Enabling Gradient-Structured Solid Electrolyte Interphase by a Hydrated Eutectic Electrolyte for High-Performance Zn Metal Batteries.

Aqueous Zn metal batteries are attracting tremendous interest as promising energy storage systems due to their intrinsic safety and cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, the reversibility of Zn metal anodes (ZMAs) is hindered by water-induced parasitic reactions and dendrite growth. Herein, a novel hydrated eutectic electrolyte (HEE) consisting of Zn(BF4)2·xH2O and sulfolane (SL) is developed to prevent the side reactions and achieve the outstanding cyclability of ZMAs. The strong coordination between Zn2+ and SL triggers the eutectic feature, enabling the low-temperature availability of HEEs. The restriction of BF4 - hydrolysis in the eutectic system can realize favorable compatibility between Zn(BF4)2-based electrolyte and ZMAs. Besides, the newly-established solvation structure with the participation of SL, H2O, and BF4 -, can induce in situ formation of desirable SEI with gradient structure consisting of B,O-rich species, ZnS, and ZnF2, to offer satisfactory protection toward ZMAs. Consequently, the HEE allows the Zn||Zn symmetric cell to cycle over 1650 h at 2 mA cm-2 and 1 mA h cm-2. Moreover, the Zn||NH4V4O10 full batteries can deliver a prolonged lifespan for 1000 cycles with a high capacity retention of 83.4%. This work represents a feasible approach toward the elaborate design of advanced electrolyte systems for next-generation batteries.

Cascade Sequence of Photooxygenation-Epoxidation for the Flow Synthesis of Epoxy Alcohols.

A photooxygenation-epoxidation cascade sequence converting alkenes to epoxy alcohols was developed and evaluated in batch and continuous-flow systems. In the batch system, the undesired interactions between the photooxygenation and epoxidation catalysts resulted in suboptimal yields, whereas the fine control of reaction parameters in the flow system allowed the allyl hydroperoxides produced through photooxygenation of alkenes to be rapidly converted to epoxy alcohols in yields of up to 93%. The developed procedure allows one to avoid an important synthetic bottleneck, works well where traditional batch synthesis fails, and can be scaled up to meet the needs of industrial production, thus presenting a valuable addition to the toolbox of practicing organic chemists.

Monthly Variation in Bell's Palsy Based on Population Data of Korea.

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have reported that the number of patients with Bell's palsy varied significantly by month and season. However, few studies have reported the monthly variation in Bell's palsy based on the whole population. We investigated the monthly variation in Bell's palsy in Korea during a long-term period based on whole population data. METHODS: This retrospective study used the data of the National Health Insurance Service of Korea, which included the entire Korean population from 2008 to 2020. The monthly incidence of Bell's palsy per 100,000 was evaluated in total and according to sex, age, and residence. RESULTS: The total average monthly incidence differed significantly by month, with the highest observed in January (9.1 per 100,000) and the lowest in June (7.7 per 100,000) (p < 0.001). The average monthly incidence according to sex, age, and residence also varied significantly by month, with most of the highest values noted in January and the lowest in June. CONCLUSION: There was significant monthly variation in the incidence of Bell's palsy, with the highest in January during the winter and the lowest in June during the summer, based on whole population data over a long-term period in Korea.

Associations of Alcohol Consumption and Smoking Behaviors with Depressed Mood According to Gender in Korean Young Adults.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have reported that chronic mental health problems often emerge in young adulthood. This study elucidated the independent effects of smoking and drinking on depressed mood in young adults by sex. METHODS: We used Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted in 2014, 2016, and 2018. A total of 3,391 participants aged 19-35 years, without serious chronic diseases, were recruited for this study. Depression was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). RESULTS: Smoking behavior, current smoking, and number of days smoked were significantly associated with higher PHQ-9 scores in both men and women (all P<0.05). However, past and ever smoking were positively associated with PHQ-9 scores only in women (all P<0.001). Regarding alcohol consumption, the age at which drinking first began was negatively associated with PHQ-9 scores in both men and women (all P<0.001), but the amount of alcohol consumed at 1 time was positively associated with PHQ-9 scores only in women (P=0.013). Men who drank 2-4 times a month and women who had not drunk during the past year had the lowest PHQ-9 scores. CONCLUSION: Smoking and alcohol consumption were independently associated with depressed mood in young Korean adults, which was more pronounced in women, and exhibited sex-specific characteristics.

Peripheral Neuron-Organoid Interaction Induces Colonic Epithelial Differentiation via Non-Synaptic Substance P Secretion.

Background and Objectives: The colonic epithelial layer is a complex structure consisting of multiple cell types that regulate various aspects of colonic physiology, yet the mechanisms underlying epithelial cell differentiation during development remain unclear. Organoids have emerged as a promising model for investigating organogenesis, but achieving organ-like cell configurations within colonic organoids is challenging. Here, we investigated the biological significance of peripheral neurons in the formation of colonic organoids. Methods and Results: Colonic organoids were co-cultured with human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived peripheral neurons, resulting in the morphological maturation of columnar epithelial cells, as well as the presence of enterochromaffin cells. Substance P released from immature peripheral neurons played a critical role in the development of colonic epithelial cells. These findings highlight the vital role of inter-organ interactions in organoid development and provide insights into colonic epithelial cell differentiation mechanisms. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the peripheral nervous system may have a significant role in the development of colonic epithelial cells, which could have important implications for future studies of organogenesis and disease modeling.

Men With Both Diabetes and a Family History of Diabetes Were Associated With Depressed Mood in Korean Adults.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is strongly associated with depression, especially in women. This study was designed to investigate the gender-specific association between DM and depressive mood by family history of diabetes. Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a population-based cross-sectional survey in 2020, were used. Of 6,133 participants aged 19 years or older, 4,259 participants were included after excluding participants without data of laboratory or physical examination, medical or family history of diseases, or depression scores of Patient Health Questionnaire-9. We examined associations of glucose and insulin metabolism, and DM with depressed mood by sex and family history of diabetes using logistic regression analyses with three stepwise models. In men, fasting glucose and HbA1c (odds ratio [OR]: 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [1.10, 1.42]) levels were significantly associated with depressed mood. Men with DM and a family history of diabetes were also significantly associated with depressed mood (OR: 1.84, 95% CI: [1.12, 3.05]), whereas DM without a family history showed no association. In women, glucose and insulin metabolism had no associations with depressed mood, and DM was also not associated with depressed mood regardless of a family history of diabetes. In Korean adults, DM with a family history of diabetes and glucose metabolism showed significant associations with depressed mood in men, but not in women. Our results suggest that men with both DM and a family history of diabetes should be paid more attention to depressed moods, considering ethnic characteristics.

Is the cochleovestibular nerve function affected in patients with hemifacial spasm?

Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a motor disorder caused by the vascular compression of the facial nerve in the posterior fossa. The cochleovestibular nerve is close to the facial nerve and shares the same entry to the periphery, also has disorders caused by vascular compression. We evaluated the cochleovestibular nerve function in patients with HFS based on the hypothesis that vascular compression, which causes HFS, can also affect the nearby cochleovestibular nerve function. The medical charts of 49 patients with surgically confirmed HFS were reviewed retrospectively. The results of the pure-tone threshold, auditory brainstem response (ABR), video head impulse test (vHIT), and magnetic resonance imaging were analyzed. In each patient, the HFS side and the unaffected side were compared in the paired manner. The anterior inferior cerebellar artery was the major offending vessel (69.4%). There were no significant differences in the pure-tone threshold, properties of ABR waves, and vHIT gain. There was no evidence of cochleovestibular nerve compression syndrome in all patients. The angulation of the nerve by the offending vessel was more frequently identified in the HFS side than in the unaffected side (p = 0.040). The effect of HFS on cochleovestibular nerve function is limited.

Dual mimic enzyme properties of Fe nanoparticles embedded in two-dimensional carbon nanosheets for colorimetric detection of biomolecules.

The development of novel nanozymes is of great importance for the efficient analysis of biomolecules such as H2O2, glucose, and antioxidants in the diagnosis of some diseases. Herein, novel nanozymes based on Fe nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulated in 2D carbon nanosheets (denoted as Fe@CNs) were constructed and employed in the field of biosensing. Notably, Fe@CNs have intrinsic dual mimic enzyme properties. The colorless colorimetric substrate 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) can be oxidized by Fe@CNs as oxidase- and peroxidase-like nanozymes, respectively. The generation of the oxidation state TMB (oxTMB) resulted from the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which were produced by the catalytic decomposition of the dissolved oxygen or H2O2. Thus, a simple colorimetric biosensor was proposed to detect glutathione (GSH), H2O2, and glucose. In addition, the Fe@CN-based nanozymes also have excellent reusability in enzymatic catalysis. After separating from the sensing systems, Fe@CNs can be reused in other catalytic processes. This colorimetric method could be used as a universal sensing platform for the detection of antioxidants and H2O2-related bioanalysis. This work broadens the application of novel nanozymes in biosensing.

The Addition of ROTEM Parameter Did Not Significantly Improve the Massive Transfusion Prediction in Severe Trauma Patients.

Background: Rotational thrombelastometry (ROTEM) has been used to evaluate the coagulation state, predict transfusion, and optimize hemostatic management in trauma patients. However, there were limited studies on whether the prediction value could be improved by adding the ROTEM parameter to the prediction model for in-hospital mortality and massive transfusion (MT) in trauma patients. Objective: This study assessed whether ROTEM data could improve the MT prediction model. Method: This was a single-center, retrospective study. Patients who presented to the trauma center and underwent ROTEM between 2016 and 2020 were included. The primary and secondary outcomes were massive transfusions and in-hospital mortality, respectively. We constructed two models using multivariate logistic regression with backward conditional stepwise elimination (Model 1: without the ROTEM parameter and Model 2: with the ROTEM parameter). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was calculated to assess the predictive ability of the models. Result: In total, 969 patients were included; 196 (20.2%) received MT. The in-hospital mortality rate was 14.1%. For MT, the AUROC was 0.854 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.825-0.883) and 0.860 (95% CI, 0.832-0.888) for Model 1 and 2, respectively. For in-hospital mortality, the AUROC was 0.886 (95% CI, 0.857-0.915) and 0.889 (95% CI, 0.861-0.918) for models 1 and 2, respectively. The AUROC values for models 1 and 2 were not statistically different for either MT or in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: We found that the addition of the ROTEM parameter did not significantly improve the predictive power of MT and in-hospital mortality in trauma patients.

Biological Control Efficacy and Action Mechanism of Klebsiella pneumoniae JCK-2201 Producing Meso-2,3-Butanediol Against Tomato Bacterial Wilt.

Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is a fatal disease that affects the production of tomatoes and many other crops worldwide. As an effective strategy to manage bacterial wilt, biological control agents using plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are being developed. In this study, we screened 2,3-butanediol (BDO)-producing PGPR to control tomato bacterial wilt and investigated the action mechanism of the disease control agent. Of the 943 strains isolated from soil, Klebsiella pneumoniae strain JCK-2201 produced the highest concentration of 2,3-BDO. The culture broth of K. pneumoniae JCK-2201 did not show any direct activity on R. solanacearum in vitro, but a 100-fold dilution effectively controlled tomato bacterial wilt with a control value of 77% in vivo. Fermentation utilizing K. pneumoniae JCK-2201 was optimized to produce 48 g/L of meso-2,3-BDO, which is 50% of the sucrose conversion efficiency. In addition, the control efficacy and mechanism of meso-2,3-BDO produced by JCK-2201 in tomato bacterial wilt were determined by comparative analysis with Bacillus licheniformis DSM13 producing meso-2,3-BDO and B. licheniformis DSM13 ΔalsS that did not produce 2,3-BDO, as the step of converting pyruvate to α-acetolactate was omitted. Tomato seedlings treated with the K. pneumoniae JCK-2201 (500-fold dilution) and B. licheniformis DSM13 (100-fold dilution) culture broth produced meso-2,3-BDO that significantly reduced R. solanacearum-induced disease severity with control values of 55% and 63%, respectively. The formulated meso-2,3-BDO 9% soluble concentrate (SL; 1,000-fold dilution) showed 87% control against tomato bacterial wilt in the field condition. Klebsiella pneumoniae JCK-2201 and B. licheniformis DSM13 treatment induced the expression of plant defense marker genes, such as LePR1, LePR2, LePR5, LePR3, and PI-II, in the salicylic acid and jasmonic acid signaling pathways at 4 days after inoculation. These results show that 2,3-BDO-producing bacteria and 2,3-BDO are potential biological control agents that act through induction of resistance for controlling tomato bacterial wilt.

Enhancement of Disease Control Efficacy of Chemical Fungicides Combined with Plant Resistance Inducer 2,3-Butanediol against Turfgrass Fungal Diseases.

Turfgrass, the most widely grown ornamental crop, is severely affected by fungal pathogens including Sclerotinia homoeocarpa, Rhizoctonia solani, and Magnaporthe poae. At present, turfgrass fungal disease management predominantly relies on synthetic fungicide treatments. However, the extensive application of fungicides to the soil increases residual detection frequency, raising concerns for the environment and human health. The bacterial volatile compound, 2,3-butanediol (BDO), was found to induce plant resistance. In this study, we evaluated the disease control efficacy of a combination of stereoisomers of 2,3-BDO and commercial fungicides against turfgrass fungal diseases in both growth room and fields. In the growth room experiment, the combination of 0.9% 2R,3R-BDO (levo) soluble liquid (SL) formulation and 9% 2R,3S-BDO (meso) SL with half concentration of fungicides significantly increased the disease control efficacy against dollar spot and summer patch disease when compared to the half concentration of fungicide alone. In field experiments, the disease control efficiency of levo 0.9% and meso 9% SL, in combination with a fungicide, was confirmed against dollar spot and large patch disease. Additionally, the induction of defense-related genes involved in the salicylic acid and jasmonic acid/ethylene signaling pathways and reactive oxygen species detoxification-related genes under Clarireedia sp. infection was confirmed with levo 0.9% and meso 9% SL treatment in creeping bentgrass. Our findings suggest that 2,3-BDO isomer formulations can be combined with chemical fungicides as a new integrated tool to control Clarireedia sp. infection in turfgrass, thereby reducing the use of chemical fungicides.

Survey of Airborne Microorganisms in an Arcade-Type Traditional Market in Anseong, South Korea.

We aimed to analyze airborne microorganisms and assess air quality, temperature, and relative humidity at "J" Market, an arcade-type traditional market in Anseong (South Korea). Measurements were taken 16 times, twice per quarter (January, April, July, and October), at both the entrance and intersection of the market in 2020. The concentrations of airborne bacteria and fungi at the entrance and intersection were highest in October and lowest in April; however, they were below the recommended indoor levels (airborne bacteria: <800 CFU/m3, airborne fungi: <500 CFU/m3) in January (second measurement) and April (first and second measurements). The concentrations of microbes during the first measurement in January and both measurements in July and October exceeded the allowed limits. The concentration of microorganisms exceeded the acceptable levels at relative humidity ≥60%. At all time points, except during the eighth survey, when the microorganisms were too numerous to count, microbial concentrations were higher at the intersection than at the entrance. It was confirmed that the microorganisms detected in this experiment were 26 species of bacteria and 21 species of fungi. Three of the four species of bacteria and fungi detected in more than 50% of the 16 experimental results were pathogenic. Our findings suggest that air purification systems must be installed in the market to improve sanitary conditions.

Exogenous Bio-Based 2,3-Butanediols Enhanced Abiotic Stress Tolerance of Tomato and Turfgrass under Drought or Chilling Stress.

Among abiotic stresses in plants, drought and chilling stresses reduce the supply of moisture to plant tissues, inhibit photosynthesis, and severely reduce plant growth and yield. Thus, the application of water stress-tolerant agents can be a useful strategy to maintain plant growth under abiotic stresses. This study assessed the effect of exogenous bio-based 2,3-butanediol (BDO) application on drought and chilling response in tomato and turfgrass, and expression levels of several plant signaling pathway-related gene transcripts. Bio-based 2,3-BDOs were formulated to levo-2,3-BDO 0.9% soluble concentrate (levo 0.9% SL) and meso-2,3-BDO 9% SL (meso 9% SL). Under drought and chilling stress conditions, the application of levo 0.9% SL in creeping bentgrass and meso 9% SL in tomato plants significantly reduced the deleterious effects of abiotic stresses. Interestingly, pretreatment with levo-2,3-BDO in creeping bentgrass and meso-2,3-BDO in tomato plants enhanced JA and SA signaling pathway-related gene transcript expression levels in different ways. In addition, all tomato plants treated with acibenzolar-S-methyl (as a positive control) withered completely under chilling stress, whereas 2,3-BDO-treated tomato plants exhibited excellent cold tolerance. According to our findings, bio-based 2,3-BDO isomers as sustainable water stress-tolerant agents, levo- and meso-2,3-BDOs, could enhance tolerance to drought and/or chilling stresses in various plants through somewhat different molecular activities without any side effects.

Results of Active Middle Ear Implantation in Patients With Mixed Hearing Loss After Middle Ear Surgery: A Prospective Multicenter Study (the ROMEO Study).

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the user satisfaction, efficacy, and safety of round window (RW) vibroplasty using the Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) in patients with persistent mixed hearing loss after mastoidectomy. METHODS: The study included 27 patients (mean age, 58.7 years; age range, 28-76 years; 11 men and 16 women) with mixed hearing loss after mastoidectomy from 15 tertiary referral centers in Korea. The VSB was implanted at the RW. The Korean translation of the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB) questionnaire and the Korean version of the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (K-IOI-HA) questionnaire were used to evaluate user satisfaction as the primary outcome. The secondary outcome measures were audiological test results and complication rates. RESULTS: The mean scores for ease of communication (61.3% to 29.7% to 30.2%), reverberation (62.1% to 43.1% to 37.4%), and background noise (63.3% to 37.7% to 34.3%) subscales of the APHAB questionnaire significantly decreased after VSB surgery. The mean K-IOI-HA scores at 3 and 6 months after surgery were significantly higher than the mean preoperative score (18.6 to 27.2 to 28.1). The postoperative VSB-aided thresholds were significantly lower than the preoperative unaided and hearing aid (HA)-aided thresholds. There was no significant difference between preoperative unaided, preoperative HA-aided, and postoperative VSB-aided maximum phonetically balanced word-recognition scores. None of the 27 patients experienced a change in postoperative bone conduction pure tone average. One patient developed temporary facial palsy and two developed surgical wound infections. CONCLUSION: RW vibroplasty resulted in improved satisfaction and audiological test results in patients with mixed hearing loss after mastoidectomy, and the complication rate was tolerable.

Effect of rape flower on benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats

We were carried out to investigate the efficacy of Rape (Rapeseed, Brassica napus L.) flower on BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) in rats. We found that the extract from Rape flower prevented hyperplasia in testosterone-induced BPH model, the relevant animal model of human BPH. Extract reduced the weight of prostate and induced significantly cell apoptosis in prostate in BPH model. In addition, the extract controlled expression of TGF-ß1 in prostate gland and promoted urinary output in dose-dependence in BPH model. Our data provide that Rape flower may be useful for treatment of BPH

Positional changes in the uvula tip after adenotonsillectomy in children: preliminary result.

BACKGROUND: Adenotonsillectomy has become the primary treatment for children with sleep-disordered breathing or obstructive sleep apnea. However, few studies have investigated positional changes in the soft palate or uvula after adenotonsillectomy in children. The present study aimed to evaluate positional changes in the uvula tip using cephalometric analyses after adenotonsillectomy in children. METHODS: We analyzed 160 pediatric patients from December 2015 to July 2016, with 94 pediatric patients who underwent adenotonsillectomy as the experimental group and 66 children who were treated and followed up with frequent tonsillitis as the control group. Positional changes in the uvula tip after surgery in the adenotonsillectomy group were investigated using lateral cephalograms obtained within 1 month before surgery and 3-4 months after surgery. Two lateral cephalogram intervals for a few months in the control group who did not undergo adenotonsillectomy were analyzed. RESULTS: The palatal length (23.92 ± 3.47 vs. 24.46 ± 3.26; p = 0.032), palatal angle (43.13 ± 7.76 vs. 46.12 ± 5.91; p < 0.001), and retrouvula length (15.60 ± 3.51 vs. 16.60 ± 2.97; p = 0.009) were significantly increased on postoperative images relative to those on preoperative images. In the control group, there was a significant change in the palatal angle (2.99 ± 5.85 vs. 0.27 ± 4.14; p < 0.001) and retrouvula length (0.99 ± 3.64 vs. 0.05 ± 1.44; p = 0.025), but not in the palatal length (0.58 ± 2.38 vs. 0.043 ± 1.26; p = 0.065). CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study suggest that the uvula tip is displaced in the anteroinferior direction 3 or 4 months after adenotonsillectomy in children. Thus, clinicians should be aware that the retropalatal space may expand after adenotonsillectomy in the pediatric population.

Postoperative results of ventilation tube insertion: a retrospective multicenter study for suggestion of grading system of otitis media with effusion.

BACKGROUND: In otitis media with effusion (OME), it is important to know when to surgically intervene and when careful monitoring is more appropriate. This study aimed to visualize and classify the clinical manifestations of OME and the correlation between the new grading system and postoperative results after ventilation tube insertion (VTI). METHODS: We classified the collective 1,012 ears from 506 patients into six groups: grade 0 (no effusion), grade I (scant effusion, but abnormal), grade II (effusion less than half of the tympanic cavity), grade III (effusion over half of the tympanic cavity, with air bubbles), grade IV (complete effusion), and grade V (retracted tympanic membrane or hemotympanum without air bubbles). RESULTS: The mean age at VTI was 5.2 (±2.9) years and mean duration between diagnosis and operation was 4.1 (±1.8) months. Between the grades, the nature of the middle ear effusion was also significantly different (p < 0.001). The duration of ventilation tube retention after VTI was significantly different when compared between two groups: grade I-IV and grade V (p = 0.019). Our results showed that the recurrence rate, as well as rate of revision VTI, increased as the grade increased (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The new grading system of OME using endoscopic otoscope evaluation had a significant correlation with the age at VTI, the nature of middle ear effusion, the recurrence rate of OME, and the rate of revision VTI.

Changes of Temporal Processing and Hearing in Noise after Use of a Monoaural Hearing Aid in Patients with Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The relationship between hearing aid (HA) use and improvement in cognitive function is not fully known. This study aimed to determine whether HAs could recover temporal resolution or hearing in noise functions. Materials and. METHODS: We designed a prospective study with two groups: HA users and controls. Patients older than 45 years, with a pure tone average threshold of worse than 40 dB and a speech discrimination score better than 60% in both ears were eligible. Central auditory processing tests and hearing in noise tests (HINTs) were evaluated at the beginning of the study and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the use of a monaural HA in the HA group compared to the control group. The changes in the evaluation parameters were statistically analyzed using the linear mixed model. RESULTS: A total of 26 participants (13 in the HA and 13 in the control group) were included in this study. The frequency (p<0.01) and duration test (p=0.02) scores showed significant improvements in the HA group after 1 year, while the HINT scores showed no significant change. CONCLUSIONS: After using an HA for one year, patients performed better on temporal resolution tests. No improvement was documented with regard to hearing in noise.

Water Extract of Mixed Mushroom Mycelia Grown on a Solid Barley Medium Is Protective against Experimental Focal Cerebral Ischemia.

Although the individual consumption of medicinal mushrooms, including Phellinus linteus (PL), Ganoderma lucidum (GL), and Inonotus obliquus (IO), is known to be neuroprotective, the associated mechanisms underlying their therapeutic synergism on focal cerebral ischemia (fCI) have yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to demonstrate the neuroprotective effects of mixed mushroom mycelia (MMM) against experimental fCI. The water-fractions, ethanolic-fractions, and ethyl acetate-fractions of the MMM (PL, GL, and IO) grown in a barley medium using solid-state fermentation techniques were prepared and their protective effects against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity were compared in PC-12 cells. After the identification of the water extracts of MMM (wMMM) as the most suitable form, which possessed the lowest toxicity and highest efficacy, further analyses for evaluating the anti-apoptotic effects of wMMM, including Hoechst 33258-based nuclear staining, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection assays, were performed. Rats were subjected to a 90 min middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion, after which a wMMM treatment resulted in significant dose-dependent improvements across a number of parameters. Furthermore, measurements of intracellular ROS and levels of antioxidant enzymes revealed a wMMM-mediated ROS attenuation and antioxidant enzyme upregulation. We suggest that wMMM is neuroprotective against fCI through its anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative effects.

Weight change and mental health according to obesity in relatively healthy middle-aged Korean women: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014, 2016, 2018.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a known risk factor for various chronic conditions, as well as mental health disorders. However, there have been few studies on weight change and mental health according to obesity. This study was performed to elucidate the association between weight changes and mental health according to obesity in middle-aged women. METHODS: Data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2014, 2016, 2018), which included 3953 women aged 40 to 59, were used in this study. After excluding those who had chronic conditions possibly affecting weight change, 2964 women were included in the study. The associations between weight changes and mental health, including perceived stress, depressed mood surveyed by the patient health questionnaire-9(PHQ-9), and current depressive disorder were analyzed. RESULTS: Weight change in non-obese and obese women was associated with poorer mental health, including perceived stress and depressed mood (p<0.05), although the significance disappeared in covariates-adjusted analysis in obese women. Both non-obese and obese women with weight gain had higher perceived stress than women with weight loss, while in the PHQ-9 scores, higher scores were observed in non-obese women with weight gain, and in obese women with weight loss. LIMITATIONS: Our study could not define causality because this was a cross-sectional study. And the information on body weight change was obtained by self-reported questionnaires. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested that in relatively healthy middle-aged Korean women, weight change was a significant factor associated with mental health, but obesity itself was not.