Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) oftentimes develop olfactory dysfunction in their early stages, converting the nasal environment into a useful source of potential biomarkers. Here we determined the possible application of nasal fluid cells for PD biomarker identification. Thirty PD patients and 13 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Messenger RNA levels of selected PD-related genes were monitored through real-time quantitative PCR. Target gene transcripts can be efficiently amplified from the cDNA library from human nasal fluid cell pellets. And subsequent analysis showed both a marked downregulation of parkin transcripts and an upregulation of AIMP2 in PD patients when compared to controls (cutoff value = 1.753 for with 84.2% sensitivity and 84.6% specificity; 0.359 for parkin with 76.7% sensitivity and 76.9 specificity). Moreover, alteration pattern of parkin and AIMP2 in PD was distinct from another neurodegenerative disease, multiple system atrophy. Analysis in both the early and late stages of PD cases reported that parkin levels inversely correlated with PD stages. Our results validate the practical value of easily accessible nasal fluid cells and the utility of both AIMP2 and parkin as potential biomarkers for PD diagnosis.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder, characterized by olfactory dysfunction in the early stages. α-Synuclein pathologies in the olfactory organs are shown to spread to the brain through the nose-brain axis. We first developed a nasal epithelial PD cellular model by treating RPMI-2650 cells with α-synuclein preformed fibrils (PFF). Upon uptake of PFF, RPMI-2650 cells showed mitochondrial proteome alteration and downregulation of parkin, which has previously been identified as a nasal biomarker of PD. Functional cluster analysis of differentially expressed genes in RPMI-2650 cells revealed various pathways affected by α-synuclein pathology, including the detection of chemical stimulus involved in sensory perception, olfactory receptor activity, and sensory perception of smell. Among genes that were most affected, we validated, by real-time quantitative PCR, the downregulation of MAP3K8, OR10A4, GRM2, OR51B6, and OR9A2, as well as upregulation of IFIT1B, EPN1, OR1D5, LCN, and OTOL1 in PFF-treated RPMI-2650 cells. Subsequent analyses of clinical samples showed a downregulation of OR10A4 and OR9A2 transcripts and an upregulation of IFIT1B in cells isolated from the nasal fluid of PD patients, as compared to those from the controls (cutoff value = 0.5689 for OR9A2, with 72.4% sensitivity and 75% specificity, and 1.4658 for IFIT1B, with 81.8% sensitivity and 77.8% specificity). Expression levels of these nasal PD markers were not altered in nasal fluid cells from SWEDD (scans without evidence of dopaminergic deficits) patients with PD-like motor symptoms. These nasal markers were significantly altered in patients of PD with hyposmia compared to the control hyposmic subjects. Our results validated the α-synuclein-treated nasal epithelial cell model to identify novel biomarkers for PD and suggest the utility of olfactory transcripts, along with olfactory dysfunction, in the diagnosis of PD.

The aim of the study was to identify effects of oral care protocol on bacterial floras of the oral cavity and oral health status of intubated patients in an intensive care unit. Methods: The participants were 60 intubated patients who were recruited from an intensive care unit of a university hospital from Dec. 28, 2010 to Mar. 25, 2011. The participants were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 20 patients according to the application time of oral care (1-minute oral care, 2-minute oral care, and 3-minute oral care groups). The numbers of bacterial flora colonies in the oral cavity was assessed before and after the oral care. Oral health status was assessed using a Korean version of the Oral Assessment Guide developed by Elier et al. originally. Results: The numbers of bacterial flora colonies were less after oral care than those before the care, but there was no significant differences among the 3 groups after the care. Oral health status was better after the oral care than it was before the care, but there was also no significant differences among the 3 groups. Conclusion: If well-trained nurses perform oral care for 1 minute using a chlorhexidine swab on intubated patients, the numbers of bacterial flora colonies will be reduced and healthy oral status will be maintained.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relevant factors of allergic disease in general high school students in Korea. It also aims to provide key data for the effective prevention and management of allergic diseases. Methods: Study subjects were general high school students participating in the 11th (2015) Online Survey on Adolescents' Health Behaviors. Participant demographics, lifestyle factors, and type of allergic disease were expressed in absolute values and percentages. The binominal logistic regression model was used for statistical analysis of characteristics and relevant factors of allergic disease. Analysis was performed by complex sample design using SPSS/WIN 18.0. The statistical significance was defined as p< 0.05 with a two-sided test. Results: Asthma was associated with sex, high school grade, body mass index (BMI), stress, smoking, breakfast, fast-food and vegetable consumption, milk, and walking. Allergic rhinitis correlated with sex, high school grade, residential area, economic statis, stress, vegetable consumption, and sleep satisfaction. Atopic dermatitis was associated with sex, BMI, residential area, economic status, stress, fast-food consumption, sleep satisfaction, and walking. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for the development of strategies promoting a healthy lifestyle associated with allergic disease. Furthermore, a longitudinal study examining the association between medical and family history and allergic disease is required. This would contribute to the understanding of individual predisposition to allergic disease.