Background/Objectives: This study investigated clinical value of galectin-9 (Gal-9), a soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1), and soluble CD25 (sCD25) among critically ill patients with organ failure in the emergency department. Methods: Overall, 786 patients were enrolled and classified into non-infectious organ failure (NIOF, n = 331), sepsis (n = 266), and septic shock (n = 189). The diagnostic value of Gal-9, sTREM-1, and sCD25 were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The prognostic value of the biomarkers was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier survival curve and Cox proportional hazard model analyses. Results: Gal-9, sTREM-1, and sCD25 could discriminate sepsis from NIOF (Gal-9, area under the curve [AUC], 0.599–0.678; sTREM-1, AUC, 0.616–0.695; sCD25, AUC, 0.710–0.781) and septic shock from sepsis (Gal-9, AUC, 0.562–0.667; sTREM-1, AUC, 0.572–0.676; sCD25, AUC, 0.555–0.660), respectively. Sepsis patients with higher levels of biomarkers over their cut-off value showed higher 30-day mortality compared to those with lower levels below the cut-off value (Gal-9 ≥ 14,391.80 ng/L, p < 0.001; sTREM-1 ≥ 580.62 ng/L, p < 0.001; sCD25 ≥ 1639.29 ng/L, p < 0.001; respectively) (log-rank test). sCD25 is an independent risk factor for 30-day mortality in patients with sepsis or septic shock. Conclusions: Gal-9, sTREM-1, and sCD25 showed diagnostic and prognostic value in critically ill patients with organ failure. sCD25 can predict the 30-day mortality in patients with sepsis. Gal-9, sTREM-1, and sCD25 could serve as auxiliary biomarkers to support clinicians in effective sepsis management.

Acute hyperglycemia induces oxidative damage and inflammation, leading to vascular dysfunction. Ginsenoside Rb₁ (Rb₁) is a major component of red ginseng with anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we investigated the beneficial effects and the underlying mechanisms of Rb₁ on hypercontraction induced by high glucose (HG) and endothelial dysfunction (ED). The isometric tension of aortic rings was measured by myography. The rings were treated with N^G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) to induce chemical destruction of the endothelium, and Rb₁ was added after HG induction. The agonist-induced vasoconstriction was significantly higher in the aortic rings treated with L-NAME + HG50 than in those treated with HG50 or L-NAME (p = 0.011) alone. Rb₁ significantly reduced the hypercontraction in the aortic rings treated with L-NAME + HG50 (p = 0.004). The ATP-sensitive K⁺ channel (K_ATP) blocker glibenclamide tended to increase the Rb₁-associated reduction in the agonist-induced vasoconstriction in the rings treated with L-NAME + HG50. The effect of Rb₁ in the aortic rings treated with L-NAME + HG50 resulted from a decrease in extracellular Ca²⁺ influx through the receptor-operated Ca²⁺ channel (ROCC, 10⁻⁶–10⁻⁴ M CaCl₂, p < 0.001; 10⁻³–2.5 × 10⁻³ M CaCl₂, p = 0.001) and the voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channel (VGCC, 10⁻⁶ M CaCl₂, p = 0.003; 10⁻⁵–10⁻² M CaCl₂, p < 0.001), whereas Rb₁ did not interfere with Ca²⁺ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. In conclusion, we found that Rb₁ reduced hyper-vasoconstriction induced by HG and ED by inhibiting the ROCC and the VGCC, and possibly by activating the K_ATP in rat aorta. This study provides further evidence that Rb₁ could be developed as a therapeutic target for ED in diabetes.

Recent studies showed that Codonopsis lanceolata (CL) has antihypertensive effects. However, to date, no study has examined the effects of CL on vascular tone under a high extracellular K⁺ concentration ([K⁺]_o). Thus, the present study examined the effect of an extract of Codonopsis lanceolata (ECL) on the vascular tension of rat carotid arteries exposed to high [K⁺]_o. We used myography to investigate the effect of an ECL on the vascular tension of rat carotid arteries exposed to high [K⁺]_o and the underlying mechanism of action. In arteries with intact endothelia, the ECL (250 μg/mL) had no effect on vascular tension in arteries exposed to normal or high [K⁺]_o. In contrast, the ECL significantly increased vasorelaxation in endothelium-impaired arteries exposed to a physiologically normal or high [K⁺]_o compared with control arteries exposed to the same [K⁺]_o conditions in the absence of ECL. This vasorelaxing action was unaffected by a broad-spectrum K⁺ channel blocker and an ATP-sensitive K⁺ channel blocker. The ECL significantly inhibited the vasoconstriction induced by Ca²⁺ influx through voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels (VDCCs) but not Ca²⁺ influx induced via receptor-operated Ca²⁺ channels or the release of Ca²⁺ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the vascular smooth muscle. In summary, our study reveals that the ECL acts through VDCCs in vascular smooth muscle to promote the recovery of vasorelaxation even in arteries exposed to high [K⁺]_o in the context of endothelial dysfunction and provides further evidence of the vascular-protective effects of ECL.

Background: Although tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (WRS) is a novel biomarker released during bacterial and viral infections, its prognostic value in sepsis has rarely been reported. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of WRS in patients with sepsis in the emergency department (ED). Methods: This prospective, observational study included 243 patients with sepsis. Blood samples were collected to measure full-length WRS levels. The prognostic value of WRS was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis, and the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: The WRS levels were higher in patients with septic shock than in those without shock (p = 0.018). WRS could predict 30-day mortality (area under the curve, 0.648; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.569–0.726; sensitivity, 56.7%; specificity, 73.3%; cutoff value, 84.15 µg/L; p < 0.001). Patients with WRS levels of ≥ 84.15 µg/L showed higher 30-day mortality than those with WRS levels of <84.15 µg/L. Among patients with WRS levels of ≥ 84.15 µg/L, those with positive urine culture results had higher 30-day mortality than those with negative urine culture. Patients with renal Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score of ≥ 1 had higher 30-day mortality than those with renal SOFA score of 0. WRS was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality (hazard ratio = 1.003; 95% CI, 1.001–1.005; p = 0.014). Conclusions: WRS showed significant prognostic value in patients with sepsis and could be more useful in those with kidney dysfunction or urinary tract infection.

Background: Although tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (WRS) is a novel biomarker released during bacterial and viral infections, its prognostic value in sepsis has rarely been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic performance of WRS in patients with sepsis in the emergency department (ED). Methods: This prospective, observational study included 243 patients with sepsis. Blood samples were collected to measure full-length WRS levels. The prognostic value of WRS was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis, and the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: The WRS levels were higher in patients with septic shock than in those without shock (p = 0.018). WRS could predict 30-day mortality (area under the curve, 0.648; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.569–0.726; sensitivity, 56.7%; specificity, 73.3%; cut-off value, 84.15 µg/L; p < 0.001). Patients with WRS levels of ≥84.15 µg/L showed higher 30-day mortality than those with WRS levels of <84.15 µg/L. Among patients with WRS levels of ≥84.15 µg/L, those with positive urine culture results had higher 30-day mortality than those with negative urine culture. Patients with renal Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score of ≥1 had higher 30-day mortality than those with renal SOFA score of 0. WRS was an independent risk factor of 30-day mortality (hazard ratio = 1.003; 95% CI, 1.001–1.005; p = 0.014). Conclusions: WRS effectively predicted clinical outcome in patients with sepsis and could be more useful in those with kidney dysfunction or urinary tract infection.