Early gesture use predicts children's language development in South Korea: New evidence supporting the cross-cultural importance of pointing.

Research in the U.S. and other Western countries shows that children's early gesture use, which starts prior to verbal communication, is an important predictor of children's later language development. Despite increasing efforts to study gesture use in diverse contexts, most of our knowledge on the role of gesture is largely based on populations of Western countries. In this study, we add to the growing body of international research by examining gesture use by 31 mothers and their 14-month-old infants (12 girls) in South Korea and investigate the gestures used during interaction, and whether early gesture use at 14 months predicts Korean children's later language skills at 36 months. The results showed that in addition to using gestures observed in other cultural contexts, Korean mother-child dyads used culturally specific gesture (i.e., bowing), showing an early sign of socialization that starts with preverbal children. In addition, Korean infants' index-finger pointing, but not showing and giving, predicted their later receptive and expressive vocabulary skills at 36 months, providing additional support for the importance of pointing in early language development.

Effects of retinoid-loaded hyaluronic acid nanomicelles on vaginal epithelium in a murine menopause model.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop hyaluronic acid (HA)-based, retinoic acid (RA)-containing nanomicelles and to investigate the effects of these newly developed nanomicelles on regeneration of the vaginal epithelium and aquaporin 3 (AQP3) expression in a murine menopause model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The HA-based, RA-loaded nanomicelles were developed, and the RA-loading rate, encapsulation efficiency, and hydrodynamic diameter were measured. Female BALB/c mice (8 weeks; n=30) were divided into control and experimental groups. Menopause was established in the experimental group by removing both ovaries. The experimental group was further divided into an ovariectomy group, an HA-C18 vehicle group, and an HA-C18-RA group (2.5 µg per mouse); vaginal administration of HA-C18 or HA-C18-RA was performed once daily. After 4 weeks of treatment, murine vaginal tissue was removed, and histological analysis was performed. RESULTS: Three drug-loaded nanomicelles were synthesized: the RA content in HA-C18-RA-10, HA-C18-RA-20, and HA-C18-RA-30 was 3.13%, 2.52%, and 16.67%, respectively, and the RA encapsulation efficiency was 95.57%, 83.92%, and 93.24%, respectively. In the experimental versus control group, serum estrogen levels were significantly reduced, and the vaginal mucosal epithelial layer was significantly thinner. After 4 weeks of treatment, the thickness of the vaginal mucosal epithelial layer and AQP3 expression was increased in the HA-C18-RA group compared with the HA-C18 vehicle group. CONCLUSIONS: The newly developed HA-based nanomicelles containing RA resulted in vaginal epithelial recovery and increased AQP3 expression. The results may contribute to the development of functional vaginal lubricants or moisturizers for the treatment of vaginal dryness.

Improved Early Detection Models of Pharyngocutaneous Fistula after Total Laryngectomy.

Early detection of pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) after total laryngectomy (TL) could prevent severe complications such as major vessel rupture. We aimed to develop prediction models for detecting PCF in the early postoperative period. We retrospectively analyzed patients (N = 263) who received TL between 2004 and 2021. We collected clinical data for fever (>38.0 °C) and blood tests (WBC, CRP, albumin, Hb, neutrophils, lymphocytes) on postoperative days (POD) 3 and 7, and fistulography on POD 7. Clinical data were compared between fistula and no fistula groups, and significant factors were selected using machine learning. Using these clinical factors, we developed improved prediction models for PCF detection. Fistula occurred in 86 (32.7%) patients. Fever was significantly (p < 0.001) more common in the fistula group, and ratios (POD 7 to 3) of WBC, CRP, neutrophils, and neutrophils-to-lymphocytes (NLR) were significantly higher (all p ≤ 0.001) in the fistula group than in the no fistula group. Leakage on fistulography was more common in the fistula group (38.2%) than in the no fistula group (3.0%). The area under curve (AUC) of fistulography alone was 0.68, but predictive models using a combination of fistulography, WBC at POD 7, and neutrophil ratio (POD 7/POD 3) showed better diagnostic performance (AUC of 0.83). Our predictive models may detect PCF early and accurately, which could reduce fatal complications following PCF.

Adjuvant Therapy for Attention in Children with ADHD Using Game-Type Digital Therapy.

Children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) require early intervention and sustained treatment. This study used a game-based digital treatment planning NeuroWorld DTx to analyze the impact on attention and cognitive function in children with ADHD. Thirty children diagnosed with ADHD were recruited and subjected to a four-week NeuroWorld DTx digital treatment. To assess the impact of the digital therapeutic therapy on children's attention, we used the comprehension attention test (CAT) and Korean ADHD Rating Scale (K-ARS). Clinical global impression (CGI) and the Korean-child behavior checklist (K-CBCL 6-18) were used to examine the degree of improvement in ADHD. After four weeks, significant differences in the sensitivity and response style indices were noted, as compared with the baseline in the CAT test; in the case of K-ARS and CGI, a moderate decrease in ADHD was confirmed. The study achieved better results for the "total behavior problems" belonging to the K-CBCL assessment. Game-based digital therapy intervention can be a treatment method that elicits interest and satisfaction in children with ADHD and can be used as an adjunct to drug therapy to improve the quality of life and strengthen attention in children with symptoms of ADHD.

Clinical relevance of postoperative proteinuria for prediction of early renal outcomes after kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Proteinuria is associated with poor allograft and patient survival in kidney transplant recipients. However, the clinical relevance of spot urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (PCR) or albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) as predictors of renal outcomes during the early postoperative period following kidney transplantation (KT) has not been determined. METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study included 353 kidney transplant recipients who underwent KT between 2014 and 2017 and were followed up for more than 3 years. Among them, 186 and 167 recipients underwent living donor KT and deceased donor KT, respectively. The PCR and ACR were measured during the immediate postoperative period (within 7 days postoperatively), before discharge (2-3 weeks postoperatively), and 3-6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 51 years (interquartile range, 43-59 years), and 62.9% were male. An immediate postoperative PCR of ≥1 mg/mg was associated with old age, diabetes mellitus, high systolic blood pressure, delayed graft function, and donor factors (deceased donor KT, old age, and high serum creatinine concentrations). The PCR and ACR 3 to 6 months posttransplant were inversely associated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate at 1 year posttransplant. Deceased donor KT recipients with immediate postoperative PCR of ≥3 mg/mg showed a greater incidence of delayed graft function and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate before discharge than those with immediate postoperative PCR of <3 mg/mg. CONCLUSION: Early postoperative proteinuria is a useful biomarker to predict early renal outcomes after KT.

Changes of Apomorphine-Induced Vaginal Hemodynamics in an Ovariectomized Rat Model Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Probe.

INTRODUCTION: Female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) can be caused by the change in vaginal structure due to the decline of estrogen and one of the main symptoms is vaginal dryness. FSAD is a prevalent problem afflicting women all over the world and thus the interest is growing on the matter, but related studies of monitoring FSAD using a non-invasive optical method barely have been carried out. AIM: This study aims to investigate the longitudinal changes in female sexual arousal response induced by apomorphine (APO) administration in the ovariectomized rat using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) probe. METHODS: To elicit sexual arousal, APO was administered subcutaneously to animals (n = 6) before and after ovariectomy, and the changes in oxyhemoglobin (OHb), deoxyhemoglobin (RHb), total hemoglobin (THb) concentration, and temperature on the vaginal wall after APO administration were monitored bi-weekly for 8 weeks. Furthermore, estradiol hormone, vaginal secretion, and body weight have been measured for comparison with the results from vaginal hemodynamics. RESULTS: APO administration caused the increase of vaginal OHb and RHb concentration but a decrease in temperature. The amplitude of OHb, RHb, and THb increase induced by APO gradually decreased over 8 weeks after ovariectomy while the decrease in vaginal temperature became profound. The level of estradiol and vaginal secretions also decreased over 8 weeks after ovariectomy, but bodyweight showed an increasing trend. CONCLUSIONS: A comparison between the parameters measured from the NIRS probe and the others (estradiol level, amount of vaginal secretion, and body weight) proved that the NIRS has the potential as a monitoring tool to evaluate female sexual arousal response. Jeong H, Lee HS, Seong M, et al. Changes of Apomorphine-Induced Vaginal Hemodynamics in an Ovariectomized Rat Model Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Probe. J Sex Med 2021;18:1328-1336.

Application of Machine Learning in Pulmonary Function Assessment Where Are We Now and Where Are We Going?

Analysis of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) is an area where machine learning (ML) may benefit clinicians, researchers, and the patients. PFT measures spirometry, lung volumes, and carbon monoxide diffusion capacity of the lung (DLCO). The results are usually interpreted by the clinicians using discrete numeric data according to published guidelines. PFT interpretations by clinicians, however, are known to have inter-rater variability and the inaccuracy can impact patient care. This variability may be caused by unfamiliarity of the guidelines, lack of training, inadequate understanding of lung physiology, or simply mental lapses. A rules-based automated interpretation system can recapitulate expert's pattern recognition capability and decrease errors. ML can also be used to analyze continuous data or the graphics, including the flow-volume loop, the DLCO and the nitrogen washout curves. These analyses can discover novel physiological biomarkers. In the era of wearables and telehealth, particularly with the COVID-19 pandemic restricting PFTs to be done in the clinical laboratories, ML can also be used to combine mobile spirometry results with an individual's clinical profile to deliver precision medicine. There are, however, hurdles in the development and commercialization of the ML-assisted PFT interpretation programs, including the need for high quality representative data, the existence of different formats for data acquisition and sharing in PFT software by different vendors, and the need for collaboration amongst clinicians, biomedical engineers, and information technologists. Hurdles notwithstanding, the new developments would represent significant advances that could be the future of PFT, the oldest test still in use in clinical medicine.

Understanding the Perspectives and Experiences of Employed Older People on Active Ageing in Their Later Working Life (Biographical Narrative Approach).

This thesis aims to understand the perspectives and experiences of older people regarding the concept of active ageing in their later working life with biographical narratives. This research adopted a biographical narrative interview for data collection. A total of 15 employed older people were interviewed by the researcher. The collected data were analysed using the biographical narrative analysis of Schütze (1983). The research findings are the following: in the first theme, the driving force to enable older people to choose active ageing in the workplace was their confidence in their work ability to include a challenging attitude at work. In the second theme, another driving force to enable older people to participate in economic activity that was considered was the individual workability of active older workers, including health rather than their chronological ageing in the labour market. However, in the third theme, research participants believed that the barrier of active ageing is a negative social prejudice on the working ability of older people. From this point of view, the research participants suggested that negative social prejudice for older workers should be overcome by active ageing experiences in age-friendly working environments as the fourth theme.

Effects of Exercise Interventions on Weight, Body Mass Index, Lean Body Mass and Accumulated Visceral Fat in Overweight and Obese Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

(1) Background: Exercise interventions for overweight and obese individuals help reduce accumulated visceral fat, which is an indicator of cardiometabolic risk, but the effectiveness of these interventions is controversial. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the effectiveness of exercise interventions in overweight and obese individuals in order to reduce weight, body mass index (BMI), and accumulated visceral fat, and increase lean body mass. (2) Methods: Databases were used to select eligible studies for this meta-analysis. Randomized controlled trials with control and experimental groups were included. The degrees of effectiveness of the exercise interventions were computed to assess the benefits on reducing weight, BMI, and accumulated visceral fat, and increasing lean body mass. (3) Results: Sixteen studies were included in this meta-analysis. Participation in exercise interventions reduced weight (d = -0.58 (95% confidence interval (CI), -0.84--0.31; p < 0.001; k = 9)), BMI (d = -0.50 (95% CI, -0.78--0.21; p < 0.001; k = 7)), and accumulated visceral fat (d = -1.08 (95% CI, -1.60--0.57; p < 0.001; k = 5)), but did not significantly increase lean body mass (d = 0.26 (95% CI, -0.11-0.63; p = 0.17; k = 6)). The average exercise intervention for overweight and obese individuals was of moderate to vigorous intensity, 4 times per week, 50 min per session, and 22 weeks duration. (4) Conclusions: Participating in exercise interventions has favorable effects on weight, BMI, and accumulated visceral fat. Further studies considering different modalities, intensities, durations, and measurements of fatness need to be conducted.

Influences of Ketogenic Diet on Body Fat Percentage, Respiratory Exchange Rate, and Total Cholesterol in Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

(1) Background: The purpose of the current meta-analysis was to investigate any positive or negative effects of ketogenic diets in athletes and provide an assessment of the size of these effects. (2) Methods: Databases were used to select relevant studies up to January 2021 regarding the effects of ketogenic diets in athletes. Inclusion criteria were as follows: data before and after ketogenic diet use, being randomized controlled trials and presenting ketogenic diets and assessments of ketone status. Study subjects were required to be professional athletes. Review studies, pilot studies, and studies in which non-athletes were included were excluded from this meta-analysis. The outcome effect sizes in these selected studies were calculated by using the standardized mean difference statistic. (3) Results: Eight studies were selected for this meta-analysis. Athletes who consumed the ketogenic diet had reduced body fat percentages, respiratory exchange rates, and increased total cholesterol compared to athletes who did not consume this diet. However, body mass index, cardiorespiratory fitness, heart rate, HDL cholesterol, glucose level, and insulin level were unaffected by the diet. (4) Conclusions: Ketogenic diets had a beneficial effect by decreasing body fat percentage, but athletes with high total cholesterol level need to be monitored when instituting a ketogenic diet. Our study sample size was limited; therefore, additional studies may be needed to confirm the current findings. Further studies need to be conducted on changes in LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol.

Estrogen modulates epithelial progenitor cells in rat vagina.

PURPOSE: The expression of epithelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in rat vagina was recently reported. The aims were to investigate the effects of estrogen on vaginal EPCs in the oophorectomized female rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats (230-240 g, n=30) were divided into 3 groups: control (n=10), bilateral oophorectomy (OVX, n=10), and bilateral OVX followed by subcutaneous injections of 17ß-estradiol (50 µg/kg/day, n=10). After 4 weeks, the expression of EPC-specific markers (CD44, estrogen receptor alpha [ERα], and progesterone receptor) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS: The CD44/ERα double-labeled cells were mainly expressed in basal cell layers and suprabasal layers as shown by confocal immunofluorescence. Confocal microscopy revealed that the number of CD44+/ERα+ cells decreased in the OVX group compared with the controls but was similar to control levels in rats receiving estrogen replacements. The protein expression of CD44 and ERα decreased after OVX and was restored to control levels after estrogen supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: Markers of EPCs were expressed in the vagina, and the expression of resident EPCs was regulated by estrogen. These findings imply that resident EPCs may have an important role in the regeneration of vaginal mucosa by estrogen replacement.

Effects of Combined Exercise and Low Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet Interventions on Waist Circumference and Triglycerides in Overweight and Obese Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

(1) Background: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to investigate the effects of combined exercise and low carbohydrate ketogenic diet interventions (CELCKD) for overweight and obese individuals. (2) Methods: Relevant studies were searched by using the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases up to October 2020. Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: Inclusion criteria were reporting effects of the CELCKD for overweight and obese individuals from randomized controlled trials. Studies that did not match the inclusion criteria were excluded. The methods for CELCKD and outcomes of selected studies were extracted. The effect sizes for interventions that included cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, fasting glucose, and lipid profiles were calculated by using the standardized mean difference statistic. (3) Results: A total of seven studies and 278 overweight and obese individuals were included. The average intervention of selected studies consisted of moderate to vigorous intensity, 4 times per week for 9.2 weeks. Participating in CELCKD interventions was decreased triglycerides (d = -0.34, CI; -0.68--0.01, p = 0.04) and waist circumference (d = -0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]; -1.28--1.20, p = 0.01), while cardiovascular fitness, body composition, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were not statistically different after the interventions. No adverse side effects were reported. (4) Conclusions: Participation in interventions by overweight and obese individuals had beneficial effects including decreased waist circumference and triglycerides. Longer term intervention studies with homogenous control groups may be needed.

Machine learning for clinical trials in the era of COVID-19.

The world is in the midst of a pandemic. We still know little about the disease COVID-19 or about the virus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes it. We do not have a vaccine or a treatment (aside from managing symptoms). We do not know if recovery from COVID-19 produces immunity, and if so for how long, hence we do not know if "herd immunity" will eventually reduce the risk or if a successful vaccine can be developed - and this knowledge may be a long time coming. In the meantime, the COVID-19 pandemic is presenting enormous challenges to medical research, and to clinical trials in particular. This paper identifies some of those challenges and suggests ways in which machine learning can help in response to those challenges. We identify three areas of challenge: ongoing clinical trials for non-COVID-19 drugs; clinical trials for repurposing drugs to treat COVID-19, and clinical trials for new drugs to treat COVID-19. Within each of these areas, we identify aspects for which we believe machine learning can provide invaluable assistance.

Co-culture of smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells on three-dimensional bioprinted polycaprolactone scaffolds for cavernosal tissue engineering.

PURPOSE: In vitro evaluation of polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds fabricated by a three-dimensional (3D) printing technique for tissue engineering applications in the corpus cavernosum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PCL scaffolds were fabricated by use of a 3 D bioprinting system. The 3D-printed scaffolds had interconnected structures for cell ingrowth. Human aortic smooth muscle cells (haSMCs) were seeded on the scaffold and cultured for 5 days, and then human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were also added on the scaffolds and co-cultured with haSMCs for up to 7 days. The ability of these scaffolds to support the growth of HUVECs and haSMCs was investigated in vitro. 3 D strand-deposited scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and porosity measurement. RESULTS: SEM images showed the surface of the PCL scaffolds to be well covered by HUVECs and haSMCs. Immunofluorescent staining of α-flk1 and α-smooth muscle actin on the HUVECs and haSMCs seeded scaffolds confirmed that the cells remained viable and proliferated throughout the time course of the culture. CONCLUSION: 3 D bioprinting of a PCL scaffold is feasible for co-culturing of HUVECs and haSMCs. This was a preliminary study to investigate the possibility of fabrication of tissue-engineered corpus cavernosum.

Design of an Optical Probe to Monitor Vaginal Hemodynamics during Sexual Arousal.

An optical probe was developed to measure the change of oxy-hemoglobin (OHb), deoxy- hemoglobin (RHb), and total hemoglobin (THb) along with temperature from the vaginal wall of female rats. Apomorphine (APO, 80 µg/kg) was administered to elicit sexual arousal in female Sprague Dawley rats (SD, 180-200 g). The behavior changes caused by APO administration were checked before monitoring vaginal responses. The changes of oxy-, deoxy-, and total hemoglobin concentration and the temperature from the vaginal wall were monitored before, during, and after APO administration. Animals were under anesthesia during the measurement. After APO administration, the concentration of OHb (55 ± 29 µM/DPF), RHb (33 ± 25 µM/DPF), and THb (83 ± 59 µM/DPF) in the vaginal wall increased in a few min, while saline administration did not cause any significant change. In case of the vaginal temperature change, APO decreased the temperature slightly in the vaginal wall while saline administration did not show any temperature change in the vaginal wall. As the outcomes demonstrated, the developed probe can detect hemodynamic and temperature variation in the vaginal wall. The hemodynamic information acquired by the probe can be utilized to establish an objective and accurate standard of female sexual disorders.

Efficacy of tailored therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication based on clarithromycin resistance and survey of previous antibiotic exposure: A single-center prospective pilot study.

BACKGROUND: As the prevalence of antibiotic resistance is increasing, the effectiveness of traditional Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) therapies is gradually declining. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of tailored therapy (dual priming oligonucleotide [DPO]-based multiplex PCR) and previous antibiotic exposure survey predicting for antibiotic resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with H pylori infection who did not receive previous treatment were enrolled. The patients were divided into four groups (no resistance [NR] group, clarithromycin resistance [CLA-R] group, metronidazole-resistant [MET-R] group, and CLA- and MET-resistant [Dual-R] group) based on the results of dual priming oligonucleotide (DPO) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and previous antibiotic exposure survey, and they were treated with tailored therapy based on antibiotic susceptibility. RESULTS: Consecutive patients were distributed in the NR (n = 36, 70.6%), CLA-R (n = 9, 17.6%), and suspected MET-R (n = 6, 11.8%) group. The overall intention-to-treat/per-protocol eradication rate (ITT/PP) was 92.2%/94.0%. In the subgroup analysis, the ITT and PP of the NR, CLA-R, and MET-R groups were 94.4%/94.4%, 77.8%/87.5%, and 100.0%/100.0%, respectively. Total of 31 patients in all subgroups were evaluated for antibiotic resistance; five (16.1%), two (6.5%), and three (9.7%) participants showed CLA, MET, and dual resistance in culture-based susceptibility test. Compared with culture-based MIC test, the accuracy of DPO-based multiplex PCR in determining CLA resistance was 90.3%, while the accuracy of survey in determining MET resistance was only 77.4%. CONCLUSION: A tailored therapy based on DPO-PCR and history of previous antibiotic use is useful in clinical practice and well correlated with culture-based susceptibility test.

Identification and localization of epithelial progenitor cells in the vagina.

The purpose of this study was to identify and localize mucosal epithelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in the rat vagina. Rat vagina was obtained from f77emale Sprague-Dawley rats (12 weeks old, n = 20). To identify EPCs in vagina, we followed a single-cell isolation protocol and analyzed the number of cells staining positive for EPC markers by flow cytometry. The expression of EPC-specific markers (CD44, ERα, PR) was evaluated by immunofluorescence. As shown by confocal immunofluorescence, CD44/ERα double-labeled cells were mainly expressed in the basal cell and suprabasal cell layers. Immunofluorescent staining of CD44 was expressed in the plasma membrane of the vaginal epithelium, and ERα was expressed in the cytoplasm of the vaginal epithelium. The CD44/ERα double-positive cells were noted in the rat vagina by flow cytometric analysis. PR-labeled cells were localized in the intermediate layer of the epithelial space of the vagina. The results revealed the existence of EPCs in the vagina. These findings imply that resident EPCs may have a role in the regeneration of vaginal mucosa.

Association between Physical Fitness and Cardiometabolic Risk of Children and Adolescents in Korea.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the association between physical fitness and cardiometabolic health of Korean children and adolescents. METHODS: In total, 168 participants (89 boys and 79 girls) aged 10-16 years were recruited for the Intervention for Childhood and Adolescent Obesity via Activity and Nutrition Study in 2016. The subjects were categorized into two groups using the definition of metabolic syndrome by the International Diabetes Federation: metabolically unhealthy (with at least two of the five criteria) and healthy groups (with less than one criterion). Correlation analysis of the participants' general characteristics was performed. Odds ratios (ORs) of physical fitness for cardiometabolic risk were evaluated via logistic regression. RESULTS: Metabolically unhealthy children showed greater weight, height, and body mass index, higher Children's Depression Inventory score, and longer screen time than did the metabolically healthy children. Metabolically healthy children showed greater upper and lower extremity muscular strength than did the metabolically unhealthy children (P=0.04 and P<0.001, respectively). In the multiple logistic regression analysis, lower extremity muscle strength was inversely related to the clustered cardiometabolic risk of the children and adolescents with or without adjustment for confounders (OR, 4.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.87-9.97; OR, 7.64; 95% CI, 1.55- 37.74, respectively). CONCLUSION: Physical fitness, especially lower extremity muscle strength, is significantly inversely associated with individual and clustered cardiometabolic risks in Korean children and adolescents.

Effects of light-emitting diodes irradiation on human vascular endothelial cells.

Endothelial cell proliferation is a hallmark of angiogenesis and plays a key role in the process of tissue repair. Low-intensity (670 nm) laser irradiation influences endothelial cell proliferation in vitro. Light in the near infrared spectrum may have clinical applications in erectile dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of irradiation with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) at different wavelengths on human vascular endothelial cells in vitro. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were irradiated with LEDs at 410, 480, 595, and 630 nm in doses of 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 J/cm2. After 24 h of LED irradiation, effects on cell viability, nitric oxide (NO) secretion, and eNOS expression were assessed by using cell viability assays, Western blot, and real time-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The cell viability assay demonstrated that irradiation with LEDs at 630 nm significantly increased the proliferation of HUVECs. In addition, irradiation with LEDs at 630 nm was more effective in stimulating NO secretion and eNOS expression from HUVECs than irradiation with LEDs at 410, 480, and 595 nm. Irradiation with LEDs at 630 nm was effective for inducing cell proliferation, NO secretion, and eNOS expression in HUVECs. These results suggest that irradiation with LEDs at 630 nm may be a therapeutic strategy for vasculogenic erectile dysfunction.

Feasibility of Polycaprolactone Scaffolds Fabricated by Three-Dimensional Printing for Tissue Engineering of Tunica Albuginea.

PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility of a polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold fabricated by three-dimensional (3D) printing for tissue engineering applications for tunica albuginea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PCL scaffolds were fabricated by use of a 3D printing system. Two scaffolds were fabricated that differed in the architecture of the lay-down pattern: a 90°PCL scaffold and a 45°PCL scaffold. Mechanical properties were measured to compare tensile strength between the two scaffold types. The scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. The scaffolds were seeded with fibroblast cells, and the ability of these scaffolds to support the cells was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: The PCL scaffolds had well-structured shapes, regular arrays, and good interconnection in SEM images. The horizontal and vertical Young's modulus coefficients were 13 and 12 MPa for the 90°PCL scaffold and 19 and 21 MPa for the 45°PCL scaffold, respectively. Microscopy images revealed that human fibroblast cells covered the entire scaffold surface. Immunofluorescence staining of ER-TR7 confirmed that the fibroblast cells remained viable and proliferated throughout the time course of the culture. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study provides experimental evidence for the feasibility of 3D printing of PCL scaffolds for tissue engineering applications of tunica albuginea.