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Cisplatin, a platinum-based chemotherapeutic, is effective against various solid tumors, but its use is often limited by its nephrotoxic effects. This study evaluated the protective effects of trametinib, an FDA-approved selective inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2), against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in mice. The experimental design included four groups, control, trametinib, cisplatin, and a combination of cisplatin and trametinib, each consisting of eight mice. Cisplatin was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 20 mg/kg to induce kidney injury, while trametinib was administered via oral gavage at 3 mg/kg daily for three days. Assessments were conducted 72 h after cisplatin administration. Our results demonstrate that trametinib significantly reduces the phosphorylation of MEK1/2 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), mitigated renal dysfunction, and ameliorated histopathological abnormalities. Additionally, trametinib significantly decreased macrophage infiltration and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the kidneys. It also lowered lipid peroxidation by-products, restored the reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio, and downregulated NADPH oxidase 4. Furthermore, trametinib significantly inhibited both apoptosis and necroptosis in the kidneys. In conclusion, our data underscore the potential of trametinib as a therapeutic agent for cisplatin-induced AKI, highlighting its role in reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and tubular cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study examined the extent to which visitors to convenience stores remember the cigarette advertisements they encounter in these stores and investigated the relationships between how advertisements are recalled and attitudes toward them. Methods Exit surveys of 1007 visitors to three convenience stores located in Seoul, Korea, were conducted between 25 November 2015 and 7 December 2015. Results Of the respondents, 23.4% (n = 236) freely recalled the cigarette advertisement in the store just visited. However, the percentage of participants who correctly recalled the advertisement increased to 55.2% (n = 556) after we presented them with a card showing options for the advertisement (i.e. a cued recall task). Regardless of sex or purchasing cigarettes, free recall performance was significantly associated with age, number of weekly visits to the convenience store and current smoking status. In addition, free recall increased with having a positive attitude toward cigarette advertisements. Conclusions Repeated visits to convenience stores may continue to expose individuals to cigarettes and their advertisements; such exposure may subconsciously affect recall of the advertisements and maintenance of a positive attitude toward cigarette advertisements. Therefore, to denormalize smoking in society, cigarette advertising and displays at points of sale including convenience stores, should be banned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly transparent, flexible and conductive networks of carbon nanotubes-silver nanowire networks were formed on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates. The high temperature and humidity tests reveal that our CNT-AgNW composite networks maintain high durability and reliability in the electrical and optical properties under high temperature (85 °C) and relative humidity (85% R.H.). When bent and flexed over 1000 cycles; the films did not show significant degradation in sheet resistance compared to Ag films and ITOs on the same flexible substrates; demonstrating the superior mechanical stability of our CNT-AgNWs networks. The composite films on PET were employed for supercapacitor electrodes. The supercapacitors demonstrate a mass specific capacitance of 143 Fg−1 with a stable charge-discharge (3000 cycles) and low internal resistance (16 Ω). Furthermore; the supercapacitors showed high durability under harsh climatic conditions and mechanical bending. Our works indicate that the CNT-AgNWs could be promising transparent conductive electrodes for the applications in flexible optoelectronics and energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]