Local enhancement of cationic charge density via polyamine side chain incorporation improves the selectivity of antimicrobial peptoids.

Antimicrobial resistance poses a critical threat to global health, necessitating the development of new therapeutics. Peptoids are synthetic analogs of peptides with an N-substituted glycine backbone and have been investigated for antimicrobial therapeutic applications due to their resistance to proteolysis and tunable structures. This study explores antimicrobial peptoids functionalized with polyamine side chains, leveraging the cationic nature of polyamines to enhance interactions with bacterial membranes.

Curcumin ameliorates cerulein‑induced chronic pancreatitis through Nrf‑2/HO‑1 signaling.

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is an invasive inflammatory disorder characterized by endocrine and exocrine dysfunction. There are currently no effective drugs for the treatment of CP. The present study investigated whether curcumin improves cerulein‑induced CP fibrosis in a mouse model and pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs).

A Network Pharmacology Study and Experimental Validation to Identify the Potential Mechanism of Heparan Sulfate on Alzheimer's Disease-Related Neuroinflammation.

Background/objectives: Heparan sulfate (HS) is a polysaccharide that is found on the surface of cells and has various biological functions in the body.

Methods: The purpose of this study was to predict the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of HS on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and neuroinflammation (NI) through a network pharmacology analysis and to experimentally verify them.

Results: We performed functional enrichment analysis of common genes between HS target genes and AD-NI gene sets and obtained items such as the "Cytokine-Mediated Signaling Pathway", "Positive Regulation Of MAPK Cascade", and "MAPK signaling pathway".

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Honeysuckle Leaf Against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Neuroinflammation on BV2 Microglia.

Background/objectives: Neurodegenerative disorders have emerged as a major global public health concern, and the burden is predicted to increase over time. Modulating neuroinflammation and microglial activity is considered a promising target for improving neurodegenerative disorders. The leaf of honeysuckle (LH), which has anti-inflammatory properties, has long been collected, regardless of the season, and used for medicinal purposes.

Anti-Neuroinflammatory Effects of on LPS-Stimulated BV2 Cells.

(AP), the fruit peel of the betel palm, is a traditional Oriental herbal medicine. AP is used to treat various diseases and conditions, such as ascites, edema, and urinary retention, in traditional Korean medicine. Recent studies have demonstrated its anti-obesity and antibacterial effects; however, its anti-neuroinflammatory effects have not yet been reported.

Trends in the prescription of opioids and gabapentinoids in patients with failed back surgery syndrome in Korea: a population-based study.

Background: Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a chronic condition that is characterized by persistent back pain following one or more spinal surgeries. Pharmacological interventions, such as the use of opioids and gabapentinoids, are frequently used in the treatment of FBSS. However, prolonged and excessive use of these medications can lead to dependence and adverse effects.

Guggulsterone protects against lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation and lethal endotoxemia via heme oxygenase-1.

Guggulsterone (GS) is a phytosterol used to treat inflammatory diseases. Although many studies have examined the anti-inflammatory activities of GS, the detailed mechanisms of GS in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation and endotoxemia have not yet been examined. Therefore, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of GS on LPS-induced inflammation.

Catechin hydrate ameliorates cerulein‑induced chronic pancreatitis via the inactivation of TGF‑β/Smad2 signaling.

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a pancreatic inflammatory disease associated with histological changes, including fibrosis, acinar cell loss and immune cell infiltration, and leads to damage of the pancreas, which results in pain, weight loss and loss of pancreas function. Catechin or catechin hydrate (CH) has antioxidant, anticancer and immune‑regulatory effects. However, unlike other catechins, the antifibrotic effects of (+)‑CH have not been widely studied in many diseases, including CP.

Black Bone Disease: Ochronotic Arthritis Detected during Knee Arthroplasty.

Alkaptonuria is an extremely rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder characterized by dark urine, ochronosis, and arthritis of the spine and major joints. We report a case of ochronotic arthritis observed during total knee replacement surgery in a 65-year-old male patient with no relevant medical history. Based on a literature review, this is the first case of ochronotic arthritis reported in Korea.

Superior laryngeal nerve block for treatment of throat pain and cough following laryngeal herpes zoster: A case report.

Background: Herpes zoster is caused by reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus infection within the sensory nerve ganglion of the spinal or cranial nerves. Laryngeal herpes zoster is rare and involves superior laryngeal nerve, which leads to several complications such as throat pain, and cough.

Case Summary: Patient concerns: A 52-year old woman presented with a 70 d history of throat pain and a 67 d history of non-productive cough.

Anesthetic management for inhibiting sympathetic activation in an adolescent patient diagnosed with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and undergoing left cardiac sympathetic denervation: A case report.

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a genetic disorder in which catecholamine release during exercise or emotional stress cause fatal tachyarrhythmias. In this paper, we discuss methods to minimize the sympathetic stimulation that can occur during the perioperative period in patients undergoing left cardiac sympathetic denervation to surgically treat CPVT.

Effect of Minimum Bronchial Cuff Volume of Left-Sided Double-Lumen Tube for One-Lung Ventilation on the Change in Bronchial Cuff Pressure during Lateral Positioning in Thoracic Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study.

The minimum bronchial cuff volume (BCVmin) of a double-lumen tube (DLT) without air leaks during lung isolation may vary among individuals, and lateral positioning could increase the bronchial cuff pressure (BCP). We investigated the effect of initially established BCVmin (BCVi) on the change in BCP by lateral positioning. Seventy patients who underwent elective lung surgery were recruited and divided into two groups according to the BCVi obtained during anesthetic induction in each patient.

Analgesic effects of combined transversus abdominis plane block and intramuscular electrical stimulation in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: To evaluate the analgesic efficacy of a four-quadrant transversus abdominis plane (4QTAP) block and a combination of 4QTAP block with needle electrical twitch and intramuscular electrical stimulation (NETOIMS) in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) followed by hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

Materials And Methods: Eighty-one patients who underwent CRS followed by HIPEC were included in this study. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: group 1 (intravenous patient-controlled analgesia, control group), group 2 (preoperative 4QTAP block), and group 3 (preoperative 4QTAP block and postoperative NETOIMS).

Comparison of a Non-Opioid Multimodal Analgesia Protocol with Opioid-Based Patient-Controlled Analgesia for Pain Control Following Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy: A Randomized, Non-Inferiority Trial.

Background: Opioid use after surgery is a potential contributor to the opioid epidemic. An adequate pain control method after surgery while minimizing opioid exposure is needed. This study aimed to compare the effect of non-opioid multimodal analgesia (NOMA) protocol with opioid-based patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for pain relief after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP).

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for pain during propofol injection: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Propofol is a short-acting intravenous sedative widely used for procedural sedation and general anesthesia. However, pain during propofol injection is a distressing adverse effect. This study was designed to investigate whether transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) could reduce pain during propofol injection compared to sham TENS.

Oligonucleotide-Chemosensor Conjugate as a Dual Responsive Detection Platform and Its Application for Simultaneous Detection of ATP and Zn.

Simultaneous detection, which helps understand complex physiological processes and accurately diagnose diseases, has been achieved using dual responsive probes. The dual responsive probe can ideally distinguish four cases, which are a combination of the absence and presence of two analytes, with characteristic fluorescence emissions. Owing to the demanding conditions of its development, most previous studies have focused on the simple linkage between small-molecule chemosensors that have an individual target and spectral range.

Pressure changes in tapered and cylindrical shaped cuff after extension of head and neck: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: The proper cuff pressure of endotracheal tube (ET) plays an important role in sealing the airway and preventing airway complications during mechanical ventilation. The ET cuff shape affects the cuff pressure after positional change.

Aim: To investigate cuff pressure between tapered and cylindrical cuff after extension of head and neck during nasal endotracheal intubation.

Ojeoksan Ameliorates Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Mice by Downregulating MAPK and NF-κB Pathways.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major side effect of cisplatin, a crucial anticancer agent. Therefore, it is necessary to develop drugs to protect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Ojeoksan (OJS), a traditional blended herbal prescription, is mostly used in Korea; however, there are no reports on the efficacy of OJS against cisplatin-induced AKI.

Self-Aligned Liquid Crystals on Anisotropic Nano/Microstructured Lanthanum Yttrium Strontium Oxide Layer.

We propose an efficient alignment method for liquid crystals (LCs). A brush-coating method handles film deposition and LC alignment treatment simultaneously herein, meaning a reduction in the conventional alignment layer treatment process steps. A lanthanum yttrium strontium oxide (LaYSrO) film prepared by the sol-gel process was used for the alignment layer.

water extract alleviates chronic pancreatitis by deactivating pancreatic stellate cells.

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pancreas with irreversible morphological changes. (ARP), known to improve gastrointestinal disorders, has not yet been reported to inhibit fibrosis in CP. Therefore, we investigated the beneficial effects of ARP on cerulein-induced CP.

Comparison of the Analgesic Efficacy of Opioid-Sparing Multimodal Analgesia and Morphine-Based Patient-Controlled Analgesia in Minimally Invasive Surgery for Colorectal Cancer.

Background: A multimodal analgesia (MMA) protocol has shown the effect of postoperative pain control and reduced the postoperative opioid consumption. However, it was questionable whether MMA could replace opioid-based patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for postoperative pain control. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether an MMA protocol is non-inferior to opioid-based PCA for pain management after a minimally invasive colorectal cancer surgery.

A ratiometric fluorescence probe for the selective detection of HS in serum using a pyrene-DPA-Cd complex.

A ratiometric and selective hydrogen sulfide (HS) detection probe was proposed based on the pyrene-DPA-Cd complex through the metal ion displacement approach (MDA) mechanism. While most MDA-based fluorescence probes with paramagnetic Cu have focused on the development of a simple turn-on sensor using the broad spectral range of fluorescence enhancement, this ratiometric probe exhibited unchanged monomer emission as a built-in internal reference with an increase in excimer emission with added HS. The demonstrated probe showed a rapid response (within 1 min) and a high sensitivity, with 70 nM as the limit of detection.

Fiberoptic-guided nerve integrity monitoring tube intubation assisted by video-laryngoscope with external laryngeal manipulation in a patient with anteriorly displaced larynx due to huge goiter with retropharyngeal involvement: A case report.

Rationale: Goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland, can induce airway distortion or tracheal compression. Airway management can be challenging for anesthesiologists, depending on the location and size of the mass as well as the patient's airway conditions, although it is reported that most cases can easily be managed by oral intubation.

Patient Concerns: A 61-year-old female patient who had planned for a total thyroidectomy due to a huge goiter was intubated with nerve integrity monitoring (NIM) tubes, using video laryngoscopy (VL) and oral fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) alone.

Versatile small molecule kinase assay through real-time, ratiometric fluorescence changes based on a pyrene-DPA-Zn complex.

A real-time kinase assay method based on a ratiometric fluorescence probe that can be applied to various small-molecule kinases is described herein. The probe can trace the reversible interchange of ATP and ADP, which is a common phenomenon in most small-molecule kinase reactions, by a ratiometric fluorescence change. This property facilitates the monitoring of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation in small-molecule kinases, whereas most of the existing methods focus on one of these reactions.