TRPA1 Agonist-Responsive Afferents Contribute to Central Sensitization by Suppressing Spinal GABAergic Interneurons Through Somatostatin 2A Receptors.

Altered nociception, a key feature of nociplastic pain, often involves central sensitization. We previously found that central sensitization underlying a nociplastic pain state in female mice depends on the ongoing activity of TRPA1 agonist-responsive afferents. Here, we investigated how the activity of these afferents induces and maintains central sensitization at the spinal level.

Modulation of mechanosensation by endogenous dopaminergic signaling in the lateral parabrachial nucleus in mice.

Introduction: The lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN), a crucial hub for integrating and modulating diverse sensory information, is known to express both D1 and D2 dopamine receptors and receive dopaminergic inputs. However, the role of the LPBN's dopaminergic system in somatosensory processing remains largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated whether mechanical sensory stimulation triggers dopamine release in the LPBN and how D1- and D2-like receptor signaling in the LPBN influences mechanosensitivity in mice.

Pneumovesical vesicovaginal fistula repair: Lessons learned from an initial series of 25 patients.

Objectives: This study aims to share the experiences and outcomes of laparoscopic pneumovesical repair for vesicovaginal fistulas (VVF).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective review of medical records from a single institution over 10 years was conducted. The focus was on patients who underwent VVF repair using a pneumovesical approach with three 5 mm laparoscopic ports.

Cumulative sum analysis of the learning curve for retrograde intrarenal stone surgery in newbie surgeons.

Introduction: This study investigated the learning curve of retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) in patients with medium-sized stones using cumulative sum analysis (CUSUM) to evaluate the competence and proficiency of three new surgeons during their first RIRS procedures.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 227 patients from 2019 to 2022 at a single institution. The patients were divided into four groups based on the operating surgeon: tutor surgeon (85 patients), newbie surgeon A (21 patients), newbie surgeon B (85 patients), and newbie surgeon C (36 patients).

Botanical Mixture Containing Nitric Oxide Metabolite Enhances Neural Plasticity to Improve Cognitive Impairment in a Vascular Dementia Rat Model.

Vascular dementia (VD), caused by impaired cerebral blood flow, is the most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the elderly and is characterized by severe neuronal damage and cognitive decline. Nitric oxide (NO) is an important determinant of vascular homeostasis, and its deficiency is associated with the progression of VD. In this study, we investigated the role of nitrite ion, a NO metabolite in a botanical mixture (BM) of fermented garlic, fermented , and on neuron loss and cognitive impairment using a VD rat model.

Fabrication of a photo-crosslinkable fluoropolymer-passivated flexible neural probe and acute recording and stimulation performances in vivo.

Herein, we fabricated fluorine-containing, polymer-based, flexible neural probes with fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) films as the substrates and photo-crosslinkable fluoropolymers as the passivation material. For fabrication, metal-free Au layer formation on the FEP film, the simultaneous photo-adhesion and photo-patterning technique, and the pulsed-laser scanning probe shaping technique were combined, followed by Au electrode surface modification. The resultant probes achieved a charge injection limit equal to 5.

The Difference in the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome According to Meeting Guidelines for Aerobic Physical Activity and Muscle-Strengthening Exercise: A Cross-Sectional Study Performed Using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2014-2019.

Physical activity and muscle strengthening are essential for preventing and managing metabolic syndrome. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and meeting the guidelines for aerobic physical activity (APA), muscle strengthening exercise (MSE), and combined exercise. We used data from 22,467 Koreans aged 40 years or older, who participated in in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2014-2019.

Gonadal hormone-dependent nociceptor sensitization maintains nociplastic pain state in female mice.

Nociplastic pain conditions develop predominantly in women. We recently established a murine nociplastic pain model by applying postinjury thermal (40°C) stimulation to an injured (capsaicin-injected) area, triggering a transition to a nociplastic pain state manifesting as persistent mechanical hypersensitivity outside of the previously injured area. The nociplastic pain state was centrally maintained by spinal microglia in males but peripherally by ongoing afferent activity at the previously injured area in females.

Sleep Disturbances in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder at a Malaysian Tertiary Hospital.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a variety of co-morbid medical problems, including sleep disturbances. Prevalence of sleep disorders has been reported to be higher in this group as compared to the general population. Identifying sleep problems in children with ASD may help increase awareness and improve the overall quality of care for them.

Effects of Testosterone Treatment on Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease.

Testosterone deficiency (TD) is common and impairs quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, there are no studies about whether testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can improve QoL in patients with CKD. Therefore, we investigated the effect of TRT on the QoL of patients with CKD and confirmed the safety of TRT.

Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura associated with severe ADAMTS13 deficiency in a 3-year-old boy: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura is very rarely encountered in children. It is often misdiagnosed initially when the condition is not inherited.

Case Presentation: We describe a 3-year-old Malay boy who presented with simple febrile seizure and had no neurological deficit, however, he was found to have microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Periodontitis Among Patients with Metabolic Syndrome.

Background: The incidence of periodontitis is higher when metabolic syndrome (MS) is present. However, only few Korean studies have compared the risk factors for MS and periodontitis. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for periodontitis relative to the presence of MS.

Correction: Short-term anti-proteinuric effect of tacrolimus is not related to preservation of the glomerular filtration rate in IgA nephropathy: A 5-year follow-up study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Associations of sodium intake with obesity, metabolic disorder, and albuminuria according to age.

Sodium intake is associated with obesity and metabolic disorder in the general population. However, sodium intake is significantly reduced according to the decrease of energy intake in older adults although the prevalence of obesity is higher than younger adults. We evaluate the association of sodium excretion (UNa) with blood pressure, obesity, metabolic disorders, and albuminuria according to age.

Fluoropolymer-Based Flexible Neural Prosthetic Electrodes for Reliable Neural Interfacing.

We covalently bound fluoropolymer (FP) films by plasma treatment followed by thermal pressing at temperatures below their melting point and fabricated an adhesion-metal-free flexible gold electrode array entirely encapsulated by the FP film, excepting the active electrode openings. The fabricated device was chemically resistant and was modified to have a lower impedance and efficient charge injection capability. The fabricated device was evaluated in vivo in rats and was confirmed to record the epidural epileptiform activity induced by chemical administration.

Short-term anti-proteinuric effect of tacrolimus is not related to preservation of the glomerular filtration rate in IgA nephropathy: A 5-year follow-up study.

Background: The immunosuppressive drug tacrolimus has the short-term effect of reducing proteinuria in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). Our study investigated the effects on proteinuria and kidney function after discontinuation of tacrolimus.

Methods: Patients with biopsy-proven IgAN were included in the study and randomly divided into two treatment groups.

Acupuncture reduces relapse to cocaine-seeking behavior via activation of GABA neurons in the ventral tegmental area.

There is growing public interest in alternative approaches to addiction treatment and scientific interest in elucidating the neurobiological underpinnings of acupuncture. Our previous studies showed that acupuncture at a specific Shenmen (HT7) points reduced dopamine (DA) release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) induced by drugs of abuse. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of HT7 acupuncture on γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neuronal activity in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior.

Activation of the thalamic parafascicular nucleus by electrical stimulation of the peripheral vestibular nerve in rats.

The parafascicular nucleus (PFN) of the thalamus is a primary structure in the feedback circuit of the basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical system, as well as in the neural circuit of the vestibulo-thalamo-striatal pathway. We investigated the characteristics of the functional connectivity between the peripheral vestibular system and the PFN in rats. A single electrical stimulation was applied to the horizontal semicircular canal nerve in the peripheral vestibular end-organs.

Repeated anodal transcranial direct current stimulation induces neural plasticity-associated gene expression in the rat cortex and hippocampus.

Background: Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (A-tDCS) induces a long-lasting increase in cortical excitability that can increase gene transcription in the brain.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of genes related to activity-dependent neuronal plasticity in the sensorimotor cortex and hippocampus of young Sprague-Dawley rats following A-tDCS.

Methods: We applied A-tDCS over the right sensorimotor cortex epicranially with a circular electrode (3 mm diameter) at 250 μA for 20 min per day for 7 consecutive days.

After-effects of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation on the excitability of the motor cortex in rats.

Purpose: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is increasingly seen as a useful tool for noninvasive cortical neuromodulation. A number of studies in humans have shown that when tDCS is applied to the motor cortex it can modulate cortical excitability. It is especially interesting to note that when applied with sufficient duration and intensity, tDCS can enable long-lasting neuroplastic effects.

Association of Sodium Excretion With Metabolic Syndrome, Insulin Resistance, and Body Fat.

Sodium intake was reported to be related to metabolic syndrome (MS). Although a strong association between sodium intake and blood pressure (BP) has been reported, the relationship between sodium intake and other components of MS is unknown. An observational study of 18,146 adults in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV-V databases (2008-2011) was performed.

Estimating 24-hour urine sodium level with spot urine sodium and creatinine.

The 24-hr urine sodium excretion level was estimated based on the spot urine sodium, and the efficacy of the formula was validated to determine the status of low salt intake <100 mEq Na/day. The 24-hr urine samples were collected from 400 patients. The 24-hr urine creatinine level was estimated with the use of three formulas: a newly derived Korean equation (E24UCR_K), and Tanaka (E24UCR_T) and Cockcroft-Gault (E24UCR_CG) equations.

Estimation of daily salt intake through a 24-hour urine collection in Pohang, Korea.

There is an established relationship between a high salt diet and public health problems, especially hypertension and cardiovascular disease. We estimated daily salt intake in a group of adults and assessed its association with related variables in Pohang, Korea. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in 2013 with 242 adults.