Silibinin alleviates house dust mite induced allergic airway inflammation by inhibiting NLRC4 inflammasome and MMP-9 expression.

Silibinin, a major compound of silymarin, has been reported to alleviate respiratory diseases including acute lung injury, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pulmonary fibrosis through its antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. However, the specific mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects, particularly in allergic asthma, are not fully understood. With the increasing prevalence and impact of allergic asthma, there is a need to elucidate the exact underlying mechanisms of its potential treatment effects.

Erratum.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.17221/77/2023-VETMED.].

ODSEI Chip: An Open 3D Microfluidic Platform for Studying Tumor Spheroid-Endothelial Interactions.

Current in vitro models of 3D tumor spheroids within the microenvironment have emerged as promising tools for understanding tumor progression and potential drug responses. However, creating spheroids with functional vasculature remains challenging in a controlled and high-throughput manner. Herein, a novel open 3D-microarray platform is presented for a spheroid-endothelium interaction (ODSEI) chip, capable of arraying more than 1000 spheroids on top of the vasculature, compartmentalized for single spheroid-level analysis of drug resistance, and allows for the extraction of specific spheroids for further analysis.

Effects of Anti-obesity Strategies on Bone Mineral Density: A Comprehensive Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Although an appropriate weight management strategy is essential for obese individuals, weight loss can have adverse effects on bone mineral density (BMD). We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials to evaluate changes in BMD after the implementation of various weight loss strategies.

Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched to find articles published from database inception until June 2023.

Digital Profiling of Tumor Extracellular Vesicle-Associated RNAs Directly from Unprocessed Blood Plasma.

Tumor-derived extracellular vesicle (tEV)-associated RNAs hold promise as diagnostic biomarkers, but their clinical use is hindered by the rarity of tEVs among nontumor EVs. Here, we present EV-CLIP, a highly sensitive droplet-based digital method for profiling EV RNA. EV-CLIP utilizes the fusion of EVs with charged liposomes (CLIPs) in a microfluidic chip.

New users of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are at low risk of incident pancreatic cancer: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Aim: We aimed to investigate whether sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are associated with a decreased risk of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to other glucose lowering medications (oGLMs).

Methods: This active-comparator, new-user cohort study used the nationwide National Health Insurance Service database of the Republic of Korea from September 2014 to June 2020. From 79,423 new users of SGLT2is and 294,707 new users of oGLMs, we used a propensity score to match 59,954 from each of these two treatment groups.

Comparison of ELISA Versus FAMA Titers in Children After Chemotherapy and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Who Received the Live Attenuated MAV/06 Strain Varicella Vaccine.

Background: Varicella can lead to severe complications in immunocompromised children, including those undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or chemotherapy. Preventing primary varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection is crucial in these populations to mitigate morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of the live attenuated MAV/06 varicella vaccine in pediatric patients post-HSCT and post-chemotherapy.

Staged versus immediate complete revascularization for non-culprit arteries in acute myocardial infarction: a post-hoc analysis of FRAME-AMI.

Background And Objectives: The optimal timing for complete revascularization (CR) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and multivessel disease (MVD) remain uncertain.

Methods: This post-hoc analysis of the FRAME-AMI trial included AMI patients with MVD ( = 549). They were classified into immediate ( = 329) and staged CR ( = 220) groups.

Body Mass Index and Surgical Diagnosis of Endometriosis: Do Obese Patients Experience an Operative Delay?

Objectives: The objective of this study was to quantify the time to diagnosis of endometriosis by laparoscopy for patients of varying body mass index (BMI), as well as the safety of laparoscopy for endometriosis by BMI.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of reproductive-age women receiving a primary laparoscopic diagnosis of endometriosis at an academic tertiary hospital from January 2017 to December 2020. Patients excluded were those undergoing repeat laparoscopy, with previously histologically diagnosed endometriosis, asymptomatic endometriosis, an unknown first gynecologic encounter, or an unknown initial BMI.

Microfluidic Dielectrophoretic Purification of Extracellular Vesicles from Plasma Lipoproteins.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small lipid vesicles shed by cells, carrying proteins, nucleic acids, and other molecular fingerprints. EVs have emerged as crucial mediators of cell-to-cell communication and hold great promise as biomarkers for liquid biopsies, enabling disease screening, diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring. However, conventional EV separation methods are hampered by the presence of lipoproteins (LPs) in plasma samples, which have comparable characteristics and significantly outnumber EVs.

Immunogenicity and Antibody Persistence of the Inactivated Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine in Pediatric Patients Post-Chemotherapy or Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Versus Healthy Controls.

Pediatric patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or chemotherapy are at increased risk for severe influenza complications, necessitating annual vaccination. This study evaluated the immunogenicity and antibody persistence of the 2021-2022 seasonal quadrivalent influenza vaccine in pediatric patients post-HSCT or chemotherapy, compared to healthy controls. A prospective cohort study included 80 pediatric participants divided into three groups: chemotherapy ( = 33), HSCT ( = 27), and healthy controls ( = 20).

Effects of Korean Red Ginseng combination therapy on HIV-infected patients treated with integrase strand transfer inhibitors.

Background: Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) combined with antiretroviral therapy (ART) has shown benefits in the treatment of HIV-1-infected patients. Current guidelines recommend regimens containing integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) as first-line treatment for these patients. The present study assessed the duration of effectiveness of ginseng combination therapy (GCT) in patients receiving INSTIs.

Impact of intravascular ultrasound for coronary bifurcations treated with last generations stents: insights from the BIFURCAT-ULTRA registry.

Background: Bifurcation lesions are associated with higher rates of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).

Aim: To investigate the impact of imaging-guided PCI in a real-world population with coronary bifurcation lesions.

Methods: From the ULTRA-BIFURCAT registry, we compared IVUS vs.

TXNIP regulates pulmonary inflammation induced by Asian sand dust.

Asian sand dust (ASD), a seasonal dust storm originating from the deserts of China and Mongolia, affects Korea and Japan during the spring, carrying soil particles and a variety of biochemical components. Exposure to ASD has been associated with the onset and exacerbation of respiratory disorders, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates ASD-induced pulmonary toxicity and its mechanistic pathways, focusing on the role of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP).

Rapid Whole-Plate Cell and Tissue Micropatterning Using a Budget 3D Resin Printer.

The ability to precisely pattern cells and proteins is crucial in various scientific disciplines, including cell biology, bioengineering, and materials chemistry. Current techniques, such as microcontact stamping, 3D bioprinting, and direct photopatterning, have limitations in terms of cost, versatility, and throughput. In this Article, we present an accessible approach that combines the throughput of photomask systems with the versatility of programmable light patterning using a low-cost consumer LCD resin printer.

Three Days of Oral Azithromycin Versus Five Days of Oral Clarithromycin in the Treatment of Campylobacter Enterocolitis in Children: A Prospective Study.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of azithromycin and clarithromycin in pediatric enterocolitis.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial was conducted at a single center. Patients with confirmed enterocolitis were randomly assigned to receive either a 3-day course of azithromycin or a 5-day course of clarithromycin.

miR-10a regulates cell death and inflammation in adipose tissue of male mice with diet-induced obesity.

Objective: Adipose tissue remodeling plays a critical role in obesity-induced metabolic dysfunction, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study investigates the role of miR-10a-5p in adipose tissue inflammation and metabolic dysfunction induced by a high-fat diet (HFD).

Methods: Male miR-10a knockout (KO) mice were fed a HFD to induce obesity for up to 16 weeks.

Vascularized platforms for investigating cell communication via extracellular vesicles.

The vascular network plays an essential role in the maintenance of all organs in the body via the regulated delivery of oxygen and nutrients, as well as tissue communication via the transfer of various biological signaling molecules. It also serves as a route for drug administration and affects pharmacokinetics. Due to this importance, engineers have sought to create physiologically relevant and reproducible vascular systems in tissue, considering cell-cell and extracellular matrix interaction with structural and physical conditions in the microenvironment.

Association between estimated glucose disposal rate and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis.

Background And Aims: The estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) is an easily accessible clinical parameter for assessing insulin resistance in patients with diabetes mellitus. In this study, we aimed to investigate the link between eGDR and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in an asymptomatic middle-aged Korean population.

Methods And Results: This study involved 4004 subjects who underwent routine health checkups with coronary multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) at Asan Medical Center from 2007 to 2011, among whom 913 had a follow-up analysis through 2014.

Association between atherogenic dyslipidemia and muscle quality defined by myosteatosis.

Background: Myosteatosis, ectopic fat accumulation in skeletal muscle, is a crucial component of sarcopenia, linked to various cardiometabolic diseases. This study aimed to analyze the association between dyslipidemia and myosteatosis using abdominal computed tomography (CT) in a large population.

Methods: This study included 11,823 patients not taking lipid-lowering medications with abdominal CT taken between 2012 and 2013.

Protocol for screening and validating antibodies specific to protein phosphorylation sites using a set of yeast biopanning approaches.

Developing antibodies with high specificity against post-translationally modified epitopes remains a challenge. Yeast biopanning is well suited in screening for high-specificity binders. Here, we present a protocol for screening and validating antibodies specific to protein phosphorylation sites using a set of yeast biopanning approaches.

One-year Efficacy and Safety of Dulaglutide in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Retrospective Study of Asian Patients.

Purpose: Dulaglutide is a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist that is not cleared by the kidneys and has proven efficacy and safety in patients with diabetic kidney disease. We aimed to evaluate the 1-year efficacy of dulaglutide in patients with diabetic kidney disease who have used the drug for more than 1 year.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study comprised 131 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of less than 60 mL/min/1.