Actinoquinazolinone, a New Quinazolinone Derivative from a Marine Bacterium sp. CNQ-617, Suppresses the Motility of Gastric Cancer Cells.

A HPLC-UV guided fractionation of the culture broth of sp. CNQ-617 has led to the isolation of a new quinazolinone derivative, actinoquinazolinone (), as well as two known compounds, 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-4-one () and 7-methoxy-8-hydroxy cycloanthranilylproline (). The interpretation of 1D, 2D NMR, and MS spectroscopic data revealed the planar structure of .

Lumican, an Exerkine, Protects against Skeletal Muscle Loss.

Exerkines are soluble factors secreted by exercised muscles, mimicking the effects of exercise in various organs, including the muscle itself. Lumican is reportedly secreted from muscles; however, its roles in skeletal muscle remain unknown. Herein, we found that lumican mRNA expression in the extensor digitorum longus was significantly higher in exercised mice than in unloading mice, and lumican stimulated myogenesis in vitro.

Effect of a hospital-wide campaign on COVID-19 vaccination uptake among healthcare workers in the context of raised concerns for life-threatening side effects.

Background: All healthcare workers (HCWs) in Yongin Severance Hospital were allocated to receive the ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccine according to national policy. A report of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) associated with ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 led to hesitancy about receiving the second dose among HCWs who had received the first dose.

Methods: From 7 to 14 May, 2021, we performed a survey to identify the factors associated with hesitancy about receiving the second vaccine dose among HCWs at the hospital who had received the first dose of the vaccine.

Aldosterone Inhibits In Vitro Myogenesis by Increasing Intracellular Oxidative Stress via Mineralocorticoid Receptor.

Background: Despite clinical evidence indicating poor muscle health in subjects with primary aldosteronism (PA), it is still unclear whether the role of aldosterone in muscle metabolism is direct or mediated indirectly via factors, such as electrolyte imbalance or impaired glucose uptake. As one approach to clarify this issue, we investigated the effect of aldosterone on in vitro myogenesis and the potential mechanism explaining it.

Methods: Myogenesis was induced in mouse C2C12 myoblasts with 2% horse serum.

Lessons Learned from an Experience with Vancomycin-Intermediate Outbreak in a Newly Built Secondary Hospital in Korea.

A vancomycin-intermediate (VISA) outbreak occurred in an intensive care unit (ICU) in South Korea. We aimed to investigate the condition that led to the VISA outbreak and seek measures to prevent further spread of the multidrug-resistant organism. A total of three VISA isolates were obtained from two patients and a health care worker (HCW) in a newly built 450-bed secondary hospital.

Lumican Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis and Bone Resorption by Suppressing Akt Activity.

Lumican, a ubiquitously expressed small leucine-rich proteoglycan, has been utilized in diverse biological functions. Recent experiments demonstrated that lumican stimulates preosteoblast viability and differentiation, leading to bone formation. To further understand the role of lumican in bone metabolism, we investigated its effects on osteoclast biology.

Effect of CCL11 on In Vitro Myogenesis and Its Clinical Relevance for Sarcopenia in Older Adults.

Background: The C-C motif chemokine ligand 11 (CCL11) has been receiving attention as a potential pro-aging factor. Accordingly, it may be involved in muscle metabolism and sarcopenia, a key component of aging phenotypes. To clarify this potential, we investigated the effects of CCL11 on in vitro muscle biology and its clinical relevance for sarcopenia parameters in older adults.

Serum GDF15 Level Is Independent of Sarcopenia in Older Asian Adults.

Background: Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), induced by tissue inflammation and mitochondrial stress, has received significant attention as a biomarker of mitochondrial dysfunction and has been implicated in various age-related diseases. However, the association between circulating GDF15 and sarcopenia-associated outcomes in older adults remains to be established.

Aim: To validate previous experimental data and to investigate the possible role of GDF15 in aging and muscle physiology in humans, this study examined serum GDF15 levels in relation to sarcopenia-related parameters in a cohort of older Asian adults.

Association between serum FGF21 level and sarcopenia in older adults.

Background: With emerging basic research evidence suggesting that fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21 is a catabolic molecule on muscle metabolism, we aimed to analyze the serum FGF21 level in relation to sarcopenia in older adults.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 125 participants who underwent evaluation for muscle mass and function in an outpatient geriatric clinic of a teaching hospital. Sarcopenia and related components were determined using cutoff values for the Asian population.

Muscle-Derived Lumican Stimulates Bone Formation via Integrin α2β1 and the Downstream ERK Signal.

Skeletal muscle and bone are highly interrelated, and previous proteomic analyses suggest that lumican is one of muscle-derived factors. To further understand the role of lumican as a myokine affecting adjacent bone metabolism, we investigated the effects of lumican on osteoblast biology. Lumican expression was significantly higher in the cell lysates and conditioned media (CM) of myotubes than those of undifferentiated myoblasts, and the known anabolic effects of myotube CM on osteoblasts were reduced by excluding lumican from the CM.

The association of circulating kynurenine, a tryptophan metabolite, with frailty in older adults.

Despite the accumulating evidence from and animal experiments supporting the role of kynurenine (a tryptophan metabolite) in a number of degenerative age-related changes, the relationship between kynurenine and frailty in older adults is not well understood. We collected blood samples from 73 participants who underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment, measuring kynurenine levels using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We assessed the phenotypic frailty and the deficit accumulation frailty index using widely validated approaches proposed by Fried et al.

Lack of association between circulating apelin level and frailty-related functional parameters in older adults: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Apelin, an active endogenous peptide, has been recently receiving great attention as a promising target for antiaging intervention, primarily based on results from genetically altered mice. To validate previous experimental data and investigate the possible role of apelin in humans, in this study, we examined serum apelin level in relation to frailty and its associated parameters in a cohort of ambulatory, community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 80 participants who underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment, and apelin level was measured using an enzyme immunoassay kit.

Lower Serum n-3 Fatty Acid Level in Older Adults with Sarcopenia.

The n-3 fatty acid (FA) has evoked considerable interest as a modifiable factor for maintenance of muscle health owing to its anti-inflammatory properties. To clarify this possibility, we investigated circulating n-3 FA level, a reliable biomarker of FA status in the body, in relation to sarcopenia in a cohort of Asian older adults. Blood samples were collected from 125 participants who underwent comprehensive assessment of muscle mass and function.