Background: When cells are damaged by nicotine, cellular senescence due to oxidative stress accelerates. In addition, stress-induced inflammatory response and cellular senescence cause the accumulation of damaged organelles in cells, and autophagy appears to remove them. Conversely, when autophagy is reduced, harmful cell components accumulate, and aging is accelerated. This study aimed to determine the association between nicotine-induced cellular senescence and autophagy expression patterns in human gingival fibroblasts. Methods: Cells were treated with various concentrations of nicotine (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 mM) and 10 nM rapamycin was added to 1 mM nicotine to investigate the relationship between autophagy and cellular senescence. Cell viability was confirmed using WST-8 and the degree of cellular senescence was measured by SA-β-gal staining. The expression of the inflammatory proteins (COX-2 and iNOS) and autophagy markers (LC3-II, p62, and Beclin-1) was analyzed by western blotting. Results: The cell viability tended to decrease in a concentration-dependent manner. COX-2 showed no concentration-dependent expression and iNOS increased in the 0.5 mM nicotine treated group. The degree of cellular senescence was the highest in the 1 mM nicotine treatment group. In the group treated with rapamycin and nicotine, the conversion ratio of LC3-II to LC3-I was the highest, that of p62 was the lowest, and the level of Beclin-1 proteins was significantly increased. Furthermore, the degree of cellular senescence was reduced in the group in which rapamycin was added to nicotine compared to that in the group treated with nicotine alone. Conclusion This study provides evidence that autophagy activated in an aging environment reduces cellular senescence to a certain some extent.

Background: The incidence of depression in middle-aged adults is increasing and has been affected by physiological changes and various sociodemographic factors. The present study aimed to examine the longitudinal relationship between depression and changes in the family developmental stage based on child independence in South Korean middle-aged adults living with children. Methods: This study included 1,593 people in the age group of 45-64 years who participated in the first survey of the Korean longitudinal study of aging in 2006. Participants did not have depression, lived with unmarried children, and responded to Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression 10 scale and child-related questions in the 7th survey (2018). The chi-squared test, t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare differences in depression according to general characteristics and family developmental stage. The generalized estimating equation model was used to longitudinally examine the effect of changes in the family developmental stage on the incidence of depression from the 1st to the 7th survey. Results: Changes in the family developmental stage based on child independence have a significant effect on the incidence of depression in middle-aged adults (P=0.000). In addition, in the generalized estimating equation model, the longitudinal association between changes in the family developmental stage and the incidence of depression was confirmed. Conclusions Therefore, confirming the independence of children as an important factor is essential in the management of depression in middle-aged adults.

Background: Endodontic sealers or their toxic components may become inflamed and lead to delayed wound healing when in direct contact with periapical tissues over an extended period. Moreover, an overfilled sealer can directly interact with adjacent tissues and may cause immediate necrosis or further resorption. Therefore, the treatment outcome conceivably depends on the endodontic sealer’s biocompatibility and osteogenic potential. This study aimed to evaluate the cell viability and osteogenic effects of four different sealers in osteoblastic cells. Methods: AH Plus (resin-based sealer), Pulp Canal Sealer EWT (zinc oxide-eugenol sealer), BioRoot RCS (calcium silicate-based sealer), and Well-Root ST (MTA-based calcium silicate sealer) were mixed strictly according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and dilutions of sealer extracts (1/2, 1/5 and 1/10) were determined. Cell viability was measured using the water-soluble tetrazolium-8 (WST-8) assay. Differentiation was assessed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and mineralized nodule formation by Alizarin Red S staining. Results: The cell viability of the extracts derived from the sealers excluding Well-Root ST was concentration dependent, with sealer extracts having the least viability at a 1/2 dilution. At sealer extract dilution of 1/10, the test groups showed the same survival rate as that control group, with the exception of BioRoot RCS. Among all experimental groups, BioRoot RCS showed the highest cell viability after 48 hours. The ALP activity was significantly higher in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthemore, all four materials promoted ALP activity and mineralized nodule formation compared to the control at 1/10 dilutions. Conclusion This is the first study to highlight the differences in biological activity of these four materials. These results suggest that the composition of root canal sealers appears to alter the form of biocompatibility and osteoblastic differentiation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is responsible for 10–20% of cerebral infarctions. Several mobile devices have been developed to screen for AF and studies of AF screening have been conducted in several countries to evaluate the applicability of these mobile devices. In this tradition, we conducted a community-based AF screening using an automated single-lead electrocardiogram (SL-ECG). This survey examined 2,422 participants in a community dementia screening program who were aged 60 years or older in the preliminary study, and 5,366 participants at 9 Senior Welfare Centers aged 60 years or older in the expanded study. AF screening was conducted using an automated SL-ECG (Kardia Mobile, AliveCor, Mountain View, CA, USA). AF was confirmed with a 12-lead electrocardiogram in subjects classified as having AF on the SL-ECG. In the preliminary study, of the 2,422 subjects, 124 had AF on the SL-ECG. The prevalence of AF was 3.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.4–3.8). The positive predictive value (PPV) of SL-ECG was 58.9% (95% CI: 50.1–67.1). Of the subjects diagnosed with AF, 65.8% (95% CI: 54.3–75.6) were newly diagnosed. In an expanded study, of the 5,366 subjects, 289 had AF on SL-ECG. The prevalence was 2.6% (95% CI: 2.2–3.1) and PPV of SL-ECG was 48.8% (95% CI: 43.1–54.5). In this community-based AF screening, we found that AF is underdiagnosed and undertreated. These results suggest that the early detection of AF using mobile devices is needed in Korea.

Gynandroblastoma is an extremely rare sex cord-stromal tumor with both female (granulosa cell tumor) and male (Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor) elements. Juvenile granulosa cell tumors are also very rare and are so named because they usually occur in children and adolescents. A 71-year-old woman with right upper quadrant abdominal pain visited our hospital. Pelvic computed tomography showed a large multilocular cystic mass, suspected to be of ovarian origin. We performed a total abdominal hysterectomy (total abdominal hysterectomy was performed) with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. A 13-cm multilocular cystic mass with serous fluid was observed in her right ovary. Upon microscopic examination, the solid component of the mass showed both Sertoli-Leydig cell and juvenile granulosa cell differentiation, which we diagnosed as gynandroblastoma. Gynandroblastoma with a juvenile granulosa cell tumor component is extremely rare and, until now, only six cases have been reported in the English literature. We report the first gynandroblastoma with a juvenile granulosa cell tumor component diagnosed in an elderly patient, along with a literature review.
Abdominal Pain ; Adolescent ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Granulosa Cell Tumor ; Granulosa Cells ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Male ; Ovary ; Postmenopause ; Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors

Primary polydipsia (PP) is marked by an increase in thirst, and most often presents in patients with psychiatric illnesses. Although uncommon in children, we experienced cases of PP in a 15-month-old boy and a 5-year-old girl. Both were admitted to the hospital with symptoms of polydipsia and polyuria that appeared 1–3 months before admission. Brain magnetic resonance imaging in both patients was normal. A water restriction test was performed after hospitalization and showed normal results. The symptoms improved after the parents were instructed to implement water-intake restriction for 2 weeks. Our report provides useful information for the treatment of PP in children.
Brain ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diabetes Insipidus ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Parents ; Polydipsia ; Polydipsia, Psychogenic ; Polyuria ; Thirst ; Water

BACKGROUND: Severe forefoot deformities, particularly those involving the dorsum of the foot, cause inconvenience in daily activities of living including moderate pain on the dorsal aspect of the contracted foot while walking and difficulty in wearing nonsupportive shoes due to toe contractures. This paper presents clinical results of reconstruction of severe forefoot deformity using the anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap. METHODS: Severe forefoot deformities were reconstructed using ALT flaps in 7 patients (8 cases) between March 2012 and December 2015. The mean contracture duration was 28.6 years. RESULTS: All the flaps survived completely. The size of the flaps ranged from 8 cm × 5 cm to 19 cm × 8 cm. The mean follow-up period was 10 months (range, 7 to 15 months). There was no specific complication at both the recipient and donor sites. There was one case where the toe contracture could not be completely treated after surgery. All of the patients were able to wear shoes and walk without pain. Also, the patients were highly satisfied with cosmetic results. CONCLUSIONS: The ALT flap may be considered ideal for the treatment of severe forefoot deformity.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Foot Deformities ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Shoes ; Thigh* ; Tissue Donors ; Toes ; Walking

The migration of dendritic cells (DCs) to secondary lymphoid organs depends on chemoattraction through the interaction of the chemokine receptors with chemokines. However, the mechanism of how lymphoid chemokines attract DCs to lymphoid organs remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate the mechanism of DC migration in response to the lymphoid chemokine CCL21. CCL21-mediated DC migration is controlled by the regulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPase 2 (SERCA2) expression rather than through the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases CCL21-exposed mature DCs (mDCs) exhibited decreased SERCA2 expression but not decreased phospholamban (PLB) or Hax-1 expression, which are known to be SERCA2-interacting proteins. In addition, CCL21 did not affect the mRNA levels of SERCA2 or its interacting protein Hax-1. Interestingly, SERCA2 expression was inversely related to DC migration in response to chemokine stimulation. The migratory capacity of CCL21-treated mDCs was decreased by the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 and by the protein kinase C inhibitor BAPTA-AM. The migratory capacities of mDCs were increased in response to SERCA2 siRNA expression but were decreased by SERCA2 overexpression. In addition, DCs treated with a SERCA2-specific inhibitor (cyclopiazonic acid) had significantly increased migratory capacities as mDCs regardless of SERCA2 expression. Moreover, SERCA2 expression was dependent on DC maturation induced by cytokines or Toll-like receptor agonists. Therefore, the migratory capacities differed in differentially matured DCs. Taken together, these results suggest that SERCA2 contributes to the migration of CCL21-activated DCs as an important feature of the adaptive immune response and provide novel insights regarding the role of SERCA2 in DC functions.
Adaptive Immunity ; Adenosine Triphosphatases* ; Chemokine CCL21 ; Chemokines ; Cytokines ; Dendritic Cells* ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Protein Kinase C ; Receptors, Chemokine ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum* ; Toll-Like Receptors ; Type C Phospholipases

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There are limited therapeutic options available for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D). We tested the effects of Atractylodes japonica rhizome, a perennial plant native to North Asia, on both upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) motility in guinea pigs. METHODS: The extract of A. japonica rhizome was administered orally at different doses to test its effects on upper GI motility as determined from charcoal transit in native guinea pigs and in guinea pigs pretreated with thyrotropin-releasing hormone or mustard oil. Regarding its effect on lower GI motility, the removed guinea pig colon was suspended in a chamber containing Krebs-Henseleit solution and the transit time of artificial feces was measured with various dilutions of the extract. As for in vivo assay, weight and number of fecal pellets expelled were determined under the same drug preparation used in upper GI motility experiment. RESULTS: The extract of A. japonica rhizome had no significant effect on upper GI motility in either normal or altered physiological states. However, the extract increased colonic transit time in the in vitro model. In the fecal expulsion study, the cumulative weight and number of pellets did not differ significantly between the control group and groups treated with the extracts. In the animals pretreated in vivo with thyrotropin-releasing hormone, however, the weight and number of fecal pellets were significantly decreased in animals treated with 300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg doses of extract. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the extract of A. japonica rhizome can be a potential agent for IBS-D.
Animals ; Asia, Northern ; Atractylodes* ; Charcoal ; Colon ; Diarrhea ; Drug Compounding ; Feces ; Gastrointestinal Motility* ; Guinea Pigs* ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Mustard Plant ; Plants ; Rhizome* ; Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone

Although the introduction of stem cell transplantation and novel agents has improved survival, multiple myeloma (MM) is still difficult to cure. Alternative approaches are clearly needed to prolong the survival of patients with MM. Dendritic cell (DC) therapy is a very promising tool immunologically in MM. We developed a method to generate potent DCs with increased Th1 polarization and migration ability for inducing strong myeloma-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. In this review, we discuss how the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy using DCs can be improved in MM.
Dendritic Cells ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Multiple Myeloma ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic