Therapeutic effect of epidural dexamethasone palmitate in a rat model of lumbar spinal stenosis.

Background: Dexamethasone palmitate (DEP), a prodrug of dexamethasone (DEX), is a synthetic corticosteroid medication distinguished by the inclusion of a fatty acid component known as palmitate. This study introduces DEP as a novel therapeutic option for spinal epidural injection, aiming to provide safer and longer-lasting pain relief as an alternative to for patients with spinal stenosis.

Methods: 40 rats were randomly divided into four groups: those receiving epidural administration of normal saline (NS), and DEP in the lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) model, and non-model rats receiving epidural NS administration.

Impact of extended nursing model after multi-disciplinary treatment on young patient with post-stroke.

Background: Stroke has become one of the most serious life-threatening diseases due to its high morbidity, disability, recurrence and mortality rates.

Aim: To explore the intervention effect of multi-disciplinary treatment (MDT) extended nursing model on negative emotions and quality of life of young patients with post-stroke.

Methods: A total of 60 young stroke patients who were hospitalized in the neurology department of our hospital from January 2020 to December 2021 were selected and randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group, with 30 patients in each group.

Case Report: Compound Heterozygous Phosphatidylinositol-Glycan Biosynthesis Class N () Mutations in a Chinese Fetus With Hypotonia-Seizures Syndrome 1.

Multiple congenital anomalies-hypotonia-seizures syndrome 1 (MCAHS1) caused by phosphatidylinositol-glycan biosynthesis class N ( mutations is an autosomal recessive disease involving many systems of the body, such as the urogenital, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and central nervous systems. Here, compound heterozygous variants NM_012327.6:c.

Case Report: Novel Heterozygous Splicing Variant Responsible for Autosomal Dominant Non-syndromic Hearing Loss in a Chinese Family.

Autosomal dominant non-syndromic hearing loss (ADNSHL) has a broad phenotypic spectrum which includes bilateral, symmetrical, and high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss, that eventually progresses into hearing loss at all frequencies. Several genetic variations have been identified as causal factors underlying deafness, autosomal dominant 5 () gene-related hearing loss. Here, we report a novel mutation (c.

Aerobic degradation and the effect of hexabromocyclododecane by soil microbial communities in Taiwan.

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is one of the most frequently used brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in the industries nowadays. Despite being listed as persistent organic pollutant (POP), it is still in use until 2025. Because of its bio-accumulative and toxic characteristics, the applicable remediation approach is required.

Applying a social-ecological framework to Yucheng: 40 years after exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and dibenzofurans.

Although many epidemiological studies have been conducted on Yucheng cohorts, this incident has rarely been examined from social-ecological perspectives. This study adopted a social-ecological model as a framework to provide a more complete description of Yucheng in order to understand its effects on affected individuals, communities, and society. At first, recent studies on Yucheng victim's health effects  was updated.

The use of freshwater planarians in environmental toxicology studies: Advantages and potential.

Regarding the humane use of animals in scientific research, invertebrates are often recommended in toxicological studies. "Freshwater planarians" refers to numerous free-living freshwater members of the Class "Turbellaria" of the phylum Platyhelminthes. This group of invertebrates has received extensive attention from biologists for many years because of their unique biological characteristics, such as the primitive form of the central nervous system and notable capability to regenerate tissues.

δ-Cadinene inhibits the growth of ovarian cancer cells via caspase-dependent apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common causes of mortality among all cancers in females and is the primary cause of mortality from gynecological malignancies. The objective of the current research work was to evaluate a naturally occurring sesquiterpene-δ-Cadinene for its antiproliferative and apoptotic effects on human ovary cancer (OVCAR-3) cells. We also demonstrated the effect of δ-Cadinene on cell cycle phase distribution, intracellular damage and caspase activation.

Inhibitory effects of pain relief drugs on neurological enzymes: implications on their potential neurotoxicity to aquatic animals.

Pain relief medications commonly occur in the aquatic environment at measurable levels. While the neurotoxicity of pain relievers to higher vertebrates is currently known, little is known about their effects on aquatic animals. This study investigated the neurotoxicity of pain relievers to aquatic animals.

Disturbances to neurotransmitter levels and their metabolic enzyme activity in a freshwater planarian exposed to cadmium.

Using specific neurobehaviors as endpoints, previous studies suggested that planarian neurotransmission systems could be targets of Cd neurotoxicity. However, direct evidence for disturbed neurotransmission systems by Cd in treated planarians is still lacking. In planarians, dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) play critical roles in neuromuscular function, but little is known about their metabolic degradation.

Cadmium neurotoxicity to a freshwater planarian.

Although freshwater planarians are evolutionarily primitive, they are some of the simplest bilateral animals possessing integrated neural networks similar to those in vertebrates. We attempted to develop planarian Dugesia japonica as a model for investigating the neurotoxicity of environmental pollutants such as cadmium (Cd). This study was therefore designed to study the effects of Cd on the locomotor activity, neurobehavior, and neurological enzymes of D.

Bioaccumulation and toxicodynamics of cadmium to freshwater planarian and the protective effect of N-acetylcysteine.

Although toxic responses of freshwater planarians after exposure to environmental toxicants can be observed through external toxicological end points, physiological responses inside the bodies of treated planarians have rarely been investigated. The present study was designed, using cadmium (Cd) as a reference toxicant, to determine its bioaccumulation and toxicodynamics in the freshwater planarian, Dugesia japonica, after acute toxicity was obtained. Accumulated Cd concentrations, metallothionein levels, and the oxidative status in planarians were determined after exposure to Cd.

In vivo and in vitro metabolism of tobacco-specific nitrosamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), by the freshwater planarian, Dugesia japonica.

Cigarette smoke is a risk factor for human health, and many studies were conducted to investigate its adverse effects on humans and other mammals. However, since large amounts of cigarette products are produced and consumed, it is possible that tobacco chemicals can end up in aquatic environments through several routes, thus influencing aquatic organisms. In this study, the presence of tobacco-specific nitrosamine (TSNA), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), in aquatic environment was demonstrated.

Survival, mobility, and membrane-bound enzyme activities of freshwater planarian, Dugesia japonica, exposed to synthetic and natural surfactants.

Surfactants are a major class of emerging pollutants widely used in large quantities in everyday life and commonly found in surface waters worldwide. Freshwater planarian was selected to examine the effects of different surfactants by measuring mortality, mobility, and membrane-bound enzyme activities. Among the 10 surfactants tested, the acute toxicities of betaine and polyethylene glycol (PEG-200) to planarians were relatively low, with a median lethal concentration (LC50) greater than 10,000 mg/L.

The preferential accumulation of cadmium in the head portion of the freshwater planarian, Dugesia japonica (Platyhelminthes: Turbellaria).

Free-living freshwater planarians are considered to have the potential for development as an experimental model for toxicological studies on xenobiotics, including metals. However, little was known about the distribution patterns of metals in the body of treated planarians. This study was conducted to determine the tissue distribution patterns of cadmium (Cd) in different body portions of the treated planarian, Dugesia japonica.

Developmental exposure to decabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-209): effects on sperm oxidative stress and chromatin DNA damage in mouse offspring.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are used as brominated flame retardants and have been found in human milk in recent years. This study investigates whether prenatal exposure to decabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-209) induces sperm dysfunction in male offspring. Pregnant CD-1 mice were gavaged once daily with corn oil (control), 10, 500, and 1500 mg kg(-1) body weight of BDE-209 from day 0 of gestation to day 17.

A survey of the reasons patients do not chose percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy/jejunostomy (PEG/PEJ) as a route for long-term feeding.

Aims: To investigate why patients do not choose percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy as a route for long-term feeding.

Background: Home enteral tube feeding is well recognised as a valuable therapeutic option for patients requiring nutritional support following discharge from hospital. The number of patients discharged from hospital and receiving home enteral tube feeding increases annually in Taiwan.

Toxicity of perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid to plants and aquatic invertebrates.

Acute toxicities of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were tested on four freshwater species and three plant species. PFOS was more toxic than PFOA for all species tested in this study. Similar time-response patterns of PFOS and PFOA toxicity were observed for each tested species.

Effects of nonylphenol on cholinesterase and carboxylesterase activities in male guppies (Poecilia reticulata).

Compared to the estrogenic effects of 4-nonylphenol (NP), there is little data available on other potential toxic effects of NP in aquatic animals. The effects of NP on cholinesterase (ChE) and carboxylesterase (CbE) activities of male guppies exposed to 10, 60, 150, or 300 μg L(-1) NP were examined after 1, 2, 4, and 7 days of treatment. A significant muscle ChE inhibition, that used acetylthiocholine iodide as a substrate, was noted in male guppies in all NP treatment groups after a 4-day exposure, and 60 and 150 μg L(-1) of NP treatment groups after a 7-day exposure.

Effects of nonionic and ionic surfactants on survival, oxidative stress, and cholinesterase activity of planarian.

Eight widely used surfactants (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide; CTAB, benzethonium chloride; Hyamine 1622, 4-nonylphenol; NP, octylphenol ethoxylate; Triton X-100, dodecylbenzene sulfonate; LAS, lauryl sulfate; SDS, pentadecafluorooctanoic acid; PFOA, and perfluorooctane sulfonate; PFOS) were selected to examine their acute toxicities and effects on oxidative stress and cholinesterase (ChE) activities in Dugesia japonica. The differences in acute toxicity among eight surfactants to planarians were at least in the range of three orders of magnitudes. The toxicity rank of surfactants according to estimated 48-h LC(50) was SDS>NP>LAS>Hyamine 1622>CTAB>Triton X-100>PFOS>PFOA.

Developmental exposure to decabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE 209): effects on thyroid hormone and hepatic enzyme activity in male mouse offspring.

Decabrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE 209) is the second most used brominated flame retardant (BFRs). Many studies have shown that some of the BFRs act as endocrine disruptors via alterations in thyroid hormone homeostasis and affect development. Little is known about the effect of prenatal exposure to PBDE 209 on the development in male offspring.

Postnatal exposure of the male mouse to 2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6,6'-decabrominated diphenyl ether: decreased epididymal sperm functions without alterations in DNA content and histology in testis.

2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6,6'-Decabrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE 209) is the second most used brominated flame retardant (BFRs) in constructed materials because it is considered less toxic than others, though other fire retardants, some congeners of PBDE 209, are reported to be toxic. This combined the fact that PBDE 209 has been found in high levels in human milk, blood, indoor environments as well as in foodstuffs has led us in this study attempt to find out whether PBDE 209, also known as decaBDE and decabrominated diphenyl oxide (DBDPO), has an adverse effect on this histology of testes and sperm in CD-1 male mice. The mice we studied were divided into groups and gavaged with 10, 100, 500 and 1500 mg/kg PBDE 209 in corn oil per day between postnatal Days 21 and 70.