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Purpose: This study aimed to verify the value of arterial spin labeling (ASL) collateral perfusion estimation for predicting functional outcomes in acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke. Methods: This secondary analysis of an ongoing prospective observational study included data from participants with acute ischemic stroke due to steno-occlusion of the internal carotid artery and/or the middle cerebral artery within 8 h of symptom onset. We compared the collateral map, which is a 5-phase collateral imaging derived from dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography, and ASL to validate the ASL collateral perfusion estimation. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify independent predictors of favorable functional outcomes. Results: One hundred forty-eight participants (68 ± 13 years, 96 men) were evaluated. The ASL collateral perfusion grade was positively correlated with the collateral perfusion grade of the collateral map (P <.001). Younger age (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.36–0.78, P =.002), lower baseline NIHSS score (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.78–0.92, P <.001), intermediate ASL collateral perfusion grade (OR = 4.02, 95% CI = 1.43–11.26, P =.008), good ASL collateral perfusion grade (OR = 26.37, 95% CI = 1.06–655.01, P =.046), and successful reperfusion (OR = 5.84, 95% CI = 2.08–16.42, P <.001) were independently associated with favorable functional outcomes. Conclusion: ASL collateral perfusion estimation provides prognostic information, which can be helpful in guiding management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The discourse of active aging, as introduced by the WHO, aims at optimizing older adults' opportunities for health, participation, and security that could eventually enhance their social integration and quality of life. Considering that even those with frailty could strive for active aging in the given circumstances, we examined the meaning of active aging in long-term care settings and care strategies to promote it based on the WHO's framework. We conducted interviews with a total of 35 participants. The interpretative analyses revealed that the activities taken place in LTCFs have various scopes depending on older adults' physical and cognitive functional ability, and it captures the forms of activities that go beyond its lexical meaning. By defining being "active," the present findings could contribute to an understanding of how the three elements of active aging can be carried out in LTCFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the role of collateral and permeability imaging derived from dynamic contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography to predict PH 2 hemorrhagic transformation in acute ischemic stroke. Methods: The secondary analysis of a published data from participants with acute ischemic stroke. The multiphase collateral map and permeability imaging were generated by using dynamic signals from dynamic contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography obtained at admission. To identify independent predictors of PH 2 hemorrhagic transformation, age, sex, risk factors, baseline National Institutes of Health Stoke Scale (NIHSS) score, baseline DWI lesion volume, collateral-perfusion status, mode of treatment, and successful early reperfusion were evaluated with multiple logistic regression analyses and the significance of permeability imaging in prediction of PH 2 hemorrhagic transformation was evaluated by subgroup analysis. Results: In 115 participants, including 70 males (mean (SD) age, 69 (12) years), PH 2 hemorrhagic transformation occurred in 6 participants with very poor collateral-perfusion status (MAC 0). MAC 0 (OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01, 0.74; P =.03) was independently associated with PH 2 hemorrhagic transformation. In 22 participants with MAC 0, the permeable signal on Kep permeability imaging was the only significant characteristic associated with PH 2 hemorrhagic transformation (P =.009). The specificity of Kep permeability imaging was 93.8% (95% confidence interval: 69.8, 99.8) in predicting PH 2 hemorrhagic transformation. Conclusion: Individual-based prediction of PH 2 hemorrhagic transformation in patients with acute ischemic stroke may be possible with multiphase collateral map and permeability imaging derived from dynamic contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we found that alpha-pinene (α-pinene) exhibits anti-inflammatory activity through the suppression of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway in mouse peritoneal macrophages. α-Pinene is found in the oils of many coniferous trees and rosemary. We investigated the inhibitory effects of α-Pinene on inflammatory responses induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) using mouse peritoneal macrophages. α-Pinene significantly decreased the LPS-induced production of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and nitric oxide (NO). α-Pinene also inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expressions in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Additionally, the activations of MAPKs and NF-κB were attenuated by means of α-pinene treatment. These results indicate that α-pinene has an anti-inflammatory effect and that it is a potential candidate as a new drug to treat various inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bone homeostasis is maintained by a balance between bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. Osteoporosis occurs when osteoclast activity surpasses osteoblast activity. Pro-inflammatory cytokines stimulate osteoclast differentiation and activity by increasing production of macrophage-colony stimulating factor and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL). In this study, we investigated whether Magnoliae Flos (MF), one of the most commonly used Chinese medicinal herbs for managing rhinitis, sinusitis and headache, could effectively inhibit osteoporosis. In ovariectomized (OVX) mice compared to sham mice, the body weight increased and serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase 5b, calcium, and osteocalcin were significantly elevated. However, orally administrated MF extract substantially inhibited the increased body weight and serum levels of bone turnover markers, without any evidence of tissue toxicity. MF extract treatment significantly reversed the morphometric parameters of ovariectomy-induced bone loss, including trabecular bone volume, thickness, number, separation, and bone density, to almost the same levels of the sham mice. Furthermore, MF extract reduced the RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption by inhibiting the activities of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cathepsin K in mouse bone marrow macrophages. MF extract appeared to increase ALP activity in murine osteoblastic cells. Taken together, MF extract may be a beneficial supplement for the blockade of osteoporosis progression, particularly for the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Simple Summary: This study evaluates the prognostic capability of the 18fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) which can be used as a potential biomarker reflecting glycolysis. ATC is a rare, but highly lethal disease with a one-year overall survival of 20%, and its prognostic factors have rarely been investigated. In this study, survival data correlated with PET/CT derived parameters provide evidence that FDG uptake assessed by PET/CT is a prognostic marker, which may have a clinical impact on the management of patients with ATC. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare but highly lethal disease. Therefore, its diagnosis at an early stage and a rapid and accurate establishment of a proper treatment strategy is warranted. Tumor glycolysis assessed by 18fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) is predictive of many cancers despite its limited proven applicability to ATC. We investigated the prognostic capability of [18F]FDG PET/CT in patients with ATC. Forty patients with ATC were subjected to [18F]FDG PET/CT for pre-treatment evaluation. The tumor size and stage, overall survival (OS), and PET parameters, including the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were analyzed. The 1-year OS rate was 17.5% with a mean life expectancy of 7.1 months. Distant metastasis was detected solely using PET/CT in 37.5% of cases. High SUVmax, MTV, and TLG were significantly associated with poor prognosis (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, and p < 0.001, respectively). A significant difference (p < 0.001) was observed in OS between patients with a high and low tumor SUVmax. Glucose metabolism assessed by [18F]FDG PET/CT was significantly associated with the OS of patients with ATC. PET-derived parameters such as SUVmax, MTV, and TLG are useful prognostic biomarkers for ATC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deer bone has been used as a health-enhancing food as well as an antiaging agent in traditional Oriental medicine. Recently, the water extract of deer bone (DBE) showed a neuroprotective action against glutamate or Aβ1-42-induced cell death of mouse hippocampal cells by exerting antioxidant activity through the suppression of MAP kinases. The present study is to examine whether DBE improves memory impairment induced by scopolamine. DBE (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg) was administered orally to mice for 14 days, and then scopolamine (2 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered together with DBE for another 7 days. Memory performance was evaluated in the Morris water maze (MWM) test and passive avoidance test. Also, brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, biomarkers of oxidative stress and the loss of neuronal cells in the hippocampus, was evaluated by histological examinations. Administration of DBE significantly restored memory impairments induced by scopolamine in the MWM test (escape latency and number of crossing platform area), and in the passive avoidance test. Treatment with DBE inhibited the AChE activity and increased the ChAT activity in the brain of memory-impaired mice induced by scopolamine. Additionally, the administration of DBE significantly prevented the increase of lipid peroxidation and the decrease of glutathione level in the brain of mice treated with scopolamine. Also, the DBE treatment restored the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase to control the level. Furthermore, scopolamine-induced oxidative damage of neurons in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions were prevented by DBE treatment. It is suggested that DBE may be useful for memory improvement through the regulation of cholinergic marker enzyme activities and the suppression of oxidative damage of neurons in the brain of mice treated with scopolamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water extracts of deer bone, called nokgol in Korean, and deer antlers have been traditionally used as anti-aging medicines. Deer antler extract is known to possess various activities, including anti-aging or anti-amnesic activitiy. However, there are no reports about the neuroprotective effect of deer bone extract (DBE). The objective of this study was to examine the neuroprotective effect of DBE on glutamate-induced cell death of mouse hippocampal cells (HT-22 cells) and to elucidate the mode of neuroprotective action of DBE. In this study, HT-22 cells was pretreated with DBE before stimulation with glutamate, and then, the effects of DBE on cell viability, oxidative stress markers, and MAP kinases were determined. Separately, the effect of DBE on H2O2 or amyloid beta peptide (1-42) (A β1-42)-induced cytotoxicity of HT-22 cells was evaluated. DBE protected HT-22 cells from glutamate-induced cell death and prevented the increase in lactate dehydrogenase leakage in HT-22 cells. DBE also prevented glutamate-induced oxidative stress, as indicated by increased reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation as well as by decreases in glutathione (GSH) levels and GSH peroxidase activity. In addition, DBE inhibited glutamate-induced activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), p38, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase, indicators of oxidative stress-induced cell death. Furthermore, DBE also protected against H2O2 and A β1-42-induced cytotoxicity. These results suggest that DBE may be a useful functional agent for the prevention against neurodegenerative disorders involving oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]