Contribution of the family environment to depression in Korean adults with epilepsy

AbstractPurposeDepression is common in adults with epilepsy and an important factor that affects quality of life in these individuals. However, there are few studies on the interactions between epilepsy and family factors in adults and we here investigate this association.MethodsThis cross-sectional, multicenter study collected data on 391 adults with epilepsy and their caregivers recruited from 27 hospitals throughout Korea. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Stigma Scale, and Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) were used to evaluate the study population. Multivariate analysis was conducted using hierarchical linear regression. The Sobel test and structural equation modeling were used to examine interrelationships among the potential factors.ResultsThe mean patient BDI score was 16.3 (SD=11.1). Depressive symptoms (BDI≥10) were in 68.3% and 57.0% in patients and their caregivers, respectively. Hierarchical linear regression analysis only identified caregiver BDI (β=0.219; p<0.001) as an independent factor related to patient BDI. The mediational model suggested that caregiver BDI mediated the effects of other family factors on patient BDI: caregiver's educational level (p=0.002), caregiver's CBI score (p<0.001), caregiver's Stigma Scale score (p<0.001), and family APGAR score (p<0.001). In addition, structural equation modeling showed that the relation between caregiver and patient BDI was unidirectional.ConclusionCaregiver depression is the most important contributor to depression in adults with epilepsy. The other family factors such as caregiver's perception of burden and the level of family function are indirectly correlated with patient depression via the mediating effects of caregiver depression

The Rhizome Mixture of Anemarrhena asphodeloides

We investigated the effect of DWac on the gut microbiota composition in mice with 2,3,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid- (TNBS-) induced colitis. Treatment with DWac restored TNBS-disturbed gut microbiota composition and attenuated TNBS-induced colitis. Moreover, we examined the effect of DWac in mice with mesalazine-resistant colitis (MRC). Intrarectal injection of TNBS in MRC mice caused severe colitis, as well as colon shortening, edema, and increased myeloperoxidase activity. Treatment with mesalazine (30 mg/kg) did not attenuate TNBS-induced colitis in MRC mice, whereas treatment with DWac (30 mg/kg) significantly attenuated TNBS-induced colitis. Moreover, treatment with the mixture of mesalazine (15 mg/kg) and DWac (15 mg/kg) additively attenuated colitis in MRC mice. Treatment with DWac and its mixture with mesalazine inhibited TNBS-induced activation of NF-κB and expression of M1 macrophage markers but increased TNBS-suppressed expression of M2 macrophage markers. Furthermore, these inhibited TNBS-induced T-bet, RORγt, TNF-α, and IL-17 expression but increased TNBS-suppressed Foxp3 and IL-10 expression. However, Th2 cell differentiation and GATA3 and IL-5 expression were not affected. These findings suggest that DWac can ameliorate MRC by increasing the polarization of M2 macrophage and correcting the disturbance of gut microbiota and Th1/Th17/Treg, as well as additively attenuating MRC along with mesalazine

A Distributed ADMM Approach to Non-Myopic Path Planning for Multi-Target Tracking

This paper investigates non-myopic path planning of mobile sensors for multi-target tracking. Such problem has posed a high computational complexity issue and/or the necessity of high-level decision making. Existing works tackle these issues by heuristically assigning targets to each sensing agent and solving the split problem for each agent. However, such heuristic methods reduce the target estimation performance in the absence of considering the changes of target state estimation along time. In this work, we detour the task-assignment problem by reformulating the general non-myopic planning problem to a distributed optimization problem with respect to targets. By combining alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) and local trajectory optimization method, we solve the problem and induce consensus (i.e., high-level decisions) automatically among the targets. In addition, we propose a modified receding-horizon control (RHC) scheme and edge-cutting method for efficient real-time operation. The proposed algorithm is validated through simulations in various scenarios.Comment: Copyright 2019 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other work

Effects of resveratrol and SIRT1 on PGC-1α activity and mitochondrial biogenesis: A reevaluation

It has been reported that feeding mice resveratrol activates AMPK and SIRT1 in skeletal muscle leading to deacetylation and activation of PGC-1α, increased mitochondrial biogenesis, and improved running endurance. This study was done to further evaluate the effects of resveratrol, SIRT1, and PGC-1α deacetylation on mitochondrial biogenesis in muscle. Feeding rats or mice a diet containing 4 g resveratrol/kg diet had no effect on mitochondrial protein levels in muscle. High concentrations of resveratrol lowered ATP concentration and activated AMPK in C₂C₁₂ myotubes, resulting in an increase in mitochondrial proteins. Knockdown of SIRT1, or suppression of SIRT1 activity with a dominant-negative (DN) SIRT1 construct, increased PGC-1α acetylation, PGC-1α coactivator activity, and mitochondrial proteins in C₂C₁₂ cells. Expression of a DN SIRT1 in rat triceps muscle also induced an increase in mitochondrial proteins. Overexpression of SIRT1 decreased PGC-1α acetylation, PGC-1α coactivator activity, and mitochondrial proteins in C₂C₁₂ myotubes. Overexpression of SIRT1 also resulted in a decrease in mitochondrial proteins in rat triceps muscle. We conclude that, contrary to some previous reports, the mechanism by which SIRT1 regulates mitochondrial biogenesis is by inhibiting PGC-1α coactivator activity, resulting in a decrease in mitochondria. We also conclude that feeding rodents resveratrol has no effect on mitochondrial biogenesis in muscle

Osteitis Fibrosa Cystica Mistaken for Malignant Disease

A 65-year-old man with back pain had plain radiographs that showed multiple osteolytic bone lesions of the pelvis, femur and L-spine; an magnetic resonance imaging scan of the L-spine showed extensive bony resorption with a posterior epidural mass involving the L1 spinous process; these findings suggested multiple myeloma or bony metastasis. However, all serology testing was negative. The parathyroid hormone and serum calcium levels were found to be abnormally elevated. A fine needle aspiration biopsy suggested that the L-spine lesion was consistent with the diagnosis of osteitis fibrosa cystica. A pathological fracture of the spine compressed the spinal cord, and surgical intervention was required. The neck computed tomography and Tc-99m sestamibi scan showed a solitary parathyroid mass. A minimally invasive parathyroidectomy using intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitoring was performed and two enlarged parathyroid glands identified. This case illustrates the importance of the consideration of a rare brown tumor associated with primary hyperparathyroidism in patients with the bone lesions suggestive of a malignancy

Progress of tissue adhesives based on proteins and synthetic polymers

In recent years, polymer-based tissue adhesives (TAs) have been developed as an alternative to sutures to close and seal incisions or wounds owing to their ease of use, rapid application time, low cost, and minimal tissue damage. Although significant research is being conducted to develop new TAs with improved performances using different strategies, the applications of TAs are limited by several factors, such as weak adhesion strength and poor mechanical properties. Therefore, the next-generation advanced TAs with biomimetic and multifunctional properties should be developed. Herein, we review the requirements, adhesive performances, characteristics, adhesive mechanisms, applications, commercial products, and advantages and disadvantages of proteins- and synthetic polymer-based TAs. Furthermore, future perspectives in the field of TA-based research have been discussed.This was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Minister of Education (NRF-2020R11A1A1053275)

Muslim travelers’ inconvenient tourism experience and self-rated mental health at a non-islamic country: Exploring gender and age differences

This research examined international Muslim travelers’ intention formation of a non-Islamic country. Our proposed theoretical framework encompassing inconvenient tourism experience, mental health, hedonic value experience, and satisfaction included a sufficient level of predictive power for intent. These variables played a vital role in increasing intention, whereas an inconvenient tourism experience decreases self-rated mental health and hedonic value. Our result also provided meaningful information that boosting Muslim travelers’ mental health, hedonic experience, and satisfaction is essential for minimizing the effect of the inconvenient tourism experience. In addition, gender and age have been shown to play a moderating role in affecting behavioral intention