Shock ion acceleration by an ultrashort circularly polarized laser pulse via relativistic transparency in an exploded target

We investigated ion acceleration by an electrostatic shock in an exploded target irradiated by an ultrashort, circularly polarized laser pulse by means of one- and three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. We discovered that the laser field penetrating via relativistic transparency (RT) rapidly heated the upstream electron plasma to enable the formation of a high-speed electrostatic shock. Owing to the RT-based rapid heating and the fast compression of the initial density spike by a circularly polarized pulse, a new regime of the shock ion acceleration driven by an ultrashort (20-40 fs), moderately intense (1-1.4 PW) laser pulse is envisaged. This regime enables more efficient shock ion acceleration under a limited total pulse energy than a linearly polarized pulse with crystal laser systems of lambda similar to 1 mu mopen

Differences in Clinical Outcomes Between Patients With ST-Elevation Versus Non-ST-Elevation Acute Myocardial Infarction in Korea

In Korea, the incidence of acute myocardial infarction has been increasing rapidly. Twelve-month clinical outcomes for 13,133 patients with acute myocardial infarction enrolled in the nationwide prospective Korea Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry study were analyzed according to the presence or absence of ST-segment elevation. Patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were younger, more likely to be men and smokers, and had poorer left ventricular function with a higher incidence of cardiac death compared to patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). NSTEMI patients had a higher prevalence of 3-vessel and left main coronary artery disease with complex lesions, and were more likely to have co-morbidities. The in-hospital and 1-month survival rates were higher in NSTEMI patients than in STEMI patients. However, 12-month survival rates was not different between the two groups. In conclusion, NSTEMI patients have worse clinical outcomes than STEMI patients, and therefore should be treated more intensively during clinical follow-up

JNK pathway is involved in the inhibition of inflammatory target gene expression and NF-kappaB activation by melittin

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bee venom therapy has been used to treat inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis in humans and in experimental animals. We previously found that bee venom and melittin (a major component of bee venom) have anti-inflammatory effect by reacting with the sulfhydryl group of p50 of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and IκB kinases (IKKs). Since mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase family is implicated in the NF-κB activation and inflammatory reaction, we further investigated whether activation of MAP kinase may be also involved in the anti-inflammatory effect of melittin and bee venom.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The anti-inflammatory effects of melittin and bee venom were investigated in cultured Raw 264.7 cells, THP-1 human monocytic cells and Synoviocytes. The activation of NF-κB was investigated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂(PGE₂) were determined either by Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay or by biochemical assay. Expression of IκB, p50, p65, inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) as well as phosphorylation of MAP kinase family was determined by Western blot.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Melittin (0.5–5 μg/ml) and bee venom (5 and 10 μg/ml) inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 μg/ml) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 200 μM)-induced activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) in RAW 264.7 cells in a dose dependent manner. However, JNK inhibitor, anthra [1,9-cd]pyrazole-6 (2H)-one (SP600215, 10–50 μM) dose dependently suppressed the inhibitory effects of melittin and bee venom on NF-κB dependent luciferase and DNA binding activity via suppression of the inhibitory effect of melittin and bee venom on the LPS and SNP-induced translocation of p65 and p50 into nucleus as well as cytosolic release of IκB. Moreover, JNK inhibitor suppressed the inhibitory effects of melittin and bee venom on iNOS and COX-2 expression, and on NO and PGE₂generation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data show that melittin and bee venom prevent LPS and SNP-induced NO and PGE₂production via JNK pathway dependent inactivation of NF-κB, and suggest that inactivation of JNK pathways may also contribute to the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritis effects of melittin and bee venom.</p

Combined effects of aerobic exercise and 40-Hz light flicker exposure on early cognitive impairments in Alzheimer’s disease of 3×Tg mice

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive degenerative brain disease and the primary cause of dementia. At an early stage, AD is generally characterized by short-term memory impairment, owing to dysfunctions of the cortex and hippocampus. We previously reported that a combination of exercise and 40-Hz light flickering can protect against AD-related neuroinflammation, gamma oscillations, reduction in Aβ, and cognitive decline. Therefore, we sought to extend our previous findings to the 5-mo-old 3×Tg-AD mouse model to examine whether the same favorable effects occur in earlier stages of cognitive dysfunction. We investigated the effects of 12 wk of exercise combined with 40-Hz light flickering on cognitive function by analyzing neuroinflammation, mitochondrial function, and neuroplasticity in the hippocampus in a 3×Tg-AD mouse model. Five-month-old 3×Tg-AD mice performed 12 wk of exercise with 40-Hz light flickering administered independently and in combination. Spatial learning and memory, long-term memory, hippocampal Aβ, tau, neuroinflammation, proinflammatory cytokine expression, mitochondrial function, and neuroplasticity were analyzed. Aβ and tau proteins levels were significantly reduced in the early stage of AD, resulting in protection against cognitive decline by reducing neuroinflammation and proinflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, mitochondrial function improved, apoptosis was reduced, and synapse-related protein expression increased. Overall, exercise with 40-Hz light flickering was significantly more effective than exercise or 40-Hz light flickering alone, and the improvement was comparable to the levels in the nontransgenic aged-match control group. Our results indicate a synergistic effect of exercise and 40-Hz light flickering on pathological improvements in the hippocampus during early AD-associated cognitive impairment

Cooccurrence of Metastatic Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma and Salmonella

Cervical lymph node metastasis is common in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Salmonella species are rarely reported as causative agents in focal infections of the head and neck. The cooccurrence of lymph node metastasis from PTC and a bacterial infection is rare. This report describes a 76-year-old woman with a cervical lymph node metastasis from PTC and Salmonella infection of the same lymph node. The patient presented with painful swelling in her left lateral neck region for 15 days, and neck ultrasonography and computed tomography showed a cystic mass along left levels II–IV. The cystic mass was suspected of being a metastatic lymph node; modified radical neck dissection was performed. Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of PTC in the resected node and laboratory examination of the combined abscess cavity confirmed the presence of Salmonella Typhi. Following antibiotic sensitivity testing of the cultured Salmonella Typhi, she was treated with proper antibiotics. Cystic lesions in lymph nodes with metastatic cancer may indicate the presence of cooccurring bacterial infection. Thus, culturing of specimen can be option to make accurate diagnosis and to provide proper postoperative management

The effect of alpha lipoic acid in a porcine in-stent restenosis model

SummaryBackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of alpha lipoic acid (α-LA) on a porcine in-stent restenosis (ISR) model.MethodsIn protocol 1, porcine vascular smooth muscle cells (PVSMC) were stimulated by granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in the presence or absence of α-LA. MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl] 2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay and western blotting were used to determine the cell growth inhibitory rate and anti-inflammatory effect associated with nuclear factor-κb (NF-κb) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). In protocol 2, 28 days after balloon overdilation injuries, 24 bare metal stents were placed in coronary artery of 12 pigs. The pigs were randomly divided to receive control diet with or without α-LA (100mg/kg). In protocol 3, 8 control stents and 8 α-LA coated stents were randomly implanted in 2 coronary arteries of 8 pigs and follow-up coronary angiogram and histopathologic assessment were performed 4 weeks after stenting.ResultsProtocol 1. The proliferation of PVSMC was inhibited and protein expression of NF-κb and ERK were attenuated by α-LA pretreatment. Protocol 2. On histopathologic analysis, the neointimal area (4.0±1.0mm2 vs. 1.5±0.7mm2, p<0.001) and histopathologic area of stenosis (66.7±10.7% vs. 24.2±9.7%, p<0.001) were reduced in the α-LA feeding group compared to controls. Protocol 3. On histopathologic analysis, the neointimal area (3.9±0.8mm2 vs. 1.0±0.4mm2, p<0.001), and the histopathologic area of stenosis (67.1±8.8% vs. 17.4±10.0%, p<0.001) were reduced in the α-LA coated stent group compared to the control stent group.Conclusionsα-LA feeding and α-LA coated stents inhibit neointimal hyperplasia in porcine ISR, possibly through inhibiting the activation of NF-κb pathway and proliferation of PVSMC

Myocardial Infarction in a Young Man due to a Hypoplastic Coronary Artery

Hypoplastic coronary artery disease (HCAD) is a rare condition that may lead to myocardial infarction (MI) and sudden death. We discovered HCAD in a young man who developed chest pain after heavy drinking and who was found to have suffered an MI. His ECG showed ST-segment elevation with Q waves in the anterior leads, and echocardiography revealed apical dyskinesia with moderate left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Coronary angiography showed hypoplasia of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. 99mTc-tetrofosmin-gated myocardial perfusion scintigraphy showed a large, fixed perfusion defect in the anteroseptal and apical segments. Sixty-four-slice cardiac CT and cardiac MR imaging demonstrated thinning of the apical wall with calcification and delayed enhancement, supporting the diagnosis of long-standing MI. The patient was discharged symptom-free on medication for ischemic heart failure two weeks after admission. Although HCAD is very uncommon, it should be considered in children and young adults who suffer MI or sudden cardiac death

Monoclonal Antibodies to Human Transglutaminase 4

Transglutaminase 4 (TG4) is a member of the enzyme family that catalyzes the calcium-dependent post-translational modification of proteins via cross-linking, polyamination, or deamidation. TG4 exhibits prostate-specific expression pattern and plays a crucial role in the formation of the copulatory plug in rodents. However, the physiological function(s) of human TG4 remains speculative. Human TG4 has been postulated to participate in the maturation process of sperm by modifying its cell surface, which results in suppression of sperm antigenicity in the female genital tract. To better understand the pathophysiological role of TG4 in prostate tissue, we generated monoclonal antibodies (MAb) against human TG4 in mice by repeated injections with the recombinant human TG4. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the selected MAbs react specifically with TG4, but not with other isoenzymes of the TG family. Immunocytochemical and immunohistochemical analyses showed that specific staining is observed with the cells overexpressing TG4 and with the paraffin-embedded prostate tissue specimens obtained from the benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer patients, respectively. Our results indicate that these MAbs are suitable for detecting TG4 in the cultured cells or prostate tissues for investigating the biological functions of human TG4.Shin DM, 2004, J BIOL CHEM, V279, P15032, DOI 10.1074/jbc.M308734200Jeon JH, 2003, EMBO J, V22, P5273Lorand L, 2003, NAT REV MOL CELL BIO, V4, P140, DOI 10.1038/nrm1014Jeon JH, 2002, BIOCHEM BIOPH RES CO, V294, P818An G, 1999, UROLOGY, V54, P1105Dubbink HJ, 1999, GENE, V240, P261Dubbink HJ, 1999, LAB INVEST, V79, P141Choi K, 1998, EXP MOL MED, V30, P41Esposito C, 1996, J BIOL CHEM, V271, P27416Dubbink HJ, 1996, BIOCHEM J, V315, P901SEITZ J, 1991, BIOCHIM BIOPHYS ACTA, V1078, P139PAONESSA G, 1984, SCIENCE, V226, P852MUKHERJEE DC, 1983, SCIENCE, V219, P989WILLIAMSASHMAN HG, 1977, BIOCHEM BIOPH RES CO, V79, P1192WILLIAMS.HG, 1972, P NATL ACAD SCI USA, V69, P2322