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Il-Gyu Ko,1 Jun-Jang Jin,1 Lakkyong Hwang,1 Sang-Hoon Kim,1 Chang-Ju Kim,1 Kyu Yeoun Won,2 Yong Gil Na,3 Khae Hawn Kim,3 Su Jin Kim4 1Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea; 2Department of Pathology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 05278, Korea; 3Department of Urology, Chungnam National University Sejong Hospital, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Sejong-si, 30099, Republic of Korea; 4Department of Urology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, 26426, Republic of KoreaCorrespondence: Su Jin KimDepartment of Urology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, 20 Ilsanro, Wonju, Gangwon-do, 26426, Republic of KoreaTel +82-10-3287-0615Email hygeiasujin@naver.comBackground: Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic disorder that indicates bladder-related pain or discomfort. Patients with IC often experience urination problems, such as urinary frequency and urgency, along with pain or discomfort in the bladder area. Therefore, new treatments based on IC etiology are needed. Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) is a biologic agonist of the adenosine A2A receptor, and PDRN has anti-inflammatory effect and inhibits apoptosis. In the current study, the effect of PDRN on cyclophosphamide-induced IC animal model was investigated using rats.Methodology: To induce the IC animal model, 75 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide was injected intraperitoneally once every 3 days for 10 days. The rats in the PDRN-treated groups were intraperitoneally injected with 0.5 mL physiological saline containing 8 mg/kg PDRN, once a day for 10 days after IC induction.Results: Induction of IC by cyclophosphamide injection caused voiding dysfunction, bladder edema, and histological damage. Cyclophosphamide injection increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enhanced apoptosis. In contrast, PDRN treatment alleviated voiding dysfunction, bladder edema, and histological damage. Secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and expressions of apoptotic factors were suppressed by PDRN treatment. These changes indicate that treatment with PDRN improves voiding function by ultimately promoting the repair of damaged bladder tissue.Conclusion: The conclusion of this experiment suggests the possibility that PDRN could be used as an effective therapeutic agent for IC.Keywords: interstitial cystitis, adenosine A2A receptor, polydeoxyribonucleotide, voiding function, inflammation, apoptosis

Biologically relevant monolayer and bilayer films often consist of micron-scale high viscosity domains in a continuous low viscosity matrix. Here we show that this morphology can cause the overall monolayer fluidity to vary by orders of magnitude over a limited range of monolayer compositions. Modeling the system as a two-dimensional suspension in analogy with classic three-dimensional suspensions of hard spheres in a liquid solvent explains the rheological data with no adjustable parameters. In monolayers with ordered, highly viscous domains dispersed in a continuous low viscosity matrix, the surface viscosity increases as a power law with the area fraction of viscous domains. Changing the phase of the continuous matrix from a disordered fluid phase to a more ordered, condensed phase dramatically changes the overall monolayer viscosity. Small changes in the domain density and/or continuous matrix composition can alter the monolayer viscosity by orders of magnitude.

•22q11DS offers a compelling model to understand the neural substrates of attentional dysfunction.•First study directly comparing neural function in 22q11DS vs. ADHD patients•22q11DS and ADHD patients show a shared deficit in RI-related activation.•ADHD patients showed greater activity in the middle frontal gyrus than 22q11DS during RI.•Neural activity is inversely correlated with self-reported Cognitive Impulsivity in 22q11DS.

Fang-An Lin,1 Lee-Ching Hwang,1,2 Meng-Ting Tsou,1,3 Wei-Hsin Huang1,2 1Department of Family Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; 2Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan; 3Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Taipei, TaiwanCorrespondence: Wei-Hsin Huang, Department of Family Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, No. 92, Sec. 2, Zhongshan N. Road, Taipei City, 10449, Taiwan, Tel +886-2-2543-3535, Fax +886-2-2543-3642, Email whh.5881@mmh.org.twPurpose: This study aimed to determine the incidence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its predictors in older patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.Patients and Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed repeated health surveillance data collected between 2009 and 2018 at Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taiwan. MetS was defined based on the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (Taiwan revision). Participants were diagnosed with fatty liver disease using abdominal ultrasonography. The exclusion criteria included age < 65 years, having viral hepatitis, frequent alcohol consumption, and pre-existing MetS. Logistic regression analysis was conducted, adjusting for sex and age.Results: We enrolled 758 older participants; 457 (60.3%) with preexisting metabolic syndrome were excluded. We studied the remaining 301 participants (39.7%), with a mean age of 71.3 ± 5.4 years. The cumulative incidence of MetS was 43.5% after a mean follow-up period of 4.2 years; moreover, it was higher in women as well as in participants with diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia. After adjusting for age and sex, we identified the following risk factors for MetS: baseline high fasting plasma glucose levels (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] =1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03– 2.95), baseline hypertriglyceridemia (aOR = 2.26; 95% CI 1.15– 4.47), and baseline large waist circumference (aOR =1.71; 95% CI 1.01– 2.89). Furthermore, increased waist circumference and fasting plasma glucose levels at follow-up were significant risk factors.Conclusion: There is a high incidence of MetS among older individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; further, women and individuals with diabetes or hypertriglyceridemia are at risk of developing MetS. Moreover, waist circumference and fasting plasma glucose levels were positively associated with the risk of MetS.Keywords: Incidence, metabolic syndrome, fatty liver disease, NAFLD, elderly

Neutral endopeptidase (NEP) expression and its effect on substance P during intestinal inflammation were studied in rats infected with Trichinella spiralis. A fluorometric assay was conducted on NEP enzymatic activity revealed that inflammation of the intestines resulted in a significant downregulation of NEP enzymatic activity and a significant reduction in substance P degradation in jejunal longitudinal myenteric plexus and jejunal mucosa-circular muscle.