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Background and purpose: Few studies have assessed the role of vitamin D in the association between cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive function. Here, the aim was to investigate the association between cardiovascular health (CVH) and cognitive function according to vitamin D level in a middle‐aged Korean population. Methods: This cross‐sectional study included 840 men and 1811 women (mean age 57.2 years) from the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center study baseline enrolment (2013–2018). Life's Simple 7 tools from the American Heart Association were used to assess CVH. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Mini‐Mental State Estimation for Dementia Screening (MMSE‐DS), and the serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D level was measured. Results: In the adjusted generalized linear regression models, no significant association between a high Life's Simple 7 score (4–7 metric at optimal level) and MMSE‐DS score (β = 0.01, P = 0.93) was found. Amongst men with a high vitamin D level, the high Life's Simple 7 score group showed a significantly higher MMSE‐DS score (β = 0.48, P = 0.03). However, amongst men in the low vitamin D group, the association was opposite with no statistical significance (β = −0.23, P = 0.08). In women, the results were similar, but both strata according to vitamin D level showed no statistical significance. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that vitamin D is an effect modifier in the association between CVH and cognition, especially in men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Non-invasive body sculpting procedures are becoming increasingly popular. High-intensity focused ultrasound ( HIFU) treatment is a non-surgical fat reduction procedure that permanently destroys unwanted abdominal fat. Despite its increasing popularity, evaluation methods for the procedure have not yet been fully developed. Aims The objective of this study was to develop evaluation methods for HIFU for non-surgical, permanent fat reduction in the anterior abdomen using a porcine model. Methods The abdomens of female pigs ( Sus scrofa, n = 7) were treated with a HIFU device ( SCIZER™, Classys Inc, Seoul, Korea). We examined treatment effects using photography, ultrasound, gross and microscopic pathology, and serum lipid and liver function level analysis, carbon tracer test, and histological examination in order to determine the mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety of the procedure. Results HIFU treatment effectively reduced abdominal fat in a porcine model; it accurately treated the target subcutaneous fat layer and the subcutaneous fat was reduced effectively via ultrasonic measurement after HIFU treatment. On histological staining (H&E, toluidine blue, oil red O and immunohistochemistry), we found that subcutaneous fat reduction occurred effectively via accurate treatment of the targeted subcutaneous fat layer. On hematological assay, there were changes within normal range, and values remained stable after 48 h. Via carbon tracer test, the migration of activated macrophages was identified within the axillary lymph node ( LN). PPAR-delta, a protein defined by immunohistochemistry staining, was overexpressed in the early stage on days 1 and 7, but a gradual decreasing pattern was confirmed. Conclusion We successfully used a HIFU device for body contouring and fat reduction in a pre-clinical study. These results provide that the essential clues toward the effective evaluation, guiding selection of the appropriate diagnostic investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Odontoblasts form dentin at the outermost surface of tooth pulp. An increasing level of evidence in recent years, along with their locational advantage, implicates odontoblasts as a secondary role as sensory or immune cells. Extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a well-characterized signaling molecule in the neuronal and immune systems, and its potential involvement in interodontoblast communications was recently demonstrated. In an effort to elaborate the ATP-mediated signaling pathway in odontoblasts, the current study performed single-cell reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescent detection to investigate the expression of ATP receptors related to calcium signal in odontoblasts from incisal teeth of 8- to 10-wk-old rats, and demonstrated an in vitro response to ATP application via calcium imaging experiments. While whole tissue RT-PCR analysis detected P2Y2, P2Y4, and all 7 subtypes (P2X1 to P2X7) in tooth pulp, single-cell RT-PCR analysis of acutely isolated rat odontoblasts revealed P2Y2, P2Y4, P2X2, P2X4, P2X6, and P2X7 expression in only a subset (23% to 47%) of cells tested, with no evidence for P2X1, P2X3, and P2X5 expression. An increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration in response to 100μM ATP, which was repeated after pretreatment of thapsigargin or under the Ca2+-free condition, suggested function of both ionotropic and metabotropic ATP receptors in odontoblasts. The enhancement of ATP-induced calcium response by ivermectin and inhibition by 5-(3-bromophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzofuro[3,2-e]-1,4-diazepin-2-one (5-BDBD) confirmed a functional P2X4 subtype in odontoblasts. Positive calcium response to 2',3'-O-(benzoyl-4-benzoyl)-ATP (BzATP) and negative response to α,β-methylene ATP suggested P2X2, P2X4, and P2X7 as functional subunits in rat odontoblasts. Single-cell RT-PCR analysis of the cells with confirmed calcium response and immunofluorescent detection further corroborated the expression of P2X4 and P2X7 in odontoblasts. Overall, this study demonstrated heterogeneous expression of calcium-related ATP receptor subtypes in subsets of individual odontoblasts, suggesting extracellular ATP as a potential signal mediator for odontoblastic functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of amoxicillin sodium for controlling field and experimental Streptococcus iniae and S. parauberis infections in olive flounder ( Paralichthys olivaceus) was evaluated after a single intramuscular administration. Furthermore, the minimal inhibitory concentrations ( MIC) against 21 Streptococcus strains were determined. In addition, the pharmacokinetics and residue depletion in olive flounder were investigated. Single intramuscular doses of amoxicillin sodium at 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg/kg b.w. fish significantly reduced cumulative mortality rates to 18.8-31.3% ( P < 0.05) for S. iniae and to 5.0-15.0% ( P < 0.01) for S. parauberis, whereas the S. iniae- and S. parauberis-infected positive control groups showed cumulative mortality rates of 68.8% and 60.0%, respectively. In a S. parauberis outbreak, amoxicillin sodium reduced the cumulative mortality rate to 7.5% and 4.8% at 20 and 40 mg/kg b.w. fish, respectively, whereas that of the untreated control group was 35.2%. Peak plasma concentrations ( Cmax) following a single intramuscular dose of 40 and 80 mg/kg b.w. fish were 62.64 ( Tmax, 1.59 h) and 87.61 ( Tmax, 3.02 h) μg/ mL, respectively, with large AUC0−t/ MIC and Cmax/ MIC ratios, and sufficient T > MIC (time for maintaining plasma drug concentration greater than MICs) for S. iniae and S. parauberis. The estimated withdrawal period of amoxicillin sodium from muscle of olive flounder was about 8 days at 40 mg/kg b.w. fish (at 22 ± 1 °C). These results demonstrated a single intramuscular administration of amoxicillin sodium to be effective against streptococcosis in olive flounder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock bream iridovirus ( RBIV) causes huge losses, especially in rock bream Oplegnathus fasciatus. Rock bream injected with RBIV and held at 29, 26, 23 or 20 °C had 100% mortality. Conversely, all infected fish held at 17 °C survived even after the temperature was progressively increased to 26 °C at 100 dpi. Rock bream exposed to virus and held for 2, 4 and 7 days at 23/26 °C before the temperature was reduced to 17 °C had mortality rates of 26.6/73.2%, 66.6/100% and 93.4/100%, respectively, through 100 dpi. When surviving fish had the water temperature increased from 17 to 26 °C at 100 dpi, they did not exhibit signs of disease and had low virus copy numbers (below 103). To investigate the development of a protective immune, rock bream were infected with RBIV and held at 23 °C before shifting the water temperature to 17 °C at 4 dpi. All injected fish survived until 120 dpi. While 100% of the previously unexposed fish died, 80.2% of the previously infected fish survived. When the survivors were rechallenged again at 160 dpi, no further mortality occurred. The high survival rate of fish following rechallenge with RBIV indicates that protective immunity was established in the surviving rock bream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Sedimentibacter sp. strain MB35-C1, which was isolated from sewage sludge at the Wastewater Treatment Plant of Sanming Steel Co. Ltd. in Fujian, China. The resulting genome of strain MB35-C1 is a single contig of 3,621,605 bp., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Paludicola sp. strain MB14-C6, which was isolated from the lake waters of Donghu, situated at Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The genome of strain MB14-C6 was chosen for further species delineation and comparative genomic analysis., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Aminobacterium sp. strain MB27-C1, which was isolated from sewage sludge collected at the wastewater treatment plant of Sanming Steel Co. Ltd. in Fujian, China. The resulting genome of strain MB27-C1 is a single contig of 2,427,830 bp with 41.58% GC content., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

We report the complete genome sequence of Anaerotignum sp. strain MB30-C6, which was isolated from the dehydrated sludge collected at the wastewater treatment plant of Sanming Steel Co. Ltd. in Fujian, China. The resulting genome of strain MB30-C6 is a single contig of 3,104,838 bp with 39.49% GC content., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Here, we present the complete genome sequence of Kineothrix sp. MB12-C1 (= BCRC 81406), isolated from the feces of black soldier fly ( Hermetia illucens ) larvae. The genome of strain MB12-C1 was chosen for further species classification and comparative genomic analysis., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Proteiniborus sp. MB09-C3 (= BCRC 81405), isolated from the feces of black soldier fly ( Hermetia illucens ) larvae. The genome of strain MB09-C3 was selected for further species delineation and comparative genomic analysis., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Objectives: North Korean Refugees (NKRs) undergo defection, and this has been shown to impact their current health status in South Korea. However, little is understood about how the defection process is related to metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study regarded the defection process to be a quasi-measurement of traumatic experience and investigated whether defection was a risk factor for MetS among NKRs living in South Korea., Study Design: This cross-sectional study obtained data from the Korea University Anam Hospital in Seoul. NKRs (N = 847) voluntarily completed questionnaires and underwent at least one medical examination between October 2008 and July 2021., Methods: Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate whether the number of countries transited by NKRs was associated with MetS by controlling for covariates., Results: The prevalence of MetS among male and female NKRs in South Korea was 12.3% and 13.3%, respectively. The highest prevalence of MetS (33.4%) was among NKRs who had transited two countries. The number of months in transit countries (mean: 49.9 ± 51.7) and period of residence in South Korea (mean: 40.9 ± 40.9 months) were also considered. NKRs who transited three countries had a higher probability of MetS (odds ratio [OR] 2.660, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.161-6.097) than those who travelled directly to South Korea. NKRs who transited three countries and had only resided in South Korea for a short period had a higher probability of MetS (OR 3.424, 95% CI 1.149-10.208) than those who have lived in South Korea for a longer period., Conclusions: Considering the social vulnerability of NKRs and consequential health problems, there is an urgent need for appropriate support from the government and society., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)