Men's Health: Embolization Treatment of High-Flow Priapism

Priapism is prolonged erection that persists beyond or is unrelated to sexual stimulation. There are two main types of priapism: high flow and low flow. The treatment of priapism will differ depending on the diagnosis of these two different types. In particular, interventional radiology plays a key role in treating patients with high-flow priapism. This article will review the diagnosis and treatment of the high-flow priapism

Effects of high frequency loading on RANKL and OPG mRNA expression in ST-2 murine stromal cells

Background: Oscillatory fluid flow (OFF)-induced shear stress leads to positive bone remodeling through pro-formative and anti-resorptive effects on bone cells. In this study, the effects of high frequency OFF on expression of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG), two important regulators of osteoclast differentiation, were investigated. Methods: Cells were exposed to 1 Pa peak shear stress using three loading frequencies (1, 10, and 20 Hz) widely employed in cell, animal, and clinical studies of bone remodeling. Two separate experiments were performed where either the total number of cycles (3600 cycles) or the total loading time (60 min) was kept constant. Real-time RT-PCR was used to quantify mRNA levels of RANKL, OPG. Results: 3600 cycles of OFF at 1 Hz and 10 Hz loading decreased RANKL/OPG ratio. Interestingly, these results were due to different mechanisms where at 1 Hz the decrease was due to an increase in OPG mRNA, whereas at 10 Hz the decrease was due to a decrease in RANKL mRNA. Conclusion: Although high frequency OFF does not appear to further enhance the decrease in the RANKL/OPG ratio, these results suggest a potential to differentially control the change in either RANKL or OPG mRNA expression by applying different loading frequencies

Carbon and nitrogen accumulation and decomposition from coarse woody debris in a naturally regenerated Korean red pine (pinus densiflora S. et Z.) forest

The contribution of coarse woody debris (CWD) to forest carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics is poorly quantified. This study quantified total C and N content in CWD and estimated the decomposition rates of CWD at different decay stages in a 70-year-old naturally regenerated Korean red pine forest (Pinus densiflora S. et Z.). The N concentration in CWD varied among species and decay classes (from 0.15% to 0.82%), and exhibited a decreasing pattern in C:N ratios with increasing decay class. Total CWD amounts of 4.84 Mg C ha−1, dominated by pine logs (45.4%) and decay class III (40.0%), contained total N of 20.48 kg N ha−1, which was approximately nine times the N input from annual tree mortality. In addition, this study demonstrated that the decay constant rate k was 0.2497 for needle litter, whereas k values were 0.0438, 0.0693, 0.1054, and 0.1947 for red pine CWD of decay class I, II, III, and IV, respectively. The decay rates were significantly related to wood density, N concentration, and C:N ratio across the decay classes of CWD. The results suggest that the C:N ratio of CWD is a key factor affecting its decomposition

Sociodemographic characteristics of pediatric patients with vascular malformations: Results of a single site study

Vascular malformations, the abnormal development of blood vessels, are a rare set of congenital anomalies. The sociodemographic factors associated with vascular malformations in pediatric patients are poorly understood. This study examined sociodemographic factors of 352 patients presenting to a single vascular anomaly center from July 2019 to September 2022. Characteristics such as race, ethnicity, sex, age at presentation, degree of urbanization, and insurance status were recorded. This data was analyzed by comparing the different types of vascular malformations, including arteriovenous malformation, capillary malformation, venous malformation (VM), lymphatic malformation (LM), lymphedema, and overgrowth syndrome. Patients were primarily white, not Hispanic or Latino, female, had private health insurance, and were from the most urban setting. No differences in sociodemographic factors were found among the different vascular malformations except patients with VM presented at a later age than patients with LM or overgrowth syndrome. This study provides novel insight into the sociodemographic factors of pediatric patients presenting with vascular malformations and indicates a need for their improved recognition for the timely initiation of treatment

Inhaled corticosteroid use and risks of lung cancer and laryngeal cancer

SummaryBackgroundChronic inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several cancers, including lung and laryngeal cancer. The objective of the study is to elucidate the association between ICS use and diagnosis of lung and laryngeal cancer.MethodsA nested case–control study based on the Korean national claims database included new adult users of inhaled medications between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2010. Patients diagnosed with lung cancer or laryngeal cancer after enrollment were identified as cases and up to five control individuals matched for age, sex, diagnosis of asthma or COPD, Charlson Comorbidity Index scores, number of health care visits, and initiation date were selected.ResultsFrom the 792,687 eligible cohort, 9177 individuals diagnosed with lung cancer were matched with 37,048 controls. Additionally, 408 laryngeal cancer patients and 1651 controls were matched. ICS use was associated with a decreased rate of lung cancer diagnosis [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.79; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.69–0.90]. The inverse association between ICS use and lung cancer risk was dose dependent (P < 0.0001 for the trend). However, no reduction in the risk of laryngeal cancer among ICS users was identified (aOR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.62–1.18).ConclusionThe use of ICS is associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer but not of laryngeal cancer

Differentially Expressed Potassium Channels Are Associated with Function of Human Effector Memory CD8+T cells

The voltage-gated potassium channel, Kv1.3, and the Ca2+-activated potassium channel, KCa3.1, regulate membrane potentials in T cells, thereby controlling T cell activation and cytokine production. However, little is known about the expression and function of potassium channels in human effector memory ( EM) CD8+ T cells that can be further divided into functionally distinct subsets based on the expression of the interleukin ( IL)-7 receptor alpha ( IL-7R alpha) chain. Herein, we investigated the functional expression and roles of Kv1.3 and KCa3.1 in EM CD8+ T cells that express high or low levels of the IL-7 receptor alpha chain ( IL-7R alpha(high) and IL-7R alpha(low), respectively). In contrast to the significant activity of Kv1.3 and KCa3.1 in IL-7Rahigh EM CD8+ T cells, IL-7Ralow EM CD8+ T cells showed lower expression of Kv1.3 and insignificant expression of KCa3.1. Kv1.3 was involved in the modulation of cell proliferation and IL-2 production, whereas KCa3.1 affected the motility of EM CD8+ T cells. The lower motility of IL-7Ralow EM CD8+ T cells was demonstrated using transendothelial migration and motility assays with intercellular adhesion molecule 1-and/or chemokine stromal cell-derived factor-1 alpha-coated surfaces. Consistent with the lower migration property, IL-7Ralow EM CD8+ T cells were found less frequently in human skin. Stimulating IL-7Ralow EM CD8+ T cells with IL-2 or IL-15 increased their motility and recovery of KCa3.1 activity. Our findings demonstrate that Kv1.3 and KCa3.1 are differentially involved in the functions of EM CD8+ T cells. The weak expression of potassium channels in IL-7Ralow EM CD8+ T cells can be revived by stimulation with IL-2 or IL-15, which restores the associated functions. This study suggests that IL-7Rahigh EM CD8+ T cells with functional potassium channels may serve as a reservoir for effector CD8+ T cells during peripheral inflammation.112Ysciescopu

Different degree of cytokinemia and T-cell activation according to serum IL-6 levels in critical COVID-19

IntroductionTocilizumab, a humanized anti-interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) antibody, is recommended for the treatment of severe to critical coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19). However, there were conflicting results on the efficacy of tocilizumab. Therefore, we hypothesized that the differences in tocilizumab efficacy may stem from the different immune responses of critical COVID-19 patients. In this study, we described two groups of immunologically distinct COVID-19 patients, based on their IL-6 response.MethodsWe prospectively enrolled critical COVID-19 patients, requiring oxygen support with a high flow nasal cannula or a mechanical ventilator, and analyzed their serial samples. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the cytokine kinetics and cellular immune responses, respectively.ResultsA total of nine patients with critical COVID-19 were included. The high (n = 5) and low IL-6 (n = 4) groups were distinguished by their peak serum IL-6 levels, using 400 pg/mL as the cut-off value. Although the difference of flow cytometric data did not reach the level of statistical significance, the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the frequencies of intermediate monocytes (CD14+CD16+), IFN-γ+ CD4+ or CD8+ T cells, and HLA-DR+PD-1+ CD4+ T cells were higher in the high IL-6 group than in the low IL-6 group.ConclusionThere were distinctive two groups of critical COVID-19 according to serum IL-6 levels having different degrees of cytokinemia and T-cell responses. Our results indicate that the use of immune modulators should be more tailored in patients with critical COVID-19

Meteorological characteristics and assessment of the effect of local emissions during high PM10 concentration in the Seoul Metropolitan Area

In this study, we investigate the meteorological characteristics and the effect of local emissions during high PM10 concentrations in the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA) by utilizing data from a high-resolution urban meteorological observation system network (UMS-Seoul) and The Air Pollution Model (TAPM). For a detailed analysis, days with PM10 concentrations higher than 80 ??g m-3 for daily average PM10 concentration (classified as unhealthy by the Korean Ministry of Environment) in the Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA) were classified into 3 Cases. Case I was defined as when the prevailing effect was from outside the SMA. Case II was defined as when the prevailing effect was a local effect with outside. Case III was defined as when the prevailing effect was local. Overall, high PM10 concentrations in the SMA mostly occurred under weak migratory anticyclone systems over the Korean Peninsula during warm temperatures. Prior to the PM10 concentration reaching the peak concentration, the pattern in each case was distinctive. After peak concentrations, however, the pattern for the 3 cases became less distinct. This study showed that nearly 50% of the high PM10 concentrations in the SMA occurred in spring and were governed by the conditions for Case II more than these for Cases I and III. In spring, the main sources of the high PM10 concentrations in the SMA were local emissions due to the predominance of weak winds and local circulation. The simulation showed that the non-SMA emissions were about 63 to 73% contribution to the spring high PM10 concentrations in the SMA. Specifically, local point sources including industrial combustion, electric utility, incineration and cement production facilities scattered around the SMA and could account for PM10 concentrations more than 10 ??g m-3 in the SMA

Genetic Analysis of 10 Unrelated Korean Families with p22-phox-deficient Chronic Granulomatous Disease: An Unusually Identical Mutation of the CYBA Gene on Jeju Island, Korea

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare hereditary disorder characterized by recurrent life-threatening bacterial and fungal infections. The underlying defect in CGD is an inability of phagocytes to produce reactive oxygen species as a result of defects in NADPH oxidase. Considering that CGD generally affects about 3-4 in 1,000,000 individuals, it is surprising that the prevalence of CGD on Jeju Island is 20.7 in 1,000,000 individuals. We performed genetic analysis on 12 patients from 10 unrelated families and found that all patients had an identical homozygous single-base substitution of C to T in exon 1 (c.7C>T) of the CYBA gene, which was expected to result in a nonsense mutation (p.Q3X). Because Jeju Island has long been a geologically isolated region, the high prevalence of CGD on Jeju Island is presumably associated with an identical mutation inherited from a common ancestor or proband