Search

Abstract Background Frontal sinus injuries are relatively rare among facial bone traumas. Without proper treatment, they can lead to fatal intracranial complications, including meningitis or brain abscesses, as well as aesthetic and functional sequelae. The management of frontal sinus injuries remains controversial, with various treatment methods and outcomes being reported. This article describes the clinical characteristics, surgical methods, and outcomes among 17 patients who underwent surgery for frontal sinus injury and related complications. Case presentation We retrospectively included 17 patients who underwent surgery for frontal sinus injury and its related complications at the Kangwon National University Hospital between July 2010 and September 2021. Among them, six underwent simple open reduction and fixation of the anterior wall, eight underwent sinus obliteration, and three underwent cranialization. Two patients who underwent sinus obliteration died due to infection-related complications. The patient who underwent cranialization reported experiencing chronic headache and expressed dissatisfaction regarding the esthetic outcomes of the forehead. Except for these three patients, the other patients achieved satisfactory esthetic and functional recovery. Conclusion Active surgical management of frontal sinus injuries is often required owing to the various complications caused by these injuries; however, several factors, including the fracture type, clinical presentation, related craniomaxillofacial injury, and medical history, should be considered while formulating the treatment plan. Surgical treatment through the opening of the frontal sinus should be actively considered in patients with severely damaged posterior wall fractures and those at risk of developing infection.

Background/Objectives: Self-recognition of recurrent myocardial infarction (re-MI) may be essential for reducing prehospital time contrast to awareness of re-MI symptoms. However, data on the current status and clinical impact of self-recognition of re-MI are limited in the contemporary period. Thus, this study aimed to increase this body of knowledge. Methods: We enrolled 1018 patients with re-MI using data from the Korean Registry of Acute Myocardial Infarction for Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Centres. The patients were classified into self-recognised MI and unrecognised MI groups, and the differences between them were compared. Results: The rate of self-recognition among the patients with previous experience of MI was only 52.4%. Among the patients with re-MI, factors associated with self-recognition included recent first MI within 3 years, prior dyslipidaemia, two or more MI symptoms, and the male gender (p < 0.05). Factors associated with a lack of recognition were older age (≥70 years), prior stroke, and cancer history (p < 0.05). The proportion of symptoms-to-emergency room arrival time within 90 min among the patients with ST-elevation MI was significantly higher in the self-recognised group than in the unrecognised group (52.6% vs. 31.6%, p < 0.001). The self-recognised group showed a lower in-hospital mortality rate (1.5% vs. 6.2%, p < 0.001), and this benefit was maintained even after 1 year (hazard ratio: 0.53; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Only half of the patients who previously experienced a MI recognised a re-MI when it occurred. This recognition reduced prehospital delay and led to higher survival rates, which highlights the importance of patient education as well as objective monitoring devices, irrespective of individual recognition ability for immediate response.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a representative cause of dementia and is caused by neuronal loss, leading to the accumulation of aberrant neuritic plaques and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Oxidative stress is involved in the impaired clearance of amyloid beta (Aβ), and Aβ-induced oxidative stress causes AD by inducing the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HHT, Kracie K-09®), a traditional herbal medicine prescription, has shown therapeutic effects on various diseases. However, the studies of HHT as a potential treatment for AD are insufficient. Therefore, our study identified the neurological effects and mechanisms of HHT and its key bioactive compounds against Alzheimer’s disease in vivo and in vitro. In a 5xFAD mouse model, our study confirmed that HHT attenuated cognitive impairments in the Morris water maze (MWM) test and passive avoidance (PA) test. In addition, the prevention of neuron impairment, reduction in the protein levels of Aβ, and inhibition of cell apoptosis were confirmed with brain tissue staining. In HT-22 cells, HHT attenuates tBHP-induced cytotoxicity, ROS generation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. It was verified that HHT exerts a neuroprotective effect by activating signaling pathways interacting with Nrf2, such as MAPK/ERK, PI3K/Akt, and LKB1/AMPK. Among the components, baicalein, a bioavailable compound of HHT, exhibited neuroprotective properties and activated the Akt, AMPK, and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways. Our findings indicate a mechanism for HHT and its major bioavailable compounds to treat and prevent AD and suggest its potential.

The towing stability of a towed underwater object was investigated through towing tank model tests. Three types of towing cables were employed, and the attitude of a towed object was measured by an inertial measurement unit. The towed object's geometry and the position of the towing point were fixed. The lower center of gravity enabled the positive pitch moment due to the increased moment arm and reduced the fluctuation of pitch motion. Three types of appendages, which were vanes, a streamlined bracket, and a spoiler, were employed. The magnitude of the damping force by the vanes and the resulting towing stability depended on the vanes' exposed area to the inflow. The damping force by the streamlined bracket enhanced the pitch stability. On the other hand, the spoiler deteriorated the towing stability as the tilted spoiler resulted in a stall and thereby nonlinear and unfavorable damping force.

Voice change is a common complaint after thyroid surgery and has a significant impact on quality of life. The Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics assembled a task force to establish guideline recommendations on education, care, and management related to thyroid surgery. The guideline recommendations encompass preoperative voice education, management of anticipated voice change during surgery, and comprehensive voice care after thyroid surgery, and include in-depth information and up-to-date knowledge based on validated literature. The committee constructed 14 key questions (KQs) in three categories—preoperative (KQ 1–2), intraoperative (KQ 3–8), and postoperative (KQ 9–14) management—and developed 18 evidence-based recommendations. The Delphi survey reached an agreement on each recommendation. A detailed evidence profile is presented for each recommendation. The level of evidence for each recommendation was classified as high-quality, moderate-quality, or low-quality. The strength of each recommendation was designated as strong or weak considering the level of evidence supporting the recommendation. The guidelines are primarily targeted toward physicians who treat thyroid surgery patients and speech-language pathologists participating in patient care. These guidelines will also help primary care physicians, nurses, healthcare policymakers, and patients improve their understanding of voice changes and voice care after thyroid surgery.

Tearing of the acetabular labrum is a common cause of chronic hip pain. MR arthrography (MRA) of the hip is the imaging procedure of choice for the evaluation of acetabular labrum. Familiarity with the various imaging findings of MRA of the hip allows recognition of normal variants and differentiation from true pathologic conditions. This article comprehensively reviews the technical aspects and interpretation of MRA of the hip. The appearances of normal and abnormal labra in MRA are discussed. Potential pitfalls in labral tear interpretation, such as sulci around the hip, normal variants of the labrum and plicae, and osseocartilaginous and soft tissue lesions identified on MRA of the hip are also described.

Background/Aims Because gastrointestinal tract is not sterile, primary culture has contamination risk despite of massive washing with antimicrobial media. Microbial contamination can play a key role in initial failure during biopsy-derived primary tumor culture. Methods Tumor tissue was acquired from esophageal and gastric tumors using endoscopic biopsy. Three-dimensional cultures were performed, and separated spheroids were cultured in media for 7 to 10 days and then transferred to Matrigel (Corning Inc.). We investigated risk factors and patterns of initial fungal contamination. Results Initial tumor contamination was observed in 23% (7/30) of esophageal cancer and 20% (3/15) of gastric cancer samples. Two cases of bacterial contamination occurred during the establishment of culture protocol. Moderate to thick whitish plaques (p < 0.001) and food retention in lumen (p < 0.001) were risk factors for initial fungal contamination. After exclusion of high risk patients for contamination, no fungal contamination occurred in primary organoid cultures. Fungal contamination was usually detected within 3 days after tumor preparation. However, unusual fungal contamination (GC11 and EC29) was recognized after several passages. Growing spherical shapes resembled cancer organoids. Although they rapidly proliferated and multiple daughter spheroids appeared, the media were translucent. After several passages, yeasts and pseudohyphae were detected on the edges of the solid spherical structures and media. Conclusions Moderate to thick whitish plaques and food retention are clinical risk factors for initial fungal contamination during biopsy-derived cancer organoid culture. Most initial fungal contamination was detected within 3 days, but it could be unusually recognized after several passages.

Background. The optimal duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after biodegradable-polymer (BP) everolimus-eluting stent (EES) implantation remains uncertain. Methods. This study analyzed 793 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with BP-EES in 10 cardiovascular centers in Korea between July 2016 and January 2018. Using the prescription data at 6 months post-PCI, we divided these patients into two groups, namely, short-DAPT and prolonged-DAPT groups, which underwent DAPT for 6 and > 6 months of PCI, respectively. The primary endpoint, which included mortality, myocardial infarction, or target-vessel revascularization at 2 years, was compared by propensity score (PS) matching between the two groups. Results. Out of the 793 patients, 283 matched pairs were identified by PS matching. Out of this matched population, 405 (71.6%) patients had an acute coronary syndrome. The primary endpoint did not differ in 2 years between the short-DAPT and prolonged-DAPT groups (7.5% vs. 8.3%; hazard ratio, 0.87; 95% confidential interval, 0.47–1.60; P=0.648). Likewise, no difference was found regarding mortality, cardiac mortality, myocardial infarction, target-lesion failure, target-vessel failure, and bleeding events defined by the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium and Thrombolysis In the Myocardial Infarction classification. Meanwhile, one patient in the short-DAPT group had definite stent thrombosis at 364 days post-PCI. Subgroup analysis showed that several anatomical and procedural factors were not significantly related to DAPT duration. Most patients (77.4%) in both groups were prescribed clopidogrel at discharge. Conclusions. In real-world patients undergoing PCI with BP-EES, the ischemic and bleeding endpoints demonstrated no difference between 6-month and prolonged (>6 months) DAPT.

Functional foods to prevent aging, particularly skin aging, have grown in popularity as society ages and science uncovers the pathological mechanisms of aging. In this study, we used processed ginseng, one of the famous functional foods, along with fermentation utilizing the novel Aspergillus niger strain KHNT-1 to enhance its value and efficacy. We successfully produced fermented black ginseng (FBG) and investigated its anti-skin aging properties, such as anti-melanogenic, anti-wrinkle, and antioxidant activities. The results showed that FBG at 100 μg/mL inhibited tyrosinase and melanin production in IBMX-stimulated B16F10 cells. FBG significantly reduced tyrosinase, TYRP-1, and MITF mRNA expression. Moreover, FBG stimulated anti-wrinkle effects in UVB-irradiated human dermal fibroblast (FBG) cells by inhibiting elastase activity, and decreasing MMP-1 and MMP-9 while increasing COL-1 mRNA expression. Furthermore, FBG showed antioxidant activity by reducing ROS levels in H2O2-induced HaCat cells. All tests showed that FBG had better anti-melanogenic, anti-wrinkle, and antioxidant activities than black ginseng (BG) and white ginseng (WG). Interestingly, FBG had lower toxicity in B16F10, HDF, and HaCat cells compared with BG. Thus, this study discovers the underlying mechanism of FBG as a functional material with anti-skin-aging properties.

Atherosclerosis: Intervening in the early stages of plaque formation Researchers have identified a possible new tool, the signaling molecule SIRT1, to fight vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries. In atherosclerosis, plaque builds up in arteries, restricting blood flow and potentially causing heart attack or stroke. Early in the disease, white blood cells called monocytes stick to artery walls, triggering inflammation. Administering SIRT1 was known to decrease inflammation, but how it did so was unclear. Chi Dae Kim at Pusan National University in South Korea and co-workers investigated the signals that trigger monocytes to attach to artery walls, and how SIRT1 might prevent attachment. After identifying the signals, further testing in mice fed a high-fat diet showed that SIRT1 strongly decreased plaque formation. These findings illuminate the causes and progression of atherosclerosis and may help identify better treatments.

We construct the affine version of the Fomin-Kirillov algebra, called the affine FK algebra, to investigatethe combinatorics of affine Schubert calculus for typeA. We introduce Murnaghan-Nakayama elements and Dunklelements in the affine FK algebra. We show that they are commutative as Bruhat operators, and the commutativealgebra generated by these operators is isomorphic to the cohomology of the affine flag variety. As a byproduct, weobtain Murnaghan-Nakayama rules both for the affine Schubert polynomials and affine Stanley symmetric functions. This enable us to expressk-Schur functions in terms of power sum symmetric functions. We also provide the defi-nition of the affine Schubert polynomials, polynomial representatives of the Schubert basis in the cohomology of theaffine flag variety.

Purpose: We have always used the standard anatomical landmark vertebrae to measure the sagittal alignment. Instead, scoliosis has been evaluated by the end vertebrae in the coronal plane. There have been clinical studies to investigate sagittal alignment on the end vertebrae of inflection points (IPs). The purpose is to determine sagittal alignment based on IPs and to elucidate the changes while considering age groups. Methods: We identified the most titled vertebrae in the sagittal plane to define the end vertebrae of S1, thoracolumbar and cervicothoracic IPs and to measure the Cobb angles of sacral slope, functional lumbar, thoracic, cervical segment between them, and the McGregor’s line, and the IP distances from the C2 plumb line to the point bisecting the upper end plate of the IPs, in addition to S1. Results: The most common thoracolumbar and cervicothoracic IPs were L2 and T1, respectively. However, the next most common cervicothoracic IP changed from T2 in the youngest to C7 in the oldest age group. The sagittal angles decreased at the sacral slope and functional lumbar segment but not the functional thoracic segment and functional cervical segment. Similarly, the distance increased at the C2 sagittal vertical axis (SVA) distance to S1 and thoracolumbar IP distance but not at the cervicothoracic IP distance. There was no difference in the pelvic incidence among age groups. Conclusion: The sagittal Cobb angles based on the IPs decreased at the sacral slope and functional lumbar segment in the older adults. Consequently, the C2 SVA distance to S1 and thoracolumbar IP distance increased.

RNAi technology has aroused wide public interest due to its high efficiency and specificity to treat multiple types of diseases. However, the effective delivery of siRNA remains a challenge due to its large molecular weight and strong anionic charge. Considering their remarkable functions in vivo and features that are often desired in drug delivery carriers, biomimetic systems for siRNA delivery become an effective and promising strategy. Based on this, covalent attachment of synthetic cell penetrating peptides (CPP) to siRNA has become of great interest. We developed a monomeric covalent conjugate of low molecular weight protamine (LMWP, a well-established CPP) and siRNA via a cytosol-cleavable disulfide linkage using PEG as a crosslinker. Results showed that the conjugates didn't generate coagulation, and exhibited much better RNAi potency and intracellular delivery compared with the conventional charge-complexed CPP/siRNA aggregates. Three different synthetic and purification methods were compared in order to optimize synthesis efficiency and product yield. The methodology using hetero-bifunctional NHS–PEG–OPSS as a crosslinker to synthesize LMWP–siRNA simplified the synthesis and purification process and produced the highest yield. These results pave the way towards siRNA biomimetic delivery and future clinical translation.

Laser-generated focused ultrasound (LGFU) is an emerging modality for cavitation-based therapy. However, focal pressure amplitudes by LGFU alone to achieve pulsed cavitation are often lacking as a treatment depth increases. This requires a higher pressure from a transmitter surface and more laser energies that even approach to a damage threshold of transmitter. To mitigate the requirement for LGFU-induced cavitation, we propose LGFU configurations with a locally heated focal zone using an additional high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transmitter. After confirming heat-induced cavitation enhancement using two separate transmitters, we then developed a stacked hybrid optoacoustic-piezoelectric transmitter, which is a unique configuration made by coating an optoacoustic layer directly onto a piezoelectric substrate. This shared curvature design has great practical advantage without requiring the complex alignment of two focal zones. Moreover, this enabled the amplification of cavitation bubble density by 18.5-fold compared to the LGFU operation alone. Finally, the feasibility of tissue fragmentation was confirmed through a tissue-mimicking gel, using the combination of LGFU and HIFU (not via a stacked structure). We expect that the stacked transmitter can be effectively used for stronger and faster tissue fragmentation than the LGFU transmitter alone.

Abstract The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines do not specify a bronchodilator range for bronchodilator response (BDR) testing and simply recommend a salbutamol dose of 200 to 400 μg. We determined the oscillometric BDR results of children given low-dose (2 puffs, 200 μg) and standard-dose (4 puffs, 400 μg) salbutamol to compare the small airway responses of healthy controls (defined using criteria based on the guidelines developed at the American Thoracic Society) and exclusion subjects (defined as any child that did not meet the inclusion criteria for healthy controls). The oscillometric reactance of small airways is significantly associated with the dose of salbutamol used for BDR testing in exclusion children. We suggest use of the standard-dose of salbutamol for oscillometric BDR testing.

Traumatic posterior atlantoaxial dislocation without odontoid fracture is very rare. Patient prognosis depends on the neurologic symptoms or the extent of damage to the structures. In this case, a 78-year-old-male suffered a posterior atlantoaxial dislocation without odontoid fracture after a traffic accident. We report this case because an exact diagnosis and proper treatment can reduce the neurologic complications in patients with posterior atlantoaxial dislocation.

PurposeChest radiography is often performed on patients hospitalized with typical clinical manifestations of bronchiolitis. We aimed to determine the proportion of subjects with pathologic chest radiographic findings and the clinical predictors associated with pathologic chest radiographic findings in young children admitted with the typical presentation of bronchiolitis.MethodsWe obtained the following data at admission: sex, age, neonatal history, past history of hospitalization for respiratory illnesses, heart rate, respiratory rate, the presence of fever, total duration of fever, oxygen saturation, laboratory parameters (i.e., complete blood cell count, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], etc.), and chest radiography.ResultsThe study comprised 279 young children. Of these, 26 had a chest radiograph revealing opacity (n=24) or atelectasis (n=2). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjustment for confounding factors, the clinical predictors associated with pathologic chest radiographic findings in young children admitted with bronchiolitis were elevated hs-CRP level (>0.3 mg/dL) and past history of hospitalization for respiratory illnesses (all P

Purpose To investigate radiologic findings of intraosseous lipoma on plain radiograph and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and Methods Twenty-seven radiologically or pathologically confirmed intraosseous lipomas of long bones were included in the study. The size, involved bone and site, bone destruction pattern, border, internal calcification, bony expansion, cortical disruption and endosteal erosion were retrospectively analyzed on plain radiograph. The cases were classified into three stages based on calcification and cystic change. Eccentricity, margin, signal intensity of internal fatty portion, and presence of enhancement were analyzed. Results Twelve tumors were located in femur and 8 in humerus. Proximal metaphysis was the most common involved site, with 14 cases. All tumors had geographic bone destruction, with sclerotic rim in 18 cases on plain radiograph. Internal calcification was seen in 18 cases and bony expansion in 6 cases. Twenty-three cases had cystic change in MRI. Eleven cases had eccentric location. The margins were well-defined in 11 cases. High signal intensity of fatty portion on fat-sat T2-weighted image was present in 17 cases. Contrast enhancement was seen in 17 cases. Conclusion Knowledge of plain radiographic and MRI findings of intraosseous lipoma of long bones is valuable to the tumor diagnosis differentiation from other bone lesions.

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc results in initial relative instability, hypermobility, and hypertrophy of the facet joints, particularly at the superior articular process. This finally leads to a reduction of the spinal canal dimensions and compression of the neural elements, which can result in neurogenic intermittent claudication caused by venous congestion and arterial hypertension around nerve roots. Most patients with symptomatic lumbar stenosis had neurogenic intermittent claudication with the risk of a fall. However, although the physical findings and clinical symptoms in lumbar stenosis are not acute, the radiographic findings are comparatively severe. Magnetic resonance imaging is a noninvasive and good method for evaluation of lumbar stenosis. Though there are very few studies pertaining to the natural progression of lumbar spinal stenosis, symptoms of spinal stenosis usually respond favorably to non-operative management. In patients who fail to respond to non-operative management, surgical treatments such as decompression or decompression with spinal fusion are required. Restoration of a normal pelvic tilt after lumbar fusion correlates to a good clinical outcome.

Background and purposeVocal fold leukoplakia, white plaque on the epithelium, has the potential for malignant transformation regardless of dysplasia grade. It is treated with different laser types (CO2 or angiolytic) and various techniques (vaporization, stripping, or excision); however, only a few studies exist regarding comparative laser surgery results. This study was conducted to investigate clinical outcomes of CO2 versus angiolytic laser microdissection with regard to long-term disease control and voice preservation in vocal fold leukoplakia.Materials and methodsSeventy patients with vocal fold leukoplakia treated by CO2 or angiolytic laser (pulsed dye laser or potassium titanyl phosphate) were identified retrospectively. Data regarding patient characteristics, treatment details, treatment outcomes including disease control (recurrence and progression) and the Voice Handicap Index, GRBAS scale, and acoustics were evaluated. The mean follow-up duration after initial treatment was 32 ± 26 months.ResultsThe study group comprised 14 patients who underwent CO2 laser microflap excision and 56 who underwent angiolytic laser stripping. Of the patients treated with CO2 laser, 11 (79%) had no recurrence and three (21%) showed recurrent leukoplakia, of which one patient (7%) showed histologic grade progression. Of patients who underwent angiolytic laser stripping, 12 had disease recurrence (21%), among whom three (5%) showed disease progression. Laser surgery type, disease extent, and histologic grade showed no significant differences in recurrence or progression rates. The postoperative Voice Handicap Index significantly improved (P = .03) and the G score significantly decreased (P < .001) in the angiolytic laser treatment group. In contrast, the Voice Handicap Index increased postoperatively in the CO2 laser group (P = .046).ConclusionsThe long-term recurrence or progression rates were not significantly different between angiolytic and CO2 laser treatment. The angiolytic laser stripping group showed better voice preservation compared with the CO2 laser group. Angiolytic laser stripping is suggested as an effective treatment option for vocal fold leukoplakia with comparable disease control and better voice preservation.

PurposeIn addition to regulating calcium and phosphorus homeostasis and bone metabolism, vitamin D is known as an immune modulator. Recently, there has been increased worldwide interest in the association between low levels of vitamin D and allergic diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and allergic/vasomotor rhinitis (AR/VR) in children.MethodsThis study included 164 patients. The sample included 59 patients with AR, 42 patients with VR, and 63 controls. Their ages ranged from 0 to 16 years. We examined the levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, Immunoglobulin E, specific IgE, and eosinophil cationic protein; peripheral blood eosinophil count; and the results of a skin prick test.ResultsSerum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were 19.0±8.5 ng/mL in the AR group, 25.5±10.9 ng/mL in the VR group, and 26.9±10.7 ng/mL in the control group. After adjustment for body mass index and season at the time of blood sampling, vitamin D levels in the AR group were lower than those of the VR group (P=0.003) and control group (P

Purpose To evaluate the usefulness of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in severity assessment of patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APTE). Materials and Methods We evaluated 61 patients diagnosed as APTE from 2011 to 2012 in a retrospective analysis of the severity assessment indices according to Criteria by European Society of Cardiology as well as pulmonary CT angiographic obstruction score (OS) and lung perfusion index (pulmonary perfusion defect score; DS) by DECT. The correlation between OS, DS and the severity of pulmonary thromboembolism was evaluated using logit analysis. Results Patients with high OS also showed significantly higher DS values (p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between both the OS and DS values and the severity of the pulmonary thromboembolism using simple sequence logit analysis (p < 0.001). However, only the DS value showed a very high correlation with the severity of pulmonary thromboembolism using multiple sequence logit analysis. Conclusion DECT provides a more useful marker for the diagnosis and severity assessment of pulmonary thromboembolism by checking the degree of lung perfusion as well as determining the existence of APTE in patients with suspected pulmonary thromboembolism.

α-Iso-cubebene (ICB) is a dibenzocyclooctadiene lignin contained in Schisandra chinensis (SC), a well-known medicinal herb that ameliorates cardiovascular symptoms. Thus, we examined the effect of ICB on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, a key feature of diverse vascular diseases. When VSMCs primary cultured from rat thoracic aorta were stimulated with PDGF (1-10 ng/ml), cell proliferation and osteopontin (OPN) expression were concomitantly up-regulated, but these effects were attenuated when cells were treated with MPIIIB10, a neutralizing monoclonal antibody for OPN. In aortic tissues exposed to PDGF, sprouting VSMC numbers increased, which was attenuated in tissues from OPN-deficient mice. Furthermore, VSMC proliferation and OPN expression induced by PDGF were attenuated dose-dependently by ICB (10 or 30 μg/ml). Reporter assays conducted using OPN promoter-luciferase constructs showed that the promoter region 538-234 bp of the transcription start site was responsible for transcriptional activity enhancement by PDGF, which was significantly inhibited by ICB. Putative binding sites for AP-1 and C/EBPβ in the indicated promoter region were suggested by TF Search, and increased binding of AP-1 and C/EBPβ in PDGF-treated VSMCs was demonstrated using a ChIP assay. The increased bindings of AP-1 and C/EBPβ into OPN promoter were attenuated by ICB. Moreover, the PDGF-induced expression of OPN was markedly attenuated in VSMCs transfected with siRNA for AP-1 and C/EBPβ. These results indicate that ICB inhibit VSMC proliferation by inhibiting the AP-1 and C/EBPβ signaling pathways and thus downregulating OPN expression.

We prove the affine Pieri rule for the cohomology of the affine flag variety conjectured by Lam, Lapointe, Morse and Shimozono. We study the cap operator on the affine nilHecke ring that is motivated by Kostant and Kumar’s work on the equivariant cohomology of the affine flag variety. We show that the cap operators for Pieri elements are the same as Pieri operators defined by Berg, Saliola and Serrano. This establishes the affine Pieri rule.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is known to mediate monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells, however, its role on the expression of monocyte adhesion molecules is unclear. In the present study, we investigated the role of TLR4 on the expression of monocyte adhesion molecules, and determined the functional role of TLR4-induced adhesion molecules on monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. When THP-1 monocytes were stimulated with Kdo2-Lipid A (KLA), a specific TLR4 agonist, Mac-1 expression was markedly increased in association with an increased adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells. These were attenuated by anti-Mac-1 antibody, suggesting a functional role of TLR4-induced Mac-1 on monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. In monocytes treated with MK886, a 5-lipoxygenase (LO) inhibitor, both Mac-1 expression and monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells induced by KLA were markedly attenuated. Moreover, KLA increased the expression of mRNA and protein of 5-LO, suggesting a pivotal role of 5-LO on these processes. In in vivo studies, KLA increased monocyte adhesion to aortic endothelium of wild-type (WT) mice, which was attenuated in WT mice treated with anti-Mac-1 antibody as well as in TLR4-deficient mice. Taken together, TLR4-mediated expression of Mac-1 in monocytes plays a pivotal role on monocyte adhesion to vascular endothelium, leading to increased foam cell formation in the development of atherosclerosis.

Stem cell-based treatment of traumatic brain injury has been limited in its capacity to bring about complete functional recovery, because of the poor survival rate of the implanted stem cells. It is known that biocompatible biomaterials play a critical role in enhancing survival and proliferation of transplanted stem cells via provision of mechanical support. In this study, we noninvasively monitored in vivo behavior of implanted neural stem cells embedded within poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffold, and showed that they survived over prolonged periods in corticectomized rat model. Corticectomized rat models were established by motor-cortex ablation of the rat. F3 cells expressing enhanced firefly luciferase (F3-effLuc) were established through retroviral infection. The F3-effLuc within PLLA was monitored using IVIS-100 imaging system 7 days after corticectomized surgery. F3-effLuc within PLLA robustly adhered, and gradually increased luciferase signals of F3-effLuc within PLLA were detected in a day dependent manner. The implantation of F3-effLuc cells/PLLA complex into corticectomized rats showed longer-lasting luciferase activity than F3-effLuc cells alone. The bioluminescence signals from the PLLA-encapsulated cells were maintained for 14 days, compared with 8 days for the non-encapsulated cells. Immunostaining results revealed expression of the early neuronal marker, Tuj-1, in PLLA-F3-effLuc cells in the motor-cortex-ablated area. We observed noninvasively that the mechanical support by PLLA scaffold increased the survival of implanted neural stem cells in the corticectomized rat. The image-guided approach easily proved that scaffolds could provide supportive effect to implanted cells, increasing their viability in terms of enhancing therapeutic efficacy of stem-cell therapy.

Increased blood pressure, leading to mechanical stress on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), is a known risk factor for vascular remodeling via increased activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) within the vascular wall. This study aimed to identify cell surface mechanoreceptors and intracellular signaling pathways that influence VSMC to produce MMP in response to mechanical stretch (MS). When VSMC was stimulated with MS (0-10% strain, 60 cycles/min), both production and gelatinolytic activity of MMP-2, but not MMP-9, were increased in a force-dependent manner. MS-enhanced MMP-2 expression and activity were inhibited by molecular inhibition of Akt using Akt siRNA as well as by PI3K/Akt inhibitors, LY293002 and AI, but not by MAPK inhibitors such as PD98059, SP600125 and SB203580. MS also increased Akt phosphorylation in VSMC, which was attenuated by AG1295, a PDGF receptor (PDGFR) inhibitor, but not by inhibitors for other receptor tyrosine kinase including EGF, IGF, and FGF receptors. Although MS activated PDGFR-α as well as PDGFR-β in VSMC, MS-induced Akt phosphorylation was inhibited by molecular deletion of PDGFR-β using siRNA, but not by inhibition of PDGFR-α. Collectively, our data indicate that MS induces MMP-2 production in VSMC via activation of Akt pathway, that is mediated by activation of PDGFR-β signaling pathways.

Surgical procedures necessitating the prolonged use of the lithotomy position can be associated with neuromuscular dysfunction. Compartment syndrome of the lower leg is a grave complication which, if unrecognized, can lead to either permanent neuromuscular dysfunction or limb loss. We report a case of compartment syndrome of lower leg that occurred in male patient aged 20 years after 380 minutes arthroscopic surgery in the lithotomy position.