Comparison of Four Systems for SARS-CoV-2 Antibody at Three Time Points after SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination.

BACKGROUND: Immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) wanes over time after vaccination. METHODS: We compared SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in serial samples from 350 vaccinated individuals at 3 time points (3 weeks after the first or second dose and before the third dose) with 4 assays: GenScript cPASS SARS-CoV-2 neutralization antibody detection kits (cPASS), Siemens SARS-CoV-2 IgG (sCOVG), Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant (CoV-2 IgG II), and an Immuno-On™ COVID-19 IgG test (Immuno-On IgG). Antibody levels by time, concordance between assays, and values from other tests corresponding to the percent inhibition results in cPASS were assessed. RESULTS: The median values at three time points were 49.31%, 90.87%, and 53.38% inhibition for cPASS, 5.39, 13.65, and 2.24 U/mL for sCOVG, 570.25, 1279.65, and 315.80 AU/mL for CoV-2 IgG II, and 223.22, 362.20, and 62.20 relative units (RU) for Immuno-On IgG. The concordance with cPASS at each time point ranged from 0.735 to 0.984, showing the highest concordance in the second sample and lowest concordance in the third in all comparative tests. The values corresponded to 30% inhibition, and the cutoffs of cPASS, were 2.02 U/mL, 258.6 AU/mL, and 74.2 RU for each test. Those for 50%, 70%, and 90% inhibition were 3.16, 5.66, and 8.26 U/mL for sCOVG, while they were 412.5, 596.9, and 1121.6 AU/mL for CoV-2 IgG II and 141.8, 248.92, and 327.14 RU for Immuno-On IgG. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the dynamic changes in antibody values at different time points using four test systems and is expected to provide useful baseline data for comparative studies and standardization efforts in the future.

Macrolide-Resistant and Macrolide-Sensitive Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia in Children Treated Using Early Corticosteroids.

We have found that early corticosteroid therapy was effective for reducing morbidity during five Korea-wide epidemics. We evaluated the clinical and laboratory parameters of 56 children who received early corticosteroid treatment for pneumonia that was caused by macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) or macrolide-sensitive M. pneumoniae between July 2019 and February 2020. All subjects had dual positive results from a PCR assay and serological test, and received corticosteroids within 24-36 h after admission. Point mutation of residues 2063, 2064, and 2067 was identified in domain V of 23S rRNA. The mean age was 6.8 years and the male:female ratio was 1.2:1 (31:25 patients). Most of the subjects had macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae (73%), and all mutated strains had the A2063G transition. No significant differences in clinical and laboratory parameters were observed between macrolide-resistant and macrolide-sensitive M. pneumoniae groups that were treated with early dose-adjusted corticosteroids. Higher-dose steroid treatment may be needed for patients who have fever that persists for >48 h or increased biomarkers such as lactate dehydrogenase concentration at follow-up despite a usual dose of steroid therapy.

Early Confirmation of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection by Two Short-Term Serologic IgM Examination.

The aim of the present study is to re-evaluate the clinical application of two-times serologic immunoglobulin M (IgM) tests using microparticle agglutination assay (MAA), an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in diagnosing Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection. A retrospective analysis of 62 children with MP pneumonia during a recent epidemic (2019-2020) was conducted. The MAA and ELISA immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG measurements were conducted twice at admission and around discharge, and MP PCR once at presentation. Diagnostic rates in each test were calculated at presentation and at discharge. The seroconverters were 39% (24/62) of patients tested by MAA and 29% (18/62) by ELISA. At presentation, the diagnostic positive rates of MAA, ELISA, and PCR tests were 61%, 71%, and 52%, respectively. After the second examination, the rates were 100% in both serologic tests. There were positive correlations between the titers of MAA and the IgM values of ELISA. The single serologic IgM or PCR tests had limitations to select patients infected with MP in the early stage. The short-term, paired IgM serologic tests during hospitalization can reduce patient-selection bias in MP infection studies.

4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde Restricts the Intracellular Growth of Toxoplasma gondii by Inducing SIRT1-Mediated Autophagy in Macrophages.

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that infects approximately one third of the human popu- lation worldwide. Considering the toxicity and side effects of anti-toxoplasma medications, it is important to develop effec- tive drug alternatives with fewer and less severe off-target effects. In this study, we found that 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (4- HBA) induced autophagy and the expression of NAD-dependent protein deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) in primary murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). Interestingly, treatment of BMDMs with 4-HBA significantly reduced the number of macrophages infected with T. gondii and the proliferation of T. gondii in infected cells. This effect was impaired by pretreating the macrophages with 3-methyladenine or wortmannin (selective autophagy inhibitors) or with sirtinol or EX527 (SIRT1 inhibitors). Moreover, we found that pharmacological inhibition of SIRT1 prevented 4-HBA-mediated expres- sion of LC3-phosphatidylethanolamine conjugate (LC3-II) and the colocalization of T. gondii parasitophorous vacuoles with autophagosomes in BMDMs. These data suggest that 4-HBA promotes antiparasitic host responses by activating SIRT1- mediated autophagy, and 4-HBA might be a promising therapeutic alternative for the treatment of toxoplasmosis.

Current practices of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in the treatment of peritoneal surface malignancies: an international survey of oncologic surgeons.

BACKGROUND: The goal of the study was to investigate the current clinical practices among oncologic surgeons regarding cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). METHODS: From September to October 2016, an online questionnaire surveyed the oncologic surgeons by email. The questionnaire included 20 multiple-choice questions of the following: eligibility for the CRS with HIPEC procedure, perioperative staging and surgery skill, assessment of residual tumors, and method used for intraperitoneal HIPEC. RESULTS: The response rate was 16% (34/217). The majority of respondents (68%) worked at a university hospital. All respondents indicated that mesenteric invasion is the most crucial factor affecting treatment decision. Most surgeons (79%) used the Sugarbaker's staging system to intraoperatively measure the extent of peritoneal invasion. The methods used to measure the extent of miliary pattern of residual tumor spread, and the amount of residual tumor after electrocauterization varied among the surgeons. Most responders (65%) used the closed system of HIPEC. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the fact that CRS HIPEC is the standard treatment for PSM, the clinical practices are very different according to each clinical situation. Nevertheless, mesenteric invasion was found to be the most important factor impacting the treatment decision-making by the majority of responders.

Relationship between starting age of cranial-remolding-orthosis therapy and effectiveness of treatment in children with deformational plagiocephaly.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the optimal age for starting cranial-remolding-orthosis therapy in children with deformational plagiocephaly. METHODS: Medical records of 310 patients with deformational plagiocephaly were retrospectively reviewed and the initial and final cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI), age when starting therapy, duration of therapy, mean change of CVAI, improvement rate, and treatment success were analyzed. We compared outcomes according to the groups divided by ages starting therapy. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in improvement rate and duration of cranial-remolding-orthosis therapy among patients starting therapy at the age of 3, 4, and 5 months. However, when starting therapy after the age of 6 months, the rates of CVAI improvement were significantly lower and the duration of therapy was significantly increased. CONCLUSION: Considering the spontaneous resolution effect according to the head growth nature, the age 5 month is the optimal period to start cranial-remolding-orthosis therapy for deformational plagiocephaly.

Expression of Yes-associated protein 1 and its clinical significance in ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma.

Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) is a key transcriptional regulator in the Hippo signaling pathway that plays a critical role in the development and progression of several types of malignancies, including ovarian cancer. Herein, we investigated the expression of YAP1 and its clinical significance in a large population of patients with ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma (OSC), which is the most common form of epithelial ovarian neoplasm, using the TCGA database. Surprisingly, cross-cancer mRNA expression and alterations in YAP1 were higher in OSC than in those of other types of cancers in the TCGA database. YAP1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in OSC compared with normal ovarian samples, and was higher in stages III and IV, than stages I and II. The level of YAP1 protein, which is mainly localized to the nucleus, was also higher in stage IV as compared with stages I, II and III. However, the protein level of pYAP1, which is inactive and is localized to the cytoplasm, was not significantly different between stages. The ratio of pYAP/YAP, which shows higher activity at a low ratio, was lower in stage III than in stages I and II. High YAP and low pYAP levels were significantly correlated with a poor prognosis in patients with OSC. The mRNA and protein expression of YAP1 were significantly increased in the proliferative subtype as compared to the differentiated, immunoreactive and mesenchymal subtypes. According to bioinformatics analysis, YAP1 is most highly correlated with the cell cycle. TGF-ß signaling and WNT signaling were significantly increased in the high YAP1 group according to gene set enrichment analysis. Taken together, our results suggest that not only high YAP1 expression but also its subcellular distribution may be associated with poor overall survival in patients with OSC.

Discovery of 2-((R)-4-(2-Fluoro-4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl)-2-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-N-((1R,2s,3S,5S,7S)-5-hydroxyadamantan-2-yl)pyrimidine-4-carboxamide (SKI2852): A Highly Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable Inhibitor of 11ß-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 (11ß-HSD1).

A series of picolinamide- and pyrimidine-4-carboxamide-based inhibitors of 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 was synthesized and evaluated to optimize the lead compound 9. The combination of the replacement of a pyridine ring of 9 with a pyrimidine ring and the introduction of an additional fluorine substituent at the 2-position of the phenyl ring resulted in the discovery of a potent, selective, and orally bioavailable inhibitor, 18a (SKI2852), which demonstrated no CYP and PXR liabilities, excellent PK profiles across species, and highly potent and sustainable PD activity. Repeated oral administration of 18a significantly reduced blood glucose and HbA1c levels and improved the lipid profiles in ob/ob mice. Moreover, the HbA1c-lowering effect of metformin was synergistically enhanced in combination with 18a.

Clinical Findings of Asymptomatic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical differences between patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) who have asymptomatic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and those who have symptomatic CTS. METHODS: Sixty-three patients with DM were assessed using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), nerve conduction studies (NCS), and ultrasonographic evaluation of the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve. According to the BCTQ responses and NCS results, the patients were divided into the following three groups: group 1 (n=16), in which NCS results did not reveal CTS; group 2 (n=19), in which NCS results revealed CTS but the group scored 0 points on the BCTQ (asymptomatic); and group 3 (n=28), in which NCS results revealed CTS and the group scored >1 point on the BCTQ (symptomatic). The clinical findings, NCS results, and CSA of the median nerve were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, DM duration, glycated hemoglobin levels, and presence of diabetic polyneuropathy among the three groups. The peak latency of the median sensory nerve action potential was significantly shorter in group 1 than in groups 2 and 3 (p<0.001); however, no difference was observed between groups 2 and 3. CSA of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel in group 2 was significantly larger than that in group 1 and smaller than that in group 3 (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggest that the symptoms of CTS in patients with diabetes are related to CSA of the median nerve, which is consistent with swelling of the nerve.

A potent and selective 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 inhibitor, SKI2852, ameliorates metabolic syndrome in diabetic mice models.

11ß-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11ßHSD1) has been targeted for new drugs to treat type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In this study, we determined whether the inhibition of 11ßHSD1 with a new selective inhibitor, SKI2852, could improve lipid profiles, glucose levels, and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic and obese conditions. SKI2852 showed a potent inhibition of cortisone to cortisol conversion for over 80% in both liver and adipose tissue ex vivo from orally administered C57BL/6 mice, and in vivo analysis results were consistent with this. Repeated oral administrations of SKI2852 in diet-induced obesity (DIO) and ob/ob mice revealed a partially beneficial effect of SKI2852 in improving levels of cholesterols, triglycerides, free fatty acids, postprandial glucose, and/or blood hemoglobinA1c. SKI2852 significantly reduced body weight increase in ob/ob mice, and efficiently suppressed hepatic mRNA levels of gluconeogenic enzymes in DIO mice. Moreover, SKI2852 enhanced hepatic and whole body insulin sensitivities in hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp experiment in DIO mice. In conclusion, these results indicate that selective and potent inhibition of 11ßHSD1 by SKI2852, thus blockade of active glucocorticoid conversion, may improve many aspects of metabolic parameters in type 2 diabetes and metabolic diseases, mainly by inhibitions of hepatic gluconeogenesis and partial improvements of lipid profiles. Our study strongly support that SKI2852 may have a great potential as a novel candidate drug for the treatment of diabetes and metabolic diseases.

Synthesis and optimization of picolinamide derivatives as a novel class of 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11ß-HSD1) inhibitors.

The synthesis and structure-activity relationship of a series of 6-substituted picolinamide inhibitors of 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 are described. The optimization of the left-hand side of lead compound 1 resulted in the discovery of the highly potent, selective, and orally available inhibitor 24, which demonstrated an excellent activity in a mouse ex vivo pharmacodynamic model. Moreover, compound 24 reduced the blood glucose and improved the lipid profiles in ob/ob mice after oral administration.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of picolinamides as potent inhibitors of 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11ß-HSD1).

Synthesis of a series of 6-substituted picolinamide derivatives and their inhibitory activities against 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 are described. Optimization of the initial hit compound, N-cyclohexyl-6-(piperidin-1-yl)picolinamide (1) from high throughput screening of in-house library resulted in the discovery of the highly potent and metabolically stable compound 25, which was efficacious in a mouse ex vivo pharmacodynamic model and reduced the fasting blood glucose and insulin levels in a HF/STZ mouse model after oral dosing.

Holmes tremor after brainstem hemorrhage, treated with levodopa.

Holmes tremor is a rare movement phenomenon, with atypical low-frequency tremor at rest and when changing postures, often related to brainstem pathology. We report a 70-year-old female patient who was presented with dystonic head and upper limb tremor after brainstem hemorrhage. The patient had experienced a sudden onset of left hemiparesis and right facial paralysis. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed an acute hemorrhage from the brachium pontis through the dorsal midbrain on the right side. Several months later, the patient developed resting tremor of the head and left arm, which was exacerbated by a sitting posture and intentional movement. The tremor showed a regular low-frequency (1-2 Hz) for the bilateral sternocleidomastoid and cervical paraspinal muscles at rest. The patient's symptoms did not respond to propranolol or clonazepam, but gradually improved with levodopa administration. Although various remedies were attempted, overall, the results were poor. We suggest that levodopa might be a useful remedy for Holmes tremor. The curative or relieving effect of the dopaminergic agent in Holmes tremor needs more research.

Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) enhances the anti-atherogenic effect of cilostazol by inhibiting ROS generation.

In this study, the synergistic effect of 6-[4-(1-cyclohexyl- 1H-tetrazol-5-yl) butoxy]-3,4-dihydro-2(1H )-quinolinone (cilostazol) and Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) was examined in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) null mice. Co-treatment with GbE and cilostazol synergistically decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in ApoE null mice fed a high-fat diet. Co-treatment resulted in a significantly decreased atherosclerotic lesion area compared to untreated ApoE mice. The inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules such as monocyte chemoattractant-1 (MCP-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), and VCAM-1 which can initiate atherosclerosis were significantly reduced by the co-treatment of cilostazol with GbE. Further, the infiltration of macrophages into the intima was decreased by co-treatment. These results suggest that co-treatment of GbE with cilostazol has a more potent anti-atherosclerotic effect than treatment with cilostazol alone in hyperlipidemic ApoE null mice and could be a valuable therapeutic strategy for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Ginkgo biloba extract enhances antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects of cilostazol without prolongation of bleeding time.

Thrombosis and thromboembolic occlusions of major and minor blood vessels are a major complication in various peripheral vascular diseases. Antiplatelet agents (APA), key tools in the treatment of atherothrombosis, therefore became a mainstay medication for a wide range of vascular diseases. Cilostazol and Ginkgo biloba extract (GB), commonly used remedies for peripheral arterial disease, inhibit platelet aggregation with distinct therapeutic mechanisms. In this study, we have investigated if GB can potentiate the antiplatelet effects of cilostazol to explore the utility of combination therapy of cilostazol and GB against peripheral occlusive vascular diseases. GB or cilostazol was evaluated alone or in combination for the antiplatelet activity using in vitro and in vivo models. In addition, potential bleeding side effect of the combinative therapy was assessed by measuring bleeding time, prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in vivo after oral administration. In in vitro assays using freshly isolated human platelets, the combination of cilostazol and GB showed superior inhibition of both the shear and the collagen-induced platelet aggregation to those of each drug alone. In accordance with these enhanced in vitro antiplatelet activities, the combinative therapy showed enhanced anti-thrombotic effects in in vivo pulmonary embolism model and arterial thrombosis model. In particular, the increase of survival rate in pulmonary embolism model by combination treatment of cilostazol (25 mg/kg) and GB (20 mg/kg) was higher more than two-fold of those of the respective drugs. Notably, the combination of cilostazol and GB did not show a significant effect on the bleeding time, PT and aPTT increase, suggesting that GB may potentiate the antiplatelet effect of cilostazol without the prolongation of bleeding time or coagulation time. With these studies, we suggest that combinative therapy of GB and cilostazol might offer enhanced anti-thrombotic efficacies without increasing side-effects.