BackgroundKMUP-1 is a xanthine derivative with inhibitory activities on the phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3,4 and 5 isoenzymes to suppress the degradation of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP. However, the effects of KMUP-1 on osteoclast differentiation are still unclear. In this study, we investigated whether KMUP-1 inhibits osteoclastogenesis induced by RANKL in RAW 264.7 cells and bone loss induced by ovariectomy in mice, and the underlying mechanisms.Principal Findings In vitro, KMUP-1 inhibited RANKL-induced TRAP activity, the formation of multinucleated osteoclasts and resorption-pit formation. It also inhibited key mediators of osteoclastogenesis including IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and HMGB1. In addition, KMUP-1 inhibited RANKL-induced activation of signaling molecules (Akt, MAPKs, calcium and NF-κB), mRNA expression of osteoclastogensis-associated genes (TRAP, MMP-9, Fra-1, and cathepsin K) and transcription factors (c-Fos and NFATc1). Furthermore, most inhibitory effects of KMUP-1 on RANKL-mediated signal activations were reversed by a protein kinase A inhibitor (H89) and a protein kinase G inhibitor (KT5823). In vivo, KMUP-1 prevented loss of bone mineral content, preserved serum alkaline phosphate and reduced serum osteocalcin in ovariectomized mice.ConclusionsKMUP-1 inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in vitro and protects against ovariectomy-induced bone loss in vivo. These effects are mediated, at least in part, by cAMP and cGMP pathways. Therefore, KMUP-1 may have a role in pharmacologic therapy of osteoporosis.

There was a lack of detailed information about maternal influences on their children’s body mass index (BMI) in Taiwan. The aim of this study was to find the evidence to describe how mothers’ factors could affect their 2 to 9-year-old children’s BMI, with data collected from May 2021 to June 2021. Anonymous self-administered questionnaires were completed by 1035 participants from Taiwan’s six metropolitan cities and eight counties. After controlling for children’s factors, such as number of children in a family, children’s constitution, children’s age and gender, hierarchical regression models were used to analyze the effects of five maternal factors on their children’s BMI: maternal BMI, age, education level, monthly household income, and marital status (single parent or not). The results were found as follow: maternal BMI [β = .24], maternal educational level [β = −.141], and monthly household income [β = .071], significantly (p < 0.05) influenced their children’s BMI. Higher maternal BMI was associated with a higher children’s BMI. Mothers with lower levels of education background were more likely to have children with a higher BMI. Monthly household income was a positive factor influencing children’s BMI. In conclusion, this study is the first detailed description of maternal influences on their 2–9 years old children’s BMI in Taiwan. Although the study could not cover all of the factors influencing Taiwan’s childhood obesity, we have discovered maternal BMI, education level, and monthly household income were significant factors associated with children’s BMI.

No abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a pair of primers for detecting ruminant mycoplasma pathogens. We designed a set of primers based on the most similar sequences within 16sRNA regions of seven Mycoplasma spp. These primers have high sensitivity for detecting Mycoplasma dispar, M. arginine, M. canadense, M. bovis, M. alkalescens, M. californicum, and M. bovisgenitalium within the annealing temperature range of 46°C to 48°C. The minimum amount of DNA that can be detected using the protocol is 250 ng, which is equivalent to 2,000 cfu/mL. The primers can detect mycoplasma from DNA extracted directly from milk samples. The common bovine mastitis pathogens of Staphylococcus aureus coagulase-negative staphylococci, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus uberis, Klebiella pneumonia, Korucia rosea, and Acholeplasma spp. were not detected by the primers. We believe the high sensitivity and specificity of these primers make them useful for detecting infection with seven Mycoplasma species in ruminants, allowing the primers to be used in clinical settings.

This study sought to determine the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), povidone iodine (PI), and chlorhexidine and the differences in these values among coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNSs) that harbor or do not harbor biofilm-related genes (eno, bap, and ica). Using the limiting dilution technique, the MBCs against three different disinfectants were estimated and compared using statistical methods. The results showed that the biofilm-gene-positive CNS isolates exhibited higher tolerance ([Formula: see text], upper-tailed test) to 2[Formula: see text]mg[Formula: see text]L[Formula: see text] DDAC and 10[Formula: see text]mg[Formula: see text]L[Formula: see text] povidone iodine ([Formula: see text], upper-tailed test). Different resistance capacities were found among these three biofilm formation-related genes. The isolates that contained the bap gene exhibited a higher tolerance level. This observation was confirmed by logistic regression models, which revealed that the bap (odds ratio [Formula: see text]) and eno (odds ratio [Formula: see text]) genes significantly affected the survival capacity. This study demonstrated that biofilm-gene-positive CNS isolates exhibited increased survival in the presence of higher concentrations of all three disinfectants and that both the bap and eno genes could affect the survival capacity. Among the three genes, the bap gene had the strongest effect on the survival capacity of CNSs in the presence of all three disinfectants. The appropriate use of disinfectants can control these biofilm-gene embedded CNSs more efficiently.