Search

Michael Woodward,1,* Venkatasubramanian Ramasubramanian,2 Adeeba Kamarulzaman,3 Terapong Tantawichien,4 Minggui Wang,5 Joon Young Song,6 Won Suk Choi,7 Samsuridjal Djauzi,8 Rontgene Solante,9 Wen-Sen Lee,10 Kazuhiko Tateda,11 HongXing Pan,12 Ning-Chi Wang,13 Tikki Pang14,* 1Aged Care Research, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; 2Department of Infectious Diseases, HIV & Tropical Medicine, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, TN, India; 3Department of Medicine, University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 4Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; 5Institute of Antibiotics, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, SH, People’s Republic of China; 6Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; 7Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korean University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea; 8Allergy and Clinical Immunology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia; 9Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, San Lazaro Hospital, Manila, NCR, Philippines; 10Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, New Taipei City Hospital, New Taipei, Taiwan; 11Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan; 12Institution of Vaccine Clinical Trials, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, JS, People’s Republic of China; 13Department of Medicine, Tri-Service Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; 14Centre for Behavioural and Implementation Science Interventions, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Tikki Pang, Centre for Behavioural and Implementation Science Interventions, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 10 Medical Dr, 117597, Singapore, Tel +65 6516 1048, Email mdctep@nus.edu.sgAbstract: The impact of vaccinating the older population against vaccine-preventable diseases in terms of health, social and economic benefits has been increasingly recognised. However, there is a gap in the utilisation of vaccines worldwide. The population is ageing at an unprecedented pace in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, with the number of persons older than 65 years set to double by 2050 to around 1.3 billion. More than 18% of the population in Japan, Hong Kong, and China is over the age of 65 years. This highlights the importance of prioritising resources to address societal obligations toward the needs of the ageing generation. This review provides an overview of the challenges to adult vaccination in APAC, drivers to increase vaccination coverage, vaccination insights gained through the COVID-19 pandemic, and potential measures to increase the uptake of adult vaccines in the region.Keywords: adult vaccination, vaccine-preventable diseases, VPD, adult vaccines, COVID-19 vaccination

Background: African Americans experience significant tobacco-related health disparities despite the fact that over half of African American smokers are light smokers (use ≤10 cigarettes per day). African Americans have been under-represented in smoking cessation research, and few studies have evaluated treatment for light smokers. This paper describes the study design, measures, and baseline characteristics from Kick It at Swope III (KIS-III), the first treatment study of bupropion for African American light smokers.Methods: Five hundred forty African American light smokers were randomly assigned to receive bupropion (150mg bid) (n = 270) or placebo (n = 270) for 7 weeks. All participants received written materials and health education counseling. Participants responded to survey items and provided blood samples for evaluation of phenotype and genotype of CYP2A6 and CYP2B6 enzymes involved in nicotine and bupropion metabolism. Primary outcome was cotinine-verified 7-day point prevalence smoking abstinence at Week 26 follow-up.Results: Of 2,628 individuals screened, 540 were eligible, consented, and randomized to treatment. Participants had a mean age of 46.5 years and 66.1% were women. Participants smoked an average of 8.0 cigarettes per day, had a mean exhaled carbon monoxide of 16.4ppm (range 1-55) and a mean serum cotinine of 275.8ng/ml. The mean Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence was 3.2, and 72.2% of participants smoked within 30 minutes of waking. The average number of quit attempts in the past year was 3.7 and 24.2% reported using pharmacotherapy in their most recent quit attempt. Motivation and confidence to quit were high.Conclusion: KIS-III is the first study designed to examine both nicotine and bupropion metabolism, evaluating CYP2A6 and CYP2B6 phenotype and genotype in conjunction with psychosocial factors, in the context of treatment of African American light smokers. Of 1629 smokers screened for study participation, only 18 (1.1%) were ineligible to participate in the study because they refused blood draws, demonstrating the feasibility of recruiting and enrolling African American light smokers into a clinical treatment trial involving biological data collection and genetic analyses. Future evaluation of individual factors associated with treatment outcome will contribute to advancing tailored tobacco use treatment with the goal of enhancing treatment and reducing health disparities for African American light smokers. © 2011 Cox et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Sun S Kim,1 Somporn Sitthisongkram,1 Kunsook Bernstein,2 Hua Fang,3 Won S Choi,4 Douglas Ziedonis5 1Department of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, 2Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, 3Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 4Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 5Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA Introduction: Korean women are reluctant to pursue in-person smoking cessation treatment due to stigma attached to women smokers and prefer treatment such as telephone and online smoking cessation programs that they can access secretively at home. However, there is some evidence that face-to-face interaction is the most helpful intervention component for them to quit smoking.Methods: This study is a pilot clinical trial that examined the acceptability and feasibility of a videoconferencing smoking cessation intervention for Korean American women and compared its preliminary efficacy with a telephone-based intervention. Women of Korean ethnicity were recruited nationwide in the United States and randomly assigned at a ratio of 1:1 to either a video arm or a telephone arm. Both arms received eight 30-minute weekly individualized counseling sessions of a deep cultural smoking cessation intervention and nicotine patches for 8 weeks. Participants were followed over 3 months from the quit day. Results: The videoconferencing intervention was acceptable and feasible for Korean women aged

PURPOSE: This double-blind randomized crossover study compared the analgesic efficacy of pre- and postoperative administration of oral pregabalin 75 mg using a postsurgical dental pain model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients requiring third molar surgery in 2 separate stages under local anesthesia were recruited. They were given pregabalin 75 mg either 1 hour before or after their first surgical extraction. They then received the same dose of pregabalin at their second surgical extraction, but those who received it before surgery received it postsurgery, and vice versa. Postoperative analgesic effects were assessed at postoperative hours 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72. Time to first analgesic, analgesic consumption and adverse events were also evaluated. RESULTS: Forty patients were recruited, and 34 completed the study. The area under curves for numerical rating scale pain scores 1 to 24 hours were significantly lower at rest but not during mouth opening for patients receiving postoperative pregabalin (P < .048). Pain relief was similar for the period of 24 to 72 hours. No significant difference was found in time to first analgesic, total analgesic consumption, and side effects between preoperative and postoperative groups. No difference in the incidence of adverse events was noticed in relation to the timing of pregabalin administration. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative administration of oral pregabalin 75 mg appears to offer better analgesic efficacy than preoperative administration after third molar surgery under local anesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigated the effects of resveratrol, a natural polyphenol with neuroprotective properties, on retinal neuronal cell death mediated by diabetes-induced activation of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII).Research Design and Methods: Diabetes was induced in C57BL/6 mice by five consecutive intraperitoneal injections of 55 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). Control mice received buffer. All mice were killed 2 months after the injections, and the extent of neuronal cell death, CaMKII, and phospho-CaMKII protein expression levels and CaMKII kinase activity were examined in the retinas. To assess the role of CaMKII in the death of retinal neurons, a small-interfering RNA (siRNA) or specific inhibitor of CaMKII was injected into the right vitreous humor, and vehicle only was injected into the left vitreous humor, 2 days before death. Resveratrol (20 mg/kg) was administered by oral gavage daily for 4 weeks, beginning 1 month after the fifth injection of either STZ or buffer.Results: The death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), CaMKII, phospho-CaMKII protein levels, and CaMKII activity were all greatly increased in the retinas of diabetic mice compared with controls, 2 months after induction of diabetes. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive signals co-localized with CaMKII- and phospho-CaMKII immunoreactive RGCs. However, in addition to CaMKII knockdown and inhibition by siRNA or a specific inhibitor, respectively, resveratrol provided complete protection from diabetes-induced retinal cell death.Conclusions: In the present study, resveratrol prevented diabetes-induced RGC death via CaMKII downregulation, implying that resveratrol may have potential therapeutic applications for prevention of diabetes-induced visual dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Interleukin-32 (IL-32) is a recently discovered cytokine that appears to play a critical role in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is highly expressed in synovium and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from RA patients, but not in patients with osteoarthritis (OA). This study was undertaken to assess IL-32 levels in RA synovial fluid (SF) and to investigate the secretion and regulation of IL-32 in RA FLS. METHODS: FLS and SF were obtained from the joints of RA patients. The secretion and expression of IL-32 and activation of signaling molecules were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection. RESULTS: IL-32 levels were high in RA SF compared with OA SF. Furthermore, RA FLS expressed and secreted IL-32 when stimulated with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha). TNFalpha-induced expression of IL-32 was significantly suppressed, in a dose-dependent manner, by inhibitors of Syk, protein kinase Cdelta (PKCdelta), and JNK and by knockdown of these kinases and c-Jun with siRNA. We also observed that PKCdelta mediated the activation of JNK and c-Jun, and experiments using specific inhibitors and siRNA demonstrated that Syk was the upstream kinase for the activation of PKCdelta. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that IL-32 may be a newly identified prognostic biomarker in RA, thereby adding valuable knowledge to the understanding of this disease. The results also demonstrate that the production of IL-32 in RA FLS is regulated by Syk/PKCdelta-mediated signaling events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cordyceps sinensis, one of the well-known fungi used in traditional Chinese medicine, is recognized to play a role in the metabolic process of inflammation and immunity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of water extracts of C. sinensis on the immune function of mesenteric lymph node (MLN) lymphocytes in C57Bl/6N mice. C. sinensis-treated mice were administered the respective extract by oral gavage for 4 weeks. Immunoglobulin E concentrations in serum and MLN lymphocytes were significantly lower in C. sinensis-treated mice than in control mice. In contrast, the immunoglobulin A concentration from the C. sinensis group was higher than that in control mice. C. sinensis increased the proportion of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in MLN lymphocytes. C. sinensis significantly decreased interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 cytokine concentrations. Therefore, water extracts of C. sinensis modulate immune parameters through regulation of immunoglobulin production resulting from decreased T-lymphocyte helper 2 cytokine secretion and reduce cytokine secretion in MLN lymphocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: Approximately 50% of African American smokers are light smokers (smoke < or = 10 cigarettes a day). The prevalence of light smoking in the United States is increasing, yet there has not been a single smoking cessation clinical trial targeting light smokers. The purpose of this 2 x 2 factorial, randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy of nicotine gum (2 mg versus placebo) and counseling (motivational interviewing versus health education) for African American light smokers. DESIGN: Participants were assigned randomly to one of four study arms: 2 mg nicotine gum plus health education (HE); 2 mg nicotine gum plus motivational interviewing (MI); placebo gum plus HE; and placebo gum plus MI. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: A total of 755 African American light smokers (66% female, mean age = 45) were enrolled at a community health center over a 16-month period. INTERVENTION AND MEASUREMENTS: Participants received an 8-week supply of nicotine gum and six counseling sessions during the course of the 26-week study. Biochemical measures included expired carbon monoxide (CO) and serum and salivary cotinine. FINDINGS: Seven-day quit rates for nicotine gum were no better than for the placebo group (14.2% versus 11.1%, P = 0.232) at 6 months. However, a counseling effect emerged, with HE performing significantly better than MI (16.7% versus 8.5%, P < 0.001). These results were consistent across outcome time-points (weeks 1, 8, and 26). CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight the potential positive impact of directive information and advice-oriented counseling on smoking cessation. Studies are needed to assess other interventions that may further improve quit rates among African American light smokers who are motivated to quit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the relationship between reading nutrition labels and percent calorie intake from fat. In adolescent boys, reading nutrition labels was associated with higher fat intake. In girls, fat intake did not differ by frequency of nutrition label reading. Nutrition label reading does not translate into healthier diet in adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM OF THE STUDY: Gastrodia elata (GE) Blume (Orchidaceae) has been traditionally used as a folk medicine in Oriental countries since centuries for their variety of therapeutic benefits. This study is an attempt to investigate the protective effects of GE extract against MPP(+)-induced cytotoxicity in human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells and explore the neuroprotective mechanisms involved. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells were used to demonstrate the protective effects of GE against multiple parameters such as MPP(+)-induced cell viability, oxidative damage, expression of Bcl-2 and Bax, caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase proteolysis. RESULTS: GE effectively attenuated the cytotoxicity and improved cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. GE was effective in inhibiting both, the increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, cleaved caspase-3 and PARP proteolysis. CONCLUSION: Data from this study suggests the protective effects of GE on MPP(+)-induced cytotoxicity in dopaminergic cells, which may be ascribed to its significant anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic properties, thus, GE might prove to be a valuable therapeutic agent for the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases including progressive Parkinson's disease (PD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat (Asteraceae) has (CM) long been used in Korean and Chinese traditional herbal medicines with numerous therapeutic applications. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the neuroprotective activities of Chrysanthemum morifolium (CM) extract against 1-methyl-4-phenylpridinium ions (MPP(+)), Parkinsonian toxin through oxidative stress and impaired energy metabolism, in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effects of CM against MPP(+)-induced cytotoxicity and neuronal cell viability, oxidative damage, the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax, caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) proteolysis were evaluated by using SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. RESULTS: CM effectively inhibited the cytotoxicity and improved cell viability. CM also attenuated the elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP proteolysis. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that CM possesses potent neuroprotective activity and therefore, might be a potential candidate in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Recruitment is often the rate-limiting step in conducting clinical trials among ethnic minorities. Little is known about participants who consent and enroll into a trial, but do not return for randomization. Why participants fail to return for randomization is largely unknown.Methods: We compared 287 enrolled African American smokers who did not return for randomization, to the 500 who returned and were randomized to participate in a clinical trial for smoking cessation in African Americans. Analyses were conducted to identify variables associated with not returning for randomization.Results: Univariate comparisons found the nonrandomized group to be significantly different from those randomized. Logistic regression showed younger age, less readiness to quit, having been proactively recruited, lacking a regular source of health care, believing that they will be smoking in 6 months, less church attendance, and a lower literacy level to be jointly related with not returning for randomization.Conclusions: African American participants who did not return for randomization into a clinical trial were different from those who did. Better understanding of these factors may allow researchers to target recruitment efforts resulting in enhanced accrual in clinical trials and increased efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination rates in pregnant women remain low owing to safety concerns. When evaluating vaccine safety, comparisons with unvaccinated individuals may lead to healthy vaccinee bias. This study aimed to investigate the association between mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination and pregnancy-related adverse outcomes compared with influenza vaccination., Methods: A propensity score-matched cohort study was conducted using the National Health Insurance Service insurance claims database, combined with COVID-19 and influenza vaccination registration data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Based on the age, comorbidities, insurance type, region, hospital type, gestational age at vaccination, and primiparity, the COVID-19 vaccination-only group and influenza vaccination-only group were matched in a 1:3 ratio, while both (COVID-19 and influenza) vaccination group and influenza vaccination-only group were also matched in a 1:3 ratio. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) between the two groups., Results: From October 18, 2021, to March 3, 2022, 71,902 pregnant women were identified, and the vaccination records of 67,522 individuals were verified. Among them, 610 received the COVID-19 vaccination only, 49,952 received the influenza vaccination only, and 2405 received both vaccines. In the COVID-19 vaccination-only group, the risk of large for gestational age was higher than in the influenza vaccination-only group (OR = 2.285, 95 % CI = 1.155-4.522, P = 0.018). In the group that received both vaccinations, the risk of premature birth was higher (OR = 1.365, 95 % CI = 1.124-1.656, P = 0.002) than that in the influenza vaccination-only group but lower than the domestic baseline incidence rates. No significant differences were observed in other maternal and neonatal outcomes., Conclusion: mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant women is safe without a remarkable increase in adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Given the high morbidity and mortality rates of COVID-19 in pregnant women, it is reasonable to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Hee Jin Cheong reports financial support was provided by Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Cigarette smoking confers additional risk from influenza. This study assessed the effect of smoking on humoral immune response to influenza vaccine. Adults ≥50 y of age were enrolled during the 2011-2016 influenza vaccination seasons in an observational prospective study. Non-fasting whole blood samples for hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) assays were obtained from participants at pre- and 28 d post-clinically administered, trivalent influenza vaccination. Among 273 participants, 133 subjects self-reported as never smokers, 87 as ex-smokers, and 53 as current smokers. Postvaccination geometric mean HAI titers were significantly higher among smokers for A/H1N1 ( p  = .031) and A/H3N2 ( p  = .001). Relative to never smokers, smoking was independently related to seroconversion to A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and B. The adjusted odd ratios (ORs) were 5.2 [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.3, 11.5] for seroconversion to A/H1N1, 5.4 (95% CI, 2.4, 12.1) for A/H3N2, and 2.7 (95% CI, 1.3, 5.7) for B. Smoking was also independently related to seroprotection to A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and B. The ORs were 3.6 (95% CI, 1.6, 8.08) for seroprotection to A/H1N1 in smokers, 2.7 (95% CI, 1.14, 6.5) for A/H3N2, and 2.5 (95% CI, 1.1, 5.7) for B. Although the mechanism is unclear, smokers showed a better immune response to influenza vaccination than never smokers and ex-smokers. The results can be used to emphasize the value of influenza vaccination for smokers.

Herpes zoster (HZ) is a prevalent disease characterized by a painful rash. A multi‑country study was conducted to elicit public and physician knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) toward HZ disease and vaccination for the assessment of local factors influencing HZ vaccine perceptions in four Asian-Pacific countries/territories One-to-one qualitative interviews were conducted in 2022, among the public (people aged ≥ 50 years, adults with parents aged ≥ 50 years, zoster vaccine live-vaccinated individuals aged ≥ 50 years in Republic of Korea, and HZ patients; n  = 78) and physicians (general practitioners and specialists; n  = 24). Themes surrounding KAP toward HZ and HZ vaccination were summarized using a thematic analysis. A substantial knowledge gap related to HZ was observed among the public, including its causes, long-term impacts, and the at-risk population. There was a low perceived risk of HZ and low general awareness of HZ vaccine availability, although country/territory-specific differences existed. Fear of HZ-associated pain contributed toward vaccination intent among HZ patients and adults with parents aged ≥ 50 years. HZ-naïve adults who were encouraged to receive the vaccine by others were not motivated to do so due to optimism bias. Physicians were perceived to be a reliable source of information. However, physicians did not always proactively discuss HZ vaccination due to time constraints and a perceived need to prioritize other vaccinations including influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. Initiatives are needed to improve public awareness of HZ and its complications, in terms of overall impact on individuals and society, and highlight the important role of physicians in recommending vaccination.

A stacked nanocomposite zinc-tin oxide/single-walled carbon nanotubes (ZTO/SWNTs) active layer was fabricated for thin-film transistors (TFTs) as an alternative to the conventional single-layer structure of mixed ZTO and SWNTs. The stacked nanocomposite of the solution-processed TFTs was prepared using UV/O 3 treatment and multiple annealing steps for each layer. The electrical properties of the stacked device were superior to those of the single-layer TFT. The ZTO/SWNT TFT, fabricated using a stacked structure with ZTO on the top and SWNT at the bottom layer, showed a significant improvement in the field-effect mobility of 15.37 cm2/V·s (factor of three increase) and an I on /I off current ratio of 8.83 × 108 with improved hysteresis. This outcome was attributed to the surface treatment and multiple annealing of the selected active layer, resulting in improved contact and a dense structure. This was also attributed to the controlled dispersion of SWNT, as electron migration paths without dispersants. This study suggests the potential expansion of applications, such as flexible electronics and low-cost fabrication of TFTs.

Background: Recent studies have identified hearing loss (HL) as a primary risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) onset. However, the mechanisms linking HL to AD are not fully understood. This study explored the effects of drug-induced hearing loss (DIHL) on the expression of proteins associated with AD progression in mouse models., Methods: DIHL was induced in 5xFAD and Tg2576 mice aged 3 to 3.5 weeks using kanamycin (700 mg/kg, subcutaneous) and furosemide (600 mg/kg, intraperitoneal). The accumulation and expression of beta-amyloid (Aβ), ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were measured through immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. Additionally, the expression of proteins involved in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, including downstream effectors p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (p70S6K) and S6, as well as proinflammatory cytokines, was analyzed., Results: Compared to control conditions, HL led to a significant increase in the accumulation of Aβ in the hippocampus and cortex. Elevated levels of neuroinflammatory markers, including Iba1 and GFAP, as well as proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), were observed. Moreover, DIHL enhanced phosphorylation of mTOR, p70S6K, and S6, indicating activation of the mTOR pathway., Conclusions: HL significantly increases Aβ accumulation in the brain. Furthermore, HL activates astrocytes and microglia, leading to increased neuroinflammation and thereby accelerating AD progression. These findings strongly suggest that HL contributes autonomously to neuroinflammation, highlighting the potential for early intervention in HL to reduce AD risk., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All animal procedures were approved by the Committee on the Ethics of Animal Experiments of Chonnam National University (CNUHIACUC-21052) and were performed in accordance with national and international guidelines for animal experimentation. Consents for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: Pharmacotherapy plays a crucial role in treating attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, current medications for ADHD have limitations and potential adverse effects. Glutamate, a neurotransmitter that directly and indirectly modulates dopamine neurotransmission, is considered a new therapeutic target for ADHD. We conducted a systematic review to determine the efficacy and safety of memantine, an uncompetitive N -methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, in both pediatric and adult patients with ADHD., Data Sources: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library for articles on memantine use in ADHD patients published up to August 31, 2023, using terms related to ADHD and memantine., Study Selection: Studies selected according to PRISMA guidelines. We included both randomized and nonrandomized trials for a comprehensive review. We excluded non-English publications, review articles, and studies without full text., Data Extraction: Two authors extracted data using the data extraction form designed for this review. Independent authors conducted a risk of bias assessment using risk of bias 2 (RoB 2) and Risk of Bias in Nonrandomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I)., Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria, 3 on pediatric populations, and 3 on adults. Three studies were conducted in the United States (2 in adults) and 3 in Iran (1 in adults). Memantine showed potential benefits in managing ADHD symptoms and had a favorable safety profile. However, most studies involved small patient groups at single institutions, and their quality was low., Conclusions: Memantine has the potential to be a relatively safe alternative or adjunctive treatment for ADHD, but more refined studies with larger populations are needed., J Clin Psychiatry 2025;86(1):24r15507 ., Author affiliations are listed at the end of this article., (© Copyright 2024 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.)

Objective: The primary aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of ankle osteoarthritis in patients with achondroplasia and to assess the impact of surgical correction of lower limb alignment on this prevalence. The secondary aim is to identify radiographic parameters associated with ankle osteoarthritis., Design: This retrospective cohort study included 134 patients (268 ankles) who visited our institution between March 2014 and February 2023. Lower limb alignment was assessed using the mechanical axis deviation, lateral distal tibial angle, anterior distal tibial angle, and talar tilt angle. Ankle osteoarthritis was evaluated using the Van Dijk Osteoarthritis score and modified Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) scale by 2 experienced orthopedic surgeons., Results: The prevalence of ankle osteoarthritis in our study cohort was 29%, and that of advanced ankle osteoarthritis defined by Van Dijk Osteoarthritis scale III or modified K-L grade 4 was 0.8% (aged <40 years, 22%, and 0%; aged ≥40 years, 42% and 2%, respectively). Talar tilt angle was the only radiographic parameter that showed a significant correlation with the degree of ankle osteoarthritis (Van Dijk Osteoarthritis score, r s = 0.403, P < 0.001; modified K-L grade, r s = 0.385, P < 0.001)., Discussion: The prevalence of ankle osteoarthritis in achondroplasia is moderate, but the progression to advanced stages is uncommon. Ankle osteoarthritis in achondroplasia is strongly associated with increased talar tilt angle. This finding emphasizes caution regarding ankle osteoarthritis in achondroplasia with a nonparallel tibiotalar articular surface. Clinicians should, therefore, consider regularly assessing the talar tilt angle in patients with achondroplasia., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a treatment option for osteoarthritis of the knee. After undergoing TKA, patients can be treated with continuous passive motion (CPM); however, inconsistent results have been reported on the effectiveness of CPM as part of a rehabilitation strategy. This discrepancy may be due to the difference between the set-arc of CPM and real arcs of knee motion. In this randomized controlled trial, we compared the efficacy of the sitting-type CPM, which can apply a more fitted arc of motion, to that of the conventional CPM., Methods: We performed a prospective, multicenter, single-blind, three-arm, randomized controlled trial. Patients who underwent unilateral TKA were recruited and randomly allocated to three groups (151 participants; Group 1, conventional type; Group 2, mixed; and Group 3, sitting type). All participants underwent 10 days of CPM management. Passive and active ranges of motion (ROMs), pain, lower-extremity edema, patient-reported outcomes, and functional assessments were evaluated at four time points., Results: Passive and active ROMs and pain significantly improved during and after the intervention in all groups; however, no significant differences were noted between the groups. Compared with the conventional type, the sitting-type CPM devices were rated higher in participant's satisfaction questionnaires., Conclusion: The sitting-type CPM had equivalent efficacy to that of the conventional-type CPM but provided higher satisfaction to patients after TKA. Therefore, the sitting-type CPM may be a useful tool in post-TKA rehabilitation., Clinical Trial Registration: This clincial trial was registed with the Clinical Research Information Service of Republic of Korea, KCT0005520, Registered on 21 October 2020, date of first enrollment at 10/11/2020 https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do/21750 ., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The ethical validity of the trial was assessed and approved by the Institutional Review Boards of Chungnam National University Hospital (CNUH-2020-07-028) and the Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon St. Mary Hospital (DC20DNDI0089). All participants provided written informed consent before the trial. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Influenza imposes a significant healthcare burden in Korea, leading the government to initiate a national immunization program. Previous studies on vaccine effectiveness (VE) were limited to single-season estimation in Korea., Methods: This multicenter prospective cohort study enrolled patients with influenza-like illnesses at 10 medical centers in Korea from 2011 to 2021. The demographic and clinical data were collected from questionnaire surveys and electronic medical records. Using a test-negative design, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a seasonal influenza vaccine for antigenic matching of the vaccine and circulating viral strains over 10 seasons., Results: Overall, 5322 adults aged ≥65 years were enrolled. Only three (33.3 %) of nine seasons showed >70 % antigenic match between vaccine and circulating strains. Influenza VE was significantly variable by season, ranging from -46.9 % (95 %confidence interval [CI]: -127.6-5.2) in the 2011/12 season to 47.7 % (95 %CI: 22.6-64.7) in the 2016/17 season. A significant difference was observed in the VE depending on whether the vaccine strains matched with epidemic strains: 28.8 % (95 %CI: 8.8-44.8) in matched seasons versus -12.0 % (95 %CI: -30.0-3.7) in mismatched seasons. Across the study period, influenza-related hospitalizations were reduced by 13.6 % (95 %CI: 0.7-24.8) with vaccination. In a subgroup analysis, the VE against influenza-related hospitalization was 48.4 % (95 %CI 29.6-62.2) in A/H3N2 dominant seasons and 53.8 % (95 %CI: -73.4-87.7) in A/H1N1 dominant seasons, respectively., Conclusion: Influenza vaccine mismatch was frequent over the study period, leading to negligibly low VE in mismatched seasons. Influenza vaccination reduces the risk of influenza-related hospitalizations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Hee Jin Cheong reports financial support was provided by Korea University College of Medicine. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The Korean Society of Infectious Diseases has been regularly publishing guidelines for adult immunization since 2007. Following the release of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination recommendations in 2023, significant changes have occurred due to the emergence of new variant strains and the waning immunity from previous vaccinations. This article provides a comprehensive update as of November 2024, incorporating the latest evidence and guidelines. Focusing on the 2024-2025 season, this article reviews vaccines currently authorized in Korea and assesses their effectiveness against the predominant JN.1 lineage variants. The updated recommendations prioritize high-risk groups, including adults aged 65 and older, individuals with underlying medical conditions, residents of facilities vulnerable to infection, pregnant women, and healthcare workers, for vaccination with updated vaccines targeting the JN.1 strain. Additionally, COVID-19 vaccination is available for all individuals aged 6 months and older. For most adults, a single-dose strategy is emphasized, while tailored schedules may be recommended for immunocompromised individuals. This update aims to optimize vaccination strategies in Korea to ensure comprehensive protection for high-risk populations., Competing Interests: WBP is associate editor of Infect Chemother. JYS and JYC are editorial board of Infect Chemother; however, they did not involve in the peer reviewer selection, evaluation, and decision process of this article. Otherwise, no potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article was reported., (© 2024 by The Korean Society of Infectious Diseases, Korean Society for Antimicrobial Therapy, The Korean Society for AIDS, and Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases.)

Understanding the mammalian pathogenesis and interspecies transmission of HPAI H5N8 virus hinges on mapping its adaptive markers. We used deep sequencing to track these markers over five passages in murine lung tissue. Subsequently, we evaluated the growth, selection, and RNA load of eight recombinant viruses with mammalian adaptive markers. By leveraging an integrated non-linear regression model, we quantitatively determined the influence of these markers on growth, adaptation, and RNA expression in mammalian hosts. Furthermore, our findings revealed that the interplay of these markers can lead to synergistic, additive, or antagonistic effects when combined. The elucidation distance method then transformed these results into distinct values, facilitating the derivation of a risk score for each marker. In vivo tests affirmed the accuracy of scores. As more mutations were incorporated, the overall risk score of virus heightened, and the optimal interplay between markers became essential for risk augmentation. Our study provides a robust model to assess risk from adaptive markers of HPAI H5N8, guiding strategies against future influenza threats.