Treatment extent of femoropopliteal disease and clinical outcomes following endovascular therapy.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular therapy (EVT) has become the preferred treatment modality for femoropopliteal disease. However, there is limited evidence regarding its procedural and clinical outcomes according to the affected area. AIMS: The aim of this study is to investigate clinical outcomes and device effectiveness according to treatment extent in the superficial femoral artery (SFA), popliteal artery (PA), or both. METHODS: In this study, we analysed EVT for SFA (2,404 limbs), PA (155 limbs), SFA/PA (383 limbs) using the population in the K-VIS ELLA (Korean Vascular Intervention Society Endovascular Therapy in Lower Limb Artery Diseases) registry. The primary endpoint was target lesion revascularisation (TLR) at 2 years. RESULTS: The SFA/PA group exhibited a higher prevalence of anatomical complexity, characterised by long lesions, moderate to severe calcification, and total occlusion. The procedures were successful in 97.2% of SFA, 92.9% of PA, and 95.6% of SFA/PA EVTs. The 2-year TLR rates were 21.1%, 18.6%, and 32.7% in the SFA, PA, and SFA/PA groups, respectively. SFA/PA EVT was associated with a significantly increased risk for TLR compared to the SFA group (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.48 [1.09-2.00]; p=0.008) and a trend towards an increased risk compared to the PA group (adjusted HR 1.80 [1.00-3.27]; p=0.052). After overlap weighting, the use of a drug-coated balloon (DCB) was shown to be beneficial, with the lowest TLR rate after SFA and SFA/PA EVT. CONCLUSIONS: In this large real-world registry, SFA/PA EVT was associated with an increased risk for TLR at 2 years compared to the SFA or PA EVT groups, with favourable outcomes when using a DCB or drug-eluting stent in the SFA/PA EVT group.

Drug-coated balloon versus drug-eluting stent for femoropopliteal total occlusions: intraluminal versus subintimal approaches.

Because there is a lack of comparative studies assessing drug-coated balloon (DCB) and drug-eluting stent (DES) outcomes with respect to intraluminal (IL) and subintimal (SI) approaches in femoropopliteal (FP) total occlusive lesions, we compared the outcomes between DCB (including bailout stenting) and DES treatments for this lesion. A total of 487 limbs (434 patients) were divided into the IL (n = 344, DCB: n = 268, DES: n = 76) and SI (n = 143, DCB: n = 83, DES: n = 60) approach groups. The primary outcome was a major adverse limb event (MALE), defined as above-ankle amputation or repeat revascularization of the index limb. Secondary outcomes included clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR), loss of clinical patency, and all-cause death. After adjustment, in each IL and SI approach, the 2-year rates of MALE (p = 0.180 and p = 0.236, respectively), TLR, loss of clinical patency, and all-cause death were similar between the DCB and DES groups. In the DCB and DES groups, both primary and secondary outcomes were similar between the IL and SI approaches. DCB and DES strategies for patients presenting with FP total occlusive lesions demonstrated similar outcomes regardless of the IL or SI approach.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT02748226.

The Effect of Organic Vegetable Mixed Juice on Blood Circulation and Intestine Flora: Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Epidemiological evidence suggests that fruit and vegetable intake significantly positively affects cardiovascular health. Since vegetable juice is more accessible than raw vegetables, it attracts attention as a health functional food for circulatory diseases. Therefore, this study measured blood lipids, antioxidants, blood circulation indicators, and changes in the microbiome to confirm the effect of organic vegetable mixed juice (OVJ) on improving blood circulation. This 4-week, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study involved adult men and women with borderline total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. As a result, blood lipid profile indicators, such as TC, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B, decreased (p < 0.05) in the OVJ group compared with those in the placebo group. Additionally, the antioxidant biomarker superoxide dismutase increased (p < 0.05). In contrast, systolic and diastolic blood viscosities, as blood circulation-related biomarkers, decreased (p < 0.05) in the OVJ group compared with those in the placebo group. After the intervention, a fecal microbiome analysis confirmed differences due to changes in the intestinal microbiome composition between the OVJ and placebo groups. In conclusion, our research results confirmed that consuming OVJ improves blood circulation by affecting the blood lipid profile, antioxidant enzymes, and microbiome changes.

Aspirin Monotherapy vs No Antiplatelet Therapy in Stable Patients With Coronary Stents Undergoing Low-to-Intermediate Risk Noncardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend the perioperative continuation of aspirin in patients with coronary drug-eluting stents (DES) undergoing noncardiac surgery. However, supporting evidence is limited. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare continuing aspirin monotherapy vs temporarily holding all antiplatelet therapy before noncardiac surgery in patients with previous DES implantation. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients who had received a DES >1 year previously and were undergoing elective noncardiac surgery either to continue aspirin or to discontinue all antiplatelet agents 5 days before noncardiac surgery. Antiplatelet therapy was recommended to be resumed no later than 48 hours after surgery, unless contraindicated. The primary outcome was a composite of death from any cause, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, or stroke between 5 days before and 30 days after noncardiac surgery. RESULTS: A total of 1,010 patients underwent randomization. Among 926 patients in the modified intention-to-treat population (462 patients in aspirin monotherapy group and 464 patients in the no-antiplatelet therapy group), the primary composite outcome occurred in 3 patients (0.6%) in the aspirin monotherapy group and 4 patients (0.9%) in the no antiplatelet group (difference, -0.2 percentage points; 95% CI: -1.3 to 0.9; P > 0.99). There was no stent thrombosis in either group. The incidence of major bleeding did not differ significantly between groups (6.5% vs 5.2%; P = 0.39), whereas minor bleeding was significantly more frequent in the aspirin group (14.9% vs 10.1%; P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients undergoing low-to-intermediate risk noncardiac surgery >1 year after stent implantation primarily with a DES, in the setting of lower-than-expected event rates, we failed to identify a significant difference between perioperative aspirin monotherapy and no antiplatelet therapy with respect to ischemic outcomes or major bleeding. (Perioperative Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients With Drug-eluting Stent Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery [ASSURE-DES]; NCT02797548).

A Mixture of Lactobacillus HY7601 and KY1032 Regulates Energy Metabolism in Adipose Tissue and Improves Cholesterol Disposal in High-Fat-Diet-Fed Mice.

We aimed to characterize the anti-obesity and anti-atherosclerosis effects of Lactobacillus curvatus HY7601 and Lactobacillus plantarum KY1032 using high-fat diet (HFD)-fed obese C57BL/6 mice. We divided the mice into control (CON), HFD, HFD with 108 CFU/kg/day probiotics (HFD + KL, HY7301:KY1032 = 1:1), and HFD with 109 CFU/kg/day probiotics (HFD + KH, HY7301:KY1032 = 1:1) groups and fed/treated them during 7 weeks. The body mass, brown adipose tissue (BAT), inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT), and epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) masses and the total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were remarkably lower in probiotic-treated groups than in the HFD group in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the expression of uncoupling protein 1 in the BAT, iWAT, and eWAT was significantly higher in probiotic-treated HFD mice than in the HFD mice, as demonstrated by immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting. We also measured the expression of cholesterol transport genes in the liver and jejunum and found that the expression of those encoding liver-X-receptor α, ATP-binding cassette transporters G5 and G8, and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase were significantly higher in the HFD + KH mice than in the HFD mice. Thus, a Lactobacillus HY7601 and KY1032 mixture with 109 CFU/kg/day concentration can assist with body weight regulation through the management of lipid metabolism and thermogenesis.

How do I do it? Real-time three-dimensional robotic C-arm navigation for ventriculoperitoneal shunting.

BACKGROUND: Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts are commonly used for managing hydrocephalus, with mechanical dysfunction being the most common cause of complications that require revision. A VP shunt placed using a real-time three-dimensional (3D) robotic C-arm navigation system may have better outcomes and fewer complications. METHODS: In this technical note, we introduced the workflow of the use of the real-time 3D robotic C-arm navigation system for ventriculoperitoneal shunting. CONCLUSION: The real-time 3D robotic C-arm can provide a more precise approach to the target. Furthermore, this technique may lower the risk of complications and increase the success rate of shunt placements.

Intravascular ultrasound-guided drug-coated balloon angioplasty for femoropopliteal artery disease: a clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) have demonstrated favourable outcomes following endovascular therapy for femoropopliteal artery (FPA) disease. However, uncertainty remains whether the use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) can improve the outcomes of DCBs. METHODS: This prospective, multicentre, randomized trial, conducted at seven centres in South Korea, compared the outcomes of IVUS-guided vs. angiography-guided angioplasty for treating FPA disease with DCBs. Patients were assigned to receive IVUS-guided (n = 119) or angiography-guided (n = 118) angioplasty using DCBs. The primary endpoint was 12-month primary patency. RESULTS: Between May 2016 and August 2022, 237 patients were enrolled and 204 (86.0%) completed the trial (median follow-up; 363 days). The IVUS guidance group showed significantly higher primary patency [83.8% vs. 70.1%; cumulative difference 19.6% (95% confidence interval 6.8 to 32.3); P = .01] and increased freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization [92.4% vs. 83.0%; difference 11.6% (95% confidence interval 3.1 to 20.1); P = .02], sustained clinical improvement (89.1% vs. 76.3%, P = .01), and haemodynamic improvement (82.4% vs. 66.9%, P = .01) at 12 months compared with the angiography guidance group. The IVUS group utilized larger balloon diameters and pressures for pre-dilation, more frequent post-dilation, and higher pressures for post-dilation, resulting in a greater post-procedural minimum lumen diameter (3.90 ± 0.59 vs. 3.71 ± 0.73 mm, P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Intravascular ultrasound guidance significantly improved the outcomes of DCBs for FPA disease in terms of primary patency, freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization, and sustained clinical and haemodynamic improvement at 12 months. These benefits may be attributed to IVUS-guided optimization of the lesion before and after DCB treatment.

Direct oral anticoagulants for oral anticoagulants-naïve Asian patients with atrial fibrillation and end-stage renal disease undergoing dialysis.

In Asian patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing dialysis, the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) remains debatable. From the national health insurance claims data in South Korea, we included 425 new users of OAC among patients with non-valvular AF and ESRD undergoing dialysis between 2013 and 2020. Patients were categorized into DOAC (n = 106) and warfarin group (n = 319). Clinical outcomes, including ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), and gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, were compared between the two groups using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis. During the median follow-up of 3.2 years, the incidence of ischemic stroke was significantly reduced in the DOAC compared to the warfarin group [Hazard ratio (HR) 0.07; P = 0.001]. However, the incidence of MI (HR 1.32; P = 0.41) and GI bleeding (HR 1.78; P = 0.06) were not significantly different between the two groups. No ICH events occurred in the DOAC group, although the incidence rate did not differ significantly between the two groups (P = 0.17). In Asian patients with AF and ESRD undergoing dialysis, DOACs may be associated with a reduced risk of ischemic stroke compared with warfarin. The MI, ICH, and GI bleeding rates may be comparable between DOACs and warfarin.

Indole-3-pyruvate: Analysis and Control of Tautomerism and Reactivity.

It is well-known in biochemistry that structure confers function, meaning that chemical structural elucidation is critical to truly understanding the function of a given metabolite. Indole-3-pyruvate (IPyA) exists in an equilibrium between the keto and enol tautomeric forms. IPyA is suggested to play a role in immune function; however, determining whether the tautomeric forms function differently can only be studied if an analytical method is capable of distinguishing between the two forms. Herein, we describe the use of UHPLC-HRMS to gain insight into the physical variables that govern IPyA tautomer equilibrium, reactivity, and detection limit. We use hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) to identify enol and keto peaks, and we show that tautomers exhibit a valley of fronting followed by a tailing peak shape (though separation is still attainable) and identical MS/MS spectra. We observed drastically different ratios of keto and enol forms in different solvents, which is an important consideration for in vitro studies. IPyA was found to be highly unstable with accelerated reactivity in peroxides. Through in vitro reactivity studies, IPyA produced a myriad of known and unknown metabolites via nonenzymatic processes, many of which were mapped in vivo via the analysis of human plasma. Finally, we show that vitamin C (ascorbic acid) can slow this reactivity and enable sensitive detection in whole blood.

Superselective Ablative Chemo-ethanol Embolization for Recurrent Single Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Six-Month Outcome Analysis.

Background/Aim: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of superselective ablative chemoethanol embolization (SACE) for the treatment of patients with recurrent single hepatocellular carcinoma (rHCC). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 22 patients (19 men, median age 63 [range 38-86 y]) with Child-Pugh class of A/B/C (16/3/3) that underwent SACE between January and June 2023 for recurrent single HCCs measuring ≤ 5 cm in diameter using a mixture of 99% Ethanol and ethiodized oil/doxorubicin emulsion. The primary endpoint was the 6-month tumor response, and the secondary endpoints were the 1-month tumor response and treatment-related safety. This study was approved by our institutional review board, and the requirement for informed consent was waived. Results: SACE was successfully performed in 22 (95.2%) patients. The complete response rates at 1-month and 6-month after treatment were 100% and 83.3%, respectively. At 6-month, local tumor progression occurred in one patient and intrahepatic distant metastasis was found in 6 (30%) patients. No 6-month mortalities were reported. No adverse events greater than grade 2 or laboratory deteriorations were observed. Biliary complications or liver abscesses were not observed. Conclusion: SACE for a single rHCC was highly effective in achieving a favorable 6-month tumor response and showed acceptable adverse events. However, further prospective studies are required to verify these findings.

Percutaneous endobiliary radiofrequency ablation with stent placement in type IV hilar cholangiocarcinoma: A prospective comparison with stent placement alone.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous endobiliary radiofrequency ablation with stent placement (RFA group) versus stent placement alone (stent group) in patients with type IV hilar cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS: This prospective nonrandomized study was conducted between October 2021 and April 2023. The study included 56 participants (33 men and 23 women, median age 73 years) who underwent percutaneous endobiliary RFA with stent placement (n = 25) or stent placement alone (n = 31) for type IV hilar cholangiocarcinoma. The primary end point was stent patency, while the secondary end points were procedure-related adverse events (AE) and overall survival. RESULTS: The percutaneous endobiliary RFA and/or stent placement were successfully completed in all patients in both groups. The median stent patency rate was higher in the RFA group than the stent group (188 days vs. 155 days, p = 0.048). There were no differences in AEs (grade 1 [5 in RFA group vs. 5 in stent group, p = 0.74] and grade 2 AEs [2 vs. 4, p = 0.68]) and patients' survival (median 222 days vs. 214 days, p = 0.49) between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with type IV hilar cholangiocarcinoma, percutaneous endobiliary RFA with stent placement may improve stent patency without increasing the risk of AEs compared to stent placement alone.

Efficacy and safety of galacto-oligosaccharide in the treatment of functional constipation: randomized clinical trial.

The efficacy and safety of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) in treating functional constipation were evaluated in a four-week randomized, double-blind clinical trial on 63 patients who met Rome IV criteria (34 GOS, 29 placebo group). The number of bowel movements per day and changes in the shape of bowel movements in the treatment group significantly improved compared to those in the control group after four weeks. The Patient Assessment Constipation Quality of Life questionnaire showed that satisfaction with constipation significantly increased in the treatment group. The levels of Bifidobacterium sp. and Lactobacillus sp. significantly increased after four weeks of GOS treatment compared to those measured at baseline. No significant adverse drug reactions were identified in any indicator except for pulse rate. Thus, the prebiotic GOS can be safely used in foods and pharmaceuticals to alleviate symptoms of functional constipation by improving the intestinal flora.

Clinical Outcomes After Drug-Coated Balloon Treatment in Popliteal Artery Disease: K-POP Registry 12-Month Results.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The popliteal artery is generally regarded as a "no-stent zone." Limited data are available on the outcomes of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) for popliteal artery disease. This study aimed to evaluate the 12-month clinical outcomes among patients who received DCB treatment for atherosclerotic popliteal artery disease. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter registry study enrolled 100 patients from 7 Korean endovascular centers who underwent endovascular therapy using IN.PACT DCB (Medtronic) for symptomatic atherosclerotic popliteal artery disease. The primary endpoint was 12-month clinical primary patency and the secondary endpoint was clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR)-free rate. RESULTS: The mean age of the study cohort was 65.7±10.8 years, and 77% of enrolled patients were men. The mean lesion length was 93.7±53.7 mm, and total occlusions were present in 45% of patients. Technical success was achieved in all patients. Combined atherectomy was performed in 17% and provisional stenting was required in 11%. Out of the enrolled patients, 91 patients completed the 12-month follow-up. Clinical primary patency and TLR-free survival rates at 12 months were 76.0% and 87.2%, respectively. A multivariate Cox regression analysis identified female and longer lesion length as the significant independent predictors of loss of patency. CONCLUSIONS: DCB treatment yielded favorable 12-month clinical primary patency and TLR-free survival outcomes in patients with popliteal artery disease. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02698345.

Biodegradable Polymer Versus Polymer-Free Ultrathin Sirolimus-Eluting Stents: Analysis of the Stent Arm Registry From the HOST-IDEA Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of each third-generation drug-eluting stent with ultrathin struts and advanced polymer technology remain unclear. We investigated the clinical outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention using the Coroflex ISAR polymer-free sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) or Orsiro biodegradable polymer SES. METHODS: The HOST-IDEA trial (Harmonizing Optimal Strategy for Treatment of Coronary Artery Stenosis-Coronary Intervention With Next-Generation Drug-Eluting Stent Platforms and Abbreviated Dual Antiplatelet Therapy), initially designed with a 2×2 factorial approach, sought to randomize patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention based on dual antiplatelet therapy duration (3 versus 12 months) and stent type (Coroflex ISAR versus Orsiro). Despite randomizing 2013 patients for dual antiplatelet therapy duration, the stent arm transitioned to a registry format during the trial. Among these, 328 individuals (16.3%) were randomized for Coroflex ISAR or Orsiro SES, while 1685 (83.7%) underwent percutaneous coronary intervention without stent-type randomization. In this study, the Coroflex ISAR (n=559) and Orsiro groups (n=1449) were matched using a propensity score. The prespecified primary end point was target lesion failure, a composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, and clinically driven target lesion revascularization at 12 months. RESULTS: The baseline patient and procedural characteristics were well balanced between the Coroflex ISAR and Orsiro groups after propensity score matching (n=559, each group). The Coroflex ISAR group was significantly associated with a higher rate of target lesion failure, mainly driven by clinically driven target lesion revascularization, compared with the Orsiro group (3.4% versus 1.1%; hazard ratio, 3.21 [95% CI, 1.28-8.05]; P=0.01). A higher risk of target lesion failure in the Coroflex ISAR group was consistently observed across various subgroups. The rates of any bleeding (hazard ratio, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.51-1.40]; P=0.52) and major bleeding (hazard ratio, 1.58 [95% CI, 0.61-4.08]; P=0.34) were comparable between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this propensity score-matched analysis of the stent arm registry from the HOST-IDEA trial, the Orsiro SES was associated with significantly better outcomes in terms of 1-year target lesion failure, mainly driven by clinically driven target lesion revascularization, than the Coroflex ISAR SES. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02601157.

Development of a Rabbit Iliac Arterial Stenosis Model Using a Controlled Cholesterol Diet and Pullover Balloon Injury.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a rabbit iliac stenosis model and evaluate the effects of different mechanical injury techniques on the degree of arterial stenosis. Materials and Methods: Eighteen rabbits were divided into three groups: cholesterol-fed with pullover balloon injury (group A; n = 6), cholesterol-fed with localized balloon dilatation (group B; n = 6), and chow-diet with pullover balloon injury (group C; n = 6). After baseline angiography, the left iliac arteries of all rabbits were injured with a 3 × 10 mm noncompliant balloon using either a wide pullover technique (groups A and C) or a localized balloon dilatation technique (group B). A nine-week follow-up angiography was performed, and the angiographic late lumen loss and percentage of stenosis were compared. Results: Group A exhibited the most severe late lumen loss (A vs. B, 0.67 ± 0.13 vs. 0.04 ± 0.13 mm, p < 0.0001; A vs. C, 0.67 ± 0.13 vs. 0.26 ± 0.29 mm, p < 0.05; stenosis percentage 32.02% ± 6.54%). In contrast, group B showed a minimal percentage of stenosis (1.75% ± 6.55%). Conclusion: Pullover-balloon injury can lead to significant iliac artery stenosis in rabbits with controlled hypercholesterolemia. This model may be useful for elucidating the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and for evaluating the efficacy of novel therapeutic interventions.

Artificial intelligence-based quantitative coronary angiography of major vessels using deep-learning.

BACKGROUND: Quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) offers objective and reproducible measures of coronary lesions. However, significant inter- and intra-observer variability and time-consuming processes hinder the practical application of on-site QCA in the current clinical setting. This study proposes a novel method for artificial intelligence-based QCA (AI-QCA) analysis of the major vessels and evaluates its performance. METHODS: AI-QCA was developed using three deep-learning models trained on 7658 angiographic images from 3129 patients for the precise delineation of lumen boundaries. An automated quantification method, employing refined matching for accurate diameter calculation and iterative updates of diameter trend lines, was embedded in the AI-QCA. A separate dataset of 676 coronary angiography images from 370 patients was retrospectively analyzed to compare AI-QCA with manual QCA performed by expert analysts. A match was considered between manual and AI-QCA lesions when the minimum lumen diameter (MLD) location identified manually coincided with the location identified by AI-QCA. Matched lesions were evaluated in terms of diameter stenosis (DS), MLD, reference lumen diameter (RLD), and lesion length (LL). RESULTS: AI-QCA exhibited a sensitivity of 89% in lesion detection and strong correlations with manual QCA for DS, MLD, RLD, and LL. Among 995 matched lesions, most cases (892 cases, 80%) exhibited DS differences ≤10%. Multiple lesions of the major vessels were accurately identified and quantitatively analyzed without manual corrections. CONCLUSION: AI-QCA demonstrates promise as an automated tool for analysis in coronary angiography, offering potential advantages for the quantitative assessment of coronary lesions and clinical decision-making.

Effect of HY7602 Fermented Deer Antler on Physical Fatigue and Antioxidant Activity in Mice.

Lactobacillus curvatus HY7602 fermented antler (FA) ameliorates sarcopenia and improves exercise performance by increasing muscle mass, muscle fiber regeneration, and mitochondrial biogenesis; however, its anti-fatigue and antioxidant effects have not been studied. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-fatigue and antioxidant effects and mechanisms of FA. C2C12 and HepG2 cells were stimulated with 1 mM of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to induce oxidative stress, followed by treatment with FA. Additionally, 44-week-old C57BL/6J mice were orally administered FA for 4 weeks. FA treatment (5-100 µg/mL) significantly attenuated H2O2-induced cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in both cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo experiments showed that FA treatment significantly increased the mobility time of mice in the forced swimming test and significantly downregulated the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), and lactate. Notably, FA treatment significantly upregulated the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG) and increased the mRNA expression of antioxidant genes (SOD1, SOD2, CAT, GPx1, GPx2, and GSR) in the liver. Conclusively, FA is a potentially useful functional food ingredient for improving fatigue through its antioxidant effects.

Consumption of Limosilactobacillus fermentum Inhibits Corneal Damage and Inflammation in Dry Eye Disease Mouse Model through Regulating the Gut Microbiome.

The present study investigated the effect of orally administered Limosilactobacillus fermentum HY7302 (HY7302) on the relationship between ocular tissue and the microbiome in a corneal injury dry eye mouse model. Specifically, 0.1% benzalkonium chloride (BAC) was applied to the ocular surface for 14 days to induce corneal injury in male Balb/c mice. During the BAC treatment period, HY7302 (1 × 108 CFU/kg/day or 1 × 109 CFU/kg/day) or an omega-3 positive control (400 mg/kg/day) were administered orally (n = eight/group). To examine the signaling pathways affected by the HY7302 treatment, the in vitro effects of HY7302 on the tight junctions and the inflammatory response were investigated in the mouse colon epithelial cell line, CMT-93. BAC exposure decreased tear production, induced ocular inflammation and corneal epithelial detachment, and altered the gut microbiota. However, oral administration of HY7302 restored tear secretion and decreased corneal epithelial detachment in BAC-treated corneal injury mice. Further, HY7302 alleviated corneal inflammation via modulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression and affeted alterations in gut microbiota composition. These findings suggest that the gut-eye axis interaction between gut microbiota and corneal tissue affects disease severity in corneal injury, and that the alteration of the microbiota by HY7302 could improve eye health by regulating the inflammatory response.

The complete chloroplast genome of Philodendron hederaceum (Jacq.) Schott 1829 (Alismatales: Araceae).

Philodendron hederaceum (Jacq.) Schott 1829, a species of the Araceae family, is a foliage plant of ornamental value. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Philodendron hederaceum was obtained by the de novo assembly of NovaSeq 6000 (Illumina Co., San Diego, CA) paired-end short reads and Oxford Nanopore long reads. The complete chloroplast genome of P. hederaceum was 168,609 bp in length, with a large single-copy (LSC) region of 94,393 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 25,774 bp, and a pair of identical inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 24,221 bp. The genome contained a total of 129 genes, including 85 protein-coding genes, 36 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and eight ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The phylogenetic analysis of P. hederaceum with 19 related species and two outgroup species revealed the closest taxonomical relationship with Philodendron lanceolatum in the Araceae family.