Estrogen receptor-α gene haplotype is associated with primary knee osteoarthritis in Korean population

Estrogen and estrogen receptors (ERs) are known to play important roles in the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA). To investigate ER-α gene polymorphisms for its associations with primary knee OA, we conducted a case–control association study in patients with primary knee OA (n = 151) and healthy individuals (n = 397) in the Korean population. Haplotyping analysis was used to determine the relationship between three polymorphisms in the ER-α gene (intron 1 T/C, intron 1 A/G and exon 8 G/A) and primary knee OA. Genotypes of the ER-α gene polymorphism were determined by PCR followed by restriction enzyme digestion (PvuII for intron 1 T/C, XbaI for intron 1 A/G, and BtgI for exon 8 G/A polymorphism). There was no significant difference between primary knee OA patients and healthy control individuals in the distribution of any of the genotypes evaluated. However, we found that the allele frequency for the exon 8 G/A BtgI polymorphism (codon 594) was significantly different between primary knee OA patients and control individuals (odds ratio = 1.38, 95% confidence interval = 1.01–1.88; P = 0.044). In haplotype frequency estimation analysis, there was a significant difference between primary knee OA patients and control individuals (degrees of freedom = 7, χ(2 )= 21.48; P = 0.003). Although the number OA patients studied is small, the present study shows that ER-α gene haplotype may be associated with primary knee OA, and genetic variations in the ER-α gene may be involved in OA

Evaluation of the Efficacy and Cross-Protectivity of Recent Human and Swine Vaccines against the Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Virus Infection

The current pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus remains transmissible among humans worldwide with cases of reverse zoonosis, providing opportunities to produce more pathogenic variants which could pose greater human health concerns. To investigate whether recent seasonal human or swine H1N1 vaccines could induce cross-reactive immune responses against infection with the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus, mice, ferrets or mini-pigs were administered with various regimens (once or twice) and antigen content (1.77, 3.5 or 7.5 µg HA) of a-Brsibane/59/07, a-CAN01/04 or RgCA/04/09xPR8 vaccine. Receipt of a-CAN01/04 (2-doses) but not a-Brisbane/59/07 induced detectable but modest (20–40 units) cross-reactive serum antibody against CA/04/09 by hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) assays in mice. Only double administration (7.5 µg HA) of both vaccine in ferrets could elicit cross-reactivity (30–60 HI titers). Similar antigen content of a-CAN01/04 in mini-pigs also caused a modest ∼30 HI titers (twice vaccinated). However, vaccine-induced antibody titers could not suppress active virus replication in the lungs (mice) or virus shedding (ferrets and pigs) of immunized hosts intranasally challenged with CA/04/09. Furthermore, neither ferrets nor swine could abrogate aerosol transmission of the virus into naïve contact animals. Altogether, these results suggest that neither recent human nor animal H1N1 vaccine could provide complete protectivity in all animal models. Thus, this study warrants the need for strain-specific vaccines that could yield the optimal protection desired for humans and/or animals

Characteristics of blood tests in patients with acute cerebral infarction who developed symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage after intravenous administration of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator

Objective Patients suspected as having acute ischemic stroke usually undergo blood tests, including coagulation-related indexes, because thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy are contraindications for recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) administration. We aimed to identify blood test indexes associated with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) in patients with acute ischemic stroke who received intravenous rtPA. Methods This retrospective observational study included patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke who were treated with intravenous rtPA at the emergency department of a tertiary hospital in Seoul between February 2008 and January 2018. Blood test indexes were compared between the sICH and non-sICH groups. Logistic regression and receiver-operating characteristic curve analyses were performed. Results In this study, 375 patients were finally included. Of 375 patients, 42 (11.2%) showed new intracranial hemorrhage on follow-up brain computed tomography, of whom 14 (3.73%) had sICH. Platelet count, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly different between the sICH and non-sICH groups, and platelet count showed statistical significance in the regression analysis. Significantly lower platelet counts were observed in the sICH group than in the non-sICH group (174,500 vs. 228,000/mm3, P=0.020). The best cutoff platelet count was 195,000/mm3, and patients with platelet counts of <195,000/mm3 had a 5.4- times higher risk of developing sICH than those with platelet counts of ≥195,000/mm3. Conclusion Platelet count was the only independent parameter associated with sICH among the blood test indexes. Mild thrombocytopenia may increase the risk of sICH after intravenous administration of rtPA

Impact of successful restoration of sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation and acute heart failure: Results from the Korean Acute Heart Failure registry

Background: Restoring and maintaining sinus rhythm (SR) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) failed to show superior outcomes over rate control strategies in prior randomized trials. However, there is sparse data on their outcomes in patients with acute heart failure (AHF).Methods: From December 2010 to February 2014, 5,625 patients with AHF from 10 tertiary hospitals were enrolled in the Korean Acute Heart Failure registry, including 1,961 patients whose initial electrocardiogram showed AF. Clinical outcomes of patients who restored SR by pharmacological or electrical cardioversion (SR conversion group, n = 212) were compared to those of patients who showed a persistent AF rhythm (AF persistent group, n = 1,662).Results: All-cause mortality both in-hospital and during the follow-up (median 2.5 years) were significantly lower in the SR conversion group than in the AF persistent group after adjustment for risk factors (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.26 [0.08–0.88], p = 0.031 and 0.59 [0.43–0.82], p = 0.002, for mortality in-hospital and during follow-up, respectively). After 1:3 propensity score matching (SR conversion group = 167, AF persistent group = 501), successful restoration of SR was associated with lower all-cause mortality (HR [95% CI] = 0.68 [0.49–0.93], p = 0.015), heart failure rehospitalization (HR [95% CI] = 0.66 [0.45–0.97], p = 0.032), and composite of death and heart failure rehospitalization (HR [95% CI] = 0.66 [0.51–0.86], p = 0.002).Conclusions: Patients with AHF and AF had significantly lower mortality in-hospital and during follow-up if rhythm treatment for AF was successful, underscoring the importance of restoring SR in patients with AHF

Characterization of the Fungal Microbiota (Mycobiome) in Healthy and Dandruff-Afflicted Human Scalps

The human scalp harbors a vast community of microbial mutualists, the composition of which is difficult to elucidate as many of the microorganisms are not culturable using current culture techniques. Dandruff, a common scalp disorder, is known as a causative factor of a mild seborrheic dermatitis as well as pityriasis versicolor, seborrheic dermatitis, and atopic dermatitis. Lipophilic yeast Malassezia is widely accepted to play a role in dandruff, but relatively few comprehensive studies have been reported. In order to investigate fungal biota and genetic resources of dandruff, we amplified the 26S rRNA gene from samples of healthy scalps and dandruff-afflicted scalps. The sequences were analyzed by a high throughput method using a GS-FLX 454 pyrosequencer. Of the 74,811 total sequence reads, Basidiomycota (Filobasidium spp.) was the most common phylum associated with dandruff. In contrast, Ascomycota (Acremonium spp.) was common in the healthy scalps. Our results elucidate the distribution of fungal communities associated with dandruff and provide new avenues for the potential prevention and treatment of dandruff

Impact of High Methane Flux on the Properties of Pore Fluid and Methane-Derived Authigenic Carbonate in the ARAON Mounds, Chukchi Sea

We investigated the pore fluid and methane-derived authigenic carbonate (MDAC) chemistry from the ARAON Mounds in the Chukchi Sea to reveal how methane (CH4) seepage impacts their compositional and isotopic properties. During the ARA07C and ARA09C Expeditions, many in situ gas hydrates (GHs) and MDACs were found near the seafloor. The fluid chemistry has been considerably modified in association with the high CH4 flux and its related byproducts (GHs and MDACs). Compared to Site ARA09C-St 08 (reference site), which displays a linear SO42- downcore profile, the other sites (e.g., ARA07C-St 13, ARA07C-St 14, ARA09C-St 04, ARA09C-St 07, and ARA09C-St 12) that are found byproducts exhibit concave-up and/or kink type SO42- profiles. The physical properties and fluid pathways in sediment columns have been altered by these byproducts, which prevents the steady state condition of the dissolved species through them. Consequently, chemical zones are separated between bearing and non-bearing byproducts intervals under non-steady state condition from the seafloor to the sulfate-methane transition (SMT). GH dissociation also significantly impacts pore fluid properties (e.g., low Cl-, enriched delta D and delta O-18). The upward CH4 with depleted delta C-13 from the thermogenic origin affects the chemical signatures of MDACs. The enriched delta O-18 fluid from GH dissociation also influences the properties of MDACs. Thus, in the ARAON Mounds, the chemistry of the fluid and MDAC has significantly changed, most likely responding to the CH4 flux and GH dissociation through geological time. Overall, our findings will improve the understanding and prediction of the pore fluid and MDAC chemistry in the Arctic Ocean related to CH4 seepage by global climate change