Lactobacillus sakei CVL-001 Inhibits Osteoclast Differentiation Through TLR2 and GPCR-Dependent Pathways and Prevents Bone Loss in Ovariectomized Mice.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a common bone disease characterized by bone loss due to the disruption of bone homeostasis caused by decreased estrogen levels. It is estimated that approximately one third of women over the age of 50 will experience osteoporosis in their lifetime. Therefore, developing functional foods or treatments that can be safely consumed to prevent bone disease is essential.

Polystyrene Microplastics Induce Inflammatory Responses and Promote M2-Associated Cytokine Expression in Mouse Lung Tissues.

Microplastic pollution, particularly polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs), poses significant environmental and health risks; however, its biological effects remain poorly understood. PS-MPs are persistent in the environment and can accumulate in biological tissues, raising concerns regarding their potential health effects. Although previous studies highlight oxidative stress and inflammation from microplastics, the specific immune responses in lung tissues remain underexplored.

Comparison of the relationship between key demographic features and physical activity levels across 22 countries.

Background: The present study aims to examine global trends in physical activity levels and explore the potential influence of demographic factors on physical activity participation.

Methods: Using data from the Global Flourishing Study (GFS), which includes 202,898 participants from 22 geographically and culturally diverse countries, we assessed the average number of days of physical activity across various demographic groups (age, gender, marital status, employment, religious service attendance, education, immigration status) and across different countries.

Results: While patterns varied across the 22 countries, certain consistent trends overall emerged.

Spontaneous T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma in a young ICR mouse: a case report.

Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) is an aggressive neoplasm characterized by the proliferation of undifferentiated lymphocytes. It primarily spreads to immune organs such as the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow, and liver. Although well-documented in humans, spontaneous LBL cases in laboratory animals are exceedingly rare.

Identifying novel biomarkers for ankylosing spondylitis through proteomic profiling of serum-derived extracellular vesicles.

The objective of this study is to analyze the protein composition of extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from the serum of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients to identify potential biomarkers that could enable the early diagnosis and intervention of this condition. Serum samples were collected from AS patients and controls. EVs were isolated from these samples using ExoQuick® ULTRA solution, and their morphology, size, and concentration were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis.

Therapeutic Potential of Santa Herba Extract in Obesity: Impact on Lipid Metabolism and Hormonal Balance.

Many studies have reported that flavonoids can effectively suppress metabolic diseases related to obesity. Santa Herba extract (SHE), which is rich in flavonoids, has shown potential anti-obesity effects through clinical evaluations, but its anti-obesity mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, an obese mouse model was established to further investigate its underlying mechanisms and biological effects.

Impact of Type and Duration of Oral Antibiotic Prophylaxis on Urinary-Tract Infection Rate After Botox.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is common after onabotulinumtoxin A intradetrusor injections (BTX) but no evidenced-based recommendations exist to guide prophylactic antibiotic regimen. We sought to compare the effect of different oral antibiotic prophylaxis in women with idiopathic and neurogenic overactive bladder (OAB) undergoing BTX.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of women >18 years old who underwent BTX for OAB between June 2018 and June 2023.

Organ-specific accumulation and toxicity analysis of orally administered polyethylene terephthalate microplastics.

Microplastics (MPs), plastic particles with a diameter of < 5 mm, are intentionally produced or formed by the breakdown of a variety of larger plastics. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a common source of MPs and PET-MPs are prevalent in the environment. Owing to their persistence, PET-MPs can enter ecosystems, air, and food sources, posing significant health risks.

Exacerbation of polyethylene microplastics in animal models of DSS-induced colitis through damage to intestinal epithelial cell conjunctions.

Microplastics are pollutants that occur in various environments and habitats. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease accompanied with diarrhea, and the number of patients has increased worldwide. In this study, manufactured fragmented polyethylene-microplastics in the size range of 10-30 ㎛, were oxidized by exposure to ultraviolet light, and then administered to a dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis mouse model to observe the effects of polyethylene-microplastics on IBD.

Spontaneous Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma With Mast Cell Infiltration in a Sprague-Dawley Rat: A Case Report.

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas (UPSs) are tumours of mesenchymal origin typically seen in soft tissues and histologically characterized by pleomorphic tumour cell and multinucleated giant cell (MGC) infiltration. Here, we report UPS in a 23-month-old Sprague-Dawley rat, notable for the absence of MGC infiltration and the presence of mast cells. The tumour was located in the left axillary region and was assessed using haematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, and toluidine blue staining, along with immunohistochemistry.

Portulaca oleracea Extract Ameliorates Testosterone Propionate-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Male Sprague-Dawley Rats.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a distressing health problem that can cause serious complications in aging men. Androgens are implicated in the causation of BPH. Portulaca oleracea (PO) is a natural product with diverse pharmacological effects.

Spontaneous type II cell-derived bronchioloalveolar adenoma in a young ICR mouse.

Although pulmonary adenomas have been reported in ICR mice, spontaneous adenomas have not been reported in mice aged ≤10 weeks. Here, we report a well-circumscribed nodule (1 mm × 1 mm) in the peripheral lesion of the left lateral lobe of a 10-week-old male ICR mouse. Histopathologic evaluation revealed a well-demarcated nodule compressing the surrounding tissue.

Selective fluorescent labeling of cellular proteins and its biological applications.

Proteins, which are ubiquitous in cells and critical to almost all cellular functions, are indispensable for life. Fluorescence imaging of proteins is key to understanding their functions within their native milieu, as it provides insights into protein localization, dynamics, and trafficking in living systems. Consequently, the selective labeling of target proteins with fluorophores has emerged as a highly active research area, encompassing bioorganic chemistry, chemical biology, and cell biology.

Proteomic profiling of extracellular vesicles derived from human serum for the discovery of biomarkers in Avascular necrosis.

Background: Avascular necrosis (AVN) is a medical condition characterized by the destruction of bone tissue due to a diminished blood supply. When the rate of tissue destruction surpasses the rate of regeneration, effective treatment becomes challenging, leading to escalating pain, arthritis, and bone fragility as the disease advances. A timely diagnosis is imperative to prevent and initiate proactive treatment for osteonecrosis.

Gut microbiome correlates of recurrent urinary tract infection: a longitudinal, multi-center study.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) affect approximately 250 million people annually worldwide. Patients often experience a cycle of antimicrobial treatment and recurrent UTI (rUTI) that is thought to be facilitated by a gut reservoir of uropathogenic (UPEC).

Methods: 125 patients with UTI caused by an antibiotic-resistant organism (ARO) were enrolled from July 2016 to May 2019 in a longitudinal, multi-center cohort study.

Effect of modification methods on the physical properties and immunomodulatory activity of particulate β-glucan.

β-Glucan is an immunoenhancing agent whose biological activities are linked to molecular structure. On that basis, the polysaccharide can be physiochemically modified to produce valuable functional materials. This study investigated the physical properties and immunostimulatory activity of modified β-glucan.

Antioxidant and Antimelanogenic Activities of NCHBL-003 Isolated from Honeybees.

Excessive reactive oxygen species production can detrimentally impact skin cell physiology, resulting in cell growth arrest, melanogenesis, and aging. Recent clinical studies have found that lactic acid bacteria have a special effect directly or indirectly on skin organs, but the exact mechanism has not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the antioxidant protective effect and the inhibitory effect on melanin synthesis of culture supernatant (CSK), isolated from Linnaeus (the Western honeybee).

Extracellular Vesicles from Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Suppress RANKL-Induced Osteoclast Differentiation via miR122-5p.

Researchers are increasingly interested in cell therapy using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as an alternative remedy for osteoporosis, with fewer side effects. Thus, we isolated and characterized extracellular vesicles (EVs) from human adipose tissue-derived MSCs (hMSCs) and investigated their inhibitory effects on RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation. Purified EVs were collected from the supernatant of hMSCs by tangential flow filtration.

Evaluation of Silk Fibroin/Gellan Gum Hydrogels with Controlled Molecular Weight through Silk Fibroin Hydrolysis for Tissue Engineering Application.

Hydrogel is a versatile material that can be manipulated to achieve the desired physicochemical properties, such as stiffness, pore size, and viscoelasticity. Traditionally, these properties have been controlled through parameters such as concentration and pH adjustments. In this study, we focused on exploring the potential of hydrolyzed silk fibroin (HSF) as a molecular weight-modulating agent to control the physicochemical properties of double-composite hydrogels.

Gut microbiome composition may be an indicator of preclinical Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology is thought to progress from normal cognition through preclinical disease and ultimately to symptomatic AD with cognitive impairment. Recent work suggests that the gut microbiome of symptomatic patients with AD has an altered taxonomic composition compared with that of healthy, cognitively normal control individuals. However, knowledge about changes in the gut microbiome before the onset of symptomatic AD is limited.

Genomic Analyses of Longitudinal Mycobacterium abscessus Isolates in a Multicenter Cohort Reveal Parallel Signatures of In-Host Adaptation.

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous in the environment and an increasingly frequent cause of opportunistic infections. Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABC) is one of the major NTM lung pathogens that disproportionately colonize and infect the lungs of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). MABC infection can persist for years, and antimicrobial treatment is frequently ineffective.

Toxicity and Biodistribution of Fragmented Polypropylene Microplastics in ICR Mice.

Currently, polypropylene (PP) is used in various products, thus leading to high daily exposure in humans. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate the toxicological effects, biodistribution, and accumulation of PP microplastics in the human body. In this study, administration of two particle sizes of PP microplastics (approximately 5 and 10-50 µm) did not lead to any significant changes in several toxicological evaluation parameters, including body weight and pathological examination, compared with the control group in ICR mice.

Modified gellan gum-based hydrogel with enhanced mechanical properties for application as a cell carrier for cornea endothelial cells.

Recently, the number of people suffering from visual loss due to eye diseases is increasing rapidly around the world. However, due to the severe donor shortage and the immune response, corneal replacement is needed. Gellan gum (GG) is biocompatible and widely used for cell delivery or drug delivery, but its strength is not suitable for the corneal substitute.

Development of Gelatin-Based Shape-Memory Polymer Scaffolds with Fast Responsive Performance and Enhanced Mechanical Properties for Tissue Engineering Applications.

Shape-memory polymers (SMPs) can be defined as a reversibly changing form through deformation and recovery by external stimuli. However, there remain application limitations of SMPs, such as complicated preparation processes and slow shape recovery. Here, we designed gelatin-based shape-memory scaffolds by a facile dipping method in tannic acid solution.

Brivaracetam to Treat Partial Onset Seizures in Adults.

Purpose Of Review: Seizures are a hyperexcitable, and hypersynchronous imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory factors (E/I imbalance) in neurotransmission, and epilepsy is the recurrent manifestation of seizures within a reasonable time frame and without being attributable to a reversible cause. Brivaracetam is a derivative of the antiepileptic agent, levetiracetam, that is used as adjuvant therapy for focal onset seizures. It was approved by the FDA in 2016 and has shown promising results with minimal adverse effect reactions in clinical trials.