Impact of inhalation exposure to cigarette smoke on the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension primed by monocrotaline in rats.

Extensive, long-term exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) was recently suggested to be a risk factor for pulmonary hypertension, although further validation is required. The vascular effects of CS share similarities with the etiology of pulmonary hypertension, including vascular inflammation and remodeling. Thus, we examined the influence of CS exposure on the pathogenesis of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary hypertension, hypothesizing that smoking might accelerate the development of primed pulmonary hypertension. CS was generated from 3R4F reference cigarettes, and rats were exposed to CS by inhalation at total particulate matter concentrations of 100-300 µg/L for 4 h/day, 7 days/week for 4 weeks. Following 1 week of initial exposure, rats received 60 mg/kg MCT and were sacrificed and analyzed after an additional 3 weeks of exposure. MCT induced hypertrophy in pulmonary arterioles and increased the Fulton index, a measure of right ventricular hypertrophy. Additional CS exposure exacerbated arteriolar hypertrophy but did not further elevate the Fulton index. No significant alterations were observed in levels of endothelin-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor, or in hematological and serum biochemical parameters. Short-term inhalation exposure to CS exacerbated arteriolar hypertrophy in the lung, although this effect did not directly aggravate the overworked heart under the current experimental conditions.

Genotoxicity evaluation of self-assembled-micelle inhibitory RNA-targeting amphiregulin (SAMiRNA-AREG), a novel siRNA nanoparticle for the treatment of fibrotic disease.

The self-assembled-micelle inhibitory RNA-targeting amphiregulin (SAMiRNA-AREG) is a novel small-interfering RNA (siRNA) nanoparticle that is used for treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. We investigated the potential genotoxicity of SAMiRNA-AREG based on the guidelines published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In the bacterial reverse mutation assay (Ames test), SAMiRNA-AREG did not induce mutations in Salmonella typhimurium TA100, TA1535, TA98, and TA1537 and Escherichia coli WP2uvrA at concentrations of up to 3000 µg/plate with or without metabolic activation. The SAMiRNA-AREG (concentrations up to 500 µg/mL) did not induce chromosomal aberrations in cultured Chinese hamster lung cells with or without metabolic activation. In the in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay, the SAMiRNA-AREG (concentrations up to 300 mg/kg body weight) did not affect the proportions of polychromatic erythrocytes and total erythrocytes, nor did it increase the number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in ICR mice. Collectively, these results suggest that SAMiRNA-AREG is safe with regard to genotoxicity such as mutagenesis or clastogenesis under the present experimental conditions. These results might support the safety of SAMiRNA-AREG as a potential therapeutic agent for pharmaceutical development.

Comprehensive Targeted Metabolomic Study in the Lung, Plasma, and Urine of PPE/LPS-Induced COPD Mice Model.

(1) Background: Progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) leads to irreversible lung damage and inflammatory responses; however, biomarker discovery for monitoring of COPD progression remains challenging. (2) Methods: This study evaluated the metabolic mechanisms and potential biomarkers of COPD through the integrated analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of metabolic changes in lung, plasma, and urine, and changes in morphological characteristics and pulmonary function in a model of PPE/LPS-induced COPD exacerbation. (3) Results: Metabolic changes in the lungs were evaluated as metabolic reprogramming to counteract the changes caused by the onset of COPD. In plasma, several combinations of phenylalanine, 3-methylhistidine, and polyunsaturated fatty acids have been proposed as potential biomarkers; the α-aminobutyric acid/histidine ratio has also been reported, which is a novel candidate biomarker for COPD. In urine, a combination of succinic acid, isocitric acid, and pyruvic acid has been proposed as a potential biomarker. (4) Conclusions: This study proposed potential biomarkers in plasma and urine that reflect altered lung metabolism in COPD, concurrently with the evaluation of the COPD exacerbation model induced by PPE plus LPS administration. Therefore, understanding these integrative mechanisms provides new insights into the diagnosis, treatment, and severity assessment of COPD.

Preferred Migration of Mitochondria toward Cells and Tissues with Mitochondrial Damage.

Mitochondria are organelles that play a vital role in cellular survival by supplying ATP and metabolic substrates via oxidative phosphorylation and the Krebs cycle. Hence, mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to many human diseases, including metabolic syndromes, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and aging. Mitochondrial transfer between cells has been shown to occur naturally, and mitochondrial transplantation is beneficial for treating mitochondrial dysfunction. In this study, the migration of mitochondria was tracked in vitro and in vivo using mitochondria conjugated with green fluorescent protein (MTGFP). When MTGFP were used in a coculture model, they were selectively internalized into lung fibroblasts, and this selectivity depended on the mitochondrial functional states of the receiving fibroblasts. Compared with MTGFP injected intravenously into normal mice, MTGFP injected into bleomycin-induced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis model mice localized more abundantly in the lung tissue, indicating that mitochondrial homing to injured tissue occurred. This study shows for the first time that exogenous mitochondria are preferentially trafficked to cells and tissues in which mitochondria are damaged, which has implications for the delivery of therapeutic agents to injured or diseased sites.

Effects of a Patient Experience-Based Virtual Reality Blended Learning Program on Nursing Students.

When provided with opportunities to view the world from the patients' perspective, nursing students can experience the same practical occurrences and feelings that patients encounter, consequently becoming more aware of their discomfort and pain. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the patient experience virtual reality blended learning program developed for nursing students. This study is significant in that it presents a program that enables nursing students to not only experience being perioperative patients themselves but also experience their conditions in places other than hospitals, which are generally used as training locations. The analytical results of this study indicated that nursing students who virtually experienced the conditions of perioperative patients through virtual reality blended learning showed increased levels of empathy, positive attitudes toward patient safety treatment, confidence in nursing care, and clinical skill performance. The developed program in this study blended various teaching methods with a virtual reality platform to help junior nursing students with practical and effective perioperative training increase their levels of empathy by simulating the experiences and perspectives of perioperative patients.

Four-Week Repeated Intravenous Dose Toxicity of Self-Assembled-Micelle Inhibitory RNA-Targeting Amphiregulin in Mice.

The present study investigated the potential subchronic toxicity of self-assembled-micelle inhibitory RNA-targeting amphiregulin (SAMiRNA-AREG) in mice. The test reagent was administered once-daily by intravenous injection for 4 weeks at 0, 100, 200, or 300 mg/kg/day doses. Additional recovery groups (vehicle control and high dose groups) were observed for a 2-week recovery period. During the test period, mortality, clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, ophthalmology, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, gross pathology, organ weight, and histopathology were examined. An increase in the percentages of basophil and large unstained cells was observed in the 200 and 300 mg/kg/day groups of both sexes. In addition, the absolute and relative weights of the spleen were higher in males given 300 mg/kg/day relative to the concurrent controls. However, these findings were considered of no toxicological significance because the changes were minimal, were not accompanied by other relevant results (eg, correlating microscopic changes), and were not observed at the end of the 2-week recovery period indicating recovery of the findings. Based on the results, SAMiRNA-AREG did not cause treatment-related adverse effects at dose levels of up to 300 mg/kg/day in mice after 4-week repeated intravenous doses. Under these conditions, the no-observed-adverse-effect level of the SAMiRNA-AREG was ≥300 mg/kg/day in both sexes and no target organs were identified.

Hospice palliative care nurses' perceptions of spiritual care and their spiritual care competence: A mixed-methods study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To understand hospice palliative care nurses' (HPCNs) perceptions towards spiritual care and their competence to provide spiritual care. BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown that many nurses lack a clear understanding of the concept of spirituality and feel inadequately prepared to assess patients' spiritual needs. Studies on competence in spiritual care are mostly descriptive, and the evidence for improving it is limited. DESIGN: A mixed-methods research design was used. METHODS: Quantitative data were collected from 282 nurses in forty hospice palliative care (HPC) institutions in South Korea and analysed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni test and multiple regression. Qualitative data collection involved two stages: first, an open-ended question posed to 282 nurses, and second, focus group interviews conducted with six HPC experts. Both qualitative data sets were analysed separately using content analysis. This study followed the GRAMMS guidelines. RESULTS: Of the six dimensions of spiritual care competence (SCC), the mean scores were highest in 'attitude towards the patient's spirituality' and 'communication', whereas the 'assessment and implementation of spiritual care' and 'professionalisation and improving the quality of spiritual care' had the lowest mean scores. Through content analysis, 4 themes regarding the meaning of spiritual care, 3 themes regarding requirements for spiritual care and 2 themes regarding preparedness for spiritual care were revealed. They perceived the needs of the understanding of spiritual care based on the attributes of spirituality, the education in systematic assessments and implementation for spiritual care with standardised terminology, and the opportunity to reflect on nurses' own spirituality. CONCLUSIONS: Practical SCC training for HPCNs and the subsequent development of clinical practice guidelines are of vital importance. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The results of this study provide a useful resource to develop educational programmes for strengthening the SCC of nurses and the entire HPC team.

Ternary nanocomposite carriers based on organic clay-lipid vesicles as an effective colon-targeted drug delivery system: preparation and in vitro/in vivo characterization.

This study aimed to develop a new colon-targeted drug delivery system via the preparation of ternary nanocomposite carriers based on organic polymer, aminoclay and lipid vesicles. Budesonide (Bud), an anti-inflammatory drug was chosen as a model drug and encapsulated into three different formulations: liposome (Bud-Lip), aminoclay-coated liposome (AC-Bud-Lip), and Eudragit® S100-aminoclay double coated liposome (EAC-Bud-Lip). The formation of the aminoclay-lipid vesicle nanocomposite was confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectrum, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. All formulations were produced with a high encapsulation efficiency in a narrow size distribution. Drug release from EAC-Bud-Lip was approximately 10% for 2-h incubation at pH 1.2, implying the minimal drug release in acidic gastric condition. At pH 7.4, EAC-Bud-Lip underwent significant size reduction and exhibited drug release profiles similar to that from AC-Bud-Lip, implying the pH-dependent removal of the outer coating layer. Compared to free Bud solution, EAC-Bud-Lip achieved a higher drug uptake in Caco-2 cells and exhibited a stronger inhibition of TNF-α and IL-6 secretion in LPS-stimulated Raw264.7 cells. Furthermore, a bio-distribution study in mice demonstrated that Eudragit® S100-aminoclay dual coating led to a higher colonic distribution with a longer residence time, which correlated well with the delayed systemic drug exposure in rats. Taken together, the present study suggests that the ternary nanocomposite carrier consisting of Eudragit® S100, aminoclay, and lipid vesicle might be useful as an effective colon-targeted drug delivery system.

Low-dose cadmium exposure exacerbates polyhexamethylene guanidine-induced lung fibrosis in mice.

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic metal present in tobacco smoke, air, food, and water. Inhalation is an important route of Cd exposure, and lungs are one of the main target organs for metal-induced toxicity. Cd inhalation is associated with an increased risk of pulmonary diseases. The present study aimed to assess the effects of repeated exposure to low-dose Cd in a mouse model of polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG)-induced lung fibrosis. Mice were grouped into the following groups: vehicle control (VC), PHMG, cadmium chloride (CdCl2), and PHMG + CdCl2. Animals in the PHMG group exhibited increased numbers of total cells and inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) accompanied by inflammation and fibrosis in lung tissues. These parameters were exacerbated in mice in the PHMG + CdCl2 group. In contrast, mice in the CdCl2 group alone displayed only minimal inflammation in pulmonary tissue. Expression of inflammatory cytokines and fibrogenic mediators was significantly elevated in lungs of mice in the PHMG group compared with that VC. Further, expression of these cytokines and mediators was enhanced in pulmonary tissue in mice administered PHMG + CdCl2. Data demonstrate that repeated exposure to low-dose Cd may enhance the development of PHMG-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

PEGylated hyaluronic acid-coated liposome for enhanced in vivo efficacy of sorafenib via active tumor cell targeting and prolonged systemic exposure.

This study aimed to design an effective formulation for enhancing the tumor-targeted delivery of sorafenib. Three sorafenib-loaded liposomal formulations including uncoated liposome (SF-Lip), hyaluronic acid-coated liposome (HA-SF-Lip), and PEGylated hyaluronic acid-coated liposome (PEG-HA-SF-Lip) were developed with narrow size distribution and high encapsulation efficiency. The cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of HA-SF-Lip and PEG-HA-SF-Lip were greater than those of SF-Lip in MDA-MB-231 cells overexpressing CD44, whereas there were no significant differences in MCF-7 cells with low CD44 expression, indicating the CD44-mediated cellular uptake of coated liposomes. In comparison with sorafenib solution, PEG-HA-SF-Lip increased the systemic exposure and plasma half-life in rats by 3-fold and 2-fold, respectively. Consistently, PEG-HA-SF-Lip was the most effective for tumor growth inhibition through CD44 targeting in the MDA-MB-231 tumor xenograft mouse model. Taken together, the present study suggests that PEG-HA-SF-Lip might be effective for the tumor-targeted delivery of sorafenib with enhanced systemic exposure and longer blood circulation.

Effects of a System Thinking-Based Simulation Program for Congestive Heart Failure.

This study evaluated a system thinking-based simulation program for the care of patients with congestive heart failure. Participants were 67 undergraduate nursing students from a nursing college in Seoul, South Korea. The experimental group was given a 4-hour system-thinking program and a 2-hour simulation program, whereas the control group had a 4-hour case study and a 2-hour simulation program. There were significant improvements in critical thinking in both groups, but no significant group differences between educational methods (F = 3.26, P = .076). Problem-solving ability in the experimental group was significantly higher than in the control group (F = 5.04, P = .028). Clinical competency skills in the experimental group were higher than in the control group (t = 2.12, P = .038). A system thinking-based simulation program is a more effective learning method in terms of problem-solving ability and clinical competency skills compared to the existing simulation program. Further research using a longitudinal study is needed to test the long-term effect of the intervention and apply it to the nursing curriculum.

Protective Effects of Nintedanib against Polyhexamethylene Guanidine Phosphate-Induced Lung Fibrosis in Mice.

Nintedanib (NDN), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been shown to have anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic effects in several reports. We investigated the protective effects of NDN against polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG)-induced lung fibrosis in mice. The following three experimental groups were evaluated: (1) vehicle control; (2) PHMG (1.1 mg/kg); and (3) PHMG & NDN (60 mg/kg). PHMG induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis by intratracheal instillation in mice. In contrast, NDN treatment effectively alleviated the PHMG induced lung injury, and attenuated the number of total cells and inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, including the fibrotic histopathological changes, and also reduced the hydroxyproline content. NDN also significantly decreased the expression of inflammatory cytokines and fibrotic factors, and the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in lung tissues. These results suggest that NDN may mitigate the inflammatory response and development of pulmonary fibrosis in the lungs of mice treated with PHMG.

Effects of Simulation With Problem-Based Learning Program on Metacognition, Team Efficacy, and Learning Attitude in Nursing Students: Nursing Care With Increased Intracranial Pressure Patient.

Nursing care for patients with central nervous system problems requires advanced professional knowledge and care skills. Nursing students are more likely to have difficulty in dealing with adult patients who have severe neurological problems in clinical practice. This study investigated the effect on the metacognition, team efficacy, and learning attitude of nursing students after an integrated simulation and problem-based learning program. A real scenario of a patient with increased intracranial pressure was simulated for the students. The results showed that this method was effective in improving the metacognitive ability of the students. Furthermore, we used this comprehensive model of simulation with problem-based learning in order to assess the consequences of student satisfaction with the nursing major, interpersonal relationships, and importance of simulation-based education in relation to the effectiveness of the integrated simulation with problem-based learning. The results can be used to improve the design of clinical practicum and nursing education.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 2 deletion attenuates polyhexamethylene guanidine-induced lung injury in mice.

Inhalation of polyhexamethylene guanidine phosphate (PHMG) can cause pulmonary fibrosis. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases (Nox) are enzymes that produce reactive oxygen species, which may be involved in tissue damage in various lung diseases. To investigate whether the Nox2 isoform of Nox is involved in the progression of PHMG-induced lung damage, we studied the contribution of Nox2 in PHMG-induced lung injury in Nox2-deficient mice. We treated wild-type (WT) and Nox2 knockout mice with a single intratracheal instillation of 1.1 mg/kg PHMG and sacrificed them after 14 days. We analyzed lung histopathology and the number of total and differential cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. In addition, the expressions of cytokines, chemokines, and profibrogenic genes were analyzed in the lung tissues. Based on our results, Nox2-deficient mice showed less PHMG-induced pulmonary damage than WT mice, as indicated by parameters such as body weight, lung weight, total cell count, cytokine and chemokine levels, fibrogenic mediator expression, and histopathological findings. These findings suggest that Nox2 may have the potential to contribute to PHMG-induced lung injury and serves as an essential signaling molecule in the development of PHMG-induced pulmonary fibrosis by regulating the expression of profibrogenic genes.

Particulate matter-mediated oxidative stress induces airway inflammation and pulmonary dysfunction through TXNIP/NF-κB and modulation of the SIRT1-mediated p53 and TGF-ß/Smad3 pathways in mice.

Exposure to particulate matter is currently recognized as a serious aggravating factor of respiratory diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects of particulate matter (PM) on the respiratory system in BALB/c mice and NCI-H292 cells. PM (0, 2.5, 5 and 20 mg/kg) was administered to mice by intra-tracheal instillation for 7 days. After a 7 day-repeated treatment of PM, we evaluated inflammatory cytokines/cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and conducted pulmonary histology and functional test. We also investigated the role of TXNIP/NF-κB and SIRT1-mediated p53 and TGF-ß/Smad3 pathways in PM-induced airway inflammation and pulmonary dysfunction. PM caused a significant increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. PM-mediated oxidative stress down-regulated thioredoxin-1 and up-regulated thioredoxin-interacting protein and activation of nuclear factor-kappa B in the lung tissue and PM-treated NCI-H292 cells. PM suppressed sirtuin1 protein levels and increased p53 acetylation in PM-exposed mice and PM-treated NCI-H292 cells. In addition, PM caused inflammatory cell infiltration and the thickening of alveolar walls by exacerbating the inflammatory response in the lung tissue. PM increased levels of transforming growth factor-ß, phosphorylation of Smad3 and activation of α-smooth muscle actin, and collagen type1A2 in PM-exposed mice and PM-treated NCI-H292 cells. In pulmonary function tests, PM exposure impaired pulmonary function resembling pulmonary fibrosis, characterized by increased resistance and elastance of the respiratory system, and resistance, elastance, and damping of lung tissues, whereas decreased compliance of the respiratory system, forced expired volume and forced vital capacity. Overall, PM-mediated oxidative stress caused airway inflammation and pulmonary dysfunction with pulmonary fibrosis via TXNIP pathway/NF-κB activation and modulation of the SIRT1-mediated TGF-ß/Smad3 pathways. The results of this study can provide fundamental data on the potential adverse effects and underlying mechanism of pulmonary fibrosis caused by PM exposure as a public health concern. Due to the potential toxicity of PM, people with respiratory disease must be careful with PM exposure.

Effects of Medical Education Program Using Virtual Reality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Several studies have examined the effect of virtual reality (VR) education. However, they are mostly systematic reviews or meta-analyses focusing on doctors and residents; they fail to consider VR medical education for a broader range of learners. We evaluated the effectiveness of VR education for health professionals and identified the essential features of education. Randomized controlled trials published from January 2000 to April 2020 were identified from PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library (n = 299). The randomized studies' bias risk was evaluated using Cochrane's Risk of Bias tool. Meta- and subgroup-analyses were conducted using Review Manager 5.4.1. The overall effect was measured using Hedges' g and determined using Z-statistics (p < 0.05). Heterogeneity was assessed using X2 and I2 statistics. Among the identified records, 25 studies were selected through systematic review, and 18 studies were included in the meta-analysis. We identified a significant improvement in the VR group's skill and satisfaction levels, and that less immersive VR was more efficacious for knowledge outcomes than fully immersive VR. Maximizing the advantages of VR will increase learning opportunities and complement the limited clinical experience, thus improving medical services. A systematic and efficient VR medical education program will greatly enhance learners' core competencies.

Biochemical effects of veterinary antibiotics on proliferation and cell cycle arrest of human HEK293 cells.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of veterinary antibiotics, including amoxicillin (AMX), chlortetracycline (CTC) and tylosin (TYL), on the biochemical mechanism of human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293). CTC and TYL inhibited HEK293 cell proliferation, in both time- and dose-dependent manners, and changed the cell morphology; whereas, AMX showed no cytotoxic effects. The cell cycle analysis of CTC and TYL revealed G1-arrest in HEK293 cells. Western blot analysis also showed that CTC and TYL affected the activation of DNA damage responsive proteins, as well as cell cycle regulatory proteins, such as p53, p21(Waf1/Cip1) and Rb protein, which are crucial in the G1-S transition. The activation of p21(Waf1/Cip1) was significantly up-regulated over time, but there was no change in the level of CDK2 expression. The results of this study suggest that veterinary antibiotics, even at low level concentrations on continuous exposure, can potentially risk the development of human cells.

Effects of Aroma Foot Massage on Sleep Quality and Constipation Relief among the Older Adults Living in Residential Nursing Facilities.

This study focused on the effects of aroma foot massage on sleep quality and constipation relief among older adult residents in nursing facilities. This research used a non-equivalent control group and a quasi-experimental design. The participants included 40 older adults aged ≥70 years residing in two nursing facilities in Seoul City. The aroma foot massage nursing intervention consisted of a preparation stage using jojoba carrier (aroma recipe) oil and lavender oil, an aroma foot massage stage, and a finishing stage. Sleep quality scores after the experiment increased by 3.72 at post-test (M = 38.44) compared to pre-test (M = 34.72), which confirmed that sleep quality improved significantly following intervention in the experimental group as compared to the control group (F = 14.45, p = 0.001). Furthermore, the frequency of defecation in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (Z = −3.93, p < 0.001). Similarly, the constipation assessment scores decreased at post-test significantly by 2.39 in the experimental group as compared to the control group (F = 17.87, p < 0.001). These results confirm that aroma foot massage is an effective nursing intervention for alleviating constipation symptoms and improving sleep quality. Therefore, we recommend that aroma foot massage be used as a complementary intervention in combination with drug-based treatment to improve sleep quality and relieve the constipation symptoms experienced by older adults living in nursing facilities.

Effects of Health Belief, Knowledge, and Attitude toward COVID-19 on Prevention Behavior in Health College Students.

This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the practice of COVID-19 prevention behaviors among college students as future medical workers. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in September 2021. A total of 526 health college students were included in this study. A hierarchical regression analysis was performed to examine the effect on the practice of COVID-19 prevention behavior. As a result of the analysis, experiences of education on infectious diseases had significant positive effects on the practice of prevention behavior (ß = 0.22, p < 0.001). Additionally, a higher COVID-19 health belief had a significant positive effect on the practice of prevention behavior (ß = 0.15, p = 0.004). Increased smoking and drinking among lifestyle changes after COVID-19 had significant negative effects on the practice of prevention behavior compared with decreased physical activity (ß = -0.12, p = 0.007). Based on these findings, the study discussed the importance of education on the prevention of infectious diseases among health college students, promotion of health beliefs related to infectious diseases, and formation of healthy lifestyle habits in daily life.

Key factors to establish the ovalbumin-induced atopic dermatitis minipig model: age and body weight.

BACKGROUND: Given its similar structure and immune response to the human skin, porcine is a good model for dermal studies. Here, we sensitized ovalbumin (Ova) on minipig back skin for 2-4 weeks to induce chronic atopic dermatitis (AD). RESULTS: Gross observation, serum cytokine level, epidermal thickness, and epidermal integrity did not change after 4 weeks of Ova induction compared with the control, indicating AD modeling failure. Only the neutrophils in the blood and macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid changed slightly until 3 or 2 weeks after Ova sensitization, respectively. The successful and failed Ova-induced AD minipig models only differ in age and body weight of the minipigs. The minipigs, 12 months old with a 30-kg median weight, had a two-fold thicker dermis than minipigs 8-10 months old, with an 18.97-kg median weight, resulting in impaired Ova permeability and immune response. CONCLUSION: Age and body weight are key factors that should be considered when developing an Ova-induced AD minipig model.