Kefir peptides, generated by kefir grain fermentation of milk proteins, showed positive antioxidant effects, lowered blood pressure and modulated the immune response. In this study, kefir peptide was ...evaluated regarding their anti-inflammatory effects on particulate matter <4 μm (PM
)-induced lung inflammation in NF-κB-luciferase
transgenic mice. The lungs of mice under 20 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg PM
treatments, both increased significantly the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokines; increased the protein expression levels of p-NF-κB, NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-4 and α-SMA. Thus, we choose the 10 mg/kg of PM
for animal trials; the mice were assigned to four treatment groups, including control group (saline treatment), PM
+ Mock group (only PM
administration), PM
+ KL group (PM
+ 150 mg/kg low-dose kefir peptide) and PM
+ KH group (PM
+ 500 mg/kg high-dose kefir peptide). Data showed that treatment with both doses of kefir peptides decreased the PM
-induced inflammatory cell infiltration and the expression of the inflammatory mediators IL-lβ, IL-4 and TNF-α in lung tissue by inactivating NF-κB signaling. The oral administrations of kefir peptides decrease the PM
-induced lung inflammation process through the inhibition of NF-κB pathway in transgenic luciferase mice, proposing a new clinical application to particulate matter air pollution-induced pulmonary inflammation.
Whether periodontitis is a risk factor for developing bipolar disorders (BD) has not been investigated. We aimed to determine whether periodontitis is associated with the subsequent development of BD ...and examine the risk factors for BD among patients with periodontitis.Using ambulatory and inpatient claims data from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), we identified 12,337 patients who were aged at least 20 years and newly diagnosed with periodontitis between 2000 and 2004. The date of the first claim with a periodontitis diagnosis was set as the index date. For each patient with periodontitis, 4 subjects without a history of periodontitis were randomly selected from the NHIRD and frequency-matched with the patients with periodontitis according to sex, age (in 5-year bands), and index year.The periodontitis group had a mean age of 44.0 ± 13.7 years and slight predominance of men (51.3%). Compared with the subjects without periodontitis, the patients with periodontitis had higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, stroke, head injury, major depressive disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and asthma (P < .001). The incidence rate of BD was higher in the periodontitis group than in the non-periodontitis group (2.74 vs 1.46 per 1000 person-year), with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.82 (95% confidence interval = 1.59-2.08) after adjustment for sex, age, and comorbidities.The patients with periodontitis exhibited a significantly higher risk of developing BD. Keep the better oral hygiene to reduce periodontitis might be a preventive strategy for BD.
Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is a potentially life-threatening acute immune-mediated demyelinating peripheral neuropathy. It could be triggered by many pathogens, including Campylobacter jejuni, ...cytomegalovirus, Epstein–Barr virus, Helicobacter pylori, and influenza. A 14-year-old boy presented with GBS caused by H. pylori. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed chronic gastritis and a shallow gastric ulcer. He had right lower limb weakness and sensory loss, which were relieved after intravenous immunoglobulin (Ig) treatment. He was also prescribed triple therapy with lansoprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin and achieved complete eradication of H. pylori. No recurrent neurological or gastrointestinal symptoms were observed. H. pylori secrete a protein called “vacuolating cytotoxin A (VacA),” and the cerebrospinal fluid level of a specific IgG antibody against VacA was found to be increased in patients with GBS. GBS should be included in the differential diagnosis list in patients presenting with neurological signs with concurrent H. pylori infection.
Fibromatosis colli (FC) is a condition of benign fibrous tissue proliferation on one side of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle leading to focal or diffuse enlargement of the neck and is often ...clinically associated with torticollis. Here, we report a case of a 2-month-old infant who was healthy except for a bulky neck mass on the left side of the SCM muscle. The patient was diagnosed with FC using sonography, which is a favored imaging tool because it can differentiate FC from other causes of neck masses. Physiotherapy can significantly improve the majority of FC cases.
Methemoglobinemia is a potentially life-threatening disease resulting from high blood levels of methemoglobin resulting in failure of binding and delivery of oxygen to tissues. The most common causes ...of methemoglobinemia are oxidizing toxins, such as butamirate citrate, which is a commonly used liquid antitussive, especially in pediatric patients. Herein, we present the case of a 3-year-old girl who accidentally ingested excessive amounts of butamirate citrate. She presented with mild lip cyanosis with high methemoglobin levels (6.5%) and normal oxygen saturation (98%), and was managed by prompt gut decontamination with activated charcoal, followed by monitoring and intravenous glucose administration. Therefore, methemoglobinemia should be considered a differential diagnosis in a patient presenting with cyanosis without any underlying lung or heart disease.
Vascular calcification (VC) and osteoporosis were previously considered two distinct diseases. However, current understanding indicates that they share common pathogenetic mechanisms. The available ...medicines for treating VC and osteoporosis are limited. We previously demonstrated that kefir peptides (KPs) alleviated atherosclerosis in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced apolipoprotein E knockout (
) mice. The present study further addressed the preventive effects of KPs on VC and osteoporosis in
mice fed a high-cholesterol atherogenic diet (AD).
Seven-week-old
and wild-type C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups (
= 6). The development of VC and osteoporosis was evaluated after AD feeding for 13 weeks in KP-treated
mice and compared to C57BL/6 and
mice fed a standard chow diet (CD).
The results indicated that KP-treated
mice exhibited lower serum total cholesterol, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatine kinase (CK) activities, which suggested that KPs prevented hyperlipidemia and possible damages to the liver and muscle in
mice. KPs reduced serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and the local expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and macrophage-specific CD68 markers in aortic tissues, which suggested that KPs inhibited inflammatory responses in AD-fed
mice. KPs reduced the deposition of lipid, collagen, and calcium minerals in the aortic roots of AD-fed
mice, which suggested that KPs inhibited the calcific progression of atherosclerotic plaques. KPs exerted osteoprotective effects in AD-fed
mice, which was evidenced by lower levels of the bone resorption marker CTX-1 and higher levels of the bone formation marker P1NP. KPs improved cortical bone mineral density and bone volume and reduced trabecular bone loss in femurs.
The present data suggested that KPs attenuated VC and osteoporosis by reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in AD-fed
mice. Our findings contribute to the application of KPs as preventive medicines for the treatment of hyperlipidemia-induced vascular and bone degeneration.
Refractory epilepsy (RE) is frequently associated with neuropsychological impairment in children and may disrupt their social development. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) had been reported to have ...beneficial effects on behavioral outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare Parenting Stress Index (PSI) scores before and after VNS device implantation in children with RE, especially those who experienced seizure frequency reduction.
We conducted a one-group pretest–posttest study in school age children with RE. Seizure frequency and PSI were recorded at 12months after VNS device implantation.
Treatment with VNS was significantly associated with reduced seizure frequency and parental stress as measured by PSI. Factors contributing to seizure frequency included idiopathic/cryptogenic etiology and neurobehavioral comorbidities. In children with reduced seizure frequency, statistically significant improvements in the child domain of the PSI on the subscales of mood and reinforces parent were found. In the parent domain, the scores for social isolation were reduced.
Treatment with VNS was significantly associated with reduced seizure frequency and improved PSI scores, especially within the child domain on the mood and reinforces parent subscales. These findings suggest that VNS reduced not only seizure frequency but also the psychological burden on children with RE.
•Refractory epilepsy is frequently associated with neuropsychological impairment in children and may disrupt their social development.•Vagus nerve stimulation implantation was significantly associated with improved seizure frequency and parenting stress index, especially on the Child mood and parent reinforces domains.•VNS reduced not only seizure frequency but also the psychological burden on children with refractory epilepsy.
(1) Background: Recently, a growing number of studies have provided evidence to suggest a strong correlation between air pollution exposure and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In ...this study, we assessed the relationship between early-life exposure to particulate matter (PM)
, PM
.
, and ADHD; (2) Methods: The National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) contains the medical records, drug information, inspection data, etc., of the people of Taiwan, and, thus, could serve as an important research resource. Air pollution data were based on daily data from the Environmental Protection Administration Executive Yuan, R.O.C. (Taiwan). These included particulate matter (PM
and PM
). The two databases were merged according to the living area of the insured and the location of the air quality monitoring station; (3) Results: The highest levels of air pollutants, including PM
(adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.79; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.58-2.02) and PM
(aHR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.37-1.70), had a significantly higher risk of ADHD; (4) Conclusions: As such, measures for air quality control that meet the WHO air quality guidelines should be strictly and uniformly implemented by Taiwanese government authorities.
Noonan syndrome-like disorder with loose anagen hair-2 (NSLH2) is an extremely rare disease caused by a heterozygous mutation in the PPP1CB gene on chromosome 2p23. The syndrome causes not only ...numerous dysmorphic features but also hypotonia, developmental delay, and even intellectual disability. We report the first case of NSLH2 in Asia and the 16th in the world. Moreover, the first case of PPP1CB-related infantile spasms. The clinical and therapeutic significance is outlined in this paper.
We found a male infant presented with severe intractable epileptic spasms. Although certain clinical features of somatic dysmorphism were noted, numerous laboratory and neuroimaging studies failed to identify the cause. To determine the underlying etiology, whole-exome sequencing was conducted. We identified a de novo heterozygous mutation, NM_206876.1: c.548A > C (p.Glu183Ala), in the PPP1CB gene. His seizures were almost refractory to conventional antiepileptic drugs but relative seizure control was eventually achieved with a ketogenic diet.
This result expands the clinical spectrum of NSLH2 and strengthens the association between the PPP1CB gene and epileptic seizures. Furthermore, we suggest that the ketogenic diet can offer seizure reduction in particular drug-resistant epilepsy syndromes. Additional studies are warranted to clarify the pathogenic mechanisms underlying this PPP1CB mutation in epileptic seizures.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Studies investigating reasons for the admission and the associated lengths of stay (LOSs) among cerebral palsy (CP) patients are limited. This study determined common reasons for acute ...hospitalizations and the LOSs among children, adolescents, and young adults with CP.
We performed a secondary analysis of data. CP patients aged 4-32.9 years were identified by CP registry in the catastrophic illness patient registry of the 2010 Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Data of admission claims from 2010 to 2011 were analyzed. Reasons for admissions were identified according to International Classification of Diseases codes. Common reasons, frequencies of admissions for each reason, and LOSs were reported.
Pneumonia, other respiratory problems, and epilepsy were the top three reasons for admissions in all groups. Other common reasons in all groups were sepsis, other respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal problems. The reasons specific to children included orthopedic issues; ear, nose, and throat problems; and urinary tract infections (UTIs). In youths, scoliosis, and contractures, were unique reasons. In young adults, UTIs, blood problems, and mental illness, were special reasons. Most admission reasons appeared to prolong LOS, and the LOS exhibited an increasing trend as age increased.
The results implied that patients with CP are more susceptible to most disease invasions. Our results also suggest that the current care system in Taiwan is unsuitable for patients with CP. These results can be used as guidance for planning effective multidisciplinary assessments in the future.
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