Correlation between Carboxyhemoglobin Levels Measured by Blood Gas Analysis and by Multiwave Pulse Oximetry.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is difficult to diagnose owing to its nonspecific symptoms. Multiwave pulse oximetry can be used to quickly screen patients for CO poisoning. However, few studies have analyzed patients with CO poisoning who presented to the emergency department (ED). The primary aim of our study was to determine the correlation between COHb levels measured in blood gas analysis and COHb levels measured in multiwave pulse oximetry. Secondary aims were the sensitivity and specificity of the COHb level cutoff value using multiwave pulse oximetry to predict a 25% COHb level in blood gas analysis. This single-center retrospective observational study included patients with CO poisoning who visited the ED of a university-affiliated hospital in Seoul, Korea between July 2021 and June 2023. COHb poisoning was determined using blood gas analysis and multiwave pulse oximetry. The correlation of COHb levels between the two tests was evaluated using correlation analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of multiwave pulse oximetry was calculated to predict COHb levels from the blood gas analysis. The optimal cutoff values, sensitivity, and specificity of COHb were determined. A total of 224 patients who had COHb levels measured using both multiwave pulse oximetry and blood gas analysis were included in the analysis. In the correlation analysis, COHb showed a high positive correlation with COHb measured using blood gas analysis (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.86, p < 0.001). The AUC of COHb measured by multiwave pulse oximetry to predict 25% of the COHb level (which can be an indication of hyperbaric oxygen treatment) measured by blood gas analysis was 0.916. When the COHb levels measured with multiwave pulse oximetry were 20% the sensitivity was 81% and the specificity was 83%, and when the COHb levels were 25% the sensitivity was 50% and the specificity was 95%. The COHb value measured using multiwave pulse oximetry blood gas analysis showed a high correlation. However, additional research using large-scale studies is required for validation.

Differential Regulation of an OsIspH1, the Functional 4-Hydroxy-3-Methylbut-2-Enyl Diphosphate Reductase, for Photosynthetic Pigment Biosynthesis in Rice Leaves and Seeds.

The methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway is responsible for providing common precursors for the biosynthesis of diverse plastidial terpenoids, including chlorophylls, carotenoids, and phytohormones, in plants. In rice (Oryza sativa), the last-step genes encoding 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase [HDR/isoprenoid synthesis H (IspH)] have been annotated in two genes (OsIspH1 and OsIspH2) in the rice genome. The spatial transcript levels indicated that OsIspH1 is highly expressed in all tissues at different developmental stages, whereas OsIspH2 is barely expressed due to an early stop in exon 1 caused by splicing error. OsIspH1 localized into plastids and osisph1, a T-DNA inserted knockout mutant, showed an albino phenotype, indicating that OsIspH1 is the only functional gene. To elucidate the role of OsIspH1 in the MEP pathway, we created two single (H145P and K407R) and double (H145P/K407R) mutations and performed complementation tests in two hdr mutants, including Escherichia coli DLYT1 strains and osisph1 rice plants. The results showed that every single mutation retained HDR function, but a double mutation lost it, proposing that the complementary relations of two residues might be important for enzyme activity but not each residue. When overexpressed in rice plants, the double-mutated gene, OsIspH1MUT , reduced chlorophyll and carotenoid biosynthesis in the leaves and seeds. It confirmed the crucial role of OsIspH1 in plastidic terpenoid biosynthesis, revealing organ-specific differential regulation of OsIspH1 in rice plants.

Performance of Hanwoo calves fed a commercial colostrum replacer versus natural bovine colostrum.

Supplying a sufficient amount of high-quality colostrum is a prevailing challenge in Hanwoo calf production systems. This study aimed to describe the efficiency of a lacteal-derived colostrum replacer versus natural bovine colostrum (from Holstein) fed to Hanwoo calves. Forty newborn Hanwoo calves (25 males and 15 females; 30.7 ± 3.15 kg body weight [mean ± standard deviation]) were blocked by sex and birth weight and fed either natural colostrum or a commercial colostrum replacer. Calves displayed a narrow difference in the evolution of body weight and structural body dimensions when they received a commercial versus natural colostrum. Minor differences existed in the starter and total dry matter consumption between calves fed natural or commercial colostrum. Although the colostrum source had no significant effects on days to first diarrhea (average of 7.6 days; p = 0.17), the duration of diarrhea was longer in natural colostrum-fed calves (3.2 vs. 4.5 days; p = 0.04). Consumption of natural colostrum resulted in greater mean serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) on day 2 (14.7 vs. 10.8 ± 0.92 mg/mL) and day 7 (8.21 vs. 5.12 ± 0.82 mg/mL) of calf life, resulting in a greater proportion of commercial colostrum-fed calves (50% vs. 15%; day 2) to experience failure of passive transfer of immunity (serum IgG < cutoff point of 10 mg/mL). Overall, growth rate, body frame development, and incidence of diarrheal disease were not different in both groups. These results suggested that the colostrum replacer product tested in this study could be an alternative to natural colostrum derived from Holstein cow in securing calf growth and health in Hanwoo calf-rearing operations.

Successful Lobar Lung Transplant From a Marginal Deceased Donor With a History of Treated Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Case Report.

The shortage of available donor lungs is a continuing clinical problem. Lobar lung transplant and the extension of donor lung criteria may expand the pool of donor lungs. We here report a case of lobar lung transplant from a marginal deceased donor with bronchiectasis and fibrosis at the left upper lobe and a history of treated pulmonary tuberculosis. Our experience with this case suggests that a lobar lung transplant can be considered not only for size mismatches but also for use of locally damaged lungs. In addition, lungs from a donor who received treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis may be feasible for transplant with chemoprophylaxis for latent tuberculosis infection. Our current case indicates one possible option to overcome the persistent shortage of available donor lungs.

Strategy on navigating obstacle in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: Relationship among trunk and pelvic movement, swing toe clearance, and muscle coordination of the stance limb.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common spinal disorder that causes patients to assume a forward-trunk posture. Spinal alignment affects gait, muscle activity, and trunk-pelvis-limb coordination because the lumbar spine and muscles interact to allow load transfer between the lower back and pelvis during sagittal trunk movement. Therefore, we investigated the relationships among trunk and pelvic movement, swing toe clearance, and muscle coordination (isolated contraction ratios) of the stance limb during obstacle-crossing by patients with LSS. METHODS: Ten patients with LSS and ten control subjects were enrolled. All navigated an obstacle during walking. Kinematic data from the trunk and lower extremities were monitored using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. In addition, we measured the isolated contraction ratios of the gluteus medius (GMed) and vastus lateralis (VL) using surface electromyography. RESULTS: The normalized lead limb distance was significantly lower in the LSS group than in controls. The spine flexion angle when the swinging limb toe was above the obstacle was higher, but the pelvic anterior tilting angle was lower, in the LSS group. LSS patients also had a significantly lower isolated contraction ratio of the GMed in the trailing stance limb but a significantly higher VL. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with LSS adapted a poor posture and their thoracic and spinal regions were hyperflexed with restricted pelvic obliquity. This created an inefficient gait, a shorter leading limb step, and less stable muscle coordination in the stance limb. Our findings may help healthcare professionals manage patients with LSS.

Greater trochanter location measurement using a three-dimensional motion capture system during prone hip extension.

[Purpose] The greater trochanter (GT) is an important structure in biomedical research, but the measurement methods require development. This study presents data from a new measurement method that does not use GT-marker-based measurement (No GT-m) in comparison with GT-marker based measurement (GT-m). [Subjects and Methods] We recruited 20 healthy subjects, who were asked to perform and maintain a prone position and then move to the prone hip extension. A motion capture system collected the kinematic data and the location of the GT was calculated by two measurements. [Results] GT migration distance differed significantly between the two measurements and the coefficient of the variation value was lower for the No GT-m method. Thigh lengths of the No GT-m method were comparable to the original lengths. There were significant differences between the GT-m and the other methods. [Conclusions] These data suggest that the GT-m method yielded a lower precision with a smaller GT migration distance. In the comparison of thigh length, the No GT-m method was in close agreement with the original length. We suggest that determining the location of the GT using the No GT-m has greater accuracy than the GT-m method.

Differences in lumbar and pelvic angles and gluteal pressure in different sitting postures.

[Purpose] To investigate the effects of erect sitting, slouched posture with cross-legged sitting, and erect posture with cross-legged sitting on the lumbar and pelvic angles, and gluteal pressure. [Subjects] For the experiments, 17 healthy women were recruited. [Methods] All subjects were asked to perform three sitting postures: erect sitting, slouched posture with cross-legged sitting, and erect posture with cross-legged sitting. Lumbar and pelvic angles were measured using a three-dimensional motion-capture system, and gluteal pressure was measured using a pressure mat. [Results] Compared to erector sitting, slouched posture with cross-legged sitting showed significantly greater lumbar flexion, posterior pelvic tilt, and left pelvic tilt. Compared to erect sitting, erect posture with cross-legged sitting showed significantly greater lumbar flexion and posterior pelvic tilt. Compared to erect posture with cross-legged sitting, slouched posture with cross-legged sitting showed significantly greater lumbar flexion and posterior pelvic tilt. Compared to erect sitting and erect posture with cross-legged sitting, slouched posture with cross-legged sitting showed significantly greater left gluteal pressure; there was no significant difference in right gluteal pressure. [Conclusion] An erect posture can reduce changes in lumbar and pelvic angles, and gluteal pressure compared to a slouched posture during cross-legged sitting.

Lyar Is a New Ligand for Retinal Pigment Epithelial Phagocytosis.

Phagocytosis is critical to tissue homeostasis, as highlighted by phagocytosis defect of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells with debris accumulation, photoreceptor degeneration and blindness. Phagocytosis ligands are the key to delineating molecular mechanisms and functional roles of phagocytes, but are traditionally identified in individual cases with technical challenges. We recently developed open reading frame phage display (OPD) for phagocytosis-based functional cloning (PFC) to identify unknown ligands. One of the identified ligands was Ly-1 antibody reactive clone (Lyar) with functions poorly defined. Herein, we characterized Lyar as a new ligand to stimulate RPE phagocytosis. In contrast to its reported nucleolar expression, immunohistochemistry showed that Lyar was highly expressed in photoreceptor outer segments (POSs) of the retina. Cytoplasmic Lyar was released from apoptotic cells, and selectively bound to shed POSs and apoptotic cells, but not healthy cells. POS vesicles engulfed through Lyar-dependent pathway were targeted to phagosomes and colocalized with phagosome marker Rab7. These results suggest that Lyar is a genuine RPE phagocytosis ligand, which in turn supports the validity of OPD/PFC as the only available approach for unbiased identification of phagocytosis ligands with broad applicability to various phagocytes.

Synthesis and evaluation of hydroquinone derivatives as inhibitors of isocitrate lyase.

Isocitrate lyase (ICL) is envisaged as an attractive drug target for the development of antimicrobial agents. We have prepared a series of hydroquinone derivatives on the basis of the structure of halisulfates, a naturally occurring inhibitor of ICL. The obtained derivatives were evaluated against ICL of C. albicans. The preliminary structure-activity relationships and the minimal structural requirements for potency were established through structural modifications.