Objective: To evaluate the effects of Catalpa bignonioides fruit extract on the promotion of muscle growth and muscular capacity in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Cell viability was measured using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Cell proliferation was assessed using a 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU) assay kit. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the protein expressions of related factors. The effects of Catalpa bignonioides extract were investigated in mice using the treadmill exhaustion test and whole-limb grip strength assay. Chemical composition analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: Catalpa bignonioides extract increased the proliferation of C2C12 mouse myoblasts by activating the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. It also induced metabolic changes, increasing the number of mitochondria and glucose metabolism by phosphorylating adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase. In an in vivo study, the extract-treated mice showed improved motor abilities, such as muscular endurance and grip strength. Additionally, HPLC analysis showed that vanillic acid may be the main component of the Catalpa bignonioides extract that enhanced muscle strength. Conclusions: Catalpa bignonioides improves exercise performance through regulation of growth and metabolism in skeletal muscles, suggesting its potential as an effective natural agent for improving muscular strength.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is often accompanied by secondary infections, such as invasive aspergillosis. In this study, risk factors for developing COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) and their clinical outcomes were evaluated. Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included critically ill COVID-19 patients from July 2020 through March 2021. Critically ill patients were defined as patients requiring high-flow respiratory support or mechanical ventilation. CAPA was defined based on the 2020 European Confederation of Medical Mycology and the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology consensus criteria. Factors associated with CAPA were analyzed, and their clinical outcomes were adjusted by a propensity score-matched model. Results: Among 187 eligible patients, 17 (9.1%) developed CAPA, which is equal to 33.10 per 10,000 patient-days. Sixteen patients received voriconazole-based antifungal treatment. In addition, 82.4% and 53.5% of patients with CAPA and without CAPA, respectively, received early high-dose corticosteroids (P = 0.022). In multivariable analysis, initial 10-day cumulative steroid dose > 60 mg of dexamethasone or dexamethasone equivalent dose) (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–13.79) and chronic pulmonary disease (adjusted OR, 4.20; 95% CI, 1.26–14.02) were independently associated with CAPA. Tendencies of higher 90-day overall mortality (54.3% vs. 35.2%, P= 0.346) and lower respiratory support-free rate were observed in patients with CAPA (76.3% vs. 54.9%, P = 0.089). Conclusion Our study showed that the dose of corticosteroid use might be a risk factor for CAPA development and the possibility of CAPA contributing to adverse outcomes in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Purpose: We report a case of secondary Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) to treat graft failure after Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK).Case summary: A 66-year-old female underwent DSEK of her right eye to treat pseudophakic bullous keratopathy that developed after cataract surgery and intraocular lens exchange. After 5 years, she complained of decreased vision; graft failure was observed. Secondary DMEK was performed; no additional air injection was needed. The corrected visual acuity was 0.2, 3 months after surgery, and the cornea became clear. Conclusions Visual recovery can be achieved by performing secondary DMEK after primary DSEK graft failure.

Purpose: We report a case of secondary Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) to treat graft failure after Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK).Case summary: A 66-year-old female underwent DSEK of her right eye to treat pseudophakic bullous keratopathy that developed after cataract surgery and intraocular lens exchange. After 5 years, she complained of decreased vision; graft failure was observed. Secondary DMEK was performed; no additional air injection was needed. The corrected visual acuity was 0.2, 3 months after surgery, and the cornea became clear. Conclusions Visual recovery can be achieved by performing secondary DMEK after primary DSEK graft failure.

Nonhuman primate models are valuable in biomedical research. However, reference data for clinical pathology parameters in cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys are limited. In the present study, we established hematologic and biochemical reference intervals for healthy cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys anesthetized with ketamine hydrochloride. A total of 142 cynomolgus monkeys (28 males and 114 females) and 42 rhesus monkeys (22 males and 20 females) were selected and analyzed in order to examine reference intervals of 20 hematological and 16 biochemical parameters. The effects of sex were also investigated. Reference intervals for hematological and biochemical parameters were separately established by species (cynomolgus and rhesus) and sex (male and female). No sex-related differences were determined in erythrocyte-related parameters for cynomolgus and rhesus monkey housed in indoor laboratory conditions. Alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyltransferase were significantly lower in females than males in both cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys aged 48–96 months. The reference values for hematological and biochemical parameters established herein might provide valuable information for researchers using cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys in experimental conditions for biomedical studies.

Oxidative stress such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the inflamed joint have been indicated as being involved as inflammatory mediators in the induction of arthritis. Correlations between extracellular-superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) and inflammatory arthritis have been shown in several animal models of RA. However, there is a question whether the over-expression of EC-SOD on arthritic joint also could suppress the progression of disease or not. In the present study, the effect on the synovial tissue of experimental arthritis was investigated using EC-SOD over-expressing transgenic mice. The over-expression of EC-SOD in joint tissue was confirmed by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The degree of the inflammation in EC-SOD transgenic mice was suppressed in the collagen-induced arthritis model. In a cytokine assay, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as, IL-1beta, TNFalpha, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) was decreased in fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) but not in peripheral blood. Histological examination also showed repressed cartilage destruction and bone in EC-SOD transgenic mice. In conclusion, these data suggest that the over-expression of EC-SOD in FLS contributes to the activation of FLS and protection from joint destruction by depressing the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and MMPs. These results provide EC-SOD transgenic mice with a useful animal model for inflammatory arthritis research.
Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental/blood/*enzymology/metabolism ; *Arthritis, Rheumatoid/enzymology/pathology ; Fibroblasts/metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Inflammation/pathology ; Interleukin-1beta/blood/metabolism ; Joints/enzymology/pathology ; Matrix Metalloproteinases/blood/metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism ; *Superoxide Dismutase/genetics/metabolism ; Synovial Fluid/*enzymology ; Synovial Membrane/pathology

BACKGROUND: Several factors, such as compromised cardiopulmonary function, anticoagulative therapy, or anatomical deformity in the elderly, prevent general anesthesia and neuraxial blockade from being conducted for total knee replacement arthroplasty (TKRA). We investigated the efficacy of femoral/sciatic nerve block with lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block (FSNB) as an alternative procedure in comparison with combined spinal epidural nerve block (CSE) in patients undergoing TKRA. METHODS: In this observational study, 80 American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-III patients scheduled for elective unilateral TKRA underwent CSE (n = 40) or FSNB (n = 40). Perioperative side effects, intraoperative medications, duration and remaining amount of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia, rate of satisfaction with the surgical anesthesia and postoperative analgesia, willingness to recommend the same surgical anesthesia and postoperative analgesia to others, and postoperative visual analog scale pain scores were assessed. Statistical analysis was done using Chi-square test, Student's t-test, and repeated-measures analysis of variances. RESULTS: There was significantly more use of antihypertensives, analgesics, and sedatives in the FSNB group. There were no significant differences of perioperative side effects, duration and remaining amount of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia, rate of satisfaction with the surgical anesthesia and postoperative analgesia, willingness to recommend the same surgical anesthesia and postoperative analgesia to others, and postoperative visual analog scale scores between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: FSNB with a sophisticated use of antihypertensives, analgesics, and sedatives to supplement insufficient block offers a practical alternative to CSE for TKRAs.
Aged ; Analgesia ; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Analgesics ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Femoral Nerve ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Nerve Block ; Sciatic Nerve

PURPOSE: It is well known that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is associated with carcinogenesis in many human cancers. In thyroid cancers, COX-2 expression in aging patients is known as a powerful prognostic factor of differentiated thyroid cancer. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the expression of COX-2 in cases of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), as well as its association with other prognostic factors of thyroid cancer. METHODS: A total of 213 cases of papillary thyroid cancer were enrolled in this study and their clinicopathological characteristics were investigated retrospectively by a review of medicalrecords. Immunohistochemical staining for COX-2 was performed in the malignant tissue of the cases and the resultsof were then evaluated to determine if they were associated with other prognostic factors. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 46 years (Range: 17~77 years old) and the tumor sizesranged from 0.1 to 5 cm (mean 1.2±0.9 cm). The pathological findings were as follows; thyroid capsule invasion in 101 patients (47%), lymph node metastasis in 76 patients (36%), multiplicity in 47 patients (22%), and bilaterality in 36 patients (17%). Positive results of immunohistochemical staining for COX-2 were noted in 131 patients (62%), however, the statistical analyses showed no significant association between COX-2 expression and other prognostic factors of papillary thyroid cancer. CONCLUSION: No association of COX-2 expression and prognostic factors of papillary thyroid cancer were found in this study. However, a larger prospectivestudy with survival analyses would provide a better understanding of thesignificance of COX-2 expression in cases of papillary thyroid cancer.
Aging ; Carcinogenesis ; Cyclooxygenase 2* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

Pendred syndrome is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder, which is characterized by sensorineural hearing loss, goiter and a positive perchlorate discharge test. It is caused by mutations of the PDS gene, and its clinical characteristics vary widely. The thyroid function in most cases is normal, or shows only mild hypothyroidism. In Pendred syndrome, there is an organification defect that leads to defective thyroid hormone synthesis, followed by chronic TSH stimulation. Herein is reported a case of a follicular thyroid carcinoma associated with Pendred syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in Korea. The patient presented with a huge anterior neck mass, sensorineural hearing loss and a positive perchlorate discharge test. Fine needle aspiration cytology suggested malignancy of the thyroid, and a total thyroidectomy, with central compartment node dissection, was performed. The pathology from the thyroid mass showed a poorly differentiated follicular thyroid carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma, Follicular* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Goiter ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Korea ; Neck ; Pathology ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroidectomy

Pendred syndrome is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder, which is characterized by sensorineural hearing loss, goiter and a positive perchlorate discharge test. It is caused by mutations of the PDS gene, and its clinical characteristics vary widely. The thyroid function in most cases is normal, or shows only mild hypothyroidism. In Pendred syndrome, there is an organification defect that leads to defective thyroid hormone synthesis, followed by chronic TSH stimulation. Herein is reported a case of a follicular thyroid carcinoma associated with Pendred syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in Korea. The patient presented with a huge anterior neck mass, sensorineural hearing loss and a positive perchlorate discharge test. Fine needle aspiration cytology suggested malignancy of the thyroid, and a total thyroidectomy, with central compartment node dissection, was performed. The pathology from the thyroid mass showed a poorly differentiated follicular thyroid carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma, Follicular* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Goiter ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Korea ; Neck ; Pathology ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroidectomy