TXNIP regulates pulmonary inflammation induced by Asian sand dust.

Asian sand dust (ASD), a seasonal dust storm originating from the deserts of China and Mongolia, affects Korea and Japan during the spring, carrying soil particles and a variety of biochemical components. Exposure to ASD has been associated with the onset and exacerbation of respiratory disorders, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates ASD-induced pulmonary toxicity and its mechanistic pathways, focusing on the role of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP).

Franch. and Sav. Attenuates Respiratory Inflammation Caused by Asian Sand Dust.

Asian sand dust (ASD), generally produced in East Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea, directly leads to the development of pulmonary disease and exacerbates underlying pulmonary diseases. Franch. and Sav.

The effects of Pycnogenol, a pine bark extract on pulmonary inflammation by Asian sand dust in mice.

Asian sand dust (ASD), also called China dust or yellow dust, mainly occurs in East Asia during spring and autumn. Because ASD enters the body mainly through the respiratory system, it can cause respiratory disorders or worsen underlying diseases. Because of this, it has become an important health concern that threatens the well-being of humans and animals.

Protective effects of Angelica decursiva Franchet & Savatier on allergic responses through enhancement of Nrf2 and suppression of NF-kB/MMP-9 in ovalbumin-exposed mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Angelica decursiva Franchet & Savatier is a traditional medicinal plant used to treat asthma, cough, headache, pyrexia and thick phlegm in China, Japan and Korea. A. decursiva contains many types of coumarins, which can exert several pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties for treating various diseases such as pneumonitis, atopic dermatitis, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease.

Melatonin Alleviates Silica Nanoparticle-Induced Lung Inflammation via Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein Downregulation.

Silica dioxide nanoparticles (SiONPs) have been increasingly used in various industries; however, this has raised concerns regarding their potential toxicity. SiONPs are also a major component in the Asian sand dust that causes pulmonary diseases among the general public. Melatonin exerts some inhibitory effects against lung inflammation.

The Involvement of PDE4 in the Protective Effects of Melatonin on Cigarette-Smoke-Induced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant disease threatening human health. Currently, roflumilast, a phosphodiesterase (PDE)4 inhibitor, is recommended as a therapeutic agent for COPD. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of melatonin against COPD, focusing on determining whether it is a PDE4 inhibitor via in vivo and in vitro experiment using cigarette smoke (CS) and cigarette smoke condensate (CSC), respectively.

Outcome of Percutaneous Intervention in Dysfunctional Loop versus Straight Arteriovenous Grafts in Hemodialysis Patients.

Objective: To compare the patency control of dysfunctioning forearm arteriovenous graft (AVG) using percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in patients with loop versus straight grafts.

Materials And Methods: Between January 2012 and March 2017, hemodialysis patients with forearm AVG were treated with PTA at two hospitals. We reviewed technical and clinical success rates of each procedure.

Silibinin Attenuates Silica Dioxide Nanoparticles-Induced Inflammation by Suppressing TXNIP/MAPKs/AP-1 Signaling.

Silica dioxide nanoparticles (SiONPs) have been applied to several fields, such as drug delivery and gene therapy. However, SiONPs are a constituent of fine dust and can induce excessive inflammatory responses in the lungs via the airways. Silibinin, a major component of silymarin, has been known for its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Analysis of the altmetric top 100 articles with the highest altmetric attention scores in medical imaging journals.

Purpose: Alternative metrics (altmetrics) provides a complementary measure of the impact of scientific articles. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the top 100 articles with the highest Altmetric attention score (AAS) in medical imaging journals.

Materials And Methods: We searched for AASs articles published in 116 journals in the subject category "Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging" using the Web of Science.

CT Angiographic Evaluation of Congenital Anastomoses between Femoropopliteal Vein and Deep Femoral Vein: Types and Incidence.

Purpose: To evaluate congenital anastomotic channels between femoropopliteal veins and deep femoral veins with the use of computed tomographic (CT) venography.

Materials And Methods: CT venography of 488 limbs in 244 patients (105 men; mean age, 61 y; age range, 18-96 y) performed between January 2016 and December 2016 was retrospectively evaluated. The presence or absence of anastomotic channels (> 3 mm in diameter) connecting a femoropopliteal vein to a deep femoral vein was determined, and the observed channels were classified based on their location and course.

Clinical Outcomes of the Seal® Thoracic Stent Graft for Traumatic Aortic Injury in a Korean Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: Thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) has been used as a primary treatment for blunt traumatic aortic injury (TAI). However, the outcomes of midterm surveillance of Seal® stent-graft durability for TAI have not been extensively studied. Thus, we aimed to report the midterm outcomes of TEVAR using the Seal® stent graft for blunt TAI.

Histologic Analysis with the Newly Designed Exoskeleton Seal Stent-Graft in the Porcine Abdominal Aorta.

Purpose: To investigate the technical feasibility of a novel exoskeleton Seal stent-graft and analyze early histologic changes in the porcine abdominal aorta.

Materials And Methods: Six pigs received an abdominal stent-graft (Group I), and six received an iliac branch stent-graft (Group II). Groups were subdivided as follows: Group Ia, which received three bifurcated main-body stent-grafts; Group Ib, which received three bifurcated main-body stent-grafts with both iliac graft-stents; Group IIa, which received three simple uni-iliac tapered stent-grafts; and Group IIb, which received three uni-iliac tapered tapered stent-grafts with right straight limb and left branched limb.

So-Cheong-Ryoung-Tang Attenuates Pulmonary Inflammation Induced by Cigarette Smoke in Bronchial Epithelial Cells and Experimental Mice.

So-Cheong-Ryoung-Tang is a traditionally used herbal formula for the treatment of pulmonary diseases in China, Korea, and Japan. We investigated the protective effects of So-Cheong-Ryong-Tang water extract (SCWE) in cigarette smoke concentrate (CSC) stimulated human airway epithelial cell line NCI-H292 and mice exposed cigarette smoke (CS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In the CSC-stimulated NCI-H292 cells, SCWE inhibited proinflammatory cytokines in a concentration-dependent manner, as evidenced by a reduction in their mRNA levels.

Galgeun-tang Attenuates Cigarette Smoke and Lipopolysaccharide Induced Pulmonary Inflammation via IκBα/NF-κB Signaling.

Galgeun-tang water extract (GGWE) is used to treat various diseases such as the common cold, eczema and asthma in China and Korea. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of GGWE using a cigarette smoke (CS)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced induced pulmonary inflammation mouse model. The mice were exposed to CS for a total of seven days (eight cigarettes per day for 1 h) and LPS was administered intranasally to mice on day 4.

Lobeglitazone Attenuates Airway Inflammation and Mucus Hypersecretion in a Murine Model of Ovalbumin-Induced Asthma.

Lobeglitazone (LB) is a novel agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α and γ that was developed as a drug to treat diabetes mellitus. We explored the ameliorative effects of LB on allergic asthma using a murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma. To boost the immune response of animals, OVA sensitization was performed on days 0 and 14.

The most downloaded and most cited articles in radiology journals: a comparative bibliometric analysis.

Objectives: To evaluate and compare the characteristics of the most downloaded and most cited articles in radiology journals.

Methods: We selected 41 radiology journals that provided lists of both the most downloaded and most cited articles on their websites, and identified the 596 most downloaded articles and 596 most cited articles. We compared the following characteristics of the most downloaded and most cited articles: year of publication, journal title, department of the first author, country of origin, publication type, radiologic subspecialty, radiologic technique and accessibility.

Interventional management of central vein occlusion in patients with peripherally inserted central catheter placement.

Objective: This study evaluated the incidence of central vein occlusion (CVO) and analyzed the interventional management for CVO during peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement to suggest an adequate management protocol to ensure the success and patency of PICCs.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 2568 PICCs to identify CVO in two medical centers between January 2016 and June 2017. Procedural images were reviewed for the following items: date and indication for the PICC; type of catheter; accessed vein and arm; characteristics of CVO on ascending arm venography; PICC placement technique; indwelling period of the PICC; and follow-up records.

The blind pushing technique for peripherally inserted central catheter placement through brachial vein puncture.

Objective: The objective of this study was to conduct a prospective clinical trial evaluating the technical feasibility and short-term clinical outcome of the blind pushing technique for placement of pretrimmed peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) through brachial vein access.

Methods: Patients requiring PICC placement at any of the three participating institutions were prospectively enrolled between January and December 2016. The review boards of all participating institutions approved this study, and informed consent was obtained from all patients.

4-Hydroxycinnamic acid protects mice from cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary inflammation via MAPK pathways.

Cigarette smoke (CS) is the main etiological cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the prevalence of which has continuously increased in recent years. 4-Hydroxycinnamic acid (HA) is a plant phenolic acid that has anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we explored the therapeutic effects of HA on airway inflammation caused by CS and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice.

Genipin inhibits allergic responses in ovalbumin-induced asthmatic mice.

Genipin is a natural compound isolated from the fruit of Gardenia jasminoides with various pharmacological effects. In this study, we investigated whether genipin effectively alleviates allergic responses in a murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma. The mice were administered an intraperitoneal injection of OVA on day 0 and 14 to boost the immune response; genipin was then administered from day 18 to 23 by oral gavage.

Pine bark extract (Pycnogenol®) suppresses cigarette smoke-induced fibrotic response via transforming growth factor-β1/Smad family member 2/3 signaling.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) is an important disease featured as intense inflammation, protease imbalance, and air flow limitation and mainly induced by cigarette smoke (CS). In present study, we explored the effects of Pycnogenol® (PYC, pine bark extract) on pulmonary fibrosis caused by CS+lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. Mice were treated with LPS intranasally on day 12 and 26, followed by CS exposure for 1 h/day (8 cigarettes per day) for 4 weeks.

Intraobserver and Interobserver Variability in Ultrasound Measurements of Thyroid Nodules.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the intraobserver and interobserver variability in ultrasound (US) measurements of thyroid nodules.

Methods: We performed a prospective study of the US examinations of 73 patients with 122 thyroid nodules greater than 5 mm in size. Ultrasound measurements in 4 dimensions (anteroposterior, transverse, longitudinal, and maximum diameters) and measurement of the estimated volume (using the ellipsoid formula) of each thyroid nodule were performed twice by 2 independent radiologists (A and B, with 10 years and 6 months of experience, respectively).

Silibinin inhibits the fibrotic responses induced by cigarette smoke via suppression of TGF-β1/Smad 2/3 signaling.

Cigarette smoke (CS) is generally accepted as a major contributor to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which is characterized by chronic inflammation, fibrotic response, and airway obstruction. In this study, we investigated the preventive effects of silibinin, an active constitute of silymarin on CS and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure-induced fibrotic response. Mice were exposed to CS for 1 h per day (8 cigarettes per day) for 4 weeks.