BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity, characterized by abnormal fat accumulation and metabolic disturbances, presents a significant health challenge. Opuntia humifusa Raf., commonly known as Korean Cheonnyuncho, is rich in various beneficial compounds and has demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, its potential impact on glucose and lipid metabolism, particularly in obese rats, remains unexplored. We aimed to investigate whether O. humifusa stems and fruits could beneficially alter glucose metabolism and lipid profiles in a rat model of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity.MATERIALS/METHODS: Thirty-two rats were allocated into 4 groups: normal diet (NF), HFD control (HF), HFD treated with 2% O. humifusa stems (HF-OS), and HFD treated with 2% O. humifusa fruits (HF-OF). Experimental diets were administered for 6 weeks. At the end of the treatment, liver and fat tissues were isolated, and serum was collected for biochemical analysis. The major flavonoid from O. humifusa stems and fruits was identified and quantified. RESULTS: After 6 weeks of treatment, the serum fasting glucose concentration in the HF-OS group was significantly lower than that in the HF group. Serum fasting insulin concentrations in both HF-OS and HF-OF groups tended to be lower than those in the HF group, indicating a significant improvement in insulin sensitivity in the HF-OS group. Additionally, the HF-OS group exhibited a tendency towards the restoration of adiponectin levels to that of the NF group. CONCLUSION The 2% O. humifusa stems contain abundant quercetin and isorhamnetin, which alter fasting blood glucose levels in rats fed a HFD, leading to a favorable improvement in insulin resistance.

The natural flavonoid macakurzin C (1) exhibited adiponectin biosynthesis-inducing activity during adipogenesis in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and its molecular mechanism was directly associated with a pan-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) modulator affecting all three PPAR subtypes α, γ, and δ. In this study, increases in adiponectin biosynthesisinducing activity by macakurzin C derivatives (2–7) were studied. The most potent adiponectin biosynthesis-inducing compound 6, macakurzin C 3,5-dimethylether, was elucidated as a dual PPARα/γ modulator. Compound 6 may exhibit the most potent activity because of the antagonistic relationship between PPARδ and PPARγ. Docking studies revealed that the O-methylation of macakurzin C to generate compound 6 significantly disrupted PPARδ binding. Compound 6 has therapeutic potential in hypoadiponectinemia-related metabolic diseases.

Purpose: Deodeok (Codonopsis lanceolata) is generally used in conventional medicines and is considered to have remedial properties to cure several diseases. However, application of the C. lanceolata bud as a novel food ingredient has not been fully explored. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is associated with the production of oxidative damage that results in mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and cell death. This study examines the neuroprotective effect of C. lanceolata bud extracts (CLBE) on H2O2 -stimulated apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cells. Methods: C. lanceolata bud of length 10 to 15 cm was collected and extracted using 70% ethanol. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by the EZ-cytox reagent, measurement of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) release and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The morphological changes of the nuclei were determined using the Hoechst 33258 dye. Enzyme activities were analyzed using the caspase activity assay kit. Related protein expressions were quantified by the Western blot immunoassay in H2O2 -stimulated SH-SY5Y cells. Results: Cell viability, LDH release and ROS generation, demonstrated neuroprotective effects of CLBE in H2O2-stimulated SH-SY5Y cells. The occurrence of apoptosis in H2O2-stimulated cells was confirmed by caspase activity, which was increased in H2O2-stimulated SH-SY5Y cells compared to the unexposed group. Pretreatment of CLBE was observed to inhibit the H2O2–stimulated apoptosis. In addition, exposure to CLBE resulted in increased expression of the Bcl-2 (B cell lymphoma 2) protein and decreased expression of the Bax (Bcl2 associated X) protein. Conclusion This study shows that exposure to CLBE alleviates the H2O2-stimulated neuronal damage in SH-SY5Y cells. Our results indicate the potential application of CLBE in neurodegenerative disease therapy or prevention.

Considerable evidence has been published since the 2020 Korean Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Guidelines were reported. The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) also publishes the Consensus on CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science with Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) summary annually. This review provides expert opinions by reviewing the recent evidence on CPR and ILCOR treatment recommendations. The authors reviewed the CoSTR summary published by ILCOR in 2021 and 2022. PICO (population, intervention, comparator, outcome) questions for each topic were reviewed using a systemic or scoping review methodology. Two experts were appointed for each question and reviewed the topic independently. Topics suggested by the reviewers for revision or additional description of the guidelines were discussed at a consensus conference. Forty-three questions were reviewed, including 15 on basic life support, seven on advanced life support, two on pediatric life support, 11 on neonatal life support, six on education and teams, one on first aid, and one related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Finally, the current Korean CPR Guideline was maintained for 28 questions, and expert opinions were suggested for 15 questions.

Olfactory disorders one of the most frequent distinctive symptoms of COVID-19 infection. COVID-19-induced olfactory disorder can be classified as post-infectious olfactory dysfunction (PIOD). The effect of drugs on olfactory disorder following upper respiratory infection, including PIOD, has not been clearly established, which adds to the difficulty with treating the disorder. However, the effect of olfactory training on PIOD has been confirmed by numerous studies. As such, olfactory training is gaining attention, and has taken on greater importance, as the sole treatment for COVID-19–induced olfactory disorder in this pandemic age. This review describes the effect of olfactory training for COVID-19–induced olfactory disorder by analyzing the relevant literature.

Objective: The use of a high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) might cover the gap between conventional oxygen therapy andmechanical ventilation in the management of acute respiratory failure patients and could be a significant factor in determiningpatient outcomes. Early predictors of HFNC failure may help a clinician decide whether to shift the patient to amechanical ventilator. We aimed at identifying the predictors associated with HFNC failure and the application of amechanical ventilator using arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who were admitted to the emergency room at a single center with respiratorydistress and a PaO2/FiO2 ratio (ratio of arterial partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen) of less than300. Comparing keeping and weaning HFNC groups with the escalation group, we sought to identify a few discriminatingfactors. Initial ABGA was done when the patients entered the emergency room and this was followed up within 2 hoursafter HFNC therapy. Results: Two hundred and eighteen patients were enrolled and of these HFNC therapy succeeded in 153 and failed in65. At baseline Glasgow Coma Scale, follow-up (F/U) pH, ΔpH, and F/U respiratory rate-oxygenation index were lowerand pro-brain natriuretic peptide, initial lactate, F/U lactate, ΔPCO2, heart rate, acidosis, consciousness, oxygenation,respiratory rate score, Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation score, Simplified Acute Physiology Score, andSequential Organ Failure Assessment score were significantly higher in the HFNC failure group. The results of the multivariateanalysis indicated that initial lactate (odds ratio [OR], 1.215; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.081-1.366; P=0.001)and ΔpH (OR, 0.000; 95% CI, 0.000-0.018; P<0.001) were independently associated with the prediction of application ofthe mechanical ventilator. Conclusion Patients who had higher initial lactate levels and insufficiently corrected pH after HFNC therapy may needto be monitored carefully and escalation of oxygen therapy may need to be considered.

Cordycepin is a characteristic bioactive compound of Cordyceps militaris with various beneficial effects. Cordyceps grows on both grains and insects, and the content of cordycepin varies depending on the cultivation conditions. In this study, the effect of culture conditions on the cordycepin content was analyzed and the extraction conditions were optimized. Analysis of cordycepin content in Pupae-Cordyceps found that it was highly affected by temperature in culture conditions. In the case of mycelium, it grows well at 20 and 25 oC, but not at 30 oC. However, the content of cordycepin was highest at 30oC and less at 20 oC. The fruiting body also showed a similar tendency: growth was 20 oC > 25 oC > 30 oC, but the cordycepin content was 30 oC > 25 oC > 20 oC. The content of cordycepin decreased after the fruiting bodies were produced. Next, extraction conditions such as solvent and time were optimized for maximum cordycepin content using response surface methodology(RSM). There was a large difference in the content of cordycepin according to the content of ethanol and the extraction temperature. Through RSM, it was confirmed that the optimum condition for extraction of cordycepin was 48.9 oC using 49.0% ethanol, and 160.9 mg/g extract could be obtained under this condition. In conclusion, this study suggested the optimized conditions for the cultivation and extraction of Pupae-Cordyceps for maximizing the content of cordycepin, and this may be applied to the discovery of materials using cordycepin.