Assessment of variables associated with prolonged admission duration in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.

Introduction: Macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MRMP) has become prevalent in children. This study investigated the clinical and laboratory variables of MRMP and macrolide-sensitive M. pneumoniae (MSMP) and identified factors associated with prolonged hospital admission in children.

Development of Nafamostat Mesylate Immediate-Release Tablet by Drug Repositioning Using Quality-by-Design Approach.

We aimed to develop nafamostat mesylate immediate-release tablets for the treatment of COVID-19 through drug repositioning studies of nafamostat mesylate injection. Nafamostat mesylate is a serine protease inhibitor known to inhibit the activity of the transmembrane protease, serine 2 enzyme that affects the penetration of the COVID-19 virus, thereby preventing the binding of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor in vivo and the spike protein of the COVID-19 virus. The formulation was selected through a stability study after manufacturing by a wet granulation process and a direct tableting process to develop a stable nafamostat mesylate immediate-release tablet.

Improving Generation of Cardiac Organoids from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Using the Aurora Kinase Inhibitor ZM447439.

Drug-induced cardiotoxicity reduces the success rates of drug development. Thus, the limitations of current evaluation methods must be addressed. Human cardiac organoids (hCOs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are useful as an advanced drug-testing model; they demonstrate similar electrophysiological functionality and drug reactivity as the heart.

St. John's Wort Suppresses Growth in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Line MDA-MB-231 by Inducing Prodeath Autophagy and Apoptosis.

The rational regulation of programmed cell death by means of autophagy and apoptosis has been considered a potential treatment strategy for cancer. We demonstrated the inhibitory effect of St. John's Wort (SJW) on growth in the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line and xenografted mice and its target mechanism concerning autophagic and apoptotic cell death.

Enhanced electrochemical performance of MoS/graphene nanosheet nanocomposites.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS) is attractive as an anode material for next-generation batteries, because of its layered structure being favorable for the insertion/deinsertion of Li ions, and its fairly high theoretical capacity. However, since the MoS anode material has exhibited disadvantages, such as low electrical conductivity and poor cycling stability, to improve the electrochemical performance of MoS in this study, a nanocomposite structure consisting of MoS and GNS (MoS/GNS) as an anode for LIBs was prepared, by controlling the weight ratios of MoS/GNS. The X-ray diffraction patterns and electron microscopic analysis showed that the nanocomposite electrode structure consisted of well-formed MoS nanoparticles and GNS.

Porous SnO nanostructure with a high specific surface area for improved electrochemical performance.

Tin oxide (SnO) has been attractive as an alternative to carbon-based anode materials because of its fairly high theoretical capacity during cycling. However, SnO has critical drawbacks, such as poor cycle stability caused by a large volumetric variation during the alloying/de-alloying reaction and low capacity at a high current density due to its low electrical conductivity. In this study, we synthesized a porous SnO nanostructure (n-SnO) that has a high specific surface area as an anode active material using the Adams fusion method.

Red pepper seed water extract suppresses high-fat diet-induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice.

In this study, the protective effect of red pepper seed water extract (RPS) against the obesity in high fat diet (HFD)-fed mice was investigated (HFD control group, and HFD group treated with 100 or 200 mg/kg body weight of RPS for 13 weeks). The application of RPS partially reversed the HFD-induced increases in body weight and adipose tissue weight. The patterns of the adipose tissue weights were parallel to the patterns of fat area, as measured in DXA procedure.

Antitumor profiles and cardiac electrophysiological effects of aurora kinase inhibitor ZM447439.

Aurora kinases inhibitors, including ZM447439 (ZM), which suppress cell division, have attracted a great deal of attention as potential novel anti-cancer drugs. Several recent studies have confirmed the anti-cancer effects of ZM in various cancer cell lines. However, there have been no studies regarding the cardiac safety of this agent.

Tinospora cordifolia preserves pancreatic beta cells and enhances glucose uptake in adipocytes to regulate glucose metabolism in diabetic rats.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pancreatic beta cell protective and glucose uptake enhancing effect of the water extract of Tinospora cordifolia stem (TCSE) by using rat insulinoma (RIN)-m5F cells and 3 T3-L1 adipocytes. RIN-m5F cells were stimulated with interleukin-1β and interferon-γ, and the effect of TCSE on insulin secretion and cytokine-induced toxicity was measured by ELISA and MTT assay, respectively. The glucose uptake and protein expression were measured by fluorometry and western blotting.

Red pepper seed water extract inhibits preadipocyte differentiation and induces mature adipocyte apoptosis in 3T3-L1 cells.

Background/objectives: Reducing the number of adipocytes by inducing apoptosis of mature adipocytes as well as suppressing differentiation of preadipocytes plays an important role in preventing obesity. This study examines the anti-adipogenic and pro-apoptotic effect of red pepper seed water extract (RPS) prepared at 4℃ (RPS4) in 3T3-L1 cells.

Materials/methods: Effect of RPS4 or its fractions on lipid accumulation was determined in 3T3-L1 cells using oil red O (ORO) staining.

St. John's Wort Regulates Proliferation and Apoptosis in MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells by Inhibiting AMPK/mTOR and Activating the Mitochondrial Pathway.

St. John's Wort (SJW) has been used as an estrogen agonist in the systems affected by menopause. Also, hypericin, a bioactive compound of SJW, has been used as a photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy.

Red Pepper Seed Inhibits Differentiation of 3T3-L1 Cells during the Early Phase of Adipogenesis via the Activation of AMPK.

Obesity is the main risk factor for metabolic syndromes and there has been an upsurge in demand for effective therapeutic strategies. This study investigated the effect of red pepper seed water extract (RPS) on the process of differentiation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. RPS treatment significantly suppressed cellular lipid accumulation and reduced the expression of adipocytes-associated proteins, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-[Formula: see text] (PPAR-[Formula: see text]), CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins [Formula: see text] (C/EBP [Formula: see text]), sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), as well as fatty acid synthase (FAS), and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4).

Pear pomace water extract suppresses hepatic lipid peroxidation and protects against liver damage in rats fed a high fat/cholesterol diet.

The protective effect of pear pomace water extract (PPWE) against hepatic lipid peroxidation was investigated in rats fed a 41% kcal fat diet containing 0.21% cholesterol (HFCD). For 5 weeks, 200 or 400 mg/kg of PPWE was administrated once daily via oral gavage.

Pear pomace ethanol extract improves insulin resistance through enhancement of insulin signaling pathway without lipid accumulation.

Background/objectives: The anti-diabetic activity of pear through inhibition of α-glucosidase has been demonstrated. However, little has been reported about the effect of pear on insulin signaling pathway in obesity. The aims of this study are to establish pear pomace 50% ethanol extract (PPE)-induced improvement of insulin sensitivity and characterize its action mechanism in 3T3-L1 cells and high-fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6 mice.

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) leaf extract inhibits the growth of MDA-MB-231 tumors in nude mouse xenografts and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells.

Background/objectives: The present study was conducted to examine the inhibitory effect of loquat leaves on MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation and invasion.

Materials/methods: Female athymic nude mice were given a subcutaneous (s.c.

St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) stimulates human osteoblastic MG-63 cell proliferation and attenuates trabecular bone loss induced by ovariectomy.

Background/objecftives: The effect of St. John's Wort extract (SJW) on MG-63 cell proliferation and trabecular bone loss induced by ovariectomy was examined.

Materials/methods: Proliferation, expression of estrogen receptor (ER) α and ER β, and gene expressions of osteoprotegerin (OPG), osteocalcin (OC) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were examined in MG-63 cells treated with or without SJW.

Anti-Obesity Effects of the Mixture of Eriobotrya japonica and Nelumbo nucifera in Adipocytes and High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

The present study is to evaluate the anti-obesity effects of Eriobotrya japonica (EJ), Nelumbo nucifera (NN), and their mixture (MIX, 1:1 ratio) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and high-fat diet-induced obese mice. The treatment of EJ, NN, and MIX in 3T3-L1 adipocytes effectively inhibited lipid accumulation, significantly decreased expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP1c), and adipocyte lipid-binding protein (aP2), and significantly increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Moreover, oral treatment of MIX showed stronger effects than individual treatment.