Objective: To characterize age-related motor, olfactory, and auditory changes in 5×FAD mice and assess associated AD pathologies and neuroinflammation in relevant brain regions. Methods: 5×FAD and control mice were tested at 3, 6, and 12 months. Locomotor activity and motor coordination were assessed using the open field and rotarod tests, respectively. Olfactory and auditory performance were evaluated using the buried food test and the acoustic startle response test, respectively. Amyloid-β pathology and glial activation were examined in relevant nervous system components using western blot and immunohistochemistry analyses. Results: 5×FAD mice showed no differences in open-field locomotion at any age, but exhibited a significantly greater passive clinging duration at 12 months compared to wild-type controls (p < 0.001). In the buried food test, olfactory latency was significantly prolonged in 5×FAD mice at 6 months (p = 0.035) and 12 months (p < 0.001). Acoustic startle amplitude was significantly reduced at 6 months (p = 0.030) and 12 months (p = 0.007). Amyloid-β and p-Tau accumulation and glial activation were elevated in the olfactory bulb and auditory cortex in an age-dependent manner. Conclusions and Relevance: This study provides an age-related behavioral and pathological characterization of olfactory and auditory impairments in the 5×FAD mouse model, with motor measures included as complementary assessments. Our findings broaden the spectrum of functional deficits associated with the AD pathology in this model.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disease that culminates in respiratory failure and death due to irreversible scarring of the distal lung. While initially considered a chronic inflammatory disorder, the aberrant function of the alveolar epithelium is now acknowledged as playing a central role in the pathophysiology of IPF. This study aimed to investigate the regenerative capacity of alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells using IPF-derived alveolar organoids and to examine the effects of disease progression on this capacity. Methods: Lung tissues from three pneumothorax patients and six IPF patients (early and advanced stages) were obtained through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and lung transplantation. HTII-280+ cells were isolated from CD31-CD45-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)+ cells in the distal lungs of IPF and pneumothorax patients using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and resuspended in 48-well plates to establish IPF-derived alveolar organoids. Immunostaining was used to verify the presence of AT2 cells. Results: FACS sorting yielded approximately 1% of AT2 cells in early IPF tissue, and the number decreased as the disease progressed, in contrast to 2.7% in pneumothorax. Additionally, the cultured organoids in the IPF groups were smaller and less numerous compared to those from pneumothorax patients. The colony forming efficiency decreased as the disease advanced. Immunostaining results showed that the IPF organoids expressed less surfactant protein C (SFTPC) compared to the pneumothorax group and contained keratin 5+ (KRT5+) cells. Conclusion This study confirmed that the regenerative capacity of AT2 cells in IPF decreases as the disease progresses, with IPF-derived AT2 cells inherently exhibiting functional abnormalities and altered differentiation plasticity.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disease that culminates in respiratory failure and death due to irreversible scarring of the distal lung. While initially considered a chronic inflammatory disorder, the aberrant function of the alveolar epithelium is now acknowledged as playing a central role in the pathophysiology of IPF. This study aimed to investigate the regenerative capacity of alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells using IPF-derived alveolar organoids and to examine the effects of disease progression on this capacity. Methods: Lung tissues from three pneumothorax patients and six IPF patients (early and advanced stages) were obtained through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and lung transplantation. HTII-280+ cells were isolated from CD31-CD45-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)+ cells in the distal lungs of IPF and pneumothorax patients using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and resuspended in 48-well plates to establish IPF-derived alveolar organoids. Immunostaining was used to verify the presence of AT2 cells. Results: FACS sorting yielded approximately 1% of AT2 cells in early IPF tissue, and the number decreased as the disease progressed, in contrast to 2.7% in pneumothorax. Additionally, the cultured organoids in the IPF groups were smaller and less numerous compared to those from pneumothorax patients. The colony forming efficiency decreased as the disease advanced. Immunostaining results showed that the IPF organoids expressed less surfactant protein C (SFTPC) compared to the pneumothorax group and contained keratin 5+ (KRT5+) cells. Conclusion This study confirmed that the regenerative capacity of AT2 cells in IPF decreases as the disease progresses, with IPF-derived AT2 cells inherently exhibiting functional abnormalities and altered differentiation plasticity.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disease that culminates in respiratory failure and death due to irreversible scarring of the distal lung. While initially considered a chronic inflammatory disorder, the aberrant function of the alveolar epithelium is now acknowledged as playing a central role in the pathophysiology of IPF. This study aimed to investigate the regenerative capacity of alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells using IPF-derived alveolar organoids and to examine the effects of disease progression on this capacity. Methods: Lung tissues from three pneumothorax patients and six IPF patients (early and advanced stages) were obtained through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and lung transplantation. HTII-280+ cells were isolated from CD31-CD45-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)+ cells in the distal lungs of IPF and pneumothorax patients using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and resuspended in 48-well plates to establish IPF-derived alveolar organoids. Immunostaining was used to verify the presence of AT2 cells. Results: FACS sorting yielded approximately 1% of AT2 cells in early IPF tissue, and the number decreased as the disease progressed, in contrast to 2.7% in pneumothorax. Additionally, the cultured organoids in the IPF groups were smaller and less numerous compared to those from pneumothorax patients. The colony forming efficiency decreased as the disease advanced. Immunostaining results showed that the IPF organoids expressed less surfactant protein C (SFTPC) compared to the pneumothorax group and contained keratin 5+ (KRT5+) cells. Conclusion This study confirmed that the regenerative capacity of AT2 cells in IPF decreases as the disease progresses, with IPF-derived AT2 cells inherently exhibiting functional abnormalities and altered differentiation plasticity.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disease that culminates in respiratory failure and death due to irreversible scarring of the distal lung. While initially considered a chronic inflammatory disorder, the aberrant function of the alveolar epithelium is now acknowledged as playing a central role in the pathophysiology of IPF. This study aimed to investigate the regenerative capacity of alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells using IPF-derived alveolar organoids and to examine the effects of disease progression on this capacity. Methods: Lung tissues from three pneumothorax patients and six IPF patients (early and advanced stages) were obtained through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and lung transplantation. HTII-280+ cells were isolated from CD31-CD45-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)+ cells in the distal lungs of IPF and pneumothorax patients using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and resuspended in 48-well plates to establish IPF-derived alveolar organoids. Immunostaining was used to verify the presence of AT2 cells. Results: FACS sorting yielded approximately 1% of AT2 cells in early IPF tissue, and the number decreased as the disease progressed, in contrast to 2.7% in pneumothorax. Additionally, the cultured organoids in the IPF groups were smaller and less numerous compared to those from pneumothorax patients. The colony forming efficiency decreased as the disease advanced. Immunostaining results showed that the IPF organoids expressed less surfactant protein C (SFTPC) compared to the pneumothorax group and contained keratin 5+ (KRT5+) cells. Conclusion This study confirmed that the regenerative capacity of AT2 cells in IPF decreases as the disease progresses, with IPF-derived AT2 cells inherently exhibiting functional abnormalities and altered differentiation plasticity.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disease that culminates in respiratory failure and death due to irreversible scarring of the distal lung. While initially considered a chronic inflammatory disorder, the aberrant function of the alveolar epithelium is now acknowledged as playing a central role in the pathophysiology of IPF. This study aimed to investigate the regenerative capacity of alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells using IPF-derived alveolar organoids and to examine the effects of disease progression on this capacity. Methods: Lung tissues from three pneumothorax patients and six IPF patients (early and advanced stages) were obtained through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and lung transplantation. HTII-280+ cells were isolated from CD31-CD45-epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM)+ cells in the distal lungs of IPF and pneumothorax patients using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and resuspended in 48-well plates to establish IPF-derived alveolar organoids. Immunostaining was used to verify the presence of AT2 cells. Results: FACS sorting yielded approximately 1% of AT2 cells in early IPF tissue, and the number decreased as the disease progressed, in contrast to 2.7% in pneumothorax. Additionally, the cultured organoids in the IPF groups were smaller and less numerous compared to those from pneumothorax patients. The colony forming efficiency decreased as the disease advanced. Immunostaining results showed that the IPF organoids expressed less surfactant protein C (SFTPC) compared to the pneumothorax group and contained keratin 5+ (KRT5+) cells. Conclusion This study confirmed that the regenerative capacity of AT2 cells in IPF decreases as the disease progresses, with IPF-derived AT2 cells inherently exhibiting functional abnormalities and altered differentiation plasticity.

Hydrocephalus, characterized by abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulation, is commonly treated with ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS). Despite its efficacy, VPS is prone to complications, with distal catheter occlusion being a frequent cause of shunt malfunction. This study presents our experience using laparoscopy to manage distal catheter malfunctions in two VPS patients. Postoperative outcomes demonstrated symptom resolution and normalization of imaging parameters without complications. Our findings suggest that laparoscopy is a minimally invasive, effective, and cost-efficient alternative for addressing distal shunt malfunctions, complementing current neurosurgical practices. Additionally, we review the literature on the use of endoscopy and laparoscopy in VPS management and propose an applicable protocol.

The objective of standard guideline for utilization of human lung organoids is to provide the basic guidelines required for the manufacture, culture, and quality control of the lung organoids for use in non-clinical efficacy and inhalation toxicity assessments of the respiratory system. As a first step towards the utilization of human lung organoids, the current guideline provides basic, minimal standards that can promote development of alternative testing methods, and can be referenced not only for research, clinical, or commercial uses, but also by experts and researchers at regulatory institutions when assessing safety and efficacy.

Objective: Urolithiasis is obstructive uropathy that can progress to acute pyelonephritis by retrograde urinary tract infection. This study aimed to assess the clinical features of acute pyelonephritis with urolithiasis based on the computed tomography (CT) findings. Methods: The medical records of patients who visited the emergency room were reviewed retrospectively from January 1, 2018, to January 31, 2021. This study investigated 109 patients (over 14 years old) diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis by kidney computed tomography. In the patient with acute pyelonephritis with urolithiasis, there were some findings like wedge-shaped hypodensity, kidney enlargement, perinephric fat stranding, pelvicalyceal wall thickness and enhancement, Gerota’s fascia thickness, and delayed excretion of contrast. The subjects were classified into two groups according to the number of CT findings: less than three CT findings group (group 1) and three or more CT findings group (group 2). Results: A higher incidence of hypotension, tachycardia, and sepsis was observed in group 2 than in group 1 (all P<0.05). Furthermore, the high sensitivity C-reactive protein level was also significantly higher than group 1. The number and location of urinary stones had no significant relationship with the CT findings. Conclusion The characteristics of acute pyelonephritis with urolithiasis differ for each group. A significant correlation was observed between the number of CT findings and the prevalence of sepsis. Predicting the patients’ clinical characteristics and the presence of sepsis will be helpful in treatment.

Purpose: In this study, we determined whether there were significant differences in procedure time, radiation dose, fluoroscopy time, and total contrast media dose when unruptured wideneck bifurcation aneurysms (WNBAs) were treated with the Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device and stent-assisted coil (SAC) embolization. Materials and Methods: The WEB device and SAC embolization (14:17) were used to treat 31 cases of internal carotid artery bifurcation, anterior communicating artery, middle cerebral artery bifurcation, and basilar bifurcation aneurysms between August 2021 and December 2022. The procedure time, radiation dose, fluoroscopy time, and total contrast medium dose between the 2 treatment groups were compared and analyzed. In the WEB device group, the results between operators were compared, and the follow-up radiologic outcomes were investigated. Results: The procedure and fluoroscopy times were significantly shorter in the WEB device group. Radiation and total contrast media dose were also significantly smaller in the WEB device, but there was no significant difference in results between operators. The follow-up radiological outcome showed adequate occlusion in 83.3% (10/12) of cases. Conclusion The WEB device can be used as an alternative treatment method among the available endovascular treatment methods for WNBAs to reduce radiation exposure and the dose of contrast media when used adequately with appropriate indications.