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Inflammatory bowel disease is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Endothelial dysfunction, defined by a reduced endothelial barrier and an increase in the expression of adhesion molecules, is part of the pathology of inflammatory bowel disease. In this study, we assessed the therapeutic effect of CU06-1004, an endothelial dysfunction blocker that reduces vascular hyperpermeability and inflammation in a mouse model of colitis. Acute colitis was induced in mice using 3% (w/v) dextran sodium sulfate added to their drinking water for 7 days. Twenty-four hours after the addition of dextran sodium sulfate, either mesalazine or CU06-1004 was administered orally each day. Administration of CU06-1004 significantly reduced the clinical manifestations (weight loss, diarrhea, and bloody stool) and histological changes (epithelium loss, inflammatory cell infiltration, and crypt destruction) induced by dextran sodium sulfate. Proinflammatory cytokines were also reduced, indicating that inflammation was ameliorated. From a vascular perspective, CU06-1004 reduced interrupted and tortuous vessels, enhanced junction protein expression, and reduced inflammatory adhesion molecules, indicating a broad improvement of endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial protection induced epithelial barrier restoration and decreased epithelial inflammation. Blocking endothelial dysfunction with CU06-1004 significantly ameliorated the progression of inflammatory bowel disease. Therefore, CU06-1004 may represent a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease as well as other inflammatory diseases.

We aimed to investigate if a home meal replacement (HMR), designed with a low ω-6/ω-3 fatty acid ratio, improves cardiometabolic parameters, including metabolic syndrome (MetS) in obese individuals. We conducted a monocentric, controlled, randomized crossover trial. The HMR contains higher protein and fat content, lower carbohydrate content, and a lower ω6FA/ω3FA ratio than the regular diet. Sixty-four participants were randomized into two groups and switched to the other group following a 4-week intervention. While subjects in the HMR group were provided three HMRs daily, those in the control group were requested to maintain their regular dietary pattern. We conducted paired t-tests, repeated measures analysis of variance, and McNemar tests before and after the intervention. Body mass index (BMI) and weight were lower in the HMR group after adjusting for age, sex, and total energy intake and significantly changed in the between-group differences. The waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, triglyceride–glucose index, and triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio were reduced in the HMR group (all p < 0.05). The percentage of subjects with MetS significantly decreased from 39.1% at baseline to 28.1% post-intervention (p = 0.035). Using the HMR for 4 weeks reduced the BMI, weight, and MetS prevalence in individuals with obesity. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04552574).

(1) Background: Subclinical inflammation as a risk factor of cardiovascular diseases was clinically measured using C-reactive protein (CRP) level. (2) Methods: This study was cross-sectionally designed based the 2015–2018 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The ratio of daily omega-3 fatty acids to energy intake (ω3FA ratio) was classified into four quartile groups (Q1, p-value = 0.001), and 0.8% and 0.8% in women (p-value = 0.491), respectively. The prevalence of subclinical inflammation in males decreased with increasing quartile of ω3FA ratio (12.9%, 9.6%, 7.4%, and 7.7%, p-value = 0.033), while female prevalence was not significant among quartile groups. Compared to Q1, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for subclinical inflammation of Q2, Q3, and Q4 were 0.740 (0.465–1.177), 0.564 (0.341–0.930), and 0.549 (0.317–0.953) in males, and 1.066 (0.653–1.741), 1.105 (0.600–1.718), and 0.934 (0.556–1.571) in females after full adjustment. (4) Conclusion: The ω3FA ratio is associated with subclinical inflammation in men.