The roles of CD137 signaling in atherosclerosis

The tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF), which includes CD40, LIGHT, and OX40, plays important roles in the initiation and progression of cardiovascular diseases, involving atherosclerosis. CD137, a member of TNFRSF, is a well-known activation-induced T cell co-stimulatory molecule and has been reported to be expressed in human atherosclerotic plaque lesions, and plays pivotal roles in mediating disease processes. In this review, we focus on and summarize recent advances in mouse studies on the involvement of CD137 signaling in the pathogenesis and plaque stability of atherosclerosis, thereby highlighting a valuable therapeutic target in atherosclerosis

CD137 signaling regulates acute colitis via RALDH2-expressing CD11b−CD103+ DCs

CD137, a potent costimulatory receptor for CD

Экологический мониторинг влажности почвы бесконтактным методом по точке росы

Разработан новый измерительный комплекс для определения влажности почвы методом точки росы. В результате, разработанная установка (опытный образец) обеспечит значительно более высокую степень автоматизации, по сравнению с весовыми методами лабораторного анализа, а так же снизит расходы предприятия, позволит контролировать качество полива различных видов растений.The new measuring complex is developed for definition of humidity of the soil by a dew point method. As a result, the developed installation (prototype) will provide much higher extent of automation, in comparison with weight methods of the laboratory analysis, and will also cut expenses of the enterprise, will allow to control quality of watering of different types of plants

Delayed Infrarenal Aortic Pseudoaneurysm Treated by Endovascular Stent Graft in Pyogenic Spondylitis

A 61-year-old male patient with pyogenic spondylodiscitis and epidural and psoas abscesses underwent posterior decompression, debridement, and instrumented fusion, followed by anterior debridement and reconstruction. Sudden onset flank pain was diagnosed 7 weeks postoperatively and was determined to be a pseudoaneurysm located at the aorta inferior to the renal artery and superior to the aortic bifurcation area. An endovascular stent graft was applied to successfully treat the pseudoaneurysm. Postoperative recovery was uneventful and infection status was stabilized

Prognostic Factors of Neurological Complications in Spinal Surgeries

Study Design Retrospective study. Purpose To determine prognostic factors of neurological complications (NCs) of posterior thoracolumbar surgeries. Overview of Literature There have been few reports on the prognosis of NCs according to the causes and treatment methods. Methods The subjects were 65 patients who had NCs for 19 years (1995–2013) after posterior thoracolumbar surgeries in Seoul Sacred Heart General Hospital. The degree of neurological injury was assessed using numeric scales as follows: G1, increased leg pain or sensory loss; G2, hemiparesis; G3, paraparesis; G4, cauda equine syndrome; and G5, complete paraplegia. The relative degree of neurological recovery was evaluated using four numeric scales as follows: Gr1, complete recovery; Gr2, almost complete recovery with residual sensory loss or numbness; Gr3, partial recovery with apparent neurological deficit; and Gr4, no recovery. The prognostic factors were investigated in terms of demographic and surgical variables that were available in a retrospective review. Results The causes were as follows: epidural hematoma (EH), 25 patients (38.5%); insufficient decompression and fusion, 14 patients (21.5%); mechanical injury, 11 patients (16.9%); insufficient discectomy, four patients (6.2%); and unknown, 11 patients (23.1%). The grade of neurological injury was as follows: G1, 11 patients (16.9%); G2, 34 patients (52.3%); G3, 15 patients (23.1%); G4, three patients (4.6%); and G5, two patients (3.1%). Thirteen patients received conservative treatment, and 52 underwent revision surgeries. Neurological recovery was as follows: Gr1, 21 patients (32.3%); Gr2, 17 patients (26.2%); Gr3, 20 patients (30.8%); and Gr4, seven patients (10.8%). The prognosis depended on the causes (p =0.041). The subgroup analysis of the revision group revealed a significant correlation between the degree of neurological recovery and the timing of revision, irrespective of causes (r =0.413, p =0.002). Conclusions The prognosis of NC depended on the causes. EH was the best and unknown was the worst prognostic factor. Revision should be performed as soon as possible for a better prognosis

Deficiency of peroxiredoxin 2 exacerbates angiotensin II-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm

Abdominal aortic aneurysm: Potential enzyme biomarker identified An enzyme with antioxidant properties may provide a biomarker and therapeutic agent to help treat abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). AAA involves the structural deterioration of the aorta through chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, and can trigger life-threatening artery rupture. An antioxidant enzyme called peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX2) is increased in patients with ruptures, but whether its role in AAA is beneficial or detrimental is unclear. Goo Taeg Oh at the Ewha Womans University in Seoul, Jong-Gil Park at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, South Korea, and co-workers examined the effect of PRDX2 on AAA progression. PRDX2 suppressed structural damage in mice, limiting artery dilation and protein degradation. Loss of PRDX2 accelerated AAA development. Measuring levels of PRDX2 may indicate AAA severity in patients, while boosting the enzyme could repair aortic damage

Anticholinesterase Therapy for Patients with Ophthalmoplegia Following Snake Bites: Report of Two Cases

Although ophthalmoplegia following snake bites is not indicative of a serious neurotoxic complication, symptoms of diplopia, dizziness and ocular discomfort can be emotionally devastating for patients. The authors experienced two cases of ophthalmoplegia following snake bites in Korea. The patients complained of diplopia that had developed several hours after the snake bites. The diplopia did not improve with antivenom treatment, but resolved completely after several injections of neostigmine

Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression and histopathological characteristics in canine brain with traumatic brain injury

We analyzed the expression level and cellular localization of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and histopathologically characterized canine traumatic brain injury (TBI). Canine TBI brains revealed subarachnoid and cerebral cortical hemorrhage, neutrophilic infiltration, neuronal necrosis, astrocytosis, and vasogenic edema. Immunohistochemical evaluations suggested that both pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α] and anti-inflammatory cytokines [IL-10 and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)] were highly expressed in neurons and neutrophils. In particular, the highest magnitude of expression was identified for IL-1β and TGF-β. This data helps describe the pathologic characteristics of canine TBI, and may help in the design of potential therapeutic approaches to control secondary damage by inflammatory cytokines