Ultra-Fast Vitrification: Minimizing the Toxicity of Cryoprotective Agents and Osmotic Stress in Mouse Oocyte Cryopreservation.

Globally, women have been adopting oocyte cryopreservation (OC) for fertility preservation for various reasons, such as inevitable gonadotoxic treatment for specific pathologic states and social preferences. While conventional vitrification (C-VIT) has improved the success rate of OC, challenges of possible toxicities of high-concentration cryoprotective agents and osmotic stress persist. To overcome these challenges, we evaluated the ultra-fast vitrification (UF-VIT) method, which reduces the equilibration solution stage exposure time compared to C-VIT by observing mouse oocyte intracellular organelles and embryonic development.

Correlation of Sarcopenic Obesity on Various Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Fracture Risk in Mid-Aged Korean Women.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the correlation of sarcopenic obesity with various cardiometabolic risk factors and fracture risk in middle-aged Korean women.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the medical records of 1,775 women who had visited Pusan National University Hospital for routine health screenings from 2010 to 2016 were reviewed. The patients were divided into four groups as follows: group 1, nonsarcopenic, nonobese (NS-NO); group 2, nonsarcopenic, obese (NS-O); group 3, sarcopenic, nonobese (S-NO); and group 4, sarcopenic, obese (S-O).

Anti-stress effects of Fameyes in in vitro and in vivo models of stresses.

Background: Fameyes (a mixture of Clematis mandshurica Rupr. extract (CMRE) and Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers.

and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of TEES-10, a Mixture of Ethanol Extracts of Matsum. & Koidz. and L. Sprout, on Gingivitis and Periodontitis.

Gingivitis and periodontitis are inflammatory disorders caused by dental plaque and calculus. These disorders often lead to tooth loss if not treated properly. Although antibiotics can be used, it is hard to treat them due to the difficulty in supplying effective doses of antibiotics to lesion areas and side effects associated with long-term use of antibiotics.

The Clinical Usefulness of Ultrasonographic Measurement Technique in Patients with Lower Extremity Lymphedema.

A previous study reported a new ultrasonography (US) measurement technique to evaluate the cross-sectional area (ΔCSA) of lymphedema in the upper extremity. This ΔCSA correlated well with parameters, such as the circumference, volumetry, and bioimpedance analysis (BIA) in healthy people and upper extremity lymphedema patients. This study examined whether a US measurement technique is clinically useful in patients with lymphedema in the lower extremity.

Extract Exerts Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Effects via the Regulation of the NF-κB/Nrf-2 Pathways in Mouse Macrophages.

Plant polyphenols are widely used to treat various inflammatory diseases, owing to their ability to suppress reactive oxygen species production and the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Herein, we investigated phenolic compounds from using UPLC Q-TOF MS/MS and their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities were analyzed. The .

Aquatic Exercise and Land Exercise Treatments after Total Knee Replacement Arthroplasty in Elderly Women: A Comparative Study.

: Early intensive exercise after total knee replacement arthroplasty (TKRA) has become increasingly popular due to its ability to enhance knee physical function and reduce pain. When implemented exclusively, aquatic exercise (AE) appears to be more advantageous than land exercise (LE), particularly in the early phase after TKRA. Our study aimed to compare the clinical efficacy of AE and LE with respect to their effects on pain and physical function after TKRA.

Effect of Incorporating a Dimethacrylate Monomer on the Shear Bond Strength of Two Adhesive Resin Cements to Zirconia Ceramic.

Self-assembled nano-layering resulting from interaction of the phosphate functional group of adhesive monomers with zirconia ceramic surface has been proposed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the bond strengths of two adhesive resin cements (Panavia F 2.0 and BisCem) containing phosphate monomers added with various concentrations (0.

PYP1-4 peptide from protects against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in HepG2 cells.

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic. It is safe at normal treatment doses; however, APAP overdose is a major cause of acute liver and kidney failure. A variety of methods to reduce the damage caused by APAP overdose have previously been evaluated.

Formation of Nano/Micro Hierarchical Structures on Titanium Alloy Surface by a Novel Etching Solution.

A new effective oxidative solution for titanium (Ti) surface etching was recently developed. The present study was aimed at determining the influence of shorter (than 240 min) treatment time on the surface characteristics of the Ti nano/micro hierarchical structures. Cylinder-shaped Ti grade 5 alloys were etched for 30, 60, 120, and 240 min at room temperature and cleaned successively with acetone, ethanol, and distilled water in an ultrasonic bath.

Down-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 attenuates p53-dependent apoptosis of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons following transient cerebral ischemia.

Abnormal activation of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) is associated with pathophysiological conditions. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) can provide neuroprotective effects against subsequent lethal ischemic insult. The objective of this study was to determine how Cdk5 and related molecules could affect neuroprotection in the hippocampus of gerbils after with IPC [a 2-min transient cerebral ischemia (TCI)] followed by 5-min subsequent TCI.

Pretreated extract increases anti-inflammatory cytokines, attenuates gliosis, and protects hippocampal neurons following transient global cerebral ischemia in gerbils.

Recently, we have reported that Oenanthe javanica extract (OJE) displays strong neuroprotective effect against ischemic damage after transient global cerebral ischemia. However, neuroprotective mechanisms of OJE have not been fully identified. Thus, this study investigated the neuroprotection of OJE in the hippocampal CA1 area and its anti-inflammatory activity in gerbils subjected to 5 minutes of transient global cerebral ischemia.

The protective effects of ethanolic extract of Clematis terniflora against corticosterone-induced neuronal damage via the AKT and ERK1/2 pathway.

Chronic stress induces neuronal cell death, which can cause nervous system disorders including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effects of Clematis terniflora extract (CTE) against corticosterone-induced apoptosis in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, and also investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms. At concentrations of 300 and 500 μg/ml, CTE significantly decreased apoptotic cell death and mitochondrial damage induced by 200 μM corticosterone.

Effects of Zanthoxylum piperitum ethanol extract on osteoarthritis inflammation and pain.

Degenerative arthritis, also known as osteoarthritis (OA), is the most common type of arthritis, which is caused by degenerative damage of the cartilage, which primarily protects the joints, leading to inflammation and pain. The objective of this study was to investigate the in vivo and in vitro effects of treatment with ZPE-LR (90% EtOH extract of Zanthoxylum piperitum) on pain severity and inflammation. When using an in vivo OA model MIA (monosodiumidoacetate-induced arthritis) rats, ZPE-LR (100 mg/kg) oral-administratio significantly inhibited MIA-induced change in loaded weight ratio on the left foot, and articular cartilage thickness.

Brain ischemic preconditioning protects against moderate, not severe, transient global cerebral ischemic injury.

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) in the brain increases ischemic tolerance to subsequent ischemic insults. In this study, we examined whether IPC protects neurons and attenuates microgliosis or not in the hippocampus following severe transient global cerebral ischemia (TCI) in gerbils. Gerbils were assigned to 8 groups; 5- and 15-min sham operated groups, 5-min and 15-min TCI operated groups, IPC plus 5- and 15-min sham operated groups, and IPC plus 5- and 15-min TCI operated groups.

Pre-treated extract inhibits neuronal loss and alleviates gliosis in the gerbil hippocampal CA1 area induced by transient global cerebral ischemia.

The genus (poplar) belonging to the Salicaceae family has been used in traditional medicine, and its several species show various pharmacological properties including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. No study regarding protective effects of species against cerebral ischemia has been reported. Therefore, in the present study, we examined neuroprotective effects of ethanol extract from (Korea poplar) in the hippocampal cornu ammonis (CA1) area of gerbils subjected to 5 minutes of transient global cerebral ischemia.

Long-term treadmill exercise improves memory impairment through restoration of decreased synaptic adhesion molecule 1/2/3 induced by transient cerebral ischemia in the aged gerbil hippocampus.

Exercise improves cognitive impairments induced by transient cerebral ischemia, and modulates synaptic adhesion molecules. In this study, we investigated effects of long-term treadmill exercise on cognitive impairments and its relation to changes of synaptic cell adhesion molecule (SynCAM) 1/2/3 in the hippocampus after 5 min of transient cerebral ischemia in aged gerbils. Animals were assigned to sedentary and exercised groups, given treadmill exercise for 4 consecutive weeks from 5 days after transient ischemia, and evaluated cognitive function through passive avoidance test and Morris water maze test.

Fucoidan downregulates insulin-like growth factor-I receptor levels in HT-29 human colon cancer cells.

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide present in brown seaweed, has demonstrated anticancer activity in lung, breast, liver and colon cells. The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling pathway regulates growth in HT-29 cells through the insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) and Ras/Raf/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether fucoidan downregulates the IGF-IR signaling pathway in HT-29 human colon cancer cells.

Vanillin improves scopolamine‑induced memory impairment through restoration of ID1 expression in the mouse hippocampus.

4-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (vanillin), contained in a number of species of plant, has been reported to display beneficial effects against brain injuries. In the present study, the impact of vanillin on scopolamine‑induced alterations in cognition and the expression of DNA binding protein inhibitor ID‑1 (ID1), one of the inhibitors of DNA binding/differentiation proteins that regulate gene transcription, in the mouse hippocampus. Mice were treated with 1 mg/kg scopolamine with or without 40 mg/kg vanillin once daily for 4 weeks.

Effects of chronic scopolamine treatment on cognitive impairment and neurofilament expression in the mouse hippocampus.

Neurofilaments (NFs) including neurofilament‑200 kDa (NF‑H), neurofilament‑165 kDa (NF‑M) and neurofilament‑68 kDa (NF‑L) are major protein constituents of the brain, and serve important roles in the regulation of axonal transport. NF alteration is a key feature in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders involving cognitive dysfunction. In the present study, cognitive impairments were investigated, via assessments using the Morris water maze and passive avoidance tests, in mice following chronic systemic treatment with 1 mg/kg scopolamine (SCO) for 4 weeks.

Anti-obesity effects of pectinase and cellulase enzyme‑treated Ecklonia cava extract in high‑fat diet‑fed C57BL/6N mice.

The present study investigated the anti‑obesity effects of enzyme‑treated Ecklonia cava extract (EEc) in C57BL/6N mice with high‑fat diet (HFD)‑induced obesity. The EEc was separated and purified with the digestive enzymes pectinase (Rapidase X‑Press L) and cellulase (Rohament CL) and its effects on the progression of HFD‑induced obesity were examined over 10 weeks. The mice were divided into 6 groups (n=10/group) as follows: Normal diet group, HFD group, mice fed a HFD with 25 mg/kg/day Garcinia cambogia extract and mice fed a HFD with 5, 25 or 150 mg/kg/day EEc (EHD groups).

Protein extracted from Porphyra yezoensis prevents cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by downregulating the MAPK and NF-κB pathways.

Acute renal failure is a serious complication of treatment with the anticancer drug cisplatin. Cisplatin exerts a cytotoxic effect on renal cells by inducing apoptosis through activating the tumor suppressor p53, nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB) and mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK)/p38 pathways. Effects of protein extracts of the brown seaweed Porphyra yezoensis (P.

Effect of hyperthermia on calbindin-D 28k immunoreactivity in the hippocampal formation following transient global cerebral ischemia in gerbils.

Calbindin D-28K (CB), a Ca-binding protein, maintains Ca homeostasis and protects neurons against various insults. Hyperthermia can exacerbate brain damage produced by ischemic insults. However, little is reported about the role of CB in the brain under hyperthermic condition during ischemic insults.