Effect of a Combination of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KC3 and Leonurus japonicus Extracts in Respiratory Discomfort: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

The increased global prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases in recent years has caused a substantial public health burden. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KC3 and Leonurus japonicus Houtt. (LJH) extracts can alleviate respiratory symptoms and improve lung function in vitro and in vivo. However, the clinical efficacy and safety profile of this combination in patients with respiratory diseases remain unclear. Therefore, this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of L. plantarum KC3 and LJH extracts in adults with respiratory discomfort. This mixture was termed 'CKDB-315'. Participants, randomly assigned to the CKDB-315 or placebo groups, were treated for 12 weeks. Assessments included the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test (CAT). The CKDB-315 group showed considerably improved SGRQ and CAT scores compared with the placebo group. Secondary outcomes, including dyspnea, pulmonary function, total antioxidant status, and inflammatory cytokine levels, were consistent with the primary outcomes. Exploratory analyses of the gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acid contents revealed the potential mechanisms underlying the effects of CKDB-315. Finally, safety analysis indicated that CKDB-315 was well tolerated and caused few adverse events. Our findings indicate that CKDB-315 is a promising therapeutic option for respiratory discomfort in adults.

Efficacy and Safety of Panax ginseng Sprout Extract in Subjective Memory Impairment: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Sprout ginseng extract (ThinkGIN™) manufactured through a smart farm system has been shown to improve memory in preclinical studies. This study conducted a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ThinkGIN™ for improving memory in subjective memory impairment (SMI). Subjects aged 55 to 75 years with SMI participated in this study. A total of 80 subjects who met the inclusion/exclusion criteria were assigned to the ThinkGIN™ group (n = 40, 450 mg ThinkGIN™/day) or a placebo group (n = 40). Efficacy and safety evaluations were conducted before intervention and at 12 weeks after intervention. As a result of 12 weeks of ThinkGIN™ intake, significant differences in SVLT, RCFT, MoCA-K, PSQI-K, and AChE were observed between the two groups. Safety evaluation (AEs, laboratory tests, vital signs, and electrocardiogram) revealed that ThinkGIN™ was safe with no clinically significant changes. Therefore, ThinkGIN™ has the potential to be used as a functional food to improve memory.

Distribution of Neurofilament in Peeled Internal Limiting Membrane.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim was to study the distribution of neurofilament in peeled internal limiting membrane (ILM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective case study. Vitrectomy and ILM peeling were performed in patients with epiretinal membrane and macular hole. ILM flap specimens were obtained as one disc area size from five locations. Immunofluorescent staining was performed with an antineurofilament heavy antibody. Using a confocal microscope, retinal cell debris density was studied using the ImageJ program. RESULTS: Percent of stained neurofilament was 1.58 ± 1.14% in total (2.45 ± 1.37% in extranasal, 1.97 ± 0.75% in extratemporal, 1.93 ± 1.26% in juxta-nasal, 0.89 ± 0.69% in fovea, and 0.63 ± 0.46% in juxtatemporal). The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed significant differences among groups (P < 0.05). Bonferroni post hoc analysis only confirmed significant difference between juxtatemporal and extranasal groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In peeled ILM flap, neurofilaments are rarely detected in the juxtatemporal area. However, they are frequently detected in the extranasal area. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2023;54:643-648.].

Aortic Annulus Detection Based on Deep Learning for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Using Cardiac Computed Tomography.

BACKGROUND: To propose a deep learning architecture for automatically detecting the complex structure of the aortic annulus plane using cardiac computed tomography (CT) for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients who underwent TAVR between January 2017 and July 2020 at a tertiary medical center. Annulus Detection Permuted AdaIN network (ADPANet) based on a three-dimensional (3D) U-net architecture was developed to detect and localize the aortic annulus plane using cardiac CT. Patients (N = 72) who underwent TAVR between January 2017 and July 2020 at a tertiary medical center were enrolled. Ground truth using a limited dataset was delineated manually by three cardiac radiologists. Training, tuning, and testing sets (70:10:20) were used to build the deep learning model. The performance of ADPANet for detecting the aortic annulus plane was analyzed using the root mean square error (RMSE) and dice similarity coefficient (DSC). RESULTS: In this study, the total dataset consisted of 72 selected scans from patients who underwent TAVR. The RMSE and DSC values for the aortic annulus plane using ADPANet were 55.078 ± 35.794 and 0.496 ± 0.217, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our deep learning framework was feasible to detect the 3D complex structure of the aortic annulus plane using cardiac CT for TAVR. The performance of our algorithms was higher than other convolutional neural networks.

Efficacy of radiofrequency combined with single-dot ultrasound efficacy for skin rejuvenation: A non-randomized split-face trial with blinded response evaluation.

BACKGROUND: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and radiofrequency (RF) are non-invasive modalities for skin rejuvenation, but their combined effects have not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated and compared the efficacy of HIFU alone and combined HIFU and bipolar RF using a newly designed probe. METHODS: Twenty-two Korean adults with facial wrinkles and aging underwent treatment on both sides of their face: HIFU-only on the left and HIFU combined with RF on the right. Skin parameters were measured at different time points to evaluate the improvement in skin rejuvenation. RESULTS: HIFU treatment significantly improved skin parameters, including pore volume and number, skin elasticity, depth of eye wrinkles, degree of sagging in the eye area, nasolabial folds and cheeks, volume of the jawline, skin density, and permittivity. Furthermore, combining bipolar RF with HIFU treatment enhanced efficacy in reducing pore number, improving skin elasticity, diminishing eye wrinkle depth, and increasing skin moisturization. These findings indicate that bipolar RF can synergically improve skin rejuvenation by providing a thermal effect to the upper papillary dermis, which is more superficial than the target area of HIFU. CONCLUSION: Combining HIFU with bipolar RF synergistically improves skin rejuvenation, including pore reduction, periorbital wrinkle improvement, skin elasticity, and skin moisturization.

Identifying fragile calcifications of the aortic valve in transcatheter aortic valve replacement: iodine concentration of aortic valvular calcification by spectral CT.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the relationship between spectral computed tomography (CT) measured iodine concentration and strength of aortic valvular calcification (AVC) in patients with aortic valve stenosis (AVS). METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for symptomatic AVS and underwent both pre and postprocedural electrocardiogram gated CT scans using a spectral CT system. Preprocedural CT was used to evaluate the volume and iodine concentration (IC) in the AVC. Postprocedural CT data were used to calculate the volume reduction percentage (VRP) of AVC. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify the independent variables related to the VRP in AVCs. RESULTS: A total of 94 AVCs were selected from 22 patients. The mean volume and IC of the AVCs before TAVR were 0.37 mL ± 0.15 mL and 7 mg/mL ± 10.5 mg/mL, respectively. After TAVR, a median VRP of all 94 AVCs was 18.5%. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the IC was independently associated with the VRP (coefficient = 1.64, p < 0.001). When an optimal IC cutoff point was set at 4 mg/mL in the assessment of a fragile AVC which showed the VRP was > 18.5%, the sensitivity was 63%; specificity, 91%; positive predictive value, 88%; and negative predictive value, 71%. CONCLUSIONS: When using spectral CT to prepare the TAVR, measuring the IC of the AVC may be useful to assess the probability of AVC deformity after TAVR. KEY POINTS: • A dual-layer detector-based spectral CT enables quantifying iodine of contrast media in the aortic valve calcification (AVC) on contrast-enhanced CT images. • The AVC including iodine of contrast media on contrast-enhanced CT image may have loose compositions, associated with the deformity of AVC after TAVR. • Measuring the iodine concentration in AVC may have the potential to assess the probability of AVC deformity, which may be associated with the outcome and complications after TAVR.2.

Efficacy and Safety of Omija (Schisandra chinensis) Extract Mixture on the Improvement of Hyperglycemia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

A previous animal study demonstrated that the administration of Omija extract and soybean mixture (OSM) improved glycemic control in the type 2 diabetes model. In this study, we conducted a 12-week, randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled clinical trial to determine the effects of OSM in humans with hyperglycemia. Participants with fasting plasma concentrations of 100-140 mg/dL were enrolled (n = 80) and administered either OSM or placebo products for 12 weeks. The outcomes included measurements of efficacy (fasting plasma glucose (FPG), postprandial glucose (PPG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), postprandial insulin (PPI), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), C-peptide, fructosamine, and lipid parameters) and safety at baseline and at 12 weeks. After the intervention, the OSM group showed significantly decreased levels of FPG, PPG (30, 60 min), PPI (60 min), insulin area under the curve (AUC), fructosamine, and low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol compared to the placebo group. No clinically significant changes in any safety parameter were observed. Therefore, it is hypothesized that OSM supplementation is an effective and safe functional food supplement for humans with hyperglycemia.

Rebleeding Rate and Risk Factors for Rebleeding after Device-Assisted Enteroscopy in Patients with Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A KASID Multicenter Study.

INTRODUCTION: The impact of device-assisted enteroscopy (DAE) on long-term rebleeding in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) exhibiting detectable small-bowel lesions remains unclear. We investigated the long-term rebleeding rate and predictive factors for DAE in patients with OGIB. METHOD: Patients with OGIB with small bowel lesions detected through DAE were enrolled at three Korean tertiary hospitals. Predictive risk factors associated with rebleeding were analyzed using the Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: From April 2008 to April 2021, 141 patients were enrolled, including 38 patients (27.0%) with rebleeding. The rebleeding rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 25.0%, 29.6%, and 31.1%, respectively. The Cox regression analysis revealed that multiple small-bowel lesions (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.551, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.157-5.627, p = 0.020), the need for more than five packed red blood cells (RBC) transfusions (HR: 2.704, 95% CI: 1.412-5.181, p = 0.003), and ulcerative lesions (HR: 1.992, 95% CI: 1.037-3.826, p = 0.039) were positively associated with rebleeding. Therapeutic interventions for patients with detectable lesions, overt bleeding (vs. occult bleeding), comorbidities, and medications were not associated with rebleeding. CONCLUSION: More than 25% of patients with OGIB having detectable small-bowel lesions had rebleeding. Patients with multiple lesions, a requirement of more than five packed RBC transfusions, and ulcerative lesions were associated with a higher risk of rebleeding.

Efficacy and Safety of Aronia, Red Ginseng, Shiitake Mushroom, and Nattokinase Mixture on Insulin Resistance in Prediabetic Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

We determined whether oral consumption of Aronia, red ginseng, shiitake mushroom, and nattokinase mixture (3.4: 4.1: 2.4: 0.1 w/w; AGM) improved glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in prediabetic adults in a 12-week randomized, double-blinded clinical trial. Participants with fasting serum glucose concentrations of 100-140 mg/dL were recruited and randomly assigned to an AGM or placebo group. Participants of the AGM group (n = 40) were given an AGM granule containing 4 g of freeze-dried Aronia, red ginseng, shiitake mushroom, and nattokinase (3.4: 4.1: 2.4: 0.1 w/w) twice daily for 12 weeks, and the placebo group participants (n = 40) were provided with corn starch granules identical in appearance, weight, and flavor for 12 weeks. Serum glucose and insulin concentrations were measured during oral-glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) after administering 75 g of glucose in a fasted state. HOMA-IR, liver damage, and inflammation indices were determined, and safety parameters and adverse reactions were assessed. As determined by OGTT, serum glucose concentrations were not significantly different between the AGM and placebo groups after the intervention. However, changes in serum insulin concentrations in the fasted state and Homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index after the intervention were significantly lower in the AGM group than in the placebo group (-3.07 ± 7.06 vs. 0.05 ± 6.12, p = 0.043 for serum insulin; -0.85 ± 2.14 vs. 0.07 ± 1.92, p = 0.049 for HOMA-IR). Serum adiponectin concentrations were reduced by intervention in the placebo group but not in the AGM group. Changes in liver damage indexes, including serum activities of the γ-glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase, were lower in the AGM group and significantly reduced in the AGM group more than in the placebo group (p < 0.05). Changes in serum high sensitive-C-reactive protein concentrations in AGM and placebo groups were significantly different (-0.12 ± 0.81 vs. 0.51 ± 1.95, p = 0.06). In conclusion, AGM possibly improves insulin sensitivity and ß-cell function and reduces liver damage and inflammation in prediabetic adults.

Data resource profile: the Korea National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey.

The Korea National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey (KNHDIS), which was started in 2005, is a national probability survey of general hospitals in Korea with 100 or more beds conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The KNHDIS captures approximately 9% of discharged cases from sampled hospitals using a 2-stage stratified cluster sampling scheme, among which 13% are injury related cases, defined as S00-T98 (injury, poisoning, and certain other consequences of external causes) using International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision codes. The KNHDIS collects information on characteristics of injury-related discharges in order to understand the scale of injuries, identify risk factors, and provide data supporting prevention policies and intervention strategies. The types of data captured include the hospitals' information, detailed clinical information, and injury-related codes such as the mechanism, activities undertaken when injured (sports, leisure activities, work, treatment, and education), external causes of the injury, and location of the occurrence of the injury based on the International Classification of External Causes of Injuries. Furthermore, the means of transportation, risk factors for suicide, and toxic substances are recoreded. Annual reports of the KNHDIS are publicly accessible to browse via the KDCA website (http://www.kdca.go.kr) and microdata are available free of charge upon request via email (kcdcinjury@korea.kr).

Role for Mucin-5AC in Upper and Lower Airway Pathogenesis in Mice.

Mucin-5AC (MUC5AC) is a major secreted mucin in pathogenic airways. To determine its role in mucus-related airway disorders, Muc5ac-deficient (Muc5ac-/-) and wild-type (Muc5ac+/+) mice were compared in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease, and ozone toxicity. Significantly greater inflammation and fibrosis by bleomycin were developed in Muc5ac-/- lungs compared to Muc5ac+/+ lungs. More severe mucous cell metaplasia in fibrotic Muc5ac-/- lungs coincided with bronchial Muc2, Muc4, and Muc5b overexpression. Airway RSV replication was higher in Muc5ac-/- than in Muc5ac+/+ during early infection. RSV-caused pulmonary epithelial death, bronchial smooth muscle thickening, and syncytia formation were more severe in Muc5ac-/- compared to Muc5ac+/+. Nasal septal damage and subepithelial mucoserous gland enrichment by RSV were greater in Muc5ac-/- than in Muc5ac+/+. Ozone exposure developed more severe nasal airway injury accompanying submucosal gland hyperplasia and pulmonary proliferation in Muc5ac-/- than in Muc5ac+/+. Ozone caused periodic acid-Schiff-positive secretion only in Muc5ac-/- nasal airways. Lung E-cadherin level was relatively lower in Muc5ac-/- than in Muc5ac+/+ basally and after bleomycin, RSV, and ozone exposure. Results indicate that MUC5AC is an essential mucosal component in acute phase airway injury protection. Subepithelial gland hyperplasia and adaptive increase of other epithelial mucins may compensate airway defense in Muc5ac-/- mice.

[Diagnosis of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: 2020 Clinical Practice Guideline]. / 2020ë „ ê°œì • 진료 치침에 따른 ê³¼ë¯¼ì„±íë ´ì˜ 진단.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an interstitial lung disease (ILD) characterized by an inhaled inciting antigen that leads to the inflammation of the lung parenchyma and small airway with immunologic reactions. Over the last decades, the most effective therapeutic option for HP has been limited to antigen avoidance. The differential diagnosis of HP from other ILDs is the beginning of treatment as well as diagnosis. However, the presence of several overlapping clinical and radiologic features makes differentiating HP from other ILDs particularly challenging. In 2020, a multidisciplinary committee of experts from the American Thoracic Society, Japanese Respiratory Society, and Asociación Latinoamericana del Tórax suggested a new clinical practice guideline classifying HP into nonfibrotic and fibrotic phenotypes on the basis of chest high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings. Therefore, we introduced a new diagnostic algorithm based on chest HRCT in the clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis of HP.

THERPA: A small molecule database related to prion protein regulation and prion diseases progression.

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders that affect humans and animals. Although various small molecules have been evaluated for application in the treatment of prion diseases, none have been shown to be efficacious. Expanding our knowledge of these molecules is important for understanding of the complex mechanisms of prion diseases. To improve access to the scattered information on small molecules related to prion diseases, we built a database of therapeutic molecules associated with prion diseases (THERPA, therpa.pythonanywhere.com). THERPA includes 119 small molecules and their 283 relationships with prion diseases. THERPA is an interactive visual database and useful for improving search efficiency which can help researchers identify intrinsic small molecules that can be used for developing therapeutics for prion diseases.

Color Doppler Sonography Accompanied by Dynamic Scanning for the Diagnosis of Ankle and Foot Fractures.

Sonography is conventionally used to diagnose fractures by identifying cortical discontinuity of the bone. In this study, fracture sonography in addition to color Doppler and dynamic scanning was performed in settings with limited or no access to radiography. We describe 5 cases of ankle and foot fractures with the use of sonography to identify changes in the fractured site. The width of the fracture space increased on dynamic scanning, and the Doppler signals were generated inside the fracture space on dynamic scanning. In conclusion, color Doppler sonography accompanied by dynamic scanning is a useful adjunctive diagnostic tool in addition to previously described sonographic fracture findings.

The Cut-off Value of Blood Mercury Concentration in Relation to Insulin Resistance.

BACKGROUND: Increased blood mercury concentration is associated with inflammation, and chronic inflammation can cause insulin resistance. We examined the cut-off value of blood mercury in relation to an increased score on the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). METHODS: We used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008-2010). Relevant data from 5,184 subjects (2,523 men and 2,661 women) were analyzed cross-sectionally. General linear analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between HOMA-IR score and blood mercury concentration. In addition, we determined the cut-off value of blood mercury concentration in relation to increased HOMA-IR score (> 2.34) using an ROC curve. RESULTS: The mean value of blood mercury concentration in men and women was 5.88 µg/L and 4.11 µg/L, respectively. In men, comparing to the first quartile, HOMA-IR score increased significantly in the third and fourth blood mercury quartiles. In women, however, the increase in HOMA-IR score was not significant. The cut-off value that best represented the association between increased HOMA-IR score and blood mercury concentration in men was found to be 4.71 µg/L. CONCLUSION: Blood mercury concentration was associated with increased HOMA-IR score in men, and the cut-off value of blood mercury concentration that was correlated with increased HOMA-IR score was around 4.71 µg/L.

Dietary Calcium Intake May Contribute to the HOMA-IR Score in Korean Females with Vitamin D Deficiency (2008-2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey).

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D and calcium are important factors involved in the regulation of blood glucose and insulin secretion. The Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) score is a useful variable for evaluating insulin resistance, and therefore we cross-sectionally compared HOMA-IR scores according to serum vitamin D levels and dietary calcium intake. METHODS: We selected data from healthy males (n=5,163) and females (n=7,506) analyzed over 5 years (2008-2012) via the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). We calculated HOMA-IR scores and compared them according to serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration classification (<20, 20-30, >30 ng/mL) and dietary calcium quintile after adjustment for relevant variables using complex sample analysis. Comparisons were done after data weighting. RESULTS: The mean dietary calcium intake in males and females was 558.1 mg/day and 445.9 mg/day, respectively. The mean serum 25(OH)D concentration in males and females was 19.4 ng/mL and 16.8 ng/mL, respectively. After adjustment for relevant variables, HOMA-IR score was significantly correlated with serum 25(OH)D concentration and dietary calcium intake in females, whereas it was only correlated with serum 25(OH)D concentration in males. HOMA-IR was significantly lower in the top quintile of dietary calcium intake (mean, 866 mg/day) within females with vitamin D deficiency (P=0.047). CONCLUSION: Adequate dietary calcium intake may be important for normal HOMA-IR in females with vitamin D deficiency.

Coronary Calcification Is Reversely Related with Bone and Hair Calcium: The Relationship among Different Calcium Pools in Body.

BACKGROUND: With aging, calcium efflux from bone is increased with age-related bone loss, and it can reduce bone mineral density (BMD). On the contrary, age-related calcium adoption into arterial wall progressively stiffens blood vessels. Theses process insinuates shift of calcium among different pools in body. However, their relationships have not been elucidated yet. So we investigated the correlation among calcium contents in different body pools, such as hair, bone, and blood vessels in women. METHODS: We analyzed 50 females retrospectively who measured Agatston coronary artery calcium score (CACS), BMD, and hair calcium concentration at a regular health check-up in a university hospital. CACS was achieved by coronary multidetector computed tomography, BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in the lumbar spine and femur, and hair calcium level was checked by hair tissue mineral analysis. RESULTS: CACS inversely correlated with BMD (r=-0.280, P=0.049 with lumbar vertebrae 1-4, r=-0.310, P=0.028 with femur neck, r=-0.333, P=0.018 with femur total) and hair calcium concentration (r=-0.352, P=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: CACS has negative correlation with BMD and hair calcium level in women. Different body calcium pools such as bone, hair and blood vessel significantly correlated each other.

Allergen-Removed Rhus verniciflua Extract Induces Ovarian Cancer Cell Death via JNK Activation.

Nuclear factor-[Formula: see text]B (NF-[Formula: see text]B)/Rel transcription factors are best known for their central roles in promoting cell survival in cancer. NF-[Formula: see text]B antagonizes tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-[Formula: see text]-induced apoptosis through a process involving attenuation of the c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK). However, the role of JNK activation in apoptosis induced by negative regulation of NF-[Formula: see text]B is not completely understood. We found that allergen-removed Rhus verniciflua Stokes (aRVS) extract-mediated NF-[Formula: see text]B inhibition induces apoptosis in SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells via the serial activation of caspases and SKOV-3 cells are most specifically suppressed by aRVS. Here, we show that in addition to activating caspases, aRVS extract negatively modulates the TNF-[Formula: see text]-mediated I[Formula: see text]B/NF-[Formula: see text]B pathway to promote JNK activation, which results in apoptosis. When the cytokine TNF-[Formula: see text] binds to the TNF receptor, I[Formula: see text]B dissociates from NF-[Formula: see text]B. As a result, the active NF-[Formula: see text]B translocates to the nucleus. aRVS extract (0.5[Formula: see text]mg/ml) clearly prevented NF-[Formula: see text]B from mobilizing to the nucleus, resulting in the upregulation of JNK phosphorylation. This subsequently increased Bax activation, leading to marked aRVS-induced apoptosis, whereas the JNK inhibitor SP600125 in aRVS extract treated SKOV-3 cells strongly inhibited Bax. Bax subfamily proteins induced apoptosis through caspase-3. Thus, these results indicate that aRVS extract contains components that inhibit NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling to upregulate JNK activation in ovarian cancer cells and support the potential of aRVS as a therapeutic agent for ovarian cancer.

Cut-off values of blood mercury concentration in relation to increased body mass index and waist circumference in Koreans.

Blood mercury (methyl-mercury) from environmental exposure may be related to inflammation in our body. We investigated the cut-off values of blood mercury concentration in relation to increased body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. On the basis of data obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2008-2012), 11,159 subjects (5543 males and 5616 females) were analyzed cross-sectionally. Partial correlation, linear regression, and analysis of covariance (according to the mercury quartile) tests were performed to evaluate the relationship between blood mercury and BMI or waist circumference. In addition, we determined the cut-off values of blood mercury concentration in relation to increased BMI and waist circumference in both genders. Mean values of blood mercury concentration were 5.07 ± 0.07 µg/L in males and 3.59 ± 0.04 µg/L in females. After log transformation of blood mercury, significant (p < 0.001) correlation was found between blood mercury concentration and BMI or waist circumference. BMI and waist circumference showed a significant and gradual increase as mercury quartile increased in both genders. Blood mercury concentration was weakly but significantly (p < 0.001) associated with BMI and waist circumference. Cut-off values of blood mercury concentration correlated with increased BMI and waist circumference were around 3.95 µg/L in males and 3.40 µg/L in females.

Blood Mercury and Insulin Resistance in Nondiabetic Koreans (KNHANES 2008-2010).

PURPOSE: Blood mercury levels are associated with inflammation, and chronic low-grade inflammation is a cause of insulin resistance. This study aimed to investigate the association between serum mercury and insulin resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects from the 2008-2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were selected (n=29235) and the relevant data of 5388 subjects (2643 males and 2745 females) were analyzed cross-sectionally. Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) was compared according to blood mercury quartiles, and the odds ratio (OR) of having the highest quartile of HOMA-IR according to blood mercury quartiles was calculated. RESULTS: Blood mercury levels in men and women were 29.4 nmol/L and 20.5 nmol/L, respectively, and fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, and HOMA-IR were significantly correlated with blood mercury levels. The correlation was stronger in men than in women. In men, FBS and HOMA-IR showed step-wise increases as the quartiles of blood mercury increased; only HOMA-IR differed significantly in the third and fourth blood mercury quartiles, compared to the first quartile. In women, however, both FBS and HOMA-IR differed significantly in the third and fourth blood mercury quartiles, compared to the first quartile. Among men, the OR of being in the highest HOMA-IR quartile was greatest for the highest blood mercury quartile (OR=1.720, 95% CI; 1.172-2.526), compared with the lowest quartile. CONCLUSION: In this large population-based study, blood mercury levels were weakly correlated with HOMA-IR and may be a risk factor for insulin resistance in nondiabetic Koreans.