Quantification of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons is essential for the preclinical study of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, manual analysis of immunohistochemical (IHC) images is labor-intensive and has less reproducibility due to the lack of objectivity. Therefore, several automated methods of IHC image analysis have been proposed, although they have limitations of low accuracy and difficulties in practical use. Here, we developed a convolutional neural network-based machine learning algorithm for TH+ cell counting. The developed analytical tool showed higher accuracy than the conventional methods and could be used under diverse experimental conditions of image staining intensity, brightness, and contrast. Our automated cell detection algorithm is available for free and has an intelligible graphical user interface for cell counting to assist practical applications. Overall, we expect that the proposed TH+ cell counting tool will promote preclinical PD research by saving time and enabling objective analysis of IHC images.

Purpose: This study systematically reviewed the effects of physical activity on depression and various menopausal symptoms in middle-aged women. We aimed to identify physical activity as a useful intervention for mitigating the physiological and psychological challenges associated with menopause and promoting healthy aging. Methods: Electronic searches were conducted in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library databases using predefined keywords “menopause” and “physical activities”. Of the 1,391 initial articles, 15 randomized controlled trials involving 1,692 middle-aged women were included. Results: Physical activities led to a reduction in depressive symptoms, with a standardized mean difference (SMD) of -0.60 (95% CI, -0.90 to -0.30). Moreover, all menopausal symptoms, except vasomotor symptoms, were decreased. Specifically, the SMDs for the five subscales of menopausal symptoms were as follows: total scores: -1.53 (95% CI, -2.57 to -0.49); vasomotor: -0.76 (95% CI, -1.53 to 0.00); psychological: -0.93 (95% CI, -1.62 to -0.25); physical: -1.10 (95% CI, -1.77 to -0.43); and urogenital/sexual: -0.67 (95% CI, -1.23 to -0.12). Conclusion Physical activity is beneficial for middle-aged women transitioning from peri- to post-menopause. Engagement in physical activity can contribute to the maintenance of overall health and well-being during aging by reducing depression and menopausal symptoms.

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between nitric oxide (NO) and urodynamics in men with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) by analyzing nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the urothelium. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 25 men who planned to undergo surgical treatment for benign prostatic obstruction and identified as BOO in the preoperative urodynamics. Bladder tissue was taken during surgical prostate resection. Expressions of endothelial NOS (eNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS), and neuronal NOS (nNOS) in the urothelium were analyzed, and their correlation with urodynamic parameters was also assessed in all patients. We also compared the expressions of eNOS, iNOS, and nNOS between BOO with detrusor underactivity (DU) group and BOO without DU group. Results: In all patients, the level of eNOS positively correlated with maximal flow rate and with maximum cystometric capacity (MCC). The level of iNOS positively correlated with MCC. nNOS levels were positively correlated with detrusor pressure at maximal flow and with bladder contractility index in all patients. The level of eNOS, iNOS, and nNOS did not significantly differ between BOO without DU group and BOO with DU group. Conclusions This study suggests that NO was correlated with bladder dysfunction in men with BOO. Particularly, nNOS may reflect the change in detrusor function.

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is an intractable pain disease with various symptoms. Here, we investigated the disease status, work life, sleep problems, medical insurance, economic status, psychological problems, and quality of life (QOL) of CRPS patients. Methods: CRPS patients from 37 university hospitals in South Korea were surveyed.The survey questionnaire consisted of 24 questions on the following aspects of CRPS patients: sex, age, occupation, cause of injury, activities of daily living (ADL), pain severity, sleep disturbance, level of education, economic status, therapeutic effect, and suicidal ideation. Additionally, the abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire, consisting of 26 questions, was used to identify the status of QOL. Results: A total of 251 patients completed the questionnaire. According to the survey, 54.2% patients could not perform ADL on their own. Over the previous week, the mean pain score was 7.15 ± 1.78 (out of a total of 10 points); 92.1% of patients had sleep disorders and 80.5% had suicidal ideation, with most patients suffering from psychological problems. The average for each domain of WHOQOL-BREF was as follows: 21.74 ± 14.77 for physical, 25.22 ± 17.66 for psychological, 32.02 ± 22.36 for social relationship, and 30.69 ± 15.83 for environmental (out of a total of 100 points each). Occupation, ADL, sleep time, therapeutic effect, and suicidal ideation were statistically correlated with multiple domains. Conclusions Most patients had moderate to severe pain, economic problems, limitations of their ADL, sleep problems, psychological problems, and a low QOL score.

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is an intractable pain disease with various symptoms. Here, we investigated the disease status, work life, sleep problems, medical insurance, economic status, psychological problems, and quality of life (QOL) of CRPS patients. Methods: CRPS patients from 37 university hospitals in South Korea were surveyed.The survey questionnaire consisted of 24 questions on the following aspects of CRPS patients: sex, age, occupation, cause of injury, activities of daily living (ADL), pain severity, sleep disturbance, level of education, economic status, therapeutic effect, and suicidal ideation. Additionally, the abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire, consisting of 26 questions, was used to identify the status of QOL. Results: A total of 251 patients completed the questionnaire. According to the survey, 54.2% patients could not perform ADL on their own. Over the previous week, the mean pain score was 7.15 ± 1.78 (out of a total of 10 points); 92.1% of patients had sleep disorders and 80.5% had suicidal ideation, with most patients suffering from psychological problems. The average for each domain of WHOQOL-BREF was as follows: 21.74 ± 14.77 for physical, 25.22 ± 17.66 for psychological, 32.02 ± 22.36 for social relationship, and 30.69 ± 15.83 for environmental (out of a total of 100 points each). Occupation, ADL, sleep time, therapeutic effect, and suicidal ideation were statistically correlated with multiple domains. Conclusions Most patients had moderate to severe pain, economic problems, limitations of their ADL, sleep problems, psychological problems, and a low QOL score.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we manufactured a complex of human nasal septal cartilage (hNC) with polycaprolactone (PCL) for transplantation into cartilaginous skeletal defects and evaluated their characteristics.METHODS: Nasal septum tissue was obtained from five patients aged ≥ 20 years who were undergoing septoplasty. hNCs were isolated and subcultured for three passages in vitro. To formulate the cell–PCL complex, we used type I collagen as an adhesive between chondrocyte and PCL. Immunofluorescence staining, cell viability and growth in the hNC–PCL complex, and mycoplasma contamination were assessed.RESULTS: hNCs in PCL showed viability ≥ 70% and remained at these levels for 9 h of incubation at 4 ℃. Immunostaining of the hNC–PCL complex also showed high expression levels of chondrocyte-specific protein, COL2A1, SOX9, and aggrecan during 24 h of clinically applicable conditions.CONCLUSION: The hNC–PCL complex may be a valuable therapeutic agent for implantation into injured cartilage tissue, and can be used clinically to repair cartilaginous skeletal defects. From a clinical perspective, it is important to set the short duration of the implantation process to achieve effective functional implantation.
Adhesives ; Aggrecans ; Cartilage ; Cell Survival ; Chondrocytes ; Collagen ; Collagen Type I ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Mycoplasma ; Nasal Septum ; Tissue Engineering

Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) and acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) are common diseases caused by human adenoviruses (HAdV) and enteroviruses, respectively, in South Korea. However, there are limited studies on the molecular epidemiology of viral conjunctivitis in South Korea. The main objective of this study was to characterize the genotypes of adenoviruses and enteroviruses causing viral conjunctivitis in the southwest region of South Korea. We collected conjunctival swabs from 492 patients with suspected cases of viral conjunctivitis from 6 ophthalmic hospitals in Gwangju Metropolitan City, in South Korea, between 2012 and 2016. Of the 492 samples tested, HAdVs and enteroviruses were detected in 249 samples (50.6%) and 19 samples (3.9%), respectively. The genotype analysis detected HAdV-8 in 183 samples (73.5%), HAdV-37 in 14 samples (5.6%), and HAdV-3, and HAdV-4 in 9 samples (3.6%) each. We detected coxsackievirus A24 (CVA24) and coxsackievirus B1 (CVB1) in 8 samples (42.0%) and 4 samples (21.0%), respectively. We also reported for the first time HAdV-56-infected cases of EKC in South Korea. Furthermore, we found three cases of coinfection with HAdV and enterovirus genotypes in our samples. HAdV-8 and CVA24, the main causes of EKC and AHC, respectively, worldwide, were also found to be the predominant genotypes in our study.
Adenoviridae ; Adenoviruses, Human ; Coinfection ; Conjunctivitis, Acute Hemorrhagic ; Conjunctivitis, Viral* ; Enterovirus ; Genotype ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Keratoconjunctivitis ; Korea* ; Molecular Epidemiology*

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is associated with the development of various complications, such as exit site infection or peritonitis, and rarely, intestinal obstruction in prolonged PD patients with recurrent peritonitis. However, post-colonoscopy acute intestinal obstruction has not been reported in PD patients to date. Herein, we report a case of severe ileus after a colonoscopy without previous episodes of peritonitis in a PD patient. A 51-year-old man undergoing PD for 7 years visited our emergency department due to severe abdominal pain and vomiting after colonoscopic polypectomy. A simple abdominal radiography and abdominal computed tomography showed ileus with collapsed distal ileal loop. A peritoneal dialysate study revealed no evidence of peritonitis. The patient was treated with decompression therapy, and ileus was successfully treated without complications. This case suggests that it is not only necessary to prevent peritonitis, but also important to monitor the development of ileus after colonoscopy in PD patients.
Abdominal Pain ; Colonoscopy* ; Decompression ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Ileus* ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Dialysis* ; Peritonitis ; Radiography, Abdominal ; Vomiting

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is associated with the development of various complications, such as exit site infection or peritonitis, and rarely, intestinal obstruction in prolonged PD patients with recurrent peritonitis. However, post-colonoscopy acute intestinal obstruction has not been reported in PD patients to date. Herein, we report a case of severe ileus after a colonoscopy without previous episodes of peritonitis in a PD patient. A 51-year-old man undergoing PD for 7 years visited our emergency department due to severe abdominal pain and vomiting after colonoscopic polypectomy. A simple abdominal radiography and abdominal computed tomography showed ileus with collapsed distal ileal loop. A peritoneal dialysate study revealed no evidence of peritonitis. The patient was treated with decompression therapy, and ileus was successfully treated without complications. This case suggests that it is not only necessary to prevent peritonitis, but also important to monitor the development of ileus after colonoscopy in PD patients.
Abdominal Pain ; Colonoscopy ; Decompression ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Ileus ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritonitis ; Radiography, Abdominal ; Vomiting