Radiofrequency Ablation and Microdebrider-Assisted Turbinoplasty: 5-Year Postoperative Outcomes.

Background And Objectives: Turbinoplasty may be an option in patients with persistent symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR) despite adequate medication. The two most frequently used surgical techniques for turbinoplasty are radiofrequency ablation and microdebriderassisted turbinoplasty. This study compared the outcomes of these two surgical techniques and assessed the long-term treatment effects.

Porous Silicon-Based Nanomedicine for Simultaneous Management of Joint Inflammation and Bone Erosion in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

The lack of drugs that target both disease progression and tissue preservation makes it difficult to effectively manage rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here, we report a porous silicon-based nanomedicine that efficiently delivers an antirheumatic drug to inflamed synovium while degrading into bone-remodeling products. Methotrexate (MTX) is loaded into the porous silicon nanoparticles using a calcium silicate based condenser chemistry.

Endoscopically-Assisted Scar-Free Midline Neck Mass Excision.

Traditional open surgery is indicated for the treatment of selected tumor subsites in the head and neck. However, it can cause major cosmetic problems and functional pathologies. The endoscopically-assisted transoral approach is increasingly preferred in some surgical fields due to its superior cosmetic and functional outcomes.

Optical and Electron Microscopy for Analysis of Nanomaterials.

Not only is fabrication important for research in materials science, but also materials characterization and analysis. Special microscopes capable of ultra-high magnification are more essential for observing and analyzing nanoparticles than for macro-size particles. Recently, electron microscopy (EM) and scanning probe microscopy (SPM) are commonly used for observing and analyzing nanoparticles.

Effects of Hwangryunhaedok-tang on gastrointestinal motility function in mice.

Aim: To investigate the effects of Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HHT) on gastrointestinal (GI) motility in mice.

Methods: The effects of a boiling water extract of HHT (HHTE) on GI motility were investigated by calculating percent intestinal transit rates (ITR%) and gastric emptying (GE) values using Evans Blue and phenol red, respectively, in normal mice and in mice with experimentally induced GI motility dysfunction (GMD). In addition, the effects of the four components of HHT, that is, Gardeniae Fructus (GF), Scutellariae Radix (SR), Coptidis Rhizoma (CR), and Phellodendri Cortex (PC), on GI motility were also investigated.

Activation of NLRP3 and AIM2 inflammasomes in Kupffer cells in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion.

Inflammasome activation by danger signals in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is responsible for the sterile inflammatory response. Signals triggering formation and activation of the inflammasome involve the generation of oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to examine the molecular mechanisms of inflammasome activation and the involvement of reactive oxygen species in hepatic I/R.

Protective Effects of Geniposide and Genipin against Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Mice.

Geniposide is an active product extracted from the gardenia fruit, and is one of the most widely used herbal preparations for liver disorders. This study examined the cytoprotective properties of geniposide and its metabolite, genipin, against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 60 min of ischemia followed by 6 h of reperfusion.

Protective effects of HV-P411 complex against D-galactosamine-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

This study examined the hepatoprotective effect of the HV-P411 complex, an herbal extract mixture from the seeds of Vitis vinifera, Schisandra chinensis and Taraxacum officinale, against D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced hepatitis. Hepatotoxicity was induced by D-GalN (700 mg/kg, i.p.

Ferulic acid attenuates ischemia/reperfusion-induced hepatocyte apoptosis via inhibition of JNK activation.

Ferulic acid (FA), a phenolic compound found in various medicinal plants, has hepatoprotective effects against oxidative stress and inflammation. Here, we investigated the protective effects and the specific mechanisms of FA against hepatocyte apoptosis caused by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Mice were treated intraperitoneally with vehicle or FA 30 min prior to 60 min of ischemia.

Ferulic acid protects against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in mice.

Ferulic acid (FA), isolated from the root of Scrophularia buergeriana, is a phenolic compound possessing antioxidant, anticancer, and antiinflammatory activities. Here, we have investigated the hepatoprotective effect of FA against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced acute liver injury. Mice were treated intraperitoneally with vehicle or FA (20, 40, and 80mg/kg) 1h before and 2h after CCl(4) (20μl/kg) injection.

Protective effects of Moutan Cortex Radicis against acute hepatotoxicity.

This study evaluated the potential beneficial effect of Moutan Cortex Radicis (MCR) in a murine model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-, D-galactosamine (GalN)- and α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced liver injury. Acute hepatotoxicity was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl(4) (10 µL/kg), GalN (700 mg/kg), and ANIT (40 mg/kg). Animals received MCR (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg ) orally at 48, 24, and 2 h before and 6 h after administration of CCl(4), GalN, and ANIT.

Protective effects of human placenta extract on cartilage degradation in experimental osteoarthritis.

This study investigated the effect of human placenta extract (HPE) on cartilage degradation in vitro MG-63 cells, articular cartilage explants, and in vivo monoiodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis (OA). Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 activity was measured in HPE-treated osteoblastic MG-63 cells. Articular cartilage explants in rabbit were cultured, and the degree of proteoglycan (PG) degradation was assessed by measuring the amount of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) released into the culture medium.

Expression of the homeobox gene, HOPX, is modulated by cell differentiation in human keratinocytes and is involved in the expression of differentiation markers.

Homeodomain only protein X (HOPX), an unusual homeodomain protein, was originally identified as a key regulator of cardiac development. We first demonstrated that the expression of HOPX was dependent on the differentiation of human keratinocytes and has an effect on the expression of differentiation markers. HOPX was suppressed in proliferating human keratinocytes and was gradually induced by calcium-triggered differentiation of human keratinocytes.

Hepatoprotective effect of pinoresinol on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage in mice.

Forsythiae Fructus is known to have diuretic, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. This study examined the hepatoprotective effects of pinoresinol, a lignan isolated from Forsythiae Fructus, against carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver injury. Mice were treated intraperitoneally with vehicle or pinoresinol (25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) 30 min before and 2 h after CCl4 (20 microl/kg) injection.

Immunomodulating effects of Korean mistletoe lectin in vitro and in vivo.

The immunomodulatory effects of Korean mistletoe lectin (KML), one of the major active components in Viscum album L. var. coloratum, were investigated in vitro in immune cell proliferation and natural killer (NK) cell- and macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity, and in vivo in the forced swim test and cold stress.