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Abstract Background The 2015 MERS outbreak in South Korea was the largest event outside of the Middle East. Under such circumstances, individuals tend to resort to non-conventional solutions such as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to manage health. Thus, this study aims to examine characteristics of CAM use among outpatients in a community hospital setting during the 2015 MERS outbreak and to assess potential predictors of CAM use during the epidemic. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 331 patients (response rate: 82.75%) at a community hospital located in Seoul, South Korea. The survey instrument included 36 questions on the use of CAM, demographic characteristics, health status, and respondents’ perceptions and concerns about MERS infection. Chi-square test and logistic regression were conducted for data analysis using SPSS ver. 21.0., and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all analyses. Results 76.1% of respondents used one or more types of CAM modalities during the MERS outbreak. Consumption of easily accessible modalities such as multivitamin (51.2%) and food products (32.1%) was most popular, and the majority of CAM users relied on mass media (52.4%) and the internet (27.4%) to obtain information on CAM. The use of CAM was associated with age between 40 and 49, age over 50, prior CAM use, and dissatisfaction with the government response to the MERS outbreak. Conclusions CAM was commonly used by outpatients during the 2015 MERS outbreak in Korea, and mass media was the main source of information. Establishing a media platform is of paramount importance to provide reliable information and ensure the safety of its use.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to determine whether school-aged children with Kawasaki disease (KD) have an increased risk for early atherosclerosis.MethodsThe study included 98 children. The children were divided into the following groups: group A (n=19), KD with coronary arterial lesions that persisted or regressed; group B (n=49), KD without coronary arterial lesions; and group C (n=30), healthy children. Anthropometric variables and the levels of biochemical markers, including total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein A, apolipoprotein B, homocysteine, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and brachial artery stiffness using pulse wave velocity were compared among the three groups.ResultsThere were no significant differences in blood pressure and body index among the three groups. Additionally, there was no sex-specific difference. Moreover, the levels of triglyceride, HDL-C, apolipoprotein A, and hs-CRP did not differ among the three groups. However, the levels of total cholesterol (P=0.018), LDL-C (P=0.0003), and apolipoprotein B (P=0.029) were significantly higher in group A than in group C. Further, the level of homocysteine and the aortic pulse wave velocity were significantly higher in groups A and B than in group C (P=0.0001).ConclusionSchool-aged children after KD have high lipid profiles and arterial stiffness indicating an increased risk for early atherosclerosis.

l-Type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1)-specific ligands and polyion complexes are used as brain-specific targets to deliver RNA-based drugs across the blood-brain barrier. We characterized an LAT1-targeting antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-encapsulated nanoparticle, Phe-NPs/ASO. A 25% density of phenylalanine effectively binds to the surface of LAT1-targeting NPs in the GL261-Luc cells, and Phe-NPs/ASO shows higher binding affinity compared to that without phenylalanine by cellular binding assay. To further characterize the blood-brain barrier-targeting effect and tissue distribution following a single-dose intravenous injection in mice, we performed in vivo biodistribution studies using fluorescence imaging. The Phe-NPs/ASOs were detected in the brain tissue 1 h post-intravenous injection at an approximately 64-fold higher ratio than that of the same ASOs administered in the absence of any NP carrier. The brain tissue delivery of ASO-loaded Phe-NPs was also confirmed in a fluorescence imaging study performed in non-human primates. These results demonstrate that Phe-NPs may successfully deliver an ASO to the brain tissue across brain regions. Phe-NPs loaded with RNA-based drugs have the potential to treat diseases of the CNS, including all forms of neurodegenerative diseases.

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the impact of radiation dose on the outcomes of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for benign meningiomas and determine an optimal dosing strategy for balancing tumor control and treatment-related toxicity. Clinical data of 147 patients with 164 lesions treated between 2014 and 2022 were reviewed. Primary outcomes included progression-free survival (PFS), local control rate (LCR), and radiation-induced toxicity, with secondary outcomes focusing on LCR and radiation-induced peritumoral edema (PTE) in two dose groups (≥14 Gy and p = 0.628), while Group 2 (p = 0.039). This study concludes that SRS with a radiation dose < 14 Gy demonstrates comparable tumor control with reduced toxicity, advocating consideration of such dosing to achieve a balance between therapeutic efficacy and safety.

Purpose: This study investigated the moderating role of general self-efficacy (GSE) on how stress caused by pregnancy and daily hassle affect the risk of preterm birth (PTB) in women experiencing preterm labor. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 196 pregnant women experiencing preterm labor before 37 weeks of gestation. We used IBM SPSS Statistics 27 and employed Hayes process macro version 4 (model 1) and hierarchical regression to analyze the moderating effect of GSE on the relationship between pregnancy stress, daily hassle stress, and PTB risk. Results: Stress caused by pregnancy and daily hassle was positively correlated to PTB risk (r = .54, p < .001; r = .25, p < .001, respectively). While GSE did not significantly correlate with pregnancy stress, it negatively correlated with daily hassle stress (r = - .19, p = .009). GSE significantly moderated the relationship between combined stressors and PTB risk. As GSE levels increased, escalation in PTB risk in response to increasing stress levels was a more pronounced, highlighting a complex interaction between higher GSE levels and response to escalating stress levels. This model accounted for 39.5% of the variance in the PTB risk. Conclusion: Higher GSE may amplify the impact of stress on PTB risk, rather than mitigate it, which suggests a more nuanced role of GSE in the stress response of pregnant women at risk of preterm labor. GSE should be considered in care strategies, and managing its impact on stress perception and responses in pregnant women is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The innate immune system plays key roles in controlling Alzheimer's disease (AD), while secreting cytokines to eliminate pathogens and regulating brain homeostasis. Recent research in the field of AD has shown that the innate immune-sensing ability of pattern recognition receptors on brain-resident macrophages, known as microglia, initiates neuroinflammation, Aβ accumulation, neuronal loss, and memory decline in patients with AD. Advancements in understanding the role of innate immunity in AD have laid a strong foundation to elucidate AD pathology and devise therapeutic strategies for AD in the future. In this review, we highlight the present understanding of innate immune responses, inflammasome activation, inflammatory cell death pathways, and cytokine secretion in AD. We also discuss how the AD pathology influences these biological processes.

The plant-back intervals (PBIs) of imicyafos were investigated for rotational cultivation of lettuce and spinach in greenhouses. Imicyafos dissipation in soil and its plant uptake were evaluated by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Bioconcentration ratios (BCRs) were calculated by comparing the residues in plants to the initial residue in soil. The BCRs were used to calculate the soil acceptable residues (SARs) transferable to plants at the Positive List System (PLS) level. The number of days, PBIs for reaching SARs were obtained from the dissipation equation for imicyafos in soil. In soil, imicyafos followed first order dissipation kinetics (R2 = 0.975) with a half-life of 40.8 days. The BCRs ranged from 0.041 to 0.469 in the edible leaf parts of lettuce and 0.006 to 0.134 in those of spinach. The SARs ranged from 0.021 to 0.244 for lettuce and 0.075 to 1.667 mg kg−1 for spinach. The PBIs of imicyafos were estimated to be 213.9 to 357.3 days for lettuce and 100.8 to 283.6 days for spinach. This study suggests at least a minimum 1-year interval after the final application of imicyafos as a management method that complies with the PLS for the rotational cultivation of lettuce and spinach.

We present a case of a 7-year-old boy who had cholestasis after trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole combination therapy. Liver biopsy was performed 36 days after the onset of jaundice because of no evidence of improving cholestasis. Liver histology revealed portal inflammation, bile plug, and biliary stasis around the central vein with the loss of the interlobular bile ducts. Immunohistochemical stains for cytokeratin 7 and 19 were negative. These findings were consistent with those of vanishing bile duct syndrome (VBDS). Chlestasis was progressively improved with dose increment of urosodeoxycholic acid from conventional to high dose. This is the first case report of trimethoprime-sulfamethoxazole associated VBDS in Korean children. The case suggests that differential diagnosis of VBDS should be considered in case of progressive cholestatic hepatitis with elevation of alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase after or during taking medicine to treat nonhepatobiliary diseases illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the effect of spinach saponin-enriched lipophilic fraction (SSEF) on collagen (10 μg/mL)-stimulated platelet aggregation in vivo. Dietary SSEF dose-dependently inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation by decreasing thromboxane A2production and intracellular Ca2+agonist activity as an aggregation-inducing autacoidal molecule. In addition, SSEF significantly increased the formation of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP, intracellular Ca2+antagonists that are aggregation-inhibiting molecules in collagen-stimulated platelets. These results suggest that SSEF is a potent inhibitor of collagen-stimulated platelet aggregation in vivo. Prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time, indicators of blood coagulation, were potently prolonged by dietary SSEF in vivo. These findings suggest that SSEF prolongs the interval time between the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin. Dietary SSEF also inhibited 0.4 Msucrose-induced hemolysis. Accordingly, our data demonstrate that SSEF might be a useful tool for inhibiting platelet activation and blood coagulation in thrombotic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers strategies on how to foster self-regulation and self-determination in infants and toddlers with visual impairments. The author stresses that self-regulation and self-determination are skills that should be nurtured early for all children. Parents of children with visual impairments can improve these abilities by reducing their children's excessive dependence on others and providing environments that promote motor skills, spatial perception and movement.

Studies were conducted to observe the solubility of phenanthrene, anthracene, and pyrene in four water-immiscible liquids (WILs) and the mass transfer of PAH in a two-liquid-phase (TLP) system. The order of solubility in WILs for three different PAHs was phenanthrene> pyrene>> anthracene. Among the WILs tested in a TLP system, paraffine oil did not affect the mass transfer of three PAHs, while silicone oil reduced the mass transfer of anthracene significantly because paraffine oil had a higher solubilizing capacity for anthracene than silicone oil. When initial PAHs concentration increased up to 2500 mg PAHs/kg soil, the mass transfer of phenanthrene and pyrene were hardly influenced, while that of anthracene was reduced to 40%. As the amount of light paraffine oil decreased, the mass transfer of anthracene decreased significantly compared to that of phenanthrene and pyrene. Based on the present results, it was confirmed that the mass transfer of PAHs from soil to WIL was governed mainly by the solubilizing capacity of WIL for PAHs. This is the first report on the mass transfer of PAHs from soil to WIL, in which the mechanism of TLP process can be understood more clearly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Figaro-type gas sensor system was investigated for the monitoring of volatile organic contaminants (VOC) in the exhaust gas from a soil vapor extraction (SVE) process. Benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene (BTEX), and their mixtures, were tested as representative contaminants. Reasonably good correlation factors >0.98 were obtained between the GC analyses and the sensor responses for each component, and for the total gas concentrations. Although the composition of the exhaust gas from SVE process, as well as the amount of each component, change with time, the sensor can be used to estimate the residual amount of contaminants by measuring the total concentrations in the exhaust gas. The sensor can be utilized as a valuable tool for the monitoring of SVE process by indicating when the operation to remediate a contaminated site should be stopped. The proposed ceramic gas sensor system may be a good alternative to existing methods, because it can satisfy the essential monitoring necessities of SVE processes, and has many advantages over other fully equipped instrumentation, as a cost-effective device, with long-term monitoring stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated whether p-anisaldehyde (PAA), the main component of essential oils derived from anise seeds, influences the differentiation of mouse C2C12 myoblasts. Cells were induced to differentiate over 5 days using a differentiation medium with or without PAA (50 or 200 mg/mL). Myotube length and diameter were measured, and the expressions of myogenic markers (myoblast determination protein 1, myogenin, myocyte enhancer factor 2, muscle creatine kinase, and myosin heavy chain) and atrophy-related genes (atrogin-1 and muscle ring finger-1 [MuRF-1]) were assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Additionally, protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation was monitored by western blotting. PAA significantly induced the formation of smaller and thinner myotubes and reduced myogenic marker expression. Furthermore, PAA increased the expressions of atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 and simultaneously reduced Akt phosphorylation. Our findings indicate that PAA inhibits the myogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells by reducing the phosphorylation and activation of Akt.

Background: Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (αIIb/β3) is involved in platelet adhesion, and triggers a series of intracellular signaling cascades, leading to platelet shape change, granule secretion, and clot retraction. In this study, we evaluated the effect of ginsenoside Ro (G-Ro) on the binding of fibrinogen to αIIb/β3. Methods: We investigated the effect of G-Ro on regulation of signaling molecules affecting the binding of fibrinogen to αIIb/β3, and its final reaction, clot retraction. Results: We found that G-Ro dose-dependently inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and attenuated the binding of fibrinogen to αIIb/β3 by phosphorylating cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependently vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP; Ser157). In addition, G-Ro strongly abrogated the clot retraction reflecting the intensification of thrombus. Conclusion: We demonstrate that G-Ro is a beneficial novel compound inhibiting αIIb/β3-mediated fibrinogen binding, and may prevent platelet aggregation-mediated thrombotic disease.

Background: Binding of adhesive proteins (i.e., fibrinogen, fibronectin, vitronectin) to platelet integrin glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (αIIb/β3) by various agonists (thrombin, collagen, adenosine diphosphate) involve in strength of thrombus. This study was carried out to evaluate the antiplatelet effect of total saponin from Korean Red Ginseng (KRG-TS) by investigating whether KRG-TS inhibits thrombin-induced binding of fibrinogen and fibronectin to αIIb/β3. Methods: We investigated the effect of KRG-TS on phosphorylation of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) and dephosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt, affecting binding of fibrinogen and fibronectin to αIIb/β3, and clot retraction. Results: KRG-TS had an antiplatelet effect by inhibiting the binding of fibrinogen and fibronectin to αIIb/β3 via phosphorylation of VASP (Ser157), and dephosphorylation of PI3K and Akt on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. Moreover, A-kinase inhibitor Rp-8-Br-cyclic adenosine monophosphates (cAMPs) reduced KRG-TS-increased VASP (Ser157) phosphorylation, and increased KRG-TS-inhibited fibrinogen-, and fibronectin-binding to αIIb/β3. These findings indicate that KRG-TS interferes with the binding of fibrinogen and fibronectin to αIIb/β3 via cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of VASP (Ser157). In addition, KRG-TS decreased the rate of clot retraction, reflecting inhibition of αIIb/β3 activation. In this study, we clarified ginsenoside Ro (G-Ro) in KRG-TS inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation via both inhibition of [Ca2+]i mobilization and increase of cAMP production. Conclusion: These results strongly indicate that KRG-TS is a beneficial herbal substance inhibiting fibrinogen-, and fibronectin-binding to αIIb/β3, and clot retraction, and may prevent platelet αIIb/β3-mediated thrombotic disease. In addition, we demonstrate that G-Ro is a novel compound with antiplatelet characteristics of KRG-TS.

Background: Intracellular Ca2+([Ca2+]i) is a platelet aggregation-inducing molecule. Therefore, understanding the inhibitory mechanism of [Ca2+]i mobilization is very important to evaluate the antiplatelet effect of a substance. This study was carried out to understand the Ca2+-antagonistic effect of total saponin from Korean Red Ginseng (KRG-TS). Methods: We investigated the Ca2+-antagonistic effect of KRG-TS on cyclic nucleotides-associated phosphorylation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type I (IP3RI) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKA) in thrombin (0.05 U/mL)-stimulated human platelet aggregation. Results: The inhibition of [Ca2+]i mobilization by KRG-TS was increased by a PKA inhibitor (Rp-8-Br-cAMPS), which was more stronger than the inhibition by a cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibitor (Rp-8-Br-cGMPS). In addition, Rp-8-Br-cAMPS inhibited phosphorylation of PKA catalytic subunit (PKAc) (Thr197) by KRG-TS. The phosphorylation of IP3RI (Ser1756) by KRG-TS was very strongly inhibited by Rp-8-Br-cAMPS compared with that by Rp-8-Br-cGMPS. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of [Ca2+]i mobilization by KRG-TS is more strongly dependent on a cAMP/PKA pathway than a cGMP/PKG pathway. KRG-TS also inhibited the release of adenosine triphosphate and serotonin. In addition, only G-Rg3 of protopanaxadiol in KRG-TS inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. Conclusion: These results strongly indicate that KRG-TS is a potent beneficial compound that inhibits [Ca2+]i mobilization in thrombin–platelet interactions, which may result in the prevention of platelet aggregation-mediated thrombotic disease.

Most individuals with Down syndrome show early onset of Alzheimer disease (AD), resulting from the extra copy of chromosome 21. Located on this chromosome is a gene that encodes the dual specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A). One of the pathological hallmarks in AD is the presence of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), which are insoluble deposits that consist of abnormally hyperphosphorylated Tau. Previously it was reported that Tau at the Thr-212 residue was phosphorylated by Dyrk1A in vitro. To determine the physiological significance of this phosphorylation, an analysis was made of the amount of phospho-Thr-212-Tau (pT212) in the brains of transgenic mice that overexpress the human DYRK1A protein (DYRK1A TG mice) that we recently generated. A significant increase in the amount of pT212 was found in the brains of DYRK1A transgenic mice when compared with age-matched littermate controls. We further examined whether Dyrk1A phosphorylates other Tau residues that are implicated in NFTs. We found that Dyrk1A also phosphorylates Tau at Ser-202 and Ser-404 in vitro. Phosphorylation by Dyrk1A strongly inhibited the ability of Tau to promote microtubule assembly. Following this, using mammalian cells and DYRK1A TG mouse brains, it was demonstrated that the amounts of phospho-Ser-202-Tau and phospho-Ser-404-Tau are enhanced when DYRK1A amounts are high. These results provide the first in vivo evidence for a physiological role of DYRK1A in the hyperphosphorylation of Tau and suggest that the extra copy of the DYRK1A gene contributes to the early onset of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]