Background and Objectives: Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the most primitive cells in spermatogenesis and are the only adult stem cells capable of passing on the genome of a given species to the next generation. SSCs are the only adult stem cells known to exhibit high Oct4 expression and can be induced to self-reprogram into pluripotent cells depending on culture conditions. Epigenetic modulation is well known to be involved in the induction of pluripotency of somatic cells. However, epigenetic modulation in self-reprogramming of SSCs into pluripotent cells has not been studied. Methods: and Results: In this study, we examined the involvement of epigenetic modulation by assessing whether selfreprogramming of SSCs is enhanced by treatment with epigenetic modulators. We found that second-generation selective class I HDAC inhibitors increased SSC reprogramming efficiency, whereas non-selective HDAC inhibitors had no effect. Conclusions We showed that pluripotent stem cells derived from adult SSCs by treatment with small molecules with epigenetic modulator functions exhibit pluripotency in vitro and in vivo. Our results suggest that the mechanism of SSC reprogramming by epigenetic modulator can be used for important applications in epigenetic reprogramming research.

Objective: To identify the prevalence and characteristics of neuropathic pain (NP) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to investigate associations between NP and demographic or disease-related variables. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients with SCI whose pain was classified according to the International Spinal Cord Injury Pain classifications at a single hospital. Multiple statistical analyses were employed. Patients aged <19 years, and patients with other neurological disorders and congenital conditions were excluded. Results: Of 366 patients, 253 patients (69.1%) with SCI had NP. Patients who were married or had traumatic injury or depressive mood had a higher prevalence rate. When other variables were controlled, marital status and depressive mood were found to be predictors of NP. There was no association between the prevalence of NP and other demographic or clinical variables. The mean Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) of NP was 4.52, and patients mainly described pain as tingling, squeezing, and painful cold. Females and those with below-level NP reported more intense pain. An NRS cut-off value of 4.5 was determined as the most appropriate value to discriminate between patients taking pain medication and those who did not. Conclusion In total, 69.1% of patients with SCI complained of NP, indicating that NP was a major complication. Treatment planning for patients with SCI and NP should consider that marital status, mood, sex, and pain subtype may affect NP, which should be actively managed in patients with an NRS ≥4.5.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop a systematic and standardized「The Survey on School Foodservice Program」that can identify the current status of school meals on the nationwide level. METHODS: This study was carried out in six steps of the analysis of report/investigation data related to school foodservice in metropolitan and provincial offices of education, analysis of preceding research related to the actual status of school foodservice, field verification of the actual condition of the school foodservice site, development of a draft of「The Survey on School Foodservice Program」, pilot study of a draft of 「The Survey on School Foodservice Program」, and suggestions of a final model of「The Survey on School Foodservice Program」from August to December, 2017. Statistical analysis was performed for frequency analysis and descriptive analysis using the SPSS program ver. 23. RESULTS: A draft of「The Survey on School Foodservice Program」was developed by analyzing the current status of report/research data on school meals in metropolitan and provincial offices of education, analyzing the preceding research on school meals, and identifying the actual conditions at school foodservice sites. To verify the validity of the school foodservice survey questionnaire, 1,031 schools were sampled from a total of 10,251 schools and the pilot test of ‘2017 School Foodservice Survey’ was conducted. The final model of「The Survey on School Foodservice Program」consisted of 12 survey sections, 29 survey categories, and 433 survey items, and the survey cycle was set for one year and three years for each survey item. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the objective statistical data through「The Survey on School Foodservice Program」, it is possible to develop the school foodservice policy, which will help establish the reliability of the school meals.
Education ; Humans ; Meals ; Pilot Projects

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop a systematic and standardized「The Survey on School Foodservice Program」that can identify the current status of school meals on the nationwide level. METHODS: This study was carried out in six steps of the analysis of report/investigation data related to school foodservice in metropolitan and provincial offices of education, analysis of preceding research related to the actual status of school foodservice, field verification of the actual condition of the school foodservice site, development of a draft of「The Survey on School Foodservice Program」, pilot study of a draft of 「The Survey on School Foodservice Program」, and suggestions of a final model of「The Survey on School Foodservice Program」from August to December, 2017. Statistical analysis was performed for frequency analysis and descriptive analysis using the SPSS program ver. 23. RESULTS: A draft of「The Survey on School Foodservice Program」was developed by analyzing the current status of report/research data on school meals in metropolitan and provincial offices of education, analyzing the preceding research on school meals, and identifying the actual conditions at school foodservice sites. To verify the validity of the school foodservice survey questionnaire, 1,031 schools were sampled from a total of 10,251 schools and the pilot test of ‘2017 School Foodservice Survey’ was conducted. The final model of「The Survey on School Foodservice Program」consisted of 12 survey sections, 29 survey categories, and 433 survey items, and the survey cycle was set for one year and three years for each survey item. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the objective statistical data through「The Survey on School Foodservice Program」, it is possible to develop the school foodservice policy, which will help establish the reliability of the school meals.
Education ; Humans ; Meals ; Pilot Projects

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the synthetic S-allyl-l-cysteine (SAC) PMK-S005 on gastric acid secretion, inflammation, and antioxidant enzymes in aging rats. METHODS: The rats were divided into four groups at 31 weeks of age and were continuously fed a diet containing a vehicle control, PMK-S005 (5 or 10 mg/kg), or lansoprazole (5 mg/kg). Gastric acid secretion and connective tissue thickness of the lamina propria were evaluated at 74 weeks and 2 years of age. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and COX-2 levels were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) or Western blot assays. Levels of antioxidant enzymes, including heme oxyganase 1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1), were also measured. RESULTS: As the rats aged, gastric acid secretion significantly decreased, and the connective tissue of the lamina propria increased. However, 74-week-old rats in the PMK-S005 group exhibited greater levels of gastric acid secretion than those of the control and lansoprazole groups. The increase of TNF-α, IL-1β, and COX-2 expression in 74-week and 2-year-old control rats were inhibited by PMK-S005. In addition, the decrease in HO-1 and NQO-1 protein expression that occurred with aging was inhibited by PMK-S005 in the 74-week-old rats. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that PMK-S005 has therapeutic potential as an antiaging agent to ameliorate age-related gastric acid secretion, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the stomach.
Aging ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; Blotting, Western ; Child, Preschool ; Connective Tissue ; Diet ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gastric Acid* ; Heme ; Humans ; Inflammation* ; Interleukins ; Lansoprazole ; Mucous Membrane ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats* ; Stomach* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was aimed at evaluating differences in the effects of repeated water avoidance stress (rWAS) on colonic movement, mucosal mast cell counts, cytokine levels, and visceromotor response (VMR) to colorectal distension (CRD) in rats of both sexes. METHODS: Wistar rats were divided into stress and no-stress groups. Rats in the stress group were exposed to rWAS (1 hr/day) for 10 days. Mucosal mast cells were immunohistochemically stained with anti-mast cell tryptase antibody and counted. The colonic mucosal cytokine levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The VMR to CRD (visceral analgesia) was assessed by using a barostat and noninvasive manometry. RESULTS: The mean number of fecal pellets in the rWAS group increased significantly as compared with that in the no-stress group in both sexes. After adjustment for body weight, the female rats had a significantly higher pellet output than the male rats. The mucosal mast cell count of the female rWAS group was higher than that of the male rWAS group (13.0 ± 0.9 vs 8.8 ± 0.6; P < 0.001). The colonic mucosal interleukin-1β level was also higher only in the female rats of the rWAS group than in those of the no-stress group. On days 10 and 11, a decrease in VMR to CRD was observed at 40 and 60 mmHg in both sexes of the rWAS group, without a sex-based difference. CONCLUSIONS: The colonic response to stress appeared to be more sensitive in the female rats than in the male rats. However, stress-induced visceral analgesia had no sex-related difference and the underlying mechanism needs to be further evaluated.
Analgesia ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Colon* ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manometry ; Mast Cells* ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar* ; Sex Characteristics* ; Tryptases ; Water*

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-tumorigenic effect of açai berry after chronic Helicobacter felis colonization in the stomachs of C57BL/6 mice. METHODS: A total of 57 four-week-old female C57BL/6 mice (18 control mice and 39 experimental mice) were used. The mice were administered orogastrically with vehicle only or vehicle containing H. felis, 5 times every other day. After inoculation of H. felis, mice were fed either a standard or an açai-containing diet and then sacrificed at 4, 24, and 52 weeks. The infection status and degree of inflammation were determined by culture and histopathology. The level of gastric mucosal myeloperoxidase (MPO), TNF-α, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: At 24 weeks after inoculation, mucosal atrophy and mucous metaplasia appeared in all infected mice. At 52 weeks after inoculation, dysplastic change was noted in 10%, 25%, and 50% of mice in the H. felis-control, H. felis-açai 5%, and H. felis-açai 10% groups, respectively. The neutrophil, monocyte, atrophy, and metaplasia grades of infected mice showed no significant difference among the H. felis-infected groups. H. felis-infected mice fed with açai berry showed no significant difference compared with H. felis-infected control mice in gastric mucosal MPO, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels. CONCLUSIONS: H. felis that colonized the stomachs of C57BL/6 mice provoked inflammation, and induced mucosal atrophy, metaplasia, and dysplasia. However, açai berry did not effectively prohibit the gastric carcinogenesis which was induced by chronic H. felis infection.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Carcinogenesis ; Cats ; Colon ; Diet ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Felis ; Female ; Fruit* ; Helicobacter felis ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Metaplasia ; Mice* ; Monocytes ; Neutrophils ; Peroxidase ; Stomach

This is a report of the first South Korean case of a lung disease caused by Mycobacterium simiae. The patient was a previously healthy 52-year-old female. All serial isolates were identified as M. simiae by multi-locus sequencing analysis, based on hsp65, rpoB, 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer, and 16S rRNA fragments. A chest radiography revealed deterioration, and the follow-up sputum cultures were persistently positive, despite combination antibiotic treatment, including azithromycin, ethambutol, and rifampin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first confirmed case of a lung disease caused by M. simiae in South Korea.
Azithromycin ; Bronchiectasis ; Ethambutol ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea* ; Lung Diseases* ; Lung* ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium* ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Radiography ; Rifampin ; Sputum ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model is used for research of inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of this study was to establish the adequate conditions for DSS mice model, and to find useful tool to measure inflammation. METHODS: The 2.5% DSS was administered to six male C57BL/6 mice and 4% DSS to eight mice at 5 or 9 weeks of age. Each group was consisted of 6 mice with control group in which vehicle was administered instead of DSS. The mice were sacrificed on the 7th day after DSS or vehicle administration. Body weight, diarrhea, and hematochezia were recorded daily. Disease activity index (DAI) score which was composed of body weight change, diarrhea, and hematochezia was measured every day. Colon length was measured after sacrifice and colon mucosal level of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1beta) was measured by ELISA assay. Histological score was compared between ascending and descending colon in the DSS group. RESULTS: Colon length of five- and nine-week DSS group was significantly shorter than each control group but there was no statistical significance depending on DSS concentration or age. DAI score of 4% DSS group in nine-week was significantly higher than that five-week (P = 0.012) but there was no difference between 2.5% and 4% DSS group. The level of IL-1beta in DSS mice was much higher than control group (P < 0.01), but there was no difference among several DSS groups. The histological score was higher in the descending colon than in the ascending colon but there was no statistical difference between each pair of DSS groups. CONCLUSIONS: The 4% DSS mice in nine-week was adequate for DSS-induced colitis model. DAI score was useful tool and descending colon was more appropriate site for histological evaluation of colitis than ascending colon.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Body Weight Changes ; Colitis* ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Colon, Descending ; Dextran Sulfate ; Dextrans* ; Diarrhea ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Interleukin-1beta ; Male ; Mice* ; Sodium*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast (SonoVue(R)) enhancement ultrasonography (CEUS) and to compare this method with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating liver masses. METHODS: CEUS (n=50), CT (n=47), and MRI (n=43) were performed on 50 liver masses in 48 patients for baseline mass characterization. The most likely impression for each modality and the final diagnosis, based on the combined biopsy results (n=14), angiography findings (n=36), and clinical course, were determined. The diagnostic value of CEUS was compared to those of CT and MRI. RESULTS: The final diagnosis of the masses was hepatocellular carcinoma (n=43), hemangioma (n=3), benign adenoma (n=2), eosinophilic abscess (n=1), and liver metastasis (n=1). The overall diagnostic agreement with the final diagnosis was substantial for CEUS, CT, and MRI, with kappa values of 0.621, 0.763, and 0.784, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 83.3%, 87.5%, and 84.0%, respectively, for CEUS; 95.0%, 87.5%, and 93.8%, respectively, for CT; and 94.6%, 83.3%, and 93.0%, respectively for MRI. After excluding the lesions with poor acoustic sonographic windows, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for CEUS were 94.6%, 87.5%, and 93.3%, respectively, with a kappa value of 0.765. CONCLUSIONS: If an appropriate acoustic window is available, CEUS is comparable to CT and MRI for the diagnosis of liver masses.
Adult ; Aged ; Contrast Media/diagnostic use ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Diseases/pathology/radiography/*ultrasonography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed