Ovarian cancer usually metastasizes from the ovary to adjacent organs through direct invasion with blood vessels formed by endothelial cells. Targeting apoptosis of ovarian cancer and angiogenesis is promising for anticancer therapy. Leaves of Ipomoea sp. have reportedly shown promise in treating ovarian cancer. Here, we investigated the apoptosis-inducing and anti-angiogenic effects of compounds isolated from Ipomoea batatas vines (IBV). Phytochemical examination of IBV led to the isolation and verification of eight compounds (1-8): chlorogenic acid (1), 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (2), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3), 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (4), 1,3,5-tricaffeoylquinic acid (5), N-trans-feruloyltyramine (6), scopoletin (7), and esculetin (8). Of these, 1,3,5-tricaffeoylquinic acid (5) showed the highest cytotoxicity in A2780 human ovarian cancer cells, inducing apoptotic death in more than 37% cells and decreasing viability to less than 25% at 100 μM. Compound 5 increased the levels of cleaved caspase-8, Bax, cleaved PARP, and caspase-3/9, and decreased the levels of cleaved Bcl-2. Further, 5 inhibited tubule formation in HUVECs.VEGFR2, ERK, PI3K, Akt, and mTOR protein expression was also suppressed by 5. Then, a simple, rapid, and reliable LC-MS/ MS method was developed to determine the contents of the isolated compounds from IBV. Overall, 5 has potential for treating ovarian cancer as it induces apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells and inhibits tube formation.

Ovarian cancer usually metastasizes from the ovary to adjacent organs through direct invasion with blood vessels formed by endothelial cells. Targeting apoptosis of ovarian cancer and angiogenesis is promising for anticancer therapy. Leaves of Ipomoea sp. have reportedly shown promise in treating ovarian cancer. Here, we investigated the apoptosis-inducing and anti-angiogenic effects of compounds isolated from Ipomoea batatas vines (IBV). Phytochemical examination of IBV led to the isolation and verification of eight compounds (1-8): chlorogenic acid (1), 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (2), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3), 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (4), 1,3,5-tricaffeoylquinic acid (5), N-trans-feruloyltyramine (6), scopoletin (7), and esculetin (8). Of these, 1,3,5-tricaffeoylquinic acid (5) showed the highest cytotoxicity in A2780 human ovarian cancer cells, inducing apoptotic death in more than 37% cells and decreasing viability to less than 25% at 100 μM. Compound 5 increased the levels of cleaved caspase-8, Bax, cleaved PARP, and caspase-3/9, and decreased the levels of cleaved Bcl-2. Further, 5 inhibited tubule formation in HUVECs.VEGFR2, ERK, PI3K, Akt, and mTOR protein expression was also suppressed by 5. Then, a simple, rapid, and reliable LC-MS/ MS method was developed to determine the contents of the isolated compounds from IBV. Overall, 5 has potential for treating ovarian cancer as it induces apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells and inhibits tube formation.

Ovarian cancer usually metastasizes from the ovary to adjacent organs through direct invasion with blood vessels formed by endothelial cells. Targeting apoptosis of ovarian cancer and angiogenesis is promising for anticancer therapy. Leaves of Ipomoea sp. have reportedly shown promise in treating ovarian cancer. Here, we investigated the apoptosis-inducing and anti-angiogenic effects of compounds isolated from Ipomoea batatas vines (IBV). Phytochemical examination of IBV led to the isolation and verification of eight compounds (1-8): chlorogenic acid (1), 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (2), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3), 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (4), 1,3,5-tricaffeoylquinic acid (5), N-trans-feruloyltyramine (6), scopoletin (7), and esculetin (8). Of these, 1,3,5-tricaffeoylquinic acid (5) showed the highest cytotoxicity in A2780 human ovarian cancer cells, inducing apoptotic death in more than 37% cells and decreasing viability to less than 25% at 100 μM. Compound 5 increased the levels of cleaved caspase-8, Bax, cleaved PARP, and caspase-3/9, and decreased the levels of cleaved Bcl-2. Further, 5 inhibited tubule formation in HUVECs.VEGFR2, ERK, PI3K, Akt, and mTOR protein expression was also suppressed by 5. Then, a simple, rapid, and reliable LC-MS/ MS method was developed to determine the contents of the isolated compounds from IBV. Overall, 5 has potential for treating ovarian cancer as it induces apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells and inhibits tube formation.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between gaming time and problematic game use (PGU) within a large sample of Korean male gamers and to examine the potential moderating effects of loneliness, living alone, and household size. Methods: This study employed data from 743 male gamers from the National Mental Health Survey 2021, a nationally representative survey of mental illness conducted in South Korea. Self-reported data on the average gaming time per day, severity of PGU, loneliness, living alone, and household size were used. Results: Gaming time was positively associated with PGU and this relationship was significantly moderated by loneliness such that the positive effect of gaming time on PGU was greater when the levels of loneliness were high. The three-way interaction effect of gaming time, loneliness, and living alone was also significant, in that the moderating effect of loneliness on the relationship between gaming time and PGU was significant only in the living alone group. However, household size (i.e., number of housemates) did not moderate the interaction between gaming time and loneliness among gamers living with housemates. Conclusion These results suggest the importance of considering loneliness and living arrangements of male gamers, in addition to gaming time, in identifying and intervening with individuals at heightened risk of PGU.

Purpose: The Prescott nomogram has been utilized to forecast hepatotoxicity from acute acetaminophen poisoning. In developing countries, emergency medical centers lack the resources to report acetaminophen concentrations; thus, the commencement and cessation of treatment are based on the reported dose. This study investigated risk factors that can predict acetaminophen detection after 15 hours for safe treatment termination. Methods: Data were collected from an urban emergency medical center from 2010 to 2020. The study included patients ≥14 years of age with acute acetaminophen poisoning within 15 hours. The correlation between risk factors and detection of acetaminophen 15 hours after ingestion was evaluated using logistic regression, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Results: In total, 181 patients were included in the primary analysis; the median dose was 150.9 mg/kg and 35 patients (19.3%) had acetaminophen detected 15 hours after ingestion. The dose per weight and the time to visit were significant predictors for acetaminophen detection after 15 hours (odds ratio, 1.020 and 1.030, respectively). The AUCs were 0.628 for a 135 mg/kg cut-off value and 0.658 for a cut-off 450 minutes, and that of the combined model was 0.714 (sensitivity: 45.7%, specificity: 91.8%). Conclusion Where acetaminophen concentrations are not reported during treatment following the UK guidelines, it is safe to start N-acetylcysteine immediately for patients who are ≥14 years old, visit within 15 hours after acute poisoning, and report having ingested ≥135 mg/kg. Additional N-acetylcysteine doses should be considered for patients visiting after 8 hours.

Background: Conventional diagnosis of fragile X syndrome (FXS) is based on a combination of fragment analysis (FA) and Southern blotting (SB); however, this diagnostic approach is time- and labor-intensive and has pitfalls such as the possibility of missing large number alleles. Triplet repeat primed PCR (TP-PCR) is a current alternative used to overcome these limitations. We evaluated the diagnostic usefulness of TP-PCR compared with the conventional diagnostic protocol consisting of FA and/or SB in terms of allele categorization, repeat number correlation, and zygosity concordance in female genetic carriers. Methods: From November 2013 to March 2018, 458 patients (326 males, 132 females) were simultaneously examined using FA and/or SB and TP-PCR by detecting CGG repeat numbers in FMR gene and diagnosed as per American College of Medical Genetics guidelines. Results: The TP-PCR results showed high concordance with the FA and/or SB results for all three aspects (allele categorization, repeat number correlation, and zygosity concordance in female genetic carriers). TP-PCR detected CGG expansions ≥ 200 in all full mutation (FM) allele cases in male patients, as well as both the normal allele (NL) and FM allele in female carriers. In premutation (PM) allele carriers, the TP-PCR results were consistent with the FA and/or SB results. In terms of zygosity concordance in female genetic carriers, 12 NL cases detected by TP-PCR showed a merged peak consisting of two close heterozygous peaks; however, this issue was resolved using a 10-fold dilution. Conclusions TP-PCR may serve as a reliable alternative method for FXS diagnosis.

Purpose: We aimed to identify collaborative disaster governance through the demand and supply analysis of resources recognized by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We used a descriptive study design with an online survey technique for data collection. The survey questions were developed based on focus group interviews with nurses responding to COVID-19 and expert validity testing. A 42-question online survey focusing on disaster governance was sent to nurses working in COVID-19 designated hospitals, public health offices, and schools. A total of 630 nurses participated in the survey. Demand and supply analysis was used to identify the specific components of disaster governance during a pandemic situation and analyze priority areas in disaster governance, as reported by nurses. Results: Demand and supply analysis showed that supplies procurement, cooperation, education, and environment factors clustered in the high demand and supply quadrant while labor condition, advocacy, emotional support, and workload adjustment factors clustered in the high demand but low supply quadrant, indicating a strong need in those areas of disaster governance among nurses. The nurses practicing at the public health offices and schools showed major components of disaster governance plotted in the second quadrant, indicating weak collaborative disaster governance. Conclusion These findings show that there is an unbalanced distribution among nurses, resulting in major challenges in collaborative disaster governance during COVID-19. In the future and current pandemic, collaborative disaster governance, through improved distribution, will be useful for helping nurses to access more required resources and achieve effective pandemic response.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop an untact visit service based on an application that can be utilized in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) during COVID-19. Methods: This study adopted the double diamond process of service design comprising the discovery, defining, and development stages. Results: We developed an untact visit service based on an application that considered the child’s status, schedule, photo, and video messages, and so on. Moreover, we derived a service flow regarding the required roles and the type of flow shown between each stakeholder. Conclusion Considering the ongoing pandemic, the untact visit service is designed to increase rapport and participation of parents, share the child’s information in real-time, and provide one-stop service without increasing healthcare providers’ work. It will be a useful visit service that can be applied and evaluated in various hospital settings and the PICU.

The efficacy and side effects associated with anticancer drugs have attracted an extensive research focus. Onconephrology is an evolving field of nephrology that deals with the study of kidney diseases in cancer patients. Most renal diseases in cancer patients are unique, and management of renal disease can be challenging especially in the presence of continuing use of the nephrotoxic drugs. Cisplatin is one of the most important chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of various malignancies, such as head, neck, ovarian, and cervical cancers. The major limitation in the clinical use of cisplatin is its tendency to induce adverse effects, such as nephrotoxicity. Recently, plant-derived phytochemicals have emerged as novel agents providing protection against cisplatin-induced renal cytotoxicity. Owing to the diversity of phytochemicals, they cover a wide spectrum of therapeutic indications in cancer and inflammation and have been a productive source of lead compounds for the development of novel medications. Of these agents, the effectiveness of triterpenoids, isolated from various medicinal plants, against cisplatin-induced renal cytotoxicity has been reported most frequently compared to other phytochemicals. Triterpenes are one of the most numerous and diverse groups of plant natural products. Triterpenes ameliorate cisplatin-induced renal damage through multiple pathways by inhibiting reactive oxygen species, inflammation, down-regulation of the MAPK, apoptosis, and NF-κB signaling pathways and upregulation of Nrf2-mediated antioxidant defense mechanisms. Here, we reviewed recent findings on the natural compounds with protective potential in cisplatin-induced renal cytotoxicity, provided an overview of the protective effects and mechanisms that have been identified to date, and discussed strategies to reduce renal cytotoxicity induced by anticancer drugs.

Background/Aims: As the novel coronavirus (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) outbreak progresses rapidly, staying home is recommended for suspected patients; however, the safety of this recommendation is uncertain. In Korea, non-hospital facilities called “living and treatment centers (LTCs)” have been established since 5 March 2020. The LTCs provided a unique opportunity to evaluate the safety of selection criteria for low-risk groups. Methods: Between 5 March and 9 April 2020, patients with COVID-19 who met the following criteria were admitted to the LTC; alert, age below 65 years old, no underlying disease or well-controlled underlying disease, body temperature below 38.0°C, whether taking antipyretics or not, and no dyspnea. Patients were closely observed by doctors or nurses’ interviews twice a day and transferred to hospitals when symptoms worsened. Results: A total of 113 patients were admitted to the LTC; 52.2% were female, with a median age of 25 years (interquartile range, 21.5 to 39.5). Of 113 patients, 54 (47.8%) were asymptomatic at diagnosis, and 15 (13.3%) had no symptoms until they were released from isolation. During the follow-up period, two (1.8%) patients were transferred to a hospital but did not progress to severe status during hospitalization. Conclusions The risk of progression was negligible in COVID-19 patients who met the admission criteria for LTC at the time of diagnosis. LTCs could be a safe alternative considering shortage of hospital beds.