PINK1 siRNA-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles provide neuroprotection in a mouse model of photothrombosis-induced ischemic stroke.

PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) is a well-known critical marker in the pathway for mitophagy regulation as well as mitochondrial dysfunction. Evidence suggests that mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy flux play an important role in the development of brain damage from stroke pathogenesis. In this study, we propose a treatment strategy using nanoparticles that can control PINK1.

Perampanel Reduces Brain Damage via Induction of M2 Microglia in a Neonatal Rat Stroke Model.

Purpose: Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Additionally, neonatal ischemia is a common cause of neonatal brain injury, resulting in cerebral palsy with subsequent learning disabilities and epilepsy. However, there is currently a lack of effective treatments available for patients with perinatal ischemic stroke.

Psychological distress of patients with end-stage kidney disease undergoing dialysis during the 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic: A cross-sectional study in a University Hospital.

Introduction: Previous studies have revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic can cause psychological distress such as depression and anxiety. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) might be more vulnerable to psychological distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its impact could be different according to dialysis modality.

Efficacy of 3 fine-needle biopsy techniques for suspected pancreatic malignancies in the absence of an on-site cytopathologist.

Background And Aims: EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration/biopsy (EUS-FNA/B) has a high diagnostic accuracy for pancreatic tumors. Most reports have focused on the diagnostic yield of cytology or histology; the ability of various FNA/B techniques to obtain an adequate mass of cells or tissue has rarely been investigated.

Methods: Patients with suspected pancreatic malignancy underwent EUS-FNB using a 22-gauge ProCore needle by either the stylet slow-pull-back technique (group A), conventional negative suction after stylet removal (group B), or non-suction after stylet removal (group C) in the absence of an on-site cytopathologist.

The Effect of Lifestyle Changes on Blood Pressure Control among Hypertensive Patients.

Background: Hypertension is highly prevalent among patients who visit primary care clinics. Various factors and lifestyle behaviors are associated with effective blood pressure control. We aimed to identify factors and lifestyle modifications associated with blood pressure control among patients prescribed antihypertensive agents.

Physiological Responses During the Lower Body Positive Pressure Supported Treadmill Test.

Objective: To quantify changes in cardiopulmonary function using a lower body positive pressure supported (LBPPS) treadmill during the exercise tolerance test (ETT) in healthy subjects before applying the LBPPS treadmill in patients with gait problems.

Methods: We evaluated 30 healthy subjects who were able to walk independently. The ETT was performed using the Modified Bruce Protocol (stages 1-5) at four levels (0%, 40%, 60%, and 80%) of LBPPS.

Successful Treatment of Phantom Limb Pain by 1 Hz Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Over Affected Supplementary Motor Complex: A Case Report.

A 37-year-old man with a right transfemoral amputation suffered from severe phantom limb pain (PLP). After targeting the affected supplementary motor complex (SMC) or primary motor cortex (PMC) using a neuro-navigation system with 800 stimuli of 1 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) at 85% of resting motor threshold, the 1 Hz rTMS over SMC dramatically reduced his visual analog scale (VAS) of PLP from 7 to 0. However, the 1 Hz rTMS over PMC failed to reduce pain.

The association between a low urine pH and the components of metabolic syndrome in the Korean population: Findings based on the 2010 Korea National health and nutrition examination survey.

Background: Low urine pH is related to obesity and insulin resistance, which are components of metabolic syndrome (MS). The aim of this study was to identify the relation between a low urine pH and MS after controlled for other covariates including demographic and lifestyle factors in adult Korean population.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed data from the 2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross-sectional and nationally representative survey and 1960 men and 2702 women were included in this study.

Sequence discrimination of heterogeneous crossing of seal impression and ink-printed text using adhesive tapes.

This paper presents a technique to discriminate the sequence of stamped seal impression and ink-printed text in a document to detect falsely signed documents. In many Asian countries where a seal is widely used to endorse documents, a possibly forged document involves a seal impressed before the text is printed. The proposed method uses adhesive tapes with peel adhesion strength of approximately 25 oz/in.

In-gel expression and in situ immobilization of proteins for generation of three dimensional protein arrays in a hydrogel matrix.

A method has been developed for the direct conversion of DNA arrays into three dimensional protein arrays on a hydrogel matrix. An agarose gel embedded with bacterial protein synthesis machinery was used as the DNA-programmable expression gel matrix for the in situ translation of genes on a DNA array. Upon incubation of the expression gel matrix cast on a DNA array, protein synthesis took place at the interface of the two surfaces and the cell-free synthesized proteins were deposited on the gel matrix surrounding the corresponding DNA spots.

Factors Associated with Depressive Symptom in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Based on the Third (2005) and Fourth (2008) Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (KNHANES III, IV).

Background: Depressive symptoms accompanied by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be influenced by socioeconomic status, associated chronic diseases and the current smoking status. This study was conducted to assess factors that are associated with depressive symptoms accompanied by COPD, using the data obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutritional Survey (KNHANES) conducted in 2005 and 2008.

Methods: From the third (2005) and the fourth (2008) KNHANES, 407 (0.

Flexible programming of cell-free protein synthesis using magnetic bead-immobilized plasmids.

The use of magnetic bead-immobilized DNA as movable template for cell-free protein synthesis has been investigated. Magnetic microbeads containing chemically conjugated plasmids were used to direct cell-free protein synthesis, so that protein generation could be readily programmed, reset and reprogrammed. Protein synthesis by using this approach could be ON/OFF-controlled through repeated addition and removal of the microbead-conjugated DNA and employed in sequential expression of different genes in a same reaction mixture.

On-bead expression of recombinant proteins in an agarose gel matrix coated on a glass slide.

A system for expression and in situ display of recombinant proteins on a microbead surface is described. Biotinylated PCR products were immobilized on microbead surfaces, which were then embedded in a gel matrix and supplied with translation machinery and substrates. Upon the incubation of the gel matrix, target proteins encoded on the bead-immobilized DNA were expressed and captured on the same bead, thus allowing bead-mediated linkage of DNA and encoded proteins.

The use of PTC and RFA as treatment alternatives with low procedural morbidity in non-small cell lung cancer.

Minimally invasive percutaneous ablative therapies for treating lung cancers are currently being studied as treatment alternatives. This present study investigated the efficacies of percutaneous thoracic cryotherapy (PTC) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) on clinical courses of pulmonary malignant tumours, especially in the setting of non-surgical candidates. Sixty-five patients with lung malignancy underwent sixty-seven sessions of RFA and nine sessions of PTC.

Clear cell "sugar" tumor of the lung: a well-enhanced mass with an early washout pattern on dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

Clear cell tumor of the lung is a rare and very unusual benign pulmonary tumor. As clear cell tumor of the lung contains abundant cytoplasmic glycogen, this tumor is called "sugar tumor". We report a case of sugar tumor in a 64-yr-old man presenting as a round pulmonary nodule.

Clinical significance of plasma and serum vascular endothelial growth factor in asthma.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a mediator of airway inflammation and remodeling in asthma.

Purpose: We investigated whether VEGF levels are elevated in plasma and serum obtained from patients with asthma and evaluated whether levels of plasma VEGF correlated with those of serum VEGF.

Methods: We measured levels of plasma and serum VEGF in patients with stable asthma or with acute asthma and examined the correlation between plasma and serum VEGF concentration with initial forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)).

Mast cells can mediate vascular permeability through regulation of the PI3K-HIF-1alpha-VEGF axis.

Rationale: Bronchial inflammation is usually accompanied by increased vascular permeability. Mast cells release a number of mediators that act directly on the vasculature, resulting in vasodilatation, increased permeability, and subsequent plasma protein extravasation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been implicated to contribute to asthmatic tissue edema through its effect on vascular permeability.

Angiopoietin-1 variant, COMP-Ang1 attenuates hydrogen peroxide-induced acute lung injury.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role in acute lung injury. Tissue inflammation, the increased vascular permeability, and plasma exudation are cardinal features of acute lung injury. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) has potential therapeutic applications in preventing vascular leakage and also has beneficial effects in several inflammatory disorders.

Extra-axial chordoma presenting as a lung mass.

Chordomas are slow-growing, malignant tumors of bone that are thought to be derived from the primitive notochord and occur almost exclusively in the axial skeleton. The so-called extra-axial chordoma has been shown to demonstrate identical features to the classic chordoma, except that it is found outside the axial skeleton. Only six cases of extra-axial chordoma have been reported in the literature to date.