Study of the soothing effects of troxerutin in alleviating skin sensitivity.

BACKGROUND: Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is associated with skin sensitivity and mainly activated by capsaicin and heat. Interestingly, troxerutin can inhibit TRPV1 activation. However, its efficacy in reducing skin sensitivity remains undetermined. AIMS: We evaluated the efficacy of troxerutin in alleviating skin sensitivity using clinical tests and in vitro experiments. METHODS: For the in vitro experiment, HaCaT keratinocytes were pretreated with different concentrations of troxerutin, followed by incubation with 50 µM capsaicin for 1, 24, or 48 h. The gene and protein expressions of four inflammatory cytokines involved in skin irritation were determined. Among 35 Korean women with sensitive skin recruited for the clinical trial, 13 were involved in assessing the immediate soothing effects of 0.1% and 0.0095% troxerutin following capsaicin irritation, whereas 22 participated in evaluating the preventive soothing effect of 10% and 1% troxerutin over 4 weeks against capsaicin- and heat-induced irritation. We evaluated the soothing rate using skin redness, visual analog scale, and high temperature sensitive index as evaluation indices. RESULTS: Troxerutin inhibited the mRNA and protein expressions of cytokines in capsaicin-treated keratinocytes. In the clinical study, 0.1% and 0.0095% troxerutin promptly alleviated capsaicin-induced skin redness, whereas 10% troxerutin notably decreased both the visual analog scale and high temperature sensitive index for capsaicin- and heat-related irritation. However, 1% troxerutin was only effective in reducing the visual analog scale in response to capsaicin irritation. CONCLUSIONS: Troxerutin can inhibit TRPV1 activation in clinical and in vitro tests.

Effects of Doxycycline-Loaded NO-Releasing Nanomatrix Gel on Delayed Replanted of Rat Molar.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Tooth avulsion and delayed replantation may cause inflammatory responses and root resorption of the tooth. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a doxycycline-loaded nitric oxide-releasing nanomatrix (DN) gel on the delayed replantation of avulsed rat teeth, with a focus on assessing the gel's potential to promote regeneration and inhibit complications associated with the replantation process. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four right maxillary first molars from male Sprague-Dawley rats were atraumatically extracted using sterile extraction forceps. The molars were dried for 1 h at room temperature (approximately 23 °C) and divided into four groups according to the root conditioning methods after extra-alveolar 60-min drying: Group 1, no root conditioning treatment prior to replantation; Group 2, soaking in 2% NaF solution for 5 min before replantation; Group 3, 5-min soaking in NO gel and injection of the gel into the alveolar socket; Group 4, 5-min soaking in DN gel and injection of the gel into the alveolar socket before replantation. The animals were euthanized four weeks after the operation and the specimens were evaluated histologically. RESULTS: The use of NO gel alone showed better anti-inflammatory and periodontal effects than the control group, but it did not show a significant effect compared to the group using NaF. When using NO gel loaded with doxycycline, it showed a significant anti-inflammatory effect compared to the control group and showed a similar inhibitory effect to the group using NaF. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, in delayed replantation situations, the control of inflammatory resorption and replacement resorption is an important factor for achieving a better prognosis of replanted teeth. Root surface treatment with DN gel decreased root resorption after delayed replantation.

Thirty-day mortality after palliative radiotherapy in advanced cancer patients: Optimizing end-of-life care in Asia.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence-based guidelines recommend hypofractionated palliative radiotherapy (PRT); nonetheless, many patients receive prolonged course of PRT. To identify patients with limited benefits from PRT in end-of-life care, we evaluated the pattern of PRT at an Asian institution and factors associated with 30-day mortality after PRT (30dM). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 228 patients who died after PRT in Yonsei Wonju Severance Christian hospital between October 2014 and March 2022. The associations between clinical factors and survival were assessed using the Cox proportional hazards method. Survival was analysed using the existing models to evaluate their performance in our cohort. RESULTS: The median PRT duration was 13 (IQR, 7-15) days. Only 11.4% of the patients were treated with hypofractionated radiotherapy. One-third of the patients (32.9%) could not complete PRT and 39 (17.1%) died during PRT. The 30dM was 31.6%. The median time from PRT to death was 17 (IQR, 11-23) days for the patients who died within 30 days. The number of involved organs (≤2 vs. >2; P < 0.001), albumin level (<3.3 vs. ≥3.3; P = 0.016), admission during PRT (P < 0.001), admission 3 months before PRT (P = 0.036) and ICU care during PRT (P < 0.001) were prognostic factors. A comparison of survival based on the existing models yielded unsatisfactory results in our cohort. CONCLUSION: Almost one-third of the patients received PRT in the last 30 days of life. The use of hypofractionation for PRT was low in this Asian population. Further research is necessary to develop a predictive model of early mortality, allowing tailored end-of-life care for Asian patients.

A tryptophan-based assay method to search regulatory compounds for transcriptionally controlled tumor protein.

Transcriptionally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is a highly conserved protein performing a large number of cellular functions by binding with various partner proteins. The importance of its roles in many diseases requires an assay method to find regulatory compounds. However, the molecular characteristics of TCTP made it difficult to search for chemicals interacting with it. In this study, a tryptophan-based assay method was designed and Y151W mutant TCTP was constructed to search binding chemicals. Since there is no tryptophan in the native sequence of TCTP, the incorporation of tryptophan in the Y151W mutant was very effective to establish the method. A flavonoid library was employed to the assay with the method. With the native and Y151W mutant TCTPs, three flavonoids such as morin, myricetin and isobavachalcone have been found to interact with TCTP. Combined with native gel electrophoresis, the binding region of isobavachalcone was suggested to be the flexible loop of TCTP. This approach can be easily applicable to find binding compounds of proteins with similar molecular characteristics of TCTP.

Effect of intra-alveolar delivery of Frondoside A on inflammatory response of delayed tooth replantation.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Frondoside A is a sea cucumber extract which is well known for its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Frondoside A application in the alveolar socket on inflammatory responses after delayed replantation in rat teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human periodontal ligament cells were cultured and exposed to Frondoside A. Cell-counting kit-8 assay was performed to evaluate the cell viability and nitric oxide assay was performed to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of Frondoside A. Molars were extracted from 32 Sprague-Dawley rats and randomly divided into control and Frondoside A groups. After 30 min of extra-oral dry time, molars were replanted. In the Frondoside A group, Frondoside A solution was applied in the alveolar socket before replantation. The animals were sacrificed after 28 days and histologically and immunohistochemically evaluated. RESULTS: 0.5 µM Frondoside A showed higher cellular viability at 6 h and lower production of nitric oxide compared with other Frondoside A solutions (p < .05). The Frondoside A group demonstrated lower inflammatory resorption scores in both middle 1/3 and apical 1/3 of root compared to the control group (p < .05). The Frondoside A group showed lower levels of expression in both cathepsin K and CD45 compared with the control group (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, intra-alveolar delivery of Frondoside A alleviates inflammatory root resorption in delayed replantation of rat teeth.

Amentoflavone, a potent natural matrix metalloproteinase 2 inhibitor.

Gelatinase A (MMP-2) has been studied and proven to play a vital role in the intrusion and metastasis of cancer. Flavonoids influence on molecular and cellular functions of MMP-2 and thus a systematic investigation of flavonoids against the metalloproteolytic activity of MMP-2 has been performed in this study. A fluorescence resonance energy transfer method was used to investigate the inhibitory activities of various flavonoids. Flavone, flavonol and isobavachalcone derivatives showed their inhibitory activity against MMP-2. Surprisingly, the most effective inhibitor was Amentoflavone and its blocking function was superior to other flavonoids. Its IC50 value was 0.689 µM. An induced-fit docking study was carried out to survey its extraordinary activity. The binding mode of Amentoflavone is quite similar to that of (2 ∼ {S})-2-[2-[4-(4-methoxyphenyl) phenyl] sulfanylphenyl] pentanedioic acid complexed with MMP-9. Amentoflavone interacts with the functional zinc and catalytic residue, Glu202. Therefore, the docking study reasonably confirmed the strong inhibitory activity of Amentoflavone.

Feasibility of artificial intelligence-driven interfractional monitoring of organ changes by mega-voltage computed tomography in intensity-modulated radiotherapy of prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: High-dose radiotherapy (RT) for localized prostate cancer requires careful consideration of target position changes and adjacent organs-at-risk (OARs), such as the rectum and bladder. Therefore, daily monitoring of target position and OAR changes is crucial in minimizing interfractional dosimetric uncertainties. For efficient monitoring of the internal condition of patients, we assessed the feasibility of an auto-segmentation of OARs on the daily acquired images, such as megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT), via a commercial artificial intelligence (AI)-based solution in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected MVCT images weekly during the entire course of RT for 100 prostate cancer patients treated with the helical TomoTherapy system. Based on the manually contoured body outline, the bladder including prostate area, and rectal balloon regions for the 100 MVCT images, we trained the commercially available fully convolutional (FC)-DenseNet model and tested its auto-contouring performance. RESULTS: Based on the optimally determined hyperparameters, the FC-DenseNet model successfully auto-contoured all regions of interest showing high dice similarity coefficient (DSC) over 0.8 and a small mean surface distance (MSD) within 1.43 mm in reference to the manually contoured data. With this well-trained AI model, we have efficiently monitored the patient's internal condition through six MVCT scans, analyzing DSC, MSD, centroid, and volume differences. CONCLUSION: We have verified the feasibility of utilizing a commercial AI-based model for auto-segmentation with low-quality daily MVCT images. In the future, we will establish a fast and accurate auto-segmentation and internal organ monitoring system for efficiently determining the time for adaptive replanning.

Anti-acne activity of carnitine salicylate and magnolol through the regulation of exfoliation, lipogenesis, bacterial growth and inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Salicylic acid has been used as an anti-acne agent with its comedolytic property and antimicrobial activity. However, there is a limit to use for leave-on cosmetics because of the transient skin irritation and low efficacy at neutral pH condition. We prepared a salicylic acid-based ionic pair with L -carnitine (we named, IP-BHA) overcoming the limitation of salicylic acid. We examined the effect of IP-BHA as well as the combination effect with magnolol, a bioactive organic lignan, in order to clarify their efficacy as anti-acne agents. METHODS: After verifying the structure of IP-BHA, we confirmed anti-acne activities including the regulation of exfoliation, lipogenesis, bacterial growth, and inflammation with IP-BHA and/or magnolol. RESULTS: The antibacterial activity of IP-BHA and magnolol was evaluated by determining the minimum antibacterial inhibitory concentration. Magnolol showed strong activity against Cutibacterium acnes, which was better than a medical antibiotic acne drug, clindamycin. The combined application with IP-BHA was more effective in antibacterial activity by 2.5 times. It was confirmed that testosterone-induced lipogenesis was significantly inhibited by treatment with IP-BHA and magnolol, while single treatment had no significant inhibitory effect. Interestingly, MMP-1 and VEGF were induced by C. acnes lysate in human keratinocytes. We found that these inflammatory molecules were completely inhibited by combined application of IP-BHA and magnolol. Through ex vivo test, the dose-dependent exfoliation effect of IP-BHA was confirmed at pH 5.5, and the synergic exfoliation effect was shown in the combined application of IP-BHA and magnolol. When topically applied, the emulsion containing IP-BHA and magnolol relieved the sodium dodecyl sulfate-induced erythema and improved inflamed acne with papule and pustule. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that the ionic paired salicylic acid with L -carnitine can overcome the limitations of salicylic acid at low concentration and natural skin pH. Based on the dual administration effects, we suggest that IP-BHA and magnolol may be the potential agent for acne by improving inflammatory skin condition.

Effect of Home-Based Self-Management Intervention for Community-Dwelling Patients with Early Parkinson's Disease: A Feasibility Study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a home-based self-management intervention in community-dwelling patients with early Parkinson's diseases (PD). DESIGN: A randomized-controlled design. METHODS: Thirty-two patients participated (15=intervention, 17=control), and the intervention group received 16 weeks of the intervention. FINDINGS: Physical activity and non-motor symptoms improved more in the intervention group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Home-based self-management intervention was effective in improving physical activity and non-motor symptoms for them. CLINICAL EVIDENCE: Home-based intervention - comprising education, telephone counseling, smartphone-based message and information, and smart wearable devices - was feasible for patients with early PD.

Determination of the range of intervention timing for supernumerary teeth using the Korean health insurance review and assessment service database.

This study aimed to identify the frequency of complications during the diagnosis, observation, and treatment of supernumerary teeth or odontomas and evaluate the relationship between complications and the timing of surgical intervention. This study was conducted based on data from the Korea Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service between January 2008 and December 2019. A 2-year washout period was applied, and a follow-up period of at least 2 years was also included. During the observation period, the age at diagnosis of supernumerary teeth and odontomas was analyzed using major diagnostic codes, and the treatment codes were used to determine the interval between diagnosis and surgical intervention. The incidence rates of supernumerary teeth (1.21%) and odontomas (0.36%) were comparable to that reported in previous studies. The frequency of supernumerary teeth was the highest in the anterior region, followed by the premolar and molar regions. The average ages at diagnosis according to the location of the supernumerary teeth were 7.25, 13.98, and 16.11 years in the anterior, premolar, and molar regions, respectively. The age at diagnosis correlated with the maturity period of the teeth at the corresponding location. For the supernumerary tooth group, surgical intervention was more likely to occur when malocclusion (p < 0.0001) or tooth eruption disturbances (p < 0.0001) were present or dentigerous cysts were absent (p = 0.006). For the odontoma group, malocclusion (p = 0.251) was not correlated with surgical intervention. When tooth eruption disturbances (p = 0.002) and dentigerous cysts (p < 0.0001) were present, surgical intervention was more likely to occur. Pediatric dentists should conduct timely clinical checks and periodic follow-ups to prevent complications and unnecessary orthodontic treatments in patients with supernumerary teeth or odontomas.

Siraitia grosvenorii Extract Attenuates Airway Inflammation in a Murine Model of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Induced by Cigarette Smoke and Lipopolysaccharide.

We studied the activities of Siraitia grosvenorii extracts (SGE) on airway inflammation in a mouse model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) stimulated by cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as well as in LPS-treated human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B). SGE improved the viability of LPS-incubated BEAS-2B cells and inhibited the expression and production of inflammatory cytokines. SGE also attenuated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling activated by LPS stimulation in BEAS-2B cells. In mice stimulated by CSE and LPS, we observed the infiltration of immune cells into the airway after COPD induction. SGE reduced the number of activated T cells, B cells, and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF), lung tissue, mesenteric lymph node, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, as well as inhibited infiltration into organs and mucus production. The secretion of cytokines in BALF and the expression level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, mucin 5AC, Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, and Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 in lung tissue were alleviated by SGE. In addition, to investigate the activity of SGE on expectoration, we evaluated phenol red secretions in the trachea of mice. SGE administration showed the effect of improving expectoration through an increase in phenol red secretion. Consequently, SGE attenuates the airway inflammatory response in CSE/LPS-stimulated COPD. These findings indicate that SGE may be a potential herbal candidate for the therapy of COPD.

Long-term motor outcomes of deep brain stimulation of the globus pallidus interna in Parkinson's disease patients: Five-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of globus pallidus interna (GPi) is an established treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). However, in contrast to subthalamic nucleus (STN)-DBS, long-term outcomes of GPi-DBS have rarely been studied. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the long-term motor outcomes in PD patients at 5 years after GPi-DBS. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data for PD patients who underwent GPi-DBS. Longitudinal changes of UPDRS scores from baseline to 5 years after surgery were assessed. RESULTS: Forty PD patients with a mean age of 59.5 ± 7.9 years at DBS surgery (mean duration of PD: 11.4 ± 3.4 years) were included at baseline and 25 patients were included in 5-year evaluation after DBS. Compared to baseline, sub-scores for tremor, levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID), and motor fluctuation indicated improved states up to 5 years after surgery (p < 0.001). However, UPDRS Part 3 total score and sub-score for postural instability and gait disturbance (PIGD) gradually worsened over time until 5 years after surgery (p > 0.017 after Bonferroni correction). In a logistic regression model, only preoperative levodopa response was associated with the long-term benefits on UPDRS Part 3 total score and PIGD sub-score (OR = 1.20; 95% CI = 1.04-1.39; p = 0.015 and OR = 4.99; 95% CI = 1.39-17.89; p = 0.014, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: GPi-DBS provides long-term beneficial effects against tremor, motor fluctuation and LID, but PIGD symptoms gradually worsen. This selective long-term benefit has implications for the optimal application of DBS in PD patients.

Korean medicine treatment for premature ovarian failure: Three case reports.

INTRODUCTION: Premature ovarian failure (POF) is defined as amenorrhea lasting for more than 4 months before 40 years of age, which is accompanied by a serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentration above 40 mlU/mL. POF can cause a series of symptoms associated with low estrogen levels, such as hot flushes, excessive sweating, and infertility. This study aimed to report three cases of POF that were treated successfully with Korean medicine. CASE REPRESENTATION: Three patients with POF were selected for inclusion in this study. The treatment regimen consisted of herbal medicines, electroacupuncture, moxibustion, and Hominis placental pharmacopuncture. The basic treatment period was 3 months, and follow-up was performed after menstrual recovery. Following treatment, all three patients resumed menstruation without any adverse events. One patient also conceived successfully. CONCLUSIONS: These case reports suggest that Korean medicine could be effective for treating POF. Further preclinical and clinical studies are needed to investigate the mechanism of action of herbal medicines and acupuncture in improving menstruation and FSH levels.

Development of Growth Factor Releasing Hyaluronic Acid-Based Hydrogel for Pulp Regeneration: A Preliminary Study.

Growth factors play essential roles as signaling molecules in pulp regeneration. We investigated the effect of a hyaluronic acid (HA)-collagen hybrid hydrogel with controlled release of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB on human pulp regeneration. The cell interaction and cytotoxicity of the HA-collagen hybrid hydrogel, the release kinetics of each growth factor, and the effects of the released growth factors on pulp cell proliferation were examined. The vitality of pulp cells was maintained. The amounts of FGF-2 and PDGF-BB released over 7 days were 68% and 50%, respectively. Groups with a different concentration of growth factor (FGF-2: 100, 200, 500, and 1000 ng/mL; PDGF-BB: 10, 50, 100, 200, and 500 ng/mL) were experimented on days 1, 3, 5, and 7. Considering FGF-2 concentration, significantly increased pulp cell proliferation was observed on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 in the 100 ng/mL group and on days 3, 5, and 7 in the 200 ng/mL group. In the case of PDGF-BB concentration, significantly increased pulp cell proliferation was observed at all four time points in the 100 ng/mL group and on days 3, 5, and 7 in the 50, 200, and 500 ng/mL groups. This indicates that the optimal concentration of FGF-2 and PDGF-BB for pulp cell proliferation was 100 ng/mL and that the HA-collagen hybrid hydrogel has potential as a controlled release delivery system for FGF-2 and PDGF-BB.

Clinical factors and dopamine transporter availability for the prediction of outcomes after globus pallidus deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease.

We aimed to investigate the predictive value of preoperative clinical factors and dopamine transporter imaging for outcomes after globus pallidus interna (GPi) deep brain stimulation (DBS) in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). Thirty-one patients with PD who received bilateral GPi DBS were included. The patients underwent preoperative [18F] FP-CIT positron emission tomography before DBS surgery. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) were used to assess outcomes 12 months after DBS. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis were performed to investigate the association between clinical variables including sex, age at onset of PD, disease duration, cognitive status, preoperative motor severity, levodopa responsiveness, daily dose of dopaminergic medication, and dopamine transporter availability in the striatum and outcomes after GPi DBS. Younger age at onset of PD was associated with greater DBS motor responsiveness and lower postoperative UPDRS III score. Greater levodopa responsiveness, lower preoperative UPDRS III score and lower striatal dopamine transporter availability were associated with lower postoperative UPDRS III score. Younger age at onset was also associated with greater decrease in UPDRS IV score and dyskinesia score after GPi DBS. Our results provide useful information to select DBS candidates and predict therapeutic outcomes after GPi DBS in advanced PD.

Orodispersible hyaluronic acid film delivery for oral wound healing in rats.

Background/purpose: Oral wound healing undergoes a dynamic process of oral environment. This study aimed to investigate the effects of hyaluronic acid (HA) film on oral wound healing in a rat model. Materials and methods: A total of 60 rats with tongue wounds (5 mm in diameter) were randomly divided into control (n = 20), HA gel (n = 20), and HA film groups (n = 20). The animals were sacrificed on either 3 or 7 days after the experiment. Clinical, histological, and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis were performed to evaluate the healing rate, inflammation, re-epithelialization, and gene expression of wound healing biomarkers. Results: The healing rates of HA gel (84.4 ± 9.2%) and HA film (74.0 ± 15.0%) were significantly higher than that of the control (51.7 ± 16.9%) on day 7 (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). Histological analysis revealed no significant differences between the groups on day 3. On day 7, only the HA film showed significant improvement in inflammation (P = 0.038) and re-epithelialization (P = 0.011) compared to the control. Regarding wound healing biomarkers, both HA gel and HA film groups showed lower level of COL1α1 expression on day 3 compared to the control. Conclusion: Within the limits of this study, HA film was found to be effective for oral wound healing, particularly for re-epithelialization. This finding suggests that HA film delivery can be beneficial not only for clinical convenience but also for promoting oral wound healing.

Oral and gut dysbiosis leads to functional alterations in Parkinson's disease.

Although several studies have identified a distinct gut microbial composition in Parkinson's disease (PD), few studies have investigated the oral microbiome or functional alteration of the microbiome in PD. We aimed to investigate the connection between the oral and gut microbiome and the functional changes in the PD-specific gut microbiome using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. The taxonomic composition of the oral and gut microbiome was significantly different between PD patients and healthy controls (P = 0.003 and 0.001, respectively). Oral Lactobacillus was more abundant in PD patients and was associated with opportunistic pathogens in the gut (FDR-adjusted P < 0.038). Functional analysis revealed that microbial gene markers for glutamate and arginine biosynthesis were downregulated, while antimicrobial resistance gene markers were upregulated in PD patients than healthy controls (all P < 0.001). We identified a connection between the oral and gut microbiota in PD, which might lead to functional alteration of the microbiome in PD.

Effect of mobile health intervention for self-management on self-efficacy, motor and non-motor symptoms, self-management, and quality of life in people with Parkinson's disease: Randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of a mobile health intervention for self-management on self-efficacy, motor and non-motor symptoms, self-management, and quality of life in people with Parkinson's disease. METHODS: A randomized controlled design was used. The participants were randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group. The intervention group (n = 20) received mobile health intervention comprising mobile applications, smartwatches, smartphone-based short text messages and information, and telephone counselling; whereas the control group (n = 23) received short text messages and telephone counselling for 16 weeks. RESULTS: After 16 weeks, self-efficacy and non-motor symptom scores in the intervention group significantly improved compared to those in the control group. However, no significant differences were observed in the motor symptoms, self-management, and quality of life between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The mobile health intervention for self-management is effective for self-efficacy and non-motor symptoms in people with Parkinson's disease.

Does reduced chewing ability efficiency influence cognitive function? Results of a 10-year national cohort study.

ABSTRACT: A growing body of literature suggests that oral health can influence cognitive function during aging. However, it is currently unclear whether reduced masticatory efficiency influences cognitive impairment in longitudinal studies.This study sought to investigate the effects of reduced chewing ability on the incidence of cognitive impairment using national representative data from 10 years of follow-up in Korea. Among the 10,254 people recruited in 2006 (1st wave), 7568 with normal cognitive function were selected. The participants were followed up every 2 years. The number of participants followed up until the 6th wave was 5020 in 2016. Chewing ability and scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination were recorded using self-reported questionnaires. Risk factors for dementia taken from systematic literature reviews were used as covariates. We performed logistic regression and created general estimating equation models after controlling for all covariates to assess the relationship between chewing ability and cognitive decline. Decreased chewing function was associated with mild cognitive impairment after controlling for confounding variables.The odds ratio for cognitive impairment was about 1.28 times higher than in people with poor chewing function as in those with good chewing function. We identified changes in chewing function from the 1st wave to the 6th wave; the odds ratios were 2.21 (95% confidence interval = 1.90-2.58) in the good-poor group and 2.11 (95% confidence interval = 1.74-2.55) in the poor-poor group.We identified an impairment in cognitive function in the poor (poor-poor and good-poor) chewing ability group. Therefore, we have confirmed that reduced mastication efficiency may contribute to a deterioration in cognitive function. People with deteriorated chewing ability must be given additional attention to aid in the prevention of cognitive decline.

A Study of Drug Repurposing to Identify SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease (3CLpro) Inhibitors.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) wreaked havoc all over the world. Although vaccines for the disease have recently become available and started to be administered to the population in various countries, there is still a strong and urgent need for treatments to cure COVID-19. One of the safest and fastest strategies is represented by drug repurposing (DRPx). In this study, thirty compounds with known safety profiles were identified from a chemical library of Phase II-and-up compounds through a combination of SOM Biotech's Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, SOMAIPRO, and in silico docking calculations with third-party software. The selected compounds were then tested in vitro for inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 main protease (3CLpro or Mpro). Of the thirty compounds, three (cynarine, eravacycline, and prexasertib) displayed strong inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. VeroE6 cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 were used to find the cell protection capability of each candidate. Among the three compounds, only eravacycline showed potential antiviral activities with no significant cytotoxicity. A further study is planned for pre-clinical trials.