Developing a reliable and convenient methodology for ultrasound muscle assessment in critically ill patients: A reliability study.

This study proposed a reliable and convenient methodology to assess rectus femoris (RF) and gastrocnemius muscles using ultrasound in critically ill patients. The focus was on reliability and convenience, considering both intra- and inter-observer reliability in the ICU and outpatient clinical settings. The RF and gastrocnemius muscles of 23 patients in the ICU were assessed using ultrasound.

Cascade Sequence of Photooxygenation-Epoxidation for the Flow Synthesis of Epoxy Alcohols.

A photooxygenation-epoxidation cascade sequence converting alkenes to epoxy alcohols was developed and evaluated in batch and continuous-flow systems. In the batch system, the undesired interactions between the photooxygenation and epoxidation catalysts resulted in suboptimal yields, whereas the fine control of reaction parameters in the flow system allowed the allyl hydroperoxides produced through photooxygenation of alkenes to be rapidly converted to epoxy alcohols in yields of up to 93%. The developed procedure allows one to avoid an important synthetic bottleneck, works well where traditional batch synthesis fails, and can be scaled up to meet the needs of industrial production, thus presenting a valuable addition to the toolbox of practicing organic chemists.

Efficacy and Safety of Once-Weekly Semaglutide Versus Once-Daily Sitagliptin as Metformin Add-on in a Korean Population with Type 2 Diabetes.

Introduction: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists are well-established type 2 diabetes (T2D) treatments. As variations among populations and culture might influence treatment effects, this post hoc analysis evaluates the efficacy and safety of once-weekly (OW) semaglutide in a Korean population.

Methods: Korean adults with T2D inadequately controlled on metformin included in a 30-week, phase 3a, international, multicentre trial (NCT03061214) compared OW subcutaneous semaglutide (0.

Association between proton pump inhibitors use and risk of asthma in Korea: A prevalent new-user cohort study.

There have been conflicting mechanisms that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may promote or prevent asthma development. However, the evidence on the association of PPI use with the risk of asthma and its exposure-response relationship has been limited. We aim to identify the association between the use of PPIs and the incidence of asthma, compared with use of histamine 2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs).

Safety and Clinical Outcomes of Insulin Degludec in Korean Patients with Diabetes in Real-World Practices: A Prospective, Observational Study.

Introduction: To investigate the safety and effectiveness of insulin degludec (IDeg) in a real-world population of Korean patients with diabetes requiring insulin therapy.

Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective, single-arm, open-label, non-interventional study. Patients aged ≥ 12 months and treated with previous glucose-lowering medications were eligible to switch to IDeg.

Exploration of Variables Predicting Sense of School Belonging Using the Machine Learning Method-Group Mnet.

The purpose of this study was to explore variables related to school belonging from a holistic perspective, including a large number of variables in one model, different to the traditional analytical method. Using 2015 data from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), we sought to identify variables related to school belonging by searching for hundreds of predictors in one model using the group Mnet machine learning technique. The study repeated 100 rounds of model building after random data splitting.

Two New Species and Three New Records of Ascomycetes in Korea.

During a survey of plant-inhabiting fungi and water niches from Korea, noteworthy fungi were collected; among them, two new species, sp. nov. and sp.

Discovery and Extrolite Production of Three New Species of Belonging to Sections and from Freshwater in Korea.

Three novel fungal species,  , , and were found in Korea during an investigation of fungi in freshwater. The new species are described here using morphological characters, a multi-gene phylogenetic analysis of the ITS, , , regions, and extrolite data.   is characterized by restricted growth on CYA, YES, monoverticillate and biverticillate conidiophores, and globose smooth-walled conidia.

Structural Basis of Inhibition of DCLK1 by Ruxolitinib.

Given the functional attributes of Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) in tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, cell motility, and tumor stemness, it is emerging as a therapeutic target in gastrointestinal cancers. Although a series of specific or nonspecific ATP-competitive inhibitors were identified against DCLK1, different types of scaffolds that can be utilized for the development of highly selective inhibitors or structural understanding of binding specificities of the compounds remain limited. Here, we present our work to repurpose a Janus kinase 1 inhibitor, ruxolitinib as a DCLK1 inhibitor, showing micromolar binding affinity and inhibitory activity.

Discrete terminal ileal ulcers in patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis: clinical significance and natural course.

Background: Terminal ileal (TI) ulcers are occasionally detected in asymptomatic individuals and mostly resolve without any treatment. In patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), TI ulcers are infrequently observed without evidence of backwash ileitis. However, the clinical significance and natural course of the lesions are unclear.

Six Newly Recorded Fungal Taxa from Freshwater Niche in Korea.

Six interesting fungal strains were isolated during a survey of fungal diversity associated with freshwater; these strains were designated as CNUFC YJW2-22, CNUFC MSW11-6-2, CNUFC HRS5-3, CNUFC MSW242-6, CNUFC DMW2-2, and CNUFC CPWS-1. Based on a polyphasic approach including phylogenetic analyses of internal transcribed space (ITS), large subunit (LSU), beta-tubulin (BenA), and calmodulin (CaM) gene sequences, morphological analyses, the six strains were found to be identical to , -, , , , and respectively. To our knowledge, these are the first records of the rare , , and genera in Korea, and the first reports of .

Effects of Grit on the Academic Success of Adult Female Students at Korean Open University.

This study examined the structural relationship between age, grit (i.e., perseverance of effort and consistency of interest), conscientiousness, self-control, and school success of female students at an Open University in Korea.

Factors of Depressive Symptoms Among Elementary, Middle, and High School Students.

Little attention has been paid to the individual, family, friends, and school profiles of depressed children during the transition from childhood to adolescence. This study aimed to describe the evolution of factors associated with depressive symptoms among elementary, middle, and high school students. This was a secondary analytic study using three datasets of a cohort of Korean children or adolescents.

The Prefrontal Cortex Activity and Psychological Effects of Viewing Forest Landscapes in Autumn Season.

Recently reported research indicate that forest environments have physiological and psychological relaxing effects compared to urban environments. However, some researchers claim that the stress of the subjects from being watched by others during measurements can affect the measurement result in urban experiments conducted in the center of a street. The present study was conducted to determine whether forest environments have physiological and psychological relaxing effects, using comparison of viewing a forest area with viewing an urban area from the roof of an urban building without being watched by others.

In vitro neuroprotective activity of sesquiterpenoids from the flower buds of Tussilago farfara.

We have isolated four sesquiterpenoids from Tussilago farfara, a traditional herbal medicine in Korea and China, and investigated the protective effects on LPS-induced neuronal cell death. Four sesquiterpenoids inhibited the production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2 and tumor necrosis factor-α in LPS-treated BV-2 cells through the inhibition of NF-κB pathway. These sesquiterpenoids also inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in LPS-treated BV-2 cells.

Anti-inflammatory activity of sulfur-containing compounds from garlic.

We identified four anti-inflammatory sulfur-containing compounds from garlic, and their chemical structures were identified as Z- and E-ajoene and oxidized sulfonyl derivatives of ajoene. The sulfur compounds inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages. Western blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated that these sulfur compounds attenuated the LPS-induced expression of the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins and mRNA.

A germacranolide sesquiterpene lactone suppressed inducible nitric oxide synthase by downregulating NF-κB activity.

A germacranolide sesquiterpene lactone, 2α,5-epoxy-5,10-dihydroxy-6α-angeloyloxy-9β-(3-methylbutyloxy)-germacran-8α,12-olide (EDAG), isolated from Carpesium triste var. manshuricum, showed inhibitory activity in the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA and protein in LPS-activated macrophage cells. Molecular analysis reveals that these suppressive effects are correlated with the inhibition of NF-κB activation by EDAG.

Carabrol suppresses LPS-induced nitric oxide synthase expression by inactivation of p38 and JNK via inhibition of I-kappaBalpha degradation in RAW 264.7 cells.

Carabrol, isolated from Carpesium macrocephalum, showed anti-inflammatory potential in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. In present study, carabrol demonstrated the inhibitory activity on pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF-alpha.

Suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression by furfuran lignans from flower buds of Magnolia fargesii in BV-2 microglial cells.

Activated microglia produces diverse neurotoxic factors such as nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha that serve as apoptotic inducers resulting in various neurodegenerative diseases. The inhibition of microglia-derived NO production by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been reported to be beneficial in retarding neurodegenerative disorders. Three active lignans have been isolated from the flower buds of Magnolia fargesii by the bioassay-guided fractionation using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV-2 microglial cell culture system.

In vitro anti-inflammatory activity of lignans isolated from Magnolia fargesii.

The overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) causes neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Four lignans, (+)-eudesmin (1), (+)-magnolin (2), (+)-yangambin (3) and a new structure named as epimagnolin B (4) were isolated from Magnolia fargesii (Magnoliaceae) as the inhibitors of NO production in LPS-activated microglia. The most potent compound 4 inhibited the production of NO and PGE(2) and the expression of respective enzyme iNOS and COX-2 through the suppression of I-kappaB-alpha degradation and nuclear translocation of p65 subunit of NF-kappaB.

Suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression by tussilagone from Farfarae flos in BV-2 microglial cells.

Activated microglia produce diverse neurotoxic factors such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) that may cause neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. From the EtOAc soluble fraction of Farfarae flos (Tussilago farfara), we purified tussilagone as a bioactive compound by monitoring the inhibitory potential of NO production in activated microglia through the purification procedures. Tussilagone showed dose-dependent inhibition of NO and PGE(2) production in LPS-activated microglia with IC(50) values of 8.

Selenium suppresses the activation of transcription factor NF-kappa B and IRF3 induced by TLR3 or TLR4 agonists.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in recognition of microbial components and induce innate immune responses by recognizing invading microbial pathogens leading to the activation of the adaptive immune responses. The microbial components trigger the activation of two downstream signaling pathways of TLRs; MyD88- and TRIF-dependent pathways leading to the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and type I interferons (IFNs). The MyD88- and TRIF-dependent pathways lead to the activation of NF-kappa B and IRF3 through the activation of IKK-beta and TBK1, respectively.

Inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression by xanthanolides isolated from Xanthium strumarium.

Three sesquiterpenoids, xanthatin (1), xanthinosin (2), and 4-oxo-bedfordia acid (3) were isolated from Xanthium strumarium as inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis in activated microglia (IC(50) values: 0.47, 11.2, 136.

Garlic (Allium sativum) extract inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced Toll-like receptor 4 dimerization.

Garlic has long been used as a folk medicine. Numerous studies have demonstrated that a garlic extract and its sulfur-containing compounds inhibited nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation induced by various receptor agonists including lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a key role in sensing diverse microbial products and inducing innate immune responses.