Predictors of Recovery of Functional Swallow After Gastrostomy Tube Placement for Dysphagia in Stroke Patients After Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study

Diana Crisan,Amir Shaban,Amelia Boehme,Perry Dubin,Jenifer Juengling,Laurie A. Schluter,Karen C. Albright,T. Mark Beasley,Sheryl Martin-Schild 대한재활의학회 2014 Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine Vol.38 No.4

Objective To determine predictors of early recovery of functional swallow in patients who had gastrostomy (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy [PEG]) placement for dysphagia and were discharged to inpatient rehabilitation (IPR) after stroke.Methods A retrospective study of prospectively identified patients with acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke from July 2008 to August 2012 was conducted. Patients who had PEG during stroke admission and were discharged to IPR, were studied. We compared demographics, stroke characteristics, severity of dysphagia, stroke admission events and medications in patients who remained PEG-dependent after IPR with those who recovered functional swallow.Results Patients who remained PEG dependent were significantly older (73 vs. 54 years, p=0.009). Recovery of swallow was more frequent for hemorrhagic stroke patients (80% vs. 47%, p=0.079). Age, adjusting for side of stroke (odds ratio [OR], 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82–0.98; p=0.016) and left-sided strokes, adjusting for age (OR, 15.15; 95% CI, 1.32–173.34; p=0.028) were significant predictors of swallow recovery. Patients who recovered swallowing by discharge from IPR were more likely to be discharged home compared to those who remained PEG-dependent (90% vs. 42%, p=0.009).Conclusion Younger age and left-sided stroke may be predictive factors of early recovery of functional swallow in patients who received PEG. Prospective validation is important as avoidance of unnecessary procedures could reduce morbidity and healthcare costs.

Alpha-1-anti-trypsin-Fc fusion protein ameliorates gouty arthritis by reducing release and extracellular processing of IL-1β and by the induction of endogenous IL-1Ra

Joosten, Leo A B,Crisan, Tania O,Azam, Tania,Cleophas, Maartje C P,Koenders, Marije I,van de Veerdonk, Frank L,Netea, Mihai G,Kim, Soohyun,Dinarello, Charles A BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2016 Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases Vol.75 No.6

<P>Objectives In the present study, we generated a new protein, recombinant human alpha-1-anti-trypsin (AAT)-IgG1 Fc fusion protein (AAT-Fc), and evaluated its properties to suppress inflammation and interleukin (IL)-1 beta in a mouse model of gouty arthritis. Methods A combination of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals and the fatty acid C16.0 (MSU/C16.0) was injected intra-articularly into the knee to induce gouty arthritis. Joint swelling, synovial cytokine production and histopathology were determined after 4 h. AAT-Fc was evaluated for inhibition of MSU/C16.0-induced IL-1 beta release from human blood monocytes and for inhibition of extracellular IL-1 beta precursor processing. Results AAT-Fc markedly suppressed MSU/C16.0-induced joint inflammation by 85-91% (p<0.001). Ex vivo production of IL-1 beta and IL-6 from cultured synovia were similarly reduced (63% and 65%, respectively). The efficacy of 2.0 mg/kg AAT-Fc in reducing inflammation was comparable to 80 mg/kg of plasma-derived AAT. Injection of AAT-Fc into mice increased circulating levels of endogenous IL-1 receptor antagonist by fourfold. We also observed that joint swelling was reduced by 80%, cellular infiltration by 95% and synovial production of IL-1 beta by 60% in transgenic mice expressing low levels of human AAT. In vitro, AAT-Fc reduced MSU/C16.0-induced release of IL-1 beta from human blood monocytes and inhibited proteinase-3-mediated extracellular processing of the IL-1 beta precursor into active IL-1 beta. Conclusions A single low dose of AAT-Fc is highly effective in reducing joint inflammation in this model of acute gouty arthritis. Considering the long-term safety of plasma-derived AAT use in humans, subcutaneous AAT-Fc emerges as a promising therapy for gout attacks.</P>

UV–VIS photocatalytic degradation of nitrobenzene from water using heavy metal doped titania

Ines Nitoi,Petruta Oancea,Malina Raileanu,Maria Crisan,Lucian Constantin,Ionut Cristea 한국공업화학회 2015 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.21 No.1

The photocatalytic degradation of nitrobenzene (NB) under UV–VIS irradiation with un-doped TiO2 andvarious heavy metals doped TiO2 powders were studied for aerated solutions. The dopant type (Fe, Co,Ni) and its concentration (0.5–5 wt.% TiO2) influence on pollutant degradation efficiency wereinvestigated. The photocatalyst with lowest Fe content (0.5 wt.%) showed a considerable betterbehaviour in respect to pollutant degradation than catalyst with higher Fe content and Co and Ni dopedtitania catalysts. The experiments were carried out for solutions with (0.37–8.45) 10 4 M NB initialcontent, using 50–250 mg/L catalyst dose, at various pHs (4–10) and irradiation time between 30 and240 min. The kinetics of NB degradation and organic nitrogen mineralization was assessed and pseudofirstorder rate constants were calculated. For optimum working conditions (0.5 wt.% Fe doped-TiO2loading of 250 mg/L, 2.52 10 4 Mpollutant initial concentration, pH = 7 and 240 min irradiation time)NB removal and organic nitrogen mineralization efficiencies were 99% and 85%, respectively. It was alsodemonstrated that degradation process occurs on catalyst surface, so experimental results are inaccordance with Langmuir–Hinshalwood model.

Lichen Mycota in South Korea: The Genus Usnea

( Udeni Jayalal ),( Santosh Joshi ),( Soon Ok Oh ),( Young Jin Koh ),( Florin Crisan ),( Jae Seoun Hur ) 한국균학회 2013 Mycobiology Vol.41 No.3

Usnea Adans. is a somewhat rare lichen in South Korea, and. in nearly two decades, no detailed taxonomic or revisionary study has been conducted. This study was based on the specimens deposited in the lichen herbarium at the Korean Lichen Research Institute, and the samples were identified using information obtained from recent literature. In this study, a total or eight species of Usnea, including one new record, Usnea hakonensis Asahina, are documented. Derailed descriptions of each species with their morphological, anatomical, and chemical characteristics are provided. A key to all known Usnea species in South Korea is also presented.

Inhibitory Activity of (+)-Usnic Acid against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Motility

( Yi Yang ),( Thanh Thi Nguyen ),( Min Hye Jeong ),( Florin Crisan ),( Young Hyun Yu ),( Hyung Ho Ha ),( Kyung Hee Choi ),( Hye Gwang Jeong ),( Tae Cheon Jeong ),( Kwang Youl Lee ),( Kyung Keun Kim ) 영남대학교 약품개발연구소 2016 영남대학교 약품개발연구소 연구업적집 Vol.26 No.-

Lichens are symbiotic organisms that produce various unique chemicals that can be used for pharmaceutical purposes. With the aim of screening new anti-cancer agents that inhibit cancer cell motility, we tested the inhibitory activity of seven lichen species collected from the Romanian Carpathian Mountains against migration and invasion of human lung cancer cells and further investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying their anti-metastatic activity. Among them, Alectoria samentosa, Flavocetraria nivalis, A/ectoria ochro/euca, and Usnea florida showed significant inhibitory activity against motility of human lung cancer cells. HPLC results showed that usnic acid is the main compound in these lichens, and (+)-usnic acid showed similar inhibitory activity that crude extract have. Mechanistically,~-catenin-mediated TOPFLASH activity and KITENIN-mediated AP-1 activity were decreased by (+ )-usnic acid treatment in a dose-dependent manner. The quantitative real-time PCR data showed that (+)-usnic acid decreased the mRNA level of C044, Cyclin 01 and c-myc, which are the downstream target genes of both ~-catenin/LEF and c-jun/AP-1. Also, Rac1 and RhoA activities were decreased by treatment with (+)-usnic acid. Interest-ingly, higher inhibitory activity for cell invasion was observed when cells were treated with (+)-usnic acid and cetuximab. These results implied that (+)-usnic acid might have potential activity in inhibition of cancer cell metastasis, and (+)-usnic acid could be used for anti-can-cer therapy with a distinct mechanisms of action.

Inhibitory Activity of (+)-Usnic Acid against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Motility

( Yi Yang ),( Thanh Thi Nguyen ),( Min-hye Jeong ),( Florin Crisan ),( Young Hyun Yu ),( Hyung-ho Ha ),( Kyung Hee Choi ),( Hye Gwang Jeong ),( Tae Cheon Jeong ),( Kwang Youl Lee ),( Kyung Keun Kim ) 전남대학교 약품개발연구소 2016 약품개발연구지 Vol.25 No.-

Lichens are symbiotic organisms that produce various unique chemicals that can be used for pharmaceutical purposes. With the aim of screening new anti-cancer agents that inhibit Cancer cell motility, we tested the inhibitory activity of seven lichen species collected from the Romanian Carpathian Mountains against migration and invasion of human lung cancer cells and further investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying their anti-metastatic activity. Among them, Alectoria samentosa, Flavocetraria nivalis, Alectoria ochroleuca, and Usnea florida showed significant inhibitory activity against motility of human lung cancer Cells. HPLC results showed that usnic acid is the main compound in these lichens, and (+)-usnic acid showed similar inhibitory activity that crude extract have. Mechanistically, β-catenin-mediated TOPFLASH activity and KlTENlN-mediated AP-1 activity were decreased by (+)-usnic acid treatment in a dose-dependent manner. The quantitative real-time PCR data showed that(+)-usnic acid decreased the mRNA level of CD44, Cyclin D1 and c-myc, which are the downstream target genes of both β-catenin/LEF and c-jun/AP-1. Also, Rac1 and RhoA activities were decreased by treatment with(+)-usnic acid. Interest-ingly, higher inhibitory activity for cell invasion was observed when cells were treated with (+)-usnic acid and cetuximab. These results implied that(+)-usnic acid might have potential activity in inhibiyion of cancer cell metastasis, and(+)-usnic acid could be used for anti-can-cer therapy with a distinct mechanisms of action.

The Lichen Genus Sticta in South Korea

( Udeni Jayalal ),( Santosh Joshi ),( Soon Ok Oh ),( Jung A Kim ),( Young Jin Koh ),( Florin Crisan ),( Jae Seoun Hur ) 한국균학회 2014 Mycobiology Vol.42 No.1

Sticta (Schreber.) Ach. is one of the common lichen genera in tropical and subtropical regions, but not in the Korean Peninsula. For almost two decades, no detailed taxonomic or revisionary study has been done on this genus. This study was based on the specimens deposited in the lichen herbarium at the Korean Lichen Research Institute, and the samples were identified on the basis of recent literature. In this revisionary study, a total of eight species of Sticta, including a newly recordedone are documented. These species include Sticta fuliginosa (Dicks.) Ach., Sticta gracilis (Mull. Arg.) Zahlbr., Sticta limbata (Sm.)Ach., Sticta nylanderiana Zahlbr., Sticta sublimbata (J. Steiner) Swinscow & Krog, Sticta weigelii (Ach.) Vain., Sticta wrightii Tuck.,and Sticta yatabeana Mull. Arg. Detailed descriptions of S. nylanderiana, S. sublimbata, S. weigelii, and S. yatabeana with theirmorphological, anatomical, and chemical characteristics are provided. A key description of all known Sticta species of the Korean Peninsula is also presented.

PLOS : ONE ; Lichen Secondary Metabolites in Flavocetraria cucullata Exhibit Anti-Cancer Effects on Human Cancer Cells through the Induction of Apoptosis and Suppression of Tumorigenic potentials

( Thanh Thi Nguyen ),( Somy Yoon ),( Yi Yang ),( Ho Bin Lee ),( Soo Nok Oh ),( Min Hye Jeong ),( Jong Jin Kim ),( Sung Tae Yee ),( Florin Crisan ),( Cheol Moon ),( Kwang Youl Lee ),( Kyung Keun Kim ) 전남대학교 약품개발연구소 2014 약품개발연구지 Vol.23 No.-

Lichens are symbiotic organisms which produce distinct secondary metabolic products. In the present study, we tested the cytotoxic activity of 17 lichen species against several human cancer cells and further investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying their anti-cancer activity. We found that among 17 lichens species, F. cucullata exhibited the most potent cytotoxicity in several human cancer cells. High performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that the acetone extract of F. cucullata contains usnic acid, salazinic acid, Squamatic acid, Baeomycesic acid, d-protolichesterinic acid, and lichesterinic acid as subcomponents. MlT assay showed that cancer cell lines were more vulnerable to the cytotoxic effects of the extract than non-cancer cell lines. Furthermore, among the identified subcomponents, usnic acid treatment had a similar cytotoxic effect on cancer cell lines but with lower potency than the extract. At a lethal dose, treatment with the extract or with usnic acid greatly increased the apoptotic cell population and specifically activated the apoptotic signaling pathway; however, using sub-lethal doses, extract and usnic acid treatment decreased cancer cell motility and inhibited in vitro and in vivo tumorigenic potentials. In these cells, we observed significantly reduced levels of epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMn markers and phosphor-Akt, while phosphor-c-Jun and phosphor-ERK1/2 levels were only marginally affected. Overall, the anti-cancer activity of the extract is more potent than that of usnic acid alone. Taken together, F. cucullata and its subcomponent, usnic acid together with additional component, exert anti-cancer effects on human cancer cells through the induction of apoptosis and the inhibition of EMT.