Stress-induced Alterations in Mast Cell Numbers and Proteinase-activated Receptor-2 Expression of the Colon: Role of Corticotrophin-releasing Factor

This study was performed in order to assess whether acute stress can increase mast cell and enterochromaffin (EC) cell numbers, and proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) expression in the rat colon. In addition, we aimed to investigate the involvement of corticotrophin-releasing factor in these stress-related alterations. Eighteen adult rats were divided into 3 experimental groups: 1) a saline-pretreated non-stressed group, 2) a saline-pretreated stressed group, and 3) an astressin-pretreated stressed group. The numbers of mast cells, EC cells, and PAR2-positive cells were counted in 6 high power fields. In proximal colonic segments, mast cell numbers of stressed rats tended to be higher than those of non-stressed rats, and their PAR2-positive cell numbers were significantly higher than those of non-stressed rats. In distal colonic segments, mast cell numbers and PAR2-positive cell numbers of stressed rats were significantly higher than those of non-stressed rats. Mast cell and PAR2-positive cell numbers of astressin-pretreated stressed rats were significantly lower than those of saline-pretreated stressed rats. EC cell numbers did not differ among the three experimental groups. Acute stress in rats increases mast cell numbers and mucosal PAR2 expression in the colon. These stress-related alterations seem to be mediated by release of corticotrophin-releasing factor

Improving Generalization of Drowsiness State Classification by Domain-Specific Normalization

Abnormal driver states, particularly have been major concerns for road safety, emphasizing the importance of accurate drowsiness detection to prevent accidents. Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals are recognized for their effectiveness in monitoring a driver's mental state by monitoring brain activities. However, the challenge lies in the requirement for prior calibration due to the variation of EEG signals among and within individuals. The necessity of calibration has made the brain-computer interface (BCI) less accessible. We propose a practical generalized framework for classifying driver drowsiness states to improve accessibility and convenience. We separate the normalization process for each driver, treating them as individual domains. The goal of developing a general model is similar to that of domain generalization. The framework considers the statistics of each domain separately since they vary among domains. We experimented with various normalization methods to enhance the ability to generalize across subjects, i.e. the model's generalization performance of unseen domains. The experiments showed that applying individual domain-specific normalization yielded an outstanding improvement in generalizability. Furthermore, our framework demonstrates the potential and accessibility by removing the need for calibration in BCI applications.Comment: Submitted to 2024 12th IEEE International Winter Conference on Brain-Computer Interfac

Assessment of satellite rainfall nowcasting based on extrapolation technique

Póster presentado en: 3rd European Nowcasting Conference, celebrada en la sede central de AEMET en Madrid del 24 al 26 de abril de 2019

Antibacterial and synergistic effects of Nardostachytis rhizoma extracts on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a serious clinical problem worldwide. Few new drugs are available against MRSA, because it has the ability to acquire resistance to most antibiotics which consequently increases the cost of medication. In the present study, the antibacterial activity of Nardostachytis rhizoma was investigated. The most effective method is to develop antibiotics from the natural products without having any toxic or side effects. Therefore, there is a need to develop alternative antimicrobial drugs for the treatment of infectious diseases. The use of two drugs in combination is a good alternative to slow the process of developing drug resistance and to restore the effectiveness of drugs that are no longer prescribed. Combination therapy is the most commonly recommended empirical treatment for bacterial infections in intensive care units, where monotherapy may not be effective against all potential pathogens, and for preventing the emergence of resistant. Five clinical isolates (MRSA) were obtained from five different patients at Wonkwang University Hospital (Iksan, South Korea). The other two strains were S. aureus ATCC 33591 (methicillin-resistant strain) and S. aureus ATCC 25923 (methicillin-susceptible strain). Antibacterial activity (minimal inhibitory concentrations, MICs) was determined by broth dilution method, disc diffusion method, MTT test and checkerboard dilution test. Antimicrobial activity of n-hexane fraction of N. rhizoma was significant. Against the seven strains, the disc diffusion test was in the range of 14 to 18 mm and had a MICs ranging from 31.25 to 125 ìg/ml. FICI values for n-hexane fraction (HFL) of N. rhizome + ampicillin (AM) and HFL + oxacillin (OX) were 0.1875 and 0.078125-0.09375, showing the increase of synergistic effect. When combined together, these antibiotic effects were dramatically increased. These effective combinations could be new promising agents in the management of MRSA and MSSA.Key words: Nardostachytis rhizoma, synergism, antibacterial, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Association between childhood adversities and adulthood depressive symptoms in South Korea: Results from a nationally representative longitudinal study

Objective To examine how childhood adversity (ie, parental death, parental divorce, suspension of school education due to financial strain or being raised in a relative\u27s house due to financial strain) is associated with prevalence and incidence of adulthood depressive symptoms and whether this association differs by gender and by age in South Korea. Design Prospective cohort design. Setting Nationally representative longitudinal survey in South Korea. Participants 11 526 participants in South Korea. Outcome measure Prevalence and incidence of adulthood depressive symptoms were assessed as a dichotomous variable using the Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale in 2006 and 2007. Results In the prevalence analysis, each of the four childhood adversities was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of adulthood depressive symptoms. The higher incidence of depressive symptoms was associated with suspension of school education (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.32 to 1.82) and parental divorce (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.71). In the age-stratified analyses, prevalence of depressive symptoms was associated with all CAs across different adulthoods, except for parental divorce and late adulthood depressive symptoms. After being stratified by gender, the association was significant for parental divorce (OR 3.76, 95% CI 2.34 to 6.03) in the prevalence analysis and for being raised in a relative’s house (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.94) in the incidence analysis only among women. Conclusions This study suggests that childhood adversity may increase prevalence and incidence of adulthood depressive symptoms, and the impact of parental divorce or being raised in a relative\u27s house due to financial strain on adulthood depressive symptoms may differ by gender

Dissolution of Spinel Oxides and Capacity Losses in 4 V Li/LixMn2O4 Cells

Dissolution of spinel manganese oxides and the concomitant cathodic capacity losses were examined in 4 V Li/PC + DME + LiClO4/LiMn2O4 cells where PC is propylene carbonate and DME is dimethoxyethane. Dissolved Mn2 contents in the electrolytes were analyzed as a function of cathode potential and carbon contents in the composite cathodes. Characteristically, manganese dissolution was notably high at the charged state (at >4.1 V vs. Li/Lit), in which potential range an electrochemical oxidation of the solvent molecules was also prominent. From this and another observation whereby the Mn dissolution increased with increasing carbon content in the composite cathodes, it was proposed that, at the charged state of the cathode the solvent molecules are electrochemically oxidized on carbon surfaces and an as-generated species promotes the manganese dissolution. Results of an ac impedance study revealed that Mn dissolution brings about an increase in contact resistances at the Mn-depleted spinel/carbon interface, and also in the electrode reaction resistances for Li intercalation/deintercalation. Thus, the Mn dissolution causes capacity losses in two different pathways; material loss of the loaded spinel and polarization loss due to a cell resistance increment. The former prevailed when cathodes contained excess amounts of carbon, while the latter became more of a problem as the carbon contents decreased

Necrotizing fasciitis involving the chest and abdominal wall caused by Raoultella planticola

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Raoultella planticola </it>was originally considered to be a member of environmental <it>Klebsiella</it>. The clinical significance of <it>R. planticola </it>is still not well known.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We describe the first case of necrotizing fasciitis involving the chest and abdominal wall caused by <it>R. planticola</it>. The identity of the organism was confirmed using 16S rRNA sequencing. The patient was successfully treated with the appropriate antibiotics combined with operative drainage and debridement.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>R. planticola </it>had been described as environmental species, but should be suspected in extensive necrotizing fasciitis after minor trauma in mild to moderate immunocompromised patients.</p

Origin of Difference in the Reactivity of Aliphatic and Aromatic Guanidine-containing Pharmaceuticals Toward [18F]Fluorination: Coulombic Forces and Hydrogen Bonding

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151351/1/bkcs11842.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151351/2/bkcs11842_am.pd