Characterisation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa related to bovine mastitis

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the causative pathogens of bovine mastitis. Most P. aeruginosa strains possess the type III secretion system (TTSS), which may increase somatic cell counts (SCCs) in milk from mastitis-affected cows. Moreover, most of P. aeruginosa cells can form biofilms, thereby reducing antibiotic efficacy. In this study, the presence and effect of TTSS-related genotypes on increase of SCCs among 122 P. aeruginosa isolates obtained from raw milk samples from mastitis-affected cows and their antibiotic susceptibility at planktonic and biofilm status were investigated. Based on the presence of TTSS-related genes a total of 82.7% of the isolates were found to harbour exoU and/or exoS genes, including the invasive (exoU-/exoS+, 69.4%), cytotoxic (exoU+/exoS-, 8.3%) and cytotoxic/invasive strains (exoU+/ exoS+, 5.0%). Milk containing exoS-positive isolates had higher SCCs than those containing exoS-negative isolates. The majority of isolates showed gentamicin, amikacin, meropenem and ciprofloxacin susceptibility at planktonic status. However, the susceptibility was decreased at the biofilm status. Based on minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC)/minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ratios, the range of change in antibiotic susceptibility varied widely depending on the antibiotics (from ≥ 3.1-fold to ≥ 475.0-fold). In conclusion, most P. aeruginosa isolates studied here had a genotype related to increase in SCCs. The efficiency of antibiotic therapy against P. aeruginosa-related bovine mastitis could be improved by analysing both the MBEC and the MIC of isolates

Therapeutic effects of phlorotannins in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders

Phlorotannins are natural polyphenolic compounds produced by brown marine algae and are currently found in nutritional supplements. Although they are known to cross the blood–brain barrier, their neuropharmacological actions remain unclear. Here we review the potential therapeutic benefits of phlorotannins in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease, ethanol intoxication and fear stress, the phlorotannin monomer phloroglucinol and the compounds eckol, dieckol and phlorofucofuroeckol A have been shown to improve cognitive function. In a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease, phloroglucinol treatment led to improved motor performance. Additional neurological benefits associated with phlorotannin intake have been demonstrated in stroke, sleep disorders, and pain response. These effects may stem from the inhibition of disease-inducing plaque synthesis and aggregation, suppression of microglial activation, modulation of pro-inflammatory signaling, reduction of glutamate-induced excitotoxicity, and scavenging of reactive oxygen species. Clinical trials of phlorotannins have not reported significant adverse effects, suggesting these compounds to be promising bioactive agents in the treatment of neurological diseases. We therefore propose a putative biophysical mechanism of phlorotannin action in addition to future directions for phlorotannin research

Congenital and multiple hobnail hemangiomas

Hobnail hemangioma (targetoid hemosiderotic hemangioma) is a vascular tumor affecting the limbs or trunk. Characteristically, the lesion has a "targetoid" clinical feature and dilated vascular spaces lined by hobnail endothelial cells at histologic examination. The age of onset is widely variable, form 5~67 years, typically occurring in young or middle-aged persons. It is usually apparent as a small solitary lesion. However, multiple lesions are identified sometimes. Herein, we report two cases of hobnail hemangioma in 7-year-old and 15-year-old males. Of note, the former case had a congenital lesion and the latter, multiple acquired lesions, which are both rare atypical presentations of the disease.OAIID:oai:osos.snu.ac.kr:snu2011-01/102/2008000790/11SEQ:11PERF_CD:SNU2011-01EVAL_ITEM_CD:102USER_ID:2008000790ADJUST_YN:NEMP_ID:A079501DEPT_CD:801CITE_RATE:.531FILENAME:hobnail hemangiomas.pdfDEPT_NM:의학과SCOPUS_YN:NCONFIRM:

MYC and BCL2 overexpression is associated with a higher class of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center prognostic model and poor clinical outcome in primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the central nervous system

Table S1. Correlation of BCL6 expression and clinicopathological variables; Table S2. MYC translocation and copy number change in MYC positive cases. (DOCX 24 kb

Phosphatidylcholine induces apoptosis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Phosphatidylcholine (PPC) formulation is used for lipolytic injection, even though its mechanism of action is not well understood.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The viability of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes and differentiated 3T3-L1 cells was measured after treatment of PPC alone, its vehicle sodium deoxycholate (SD), and a PPC formulation. Western blot analysis was performed to examine PPC-induced signaling pathways.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>PPC, SD, and PPC formulation significantly decreased 3T3-L1 cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. PPC alone was not cytotoxic to CCD-25Sk human fibroblasts at concentrations <1 mg/ml, whereas SD and PPC formulation were cytotoxic. Western blot analysis demonstrated that PPC alone led to the phosphorylation of the stress signaling proteins, such as p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and activated caspase-9, -8, -3 as well as cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. However, SD did not activate the apoptotic pathways. Instead, SD and PPC formulation induced cell membrane lysis, which may lead to necrosis of cells.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>PPC results in apoptosis of 3T3-L1 cells.</p

Effect of Guizhifulingwan (Keishibukuryogan) on climacteric syndrome: study protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial

SPIRIT 2013 checklist. (DOCX 51 kb

Calcified Carcinoma of the Gallbladder with Calcified Nodal Metastasis Presenting as a Porcelain Gallbladder: A Case Report

Porcelain gallbladder is regarded as a risk factor of gallbladder cancer. A porcelain gallbladder with calcified regional lymph nodes was found using computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a 43-year-old man who presented with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. His cholecystectomy specimen showed diffuse wall thickening and contained small gallstones. Histological examination revealed diffuse infiltrative adenocarcinoma with extensive intratumoral calcification (calcified carcinoma). The majority of the calcified material was located within or replaced the tumor glands, and was not found in the stroma. A lymph node was totally replaced with a calcified metastatic adenocarcinoma. To the best of our knowledge, only one case of calcified lymph node metastasis from a calcified carcinoma of the gallbladder has been previously reported in the literature. We herein add a case of calcified carcinoma of the gallbladder with calcified lymph node metastasis, presenting as a porcelain gallbladder on CT and MRI

Prevalence and comorbidity of allergic diseases in preschool children

PurposeAllergic disease and its comorbidities significantly influence the quality of life. Although the comorbidities of allergic diseases are well described in adult populations, little is known about them in preschool children. In the present study, we aimed to assess the prevalence and comorbidity of allergic diseases in Korean preschool children.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study comprising 615 Korean children (age, 3 to 6 years). Symptoms of allergic diseases were assessed using the Korean version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire that was modified for preschool children. Comorbidities of allergic diseases were assessed by 'In the last 12 months, has your child had symptoms?'.ResultsThe prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis as recorded using the ISAAC questionnaire, within the last 12 months was 13.8%, 40.7%, and 20.8%, respectively. The symptom rates of allergic conjunctivitis, food allergy, and drug allergy were 14.8%, 10.4%, and 0.8%, respectively. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in children with asthma was 64.3% and that of asthma in children with allergic rhinitis was 21.6%. The prevalence of rhinitis in children with conjunctivitis was 64.8% and that of conjunctivitis in children with rhinitis was 23.6%.ConclusionThe prevalence of current rhinitis in our preschool children is shown to be higher than that previously reported. Allergic conjunctivitis is closely associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis. However, further studies are warranted to determine the prevalence and effects of these comorbidities on health outcomes in preschool children

Altered resting-state connectivity in subjects at ultra-high risk for psychosis: an fMRI study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis have self-disturbances and deficits in social cognition and functioning. Midline default network areas, including the medial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate cortex, are implicated in self-referential and social cognitive tasks. Thus, the neural substrates within the default mode network (DMN) have the potential to mediate self-referential and social cognitive information processing in UHR subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate resting-state DMN and task-related network (TRN) functional connectivity in 19 UHR subjects and 20 matched healthy controls. The bilateral posterior cingulate cortex was selected as a seed region, and the intrinsic organization for all subjects was reconstructed on the basis of fMRI time series correlation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Default mode areas included the posterior/anterior cingulate cortices, the medial prefrontal cortex, the lateral parietal cortex, and the inferior temporal region. Task-related network areas included the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, supplementary motor area, the inferior parietal lobule, and middle temporal cortex. Compared to healthy controls, UHR subjects exhibit hyperconnectivity within the default network regions and reduced anti-correlations (or negative correlations nearer to zero) between the posterior cingulate cortex and task-related areas.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These findings suggest that abnormal resting-state network activity may be related with the clinical features of UHR subjects. Neurodevelopmental and anatomical alterations of cortical midline structure might underlie altered intrinsic networks in UHR subjects.</p