Two-year Outcomes of Intravitreal Aflibercept Injection for Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration with "Observe before Treat-and-Extend" Method.

Purpose: To evaluate 2-year outcomes of intravitreal aflibercept injection for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated with "observe before treat-and-extend (O-TAE)" strategy in the real-world setting.

Methods: This retrospective study included treatment-naive nAMD patients treated with aflibercept using O-TAE regimen and followed up for more than 2 years. Patients were observed bimonthly to check recurrence after three monthly loading injections.

Phase-specific differential regulation of mechanical allodynia in a murine model of neuropathic pain by progesterone.

Progesterone has been shown to have neuroprotective capabilities against a wide range of nervous system injuries, however there are negative clinical studies that have failed to demonstrate positive effects of progesterone therapy. Specifically, we looked into whether progesterone receptors or its metabolizing enzymes, cytochrome P450c17 and 5α-reductase, are involved in the effects of progesterone on neuropathic pain after chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve in mice. Intrathecal progesterone administration during the induction phase of chronic pain enhanced mechanical allodynia development and spinal glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression, and this enhancement was inhibited by administration of ketoconazole, a P450c17 inhibitor, but not finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor.

Antinociceptive effect of intermittent fasting via the orexin pathway on formalin-induced acute pain in mice.

It has been suggested that stress responses induced by fasting have analgesic effects on nociception by elevating the levels of stress-related hormones, while there is limited understanding of pain control mechanisms. Here, we investigated whether acute or intermittent fasting alleviates formalin-induced pain in mice and whether spinal orexin A (OXA) plays a role in this process. 6, 12, or 24 h acute fasting (AF) and 12 or 24 h intermittent fasting (IF) decreased the second phase of pain after intraplantar formalin administration.

NAG-1/GDF-15 Transgenic Female Mouse Shows Delayed Peak Period of the Second Phase Nociception in Formalin-induced Inflammatory Pain.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene-1 (NAG-1), also known as growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), is associated with cancer, diabetes, and inflammation, while there is limited understanding of the role of NAG-1 in nociception. Here, we examined the nociceptive behaviors of NAG-1 transgenic (TG) mice and wild-type (WT) littermates. Mechanical sensitivity was evaluated by using the von Frey filament test, and thermal sensitivity was assessed by the hot-plate, Hargreaves, and acetone tests.

Contribution of monocyte and macrophage extracellular traps to neutrophilic airway inflammation in severe asthma.

Background: Increased blood/sputum neutrophil counts are related to poor clinical outcomes of severe asthma (SA), where we hypothesized that classical monocytes (CMs)/CM-derived macrophages (Mφ) are involved. We aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of how CMs/Mφ induce the activation of neutrophils/innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in SA.

Methods: Serum levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) were measured from 39 patients with SA and 98 those with nonsevere asthma (NSA).

Toxicity of simultaneous intrastromal and intracameral injection of voriconazole on corneal endothelium in a rabbit model.

Purpose: To investigate the toxicity of repeated simultaneous intrastromal and intracameral injections of voriconazole in corneal endothelial cells in a rabbit model.

Methods: Thirty-six eyes of 18 New Zealand white rabbits (six eyes per group) were divided into 6 groups according to the concentration of voriconazole (Group A, 0%; Group B, 0.05%; Group C, 0.

Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 Enhances Eosinophilic Airway Inflammation in Severe Asthma.

Purpose: Severe asthma (SA) is characterized by persistent airway inflammation and remodeling, followed by lung function decline. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in the pathogenesis of SA.

Methods: We enrolled 250 adult asthmatics (54 with SA and 196 with non-SA) and 140 healthy controls (HCs).

Ocular Surface and Tear Cytokine Changes after Cataract Surgery in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Purpose: To evaluate changes in ocular surface indices and tear cytokines after cataract surgery in type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods: Ocular surface indices and concentrations of tear cytokines (MCP-1, IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF) were evaluated at baseline and one week and one month postoperatively.

Results: Patients (30 diabetic and 30 control) were enrolled.

Agreement between Two Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Biometers and a Partial Coherence Interferometer.

Purpose: To evaluate the level of agreement between ANTERION (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany), OA-2000 (Tomey, Nagoya, Japan), and IOLMaster 500 (Carl Zeiss AG, Jena, Germany).

Methods: Fifty-one eyes of 51 patients were included in the study. Flat keratometry (K) and steep K, vector component of astigmatism (Jackson cross-cylinder at 0° and 90° [J0] and Jackson cross-cylinder at 45° and 135° [J45]), anterior chamber depth, and axial length were compared using the three devices.

The Role of Di(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate as an Exacerbating Factor in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria.

Phthalates are one of the most commonly used endocrine disruptors and have been considered a risk factor for respiratory disease including asthma. However, it is not yet known how they are related to urticaria. We investigated the association between phthalate exposure and urticaria in 10 healthy controls and 20 adult patients with active urticaria.

Down-regulated surfactant protein B in obese asthmatics.

Background: Obesity is a common comorbid condition in adult asthmatics and known as a feature of asthma severity. However, the molecular mechanism under obesity-induced inflammation has not yet been fully understood.

Objective: Considering the essential role of hydrophobic surfactant protein B (SP-B) in lung function, SP-B was targeted to examine its involvement in the development of obesity-induced airway inflammation in asthmatics.

Role of Thymus and Activation-Regulated Chemokine in Allergic Asthma.

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by the predominant infiltration of inflammatory cells in the airways. Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine/C-C motif chemokine 17 (TARC/CCL17) is a chemokine responsible for trafficking T helper 2 cells into sites of allergic inflammation.

Objective: To validate the role of TARC in association with clinical and inflammatory parameters in adult asthmatics.

Acupuncture stimulation at HT7 as a non-pharmacological therapy for sleep disorder caused by caffeine administration in rats.

Objectives: Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders and is difficult to completely treat because of the undesirable side effects of hypnotics. The present study was designed to investigate the hypnotic effect of acupuncture stimulation at HT7 on caffeine-induced sleep disorders and locomotor activity in rats. We also evaluated neuronal activity changes in the arousal region of the basal forebrain.

A cyclodextrin-decorated plasmonic gold nanosatellite substrate for selective detection of bipyridylium pesticides.

A cyclodextrin-decorated gold nanosatellite (AuNSL) substrate was developed as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensor for the selective sensing of bipyridylium pesticides such as paraquat (PQ), diquat (DQ), and difenzoquat (DIF). The AuNSL structure was fabricated via vacuum deposition of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on a gold nanopillar substrate, and a large density of hot-spots was formed for Raman signal enhancement. Thiolated β-cyclodextrin (SH-CD) was surface-modified on the AuNSL as a chemical receptor.

Validation and measurement uncertainty of GC-MS quantification method for nicotine in dried mushrooms using QuEChERS extraction.

Nicotine is an alkaloid and a secondary plant metabolite that has been used as an insecticide. Despite their widespread application, the EU banned the use of nicotine-containing pesticides in December 2008. However, studies in Europe have found nicotine in mushrooms.

Effect of membrane insertion for tricuspid regurgitation using immersed-boundary lattice Boltzmann method.

Background: Tricuspid regurgitation is treated by valve repair or replacement. However, these methods have limitations, and alternative treatment methods are therefore required.

Objectives: In this study, a new method of tricuspid valve treatment using artificial membrane insertion is analyzed.

Ceramide/sphingosine-1-phosphate imbalance is associated with distinct inflammatory phenotypes of uncontrolled asthma.

Background: Asthma is associated with inflammatory dysregulation, but the underlying metabolic signatures are unclear. This study aimed to classify asthma inflammatory phenotypes based on cellular and metabolic features.

Methods: To determine cellular and metabolic profiles, we assessed inflammatory cell markers using flow cytometry, sphingolipid (SL) metabolites using LC-MS/MS, and serum cytokines using ELISA.

sp. nov., isolated from Korean rice wine vinegar.

A Gram-stain-negative, obligately aerobic bacterium, designated strain B6, was isolated from rice wine vinegar in the Republic of Korea. Cells were non-motile and oval short rods showing catalase-positive and oxidase-negative activities. Growth was observed at 15-45 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and pH 3.