Bacillus-supplemented diet improves growth performance in Jeju native pigs by modulating myogenesis and adipogenesis.

Probiotics are used in pigs as nutritional supplements to improve health and induce the development of muscle and adipose tissue for enhancing growth performance and harvesting quality meat. In this study, we investigated the effects of Bacillus-based probiotic supplementation on the physiological and biochemical changes in Jeju native pigs (JNPs), including growth performance, backfat layers, blood parameters, serum IgG levels, myogenic and adipogenic markers, and expression of inflammatory markers. Average daily gain and feed efficiency were higher in the Bacillus diet group than in the basal diet group, while backfat thickness was lower in the Bacillus diet group than in the basal diet group. Blood biochemical parameters and hematological profiles were not altered significantly by Bacillus-based probiotic supplementation. Serum IgG concentration increased in the Bacillus diet group compared to the basal diet group. The Bacillus diet group showed increased adipogenic and myogenic markers expression in the longissimus dorsi muscle and adipose tissues. Overall, the data suggest that the Bacillus-based probiotics-supplemented diet regulates myogenesis and adipogenesis in JNPs and improves growth performance. We postulate that this may be due to the changes in the gut microbiota of pigs due to probiotic supplementation.

Polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis pathway determines ferroptosis sensitivity in gastric cancer.

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent regulated necrosis mediated by lipid peroxidation. Cancer cells survive under metabolic stress conditions by altering lipid metabolism, which may alter their sensitivity to ferroptosis. However, the association between lipid metabolism and ferroptosis is not completely understood. In this study, we found that the expression of elongation of very long-chain fatty acid protein 5 (ELOVL5) and fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1) is up-regulated in mesenchymal-type gastric cancer cells (GCs), leading to ferroptosis sensitization. In contrast, these enzymes are silenced by DNA methylation in intestinal-type GCs, rendering cells resistant to ferroptosis. Lipid profiling and isotope tracing analyses revealed that intestinal-type GCs are unable to generate arachidonic acid (AA) and adrenic acid (AdA) from linoleic acid. AA supplementation of intestinal-type GCs restores their sensitivity to ferroptosis. Based on these data, the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) biosynthesis pathway plays an essential role in ferroptosis; thus, this pathway potentially represents a marker for predicting the efficacy of ferroptosis-mediated cancer therapy.

Efficacy and safety of a novel topical agent for gallstone dissolution: 2-methoxy-6-methylpyridine.

BACKGROUND: Although methyl-tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is the only clinical topical agent for gallstone dissolution, its use is limited by its side effects mostly arising from a relatively low boiling point (55 °C). In this study, we developed the gallstone-dissolving compound containing an aromatic moiety, named 2-methoxy-6-methylpyridine (MMP) with higher boiling point (156 °C), and compared its effectiveness and toxicities with MTBE. METHODS: The dissolubility of MTBE and MMP in vitro was determined by placing human gallstones in glass containers with either solvent and, then, measuring their dry weights. Their dissolubility in vivo was determined by comparing the weights of solvent-treated gallstones and control (dimethyl sulfoxide)-treated gallstones, after directly injecting each solvent into the gallbladder in hamster models with cholesterol and pigmented gallstones. RESULTS: In the in vitro dissolution test, MMP demonstrated statistically higher dissolubility than did MTBE for cholesterol and pigmented gallstones (88.2% vs. 65.7%, 50.8% vs. 29.0%, respectively; P < 0.05). In the in vivo experiments, MMP exhibited 59.0% and 54.3% dissolubility for cholesterol and pigmented gallstones, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of MTBE (50.0% and 32.0%, respectively; P < 0.05). The immunohistochemical stains of gallbladder specimens obtained from the MMP-treated hamsters demonstrated that MMP did not significantly increase the expression of cleaved caspase 9 or significantly decrease the expression of proliferation cell nuclear antigen. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that MMP has better potential than does MTBE in dissolving gallstones, especially pigmented gallstones, while resulting in lesser toxicities.

Subcutaneous Immunotherapy in Patients with Fagales Pollen-Induced Oral Allergy Syndrome.

Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is the most common food allergy-related condition in adults. This study aimed to investigate whether subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) with Fagales pollen-containing extracts can improve the clinical symptoms of OAS in Korea. In total, 56 OAS patients were included: 19 subjects treated with SCIT, which included Fagales pollen extracts, and 37 not treated with immunotherapy (IT). We reviewed the patients' medical records and administered a telephone questionnaire at one point to assess baseline OAS features and changes in the patients' OAS and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC) symptoms after treatment. Only 12 patients who received SCIT and 15 patients that did not receive SCIT could report on changes in OAS symptoms after treatment because the other patients practiced strict avoidance of their culprit fruits and vegetables, and they could not respond to the status of OAS. SCIT reduced the severity of OAS (p=0.005). Nine of the 12 patients (75%) that received SCIT reported a more than 50% reduction in OAS symptoms. In contrast, only three of the 15 patients (20%) that did not receive IT reported more than a 50% reduction in OAS symptoms. SCIT also reduced the severity of ARC symptoms (p<0.001). The results indicate that SCIT with Fagales pollen-containing extracts is associated with improved OAS symptoms in Korea.

Metabolic Changes in Central Poststroke Pain Following Thalamic Intracerebral Hemorrhage: An 18F-FDG PET Study.

PURPOSE: Central poststroke pain (CPSP) is one of the most refractory neuropathic pains following stroke. Injury in the spinothalamic pathway appears crucial for the development of CPSP, but changes in activity in multiple brain regions may also be related. We investigated brain metabolic changes in patients with CPSP following thalamic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). METHODS: Forty-three patients with thalamic ICH were examined. Overall brain metabolism was measured with F-FDG PET. Images were analyzed with statistical parametric mapping (SPM12). Patients with CPSP (n = 20) were compared with patients without CPSP (n = 23). In addition, the association between regional brain metabolism and the severity of CPSP was investigated. RESULTS: In comparison to patients in the non-CPSP group, the CPSP group exhibited significant hypometabolism in the ipsilesional precentral, postcentral gyri, and the contralesional cuneus (Puncorrected < 0.001), whereas significant hypermetabolism was found in the medial dorsal nucleus of the contralesional thalamus (Puncorrected < 0.001). In addition, brain metabolism in the ipsilesional Crus I and Crus II of the cerebellum was positively correlated to pain intensity ratings (Puncorrected < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that an altered state of resting brain metabolism in various brain regions related to sensory processing and cognitive functioning may be involved in the underlying mechanism of CPSP following thalamic ICH.

Comparison of the Therapeutic Effects of a Sling Exercise and a Traditional Stabilizing Exercise for Clinical Lumbar Spinal Instability.

CONTEXT: Specific muscle-stabilization training can be relevant to patients with clinical spinal instability symptoms. The authors hypothesized that performing sling exercise using an elastic band in patients with clinical spinal instability would lead to pain reduction and improved lumbar spine stability. OBJECTIVE: To compare supervised sling exercise with an elastic band with traditional stabilizing exercise in chronic lower back pain (LBP) patients with clinical spinal instability. DESIGN: Randomized assessor-blind controlled trial. SETTING: University rehabilitation hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The participants were evaluated thrice at baseline, immediately after, and 3 mo after the last treatment session with the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups: a traditional trunk-muscle-stabilizing exercise group or a sling-exercise with elastic bands group. The participants in all treatment groups attended treatment twice a week for 12 wk. RESULTS: The NPRS at immediately and 3 mo after treatments showed significantly higher improvement in the sling-exercise with elastic bands group than in the traditional trunk-muscle-stabilizing exercise group, respectively (P < .05). The ODI at immediately and 3 mo after treatment showed a significantly higher improvement in the sling-exercise with elastic bands group than in the traditional trunk-muscle-stabilizing exercise group, respectively (P < .05). CONCLUSION: A sling exercise with elastic bands leads to a reduction in pain and disability compared with a traditional stabilizing exercise, although traditional stabilizing exercise also shows good results in chronic LBP patients with clinical spinal instability. A sling exercise with an elastic band could be a useful treatment for chronic LBP with clinical spinal instability.

Comparison of Singleplex Specific IgE Detection Immunoassays: ImmunoCAP Phadia 250 and Immulite 2000 3gAllergy.

BACKGROUND: The identification of clinically meaningful specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) is important for the diagnosis and management of allergic diseases. Various in vitro sIgE detection methods are available worldwide. Depending on the number of antigens that can be tested simultaneously, there are two representative methods: singleplex and multiplex. Singleplex sIgE detection is mainly provided by Thermo Fisher (ImmunoCAP) and Siemens (Immulite). This study aimed to compare the diagnostic agreement of two singleplex sIgE detection assays. METHODS: Sera from 209 Korean patients with allergic disease were used to compare the ImmunoCAP and Immulite assays with respect to the following allergens: inhalant allergens (Dermatophagoides farinae, cat and dog dander, oak, rye grass, mugwort, Alternaria, German cockroach) and food allergens (hen's egg white, cow's milk, wheat, peanut, soybean, and shrimp). Data from 902 paired comparison tests were included for comparisons. Qualitative, semi-quantitative, and quantitative comparisons were performed using statistical analyses. RESULTS: In qualitative comparisons, the positivity and negativity agreements ranged from 75% (wheat, shrimp) to 96% (Alternaria). Class consistency (classes 0-6) was well matched. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients for all allergens except shrimp were over 0.7. In quantitative comparisons, all allergens excluding shrimp showed >0.7 intra-class correlation coefficients. CONCLUSIONS: The ImmunoCAP and Immulite systems showed similar performances. However, clinicians should consider fundamental methodological differences between the assays.

Biosynthesized gold and silver nanoparticles by aqueous fruit extract of Chaenomeles sinensis and screening of their biomedical activities.

The design of mild and non-toxic synthesis of metallic nanoparticles is a topical subject in the nanotechnology field. The objective of this present study is to screen the bioactivity of biosynthesized nanoparticles by aqueous fruit extract of Chaenomeles sinensis. The reducing and stabilizing ability of C. sinensis to fabricate gold (Cs-AuNps) and silver (Cs-AgNps) nanoparticles was confirmed by UV-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy at 562 nm and 477 nm, respectively. The field-emission transmission electron microscopy (FE-TEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) verify the nano-scale morphology and crystallinity of Cs-AuNps (20-40 nm) and Cs-AgNps (5-20 nm). Furthermore, we evaluated the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging capacity, antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells. The results showed that Cs-AuNps (IC50: 725.93 µg/mL) displayed superior inhibitory activities on DPPH than Cs-AuNps. The biosynthesized Cs-AuNps successfully inhibited the growth of pathogenic bacteria S. aureus (ATCC 6538) and E. coli (BL21). The cytotoxic effect of Cs-AuNps and Cs-AgNps was evaluated in murine macrophage (RAW264.7) and human breast cancer cell lines (MCF7) by MTT assay. Thus, the present study explores the biomedical applications of gold and silver nanoparticles synthesized by C. sinensis.

Characteristics of Myofascial Pain Syndrome of the Infraspinatus Muscle.

OBJECTIVE: To report the characteristics of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in the infraspinatus muscle and evaluate the therapeutic effect of trigger-point injections. METHODS: Medical records of 297 patients (221 women; age, 53.9±11.3 years) with MTrPs in the infraspinatus muscle were reviewed retrospectively. Because there were 83 patients with MTrPs in both infraspinatus muscles, the characteristics of total 380 infraspinatus muscles with MTrPs (214 one side, 83 both sides) were investigated. Specific characteristics collected included chief complaint area, referred pain pattern, the number of local twitch responses, and distribution of MTrPs in the muscle. For statistical analysis, the paired t-test was used to compare a visual analogue scale (VAS) before and 2 weeks after the first injection. RESULTS: The most common chief complaint area of MTrPs in the infraspinatus muscle was the scapular area. The most common pattern of referred pain was the anterolateral aspect of the arm (above the elbow). Active MTrPs were multiple rather than single in the infraspinatus muscle. MTrPs were frequently in the center of the muscle. Trigger-point injection of the infraspinatus muscle significantly decreased the pain intensity. Mean VAS score decreased significantly after the first injection compared to the baseline (7.11 vs. 3.74; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Characteristics of MTrPs and the therapeutic effects of trigger-point injections of the infraspinatus muscle were assessed. These findings could provide clinicians with useful information in diagnosing and treating myofascial pain syndrome of the infraspinatus muscle.

The minimal effective dose of cis-9-cetylmyristoleate (CMO) in persons presenting with knee joint pain: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Nutraceuticals containing cis-9-cetylmyristoleate (CMO) are used to improve knee pain despite the lack of placebo-controlled studies in humans. The aim of the study was to explore the minimal effective dose of CMO for relieving knee joint pain. METHODS: Twenty-eight subjects with mild degree arthritic knee joint pain were randomized into 4 groups; groups A, B, and C that contained 100%, 80%, and 62.4% of fatty acid component with 12.5% of CMO, and control group D (starch 100%). The pain intensity, functional disability, and the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) were assessed for a 12-week ingestion period. RESULTS: Compared to group D (n = 6), there were significant differences in pain score in group A (n = 7, P = 0.005) and group C (n = 7, P = 0.012), but not significant in group B (n = 6, P = 0.180). Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis (WOMAC) score decreased significantly in groups A and C. The PGIC was positive in the majority (>50%) in groups A, B, and C, whereas negative in 83.3% in group D (control). CONCLUSION: CMO is effective in alleviating knee pain in persons with mild degree arthritis of the knee joint, at an effective dose of 62.4%.

An exploratory study on the effectiveness of "Calmare therapy" in patients with cancer-related neuropathic pain: A pilot study.

PURPOSE: Calmare therapy (CT) has been suggested as a novel treatment for managing chronic pain. Recently, it was reported to show a positive therapeutic outcome for managing neuropathic pain condition. We performed an exploratory prospective study on the effectiveness of CT in patients with various types of cancer-related neuropathic pain (CNP). METHOD: We performed an open-labeled, single-arm, exploratory study on the effectiveness of CT in patients with various types of cancer-related neuropathic pain (CNP). The primary endpoint was a comparison of the 11-point Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) pain score at one month with the baseline score in each patient. Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and consumption of opioid were also evaluated during follow-up period. RESULTS: CT significantly decreased NRS pain score at one month from baseline (p < 0.001) in 20 patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (n = 6), metastatic bone pain (n = 7), and post-surgical neuropathic pain (n = 7). It also improved overall BPI scores, decreased consumption of rescue opioid (p = 0.050), and was found satisfactory by a half of patients (n = 10, 50.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results suggest that CT may be considered for cancer patients with various types of CNP. Large studies are necessary to confirm our findings and ascertain which additional CNP show positive response to CT.

Instant rice made from white and pigmented giant embryonic rice reduces lipid levels and body weight in high fat diet-fed mice.

PROBLEM: With the growing health problem on obesity and its associated metabolic disorders, functional foods with hypolipidemic and body fat-lowering effects are greatly needed. The effects of instant rice made from a combination of pigmented giant embryonic rice (Keunnunjami) and white rice, in comparison with those of instant non-pigmented giant embryonic brown rice and instant ordinary brown rice, on the lipid metabolism and body weight in mice under high fat diet condition were investigated. METHODS: Male C57BL/6N mice (n=48) were given experimental diets for seven weeks: normal control (NC), high fat (HF), and HF supplemented with instant normal brown rice (HF-NB), non-pigmented giant embryonic brown rice (HF-GB), and white rice with 8% Keununnjami (HF-KJ8) or 18% Keunnunjami (HF-KJ18). Their body weight gain, plasma lipid profile, adipokine level, lipid-regulating enzymes activities, and mRNA expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) were determined. RESULTS: At the end of the experimental period, the HF mice exhibited significantly higher body weight and fat, plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol levels, and atherogenic index and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration than the NC group. However, diet supplementation of instant rice counteracted this high fat-induced body weight gain and hyperlipidemia through inhibition of lipogenesis and adipokine production and alteration of PPARs expressions. CONCLUSION: The instant KJ8 and KJ18 rice showed generally similar hypolipidemic and body weight-lowering effects to instant NB and GB rice. These findings demonstrate that instant white rice with added 8% Keunnunjami may be beneficial as functional food with strong hypolipidemic and anti-obesity properties.

Gecko proteins induce the apoptosis of bladder cancer 5637 cells by inhibiting Akt and activating the intrinsic caspase cascade.

Gecko proteins have long been used as anti-tumor agents in oriental medicine, without any scientific background. Although anti-tumor effects of Gecko proteins on several cancers were recently reported, their effect on bladder cancer has not been investigated. Thus, we explored the anti-tumor effect of Gecko proteins and its cellular mechanisms in human bladder cancer 5637 cells. Gecko proteins significantly reduced the viability of 5637 cells without any cytotoxic effect on normal cells. These proteins increased the Annexin-V staining and the amount of condensed chromatin, demonstrating that the Gecko proteinsinduced cell death was caused by apoptosis. Gecko proteins suppressed Akt activation, and the overexpression of constitutively active form of myristoylated Akt prevented Gecko proteins-induced death of 5637 cells. Furthermore, Gecko proteins activated caspase 9 and caspase 3/7. Taken together, our data demonstrated that Gecko proteins suppressed the Akt pathway and activated the intrinsic caspase pathway, leading to the apoptosis of bladder cancer cells. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(9): 531-536].

Ultrasound-guided myofascial trigger point injection into brachialis muscle for rotator cuff disease patients with upper arm pain: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of trigger point injection into brachialis muscle for rotator cuff disease patients with upper arm pain. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, and single-blinded clinical pilot trial was performed at university rehabilitation hospital. Twenty-one patients clinically diagnosed with rotator cuff disease suspected of having brachialis myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) were randomly allocated into two groups. Effect of ultrasound (US)-guided trigger point injection (n=11) and oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (n=10) was compared by visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: US-guided trigger point injection of brachialis muscle resulted in excellent outcome compared to the oral NSAID group. Mean VAS scores decreased significantly after 2 weeks of treatment compared to the baseline in both groups (7.3 vs. 4.5 in the injection group and 7.4 vs. 5.9 in the oral group). The decrease of the VAS score caused by injection (ДVAS=-2.8) was significantly larger than caused by oral NSAID (ДVAS=-1.5) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In patients with rotator cuff disease, US-guided trigger point injection of the brachialis muscle is safe and effective for both diagnosis and treatment when the cause of pain is suspected to be originated from the muscle.

Influence of aging process on the bioactive components and antioxidant activity of ginseng (Panax ginseng L.).

The effects of aging process on the ginsenosides and antioxidant activity of ginseng was investigated. Fresh ginseng roots were aged in oven at 70 or 80 °C for 7, 14, 21, or 28 d. Their ginsenosides, phenolics, and antioxidant activity were analyzed. Ginseng aged at 80 °C for 14 d exhibited the highest amounts of total saponins and phenolics. It also showed markedly higher free radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and ferrous ion chelating ability than the other aged ginsengs. The ginsenosides Rb1 , Rb3 , Rg3 , Re, Rg1 , and Rg2 were generated during aging. The Rg2 was the most abundant ginsenoside in aged ginseng, with samples treated at 80 °C for 14 d having the highest amount. These findings provide the first evidence that aging, particularly at 80 °C for 14 d, could increase the bioactive compounds, indicating that this heating process may be useful in enhancing the biological activity of ginseng. PRACTICALAPPLICATION: Ginseng has long been recognized for its various health beneficial effects. The present study showed that aging of ginseng roots at 80 °C for 14 d substantially increased the amount of bioactive compounds ginsenosides and phenolics and enhanced the antioxidant activity. The food industry could use the aging process to improve the functional quality of ginseng.

Application of ultrasound-guided trigger point injection for myofascial trigger points in the subscapularis and pectoralis muscles to post-mastectomy patients: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the therapeutic effectiveness of ultrasound (US)-guided trigger point injection for myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in the internal rotator muscles of the shoulder in post-mastectomy patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This pilot study was a non-controlled, prospective, clinical trial. Nineteen post-mastectomy patients with a diagnosis of at least one active MTrP in the subscapularis and/or pectoralis muscles were included. We performed trigger point injections into the subscapularis muscle deep behind the scapula as well as the pectoralis muscle for diagnostic and therapeutic purpose by the newly developed US-guided method. RESULTS: Visual analogue scale and range of motion of the shoulder for external rotation and of abduction showed significant improvement immediately after the first injection and 3 months after the last injection compared with baseline (p<0.05 for both). Duration from onset to surgery and duration of myofascial pain syndrome in the good responder group were significantly shorter than in the bad responder group (p<0.05). Patients did not report any complications related to the procedure or serious adverse events attributable to the treatment. CONCLUSION: In post-mastectomy patients with shoulder pain, US-guided trigger point injections of the subscapularis and/or pectoralis muscles are effective for both diagnosis and treatment when the cause of shoulder pain is suspected to originate from active MTrPs in these muscles, particularly, the subscapularis.

Relationships between Pathological Patterns and Quality of Life: Pathway Analysis.

Purpose. The purpose of our study was to examine the relationships between pathological patterns and self-rated quality of life (QoL). Methods. A total of 426 Korean subjects participated in this study (male : female = 154 : 272). The subjects were asked to complete Yin Deficiency (YD), Qi Deficiency (QD), Food Stagnation (FS), Blood Stasis (BS), Phlegm, and Seven Emotions Impairment (SEI) pattern Questionnaires and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). We formed a pathway model consisting of pathological patterns and QoL questionnaire scores and examined which pathological patterns resulted in decreased QoL using path analysis. Results. Our pathway model had satisfactory fitness levels (GFI = 0.975, NFI = 0.984, and CFI = 0.984) and showed that Phlegm and SEI patterns directly resulted in decreased QoL, whereas QD, YD, FD, and BS indirectly resulted in decreased QoL. The pathway model suggested that the severity or stage of decreased QoL may be estimated by pathological patterns: QD and YD patterns are associated with the early stage; FS and BS patterns are associated with the middle stage; Phlegm and SEI are associated with the later stage of decreased QoL. Conclusion. Our results suggest that pathological patterns directly or indirectly affect decreases in QoL.

Comparison of the therapeutic effects of ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma injection and dry needling in rotator cuff disease: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of platelet-rich plasma injection with those of dry needling on shoulder pain and function in patients with rotator cuff disease. DESIGN: A single-centre, prospective, randomized, double-blinded, controlled study. SETTING: University rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-nine patients with a supraspinatus tendon lesion (tendinosis or a partial tear less than 1.0 cm, but not a complete tear) who met the inclusion criteria recruited between June 2010 and February 2011. INTERVENTION: Two dry needling procedures in the control group and two platelet-rich plasma injections in the experimental group were applied to the affected shoulder at four-week intervals using ultrasound guidance. MEASUREMENTS: The Shoulder Pain and Disability Index, passive range of motion of the shoulder, a physician global rating scale at the six-month follow-up, adverse effects monitoring and an ultrasound measurement were used as outcome measures. RESULTS: The clinical effect of the platelet-rich plasma injection was superior to the dry needling from six weeks to six months after initial injection (P < 0.05). At six months the mean Shoulder Pain and Disability Index was 17.7 ± 3.7 in the platelet-rich plasma group versus 29.5 ± 3.8 in the dry needling group (P < 0.05). No severe adverse effects were observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous platelet-rich plasma injections lead to a progressive reduction in the pain and disability when compared to dry needling. This benefit is certainly still present at six months after treatment. These findings suggest that treatment with platelet-rich plasma injections is safe and useful for rotator cuff disease.

Usefulness of a myofascial trigger point injection for groin pain in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effectiveness of trigger point injection into the muscles around the groin in patients with clinically diagnosed chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). DESIGN: Prospective, unicenter trial. SETTING: University rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=21) with clinically diagnosed CP/CPPS who are suspected of having myofascial pain syndrome. INTERVENTION: Ultrasound-guided trigger point injection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual analog scale (VAS), National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) score, and injection-associated complications. RESULTS: Ultrasound (US)-guided trigger point injection of the iliopsoas, hip adductor, and lower abdominal muscles resulted in excellent outcomes. The mean values of the NIH-CPSI score decreased significantly from 20.2 pretreatment to 12.5 after the first treatment (P<.05). The mean values of VAS decreased significantly from 6.3 pretreatment to 2.9 after the first treatment (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CP/CPPS, US-guided trigger point injections of the iliopsoas, hip adductor, and abdominal muscles are safe and effective for both diagnosis and treatment when the cause of groin pain is suspected to originate from muscles. In particular, the iliopsoas muscle was affected in all patients in this study.

Effects of kimchi supplementation on blood pressure and cardiac hypertrophy with varying sodium content in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

We tested the effects of dietary intake of freeze-dried Korean traditional fermented cabbage (generally known as kimchi) with varying amounts of sodium on blood pressure and cardiac hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY), as a control group, received a regular AIN-76 diet, and the SHRs were divided into four groups. The SHR group was fed a regular diet without kimchi supplementation, the SHR-L group was fed the regular diet supplemented with low sodium kimchi containing 1.4% salt by wet weight, which was provided in a freeze-dried form, the SHR-M group was supplemented with medium levels of sodium kimchi containing 2.4% salt, and the SHR-H group was supplemented with high sodium kimchi containing 3.0% salt. Blood pressure was measured over 6 weeks, and cardiac hypertrophy was examined by measuring heart and left ventricle weights and cardiac histology. SHRs showed higher blood pressure compared to that in WKY rats, which was further elevated by consuming high sodium containing kimchi but was not influenced by supplementing with low sodium kimchi. None of the SHR groups showed significant differences in cardiac and left ventricular mass or cardiomyocyte size. Levels of serum biochemical parameters, including blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, sodium, and potassium were not different among the groups. Elevations in serum levels of aldosterone in SHR rats decreased in the low sodium kimchi group. These results suggest that consuming low sodium kimchi may not adversely affect blood pressure and cardiac function even under a hypertensive condition.