Scutellaria baicalensis

Antimycin A (AMA) damages mitochondria by inhibiting mitochondrial electron transport and can produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS formation, aging, and reduction of mitochondrial biogenesis contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction. The present study sought to investigate extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis and its flavonoids (baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin), whether they could protect mitochondria against oxidative damage. The viability of L6 cells treated with AMA increased in the presence of flavonoids and extracts of S. baicalensis. ATP production decreased in the AMA treated group, but increased by 50% in cells treated with flavonoids (except wogonin) and extracts of S. baicalensis compared to AMA-treated group. AMA treatment caused a significant reduction (depolarized) in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), whereas flavonoid treatment induced a significant increase in MMP. Mitochondrial superoxide levels increased in AMA treated cells, whereas its levels decreased when cells were treated with flavonoids or extracts of S. baicalensis. L6 cells treated with flavonoids and extracts of S. baicalensis increased their levels of protein expression compared with AMA-treated cells, especially water extracts performed the highest levels of protein expression. These results suggest that the S. baicalensis extracts and flavonoids protect against AMA-induced mitochondrial dysfunction by increasing ATP production, upregulating MMP, and enhancing mitochondrial function

A Case of Wernicke's Encephalopathy Following Fluorouracil-based Chemotherapy

The pyrimidine antimetabolite 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a chemotherapeutic agent used widely for various tumors. Common side effects of 5-FU are related to its effects on the bone marrow and gastrointestinal epithelium. Neurotoxicity caused by 5-FU is uncommon, although acute and delayed forms have been reported. Wernicke's encephalopathy is an acute, neuropsychiatric syndrome resulting from thiamine deficiency, and has significant morbidity and mortality. Central nervous system neurotoxicity such as Wernicke's encephalopathy following chemotherapy with 5-FU has been reported rarely, although it has been suggested that 5-FU can produce adverse neurological effects by causing thiamine deficiency. We report a patient with Wernicke's encephalopathy, reversible with thiamine therapy, associated with 5-FU-based chemotherapy

Assessment of the viability of integrating virtual reality programs in practical tests for the Korean Radiological Technologists Licensing Examination: a survey study

Purpose The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of incorporating virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) programs into practical tests administered as part of the Korean Radiological Technologists Licensing Examination (KRTLE). This evaluation is grounded in a comprehensive survey that targeted enrolled students in departments of radiology across the nation. Methods In total, 682 students from radiology departments across the nation were participants in the survey. An online survey platform was used, and the questionnaire was structured into 5 distinct sections and 27 questions. A frequency analysis for each section of the survey was conducted using IBM SPSS ver. 27.0. Results Direct or indirect exposure to VR/AR content was reported by 67.7% of all respondents. Furthermore, 55.4% of the respondents expressed that VR/AR could be integrated into their classes, which signified a widespread acknowledgment of VR among the students. With regards to the integration of a VR/AR or mixed reality program into the practical tests for purposes of the KRTLE, a substantial amount of the respondents (57.3%) exhibited a positive inclination and recommended its introduction. Conclusion The application of VR/AR programs within practical tests of the KRTLE will be used as an alternative for evaluating clinical examination procedures and validating job skills

Economic Development of North Korea: International Trade Based Development Policy and Legal Reform

This article provides a rare account of the law and development policies of North Korea. Much of North Korea has not been known to the outside world except its nuclear ambitions and political clashes with the United States and its allies. Little known to the outside world, North Korea achieved rapid economic development in the 1950s through early 60s, through effective mobilization of resources. However, since the 70s, North Korea experienced economic downturns that eventually led to its economic crisis in the 90s. This chapter provides a discussion of North Korea's early economic success and the subsequent problems that it experienced. The article also provides an analysis of possible economic reforms, public health and development issues, and the role of international trade in economic development in North Korea.

妊娠マウスを用いた先天性トキソプラズマ症モデルにおけるRT-PCRによるサイトカイン産生の解析

To explore the mechanisms of immune responses of host to Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii) infection in pregnant mice, we evaluated roles of cytokines [interferon gamma (IFN-y), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 4 (IL-4)] J by measuring mRNAS of these cytokines in placentas, lungs and spleens. The pathogenic effects of time and duration of the Fukaya infection on cytokine mRNA levels in pregnant mice were analyzed. The abundance of mRNAS encoding these cytokines was measured by reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR at early and late stages of pregnancy in various organs of both susceptible C57BL/6 and resistant BALB/c pregnant mice infected with T. gondii. IFN-y and TNF-α but not IL-6 or IL-4, were predominant in the immune responses of placentas, lungs and spleens of BALB/ c and C57BL/6 mice during T. gondii infection. Levels of IFN-y and TNF-α mRNA in placentas of early stage pregnant BALB/c mice (infected at one-week pregnancy and examined on day 4 after infection; 1W4D) were higher than those in corresponding C57BL/6 pregnant mice, which might correlate with the fact that higher parasite numbers in placentas and lungs of C57BL/6 mice (infected at one-week pregnancy and examined on day 11 after the Fukaya infection; 1W11D) were observed than those in placentas and lungs of corresponding BALB/c mice, but not correlate with the result of parasite numbers (T. gondii No./mg tissue) in spleens of C57BL/6 (O) and BALB/c (120±56) pregnant mice. In the late stage of pregnancy, levels of IFN-y and TNF-α did not show definite correlations with T. gondii loads in placentas, lungs and spleens. These results indicate that endogenous IFN-y and TNF-α of early stage pregnancy may be essential for inhibition of T. gondii growth in some organs (placentas and lungs), but not in spleens, and the mechanisms of genetic influence involved in the susceptibility and resistance to acute T. gondii infection may include several immune responses acting together