A Pilot Study on the Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Tacrolimus in Ankylosing Spondylitis: Evidence from Human Samples and a Murine Model.

Background/Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory and therapeutic effects of tacrolimus in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Materials and Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMCs) from AS patients were treated with tacrolimus and analyzed via flow cytometry to measure inflammatory cytokine-producing cells (IFN-γ, IL-17A, and GM-CSF). Additionally, cytokine levels (IFN-γ, IL-17A, TNF-α, and GM-CSF) in ex vivo cultured PBMC supernatants were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Haloimpatiens sporogenes sp. nov. and Haloimpatiens myeolchijeotgali sp. nov., anaerobic bacteria isolated from Myeolchi-jeot, a traditional Korean fermented anchovy.

Two rod-shaped, Gram-positive, spore-forming, motile, and strictly anaerobic bacteria, FM7315T and FM7330T were isolated from Myeolchi-jeot, a traditional Korean fermented anchovy. Phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene and genome sequences revealed that strains FM7315T and FM7330T represent novel species within the genus Haloimpatiens. The genome sizes of strains FM7315T and FM7330T were 3,052,517 bp and 4,194,114 bp, respectively, with G + C contents of 29.

Comparative effectiveness of potassium-competitive acid blockers and proton pump inhibitors in dual antiplatelet therapy patients: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used in combination with dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding; however, some PPIs may interfere with clopidogrel metabolism through CYP2C19 inhibition. Potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) have emerged as alternatives to PPIs, although their effectiveness in patients receiving DAPT have not been sufficiently explored.

Aim: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of PPIs and P-CABs in preventing cardiovascular events and gastrointestinal bleeding among patients receiving DAPT after coronary stent implantation.

Clonorchis sinensis excretory/secretory proteins ameliorate inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

Background: We aimed to investigate whether substances secreted by Clonorchis sinensis excretory/secretory protein (CS-ESP) have an effect on the inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and to identify specific peptides through related proteomic analysis to determine which proteins exhibit anti-inflammatory effects more specifically.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from healthy controls (HCs), RA and AS patients. Cytotoxicity of CS-ESP at different doses was assessed by MTS and flow cytometry before performing experiments.

Insulin-Like Growth Factor 2 Secreted from Mesenchymal Stem Cells with High Glutathione Levels Alleviates Osteoarthritis via Paracrine Rejuvenation of Senescent Chondrocytes.

Senescent chondrocytes, which are increased in osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage, promote cartilage defects and the senescent knee microenvironment by inducing senescence to surrounding normal chondrocytes by secreting senescence-associated secretory proteins. Many studies have used mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to treat OA, but MSC treatment remains challenging for clinical application owing to MSC quality control, engraftment, and fibrocartilage regeneration. Here, rather than relying on the direct regeneration of MSCs, we present a novel strategy to suppress OA by MSC-mediated senescent chondrocyte targeting via the paracrine activity of MSCs, thereby improving the knee microenvironment.

Evolving trends in acid suppression therapy among patients undergoing dual antiplatelet therapy: A Nationwide study in South Korea from 2018 to 2022.

Aims: We aimed to examine the recent trends in the use of acid suppression therapies, including proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) and potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs), in patients undergoing dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) as aspirin-clopidogrel following coronary stent implantation in South Korea between 2018 and 2022.

Methods: This observational study analysed data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) on patients who underwent coronary stent implantation and received aspirin-clopidogrel DAPT. Patients who received acid suppression therapy for >60 days during DAPT were included in the analysis.

Long-term use of proton pump inhibitors was associated with rapid progression to end stage kidney disease in a Korean nationwide study.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most widely used drugs worldwide. However, their influence on the progression of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in established chronic kidney disease (CKD) cases is unclear. Using the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment database encoded by the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership-Common Data Model (OMOP-CDM), patients with stage 3 or 4 CKD initiating PPIs or histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) for over 90 days were enrolled from 2012 through 2021.

Usenamine A: a potential therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis through its anti-inflammatory activity.

Background: Usenamine A (UA) is a natural compound isolated from the lichen , and its therapeutic effects on rheumatic diseases are not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory effects of UA and its therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Materials And Methods: Molecular docking was performed between the 3D structure of UA and the TNF-TNFR2 complex.

Cultured fecal microbial community and its impact as fecal microbiota transplantation treatment in mice gut inflammation.

The fecal microbiome is identical to the gut microbial communities and provides an easy access to the gut microbiome. Therefore, fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) strategies have been used to alter dysbiotic gut microbiomes with healthy fecal microbiota, successfully alleviating various metabolic disorders, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the success of FMT treatment is donor-dependent and variations in gut microbes cannot be avoided.

Lower respiratory tract microbiota in patients with clinically suspected nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease according to the presence of gastroesophageal reflux.

Although gastroesophageal reflux has been recognized as one of the risk factors of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) progression, the effect of reflux on the lower respiratory tract microbiota has not been studied in detail. We investigated the composition of the lower respiratory tract microbiota in patients with clinically suspected NTM-PD, comparing them based on the presence of reflux. Forty-seven patients suspected of having NTM-PD were enrolled and assigned according to presence of reflux (n = 22) and non- reflux (n = 25).

A potential role of protein extractions from Metagonimus yokogawai in amelionating inflammation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Helminth infections and their components has been recognized to have a positive impact on the immune system. This study aimed to investigate the potential of Metagonimus yokogawai-derived proteins (MYp) to provide protection against ankylosing spondylitis (AS) through modulation of immune responses. The cytotoxicity of MYp at various doses was first assessed using MTS and flow cytometry.

Exosome-mediated delivery of super-repressor IκBα alleviates inflammation and joint damages in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: This study aims to investigate the potential anti-inflammatory effects of exosomes engineered to carry super-repressor IκB (Exo-srIκB), an exosome-based NF-κB inhibitor, in the context of RA.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMCs) were collected from patients diagnosed with RA and treated with Exo-srIκB to test the therapeutic potential. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to assess the production of inflammatory cytokines (IL-17A and GM-CSF) by the cells.

Risk of Hyponatremia after Tramadol/Acetaminophen Single-Pill Combination Therapy: A Real-World Study Based on the OMOP-CDM Database.

Background And Objective: Tramadol has been reported to cause hyponatremia but the evidence is conflicting. The risk of hyponatremia resulting from combination oral tramadol/acetaminophen (TA) therapy is thus unknown. This study examined whether, compared with acetaminophen (AA), TA use is associated with an increased risk of hyponatremia.

Long-term effectiveness and safety of cilostazol versus clopidogrel in secondary prevention of noncardioembolic ischemic stroke.

Purpose: Cilostazol is a widely used antiplatelet drug for secondary stroke prevention in Asia, but its comparison with clopidogrel is not well understood. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness and safety of cilostazol compared to clopidogrel for the secondary prevention of noncardioembolic ischemic stroke.

Methods: This retrospective comparative effectiveness research analyzed 1:1 propensity scorematched data from insured individuals between 2012 and 2019, using administrative claims data in Health Insurance Review and Assessment in Korea.

CCL20 inhibition for treating inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: Th17 cells are known to play a significant role in AS. C-C motif chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) binds to C-C chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6) on Th17 cells, promoting their migration to inflammation sites. The aim of this research is to examine the effectiveness of CCL20 inhibition in treating inflammation in AS.

Inhibition of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase 4 in CD4 T Cells Ameliorates Intestinal Inflammation.

Background & Aims: Despite recent evidence supporting the metabolic plasticity of CD4 T cells, it is uncertain whether the metabolic checkpoint pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) in T cells plays a role in the pathogenesis of colitis.

Methods: To investigate the role of PDK4 in colitis, we used dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis and T-cell transfer colitis models based on mice with constitutive knockout (KO) or CD4 T-cell-specific KO of PDK4 (Pdk4CD4). The effect of PDK4 deletion on T-cell activation was also studied in vitro.

Efficacy of melatonin for chronic insomnia: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

We conducted systematic reviews and meta-analyses to evaluate the efficacy of melatonin versus placebo or other hypnotic agents in improving sleep quality and quantity in patients with chronic insomnia. A literature search on Ovid-MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library was performed up to November 2020. Sleep onset latency, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep quality and quality of life were examined as outcomes.

Draft genome sequence data of multi-stress tolerant yeast KCTC27753 isolated from nuruk.

The strain KCTC27753, isolated from nuruk, is a multi-stress tolerant yeast which grows at 46 °C temperature and pH 3.0. This strain can withstand fermentation inhibitors, such as furfural and phenolic compounds released from biomass.

Gut Microbiome Profiles in Colonizations with the Enteric Protozoa in Korean Populations.

The influence of unicellular eukaryotic microorganisms on human gut health and disease is largely unexplored. species commonly colonize the gut, but their clinical significance and ecological role are unclear. We evaluated the effect of colonization on the fecal microbiota of Koreans.

Gut microbiome composition can predict the response to nivolumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Background: Immunotherapy has revolutionized the clinical outcomes of intractable cancer patients. Little is known about the intestinal nonpathogenic bacterial composition of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated by immunotherapy.

Aim: To determine whether there is a correlation between gut bacterial composition and prognosis in HCC patients.

Prevalence and Factors Associated With Elder Abuse in Community-Dwelling Elderly in Korea: Mediation Effects of Social Support.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to investigate the factors associated with elder abuse and the mediation effects of social support in a community-dwelling elderly population in Korea.

Methods: This study analyzed a dataset of 10,674 individuals aged 65 years and older in Korea. Data were reviewed from a study conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs in 2011.

-Derived Protein Attenuates Inflammation and New Bone Formation in Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Helminth infections and their components have been shown to have the potential to modulate and attenuate immune responses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential protective effects of -derived protein (CSp) on ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Cytotoxicity of CSp at different doses was assessed by MTS and flow cytometry before performing experiments.

Morphological and Molecular Characteristics of Clinostomid Metacercariae from Korea and Myanmar.

Morphological and molecular characterization of clinostomid metacercariae (CMc) was performed with the specimens collected in fish from Korea and Myanmar. Total 6 batches of clinostomid specimens by the fish species and geographical localities, 5 Korean and 1 Myanmar isolates, were analyzed with morphological (light microscopy and SEM) and molecular methods (the cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene and internal transcribed spacer 1/5.8S rRNA sequence).