Size-classified monitoring of ATP bioluminescence for rapid assessment of biological distribution in airborne particulates.

The COVID-19 pandemic ignited massive research into the rapid detection of bioaerosols. In particular, nanotechnology-based detection strategies are proposed as alternatives because of issues in bioaerosol enrichment and lead time for molecular diagnostics; however, the practical implementation of such techniques is still unclear due to obstacles regarding the large research and development effort and investment for the validation. The use of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence (expressed as relative luminescence unit (RLU) per unit volume of air) of airborne particulate matter (PM) to determine the bacterial population as a representative of the total bioaerosols (viruses, bacteria, and fungi) has been raised frequently because of the high reponse speed, resolution, and compatibility with culture-based bioaerosol monitoring.

Ultrasmall Europium, Gadolinium, and Dysprosium Oxide Nanoparticles: Polyol Synthesis, Properties, and Biomedical Imaging Applications.

Imaging agents are crucial in diagnosing diseases. Ultrasmall lanthanide oxide (LnO) nanoparticles (NPs) (Ln = Eu, Gd, and Dy) are promising materials as high-performance imaging agents because of their excellent magnetic, optical, and X-ray attenuation properties which can be applied as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluorescence imaging (FI), and X-ray computed tomography (CT) agents, respectively. Ultrasmall LnO NPs (Ln = Eu, Gd, and Dy) are reviewed here.

Efficacy and Safety of Pioglitazone versus Glimepiride after Metformin and Alogliptin Combination Therapy: A Randomized, Open-Label, Multicenter, Parallel-Controlled Study.

Background: There is limited information regarding the optimal third-line therapy for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that is inadequately controlled using dual combination therapy. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of pioglitazone or glimepiride when added to metformin plus alogliptin treatment for T2DM.

Methods: This multicenter, randomized, active-controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.

Arterial Stiffness Is More Associated with Albuminuria than Decreased Glomerular Filtration Rate in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The REBOUND Study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between arterial stiffness and albuminuria and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: This multicenter cohort study analyzed 2613 patients with type 2 diabetes. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was used as a noninvasive marker of arterial stiffness.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in Korea appears to be increasing. Some studies have shown that T2DM is a risk factor for symptomatic GERD.

Inadequate Bowel Cleansing Efficacy of Split-dose Polyethylene Glycol for Colonoscopy in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Prospective and Blinded Study.

Background/aims: Split-dose polyethylene glycol (PEG) is considered a standard bowel preparation regimen for colonoscopy in the general population. However, it is not clear whether the regimen is optimal for colonoscopy in diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of split-dose PEG for diabetic versus nondiabetic patients.

Current status of prescription in type 2 diabetic patients from general hospitals in busan.

Background: Data regarding the prescription status of individuals with diabetes are limited. This study was an analysis of participants from the relationship between cardiovascular disease and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in patients with type 2 diabetes (REBOUND) Study, which was a prospective multicenter cohort study recruited from eight general hospitals in Busan, Korea. We performed this study to investigate the current status of prescription in Korean type 2 diabetic patients.

Surface coated Eu(OH)3 nanorods: a facile synthesis, characterization, MR relaxivities and in vitro cytotoxicity.

The water-soluble and biocompatible D-glucuronic acid coated Eu(OH)3 nanorods (average thickness x average length = 9.0 x 118.3 nm) have been prepared in one-pot synthesis.

Relationships between Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity and Peripheral Neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is known to be a good surrogate marker of clinical atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a major predictor for developing neuropathy. The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between baPWV and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Cardio-metabolic features of type 2 diabetes subjects discordant in the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the cardio-metabolic parameters and surrogate markers of insulin resistance in a discordant group of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) subjects who satisfy the Adults Treatment Panel (ATP) III criteria, but not the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria, for metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Methods: We assessed the prevalence of MetS in T2DM subjects (n=167) who were selected from subjects registered at the diabetes center of Dong-A University Medical Center. We used the ATP III criteria and the IDF criteria for the diagnosis of MetS and sorted the subjects into 2 MetS groups: one group diagnosed per ATP III criteria (MetSa) and one diagnosed per IDF criteria (MetSi).

Paramagnetic nanoparticle T1 and T2 MRI contrast agents.

There is no doubt that magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents (MRI CAs) can play a vital role in diagnosing diseases. Therefore, demand for new MRI CAs with an enhanced sensitivity and advanced functionalities is very high. Here, paramagnetic nanoparticles (NPs) are reviewed as new potential candidates for either T(1) or T(2) MRI CAs or both.

Calix[4]pyrroles bearing proximally meso-meso linking straps: synthesis and anion binding properties.

Calix[4]pyrroles bearing two proximally crossing straps on the same or the opposite sides have been synthesized for the first time. The doubly cis-strapped compound exhibited highly cooperative six-point hydrogen bonding interactions with the anion involving both pyrrolic N-Hs and Ar-Hs.

Paramagnetic dysprosium oxide nanoparticles and dysprosium hydroxide nanorods as T₂ MRI contrast agents.

We report here paramagnetic dysprosium nanomaterial-based T(2) MRI contrast agents. A large r(2) and a negligible r(1) is an ideal condition for T(2) MR imaging. At this condition, protons are strongly and nearly exclusively induced for T(2) MR imaging.

A facile synthesis, in vitro and in vivo MR studies of d-glucuronic acid-coated ultrasmall Ln₂O₃ (Ln = Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, and Er) nanoparticles as a new potential MRI contrast agent.

A facile one-pot synthesis of d-glucuronic acid-coated ultrasmall Ln(2)O(3) (Ln = Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, and Er) nanoparticles is presented. Their water proton relaxivities were studied to address their possibility as a new potential MRI contrast agent. We focused on the d-glucuronic acid-coated ultrasmall Dy(2)O(3) nanoparticle because it showed the highest r(2) relaxivity among studied nanoparticles.

Water-soluble MnO nanocolloid for a molecular T1 MR imaging: a facile one-pot synthesis, in vivo T1 MR images, and account for relaxivities.

A facile one-pot synthesis of a water-soluble MnO nanocolloid (i.e., D-glucuronic acid-coated MnO nanoparticle) is presented.

Paramagnetic ultrasmall gadolinium oxide nanoparticles as advanced T1 MRI contrast agent: account for large longitudinal relaxivity, optimal particle diameter, and in vivo T1 MR images.

Paramagnetic ultrasmall gadolinium oxide (Gd(2)O(3)) nanoparticles with particle diameters (d) of approximately 1 nm were synthesized by using three kinds of Gd(III) ion precursors and by refluxing each of them in tripropylene glycol under an O(2) flow. A large longitudinal relaxivity (r(1)) of water proton of 9.9 s(-1) mM(-1) was estimated.

Highly water-dispersible PEG surface modified ultra small superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles useful for target-specific biomedical applications.

For the application of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in biomedical fields for target-specific purposes, they should be ultra small in diameter. We developed a simple one-step synthesis of surface modified ultra small superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (USPIONs) with an average particle diameter of 1.7 nm in a polar organic solvent.

Aqueous extract of the Helianthus annuus seed alleviates asthmatic symptoms in vivo.

Molecular inflammation is a pivotal process in various degenerative immune diseases, including asthma and atopic dermatitis. In this study, we examined the effects of Helianthus annuus seed (HAS) aqueous extract on an in vivo anti-asthmatic model. Ovalbumin-induced mice were orally administered the aqueous extract of Helianthus annuus seeds, and their lungs were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.

Anti-tumor activity of Gastrodia elata Blume is closely associated with a GTP-Ras-dependent pathway.

Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB) is an important medicinal plant in Korea. In order to confirm the anti-tumor activities of GEB extracts, we carried out various in vitro anti-tumor assays, including a wound assay and an invasion assay using an ethyl ether extract of GEB. The results showed that the GEB extract exhibits potent anti-tumor activity in vitro in a dose-dependent manner.

Gastrodia elata Blume protects against stress-induced gastric mucosal lesions in mice.

Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB) is a traditional herbal plant that has been used in Asian countries for centuries as an anticonvulsant, analgesic, and also as a sedative for treating general paralysis, epilepsy, vertigo, and tetanus. Although numerous reports have addressed the effects of GEB against degenerative diseases, no previous study has examined the possible gastroprotective effects of GEB. Here, we examined the effects of pretreatment with GEB (0.

Dykellic acid inhibits cell migration and tube formation by RhoA-GTP expression.

Dykellic acid, a novel factor initially identified from the culture broth of Westerdykella multispora F50733, has been shown to inhibit matrix metalloprotease 9 activity, caspase-3 activity, B cell proliferation and LPS-induced IgM production, suggesting that this factor may have anti-cancer effects. In an effort to further address the possible anti-tumoral effects of dykellic acid, we used wound healing, invasion and RhoA-GTP assays to examine the effects of dykellic acid on cell migration, invasion and angiogenesis. Our results revealed that dykellic acid dose-dependently inhibits B16 cell migration and motility, and inhibits HUVEC tube formation.

Wisteria floribunda gall extract inhibits cell migration in mouse B16F1 melanoma cells by regulating CD44 expression and GTP-RhoA activity.

Extracts from galls grown on Wisteria floribunda are used as an anti-tumoral preparation in oriental traditional medicine. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanism of this anti-tumoral effect by first examining whether the extract inhibited cell migration in a B16 cell-based wound healing assay. The gall extract delayed wound healing in a dose- and time-dependent manner, indicating that one or more components of the fraction inhibited cell migration.