Correlation between air pollution and prevalence of conjunctivitis in South Korea using analysis of public big data.

This study investigated how changes in weather factors affect the prevalence of conjunctivitis using public big data in South Korea. A total of 1,428 public big data entries from January 2013 to December 2019 were collected. Disease data and basic climate/air pollutant concentration records were collected from nationally provided big data. Meteorological factors affecting eye diseases were identified using multiple linear regression and machine learning analysis methods such as extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), decision tree, and random forest. The prediction model with the best performance was XGBoost (1.180), followed by multiple regression (1.195), random forest (1.206), and decision tree (1.544) when using root mean square error (RMSE) values. With the XGBoost model, province was the most important variable (0.352), followed by month (0.289) and carbon monoxide exposure (0.133). Other air pollutants including sulfur dioxide, PM10, nitrogen dioxides, and ozone showed low associations with conjunctivitis. We identified factors associated with conjunctivitis using traditional multiple regression analysis and machine learning techniques. Regional factors were important for the prevalence of conjunctivitis as well as the atmosphere and air quality factors.

Alteration of Gut Microbiota After Antibiotic Exposure in Finishing Swine.

Subclinical doses of antimicrobials are commonly used in the swine industry to control infectious diseases and growth performance. Accumulating evidence suggests that swine administered with antibiotics are susceptible to disease development due to disruption of the beneficial gut microbial community, which is associated with host immune regulation, nutrient digestion, and colonization resistance against pathogens. In this study, we found that finishing swine administered with lincomycin showed gut dysbiosis and increased diarrhea incidence compared with control swine. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was used to analyze the gut microbiota in finishing swine administered with lincomycin. The relative abundance of detrimental microbes, such as species of Clostridium, Aerococcus, Escherichia-Shigella, and Corynebacterium was increased in the feces of lincomycin-administered finishing swine, but that of bacteria associated with fiber degradation, such as species of Treponema, Succinivibrio, Fibrobacter, and Cellulosilyticum was decreased. Moreover, administration of lincomycin significantly increased the enrichment of metabolic pathways related to pathogenicity and deficiency of polysaccharide degradation. These results suggest that lincomycin treatment could cause severe disruption of the commensal microbiota in finishing swine.

Regulatory Effect of Lactobacillus brevis Bmb6 on Gut Barrier Functions in Experimental Colitis.

The integrity of gut barrier functions is closely associated with the pathogenesis of colitis. It is speculated that Lactobacillus brevis Bmb6 alleviates colitis by improving the tight junction (TJ) of the inflamed intestinal epithelial layer. In the present study, the regulatory effects of L. brevis Bmb6 on the TJ barrier to ameliorate colitis-symptoms were investigated. Preliminary screening showed that L. brevis Bmb6 exhibited strong acid and bile acid tolerance, along with antioxidants and ß-galactosidase activities. In a 14-day dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model, treatment with L. brevis Bmb6 significantly decreased in the disease activity index score. In addition, histological analyses showed that treatment with L. brevis Bmb6 protected the structural integrity of the intestinal epithelial layer and mucin-secreting goblet cells from DSS-induced damage, with only slight infiltration of immune cells. Interestingly, western blotting analyses showed that the expression of the TJ protein, zona occluden-1, was restored in Bmb6-treated mice, but not in DSS-induced mice. Consistently, the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ) was also suppressed in the Bmb6-treated mice. Hence, our findings suggest that suppression of inflammatory conditions enhanced expression of TJ protein, ZO-1, or vice versa, contributing to a colitis-ameliorating effect in L. brevis Bmb6.

Mixture of Two Lactobacillus plantarum Strains Modulates the Gut Microbiota Structure and Regulatory T Cell Response in Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

SCOPE: The gut microbiota has been linked to diet-induced obesity, and microorganisms that influence obesity have important health implications. In this study, the anti-obesity effects of two Lactobacillus plantarum strains (DSR M2 and DSR 920) isolated from kimchi are investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mice are fed a normal or high-fat diet with or without DSR M2 and DSR 920 (DSR, 1 × 109 CFU d-1 ) for 12 weeks. DSR improves the obesity state, as evidenced by the i) suppressed obesity-related markers, e.g., gains in body weight and fat mass, ii) reduced serum and liver triglyceride levels, iii) upregulated ß-oxidation and downregulated lipogenesis-related genes in the liver, iv) reduced serum leptin levels, v) altered microbial communities, vi) increased regulatory T cell immunity, and vii) suppressed inflammatory response. In addition, correlation analysis shows that Akkermansia muciniphila and the genus Anaerostipes, which are increased in the DSR group, are negatively correlated with obesity-related markers, but Mucispirillum schaedleri, which is increased in the high-fat-diet (HFD) group, is positively correlated with serum leptin level. CONCLUSION: Lactobacillus plantarum DSR M2 and DSR 920 are candidate probiotics for the prevention and amelioration of obesity.

Lactobacillus sakei WIKIM30 Ameliorates Atopic Dermatitis-Like Skin Lesions by Inducing Regulatory T Cells and Altering Gut Microbiota Structure in Mice.

Lactobacillus sakei WIKIM30 is a Gram-positive facultative anaerobic bacterium isolated from kimchi, a Korean fermented vegetable food. In this study, we found that WIKIM30 promoted regulatory T cell (Treg) differentiation by inducing dendritic cells with tolerogenic properties. The production of the T helper (Th) 2-associated cytokine interleukin (IL)-4 was decreased, but that of the Treg-associated cytokine IL-10 was increased in splenocytes from ovalbumin-sensitized mice treated with WIKIM30. We also investigated the inhibitory capacity of WIKIM30 on the development of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis (AD), a Th2-dominant allergic disease in mice. Oral administration of L. sakei WIKIM30 significantly reduced AD-like skin lesions and serum immunoglobulin E and IL-4 levels while decreasing the number of CD4+ T cells and B cells and the levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) in peripheral lymph nodes and enhancing Treg differentiation and IL-10 secretion in mesenteric lymph nodes. In addition, WIKIM30 modulated gut microbiome profiles that were altered in AD mice, which showed increases in Arthromitus and Ralstonia and a decrease in Ruminococcus abundance. These changes were reversed by WIKIM30 treatment. Notably, the increase in Ruminococcus was highly correlated with Treg-related responses and may contribute to the alleviation of AD responses. Together, these results suggest that oral administration of L. sakei WIKIM30 modulates allergic Th2 responses enhancing Treg generation and increases the relative abundance of intestinal bacteria that are positively related to Treg generation, and therefore has therapeutic potential for the treatment of AD.

Virgibacillus kimchii sp. nov., a halophilic bacterium isolated from kimchi.

A Gram-stain-positive, halophilic, rod-shaped, non-motile, spore forming bacterium, strain NKC1-2T, was isolated from kimchi, a Korean fermented food. Comparative analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence demonstrated that the isolated strain was a species of the genus Virgibacillus. Strain NKC1-2T exhibited high level of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the type strains of Virgibacillus xinjiangensis SL6-1T (96.9%), V. sediminis YIM kkny3T (96.8%), and V. salarius SA-Vb1T (96.7%). The isolate grew at pH 6.5-10.0 (optimum, pH 8.5-9.0), 0.0-25.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 10-15% NaCl), and 15-50°C (optimum, 37°C). The major menaquinone in the strain was menaquinone-7, and the main peptidoglycan of the strain was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The predominant fatty acids of the strain were iso-C14:0, anteisio-C15:0, iso- C15:0, and iso-C16:0 (other components were < 10.0%). The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The genomic DNA G + C content of NKC1-2T was 42.5 mol%. On the basis of these findings, strain NKC1-2T is proposed as a novel species in the genus Virgibacillus, for which the name Virgibacillus kimchii sp. nov. is proposed (=KACC 19404T =JCM 32284T). The type strain of Virgibacillus kimchii is NKC1-2T.

Post-cerclage ultrasonographic cervical length can predict preterm delivery in elective cervical cerclage patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of transvaginal ultrasound measurements of cervical length before and after elective prophylactic cervical cerclage in predicting preterm delivery before 32 weeks of gestation. METHODS: Women who underwent an elective cerclage operation at 14 to 19 weeks of gestation and who delivered between January 2004 and December 2009 were enrolled in this study (n=52). Ultrasonography was performed to measure cervical length before and after cerclage. The primary outcome was defined as preterm delivery before 32 weeks of gestation. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the most discriminating cut-off values of ultrasonographic cervical parameters predictive of preterm delivery before 32 weeks of gestation. RESULTS: Among the 52 patients studied, ten delivered before 32 weeks of gestation. Among the ultrasonographic cervical parameters compared, only the cervical length after cerclage was significantly different (shorter) in patients who delivered before 32 weeks of gestation (P=0.037) compared to that of those who delivered after 32 weeks of gestation in univariate and multivariate analyses (odds ratio, 0.402; 95% confidence interval, 0.174 to 0.925; P=0.021). The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that a cervical length of 25 mm or less after cerclage was predictive of preterm delivery before 32 weeks of gestation (area under curve, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.56 to 0.87; P=0.029) with a sensitivity of 91.0% and a specificity of 30.0%. CONCLUSION: Patients with a cervical length less than 25 mm after elective cerclage may be at higher risk of preterm delivery before 32 weeks of gestation.

Effect of trunk-to-head bathing on physiological responses in newborns.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of trunk-to-head bathing versus the traditional head-to-trunk bathing on newborns' body temperature, heart rate, and oxygen saturation. DESIGN: A prospective, two-group, quasi-experimental repeated measures design. SETTING: A newborn nursery in an urban university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-two healthy full-term newborns. METHODS: Newborns were randomly assigned to two groups. The newborns in the experimental group were bathed from trunk to head; those in the control group were bathed from head to trunk. Measurements of body temperature, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were obtained at four time points: before the bath, immediately after the bath, 30 minutes after the bath, and 60 minutes after the bath. RESULTS: No significant differences in body temperature, heart rate, or oxygen saturation were observed between groups. However, body temperature was significantly different across measurement times, and there was a significant interaction between group and measurement time. The mean body temperature dropped 0.2°C after bathing in both groups, but the experimental group returned to their initial body temperature more rapidly than the control group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that newborns who were bathed from trunk to head and whose heads were wet for shorter periods of time benefited with a more rapid recovery of body temperature and decreased heat loss due to evaporation.

Application of sperm selection using hyaluronic acid binding in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles: a sibling oocyte study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether sperm selection by hyaluronic acid (HA) binding could improve fertilization rate and embryo quality in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. Two hundred nineteen oocytes obtained from eighteen women were injected with either HA-bound (n = 107) or conventionally selected spermatozoa (n = 112) in a randomized way. All of the participants were infertile couples who had normal sperm parameters but low fertilization rate in previous in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle (n = 5) or experienced multiple IVF failures (n = 13). Lower fertilization (75.7% vs 83.0%) and cleavage rate on day 2 (72.9% vs 83.0%) was observed in oocytes injected with HA-bound spermatozoa than the conventional group, but the difference was not significant. Significantly lower cleavage rate was observed on day 3 in HA group (56.0% vs 69.6%, P = 0.038). Blastocyst formation rate and the number of transferred embryos were similar in both groups. In multiple IVF failure patients, significantly reduced fertilization rate (71.8% vs 85.3%, P = 0.046) and cleavage rate on day 2 (70.4% vs 85.3%, P = 0.029) and day 3 (53.5% vs 77.3%, P = 0.002) were noticed in HA group. Five women achieved pregnancy continuing more than 12 weeks after transfer (27.8%). Success of ICSI was not related with the number of embryos fertilized by HA-bound spermatozoa. Application of ICSI by sperm selection using HA binding is not helpful in couples with repeated poor fertilization or implantation despite normal sperm parameters.

The role of prophylactic cerclage in preventing preterm delivery after electrosurgical conization.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pregnancy outcomes after electrosurgical conization. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 56 singleton pregnancies after electrosurgical conization of the uterine cervix. Of the 56 cases, 25 women underwent prophylactic cerclage with McDonald procedure (cerclage group), and 31 were managed expectantly (expectant group). Pregnancy outcomes including rate of preterm delivery were compared, and the effect of potential risk factors such as depth of cone, interval between conization and pregnancy, and cervical length on the risk of preterm delivery was assessed. RESULTS: The rate of preterm delivery was significantly higher in women with a history of electrosurgical conization than those without (32.1% vs. 15.2%, p<0.001). However, preterm delivery rate was not different between the two groups (expectant group vs. cerclage group; <28 week, 6.5% vs. 8.0%, p=1.000; <34 week, 19.4% vs. 20.0%, p=1.000; <37 week, 29.0% vs. 36.0%, p=0.579). All obstetric and neonatal outcomes were similar in the two groups. Even when we confined the study subjects to 19 women (19/56, 33.9%) with cervical length less than 25 mm, the preterm delivery rate also was not significantly different between the expectant (n=7) and cerclage group (n=12). Finally, the potential risk factors for preterm delivery were not associated with risk of preterm delivery in patients with a history of electrosurgical conization. CONCLUSION: The rate of preterm delivery was significantly higher in women with a history of electrosurgical conization before pregnancy. However, prophylactic cervical cerclage did not prevent preterm delivery in these patients.

Magnetic separation: a highly effective method for synchronization of cultured erythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum.

The magnetic method has been previously utilized to concentrate Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes without any significant influence on the viability of the parasite. We attempted, in this study, to concentrate and synchronize cultivated P. falciparum via the magnetic method. The results of this study showed that the magnetic method effectively synchronized and concentrated P. falciparum with finer demarcation capacity in the erythrocytic asexual cycle of the parasite than currently available synchronization methods. Concentration and synchronization by the magnetic method proved most effective when schizonts were dominant. Therefore, it proved necessary to enhance the synchronization efficiency of the magnetic method by first applying the method currently in use, which renders schizonts dominant. Our study also showed that the intrinsic life cycle of erythrocytic P. falciparum was slightly longer than 48 h observed in natural infection cases, and that the length of the intrinsic life cycles between various P. falciparum strains differed slightly.

Petunia actin-depolymerizing factor is mainly accumulated in vascular tissue and its gene expression is enhanced by the first intron.

Actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) is one of the actin cytoskeleton-modulating proteins. We have characterized the accumulation pattern of petunia ADF proteins. PhADF proteins are accumulated in every petunia organ and their accumulation is differentially regulated by developmental signals. Their cellular localization is vascular tissue-preferential in vegetative organs, whereas somewhat different in reproductive organs. In reproductive organs, PhADFs are present in outer integument, endocarp of ovary wall, transmitting tissue of style, and epidermis and endothecium of young anther. From a petunia genomic library, we have isolated a genomic clone encoding PhADF1. Comparison to complementary DNA sequence revealed that the coding region of PhADF1 gene consists of three exons and two introns. Analysis of chimeric gene expression using beta-glucuronidase as a reporter gene in transgenic Arabidopsis revealed that PhADF1 was strongly expressed in every vegetative tissue except petal. In addition, expression of the gene was highly enhanced by its first intron. These results suggest that PhADF1 gene of petunia is mainly expressed in vascular tissues and its expression is regulated by intron-mediated enhancement mechanism.