The relationship between anemia and hyperuricemia and hypertension in Korean adults: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016-2018.

OBJECTIVE: It is unclear whether uric acid (UA) has a negative or positive effect on anemia, and this may vary depending on the presence or absence of chronic disease such as hypertension (HTN). The present study was conducted to assess the relationship between anemia and hyperuricemia in Korean adults with or without hypertension. METHODS: Data from 16,740 adults (age ≥20 years) in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016 - 2018) were analyzed. RESULTS: Several key findings were identified. First, after adjusting for the related variables in the non-HTN group, the odds ratio (OR) of anemia (hemoglobin [Hb] ≥ 13.0 mg/dL in men and ≥12.0 mg/dL in women), using the normouricemia (UA < 7.0 mg/dL in men and UA < 6.0 mg/dL in women) as a reference, was inversely significant for the hyperuricemia (UA ≥ 7.0 mg/dL in men and ≥6.0 mg/dL in women) in the overall population (OR, 0.589; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.409-0.848) and women (OR, 0.575; 95% CI, 0.363-0.909) but not in men (OR, 0.836; 95% CI, 0.441-1.586). Second, after adjusting for the related variables in the HTN group, the OR of anemia, using the normouricemia as a reference, was positively significant for the hyperuricemia in the overall population (OR, 1.501; 95% CI, 1.167-1.930), men (OR, 1.706; 95% CI, 1.154-2.523), and women (OR, 1.512; 95% CI, 1.079-2.210). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperuricemia was positively associated with anemia in men and women with HTN. Hyperuricemia was inversely associated with anemia in women without HTN but not in men without HTN.

Gender Difference in the Association of Hyperuricemia with Insulin Resistance and beta-cell Function in Nondiabetic Korean Adults: The 2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

AIMS: This study was conducted to assess the association of uric acid (UA) with the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and beta-cell function (HOMA-B) by gender in nondiabetic Korean adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out using data from the 2019 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and included nondiabetic Korean men, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women aged 20 years or older. RESULTS: First, after adjusted for the related variables (excluding obesity), the prevalence of hyperuricemia (UA ≥ 7.0 mg/dL in men or UA ≥ 6.0 mg/dL in women) was positively associated with the quartiles of HOMA-IR and HOMA-B in men, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women. Second, when further adjusted for obesity, hyperuricemia was positively associated with the quartiles of HOMA-IR and HOMA-B in men and postmenopausal women but not in premenopausal women. Third, after adjusted for the related variables (including obesity), UA level was positively associated with the quartiles of HOMA-IR and HOMA-B in men and postmenopausal women but not in premenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: hyperuricemia is positively associated with insulin resistance and beta-cell function in nondiabetic Korean men and postmenopausal women but not in premenopausal women.

Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb761) did not express estrogenic activity in an immature rat uterotrophic assay.

Ginkgo biloba is a dioecious tree that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for about 5,000 years. In previous studies on ginkgo biloba extract (EGb761) using in vitro systems, we confirmed that EGb761 has biphasic effects on estrogenicity. In this study, we evaluated the agonistic and antagonistic activities of EGb761 using a uterotrophic assay in immature female rats. To evaluate agonistic and antagonistic effects of EGb761 on uterus, 21-day-old immature Sprague-Dawley (SD) female rats were treated with EGb761 (100, 200, or 400 mg/kg) by oral gavage, 10 µg/kg of estradiol (E2) or 1 mg/kg tamoxifen (TM) by subcutaneous injection, or with EGb761 plus E2 or TM for 3 consecutive days. At the end of the treatment period, animals were sacrificed and their body weights and organ weights (liver, lung, spleen and kidney) were measured. In addition, estrogen-related gene expressions (IGFBP-1 in liver and CaBP-9 in uterus) were determined. During the experiment, no animal showed clinical signs, a change in body weight or died. EGb761 treatment alone had no effect on absolute/relative uterine weight, luminal epithelial cell height (LECH, µm), or luminal circumference (LC, µm). In addition, uterine weights, LECHs, and LC induced by E2 or TM were not significantly changed by EGb761 at any dose. These results collectively suggested EGb761 has no agonistic/antagonistic effects in utero.

Long-term exposures to low doses of silver nanoparticles enhanced in vitro malignant cell transformation in non-tumorigenic BEAS-2B cells.

To predict carcinogenic potential of AgNPs on the respiratory system, BEAS-2B cells (human bronchial epithelial cells) were chronically exposed to low- and non-cytotoxic dose (0.13 and 1.33µg/ml) of AgNPs for 4months (#40 passages). To assess malignant cell transformation of chronic exposure to AgNPs, several bioassays including anchorage independent agar colony formation, cell migration/invasion assay, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were performed in BEAS-2B cells. Chronic exposure to AgNPs showed a significant increase of anchorage independent agar colony formation and cell migration/invasion. EMT, which is the loss of epithelial markers (E-Cadherin and Keratin) and the gain of mesenchymal marker (N-cadherin and Vimentin), was induced by chronic exposure to AgNPs. These responses indicated that chronic exposure to AgNPs could acquire characteristics of tumorigenic cells from normal BEAS-2B cells. In addition, caspase-3, p-p53, p-p38, and p-JNK were significantly decreased, while p-ERK1/2 was significantly increased. MMP-9 related to cell migration/invasion was upregulated, while a MMP-9 inhibitor, TIMP-1 was down-regulated. These results indicated that BEAS-2B cells exposed to AgNPs could induce anti-apoptotic response/anoikis resistance, and cell migration/invasion by complex regulation of MAPK kinase (p38, JNK, and ERK) and p53 signaling pathways. Therefore, we suggested that long-term exposure to low-dose of AgNPs could enhance malignant cell transformation in non-tumorigenic BEAS-2B cells. Our findings provide useful information needed to assess the carcinogenic potential of AgNPs.

Copper-Catalyzed N-Arylation of 2-Pyridones Employing Diaryliodonium Salts at Room Temperature.

A new and mild synthetic approach for the N-arylation of 2-pyridones with diaryliodonium salts has been developed. Most reactions proceed readily at room temperature in the presence of 10 mol % of copper chloride. As a result, a wide range of N-arylpyridine-2-ones were synthesized in yields of 23% to 99%. With this method, an antifibrotic drug, Pirfenidone, was successfully synthesized in 99% yield within 30 min at room temperature.

Effect of methylcellulose on the formation and drug release behavior of silk fibroin hydrogel.

In this study, methylcellulose (MC) was used to control the gelation time of silk fibroin (SF) aqueous solution. The gelation time was measured using a Vibro Viscometer at 50 °C. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a texture meter were used to investigate the effect of MC on the hydrogelation of SF solution. SF/MC hydrogels could be formed by the addition of MC, although their gelation time was increased with MC content. To examine the conformational change of SF/MC hydrogels, time-resolved FT-IR spectra were obtained at constant temperature using a custom-made IR chamber. From FT-IR spectra focused on the amide I peak position, the transition of SF molecules in SF/MC solution from a random coil to a ß-sheet structure was inhibited in the presence of MC molecules. In addition, the drug release of SF/MC hydrogels loaded with 5-aminosalicylic acid was studied in 2-dimensional (2-D) and 3-dimensional (3-D) conditions in vitro. The drug release behavior of SF or SF/MC hydrogels was measured using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The release rate of 5-aminosalicylic acid in SF/MC hydrogel was lower than that of SF hydrogel, which may be closely associated with the hydrophilic interaction between MC and 5-aminosalicylic acid. This approach to controlling the sol-gel transition and the drug release of SF hydrogels by the addition of MC will be useful in the design and tailoring of novel materials for biomedical applications.