NAMPT-Driven M2 Polarization of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Leads to an Immunosuppressive Microenvironment in Colorectal Cancer.

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is a metabolic enzyme with key roles in inflammation. Previous studies have examined the consequences of its upregulated expression in cancer cells themselves, but studies are limited with respect to its role in the other cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) during colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data, it is founded that NAMPT is highly expressed in SPP1+ tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), a unique subset of TAMs associated with immunosuppressive activity. A NAMPThigh gene signature in SPP1+ TAMs correlated with worse prognostic outcomes in CRC patients. The effect of Nampt deletion in the myeloid compartment of mice during CRC development is explored. NAMPT deficiency in macrophages resulted in HIF-1α destabilization, leading to reduction in M2-like TAM polarization. NAMPT deficiency caused significant decreases in the efferocytosis activity of macrophages, which enhanced STING signaling and the induction of type I IFN-response genes. Expression of these genes contributed to anti-tumoral immunity via potentiation of cytotoxic T cell activity in the TME. Overall, these findings suggest that NAMPT-initiated TAM-specific genes can be useful in predicting poor CRC patient outcomes; strategies aimed at targeting NAMPT may provide a promising therapeutic approach for building an immunostimulatory TME in CRC progression.

Multivalent Carbohydrate Nanocomposites for Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling to Enhance Antitumor Immunity.

Current cancer immunotherapeutic strategies mainly focus on remodeling the tumor microenvironment (TME) to make it favorable for antitumor immunity. Increasing attention has been paid to developing innovative immunomodulatory adjuvants that can restore weakened antitumor immunity by conferring immunogenicity to inflamed tumor tissues. Here, a galactan-enriched nanocomposite (Gal-NC) is developed from native carbohydrate structures through an optimized enzymatic transformation for effective, stable, and biosafe innate immunomodulation. Gal-NC is characterized as a carbohydrate nanoadjuvant with a macrophage-targeting feature. It is composed of repeating galactan glycopatterns derived from heteropolysaccharide structures of plant origin. The galactan repeats of Gal-NC function as multivalent pattern-recognition sites for Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Functionally, Gal-NC-mediated TLR activation induces the repolarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) toward immunostimulatory/tumoricidal M1-like phenotypes. Gal-NC increases the intratumoral population of cytotoxic T cells, the main effector cells of antitumor immunity, via re-educated TAMs. These TME alterations synergistically enhance the T-cell-mediated antitumor response induced by αPD-1 administration, suggesting that Gal-NC has potential value as an adjuvant for immune checkpoint blockade combination therapies. Thus, the Gal-NC model established herein suggests a glycoengineering strategy to design a carbohydrate-based nanocomposite for advanced cancer immunotherapies.

A Case-Control Study on Factors of HPV Vaccination for Mother and Daughter in China.

(1) Background: To explore the influencing factors of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among mothers and daughters so as to provide evidence and strategies for improving the HPV vaccination rate of 9-18-years-old girls. (2) A questionnaire survey was conducted among the mothers of 9-18-year-old girls from June to August 2022. The participants were divided into the mother and daughter vaccinated group (M1D1), the mother-only vaccinated group (M1D0), and the unvaccinated group (M0D0). Univariate tests, the logistic regression model, and the Health Belief Model (HBM) were employed to explore the influencing factors. (3) Results: A total of 3004 valid questionnaires were collected. According to the regions, Totally 102, 204, and 408 mothers and daughters were selected from the M1D1, M1D0, and M0D0 groups, respectively. The mother having given her daughter sex education (OR = 3.64; 95%CI 1.70, 7.80), the mother's high perception of disease severity (OR = 1.79; 95%CI 1.02, 3.17), and the mother's high level of trust in formal information (OR = 2.18; 95%CI 1.26, 3.78) were all protective factors for both the mother and her daughter's vaccination. The mother's rural residence (OR = 0.51; 95%CI 0.28, 0.92) was a risk factor for vaccination of both mother and daughter. The mother's education of high school or above (OR = 2.12; 95%CI 1.06, 4.22), the mother's high level of HPV and HPV vaccine knowledge (OR = 1.72; 95%CI 1.14, 2.58), and the mother's high level of trust in formal information (OR = 1.72; 95%CI 1.15, 2.57) were protective factors of mother-only vaccination. The older the mother (OR = 0.95; 95%CI 0.91, 0.99) was classed as a risk factor for mother-only vaccination. "Waiting until the daughters are older to receive the 9-valent vaccine" is the main reason why the daughters of M1D0 and M0D0 are not vaccinated". (4) Chinese mothers had a high willingness to vaccinate their daughters with the HPV vaccine. The higher education level of the mother, giving sex education to the daughter, the older ages of mothers and daughters, the mother's high level of HPV and HPV vaccine knowledge, a high level of perception of the disease severity, and a high level of trust in formal information were promoting factors of HPV vaccination for mother and daughter, and rural residence was a risk factor to vaccination. To promote HPV vaccination in girls from 9-18 years old, communities could provide health education to rural mothers with low education levels; the government could advocate for HPV vaccination through issuing policy documents; and doctors and the CDC could popularize the optimal age for HPV vaccination to encourage mothers to vaccinate their daughters at the age of 9-14 years old.

Easy, Fast Self-Heating Polyurethane Nanocomposite with the Introduction of Thermally Annealed Carbon Nanotubes Using Near-Infrared Lased Irradiation.

In this study, high-crystallinity single walled carbon nanotubes (H-SWNTs) were prepared by high-temperature thermal annealing at 1800 °C and a self-heating shape memory polyurethane nanocomposite with excellent self-heating characteristics was developed within a few seconds by irradiation with near-infrared rays. With a simple method (heat treatment), impurities at the surface of H-SWNTs were removed and at the same time the amorphous structure converted into a crystalline structure, improving crystallinity. Therefore, high conductivity (electric, thermal) and interfacial affinity with PU were increased, resulting in improved mechanical, thermal and electric properties. The electrical conductivity of neat polyurethane was enhanced from ~10-11 S/cm to 4.72 × 10-8 S/cm, 1.07 × 10-6 and 4.66 × 10-6 S/cm, while the thermal conductivity was enhanced up to 60% from 0.21 W/mK, 0.265 W/mK and 0.338 W/mK for the composites of 1, 3 and 5 wt%, respectively. Further, to achieve an effective photothermal effect, H-SWNTs were selected as nanofillers to reduce energy loss while increasing light-absorption efficiency. Thereafter, near-infrared rays of 818 nm were directly irradiated onto the nanocomposite film to induce photothermal properties arising from the local surface plasmon resonance effect on the CNT surface. A self-heating shape memory composite material that rapidly heated to 270 °C within 1 min was developed, even when only 3 wt.% of H-SWNTs were added. The results of this study can be used to guide the development of heat-generating coating materials and de-icing materials for the wing and body structures of automobiles or airplanes, depending on the molding method.

Artificial Intelligence, Wearables and Remote Monitoring for Heart Failure: Current and Future Applications.

Substantial milestones have been attained in the field of heart failure (HF) diagnostics and therapeutics in the past several years that have translated into decreased mortality but a paradoxical increase in HF-related hospitalizations. With increasing data digitalization and access, remote monitoring via wearables and implantables have the potential to transform ambulatory care workflow, with a particular focus on reducing HF hospitalizations. Additionally, artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) have been increasingly employed at multiple stages of healthcare due to their power in assimilating and integrating multidimensional multimodal data and the creation of accurate prediction models. With the ever-increasing troves of data, the implementation of AI/ML algorithms could help improve workflow and outcomes of HF patients, especially time series data collected via remote monitoring. In this review, we sought to describe the basics of AI/ML algorithms with a focus on time series forecasting and the current state of AI/ML within the context of wearable technology in HF, followed by a discussion of the present limitations, including data integration, privacy, and challenges specific to AI/ML application within healthcare.

LCK-Mediated RIPK3 Activation Controls Double-Positive Thymocyte Proliferation and Restrains Thymic Lymphoma by Regulating the PP2A-ERK Axis.

Receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) is the primary regulator of necroptotic cell death. RIPK3 expression is often silenced in various cancer cells, which suggests that it may have tumor suppressor properties. However, the exact mechanism by which RIPK3 negatively regulates cancer development and progression remains unclear. This report indicates that RIPK3 acts as a potent regulator of the homeostatic proliferation of CD4+ CD8+ double-positive (DP) thymocytes. Abnormal proliferation of RIPK3-deficient DP thymocytes occurs independently of the well-known role for RIPK3 in necroptosis (upstream of MLKL activation), and is associated with an incidental thymic mass, likely thymic hyperplasia. In addition, Ripk3-null mice develop increased thymic tumor formation accompanied by reduced host survival in the context of an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced tumor model. Moreover, RIPK3 deficiency in p53-null mice promotes thymic lymphoma development via upregulated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling, which correlates with markedly reduced survival rates. Mechanistically, lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (LCK) activates RIPK3, which in turn leads to increases in the phosphatase activity of protein phosphatase 2 (PP2A), thereby suppressing hyper-activation of ERK in DP thymocytes. Overall, these findings suggest that a RIPK3-PP2A-ERK signaling axis regulates DP thymocyte homeostasis and may provide a potential therapeutic target to improve thymic lymphoma therapies.

Dehydroglyasperin D Suppresses Melanin Synthesis through MITF Degradation in Melanocytes.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza) has been used as preventive and therapeutic material for hyperpigmentation disorders. Previously, we isolated noble compounds including dehydroglyasperin C (DGC), dehydroglyasperin D (DGD) and isoangustone A (IAA) from licorice hexane/ethanol extracts. However, their anti-melanogenic effects and underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. The present study compared effects of DGC, DGD and IAA on pigmentation in melan-a melanocytes and human epidermal melanocytes (HEMn). DGD exerted the most excellent anti-melanogenic effect, followed by DGC and IAA at non-cytotoxic concentrations. In addition, DGD significantly inhibited tyrosinase activity in vitro cell-free system and cell system. Western blot result showed that DGD decreased expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1) in melan-a cells and HEMn cells. DGD induced phosphorylation of MITF, ERK and Akt signal pathway promoting MITF degradation system. However, DGD did not influence p38 and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA)/CREB signal pathway in melan-a cells. These result indicated that DGD inhibited melanogenesis not only direct regulation of tyrosinase but also modulating intracellular signaling related with MITF level. Collectively, these results suggested a protective role for DGD against melanogenesis.

NAMPT mitigates colitis severity by supporting redox-sensitive activation of phagocytosis in inflammatory macrophages.

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) salvage pathway and plays a crucial role in the maintenance of the NAD+ pool during inflammation. Considering that macrophages are essential for tissue homeostasis and inflammation, we sought to examine the functional impact of NAMPT in inflammatory macrophages, particularly in the context of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this study, we show that mice with NAMPT deletion within the myeloid compartment (Namptf/fLysMCre+/-, Nampt mKO) have more pronounced colitis with lower survival rates, as well as numerous uncleared apoptotic corpses within the mucosal layer. Nampt-deficient macrophages exhibit reduced phagocytic activity due to insufficient NAD+ abundance, which is required to produce NADPH for the oxidative burst. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) treatment rescues NADPH levels in Nampt mKO macrophages and sustains superoxide generation via NADPH oxidase. Consequently, Nampt mKO mice fail to clear dead cells during tissue repair, leading to substantially prolonged chronic colitis. Moreover, systemic administration of NMN, to supply NAD+, effectively suppresses the disease severity of DSS-induced colitis. Collectively, our findings suggest that activation of the NAMPT-dependent NAD+ biosynthetic pathway, via NMN administration, is a potential therapeutic strategy for managing inflammatory diseases.

Low-level expression of necroptosis factors indicates a poor prognosis of the squamous cell carcinoma subtype of non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The programmed cell death pathway necroptosis may synergize with the DNA damage response (DDR) in opposing tumor progression. While our basic mechanistic understanding of the necroptotic cell death advances rapidly, its prognostic implications have not been thoroughly examined in cancers. METHODS: We included 394 patients with stage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who underwent surgical tumor resection between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2011 and measured expression levels of nine proteins involved in necroptosis and the DDR in primary samples from 394 patients using tissue microarray. Protein expression evaluated by using an H-score method was dichotomized by the median value. The overall survival as the endpoint was calculated from the time of diagnosis to the time of the last follow-up or death. RESULTS: We find that low-level expression of the necroptosis markers RIPK3 and PELI1 is associated with high risk of patient death. High-level expression of the key DDR factor p53 in combination with low-level expression of either RIPK3 or PELI1 increases the risk further. These gene expression effects appear to occur specifically in the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) subtype of stage I NSCLC, while not observed in the non-SCC subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: Low-level expression of such necroptosis factors as RIPK3 and PELI1 in combination with high-level expression of the DDR factor p53 can serve as a critical indicator in predicting survival of stage I NSCLC patients with the SCC subtype.

Rapid and Local Self-Healing Ability of Polyurethane Nanocomposites Using Photothermal Polydopamine-Coated Graphene Oxide Triggered by Near-Infrared Laser.

In this study, we report the self-healing ability of polyurethane (PU) nanocomposites based on the photothermal effect of polydopamine-coated graphene oxide (PDA-rGO). Polydopamine (PDA) was coated on the graphene oxide (GO) surface, while simultaneously reducing GO by the oxidation of dopamine hydrochloride in an alkaline aqueous solution. The PDA-rGO was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. PDA-rGO/PU nanocomposites with nanofiller contents of 0.1, 0.5 and 1 wt% were prepared by ex situ mixing method. The photothermal effect of the PDA-rGO in the PU matrix was investigated at 0.1 W/cm2 using an 808 nm near-infrared (NIR) laser. The photothermal properties of the PDA-rGO/PU nanocomposites were superior to those of the GO/PU nanocomposites, owing to an increase in the local surface plasmon resonance effect by coating with PDA. Subsequently, the self-healing efficiency was confirmed by recovering the tensile stress of the damaged nanocomposites using the thermal energy generated by the NIR laser.

TRIM24-RIP3 axis perturbation accelerates osteoarthritis pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVES: Recently, necroptosis has attracted increasing attention in arthritis research; however, it remains unclear whether its regulation is involved in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis. Since receptor-interacting protein kinase-3 (RIP3) plays a pivotal role in necroptosis and its dysregulation is involved in various pathological processes, we investigated the role of the RIP3 axis in OA pathogenesis. METHODS: Experimental OA was induced in wild-type or Rip3 knockout mice by surgery to destabilise the medial meniscus (DMM) or the intra-articular injection of adenovirus carrying a target gene (Ad-Rip3 and Ad-Trim24 shRNA). RIP3 expression was examined in OA cartilage from human patients; Trim24, a negative regulator of RIP3, was identified by microarray and in silico analysis. Connectivity map (CMap) and in silico binding approaches were used to identify RIP3 inhibitors and to examine their direct regulation of RIP3 activation in OA pathogenesis. RESULTS: RIP3 expression was markedly higher in damaged cartilage from patients with OA than in undamaged cartilage. In the mouse model, adenoviral RIP3 overexpression accelerated cartilage disruption, whereas Rip3 depletion reduced DMM-induced OA pathogenesis. Additionally, TRIM24 knockdown upregulated RIP3 expression; its downregulation promoted OA pathogenesis in knee joint tissues. The CMap approach and in silico binding assay identified AZ-628 as a potent RIP3 inhibitor and demonstrated that it abolished RIP3-mediated OA pathogenesis by inhibiting RIP3 kinase activity. CONCLUSIONS: TRIM24-RIP3 axis perturbation promotes OA chronicity by activating RIP3 kinase, suggesting that the therapeutic manipulation of this pathway could provide new avenues for treating OA.

Changes in Gait Parameters and Gait Variability in Young Adults during a Cognitive Task while Slope and Flat Walking.

This study investigates the effects of a cognitive task while walking on a slope or a flat surface on gait parameters and gait variability in young adults. The participants consisted of thirty healthy young subjects. They were instructed to walk on a slope or on a flat surface while performing or not performing a cognitive task, which involved speaking a four-syllable word in reverse. A wearable inertia measurement unit (IMU) system was used to measure spatiotemporal parameters and gait variability. Flat gait (FG) while performing the cognitive task (FGC) and uphill gait (UG) while performing the cognitive task (UGC) significantly altered stride times, gait speeds, and cadence as compared with FG and UG, respectively. Downhill gait (DG) while performing the cognitive task (DGC) caused no significant difference as compared with DG. Gait variability comparisons showed no significant difference between UGC and UG or between FGC and FG, respectively. On the other hand, variabilities of stride times and gait speeds were significantly greater for DGC than DG. FGC and UGC induce natural changes in spatiotemporal gait parameters that enable the cognitive task to be performed safely. DGC should be regarded as high complexity tasks involving greater gait variability to reduce fall risk.

A formulated red ginseng extract inhibits autophagic flux and sensitizes to doxorubicin-induced cell death.

BACKGROUND: Ginseng is believed to have antitumor activity. Autophagy is largely a prosurvival cellular process that is activated in response to cellular stressors, including cytotoxic chemotherapy; therefore, agents that inhibit autophagy can be used as chemosensitizers in cancer treatment. We examined the ability of Korean Red Ginseng extract (RGE) to prevent autophagic flux and to make hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells become more sensitive to doxorubicin. METHODS: The cytotoxic effects of total RGE or its saponin fraction (RGS) on HCC cells were examined by the lactate dehydrogenase assay in a dose- or time-dependent manner. The effect of RGE or RGS on autophagy was measured by analyzing microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain (LC)3-II expression and LC3 puncta formation in HCC cells. Late-stage autophagy suppression was tested using tandem-labeled green fluorescent protein (GFP)-monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP)-LC3. RESULTS: RGE markedly increased the amount of LC3-II, but green and red puncta in tandem-labeled GFP-mRFP-LC3 remained colocalized over time, indicating that RGE inhibited autophagy at a late stage. Suppression of autophagy through knockdown of key ATG genes increased doxorubicin-induced cell death, suggesting that autophagy induced by doxorubicin has a protective function in HCC. Finally, RGE and RGS markedly sensitized HCC cells, (but not normal liver cells), to doxorubicin-induced cell death. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that inhibition of late-stage autophagic flux by RGE is important for its potentiation of doxorubicin-induced cancer cell death. Therapy combining RGE with doxorubicin could serve as an effective strategy in the treatment of HCC.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Arthroscopic Meniscus Repair in Young Patients: Comparison of All-Inside and Inside-Out Suture Techniques

PURPOSE: The purposes of the present study were to review published studies that investigated arthroscopic meniscus repair to treat meniscus injury in young patients and to compare all-inside and inside-out suture techniques. METHODS: Various electronic databases were queried for published articles, and this search was updated in August 2017 for evaluating the outcomes of arthroscopic meniscus surgery in young patients. Data search, extraction, analysis, and quality assessment were performed according to the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines, and the clinical outcomes were evaluated using various outcome values in young patients according to suture techniques. RESULTS: Three randomized controlled trials and three prospective comparative studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes such as meniscus healing rate (risk ratio [RR], 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90 to 1.37; I²=39%) and perioperative complications (RR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.23 to 1.72; I²=43%) between all-inside and inside-out techniques for meniscus repair. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows favorable results for clinical outcomes such as meniscus healing rate and perioperative complications in young patients. Furthermore, based on our results, both all-inside and inside-out meniscal suture techniques are equally effective in these patients.

Development and Metabolite Profiling of Elephant Garlic Vinegar.

Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum), which belongs to the Alliaceae family along with onion and garlic, has a flavor and shape similar to those of normal garlic but is not true garlic. Additionally, its properties are largely unknown, and its processing and product development have not been reported. In this study, we focused on using elephant garlic to produce a new type of vinegar, for which the market is rapidly growing because of its health benefits. First, we evaluated the effects of elephant garlic addition on acetic acid fermentation of rice wine by Acetobacter pasteurianus. In contrast to normal garlic, for which 2% (w/v) addition completely halted fermentation, addition of elephant garlic enabled slow but successful fermentation of ethanol to acetic acid. Metabolite analysis suggested that sulfur-containing volatile compounds were less abundant in elephant garlic than in normal garlic; these volatile compounds may be responsible for inhibiting acetic acid fermentation. After acetic acid fermentation, vinegar with elephant garlic did not have any sulfur-containing volatile compounds, which could positively contribute to the vinegar flavor. Moreover, the amino acid profile of the vinegar suggested that nutritional and sensory properties were more enhanced following addition of elephant garlic. Thus, elephant garlic may have applications in the development of a new vinegar product with improved flavor and quality and potential health benefits.

Bioconverted Orostachys japonicas Extracts Suppress Angiogenic Activity of Ms-1 Endothelial Cells.

Orostachys japonicus A. Berger (), known as Wa-song in Korea, has been reported to exert various biological effects, such as anti-tumor, anti-oxidant, and anti-febrile effects. However, the anti-angiogenic effects of O.japonicus extracts remain to be investigated. In the present study, we demonstrated the anti-angiogenic effects of bioconverted O. japonicus extract (BOE) in Ms-1 mouse endothelial cells and compared them with the bioactivities of O. japonicus extract (OE). BOE, but not OE, were found to exert anti-angiogenic effects, including inhibition of cell migration, cell adhesion, tube formation of Ms-1 cells, and blood vessel formation of matrigel plug assay in vivo. Furthermore, protein levels of phosphorylated Src kinase were lower in BOE-treated cells than in OE-treated cells. Treatment with OE or BOE did not influence cell viability during the experimental period. Bioconverted extract of O.japonicus have anti-angiogenic effects in vitro and vivo, but non-bioconverted extract do not. We suggest that these observed anti-angiogenic effects are caused by the changes in the composition of bioactive compounds in the extracts as a result of biological conversion.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation according to absorption differences in three formulations of ibuprofen.

OBJECTIVE: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis is modulated by COX2. Changes in PGE2 could be used to quantify the COX2 inhibition after ibuprofen administration. This study investigated the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relationships for COX2 inhibition according to three formulations of ibuprofen in healthy male subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized, open-label, single-dose, three-treatment, six-sequence crossover study was performed in 36 healthy South Korean male volunteers. Enrolled subjects received the following three 200 mg ibuprofen formulations: ibuprofen arginine, solubilized ibuprofen capsule, and standard ibuprofen. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic blood samples were collected for 16 hours following treatment. For pharmacodynamic evaluations, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced PGE2 inhibition at each time point compared to predose was measured. Noncompartmental analysis was used for pharmacokinetic assessment, and time-weighted average inhibition (WAI) of PGE2 was applied to the pharmacodynamic evaluation. RESULTS: After a single oral dose of the ibuprofen formulations, the median times to maximum concentration were 0.42, 0.5, and 1.25 hours in ibuprofen arginine, solubilized ibuprofen capsule, and ibuprofen, respectively. The maximum observed plasma concentration was lower in ibuprofen, and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve was comparable among the three formulations. A significant difference was observed between fast-acting formulations and standard ibuprofen tablets for both maximum concentration and time taken to reach it. Individual formulations had an effect on PGE2 WAI during the 8 hours following treatment, resulting in significantly lower WAI in standard ibuprofen: ibuprofen arginine 18.4%, solubilized ibuprofen capsule 18.4%, and standard ibuprofen 11.6%. CONCLUSION: Rapid absorption and higher peak concentration were observed in ibuprofen arginine and the solubilized ibuprofen capsule. Additionally, fast-acting formulations had more predominant inhibitory activity on the COX2 enzyme.

Association between depression and metabolic syndrome in korean women: Results from the korean national health and nutrition examination survey (2007-2013).

BACKGROUND: A considerable amount of research suggests that depression may be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the risk factors for the development of CVD such as metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study aimed to investigate the associations between depression, MetS, and combinations of the individual MetS components in Korean women. METHODS: Cross-sectional data for 23,385 women who aged 19 years and older were obtained from the nationally representative Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2013). Associations between prior diagnosis of depression and MetS were estimated after adjusting for related factors using multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: MetS was more prevalent in women with a prior diagnosis of depression than those without diagnosed depression (26.20% vs. 19.07%, p<.001). Depression was significantly associated with MetS (odds ratio, 1.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.43) after adjusting for age, education, monthly household income, smoking status, alcohol use, physical activity, and postmenopausal status. There was a higher prevalence of most MetS combinations among women with depression than women without depression. Specifically, significant differences between the two groups were found for MetS combinations including high triglycerides. LIMITATIONS: A cross-sectional study design and lack of a standardized objective measure for depression. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosed depression is associated with MetS in Korean women. Specifically, women with diagnosed depression have significantly elevated levels of several combinations of MetS components including high triglycerides. Addressing these MetS combinations could help reduce CVD events and mortality among women with depression.

Ecological niches and blood sources of sand fly in an endemic focus of visceral leishmaniasis in Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan, China.

BACKGROUND: Sand fly Phlebotomus chinensis is a principle vector for the visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in China with a wide geographic distribution. Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan is a mountain type endemic area of VL in China. Long term effective control efforts in the region have successfully reduced VL transmission. To assess the current status of the sand flies and their ecological aspects in the region, a survey was conducted in the summer of 2014 and 2015. METHODS: Sand fly specimens were collected by light traps in a village and blood sources were identified by PCR and sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. RESULTS: In a rock cave, 65.2 %-79.8 % of collected sand flies were male. On a rabbit farm, 92.9 %-98.8 % of specimens were female. In pig pens, 61.1 % of specimens were female. Some females had visible blood residues. The feeding rate was 49.4 % from the pig pens, 12.3 % from the cave, and only 1.7 % from the rabbit farm. Pig, rabbit, chicken, dog, and human blood were detected in the fed specimens. Swine blood, present in all tested samples, was a preferred blood source, while chicken and dog blood were present in a third of the samples. CONCLUSIONS: In Jiuzhaigou County, Sichuan Province of China, the considerable sandfly density and the peridomestic feeding behavior all increases the risk of VL transmission, and insecticide spraying in animal sheds could be exploited to reduce sand fly populations in human surroundings.