abdominal pain and distension. Physical examination and pelvic computed tomography revealed a large mesenteric mass. A biopsy of the excised mass led to a diagnosis of Burkitt's lymphoma (BL). The patient received combination chemotherapy for 4 months, consisting of vincristine, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisolone. He is now tumor-free, with the LIP under control, and is being followed-up at the outpatient clinic. This is the first report of a Korean case of chronic latent EBV infection that developed into LIP and BL in a nonimmunocompromised child.
Abdominal Pain ; Acyclovir ; Adolescent ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; B-Lymphocytes ; Biopsy ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Burkitt Lymphoma ; Child ; Cyclophosphamide ; Diagnosis ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Lip ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders* ; Male ; Methotrexate ; Phenotype ; Physical Examination ; Pneumonia ; Prednisolone ; Vincristine

No abstract available.
Humans ; Siblings*

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by selective death of motor neurons in the central nervous system. The main cause of the disease remains elusive, but several mutations have been associated with the disease process. In particular, mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) protein causes oxidative stress by activating glia cells and contributes to motor neuron degeneration. KCHO-1, a novel herbal combination compound, contains 30% ethanol and the extracts of nine herbs that have been commonly used in traditional medicine to prevent fatigue or inflammation. In this study, we investigated whether KCHO-1 administration could reduce oxidative stress in an ALS model. KCHO-1 administered to ALS model mice improved motor function and delayed disease onset. Furthermore, KCHO-1 administration reduced oxidative stress through gp91(phox) and the MAPK pathway in both classically activated microglia and the spinal cord of hSOD1(G93A) transgenic mice. The results suggest that KCHO-1 can function as an effective therapeutic agent for ALS by reducing oxidative stress.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis* ; Animals* ; Central Nervous System ; Ethanol ; Fatigue ; Inflammation ; Medicine, Traditional ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Microglia ; Models, Animal* ; Motor Neurons ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Neuroglia ; Oxidative Stress* ; Spinal Cord ; Superoxide Dismutase

Emerging evidences have reported that periodontitis can be a risk factor for the pathogenesis of various systemic diseases. Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), one of the crucial pathogens in chronic periodontitis, has been spotlighted as a potential cause for the promotion and acceleration of periodontitis-associated systemic disorders. To investigate the association between Pg and intestinal disease or homeostasis, we treated Pg-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in murine colitis model or intestinal organoid, respectively. Pg-derived LPS (Pg LPS) was administrated into chemically induced murine colitis model and disease symptoms were monitored compared with the infusion of LPS derived from E. coli (Ec LPS). Organoids isolated and cultured from mouse small intestine were treated with Pg or Ec LPS and further analyzed for the generation and composition of organoids. In vivo observations demonstrated that both Pg and Ec LPS exerted slight protective effects against murine colitis. Pg LPS did not affect the generation and growth of intestinal epithelial organoids. Among subtypes of epithelial cells, markers for stem cells, goblet cells or Paneth cells were changed in response to Pg LPS. Taken together, these results indicate that Pg LPS leads to partial improvement in colitis and that its treatment does not significantly affect the self-organization of intestinal organoids but may regulate the epithelial composition.
Acceleration ; Animals ; Chronic Periodontitis ; Colitis ; Epithelial Cells ; Goblet Cells ; Homeostasis ; Intestinal Diseases ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Intestine, Small ; Mice ; Organoids ; Paneth Cells ; Periodontitis ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Porphyromonas ; Risk Factors ; Stem Cells