OM-85 and Respiratory Symptoms in Korean COPD: A Multicenter Observational Study.

Background: Although OM-85 may lessen respiratory symptoms and reduce acute exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), its overall effectiveness remains incompletely proven.

Methods: This prospective, observational, single-arm study was conducted at four university hospitals in South Korea from June 2022 to December 2023. Adults with spirometry-confirmed COPD who were prescribed OM-85 were enrolled and followed for six months (3-months treatment, 3-months observation).

Comparison of Anticancer Effects of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors CG-745 and Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition offers potential anticancer effects across diverse cancers due to HDAC's significant role in cancer development and progression. Consequently, we demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of the novel HDAC inhibitor, CG-745, in comparison with existing inhibitors such as suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells.

Methods: CG-745's effect on apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction was investigated using annexin V assay, MitoSoX, and Western blot in human A549 and H460 cells.

7,10-Dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic Acid Displays a Fungicidal Activity against Malassezia furfur.

Microbial conversion of some natural unsaturated fatty acids can produce polyhydroxy fatty acids, giving them new properties, such as higher viscosity and reactivity. Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been intensively studied to produce a novel 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid (DOD) from oleic acid and natural vegetable oils containing oleic acid. Recently, the antibacterial activities of DOD against food-borne pathogenic bacteria were reported; however, the action of such antibacterial properties against eucaryotic cells remains poorly known.

The efficacy and safety of DW1601 in patients with acute bronchitis: a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, phase III clinical trial.

Background/aims: DW1601, an oral fixed dose combination syrup composed of DW16011 and Pelargonium sidoides, was developed to enhance the symptom relief effect in patients with acute bronchitis. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of DW1601 compared to DW16011 or P. sidoides for treatment of acute bronchitis using a randomized, double-blind, placebocontrolled, multi-centre trial design.

Mobile computed tomography for the efficient allocation of medical resources in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia: A case report.

Rationale: The highly contagious Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection raise social and economic burden. Medical staff and resources are being diverted for the care of patients with COVID-19. There are problems for healthcare systems, including burnout syndrome for the medical staff and exhaustion of medical resources.

Production of 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid using cell-free supernatant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Cell-free synthesis has been adopted in the bioconversion process due to its known advantages, such as fast production rate, high product content, and no substrate/product inhibition effect. In this study, the cell-free supernatant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was used to improve the production of 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid (DOD) from oleic acid. DOD production using cell-free supernatant demonstrated reduction in bioconversion duration and higher product concentration than conventional method using whole cell culture.

Effects of a Mixture of Ivy Leaf Extract and on Patients with Chronic Bronchitis and Bronchiectasis.

Background: Hederacoside C from ivy leaf dry extracts (HH) and berberine from dry extracts (CR) can be combined (HHCR) as a herbal product. Previous studies have demonstrated that HHCR has antitussive and expectorant effects in animal models of respiratory disease. However, the therapeutic effects of HHCR on respiratory diseases in humans have not been well-studied.

Salinomycin suppresses TGF-β1-induced EMT by down-regulating MMP-2 and MMP-9 via the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway in non-small cell lung cancer.

Salinomycin (Sal) is a recently identified anti-tumor drug for treating several types of solid tumor; however, its effects on the migratory and invasive properties of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unclear. This study investigated the inhibitory effect underlying mechanisms of Salon transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell migration. Sal solidly blocked cell migration and invasion enhancement by TGF-β1-induced EMT, through recovering E-cadherin loss and suppressing mesenchymal markers induction, as well as TGF-β1-mediated AMPK/SIRT signaling activity upregulation.

Strong alkaline condition is preferable for producing 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-hexadecenoic acid from palmitoleic acid by Pseudomonas aeruginosa KNU-2B.

Microbial bioconversion of a given substrate is considered an efficient and eco-friendly tool for value-added industrial compound generation from natural products. Among natural products, unsaturated fatty acids have been used as substrates to produce various functional hydroxy fatty acids. In this study, we report the production of 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-hexadecenoic acid (DHD) from palmitoleic acid by a new strain, Pseudomonas aeruginosa KNU-2B.

Production of 7,10,12-trihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid from ricinoleic acid by Pseudomonas aeruginosa KNU-2B.

Microbial production of hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs) was widely studied because of important biological properties of HFAs. Among microorganisms producing HFAs, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3 was well known to produce various HFAs from different unsaturated fatty acids. Recently, a new variant species of P.

Preparation of diisononyl adipate in a solvent-free system via an immobilized lipase-catalyzed esterification.

Diisononyl adipate is a plasticizer which has excellent property of low temperature resistance and is permitted in food contact materials. In this study, diisononyl adipate was synthesized from adipic acid and isononyl alcohol in a solvent-free system via immobilized lipase-catalyzed esterification. Liquid Eversa lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus was immobilized on Lewatit VP OC 1600 carrier.

The Anti-Fibrotic Effects of CG-745, an HDAC Inhibitor, in Bleomycin and PHMG-Induced Mouse Models.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal lung disease with poor prognosis and progression to lung fibrosis related to genetic factors as well as environmental factors. In fact, it was discovered that in South Korea many people who used humidifier disinfectants containing polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG), died of lung fibrosis. Currently two anti-fibrotic drugs, pirfenidone and nintedanib, have been approved by the FDA, but unfortunately, do not cure the disease.

Monoacylglycerol of 7,10-Dihydroxy-8()-octadecenoic Acid Enhances Antibacterial Activities against Food-Borne Bacteria.

Conversion of free fatty acids into monoacylglycerol gives rise to new structural properties, particularly amphipathic property. Therefore, monoacylglycerols are widely used in pharmaceutical and food industries and are also reported to facilitate better absorption into the human body. A functional fatty acid when transformed into a monoacylglycerol will possibly conserve both the original functionality and amphipathic property.

Comparison of cobas Mutation Test v2 and PANAMutyper-R- for Detection and Semi-Quantification of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations in Plasma and Pleural Effusion Supernatant.

Background: Plasma epidermal growth factor receptor () mutation tests are less invasive than tissue mutation tests. We determined which of two kits is more efficient: cobas Mutation test v2 (cobasv2; Roche Molecular Systems, Pleasanton, CA, USA) or PANAMutyper-R- (Mutyper; Panagene, Daejeon, Korea). We also evaluated whether pleural effusion supernatant (PE-SUP) samples are assayable, similar to plasma samples, using these two kits.

Microbial Conversion of Vegetable Oil to Hydroxy Fatty Acid and Its Application to Bio-Based Polyurethane Synthesis.

New polyurethanes were synthesized based on dihydroxy fatty acid obtained by the microbial conversion of olive oil. Monounsaturated 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid (DOD) was produced from olive oil by PR3 and reacted with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI) at different ratios to form polyurethanes. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry confirmed the synthesis of DOD.

Preparation of High Purity Δ5-Olefinic Acids from Pine Nut Oil via Repeated Lipase-Catalyzed Esterification.

Δ5-Olefinic acids have been characterized in gymnosperm plants and have been reported to have several biological health benefits. Δ5-Olefinic acids from pine nut oil were effectively concentrated by repeated lipase-catalyzed esterification. The pine nut oil contained three major Δ5-olefinic acids, namely taxoleic acid (C18:2 Δ5,9), pinolenic acid (C18:3 Δ5,9,12), and sciadonic acid (C20:3 Δ5,11,14).

A case of pulmonary siderosis misdiagnosed as pneumonia.

We report first case of pulmonary siderosis appearing as a consolidation upon radiological examination and being misdiagnosed as pneumonia. A 59-year-old man visited our hospital with a cough and sputum that had persisted for more than a month. He had undergone chest computed tomography (CT) after abnormal findings on chest X-ray at other hospitals.

Bedaquiline and delamanid for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: a multicentre cohort study in Korea.

Relatively little is known about the efficacy and safety of the programmatic use of bedaquiline and delamanid in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment.This study evaluated 61 patients with MDR-TB treated with bedaquiline (n=39), delamanid (n=11) or both, either sequentially (n=10) or in coadministration (n=1), for >1 month, combined with a World Health Organization-recommended regimen.Of these, 49 (80.

Synthesis of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters Using Mixed Enzyme in a Packed Bed Reactor.

Fatty acid methyl esters were synthesized from palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) and methanol in a packed bed reactor via lipase-catalyzed esterification. The PFAD consisted of 91 wt% of free fatty acids, 2 wt% monoacylglycerides, 3 wt% diacylglycerides, and 4 wt% triacylglycerides. t-Butanol was employed as a reaction medium and a mixed enzyme consisting of Lipozyme TL IM from Thermomyces lanuginosus and Novozym 435 from Candida antarctica was employed as the biocatalyst.

Polygalacin D induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest via the PI3K/Akt pathway in non-small cell lung cancer.

Polygalacin D (PGD) is a bioactive compound isolated from Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) and it has a similar structure to platycodin D, which is a well known anticancer agent. In the present study, we investigated the anti-proliferative effects of PGD using NSCLC cell lines.

Expression Profile of Three Splicing Factors in Pleural Cells Based on the Underlying Etiology and Its Clinical Values in Patients with Pleural Effusion.

Splicing factors (SFs) are involved in oncogenesis or immune modulation, the common underlying processes giving rise to pleural effusion (PE). The expression profiles of three SFs (HNRNPA1, SRSF1, and SRSF3) and their clinical values have never been assessed in PE. The three SFs (in pellets of PE) and conventional tumor markers were analyzed using PE samples in patients with PE (N = 336).

7,10-Epoxyoctadeca-7,9-dienoic Acid: A Small Molecule Adjuvant That Potentiates β-Lactam Antibiotics Against Multidrug-Resistant .

The emergence of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) infections with multi-drug resistance needs effective and alternative control strategies. In this study we investigated the adjuvant effect of a novel furan fatty acid, 7,10-epoxyoctadeca-7,9-dienoic acid (7,10-EODA) against multidrug-resistant (MDRSA) strain 01ST001 by disc diffusion, checker board and time kill assays. Further the membrane targeting action of 7,10-EODA was investigated by spectroscopic and confocal microscopic studies.

Diagnostic Significance of Measuring Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor for the Differentiation between Malignant and Tuberculous Pleural Effusion.

Malignancy and tuberculosis are common causes of lymphocytic exudative pleural effusion. However, it is occasionally difficult to differentiate malignant pleural effusion from tuberculous pleural effusion. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a critical cytokine in the pathogenesis of malignant pleural effusion.

Shikonin-induced necroptosis is enhanced by the inhibition of autophagy in non-small cell lung cancer cells.

Background: Shikonin, a natural naphthoquinone pigment purified from Lithospermum erythrorhizon, induces necroptosis in various cancer types, but the mechanisms underlying the anticancer activity of shikonin in lung cancer are not fully understood. This study was designed to clarify whether shikonin causes necroptosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and to investigate the mechanism of action.

Methods: Multiplex and caspase 8 assays were used to analyze effect of shikonin on A549 cells.