Improvement and application of recommended food score for hypertension in Korean adults: the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

Background: Addressing dietary factors to lower blood pressure can be a crucial strategy at the population level to mitigate the risk of hypertension. In a prior investigation, a tailored food score was used as a dietary index relevant to hypertension among Korean adults. This current study aims to assess the association between the overall quality of the diet, taking into account more precise food components, and evaluate the risk of developing hypertension. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 5,342 adults aged 40-70 without hypertension who participated in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) from 2001 to 2016. The improved Recommended Food Score for Hypertension (iRFSH) is a modified version of the Recommended Food Score to assess the consumption of foods recommended in the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet for Korean foods. A higher score reflects greater consumption of recommended foods, indicative of higher dietary quality. The maximum total score is 65. High blood pressure, which includes both hypertension and prehypertension, was analyzed using Cox proportional hazard regression models to examine its prospective relationship with iRFSH. Results: Among 2,478 males and 2,864 females with 10.8 mean years of follow-up, a higher score of iRFSH was associated with a lower risk of hypertension in the highest quintile compared to the lowest quintile [total: hazard ratio (HR): 0.79; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.72, 0.87; female: HR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.62, 0.83]. Conclusion: Higher iRFSH is associated with a lower incidence of hypertension. Our results suggest that the iRFSH may be a potential tool for assessing dietary quality and dietary patterns and predicting the risk of hypertension in Korean adults.

Dietary patterns and the risk of diabetes in Korean adults: A cross-sectional and prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify dietary patterns associated with diabetes in Korean adults and to investigate their association with diabetes risk in both a cross-sectional and prospective study. METHODS: Predefined food groups collected by the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES 2015-2018, n = 19 721) were entered in a reduced rank regression (RRR) model, followed by stepwise linear regression analyses to identify the most predictive dietary patterns. We evaluated the construct validity of dietary patterns in two independent samples from KNHANES 2019 to 2021 (n = 14 223) and the Health Examinees (HEXA) cohort study (n = 30 013). Associations between dietary patterns and diabetes risk were examined using multivariable regression and multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard models, respectively. RESULTS: A dietary pattern was identified with high positive loadings for refined white rice, kimchi and salted vegetables, wheat flour and bread, and seasonings, and high negative loadings for whole grains, legumes with tofu and soymilk, poultry, eggs, and plant oils. The higher pattern scores were significantly associated with diabetes risk in KNHANES 2015 to 2018 (male: odds ratio [OR]: 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35, 1.88; female: OR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.18, 1.52), KNHANES 2019 to 2021 (male: OR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.69; female: OR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.18, 1.54), and HEXA study (male: hazard ratio [HR]: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.34; female: HR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.52). CONCLUSIONS: Dietary patterns derived by RRR followed by stepwise linear regression analyses were associated with increased risks of diabetes among Korean adults.

Toloese Generates Nitric Oxide through Natural Radiation of Far Infrared Rays, Reducing Serum Glucose, Cholesterol, and Triglycerides.

Toloese, a bed composition, is formulated with a combination of minerals of various wavelengths by utilizing a specific ratio and particle size. A maturation mixing technique is used without additional compression processes, resulting in the natural formation of numerous fine pores in the bed structure. At 40 °C, far infrared radiation in the range of 5-20 µm is emitted with a 0.916 radiant ratio, and the measured emitted radiant energy is 3.69 × 102 W/m2·µm. This study aimed to investigate the influence of far infrared radiation emitted from a Toloese bed on endogenous nitric oxide production. Clinical trials were conducted with 20 healthy adults aged 20 years. Blood samples were collected before and after Toloese bed usage for 1 h daily for 3 weeks. Nitric oxide levels in the saliva and blood of men and women significant increased after they used the Toloese bed for 1 h. Additionally, sweating sharply increased in the upper and lower body regions after Toloese bed usage. No hematological changes or adverse effects were observed, but blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides decreased after Toloese bed usage compared with those before Toloese bed usage. These findings demonstrated that far infrared radiation emitted by the Toloese bed induced endogenous nitric oxide production and contributed to significant reductions in blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.

Association of maternal ultra-processed food consumption during pregnancy with atopic dermatitis in infancy: Korean Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) study.

BACKGROUND: Maternal diet during pregnancy might influence the development of childhood allergic disorders. There are few studies on the association between processed food intake and infant atopic dermatitis (AD) during pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of ultra-processed food (UPF) intake during pregnancy with infantile AD. METHODS: This study involved 861 pairs of pregnant women and their offspring from the Mothers' and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) study, a multi-center birth cohort project conducted in Korea. Dietary intake was estimated using a 24-h recall method at 12-28 weeks gestation. The NOVA classification was used to identify UPF, and UPF intake was calculated as the percentage of total energy consumption and categorized into quartiles. Infantile AD was assessed based on medical history and the criteria of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Associations were assessed by logistic regression with adjustment for confounding factors. RESULTS: Children born to mothers in the highest quartile of UPF consumption (15.5% or more of the total energy) compared to the lowest quartile (6.8% or less) showed a higher risk of AD within 12 months [odds ratio (OR) = 1.69; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07-2.66, P for trend 0.0436]. After adjustment for the confounding factors under study, the association was strengthened; the adjusted OR between extreme quartiles was 2.19 (95% CI: 1.11-4.32, P for trend = 0.0418). This association was maintained even after an additional adjustment based on the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI), an indicator of diet quality. CONCLUSIONS: Higher maternal consumption of UPF during pregnancy was associated with a greater risk of infantile AD within the first year of life.

Association of Korean Healthy Eating Index and Sleep Duration with Obesity in Korean Adults: Based on the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016-2018.

Short sleep duration has been linked to an increased obesity risk, and emerging evidence suggests that diet quality potentially influences this association. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the association of obesity with sleep duration and diet quality in adults. The participants comprised 10,967 adults (4623 men and 6344 women) aged 19-64 years who participated in the 7th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2018). Sleep duration was categorized into adequate (≥7 h) and insufficient (<7 h). Diet quality was evaluated using the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI), with scores ranging from 0 to 100, based on 14 dietary components. Obesity was associated with higher rates of insufficient sleep in women but not in men. After adjusting for covariates, the obesity risk in women with insufficient sleep was approximately 1.3 times higher than that in women with adequate sleep (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 1.270 [1.058-1.525]), and this association was exclusively observed in the "KHEI ≤ median score" group (men, 59.95; women, 63.30). In conclusion, enhanced diet quality may act as an effect modifier in the association between insufficient sleep and a high obesity risk in women. These findings suggest that the association between sleep duration and obesity risk is potentially modified by dietary quality in adult women. Future studies with larger sample sizes and a prospective or interventional design are warranted to augment current knowledge regarding the association of diet quality/dietary patterns, and sleep duration with obesity.

Influence of Curved Video Laryngoscope Blade Sizes and Patient Heights on Video Laryngoscopic Views: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study aimed to compare the video laryngoscope views facilitated by curved blades 3 and 4 with an exploration of the relationship between these views and patient height. Conducted as a randomized controlled trial, this study enrolled adults scheduled for surgery under general anesthesia. Intubation procedures were recorded, and the percentage of glottic opening was measured before tube insertion. Multivariate analysis validated the impact of various factors, including blade size and patient height, on the percentage of glottic opening scores. A total of 192 patients were included. The median percentage of glottic opening scores for curved blades 3 and 4 were 100 and 83, respectively (p < 0.001). The unstandardized coefficient indicated a significant negative impact of blade 4 on the percentage of glottic opening scores (-13, p < 0.001). In the locally estimated scatterplot smoothing analysis, blade 3 exhibited a steady rise in glottic opening scores with increasing height, whereas blade 4 showed a peak followed by a decline around 185 cm. The unstandardized coefficient of height showed no significant association (0, p = 0.819). The study observed superior laryngoscopic views with blade 3 compared to blade 4. However, no significant association was found between laryngoscopic views and patient height.

The Associations between Intakes of One-Carbon Metabolism-Related Vitamins and Breast Density among Young Women.

BACKGROUND: Folate is the primary methyl donor and B vitamins are cofactors for one-carbon metabolism that maintain DNA integrity and epigenetic signatures implicated in carcinogenesis. Breast tissue is particularly susceptible to stimuli in early life. Only limited data are available on associations of one-carbon metabolism-related vitamin intake during youth and young adulthood with breast density, a strong risk factor for breast cancer. METHODS: Over 18 years in the DISC and DISC06 Follow-up Study, diets of 182 young women were assessed by three 24-hour recalls on five occasions at ages 8 to 18 years and once at 25 to 29 years. Multivariable-adjusted linear mixed-effects regression was used to examine associations of intakes of one-carbon metabolism-related vitamins with MRI-measured percent dense breast volume (%DBV) and absolute dense breast volume (ADBV) at ages 25 to 29 years. RESULTS: Folate intake in youth was inversely associated with %DBV (Ptrend = 0.006) and ADBV (Ptrend = 0.02). These inverse associations were observed with intake during post-, though not premenarche. In contrast, premenarche vitamin B2 intake was positively associated with ADBV (Ptrend < 0.001). Young adult folate and vitamin B6 intakes were inversely associated with %DBV (all Ptrend ≤ 0.04), whereas vitamins B6 and B12 were inversely associated with ADBV (all Ptrend ≤ 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Among these DISC participants intakes of one-carbon metabolism-related vitamins were associated with breast density. Larger prospective studies among diverse populations are needed to replicate these findings. IMPACT: Our results suggest the importance of one-carbon metabolism-related vitamin intakes early in life with development of breast density and thereby potentially breast cancer risk later in life.

14,15-Dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid, a soluble epoxide hydrolase metabolite in blood, is a predictor of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity - a hypothesis generating study.

BACKGROUND: Early identification of patients susceptible to chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity could lead to targeted treatment to reduce cardiac dysfunction. Rats treated with doxorubicin (DOX), a chemotherapeutic agent, have increased cardiac expression of 14,15-dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (14,15-DHET), a bioactive lipid implicated in hypertension and coronary artery disease. However, the utility of 14,15-DHET as plasma biomarkers was not defined. The aim of this study is to investigate if levels of 14,15-DHET are an early blood biomarker to predict the subsequent occurrence of cardiotoxicity in cancer patients after chemotherapy. METHODS: H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes were treated with DOX (1 µM) for 2 h and levels of 14,15-DHET in cell media was quantified at 2, 6 or 24 h in media after DOX treatment. Similarly, female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with DOX for two weeks and levels of 14,15-DHET was assessed in plasma at 48 h and 2 weeks after DOX treatment. Changes in brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) mRNA, an early cardiac hypertrophy process, were determined in the H9c2 cells and rat cardiac tissue. Results were confirmed in human subjects by assessment of levels of 14,15-DHET in plasma of breast cancer patients before and after DOX treatment and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), a clinical marker of cardiotoxicity. RESULTS: Levels of 14,15-DHET in cell media and rat plasma increased ~ 3-fold and was accompanied with increase in BNP mRNA in H9c2 cells and rat cardiac tissue after DOX treatment. In matched plasma samples from breast cancer patients, levels of 14,15-DHET were increased in patients that developed cardiotoxicity at 3 months before occurrence of LVEF decrease. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these results indicate that levels of 14,15-DHET are elevated prior to major changes in cardiac structure and function after exposure to anthracyclines. Increased levels of 14,15-DHET in plasma may be an important clinical biomarker for early detection of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in cancer patients.

Association of socioeconomic factors and dietary intake with sarcopenic obesity in the Korean older population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the relationship between socioeconomic factors, dietary intake, and sarcopenic obesity among older adults in Korea. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Data from the seventh Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2018) were analyzed. The study included 3,690 participants (1,645 men and 2,045 women) aged 65 years and older. Sarcopenic obesity was defined as the coexistence of low muscle strength (handgrip strength <28 kg in men and <18 kg in women) and abdominal obesity (waist circumference >90 cm in men and >85 cm in women). Socioeconomic factors assessed included age, living status, residential area, employment, education, and family income level. Dietary intake was evaluated using the nutrient adequacy ratio and mean adequacy ratio derived from 24-h dietary recall data. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with sarcopenic obesity. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of sarcopenic obesity were 6.5% in men and 17.4% in women. Low education levels were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of sarcopenic obesity in women, whereas lower family income levels were associated with an increased risk of sarcopenic obesity in men. In women, a lower mean adequacy ratio was significantly associated with a higher risk of sarcopenic obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Lower family income and education level are associated with a higher prevalence of sarcopenic obesity. Ad-ditionally, overall nutritional adequacy is inversely related to the prevalence of sarcopenic obesity, particularly in women.

Anti-Diabetic Potential of Sargassum horneri and Ulva australis Extracts In Vitro and In Vivo.

Sargassum horneri (SH) and Ulva australis (UA) are marine waste resources that cause environmental and economic problems when entering or multiplying the coastal waters of Jeju Island. We analyzed their anti-diabetic efficacy to assess their reusability as functional additives. The alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity of SH and UA extracts was confirmed, and the effect of UA extract was higher than that of SH. After the induction of insulin-resistant HepG2 cells, the effects of the two marine extracts on oxidative stress, intracellular glucose uptake, and glycogen content were compared to the positive control, metformin. Treatment of insulin-resistant HepG2 cells with SH and UA resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in oxidative stress and increased intracellular glucose uptake and glycogen content. Moreover, SH and UA treatment upregulated the expression of IRS-1, AKT, and GLUT4, which are suppressed in insulin resistance, to a similar degree to metformin, and suppressed the expression of FoxO1, PEPCK involved in gluconeogenesis, and GSK-3ß involved in glycogen metabolism. The oral administration of these extracts to rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes led to a higher weight gain than that in the diabetic group. Insulin resistance and oral glucose tolerance are alleviated by the regulation of blood glucose. Thus, the SH and UA extracts may be used in the development of therapeutic agents or supplements to improve insulin resistance.

Association between use of vitamin and mineral supplement and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in hypertensive adults.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common hepatic metabolic disorder in hypertensive adults. Impaired metabolism of micronutrients may increase NAFLD risk by exacerbating oxidative stress, insulin resistance, and inflammation among hypertensive adults. In this first cross-sectional analysis of 7,376 hypertensive adults with 2,015 NAFLD cases in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, vitamin and mineral supplements (VMS) use was identified via questionnaire. NAFLD was defined by a hepatic steatosis index > 36. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (MVOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using logistic regression models. In our study, 18.6% were current users of VMS; of these, 76.7% used multi-vitamin/mineral supplements. Current VMS users had significantly lower odds of NAFLD, compared with non-users (MVOR [95% CI]: 0.73 [0.58-0.92]). The inverse association became attenuated and non-significant among those consuming VMS at higher frequency (≥ 2 times/day), for longer duration (> 16 months), and taking ≥ 2 VMS products. The inverse association with current use of VMS was only evident in those aged < 56 years (MVOR [95% CI]: 0.54 [0.40-0.72]) and men (MVOR [95% CI]: 0.56 [0.40-0.80])(Pinteraction ≤ 0.04). Our results suggest that VMS use may lower NAFLD risk, particularly among younger or male hypertensive adults, if taken in moderation.

Evaluation of schistosomula lung antigen preparation and soluble egg antigen vaccines on experimental schistosomiasis mansoni.

Schistosomiasis causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study aimed to assess the effect of schistosomula lung antigen preparation (SLAP) and soluble egg antigen (SEA) on a murine schistosomiasis mansoni model. Ninety laboratory-bred male Swiss albino mice were divided into 6 groups. Two doses of the vaccine were given at 2-week intervals. All mice were subcutaneously infected with 80±10 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae 2 weeks after the last vaccination dose. They were sacrificed 7 weeks post-infection. Parasitological and histopathological studies were conducted to assess the effect of inoculated antigens (single or combined). The results showed that the combination of SLAP and SEA (combination group) led to a significant reduction in worm burden (65.56%), and liver and intestine egg count (59% and 60.59%, respectively). The oogram pattern revealed a reduction in immature and mature eggs (15±0.4 and 10±0.8, respectively) and an increased number of dead eggs in the combination group (P<0.001). In terms of histopathological changes, the combination group showed notably small compact fibrocellular egg granuloma and moderate fibrosis in the liver. A high percentage of destroyed ova was observed in the intestine of the combination group. This study demonstrates for the first time the prophylactic effect of combined SLAP and SEA vaccine. The vaccine induced a significant reduction in the parasitological and pathological impacts of schistosomiasis mansoni in hepatic and intestinal tissues, making it a promising vaccine candidate for controlling schistosomiasis.

Evaluating the activity of N-89 as an oral antimalarial drug.

Despite the recent progress in public health measures, malaria remains a troublesome disease that needs to be eradicated. It is essential to develop new antimalarial medications that are reliable and secure. This report evaluated the pharmacokinetics and antimalarial activity of 1,2,6,7-tetraoxaspiro[7.11]nonadecane (N-89) using the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei in vivo. After a single oral dose (75 mg /kg) of N-89, its pharmacokinetic parameters were measured, and t1/2 was 0.97 h, Tmax was 0.75 h, and bioavailability was 7.01%. A plasma concentration of 8.1 ng/ml of N-89 was maintained for 8 h but could not be detected at 10 h. The dose inhibiting 50% of parasite growth (ED50) and ED90 values of oral N-89 obtained following a 4-day suppressive test were 20 and 40 mg/kg, respectively. Based on the plasma concentration of N-89, we evaluated the antimalarial activity and cure effects of oral N-89 at a dose of 75 mg/kg 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days in mice harboring more than 0.5% parasitemia. In all the N-89- treated groups, the parasites were eliminated on day 5 post-treatment, and all mice recovered without a parasite recurrence for 30 days. Additionally, administering oral N-89 at a low dose of 50 mg/kg was sufficient to cure mice from day 6 without parasite recurrence. This work was the first to investigate the pharmacokinetic characteristics and antimalarial activity of N-89 as an oral drug. In the future, the following steps should be focused on developing N-89 for malaria treatments; its administration schedule and metabolic pathways should be investigated.

Maternal and Fetal Effects of Gestational Vitamin D Concentration.

Most (90%) vitamin D synthesis occurs in the skin using sunlight (ultraviolet rays), and 10% is obtained through food. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for skeletal growth and maintenance, cell proliferation and differentiation, and immune function. This study investigated whether maternal serum vitamin D concentrations induce maternofetal effects. Hematological analysis, serological changes, and precision fetal ultrasound findings were analyzed by maternal vitamin D concentration in gestational weeks 22-25 to ascertain direct effects on fetal growth. Bone density-vitamin D concentration correlation was analyzed. No hematologic or serological effect of maternal vitamin D concentration was detected; however, the sexually transmitted infection and cross-infection rates were inversely proportional to maternal vitamin D concentration. No significant correlation between vitamin D concentration and vertebral and femoral BMD was detected. For fetal growth, biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length, and humerus length were analyzed. Humerus (p < 0.05) and femur (p < 0.001) lengths were higher in the vitamin D-sufficient group than in the vitamin D-deficient group. Vitamin D concentration did not positively affect hematologic changes and bone density; maternal vitamin D concentration essentially affected fetal bone growth. Vitamin D inhibits sexually transmitted infections in mothers and promotes fetal bone growth. Prevention of vitamin D deficiency, supplementation, or outdoor activities is recommended.

Extract of Torreya nucifera Pericarps Exhibits a Parasiticidal Effect on the Nematode Parasite, Trichinella spiralis.

Benzimidazole derivatives can effectively treat nematode parasitic infections; however, some derivatives demand distinct administrative strategies depending on plasma concentration and patient conditions. Numerous studies have examined the potential of natural extracts to exert parasiticidal activity with minimal side effects. Herein, we examined the potential parasiticidal effects of Torreya nucifera extract. The pericarps of T. nucifera were extracted with methanol, dried, and the pellet was dissolved in hot water (Tn-Phw). We designed four individual mouse experiments to clarify the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of Tn-Phw on Trichinella spiralis infection. Also, 100 L1 larvae were isolated and treated with Tn-Phw (10 mg/mL) in vitro to confirm the killing effect. Furthermore, we microscopically examined the morphology of L1 larvae to confirm the parasite-killing effect and analyzed the morphology using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The expression of three molting-related genes was confirmed to determine whether Tn-Phw induced morphological changes in L1 larvae. Following treatment with Tn-Phw, L1 larvae death was observed after 16 h. Following SEM examination, the healthy muscle larvae showed striated ridges and wrinkles; this was not observed in extract-treated muscle larvae. Expression levels of the three molting-related genes did not differ between the Tn-Phw-treated and control groups. T. spiralis-infected mice pretreated with Tn-Phw showed significantly reduced muscle larva infection when compared with control mice. In all experiments, treatment with Tn-Phw afforded preventive and therapeutic effects against T. spiralis infection and parasitism. Natural substances against nematode parasites could be developed as therapeutic agents with few side effects and enhanced parasiticidal efficacy.

Development of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for dietary intake of elementary school children: data from the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: In Korea, studies of diet in elementary school children are hindered by the need for a comprehensive dietary assessment tool. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for Korean elementary school children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The 24-h recall data for 1,624 subjects aged 6-11 yrs from the seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used to extract the items included in the questionnaire. The FFQ items were developed by selecting major dishes based on the results of nutritional contribution and between-person variability for energy and 14 nutrients (carbohydrate, protein, fat, crude fiber, calcium, phosphorous, iron, sodium, potassium, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin C). We selected the major dishes with over 90% of the total contribution to each nutrient and with over 90% of the accumulated R2 for each nutrient. Among the 452 dishes, we selected 248 dishes contributing more than 1% of the total consumption. RESULTS: Finally, the FFQ included 107 items combined from 248 dishes based on nutrient profile and recipe. The FFQ items accounted for an average of 88.6% of the energy, 14 nutrient intakes, and 91.4% of the between-person variability. Quantities of dietary intake were assessed by 9 categories of frequency and 3 categories of portion size. Percentages of coverage for energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, and calcium were 90.2%, 87.8%, 89.9%, 90.8%, and 88.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a dish-based, semi-quantitative FFQ comprising 107 items for Korean elementary school children aged 6 to 11. Further studies are needed to evaluate the reproducibility and validity of this FFQ for elementary school children.

Diet quality and prodromal Parkinson's disease probability in isolated REM sleep behavior disorder.

INTRODUCTION: It is reported that a diet that lowers oxidative stress reduces the prodromal Parkinson's disease (pPD) probability as well as the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we evaluated whether the diet quality of patients with isolated rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) were associated with the pPD probability score, PD risk markers, or prodromal markers. METHODS: Polysomnography (PSG)-confirmed iRBD patients from the Neurology Department at Seoul National University Hospital were enrolled. We calculated the pPD probability using the "Web-based Medical Calculator for Prodromal Risk in Parkinsonism" Diet quality was assessed using the Recommended Food Score (RFS). RESULTS: We enrolled 101 patients with iRBD. The mean RFS score of patients with iRBD was 28.23 ± 9.29, which did not differ from the general population. Among patients with iRBD, the probability of pPD did not differ between the high and low RFS groups. In patients aged <70 years, although total RFS was not correlated with pPD probability (p = 0.529, Spearman rank correlation), legume consumption was negatively correlated with pPD probability (p = 0.032): furthermore, legume consumption was significantly higher in patients with fewer prodromal markers (p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: Diet quality assessed by RFS did not differ between the general population and patients with iRBD in Korea. Further studies are needed to confirm these protective effects of legume consumption on iRBD, which may have strong implications for the prevention and management of PD.

Extracellular Leakage Protein Patterns in Two Types of Cancer Cell Death: Necrosis and Apoptosis.

Dead cells release fragments of DNA, RNA, and proteins (including peptides) into the extracellular space. Two major forms of cell death during cancer development have been identified: necrosis and apoptosis. Our group investigated the mechanisms that regulate cell death during the treatment of mouse tumor FM3A cells with the anticancer drug floxuridine (FUdR). In the original strain F28-7, FUdR induced necrosis, whereas in the variant F28-7-A, it induced apoptosis. Here, we report that the extracellular leakage proteome (i.e., the secretome) is involved in these cell death phenomena. The secretome profile, which was analyzed via shotgun proteomic analysis, revealed that altered protein leakage was involved in signal transduction, transcription, RNA processing, translation, and cell death. Notably, the characteristic secretory proteins high mobility group box 1 and 2 were detected in the culture medium of both necrotic and apoptotic cells. Overall, these results indicate that unique cellular events mediated by secretory proteins may be involved in necrosis and apoptosis.

Antimalarial effect of synthetic endoperoxide on synchronized Plasmodium chabaudi infected mice.

The discovery of new antimalarial drugs can be developed using asynchronized Plasmodium berghei malaria parasites in vivo in mice. Studies on a particular stage are also required to assess the effectiveness and mode of action of drugs. In this report, we used endoperoxide 6-(1,2,6,7-tetraoxaspiro [7.11] nonadec-4-yl) hexan-1-ol (N-251) as a model antimalarial compound on P. chabaudi parasites. We examined the antimalarial effect of N-251 against ring-stage- and trophozoite-stage-rich P. chabaudi parasites and asynchronized P. berghei parasites using the 4-day suppressive test. The ED50 values were 27, 22, and 22 mg/kg, respectively, and the antimalarial activity of N-251 was verified in both rodent malaria parasites. To assess the stage-specific effect of N-251 in vivo, we evaluated the change of parasitemia and distribution of parasite stages using ring-stage- and trophozoite-stage-rich P. chabaudi parasites with one-day drug administration for one life cycle. We discovered that the parasitemias decreased after 13 and 9 hours post-treatment in the ring-stage- and trophozoite-stage-rich groups, respectively. Additionally, in the ring-stage-rich N-251 treated group, the ring-stage parasites hindered trophozoite parasite development. For the trophozoite-stage-rich N-251 treated group, the distribution of the trophozoite stage was maintained without a change in parasitemia until 9 hours. Because of these findings, it can be concluded that N-251 suppressed the trophozoite stage but not the ring stage. We report for the first time that N-251 specifically suppresses the trophozoite stage using P. chabaudi in mice. The results show that P. chabaudi is a reliable model for the characterization of stage-specific antimalarial effects.

Pioneer Use of Antimalarial Transdermal Combination Therapy in Rodent Malaria Model.

We have previously reported 1,2,6,7-tetraoxaspiro [7.11]nonadecane (N-89) as a promising antimalarial compound. In this study, we evaluated the effect of transdermal therapy (tdt) of N-89 in combination (tdct) with other antimalarials as an application for children. We prepared ointment formulas containing N-89 plus another antimalarial drug, specifically, mefloquine, pyrimethamine, or chloroquine. In a 4-day suppressive test, the ED50 values for N-89 alone or combined with either mefloquine, pyrimethamine, or chloroquine were 18, 3, 0.1, and 3 mg/kg, respectively. Interaction assays revealed that N-89 combination therapy showed a synergistic effect with mefloquine and pyrimethamine, but chloroquine provoked an antagonistic effect. Antimalarial activity and cure effect were compared for single-drug application and combination therapy. Low doses of tdct N-89 (35 mg/kg) combined with mefloquine (4 mg/kg) or pyrimethamine (1 mg/kg) gave an antimalarial effect but not a cure effect. In contrast, with high doses of N-89 (60 mg/kg) combined with mefloquine (8 mg/kg) or pyrimethamine (1 mg/kg), parasites disappeared on day 4 of treatment, and mice were completely cured without any parasite recurrence. Our results indicated that transdermal N-89 with mefloquine and pyrimethamine provides a promising antimalarial form for application to children.