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Sei Han Song,1 Seung Ho Choi,2 Hae Ri Park,1 Soo Yeon Jeon,1 Seung Hyun Kim2 1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; 2Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Anesthesia and Pain Research Institute, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, KoreaCorrespondence: Seung Hyun Kim, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Anesthesia and Pain Research Institute, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Korea, Tel +82-2-2224-1055, Fax +82-2-2227-7897, Email anesshkim@yuhs.acIntroduction: Anesthesiologists are exposed to the risk of infection from various secretions or droplets from the respiratory tract of patients. We aimed to determine bacterial exposure to anesthesiologists’ faces during endotracheal intubation and extubation.Methods: Six resident anesthesiologists performed 66 intubation and 66 extubation procedures in patients undergoing elective otorhinolaryngology surgeries. Sampling was performed by swabbing the face shields twice in an overlapping slalom pattern, before and after each procedure. Samples for pre-intubation and pre-extubation were collected immediately after wearing the face shield at the time of anesthesia induction and at the end of the surgery, respectively. Post-intubation samples were collected after the injection of anesthetic drugs, positive pressure mask ventilation, endotracheal intubation, and confirmation of intubation success. Post-extubation samples were collected after endotracheal tube suction, oral suction, extubation, and confirmation of spontaneous breathing and stable vital signs. All swabs were cultured for 48 h, and bacterial growth was confirmed by colony forming unit (CFU) count.Results: There was no bacterial growth in either pre- or post-intubation bacterial cultures. In contrast, while there was no bacterial growth in pre-extubation samples, 15.2% of post-extubation samples were CFU+ (0/66 [0%] vs 10/66 [15.2%], p=0.001). All the CFU+ samples belonged to 47 patients with post-extubation coughing, and the CFU count was correlated with the number of coughing episodes during the process of extubation (P < 0.01, correlation coefficient= 0.403).Conclusion: The current study shows the actual chance of bacterial exposure to the anesthesiologist’s face during the patient awakening process after general anesthesia. Given the correlation between the CFU count and the number of coughing episodes, we recommend anesthesiologists to use appropriate facial protection equipment during this procedure.Keywords: bacterial exposure, cough, extubation, face shield, intubation

Luke A Egan,1 Haeme RP Park,1,2,&ast; Janine Lam,1,&ast; Justine M Gatt1– 3 1Centre for Wellbeing, Resilience and Recovery, Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia; 2School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia; 3Black Dog Institute, Randwick, NSW, Australia&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Justine M Gatt, Email j.gatt@unsw.edu.auAbstract: The modern conception of mental health encompasses not only mental illness but also mental wellbeing, including positive emotional states and other forms of positive experience. Accordingly, research on resilience — that is, recovery or adaptation following adversity – has recently expanded to consider the roles of positive affect in the resilience process. To review this research, we performed a keyword search of all peer-reviewed journals within the American Psychological Association’s PsycInfo database, retrieving all studies of positive affect in the context of resilience. These studies measured positive affect either as the outcome of the resilience process or as a resilience resource in its own right. With positive affect as the outcome, the literature suggests that various resilience resources can promote positive affect following a stressor, especially positive personality traits (eg, hope, optimism, self-compassion) and supportive interpersonal connections. With positive affect as a resilience resource, the literature suggests that higher levels of positive affect may protect individuals from the impact of stress on a number of outcomes, such as depression and trauma symptoms. In all, the reviewed research showcases a wide range of stressors, resources, and outcomes, and there are numerous openings for future discoveries in this promising area of inquiry.Keywords: positive emotion, wellbeing, happiness, stress, trauma, adversity

Background and Purpose: Whole-brain irradiation (WBI) therapy produces learning and memory deficits in patients with brain tumours. Although the pathological cascade of cognitive deficits remains unknown, it may involve reduced neurogenesis within the hippocampus. Baicalein is a flavonoid derived from the roots of Huangqin, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, and has been shown to have antioxidant effects. Here, we have investigated the protective effects of baicalein on irradiation-induced impairments in hippocampal neurogenesis and cognitive function.Experimental Approach: Radioprotective effects of baicalein were evaluated in C17.2 neural progenitor cells and 6-week-old male C57BL/6 mice during hippocampal neurogenesis. Mice were given a single dose of 5 Gy WBI. Changes in hippocampal neurogenesis, oxidative stress and BDNF-pCREB signalling were evaluated. Morris water maze and passive avoidance test were used to assess learning and memory.Key Results: Baicalein protected neural progenitor cells against irradiation-induced necrotic cell death. Pretreatment with baicalein attenuated the irradiation-induced impairment of hippocampal neurogenesis by modulating oxidative stress and elevating BDNF-pCREB signalling. Furthermore, baicalein prevented the spatial learning and memory retention deficits follwing WBI.Conclusions and Implications: Our findings suggest that baicalein can be viewed as a potential therapeutic agent that protects against the impaired neurogenesis induced by WBI, and its neurocognitive consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptococcus mutans, a major etiological agent of dental caries, frequently causes systemic disease, such as subacute bacterial endocarditis, if it enters the bloodstream. In this study, the production pathways of the proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), induced by S. mutans in mouse macrophage were examined using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The S. mutans stimulated the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA at a multiplicity of infection of 1 : 100, which increased at 2 and 4 h, respectively, to 24 h. It also induced the production of high levels of the TNF-α and IL-1β proteins, which increased at 2 h and reached a peak at 4 and 24 h, respectively. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) was activated and reached a maximum level 30 min after the S. mutans treatment. The expression of TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA and protein was suppressed by the treatment with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, an NF-κB inhibitor. The S. mutans-induced TNF-α expression was suppressed by the presence of SB203580, a p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitor, or SP600125, a Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) MAP kinase inhibitor. On the other hand, IL-1β expression was inhibited by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/p38/JNK MAP kinase inhibitor pretreatment. In addition, TNF-α production was suppressed more in the Toll-like receptor 2(-/-) (TLR2(-/-)) macrophages than in the TLR4(-/-) macrophages, whereas IL-1β production was suppressed more in the TLR4(-/-) macrophages than in the TLR2(-/-) macrophages. These results show that S. mutans stimulates the production of TNF-α and IL-1β in the mouse macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7, by activating ERK/p38/JNK, and NF-κB through TLR2 and TLR4, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on cell survival was studied by using serum-starved A549 non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) cells. A MTT assay showed that EGCG significantly increased the viability of serum-starved A549 cells compared to the control cells, though EGCG at high concentration ( 300 muM) had no protective effect against serum withdrawal-induced cell apoptosis. Western blots showed increased immunoreactivity for phospho-Akt and phospho-GSK3beta in EGCG-treated cells. To determine the mechanism for Akt phosphorylation, cells were pretreated with various kinase inhibitors before exposure to EGCG. Only LY294002 inhibited Akt activation induced by EGCG, implying that EGCG-induced Akt activation is PI3K dependent. Both phospho-Raf-1 and Raf-1 proteins were significantly decreased, whereas B-raf expression was not altered. This suggests that the Raf kinases have no role in the increased cell survival caused by EGCG. This study has shown that EGCG protects A549 cells from apoptosis induced by serum deprivation via Akt activation and this protective effect may limit the clinical use of EGCG in treating and preventing NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cosmos bipinnatus has been used in a traditional herbal remedy for various diseases such as jaundice, intermittent fever, and splenomegaly. The present study describes the preliminary evaluation of antioxidant activities and antigenotoxic effect of Cosmos bipinnatus flowers according to four different colors (white, pink, orange, and violet). The antioxidants properties were evaluated by determining TPC, DPPH RSA, ABTS RSA, and RP. The highest TPC of methanolic CFE (at concentration of 1 mg/ml) showed in violet colored CF (1,013 microM), and IC(50) of DPPH RSA, ABTS RSA, and RP were also the lowest in violet colored CFE with values of 0.61, 1.48, and 0.82 mg/ml, respectively. The antigenotoxic effect of the CFE on DNA damage induced by H(2)O(2) in human leukocytes was evaluated by Comet assay. Pretreatments with CFE produced significant reductions in oxidative DNA damage at the concentration of 500 microg/ml, except for violet colored CFE. The ED(50) value of white colored CFE has shown the highest inhibition (0.40 mg/ml) on H(2)O(2) induced DNA damage, followed by orange > pink > violet color. These results suggested that Cosmos bipinnatus has significant antioxidant activity and protective effect against oxidative DNA damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated a new herbal preparation, HemoHIM, for its antiinflammatory activity against carrageenan-induced edema, the formation of granulation tissues by cotton pellet and experimental colitis by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). The HemoHIM was prepared by adding its ethanol-insoluble polysaccharide fraction to the total water extract of Angelica Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma and Paeonia Radix. The preparation (4 mg of solids/mL of drinking water, p.o., 50-100 mg/kg of body weight, i.p.) produced a dose-related inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw edema and cotton pellet-induced granuloma in rats. In addition, HemoHIM also reduced the degree of TNBS-induced colitis and improved the gross and histological changes such as thickening, dilatation, ulceration, and infiltration by polymorphonuclear leukocytes and multiple erosive lesions. These results demonstrate that the HemoHIM has a potent antiinflammatory effect. Copyright 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying candidate index terms from Korean documents poses unique problems for which the methods used to index English documents are inappropriate. In particular, in this paper we address the problem of compound noun indexing that involves segmenting of decomposing compound nouns into promising index terms. Compound nouns as index terms that usually subscribe to the specific notion tend to increase the precision of retrieval performance. The indiscrete use of component nouns of a compound noun index terms, on the other hand, may improve the recall performance, but can lead to loss of precision. Our proposed method of handling compound nouns with the goal of preserving the precision while attaining the recall computes the relevance of component nouns of a compound noun to the document content by comparing the document sets that are supported by the component nouns and the terms of the document. Comparison metric is divergence of two information sources. The operational content of a term is represented as the probabilistic distribution of the term over the document set. Experiments with a set of 1,000 documents show that the proposed method out-performs other known methods, including even manual indexing, for thirty sample queries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The entropy of printed languages suggests how predictable the language usages are and how efficiently the printed texts can be handled in text processing. In this paper, for the first time we present an upper bound estimate of the entropy for printed Korean. We obtained 6.01 bits for each Korean syllable. The method to compute the entropy makes use of a stochastic language model for Korean whose probabilistic parameters are estimated from a sample of 5.5 million word-phrases. The stochastic model was designed to best utilize the structure of Korean. An entropy estimate is computed by running the stochastic model on a sample of 1.45 million units that is carefully arranged to represent a wide range of printed Korean styles. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting patient perceptions of sleep concerns and the need for treatment to understand and enable effective management., Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data collected between November 2018 and October 2022 at the sleep clinic of a tertiary hospital. Adults aged > 19 years who completed sleep questionnaires and polysomnography (PSG) were included. Logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between demographic, clinical, and social factors, sleep questionnaire responses, and PSG data with self-reported sleep concerns ( n  = 3,457) and perceived need for treatment( n  = 3,135)., Results: Insomnia-related symptoms affect both sleep concerns and need for treatment, and sleep maintenance is the most influential factor in both sleep concerns (odds ratio[OR] = 19.74, 95% confidence interval[CI] 6.17-63.20) and need for treatment (OR = 3.84, 95% CI 2.19-6.73). Young age (OR = 2.66, 95% CI 1.38-5.12), employment status, and daily life dysfunction were determinants of treatment readiness. None of the PSG parameters showed an independent association with sleep concerns or need for treatment., Conclusions: Sleep maintenance problems had the most profound effect on sleep concerns and the need for treatment. Social needs are key factors in seeking treatment. A discrepancy has been noted between the effects of subjective and objective factors on sleep concerns and the need for treatment; therefore, patient management should pay attention to subjective sleep complaints.

High-speed electrical control of nano-optoelectronic properties in two-dimensional semiconductors is a building block for the development of excitonic devices, allowing the seamless integration of nano-electronics and -photonics. Here, we demonstrate a high-speed electrical modulation of nanoscale exciton behaviors in a MoS 2 monolayer at room temperature through a quantum tunneling nanoplasmonic cavity. Electrical control of tunneling electrons between Au tip and MoS 2 monolayer facilitates the dynamic switching of neutral exciton- and trion-dominant states at the nanoscale. Through tip-induced spectroscopic analysis, we locally characterize the modified recombination dynamics, resulting in a significant change in the photoluminescence quantum yield. Furthermore, by obtaining a time-resolved second-order correlation function, we demonstrate that this electrically-driven nanoscale exciton-trion interconversion achieves a modulation frequency of up to 8 MHz. Our approach provides a versatile platform for dynamically manipulating nano-optoelectronic properties in the form of transformable excitonic quasiparticles, including valley polarization, recombination, and transport dynamics., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Microbial polysaccharides derived from bacterial sources possess unique properties because of their structural complexity contributing to exceptional characteristics, including potent immunostimulatory effects. In this study, we extracted crude polysaccharide from Bacillus velezensis GV1 (BPS) which was isolated from Korean ginseng vinegar, and subsequently characterized for sugar composition and functional groups using FT-IR and methylation method. Structural analysis indicated that BPS was composed of mannan and glucan in a ratio of 7.5:2.5. The immunostimulatory effect of BPS was investigated in RAW264.7 macrophages. The results revealed that BPS significantly increased NO production, as well as the secretion and expression of key cytokines, such as IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β. These effects were confirmed using a TLR4 antagonist (TAK-242). Moreover, BPS exhibited immunostimulatory potential by promoting the NF-κB signaling pathway. In conclusion, this study establishes a foundation for the potential application of BPS as an immunostimulatory adjuvant or alternative component in functional foods, particularly for enhancing innate immune responses., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Fucosterols have been widely studied for their antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, they have not yet been studied in the field of dentistry. This study aimed to determine whether pretreatment of dentin with fucosterol before resin restoration enhances bond stability in resin-dentin hybrid layers. After applying 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 wt% fucosterol to demineralized dentin, microtensile bond strength (MTBS) and nanoleakage tests were performed before and after collagenase aging, and the surface was observed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The fucosterol-treated group showed better bond strength and less nanoleakage both before and after collagenase aging, and the corresponding structures were confirmed using SEM. MMP zymography confirmed that the activity of MMPs was relatively low along the concentration gradient of fucosterol, and the FTIR analysis confirmed the production of collagen crosslinks. In addition, fucosterol exhibits cytotoxicity against Streptococcus mutans, the main cause of dental decay. The results of this study suggest that fucosterol pretreatment improves bond strength and reduces nanoleakage at the resin-dentin interface, possibly through a mechanism involving collagen cross-link formation via the inhibition of endogenous and exogenous MMP activity. This study demonstrates the potential of fucosterol as an MMP inhibitor in dentin, which contributes to long-term resin-dentin bond stability and can be used as a restorative material., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) include re-experiencing trauma, avoidance behaviors, negative alterations in cognition and mood. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are unclear. Dysfunction of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis) and dysregulation of glutamatergic and GABAergic systems were shown during PTSD. Therefore, regulating hormonal change or glutamate energy metabolism are considered as a therapeutic approach to alleviate this condition. Herbal medicine may be effective in treating PTSD due to its ability to target multiple underlying mechanisms with various compounds. Hominis placenta (HP) is a traditional medicine widely used in East Asia for various conditions. However, the effect on PTSD has not been clarified. We aimed to investigate the effects of HP treatment in single-prolonged stress with shock (SPSS)-induced PTSD mice and explore its possible mechanisms. HP treatment at ST36 acupoints, combined with herbal medicine and acupuncture point stimulation, was applied three times/week for 2 weeks. HP treatment effectively alleviated anxiety and cognitive decline in SPSS-induced PTSD mice, as detected by Open field and the Y-maze test. Additionally, HP decreased the corticosterone levels and proinflammatory cytokines in the serum, modulated brain energy metabolism, and inhibited glutamate excitotoxicity, while regulating neuronal activity through modulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, as demonstrated by western blot and immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry analyses. These findings reveal that HP treatment effectively alleviates PTSD-like behaviors by regulating energy metabolism and neuronal activity though modulation of the HPA-axis and BDNF levels in PTSD mice, indicating that HP treatment is a promising therapeutic approach for PTSD., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

We investigated the effects of epigenetic modifications on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using a novel combination of herbal medicines from Panax ginseng , Astragalus membranaceus , Atractylodes macrocephala , and Glycyrrhiza uralensis . The herbal formula extract (HFE) (250 mg/kg) was administered orally once daily for 14 days to determine its effects on PTSD in mice by combining prolonged stress and foot shock. The open field and Y-maze tests determined the effect of HFE on PTSD-induced anxiety and cognition. Hippocampal neuronal plastic changes and molecular mechanism were verified. Treatment with HFE decreased anxiety-like behavior and enhanced cognition. Moreover, it reduced the number of PTSD-related hilar ectopic granule cells in the dentate gyrus (DG). PTSD mice showed reduced neuronal plasticity of doublecortin + cells in the DG, which was restored by HFE treatment. HFE reversed PTSD-induced inhibition of the Reelin/Dab1 pathway, a critical signaling cascade involved in brain development, and regulated Reelin methylation. Furthermore, DNA methylation, methyl-CpG binding protein 2, and DNA methyltransferase 1, which were elevated in the hippocampus of PTSD mice, were restored following HFE treatment. HFE increased the expression of synaptic plasticity-related factors in the hippocampus of PTSD mice. Our findings suggest that HFE can facilitate PTSD treatment by alleviating behavioral abnormalities through the restoration of hippocampal dysfunction via regulation of the Reelin/Dab-1 pathway and DNA methylation in the hippocampus.

Objective: Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), one of the major periodontopathogens, is associated with the progression and exacerbation of atherosclerosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor antagonist, RC-3095, could attenuate P. gingivalis LPS-induced inflammatory responses in endothelial cells and macrophages, as well as atherosclerosis in an ApoE -/- mouse model treated with P. gingivalis LPS., Methods: The effect of RC-3095 on P. gingivalis LPS-induced endothelial inflammation was examined using HUVECs and rat aortic endothelium. THP-1 cells were polarized into M1 macrophages by exposure to P. gingivalis LPS, with or without RC-3095. The effect of RC-3095 on atherosclerosis progression was assessed in high-fat-fed male ApoE -/- mice through injections of P. gingivalis LPS, RC-3095, or a combination of both., Results: RC-3095 significantly reduced P. gingivalis LPS-induced leukocyte adhesion to endothelial cells and aortic endothelium by suppressing NF-κB-dependent expressions of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. In addition, RC-3095 inhibited the P. gingivalis LPS-induced polarization of M1 macrophages by blocking the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. Moreover, RC-3095 decreased the area of atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE -/- mice, which was accelerated by P. gingivalis LPS injection, and lowered the expressions of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in the aortic tissue of mice with atherosclerosis., Conclusions: RC-3095 can alleviate P. gingivalis LPS-induced endothelial inflammation, macrophage polarization, and atherosclerosis progression, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic approach for periodontal pathogen-associated atherosclerosis., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Background: We aimed to evaluate long-term outcomes of gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) for cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs)., Methods: Among the 233 CCM patients who underwent GKS, 79 adult patients (96 lesions) followed for over 10 years were included and analyzed retrospectively. Annual hemorrhage rate (AHR) was analyzed the entire cohort of 233 patients and the subset of 79 enrolled patients by dividing lesions into overall CCM lesions and brainstem lesions. AHR, neurologic outcome, adverse radiation effect (ARE), and changes of lesions in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were compared before and after GKS. Cox-regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for hemorrhage following GKS., Results: Mean follow-up duration of 79 enrolled patients was 14 years (range, 10-23 years). The AHR of all CCMs for entire cohort at each time point was 17.8% (pre-GKS), 5.9% (≤ 2 years post-GKS), 1.8% (≤ 10 years post-GKS). The AHR of all CCM for 79 enrolled patients was 21.4% (pre-GKS), 3.8% (2 years post-GKS), 1.4% (10 years post-GKS), and 2.3% (> 10 years post-GKS). The AHR of brainstem cavernous malformation (CM) for entire cohort at each time point was 22.4% (pre-GKS), 10.1% (≤ 2 years post-GKS), 3.2% (≤ 10 years post-GKS). The AHR of brainstem CM for 79 enrolled patients was 27.2% (pre-GKS), 5.8% (2 years post-GKS), 3.4% (10 years post-GKS), and 3.5% (> 10 years post-GKS). Out of the 79 enrolled patients, 35 presented with focal neurologic deficits at the initial clinical visit. Among these patients, 74.3% showed recovery at the last follow-up. Symptomatic ARE occurred in five (6.4%) patients. No mortality occurred. Most lesions were decreased in size at the last follow-up MRI. Previous hemorrhage history (hazard ratio [HR], 8.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-65.88; P = 0.043), and brainstem location (HR, 3.10; 95% CI, 1.26-7.64; P = 0.014) were significant risk factors for hemorrhage event., Conclusion: GKS for CCM showed favorable long-term outcomes. GKS should be considered for CCM, especially when it has a previous hemorrhage history and brainstem location., Competing Interests: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (© 2024 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.)

The placenta is crucial for fetal development, yet the impact of environmental stressors such as arsenic exposure remains poorly understood. We apply single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze the response of the mouse placenta to arsenic, revealing cell-type-specific gene expression, function, and pathological changes. Notably, the Prap1 gene, which encodes proline-rich acidic protein 1 (PRAP1), is significantly upregulated in 26 placental cell types including various trophoblast cells. Our study shows a female-biased increase in PRAP1 in response to arsenic and localizes it in the placenta. In vitro and ex vivo experiments confirm PRAP1 upregulation following arsenic treatment and demonstrate that recombinant PRAP1 protein reduces arsenic-induced cytotoxicity and downregulates cell cycle pathways in human trophoblast cells. Moreover, PRAP1 knockdown differentially affects cell cycle processes, proliferation, and cell death depending on the presence of arsenic. Our findings provide insights into the placental response to environmental stress, offering potential preventative and therapeutic approaches for environment-related adverse outcomes in mothers and children., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The interplay between Cooper pairs and Bogoliubov-de Gennes (BdG) quasiparticles is a topic of considerable interest in the quantum properties of solids, but its important ingredient, the sufficient amount of low-energy quasiparticles to interact with Cooper pairs remains elusive in conventional superconductors. Here a gapless superconductor with coupled paramagnetic atomic layers is used to generate a significant amount of zero-energy quasiparticles that Anderson-localize and bifurcate into regions of high and low zero-energy quasiparticle density of states. The enriched zero-energy quasiparticles induce puddled superconductivity and Josephson vortices. This discovery not only advances the understanding of the mutual interaction of Cooper pairs and BdG quasiparticles but also opens a new avenue for exploring and controlling exotic quantum phenomena where superconductivity, disorder, and spin degrees of freedom are entangled., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Background: Treatment for large (> 10 mL) arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) remains highly challenging. This study evaluated long-term effect of time-staged gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) for large AVMs., Methods: For patients with large AVMs treated by time-staged GKS over 10 years, time-staged GKS was repeated every three years targeting the entire nidus if total obliteration was not achieved. Obliteration rate and post-GKS complications were assessed based on 10 mL volume interval of AVMs. Prognostic factors for these outcomes were evaluated using Cox regression analysis., Results: Ninety-six patients were analyzed. For AVMs in the 10-20 mL subgroup, a dose ≥ 13.5Gy yielded higher obliteration rate in the first GKS. In the 20-30 mL subgroup, a second GKS significantly boosted obliteration. AVMs > 30 mL did not achieve any obliteration with the first GKS. Among 35 (36.4%) cases lost to follow-up, 7 (7.2%) were lost due to GKS complications. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that each subgroup needed different time for achieving 50% favorable obliteration outcome rate: 3.5, 6.5, and 8.2 years for 10-20 mL, 20-30 mL, and > 30 mL subgroup, respectively. Total obliteration rate calculated by intention-to-treat method: 73%, 51.7%, 35.7%, respectively, 61.5% overall. Post-GKS hemorrhage and chronic encapsulated expanding hematoma (CEEH) occurred in 13.5% and 8.3% of cases, respectively. Two patients died. Dose and volume were significant prognostic factors for obliteration. Initial AVM volume was a significant prognostic factor of post-GKS hemorrhage and CEEH., Conclusion: Time-staged GKS for large AVMs less than 30 mL has highly favorable long-term outcome and a tolerable complication rate., Competing Interests: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (© 2024 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.)

Background: Modern neurosurgery has undergone significant evolution to include minimally invasive procedures, with the supraorbital approach (SOA) being a prime example. In this study, we aim to explore the surgical techniques and outcomes of this approach in the surgical treatment of frontal lobe, anterior skull base, and parasellar lesions., Methods: This study included 33 patients aged 36-83 years who underwent surgery using the SOA for lesions in the inferior frontal lobe, anterior skull base, and parasellar area between 2015 and 2024. There were 25 cases of meningioma, 2 cases of brain abscess, 2 cases of glioma, and one case each of craniopharyngioma, hemangioma, metastasis, and Rathke's cleft cyst. The medical data and follow-up results were retrospectively analyzed., Results: The mean size of lesion was 3.38±3.05 cm. The mean follow-up period was 48.8 months. Gross total resection was achieved in 25 patients (75.8%). There were no perioperative deaths, cases of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, or infections. Two cases of morbidity were reported as complications: one case of delayed intracerebral hemorrhage and one case of infarction due to vascular injury. All patients exhibited satisfactory cosmetic results., Conclusion: In comparison to the conventional pterional approach, the SOA represents a safe and effective keyhole method for the removal of both extra-axial and intra-axial skull base tumors. This is particularly beneficial for lesions in the orbitofrontal region and parasellar area, as it allows for minimal disruption of normal brain parenchyma. Moreover, the SOA promotes a swift recovery and short hospital stay. Additionally, the SOA yields superior cosmetic results, including the prevention of temporalis muscle atrophy., Competing Interests: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 The Korean Brain Tumor Society, The Korean Society for Neuro-Oncology, and The Korean Society for Pediatric Neuro-Oncology.)

Background: Corticosteroid therapy is commonly recommended for acute facial nerve weakness; however, its effectiveness in treating traumatic nerve injuries remains controversial. This study investigated the functional recovery and cellular effects of systemic dexamethasone administration after facial nerve injury., Methods: C57BL/6 mice were assigned to two groups by intraperitoneal injection: the phosphate-buffered saline group and the dexamethasone group. Facial nerve crush injury was induced, followed by the functional grading of recovery. Cellular effects were investigated using transmission electron microscopy, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and intravital imaging., Results: Macrophage infiltration into the facial nerves was significantly inhibited by systemic dexamethasone administration. However, dexamethasone group slightly delayed the functional recovery of the facial nerve compared to the PBS group. In addition, the morphological changes in the nerve were not significantly different between the two groups at 14 days post-injury. Macrophage migration analysis in the intravital imaging also showed no difference between groups., Conclusions: In summary, systemic dexamethasone successfully inhibited leukocyte infiltration; however, functional recovery was delayed compared to the PBS control group. Clinically, these findings indicate that more evidence and research are required to use steroid pulse therapy for the treatment of traumatic facial nerve injuries., (© 2024 The Author(s). Head & Neck published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Despite the different perspectives by diverse research sectors spanning several decades, aging research remains uncharted territory for human beings. Therefore, we investigated the transcriptomic characteristics of eight male healthy cynomolgus macaques, and the annual sampling was designed with two individuals in four age groups. As a laboratory animal, the macaques were meticulously shielded from all environmental factors except aging. The results showed recent findings of certain immune response and the age-associated network of primate immunity. Three important aging patterns were identified and each gene clusters represented a different immune response. The increased expression pattern was predominantly associated with innate immune cells, such as Neutrophils and NK cells, causing chronic inflammation with aging whereas the other two decreased patterns were associated with adaptive immunity, especially "B cell activation" affecting antibody diversity of aging. Furthermore, the hub gene network of the patterns reflected transcriptomic age and correlated with human illness status, aiding in future human disease prediction. Our macaque transcriptome profiling results offer systematic insights into the age-related immunological features of primates., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and periodontitis (PD) have intricated connections as chronic inflammatory diseases. While the immune response is a key factor that accounts for their association, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. To gain a deeper understanding of the connection, we conducted research using a multiomics approach. We generated whole genome and methylation profiling array data from the periodontium of PD patients with DM (PDDM) and without DM to confirm genetic and epigenetic changes. Independent bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing data were employed to verify the expression levels of hypo-methylated genes. We observed a gradual rise in C>T base substitutions and hypomethylation in PD and PDDM patients compared with healthy participants. Furthermore, specific genetic and epigenetic alterations were prominently associated with the Fc-gamma receptor-mediated phagocytosis pathway. The upregulation of these genes was confirmed in both the periodontal tissues of PD patients and the pancreatic tissues of T2DM patients. Through single-cell RNA analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, substantial upregulation of Fc-gamma receptors and related genes was particularly identified in monocytes. Our findings suggest that targeting the Fc-gamma signaling pathway in monocytes holds promise as a potential treatment strategy for managing systemic complications associated with diabetes., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). MedComm published by Sichuan International Medical Exchange & Promotion Association (SCIMEA) and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Phytophthora root and stem rot (PRR), caused by Phytophthora sojae, can occur at any growth stage under poorly drained and humid conditions. The expansion of soybean cultivation in South Korean paddy fields has increased the frequency of PRR outbreaks. This study aimed to identify four P. sojae isolates newly collected from domestic fields and evaluate race-specific resistance using the hypocotyl inoculation technique. The four isolates exhibited various pathotypes, with GJ3053 exhibiting the highest virulence complexity. Two isolates, GJ3053 and AD3617, were screened from 205 soybeans, and 182 and 190 genotypes (88.8 and 92.7%, respectively) were susceptible to each isolate. Among these accessions, five genotypes resistant to both isolates were selected. These promising genotypes are candidates for the development of resistant soybean cultivars that can effectively control PRR through gene stacking.

Localized topological modes such as solitons, Majorana Fermions, and skyrmions are attracting great interest as robust information carriers for future devices. Here, a novel conserved quantity for topological domain wall networks of a Z 2 × Z 2  order generated with spin-polarized current in Sr 2 VO 3 FeAs is discovered. Domain walls are mobilized by the scanning tunneling current, which also observes in atomic scale active dynamics of domain wall vertices including merge, bifurcation, pair creation, and annihilation. Within this dynamics, the product of the topological complex charges defined for domain wall vertices is conserved with a novel boundary-charge correspondence rule. These results may open an avenue toward topological electronics based on domain wall vertices in generic Z 2 × Z 2  systems., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Objectives: This study aimed to screen oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) diagnostic and prognostic candidates and investigate the potential functions and mechanisms of candidates in the chemoresistance of OSCC cell lines., Materials and Methods: Differential expression profiling of lncRNA was performed in a large cohort of OSCC patients from the Cancer Genome Atlas database to identify OSCC diagnostic and prognostic candidates. Taxol resistance in OSCC cell lines was analyzed using MTT assay. OSCC cell lines transfected with EIF3J-DT pcDNA or siRNA were used to determine its regulatory effects on apoptosis, cell cycle distribution and autophagy using flow cytometry and western blot., Results: We identified EIF3J-DT as a candidate for OSCC diagnosis and prognosis. The expression level of EIF3J-DT in OSCC cell lines correlates with taxol resistance. EIF3J-DT silencing attenuated taxol resistance, and EIF3J-DT overexpression enhanced taxol resistance in OSCC cell lines. Silencing of EIF3J-DT reduced taxol resistance by inducing apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and ATG14-mediated autophagy inhibition in OSCC cell lines., Conclusions: We found that EIF3J-DT induced chemoresistance by regulating apoptosis, cell cycle, and autophagy in OSCC cell lines, which EIF3J-DT might provide a novel therapeutic approach for OSCC as well as a diagnostic and prognostic factor., (© 2024 The Authors. Oral Diseases published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective/background: To assess whether cerebral structural alterations in isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) are progressive and differ from those of normal aging and whether they are related to clinical symptoms., Patients/methods: In a longitudinal study of 18 patients with iRBD (age, 66.1 ± 5.7 years; 13 males; follow-up, 1.6 ± 0.6 years) and 24 age-matched healthy controls (age, 67.0 ± 4.9 years; 12 males; follow-up, 2.0 ± 0.9 years), all participants underwent multiple extensive clinical examinations, neuropsychological tests, and magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and follow-up. Surface-based cortical reconstruction and automated subcortical structural segmentation were performed on T1-weighted images. We used mixed-effects models to examine the differences between the groups and the differences in anatomical changes over time., Results: None of the patients with iRBD demonstrated phenoconversion during the follow-up. Patients with iRBD had thinner cortices in the frontal, occipital, and temporal regions, and more caudate atrophy, compared to that in controls. In similar regions, group-by-age interaction analysis revealed that patients with iRBD demonstrated significantly slower decreases in cortical thickness and caudate volume with aging than that observed in controls. Patients with iRBD had lower scores on the Korean version of the Mini-Mental Status Examination ( p  = 0.037) and frontal and executive functions ( p  = 0.049) at baseline than those in controls; however, no significant group-by-age interaction was identified., Conclusion: Patients with iRBD show brain atrophy in the regions that are overlapped with the areas that have been documented to be affected in early stages of Parkinson's disease. Such atrophy in iRBD may not be progressive but may be slower than that in normal aging. Cognitive impairment in iRBD is not progressive., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2024 Park, Jo, Chai, Park, Lee, Joo and Kim.)

Objective: This longitudinal study investigated potential positive impact of CPAP treatment on brain health in individuals with obstructive sleep Apnea (OSA). To allow this, we aimed to employ sleep electroencephalogram (EEG)-derived brain age index (BAI) to quantify CPAP's impact on brain health and identify individually varying CPAP effects on brain aging using machine learning approaches., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed CPAP-treated (n = 98) and untreated OSA patients (n = 88) with a minimum 12-month follow-up of polysomnography. BAI was calculated by subtracting chronological age from the predicted brain age. To investigate BAI changes before and after CPAP treatment, we compared annual ΔBAI between CPAP-treated and untreated OSA patients. To identify individually varying CPAP effectiveness and factors influencing CPAP effectiveness, machine learning approaches were employed to predict which patient displayed positive outcomes (negative annual ΔBAI) based on their baseline clinical features., Results: CPAP-treated group showed lower annual ΔBAI than untreated (-0.6 ± 2.7 vs. 0.3 ± 2.6 years, p < 0.05). This BAI reduction with CPAP was reproduced independently in the Apnea, Bariatric surgery, and CPAP study cohort. Patients with more severe OSA at baseline displayed more positive annual ΔBAI (=accelerated brain aging) when untreated and displayed more negative annual ΔBAI (=decelerated brain aging) when CPAP-treated. Machine learning models achieved high accuracy (up to 86%) in predicting CPAP outcomes., Interpretation: CPAP treatment can alleviate brain aging in OSA, especially in severe cases. Sleep EEG-derived BAI has potential to assess CPAP's impact on brain health. The study provides insights into CPAP's effects and underscores BAI-based predictive modeling's utility in OSA management., (© 2024 The Authors. Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Neurological Association.)

Nanoconfined waters exhibit low static permittivity mainly due to interfacial effects that span about one nanometer. The characteristic length scale may be much longer in the terahertz (THz) regime where long-range collective dynamics occur; however, the THz dynamics have been largely unexplored because of the lack of a robust platform. Here, we use metallic loop nanogaps to sharply enhance light-matter interactions and precisely measure real and imaginary THz refractive indices of nanoconfined water at gap widths ranging from 2 to 20 nanometers, spanning mostly interfacial waters all the way to quasi-bulk waters. We find that, in addition to the well-known interfacial effect, the confinement effect also contributes substantially to the decrease in the complex refractive indices of the nanoconfined water by cutting off low-energy vibrational modes, even at gap widths as large as 10 nanometers. Our findings provide valuable insights into the collective dynamics of water molecules which is crucial to understanding water-mediated processes.

Lilii Bulbus (Lilium lancifolium Thunberg) has a proneurogenic effect on the hippocampus. However, its effects on epilepsy and associated pathological features remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the antiseizure effects of a water extract of Lilii Bulbus (WELB) in mouse model of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizure. Mice were injected with PTZ once every 48 h until full kindling was achieved. WELB (100 and 500 mg/kg) was orally administered once daily before PTZ administration and during the kindling process. We found that WELB treatment protected against PTZ-induced low seizure thresholds and high seizure severity. Further, WELB-treated mice showed attenuated PTZ kindling-induced anxiety and memory impairment. Immunostaining and immunoblots showed that hyperactivation and ectopic migration of dentate granule cells (DGCs) were significantly reduced by WELB treatment in PTZ kindling-induced seizure mice. Staining for mossy fiber sprouting (MFS) using Timm staining and ZnT3 showed that WELB treatment significantly decreased PTZ kindling-induced MFS. Furthermore, the increased or decreased expression of proteins related to ectopic DGCs (Reelin and Dab-1), MFS (Netrin-1, Sema3A, and Sema3F), and their downstream effectors (ERK, AKT, and CREB) in the hippocampus of PTZ kindling mice was significantly restored by WELB treatment. Overall, our findings suggest that WELB is a potential antiseizure drug that acts by reducing ectopic DGCs and MFS and modulating epileptogenesis-related signaling in the hippocampus., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Glioblastoma (GBM), the most lethal primary brain cancer, exhibits intratumoral heterogeneity and molecular plasticity, posing challenges for effective treatment. Despite this, the regulatory mechanisms underlying such plasticity, particularly mesenchymal (MES) transition, remain poorly understood. In this study, we elucidate the role of the RNA-binding protein ELAVL2 in regulating aggressive MES transformation in GBM. We found that ELAVL2 is most frequently deleted in GBM compared to other cancers and associated with distinct clinical and molecular features. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that ELAVL2-mediated alterations correspond to specific GBM subtype signatures. Notably, ELAVL2 expression negatively correlated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes, and its loss promoted MES process and chemo-resistance in GBM cells, whereas ELAVL2 overexpression exerted the opposite effect. Further investigation via tissue microarray analysis demonstrated that high ELAVL2 protein expression confers a favorable survival outcome in GBM patients. Mechanistically, ELAVL2 was shown to directly bind to the transcripts of EMT-inhibitory molecules, SH3GL3 and DNM3, modulating their mRNA stability, potentially through an m6A-dependent mechanism. In summary, our findings identify ELAVL2 as a critical tumor suppressor and mRNA stabilizer that regulates MES transition in GBM, underscoring its role in transcriptomic plasticity and glioma progression., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Context/objective: To assess differences in autonomic function using heart rate variability (HRV) parameters between people with and without orthostatic hypotension (OH), and to determine symptoms of OH in people with spinal cord injury (SCI)., Methods: R-R interval and blood pressure (BP) data were recorded using Finometer PRO ® in both the supine position and at a 60-degree tilt using a tilt table, each lasting for 6 minutes. R-R interval data were processed using the Kubios HRV analysis software to convert R-R interval into time and frequency domains for further analysis., Results: Compared to the non-OH group, the SCI group with OH exhibited lower values for root mean square of the successive differences (RMSSD) and standard deviation of normal-to-normal interval (SDNN), along with an elevated heart rate during tilt-up. Participants with OH symptoms had a lower average heart rate in the supine and 60-degree positions compared to asymptomatic participants. Logistic regression analysis indicated that SDNN in the supine position correlated with the presence of OH, and that the mean heart rate in the 60-degree position was related to the presence of symptoms., Conclusions: Differences in HRV parameters were observed in people with SCI and OH, suggesting a reduced parasympathetic activity in the supine position, likely as a response to maintain homeostasis in BP regulation. Despite the presence or absence of OH symptoms, there was no difference in HRV parameters. This finding suggests that autonomic function may not be the primary determinant of these symptoms, with other factors likely being more influential.

Leucism, in which pigmentation is lost over part or the entire body of an animal, has a range of possible genetic causes. Here, we report leucism in an individual tiger keelback ( Rhabdophis tigrinus ) found on Jeung Island, Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, South Korea, during a survey of the distribution of reptiles in the area. The individual was observed sunbathing in the bushes next to a pond. This individual exhibited ecdysis, thus it considered that have normal feeding activity. Our report represents the first observation of leucism in R .  tigrinus , and thus, further analysis is needed of this phenotype to more clearly understand its impact on the species and its natural history., Competing Interests: All authors have no conflicts of interest in this study., (© 2024 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection is a significant public health concern associated with adverse pregnancy complications and increased neonatal mortality and morbidity. However, the mechanisms underlying the impact of GBS on the fetal membrane, the first line of defense against pathogens, are not fully understood. Here, we propose that GBS induces senescence and inflammatory factors (IL-6 and IL-8) in the fetal membrane through interleukin-1 (IL-1). Utilizing the existing transcriptomic data on GBS-exposed human fetal membrane, we showed that GBS affects senescence-related pathways and genes. Next, we treated primary amnion epithelial cells with conditioned medium from the choriodecidual layer of human fetal membrane exposed to GBS (GBS collected choriodecidual [CD] conditioned medium) in the absence or presence of an IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). GBS CD conditioned medium significantly increased β-galactosidase activity, IL-6 and IL-8 release from the amnion epithelial cells. Cotreatment with IL1Ra reduced GBS-induced β-galactosidase activity and IL-6 and IL-8 secretion. Direct treatment with IL-1α or IL-1β confirmed the role of IL-1 signaling in the regulation of senescence in the fetal membrane. We further showed that GBS CD conditioned medium and IL-1 decreased cell proliferation in amnion epithelial cells. In summary, for the first time, we demonstrate GBS-induced senescence in the fetal membrane and present evidence of IL-1 pathway signaling between the choriodecidua and amnion layer of fetal membrane in a paracrine manner. Further studies will be warranted to understand the pathogenesis of adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with GBS infection and develop therapeutic interventions to mitigate these complications., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Society for the Study of Reproduction. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) are prevalent metal contaminants in the environment. Exposures to these metals are associated with impaired neuronal functions and adverse effects on neurodevelopment in children. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Pb and As impair neuronal functions remain poorly understood. Here, we identified F2RL2, TRIM16L, and PANX2 as novel targets of Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-the master transcriptional factor for the oxidative stress response-that are commonly upregulated with both Pb and As in human neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Using a ChIP (Chromatin immunoprecipitation)-qPCR assay, we showed that NRF2 directly binds to the promoter region of F2RL2, TRIM16L, and PANX2 to regulate expression of these genes. We demonstrated that F2RL2, PANX2, and TRIM16L have differential effects on cell death, proliferation, and differentiation of NPCs in both the presence and absence of metal exposures, highlighting their roles in regulating NPC function. Furthermore, the analyses of the transcriptomic data on NPCs derived from autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients revealed that dysregulation of F2RL2, TRIM16L, and PANX2 was associated with ASD genetic backgrounds and ASD risk genes. Our findings revealed that Pb and As induce a shared NRF2-dependent transcriptional response in NPCs and identified novel genes regulating NPC function. While further in vivo studies are warranted, this study provides a novel mechanism linking metal exposures to NPC function and identifies potential genes of interest in the context of neurodevelopment., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Hae-Ryung Park reports financial support was provided by National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Quan Lu reports financial support was provided by National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Study Objectives: Sex differences in the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) have been reported, with a higher prevalence in women than in men. However, sex differences in clinical presentation remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the phenotypic differences in patients with RLS between sexes by comparing clinical presentations, iron status, polysomnographic parameters, and treatment., Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 614 patients (225 men, 389 women) diagnosed with RLS. To enhance the robustness of the study, an age-matched control group of 179 men and 286 women without sleep disorders was also included. Information on demographics and sleep-related questionnaires were collected. Iron status was evaluated using blood samples, and polysomnography was performed to evaluate periodic leg movements and comorbid sleep disorders., Results: Our analysis revealed no sex difference in the severity of RLS but a difference in the pattern of symptoms. Women had more frequent symptoms of pain and awakening during sleep, while men had more common motor symptoms (both self-reported symptoms and periodic leg movement on polysomnography). Women with RLS also had lower iron parameters and received more frequent iron supplementation therapy than men. In contrast to women with RLS, who presented higher sleep disturbances and depressive mood, men with RLS had a higher risk of comorbidities such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. These sex differences were notably more pronounced than in the control group., Conclusions: This study suggests that sex differences exist in RLS phenotypes, and clinicians should consider these differences for treatment., Citation: Kim J, Kim JR, Park HR, Joo EY. Sex-specific patterns of discomfort in patients with restless legs syndrome. J Clin Sleep Med . 2024;20(2):253-259., (© 2024 American Academy of Sleep Medicine.)

In animal farming, timely estrus detection and prediction of the best moment for insemination is crucial. Traditional sow estrus detection depends on the expertise of a farm attendant which can be inconsistent, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. Attempts and trials in developing and implementing technological tools to detect estrus have been explored by researchers. The objective of this review is to assess the automatic methods of estrus recognition in operation for sows and point out their strong and weak points to assist in developing new and improved detection systems. Real-time methods using body and vulvar temperature, posture recognition, and activity measurements show higher precision. Incorporating artificial intelligence with multiple estrus-related parameters is expected to enhance accuracy. Further development of new systems relies mostly upon the improved algorithm and accurate data provided. Future systems should be designed to minimize the misclassification rate, so better detection is achieved.

A new square-planar palladium complex salt hydrate, (C 9 H 12 NO) 2 [PdCl 4 ]·0.5H 2 O, has been characterized. The asymmetric unit of the complex salt comprises two [PdCl 4 ] 2- dianions, four 2-hy-droxy-2,3-di-hydro-1 H -inden-1-aminium cations, each derived from (1 R ,2 S )-(+)-1-amino-indan-2-ol, and one water mol-ecule of crystallization. In the crystal, a two-dimensional layer parallel to (001) features a number of O-H⋯O, N-H⋯O, O-H⋯Cl and N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds., (© Singh et al. 2024.)

Radiotherapy (RT) triggers immunogenic cell death (ICD). L-ASNase, which catalyzes the conversion of asparagine (Asn), thereby depleting it, is used in the treatment of blood cancers. In previous work, we showed that CRT3LP and CRT4LP, PASylated L-ASNases conjugated to the calreticulin (CRT)-specific monobodies CRT3 and CRT4, increase the efficacy of ICD-inducing chemotherapy. Here, we assessed their efficacy in tumor-bearing mice treated with RT. Methods: Monobody binding was evaluated by in silico molecular docking analysis. The expression and cellular localization of ecto-CRT were assessed by confocal imaging and flow cytometry. The antitumor effect and the roles of CRT3LP and CRT4LP in irradiation (IR)-induced ICD in tumors were analyzed by ELISA, immunohistochemistry, and immune analysis methods. Results: Molecular docking analysis showed that CRT3 and CRT4 monobodies were stably bound to CRT. Exposure to 10 Gy IR decreased the viability of CT-26 and MC-38 tumor cells in a time-dependent manner until 72 h, and increased the expression of the ICD marker ecto-CRT (CRT exposed on the cell surface) and the immune checkpoint marker PD-L1 until 48 h. IR enhanced the cytotoxicity of CRT3LP and CRT4LP in CT-26 and MC-38 tumor cells, and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. In mice bearing CT-26 and MC-38 subcutaneous tumors treated with 6 Gy IR, Rluc8-conjugated CRT-specific monobodies (CRT3-Rluc8 and CRT4-Rluc8) specifically targeted tumor tissues, and CRT3LP and CRT4LP increased total ROS levels in tumor tissues, thereby enhancing the antitumor efficacy of RT. Tumor tissues from these mice showed increased mature dendritic, CD4 + T, and CD8 + T cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFNγ and TNFα) and decreased regulatory T cells, and the expression of tumor cell proliferation markers (Ki67 and CD31) was downregulated. These data indicate that the combination of IR and CRT-targeting L-ASNases activated and reprogramed the immune system of the tumor microenvironment. Consistent with these data, an immune checkpoint inhibitor (anti-PD-L1 antibody) markedly increased the therapeutic efficacy of combined IR and CRT-targeting L-ASNases. Conclusion: CRT-specific L-ASNases are useful as additive drug candidates in tumors treated with RT, and combination treatment with anti-PD-L1 antibody increases their therapeutic efficacy., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

Objectives: Moire Topography (MT) is a non-invasive technique that uses patterned light projection and has been used to qualitatively characterize scapular winging. The purpose of the present study was to quantitatively characterize scapular winging using a novel method of MT., Methods: A total of 20 shoulders in ten healthy subjects were analyzed. The mean age for subjects was 27.9 ± 1.0 years and mean BMI was 22.8 ± 2.8. Two scenarios were used to simulate scapular winging: Group 1) the hand-behind-back (HBB) position and Group 2) weighted scaption after a muscle fatigue protocol. A calibration object was used to validate the MT method. This was followed by a use of a control object with known dimensions (OKD) to evaluate subjects. The measured height (z) of the OKD with MT, as determined by the known dimensions of the OKD, was then compared to the scapula winging in Groups 1 and 2. Scapular winging was characterized by measuring the height or prominence (z) of the scapula., Results: There were significant differences between the baseline scapular measurements and scapular winging measurements in both Group 1, 4.0 cm ± 1.3 (P=0.0004), and Group 2, 3.7 ± 1.6 (P=0.0178). Scapular winging was most prominent with the hand in the highest position on the back in Group 1 and at lower degrees of scaption (<60 degrees) in Group 2., Conclusion: Quantitative characterization of scapular winging was achieved using a novel method using MT. Scapular winging was found at lower degrees of shoulder elevation. Future applications of this technique should focus on characterizing scapular winging in multiple planes in real-time and in patients with known shoulder pathology., Competing Interests: The author(s) do NOT have any potential conflicts of interest for this manuscript, (Copyright © 2024 Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.)

Backgrounds: Infection during pregnancy is a significant public health concern due to the increased risk of adverse birth outcomes. Group B Streptococcus or Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) stands out as a major bacterial cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. We aimed to explore the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress pathways in pro-inflammatory responses within human fetal membrane tissue, the target tissue of acute bacterial chorioamnionitis., Methods: We reanalyzed transcriptomic data from fetal membrane explants inoculated with GBS to assess the impact of GBS on oxidative stress and ROS genes/pathways. We conducted pathway enrichment analysis of transcriptomic data using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), a web-based functional annotation/pathway enrichment tool. Subsequently, we conducted ex vivo experiments to test the hypothesis that antioxidant treatment could inhibit pathogen-stimulated inflammatory responses in fetal membranes., Results: Using DAVID analysis, we found significant enrichment of pathways related to oxidative stress or ROS in GBS-inoculated human fetal membranes, for example, "Response to Oxidative Stress" (FDR = 0.02) and "Positive Regulation of Reactive Oxygen Species Metabolic Process" (FDR = 2.6*10 -4 ). There were 31 significantly changed genes associated with these pathways, most of which were upregulated after GBS inoculation. In ex vivo experiments with choriodecidual membrane explants, our study showed that co-treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) effectively suppressed the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α) and prostaglandin PGE2, compared to GBS-treated explants (p < .05 compared to GBS-treated samples without NAC co-treatment). Furthermore, NAC treatment inhibited the release of cytokines and PGE2 stimulated by lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in whole membrane explants (p < .05 compared to LTA or LPS-treated samples without NAC co-treatment)., Conclusions: Our study sheds light on the potential roles of ROS in governing the innate immune response to GBS infection, offering insights for developing strategies to mitigate GBS-related adverse outcomes., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)