Perinatal outcome of fetuses with congenital high airway obstruction syndrome: a single-center experience

Objective@#To report our experience with management of fetuses with congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS). @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed the cases of fetuses who were prenatally diagnosed and postnatally confirmed with CHAOS between 2010 and 2019 at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. @*Results@#Of 13 fetuses prenatally diagnosed with CHAOS, 7 were lost to follow-up and 6 were postnatally confirmed as having CHAOS. All fetuses, except one were delivered via cesarean section with an ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure. Two patients had coexisting congenital heart diseases requiring several cardiac surgeries following birth. Both of these patients demonstrated developmental delay; however, the remaining 4 had a normal development except for expressive language. Two infants died of respiratory complications, and the remaining 4 were alive at the end of the follow-up period. All 4 live patients underwent tracheostomy with planned reconstruction surgery. Three children are now able to phonate, and 1 can maintain a conservation. @*Conclusion@#The proper management of CHAOS using the EXIT procedure results in high survival and low hypoxemia-induced complication rates. Therefore, an accurate prenatal diagnosis is necessary for an appropriate perinatal management.

Individual and regional factors associated with suicidal ideation among Korean elderly: a multilevel analysis of the Korea Community Health Survey / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the individual and regional characteristics that influence suicidal ideation among the Korean elderly population. METHODS: Using data collected from the 2013 Korea Community Health Survey, a multilevel analysis was performed to establish an understanding of individual behavioral patterns and regional influences on suicidal ideation. RESULTS: Among the 77,407 individuals sampled, 11,236 (14.5%) elderly people over 60 years of age experienced suicidal ideation. Among individual factors, age, frequency of communication with friends, religious activity, social activity, leisure activity, trust in neighbors, subjective stress level, depressive symptoms, and subjective health status were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. The results showed that the lower the regional deprivation level, the higher the suicidal ideation odds ratio. In terms of regional size, the most significant effects were found in rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that suicidal ideation in the elderly is associated with community factors, such as the regional deprivation index, as well as personal factors.

Individual and regional factors associated with suicidal ideation among Korean elderly: a multilevel analysis of the Korea Community Health Survey / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the individual and regional characteristics that influence suicidal ideation among the Korean elderly population.METHODS: Using data collected from the 2013 Korea Community Health Survey, a multilevel analysis was performed to establish an understanding of individual behavioral patterns and regional influences on suicidal ideation.RESULTS: Among the 77,407 individuals sampled, 11,236 (14.5%) elderly people over 60 years of age experienced suicidal ideation. Among individual factors, age, frequency of communication with friends, religious activity, social activity, leisure activity, trust in neighbors, subjective stress level, depressive symptoms, and subjective health status were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. The results showed that the lower the regional deprivation level, the higher the suicidal ideation odds ratio. In terms of regional size, the most significant effects were found in rural areas.CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that suicidal ideation in the elderly is associated with community factors, such as the regional deprivation index, as well as personal factors.

Individual and regional factors associated with suicidal ideation among Korean elderly: a multilevel analysis of the Korea Community Health Survey / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES@#This study aimed to identify the individual and regional characteristics that influence suicidal ideation among the Korean elderly population.@*METHODS@#Using data collected from the 2013 Korea Community Health Survey, a multilevel analysis was performed to establish an understanding of individual behavioral patterns and regional influences on suicidal ideation.@*RESULTS@#Among the 77,407 individuals sampled, 11,236 (14.5%) elderly people over 60 years of age experienced suicidal ideation. Among individual factors, age, frequency of communication with friends, religious activity, social activity, leisure activity, trust in neighbors, subjective stress level, depressive symptoms, and subjective health status were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. The results showed that the lower the regional deprivation level, the higher the suicidal ideation odds ratio. In terms of regional size, the most significant effects were found in rural areas.@*CONCLUSIONS@#This study suggested that suicidal ideation in the elderly is associated with community factors, such as the regional deprivation index, as well as personal factors.

Toxic effects of methylmercury, arsanilic acid and danofloxacin on the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into neural cells

This study was performed to assess the neurotoxic effects of methylmercury, arsanilic acid and danofloxacin by quantification of neural-specific proteins in vitro. Quantitation of the protein markers during 14 days of differentiation indicated that the mouse ESCs were completely differentiated into neural cells by Day 8. The cells were treated with non-cytotoxic concentrations of three chemicals during differentiation. Low levels of exposure to methylmercury decreased the expression of GABAA-R and Nestin during the differentiating stage, and Nestin during the differentiated stage. In contrast, GFAP, Tuj1, and MAP2 expression was affected only by relatively high doses during both stages. Arsanilic acid affected the levels of GABA(A)-R and GFAP during the differentiated stage while the changes of Nestin and Tuj1 were greater during the differentiating stage. For the neural markers (except Nestin) expressed during both stages, danofloxacin affected protein levels at lower concentrations in the differentiated stage than the differentiating stage. Acetylcholinesterase activity was inhibited by relatively low concentrations of methylmercury and arsanilic acid during the differentiating stage while this activity was inhibited only by more than 40 microM of danofloxacin in the differentiated stage. Our results provide useful information about the different toxicities of chemicals and the impact on neural development.

Kidney Toxicity Induced by 13 Weeks Exposure to the Fruiting Body of Paecilomyces sinclairii in Rats

Paecilomyces sinclairiis (PS) is known as a functional food or human health supplement. However concerns have been raised about its kidney toxicity. This study was performed to investigate the kidney toxicity of PS by 13 week-oral administration to rats. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, and kidney damage biomarkers including beta-2-microglobulin (beta2m), glutathione S-transferase alpha (GST-alpha), kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), calbindin, clusterin, cystatin C, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and osteopontin were measured during or after the treatment of PS. BUN, creatinine and kidney damage biomarkers in serum were not changed by PS. However, kidney cell karyomegaly and tubular hypertrophy were observed dose-dependently with higher severity in males. KIM-1, TIMP-1 and osteopontin in kidney and urine were increased dose dependently in male or at the highest dose in female rats. Increased urinary osteopontin by PS was not recovered at 2 weeks of post-exposure in both genders. Cystatin C in kidney was decreased at all treatment groups but inversely increased in urine. The changes in kidney damage biomarkers were more remarkable in male than female rats. These data indicate that the PS may provoke renal cell damage and glomerular filtration dysfunction in rats with histopathological lesions and change of kidney damage biomarkers in kidney or urine. Kidney and urinary KIM-1 and cystatin C were the most marked indicators, while kidney weight, BUN and creatinine and kidney damage biomarkers in serum were not influenced.

Zearalenone Affects Immune-Related Parameters in Lymphoid Organs and Serum of Rats Vaccinated with Porcine Parvovirus Vaccine

Rats were administered zearalenone (ZEA) via gavage at dosages of 0, 1, 5, and 30 mg/kg for 36 days. On treatment day 8, inactivated porcine parvovirus vaccine (Vac) was injected intraperitoneally. Antibody production against porcine parvovirus was then measured as a function of ZEA treatment. Compared to the vaccine alone, ZEA treatment, with or without Vac, decreased the serum level of IgG. The level of IgM decreased in all ZEA groups at day 22, but the decrease was sustained only in the medium-dose ZEA group at day 36. The level of IgA was unchanged in the Vac only and ZEA groups at day 22, but was decreased in the 5 mg/kg ZEA plus Vac group compared to the Vac only group at day 36. The level of IgE was decreased by all doses of ZEA at day 22, but was unaffected in ZEA plus Vac groups compared to the Vac only group. The levels of IL-1 in the thymus and spleen; INF-gamma in serum; IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10 in the thymus; and IL-10 and IFN-gamma in the spleen decreased after ZEA administration. Furthermore, the levels of IL-1beta in the spleen and mesenteric lymph node, IL-1beta in the thymus, IL-2 in the thymus and spleen, IL-6 in the thymus, IL-10 and IFN-gamma in the spleen, and GM-CSF and TNF-alpha in the thymus decreased after vaccination in rats exposed to ZEA. In conclusion, these results suggest that ZEA exposure via drinking water can cause an immunosuppressive effect by decreasing immunoglobulins in serum and cytokines in lymphoid organs.

Antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic effect of methanol extracts of Petasites japonicus Maxim leaves

The methanol extract from the leaves of Petasites japonicus Maxim (PJ) was studied for its (anti-)mutagenic effect with the SOS chromotest and reverse mutation assay. The (anti-)carcinogenic effects were evaluated by the cytotoxicity on human cancer line cells and by the function and the expression of gap junctions in rat liver epithelial cell. PJ extracts significantly decreased spontaneous beta-galactosidase activity and beta-galactosidase activity induced by a mutagen, ICR, in Salmonella (S.) typhimurium TA 1535/pSK 1002. All doses of the extract (0.08-100 mg/plate) decreased the reversion frequency induced by benzo (alpha)pyrene (BaP) in S. typhimurium TA 98. It decreased not only the spontaneous reversion frequency but also that induced by BaP in S. typhimurium TA 100. PJ extract showed greater cytotoxic effects on human stomach, colon and uterus cancer cells than on other cancer cell types and normal rat liver epithelial cells. Dye transfers though gap junctions were significantly increased by PJ extracts at concentrations greater than 200 microg/mL and the inhibition of dye transfer by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorobol-13-acetate (TPA) was obstructed in all concentrations of PJ. PJ significantly increased the numbers of gap junction protein connexin 43, and increased the protein expression decreased by TPA in a dose-dependent manner. Based on these findings, PJ is suggested to contain antimutagenic and anticarcionogenic compounds.

Plasma haptoglobin and immunoglobulins as diagnostic indicators of deoxynivalenol intoxication

This study aimed to discover potential biomarkers for dioxynivalenol (DON) intoxication. B6C3F1 male mice were rally exposed to 0.83, 2.5 and 7.5 mg/kg body weight (bw) DON for 8 days and the differential protein expressions in their blood plasma were determined by SELDI - Time-of-Flight/Mass Spectrometry (TOF/MS) and the immunoglobulins (Igs) G, A, M and E in the serum were investigated. 11.7 kDa protein was significantly highly expressed according to DON administration and this protein was purified by employing a methyl ceramic HyperD F column with using optimization buffer for adsorption and desorption. The purified protein was identified as a haptoglobin precursor by peptide mapping with using LC/Q-TOF/MS and MALDI-TOF/MS and this was confirmed by western blotting and ELISA. IgG and IgM in serum were decreased in a dose-dependent manner and IgA was decreased at 7.5 mg/kg bw DON administration, but the IgE level was not changed. To compare the expressions of haptoglobin and the Igs patterns between aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), zearalenone (ZEA) and DON intoxications, rats were orally administered with AFB1 1.0, ZEA 240 and DON 7.5 mg/kg bw for 8 days. Haptoglobin was increased only at DON 7.5 mg/kg bw, while it was slightly decreased at ZEA 240 mg/kg bw and it was not detected at all at AFB1 1.0 mg/kg bw. IgG and IgA were decreased by DON, but IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE were all increased by AFB1. No changes were observed by ZEA administration. These results show that plasma haptoglobin could be a diagnostic biomarker for DON intoxication when this is combined with examining the serum Igs.

Changes of biomarkers with oral exposure to benzo(a)pyrene, phenanthrene and pyrene in rats

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants present in air and food. Among PAHs, benzo(a)pyrene(BaP), phenanthrene (PH) and pyrene (PY) are considered to be important for their toxicity or abundance. To investigate the changes of biomarkers after PAH exposure, rats were treated with BaP (150 microgram/kg) alone or with PH (4,300 microgram/kg) and PY (2,700 microgram/kg) (BPP group) by oral gavage once per day for 30 days. 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity in liver microsomal fraction was increased in only BaP groups. The highest concentration (34.5 ng/g) of BaP, was found in muscle of rats treated with BaP alone at 20 days of treatment; it was 23.6 ng/g in BPP treated rats at 30 days of treatment. The highest PH concentration was 47.1 ng/g in muscle and 118.8 ng/g in fat, and for PY it was 29.7 ng/g in muscle and 219.9 ng/g in fat, in BPP groups. In urine, 114-161 ng/ml 3-OH-PH was found, while PH was 41-69 ng/ml during treatment. 201-263 ng/ml 1-OH-PY was found, while PH was 9-17 ng/ml in urine. The level of PY, PH and their metabolites in urine was rapidly decreased after withdrawal of treatment. This study suggest that 1-OH-PY in urine is a sensitive biomarker for PAHs; it was the most highly detected marker among the three PAHs and their metabolites evaluated during the exposure period and for 14 days after withdrawal.