Oral Administration of Probiotic Lactobacillus Casei Shirota Decreases Pneumonia and Increases Pulmonary Functions after Single Rib Fracture: A Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Unlabelled: Considerate proportion of elderly patients with a rib fracture is susceptible to pulmonary complications, especially pneumonia. We aimed to assess the effect of oral administration of the probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) on pneumonia and pulmonary functions among elderly patients with single rib fracture. The current study including 204 eligible elderly patients with a single rib fracture was conducted.

Interplay between the Notch and PI3K/Akt pathways in high glucose-induced podocyte apoptosis.

Podocyte apoptosis contributes to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, the mechanisms that mediate high glucose (HG)-induced podocyte apoptosis remain poorly understood. Conditionally immortalized mouse podocytes were cultured in HG medium.

Enhancement of Na/K pump activity by chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia protected against reperfusion injury.

Chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) has been shown to attenuate intracellular Na(+) accumulation and Ca(2+) overload during ischemia and reperfusion (I/R), both of which are closely related to the outcome of myocardial damage. Na/K pump plays an essential role in maintaining the equilibrium of intracellular Na(+) and Ca(2+) during I/R. It has been shown that enhancement of Na/K pump activity by ischemic preconditioning may be involved in the cardiac protection.

Chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia decreases beta-adrenoceptor activity in right ventricular papillary muscle.

Chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (CIHH) has an effective cardiac protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully known. It has been shown that blockade of beta-adrenergic receptor exerts anti-arrhythmic action and improves cardiac remodeling in ischemic myocardium.