The Effect of the Mixed Extract of Nakai and Nakai on the Improvement of Degenerative Osteoarthritis through Inflammation Inhibition in the Monosodium Iodoacetate-Induced Mouse Model.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease, and, due to the lack of fundamental treatment, the main objective is to alleviate pain and prevent cartilage damage. Nakai and Nakai are herbal plants known for their excellent anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of this study is to confirm the potential of a mixture extract of Nakai and Nakai as a functional raw material for improving osteoarthritis through anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages and MIA-induced arthritis experimental animals.

Corneal Neuro-Regenerative Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation in Rabbit Lamellar Keratectomy Model.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) on corneal nerve regeneration in rabbits injured from superficial lamellar keratectomy (SLK).

Methods: New Zealand White rabbits were used in this experimental study. To induce corneal nerve damage, SLK was performed using a 7.

Prevention and Attenuation of Covid-19 with the BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 Vaccines.

Background: Information is limited regarding the effectiveness of the two-dose messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna) in preventing infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and in attenuating coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) when administered in real-world conditions.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study involving 3975 health care personnel, first responders, and other essential and frontline workers. From December 14, 2020, to April 10, 2021, the participants completed weekly SARS-CoV-2 testing by providing mid-turbinate nasal swabs for qualitative and quantitative reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) analysis.

An oncolytic herpesvirus expressing E-cadherin improves survival in mouse models of glioblastoma.

The efficacy of oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) is limited by rapid viral clearance by innate immune effector cells and poor intratumoral viral spread. We combine two approaches to overcome these barriers: inhibition of natural killer (NK) cells and enhancement of intratumoral viral spread. We engineered an oHSV to express CDH1, encoding E-cadherin, an adherent molecule and a ligand for KLRG1, an inhibitory receptor expressed on NK cells.

Blood eosinophil count as a prognostic biomarker in COPD.

Background: High blood eosinophil count is a predictive biomarker for response to inhaled corticosteroids in prevention of acute exacerbation of COPD, and low blood eosinophil count is associated with pneumonia risk in COPD patients taking inhaled corticosteroids. However, the prognostic role of blood eosinophil count remains underexplored. Therefore, we investigated the associated factors and mortality based on blood eosinophil count in COPD.

Exome and genome sequencing of nasopharynx cancer identifies NF-κB pathway activating mutations.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an aggressive head and neck cancer characterized by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and dense lymphocyte infiltration. The scarcity of NPC genomic data hinders the understanding of NPC biology, disease progression and rational therapy design. Here we performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) on 111 micro-dissected EBV-positive NPCs, with 15 cases subjected to further whole-genome sequencing (WGS), to determine its mutational landscape.

Is visual evaluation of aneurysm coiling a reliable study end point? Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Purpose: Angiographic occlusion as a surrogate marker of satisfactory aneurysm treatment is commonly used in clinical trials although some pitfalls have to be considered. To investigate the inter-rater reliability of visual rating of aneurysm occlusion as study end point, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library) were searched up to June 2014.

Exome sequencing identifies KIAA1377 and C5orf42 as susceptibility genes for monomelic amyotrophy.

Precise topographic localization, predominance in males mostly of Asian origin, and existence of some familial cases suggest a genetic background for monomelic amyotrophy. To identify susceptibility genes for monomelic amyotrophy, we performed whole-exome sequencing of four unrelated patients with monomelic amyotrophy and detected a total of 45 novel nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms as unique variants to monomelic amyotrophy compared to control exomes. Genetic association analysis showed significant association with monomelic amyotrophy in the Gly668Ser variant of the KIAA1377 gene (odds ratio=4.