Trends of antimicrobial susceptibilities and multidrug-resistant colonization rate in patients transferred from long-term care facilities during 2017-2022: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: With the global increase in the older population, the proportion of those receiving care in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) has also been increasing. We assessed the epidemiology, antibiotic susceptibility, and colonization status of drug-resistant organisms in patients transferred from LTCFs. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients transferred from LTCFs between 2017 and 2022. The reasons for admission, antimicrobial susceptibility, and colonization rates of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) were recorded. We analyzed the susceptibility and colonization rates by year to identify trends. RESULTS: Of the 936 patients transferred from LTCFs, 54.3% were admitted to the intensive care unit and 12.5% died. The most common reason for admission was infection (n = 573, 61.2%), followed by gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 67, 7.2%) and cerebrovascular disorder (n = 65, 6.9%). A total of 452 Enterobacterales strains were isolated, and their susceptibility rates to ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime were 33.3% and 35.6%, respectively. A total of 54.9% were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing strains, and 4.9% of them were carbapenem-resistant, both of which showed an increasing trend (P = 0.024 and P < 0.001, respectively). The prevalence rates of CRE, CRAB, and MRSA colonization were 9.2%, 7.1%, and 23.1%, respectively. CRE colonization showed a significant increase (P < 0.001), with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales accounting for 75.9% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Patients transferred from LTCFs are primarily affected by infections and exhibit high resistance rates. The increasing trend in CRE colonization rates each year highlights the need for the implementation of rigorous infection control measures for effective management.

Incidence of fungal contamination in fresh ginseng samples and mycotoxigenic potential of representative fungal isolates.

BACKGROUND: Fresh ginseng is typically accompanied by soil after harvest, leading to contamination with harmful fungi during storage and distribution. In this study, we investigated the incidence of fungal contamination in fresh ginseng (5-6 years old) purchased from 22 different stores in Geumsan, Korea. RESULTS: The incidence of fungal contamination in the samples was 67.4-111.5%. Fusarium solani was the most abundant species in the head (38.5%) and fine root (19.3%) parts of the ginseng samples, whereas F. oxysporum was the most abundant in the main root (22.0%) part. We isolated Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium spp. (total number of isolates: 395) from the ginseng samples, and 138 isolates were identified using phylogenetic analysis. Polymerase chain reaction-based screening of 65 mycotoxin-producing species revealed that two P. expansum isolates were positive for citrinin and/or patulin, and five F. oxysporum isolates were positive for fumonisin biosynthesis gene. One P. expansum isolate produced 738.0 mg kg-1 patulin, and the other produced 10.4 mg kg-1 citrinin and 12.0 mg kg-1 patulin on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. Among the 47 representative F. oxysporum isolates, 43 (91.5%) produced beauvericin (0.1-15.4 mg kg-1) and four of them (8.5%) produced enniatin B and enniatin B1 (0.1-1.8 mg kg-1) as well. However, none of these toxins was detected in fresh ginseng samples. CONCLUSION: Fusarium solani and F. oxysporum were the most abundant species in fresh ginseng samples. Most F. oxysporum (43) and P. expansum (2) strains isolated from fresh ginseng produced beauvericin and enniatins (B and B1), and patulin or citrinin, respectively, on PDA medium. This is the first report of the mycotoxigenic potential of P. expansum and F. oxysporum strains isolated from fresh ginseng. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effectiveness and Adverse Events of Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir Versus Molnupiravir for COVID-19 in Outpatient Setting: Multicenter Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to compare the effectiveness and adverse reactions of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnupiravir in high-risk outpatients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: This multicenter prospective observational study evaluated the rate of hospitalization, death, and adverse events within 28 days of oral antiviral agent prescription (molnupiravir, n = 240; nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, n = 240) to 480 nonhospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 from August 2, 2022 to March 31, 2023. RESULTS: Patients receiving molnupiravir had a higher prevalence of comorbidities (85.8% vs. 70.4%; P < 0.001) and a higher Charlson comorbidity index (2.8 ± 1.4 vs. 2.5 ± 1.5; P = 0.009) than those receiving nirmatrelvir/ritonavir. Three patients required hospitalization (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir group, n = 1 [0.4%]; molnupiravir group, n = 2 [0.8%]; P = 1.000). Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir was associated with a higher risk of adverse events than molnupiravir (odds ratio [OR], 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27-3.03), especially for patients aged 65 years and older (OR, 3.04; 95% CI, 1.71-5.39). The severity of adverse events in both groups was mild to moderate and improved after discontinuation of medication. In the molnupiravir group, age ≥ 65 years (OR, 0.43 95% CI, 0.22-0.86) and appropriate vaccination (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.15-0.91) reduced the occurrence of adverse events. CONCLUSION: The rates of hospitalization and death were low and not significantly different between high-risk patients who received either nirmatrelvir/ritonavir or molnupiravir. Although adverse events were more frequent with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir than with molnupiravir, none were severe. Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir can be safely used to treat COVID-19, while molnupiravir could be considered as an alternative treatment option for high-risk groups.

Thirty-Day Mortality Rates in Patients with Extended-Spectrum ß-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacterales Bacteremia Receiving Ertapenem versus Other Carbapenems.

Ertapenem is one of the carbapenems recommended for treating extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales. However, efficacy data are limited. We compared 30-day mortality rates for patients receiving ertapenem and other carbapenems for treatment of ESBL-producing Enterobacterales bacteremia. A multicenter, retrospective study was performed from January 2013 to December 2020 at three hospitals. Patients who received only members of one group of carbapenems (group 1 or group 2) throughout their treatment for ESBL-producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia were enrolled. To compare 30-day all-cause mortality rates in the two groups, propensity score matching was used to control for selection bias. Subgroup analyses were performed for several subgroups. Secondary outcomes included Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and the emergence of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria within 90 days after initiation of carbapenem treatment. One-to-one propensity score matching yielded 162 pairs of patients from the total of 603 patients included. There was no difference in 30-day mortality rates between ertapenem and the other carbapenems in adjusted analyses (hazard ratio, 0.60 [95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29 to 1.22]) of the propensity score-matched cohorts. A similar result was obtained in a subgroup analysis of patients who suffered severe sepsis or septic shock and those who did not (P = 0.54 for interaction). Emergence of CDI (odds ratio [OR], 0.99 [95% CI, 0.44 to 2.20]) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (OR, 1.31 [95% CI, 0.51 to 3.53]) did not differ between the two groups. Our study suggests that the efficacy of ertapenem may be comparable to that of the other carbapenems in treatment of ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae bacteremia.

Comparing Results of Five SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Assays Before and After the First Dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccine among Health Care Workers.

Reliable results regarding serologic positivity for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody before and after AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccination are essential for estimating the efficacy of vaccination. We assessed positivity rates and associated factors using five SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays. A total of 228 paired serum samples (456 samples) were obtained from 228 participants. After baseline sampling, the second sampling was conducted between 11 and 28 days after the first dose of the AZ vaccine. Sera were tested using five SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays, including two surrogate virus neutralization tests. A questionnaire on the symptoms, severity, and duration of adverse reactions was completed by all participants. The overall positivity rates for SARS-CoV-2 antibody were 84.6% for the Roche assay, 92.5% for the Abbott assay, 75.4% for the Siemens assay, 90.7% for the SD Biosensor assay, and 66.2% for the GenScript assay after the first dose of the AZ vaccine. The positivity rates and antibody titers of sera obtained between 21 and 28 days were significantly higher than those obtained between 11 and 20 days in all five assays. More-severe adverse reactions and longer durations of adverse reactions were related to higher SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels. The agreements and correlations among the assays applied were substantial (к, 0.73 to 0.95) and strong (ρ, 0.83 to 0.91). A single dose of the AZ vaccine led to high positivity rates based on the five assays. Days after vaccination and adverse reactions could help estimate serologic conversion rates. The results should be interpreted cautiously considering the assays and cutoffs applied. Our findings could inform decisions regarding vaccination and laboratory settings and could thus contribute to the control of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Comparison of the Results of Five SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Assays before and after the First and Second ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccinations among Health Care Workers: a Prospective Multicenter Study.

Reliable results for serological positivity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody after the second dose of AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccination are important to estimate the real efficacy of vaccination. We evaluated positivity rates and changes in semiquantitative antibody titers before and after the first and second ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccinations using five SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays, including two surrogate virus neutralization tests. A total of 674 serum samples were obtained from 228 participants during three blood sampling periods. A questionnaire on symptoms, severity, and adverse reaction duration was completed by participants after the second vaccination. The overall positive rates for all assays were 0.0 to 0.9% before vaccination, 66.2 to 92.5% after the first vaccination, and 98.2 to 100.0% after the second vaccination. Median antibody titers in five assays after the second dose of vaccination were increased compared to those after the first dose (106.4-fold increase for Roche total antibody, 3.6-fold for Abbott IgG, 3.6-fold for Siemens, 1.2-fold for SD Biosensor V1 neutralizing antibody, and 2.2-fold for GenScript neutralizing antibody). Adverse reactions were reduced after the second dose in 89.9% of participants compared to after the first dose. Overall, the second vaccination led to almost 100% positivity rates based on these SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays. The results should be interpreted with caution, considering the characteristics of the applied assays. Our findings could inform decisions regarding vaccination and the use of immunoassays, thus contributing to SARS-CoV-2 pandemic control.

Metabolomics approach to biomarkers of dry eye disease using 1H-NMR in rats.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a chronic and progressive lesion on the ocular surface and induces symptoms, such as burning sensation, itchy eyes, heavy eyes, tired eyes, dry feeling, facial flushing, and blurred vision. The present study was performed to develop DED biomarkers using metabolomics in a rat model. DED was induced by injecting scopolamine and exposing rats to a dry condition. Scopolamine (12 mg/kg/day for 7 days) was subcutaneously injected to male Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats were placed in dry condition with air-flow and dehumidifier. Tear volume and tear breakup time (TBUT) were measured, and eyes were examined through fluorescein staining to assess DED. Mucosal damage and immune reactions were also determined. Plasma and urinary endogenous metabolites were determined using 1H-NMR analysis. Compared with control tear and TBUT levels were significantly decreased in the DED group whereas corneal damage was significantly increased. The levels of interleukins (IL-6) and IL-1ß significantly elevated in the cornea and lacrimal glands in the DED group. TNF-α was numerically increased but not significantly different between groups. Pattern recognition using principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal projections to latent structure-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) of the NMR spectra in global profiling revealed different clusters between DED and control groups. Target profiling demonstrated that PCA and OPLS-DA score plots were separated between DED and controls in plasma and urine. Subsequently, 9 plasma metabolites were selected to examine different clustering between groups, and 26 urinary metabolites were also selected. Plasma metabolites showed a non-significant rising tendency in the DED group. Urinary phenylalanine, phenylacetate, pantothenate, glycine, succinate, methanol, valine, propylene glycol, histidine, threonine, lactate, and acetate were significantly different between control and DED rats. These results may contribute to understanding the metabolic regulation that is involved in DED and might be useful for potential biomarkers related to DED in rats.

Fit Test for N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators and KF94 Masks for Healthcare Workers: a Prospective Single-center Simulation Study.

BACKGROUND: For protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Korean government recommended the KF94 mask or that a mask at the same level as the KF94 should be worn when contacting a patient with COVID-19. Furthermore, adequately fitted N95 respirators and KF94 masks are essential. We investigated the fit tests to determine whether healthcare workers had adequate protection with N95 respirators and KF94 masks. METHODS: In this prospective single-center simulation study, five N95 respirators (two made in the USA by 3M and three made in Korea) and six KF94 masks, the Korean standard medical masks, were tested. The fit factor (FF) and leakage rate were evaluated using a two-fit test device. Adequate protection (defined as FF ≥ 100 or leakage rate ≤ 5) rates were compared between N95 respirators and KF94 masks, and between made in Korea and the 3M N95 respirators. For KF94 masks, adequate protection rates were compared before and after ear strap fixation. RESULTS: Overall, 30 participants were enrolled, and 330 fit tests were performed for FF and leakage rate. Adequate protection rates of all tested N95 respirators and KF94 masks were 22.7% (n = 75) by FF and 20.6% (n = 68) by leakage rate. N95 respirators showed a significantly higher adequate protection rate than KF94 masks for FF (48.7% vs. 1.1%, P < 0.001) and leakage rate (42.0% vs. 2.8%, P < 0.001). Adequate protection rate of 3M-made N95 respirators was significantly higher than that of those made in Korea (83.3% vs. 25.6% in FF, P < 0.001; 73.3% vs. 21.1% in leakage rate, P < 0.001). In KF94 masks, after fixation of ear strap with a hook, adequate protection rate improved significantly (1.1% vs. 12.8% in FF, P < 0.001; 2.8% vs. 11.1%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although adequate protection rate of N95 respirators was higher than that of KF94 masks, N95 respirator protection rate was not optimum. Thus, it is necessary to minimize exposure to risk by selecting an appropriate mask or respirator that adequately fits each person, and by wearing respirators or masks appropriately, before contacting the patients. With their superior protection rate, wearing N95 respirators is recommended instead of KF94 masks, especially when performing aerosol-generating procedures.

Effects of anti-wrinkle and skin-whitening fermented black ginseng on human subjects and underlying mechanism of action.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of anti-wrinkle and skin-whitening of fermented black ginseng (FBG) in human subjects and to examine underlying biochemical mechanisms of action. A clinical study was performed to evaluate efficacy and safety using a 1% FBG cream formulation. Twenty-three subjects were recruited and instructed to apply control or FBG creams each on half of their face twice daily for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks FBG cream significantly reduced appearance of eye wrinkles compared to prior to exposure and control cream. Skin color was significantly brightened using FBG cream in comparison with control cream. To determine the mechanism of actions involved in anti-wrinkle and skin-whitening effects various concentrations of FBG were applied to human fibroblast CCD-986sk and mouse melanoma B16F1 cells. Collagen synthesis in CCD-986sk cells was improved significantly at 1, 3, 10, or 30 µg/ml of FBG. At 30 µg/ml, FBG significantly inhibited (73%) collagenase, and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) compared to control. Tyrosinase activity and DOPA (3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine) oxidation were significantly decreased at all tested concentrations. Melanin production in B16F1 cells was concentration-dependently reduced 15% to 60% by all concentrations of FBG. These results suggested that a 1% FBG cream exerted anti-wrinkle and skin-whitening effects.

Effects of anti-wrinkle and skin-whitening fermented black ginseng on human subjects and underlying mechanism of action.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of anti-wrinkle and skin-whitening of fermented black ginseng (FBG) in human subjects and to examine underlying biochemical mechanisms of action. A clinical study was performed to evaluate efficacy and safety using a 1% FBG cream formulation. Twenty-three subjects were recruited and instructed to apply control or FBG creams each on half of their face twice daily for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, FBG cream significantly reduced the appearance of eye wrinkles compared to prior to exposure and control cream. Skin color was significantly brightened using FBG cream in comparison with a control cream. To determine the mechanism of actions involved in anti-wrinkle and skin-whitening effects various concentrations of FBG were applied to human fibroblast CCD-986sk and mouse melanoma B16F1 cells. Collagen synthesis in CCD-986sk cells was improved significantly at 1, 3, 10, or 30 µg/ml of FBG. At 30 µg/ml, FBG significantly inhibited (73%) collagenase, and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) compared to control. Tyrosinase activity and DOPA (3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine) oxidation were significantly decreased at all tested concentrations. Melanin production in B16F1 cells was concentration-dependently reduced from 15% to 60% by all concentrations of FBG. These results suggested that a 1% FBG cream exerted anti-wrinkle and skin-whitening effects.

Positivity of Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Patients Following Exposure within Long-term Care Facilities in Seoul, Korea.

BACKGROUND: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are emerging as a worldwide threat. Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are considered a reservoir for CPE and play a central role in transmission to acute care hospitals. We investigated the CPE positivity in patients exposed to CPE in LTCFs. Furthermore, we analyzed the CPE positivity rates in the environment exposed to CPE. METHODS: We collected rectal swab specimens from patients residing in LTCFs who were exposed to CPE. Environmental sampling was performed by infection control practitioners from sites classified as patient private space, common space in the patient room, common space other than patient rooms, and nursing station. Each sample was cultured on a Chrom Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) agar for CPE screening. The positive isolates were subjected to a polymerase chain reaction to identify the presence of blaKPC, blaVIM, blaIMP, blaOXA-48, and blaNDM and determine CPE genotype. RESULTS: From 65 index cases, a total of 24 hospitals and 481 patients were enrolled; 414 patients who had resided in the same patient room as a patient with confirmed CPE and 67 patients who were newly admitted to that patient room. A total of 117 (24.3%) patients were positive for CPE among which 93 (22.5%, 93/414) were already admitted patients and 24 (35.8%, 24/67) were newly admitted patients. A total of 163 CPEs were detected and K. pneumoniae (n = 104, 63.8%) was the most common bacteria followed by Escherichia coli (n = 43, 26.4%) and Citrobacter koseri (n = 11, 6.7%). Environmental sampling was performed in 24 hospitals and 604 sites. A total of 12 sites (2.0%) were positive for CPE and sink in the nursing station (n = 6, 4.2%) was the most contaminated space. CONCLUSION: CPE colonization rates in patients exposed to CPE in LTCFs were higher than those found in acute care hospitals. Proper infection control measures for detecting and reducing CPE colonization in patients residing in LTCFs are required. Newly admitted patients could also be carriers; therefore, infection control for newly admitted patients also needs to be thorough.

A Theoretical and Empirical Investigation of Design Characteristics in a Pb(Zr,Ti)O3-Based Piezoelectric Accelerometer.

A theoretical and experimental study on the design-to-performance characteristics of a compression-mode Pb(Zr,Ti)O3-based piezoelectric accelerometer is presented. Using the metamodeling to approximate the relationship between the design variables and the performances, the constituent components were optimized so that the generated electric voltage, representing sensitivity, could be maximized at different set values of the resonant frequency (25-40 kHz). Four kinds of optimized designs were created and fabricated into the accelerometer modules for empirical validation. The accelerometer modules fabricated according to the optimized designs were highly reliable with a broad range of resonant frequency as well as sufficiently high values of charge sensitivity. The fixed (or mounted) resonant frequency was between 16.1-30.1 kHz based on the impedance measurement. The charge sensitivity decreased from 296.8 to 79.4 pC/g with an increase of the resonant frequency, showing an inverse relation with respect to the resonant frequency. The design-dependent behaviors of the sensitivity and resonant frequency were almost identical in both numerical analysis and experimental investigation. This work shows that the piezoelectric accelerometer can be selectively prepared with best outcomes according to the requirements for the sensitivity and resonant frequency, fundamentally associated with trade-off relation.

Design Optimization of Bulk Piezoelectric Acceleration Sensor for Enhanced Performance.

While seeking to achieve high performances of a bulk piezoelectric acceleration sensor, we investigated the behavior of the design variables of the sensor components and optimized the sensor design using a numerical simulation based on piezoelectric analysis and metamodeling. The optimized results demonstrated that there was an exponential dependency in the trade-off relation between two performance indicators, the electric voltage and the resonant frequency, as induced by the design characteristics of the sensor. Among the design variables, a decrease in the base height and epoxy thickness and an increase in the piezo element's inner diameter had a positive effect on two performances, while the head dimensions (diameter and height) exhibited the opposite effect on them. The optimal sensor designs are proposed within the valid range of resonant frequency (25-47.5 kHz). Our redesign of a commercial reference sensor improved the resonant frequency by 13.2% and the electric voltage by 46.1%.

Morusin Functions as a Lipogenesis Inhibitor as Well as a Lipolysis Stimulator in Differentiated 3T3-L1 and Primary Adipocytes.

Conflicting results for morusin activity during adipogenic differentiation are reported in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and cancer cells. To elucidate the influence of morusin on fat metabolism, their anti-obesity effects and molecular mechanism were investigated in 3T3-L1 cells and primary adipocytes. Morusin at a dose of less than 20 µM does not induce any significant change in the viability of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The accumulation of intracellular lipid droplets in 3T3-L1 adipocytes stimulated with 0.5 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, 1 µM dexamethasone, 10 µg/mL insulin in DMEM containing 10% FBS (MDI)-significantly reduces in a dose-dependent manner after morusin treatment. The phosphorylation level of members in the MAP kinase signaling pathway under the insulin receptor downstream also decrease significantly in the MDI + morusin-treated group compared to MDI + vehicle-treated group. Also, the expression of adipogenic transcription factors (PPARγ and C/EBPα) and lipogenic proteins (aP2 and FAS) are significantly attenuated by exposure to the compound in MDI-stimulated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Furthermore, the decrease in the G0/G1 arrest of cell cycle after culturing in MDI medium was dramatically recovered after co-culturing in MDI + 20 µM morusin. Moreover, morusin treatment induces glycerol release in the primary adipocytes of SD rats and enhances lipolytic protein expression (HSL, ATGL, and perilipin) in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Overall, the results of the present study provide strong evidence that morusin inhibits adipogenesis by regulating the insulin receptor signaling, cell cycle and adipogenic protein expression as well as stimulating lipolysis by enhancing glycerol release and lipolytic proteins expression.

Quercetin promotes gastrointestinal motility and mucin secretion in loperamide-induced constipation of SD rats through regulation of the mAChRs downstream signal.

CONTEXT: Quercetin (QCT) has been known as a potential therapeutic strategy for gastrointestinal diseases because it contributes to the stabilization of mast cells, the prevention of histamine release and modulation of CaCC chloride channel. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the laxative effect and action mechanism of QCT in Lop-induced constipation model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Constipation of SD rats was induced by subcutaneous injection of loperamide (Lop) (4 mg/kg weight) in 0.5% Tween 20 twice a day for three days. After 24 h, the constipation group was further treated with 1× PBS (Lop + Vehicle treated group), 10 mg/kg of QCT (Lop + LQCT treated group), 20 mg/kg of QCT (Lop + MQCT treated group) or 40 mg/kg QCT (Lop + HQCT treated group) at once. At 24 h after QCT treatment, the constipation phenotypes were measured and the transverse colon was collected from SD rats. RESULTS: The gastrointestinal motility, the number of stools and histological structures were significantly recovered in Lop + QCT treated group compared with the Lop + Vehicle treated group. Also, above activity of epithelial cells and smooth muscle cells were regulated by the mRNA expression of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors M2 and M3 (mAChR M2 and M3) and some mediators of their downstream signalling pathway. Finally, laxative effects of QCT on mAChR signalling pathway were significantly inhibited by the treatment of mAChR antagonist in primary smooth muscle of rat intestine cells (pRISMCs). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first strong evidence that QCT can be considered an important candidate for improving chronic constipation induced by Lop treatment in animal models.

Aging-resistant nanofluids containing covalent functionalized boron nitride nanosheets.

Developing a thermally stable nanofluid that can maintain good thermo-conductive and flow performance at moderate or elevated temperatures for prolonged periods of time is a great challenge in heat transfer applications. Here, the thermal conductivity and rheological properties as well as their thermal stability characteristics of a nanofluid containing two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets (h-BNNSs) in ethylene glycol (EG) are presented, in comparison with those for a graphene oxide (GO) nanofluid as a counterpart. In place of a surfactant, hydroxyl functional groups covalently bound to the BNNS surface provided excellent compatibility and stable dispersion of the particles within EG at temperatures up to 90 °C. Owing to the percolation effect of the 2D sheets, the thermal conductivity of the EG base fluid was significantly enhanced by 80% at 5 vol% of BNNS, superior to that of the GO fluid. Moreover, the BNNS fluids exhibited excellent long-term stability at 90 °C for 5 d without loss of their high thermal conductivity, low viscosity and electrical insulating property, whereas the GO fluids underwent thermal degradation with irreversible particle aggregation and increasing viscosity due to the selective chemical reduction of the surface functional groups (i.e., C-O groups) of the GO.

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Sexually Transmitted Infections among Korean Adolescents under Probation.

There is limited research on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among adolescents in Korea. The objective of this study was to explore the prevalence of and risk factors for STIs among Korean adolescents under probation. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in one juvenile-delinquent center and five probation offices in Korea to determine the prevalence of STIs caused by the following pathogens: Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, herpes simplex virus (HSV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Treponema pallidum, Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Ureaplasma parvum. Of the 237 (208 male and 29 female) participating adolescents, 152 (64.1%) had a history of coitus. Overall, 133 (56.1%) subjects tested positive for at least one microorganism in their genitourinary tract. The most prevalent pathogen was U. urealyticum (24.7%, n = 65), followed by U. parvum (24.1%, n = 57), M. hominis (17.3%, n = 41), C. trachomatis (13.9%, n = 33), N. gonorrhoeae (1.7%, n = 4), T. vaginalis (0.8%, n = 2), and HSV (0.8%, n = 2). The prevalence of syphilis was 0.8% (n = 2). There were no reported cases of HIV infection. Fifty-four participants (35.5%) were positive with more than two pathogens. We did not find any significant difference between STIs and socioeconomic factors, behavioral factors or sexual practices. In conclusion, the prevalence of STIs among adolescents under probation was high. Systematic screening programs, more practical sexual education, and adequate provision of treatment are essential for the prevention and management of STIs among adolescents, especially those under probation.

The inhibitory activities of the edible green alga Capsosiphon fulvescens on rat lens aldose reductase and advanced glycation end products formation.

PURPOSE: Accumulating evidence suggests that inhibitors of aldose reductase (AR) may prevent hyperglycemia-induced long-term complications in diabetes mellitus. In the present study, we evaluated the AR inhibitory potential of ethanolic (EtOH) extracts from 22 seaweed species. METHODS: AR inhibitory activities of the selected seaweed species were evaluated using the rat lens aldose reductase (RLAR) inhibitory assay. RESULTS: All extracts exhibited RLAR inhibitory activity, which ranged from 5.87 to 92.71 % at a concentration of 50 µg/mL. Since Capsosiphon fulvescens exhibited significant inhibitory potential and is a frequently used foodstuff, it was selected for a detailed investigation using RLAR and advanced glycation end products (AGE) formation inhibitory assays. Among the different solvent-soluble fractions, the CH2Cl2, EtOAc, and n-BuOH fractions showed promising RLAR and AGE formation inhibitory activities. Considering the AR inhibitory potential, CH2Cl2 and EtOAc fractions were selected for chromatographic separation and yielded 11 compounds in which capsofulvesin A, capsofulvesin B, and chalinasterol showed potential RLAR inhibitory activity with the respective IC50 values of 52.53, 101.92, and 345.27 µM. Kinetic studies revealed that capsofulvesin A and chalinasterol exhibited mixed type inhibition, while capsofulvesin B exhibited noncompetitive inhibition. To our knowledge, this is the first report of AR inhibitory activity of the glycolipids capsofulvesin A and capsofulvesin B. CONCLUSIONS: Our results clearly indicate the potential RLAR and AGE formation inhibitory activities of C. fulvescens as well as its isolated constituents, which could be further explored to develop therapeutic modalities for the treatment of diabetes and related complications.

Validation of the AOAC method for analyzing fatty acids in meat by-products for the Korean Food Composition Database.

The constituents of meat and meat by-product are susceptible to degradation processes, especially, the control of oxidative processes is critical. The main factors that influence their lipid oxidation are fat content and fatty acid composition. The aim of this study was to validate AOAC method 996.06 for analysis of fatty acid in meat by-products and to provide their accurate, precise, and reliable information in the Korean Food Composition Database. A total of 19 fatty acids were identified. The head, small intestine, stomach, and heart of pigs and the feet of chickens contained higher contents of total fatty acids, whereas the blood of cow had the lowest content. In particular, meat by-products other than the liver, blood, and stomach of cows and the stomach and small intestine of pigs contained higher contents of unsaturated fatty acids. Their main fatty acids were oleic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, and stearic acid. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-022-01223-8.

Comparison of Cryopreservation Media for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Spheroids.

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (MSC) spheroids generated in three-dimensional culture are of considerable interest as a novel therapeutic tool for regenerative medicine. However, the lack of reliable methods for storing MSC spheroids represents a significant roadblock to their successful use in the clinic. An ideal storage medium for MSC spheroids should function as both a vehicle for delivery and a cryoprotectant during storage of spheroids for use at a later time. In this study, we compared the outcomes after subjecting MSC spheroids to a freeze/thaw cycle in three Good Manufacturing Practices-grade cryopreservation media, CryoStor10 (CS10), Stem-Cellbanker (SCB), and Recovery Cell Culture Freezing Media (RFM) or conventional freezing medium (CM) (CM, Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing 20% fetal bovine serum and 10% dimethyl sulfoxide) as a control for 2 months. The endpoints tested were viability, morphology, and expression of stem cell markers and other relevant genes. The results of LIVE/DEAD™ assays and annexin V/propidium iodide staining suggested that viability was relatively higher after one freeze/thaw cycle in CS10 or SCB than after freeze/thaw in CM or RFM. Furthermore, the relative "stemness" and expression of MSC markers were similar with or without freeze/thaw in CS10. Scanning electron microscopy also indicated that the surface morphology of MSC spheroids was well preserved after cryopreservation in CS10. Thus, even though it was tested for a short-term period, we suggest that CS10, which has been approved for clinical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Association, is a promising cryopreservation medium that would facilitate the development of MSC spheroids for future clinical use.