The effect of subchondral oedema in T2-weighted Dixon MRI sequence evaluation of sacroiliac joint erosion in axial spondyloarthropathy.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of subchondral oedema in T2-weighted Dixon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence evaluation of sacroiliac joint erosion in patients with axial spondyloarthropathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients diagnosed with axial spondyloarthritis underwent MRI at a tertiary referral centre from December 2019 to March 2021 were included. In-phase, opposed-phase and fat-only images were scored by two musculoskeletal radiologists independently for the presence of erosions in eight sacroiliac joint quadrants. Sensitivity, specificity and areas under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve were determined using T1W sequence as reference standard. Intra-observer and interobserver reliability were calculated using Cohen's kappa coefficient. RESULTS: The diagnostic performance of fat-only and in-phase images were similar (AUC 0.857-0.902 and 0.828-0.868) and better than opposed-phase images (AUC 0.613-0.658). The interobserver reliability of fat-only and in-phase images were substantial (k = 0.747 and 0.712), and moderate for opposed-phase images (k = 0.417). Intra-observer reliability was almost perfect for all the images. In the subgroup analysis, the specificity and AUC for oedema-positive group were lower than oedema-negative group in all image sets. Interobserver reliability was substantial for fat-only and in-phase images in both groups, but slight and moderate for the opposed-phase oedema-positive and negative groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: The presence of subchondral oedema in active sacroiliitis decreased the diagnostic accuracy of sacroiliac joint erosion detection on T2W Dixon MRI images.

Denosumab-induced hypocalcemia in a patient with hyperthyroidism: a case report.

Denosumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL). Denosumab is an effective treatment for osteoporosis but can cause hypocalcemia. We present a case of denosumab-induced hypocalcemia in a patient with hyperthyroidism with a high bone turnover state. A 48-year-old postmenopausal woman was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and osteoporosis and received antithyroid drugs (propylthiouracil 200 mg/day) and denosumab. After 2 months of taking medication, the patient complained of numbness and tingling in the hands and feet and was diagnosed with hypocalcemia (calcium, 5.8 mg/dL; ionized calcium, 0.83 mmol/L). Alfacalcidol (0.5 µg/day) and calcium carbonate (3000 mg/day) were prescribed. Subsequently, the patient's symptoms improved, and her serum calcium level normalized. The risk of denosumab-induced hypocalcemia may be increased in patients with diseases related to high bone turnover, such as hyperthyroidism; therefore, caution is needed.

Epidemiology and outcomes of geriatric and non-geriatric patients with drug allergy labels in Hong Kong.

INTRODUCTION: Adverse drug reactions are more common in geriatric patients than in younger patients, but there have been insufficient studies concerning the epidemiology or burden of drug allergy labels in geriatric patients. We prospectively investigated the prevalence and outcomes of geriatric patients with drug allergy labels in a cohort of hospitalised patients. METHODS: Patients admitted to a regional hospital over a 6-month period were recruited for this study. All patients with drug allergy labels were prospectively followed until discharge; clinical data were anonymously extracted for analyses. Patients were categorised into either geriatric (aged ≥65 years) or non-geriatric (aged <65 years) groups. Demographic characteristics, clinical outcomes, and prevalences of drug allergy labels were compared between groups. RESULTS: There were 4361 admissions involving 3641 patients during the 6-month study period. Overall, 492 patients (13.5%) had drug allergy labels, consisting of 151 non-geriatric patients (30.7%) and 341 geriatric patients (69.3%). The prevalence of drug allergy labels did not significantly differ between geriatric and non-geriatric patients (13.5% vs 13.5%, P=0.976). Significantly more patients in the geriatric group had drug allergy labels to cardiovascular system drugs (15.5% vs 4.6%, P=0.001). Geriatric patients had a significantly lower rate of direct discharge from the hospital (73.0% vs 88.1%, P<0.001) and required transfers to convalescent or rehabilitation care for further management. CONCLUSIONS: More than 13% of hospitalised geriatric patients had drug allergy labels. The leading causes of drug allergy labels were similar between geriatric and non-geriatric patients. Geriatric patients with drug allergy labels had significantly more labelled allergies to cardiovascular system drugs and adverse clinical outcomes.

Incidence of subsequent osteoporotic fractures after distal radius fractures and mortality of the subsequent distal radius fractures: a retrospective analysis of claims data of the Korea National Health Insurance Service.

A better understanding of the features of subsequent fractures after distal radius fracture (DRF) is important for the prevention of further osteoporotic fractures. This study found that the cumulative incidence of subsequent osteoporotic fractures in South Korea increased over time and that the mortality rates of subsequent DRFs were lower than those of first-time DRFs. INTRODUCTION: We examined the incidence of osteoporotic fractures following distal radius fractures (DRFs) and the mortality rate after subsequent DRFs using claims data from the Korea National Health Insurance (KNHI) Service. METHODS: We identified records for 41,417 patients with first-time DRFs in 2012. The occurrence of osteoporotic fractures of the spine, hip, wrist, and humerus at least 6 months after the index DRF was tracked through 2016. All fractures were identified by specific diagnosis and procedure codes. One-year mortality rates and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for initial and subsequent DRFs were calculated for all patients. RESULTS: The 4-year cumulative incidence of all subsequent osteoporotic fractures was 14.74% (6105/41,417; 9.47% in men, 15.9% in women). The number of associated subsequent fractures was 2850 for the spine (46.68%), 2271 for the wrist (37.2%), 708 for the hip (11.6%), and 276 for the humerus (4.52%). The cumulative mortality rate 1 year after the first-time and subsequent DRF was 1.47% and 0.71%, respectively, and the overall SMR was 1.48 (95% CI: 1.37-1.61) and 0.71 (95% CI: 0.42-1.21), respectively. CONCLUSION: The cumulative incidence of osteoporotic fractures following DRFs increased over the study period and was higher among women. The cumulative mortality rates and SMRs of subsequent DRFs were lower than those of first-time DRFs at the 1-year follow-up. Given the increasing incidence rate of DRFs, the incidence of subsequent osteoporotic fractures may also increase.

Factors affecting willingness to get assessed and treated for osteoporosis.

Individuals with poor knowledge of osteoporosis and lower socioeconomic status, including being single and having a lower level of annual income, are less likely to be assessed or treated for osteoporosis. Individuals with particular osteoporosis risk factors such as smokers and heavy drinkers are overlooked for diagnosis. Further study is needed to identify and address the existing barriers and to promote osteoporosis management for women with these risk factors. INTRODUCTION: Despite the negative health consequences of osteoporosis and the availability of effective treatment, a pervasive and persistent prevention care gap for osteoporosis remains present throughout the world. We attempted to identify the factors affecting the willingness of patients to either undergo or avoid assessment and treatment for osteoporosis. METHODS: A nationwide online survey was conducted in 926 Korean women over age 50. The survey included questions addressing three domains: (1) clinical and socio-demographic characteristics, (2) questions concerning the reasons for undergoing or avoiding osteoporosis assessment or treatment, and (3) knowledge of osteoporosis as measured using the modified Korean version of Facts on Osteoporosis Quiz. The assessed and non-assessed participants were compared in terms of their clinical and socioeconomic statuses, reasons for undergoing or avoiding osteoporosis management, and levels of knowledge of osteoporosis. RESULTS: The highest-ranked reason for undergoing osteoporosis assessment was fear of osteoporotic fracture, while the highest-ranked reason for avoiding osteoporosis assessment was not feeling a need to get tested for osteoporosis. Participants who sought assessment for osteoporosis were older and more likely to be married, and had greater knowledge of osteoporosis than those who did not seek assessment. The two groups were found to be similar in terms of tobacco use and daily alcohol use. Patients who had been diagnosed with osteoporosis but either did not initiate or discontinued osteoporosis treatment within 1 year were younger and had lower levels of annual income than those who began and continued treatment. CONCLUSION: Individuals with poor knowledge of osteoporosis and those of lower socioeconomic status, including those who were single and had a lower level of annual income, were less likely to be assessed and treated for osteoporosis. Individuals with particular osteoporosis risk factors such as smokers and heavy drinkers are overlooked for diagnosis. Further study is needed to identify and address the existing barriers and to promote osteoporosis management for women with these risk factors.

Factors associated with regression from prediabetes to normal glucose tolerance in a Korean general population: A community-based 10-year prospective cohort study.

AIM: A proportion of people with prediabetes convert back to normal glucose tolerance. We sought to determine the clinical variables associated with conversion from prediabetes to normal glucose tolerance, with a focus on insulin secretory capacity, insulin sensitivity and body composition. METHODS: We followed 1731 people with prediabetes at baseline from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study every 2 years for 10 years. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were performed, and muscle and fat mass were estimated using bioelectrical impedance analysis. RESULTS: During 10 years of follow-up, 36% (623/1731) of people with prediabetes converted to normal glucose tolerance. Higher baseline fasting glucose, 2-h OGTT glucose and triglyceride levels were inversely associated with this conversion. Higher 60-min insulinogenic index (IGI60 ) at baseline was independently associated with this conversion [HR per sd (95% CI) 1.09 (1.02-1.17); P = 0.01]. However, other indices reflecting insulin sensitivity, including the composite insulin sensitivity index, were not associated with this conversion. In addition, a higher baseline muscle to fat ratio was independently associated with conversion to normal glucose tolerance [HR per sd (95% CI) 1.15 (1.04-1.26); P = 0.005]. People with conversion to normal glucose tolerance showed a greater increase in the 60-min insulinogenic index and disposition index and a smaller decrease in the composite insulin sensitivity index compared with people without conversion during 10 years of follow-up (all p-values < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A higher insulin secretory capacity at baseline and during follow-up and higher baseline muscle to fat ratio were independently associated with an improvement in glucose tolerance in Korean adults with prediabetes.

An experimental approach for real time mass spectrometric CVD gas phase investigations.

This is a report on the first setup of a recently developed, extremely sensitive and very fast 3D quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer inline in a metalorganic vapour phase epitaxy (MOVPE) system. This setup was developed ultimately for the decomposition- and the interaction analysis of various established as well as novel metalorganic sources for MOVPE deposition of III/V semiconductors. To make in-situ gas phase and growth interaction analysis on a new level of sensitivity possible without disturbing the MOVPE growth process itself, an optimized experimental connection of the mass spectrometer to the MOVPE system is required. This work reports on the realization of such an experimental setup and provides first proof of concept for decomposition analysis. In addition, a comparison to previous studies and gas-phase analysis at MOVPE systems will be given in this work.

Calorie restriction reverses age-related alteration of cavernous neurovascular structure in the rat.

Calorie restriction (CR) refers to a reduction of calorie intake without compromising essential nutrients to avoid malnutrition. CR has been established as a non-genetic method of altering longevity and attenuating biological changes associated with aging. Aging is also an important risk factor for erectile dysfunction. The aim of this study was to examine whether CR diet can reverse the age-related alterations of erectile tissue in the aged rat. Four groups of rats were used: young rats (7 months) + ad libitum, aged rats (22 months) + ad libitum, young rats + CR diet, and aged rats + CR diet. The ad libitum group had free access to both food and water, and CR groups were fed 60% of the food intake of their ad libitum littermates, starting from 6 weeks before sacrifice. The penis was harvested and stained with antibodies to von Willebrand factor, smooth muscle α-actin, platelet-derived growth factor receptor-ß, phospho-eNOS, nNOS, and neurofilament. We also performed Masson trichrome staining and TUNEL assay. The blood samples were collected for the measurement of serum total testosterone level. The contents of endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, pericytes, and neuronal cells as well as serum testosterone levels were significantly lower in the penis of aged rats than in their young littermates. CR significantly restored cavernous endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, pericytes, and neuronal cell contents and decreased cavernous endothelial cell apoptosis and fibrosis in both young and aged rats. CR also increased serum testosterone level in aged rats, but not in young rats. CR successfully improved age-related derangements in penile neurovascular structures and hormonal disturbance. Along with a variety of lifestyle modifications, our study gave us a scientific rationale for CR as a non-pharmaceutical strategy to reprogram damaged erectile tissue toward neurovascular repair in aged men.

Determination of the Mechanisms that Cause Sarcopenia through cDNA Microarray.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia, the aging-related deterioration of skeletal muscle, is a disease that is directly associated with quality of life. Given the trend of an increasing aging population worldwide, the prevention of aging-related diseases such as sarcopenia has become ever more important and urgent. OBJECTIVE: To identify potential therapeutic targets for this disease. METHODS: we used a bioinformatics approach of combining cDNA microarray analysis and protein-protein interaction prediction. RESULTS: We found 673 significant differentially expressed genes (128 upregulated and 545 downregulated) in sarcopenia patients of over 60 years of age. Most of the upregulated genes were involved in metabolic processes such as the PPAR signaling pathway. In particular, FABP4, PLIN1, and ADIPOQ were related to fatty acid and lipid metabolism. Some of the downregulated genes were located in the mitochondrial matrix. Additionally, through the protein interaction network analysis, we found two key molecules (MAP1LC3B and HSP90AB1) that were associated with autophagy. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction and lipid metabolism are associated with sarcopenia.

Prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders and validation of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale as a screening tool in axial spondyloarthritis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression in axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients by a psychiatrist using the Chinese-bilingual Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition patient research version (CB-SCID-I/P), and to examine the effectiveness of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) as a screening tool. METHODS: We recruited 160 Chinese axial-SpA patients to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression using the CB-SCID-I/P. Recruited subjects were asked to complete the HADS. HADS, HADS-depression (HADS-D) subscale and HADS-anxiety (HADS-A) subscale were analyzed to determine their effectiveness in screening for depressive and anxiety disorders. RESULTS: The prevalence of current major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety disorder were 10.6% and 15.6%, respectively. The full-scale HADS outperformed the HADS-D subscale in screening for current MDD (area under the curve [AUC] 0.889; 0.844) and all depressive disorders (AUC 0.885; 0.862) while the HADS-A subscale outperformed the full scale HADS in screening for anxiety disorders (AUC 0.894; 0.846). The optimal cut-off point of the full scale HADS for screening current MDD and all depressive disorders were 7/8 and 6/7, yielding a sensitivity of 82.4% and 83.9%, specificity of 78.7% and 74.8%, respectively. The optimal cut-off point of HADS-A subscale for screening anxiety disorders was 6/7, yielding a sensitivity of 88.0% and specificity of 74.4%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MDD and anxiety disorder in SpA patients were 10.6% and 15.6%, respectively. We recommend using the full-scale HADS in screening for depressive disorders and HADS-A subscale for anxiety disorders.

Prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study explored the prognostic impact of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and investigated whether three histologic subtypes (lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma, carcinoma with Crohn's disease-like lymphoid reaction, and conventional-type adenocarcinoma) could stratify a prognostic subset for patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: After reviewing 1318 consecutive cases of surgically resected or endoscopic submucosal dissected gastric cancers, 120 patients were identified as EBV-positive using EBV-encoded RNA in situ hybridization. The evaluation of the percentage of intratumoral (iTu-) and stromal (str-) TILs was carried out, and the cases were also subclassified into three histologic subtypes as noted above. RESULTS: Among the 120 patients, 73 patients (60.8%) and 60 patients (50.0%) were determined as str-TIL-positive and iTu-TIL-positive, respectively. In a univariate analysis, str-TIL-positivity was significantly associated with longer recurrence-free survival (RFS; P = 0.002) and disease-free survival (DFS; P = 0.008), yet not overall survival (OS; P = 0.145). While iTu-TIL-positivity has a tendency of favorable outcome indicator for DFS and OS, but statistically significant differences were not shown, respectively (RFS, P = 0.058; DFS, P = 0.151; OS, P = 0.191). In a multivariate analysis using a Cox proportional hazard model adjusted for age, pTNM stage, lymphatic invasion, perineural invasion, and venous invasion; histologic subtype, WHO classification, and str-TIL-positivity were independently or tentatively associated with favorable RFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 12.193, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.039-143.055, P = 0.047) or DFS (HR = 4.836, 95% CI 0.917-25.525, P = 0.063). CONCLUSION: The histologic subclassification and TILs can be used to predict RFS and DFS for patients with EBVaGC.

A genome-wide analysis of the ultimate pH in swine.

Meat pH is an important factor influencing meat quality traits in swine. This study evaluated a large number of genetic variants that covered all of the swine chromosomal regions. Approximately 68,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), found on Illumina Porcine SNP chips, were tested for associations with meat pH values. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) found that 19 SNPs on Sus scrofa chromosome 4 were significantly associated with pH. Two major candidate genomic regions were defined: a 1.08-Mb region (at nucleotide 30118313 to 31207050) contained 10 significant SNPs, based on an effect value of 5.0; and a 2.7-Mb genomic region (at nucleotide 73293076 to 76023681) contained 9 significant SNPs. Three putative genes--PKHD1L1, VCPIP1, and LOC102166532--were identified by GWAS near significant SNPs. These genes may account for variations in pH levels. Three pseudogenes and two non-coding RNAs were also detected by GWAS analysis. Estimations of expected and observed P values for pH revealed significant departures from the null hypothesis. A total of 9 haplotype blocks (HB) were constructed: HBs 1, 3, and 5 showed significant effects on pH24 and pH45, whereas an association was not confirmed between pH24 and HBs 4, 6, and 8. Findings from this study indicate that the three genes identified may influence pH of pig meat.

Characterization and phylogenetic analysis of the swine leukocyte antigen 3 gene from Korean native pigs.

We investigated the phylogenetic relationships between pig breeds, compared the genetic similarity between humans and pigs, and provided basic genetic information on Korean native pigs (KNPs), using genetic variants of the swine leukocyte antigen 3 (SLA-3) gene. Primers were based on sequences from GenBank (accession Nos. AF464010 and AF464009). Polymerase chain reaction analysis amplified approximately 1727 bp of segments, which contained 1086 bp of coding regions and 641 bp of the 3'- and 5'-untranslated regions. Bacterial artificial chromosome clones of miniature pigs were used for sequencing the SLA-3 genomic region, which was 3114 bp in total length, including the coding (1086 bp) and non-coding (2028 bp) regions. Sequence analysis detected 53 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), based on a minor allele frequency greater than 0.01, which is low compared with other pig breeds, and the results suggest that there is low genetic variability in KNPs. Comparative analysis revealed that humans possess approximately three times more genetic variation than do pigs. Approximately 71% of SNPs in exons 2 and 3 were detected in KNPs, and exon 5 in humans is a highly polymorphic region. Newly identified sequences of SLA-3 using KNPs were submitted to GenBank (accession No. DQ992512-18). Cluster analysis revealed that KNPs were grouped according to three major alleles: SLA-3*0502 (DQ992518), SLA-3*0302 (DQ992513 and DQ992516), and SLA-3*0303 (DQ992512, DQ992514, DQ992515, and DQ992517). Alignments revealed that humans have a relatively close genetic relationship with pigs and chimpanzees. The information provided by this study may be useful in KNP management.

Associations between genetic variants in the promoter region of the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) gene and blood serum IGF1 concentration in Hanwoo cattle.

In this study, we investigated the associations between genetic variants in the promoter region of the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) gene and blood serum IGF1 concentration in Hanwoo cattle. Polymerase chain reaction primers were based on GenBank accession No. AF404761 and amplified approximately 533-bp segments. Newly identified sequences were submitted to GenBank (accession No. DQ267493). Sequence analysis revealed that genetic variants were located at a nucleotide position 323 for the nucleotide substitution C/A that was first reported in this study and positions 326-349 for a repeat motif (CA10-11). The allele frequencies of g.323C>A were 0.264 (C) and 0.736 (A) without significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Frequencies of the repeat motif CA(10) and CA(11) were 0.604 and 0.396, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed that the genetic variation g.323C>A was significantly associated with blood serum IGF1 concentrations with significant additive genetic effects, whereas no associations were found for the repeat motif. IGF1 concentrations were positively (r = 0.453) and negatively (r = -0.445) correlated with weights in the growing stages (16-21 months) and late fattening stages (22-30 months), respectively. The results of the present study and future genotypic data for Hanwoo beef cattle based on the robust genetic variation of IGF1 will provide critical information for genetic improvement and will have a large impact on commercial markets.

Efficacy of ultrasound mediated microbubbles in diclofenac gel to enhance transdermal permeation in rheumatoid arthritis induced rat.

In previous study in the literature, the effect of ultrasound on the transdermal permeation of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, diclofenac has been investigated. Therapeutic ultrasound can increase circulation in the inflamed joint and decrease arthritic pain. Recently, transdermal drug delivery has been demonstrated by ultrasound (US) combining with microbubbles (MBs) contrast agent. In this study, the efficiency of US-MBs mediated diclofenac delivery for adjuvant-induced rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in rats was evaluated. RA was induced by injection of 100 µl Freund's complete adjuvant into the ankle joint in SD male rats (250-300g) and were randomly divided into five groups: (1) control group (C); (2) penetrating diclofenac alone (D); (3) US alone (U); (4) US combined with penetrating diclofenac (DU); (5) US combined with MBs and penetrating diclofenac (DUB). The evaluations of ankle width were performed for 10 days by high frequency (40MHz) US B-mode and color Doppler mode imaging before and after treatment. Longitudinal US images of arthritis induced show synovitis and neovascularity. After treatment, only a little neovascularity has been observed. The recovery rate at 10th day in the group DUB (97.7±2.7 %) was significantly higher than in the group C (1.0±2.7 %), group D (37.5±4.6 %), group U (75.5±4.2 %) and group DU (87.3±5.2 %) (p <; 0.05). Our results investigated that the treatments of US and MBs can increase skin permeability to enhance diclofenac sodium delivery and inhibit inflammation of the tissues surrounded the arthritic ankle. In color Doppler imaging, after the combination treatment, the synovial neoangiogenesis in the arthritic area was reduced quickly.

Anticancer effects of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid in esophageal squamous cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

The effects of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, have not been studied in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). Cell viability assay; flow cytometry for cell cycle and annexin V apoptosis assays; assays for cell migration, invasion, and adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM); and immunoblotting and immunofluorescence staining were performed in three ESCC cell lines. Tumor xenograft with semiquantitative immunohistochemistry was used to study the effects of SAHA in vivo. SAHA effectively inhibited growth of ESCC cells with half-inhibitory concentrations (IC50 ) ranging from 2.6 to 6.5 µmol/L. SAHA restored acetylation of histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9Ac) and histone 4 lysine 12 (H4K12Ac) with an induction of G1 or G2 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Expression of cell cycle checkpoint regulatory proteins including cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and cyclins was decreased, whereas expression of cell cycle suppressors, p21, p27, and Rb was increased in ESCC cells after SAHA treatment. SAHA inhibited migration, invasion, and ECM adhesion in ESCC cells with an induction of E-cadherin expression. SAHA significantly inhibited growth of ESCC tumors with increased expression of p21, p27, Rb, and E-cadherin while decreasing expression of CDK4 and cyclin D1 within the murine tumors. In conclusion, SAHA had antigrowth activity against ESCC cells in vitro and in vivo while inhibiting cell migration, cell invasion, and ECM adhesion, suggesting its potential as an epigenetic therapeutic agent for ESCC.

The effect of montelukast and antiadhesion barrier solution on the capsule formation after insertion of silicone implants in a white rat model.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSES: Capsular contracture is one of the most severe complications that can occur in breast surgery following silicone implant insertion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of montelukast and antiadhesion barrier solution (AABS) on reducing capsular formation and their possible synergism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee (Reference No. KNU 2012-33) and was conducted in accordance with the Kyungpook National University - Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Animal Ethics Committee. The experiments in this study were conducted in vivo in 4 groups of 24 rats. Following silicone implant insertion, the pocket was injected with different agents. Group I (control group) was given normal saline injections into the pocket and fed with pure water. Group II was given injections of AABS and fed with pure water. Group III was given injections of normal saline and the medication montelukast during the experimental period. Group IV was given injections of AABS and montelukast as postoperative medication. Peri-implant capsules were excised after 8 weeks and were evaluated for transparency, inflammatory cell content, capsule thickness, collagen pattern and TGF-ß expression. RESULTS: The capsules in the experimental groups (i.e., groups II-IV) were significantly more transparent than those in group I (controls; p < 0.05, Student's t test). The mean capsule thickness of the experimental groups II (296 ± 14.76 µm), III (280 ± 14.77 µm) and IV (276 ± 39.28 µm) was smaller than that of the control group I (361 ± 35.43 µm). Compared to the control group, the histologic findings in the experimental groups suggested a decreased inflammatory response occurring in the peri-implant capsules as they exhibited minor vascularization and a reduced number of mast cells and macrophages. The collagen patterns in the experimental groups were of a lower density than in the control group with the former showing a loose, tidy collagen pattern. The amounts of TGF-ß and collagen I were higher in the control group than in the experimental groups. Group IV (the synergic effect group) had a more pronounced effect on all the parameters examined than that in groups II and III with separate drug administration. CONCLUSIONS: Montelukast and AABS reduced the thickness, the inflammatory cell infiltrate and the myofibroblast content of the peri-implant capsules around silicone implants in this white rat model. They lowered the expression of the fibrotic mediator, TGF-ß, and inhibited the peri-implant capsular fibrosis. Therefore, montelukast and AABS are effective in the reduction of silicone-induced peri-implant capsular formation.

Molecular fluorescence in the vicinity of a charged metallic nanoparticle.

The modified fluorescence properties of a molecule in the vicinity of a metallic nanoparticle are further studied accounting for the possible existence of extraneous charges on the particle surface. This is achieved via a generalization of the previous theory of Bohren and Hunt for light scattering from a charged sphere, with the results applied to the calculation of the various decay rates and fluorescence yield of the admolecule. Numerical results show that while charge effects will in general blue-shift all the plasmonic resonances of the metal particle, both the quantum yield and the fluorescence yield can be increased at emission frequencies close to that of the surface plasmon resonance of the particle due to the suppression of the nonradiative decay rate. This provides a possibility of further enhancing the particle-induced molecular fluorescence via the addition of surface charge to the metal particle.

Occurrence of bound 3-monochloropropan-1,2-diol content in commonly consumed foods in Hong Kong analysed by enzymatic hydrolysis and GC-MS detection.

The aim of this study was to determine the level of bound 3-monochloropropan-1,2-diol in foodstuffs commonly consumed in Hong Kong, China, by an enzymatic hydrolysis indirect method which proved to be free from interferences. A total of 290 samples were picked up randomly from the local market and analysed. About 73% of these samples were found to contain detectable amounts of bound 3-MCPD. Amongst the 73 food items, bound 3-MCPD was not detected in 13 food items, including extra virgin olive oil, beef ball/salami, beef flank, ham/Chinese ham, nuts, seeds, soy sauce, oyster sauce, butter, yoghurt, cream, cheese and milk. For those found to contain detectable bound 3-MCPD, the content ranged up to 2500 µg kg(-1). The highest mean bound 3-MCPD content among the 14 food groups was in biscuits (440 [50-860] µg kg(-1)), followed by fats and oils (390 [n.d.-2500] µg kg(-1)), snacks (270 [9-1000] µg kg(-1)), and Chinese pastry (270 [n.d.-1200] µg kg(-1)). Among the samples, the highest bound 3-MCPD content was in a grape seed oil (2500 µg kg(-1)), followed by a walnut flaky pastry (1200 µg kg(-1)) and a grilled corn (1000 µg kg(-1)). Basically, the results of this study agreed well with other published results in peer-reviewed journals, except for cheese, cream, ham, nuts and seeds.

Dietary exposure of Hong Kong adults to fatty acid esters of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol.

A total of 290 individual food samples were collected in Hong Kong, China, for 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) fatty acid esters analysis. Most samples were processed food and in ready-to-eat form. The results show that the levels of 3-MCPD fatty acid esters were high in biscuits, fats and oils, snacks and Chinese pastry with mean bound 3-MCPD levels of 440, 390, 270 and 270 µg kg⁻¹, respectively. The dietary exposures to bound 3-MCPD of average and high adult consumers were estimated to be 0.20 and 0.53 µg kg bw⁻¹ day⁻¹, respectively. The primary toxicological concern of 3-MCPD fatty acid esters is its potential to release 3-MCPD in vivo during digestion in the gastrointestinal tract. 3-MCPD would affect the kidney, the central nervous system and the male reproductive system of rats. Assuming that 100% of the 3-MCPD was released from 3-MCPD fatty acid esters by hydrolysis in the digestive system, the dietary exposures to 3-MCPD for average and high adult consumers were only 10% and 26% of the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) of 3-MCPD established by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) (2 µg kg bw⁻¹ day⁻¹), respectively. The results suggest that both average and high adult consumers are unlikely to experience major toxicological effects of 3-MCPD.