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1.
J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis ; 33(1): 107483, 2024 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37976794

ABSTRACT

AIM: In this study, we investigated the effects of Dendropanax morbifera extract (DME) on neuroprotection against ischemic damage in gerbils. METHODS: DME (100 or 300 mg/kg) was orally administered to gerbils for three weeks, and 2 h after the last DME treatment, transient forebrain ischemia in the common carotid arteries was induced for 5 min. The forebrain ischemia-related cognitive impairments were assessed by spontaneous motor activity and passive avoidance test one and four days after ischemia, respectively. In addition, surviving and degenerating neurons were morphologically confirmed by neuronal nuclei immunohistochemical staining and Fluoro-Jade C staining, respectively, four days after ischemia. Changes of glial morphology were visualized by immunohistochemical staining for each marker such as glial fibrillary acidic protein and ionized calcium-binding protein. Oxidative stress was determined by measurements of dihydroethidium, O2· (formation of formazan) and malondialdehyde two days after ischemia. In addition, glutathione redox system such as reduced glutathione, oxidized glutathione levels, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activities were measured two days after ischemia. RESULTS: Spontaneous motor activity monitoring and passive avoidance tests showed that treatment with 300 mg/kg DME, but not 100 mg/kg, significantly alleviated ischemia-induced memory impairments. In addition, approximately 67 % of mature neurons survived and 29.3 % neurons were degenerated in hippocampal CA1 region four days after ischemia, and ischemia-induced morphological changes in astrocytes and microglia were decreased in the CA1 region after 300 mg/kg DME treatment. Furthermore, treatment with 300 mg/kg DME significantly ameliorated ischemia-induced oxidative stress, such as superoxide formation and lipid peroxidation, two days after ischemia. In addition, ischemia-induced reduction of the glutathione redox system in the hippocampus, assessed two days after the ischemia, was ameliorated by treatment with 300 mg/kg DME. These suggest that DME can potentially reduce ischemia-induced neuronal damage through its antioxidant properties.


Subject(s)
Brain Ischemia , Ischemic Attack, Transient , Humans , Animals , Gerbillinae/metabolism , Ischemic Attack, Transient/metabolism , Hippocampus/metabolism , Brain Ischemia/drug therapy , Brain Ischemia/metabolism , Oxidative Stress , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Glutathione/metabolism , Cerebral Infarction
2.
Sci Rep ; 13(1): 21556, 2023 12 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38057481

ABSTRACT

Barium sulfate and iohexol are commonly used as contrast agents for videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). This study compared their usefulness as contrast agents in visualizing components of swallowing predictable of subsequent pneumonia and unintentional weight loss after VFSS. This was a randomized, controlled, crossover trial. The two contrast agents were alternately used in the same participants, and the order in which the contrast agent was tested first was randomly assigned. After VFSS, we followed the participants for 3 months and the association between VFSS findings of each contrast agent and the subsequent pneumonia and unintentional weight loss were analyzed. A total of 30 participants were included in the analysis. We recorded 11 cases of subsequent pneumonia and 13 of unintentional weight loss. Regarding the risk of subsequent pneumonia after VFSS, only the oral transit time and number of swallows tested with barium sulfate indicated significant differences between participants with and without subsequent pneumonia. For unintentional weight loss, oral transit time and pharyngeal wall coating after swallowing tested with barium sulfate, as well as oral transit time, nasal penetration, residue in the valleculae, PAS scores, and number of swallows when testing with iohexol demonstrated significant differences between those with and without unintentional weight loss.


Subject(s)
Deglutition Disorders , Pneumonia , Humans , Barium Sulfate , Contrast Media , Deglutition , Deglutition Disorders/diagnostic imaging , Fluoroscopy , Iohexol , Video Recording , Weight Loss , Cross-Over Studies
3.
Med Sci Monit ; 29: e942397, 2023 Nov 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37974393

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method used to identify changes in microstructures in the brain's white matter. Severe brain injuries after trauma are associated with disorders of consciousness (DOC) and may result in hyponatremia due to damage to the hypothalamus. This case-control study aimed to use DTI to evaluate the hypothalamus in 36 patients with hyponatremia and DOC due to severe brain injuries. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty-six patients with DOC after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and 36 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. The diagnosis of DOC was based on the coma recovery scale-revised (CRS-R). The 36 patients were divided into 2 groups: Group A (18 with hyponatremia, serum sodium level <135 mmol/L) and group B (18 without hyponatremia). The DTI scans were conducted using a 6-channel head coil on a 1.5T Philips Gyroscan Intera scanner. Among the DTI data, fractional anisotropy (FA) and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the hypothalamus were analyzed. RESULTS Patient group A had a lower FA value (P=0.044) and higher ADC value (P=0.004) of the hypothalamus and showed a longer length of hospital stay (P=0.03), lower CRS-R score at discharge (P=0.01), and less change in CRS-R score (P=0.004) compared to patient group B. The improvements in the CRS-R score revealed a moderate negative correlation (r=-0.467) with the severity of the hyponatremia (P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS Post-traumatic hyponatremia was associated with hypothalamic injury and the presence and severity of hyponatremia were associated with poor clinical outcomes in DOC patients.


Subject(s)
Brain Injuries, Traumatic , Brain Injuries , Hyponatremia , Humans , Diffusion Tensor Imaging/methods , Case-Control Studies , Hyponatremia/complications , Brain Injuries, Traumatic/complications , Brain Injuries, Traumatic/diagnostic imaging , Brain Injuries/complications , Coma/complications
4.
Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol ; 8(5): 1319-1323, 2023 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37899859

ABSTRACT

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the value of using videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) for assessing vocal fold paralysis. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients who underwent VFSS with a vocal fold testing maneuver from June 2020 to February 2022, and who had undergone laryngoscopy within 2 weeks before or after VFSS. The vocal fold testing maneuver consisted of making an 'e' sound for about 2-3 seconds during VFSS anterior-posterior (AP) view. The diagnostic value of the VFSS was evaluated by a trained reviewer, who assessed the presence and laterality of vocal fold paralysis by examining videos of the patients performing the vocal fold testing maneuver. Intra-rater reliability was determined by evaluation of the videos by the same reviewer 2 weeks later, and inter-rater reliability was determined by evaluation by a second reviewer. Results: Seventy patients were enrolled in the study. The positive predictive value was 91.43% and the intra-rater and inter-rater reliabilities, as determined by Cohen's kappa value, were 0.746 and 0.824 respectively. Conclusions: The presence and laterality of vocal fold paralysis were identified accurately and reliably by the reviewers, showing that VFSS can be used to assess vocal fold paralysis. Level of evidence: 2.

5.
Polymers (Basel) ; 15(20)2023 Oct 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37896369

ABSTRACT

In this study, preliminary simulations were performed to manufacture thermoplastic composites that can be processed by injection. For analysis, a basalt particulate-polymer composite model was manufactured and its elastic modulus, shear modulus, thermal expansion coefficient, and thermal conductivity were predicted using finite-element analysis (FEA) and micromechanics. Polypropylene (PP), polyamide 6, polyamide 66, and polyamide (PA) were employed as the polymer matrix, with the variations in their properties investigated based on the volume fraction of basalt. The polymer-basalt composite's properties were analyzed effectively using FEA and the micromechanics model. FEA was performed by constructing a 3D model based on the homogenization technique to analyze the effective properties. The micromechanics model was analyzed numerically using the mixture rule, and the Mital, Guth, and Halpin-Tsai models. As a result, it is best to analyze the effective properties of polymer-basalt composites using the Halpin-Tsai model, and it is necessary to conduct a comparative analysis through actual experiments. In the future, actual composite materials need to be developed and evaluated based on the findings of this study.

6.
Int J Mol Sci ; 24(17)2023 Aug 31.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37686326

ABSTRACT

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease. Interleukin 31 (IL-31), a novel cytokine in AD, causes pruritus, typically characteristic of AD patients. The transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) is a cation channel activated by diverse noxious stimuli that has been studied in a variety of pruritic skin diseases. In this study, the AD animal model was generated by administering the hapten, trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB), to Nc/Nga mice, and the degree of expression of the IL-31 receptor alpha (IL-31RA) and TRPV1 in the skin of these atopic models was evaluated. The Nc/Nga mice were divided into 3 groups: control, TNCB 2-weeks treated, and TNCB 8-weeks treated. After inducing AD, the skin lesions in each group were scored and compared, and the histology of the skin lesions and the IL-31RA and TRPV1 expression for each group were evaluated by analyzing immunohistochemistry. The results show a significant difference in the skin lesion scores between the groups. The immunohistochemistry evaluation highlighted the remarkable expression of IL-31RA and TRPV1 in the nerve fibers of the TNCB 8-weeks-treated group. We thus confirmed that the long-term application of TNCB induced chronic atopic-like dermatitis and that IL-31RA and TRPV1 were overexpressed in the peripheral nerve fibers in this AD model.


Subject(s)
Dermatitis, Atopic , Animals , Mice , Dermatitis, Atopic/chemically induced , Picryl Chloride , Skin , Pruritus , Haptens , TRPV Cation Channels/genetics
7.
RSC Adv ; 13(21): 14102-14109, 2023 May 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37180017

ABSTRACT

The upcycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste can simultaneously produce value-added chemicals and reduce the growing environmental impact of plastic waste. In this study, we designed a chemobiological system to convert terephthalic acid (TPA), an aromatic monomer of PET, to ß-ketoadipic acid (ßKA), a C6 keto-diacid that functions as a building block for nylon-6,6 analogs. Using microwave-assisted hydrolysis in a neutral aqueous system, PET was converted to TPA with Amberlyst-15, a conventional catalyst with high conversion efficiency and reusability. The bioconversion process of TPA into ßKA used a recombinant Escherichia coli ßKA expressing two conversion modules for TPA degradation (tphAabc and tphB) and ßKA synthesis (aroY, catABC, and pcaD). To improve bioconversion, the formation of acetic acid, a deleterious factor for TPA conversion in flask cultivation, was efficiently regulated by deleting the poxB gene along with operating the bioreactor to supply oxygen. By applying two-stage fermentation consisting of the growth phase in pH 7 followed by the production phase in pH 5.5, a total of 13.61 mM ßKA was successfully produced with 96% conversion efficiency. This efficient chemobiological PET upcycling system provides a promising approach for the circular economy to acquire various chemicals from PET waste.

8.
Sci Rep ; 13(1): 5653, 2023 04 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37024665

ABSTRACT

Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) plays an important role in the conversion of malate to oxaloacetate during the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In this study, we examined the role of cytoplasmic MDH (MDH1) in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress in HT22 cells and ischemia-induced neuronal damage in the gerbil hippocampus. The Tat-MDH1 fusion protein was constructed to enable the delivery of MDH1 into the intracellular space and penetration of the blood-brain barrier. Tat-MDH1, but not MDH1 control protein, showed significant cellular delivery in HT22 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner and gradual intracellular degradation in HT22 cells. Treatment with 4 µM Tat-MDH1 significantly ameliorated 200 µM H2O2-induced cell death, DNA fragmentation, and reactive oxygen species formation in HT22 cells. Transient increases in MDH1 immunoreactivity were detected in the hippocampal CA1 region 6-12 h after ischemia, but MDH1 activity significantly decreased 2 days after ischemia. Supplementation of Tat-MDH1 immediately after ischemia alleviated ischemia-induced hyperlocomotion and neuronal damage 1 and 4 days after ischemia. In addition, treatment with Tat-MDH1 significantly ameliorated the increases in hydroperoxides, lipid peroxidation, and reactive oxygen species 2 days after ischemia. Tat-MDH1 treatment maintained the redox status of the glutathione system in the hippocampus 2 days after ischemia. These results suggest that Tat-MDH1 exerts neuroprotective effects by reducing oxidative stress and maintaining glutathione redox system in the hippocampus.


Subject(s)
Gene Products, tat , Ischemia , Malate Dehydrogenase , Neuroprotective Agents , Oxidative Stress , Animals , Gene Products, tat/pharmacology , Gerbillinae , Hippocampus/metabolism , Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism , Ischemia/drug therapy , Malate Dehydrogenase/pharmacology , Neurons/metabolism , Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology , Oxidation-Reduction , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/pharmacology , Mice
9.
Polymers (Basel) ; 14(22)2022 Nov 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36432977

ABSTRACT

In this study, the characteristics of a composite material composed of polypropylene (PP) and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) are investigated. The elastic properties of the PP/UHMWPE composite material composed of short UHMWPE fibers with a low aspect ratio and long UHMWPE fibers with a high aspect ratio are compared and analyzed. In addition, the elastic properties of the PP/UHMWPE composite materials are calculated via finite element analysis and the Halpin-Tsai model by changing the volume fraction of the UHMWPE fibers. The results show that when UHMWPE fibers with a low aspect ratio and volume fraction are used, the results of the modulus of elasticity based on the finite element analysis are consistent with those obtained using the Halpin-Tsai model, although the fiber volume fraction of the UHMWPE fibers increases. Meanwhile, the deviation between the results yielded by both methods increases with the aspect ratio of the fiber. In terms of the shear modulus, the Halpin-Tsai model shows a linear trend. The results from the finite element analysis differ significantly from those of the Halpin-Tsai model owing to the random orientation of the UHMWPE fibers inside the fiber. Using a contour graph constructed based on the finite element analysis results, the aspect ratio and volume fraction of the UHMWPE fibers can be inversely calculated based on the elastic properties when synthesizing a PP/UHMWPE fiber composite. In future studies, the interfacial bonding properties of UHMWPE fibers and PP should be compared and analyzed experimentally.

10.
Materials (Basel) ; 15(22)2022 Nov 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36431493

ABSTRACT

This study uses the finite element method and numerical analysis to develop an eco-friendly composite material with shielding capabilities. A preliminary study was performed to predict the mechanical properties of the composite material. Polyethylene terephthalate and aluminum powder (AP) were selected as the matrix and enhancer, respectively. The particles of AP are spherical, with a diameter of 1 µm. Material properties were investigated as the AP volume fraction (VF) increased from 5-70%. The FEM results show that the physical properties for AP VFs improve by up to 40%, but there is no significant change in the elastic modulus, shear modulus, and Poisson's ratio at an AP VF of 50-70%. However, the numerical analysis models show that the elastic properties for AP VFs improve by up to 70%. The mechanical properties improved as the VF increased, and the FEM predicted values were reliable for VFs up to 40%. However, it was confirmed that 40% is the limit of AP VF in the FEM. In addition, the FEM and numerical analysis predictions showed that the most similar numerical analysis model was the Halpin-Tsai model. The predictions of the Halpin-Tsai model allowed prediction of the maximum VF above the FEM limit. If the correction coefficients of the FEM and numerical analysis models are derived based on the predictions of this study and future experimental results, reliable predictions can be obtained for the physical properties of composite materials.

11.
Molecules ; 27(18)2022 Sep 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36144489

ABSTRACT

In this study, we calculated the elastic properties of polypropylene composites mixed with ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers. We applied micromechanics models that use numerical analysis, conducted finite element analysis using the homogenization method, and comparatively analyzed the characteristics of polypropylene (PP) containing UHMWPE fibers as reinforcement. The results demonstrate that elastic properties improved as the volume fraction of UHMWPE fiber increased. It was confirmed that the fibers had anisotropic elastic properties due to the shape of the fibers. In addition, it is necessary to compare these findings with future experimental results to obtain data for developing UHMWPE-PP composites.

12.
Bioprocess Biosyst Eng ; 45(10): 1731-1738, 2022 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36121507

ABSTRACT

Phycocyanin (PC) is a natural blue pigment that has great commercial value in food and pharmaceutical industry. Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis is a photosynthetic spiral-shaped cyanobacterium containing a rich PC pigment. Autolysis is the enzymatic digestion of cells by the action of its own enzymes. To develop an effective and economical extraction process, an autolysis process was incorporated into the conventional freezing-thawing method. In the present study, 91% of maximal extraction yield of PC with 1.194 purity (A620/A280) was obtained via autolysis after 3 h of incubation at 37 °C without using an extraction salt solution or a successive freezing-thawing process. In addition to temperature, the initial concentration of bicarbonate in growth medium and the concentration of wet biomass are important parameters that influence the extraction yield of PC by autolysis.


Subject(s)
Phycocyanin , Spirulina , Bicarbonates , Biomass
13.
Materials (Basel) ; 15(16)2022 Aug 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36013739

ABSTRACT

This study proposes an isotropic composite material with enhanced elastic properties based on a reinforcement mechanism using ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) spherical molecules. Elastic properties are predicted through finite element analysis by randomly mixing UHMWPE using polypropylene (PP) as a matrix. The change in elastic properties of the composite is calculated for volume fractions of UHMWPE from 10 to 70%. Furthermore, the results of finite element analysis are compared and analyzed using a numerical approach. The results show that the physical properties of the composite material are enhanced by the excellent elastic properties of the UHMWPE, and the finite element analysis results confirm that it is effective up to a volume fraction of 35%.

14.
Materials (Basel) ; 15(15)2022 Aug 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35955382

ABSTRACT

This study proposes an electromagnetic shielding material sprayed with silver-coated copper powder (core-shell powder). The shielding properties of the material are analyzed in details section. Cross-sectional observation and sheet resistance measurement were used to determine the thickness and electrical conductivity of the electromagnetic shielding layer, which was generated by spray-coating; this aided in confirming the uniformity of the coating film. The results indicate that the electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness increases when the silver-coated copper paste (core-shell paste) is used as the coating material rather than the conventional aluminum base. The proposed material can be used in various frequency ranges owing to the excellent shielding effectiveness of the core-shell paste used in this study. Further investigations on the optimized spray-coating type of electromagnetic shielding material are required based on the composition of the core-shell paste and the thickness of the coating film.

15.
J Toxicol Pathol ; 35(1): 45-52, 2022 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35221495

ABSTRACT

Platycodi radix is widely used in traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of bronchitis, asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. This study aimed to investigate cell proliferation (Ki-67) and apoptosis (Caspase-3) potential in squamous cell hyperplasia of the stomach induced by a Platycodi radix water extract in a subchronic toxicity study. One hundred formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded stomach tissues of rats treated with Platycodi radix at doses of 0, 500, 1,000, and 3,000 mg/kg body weight/day were used for the analysis. They were conventionally stained using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemically (IHC) stained using caspase-3 and Ki-67 antibodies. The incidence of squamous cell hyperplasia was significantly increased in the 3,000 mg/kg b.w./day treatment group in both sexes (p<0.01). However, the hyperplastic change was completely repaired after 4 weeks of recovery period. Ki-67 expression was similar in all groups, with no statistically significant differences among the groups. Caspase-3 expression was significantly increased in both sexes in the 3,000 mg/kg b.w./day treatment group (p<0.01), compared with the vehicle control groups, and then reduced to normal levels in the recovery groups in both sexes. In conclusion, this study showed that squamous cell hyperplasia induced by the Platycodi radix water extract in the limiting ridge of the stomach is not considered to be abnormal proliferative change; as a result, squamous cell hyperplasia is considered to be a non-adverse effect when induced by the oral administration of the Platycodi radix water extract once daily for 13 weeks in rats.

16.
Diagnostics (Basel) ; 11(10)2021 Oct 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34679593

ABSTRACT

In cardiac surgery, median sternotomy is often necessary during certain surgical processes and it can cause the rare complication of brachial plexus injury. Retraction of the rib cage during median sternotomy may produce a fracture of the first thoracic rib at the costovertebral junction which might penetrate or irritate the lower root of the brachial plexus. Because the C8 ventral root is located immediately superior to the first thoracic rib, the extraforaminal C8 root is thought to be the key location of brachial plexus injury by the first rib fracture. This report describes three cases of brachial plexus injury after median sternotomy in a single center. In our cases, fracture of the first rib and consequent brachial plexus injury is confirmed with imaging and electrophysiologic studies. The fracture of the first rib is not detected with standard plain images and it is confirmed only with CT or MRI studies. Advanced imaging tools are recommended to assess the first rib fracture when brachial plexus injury is suspected after median sternotomy.

17.
Iran J Basic Med Sci ; 24(7): 908-913, 2021 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34712420

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Prostaglandin E2 E-prostanoid 2 receptor (PGE2 EP2), downstream of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), plays an important role in inflammatory responses, but there are some reports about synaptic functions of COX-2 and PGE2 EP2 in the hippocampus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were sacrificed at postnatal days (P) 1, 7, 14, 28, and 56 for immunohistochemical staining for EP2 and doublecortin as well as western blot for EP2. In addition, COX-2 knockout and its wild-type mice were euthanized for immunohistochemical staining for EP2. RESULTS: EP2 immunoreactivity was observed in the majority of the cells in the dentate gyrus at P1 and P7, while at P14, it was detected in the outer granule cell layer and was confined to its subgranular zone at P28 and P56. EP2 protein levels in the hippocampal homogenates were also highest at P7 and lowest at P56. EP2 immunoreactivity was partially colocalized, with doublecortin (DCX)-immunoreactive neuroblasts appearing in the mid-zone of the granule cell layer at P14 and in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus at P28. Co-localization of EP2 and DCX was significantly decreased in the dentate gyrus in the P28 group compared with that in the P14 group. In COX-2 knockout mice, EP2 immunoreactivity was significantly decreased in the hippocampal CA1 region (P=0.000165) and dentate gyrus (P=0.00898). CONCLUSION: EP2 decreases with age, which is expressed in DCX-immunoreactive neuroblasts in the dentate gyrus. This suggests that EP2 is closely linked to structural lamination and adult neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus.

18.
Nat Commun ; 12(1): 3915, 2021 06 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34168140

ABSTRACT

Memory is supported by a specific collection of neurons distributed in broad brain areas, an engram. Despite recent advances in identifying an engram, how the engram is created during memory formation remains elusive. To explore the relation between a specific pattern of input activity and memory allocation, here we target a sparse subset of neurons in the auditory cortex and thalamus. The synaptic inputs from these neurons to the lateral amygdala (LA) are not potentiated by fear conditioning. Using an optogenetic priming stimulus, we manipulate these synapses to be potentiated by the learning. In this condition, fear memory is preferentially encoded in the manipulated cell ensembles. This change, however, is abolished with optical long-term depression (LTD) delivered shortly after training. Conversely, delivering optical long-term potentiation (LTP) alone shortly after fear conditioning is sufficient to induce the preferential memory encoding. These results suggest a synaptic plasticity-dependent competition rule underlying memory formation.


Subject(s)
Memory/physiology , Neuronal Plasticity/physiology , Animals , Basolateral Nuclear Complex/physiology , Brain/cytology , Brain/physiology , Conditioning, Classical/physiology , Evoked Potentials, Auditory , Fear/physiology , Halorhodopsins/genetics , Halorhodopsins/metabolism , Learning/physiology , Long-Term Potentiation/physiology , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Neurons/physiology , Optogenetics
19.
Nutrients ; 13(4)2021 Mar 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33810608

ABSTRACT

Many trials have been conducted to treat atopic dermatitis (AD), but these therapies are generally unsuccessful because of their insufficiency or side effects. This study examined the efficacy of ß-glucan derived from oats with fermented probiotics (called Synbio-glucan) on an AD-induced mouse model. For the experiment, Nc/Nga mice were exposed to a house dust mite extract (HDM) to induce AD. The mice were placed in one of four groups: positive control group, Synbio-glucan topical treatment group, Synbio-glucan dietary treatment group, and Synbio-glucan topical + dietary treatment group. The experiment revealed no significant difference in the serum IgE concentration among the groups. Serum cytokine antibody arrays showed that genes related to the immune response were enriched. A significant difference in the skin lesion scores was observed between the groups. Compared to the control group tissue, skin lesions were alleviated in the Synbio-glucan topical treatment group and Synbio-glucan dietary treatment group. Interestingly, almost normal structures were observed within the skin lesions in the Synbio-glucan topical + dietary treatment group. Overall, the ß-glucan extracted from oats and fermented probiotic mixture is effective in treating atopic dermatitis.


Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Dermatitis, Atopic/drug therapy , Glucans/administration & dosage , Immunomodulation/drug effects , Synbiotics , Animals , Dermatitis, Atopic/diet therapy , Female , Immunoglobulin E/blood , Mice
20.
Vet Sci ; 8(3)2021 Mar 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33803665

ABSTRACT

Acute pancreatitis is an acute inflammatory process in the pancreas that is common in dogs. This study was designed to compare cytokines between healthy dogs and dogs with suspected acute pancreatitis. For the canine cytokine antibody array, three healthy dogs and three dogs with suspected acute pancreatitis were included. Interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-10, GM-CSF, and TNF-α were not detected in either group based on the results. Conversely, IL-8 (p = 0.035), Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP)-1 (p = 0.0138), Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts (RAGE) (p = 0.0079), and stem cell factor (SCF) (p = 0.034) were significantly increased in dogs with suspected acute pancreatitis. However, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (p = 0.6971) did not differ significantly between groups. For the canine serum Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), eight healthy dogs and eight dogs with suspected acute pancreatitis were included. ELISA revealed that IL-8 (p < 0.0001), MCP-1 (p < 0.0001), RAGE (p = 0.006), and SCF (p = 0.0002) were all significantly upregulated in the experimental group. We confirmed multiple patterns of cytokines in suspected acute pancreatitis of dogs via canine cytokine antibody array using a small quantity of serum. After this procedure, we reevaluated the cytokines, which were significantly increased in dogs with suspected acute pancreatitis, by ELISA, with more samples. Through this study, we confirmed that MCP-1, RAGE, and SCF were newly suggested factors in dogs with suspected acute pancreatitis.

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