Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17 Ameliorates Dexamethasone-Induced Muscle Loss in BALB/c Mice and C2C12 Myotubes.

This study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanism of Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17, a probiotic strain isolated from human breast milk, on dexamethasone-induced muscle loss in mice and cultured myotubes. BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally injected with dexamethasone, and orally administered L. gasseri BNR17 for 21 days. L. gasseri BNR17 treatment ameliorated dexamethasone-induced decline in muscle function, as evidenced by an increase in forelimb grip strength, treadmill running time, and rotarod retention time in both female and male mice. In addition, L. gasseri BNR17 treatment significantly increased the mass of the gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscles. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry showed a significant increase in lean body mass and a decrease in fat mass in both whole body and hind limb after treatment with L. gasseri BNR17. It was found that L. gasseri BNR17 treatment downregulated serum myostatin level and the protein degradation pathway composed of muscle-specific ubiquitin E3 ligases, MuRF1 and MAFbx, and their transcription factor FoxO3. In contrast, L. gasseri BNR17 treatment upregulated serum insulin-like growth factor-1 level and Akt-mTOR-p70S6K signaling pathway involved in protein synthesis in muscle. As a result, L. gasseri BNR17 treatment significantly increased the levels of major muscular proteins such as myosin heavy chain and myoblast determination protein 1. Consistent with in vivo results, L. gasseri BNR17 culture supernatant significantly ameliorated dexamethasone-induced C2C12 myotube atrophy in vitro. In conclusion, L. gasseri BNR17 ameliorates muscle loss by downregulating the protein degradation pathway and upregulating the protein synthesis pathway.

Percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy with single gastropexy using balloon-assisted tract dilatation: comparison with peel-away sheath.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous radiologic gastrostomy (PRG) with balloon-assisted tract dilatation (BATD) using a single gastropexy. METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. From August 2018 to October 2022, 61 patients (53 male and 8 female, mean age 67 years, age range 27-90 years) underwent PRG with balloon-retained tubes for enteral nutrition. Single gastropexy was performed in all cases. Patients were divided into two groups based on the tract dilatation technique used. In the first group, BATD (n = 48) was performed. In the second group, a 24-Fr peel-away sheath (PAS) was used for tract dilatation (n = 13). Patient demographics, technical success rate, clinical success rate, fluoroscopy time, cumulative radiation dose, and complications were retrospectively evaluated. The Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables and Fisher's exact test for categorical variables were performed to compare the two groups. RESULTS: All procedures were successfully performed with 100% technical and clinical success rates in both groups. The mean fluoroscopy time for the BATD group vs. the PAS group (1.68 ± 0.93 min vs. 3.56 ± 2.41 min, P < 0.001) and mean cumulative radiation dose (12.98 ± 9.28 mGy vs. 33.01 ± 15.14 mGy, P < 0.001) were significantly lower in the BATD group compared with the PAS group. There was one major complication of peritonitis that led to death in the PAS group (1/13, 7.7%) and no major complications in the BATD group. Minor complications such as pneumoperitoneum, abdominal pain, leakage, and balloon deflation occurred in 16 patients: 12 (12/48, 25.0%) patients in the BATD group and 4 (4/13, 38.5%) patients in the PAS group. The overall rate of major and minor complications was higher in the PAS group but did not show statistically significant differences (odds ratio: 1.875, 95%; confidence interval: 0.514-6.841, P = 0.486). CONCLUSION: BATD using a single gastropexy is a safe and effective technique for PRG.

Asymmetric Divergent Total Syntheses of (+)-Decursivine and (+)- Serotobenine via Intramolecular Fischer Indole Synthesis.

A new asymmetric synthetic route to (+)-decursivine and (+)-serotobenine is formulated. The key developments are the de novo construction of the crucial eight-membered 3,4-fused tricyclic indole ring engaged by the intramolecular Fischer indole synthesis and the stereocontrolled assembly of the dihydrobenzofuran subunit mediated by the asymmetric intramolecular Rh-carbenoid C-H insertion. BF3-mediated selective C15 epimerization followed by removal of the amine masking groups completed the target natural compounds' asymmetric and divergent total syntheses.

Comparative Analysis of the Morphometric Changes in Ussurian bullhead, Leiocassis ussuriensis, and Korean bullhead, Pseudobagrus fulvidraco, in the Early Period of Growth.

Morphometric changes in the Ussurian bullhead, Leiocassis ussuriensis, and the Korean bullhead, Pseudobagrus fulvidraco, were observed during the early period of growth. Yolk length, yolk height, and yolk volume in the two species decreased within 9 days post-hatching (DPH) (p<0.05). The body lengths and body heights of both species increased gradually to 150 and 130 DPH, respectively (p<0.05). The horizontal distance between the anteriormost extension of the head and the anterior insertion of the pectoral fin, the anteriormost extension of the head × the verticality position of the anterior insertion of the primary dorsal fin rays, and the anterior insertion of the primary dorsal fin × the anterior insertion of the pectoral fin were greater in the Korean bullhead than in the Ussurian bullhead (p<0.05). However, the relative sizes of the head region, pectoral fin, ventral fin, and anal fin were greater in the Ussurian bullhead than in the Korean bullhead (p<0.05), and relative body depth and the size of the outer-mandible barbel were greater in the Korean bullhead than in the Ussurian bullhead (p<0.05). The growth curves of the morphometric characteristics of both species were divided into three types.