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Elevated blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels induced by secondary causes are frequently observed. The identification and appropriate handling of these causes are essential for secondary dyslipidemia treatment. Major secondary causes of hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia include an unhealthy diet, diseases and metabolic conditions affecting lipid levels, and therapeutic side effects. It is imperative to correct secondary causes prior to initiating conventional lipid-lowering therapy. Guideline-based lipid therapy can then be administered based on the subsequent lipid levels.

Objectives This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a nutrition education program on metabolic syndrome in middle-aged Korean adults. Methods A total of 411 Korean adults 30–59 years of age were allocated randomly into three groups: the nutrition education group for promoting Han-sik consumption (HG), the nutrition education group for eating balanced diet (EG), and the control group (CG). The HG and EG received four face-to-face nutrition education sessions over 16 weeks to improve nutritional problems based on the individual’ usual diet. Effectiveness of the program was evaluated with the differences of self-reported dietary behaviors, dietary intakes, anthropometric measurements and biochemical indices between the baseline and the end of the nutrition education program. The changes within groups were analyzed using paired t-test and McNemar test and effectiveness among three groups was analyzed by repeated analysis of variance. Results After the nutrition education, the percentages of participants who achieved the recommended food group consumption in the Korean Food Guidance Systems significantly increased in HG (P = 0.022). Body weight (P = 0.007), body mass index (P = 0.002), and triglycerides (P = 0.002) significantly decreased in HG. Waist circumference and diastolic blood pressure decreased in all three groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions This study found that tailored nutrition education program for middle aged Korean adults showed beneficial effects on improving dietary behaviors and metabolic syndrome risk factors. Further studies are needed to assess the long-term effects of the nutrition education programs on metabolic syndrome risks.

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is known to be lethal disease. However, its prognosis remains poor, primarily because the precise oncogenic mechanisms underlying HCC progression remain elusive, thus hampering effective treatment. Here, we aimed to identify the potential oncogenes in HCC and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of their action. To identify potential candidate genes, an integrative analysis of eight publicly available genomic datasets was performed, and the functional implications of the identified genes were assessed in vitro and in vivo. Sortilin 1 (SORT1) was identified as a potential candidate oncogene in HCC, and its overexpression in HCC cells was confirmed by analyzing spatial transcriptomic and single-cell data. Silencing SORT1 in Huh-7 and Hep3B cells significantly reduced HCC progression in vitro and in vivo. Functional analyses of oncogenic pathways revealed that SORT1 expression regulated the Notch signaling pathway activation and CD133 expression. Furthermore, analysis of epigenetic regulation of the candidate gene and its clinical implications using The Cancer Genome Atlas Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (TCGA LIHC) and our HCC cohort (AJOU_HCC cohort) data demonstrated an inverse correlation between the methylation status of the SORT1 promoter region, specifically at the cg16988986 site, and SORT1 mRNA expression, indicating the epigenetic regulation of SORT1 in HCC. In addition, the distinct methylation status of cg16988986 was significantly associated with patient survival. In conclusion, SORT1 plays a pivotal role in HCC by activating the Notch signaling pathway and increasing CD133 expression. These findings suggest SORT1 as a promising therapeutic target for HCC.

Abstract Bioelectronic implants in the deep brain provide the opportunity to monitor deep brain activity with potential applications in disease diagnostics and treatment. However, mechanical mismatch between a probe and brain tissue can cause surgical trauma in the brain and limit chronic probe-based monitoring, leading to performance degradation. Here, we report a transient shuttle-based probe consisting of a PVA and a mesh-type probe. A rigid shuttle based on PVA implants an ultrathin mesh probe in the target deep brain without a tangle, while creating both a sharp edge for facile penetration into the brain and an anti-friction layer between the probe and brain tissue through dissolving its surface. The capability to shuttle dissolved materials can exclude the retracted process of the shuttle in the brain. Complete dissolution of the shuttle provides a dramatic decrease (~1078-fold) in the stiffness of the probe, which can therefore chronically monitor a wide area of the brain. These results indicate the ability to use a simplistic design for implantation of wide and deep brain probes while preventing unnecessary damage to the brain and probe degradation during long-term use.

Background : Low compliance (LC) with lifestyle modification is a very common obstacle in obesity management. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of obesity management according to compliance with a lifestyle-modification program. Methods : The “Change 10 Habits” program was administered four times over 12 weeks. Eighty-seven participants were divided into LC and high compliance (HC) groups for analysis after intervention. Then, to assess the program’s effectiveness based on compliance, we conducted t-tests and linear regression modeling. Results : In week 12, the scores of two dietary habits—specifically, “eat three meals regularly, adequate amount” and “do not eat after 9:00 PM”—were significantly higher in the HC group than in the LC group. Changes in leg and total body fat percentages were significantly improved in the HC group (−0.2%±0.3% vs. 0.9%±0.3%, P

Abstract Background Glucose metabolism regulation is influenced by age and meal skipping, although research on their interplay with hyperglycemia remains limited. This study aims to explore the intricate relationship between meal-skipping patterns and hyperglycemia risk across distinct age groups in South Korean adults. Methods Utilizing data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) conducted from 2013 to 2020, comprising 28,530 individuals aged 19 years and older, this study employed multivariable logistic regression models to examine the associations between meal-skipping patterns and the risk of hyperglycemia. Results Meal-skipping patterns were categorized into three groups: no skipping (NS), skipping breakfast (SB), and skipping dinner (SD). Age groups were defined as “young” (aged 19–44), “middle-aged” (aged 45–64), and “elderly” adults (over 65 years old). Among “young” adults, SB was associated with a 1.33-fold higher risk of hyperglycemia (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.14–1.54) compared to NS. Conversely, in “elderly” adults, SD was linked to a 0.49-fold reduced risk (95% CI = 0.29–0.82) when compared to NS. Additionally, we observed that the Korean Health Eating Index (KHEI) scores, representing the quality of diet on a scale of 0 to 100, were consistently lower in SB compared to NS across all age groups. Intriguingly, specifically among the “elderly” group, this score was higher in SD compared to NS (p

Abstract Erigeron annuus (EA), traditionally used to treat disorders such as diabetes and enteritis, contains a variety of chemicals, including caffeic acid, flavonoids, and coumarins, providing antifungal and antioxidative benefits. However, the ingredients of each part of the EA vary widely, and there are few reports on the functionality of water extracts in skin inflammation and barrier protection. We assessed the therapeutic properties of the extract of EA without roots (EEA) and its primary ingredient, pyromeconic acid (PA), focusing on their antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative capabilities using HMC-1(human mast cells) and human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells). Our findings revealed that histamine secretion, which is closely related to itching, was notably reduced in HMC-1 cells following pretreatment with EEA (0.1% and 0.2%) and PA (corresponding concentration, 4.7 of 9.4 µg/mL). Similarly, they led to a marked decrease in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-8, IL-6, and IFN-γ. Furthermore, EA and PA enhanced antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) production, and showed reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activity in HaCaT cells. Moreover, at the molecular level, elevated levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TARC, and MDC induced by TNF-α/IFN-γ in HaCaT cells were mitigated by treatment with EEA and PA. We also revealed the protective effects of EEA and PA against SDS-induced skin barrier dysfunction in HaCaT cells by enhancing the expression of barrier-related proteins. Using NanoString technology, a comprehensive analysis of gene expression changes indicated significant modulation of autoimmune and inflammatory genes by EEA and PA. In summary, this study suggests that EEA and the corresponding concentration of PA as an active ingredient have functional cosmetic applications to alleviate itching and improve skin health.

Abstract The technique of plasma processing is beneficial for wafer cleaning and precision etching of integrated circuits and essential in manufacture of advanced semiconductor devices with unmatched perfection. Research on two‐dimensional (2D) materials, such as transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDs), offers a promising solution to the challenges in semiconductor miniaturization. TMDs, with their atomic layer thicknesses and silicon‐like bandgaps, can be integrated using existing plasma systems. Different 2D crystal structures, such as 1T and 2H configurations, exhibit distinctive properties. Computational approaches are also developed to provide guidelines for controlled synthesis and etching of large‐scale and high‐quality 2D materials. Plasma/gas‐surface interactions during the synthesis, etching, and phase transformation of 2D materials are explored using atomistic simulations such as density functional theory and molecular dynamics. The reaction energetics, chemical species, and associated kinetics are discovered in the simulation study. These results decipher various mechanisms of 2D materials processing at the microscopic scale and predict certain optimal process parameters. Plasma/gas‐based semiconductor technologies are crucial in electronics because they enable production of advanced semiconductors. Plasma/gas etching allows precise and selective removal of material and plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition enhances chemical reactions for efficient film deposition; therefore, these processes are majorly important for harnessing 2D materials in electronic applications.

Abstract Mesangial proliferation is a diagnostic feature and a prognostic predictor of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). We aimed to investigate the gene expression profiles of IgAN glomerulus according to the presence of mesangial proliferation. We performed spatial-specific transcriptomic profiling on kidney biopsy tissues using the GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler. Twelve cases with three glomeruli for each case were profiled using direct pathologic classification (4 M1-IgAN, 4 M0-IgAN, and 4 donor controls). The results of enriched glom-specific genes demonstrated that M1-IgAN could be distinguished from controls (77 upregulated and 55 downregulated DEGs), while some DEGs were identified between M1-IgAN and M0-IgAN cases (24 upregulated and 8 downregulated DEGs) or between M0 and controls (1 upregulated and 16 downregulated DEGs). TCF21, an early podocyte damage marker, was the only differentially expressed gene (DEG) consistently upregulated in both M1-IgAN and M0-IgAN patients, whereas ATF3, EGR1, DUSP1, FOS, JUNB, KLF2, NR4A1, RHOB, and ZFP36 were consistently downregulated in IgAN cases. Glomeruli from M1-IgAN cases were significantly enriched for cell surface/adhesion molecules and gene expressions associated with vascular development or the extracellular matrix. Spatial transcriptomic analysis may contribute to dissecting structure-specific pathophysiology and molecular changes in IgAN.

Introduction: miRNA-21 (miR-21) is highly expressed in glioblastoma, facilitating tumor growth by blocking the expression of apoptosis-related genes. Therefore, an antisense microRNA oligonucleotide (AMO) against miR-21 was suggested as a therapeutic nucleic acid for glioblastoma. Objectives: AMO21 co-micelles were developed with tumor-targeting T7 peptides as an AMO21 delivery system by intranasal administration. Methods: Cholesterol-conjugated AMO21 (AMO21c) was mixed with cholesterol-conjugated T7 peptides (T7c) to produce tumor-targeted co-micelles. Physical characterization was performed by dynamic light scattering, gel retardation assay, scanning electron microscope and heparin competition assay. In vitro transfection efficiency to C6 glioblastoma cells was measured by flow cytometry. The AMO21c/T7c co-micelles were administered by intranasal instillation into the brain of intracranial glioblastoma rat models. Scrambled T7 (scrT7) and scrambled AMO21c (scrAMO21c) were used as a negative control. The therapeutic effects of the AMO21c/T7c co-micelles were evaluated by real time RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, TUNEL assay, and Nissl staining. Results: The formation of the AMO21c/T7c co-micelles was confirmed in gel retardation and heparin competition assays. The highest delivery efficiency in vitro was achieved at a 1:10 wt ratio of AMO21c/T7c. The AMO21c/T7c co-micelles had higher delivery efficiency into C6 glioblastoma cells than naked AMO21c or AMO21c/lipofectamine complexes. After intranasal administration into the intracranial glioblastoma models, the delivery efficiency of the co-micelles into the brain was also higher than those of naked AMO21c and AMO21c/scrambled T7c. Thanks to their enhanced delivery efficiency, the AMO21c/T7c co-micelles downregulated miR-21, inducing the production of the pro-apoptotic phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) proteins in the tumor tissues. The tumor size was reduced by the AMO21c/T7c co-micelles more effectively than naked AMO21c, AMO21c/lipofectamine, or scrAMO21c/T7c treatment. Conclusion: The results suggest that the co-micelles of AMO21c and T7c may be an efficient delivery system into a brain tumor through intranasal administration.

Abstract Background Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by loss‐of‐function mutations of the NTRK1 gene, affecting the autonomic and sensory nervous system. Clinical manifestation is varied and includes recurrent fever, pain insensitivity, anhidrosis, self‐mutilating behavior, and intellectual disability. Methods Clinical and genetic features were assessed in two males and one female with genetically confirmed CIPA using exome or genome sequencing. Results CIPA symptoms including recurrent fever, pain insensitivity, and anhidrosis manifested at the age of 1 year (age range: 0.3–8 years). Two patients exhibited self‐mutilation tendencies, intellectual disability, and developmental delay. Four NTRK1 (NM_002529.3) mutations, c.851‐33T>A (p.?), c.2020G>T (p.Asp674Tyr), c.2303C>T (p.Pro768Leu), and c.574‐156_850+1113del (exons 5‐7 del) were identified. Two patients exhibited early onset and severe phenotype, being homozygous for c.851‐33T>A (p.?) mutations and compound heterozygous for c.851‐33T>A (p.?) and c.2020G>T (p.Asp674Tyr) mutation of NTRK1. The third patient with compound heterozygous mutations of c.2303C>T (p.Pro768Leu) and c.574‐156_850+1113del (exons 5‐7 del) displayed a late onset and milder clinical manifestation. Conclusion All three patients exhibited variable phenotypes and disease severity. This research enriches our understanding of clinical and genetic aspects of CIPA, highlighting variable phenotypes and disease severity.

Although the incidence of Mycobacterium abscessus infection has recently increased significantly, treatment is difficult because this bacterium is resistant to most anti-tuberculosis drugs. In particular, M. abscessus is often resistant to available macrolide antibiotics, so therapeutic options are extremely limited. Hence, there is a pressing demand to create effective drugs or therapeutic regimens for M. abscessus infections. The aim of the investigation was to assess the capability of isoegomaketone (iEMK) as a therapeutic option for treating M. abscessus infections. We determined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of iEMK for both reference and clinically isolated M. abscessus strains. In addition to time-kill and biofilm formation assays, we evaluated iEMK’s capability to inhibit M. abscessus growth in macrophages using an intracellular colony counting assay. iEMK inhibited the growth of reference and clinically isolated M. abscessus strains in macrophages and demonstrated effectiveness at lower concentrations against macrophage-infected M. abscessus than when used to treat the bacteria directly. Importantly, iEMK also exhibited anti-biofilm properties and the potential to mitigate macrolide-inducible resistance, underscoring its promise as a standalone or adjunctive therapeutic agent. Overall, our results suggest that further development of iEMK as a clinical drug candidate is promising for inhibiting M. abscessus growth, especially considering its dual action against both planktonic bacteria and biofilms.

Abstract Background Cardiomyopathy, which is a genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous pathological condition, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Genetic diagnosis of cardiomyopathy enables accurate phenotypic classification and optimum patient management and counseling. This study investigated the genetic spectrum of cardiomyopathy and its correlation with the clinical course of the disease. Methods The samples of 72 Korean patients with cardiomyopathy (43 males and 29 females) were subjected to whole-exome sequencing (WES). The familial information and clinical characteristics of the patients were reviewed and analyzed according to their genotypes. Results Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy, and restrictive cardiomyopathy was detected in 41 (56.9%), 25 (34.7%), 4 (5.6%), and 2 (2.8%) patients, respectively. WES analysis revealed positive results in 37 (51.4%) patients. Subsequent familial testing identified ten additional familial cases. Among DCM cases, 19 (46.3%) patients exhibited positive results, with TTN variants being the most common alteration, followed by LMNA and MYH7 variants. Meanwhile, among HCM cases, 15 (60%) patients exhibited positive results with MYH7 variants being the most common alteration. In six patients with positive results, extracardiac surveillance was warranted based on disease information. The incidence of worse outcomes, such as mortality and life-threatening arrhythmic events, in patients with DCM harboring LMNA variants, was higher than that in patients with DCM harboring TTN or MYH7 variants. Conclusions Diverse genotypes were identified in a substantial proportion of patients with cardiomyopathy. Genetic diagnosis enables personalized disease surveillance and management.

This study analyzed the overall quality of the diet using predefined indices, including the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010), the alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED) score, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score, and the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®), to explore their association with the risk of bladder cancer in the Multiethnic Cohort Study. Data were taken from 186,979 African American, Japanese American, Latino, Native Hawaiian, and non-Hispanic White participants aged 45–75 years, with 1152 incident cases of invasive bladder cancer during a mean follow-up period of 19.2 ± 6.6 years. Cox models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with comprehensive adjustment for smoking. Comparing the highest vs. lowest diet quality score quintile, HRs (95% CIs) in men was 1.08 (0.86–1.36) for HEI-2015, 1.05 (0.84–1.30) for AHEI-2010, 1.01 (0.80–1.27) for aMED, 1.13 (0.90–1.41) for DASH, and 0.96 (0.76–1.21) for DII®, whereas the corresponding HRs for women were 0.75 (0.53–1.07), 0.64 (0.45–0.92), 0.60 (0.40–0.88), 0.66 (0.46–0.95), and 0.63 (0.43–0.90) with all p values for trend

Phytochrome is a photoreceptor forming a membraneless organelle called a photobody. The authors isolated the photobody and found that the photobody is made of not only phytochrome but also its primary and secondary interacting proteins.

Recently, many studies have reported on the significant role of Cuδ+/Cu0 in the production of C2H4, highlighting the enhanced activity of oxidized Cu electrodes compared to metallic Cu electrodes. However, there is relatively little research that compares catalytic performance for C2H4 production in membrane electrode assembly (MEA)-type cells. Herein, we present an analysis of the performance of Cu-based oxidized cathodes in MEA-type cells, specifically focusing on the Cu oxidation state in relation to the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). Both metallic Cu and oxidized Cu cathodes were prepared via a simple electroless deposition and subsequent oxidation process. The electric, chemical, and thermal oxidation methods yielded Cu electrodes with distinct electronic structures. Subsequently, the CO2RR performance of these electrodes was evaluated in single MEA-type cells, and the correlation between the Cu0–1+ ratio and their performance was studied. Our findings confirmed that the ability to form C2H4 follows a volcano-shaped trend based on the Cu0–1+ ratio. Furthermore, a stability test was conducted for CO2RR at a cell voltage of 3.2 V, revealing that the initially highly active Cu-based cathode exhibited notably poor stability in the MEA-type cell test.

Abstract Background Although studies of adults show that pre-existing mental disorders increase risk for COVID-19 infection and severity, there is limited information about this association among youth. Mental disorders in general as well as specific types of disorders may influence the ability to comply with risk-mitigation strategies to reduce COVID-19 infection and transmission. Methods Youth compliance (rated as “Never,” “Sometimes,” “Often,” or “Very often/Always”) with risk mitigation was reported by parents on the CoRonavIruS Health Impact Survey (CRISIS) in January 2021. The sample comprised 314 female and 514 male participants from the large-scale Child Mind Institute Healthy Brain Network, a transdiagnostic self-referred, community sample of children and adolescents (ages 5–21). Responses were summarized using factor analysis of risk mitigation, and their associations with lifetime mental disorders (assessed via structured diagnostic interviews) were identified with linear regression analyses (adjusted for covariates). All analyses used R Project for Statistical Computing for Mac (v.4.0.5). Results A two-factor model was the best-fitting solution. Factor 1 (avoidance behaviors) included avoiding groups, indoor settings, and other peoples’ homes; avoidance scores were higher among youth with any anxiety disorder (p = .01). Factor 2 (hygiene behaviors) included using hand sanitizer, washing hands, and maintaining social distance; hygiene scores were lower among youth with ADHD (combined type) (p = .02). Mask wearing was common (90%), did not load on either factor, and was not associated with any mental health disorder. Conclusion and relevance Although most mental disorders examined were not associated with risk mitigation, youth with ADHD characterized by hyperactivity plus inattention may need additional support to consistently engage in risk-mitigation behaviors. Enhancing risk-mitigation strategies among at-risk groups of youth may help reduce COVID-19 infection and transmission.

Abstract The computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) for chest X-rays was developed more than 50 years ago. However, there are still unmet needs for its versatile use in our medical fields. We planned this study to develop a multipotent CAD model suitable for general use including in primary care areas. We planned this study to solve the problem by using computed tomography (CT) scan with its one-to-one matched chest X-ray dataset. The data was extracted and preprocessed by pulmonology experts by using the bounding boxes to locate lesions of interest. For detecting multiple lesions, multi-object detection by faster R-CNN and by RetinaNet was adopted and compared. A total of twelve diagnostic labels were defined as the followings: pleural effusion, atelectasis, pulmonary nodule, cardiomegaly, consolidation, emphysema, pneumothorax, chemo-port, bronchial wall thickening, reticular opacity, pleural thickening, and bronchiectasis. The Faster R-CNN model showed higher overall sensitivity than RetinaNet, nevertheless the values of specificity were opposite. Some values such as cardiomegaly and chemo-port showed excellent sensitivity (100.0%, both). Others showed that the unique results such as bronchial wall thickening, reticular opacity, and pleural thickening can be described in the chest area. As far as we know, this is the first study to develop an object detection model for chest X-rays based on chest area defined by CT scans in one-to-one matched manner, preprocessed and conducted by a group of experts in pulmonology. Our model can be a potential tool for detecting the whole chest area with multiple diagnoses from a simple X-ray that is routinely taken in most clinics and hospitals on daily basis.

Mycobacterium peregrinum (Mpgm) is a rapidly growing mycobacteria that is classified as a nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) and is commonly found in environmental sources such as soil, water, and animals. Mpgm is considered an opportunistic pathogen that causes infection in immunocompromised individuals or those with underlying medical conditions. Although there have been clinical reports on Mpgm, reports of the immune response and metabolic reprogramming have not been published. Thus, we studied standard Mpgm-ATCC and two clinical strains (Mpgm-S and Mpgm-R) using macrophages and mouse bone marrow-derived cells. Mpgm has two types of colony morphologies: smooth and rough. We grew all strains on the 7H10 agar medium to visually validate the morphology. Cytokine levels were measured via ELISA and real-time PCR. The changes in mitochondrial function and glycolysis in Mpgm-infected macrophages were measured using an extracellular flux analyzer. Mpgm-S-infected macrophages showed elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12p40, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, compared to Mpgm-ATCC- and Mpgm-R-infected macrophages. Additionally, our findings revealed metabolic changes in Mpgm-ATCC and two clinical strains (Mpgm-S and Mpgm-R) during infection; significant changes were observed in the mitochondrial respiration, extracellular acidification, and the oxygen consumption of BMDMs upon Mpgm-S infection. In summary, within the strains examined, Mpgm-S displayed greater virulence, triggered a heightened immune response, and induced more profound shifts in bioenergetic metabolism than Mpgm-ATCC and Mpgm-R. This study is the first to document distinct immune responses and metabolic reorganization following Mpgm infection. These findings lay a crucial foundation for further investigations into the pathogenesis of Mpgm.

Abstract We report an EN2-specific (K d = 8.26 nM) aptamer, and a sensitive and specific enzyme-linked oligonucleotide assay (ELONA) for rapid and sensitive colorimetric detection of bladder and prostate cancer biomarker EN2 in urine. The assay relies on an aptamer-mediated hybridization chain reaction (HCR) to generate DNA nanostructures that bind to EN2 and simultaneously amplify signals. The assay can be performed within 2.5 h, and has a limit of detection of 0.34 nM in buffer and 2.69 nM in artificial urine. Moreover, this assay showed high specificity as it did not detect other urinary proteins, including biomarkers of other cancers. The proposed ELONA is inexpensive, highly reproducible, and has great chemical stability, so it may enable development of a simple, sensitive and accurate diagnostic tool to detect bladder and prostate cancers early.

Towards further integration and miniaturization of e-textiles, in this work, authors demonstrate an integrated electronic fibre platform by fabricating multiple electronic components such as transistors, inverters, ring oscillators, and thermocouples onto the outer surface of a microfibre substrate.

Abstract Background KBG syndrome is a rare genetic disorder involving macrodontia of the upper central incisors, craniofacial, skeletal, and neurologic symptoms, caused either by a heterozygous variant in ANKRD11 or deletion of 16q24.3, including ANKRD11. Diagnostic criteria were proposed in 2007 based on 50 cases, but KBG syndrome remains underdiagnosed. Methods Whole exome sequencing (WES) and array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) were conducted for genetic analysis and patient phenotypes were characterized based on medical records. Results Eight patients from seven unrelated families were confirmed with KBG syndrome. All patients (8/8, 100%) had some degree of craniofacial dysmorphism and developmental delay or intellectual disabilities. Triangular face, synophrys, anteverted nostril, prominent ears, long philtrum, and tented upper lip, which are typical facial dysmorphism findings in patients with KBG syndrome, were uniformly identified in the eight patients participating in this study, with co‐occurrence rates of 4/8 (50%), 4/8 (50%), 4/8 (50%), 4/8 (50%), 5/8 (62.5%), and 5/8 (62.5%), respectively. Various clinical manifestations not included in the diagnostic criteria were observed. Six patients had point mutations in ANKRD11, one had an exonic deletion of ANKRD11, and one had a 16q24.3 microdeletion. According to the ACMG guidelines, all mutations were classified as pathogenic. The c.2454dup (p.Asn819fs*1) mutation in Pt 4 was reported previously. The remaining variants (c.397 + 1G>A, c.226 + 1G>A, c.2647del (p.Glu883Argfs*94), and c.4093C>T (p.Arg1365Ter)) were novel. Conclusion The clinical and molecular features of eight patients from seven unrelated Korean families with KBG syndrome described here will assist physicians in understanding this rare genetic condition.

This study investigated how diet quality changes over a ten-year period, assessed using the following four diet quality indexes, the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010), alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED), and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), were related to mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the Multiethnic Cohort Study. The analysis included 61,361 participants who completed both the 1993–1996 baseline survey and the 2003–2008 10-year follow-up surveys. Over the mean follow-up period of 13 years after the 10-year survey, 4174 deaths from CVD were identified. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using multivariable Cox models. Increases in diet quality scores were associated with a reduced risk of CVD mortality for all indexes: HRs per one SD increment of 0.94 to 0.99 (HR (95% CI), 0.96 (0.92–1.01) for HEI-2015, 0.96 (0.91–1.01) for AHEI-2010, 0.99 (0.94–1.04) for aMED, and 0.94 (0.89–0.99) for DASH) in men and 0.88 to 0.92 (0.88 (0.84–0.92) for HEI-2015, 0.90 (0.85–0.95) for AHEI-2010, 0.89 (0.84–0.95) for aMED, and 0.92 (0.87–0.96) for DASH) in women. The inverse association generally did not vary by race and ethnicity, age, body mass index, smoking, and hypertension in each sex. Our findings suggest that improving diet quality and maintaining a high-quality diet over time may help reduce the risk of CVD mortality and could also be beneficial for those at higher risk of CVD.

Background Postoperative pain occurring after cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is difficult to control because of extensive surgical injuries and long incisions. We assessed whether the addition of a four-quadrant transabdominal plane (4Q-TAP) block could help in analgesic control. Methods Seventy-two patients scheduled to undergo elective CRS with HIPEC and intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV PCA) were enrolled. The patients received 4Q-TAP blocks in a 10 ml mixture of 2% lidocaine and 0.75% ropivacaine per site (4Q-TAP group, n = 36) or normal saline (control group, n = 33). Oxycodone in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and pethidine or tramadol in the ward were used as rescue analgesics. The primary outcome was less than 3 times of rescue analgesic administration (%) in the ward for 5 postoperative days. Secondary endpoints included oxycodone requirement in PACU, fentanyl doses of IV PCA, morphine milligram equivalent (MME) of total opioid use, hospital stay, and postoperative complications. Results During 5 postoperative days, there was no difference in pain scores and total rescue analgesic administration between two groups. However, the use of oxycodone in PACU (P = 0.011), fentanyl requirement in IV PCA (P = 0.029), and MME/kg of total opioid use (median, 2.35 vs. 3.21 mg/kg, P = 0.009) were significantly smaller in the 4Q-TAP group. Hospital stay and incidence of postoperative morbidity were similar in both groups. Conclusions The 4Q-TAP block enhanced multimodal analgesia and decreased opioid requirements in patients with CRS with HIPEC, but did not change postoperative recovery outcomes.

BackgroundObesity has become a significant public health problem within China. By observing dietary patterns, an individual's actual dietary habit of nutrients or foods in combination can be identified. We aimed to examine dietary patterns in relation to the risk of obesity (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2) and weight change (average weight change per five years) within a Chinese cohort.MethodsWe analyzed the data from 6,677 adults aged 18-65 years in the China Health and Nutrition Survey 1997-2015. Westernized, traditional Chinese, and high-starch plant-based dietary patterns were identified by principal components analysis. We estimated relative risks (RRs) and least-squares means (LS-means) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using the Cox proportional hazards models and the generalized linear models, respectively.ResultsHigh adherence to the Westernized dietary pattern was associated with increased risks of obesity and weight gain. Comparing top with bottom quintiles, RR (95% CI) for obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) was 1.57 (1.26-1.95; P for trend < 0.001). LS-means of weight change (kg/5 years) were 1.73 (0.98-2.47) and 1.13 (0.39-1.87; P for trend = 0.036) in the top and bottom quintiles, respectively. Increased weight gain among those following the Westernized dietary pattern was stronger in the Southern region than the Northern region. There was a slight hint of an inverse association between the traditional Chinese dietary pattern and obesity. We did not find any significant association for the high-starch plant-based dietary pattern.ConclusionsThe Westernized dietary pattern increased the risk of obesity among Chinese adults. Weight gain associated with Western dietary pattern was more pronounced in the Southern region than in the Northern region. Our study will provide helpful data in developing dietary guidelines for the prevention of obesity specific to different regions in China.

In Korea, several national cross-sectional surveys monitor the diet, nutritional status, and health status of children. This continual dedicated national surveillance system contributes to the identification of nutritional and health issues, establishment of public health policies, and development of nutrition recommendations. This paper provides recent information about the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey and describes key nationwide survey findings published in the last 5 years on infant feeding practices and the dietary intake and nutritional status of Korean infants, children, and adolescents. There have been increasing trends in children, and teenagers who skip breakfast, eat fast food, consume sugary drinks, have vitamin D deficiency, and are obese. This review will inform pediatricians, nutritionists, and other health care practitioners who track children’s growth and development. It may also help researchers and policymakers identify diet-related policies and strategies for chronic disease prevention in Korean infants, children, and adolescents.

Background: Limited evidence exists on the association between dietary fat intake and lipid profiles in Southeast Asian populations. Objectives: We aimed to examine the cross-sectional associations of dietary intake of total and specific types of fat with dyslipidemia in Filipino immigrant women in Korea. Methods: We included 406 Filipino women married to Korean in the Filipino Women’s Diet and Health Study (FiLWHEL). Dietary fat intake was assessed using 24-hour recalls. Impaired blood lipid profiles were defined as high total cholesterol (TC) (≥200 mg/dL), high triglyceride (TG) (≥150 mg/dL), high LDL Cholesterol (LDL-C) (≥ 130 mg/dL), or low HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) (

Skutterudite compounds have been studied as potential thermoelectric materials due to their high thermoelectric efficiency, which makes them attractive candidates for applications in thermoelectric power generation. In this study, the effects of double-filling on the thermoelectric properties of the CexYb0.2−xCo4Sb12 skutterudite material system were investigated through the process of melt spinning and spark plasma sintering (SPS). By replacing Yb with Ce, the carrier concentration was compensated for by the extra electron from Ce donors, leading to optimized electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and power factor of the CexYb0.2−xCo4Sb12 system. However, at high temperatures, the power factor showed a downturn due to bipolar conduction in the intrinsic conduction regime. The lattice thermal conductivity of the CexYb0.2−xCo4Sb12 skutterudite system was clearly suppressed in the range between 0.025 and 0.1 for Ce content, due to the introduction of the dual phonon scattering center from Ce and Yb fillers. The highest ZT value of 1.15 at 750 K was achieved for the Ce0.05Yb0.15Co4Sb12 sample. The thermoelectric properties could be further improved by controlling the secondary phase formation of CoSb2 in this double-filled skutterudite system.

Abstract GPCR proteins belong to diverse families of proteins that are defined at multiple hierarchical levels. Inspecting relationships between GPCR proteins on the hierarchical structure is important, since characteristics of the protein can be inferred from proteins in similar hierarchical information. However, modeling of GPCR families has been performed separately for each of the family, subfamily, and sub-subfamily level. Relationships between GPCR proteins are ignored in these approaches as they process the information in the proteins with several disconnected models. In this study, we propose DeepHier, a deep learning model to simultaneously learn representations of GPCR family hierarchy from the protein sequences with a unified single model. Novel loss term based on metric learning is introduced to incorporate hierarchical relations between proteins. We tested our approach using a public GPCR sequence dataset. Metric distances in the deep feature space corresponded to the hierarchical family relation between GPCR proteins. Furthermore, we demonstrated that further downstream tasks, like phylogenetic reconstruction and motif discovery, are feasible in the constructed embedding space. These results show that hierarchical relations between sequences were successfully captured in both of technical and biological aspects.

Background: Significant increases in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) including central-line associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs) have been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. Acute-care hospitals have faced staffing and personal protective equipment shortages, increased critical care capacity, and diversion of resources from traditional HAI surveillance and prevention efforts. In this study, we characterized CLABSIs among patients with COVID-19 and compared demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes between patients diagnosed with CLABSI with and without COVID-19. Methods: This is an observational retrospective cohort study of all patients diagnosed with CLABSI as defined by NHSN at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital from April 1, 2020, through September 30, 2021. A retrospective chart review was conducted to identify demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes of hospitalized patients diagnosed with CLABSI. Patients hospitalized with and without COVID-19 were compared using the independent-sample t test for means and the χ2 test for proportions. Results: Overall, 82 patients diagnosed with CLABSI between April 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021, among whom 31 (38%) were hospitalized with COVID-19 and 51 (62%) were not hospitalized with COVID-19. Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were significantly more likely to be obese (58% for COVID-19 positive vs 26% for COVID-19 negative; P = .01) and to require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (19% vs 4%; P = .04). However, COVID-19 patients were significantly less likely to have hematologic malignancy (7% vs 28%; P = .03), undergone bone marrow transplantation (0% vs 18%; P = .01), or have neutropenia (3% vs 22%; P = .03). There were no significant differences in line type or organism identified. Gram-positive pathogens were identified in 16 patients (52%) hospitalized with COVID-19. Gram-negative pathogens were identified in 3 patients (10%); fungal organisms were identified in 10 patients (32%), and 2 cases (7%) were polymicrobial. Patients with COVID-19 were significantly more likely to require an ICU stay (84% vs 43%). p Conclusions: High device utilization as well as prolonged hospitalization and line days among patients with COVID-19 along are contributing risk factors for CLABSI among patients hospitalized with COVID-19. This finding highlights the need for ongoing HAI surveillance and prevention efforts in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 given their characteristics and increased risk for CLABSI. Reinforcing infection prevention efforts by accentuating the importance of optimal line care and regular feedback are crucial, especially among patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic and its social and economic consequences have had adverse impacts on physical and mental health worldwide and exposed all segments of the population to protracted uncertainty and daily disruptions. The CoRonavIruS health and Impact Survey (CRISIS) was developed for use as an easy to implement and robust questionnaire covering key domains relevant to mental distress and resilience during the pandemic. Ongoing studies using CRISIS include international studies of COVID-related ill health conducted during different phases of the pandemic and follow-up studies of cohorts characterized before the COVID pandemic. In the current work, we demonstrate the feasibility, psychometric structure, and construct validity of this survey. We then show that pre-existing mood states, perceived COVID risk, and lifestyle changes are strongly associated with negative mood states during the pandemic in population samples of adults and in parents reporting on their children in the US and UK. These findings are highly reproducible and we find a high degree of consistency in the power of these factors to predict mental health during the pandemic.

During 2016–2018, San Diego County, California, USA, experienced one of the largest hepatitis A outbreaks in the United States in 2 decades. In close partnership with local healthcare systems, San Diego County Public Health led a public health response to the outbreak that focused on a 3-pronged strategy to vaccinate, sanitize, and educate. Healthcare systems administered nearly half of the vaccinations delivered in San Diego County. At University of California San Diego Health, the use of informatics tools assisted with the identification of at-risk populations and with vaccine delivery across outpatient and inpatient settings. In addition, acute care facilities helped prevent further disease transmission by delaying the discharge of patients with hepatitis A who were experiencing homelessness. We assessed the public health roles that acute care hospitals can play during a large community outbreak and the critical nature of ongoing collaboration between hospitals and public health systems in controlling such outbreaks.

Abstract Objectives: To perform a review of the literature on the role of simulation-based training (SBT) in healthcare-associated infection (HAI) prevention and to highlight the importance of SBT as an educational tool in infection prevention. Methods: We reviewed English language publications from PubMed to select original articles that utilized SBT as the primary mode of education for infection prevention efforts in acute-care hospitals. Results: Overall, 27 publications utilized SBT as primary mode of education for HAI prevention in acute-care hospitals. Training included the following: hand hygiene in 3 studies (11%), standard precaution in 1 study (4%), disaster preparedness in 4 studies (15%), central-line–associated blood stream infection (CLABSI) prevention in 14 studies (52%), catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) prevention in 2 studies (7%), surgical site infection prevention in 2 studies (7%), and ventilatory associated pneumonia prevention in 1 study (4%). SBT improved learner’s sense of competence and confidence, increased knowledge and compliance in infection prevention measures, decreased HAI rates, and reduced healthcare costs. Conclusion: SBT can function as a teaching tool in day-to-day infection prevention efforts as well as in disaster preparedness. SBT is underutilized in infection prevention but can serve as a crucial educational tool.

In this pre- and postintervention study, we demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of comprehensive simulation-based personal protective equipment (PPE) training amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With rapid-cycle, deliberate practice feedback, simulation-based training can improve the learners’ sense of confidence and security while standardizing PPE protocols.

Introduction The health problem of postmenopausal women is emerging as an important problem due to the increased aging population. This study investigated the association between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and bone markers in postmenopausal women. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 132 postmenopausal women aged 45–70 years. The DII score was calculated using the 3-day food records and divided into tertiles according to the DII score. The lifestyle factors that could affect bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women were investigated and included the EuroQol- 5 Dimension (EQ-5D), physical activity, and eating habits. Skeletal muscle index-weight (SMIw) was used to evaluate skeletal muscle mass, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSALP), and phosphorus (P) measured as bone biomarkers. The BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and the association between anthropometric, biochemistry, BMD, and DII was assessed. Results In the anti-inflammatory group, a high intake of fiber, vitamins, and minerals was observed. After adjusting for confound factors, with higher DII score, percent body fat increased (β = 0.168, p = 0.012), and SMIw decreased linear regression analysis (β = −0.329, p = 0.037, respectively). For biochemistry, confound factors were adjusted, with higher DII score, ALP, BSALP and P decreased and DII score increased (β = −0.057, p = 0.002, β = −0.167, p = 0.004, β = −1.799, p = 0.026, respectively). The relationship between DII and BMD was not significant, but osteopenia increased as DII score increased. Conclusion The low DII score is positively associated with low body fat, high muscle mass, elevated bone markers, and low risk of osteopenia.

We previously reported the anticancer activity of 4-(4-fluorobenzylcarbamoylmethyl)-3-(4-cyclohexylphenyl)-2-[3-(N,N-dimethylureido)-N′-methylpropylamino]-3,4-dihydroquinazoline (OZ-001), a T-type calcium channel (TTCC) blocker, against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in vitro and in vivo. Here, we evaluated the synergistic effect of OZ-001 and cisplatin on A549 human lung cancer cells and A549 xenograft mice. Our study demonstrated that treatment with OZ-001 and cisplatin sensitized A549 cells to cisplatin and significantly inhibited cell growth, increased the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells, and induced poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage in A549 cells and an A549 xenograft tumor mouse model. Moreover, our findings showed that mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K), and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) inactivation was required for apoptosis induced by the combination of OZ-001 and cisplatin in in vitro and in vivo experiments. Our results suggest that combined treatment with OZ-001 and cisplatin could potentiate antiproliferative effects via suppression of the mTOR/p70S6K and STAT3 pathways and may be considered a potential therapeutic agent for NSCLC.

Objectives: Diet quality may be a key modifiable factor for the prevention of non-communicable disease. We aimed to investigate the association between diet quality and prevalence of obesity, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance among Filipino immigrant women in Korea.Methods: A total of 413 participants from the 2014–2016 baseline population of the Filipino Women's Diet and Health Study (FiLWHEL) were examined. Individual dietary intakes were evaluated through 24-h recalls and then converted into two dietary quality assessments: Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Data Derived Inflammation Index (DDII) originally developed by our group. Fasting blood levels of triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterols, glucose, and insulin were measured. We used logistic regression models for odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Results: We found a statistically significant association between MDD-W scores and decreased prevalence of abdominal obesity; ORs (95% CIs) of the 3rd vs. 1st tertiles were 0.58 (0.36–0.94; p for trend = 0.029). Increased DDII was associated with elevated prevalence of dyslipidemia and insulin resistance; ORs (95% CIs) of the 5th vs. 1–3rd quintiles were 6.44 (2.56–16.20) for triglycerides (TG), 3.90 (1.92–7.90) for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, 3.36 (1.81–6.24) for total cholesterol (TC), 6.25 (2.53–15.41) for abnormal TG/HDL ratios, 3.59 (1.96–6.59) for HbA1c, 2.61 (1.11–6.17) for fasting blood glucose levels, 9.67 (4.16–22.48) for insulin levels, and 9.73 (4.46–21.25) for homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p for trend

Maxillofacial surgery may cause severe complications in perioperative airway management. We report a case of failed airway management in a patient who underwent segmental mandibulectomy, radical neck dissection, and reconstruction with a free flap. The patient was extubated approximately 36 hours after surgery. Approximately 7 hours after extubation, the patient complained of dyspnoea, and respiratory failure followed. Bag-mask ventilation, direct laryngoscopy, video laryngoscopy, and supraglottic airway access were ineffective. The surgical airway was secured with an emergency tracheostomy while performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. However, the patient experienced permanent hypoxic brain damage. The airway of patients with oral cancer may be compromised postoperatively due to surgical trauma and bulky flap reconstruction. Patients should be closely monitored during the postoperative period to prevent airway failure. Early diagnosis and airway management before airway failure occurs are important. Medical staff should be aware of airway management algorithms, be trained to perform difficult airway management, and have the required equipment readily available.

To develop highly efficient thermoelectric materials, the generation of homogeneous heterostructures in a matrix is considered to mitigate the interdependency of the thermoelectric compartments. In this study, Cu2Te nanoparticles were introduced onto Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 n-type materials and their thermoelectric properties were investigated in terms of the amount of Cu2Te nanoparticles. A homogeneous dispersion of Cu2Te nanoparticles was obtained up to 0.4 wt.% Cu2Te, whereas the Cu2Te nanoparticles tended to agglomerate with each other at greater than 0.6 wt.% Cu2Te. The highest power factor was obtained under the optimal dispersion conditions (0.4 wt.% Cu2Te incorporation), which was considered to originate from the potential barrier on the interface between Cu2Te and Bi2Te2.7Se0.3. The Cu2Te incorporation also reduced the lattice thermal conductivity, and the dimensionless figure of merit ZT was increased to 0.75 at 374 K for 0.4 wt.% Cu2Te incorporation compared with that of 0.65 at 425 K for pristine Bi2Te2.7Se0.3. This approach could also be an effective means of controlling the temperature dependence of ZT, which could be modulated against target applications.

Integrated abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters predict the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, its relationship with subclinical CVD is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the association between the integrated ECG risk score and the prevalence of coronary artery calcium (CAC). A cross-sectional study comprised 134,802 participants with no known CVD who underwent ECG and CAC computed tomography. The ECG risk score was the sum of five ECG abnormalities: heart rate of >80 beats, QRS of >110 ms, left ventricular hypertrophy, T-wave inversion, and prolonged QTc. A multinomial regression model was used to estimate the prevalence ratios (PRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for prevalent CAC. The prevalence of CAC progressively increased as the ECG risk score increased. After adjustment for conventional CVD risk factors and other confounders, the multivariable-adjusted PRs (95% CI) for a CAC of 1–100 in the 1, 2, and ≥3 ECG risk score groups were 1.06 (1.02–1.10), 1.12 (1.03–1.22), and 1.19 (1.00–1.42), respectively, while the corresponding PRs for a CAC of >100 were 1.03 (0.95–1.12), 1.44 (1.25–1.66), and 1.75 (1.33–2.29), respectively. Integrative ECG scoring may help identify individuals requiring lipid-lowering medications, even in young and asymptomatic populations.

Mycobacterium mucogenicum (Mmuc), a rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM), can infect humans (posttraumatic wound infections and catheter-related sepsis). Similar to other NTM species, Mmuc exhibits colony morphologies of rough (Mmuc-R) and smooth (Mmuc-S) types. Although there are several case reports on Mmuc infection, no experimental evidence supports that the R-type is more virulent. In addition, the immune response and metabolic reprogramming of Mmuc have not been studied on the basis of morphological characteristics. Thus, a standard ATCC Mmuc strain and two clinical strains were analyzed, and macrophages were generated from mouse bone marrow. Cytokines and cell death were measured by ELISA and FACS, respectively. Mitochondrial respiration and glycolytic changes were measured by XF seahorse. Higher numbers of intracellular bacteria were found in Mmuc-R-infected macrophages than in Mmuc-S-infected macrophages. Additionally, Mmuc-R induced higher levels of the cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12p40, and IL-10 and induced more BMDM necrotic death. Furthermore, our metabolic data showed marked glycolytic and respiratory differences between the control and each type of Mmuc infection, and changes in these parameters significantly promoted glucose metabolism, extracellular acidification, and oxygen consumption in BMDMs. In conclusion, at least in the strains we tested, Mmuc-R is more virulent, induces a stronger immune response, and shifts bioenergetic metabolism more extensively than the S-type. This study is the first to report differential immune responses and metabolic reprogramming after Mmuc infection and might provide a fundamental basis for additional studies on Mmuc pathogenesis.

For the treatment of sinus surgery-induced osteitis in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), oral or intranasal administration of corticoids is generally used, although it has critical limitations and unavoidable side effects. To overcome these limitations, we designed dexamethasone (Dex)-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles with bone-specific binding affinity, which could release the encapsulated Dex in a sustained manner on the exposed bone after the surgical wound in the nasal cavity. In a previous report, we prepared poly(butyl methacrylate-co-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphate) (PBMP) with both calcium-binding phosphomonoester groups and PLGA-binding butyl groups to introduce strong calcium-binding property to PLGA particles. In this study, after successful encapsulation of Dex in the PBMP-coated PLGA particles, we applied the Dex-PLGA/PBMP to the treatment of post-operative osteitis in the sinonasal cavity. The Dex-PLGA/PBMP showed more than 5-times higher binding affinity to the hydroxyapatite (HA) surface compared to the non-coated PLGA particles, without altering the morphology and encapsulation efficiency. After establishing the neo-osteogenesis mouse model by mechanical injury of the nasal mucosa, the activity of intranasally administered Dex-PLGA/PBMP was examined to inhibit the formation of undesirable new woven bone during the wound healing process. In addition, significantly lower osteocalcin activity was observed in the group treated with Dex-PLGA/PBMP, indicating decreased activation of osteoblasts. Overall, these results demonstrate that the PLGA/PBMP microparticle strategy has great potential for the treatment of CRS-related osteitis by localized corticoid delivery on the exposed bones with minimal side effects.

Epigenetic gene regulation is a major control mechanism of gene expression. Most existing methods for modeling control mechanisms of gene expression use only a single epigenetic marker and very few methods are successful in modeling complex mechanisms of gene regulations using multiple epigenetic markers on transcriptional regulation. In this paper, we propose a multi-attention based deep learning model that integrates multiple markers to characterize complex gene regulation mechanisms. In experiments with 18 cell line multi-omics data, our proposed model predicted the gene expression level more accurately than the state-of-the-art model. Moreover, the model successfully revealed cell-type-specific gene expression control mechanisms. Finally, the model was used to identify genes enriched for specific cell types in terms of their functions and epigenetic regulation.

Abstract Low voltage operational organic transistors (

During 2015-2017, we surveyed the incidence of viral infections of tomato and paprika growing in greenhouses in Cherwon province, Korea. In 2015 and 2016, we collected leaves and fruits from tomato and paprika plants growing in greenhouses. We detected viruses in the samples collected using specific primer sets for Broad bean wilt virus 2 (BBWV2), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), Pepper mottle mosaic virus (PepMoV), and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). We detected PMMoV, CMV, and TSWV in the samples, and CMV and TSWV were the most prevalent. For the prevention of future viral diseases, we then surveyed the routes of infection by these viruses in tomato and paprika plants growing in greenhouses in Cherwon province in 2017. Leaf and fruit samples were collected from seedlings and crops two and four months after transplanting into greenhouses. As a result, we found that TSWV was transferred from seedlings to plants, and outbreaks of the virus occurred at the early stage of cultivation. On the other hand, we found that CMV was a virus indigenous to the soil of some towns in Cherwon province, and thus outbreaks of this virus occurred at the middle stage of cultivation.

Abstract Background The present study aimed to evaluate the degree of anterior capsule contraction (capsulorhexis contraction) with three different single-piece, hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs). Methods Patients were prospectively randomized to be implanted with one of three types of IOLs during cataract surgery: the Ophtec Precizon (IOL A), the Lucid Korea Microflex (IOL B), and the Carl Zeiss Asphina (IOL C). One week, 2 weeks, and 6 months after surgery, the area of the anterior capsule opening was measured using digital retro-illumination images after dilation of the pupil. The data were then evaluated using POCOman software. Results The study included 236 eyes of 202 patients. The area of the anterior capsule opening reduced by 3.53 ± 3.31 mm (17.06% ± 15.99%) between 1 week and 2 months post-operatively in the IOL A group, by 0.62 ± 1.32 mm (2.87% ± 6.03%) in the IOL B group, and by 1.09 ± 1.53 mm (4.72% ± 6.10%) in the IOL C group. The IOL B group showed minimal anterior capsule contraction 2 months after surgery (p

Abstract Background Fatty acid oxidation disorders (FAODs) include more than 15 distinct disorders with variable clinical manifestations. After the introduction of newborn screening using tandem mass spectrometry, early identification of FAODs became feasible. This study describes the clinical, biochemical and molecular characteristics of FAODs patients detected by newborn screening (NBS) compared with those of 9 patients with symptomatic presentations. Methods Clinical and genetic features of FAODs patients diagnosed by NBS and by symptomatic presentations were reviewed. Results Fourteen patients were diagnosed with FAODs by NBS at the age of 54.8 ± 4.8 days: 5 with very-long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency, 5 with medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency, 1 with primary carnitine deficiency, 1 with carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) deficiency, 1 with long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase or mitochondrial trifunctional protein (LCAHD/MTP) deficiency, and 1 with short chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (SCAD) deficiency. Three patients with VLCAD or LCHAD/MTP deficiency developed recurrent rhabdomyolysis or cardiomyopathy, and one patient died of cardiomyopathy. The other 10 patients remained neurodevelopmentally normal and asymptomatic during the follow-up. In 8 patients with symptomatic presentation, FAODs manifested as LCHAD/MTP deficiencies by recurrent rhabdomyolysis or cadiomyopathy (6 patients), and VLCAD deficiency by cardiomyopathy (1 patient), and CPT1A deficiency by hepatic failure (1 patient). Two patients with LCHAD/MTP deficiencies died due to severe cardiomyopathy in the neonatal period, and developmental disability was noted in CPT1A deficiency (1 patient). Conclusions NBS helped to identify the broad spectrum of FAODs and introduce early intervention to improve the clinical outcome of each patient. However, severe clinical manifestations developed in some patients, indicating that careful, life-long observation is warranted in all FAODs patients.

Abstract Background Use of dietary supplements among cancer survivors is common and controversial, but information on the amount of nutrients from supplements among cancer survivors is limited. We examined the amount of nutrients and their contribution to total nutrient intake from supplements and compared these data between cancer survivors and cancer-free individuals. We also identified factors associated with supplement use among cancer survivors. Methods We identified 400 cancer survivors and 10,387 cancer-free individuals, aged ≥ 19 years, from the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) V-1, 2 (2010, 2011). We calculated the amount of nutrients consumed from foods and supplements, the percent contributions of supplement nutrients to total nutrient intakes and cancer survivors’ nutrient intakes relative to the Estimated Average Requirements (EARs) and the Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs). We examined factors associated with supplement use among cancer survivors. Results We found that 33.3% of cancer survivors and 22.1% of cancer-free individuals reported the use of dietary supplements. Compared to cancer-free individuals, cancer survivors had higher intakes of riboflavin, folate, and iron from foods (p

Background: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading global cause of death and share common risk factors. Little quantitative data are available on the patterns of each NCDs death and dietary factors by national income level and region. We aimed to identify the trend of NCDs deaths and dietary factors with other health-related behaviors across national income levels and geographical regions. Methods: Three databases were collected, including the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, and World Bank in 2014. These were analyzed to describe the trend for NCDs deaths and dietary factors with health-related behaviors across national income levels (high income, upper-middle income, lower-middle income, and low income) from 151 countries using variance-weighted least-squares linear regression. Results: Lower-middle-income and low-income countries in Africa and Asia had higher death rates of NCDs. More than 30% of the population had raised blood pressure with higher carbohydrate intake and lower protein and fat intake compared to high-income European countries in 2014. High-income countries had the highest prevalence of raised total cholesterol, overweight, and obesity, the highest total energy, fat, and protein intake, and the highest supplies of animal fat, stimulants, sugar and sweetener, vegetable oil, and milk, as well as insufficient activity with an increasing trend (p for trend < 0.001). Conclusion: There were differences in NCDs risk factors and dietary factors by national income and region. Accordingly, measures should be taken to suit the situation in each country. Our findings have significance for health workers and health policies preventing and controlling the rise of NCDs.