Progressive renal failure causes uremia-related immune dysfunction, which features a chronic inflammatory milieu. Given the central role of end-stage renal disease (ESRD)-related immune dysfunction ...in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), much attention has been focused on how uremic toxins affect cellular immunity and the mechanisms underlying pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in ESRD patients. Here, we investigated the characteristics of monocytes and CD4
T cells in ESRD patients and the immune responses induced by indoxyl sulfate (IS), a key uremic toxin, in order to explore the pathogenic effects of these cells on vascular endothelial cells. In ESRD patients, monocytes respond to IS through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and consequently produce increased levels of TNF-α. Upon stimulation with TNF-α, human vascular endothelial cells produce copious amounts of CX3CL1, a chemokine ligand of CX3CR1 that is highly expressed on CD4
CD28
T cells, the predominantly expanded cell type in ESRD patients. A migration assay showed that CD4
CD28
T cells were preferentially recruited by CX3CL1. Moreover, activated CD4
CD28
T cells exhibited cytotoxic capability allowing for the induction of apoptosis in HUVECs. Our findings suggest that in ESRD, IS-mediated immune dysfunction may cause vascular endothelial cell damage and thus, this toxin plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of CVD.
Prophylactic distal perfusion cannulation (PDPC) is protectively associated with limb ischemia in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) receiving femoral venoarterial extracorporeal membrane ...oxygenation (VA-ECMO). However, evidence supporting its benefits beyond limb ischemia reduction is scarce. We aimed to investigate whether PDPC, compared with no-PDPC, is associated with a lower risk of mortality in patients receiving VA-ECMO. From a multicenter registry, we identified 479 patients who underwent VA-ECMO support for refractory CS. The association of PDPC with 30-day mortality was assessed using multiple methods, including instrumental variable analysis, overlap weighting, and propensity score matching. Of the 479 patients, 154 (32.2%) received PDPC. The 30-day mortality rate was 33.1% in the PDPC group and 53.2% in the no-PDPC group. The instrumental variable analysis showed a protective association of PDPC with 30-day mortality (absolute risk difference −16.7%, 95% confidence interval −31.3% to −2.1%; relative risk 0.68, 95% confidence interval 0.40 to 0.96). The findings were consistent in the overlap-weighted analysis (hazard ratio 0.68, 95% confidence interval 0.48 to 0.98) and in the propensity score–matched analysis (hazard ratio 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.45 to 1.00). There were no significant differences in safety outcomes, including stroke, ECMO site bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, and sepsis, between PDPC and no-PDPC. In conclusion, PDPC was associated with a lower risk of mortality at 30 days in patients with CS receiving VA-ECMO. The efficacy and safety of PDPC merit evaluation in future randomized studies.
Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT02985008.
There is growing evidence for a global transition to a more highly processed diet. While the dietary share of ultra-processed foods depends on a country's economic status, food choice and consumption ...are also influenced by the socioeconomic situation of individuals. This study investigated whether ultra-processed food consumption differed across socioeconomic subgroups and over time (2010-2018) in Korea. Cross-sectional data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2018 were analyzed. Food and beverages reported in a one-day 24 h recall were classified according to the NOVA food classification criteria. The dietary energy contribution of ultra-processed foods was high among men and urban residents, and increased with education and income level; additionally, it reached its peak in adolescents and thereafter decreased with increasing age. After adjusting the socioeconomic variables, such associations remained significant, except for income level. The overall contribution of ultra-processed foods increased from 23.1% (2010-2012) to 26.1% (2016-2018), and the same trend over time was observed in all age groups and socioeconomic strata. In the Korean population, ultra-processed food consumption differed by individual socioeconomic characteristics, but gradually increased over time, and this trend was consistently found in all socioeconomic subgroups. Future strategies to promote healthy food choices are needed for the Korean population.
Background and Objective
After tooth extraction, the extraction socket undergoes several steps of soft and hard tissue healing. The healing process of the extraction socket is modulated by a range of ...signaling factors and biochemical agents. It has been reported that resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound, exhibits various biological effects, including anti‐inflammatory, anti‐carcinogenic, antioxidant, and anti‐aging effects, and protects cardiovascular and bone tissues. In this study, we examined the cellular effects of resveratrol on human periodontal ligament (hPDL) cells and osteoblast‐like (MC3T3‐E1) cells and evaluated the bone‐healing capacity of tooth extraction sockets in mice.
Material and Methods
Resveratrol was applied to hPDL and MC3T3‐E1 cells to detect cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and qPCR was employed to understand the gene expression level in vitro. For in vivo experiment, six‐week‐old C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into control (n = 15) and experimental (n = 15) groups and maxillary first molars were extracted by surgery. Experimental groups received 50‐µM resveratrol on extraction sockets and analyzed the degree of new bone formation.
Results
Treatment of hPDL and MC3T3‐E1 cells with resveratrol increased the cell proliferation and ALP activity and enhanced the expression of ALP, BMP‐2, BMP‐4, and OC genes. Resveratrol enhanced new bone formation in the lingual extraction socket in mice.
Conclusion
These results suggest that resveratrol increases the cellular physiology of PDL and osteoblast including their proliferation and differentiation and may play an important role in bone‐healing capacity after tooth extraction.
Abstract
Description of simple bone cyst (SBC) content has been controversial. This study aimed to assess and give a clearer picture of the SBC cavity contents. Between 2014 and 2016, 19 patients ...with SBC verified by histopathological examination were included in this study. SBC cavity content was investigated using clinical, radiographic, surgical, and laboratory findings. The difference in components among cavity fluid, blood, and serum was evaluated using a paired sample t-test for statistical analysis. All 19 SBC cases radiographically and surgically revealed a fluid-filled cavity. The patients’ average age was 21.3 ± 13.2 years, with no sex predominance found. SBCs were found mostly in the anterior mandible (n = 12, 63.2%). All lesions were filled with clear straw-colored or blood-colored floods with low concentration. Although the fluid components were similar to those in the blood and serum in the laboratory analysis, the statistical analysis revealed that the fluid components were not significantly different only for eosinophil (p = 0.43) and basophil (p = 0.06) counts as blood components and sodium (p = 0.76), potassium (p = 0.08), and chloride (p = 0.13) concentration as serum components. The results show that SBC is a fluid-filled cavity, with the cavity fluid being more likely similar to serum rather than blood regarding internal components.
Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder characterized by positive symptoms (delusions or hallucinations), negative symptoms (impaired motivation or social withdrawal), and cognitive impairment. In ...the present study, we explored whether D‐pinitol could ameliorate schizophrenia‐like behaviors induced by MK‐801, an N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor antagonist. Acoustic startle response test was conducted to evaluate the effects of D‐pinitol on sensorimotor gating function. Social interaction and novel object recognition tests were employed to measure the impact of D‐pinitol on social behavior and cognitive function, respectively. Additionally, we examined whether D‐pinitol affects motor coordination. Western blotting was conducted to investigate the mechanism of action of D‐pinitol. Single administration of D‐pinitol at 30, 100, or 300 mg/kg improved the sensorimotor gating deficit induced by MK801 in the acoustic startle response test. D‐Pinitol also reversed social behavior deficits and cognitive impairments induced by MK‐801 without causing any motor coordination deficits. Furthermore, D‐pinitol reversed increased expression levels of pNF‐kB induced by MK‐801 treatment and consequently increased expression levels of TNF‐α and IL‐6 in the prefrontal cortex. These results suggest that D‐pinitol could be a potential candidate for treating sensorimotor gating deficits and cognitive impairment observed in schizophrenia by down‐regulating transcription factor NF‐κB and pro‐inflammatory cytokines in the prefrontal cortex.
DRT service, designed to be flexible in time and space, follows the contemporary trend of on-demand transit provision. However, this type of service often suffers from low profitability due to small ...demand and/or high operation costs. DRT service is a local business in nature. The existing research primarily focuses on DRT service for regions with low transit demand, but it does not take into account service operation for other types of regions. This study aims to fill in this gap and identify the sources of benefit from DRT operations in varied types of regions. To this end, the analysis compares the DRT operation performance between overpopulated heartland and underpopulated hinterland regions; in each region, the benefit is identified through the difference in key performance indices between the simulated DRT and actual bus operation. The data on the road network and bus operation in Daegu, Korea, in 2021 are used for the DRT simulation. The results show that the heartland DRT benefits more from the reduced vehicle kilometers, while the hinterland DRT gains mostly from the reduced waiting time. Given that both DRT types outperform existing bus services, it is revealed that the heartland DRT is more reliable than the hinterland DRT due to the nature of regional characteristics.
Insulin resistance (IR) is an important risk factor for subclinical atherosclerosis. This study evaluated the relationship between the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, which is a simple and reliable ...surrogate marker for IR, and arterial stiffness.
This study included 2560 Korean subjects without a previous history of coronary artery disease, stroke, and malignancies who participated in a community-based cohort study. Arterial stiffness was measured using the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV).
All participants were stratified into four groups based on the quartile of the TyG index. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and diabetes significantly increased with increasing TyG index quartile. The mean baPWV was significantly different among all groups (group I lowest: 1421 ± 242 vs. group II: 1480 ± 244 vs. group III: 1534 ± 260 vs. group IV highest: 1575 ± 279 cm/s; p < 0.001). The TyG index values were correlated with baPWV (r = 0.224, p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that age (β = 0.410), male gender (β = 0.051), increased blood pressure (β = 0.266), and TyG index (β = 0.158) were associated with baPWV (p < 0.05, respectively). TyG index was independently related to baPWV in both non-diabetics and diabetics.
The TyG index is independently associated with arterial stiffness in a relatively healthy Korean population.
This study aimed to investigate the association between consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and obesity in Korean adults.
We included the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology ...Research Center cohort study baseline data of adults aged 30 to 64 years who completed a validated food frequency questionnaire. UPF was defined using the NOVA food classification. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association of dietary energy contribution of UPF with obesity indicators (body mass index BMI, obesity, waist circumference WC, and abdominal obesity).
Consumption of UPF accounted for 17.9% of total energy intake and obesity and abdominal obesity prevalence was 35.4% and 30.2%, respectively. Compared with those in the lowest quartile of UPF consumption, adults in the highest quartile had greater BMI (β=0.36; 95% confidence interval CI, 0.15 to 0.56), WC (β=1.03; 95% CI, 0.46 to 1.60), higher odds of having obesity (odds ratio OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.45), and abdominal obesity (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.57), after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, and family history of diseases. Dose-response associations between UPF consumption and obesity indicators were consistently found (all P trend <0.01). However, the strength of association was halved for all obesity indicators after further adjustments for total energy intake and overall diet quality score, and the trend toward association for obesity and WC disappeared.
Our finding supports the evidence that consumption of UPF is positively associated with obesity among Korean adults.
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cognitive impairment and explore the effect modification by the inflammatory status. A ...total of 4400 community-based participants aged 50–64 years from the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Etiology Research Center were included in this cross-sectional study. NAFLD was identified as the Fatty Liver Index 30 or higher in the absence of excessive alcohol consumption. Cognitive impairment was defined as the total score of the Mini-Mental State Examination (cutoff 24). The inflammatory status was evaluated using white blood cell (WBC) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Stratified analyses by the WBC count (the highest quartile) and the hsCRP level (≥ 1.0 mg/dL vs. < 1.0 mg/dL) were conducted. Participants with NAFLD showed an increased prevalence of cognitive impairment (odds ratio OR = 1.26; 95% confidence interval CI = 1.04–1.52) compared with the non-NAFLD population. In women, this association was significantly stronger in the highest quartile WBC group than in lower WBC group (OR = 1.81; 95% CI = 1.19–2.74 vs. OR = 1.02; 95% CI = 0.78–1.33, p-interaction = 0.05). NAFLD was positively associated with a higher proportion of cognitive impairment, and this association was stronger in women with higher inflammatory status.
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