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The Omicron variant (B.529) of COVID-19 caused disease outbreaks worldwide because of its contagious and diverse mutations. To reduce these outbreaks, therapeutic drugs and adjuvant vaccines have been applied for the treatment of the disease. However, these drugs have not shown high efficacy in reducing COVID-19 severity, and even antiviral drugs have not shown to be effective. Researchers thus continue to search for an effective adjuvant therapy with a combination of drugs or vaccines to treat COVID-19 disease. We were motivated to consider melatonin as a defensive agent against SARS-CoV-2 because of its various unique properties. Over 200 scientific publications have shown the significant effects of melatonin in treating diseases, with strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. Melatonin has a high safety profile, but it needs further clinical trials and experiments for use as a therapeutic agent against the Omicron variant of COVID-19. It might immediately be able to prevent the development of severe symptoms caused by the coronavirus and can reduce the severity of the infection by improving immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive bacterium that plays a role in the pathogenesis of skin lesions in diabetes mellitus, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis, all of which are associated with elevated non-enzymatic glycation biomarkers. The production of biofilm protects resident bacteria from host immune defenses and antibiotic interventions, prolonging pathogen survival, and risking recurrence after treatment. Glycated proteins formed from keratin and glucose induce biofilm formation in S. aureus, promoting dysbiosis and increasing pathogenicity. In this study, several glycation-inhibiting and advanced glycation endproduct (AGE) crosslink-breaking compounds were assayed for their ability to inhibit glycated keratin-induced biofilm formation as preliminary screening for clinical testing candidates. Ascorbic acid, astaxanthin, clove extract, n-phenacylthiazolium bromide, and rosemary extract were examined in an in vitro static biofilm model with S. aureus strain ATCC 12600. Near complete biofilm inhibition was achieved with astaxanthin (ED50 = 0.060 mg/mL), clove extract (ED50 = 0.0087 mg/mL), n-phenacylthiazolium bromide (ED50 = 5.3 mg/mL), and rosemary extract (ED50 = 1.5 mg/mL). The dosage necessary for biofilm inhibition was not significantly correlated with growth inhibition (R2 = 0.055. p = 0.49). Anti-glycation and AGE breaking compounds with biofilm inhibitory activity are ideal candidates for treatment of S. aureus dysbiosis and skin infection that is associated with elevated skin glycation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on rat gastric H+-K+-ATPase alpha subunit reveal that H2 receptor activation leads to histamine stimulation of H+-K+-ATPase alpha subunit activity. Famotidine, which enhances gastric pH and serum gastrin, reduces the H2 receptor action. It also reduces the level of H+-K+-ATPase mRNA.

The rate of obesity in Japan, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m(2) or greater, is reportedly at 24 %, a lower level of severe obesity than in the EU and US. However, the incidence of obesity-related health problems is reportedly higher among Asians. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is the most frequently performed bariatric surgery in Japan and accounted for 54 % of such surgeries in 2011; procedures such as laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB), practiced frequently worldwide, were uncommon. Possible reasons include concern over delayed postoperative discovery of gastric cancer in LRYGB, and rapid adoption of the comparatively simple LSG procedure. In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, where continued pursuit of medical treatment is difficult and a potential exists for future deterioration of diabetes-complicated diseases, the criterion for surgical indication in the EU and US is a BMI of 30-35 kg/m(2), with priority given to BMI >35 kg/m(2). For Asian patients, the recommendation is to lower this indication criterion by 2.5 kg/m(2). Efficacy of metabolic surgery is anticipated particularly among T2DM patients with obesity complication, a short history of insulin treatment, and intact insulin secreting ability, and in these cases bariatric surgery should be contemplated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The passage number of cells refers to the number of subculturing processes that the cells have undergone. The effect of passage number on morphological and phenotypical characteristics of cells is of great importance. Advanced glycation end products have also been associated with cell functionality and characteristics. Murine monocyte RAW 264.7 cells differentiate into osteoclasts upon receptor activation caused by nuclear factor-kappa-Β ligand (RANKL) treatment. This study aims to identify the role of passage number on intracellular advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation and osteoclastogenic differentiation of RAW 264.7 cells. Western blotting was performed to check intracellular AGE formation along with fluorometric analysis using a microplate reader. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was performed to check osteoclastogenic differentiation, and qPCR was realized to check the responsible mRNA expression. Immunofluorescence was used to check the morphological changes. Intracellular AGE formation was increased with passaging, and the higher passage number inhibited multinucleated osteoclastogenic differentiation. Osteoclastogenic gene expression also showed a reducing trend in higher passages, along with a significant reduction in F-actin ring size and number. Lower passages should be used to avoid the effects of cell subculturing in in vitro osteoclastogenesis study using RAW 264.7 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Elevated levels of serum Nε-carboxymethyllysine (CML), a well-known advanced glycation end-product (AGE), were observed in patients with inflammation or osteoporosis. Astaxanthin was reported to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In the present study, we investigated the effects of commercially available dietary supplement AstaReal ACTR (ASR) capsule content as astaxanthin on CML-HSA-induced inflammatory and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa-Β ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenic gene expression. Methods: RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells were stimulated with CML-HSA to trigger inflammatory gene expression and treated with either a vehicle control or varied concentrations of astaxanthin. Inflammatory gene expression was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or qPCR. We triggered osteoclastogenesis using RANKL, and osteoclastogenic gene expression was measured through tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity, staining, immunofluorescence, and qPCR analyses. Results: CML-HSA showed a stimulatory effect on inflammatory gene expression, and astaxanthin reduced the expression by at least two-fold. The levels of autoinflammatory gene expression were reduced by astaxanthin. The RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis was significantly inhibited by astaxanthin, with reductions in the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), the expression of NFATc1 (nuclear factor of activated T cells 1), multinucleated cell formation, and the expression of mature osteoclast marker genes. Conclusion: Astaxanthin has potential as a remedy for CML-HSA-induced inflammation and RANKL-induced excessive bone loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of severe hypoglycemia and hepatic masses suspected to be an insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II)-producing hepatocellular carcinoma. A 62-year-old man presented with mental disorder in the night and early morning associated with extremely low blood sugar levels (> 21 mg/dl). Computerized axial tomography and ultrasonography revealed a massive tumor in the right lobe of the liver with multiple secondary nodules, and a tumor thrombus in the portal vein. At autopsy 107 days after admission, the liver weighed 3070 g, histologically showing an Edmondson type II tumor with liver cirrhosis. IGF-II in plasma (899 ng/ml) and tumor tissue (2.4 μg/g) was higher than that in normal plasma (374-804 ng/ml) and non-tumor liver tissue (0.2 μg/ml), while IGF-I (14 ng/ml) was significantly reduced. IGF-II, probably produced by the liver tumor, appeared to be involved in the mechanism of hypoglycemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astaxanthin is a carotenoid that is present in high quantities in the meat of fish like salmon and the shells of shrimp and crab. It exhibits free radical scavenging antioxidant activity when consumed dietarily. Astaxanthin is absorbed by the small intestine before exerting its antioxidant effect; however, a portion of dietary intake remains unabsorbed in the digestive tract and reaches the large intestines . We hypothesized that astaxanthin may exert its antioxidant action in the large intestine to influence the gut microbiota. In this review we introduce the results of two studies of astaxanthin. Firstly, a clinical trial targeting post-menopausal women screened for high oxidative stress burden. Astaxanthin was administered orally for eight weeks in order to examine its effects and safety, and subjects were surveyed for any changes in subjective symptoms. Secondly, in a mouse model, real time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) was used to examine the ability of astaxanthin to prevent changes in the enteric flora induced by a high-fat diet. When fat intake increases due to changes in diet, the equilibrium between the various species that constitute the intestinal flora is altered. As a result, degenerative changes in lifestyle-related disease and aging of the host are promoted. Here we find that the intake of astaxanthin was able to inhibit these changes in the gut microbiota of mice induced by a high-fat diet. Even in humans, it is highly probably that the unabsorbed astaxanthin that remains in the intestinal tract exerts a positive effect against disturbance of the intestinal flora caused by a high-fat diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]