The Effect of Passive Smoking on Asthma Symptoms, Atopy, and Airway Hyperresponsiveness in Schoolchildren

Passive smoking is a major cause of respiratory morbidity, and is associated with increased bronchial responsiveness in children. To evaluate the effect of smoking by a parent on asthma symptoms, atopy, and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), we conducted a cross-sectional survey of 503 schoolchildren that involved questionnaires, spirometry, allergy testing, and a bronchial challenge test. If the PC20 methacholine was less than 16 mg/mL, the subject was considered to have AHR. The prevalence of a parent who smoked was 68.7%. The prevalence of AHR was 45.0%. The sensitization rate to common inhalant allergens was 32.6%. Nasal symptoms such as rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal itching, and nasal obstruction were present in 42.7%. Asthma symptoms such as cough and wheezing were present in 55.4%. The asthma symptoms were significantly more prevalent in children who had a parent who smoked than in those whose parents did not. The nasal symptoms, atopy, and AHR did not differ according to whether a parent smoked. In a multiple logistic regression model, the asthma symptoms and atopy were independently associated with AHR, when adjusted for confounding variables. Passive smoking contributed to asthma symptoms in schoolchildren and was not an independent risk factor of airway hyperresponsiveness in an epidemiological survey

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Additional file 1: Table S1. of Geijigajakyak decoction inhibits the motility and tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer cells

Herbal information of five components of GJD used in this study. (DOCX 15 kb

Mechanical Properties and Very High Cycle Fatigue Behavior of Peak-Aged AA7021 Alloy

The effect of heat treatment condition on non-Cu AA7021 alloy was investigated with respect to mechanical properties and very high cycle fatigue behavior. With a focus on the influence of heat treatment, AA7021 alloy was solution heat-treated at 470 °C for 4 h and aged at 124 °C. Comparing the results of solution-treated and peak-aged AA7021 alloy shows a significant increase in Vickers hardness and tensile strength. The hardness of AA7021 alloy was increased by 65% after aging treatment, and both tensile strength and yield strength were increased by 50~80 MPa in each case. In particular, this paper investigated the very high cycle fatigue behavior of AA7021 alloy with the ultrasonic fatigue testing method using a resonance frequency of 20 kHz. The fatigue results showed that the stress amplitude of peak-aged AA7021 alloy was about 50 MPa higher than the solution-treated alloy at the same fatigue cycles. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the size of the crack initiation site was larger after peak aging than after solution treatment

Protective Effect of Bojungikki-Tang against Radiation-Induced Intestinal Injury in Mice: Experimental Verification and Compound-Target Prediction

Bojungikki-tang (BJIT) is a traditional herbal medicine used in Korea, Japan, and China to treat gastrointestinal disorders. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether BJIT has protective effects against radiation-induced intestinal injury and to predict the underlying therapeutic mechanisms and related pathways via network pharmacological analyses. BJIT was injected intraperitoneally (50 mg/kg body weight) to C3H/HeN mice at 36 and 12 h before exposure to partial abdominal irradiation (5 Gy and 13 Gy) to evaluate the apoptotic changes and the histological changes and variations in inflammatory cytokine mRNA levels in the jejunum, respectively. Through in silico network analysis, we predicted the mechanisms underlying BJIT-mediated regulation of radiation-induced intestinal injury. BJIT reduced the level of apoptosis in the jejunal crypts 12 h post 5-Gy irradiation. Histological assessment revealed intestinal morphological changes in irradiated mice 3.5 days post 13-Gy irradiation. Furthermore, BJIT decreased inflammatory cytokine levels following radiation exposure. Apoptosis, TNF, p53, VEGF, toll-like receptor, PPAR, PI3K-Akt, and MAPK signaling pathways, as well as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), were found to be linked to the radioprotective effects of BJIT against intestinal injury. According to our results, BJIT exerted its potential protective effects by attenuating histopathological changes in jejunal crypts and suppressing inflammatory mediator levels. Therefore, BJIT is a potential therapeutic agent that can treat radiation-induced intestinal injury and its associated symptoms

Polydopamine-mediated surface modification of scaffold materials for human neural stem cell engineering

Surface modification of tissue engineering scaffolds and substrates is required for improving the efficacy of stem cell therapy by generating physicochemical stimulation promoting proliferation and differentiation of stem cells. However, typical surface modification methods including chemical conjugation or physical absorption have several limitations such as multistep, complicated procedures, surface denaturation, batch-to-batch inconsistencies, and low surface conjugation efficiency. In this study, we report a mussel-inspired, biomimetic approach to surface modification for efficient and reliable manipulation of human neural stem cell (NSC) differentiation and proliferation. Our study demonstrates that polydopamine coating facilitates highly efficient, simple immobilization of neurotrophic growth factors and adhesion peptides onto polymer substrates. The growth factor or peptide-immobilized substrates greatly enhance differentiation and proliferation of human NSCs (human fetal brain-derived NSCs and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived NSCs) at a level comparable or greater than currently available animal-derived coating materials (Matrigel) with safety issues. Therefore, polydopamine-mediated surface modification can provide a versatile platform technology for developing chemically defined, safe, functional substrates and scaffolds for therapeutic applications of human NSCs.close584

&quot;4-in-1 Osteosynthesis&quot; for Atrophic-type Congenital Pseudarthrosis of the Tibia

Background: According to the authors&apos; multi-targeted, fibular status-based algorithmic approach using the Ilizarov technique, ankle stabilization by end-to-end osteosynthesis of the fibula is advocated for mild (type B1), &quot;4-in-1 osteosynthesis&quot; in which all 4 proximal and distal segments of the tibia and fibula are placed in 1 healing mass for moderate (type B2), and distal tibiofibular (TF) fusion for severe (type B3) fibular pseudarthrosis in association with atrophic-type congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia (CPT). This report describes the indications, operative technique, and outcomes of &quot;4-in-1 osteosynthesis&quot; for atrophic-type CPT associated with type B2 fibular pseudarthrosis. Methods: Thirteen patients presented with atrophic-type CPT associated with type B2 fibular pseudarthrosis underwent Ilizarov osteosynthesis between 1989 and 2007 for atrophic-type CPT. To validate the efficacy of &quot;4-in-1 osteosynthesis&quot; in these patients, fracture risk and ankle function were compared between 2 groups of type B2 patients, namely, 8 patients (mean age, 6.3 y) who underwent &quot;4-in-1 osteosynthesis&quot; according to our current protocol (Group I), and 5 patients (mean age, 3.2 y) treated by other techniques (3 distal TF fusion, 2 failed end-to-end osteosynthesis) during the learning period (Group II). Results: No refracture occurred in Group I, whereas refracture occurred in all except 1 in Group II. Ankles were eventually stabilized by distal TF fusion in all patients in Group II. The Kaplan-Meier method revealed a refracture-free cumulative survival rate of 100% in Group I, whereas in Group II, it dropped progressively and reached 60% at 1.8 years and 20% at 2.7 years. No significant difference in ankle function was evident between the 2 groups (american orthopaedic foot and ankle society (AOFAS) score, 89.25 +/- 7.25 after 7.4 y of follow-up in Group I, and 84.6 +/- 9.53 after 13 y of follow-up in Group II). Conclusions: It is imperative that fibular status be evaluated carefully to enable the planning of the most effective, safe, practical treatment. &quot;4-in-1 osteosynthesis,&quot; which is primarily considered for bony union with a large cross-sectional area and ankle stabilization, seems to be a better choice for atrophic-type CPT associated with type B2 fibular pseudarthrosis, in which end-to-end osteosynthesis of the fibula often fails. Level of Evidence: Level III, Retrospective comparative study.N

Continuous Exposure to Low-Dose-Rate Gamma Irradiation Reduces Airway Inflammation in Ovalbumin-Induced Asthma

<div><p>Although safe doses of radiation have been determined, concerns about the harmful effects of low-dose radiation persist. In particular, to date, few studies have investigated the correlation between low-dose radiation and disease development. Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory airway disease that is recognized as a major public health problem. In this study, we evaluated the effects of low-dose-rate chronic irradiation on allergic asthma in a murine model. Mice were sensitized and airway-challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) and were exposed to continuous low-dose-rate irradiation (0.554 or 1.818 mGy/h) for 24 days after initial sensitization. The effects of chronic radiation on proinflammatory cytokines and the activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were investigated. Exposure to low-dose-rate chronic irradiation significantly decreased the number of inflammatory cells, methylcholine responsiveness (PenH value), and the levels of OVA-specific immunoglobulin E, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-5. Furthermore, airway inflammation and the mucus production in lung tissue were attenuated and elevated MMP-9 expression and activity induced by OVA challenge were significantly suppressed. These results indicate that low-dose-rate chronic irradiation suppresses allergic asthma induced by OVA challenge and does not exert any adverse effects on asthma development. Our findings can potentially provide toxicological guidance for the safe use of radiation and relieve the general anxiety about exposure to low-dose radiation.</p></div

The potential for non-invasive study of mummies: validation of the use of computerized tomography by post factum dissection and histological examination of a 17th century female Korean mummy

The socio-cultural antipathies of some descendants with regard to invasive examinations of age-old human remains make permission for dissection of Korean mummies of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) difficult to obtain. Overcoming this obstacle necessitated the use of non-invasive techniques, such as multi-detector computerized tomography (MDCT) and endoscopic examination, enabling determination of the preservation status of internal organs of mummies without significantly damaging the mummies themselves. However, MDCT alone cannot clearly differentiate specific mummified organs. Therefore, in much the same way as diagnostic radiologists make their MDCT readings on living patients more reliable by means of comparison with accumulated post-factum data from autopsies or histological studies, examinations of mummies by invasive techniques should not be decried as mere destruction of age-old human remains. Rather, providing that due permission from descendants and/or other relevant authorities can be obtained, dissection and histological examination should be performed whenever opportunities arise. Therefore, in this study, we compared the radiological data acquired from a 17th century mummy with our dissection results for the same subject. As accumulation of this kind of data could be very crucial for correct interpretation of MDCT findings on Korean mummies, we will perform similar trials on other Korean mummies found in forthcoming days if conditions permit