Lactobacillus plantarum DK119 (DK119) isolated from the fermented Korean cabbage food was used as a probiotic to determine its antiviral effects on influenza virus. DK119 intranasal or oral administration conferred 100% protection against subsequent lethal infection with influenza A viruses, prevented significant weight loss, and lowered lung viral loads in a mouse model. The antiviral protective efficacy was observed in a dose and route dependent manner of DK119 administration. Mice that were treated with DK119 showed high levels of cytokines IL-12 and IFN-γ in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, and a low degree of inflammation upon infection with influenza virus. Depletion of alveolar macrophage cells in lungs and bronchoalveolar lavages completely abrogated the DK119-mediated protection. Modulating host innate immunity of dendritic and macrophage cells, and cytokine production pattern appeared to be possible mechanisms by which DK119 exhibited antiviral effects on influenza virus infection. These results indicate that DK119 can be developed as a beneficial antiviral probiotic microorganism.

Ginseng polysaccharide has been known to have multiple immunomodulatory effects. In this study, we investigated whether Panax ginseng polysaccharide (GP) would have a preventive effect on influenza infection. Administration of mice with GP prior to infection was found to confer a survival benefit against infection with H1N1 (A/PR/8/34) and H3N2 (A/Philippines/82) influenza viruses. Mice infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus suspended in GP solution showed moderately enhanced survival rates and lower levels of lung viral titers and the inflammatory cytokine (IL-6). Daily treatment of vaccinated mice with GP improved their survival against heterosubtypic lethal challenge. This study demonstrates the first evidence that GP can be used as a remedy against influenza viral infection.

No abstract

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious animal disease caused by an RNA virus subdivided into seven serotypes that are unevenly distributed in Asia, Africa, and South America. Despite the challenges of controlling FMD, since 1996 there have been only two outbreaks attributed to serotype C, in Brazil and in Kenya, in 2004. This article describes the historical distribution and origins of serotype C and its disappearance. The serotype was first described in Europe in the 1920s, where it mainly affected pigs and cattle but as a less common cause of outbreaks than serotypes O and A. No serotype C outbreaks have been reported in Europe since vaccination stopped in 1990. FMD virus is presumed to have been introduced into South America from Europe in the 19th century, although whether serotype C evolved there or in Europe is not known. As in Europe, this serotype was less widely distributed and caused fewer outbreaks than serotypes O and A. Since 1994, serotype C had not been reported from South America until four small outbreaks were detected in the Amazon region in 2004. Elsewhere, serotype C was introduced to Asia, in the 1950s to the 1970s, persisting and evolving for several decades in the Indian subcontinent and for eighteen years in the Philippines. Serotype C virus also circulated in East Africa between 1957 and 2004. Many serotype C viruses from European and Kenyan outbreaks were closely related to vaccine strains, including the most recently recovered Kenyan isolate from 2004. International surveillance has not confirmed any serotype C cases, worldwide, for over 15 years, despite more than 2000 clinical submissions per year to reference laboratories. Serology provides limited evidence for absence of this serotype, as unequivocal interpretation is hampered by incomplete intra-serotype specificity of immunoassays and the continued use of this serotype in vaccines. It is recommended to continue strengthening surveillance in regions of FMD endemicity, to stop vaccination against serotype C and to reduce working with the virus in laboratories, since inadvertent escape of virus during such activities is now the biggest risk for its reappearance in the field.

Summary This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidative and anti‐inflammatory effects of watermelon lycopene. The antioxidant activities of watermelon were measured using various assays including the evaluation of 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities, superoxide anion scavenging activities and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, compared with those of tomato lycopene and Trolox as a positive control. Watermelon lycopene showed significantly higher antioxidant activities than those of tomato lycopene and comparable superoxide anion scavenging activity to that of Trolox. Furthermore, the protein and mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated HaCaT cells were investigated by Western blotting and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Watermelon lycopene dose dependently inhibited the expressions of iNOS and COX‐2 mRNA levels and their proteins, suggesting that watermelon lycopene has strong anti‐inflammatory activity. Consequently, the watermelon lycopene was proved as a good source of antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory agent.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of velamentous cord insertion (VCI) and the actual association between pathologically confirmed VCI and perinatal outcomes in twins based on the chorionicity. Methods: All twin pregnancies that received prenatal care at a specialty clinic for multiple pregnancies, from less than 12 weeks of gestation until delivery in a single institution between 2015 and 2018 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Results: A total of 941 twins were included in the study. The prevalence of VCI in dichorionic (DC) twins and monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twins was 5.8% and 7.8%, respectively (p = 0.251). In all study population, the prevalence of vasa previa and placenta accreta spectrum was higher in VCI group than that of non-VCI group (p = 0.008 and 0.022). In MCDA twins with VCI, birth weight, 1 and 5-min Apgar score were lower than DC twins with VCI (p = 0.010, 0.002 and 0.000). There was no significant association between VCI and selective fetal growth restriction (p = 0.486), twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (p = 0.400), and birth-weight discordance (>20% and >25%) (p = 0.378 and 0.161) in MCDA twins. Conclusion: There was no difference in the incidence of VCI in twins based on the chorionicity. Moreover, VCI was not a risk factor for adverse perinatal outcomes excepting vasa previa and placenta accreta spectrum, which had a high incidence in twins with VCI.

No abstract

This study investigated attentional bias toward game-related cues in Internet gaming disorder (IGD) using electrophysiological markers of late positive potential (LPP) and identifying the sources of LPP. In addition, the association between LPP and decision-making ability was investigated. The IGD (n = 40) and healthy control (HC; n = 39) participants viewed a series of game-related and neutral pictures, while their event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded. LPPs were calculated as the mean amplitudes between 400 and 700 ms at the centro-parietal (CP3, CP1, Cpz, CP2, and CP4) and parietal (P3, P1, Pz, P2, and P4) electrode sites. The source activations of LPP were estimated using standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA). In addition, decision-making ability was evaluated by the Cambridge Gambling Task. Higher LPP amplitudes were found for game-related cues in the IGD group than in the HC group. sLORETA showed that the IGD group was more active in the superior and middle temporal gyri, which are involved in social perception, than in the HC group, whereas it was less active in the frontal area. Individuals with IGD have deficits in decision-making ability. In addition, in the HC group, the lower the LPP when looking at the game-related stimuli, the better the quality of decision-making, but not in the IGD group. Enhanced LPP amplitudes are associated with emotional arousal to gaming cues and decision-making deficits in IGD. In addition, source activities suggest that patients with IGD perceive game-related cues as social stimuli. LPP can be used as a neurophysiological marker of IGD.