We isolated novel reassortant avian influenza A(H5N6) viruses containing genes from clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 virus and low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses in carcasses of whooper swans and bean ...geese in South Korea during December 2023. Neuraminidase gene was from a clade 2.3.4.4b H5N6 virus infecting poultry and humans in China.
Shift work has been hypothesized as a risk factor for obesity. In this study, we investigated the association between current shift work and body mass index (BMI) among female nurses in Korea. The ...relationship between duration of shift work and BMI of the participants was also evaluated.
This cross-sectional survey evaluated participants in the Korean Nurses' Survey, conducted from October to December 2011, using web-based self-administered questionnaires. A total of 9,989 nurses were included among 10,000 who registered on the survey web site (5,287 shift workers and 4,702 non-shift workers). Current shift workers were divided into tertiles of shift work duration (0.08-3.00 years, n = 1,732; 3.08-6.75 years, n = 1,731; and 6.83-38.00 years, n = 1,686). The BMI thresholds of overweight and obesity were ≥23 kg/m² and ≥25 kg/m², respectively. Data were analyzed using SPSS software.
Mean participant age was 33.2 ± 8.6 years and the mean BMI was 20.9 ± 2.5 kg/m². There were statistically significant differences in current smoking status, regular drinking habit, dietary habits, regular exercise, sleep problems and self-perceived health status according to duration of shift work. The overall prevalence of overweight/obesity (18.6%) and obesity (7.4%) increased significantly as shift work duration increased from the lowest to highest tertile (P for trend <0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed no association between current shift work and BMI. However, after adjusting for potential confounders, the participants with the longest duration of shift work were 1.63 (95% CI, 1.22-2.17) times more likely to be overweight or obese than those with the shortest duration. There was a significant positive association between obesity and shift work duration in the unadjusted analysis; however, it was attenuated and no longer significant in the multivariate model.
The duration of shift work was positively associated with prevalence of overweight/obesity in nurses in Korea. Although these findings need to be confirmed in prospective studies, they suggest that special attention should be paid to female nurses with a long duration of shift work.
In clinical practice, a risk prediction model is an effective solitary program to predict prognosis in particular patient groups. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)and N-terminal pro-b-type natriuretic ...peptide (NT-proBNP) are widely recognized outcome-predicting factors for patients with heart failure (HF).This study derived external validation of a risk score to predict 1-year mortality after discharge in hospitalized patients with HF using the Meta-analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure (MAGGIC)program data. We also assessed the effect of adding BNP or NT-proBNP to this risk score model in a Korean HF registry population.
We included 5625 patients from the Korean acute heart failure registry (KorAHF) and excluded those who died in hospital. The MAGGIC constructed a risk score to predict mortality in patients with HF by using 13 routinely available patient characteristics (age, gender, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), HF diagnosed within the last 18 months, current smoker, NYHA class, use of beta blocker, ACEI or ARB, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, creatinine, and EF). We added BNP or NT-proBNP, which are the most important biomarkers, to the MAGGIC risk scoring system in patients with HF. The outcome measure was 1-year mortality. In multivariable analysis, BNP or NT-proBNP independently predicted death. The risk score was significantly varied between alive and dead groups (30.61 ± 6.32 vs. 24.80 ± 6.81, p < 0.001). After the conjoint use of BNP or NT-proBNP and MAGGIC risk score in patients with HF, a significant difference in risk score was noted (31.23 ± 6.46 vs. 25.25 ± 6.96, p < 0.001).The discrimination abilities of the risk score model with and without biomarker showed minimal improvement (C index of 0.734 for MAGGIC risk score and 0.736 for MAGGIC risk score plus BNP or NT-proBNP, p = 0.0502) and the calibration was found good. However, we achieved a significant improvement in net reclassification and integrated discrimination for mortality (NRI of 33.4%,p < 0.0001 and IDI of 0.002, p < 0.0001).
In the KorAHF, the MAGGIC project HF risk score performed well in a large nationwide contemporary external validation cohort. Furthermore, the addition of BNP or NT-proBNPto the MAGGIC risk score was beneficial in predicting more death in hospitalized patients with HF.
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•Chlorogenic acid attenuates oxidative stress against ischemic stroke.•Chlorogenic acid regulates the binding of thioredoxin and ASK1in a stroke animal model.•Chlorogenic acid exerts ...neuroprotective effects against glutamate toxicity in neurons.•Chlorogenic acid regulates thioredoxin expression in glutamate-exposed neurons.
Ischemic stroke increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can eventually lead to neuronal death. Thioredoxin is a small reductase protein that acts as an eliminator of ROS and protects neurons from brain damage. Chlorogenic acid is known as a phenolic compound that has a neuroprotective effect. We investigated the change of thioredoxin expression by chlorogenic acid in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) animal model. Adult rats were injected intraperitoneally with phosphate buffered saline or chlorogenic acid (30 mg/kg) 2 h after MCAO. MCAO damage induced neurological defects and increased ROS and lipid peroxidation levels, however, chlorogenic acid mitigated these changes. MCAO damage reduced thioredoxin expression, which was mitigated by chlorogenic acid treatment. The interaction between thioredoxin and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) was decreased in MCAO animals, chlorogenic acid treatment prevented this decrease. In cultured neurons, chlorogenic acid dose-dependently attenuated glutamate-induced decreases in cell viability and thioredoxin expression. Glutamate toxicity downregulated bcl-2 and upregulated bax, cytochrome c, and caspase-3, however, chlorogenic acid attenuated these changes. The mitigating effect of chlorogenic acid was lower in thioredoxin siRNA-transfected cells than in non-transfected cells. These results provide evidence that chlorogenic acid exerts potent antioxidant and neuroprotective effects through regulation of thioredoxin and modulation of ASK1 and thioredoxin binding in ischemic brain injury. These findings indicate that chlorogenic acid exerts a neuroprotective effect by regulating thioredoxin expression in cerebral ischemia and glutamate exposure conditions.
Neuroinflammation is significant in the pathogenesis and development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previously, we showed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation caused memory impairment. We ...investigated the possible preventive effects of punicalagin (PUN), a component of pomegranate, on memory deficiency caused by LPS, along with the fundamental mechanisms. LPS-treated cultured astrocytes and microglial BV-2 cells were investigated for anti-neuroinflammatory effects of PUN. PUN (1.5 mg/kg) ameliorates LPS (250 μg/kg daily 7 times)-induced memory impairment as well as prevents the LPS-induced expression of inflammatory proteins. In in vitro study, we also found that PUN (1 μg/ml) inhibited the LPS-(10, 20 and 50 μM) induced expression of iNOS and Cox-2 as well as the production of ROS, NO, TNF-α and IL-1β. PUN also suppress activation of NF-κB via inhibition of IκB degradation as well as p50 and p65 translocation into the nucleus in LPS treated mouse brain and cultured astrocytes and microglial BV-2 cells. Consistent with the inhibitory effect on neuro inflammation, PUN inhibited LPS-induced Aβ1-42 generation through down-regulation of APP and BACE1 expression in in vivo and in vitro study. Moreover, PUN directly binds to NF-κB subunit p50 evidenced by a docking model and pull down assay. These results suggest that PUN inhibits LPS-induced memory impairment via anti-inflammatory and anti-amylogenic mechanisms through inhibition of NF-κB activation.
•Neuroinflammation and amyloidogenesis are main symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.•NF-κB activation can induce the inflammation and amyloidogenesis pathways.•Punicalagin inhibits NF-κB activation through direct binding to its subunit P50.•Punicalagin reduces LPS-induced neuroinflammation and amyloidogenesis.•Punicalagin is a possible candidate for treating Alzheimer's disease.
Current heart failure (HF) guidelines recommend a multidisciplinary approach, discharge education, and self-management for HF. However, the recommendations are challenging to implement in real-world ...clinical settings.
We developed a mobile health (mHealth) platform for HF self-care to evaluate whether a smartphone app-based intervention with Bluetooth-connected monitoring devices and a feedback system can help improve HF symptoms.
In this prospective, randomized, multicenter study, we enrolled patients 20 years of age and older, hospitalized for acute HF, and who could use a smartphone from 7 tertiary hospitals in South Korea. In the intervention group (n=39), the apps were automatically paired with Bluetooth-connected monitoring devices. The patients could enter information on vital signs, HF symptoms, diet, medications, and exercise regimen into the app daily and receive feedback or alerts on their input. In the control group (n=38), patients could only enter their blood pressure, heart rate, and weight using conventional, non-Bluetooth devices and could not receive any feedback or alerts from the app. The primary end point was the change in dyspnea symptom scores from baseline to 4 weeks, assessed using a questionnaire.
At 4 weeks, the change in dyspnea symptom score from baseline was significantly greater in the intervention group than in the control group (mean -1.3, SD 2.1 vs mean -0.3, SD 2.3; P=.048). A significant reduction was found in body water composition from baseline to the final measurement in the intervention group (baseline level mean 7.4, SD 2.5 vs final level mean 6.6, SD 2.5; P=.003). App adherence, which was assessed based on log-in or the percentage of days when symptoms were first observed, was higher in the intervention group than in the control group. Composite end points, including death, rehospitalization, and urgent HF visits, were not significantly different between the 2 groups.
The mobile-based health platform with Bluetooth-connected monitoring devices and a feedback system demonstrated improvement in dyspnea symptoms in patients with HF. This study provides evidence and rationale for implementing mobile app-based self-care strategies and feedback for patients with HF.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05668000; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05668000.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is characterized as a progressive dilation and degradation of the aortic wall, associated with activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and inflammation. ...Emerging evidence indicates a role for microRNAs (miRNAs) in AAA pathogenesis, but it is unclear whether abdominal aortic endothelial miRNAs play a role in the disease process. We aimed to identify miRNAs in the abdominal aortic endothelium that play a critical role in AAA development.
The mouse model of AAA induced by angiotensin II infusion was used in this study. Through a miRNA array and validation study, we initially identified the murine-specific miR-712 and subsequently its human/murine homolog miR-205 as angiotensin II-induced miRNAs in the abdominal aortic endothelium in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, miR-712 stimulated MMP activity in the aortic wall by directly targeting 2 MMP inhibitors: tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3) and reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with kazal motifs (RECK). Silencing of miR-712 and miR-205 by using anti-miR-712 and anti-miR-205, respectively, significantly decreased the aortic MMP activity and inflammation, preventing AAA development in angiotensin II-infused ApoE(-/-) mice. Further, upregulation of 4 angiotensin II-sensitive miRNAs, miR-205, -21, -133b, and -378, identified in this murine study were confirmed in human AAA samples compared with nondiseased control.
Our results demonstrate that angiotensin II-sensitive miR-712 and its human homolog miR-205 downregulate TIMP3 and RECK, which in turn stimulate aortic MMP activity and inflammation, leading to AAA development. Targeting these miRNAs may be a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent AAA.
This study investigated and compared the thermodynamic stability, kinetic behaviour, and effectiveness of a water purification process using pentafluoroethane (HFC125a) and 1,1,1,2‐tetrafluoroethane ...(HFC134a) as guest molecules. The hydrate phase equilibria of each fluorinated gas (F‐gas) in pure water and NaCl solution were predicted using the Hu‐Lee‐Sum correlation, which agreed well with the experimental results from our previous studies. Under the same subcooling temperature of 3 K (at 0.3 MPa), the rate of hydrate growth with HFC134a was faster than that of HFC125a in the absence or presence of NaCl. In situ Raman spectroscopy confirmed that the HFC134a and HFC125a molecules occupy only a large cage of structure II hydrate. The Raman shifts of CH and CC bands in all phases (gas, liquid, and hydrate phases) of HFC125a shifted to higher wavelengths than those of HFC134a due to the increase in the number of fluorine atoms. The change in the salinity was studied to evaluate the effectiveness of an F‐gas hydrate‐based water purification process. In addition, the desalination efficiency of the HFC134a and HFC125a hydrates was compared by separating hydrate crystals from the slurries. The results showed that the desalination efficiency (or total dissolved solids removal efficiency) of HFC134a hydrate was higher than that of HFC125a hydrate. This study proves the importance of the water purification process using hydrates.
Piperlongumine has anti-cancer activity in numerous cancer cell lines via various signaling pathways. But there has been no study regarding the mechanisms of PL on the lung cancer yet. Thus, we ...evaluated the anti-cancer effects and possible mechanisms of PL on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells in vivo and in vitro. Our findings showed that PL induced apoptotic cell death and suppressed the DNA binding activity of NF-κB in a concentration dependent manner (0-15 μM) in NSCLC cells. Docking model and pull down assay showed that PL directly binds to the DNA binding site of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p50 subunit, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis showed that PL binds to p50 concentration-dependently. Moreover, co-treatment of PL with NF-κB inhibitor phenylarsine oxide (0.1 μM) or p50 siRNA (100 nM) augmented PL-induced inhibitory effect on cell growth and activation of Fas and DR4. Notably, co-treatment of PL with p50 mutant plasmid (C62S) partially abolished PL-induced cell growth inhibition and decreased the enhanced expression of Fas and DR4. In xenograft mice model, PL (2.5-5 mg/kg) suppressed tumor growth of NSCLC dose-dependently. Therefore, these results indicated that PL could inhibit lung cancer cell growth via inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo.
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