Alterations in Adipose Tissue and Adipokines in Heterozygous APE1/Ref-1 Deficient Mice.

Backgruound: The role of apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1/redox factor-1 (APE1/Ref-1) in adipose tissue remains poorly understood. This study investigates adipose tissue dysfunction in heterozygous APE1/Ref-1 deficiency (APE1/Ref-1+/-) mice, focusing on changes in adipocyte physiology, oxidative stress, adipokine regulation, and adipose tissue distribution.

Methods: APE1/Ref-1 mRNA and protein levels in white adipose tissue (WAT) were measured in APE1/Ref-1+/- mice, compared to their wild-type (APE1/Ref-1+/+) controls.

Automatic Assessment of Upper Extremity Function and Mobile Application for Self-Administered Stroke Rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation training is essential for a successful recovery of upper extremity function after stroke. Training programs are typically conducted in hospitals or rehabilitation centers, supervised by specialized medical professionals. However, frequent visits to hospitals can be burdensome for stroke patients with limited mobility.

Extensive Leptomeningeal Spreading of Ependymoma in an Adult: Case Report and Literature Review.

Ependymoma is a rare adult tumor that originates from ependymal cells of the central nervous system, primarily occurring in the cerebral ventricles or the central canal of the spinal cord. In this paper, we report a case of extensive leptomeningeal seeding of ependymoma of a 39-year-old male patient, in whom the tumor was found incidentally after head trauma. The MRI exhibited diffuse leptomeningeal infiltrative lesions along with bilateral multiple cerebral sulci, basal cisterns, cerebellopontine angle, cerebellar folia.

Type 1 and 2 diabetes are associated with reduced natural killer cell cytotoxicity.

Diabetes mellitus (DM), also called diabetes, is a chronic metabolic disorder, with complications that include failure of immune responses, such as immune cell proliferation and activation. The current study investigated changes in natural killer (NK) cell activity under diabetic conditions. To demonstrate the influence of hyperglycemia on NK cell activity, type 1 and 2 diabetes models were constructed using C57/BL6 mice.

The combined clinical impact of red blood cell distribution width and vascular calcification on cardiovascular events and mortality in patients with endstage kidney disease.

Background: Little is known about how the interaction between red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and vascular calcification (VC) affects cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients. This study investigated the combined prognostic effect of RDW and VC in ESKD patients starting dialysis.

Methods: A retrospective single-center study of 582 ESKD patients was conducted.

Effects of urban functional fragmentation on nitrogen dioxide (NO) variation with anthropogenic-emission restriction in China.

Urban functional fragmentation plays an important role in assessing Nitrogen Dioxide (NO) emissions and variations. While the mediated impact of anthropogenic-emission restriction has not been comprehensively discussed, the lockdown response to the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) provides an unprecedented opportunity to meet this goal. This study proposes a new idea to explore the effects of urban functional fragmentation on NO variation with anthropogenic-emission restriction in China.

Antibacterial Activity of Propolis-Embedded Zeolite Nanocomposites for Implant Application.

This study investigates the potential of propolis-embedded zeolite nanocomposites for dental implant application. Propolis-embedded zeolite nanocomposites were fabricated by complexation of propolis and zeolites. Then, they were pelleted with Poly(L-lactide) (PLA)/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) polymer for the fabrication of a dental implant.

Generation of embryonic stem cells derived from the inner cell mass of blastocysts of outbred ICR mice.

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from outbred mice which share several genetic characteristics similar to humans have been requested for developing stem cell-based bioengineering techniques directly applicable to humans. Here, we report the generation of ESCs derived from the inner cell mass of blastocysts retrieved from 9-week-old female outbred ICR mice mated with 9-week-old male outbred ICR mice (ESCs). Similar to those from 129/Ola mouse blastocysts (ESCs), the established ESCs showed inherent characteristics of ESCs except for partial and weak protein expression and activity of alkaline phosphatase.

Postnatal changes in constitutive cyclooxygenase‑2 expression in the mice hippocampus and its function in synaptic plasticity.

Although the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is closely associated with inflammation in the brain, it is constitutively expressed in the brain, and its expression is regulated by synaptic activity. The present study investigated postnatal expression of COX‑2 in the hippocampus in C57BL/6 mice at postnatal days (P) 1, 7, 14, 28, and 56. In addition, the presented study examined the effects of COX‑2 on synaptic plasticity through Arc, phosphorylated cAMP response element‑binding protein (pCREB), N‑methyl‑d‑aspartate receptor 1 (GluN1), and GluN2A/2B immunohistochemistry, which was performed on COX‑2 knockout (KO) and wild‑type (WT) mice.

Mitigation Effects of a Novel Herbal Medicine, Hepad, on Neuroinflammation, Neuroapoptosis, and Neuro-Oxidation.

Parkinson's disease (PD), a common adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder with complex pathological mechanisms, is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons. The present study demonstrated that the herbal medicines Hepad 1 and 2 protected against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity in C57BL/6 mice and SH-SY5Y cells. Hepad 1 and 2 remarkably alleviated the enhanced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, macrophage-1, and phosphorylated iκB-α) and apoptotic signals (Bcl-2-associated X protein, caspase-3, and poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase-1).

Protein disulfide-isomerase A3 significantly reduces ischemia-induced damage by reducing oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Ischemia causes oxidative stress in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), accelerates the accumulation of unfolded and misfolded proteins, and may ultimately lead to neuronal cell apoptosis. In the present study, we investigated the effects of protein disulfide-isomerase A3 (PDIA3), an ER-resident chaperone that catalyzes disulfide-bond formation in a subset of glycoproteins, against oxidative damage in the hypoxic HT22 cell line and against ischemic damage in the gerbil hippocampus. We also confirmed the neuroprotective effects of PDIA3 by using PDIA3-knockout HAP1 cells.

Image of the Micro-Computed Tomography and Atomic-Force Microscopy of Bone in Osteoporosis Animal Model.

Osteoporosis, a major public health problem, is characterised by a reduction in and deterioration of bone tissue microarchitecture, with a consequent increase in bone frailty and susceptibility to fractures. We performed ex vivo micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and atomic-force microscopy (AFM) between normal and surgically ovariectomized animals (OVX). The tibial architecture was investigated using maximum intensity projection images.

Decrease in glucose transporter 1 levels and translocation of glucose transporter 3 in the dentate gyrus of C57BL/6 mice and gerbils with aging.

In the present study, we compared the cell-specific expression and changes protein levels in the glucose transporters (GLUTs) 1 and 3, the major GLUTs in the mouse and gerbil brains using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. In both mouse and gerbils, GLUT1 immunoreactivity was mainly found in the blood vessels in the dentate gyrus, while GLUT3 immunoreactivity was detected in the subgranular zone and the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus. GLUT1-immunoreactivity in blood vessels and GLUT1 protein levels were significantly decreased with age in the mice and gerbils, respectively.

Léveille extract ameliorates D-galactose-induced memory deficits by decreasing inflammatory responses in the hippocampus.

In the present study, we examined the effects of Léveille leaf extract (DML) on D-galactose-induced morphological changes in microglia and cytokines, including pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) in the hippocampus. Administration of DML to D-galactose-treated mice significantly improved D-galactose-induced reduction in escape latency, swimming speed, and spatial preference for the target quadrant. In addition, administration of DML to D-galactose-treated mice significantly ameliorated the microglial activation and increases of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in the hippocampus.

Removal of anionic dyes (Reactive Black 5 and Congo Red) from aqueous solutions using Banana Peel Powder as an adsorbent.

The adsorption characteristics of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) and Cong Red (CR) onto Banana Peel Powder (BPP) from aqueous solution were investigated as a function of pH, contact time, initial dye concentration and temperature. The BPP was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis. FTIR results revealed that hydroxyl (-OH), amine (-NH) and carboxyl (-C˭O) functional groups present on the surface of BPP.

Age-related change of Iba-1 immunoreactivity in the adult and aged gerbil spinal cord.

In the present study, we examined change of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1) in the adult and aged gerbil spinal cords. Significant change of morphological feature and neuronal cell loss were not observed in both adult and aged spinal cords of gerbil after NeuN immunohistochemistry and Fluoro-Jade B histofluoresce staining. Iba-1-immunoreactive microglia broadly distributed in the spinal cord.

Age-associated alterations in constitutively expressed cyclooxygenase-2 immunoreactivity and protein levels in the hippocampus.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a known inducible inflammatory mediator. COX-2 is constitutively expressed in the hippocampus and may regulate synaptic plasticity. The present study investigated the age‑associated alterations in white blood cell counts and hippocampal COX‑2 expression in healthy mice using immunohistochemical and western blot analyses at 1 month postnatal (PM1), PM3, PM6, PM12 and PM24.

ethanol extract inhibits monocyte adhesion to tumor necrosis factor-alpha-stimulated endothelial cells.

Background: var. Rehder (UD) has long been used in traditional folk medicine in Asia. This study is designed to investigate the antiadhesive activity of the ethanol extract of UD (UDE) and its underlying mechanisms in cultured endothelial cells.

Temporal and spatial changes of monocarboxylate transporter 4 expression in the hippocampal CA1 region following transient forebrain ischemia in the Mongolian gerbil.

Transient forebrain ischemia depletes glucose and oxygen levels in the brain. In this pathological condition, lactate serves an important role in cellular metabolism as the end product of glycolysis. The present study investigated the expression of monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) in lactate metabolism in the hippocampal CA1 region following induction of transient forebrain ischemia.

Hederagenin Supplementation Alleviates the Pro-Inflammatory and Apoptotic Response to Alcohol in Rats.

In this study, we determined the effects of hederagenin isolated from fruit on alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Specifically, we investigated the hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects of hederagenin, as well as the role of AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways in ethanol-induced liver injury. Experimental animals were randomly divided into three groups: normal (sham), 25% ethanol, and 25% ethanol + hederagenin (50 mg/kg/day).

Does uroflowmetry parameter facilitate discrimination between detrusor underactivity and bladder outlet obstruction?

Purpose: Though urodynamic study (UDS) is the current established standard to distinguish between detrusor underactivity (DU) and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO), concerns of patient discomfort and potential complications of catheterization deters its use. We inspected clinical variables to discriminate between DU and BOO in uroflowmetry, which can be more easily performed in clinical practice.

Materials And Methods: Total 240 men who both underwent UDS and uroflowmetry were reviewed.

Essential oils from two Allium species exert effects on cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the mouse dentate gyrus by modulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor and acetylcholinesterase.

Background: In the present study, we investigated the effects of oil products from two Allium species: Allium sativum (garlic) and Allium hookeri (Chinese chives) on cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the mouse dentate gyrus.

Methods: Using corn oil as a vehicle, the essential oil from garlic (10 ml/kg), or Chinese chives (10 ml/kg) was administered orally to 9-week-old mice once a day for 3 weeks. One hour following the last treatment, a novel object recognition test was conducted and the animals were killed 2 h after the test.

Glucose metabolism and neurogenesis in the gerbil hippocampus after transient forebrain ischemia.

Recent evidence exists that glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) plays an important role in the energy metabolism in the brain. Most previous studies have been conducted using focal or hypoxic ischemia models and have focused on changes in GLUT3 expression based on protein and mRNA levels rather than tissue levels. In the present study, we observed change in GLUT3 immunoreactivity in the adult gerbil hippocampus at various time points after 5 minutes of transient forebrain ischemia.

Effects of Extracellular Matrix Protein-derived Signaling on the Maintenance of the Undifferentiated State of Spermatogonial Stem Cells from Porcine Neonatal Testis.

In general, the seminiferous tubule basement membrane (STBM), comprising laminin, collagen IV, perlecan, and entactin, plays an important role in self-renewal and spermatogenesis of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in the testis. However, among the diverse extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins constituting the STBM, the mechanism by which each regulates SSC fate has yet to be revealed. Accordingly, we investigated the effects of various ECM proteins on the maintenance of the undifferentiated state of SSCs in pigs.