Fine particulate matter manipulates immune response to exacerbate microbial pathogenesis in the respiratory tract.

Particulate matter with a diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM) poses a substantial global challenge, with a growing recognition of pathogens contributing to diseases associated with exposure to PM Recent studies have focused on PM, which impairs the immune cells in response to microbial infections and potentially contributes to the development of severe diseases in the respiratory tract. Accordingly, changes in the respiratory immune function and microecology mediated by PM are important factors that enhance the risk of microbial pathogenesis.

Acute Esophageal Necrosis Syndrome (Black Esophagus): A Case Report of Rare Presentation.

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN) is a rare clinical finding due to multifocal factors consisting of an ischemic insult to the esophagus, corrosive injury from gastric content, and diminished mucosal defense. It is also referred to as "black esophagus" or acute necrotizing esophagitis. The clinical presentation mainly consists of upper gastrointestinal bleed and abdominal pain.

Health professionals' attitudes towards acupuncture/acupressure for post-operative nausea and vomiting: a survey and implications for implementation.

Purpose: Level 1 evidence supports the use of acupuncture/acupressure (A/A) to manage post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV). This study aimed to survey healthcare professionals' attitudes towards A/A, influencing factors and barriers to implementing this effective non-drug intervention into peri-operative care.

Methods: A validated, anonymous survey with 43 questions was emailed or distributed as a hard copy at meetings to anaesthetists, midwives, nurses, obstetricians, gynaecologists and surgeons at a public hospital in Australia.

Metastasis-Induced Acute Pancreatitis Secondary to Small Cell Lung Carcinoma: A Case Report.

Description Metastasis-induced acute pancreatitis (MIAP) is a condition that occurs when patients develop acute pancreatitis secondary to metastatic malignancy. Most pancreatic cancers are adenocarcinomas that are primary malignancies. On the other hand, metastatic pancreatic lesions are rare, especially from primary pulmonary malignancies.

Thermal fluids with high specific heat capacity through reversible Diels-Alder reactions.

Thermal fluids are used as heat transfer fluids and thermal energy storage media in many energy technologies ranging from solar thermal heating to battery thermal management. The heat capacity of state-of-the-art thermal fluids remains ∼50% of that of water (which suffers from a limited operation range between 0°C and 100°C), and their viscosities are typically more than one order of magnitude higher than that of water. Our results demonstrate that the heat capacity of the proposed thermochemical fluid is significantly higher than that of state-of-the-art thermal fluids over a broad temperature range and is also higher than that of water between 60°C and 90°C.

From DNA Damage to Cancer Progression: Potential Effects of Cytolethal Distending Toxin.

Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT), one of the most important genotoxins, is produced by several gram-negative bacteria and is involved in bacterial pathogenesis. Recent studies have shown that bacteria producing this peculiar genotoxin target host DNA, which potentially contributes to development of cancer. In this review, we highlighted the recent studies focusing on the idea that CDT leads to DNA damage, and the cells with inappropriately repaired DNA continue cycling, resulting in cancer development.

Ding Chuan Tang Attenuates Airway Inflammation and Eosinophil Infiltration in Ovalbumin-Sensitized Asthmatic Mice.

Asthma is a T helper 2 (Th2) cell-associated chronic inflammatory diseases characterized with airway obstruction, increased mucus production, and eosinophil infiltration. Conventional medications for asthma treatment cannot fully control the symptoms, and potential side effects are also the concerns. Thus, complement or alternative medicine (CAM) became a new option for asthma management.

Berberine Inhibits Pro-inflammatory Cytokine-induced IL-6 and CCL11 Production via Modulation of STAT6 Pathway in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells.

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from various Chinese herbs that has potential of anti-inflammatory, anti-lipidemic, anti-neoplastic, and anti-diabetic activity. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory efficacy of berberine on allergic airway inflammation by targeting epithelial cells. Allergic airway inflammation driven by T helper 2 (Th2)-type immunity is characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness, elevated IgE production, and eosinophilic infiltration.

DNA methyltransferase inhibitor alleviates bleomycin-induced pulmonary inflammation.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe disease characterized by several inflammatory responses in the lung with high mortality. We applied a mouse model of the pulmonary inflammation induced by the intratracheal instillation of bleomycin which is widely used to induce ALI and fibrosis in animal models. We hypothesized that DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5-azacytidine (5-Aza), with its anti-inflammatory benefits, might attenuate bleomycin-induced ALI through the alleviation of inflammation in the lung.

Using patient self-checklist to improve the documentation of risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting: an implementation project.

Background And Aims: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common surgical complication, affecting 30-50% of patients and 80% in high risk populations. Successful prevention and management of PONV relies on accurately assessing individual risk prior to surgery. A valid and reliable Apfel score is commonly used to assess patients' risk.

Measuring the impact of cushion design on buttocks tissue deformation: An MRI approach.

Aim: To establish a research approach for describing how different wheelchair cushion designs impact buttocks tissue deformation during sitting.

Materials And Methods: The buttocks of 4 individuals with spinal cord injury and significant atrophy were scanned sitting in a FONAR Upright MRI. Scans were collected with the individuals' buttocks fully suspended without pelvic support, and seated on 3 different commercially available wheelchair cushions.

Development and evaluation of a novel smart device-based application for burn assessment and management.

We have developed a novel software application that provides a simple and interactive Lund-Browder diagram for automatic calculation of total body surface area (TBSA) burned, fluid formula recommendations, and serial wound photography on a smart device platform. The software was developed for the iPad (Apple, Cupertino, CA) smart device platforms. Ten burns ranging from 5 to 95% TBSA were computer generated on a patient care simulator using Adobe Photoshop CS6 (Adobe, San Jose, CA).

Role of MT1 melatonin receptors in methamphetamine-induced locomotor sensitization in C57BL/6 mice.

Rationale: Melatonin modifies physiological and behavioral responses to psychostimulants, with the MT₁ and MT₂ melatonin receptors specifically implicated in facilitating methamphetamine (METH)-induced sensitization in melatonin-proficient mice.

Objective: The objective of the study is to assess differences in locomotor sensitization after a single dose of methamphetamine in low-melatonin-expressing C57BL/6 wild-type and MT₁ receptor knockout (MT₁KO) mice, comparing with melatonin-expressing C3H/HeN mice.

Methods: Mice received a vehicle or methamphetamine (1.

Pediatric musculoskeletal nuclear medicine.

This article reviews the current role of nuclear medicine in common benign and malignant pediatric musculoskeletal conditions and discusses future applications.

High-resolution breath-hold contrast-enhanced MR angiography of the entire carotid circulation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of breathing on image quality of the aortic arch and carotid vessels during contrast-enhanced MR angiography and to show that high-resolution breath-hold contrast-enhanced MR angiography combined with a timing-bolus technique can produce high-quality images of the entire carotid circulation.

Materials And Methods: Forty patients underwent high-resolution contrast-enhanced MR angiography on a 1.5-T Magnetom Symphony.