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This study investigated the usefulness of deep learning-based automatic detection of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) effusion using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with temporomandibular disorder and whether the diagnostic accuracy of the model improved when patients' clinical information was provided in addition to MRI images. The sagittal MR images of 2948 TMJs were collected from 1017 women and 457 men (mean age 37.19 ± 18.64 years). The TMJ effusion diagnostic performances of three convolutional neural networks (scratch, fine-tuning, and freeze schemes) were compared with those of human experts based on areas under the curve (AUCs) and diagnosis accuracies. The fine-tuning model with proton density (PD) images showed acceptable prediction performance (AUC = 0.7895), and the from-scratch (0.6193) and freeze (0.6149) models showed lower performances (p < 0.05). The fine-tuning model had excellent specificity compared to the human experts (87.25% vs. 58.17%). However, the human experts were superior in sensitivity (80.00% vs. 57.43%) (all p < 0.001). In gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) visualizations, the fine-tuning scheme focused more on effusion than on other structures of the TMJ, and the sparsity was higher than that of the from-scratch scheme (82.40% vs. 49.83%, p < 0.05). The Grad-CAM visualizations agreed with the model learned through important features in the TMJ area, particularly around the articular disc. Two fine-tuning models on PD and T2-weighted images showed that the diagnostic performance did not improve compared with using PD alone (p < 0.05). Diverse AUCs were observed across each group when the patients were divided according to age (0.7083-0.8375) and sex (male:0.7576, female:0.7083). The prediction accuracy of the ensemble model was higher than that of the human experts when all the data were used (74.21% vs. 67.71%, p < 0.05). A deep neural network (DNN) was developed to process multimodal data, including MRI and patient clinical data. Analysis of four age groups with the DNN model showed that the 41-60 age group had the best performance (AUC = 0.8258). The fine-tuning model and DNN were optimal for judging TMJ effusion and may be used to prevent true negative cases and aid in human diagnostic performance. Assistive automated diagnostic methods have the potential to increase clinicians' diagnostic accuracy.
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Aprendizado Profundo , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Redes Neurais de Computação , Transtornos da Articulação Temporomandibular , Articulação Temporomandibular , Humanos , Feminino , Masculino , Adulto , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética/métodos , Transtornos da Articulação Temporomandibular/diagnóstico por imagem , Transtornos da Articulação Temporomandibular/patologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Articulação Temporomandibular/diagnóstico por imagem , Articulação Temporomandibular/patologia , Adulto Jovem , Idoso , Adolescente , Processamento de Imagem Assistida por Computador/métodosRESUMO
Quercetin (QC), a naturally occurring bioflavonoid found in various fruits and vegetables, possesses many potential health benefits, primarily attributed to its robust antioxidant properties. The generation of oxidative stress in bone cells is a key modulator of their physiological behavior. Moreover, oxidative stress status influences the pathophysiology of mineralized tissues. Increasing scientific evidence demonstrates that manipulating the redox balance in bone cells might be an effective technique for developing bone disease therapies. The QC antioxidant abilities in skeletal muscle significantly enhance muscle regeneration and reduce muscle atrophy. In addition, QC has been shown to have protective effects against oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and matrix degradation in tendons, helping to maintain the structural integrity and functionality of tendons. Thus, the antioxidant properties of QC might be crucial for addressing age-related musculoskeletal disorders like osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and tendon-related inflammatory conditions. Understanding how QC influences redox signaling pathways involved in musculoskeletal disorders, including their effect on bone, muscle, and tendon differentiation, might provide insights into the diverse advantages of QC in promoting tissue regeneration and preventing cellular damage. Therefore, this study reviewed the intricate relationship among oxidative stress, inflammation, and tissue repair, affected by the antioxidative abilities of QC, in age-related musculoskeletal tissues to improve the overall health of bones, muscles, and tendons of the skeletal system. Also, reviewing the ongoing clinical trials of QC for musculoskeletal systems is encouraging. Given the positive effect of QC on musculoskeletal health, further scientific investigations and controlled human intervention studies are necessary to explore the therapeutic potential to its optimum strength.
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This study aimed to explore seasonal variations in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) prevalence in South Korea, utilizing nationwide population-based big data. Data corresponding to the Korean Standard Classification of Diseases code of K07.6, which identifies TMD, were extracted from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service online platform for the period from 2010 to 2022. Additionally, we integrated these data with climate temperature records from the Korean Meteorological Administration. We subsequently conducted a statistical analysis of TMD patient data on a monthly and seasonal basis over the past 13 years to assess prevalence. Over the past 13 years, the number of TMD patients in Korea has steadily increased. The prevalence of TMD rose from 0.48% (224,708 out of a total population of 50,515,666) in 2010 to 0.94% (482,241 out of a total population of 51,439,038) in 2022, marking a 1.96-fold increase. Among children under 10 years of age, no significant differences were observed in TMD prevalence between boys and girls. However, a distinct female predominance emerged after the age of 10, with an average female-to-male ratio of 1.51:1. The peak prevalence of TMD occurred in individuals in their 20 s, followed by adolescents in their late 10 s. The majority of TMD patients were concentrated in Seoul and Gyeonggi province, with metropolitan areas accounting for 50% of the total patient count. Seasonally, TMD patient numbers showed no significant increase in winter compared with spring or summer. The temperature difference, defined as the absolute difference between the highest and lowest temperatures for each month, showed a positive correlation with TMD patient counts. A greater temperature difference was associated with higher patient counts. The strongest correlation between temperature differences and TMD patient numbers was observed in winter (r = 0.480, p < 0.01), followed by summer (r = 0.443, p < 0.01), and spring (r = 0.366, p < 0.05). Temperature differences demonstrated a significantly stronger correlation with the increase in the number of TMD patients than absolute climate temperatures. This aspect should be a key consideration when examining seasonal trends in TMD prevalence in South Korea.
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Estações do Ano , Temperatura , Transtornos da Articulação Temporomandibular , Humanos , República da Coreia/epidemiologia , Masculino , Feminino , Criança , Prevalência , Adolescente , Transtornos da Articulação Temporomandibular/epidemiologia , Adulto , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adulto Jovem , Clima , Idoso , Pré-EscolarRESUMO
This study used ultrasonography to compare the thickness and cross-sectional area of the masticatory muscles in patients with temporomandibular joint arthralgia and investigated the differences according to sex and the co-occurrence of headache attributed to temporomandibular disorders (HATMD). The observational study comprised 100 consecutive patients with TMJ arthralgia (71 females and 29 males; mean age, 40.01 ± 17.67 years) divided into two groups: Group 1, including 86 patients with arthralgia alone (60 females; 41.15 ± 17.65 years); and Group 2, including 14 patients with concurrent arthralgia and HATMD (11 females; 33.00 ± 16.72 years). The diagnosis of TMJ arthralgia was based on the diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders. The parameters of the masticatory muscles examined by ultrasonography were subjected to statistical analysis. The pain area (2.23 ± 1.75 vs. 5.79 ± 2.39, p-value = 0.002) and visual analog scale (VAS) score (3.41 ± 1.82 vs. 5.57 ± 12.14, p-value = 0.002) were significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1. Muscle thickness (12.58 ± 4.24 mm) and cross-sectional area (4.46 ± 2.57 cm2) were larger in the masseter muscle than in the other three masticatory muscles (p-value < 0.001). When examining sex-based differences, the thickness and area of the masseter and lower temporalis muscles were significantly larger in males (all p-value < 0.05). The area of the masseter muscle (4.67 ± 2.69 vs. 3.18 ± 0.92, p-value = 0.004) and lower temporalis muscle (3.76 ± 0.95 vs. 3.21 ± 1.02, p-value = 0.049) was significantly smaller in Group 2 than in Group 1. An increase in VAS was significantly negatively correlated with the thickness of the masseter (r = - 0.268) and lower temporalis (r = - 0.215), and the cross-sectional area of the masseter (r = - 0.329) and lower temporalis (r = - 0.293). The masseter and lower temporalis muscles were significantly thinner in females than in males, and their volumes were smaller in patients with TMJ arthralgia and HATMD than in those with TMJ arthralgia alone. HATMD and decreased masseter and lower temporalis muscle volume were associated with increased pain intensity.
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Transtornos da Cefaleia , Transtornos da Articulação Temporomandibular , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adulto Jovem , Artralgia/diagnóstico por imagem , Eletromiografia , Cefaleia/diagnóstico por imagem , Músculos da Mastigação , Articulação Temporomandibular/diagnóstico por imagem , Transtornos da Articulação Temporomandibular/complicações , Transtornos da Articulação Temporomandibular/diagnóstico por imagemRESUMO
Ag nanoparticles have garnered significant attention for their excellent plasmonic properties and potential use as plasmonic cavities, primarily because of their intrinsically low ohmic losses and optical properties in the visible range. These are particularly crucial in systems involving quantum dots that absorb light at low wavelengths, where the need for a high threshold energy of interband transitions necessitates the incorporation of Ag nanostructures. However, the synthesis of Ag nanoparticles still encounters challenges in achieving structural uniformity and monodispersity, along with chemical stability, consequentially inducing inconsistent and poorly reliable optical responses. Here, we present a two-step approach for synthesizing highly uniform spherical Ag nanoparticles involving depletion-induced flocculation and Cu(II)-mediated oxidative etching. We found that the selective flocculation of multitwinned Ag nanocrystals significantly enhances the uniformity of the resulting Ag nanostructures, leaving behind only single-crystalline and single-twinned nanostructures. Subsequent oxidative etching, in which cupric ions are directly involved in the reaction, was designed based on Pourbaix diagrams to proceed following thermodynamically favorable states and circumvent the generation of reactive chemical species such as H2O2. This leads to perfectly spherical shapes of final Ag nanoparticles with a synthetic yield of 99.5% and additionally reduces the overall reaction time. Furthermore, we explore the potential applications of these monodisperse Ag nanospheres as uniform plasmonic cavities. The fabricated Ag nanosphere films uniformly enhanced the photoluminescence of InP/ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots, showcasing their capabilities in exhibiting consistent plasmonic responses across a large area.
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To compare masticatory muscle thickness in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) during rest and clenching, and by body position, using ultrasonography. This prospective study included 96 patients with TMD (67 females, 29 males; mean age: 40.41 ± 17.88 years): group 1, comprising 66 patients with TMD without bruxism (TMD_nonbruxer), and group 2, comprising 30 patients with concurrent TMD and bruxism (TMD_bruxer). In patients with TMD, bruxism was correlated with the presence of tinnitus, muscle stiffness, sleep problems, psychological stress, and restricted mouth opening. The masseter muscle significantly thickened during clenching (11.16 ± 3.03 mm vs 14.04 ± 3.47 mm, p < 0.001), whereas the temporalis muscle showed no significant increase in thickness from resting to clenching in an upright position (7.91 ± 1.98 vs 8.39 ± 2.08, p = 0.103). Similarly, during clenching in the supine position, the masseter muscle was significantly thicker compared with rest (11.24 ± 2.42 vs 13.49 ± 3.09, p < 0.001), but no significant difference was observed in temporal muscle thickness (8.21 ± 2.16 vs 8.43 ± 1.94, p = 0.464). In comparison between two groups, the average thickness of the masseter muscle was greater among TMD_bruxers than among TMD_nonbruxers in both the upright and supine positions (all p < 0.05). In the generalized lineal model, female sex (B = - 1.018, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 1.855 to - 0.181, p = 0.017) and bruxism (B = 0.868, 95% CI 0.567 to 1.169, p = 0.048) significantly predicted changes in masseter muscle thickness. Female sex (B = - 0.201, 95% CI - 0.299 to - 0.103, p = 0.011), increased age (B = - 0.003, 95% CI - 0.005 to 0.000, p = 0.038), and muscle stiffness (B = - 1.373, 95% CI - 2.369 to - 0.376, p = 0.007) were linked to decreased temporal muscle thickness. Comparing TMD nonbruxer and bruxer muscle thicknesses in upright and supine positions revealed significant increased thickness in the masseter muscle during clenching but not in the temporalis muscle. Masseter muscle thickness varied significantly by sex, body position, and resting/clenching, notably influenced by bruxism. These findings emphasize the relevance of these factors in clinical examinations of patients with TMD.
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Bruxismo , Transtornos da Articulação Temporomandibular , Masculino , Humanos , Feminino , Adulto Jovem , Adulto , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Músculo Masseter/diagnóstico por imagem , Estudos Prospectivos , Músculos da Mastigação , Transtornos da Articulação Temporomandibular/diagnóstico por imagem , Ultrassonografia , EletromiografiaRESUMO
A 13-year-old spayed female Persian cat presented with dyspnea and nasal discharge. Thoracic radiography revealed a dome-shaped soft-tissue opacity in the carina. Computed tomography confirmed a soft tissue-attenuating mass in the carina and the left and right proximal main bronchi that appeared to arise from the tracheal wall. Tracheoscopy revealed an intraluminal broad-based mass with multilobulated borders at the same location. Histopathological evaluation revealed a benign neoplastic process of the glandular epithelial lineage, which was considered an adenoma. Tracheal adenomas should be included in the differential diagnosis of tracheal masses.
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Adenoma , Doenças do Gato , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X , Neoplasias da Traqueia , Animais , Gatos , Feminino , Doenças do Gato/diagnóstico por imagem , Doenças do Gato/patologia , Neoplasias da Traqueia/veterinária , Neoplasias da Traqueia/diagnóstico por imagem , Adenoma/veterinária , Adenoma/diagnóstico por imagem , Adenoma/patologia , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X/veterinária , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Traqueia/diagnóstico por imagem , Traqueia/patologia , Radiografia Torácica/veterináriaRESUMO
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We investigated the clinical features and change in incidence of AACE in South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of AACE patients who visited the Strabismus Clinic of at a tertiary referral hospital from 2007 to 2021. Clinical features were retrieved, including age at onset, angle of deviation, refractive errors, neuroimaging findings, and treatment outcomes. For each year, the proportion of new AACE patients among all new patients who visited the clinic, and the ratio of new AACE patients to new intermittent exotropia (IXT) patients, were analysed to estimate the incidence of AACE. RESULTS: Overall, 59 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 24.7 ± 9.3 years; the incidence of AACE was highest in teenagers and young adults. No patients had a history of visual occlusion, recent physical or psychological stress, or uncorrected myopia, unlike to classic AACE; moreover, no patients exhibited abnormalities in neuroimaging. There was a significantly increasing trend in the proportion of new AACE patients among all new patients (linear regression analysis, R2 = 0.778, p < 0.001). There was also a significantly increasing trend in the ratio of new AACE patients to new IXT patients (R2 = 0.803, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A new type of AACE, distinct from the classic types, is increasingly common in South Korea; this increasing incidence also appears to be a global phenomenon. Large-scale investigations are needed to define the exact clinical features, incidence, and pathophysiology of this new type of AACE.
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Esotropia , Humanos , República da Coreia/epidemiologia , Incidência , Masculino , Feminino , Adolescente , Esotropia/epidemiologia , Esotropia/fisiopatologia , Adulto , Adulto Jovem , Estudos Retrospectivos , Criança , Doença Aguda , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pré-Escolar , Músculos Oculomotores/fisiopatologia , Acuidade Visual/fisiologiaRESUMO
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are two different types of arthritis. Within RA, the subsets between seronegative RA (snRA) and seropositive RA (spRA) represent distinct disease entities; however, identifying clear distinguishing markers between them remains a challenge. This study investigated and compared the oral health conditions in patients with RA and OA to clarify the differences from healthy controls. In addition, we investigated the serological characteristics of the patients, the factors that distinguished patients with RA from those with OA, and the main factors that differentiated between snRA and spRA patients. A total of 161 participants (mean age: 52.52 ± 14.57 years, 32 males and 129 females) were enrolled in this study and categorized as: normal (n = 33), OA (n = 31), and RA (n = 97). Patients with RA were divided into the following two subtypes: snRA (n = 18) and spRA (n = 79). Demographics, oral health, and serological characteristics of these patients were compared. The prevalence of periodontal diseases was significantly higher in patients with OA (100%) and RA (92.8%) than in healthy controls (0.0%). However, the presence of periodontal diseases was not utilized as a distinguishing factor between OA and RA. Xerostomia occurred more frequently in patients with RA (84.5%) than in patients with OA (3.2%) and healthy controls (0.0%) (all p < 0.001). ROC analysis revealed that periodontal disease was a very strong predictor in the diagnosis of OA compared to healthy controls, with an AUC value of 1.00 (p < 0.001). Additionally, halitosis (AUC = 0.746, 95% CI 0.621-0.871, p < 0.001) and female sex (AUC = 0.663, 95% CI 0.529-0.797, p < 0.05) were also significant predictors of OA. The strongest predictors of RA diagnosis compared to healthy controls were periodontal diseases (AUC = 0.964), followed by xerostomia (AUC = 0.923), age (AUC = 0.923), female sex (AUC = 0.660), and halitosis (AUC = 0.615) (all p < 0.05). Significant serological predictors of RA were anti-CCP Ab (AUC = 0.808), and RF (AUC = 0.746) (all p < 0.05). In multiple logistic regression analysis, xerostomia (odds ratio, OR: 8124.88, 95% CI 10.37-6368261.97, p-value = 0.008) and Anti-CCP Ab (OR: 671.33, 95% CI 2.18-207,074.02, p = 0.026) were significant predictors for RA compared to OA. When diagnosing spRA compared to snRA, anti-CCP Ab (AUC = 1.000, p < 0.001) and RF (AUC = 0.910, 95%CI 0.854-0.967, p < 0.001) had outstanding predictive performances. Therefore, clinicians and researchers should thoroughly evaluate the oral status of both OA and RA patients, alongside serological factors, and consider these elements as potential predictors.
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Artrite Reumatoide , Halitose , Osteoartrite , Doenças Periodontais , Periodontite , Xerostomia , Masculino , Humanos , Feminino , Adulto , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Idoso , Anticorpos Antiproteína Citrulinada , Artrite Reumatoide/complicações , Artrite Reumatoide/diagnóstico , Artrite Reumatoide/epidemiologia , Osteoartrite/complicações , Osteoartrite/diagnóstico , Biomarcadores , Periodontite/complicações , Periodontite/diagnóstico , Periodontite/epidemiologia , Autoanticorpos , Peptídeos CíclicosRESUMO
Xerostomia may be accompanied by changes in salivary flow rate and the incidence increases in elderly. We aimed to use machine learning algorithms, to identify significant predictors for the presence of xerostomia. This study is the first to predict xerostomia with salivary flow rate in elderly based on artificial intelligence. In a cross-sectional study, 829 patients with oral discomfort were enrolled, and six features (sex, age, unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates (UFR and SFR, respectively), number of systemic diseases, and medication usage) were used in four machine learning algorithms to predict the presence of xerostomia. The incidence of xerostomia increased with age. The SFR was significantly higher than the UFR, and the UFR and SFR were significantly correlated. The UFR, but not SFR, decreased with age significantly. In patients more than 60 years of age, the UFR had a significantly higher predictive accuracy for xerostomia than the SFR. Using machine learning algorithms with tenfold cross-validation, the prediction accuracy increased significantly. In particular, the prediction accuracy of the multilayer perceptron (MLP) algorithm that combined UFR and SFR data was significantly better than either UFR or SFR individually. Moreover, when sex, age, number of systemic diseases, and number of medications were added to the MLP model, the prediction accuracy increased from 56 to 68%.
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Inteligência Artificial , Xerostomia , Humanos , Idoso , Estudos Transversais , Xerostomia/diagnóstico , Xerostomia/etiologia , Aprendizado de Máquina , SalivaRESUMO
Fascial space abscess is a condition in which infections spread into fascial spaces. It is a severe and life-threatening disease unless treated at an early stage. Due to the similarity of clinical symptoms, fascial space abscesses in the orofacial area are often disguised as other diseases, such as temporomandibular disorder (TMD). In this case series, we report three cases of fascial space abscesses disguised as TMD. In all cases, patients complained of severely limited mouth opening and pain in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and masseter muscles, which led clinicians to diagnose them with TMD. After two patients showed facial swelling and the third complained of dyspnea, clinicians realized the possibility of an orofacial fascial space abscess. On further evaluation, all patients showed increased C-reactive protein in blood tests, and the location of the fascial space abscess was confirmed by enhanced computed tomography images. Moreover, all patients had suspicious sources of odontogenic infections in panoramic images, periapical abscess on maxillary molars and periodontal disease on maxillary and mandibular molars, which were not appropriately evaluated at the first visit. This case series emphasizes the need for clinicians to realize the possibility of orofacial fascial space abscesses based on: clinical symptoms of severely limited mouth opening (< 15 mm) with pain in the facial area, including TMJ or masseter muscle, and possible sources of infection such as odontogenic infection, other infectious lesions, trauma, or invasive treatments. These clinical insights will enable the early detection of fascial space abscesses.
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Abscesso Periapical , Transtornos da Articulação Temporomandibular , Humanos , Abscesso/diagnóstico por imagem , Transtornos da Articulação Temporomandibular/diagnóstico por imagem , Articulação Temporomandibular , DorRESUMO
This study developed an information and communication technology-based mobile application to administer cognitive behavioral therapy to community-dwelling older adults with insomnia. First, the content of the application was determined through a systematic review and preference survey. Preference data on the perception, needs, and preference for non-face-to-face service content were collected from 15 July 2021 to 31 August 2021 from 100 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older. In the design stage, the structure and function of the application were determined, and an interface was designed. The application was developed in conjunction with design experts and programmers using Android Studio software (Android 9). Usability tests were conducted during the implementation stage, followed by an evaluation stage. The evaluation revealed that the application's structure and functions should comprise sleep information, sleep-habit improvement, sleep assistance, video, real-time counseling, and exercise services. These elements were finalized after receiving the results of a preference analysis and advice from an advisory panel of experts in different fields. The developed application was rated with a score of four or higher in all areas. This study successfully developed, implemented, and evaluated a new mobile application called Smart Sleep for community-dwelling older adults with insomnia.
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This study investigated the role of the axis involving chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6) and its ligand chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 20 (CCL20) in acute kidney disease (AKD) using an ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) model. The model was established by clamping the unilateral renal artery pedicle of C57BL/6 mice for 30 min, followed by evaluation of CCL20/CCR6 expression at 4 weeks post-IRI. In vitro studies were conducted to examine the effects of hypoxia and H2 O2 -induced oxidative stress on CCL20/CCR6 expression in kidney tissues of patients with AKD and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Tubular epithelial cell apoptosis was more severe in C57BL/6 mice than in CCL20 antibody-treated mice, and CCR6, NGAL mRNA, and IL-8 levels were higher under hypoxic conditions. CCL20 blockade ameliorated apoptotic damage in a dose-dependent manner under hypoxia and reactive oxygen species injury. CCR6 expression in IRI mice indicated that the disease severity was similar to that in patients with the AKD phenotype. Morphometry of CCL20/CCR6 expression revealed a higher likelihood of CCR6+ cell presence in CKD stage 3 patients than in stage 1-2 patients. Kidney tissues of patients with CKD frequently contained CCL20+ cells, which were positively correlated with interstitial inflammation. CCL20/CCR6 levels were increased in fibrotic kidneys at 4 and 8 weeks after 5/6 nephrectomy. These findings suggest that modulating the CCL20/CCR6 pathway is a potential therapeutic strategy for managing the progression of AKD to CKD.
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Injúria Renal Aguda , Insuficiência Renal Crônica , Humanos , Animais , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Ligantes , Rim , Células Epiteliais , Artéria Renal , Hipóxia , Receptores CCR6/genética , Quimiocina CCL20/genéticaRESUMO
Enterococcus spp. are typically found in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals. However, they have the potential to produce opportunistic infections that can be transmitted to humans or other animals, along with acquired antibiotic resistance. In this study, we aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profiles of Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis isolates obtained from companion animal dogs and cats in Korea during 2020-2022. The resistance rates in E. faecalis towards most of the tested antimicrobials were relatively higher than those in E. faecium isolated from dogs and cats. We found relatively higher resistance rates to tetracycline (65.2% vs. 75.2%) and erythromycin (39.5% vs. 49.6%) in E. faecalis isolated from cats compared to those from dogs. However, in E. faecium, the resistance rates towards tetracycline (35.6% vs. 31.5%) and erythromycin (40.3% vs. 35.2%) were comparatively higher for dog isolates than cats. No or very few E. faecium and E. faecalis isolates were found to be resistant to daptomycin, florfenicol, tigecycline, and quinupristin/dalfopristin. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was higher in E. faecalis recovered from cats (44%) and dogs (33.9%) than in E. faecium isolated from cats (24.1%) and dogs (20.5%). Moreover, MDR patterns in E. faecalis isolates from dogs (27.2%) and cats (35.2%) were shown to encompass five or more antimicrobials. However, E. faecium isolates from dogs (at 13.4%) and cats (at 14.8%) were resistant to five or more antimicrobials. Taken together, the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant enterococci in companion animals presents a potential public health concern.
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NA4/NA6, an intermediate degradation product of ß-agarase, is a high value-added product with anticancer, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic effects. Therefore, a method that enables the efficient production of NA4/NA6 would be useful from economic and medical perspectives. In this study, we aimed to generate a Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) mutant M22-2C43 that produces NA4/NA6 as a final product; this method serves as a more efficient alternative to the enzymatic conversion of ß-agarase for the generation of these products. The M22-2C43 strain was generated through two rounds of mutagenesis and screening for increased ß-agarase activity and effective production of NA4/NA6. We assembled the complete genomes of two mutants, M22 and M22-2C43, which were identified following a two-round screening. Large and small genetic changes were found in these two mutants, including the loss of two plasmids present in wild-type S. coelicolor A3(2) and chromosome circularization of mutant M22-2C43. These findings suggest that mutant M22-2C43 can produce NA4/NA6 as a degradation product due to functional inactivation of the dagB gene through a point mutation (G474A), ultimately preventing further degradation of NA4/NA6 to NA2. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a microbial strain that can effectively produce NA4/NA6 as the main degradation product of ß-agarase, opening the door for the use of this species for the large-scale production of this valuable product.
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Streptomyces coelicolor , Streptomyces coelicolor/genética , Sefarose , Plasmídeos , MutaçãoRESUMO
A gold nanourchin (AuNU) probe with a novel sensing mechanism for monitoring H2S was developed as a feasible colorimetric sensor. In this study, AuNUs that are selectively responsive to H2S were fabricated in the presence of trisodium citrate and 1,4-hydroquinone using a seed-mediated approach. Upon exposure of the AuNU solution to H2S, the hydrosulfide ions (HS-) in the solution are converted into oligomeric sulfides by 1,4-hydroquinone used as a reducing agent during the synthesis of AuNUs. The oligomeric sulfides formed in the AuNU solution upon the addition of H2S were found to coat the surface of the AuNUs, introducing a blue shift in absorption accompanied by a color change in the solution from sky blue to light green. This colorimetric alteration by the capping of oligomeric sulfides on the surface of AuNUs is unique compared to well-known color change mechanisms, such as aggregation, etching, or growth of nanoparticles. The novel H2S sensing mechanism of the AuNUs was characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and atom probe tomography. H2S was reliably monitored with two calibration curves comprising two sections with different slopes according to the low (0.3-15 µM) and high (15.0-300 µM) concentration range using the optimized AuNU probe, and a detection limit of 0.29 µM was obtained in tap water.
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The aging process is associated with the development of a wide range of degenerative disorders in mammals. These diseases are characterized by a progressive decline in function at multiple levels, including the molecular, cellular, tissue, and organismal. Furthermore, it is responsible for various healthcare costs in developing and developed countries. Sarcopenia is the deterioration in the quality and functionality of muscles, which is extremely concerning as it manages many functions in the human body. This article reviews the molecular crosstalk involved in sarcopenia and the specific roles of many mediator molecules in establishing cross-talk between muscles, bone, and fatty tissues, eventually leading to sarcopenia. Besides, the involvement of various etiological factors, such as neurology, endocrinology, lifestyle, etc., makes it exceedingly difficult for clinicians to develop a coherent hypothesis that may lead to the well-organized management system required to battle this debilitating disease. The several hallmarks contributing to the progression of the disease is a vital question that needs to be addressed to ensure an efficient treatment for sarcopenia patients. Also, the intricate molecular mechanism involved in developing this disease requires more studies. The direct relationship of cellular senescence with aging is one of the pivotal issues contributing to disease pathophysiology. Some patented treatment strategies have been discussed, including drugs undergoing clinical trials and emerging options like miRNA and protein-enclosed extracellular vesicles. A clear understanding of the secretome, including the signaling pathways involved between muscles, bone, and fatty tissues, is extremely beneficial for developing novel therapeutics for curing sarcopenia.
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Objective: Halitosis or oral malodor is an unpleasant odor from the oral cavity. However, although patients with periodontitis often complain of halitosis, their relationship has not been fully elucidated. We reviewed previous literature based on the hypothesis that the relationship between halitosis and periodontitis is mediated by the oral microbiome. Materials and methods: This narrative review sought to provide insight into the causative role of the oral microbiome in influencing halitosis and periodontitis. In addition, we tried to deepen knowledge related to the relationship between halitosis and periodontitis generated by the oral microbiome accumulated over the past 40 years. Results: From 1984 to 2023, a total of 106 papers that carefully and scientifically dealt with halitosis and periodontitis were included in this narrative review. Based on previous results, halitosis and periodontitis were closely related. For decades, researchers have taken an intriguing approach to the question of whether there is a relationship between halitosis and periodontitis. Central factors in the relationship between halitosis and periodontitis include volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), the oral microbiota that produce VSCs, and the inflammatory response. Conclusions: Taken together, the more severe periodontitis, the higher the level of VSC in halitosis, which may be mediated by oral microbiome. However, the relationship between the occurrence, maintenance, and exacerbation of periodontitis and halitosis is not a necessary and sufficient condition for each other because they are complex interplay even in one individual.
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Purpose: We evaluated the status of patients enrolled in South Korea's pediatric palliative care pilot project based on the experience of a single center. This study examined factors related to end-of-life services and differences in medical costs. Methods: The medical records of 120 patients referred by a pediatric palliative care team were analyzed retrospectively. Data from July 1 to February 28, 2022 were collected and analyzed using the chi-square test and the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Volunteer programs and psychological support (100%), family support and education (99.2%), and financial support through institutional linkage (62.5%) were provided to the participants. In the deceased group, there were no significant differences in general characteristics, which included age, gender, primary disease, religion, duration of hospitalization in an intensive care unit (ICU) and non-intensive care unit (non-ICU). However, the ICU group had fewer opportunities to access individual pain and physical symptom management than the non-ICU group and there were limitations in linking with external resources. Medical expenses were significantly different for the ICU group, with a 3-times higher average cost than the non-ICU group. Conclusion: Although an individualized approach is needed for each patient in pediatric palliative care, psychosocial care is essential. In addition, if early intervention for end-of-life pediatric patients is available from a palliative care team, the cost burden of medical care for patients and their families should be minimal.