Aims
In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of selected probiotics in a mouse model of birch pollen (BP)‐induced allergic rhinitis.
Methods and Results
Oral administration of ...Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP133 and CJLP243 ameliorated the symptoms of BP‐induced allergic rhinitis by reducing airway hyperresponsiveness, and both the histological scores and the number of infiltrated cells in the nasal cavities and lungs. Compared with those from vehicle‐treated mice, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and draining lymph node samples from CJLP133 and CJLP243‐administrated mice showed diminished numbers of immune cells, increased secretion of a Th1‐type cytokine (IFN‐γ) and decreased production of Th2‐type cytokines (IL‐4, IL‐5 and IL‐13). Consistent with these results, levels of IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐13, serum IgE and BP‐specific serum IgG1 were decreased, whereas secretion of IFN‐γ and BP‐specific serum IgG2a was augmented upon administration of CJLP133 and CJLP243 in mice.
Conclusion
Oral administration of L. plantarum CJLP133 and CJLP243 alleviates symptoms of BP‐induced allergic rhinitis in mice by recovering Th1/Th2 balance via enhancement of the Th1‐type immune response.
Significance and Impact of the Study
Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP133 and CJLP243 have therapeutic effects on BP‐induced allergic rhinitis in an animal model.
Statistical mechanics underlies our understanding of macroscopic quantum systems. It is based on the assumption that out-of-equilibrium systems rapidly approach their equilibrium states, forgetting ...any information about their microscopic initial conditions. This fundamental paradigm is challenged by disordered systems, in which a slowdown or even absence of thermalization is expected. We report the observation of critical thermalization in a three dimensional ensemble of ∼10^{6} electronic spins coupled via dipolar interactions. By controlling the spin states of nitrogen vacancy color centers in diamond, we observe slow, subexponential relaxation dynamics and identify a regime of power-law decay with disorder-dependent exponents; this behavior is modified at late times owing to many-body interactions. These observations are quantitatively explained by a resonance counting theory that incorporates the effects of both disorder and interactions.
Background and Purpose
Pain is common in post‐stroke patients and has been shown to be associated with depression, fatigue, and decreased quality of life (QOL). However, studies examining different ...types of post‐stroke pain are scarce. We investigated differences in the related factors and their QOL impacts between musculoskeletal pain (MSP) and central post‐stroke pain (CPSP).
Methods
We assessed 364 consecutive stroke patients who were admitted to Asan Medical Center and contacted 12 months after stroke onset. We categorized pain and paresthesia as MSP, CPSP, combined pain, or other pain. Post‐stroke depression (Beck Depression Inventory), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale), sleep disturbance (Verran Snyder‐Halpern scale), social support (ENRICHED Social Support Instrument), and QOL (Medical Outcome Study 36‐Item Short Form) were assessed.
Results
Of the 364 patients analyzed, 135 (37.1%) had pain, 78 (21.4%) had MSP, 22 (6.0%) had CPSP, 16 (4.4%) had combined pain, and 19 (5.2%) had other pain. In multivariate analyses, CPSP was related to modified Rankin scale (P=.004), sensory dysfunction (P<.001), thalamus lesion (P=.001), medulla lesion (P=.007), and fatigue (P=.026). MSP was related to motor dysfunction (P<.001) and fatigue (P=.003). QOL varied among groups with different types of pain (P<.001) and was the poorest in patients with combined pain.
Conclusions
Pain is common 12 months post‐stroke. The factors associated with CPSP and MSP differ, but are both closely associated with fatigue rather than depression. QOL is the poorest in patients with combined pain. Management of pain and fatigue may be important for improving the QOL in stroke patients.
ABSTRACT
Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Salmonella serotypes isolated from 7 chicken meat brands produced by different integrated broiler operations in Korea were determined. In ...total, 210 samples were collected from retail supermarkets in Seoul, South Korea, and analyzed for the presence of Salmonella. Of 210 chicken meat samples, overall Salmonella prevalence was 22.4%. Salmonella Enteritidis was the dominant serovar, with an isolation rate of 57.4% from the Salmonella-positive chickens, followed by Salmonella Montevideo. Salmonella isolates frequently were resistant to various antibiotics, including 100% to erythromycin, 87% to cephalothin, 85% to nalidixic acid, and 70% to streptomycin. Of the 47 isolates, 41 (87.2%) isolates were resistant to 3 or more antibiotics. Moreover, the Salmonella profiles of each chicken meat brand were different by broiler operation. Brand A showed the highest prevalence of Salmonella (18 isolates, 60%), whereas brand G showed the lowest prevalence (one isolate, 3.3%). Eight among the 18 isolates of brand A were resistant to 11 antibiotics, whereas 5 of the 6 brand C isolates were resistant to only 2 antibiotics. This study demonstrates that a high proportion of chicken meat in Korea is contaminated with Salmonella and the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella of chicken meat differ significantly according to the integrated broiler operation.
Pathologic alterations in podocytes lead to failure of an essential component of the glomerular filtration barrier and proteinuria in chronic kidney diseases. Elevated levels of saturated free fatty ...acid (FFA) are harmful to various tissues, implemented in the progression of diabetes and its complications such as proteinuria in diabetic nephropathy. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanism of palmitate cytotoxicity in cultured mouse podocytes. Incubation with palmitate dose-dependently increased cytosolic and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, depolarized the mitochondrial membrane potential, impaired ATP synthesis and elicited apoptotic cell death. Palmitate not only evoked mitochondrial fragmentation but also caused marked dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Consistently, palmitate upregulated ER stress proteins, oligomerized stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) in the subplasmalemmal ER membrane, abolished the cyclopiazonic acid-induced cytosolic Ca(2+) increase due to depletion of luminal ER Ca(2+). Palmitate-induced ER Ca(2+) depletion and cytotoxicity were blocked by a selective inhibitor of the fatty-acid transporter FAT/CD36. Loss of the ER Ca(2+) pool induced by palmitate was reverted by the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor edelfosine. Palmitate-dependent activation of PLC was further demonstrated by following cytosolic translocation of the pleckstrin homology domain of PLC in palmitate-treated podocytes. An inhibitor of diacylglycerol (DAG) kinase, which elevates cytosolic DAG, strongly promoted ER Ca(2+) depletion by low-dose palmitate. GF109203X, a PKC inhibitor, partially prevented palmitate-induced ER Ca(2+) loss. Remarkably, the mitochondrial antioxidant mitoTEMPO inhibited palmitate-induced PLC activation, ER Ca(2+) depletion and cytotoxicity. Palmitate elicited cytoskeletal changes in podocytes and increased albumin permeability, which was also blocked by mitoTEMPO. These data suggest that oxidative stress caused by saturated FFA leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and ER Ca(2+) depletion through FAT/CD36 and PLC signaling, possibly contributing to podocyte injury.
Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a type I hypersensitivity mediated by dominant T helper 2 (Th2) response over the Th1 response after re‐exposure to a specific allergen. Currently, socio‐economic cost ...evoked by AR is quickly increasing since the prevalence of AR is gradually increasing in all ages worldwide. Several probiotic Lactobacillus strains have been described with potential immunomodulatory effects against type I hypersensitivity such as AR. Thus, the aim of the present work was to characterize basic probiotic property and immunomodulatory role of newly isolated Lactobacillus strains from Kimchi, a traditional fermented Korean food, in AR. Among the identified strains, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NR16 revealed to be a powerful Th1 inducer since immune cells co‐cultured with NR16 produced the highest quantity of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and interleukin‐12 (IL‐12) but secreted a low amount of IL‐4 in vitro. Therefore, NR16 was selected for the following assays conducted with mice with birch pollen–induced AR. Oral administration of NR16 reduced airway hyperresponsiveness and leukocyte infiltration in lesions of mice. In conclusion, oral administration of NR16 may mitigate symptoms of AR by inducing Th1 immune response, which might rebalance Th2/Th1 ratio by decreasing Th2 cytokine production in specific lesions of mucosa.
Significance and Impact of the Study: Currently, specific Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain is developed as a food additive to improve human health due to its immunomodulatory role. In this study, we report that oral administration of Lact. plantarum NR16 newly isolated from Kimchi could alleviate symptoms of birch pollen–induced allergic rhinitis by inducing a strong Th1 immune response, which might rebalance the Th2/Th1 ratio by decreasing Th2 cytokine production, thus inhibiting the production of allergen‐specific antibody in specific lesions of mucosa.
Abstract
Animal models of human diseases are classically fed purified diets that contain casein as the unique protein source. We show that provision of a mixed protein source mirroring that found in ...the western diet exacerbates diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance by potentiating hepatic mTORC1/S6K1 signaling as compared to casein alone. These effects involve alterations in gut microbiota as shown by fecal microbiota transplantation studies. The detrimental impact of the mixed protein source is also linked with early changes in microbial production of branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA) and elevated plasma and hepatic acylcarnitines, indicative of aberrant mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. We further show that the BCFA, isobutyric and isovaleric acid, increase glucose production and activate mTORC1/S6K1 in hepatocytes. Our findings demonstrate that alteration of dietary protein source exerts a rapid and robust impact on gut microbiota and BCFA with significant consequences for the development of obesity and insulin resistance.
To investigate deformation twins and the evolution of deformation texture during plastic deformation, uniaxial compression tests on a hot-rolled AZ31 Mg alloy were carried out at 200
°C. Cylindrical ...specimens were then compressed in both the rolling and the normal directions. The findings revealed that texture evolution, work hardening and macroscopic anisotropy are strongly dependent on the loading direction. Electron backscattered diffraction analysis was used to examine the orientation of parent grains and twin bands in the AZ31 Mg alloy under uniaxial compression. A viscoplastic self-consistent model (VPSC) was theoretically employed to calculate the relative activities of slip and twin systems in polycrystalline hexagonal aggregates under uniaxial compression. Each deformed grain exhibited an independent number and type of twin variants under uniaxial compression. Neutron diffraction was used to measure the macroscopic texture of the AZ31 Mg alloy. The VPSC model was used to simulate texture evolution, work hardening and macroscopic anisotropy during the uniaxial compression. A modified predominant twin reorientation (PTR) scheme was suggested to explain the gradual increase in twin volume in deformed grains.
Objective
To compare the efficacy of two types of progestogen therapy for preventing preterm birth (PTB) and to review the relevant literature.
Design
A multicentre, randomised, open‐label, ...equivalence trial and a meta‐analysis.
Setting
Tertiary referral hospitals in South Korea.
Population
Pregnant women with a history of spontaneous PTB or short cervical length (<25 mm).
Methods
Eligible women were screened and randomised at 16‒22 weeks of gestation to receive either 200 mg of vaginal micronised progesterone daily (vaginal group) or an intramuscular injection of 250 mg 17α‐hydroxyprogesterone caproate weekly (IM group). Stratified randomisation was carried out according to participating centres and indications for progestogen therapy. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02304237).
Main outcome measure
Preterm birth (PTB) before 37 weeks of gestation.
Results
A total of 266 women were randomly assigned and a total of 247 women (119 and 128 women in the vaginal and IM groups, respectively) were available for the intention‐to‐treat analysis. Risks of PTB before 37 weeks of gestation did not significantly differ between the two groups (22.7 versus 25.8%, P = 0.571). The difference in PTB risk between the two groups was 3.1% (95% CI −7.6 to 13.8%), which was within the equivalence margin of 15%. The meta‐analysis results showed no significant differences in the risk of PTB between the vaginal and IM progestogen treatments.
Conclusion
Compared with vaginal progesterone, treatment with intramuscular progestin might increase the risk of PTB before 37 weeks of gestation by as much as 13.8%, or reduce the risk by as much as 7.6%, in women with a history of spontaneous PTB or with short cervical length.
Tweetable
Vaginal and intramuscular progestogen showed equivalent efficacy for preventing preterm birth before 37 weeks of gestation.
Tweetable
Vaginal and intramuscular progestogen showed equivalent efficacy for preventing preterm birth before 37 weeks of gestation.
Background and purpose
High blood pressure (BP) at presentation is associated with poor outcomes in acute ischaemic stroke, but serial BP measurements may better delineate the clinical implications ...of BP. The aim was to investigate the association between various BP parameters and functional outcomes in acute ischaemic stroke patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).
Methods
This study reports a retrospective analysis of a prospective registry of a comprehensive stroke centre. Patients treated with EVT due to large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation were enrolled. BP was measured hourly during the first 24 h after admission. Associations of various BP parameters, including BP variability, with functional outcomes at 3 months, including good outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2), were analysed.
Results
Of the 378 enrolled patients (mean age 70 ± 11 years, male 54.2%), 313 (82.8%) achieved successful reperfusion after EVT, and 149 (39.4%) had good outcomes at 3 months. Higher mean systolic BP each 10 mmHg increase, odds ratio 0.82 (0.69–0.97) and higher systolic successive variation (SV) each 10% increase, odds ratio 0.37 (0.18–0.76) were associated with a reduced likelihood of achieving good outcomes. In addition, reperfusion status after EVT moderated the influence of higher systolic SV on good outcomes (Pint = 0.05).
Conclusion
The results showed that a higher mean systolic BP and systolic SV during the first 24 h of EVT reduced the likelihood of good outcomes at 3 months. The effects of these parameters on outcomes are more substantial amongst patients with successful reperfusion after EVT, suggesting that different BP control strategies should be employed according to reperfusion status.
Click here to view the accompanying paper in this volume.
PDF
