Factors Predicting Subjective Satisfaction for Successful Hearing Aid Adaptation.

(1) Background: For successful hearing aid (HA) use during daily life, an objective parameter reflecting the subjective satisfaction is required. We explored the aided hearing status, hearing in noise test (HINT) scores, and subjective outcomes to predict performance improvements in everyday living. (2) Methods: A total of 406 patients with hearing loss (HL) who were prescribed HAs were included and were divided into two groups according to the symmetricity of HL.

Effect of Various Pathological Conditions on Nitric Oxide Level and L-Citrulline Uptake in Motor Neuron-Like (NSC-34) Cell Lines.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron disorder that causes progressive paralysis. L-Citrulline is a non-essential neutral amino acid produced by L-arginine via nitric oxide synthase (NOS). According to previous studies, the pathogenesis of ALS entails glutamate toxicity, oxidative stress, protein misfolding, and neurofilament disruption.

Differences in Neurotransmitters Level as Biomarker on Sleep Effects in Dementia Patients with Insomnia after Essential Oils Treatment.

This study aimed to examine the effects of several essential oils on insomnia in dementia patients following transdermal treatment (aromatherapy). The mean change rates (%) of sleep biomarkers were compared between the single essential and jojoba (vehicle) oil massage groups in this study. The lavender (L) essential oil massage group demonstrated a significant decrease in the mean change rate (%) of 24-h urinary free cortisol, whereas the valerian (V) essential oil massage group demonstrated a significant increase in the mean change rate (%) of serum 5-hydroxytryptamine.

Protective Effects of Choline against Inflammatory Cytokines and Characterization of Transport in Motor Neuron-like Cell Lines (NSC-34).

Choline, a component of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, is essential for nervous system functions, brain development, and gene expression. In our study, we investigated the protective effect and transport characteristics of choline in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) model cell lines. We used the wild-type (WT) motor neuron-like hybrid cell line (NSC-34/hSOD1) as a control and the mutant-type (MT; NSC-34/hSOD1) as a disease model.

Blood-Brain Barrier Solute Carrier Transporters and Motor Neuron Disease.

Defective solute carrier (SLC) transporters are responsible for neurotransmitter dysregulation, resulting in neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We provided the role and kinetic parameters of transporters such as ASCTs, Taut, LAT1, CAT1, MCTs, OCTNs, CHT, and CTL1, which are mainly responsible for the transport of essential nutrients, acidic, and basic drugs in blood-brain barrier (BBB) and motor neuron disease. The affinity for LAT1 was higher in the BBB than in the ALS model cell line, whereas the capacity was higher in the NSC-34 cell lines than in the BBB.

Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Effects of Paeonol against Oxidative Stress and Altered Carrier-Mediated Transport System on NSC-34 Cell Lines.

Paeonol is a naturally occurring phenolic agent that attenuates neurotoxicity in neurodegenerative diseases. We aimed to investigate the antioxidant and protective effects of paeonol and determine its transport mechanism in wild-type (WT; NSC-34/hSOD1) and mutant-type (MT; NSC-34/hSOD1) motor neuron-like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cell lines. Cytotoxicity induced by glutamate, lipopolysaccharides, and HO reduced viability of cell; however, the addition of paeonol improved cell viability against neurotoxicity.

Monocarboxylate transporter functions and neuroprotective effects of valproic acid in experimental models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devasting neurodegenerative disorder for which no successful therapeutics are available. Valproic acid (VPA), a monocarboxylate derivative, is a known antiepileptic drug and a histone deacetylase inhibitor.

Methods: To investigate whether monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) and sodium-coupled MCT1 (SMCT1) are altered in ALS cell and mouse models, a cellular uptake study, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction and western blot parameters were used.

Differences of Transport Activity of Arginine and Regulation on Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase and Oxidative Stress in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Model Cell Lines.

L-Arginine, a semi-essential amino acid, was shown to delay dysfunction of motor neurons and to prolong the lifespan, upon analysis of transgenic mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We investigated the transport function of arginine and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expression after pretreatment with L-arginine in NSC-34 hSOD1 (wild-type, WT) and hSOD1 (mutant-type, MT) cell lines. [H]L-Arginine uptake was concentration-dependent, voltage-sensitive, and sodium-independent in both cell lines.

Change in Cationic Amino Acid Transport System and Effect of Lysine Pretreatment on Inflammatory State in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Cell Model.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a lethal neurological disorder characterized by the deterioration of motor neurons. The aim of this study was to investigate alteration of cationic amino acid transporter (CAT-1) activity in the transport of lysine and the pretreatment effect of lysine on pro-inflammatory states in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cell line. The mRNA expression of cationic amino acid transporter 1 was lower in NSC-34/hSOD1 (MT) than the control cell line (WT), lysine transport is mediated by CAT-1 in NSC-34 cell lines.

The Alteration of L-Carnitine Transport and Pretreatment Effect under Glutamate Cytotoxicity on Motor Neuron-Like NSC-34 Lines.

L-Carnitine (LC) is essential for transporting fatty acids to the mitochondria for β-oxidation. This study was performed to examine the alteration of the LC transport system in wild type (WT, NSC-34/hSOD1) and mutant type (MT, NSC-34/hSOD1) amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) models. The uptake of [H]L-carnitine was dependent on time, temperature, concentration, sodium, pH, and energy in both cell lines.

Pretreatment Effect of Inflammatory Stimuli and Characteristics of Tryptophan Transport on Brain Capillary Endothelial (TR-BBB) and Motor Neuron Like (NSC-34) Cell Lines.

Tryptophan plays a key role in several neurological and psychiatric disorders. In this study, we investigated the transport mechanisms of tryptophan in brain capillary endothelial (TR-BBB) cell lines and motor neuron-like (NSC-34) cell lines. The uptake of [H]l-tryptophan was stereospecific, and concentration- and sodium-dependent in TR-BBB cell lines.

A novel organic cation transporter involved in paeonol transport across the inner blood-retinal barrier and changes in uptake in high glucose conditions.

Paeonol exerts various pharmacological effects owing to its antiangiogenic, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities. We aimed to investigate the transport mechanism of paeonol across the inner blood-retinal barrier both in vitro and in vivo. The carotid artery single injection method was used to investigate the retina uptake index of paeonol.

Transport Alteration of 4-Phenyl Butyric Acid Mediated by a Sodium- and Proton-Coupled Monocarboxylic Acid Transporter System in ALS Model Cell Lines (NSC-34) Under Inflammatory States.

4-Phenyl butyric acid (PBA) has histone deacetylase inhibitory and neuroprotective effects. We aimed to examine the transport alteration activity of PBA in control (WT) and disease (MT) model cell lines of an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) model. The transport characteristics of PBA were examined uptake rates and mRNA expression levels in NSC-34 cell lines.

L-Citrulline Level and Transporter Activity Are Altered in Experimental Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive motor neuron disease caused by the death of the neurons regulating the voluntary muscles which leads to the progressive paralysis. We investigated the difference of transport function of L-citrulline in ALS disease model (NSC-34/hSOD1, MT) and a control model (NSC-34/hSOD1, WT). The [C]L-citrulline uptake was significantly reduced in MT cells as compared with that of control.

The Effect of Drug Pre-treatment on Taurine Transport at the Inner Blood-Retinal Barrier Under Variable Conditions.

Taurine is essential for the development and function of the central nervous system, retina, and cardiovascular system. It is a naturally occurring amino acid, abundantly found in the retina. It has been shown to exhibit antioxidant, neuroprotective, and osmoregulatory functions in the retina.

Involvement of a Novel Organic Cation Transporter in Paeonol Transport Across the Blood-Brain Barrier.

Paeonol has neuroprotective function, which could be useful for improving central nervous system disorder. The purpose of this study was to characterize the functional mechanism involved in brain transport of paeonol through blood-brain barrier (BBB). Brain transport of paeonol was characterized by internal carotid artery perfusion (ICAP), carotid artery single injection technique (brain uptake index, BUI) and intravenous (IV) injection technique .

Blood-to-Retina Transport of Imperatorin Involves the Carrier-Mediated Transporter System at the Inner Blood-Retinal Barrier.

This study investigated the mechanism of transporting imperatorin across the inner blood-retinal barrier (iBRB). The carotid artery single injection method was used to calculate the retinal uptake index (RUI) of [H]imperatorin in vivo, whereas the retinal capillary endothelial cell lines were used for the in vitro uptake and mRNA expression assays. RUI value of [H]imperatorin was greater than that of the reference compound ([C]n-butanol).

l-Citrulline restores nitric oxide level and cellular uptake at the brain capillary endothelial cell line (TR-BBB cells) with glutamate cytotoxicity.

Objective: Glutamate excitotoxicity provokes neuronal cell damage and death, leading to collapse of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Recently, it has been reported that l-citrulline, a neutral amino acid and a major precursor of l-arginine in the nitric oxide (NO) cycle, can prevent both neuronal cell death and cerebrovascular cell loss in brain ischemia. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of l-citrulline on glutamate cytotoxicity in the BBB using the conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cell line (TR-BBB cells) as an in vitro model of the BBB.

Taurine Protects Glutamate Neurotoxicity in Motor Neuron Cells.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fetal neurodegenerative disease that results in motor dysfunction and death. However, there is no cure or effective therapy for ALS. In our previous results, taurine protects motor neurons by repairing for constitutive oxidative stress in an ALS model.

Imperatorin is Transported through Blood-Brain Barrier by Carrier-Mediated Transporters.

Imperatorin, a major bioactive furanocoumarin with multifunctions, can be used for treating neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of imperatorin transport in the brain. Experiments of the present study were designed to study imperatorin transport across the blood-brain barrier both and .

Characteristics of -citrulline transport through blood-brain barrier in the brain capillary endothelial cell line (TR-BBB cells).

Background: -Citrulline is a neutral amino acid and a major precursor of -arginine in the nitric oxide (NO) cycle. Recently it has been reported that -citrulline prevents neuronal cell death and protects cerebrovascular injury, therefore, -citrulline may have a neuroprotective effect to improve cerebrovascular dysfunction. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the brain transport mechanism of -citrulline through blood-brain barrier (BBB) using the conditionally immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cell line (TR-BBB cells), as an in vitro model of the BBB.

Effects of simvastatin on CAT-1-mediated arginine transport and NO level under high glucose conditions in conditionally immortalized rat inner blood-retinal barrier cell lines (TR-iBRB).

Objective: Hyperglycemia causes the breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier by impairing endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) function. Statins have many pleiotropic effects such as improving endothelial barrier permeability and increasing eNOS mRNA stability. The objective of this study was to determine effect of simvastatin on l-arginine transport and NO production under high-glucose conditions in conditionally immortalized rat retinal capillary endothelial cell line (TR-iBRB).

The alteration of serine transporter activity in a cell line model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The alteration of d-serine levels is associated with the pathogenesis of sporadic ALS and mutant SOD1 (G93A) animal model of ALS. However, the exact mechanism of d-serine transport is not known in ALS. To better understand the distribution of d-serine in ALS, we determined the activity and the expression of serine transporter in a motor neuronal cell line model of ALS (NSC-34/hSOD1 cells).

Use of PEGylated Immunoliposomes to Deliver Dopamine Across the Blood-Brain Barrier in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease.

Aim: To treat neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD), drugs must be able to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Patients with PD are deficient in dopamine (DA), a neurotransmitter that cannot pass through the BBB. Liposomes modified by adding polyethylene glycol (PEGylated liposomes (PLs)) can be conjugated with antibody to form DA-PEGylated immunoliposomes (DA-PILs), and we tested their use as carriers of DA for treating PD.

In Vivo and In Vitro Evidence for Brain Uptake of 4-Phenylbutyrate by the Monocarboxylate Transporter 1 (MCT1).

Purpose: 4-Phenylbutyrate (4-PBA) is expected to be a potential therapeutic for several neurodegenerative diseases. These activities require 4-PBA transport into the brain across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The objective of the present study was to characterize the brain transport mechanism of 4-PBA through the BBB.