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The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of high levels of maternal exposure to ambient air pollution and heavy metals on risks of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and epilepsy using the National Health Insurance claims data of South Korea. The data of mothers and their newborns from 2016 to 2018 provided by the National Health Insurance Service were used (n = 843,134). Data on exposure to ambient air pollutants (PM2.5, CO, SO2, NO2, and O3) and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Fe, Ni, and As) during pregnancy were matched based on the mother’s National Health Insurance registration area. SO2 (OR: 2.723, 95% CI: 1.971–3.761) and Pb (OR: 1.063, 95% CI: 1.019–1.11) were more closely associated with the incidence of ASD when infants were exposed to them in the third trimester of pregnancy. Pb (OR: 1.109, 95% CI: 1.043–1.179) in the first trimester of pregnancy and Cd (OR: 2.193, 95% CI: 1.074–4.477) in the third trimester of pregnancy were associated with the incidence of epilepsy. Thus, exposure to SO2, NO2, and Pb during pregnancy could affect the development of a neurologic disorder based on the timing of exposure, suggesting a relationship with fetal development. However, further research is needed.

Acute ischemic stroke is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) is the only agent clinically approved by FDA for patients with acute ischemic stroke. However, delayed treatment of rtPA (e.g., more than 3 h after stroke onset) exacerbates ischemic brain damage by causing intracerebral hemorrhage and increasing neurotoxicity. In the present study, we investigated whether the neuroprotant otaplimastat reduced delayed rtPA treatment-evoked neurotoxicity in male Sprague Dawley rats subjected to embolic middle cerebral artery occlusion (eMCAO). Otaplimastat reduced cerebral infarct size and edema and improved neurobehavioral deficits. In particular, otaplimastat markedly reduced intracerebral hemorrhagic transformation and mortality triggered by delayed rtPA treatment, consequently extending the therapeutic time window of rtPA. We further found that ischemia-evoked extracellular matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) expression was closely correlated with cerebral hemorrhagic transformation and brain damage. In ischemic conditions, delayed rtPA treatment further increased brain injury via synergistic expression of MMPs in vascular endothelial cells. In oxygen-glucose-deprived endothelial cells, otaplimastat suppressed the activity rather than protein expression of MMPs by restoring the level of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) suppressed in ischemia, and consequently reduced vascular permeation. This paper shows that otaplimastat under clinical trials is a new drug which can inhibit stroke on its own and extend the therapeutic time window of rtPA, especially when administered in combination with rtPA.

Background: According to a recent meta-analysis, in patients with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30, a high fraction of inhaled oxygen (FiO2) did not increase postoperative atelectasis. However, a high FiO2 generally increases the risk of postoperative atelectasis. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of FiO2 on the development of atelectasis in obese patients using the modified lung ultrasound score (LUSS). Methods: Patients were assigned to 4 groups: BMI ≥ 30: group A (n = 21) and group B (n = 20) and normal BMI: group C (n = 22) and group D (n = 21). Groups A and C were administered 100% O2 during preinduction and emergence and 50% O2 during anesthesia. Groups B and D received 40% O2 for anesthesia. The modified LUSS was assessed before and 20 min after arrival to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Results: The difference between the modified LUSS preinduction and PACU was significantly higher in group A with a BMI ≥ 30 (P = .006); however, there was an insignificant difference between groups C and D in the normal BMI group (P = .076). Conclusion: High FiO2 had a greater effect on the development of atelectasis in obese patients than did low FiO2; however, in normal-weight individuals, FiO2 did not have a significant effect on postoperative atelectasis.

Catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD) is one of the most difficult symptoms during the postoperative period. Nefopam is a non-narcotic analgesic agent, which also has anticholinergic action. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of nefopam on CRBD in male patients undergoing robotic nephrectomy. A total of 109 male patients were randomly divided into two groups: the control group (n = 55) received 20 mL of normal saline, and the nefopam group (n = 54) received 20 mg of nefopam 1 h before the end of the operation. At postoperative times of 20 min, 1 h, 2 h, and 6 h, the severity of CRBD was measured using an 11-point numeric rating scale, respectively. The severity of CRBD in the nefopam group was significantly lower than that in the control group at 20 min (4.8 ± 1.3 vs. 2.3 ± 1.0, respectively, p = 0.012) and at 1, 2, and 6 h (3.5 ± 1.2, 2.7 ± 0.9, and 2.5 ± 1.0 vs. 4.1 ± 0.8, 1.6 ± 0.8, and 1.3 ± 0.6, respectively, p < 0001). Intraoperative nefopam administration reduced the severity of CRBD in patients undergoing robotic nephrectomy.

Objective The number of high-risk pregnancies is increasing in tertiary medical centers. Therefore, we investigated perioperative outcomes based on risk factors to ascertain proper maternal and neonatal management. Methods We reviewed the medical records of patients receiving cesarean sections over an 8-year period. Clinical parameters for anesthesia and the neonatal outcome were compared among high-risk groups after subdivision by the number of clinical risk factors. The groups were as follows: group A (one risk factor), group B (two risk factors), and group C (three or more risk factors). Results Patient age, estimated blood loss (EBL), and volume of transfused red blood cell (RBC) were higher in group B than group A. Birth weight, 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores, and gestational age were lower while the frequency of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission was higher in group B than group A. Group C patients were significantly older than group A or B patients. Birth weight, 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores and gestational age were significantly lower while frequency of NICU admission was higher in group C than group A and B. Conclusion The number of maternal risk factors was positively associated with adverse outcomes in the neonates.

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A study was conducted to determine the degree of interaction between yeast and hot-melt extrusion on contents of total polyphenol, total flavonoid, and rutin and antioxidant ability in common buckwheat. The highest content of total polyphenol was 95mg/100g in buckwheat flour, which included 2% yeast and was dried for 8 hours after extrusion while that of total flavonoids was 181mg/100g. The highest content of rutin in this study was 4.23mg/100g (156% higher than control, non-extrusion without yeast) in buckwheat flour, included 2% yeast, and dried for 8 hours after extrusion. Antioxidant ability determined by DPPH free radical scavenging ability was higher in yeast-mixed buckwheat flour extruded and dried for 8 hours (23-61%) than non-extruded with or without yeast (19-40%). The highest antioxidant ability (61%) was shown in buckwheat flour mixed with 2% yeast, extruded, and dried for 8 hours after extrusion. These results may be attributed to incorporating extruded buckwheat flour with yeast powder during 8 hours of drying and fermentation followed.   Izvleček Namen raziskave je bil ugotoviti interakcijo dodanega kvasa in vročega ekstrudiranja mešanice ajdove moke s kvasom na vsebnosti celotnih polifenolov, flavonoidov in antioksidacijske sposobnosti pri moki navadne ajde. Ajdovi moki je bilo dodanega 2% kvasa, rezanci so bili sušeni 8 ur po ekstruziji. Najvišja vsebnost skupnih polifenolov je bila 95mg/100g z dodatkom 2% kvasa, vsebnost celotnih flavonoidov je bila 181mg/100g. Najvišja vsebnost rutina je bila 4,23mg/100g (156% več kot kontrola, brez ekstrudiranja, s kvasom) pri ajdovi moki z 2% kvasa in sušeno 8 ur po ekstruziji. Antioksidativna sposobnost, določena z DPPH, je bila višja pri uporabi kvasa, ekstruzije in sušenja 8 ur (23-61%), kot brez uporabe kvasa in ekstruzije (19-40%). Najvišja antioksidacijska sposobnost (61%) je bila določena pri ajdovi moki z dodatkom 2% kvasa, ekstrudirano in po ekstruziji sušeno 8 ur. Pričakovati je, da bodo rezultati te raziskave prispevali k uspešni uporabi ekstrudiranja ajdove moke z uporabo kvasa in osem urnega sušenja ter fermentacije.