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Vaccines can cause adverse reactions, such as soreness, swelling, or redness at the injection site. Some reactions are associated with fever and rash, which are usually mild and transient, and serious side effects are rare. In particular, there are no reports of systemic infection following a COVID-19 vaccination. The authors present a case report of a patient who developed multiple abscesses caused by Staphylococcus aureus after a COVID-19 vaccination. The patient had no previous symptoms or signs of infection. The patient was controlled successfully after surgical and antibiotics treatment.
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Background@#To evaluate the feasibility, inter-reader reliability, and intra-reader reliability for various morphological features reported to be related to iliotibial band friction syndrome (ITBFS) on knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). @*Methods@#A total of 145 patients with a clinical diagnosis and knee MRI findings consistent with ITBFS were included in the “study group” and 232 patients without knee pathology on both physical examination and MRI were included in the “control group”. Various morphologic features on knee MRI were assessed including the patella shape, patella height, lateral epicondyle anterior-posterior (AP) width, lateral epicondyle height, ITB diameter (ITB-d), and ITB area (ITB-a). @*Results@#Patients in the study group had significantly higher lateral epicondyle height (13.9 mm vs. 12.92 mm, P = 0.003), ITB-d (2.9 mm vs. 2.0 mm, P = 0.022), and ITB-a (38.5 mm2 vs. 23.8 mm2 , P < 0.001) than the control group. ITB-a showed higher area under the curve index (0.849 with 74.1% sensitivity and 72.4% specificity at a 30.3 mm2 cutoff) than ITB-d (0.710 with 70.8% sensitivity and 61.2% specificity at 2.4 mm cutoff) and lateral epicondyle height (0.776 with 72.4% sensitivity and 67.8% specificity at 13.4 mm cutoff). However, only the interreader agreement for ITB-a (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.65) was moderate, while the agreements for other morphologic features were good or excellent. @*Conclusions@#Lateral epicondyle height seems to be a reliable and feasible morphologic feature for diagnosis of ITBFS.
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To identify the effect and mechanism of carbon monoxide (CO) on delayed rectifier K+ currents (IK) of human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs), we used the wholecell mode patch-clamp technique. Application of CO delivered by carbon monoxidereleasing molecule-3 (CORM3) increased the amplitude of outward K+ currents, and diphenyl phosphine oxide-1 (a specific IK blocker) inhibited the currents. CORM3-induced augmentation was blocked by pretreatment with nitric oxide synthase blockers (L-NG-monomethyl arginine citrate and L-NG-nitro arginine methyl ester).Pretreatment with KT5823 (a protein kinas G blocker), 1H-[1,-2,-4] oxadiazolo-[4,-3-a] quinoxalin-1-on (ODQ, a soluble guanylate cyclase blocker), KT5720 (a protein kinase A blocker), and SQ22536 (an adenylate cyclase blocker) blocked the CORM3 stimulating effect on IK . In addition, pretreatment with SB239063 (a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase [MAPK] blocker) and PD98059 (a p44/42 MAPK blocker) also blocked the CORM3’s effect on the currents. When testing the involvement of S-nitrosylation, pretreatment of N-ethylmaleimide (a thiol-alkylating reagent) blocked CO-induced IKactivation and DL-dithiothreitol (a reducing agent) reversed this effect. Pretreatment with 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)-21H,23H porphyrin manganese (III) pentachloride and manganese (III) tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin chloride (superoxide dismutase mimetics), diphenyleneiodonium chloride (an NADPH oxidase blocker), or allopurinol (a xanthine oxidase blocker) also inhibited CO-induced IK activation. These results suggest that CO enhances IK in HCFs through the nitric oxide, phosphorylation by protein kinase G, protein kinase A, and MAPK, S-nitrosylation and reduction/oxidation (redox) signaling pathways.
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Carbon monoxide (CO) is a cardioprotectant and potential cardiovascular therapeutic agent. Human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs) are important determinants of myocardial structure and function. Large-conductance Ca 2+ -activated K+ (BK) channel is a potential therapeutic target for cardiovascular disease. We investigated whether CO modulates BK channels and the signaling pathways in HCFs using whole-cell mode patch-clamp recordings. CO-releasing molecules (CORMs; CORM-2 and CORM-3) significantly increased the amplitudes of BK currents IBK. The CO-induced stimulating effects on IBK were blocked by pre-treatment with specific nitric oxide synthase (NOS) blockers (L-N G -monomethyl arginine citrate and L-N G -nitroarginine methyl ester). 8-bromo-cyclic GMP increased IBK. KT5823 (inhibits PKG) or ODQ (inhibits soluble guanylate cyclase) blocked the CO-stimulating effect on IBK. Moreover, 8-bromo-cyclic AMP also increased IBK, and pre-treatment with KT5720 (inhibits PKA) or SQ22536 (inhibits adenylate cyclase) blocked the CO effect. Pre-treatment with Nethylmaleimide (a thiol-alkylating reagent) also blocked the CO effect on IBK, and DLdithiothreitol (a reducing agent) reversed the CO effect. These data suggest that CO activates IBK through NO via the NOS and through the PKG, PKA, and S-nitrosylation pathways.
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Carbon monoxide (CO) is a cardioprotectant and potential cardiovascular therapeutic agent. Human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs) are important determinants of myocardial structure and function. Large-conductance Ca 2+ -activated K+ (BK) channel is a potential therapeutic target for cardiovascular disease. We investigated whether CO modulates BK channels and the signaling pathways in HCFs using whole-cell mode patch-clamp recordings. CO-releasing molecules (CORMs; CORM-2 and CORM-3) significantly increased the amplitudes of BK currents IBK. The CO-induced stimulating effects on IBK were blocked by pre-treatment with specific nitric oxide synthase (NOS) blockers (L-N G -monomethyl arginine citrate and L-N G -nitroarginine methyl ester). 8-bromo-cyclic GMP increased IBK. KT5823 (inhibits PKG) or ODQ (inhibits soluble guanylate cyclase) blocked the CO-stimulating effect on IBK. Moreover, 8-bromo-cyclic AMP also increased IBK, and pre-treatment with KT5720 (inhibits PKA) or SQ22536 (inhibits adenylate cyclase) blocked the CO effect. Pre-treatment with Nethylmaleimide (a thiol-alkylating reagent) also blocked the CO effect on IBK, and DLdithiothreitol (a reducing agent) reversed the CO effect. These data suggest that CO activates IBK through NO via the NOS and through the PKG, PKA, and S-nitrosylation pathways.
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PURPOSE: This study investigated the effects of shoulder protraction exercise according to weight by examining the surface electromyography (EMG) amplitude in the serratus anterior (SA), upper trapezius (UT), and pectoralis major (PM) as well as the activity ratio of each muscle. METHODS: Twenty three winging scapula subjects participated in the study. The subjects performed scapula protraction at shoulder 90° flexion and 60° horizontal abduction with up to four (none, 1kg, 1.5kg, and 2kg) dumbbells in the supine position. The EMG data were collected from the dominant side muscles during a shoulder protraction exercise according to weight in the supine position. One way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the normalized activities of the SA, UT, and PM and the ratios of PM/SA and UT/SA. RESULTS: The results showed that the activities of both the SA and UT were highest for the shoulder protraction exercise at 2kg in the supine position. The UT/SA ratio also was the lowest for exercise at 2kg. On the other hand, the activities of both the UT and PM/SA ratio were similar under all conditions. CONCLUSION: These results show that there is a need to selectively strengthen the SA muscle in the case of patients with the shoulder dysfunction. In particular, it is necessary to weigh 2kg when performing shoulder protraction exercises in the supine position to activate the SA muscle in patients with a winging scapula.
Subject(s)
Humans , Electromyography , Exercise , Hand , Muscles , Scapula , Shoulder , Superficial Back Muscles , Supine PositionABSTRACT
PURPOSE@#The purpose of this study was to identify changes in knee muscle strength after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL).@*METHODS@#Thirteen subjects (males) with anterior ligament injury and ten subjects (males) with posterior ligament injury voluntarily participated in this study. Both groups were evaluated at the pre-and post-reconstruction stages using an isokinetic dynamometer. Peak torque, total work, and the hamstrings to quadriceps (H/Q) peak torque ratio were calculated at angular velocities of 60°/sec and 180°/sec. Statistical analysis was conducted on SPSS 18.0 for Windows using t-tests to compare mean differences.@*RESULTS@#At an angular velocity of 60°/sec, both the ACL and PCL groups showed a significant increase in muscle strength in the flexors and extensors. Muscle strength in the extensors was significantly increased in the PCL group compared to the ACL group. At an angular velocity of 180°/sec, the ACL group showed a significant increase in muscle endurance in the flexors and extensors, and the PCL group showed a significant increase in muscle endurance in the flexors. At angular velocities of 60°/sec and 180°/sec, the H/Q peak torque ratio increased in the ACL group but decreased in the PCL group. Consequently, the H/Q peak torque ratio was significantly different for the two groups.@*CONCLUSION@#The results suggest that the patients with ACL injury should focus on strengthening the knee extensors and that the patients with PCL injury need to strengthen the knee flexors.
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Archaeogenetics is an academic discipline that aims to establish scientific facts of human history by integrating ancient DNA analyses with archaeological and anthropological evidence. After ancient DNA research was initiated about 30 years ago, it has been innovated so rapidly that the range of analysis has been extended toward the whole genome sequence of ancient genomes in recent 10 years. By this development, researchers have been able to study in detail the origins and migration patterns of hominin species and ancient human populations by approaches of evolutionary genetics. This study has reviewed main principles of the archaeogenetic analysis and the current trends of ancient genome studies with recent achievements. While sampling techniques and statistical analyses have been improved, typical research methods have been established by the findings on hominins and ancient western Eurasia populations. Recently, archaeogenecists have been applying the methods to studying those in other geographical areas. Nonetheless, there is still the lack of ancient genome research about populations in Eastern Asia including the Korean peninsula. This review ultimately aims to predict possibilities and promise of future ancient genome studies of ancient Korean populations.
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Humans , DNA , Asia, Eastern , Genetics , Genome , HominidaeABSTRACT
X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS) is characterized by the progressive loss of visual acuity and vitreous hemorrhage. XLRS is caused by a mutation of retinoschisin 1 (RS1) gene at Xp22.13. In the current report, a 2-year-old Korean patient with XLRS was described. The germline deletion of exon 1 was identified in the RS1 gene. Considering X-linked inheritance pattern, validation of a carrier state of a patient's mother is important for the genetic counseling of other family members and for the future reproductive plan. To confirm the carrier state of his mother, the multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis was done using peripheral leukocytes and found the heterozygous deletion of exon 1 in his mother.
Subject(s)
Child, Preschool , Humans , Carrier State , Exons , Genes, X-Linked , Genetic Counseling , Leukocytes , Mothers , Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction , Retinoschisis , Visual Acuity , Vitreous HemorrhageABSTRACT
Developmental information aids stem cell biologists in producing tissue-specific cells. Recapitulation of the developmental profile of a specific cell type in an in vitro stem cell system provides a strategy for manipulating cell-fate choice during the differentiation process. Nurr1 and Foxa2 are potential candidates for genetic engineering to generate midbrain-type dopamine (DA) neurons for experimental and therapeutic applications in Parkinson's disease (PD), as forced expression of these genes in neural stem/precursor cells (NPCs) yields cells with a complete battery of midbrain DA neuron-specific genes. However, simple overexpression without considering their expression pattern in the developing midbrain tends to generate DA cells without adequate neuronal maturation and long-term maintenance of their phenotype in vitro and in vivo after transplantation. We here show that the physiological levels and timing of Nurr1 and Foxa2 expression can be replicated in NPCs by choosing the right vectors and promoters. Controlled expression combined with a strategy for transgene expression maintenance induced generation of fully mature midbrain-type DA neurons. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of cellular engineering for artificial cell-fate specification.
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Cell Engineering , Dopamine , Dopaminergic Neurons , Genetic Engineering , In Vitro Techniques , Mesencephalon , Neurons , Parkinson Disease , Phenotype , Stem Cells , TransgenesABSTRACT
Human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs) have various voltage-dependent K+ channels (VDKCs) that can induce apoptosis. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) modulates VDKCs and induces oxidative stress, which is the main contributor to cardiac injury and cardiac remodeling. We investigated whether H2O2 could modulate VDKCs in HCFs and induce cell injury through this process. In whole-cell mode patch-clamp recordings, application of H2O2 stimulated Ca2+-activated K+ (K(Ca)) currents but not delayed rectifier K+ or transient outward K+ currents, all of which are VDKCs. H2O2-stimulated K(Ca) currents were blocked by iberiotoxin (IbTX, a large conductance K(Ca) blocker). The H2O2-stimulating effect on large-conductance K(Ca) (BK(Ca)) currents was also blocked by KT5823 (a protein kinase G inhibitor) and 1 H-[1, 2, 4] oxadiazolo-[4, 3-a] quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor). In addition, 8-bromo-cyclic guanosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (8-Br-cGMP) stimulated BK(Ca) currents. In contrast, KT5720 and H-89 (protein kinase A inhibitors) did not block the H2O2-stimulating effect on BK(Ca) currents. Using RT-PCR and western blot analysis, three subtypes of K(Ca) channels were detected in HCFs: BK(Ca) channels, small-conductance K(Ca) (SK(Ca)) channels, and intermediate-conductance K(Ca) (IK(Ca)) channels. In the annexin V/propidium iodide assay, apoptotic changes in HCFs increased in response to H2O2, but IbTX decreased H2O2-induced apoptosis. These data suggest that among the VDKCs of HCFs, H2O2 only enhances BK(Ca) currents through the protein kinase G pathway but not the protein kinase A pathway, and is involved in cell injury through BK(Ca) channels.
Subject(s)
Humans , Apoptosis , Blotting, Western , Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases , Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases , Fibroblasts , Guanosine , Guanylate Cyclase , Hydrogen Peroxide , Hydrogen , Oxidative Stress , Phosphotransferases , Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated , Protein KinasesABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an exercise intervention for older married couples on exercise adherence and physical fitness. Thirty-six older married couples and 61 older adults participated in the study as couple and non-couple groups (CG, NCG, respectively). Participants attended an exercise class once a week and performed a home-based exercise program consisting of walking and strength exercise over eight weeks. Exercise adherence was assessed by the rate of non-absentee, walking habits (≥ 2 times/week), and strength exercise habits (≥ 6 items*2 sets/week). Physical fitness was assessed by the Senior Fitness Tests. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to obtain the CG’s odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for non-absentee, walking habits, and strength exercise habits (reference: NCG). Analyses of covariance were used to examine the statistical difference in the degree of change (⊿) for physical fitness between CG and NCG. CG had significantly higher ORs for non-absentee and walking habits compared with NCG but there was no significant difference in the rate of strength exercise habits between the two groups. In regards to ⊿ for physical fitness, significantly higher ⊿ for upper extremity strength was observed in CG than in NCG, while there were no significant differences in ⊿ for other physical fitness items between the two groups. These results suggest that an exercise intervention for older married couples would be more useful to maintain higher participation in exercise program and walking and improving upper extremity strength.
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Employing electrophysiological and cell proliferation assay techniques, we studied the effects of Ca2+ -activated K+ channel modulators on the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts, which is important in wound healing. Macroscopic voltage-dependent outward K+ currents were found at about -40 mV stepped from a holding potential of -70 mV. The amplitude of K+ current was increased by NS1619, a specific large-conductance Ca2+ -activated K+ (BK) channel activator, but decreased by iberiotoxin (IBTX), a specific BK channel inhibitor. To investigate the presence of an intermediate-conductance Ca2+ -activated K+ (IK) channels, we pretreated the fibroblasts with low dose of TEA to block BK currents, and added 1-EBIO (an IK activator). 1-EBIO recovered the currents inhibited by TEA. When various Ca2+ -activated K+ channel modulators were added into culture media for 1~3 days, NS1619 or 1-EBIO inhibited the cell proliferation. On the other hand, IBTX, clotrimazole or apamin, a small conductance Ca2+ -activated K+ channel (SK) inhibitor, increased it. These results suggest that BK, IK, and SK channels might be involved in the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts, which is inversely related to the channel activation.
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Humans , Apamin , Cell Proliferation , Clotrimazole , Culture Media , Fibroblasts , Hand , Tea , Wound HealingABSTRACT
To characterize cytosolic Ca2+ fluctuations under metabolic inhibition, rat ventricular myocytes were exposed to 200microM 2, 4-dinitrophenol (DNP), and mitochondrial Ca2+, mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi m), and cytosolic Ca2+ were measured, using Rhod-2 AM, TMRE, and Fluo-4 AM fluorescent dyes, respectively, by Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy (LSCM). Furthermore, the role of sarcolemmal Na+/Ca2+ exchange (NCX) in cytosolic Ca2+ efflux was studied in KB-R7943 and Na+-free normal Tyrode's solution (143 mM LiCl ). When DNP was applied to cells loaded with Fluo-4 AM, Fluo-4 AM fluorescence intensity initially increased by 70+/-10% within 70+/-10 s, and later by 400+/-200% at 850+/-46 s. Fluorescence intensity of both Rhod-2 AM and TMRE were initially decreased by DNP, coincident with the initial increase of Fluo-4 AM fluorescence intensity. When sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ was depleted by 1microM thapsigargin plus 10microM ryanodine, the initial increase of Fluo-4 AM fluorescence intensity was unaffected, however, the subsequent progressive increase was abolished. KB-R7943 delayed both the first and the second phases of cytosolic Ca2+ overload, while Na+-free solution accelerated the second. The above results suggest that: 1) the initial rise in cytosolic Ca2+ under DNP results from mitochondrial depolarization; 2) the secondary increase is caused by progressive Ca2+ release from SR; 3) NCX plays an important role in transient cytosolic Ca2+ shifts under metabolic inhibition with DNP.
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Animals , Rats , Caffeine , Cytosol , Fluorescence , Fluorescent Dyes , Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial , Microscopy, Confocal , Mitochondria , Muscle Cells , Ryanodine , Sarcoplasmic Reticulum , ThapsigarginABSTRACT
Exogenous carbon monoxide (0.2%) increases L-type calcium (Ca2+) current in human jejunal circular smooth muscle cells. The stimulatory effect of carbon monoxide (CO) on L-type Ca2+ current is inhibited by pre-application of L-NNA, a classical competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) with no significant isoform selectivity (Lim, 2003). In the present study, we investigated which isoform of NOS affected CO induced stimulation of L-type Ca2+ current in human jejunal circular smooth muscle cells. Cells were voltage clamped by whole-cell mode patch clamp technique, and membrane currents were recorded with 10 mM barium as the charge carrier. Before the addition of CO, cells were pretreated with each inhibitor of three NOS isoforms for 15 minutes. CO-stimulating effect on L-type Ca2+ current was partially blocked by N- (3- (Amino-methyl) benzyl) acetamidine-2HCl (1400W, an iNOS inhibitor). On the other hand, 3-bromo-7-nitroindazole (BNI, a nNOS inhibitor) or N5- (1-Iminoethyl)-L-ornithine dihydrochloride (L-NIO, an eNOS inhibitor) completely blocked the CO effect. These data suggest that low dose of exogenous CO may stimulate all NOS isoforms to increase L-type Ca2+ channel through nitric oxide (NO) pathway in human jejunal circular smooth muscle cells.
Subject(s)
Humans , Barium , Calcium Channels, L-Type , Calcium , Carbon Monoxide , Carbon , Hand , Membranes , Muscle, Smooth , Myocytes, Smooth Muscle , Nitric Oxide Synthase , Nitric Oxide , Protein IsoformsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We report two cases of tube erosion after Ahmed valve implantation, treated with Amniotic Membrane Transplantation. METHODS: Erosion of conjunctiva over tube occured in 2 female patients with Ahmed valve implantation. They were treated with pericardial patch grafts and conjunctival free graft with amniotic membrane epithelial side up transplantation. RESULTS: No recurrent tube erosion has been found since then. Intraocular pressure has been maintained well for 12-14 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of tube erosion, additional amniotic membrane transplantation can improve surgical success.