Anti-chitinase-3-like 1 antibody attenuated atopic dermatitis-like skin inflammation through inhibition of STAT3-dependent CXCL8 expression.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chitinase-3-like 1 (CHI3L1) causes skin inflammation in the progression of atopic dermatitis. We investigated if anti-CHI3L1 antibody could prevent the development of atopic dermatitis and its mechanisms of action. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: The effect of CHI3L1 antibody on phthalic anhydride-induced atopic dermatitis animal model and in vitro reconstructed human skin (RHS) model were investigated. Expression and release of atopic dermatitis-related cytokines were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and RT-qPCR, STAT3 and CXCL8 signalling were measured by western blotting. KEY RESULTS: Anti-CHI3L1 antibody suppressed phthalic anhydride-induced epidermal thickening, clinical score, IgE level and infiltration of inflammatory cells, and reduced phthalic anhydride-induced inflammatory cytokines concentration. In addition, CHI3L1 antibody treatment inhibited the expression of STAT3 activity in phthalic anhydride-treated skin. It was also confirmed that CHI3L1 antibody treatment alleviated atopic dermatitis-related inflammation in the RHS model. The inhibitory effects of CHI3L1 antibody was similar or more effective compared with that of the IL-4 antibody. We further found that CHI3L1 is associated with CXCL8 by protein-association network analysis. siRNA of CHI3L1 blocked the mRNA levels of CHI3L1, IL-1ß, IL-4, CXCL8, TSLP, and the expression of CHI3L1 and p-STAT, and the level of CXCL8, whereas recombinant level of CXCL8 was elevated. Moreover, siRNA of STAT3 reduced the mRNA level of these cytokines. CHI3L1 and p-STAT3 expression correlated with the reduced CXCL8 level in the RHS in vitro model. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our data demonstrated that CHI3L1 antibody could be a promising effective therapeutic drug for atopic dermatitis.

Floating body effect in indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (IGZO) thin-film transistor (TFT).

In this paper, the floating body effect (FBE) in indium-gallium-zinc-oxide (IGZO) thin-film transistor (TFT) and the mechanism of device failure caused by that are reported for the first time. If the toggle AC pulses are applied to the gate and drain simultaneously for the switching operation, the drain current of IGZO TFT increases dramatically and cannot show the on/off switching characteristics. This phenomenon was not reported before, and our study reveals that the main cause is the formation of a conductive path between the source and drain: short failure. It is attributed in part to the donor creation at the drain region during the high voltage (Vhigh) condition and in part to the donor creation at the source region during the falling edge and low voltage (Vlow) conditions. Donor creation is attributed to the peroxide formation in the IGZO layer induced by the electrons under the high lateral field. Because the donor creation features positive charges, it lowers the threshold voltage of IGZO TFT. In detail, during the Vhigh condition, the donor creation is generated by accumulated electrons with a high lateral field at the drain region. On the other hand, the floating electrons remaining at the short falling edge (i.e., FBE of the IGZO TFT) are affected by the high lateral field at the source region during the Vlow condition. As a result, the donor creation is generated at the source region. Therefore, the short failure occurs because the donor creations are generated and expanded to channel from the drain and source region as the AC stress accumulates. In summary, the FBE in IGZO TFT is reported, and its effect on the electrical characteristics of IGZO TFT (i.e., the short failure) is rigorously analyzed for the first time.

Simulation of a randomly percolated CNT network for an improved analog physical unclonable function.

Carbon nanotube networks (CNTs)-based devices are well suited for the physically unclonable function (PUF) due to the inherent randomness of the CNT network, but CNT networks can vary significantly during manufacturing due to various controllable process conditions, which have a significant impact on PUF performance. Therefore, optimization of process conditions is essential to have a PUF with excellent performance. However, because it is time-consuming and costly to fabricate directly under various conditions, we implement randomly formed CNT network using simulation and confirm the variable correlation of the CNT network optimized for PUF performance. At the same time, by implementing an analog PUF through simulation, we present a 2D patterned PUF that has excellent security and can compensate for error occurrence problems. To evaluate the performance of analog PUF, a new evaluation method different from the existing digital PUF is proposed, and the PUF performance is compared according to two process variables, CNT density and metallic CNT ratio, and the correlation with PUF performance is confirmed. This study can serve as a basis for research to produce optimized CNT PUF by applying simulation according to the needs of the process of forming a CNT network.

TNF receptor 2 knockout mouse had reduced lung cancer growth and schizophrenia-like behavior through a decrease in TrkB-dependent BDNF level.

The relationship between schizophrenia (SCZ) and cancer development remains controversial. Based on the disease-gene association platform, it has been revealed that tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) could be an important mediatory factor in both cancer and SCZ development. TNF-α also increases the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) in the development of SCZ and tumor, but the role of TNFR in mediating the association between the two diseases remains unclear. We studied the vital roles of TNFR2 in the progression of tumor and SCZ-like behavior using A549 lung cancer cell xenografted TNFR2 knockout mice. TNFR2 knockout mice showed significantly decreased tumor size and weight as well as schizophrenia-like behaviors compared to wild-type mice. Consistent with the reduced tumor growth and SCZ-like behaviors, the levels of TrkB and BDNF expression were significantly decreased in the lung tumor tissues and pre-frontal cortex of TNFR2 knockout mice. However, intravenous injection of BDNF (160 µg/kg) to TNFR2 knockout mice for 4 weeks increased tumor growth and SCZ-like behaviors as well as TrkB expression. In in vitro study, significantly decreased cell growth and expression of TrkB and BDNF by siTNFR2 transfection were found in A549 lung cancer cells. However, the addition of BDNF (100 ng/ml) into TNFR2 siRNA transfected A549 lung cancer cells recovered cell growth and the expression of TrkB. These results suggest that TNFR2 could be an important factor in mediating the comorbidity between lung tumor growth and SCZ development through increased TrkB-dependent BDNF levels.

The application of enhanced recovery after surgery protocol after distal gastrectomy for patients with gastric cancer: a prospective randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and efficacy of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol in patients undergoing distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to the ERAS group (EG) and the conventional care group (CG) by stratified randomization according to age and sex. The primary endpoint was adjusted postoperative hospital stay, calculated using discharge criteria developed to evaluate recovery. Nutritional data and quality of life (QoL) (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer [EORTC] C30 and STO22) during the perioperative period were also analyzed. RESULTS: We enrolled 198 eligible patients with GC for the study between June 2017 and January 2019. A total of 147 patients were finally enrolled in this study (full analysis set) and were assigned to EG (n = 71) and CG (n = 76). First flatus was faster significantly in EG (3.6 ± 1.5 vs 4.1 ± 1.2 days, P = .019). EG showed a faster start of the sips and soft diet than CG (1.3 ± 0.7 vs 3.1 ± 0.4 days, P < .001; 2.4 ± 0.9 vs 5.2 ± 0.7 days, P < .001) according to the protocol. The recorded hospital stay was not significantly different; however, adjusted hospital stay was significantly shorter in EG than in CG (6.5 ± 3.1 vs 7.8 ± 2.1 days, P = .005). There was no difference in morbidity, and no mortality occurred in both groups. EG did not show significant superiority in nutritional outcome and QoL improvement, except for pain scale in EORTC-STO22. CONCLUSION: The application of the ERAS protocol could reduce the adjusted hospital stay without an increase in postoperative complications. There was no significant difference in long-term nutritional outcome and QoL of the 2 groups.

Gate Capacitance Coupling of Double-Gate Carbon Nanotube Network Transistors.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) network channels constructed using a high-purity CNT solution for use in CNT thin-film transistors have the advantages of the possibility of requiring a low-temperature process and needing no special equipment. However, there are empty spaces between individual CNTs, resulting in unexpected effects. In this study, double-gate (DG) CNT network transistors were fabricated and measured in four different configurations to observe the capacitive coupling effects between the top gate (TG) and bottom gate (BG) in the DG structure. As a result, the electrical characteristics measured with the BG with a thicker gate oxide while floating the TG were similar to those measured with the TG with a thinner gate oxide. A comparison of the measured transfer curves showed that TG and BG were strongly coupled through the empty spaces in the channels. In addition, we evaluated the capacitance coupling effect due to changes in the CNT density, which is closely related to the empty space of the network channel. Finally, we proposed a method to determine the effective gate capacitance by considering the empty spaces between CNTs, which enabled the accurate evaluation of mobility. The effects of these materials were demonstrated by fabricating transistors using Al2O3, HfO2, and ZrO2 as TG oxide materials. By focusing on considerations based on the properties of CNT materials, our study provides valuable insights into accurate electrical modeling and potential advancements in CNT-based devices.

Comparison between the mesenteric fixation method (MEFIX) and conventional methods at preventing the occurrence of Petersen's hernia: a study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Petersen's hernia, which occurs after Billroth-II (B-II) or Roux-en-Y (REY) anastomosis, can be reduced by defect closure. This study aims to compare the incidence of bowel obstruction above Clavien-Dindo classification grade III due to Petersen's hernia between the mesenteric fixation method and the conventional methods after laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy. METHODS: This study was designed as prospective, single-blind, non-inferiority randomized controlled multicenter trial in Korea. Patients with histologically diagnosed gastric cancer of clinical stages I, II, or III who underwent B-II or REY anastomosis after laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy are enrolled in this study. Participants who meet the inclusion criteria are randomly assigned to two groups: a CLOSURE group that underwent conventional Petersen's defect closure method and a MEFIX group that underwent the mesenteric fixation method. The primary endpoint is the number of patients who underwent surgery for bowel obstruction caused by Petersen's hernia within 3 years after laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy. DISCUSSION: This trial is expected to provide high-level evidence showing that the MEFIX method can quickly and easily close Petersen's defect without increased postoperative complications compared to the conventional method. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05105360. Registered on November 3, 2021.

Development and Verification of a 480 nm Blue Light Enhanced/Reduced Human-Centric LED for Light-Induced Melatonin Concentration Control.

With the inherent sleep and wake cycle regulated by natural sunlight, the human body has evolved over millennia to be active during the day and to rest at night. However, maintaining an optimal 24 h cycle has become increasingly problematic in modern society as more people spend the majority of the day indoors. Many research groups have reported that inadequate artificial lighting interferes with melatonin production and disrupts the circadian rhythm. This study considered biological functions for light-emitting diodes (LEDs) of next-generation illumination, and LED packages and spectra suitable for both daytime and nighttime applications were designed. The prepared daytime human-centric (HC)-LEDs had a melanopic/photopic (M/P) ratio that was up to 26% higher than that of conventional (c)-LEDs, whereas the nighttime HC-LEDs exhibited up to a 26% lower M/P ratio compared to the c-LEDs. Nevertheless, because the HC-LED is designed to have almost the same color coordinates as the c-LED having the same correlated-color temperature (CCT), there is no change in the perceived color. To substantiate the biological effect, melatonin level data were obtained from 22 voluntary participants in c- and HC-LED lighting environments. In the HC-LED lighting environment, melatonin was suppressed by 21.9% after waking, and nocturnal melatonin secretion was increased by up to 12.2%. As human-centric lighting, our HC-LEDs are expected to become an essential element for modern life, where people spend most of their time indoors.

Lifetime estimation of thin-film transistors in organic emitting diode display panels with compensation.

Oxide semiconductor thin-film transistors (TFTs) are used in the pixel array and gate driver circuits of organic light emitting diode (OLED) display panels. Long-term reliability characteristics of the TFTs are a barometer of the lifetime of OLED display panels. The long-term reliability of the driver TFTs is evaluated in a short time under high voltages and high temperature for an accelerated degradation test. If reliability parameters from the power law or stretched-exponential functions are the same for individual devices and devices in an operating panel, the lifetime of the panel can be accurately estimated. However, since compensation circuits are designed into operating panels, an environmental discrepancy exists between the accelerated test of single devices and the operation of devices in the panel. Herein, we propose a novel compensation stretched-exponential function (CSEF) model which captures the effect of the threshold voltage compensation circuit in the panel. The CSEF model not only bridges the discrepancy between individual devices and panel devices, but also provides a method to accurately and efficiently estimate the long-term lifetime of all display panels that utilize compensation circuits.

Pharmacokinetic profiles and egg residue patterns of levamisole in laying hens at two dosing rates and two routes of administration.

The levamisole maximum residue limit for edible fat, kidney, and muscle of chickens is 0.01 mg/kg. However, no maximum residue limit has been established for eggs. In the present study, the pharmacokinetic profile and levamisole residue in the eggs from laying hens were investigated using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A single dose of levamisole (30 mg/kg) was administered via the intramuscular or oral route, and an additional egg residue study was performed with 300 or 600 mg/kg commercial LEV drug (30 or 60 mg/kg as levamisole) orally. The limit of quantification was 0.0056 µg/mL and 0.0015 mg/kg for plasma and eggs, respectively. The plasma concentration was below the limit of quantification 10 and 12 h after intramuscular and oral administration, respectively. The half-life of the absorption phase was comparable between the intramuscular and oral routes, which was approximately 1 h, and the mean maximum concentration value was significantly higher in intramuscular (2.29 ± 0.30 µg/mL) than in oral (1.45 ± 0.38 µg/mL) route. The relative oral bioavailability after intramuscular administration was 92.3%. In the egg residue study, dose-dependent area under concentration and maximum concentration were observed after single oral administration of 30 and 60 mg/kg egg residue, and the calculated withdrawal period for both 30 and 60 mg/kg groups based on the positive list system standard (0.01 mg/kg) was 7 d after the treatment.

10-Year Clinical Follow-Up after Decompression of Lipofibromatous Hamartoma of the Median Nerve in a 3-Year-Old Patient: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Lipofibromatous hamartoma, first reported in 1953, is a rare, slowly progressive soft tissue tumor, the characteristics of which include the enlargement of the affected nerve via the epineurial and perineurial proliferation of adipose and fibrous tissues. Out of 200 previously reported cases of lipofibromatous hamartoma of the median nerve, there have been approximately 25 pediatric cases under the age of 18. Herein, we report a case of lipofibromatous hamatoma of the median nerve in a 3-year-old female patient who was surgically decompressed via carpal tunnel release and epineurolysis. The patient was followed-up on an outpatient clinic basis annually with sonographic evaluations, and the postoperative 10th-year follow-up did not show recurrence or any deficits in motor and sensory functions.

Simultaneous Endovascular Aneurysm Repair for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Combined with Saccular Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm.

With the recent increase in imaging tests, coexisting abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) are being discovered accidentally. We report two cases of simultaneous endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for AAA and TAA. Both 74-year-old and 79-year-old male with infrarenal AAA and saccular TAA were treated simultaneously with EVAR and TEVAR. Saccular TAAs were identified in the upper thoracic aorta during the evaluation of AAA. During endograft placement, carotid-subclavian bypass and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage were performed. Both patients were successfully discharged without spinal cord ischemia. Simultaneous EVAR and TEVAR can be considered for patients with AAA and saccular TAA in the upper thoracic aorta. Moreover, CSF drainage may be necessary to protect the spinal cord.

Diagnostic performance of F-18 FDG PET or PET/CT for detection of recurrent gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the diagnostic performance of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) or PET/computed tomography (PET/CT) for the detection of disease recurrence after curative resection of gastric cancer. METHODS: The PubMed and Embase databases, from the earliest available date of indexing through November 30, 2019, were searched for studies evaluating the diagnostic performance of F-18 FDG PET or PET/CT to detect recurrent disease after gastric cancer surgery. RESULTS: Across 17 studies (1,732 patients), the pooled sensitivity for F-18 FDG PET or PET/CT was 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74-0.88) with heterogeneity of I2=76.5 (p<0.001), and the specificity was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.78-0.91) with heterogeneity of I2=94.2 (p<0.001). Likelihood ratio (LR) tests gave an overall positive LR of 6.0 (95% CI, 3.6-9.7) and negative LR of 0.2 (95% CI, 0.14-0.31). The pooled diagnostic odds ratio was 29 (95% CI, 13-63). The summary receiver operating characteristic curve indicates that the area under the curve was 0.91 (95% CI, 0.88-0.93). CONCLUSION: The current meta-analysis showed good sensitivity and specificity of F-18 FDG PET or PET/CT for detecting recurrent disease after curative resection of gastric cancer despite heterogeneity in ethnicity, recurrence rate, histology, and interpretation method.

Protaetia Brevitarsis-Derived Protein Hydrolysate Reduces Obesity-Related Colitis Induced by High-Fat Diet in Mice through Anti-Inflammatory Pathways.

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by inflammation in the mucosal and submucosal layers of the colon. Obesity is closely related to the occurrence and progression of colitis. The most plausible mechanism linking obesity and colitis is an excessive adipogenesis-related inflammatory response, which causes mucosal dysfunction. Obesity and colitis are linked by several etiologic mechanisms, including excessive adipogenesis, lipotoxicity, pro-inflammatory adipokines/cytokines, macrophage polarization, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and gut microbiota. These low-grade enteric inflammations cause mucosal layer damage, especially goblet cell dysfunction through mucin 2 (MUC2) misfolding, ultimately leading to colitis. Inhibiting the inflammatory response can be the most effective approach for treating obesity-related colitis. We focused on the anti-inflammatory effects of polyphenols in Protaectia brevitas larvae. The P. brevitas was prepared as a low molecular protein hydrolysate (PHPB) to increase the concentration of anti-inflammatory molecules. In the current study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of PHPB in an obesity-induced colitis mouse model. Compared with the high-fat diet (HFD) group, the group treated with PHPB exhibited reduced body/organ/fat weight, appetite/food intake inhibition, hypolipidemic effect on ectopic fat, and anti-adipogenic mechanism through the AMPK signaling pathway. Furthermore, we observed attenuated expression of PPARγ and C/EBPα, inhibition of pro-inflammatory molecules, stimulation of anti-inflammatory molecules, probiotic-like effect against obesogenic gut microbiota, inhibition of macrophage polarization into M1, suppression of oxidative/ER stress, and reduction of Muc2 protein misfolding in colon. These diverse anti-inflammatory responses caused histological and functional recovery of goblet cells, eventually improving colitis. Therefore, our findings suggest that the protein hydrolysate of Protaetia brevitarsis can improve obesity-related colitis through its anti-inflammatory activities.

Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation Using TiO2-Co3O4 p-n Heterostructures Derived from in Situ-Loaded ZIF-67.

Exposing catalytically active metal sites in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) while maintaining porosity is beneficial for increasing electron transport to achieve better electrochemical energy conversion performance. Herein, we propose an in situ method for MOF formation and loading onto TiO2 nanorods (NR) using a simple solution-processable method followed by annealing to obtain TiO2-Co3O4. The as-prepared TiO2-ZIF-67 based photoanodes were annealed at 350, 450, and 550 °C to study the effect of carbonization on photo-electrochemical water oxidation. The successful loading of ZIF-67 on TiO2 and the formation of TiO2-Co3O4 heterojunction were confirmed by XRD, XPS, FE-SEM, and HRTEM analyses. TiO2-Co3O4-450 (the sample annealed at 450 °C) showed an enhanced photocurrent of 2.4 mA/cm2, which was 2.6 times larger than that of pristine TiO2. The improved photocurrent might be ascribed to the prepared p-n heterostructures (Co3O4 and TiO2), which promote electron-hole separation and charge transfer within the system and improve the photoelectrochemical performance. Moreover, the preparation of Co3O4 from the MOF carbonization process improved the electrical conductivity and significantly increased the number of exposed active sites and enhanced the photoresponse performance. The as-prepared ZIF-67 derived TiO2-Co3O4 based photoanodes demonstrate high PEC water oxidation, and the controlled carbonization method paves the way toward the synthesis of low-cost and efficient electrocatalysts.

Wafer-scale striped network transistors based on purified semiconducting carbon nanotubes for commercialization.

Highly purified and solution-processed semiconducting carbon nanotubes (s-CNTs) have developed rapidly over the past several decades and are near-commercially available materials that can replace silicon due to its large-area substrate deposition and room-temperature processing compatibility. However, the more s-CNTs are purified, the better their electrical performance, but considerable effort and long centrifugation time are required, which can limit commercialization due to high manufacturing costs. In this work, we therefore fabricated 'striped' CNT network transistor across industry-standard 8 inch wafers. The stripe-structured channel is effective in lowering the manufacturing cost because it can maintain good device performance without requiring high-purity s-CNTs. We evaluated the electrical performances and their uniformity by demonstrating striped CNT network transistors fabricating from various s-CNT solutions (e.g. 99%, 95%, and 90%) in 8 inch wafers. From our results, we concluded that by optimizing the CNT network configurations, CNTs can be sufficiently utilized for commercialization technology even at low semiconducting purity. Our approach can serve as a critical foundation for future low-cost commercial CNT electronics.

Added Breathing Resistance during Exercise Impairs Pulmonary Ventilation and Exaggerates Exercise-Induced Hypoxemia Leading to Impaired Aerobic Exercise Performance.

Protective masks impose variable breathing resistance (BR) on the wearer and may adversely affect exercise performance, yet existing literature shows inconsistent results under different types of masks and metabolic demands. The present study was undertaken to determine whether added BR impairs cardiopulmonary function and aerobic performance during exercise. Sixteen young healthy men completed a graded exercise test on a cycle ergometer under the four conditions of BR using a customized breathing resistor at no breathing resistance (CON), 18.9 (BR1), 22.2 (BR2), and 29.9 Pa (BR3). The results showed that BR significantly elevates respiratory pressure (p < 0.001) and impairs ventilatory response to graded exercise (reduced VE; p < 0.001) at a greater degree with an increased level of BR which caused mild to moderate exercise-induced hypoxemia (final mean SpO2: CON = 95.6%, BR1 = 94.4%, BR2 = 91.6%, and BR3 = 90.6%; p < 0.001). Especially, such a marked reduction in SpO2 was significantly correlated with maximal oxygen consumption at the volitional fatigue (r = 0.98, p < 0.001) together with exaggerated exertion and breathing discomfort (p < 0.001). In conclusion, added BR commonly experienced when wearing tight-fitting facemasks and/or respirators could significantly impair cardiopulmonary function and aerobic performance at a greater degree with an increasing level of BR.

Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Korean adults: evaluation of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene, 2-naphthol, 1-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 2-hydroxyfluorene using Second Korean National Environmental Health Survey data.

Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are occupational and environmental pollutants generated by the incomplete combustion of organic matter. Exposure to PAHs can occur in various occupations. In this study, we compared PAH exposure levels among occupations based on 4 urinary PAH metabolites in a Korean adult population. Methods: The evaluation of occupational exposure to PAHs was conducted using Second Korean National Environmental Health Survey data. The occupational groups were classified based on skill types. Four urinary PAH metabolites were used to evaluate PAH exposure: 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), 2-naphthol (2-NAP), 1-hydroxyphenanthrene (1-OHPHE), and 2-hydroxyfluorene (2-OHFLU). The fraction exceeding the third quartile of urinary concentration for each PAH metabolite was assessed for each occupational group. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for exceeding the third quartile of urinary PAH metabolite concentration were calculated for each occupational group compared to the "business, administrative, clerical, financial, and insurance" group using multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: The "guard and security" (OR: 2.949; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.300-6.691), "driving and transportation" (OR: 2.487; 95% CI: 1.418-4.364), "construction and mining" (OR: 2.683; 95% CI: 1.547-4.655), and "agriculture, forestry, and fisheries" (OR: 1.973; 95% CI: 1.220-3.191) groups had significantly higher ORs for 1-OHP compared to the reference group. No group showed significantly higher ORs than the reference group for 2-NAP. The groups with significantly higher ORs for 1-OHPHE than the reference group were "cooking and food service" (OR: 2.073; 95% CI: 1.208-3.556), "driving and transportation" (OR: 1.724; 95% CI: 1.059-2.808), and "printing, wood, and craft manufacturing" (OR: 2.255; 95% CI: 1.022-4.974). The OR for 2-OHFLU was significantly higher in the "printing, wood, and craft manufacturing" group (OR: 3.109; 95% CI: 1.335-7.241) than in the reference group. Conclusions: The types and levels of PAH exposure differed among occupational groups in a Korean adult population.

A Single Bout of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning Suppresses Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Asian Obese Young Men.

Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) has been shown to minimize subsequent ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), whereas obesity has been suggested to attenuate the efficacy of RIPC in animal models. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a single bout of RIPC on the vascular and autonomic response after IRI in young obese men. A total of 16 healthy young men (8 obese and 8 normal weight) underwent two experimental trials: RIPC (three cycles of 5 min ischemia at 180 mmHg + 5 min reperfusion on the left thigh) and SHAM (the same RIPC cycles at resting diastolic pressure) following IRI (20 min ischemia at 180 mmHg + 20 min reperfusion on the right thigh). Heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (SBP/DBP), and cutaneous blood flow (CBF) were measured between baseline, post-RIPC/SHAM, and post-IRI. The results showed that RIPC significantly improved the LF/HF ratio (p = 0.027), SBP (p = 0.047), MAP (p = 0.049), CBF (p = 0.001), cutaneous vascular conductance (p = 0.003), vascular resistance (p = 0.001), and sympathetic reactivity (SBP: p = 0.039; MAP: p = 0.084) after IRI. However, obesity neither exaggerated the degree of IRI nor attenuated the conditioning effects on the measured outcomes. In conclusion, a single bout of RIPC is an effective means of suppressing subsequent IRI and obesity, at least in Asian young adult men, does not significantly attenuate the efficacy of RIPC.

Prevalence of feline chronic gingivostomatitis in feral cats and its risk factors.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the prevalence of feline chronic gingivostomatitis in urban feral cats in South Korea and analysed its risk factors. METHODS: Three hundred and forty-five feral cats that visited the hospital for neutering using a trap-neuter-return approach were screened for feline chronic gingivostomatitis based on clinical criteria. In addition, we determined if body weight, sex and the presence of tongue lesions are risk factors for feline chronic gingivostomatitis. The difference in severity due to the presence or absence of risk factors, and the relationship between gross findings and histopathological lesions, were analysed by grading lesion severity. RESULTS: Feline chronic gingivostomatitis was diagnosed in 92 cats. Disease prevalence did not significantly differ with body weight and sex but was significantly related to tongue lesions. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The prevalence of feline chronic gingivostomatitis in urban feral cats in South Korea was 26.6%. It was significantly more prevalent in cats that had tongue lesions. Severity was also significantly associated with tongue lesions. Feline chronic gingivostomatitis may be associated with an infectious agent that causes tongue lesions.