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This case report presents the therapeutic effects of herbal medicine modified Sihogyeji-tang monotherapy for suspected nonatypical endometrial hyperplasia (EH), documented through transabdominal ultrasonography monitoring and clinical symptom assessment. A 38-year-old woman presented with hypomenorrhea and ovulation-related pain, headache, body aches, and nausea since April 2023. The patient was clinically assessed as having nonatypical EH based on the ultrasound findings and clinical symptoms. She was treated with modified Sihogyeji-tang twice daily from 3 June 2023 to 29 December 2023. Treatment outcomes were evaluated using regular transabdominal ultrasonography measurements of endometrial thickness and changes in menstrual patterns, including cycle length and blood volume. Menstrual symptoms showed notable improvements: severe ovulation pain decreased from NRS 7–8 to 0, menstrual volume increased from 2 to 3 medium pads to 4 to 5 large pads per day during peak flow, and menstrual duration normalized from 4 to 6 days. Symptoms associated with ovulation and menstruation, headache, chills, and nausea resolved. At the 3-month follow-up visit after 7 months of herbal medicine treatment, endometrial thickness measured during the secretory phase had normalized to 1.40 cm (normal range: 0.7–1.4 cm). The coexisting uterine myoma remained stable throughout the treatment and follow-up. No adverse events were reported during the entire course of treatment. This case demonstrated that modified Sihogyeji-tang alone may effectively improve suspected nonatypical EH and its associated symptoms. Improvement was objectively assessed using ultrasound measurements and was sustained over a 9-month follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights the urgent need for alternative treatments such as bacteriophage (phage) therapy. Phage therapy offers a targeted approach to combat bacterial infections, particularly those resistant to conventional antibiotics. This study aimed to standardize an agar plate method for high-mix, low-volume phage production, suitable for personalized phage therapy. Plaque assays were conducted with the double-layer agar method, and plaque sizes were precisely measured using image analysis tools. Regression models developed with Minitab software established correlations between plaque size and phage production, optimizing production while minimizing resistance development. The resulting Plaque Size Calculation (PSC) model accurately correlated plaque size with inoculum concentration and phage yield, establishing specific plaque-forming unit (PFU) thresholds for optimal production. Using phages targeting pathogens such as Escherichia, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, Chryseobacterium, Vibrio, Erwinia, and Aeromonas confirmed the model's accuracy across various conditions. The model's validation showed a strong inverse correlation between plaque size and minimum-lawn cell clearing PFUs (MCPs; R² = 98.91%) and identified an optimal inoculum density that maximizes yield while minimizing the evolution of resistant mutants. These results highlight that the PSC model offers a standardized and scalable method for efficient phage production, which is crucial for personalized therapy and AMR management. Furthermore, its adaptability across different conditions and phages positions it as a potential standard tool for rapid and precise phage screening and propagation in both clinical and industrial settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Taxanes, including paclitaxel and docetaxel, are widely used in cancer treatment but frequently cause hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs), disrupting treatment continuity. This meta-analysis aimed to identify consistent risk factors for taxane-induced HSRs to support personalized risk assessments and optimize therapeutic outcomes. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023476738). Comprehensive literature searches were conducted up to 30 June 2024. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data were synthesized to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using fixed or random effects models. Results: A total of 18 studies of moderate or higher quality were included, involving 8333 patients. The incidence of HSRs ranged from 3.0% to 33.1%. Risk factors assessed included history of allergy, obesity, postmenopausal state, ovarian cancer, and H2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) premedication. A history of allergy was identified as a potential risk factor with marginal significance (OR 1.85, 95% CI 0.97–3.54, p = 0.06), while H2RA premedication, ovarian cancer, and female sex were not significantly associated with HSR risk. Substantial heterogeneity was observed for obesity (I2 = 57.71%, p = 0.069) and postmenopausal status (I2 = 78.98%). Conclusions: This study highlights the complex nature of taxane-induced HSRs and emphasizes the need for personalized risk assessments. While a history of allergy is a potential risk factor, heterogeneity across other factors underscores the importance of individualized approaches. Clinicians should tailor strategies to balance the benefits of taxane therapy with patient-specific risks to improve clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total-body irradiation (TBI) with gamma rays can damage organisms in various unexpected ways and trigger several organ dysfunction syndromes, such as acute radiation syndrome (ARS). Hematopoietic cells and enterocytes are particularly sensitive to radiation due to their self-renewal ability and rapid division, which leads to hematopoietic ARS (H-ARS) and gastrointestinal ARS (GI-ARS). We previously showed that a lipid-based small molecule, 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-3-acetyl-rac-glycerol (PLAG), improved 30-day survival and alleviated H-ARS symptoms in BALB/c mice after a lethal dose (LD70/30) of gamma-ray TBI. In this study, we investigated the mitigating effects of PLAG on radiation-induced GI damage that occurs under the same conditions as H-ARS in BALB/c mice. Our study showed that PLAG facilitated the structural restoration of intestinal tissues by increasing villus height, crypt depth, crypt number, mucin-producing goblet cells, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive crypt cells. PLAG significantly improved intestinal absorptive capacity and reduced intestinal injury-induced bacterial translocation. In addition, PLAG effectively inhibited radiation-induced necroptosis signaling activation in the intestinal crypt cells, which was responsible for sustained tissue damage and the release of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a typical damage-associated molecular pattern. Overall, our findings support the radiation-mitigating potential of PLAG against GI-ARS after accidental radiation exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]