This study was performed to induce atopic dermatitis (AD) using nongenetically predisposed Beagle dogs. Five healthy Beagle dogs were used. Twice weekly for 12 weeks, the dogs were painted on the ...axillae and groin with a solution of Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae). Each dog was thereafter placed in a cage where a house dust mite (HDM) solution was applied on the bottom of the cage. The dog remained in the cage for 3 h daily for 3 consecutive days for the environmental exposure to HDM. Serum samples were collected at 0 week and 6 weeks after sensitisation, and at 0 h and 72 h after the environmental exposure. During the environmental exposure, skin biopsies were obtained at 0 h, 36 h, and 72 hours. After the first environmental exposure, no dog had any marked clinical sign. An additional sensitisation was subsequently administered for 10–13 weeks. Three of the five dogs developed pruritic dermatitis with skin lesions after the second exposure. The histopathology of the lesions revealed severe infiltration of inflammatory cells and dermal oedema. The levels of D. farinae-specific IgE were also elevated. This study demonstrated that AD could be induced by epicutaneous sensitisation with HDM in nongenetically predisposed dogs.
Annular rupture is a rare but life-threatening complication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Mortality rates are high if immediate intervention, most often necessitating surgical ...repair, is not performed. Herein, we describe an 87-year-old man who, after deployment of TAVR, experienced acute decompensation and required urgent conversion to a midline sternotomy to repair an aortic annular rupture. This case demonstrates an example of a rare but severe complication of TAVR. This report provides an in-depth description of the surgical approach to repair an aortic annular rupture and demonstrates the utility of performing minimally invasive procedures inside a hybrid operating room.
Structural valvular deterioration of xenogenic heart valve replacements is thought to be due to a chronic immune response. We sought to engineer porcine extracellular matrix that elicits minimal ...inflammatory immune response.
Whole blood, bone marrow and pericardium were collected from patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Porcine extracellular matrix was decellularized, reseeded with homologous mesenchymal stem cells and exposed to whole blood.
DAPI stain confirmed the absence of cells after decellularization, and presence of mesenchymal stem cells after recellularization. There was a significant reduction in IL-1β and TNF-α production in the recellularized matrix.
Recellularization of porcine matrix is successful at attenuating the xenogenic immune response and may provide a suitable scaffold to address the current limitations of prosthetic heart valve replacements.
Four individuals mistook 'Podostroma cornu-damae' for 'Cordyceps sobolifera' and reported diarrhoea and vomiting after consuming the toxic mushroom. All symptoms resolved within four days. However, ...leukocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, depilation, and desquamation appeared later, and one patient was diagnosed with sepsis. All patients received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and blood transfusions in an isolated aseptic room, and they recovered without complications. 'Podostroma cornu-damae' is a poisonous mushroom containing trichothecene. This mushroom is not well known and is easy to be mistaken for the more common Cordyceps sobolifera sold as a healthy food in East Asia. 'Podostroma cornu-damae' intoxication has characteristic early and delayed symptoms. Early symptoms are mainly gastrointestinal, while delayed symptoms are caused by inhibition of cellular division causing pancytopenia and can lead to death. A case series of 'Podostroma cornu-damae' poisoning was presented, including one complicated case complicated with life-threatening sepsis.
We investigated feeding of natural populations of red-tide algae, heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNFs), and ciliates (<30 μm in cell length) on natural populations of marine bacteria (mostly ...heterotrophic bacteria) in diverse Korean waters (Masan Bay, Jinhae Bay, Shiwha Bay, Keum River estuary, and the open coastal waters off Yeosu) during red tides in 2004 to 2005. To explore the functional responses of the dominant red-tide algae to bacteria, we also measured the ingestion rates of the dinoflagellatesCochlodinium polykrikoides,Heterocapsa rotundata,H. triquetra, andProrocentrum minimumas well as the raphidophytesChattonella ovataandHeterosigma akashiwoas a function of bacterial concentration in the laboratory. During red tides, ingestion rates of the red-tide algaeC. polykrikoides,H. rotundata,H. triquetra,H. akashiwo,P. minimum, andP. triestinumon natural populations of bacteria in Korean waters (1.2 to 20.6 cells alga–1h–1) were comparable to those of co-occurring HNFs (0.7 to 39.4 cells HNF–1h–1), but much lower than those of co-occurring ciliates (15 to 713 cells ciliate–1h–1). However, the combined grazing coefficients attributable to the dominant algal predators on natural populations of bacteria during red tides (0.04 to 1.71 d–1) were usually higher than those attributable to co-occurring HNFs (0.01 to 0.20 d–1) or ciliates (0.00 to 0.72 d–1). With increasing mean prey concentration, the ingestion rates ofC. polykrikoides,H. rotundata,H. triquetra,P. minimum,C. ovata, andH. akashiwoon bacteria rapidly increased at prey concentrations of ca. 5 to 10 × 10⁶ cells ml–1, and slowly increased or became saturated at higher prey concentrations. The maximum ingestion and clearance rates ofC. polykrikoides,H. rotundata,H. triquetra,P. minimum,C. ovata, andH. akashiwoon bacteria (6 to 25 cells alga–1h–1and 1.0 to 4.5 nl alga–1h–1) were comparable to those so far reported in the literature of HNFs on bacteria. The results of the present study suggest that, potentially, red-tide algae can have a considerable grazing impact on populations of bacteria during red tides and are sometimes the most effective protistan predators of marine bacteria.
Exercise is a well-known non-pharmacological intervention to improve brain functions, including cognition, memory, and motor coordination. Contraction of skeletal muscles during exercise releases ...humoral factors that regulate the whole-body metabolism via interaction with other non-muscle organs. Myokines are muscle-derived effectors that regulate body metabolism by autocrine, paracrine, or endocrine action and were reportedly suggested as “exercise factors” that can improve the brain function. However, several aspects remain to be elucidated, namely the specific activities of myokines related to the whole-body metabolism or brain function, the mechanisms of regulation of other organs or cells, the sources of “exercise factors” that regulate brain function, and their mechanisms of interaction with non-muscle organs. In this paper, we present the physiological functions of myokines secreted by exercise, including regulation of the whole-body metabolism by interaction with other organs and adaptation of skeletal muscles to exercise. In addition, we discuss the functions of myokines that possibly contribute to exercise-induced improvement of brain function. Among several myokines, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is the most studied myokine that regulates adult neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity. However, the source of circulating BDNF and its upstream effector, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), and irisin and the effect size of peripheral BDNF, irisin, and IGF-1 released after exercise should be further investigated. Recently, cathepsin B has been reported to be secreted from skeletal muscles and upregulate BDNF following exercise, which was associated with improved cognitive function. We reviewed the level of evidence for the effect of myokine on the brain function. Level of evidence for the association of the change in circulating myokine following exercise and improvement of neuropsychiatric function is lower than the level of evidence for the benefit of exercise on the brain. Therefore, more clinical evidences for the association of myokine release after exercise and their effect on the brain function are required. Finally, we discuss the effect size of the action of myokines on cognitive benefits of exercise, in addition to other contributors, such as improvement of the cardiovascular system or the effect of “exercise factors” released from non-muscle organs, particularly in patients with sarcopenia.
To assess the neurobiological substrate of initial cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease (PD) to inform patient management, clinical trial design, and development of treatments.
We longitudinally ...assessed, up to 3 years, 423 newly diagnosed patients with idiopathic PD, untreated at baseline, from 33 international movement disorder centers. Study outcomes were four determinations of cognitive impairment or decline, and biomarker predictors were baseline dopamine transporter (DAT) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan, structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; volume and thickness), diffusion tensor imaging (mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF; amyloid beta Aβ, tau and alpha synuclein), and 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously associated with PD cognition. Additionally, longitudinal structural MRI and DAT scan data were included. Univariate analyses were run initially, with false discovery rate = 0.2, to select biomarker variables for inclusion in multivariable longitudinal mixed-effect models.
By year 3, cognitive impairment was diagnosed in 15-38% participants depending on the criteria applied. Biomarkers, some longitudinal, predicting cognitive impairment in multivariable models were: (1) dopamine deficiency (decreased caudate and putamen DAT availability); (2) diffuse, cortical decreased brain volume or thickness (frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobe regions); (3) co-morbid Alzheimer's disease Aβ amyloid pathology (lower CSF Aβ 1-42); and (4) genes (COMT val/val and BDNF val/val genotypes).
Cognitive impairment in PD increases in frequency 50-200% in the first several years of disease, and is independently predicted by biomarker changes related to nigrostriatal or cortical dopaminergic deficits, global atrophy due to possible widespread effects of neurodegenerative disease, co-morbid Alzheimer's disease plaque pathology, and genetic factors.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a systemic inflammatory disease that can result in chronic pain and disability. This study aimed to analyse the prevalence and risk of medical comorbidities in patients ...with AS compared with the general population.
11 701 patients with AS and 58 505 matching controls were selected for analysis from the National Health Insurance Research Dataset (NHIRD) in Taiwan. The Elixhauser comorbidity index was used for selecting medical comorbidities. Pearson chi2 tests and conditional logistic regression a nalyses were performed to examine the prevalence and risk of comorbidities between these two groups.
Patients with AS were at increased risk for multiple systemic comorbidities including cardiovascular, neurological, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, haematological and mental illness. The most prevalent comorbidities in patients with AS were hypertension (16.4%), peptic ulcers (13.9%) and headaches (10.2%).
The results show that patients with AS have a higher prevalence of multiple comorbidities than the general population in Taiwan. These findings are consistent with previous studies done in Western populations. The results could be useful for both the clinical management of patients with AS and for researching the underlying pathological mechanisms.
Physical activity may help maintain cognitive function in older adults.
To examine the relation of long-term regular physical activity, including walking, to cognitive function.
Women reported ...participation in leisure-time physical activities on biennial mailed questionnaires beginning in 1986. We assessed long-term activity by averaging energy expenditures from questionnaires in 1986 through participants' baseline cognitive assessments (1995 to 2001). We used linear regression to estimate adjusted mean differences in baseline cognitive performance and cognitive decline over 2 years, across levels of physical activity and walking.
Nurses' Health Study, including 18 766 US women aged 70 to 81 years.
Validated telephone assessments of cognition administered twice approximately 2 years apart (1995 to 2001 and 1997 to 2003), including tests of general cognition, verbal memory, category fluency, and attention.
Higher levels of activity were associated with better cognitive performance. On a global score combining results of all 6 tests, women in the second through fifth quintiles of energy expenditure scored an average of 0.06, 0.06, 0.09, and 0.10 standard units higher than women in the lowest quintile (P for trend <.001). Compared with women in the lowest physical activity quintile, we found a 20% lower risk of cognitive impairment for women in the highest quintile of activity. Among women performing the equivalent of walking at an easy pace for at least 1.5 h/wk, mean global scores were 0.06 to 0.07 units higher compared with walking less than 40 min/wk (P< or =.003). We also observed less cognitive decline among women who were more active, especially those in the 2 highest quintiles of energy expenditure. Women in the fourth and fifth quintiles had mean changes in global scores that were 0.04 (95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.10) and 0.06 (95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.11) standard units better than those in the lowest quintile.
Long-term regular physical activity, including walking, is associated with significantly better cognitive function and less cognitive decline in older women.
The adverse effects of excess alcohol intake on cognitive function are well established, but the effect of moderate consumption is uncertain.
Between 1995 and 2001, we evaluated cognitive function in ...12,480 participants in the Nurses' Health Study who were 70 to 81 years old, with follow-up assessments in 11,102 two years later. The level of alcohol consumption was ascertained regularly beginning in 1980. We calculated multivariate-adjusted mean cognitive scores and multivariate-adjusted risks of cognitive impairment (defined as the lowest 10 percent of the scores) and a substantial decline in cognitive function over time (defined as a change that was in the worst 10 percent of the distribution of the decline). We also stratified analyses according to the apolipoprotein E genotype in a subgroup of women.
After multivariate adjustment, moderate drinkers (those who consumed less than 15.0 g of alcohol per day about one drink) had better mean cognitive scores than nondrinkers. Among moderate drinkers, as compared with nondrinkers, the relative risk of impairment was 0.77 on our test of general cognition (95 percent confidence interval, 0.67 to 0.88) and 0.81 on the basis of a global cognitive score combining the results of all tests (95 percent confidence interval, 0.70 to 0.93). The results for cognitive decline were similar; for example, on our test of general cognition, the relative risk of a substantial decline in performance over a two-year period was 0.85 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.74 to 0.98) among moderate drinkers, as compared with nondrinkers. There were no significant associations between higher levels of drinking (15.0 to 30.0 g per day) and the risk of cognitive impairment or decline. There were no significant differences in risks according to the beverage (e.g., wine or beer) and no interaction with the apolipoprotein E genotype.
Our data suggest that in women, up to one drink per day does not impair cognitive function and may actually decrease the risk of cognitive decline.
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