Validation of the Vascular Study Group of New England (VSGNE) risk prediction model for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in Korea: a single-center retrospective study.

Purpose: The Vascular Study Group of New England (VSGNE) risk prediction model is a simple method for estimating risk for elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. The model considers both treatment methods and the physical characteristics of the aneurysm type as well as comorbidities. This research aimed to validate its effectiveness by analyzing retrospective data on Korean patients.

In Vitro Modeling of Atherosclerosis Using iPSC-Derived Blood Vessel Organoids.

As modeling of atherosclerosis requires recapitulating complex interactions with vasculature and immune cells, previous in vitro models have limitations due to their insufficient 3D vascular structures. However, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived blood vessel organoids (BVOs) are applicable for modeling vascular diseases, containing multiple cell types, including endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells self-assembled into a blood vessel structure. Atherosclerotic BVOs with a microenvironment associated with atherogenesis, such as shear stress, low-density lipoprotein, pro-inflammatory cytokine, and monocyte co-culture are successfully developed.

The association between initial post-resuscitation diastolic blood pressure and survival after pediatric cardiac arrest: a retrospective study.

Background: Limited research has analyzed the association between diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and survival after pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This study aimed to explore the association between post-resuscitation diastolic blood pressure and survival in pediatric patients who underwent CPR.

Method: This retrospective single-center study included pediatric patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit of Asan Medical Center between January 2016 to November 2022.

Outcomes of carotid endarterectomy in octogenarians compared to their younger counterparts: a retrospective observational study.

Purpose: This study was performed to analyze the association between age and outcomes of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) by comparing postoperative outcomes between octogenarians and younger patients.

Methods: From November 1994 to December 2022, 1,585 internal carotid arteries of 1,434 patients were enrolled. Patients were stratified into 2 groups: octogenarians (≥80 years old) and non-octogenarians (<80 years old).

CD19 CAR-expressing iPSC-derived NK cells effectively enhance migration and cytotoxicity into glioblastoma by targeting to the pericytes in tumor microenvironment.

In cancer immunotherapy, chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) targeting specific antigens have become a powerful tool for cell-based therapy. CAR-natural killer (NK) cells offer selective anticancer lysis with reduced off-tumor toxicity compared to CAR-T cells, which is beneficial in the heterogeneous milieu of solid tumors. In the tumor microenvironment (TME) of glioblastoma (GBM), pericytes not only support tumor growth but also contribute to immune evasion, underscoring their potential as therapeutic targets in GBM treatment.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation as a Risk Factor for Clinical Outcome After Liver Transplantation in Pediatric Patients With Kasai Portoenterostomy Failure.

Background: Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a serious complication in critically ill pediatric patients. This study aimed to evaluate the association between pretransplant DIC and perioperative clinical outcomes of liver transplantation (LT) in pediatric patients with Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE) failure.

Methods: We enrolled pediatric patients who received LT after KPE failure between January 2005 and April 2021.

Fabrication and Evaluation of a pH-Responsive Nanocomposite-Based Colonic Delivery System for Improving the Oral Efficacy of Liraglutide.

Purpose: Oral administration of liraglutide, a protein drug, suffers from low intestinal absorption and instability in the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in low bioavailability. The present study aimed to develop a pH-responsive nanocomposite based-colonic delivery system to improve the oral efficacy of liraglutide.

Methods: Nanocomplex (AC-Lira) between aminoclay and liraglutide was prepared by a spontaneous self-assembly.

Comparison of the clinical characteristics and clinical outcomes of culture-positive septic shock and culture-negative septic shock among pediatric patients.

Objectives: Among pediatric patients with septic shock, culture-negative septic shock (CNSS) is common but there have been limited data on its clinical characteristics and prognosis. We compared the clinical characteristics and clinical outcomes between culture-positive septic shock (CPSS) and CNSS in pediatric patients.

Design: Retrospective single-center study.

Safety and efficacy of pediatric sedation protocol for diagnostic examination in a pediatric emergency room: A retrospective study.

Pediatric patients undergoing diagnostic tests in the pediatric emergency room are frequently sedated. Although efforts are made to prevent adverse events, no sedation protocol has specified the optimal regimen, dosage, and interval of medication to prevent adverse events. This study analyzed the safety and efficacy of sequential pediatric sedation protocols for pediatric patients undergoing diagnostic tests in the pediatric emergency room of a single tertiary medical center.

Risk Factors and Pregnancy Outcomes of Antepartum Hemorrhage in Women with Placenta Previa.

Placenta previa (PP) is one such complication related to several adverse pregnancy outcomes. Adverse outcomes are likely greater if PP coexists with antepartum hemorrhage (APH). This study aims to evaluate the risk factors and pregnancy outcomes of APH in women with PP.

Quantitative analysis of therapeutic proteins in biological fluids: recent advancement in analytical techniques.

Pharmaceutical application of therapeutic proteins has been continuously expanded for the treatment of various diseases. Efficient and reliable bioanalytical methods are essential to expedite the identification and successful clinical development of therapeutic proteins. In particular, selective quantitative assays in a high-throughput format are critical for the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation of protein drugs and to meet the regulatory requirements for new drug approval.

Bioengineered liver crosslinked with nano-graphene oxide enables efficient liver regeneration via MMP suppression and immunomodulation.

Decellularized extracellular matrix scaffold, widely utilized for organ engineering, often undergoes matrix decomposition after transplantation and produces byproducts that cause inflammation, leading to clinical failure. Here we propose a strategy using nano-graphene oxide to modify the biophysical properties of decellularized liver scaffolds. Notably, we demonstrate that scaffolds crosslinked with nano-graphene oxide show high resistance to enzymatic degradation via direct inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase activity and increased mechanical rigidity.

Frequency of serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) in patients with high grade serous ovarian cancer.

Objective: Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) is a known precursor of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). This study aimed to evaluate the proportion of STIC in patients with HGSOC and analyze the STIC-related prognosis in patients with HGSOC.

Materials And Methods: All pathology reports at our institution that included bilateral salpingectomies of patients with HGSOC from January 2013 to December 2018 were reviewed by two experienced pathologists.

Cortical-blood vessel assembloids exhibit Alzheimer's disease phenotypes by activating glia after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

A correlation between COVID-19 and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been proposed recently. Although the number of case reports on neuroinflammation in COVID-19 patients has increased, studies of SARS-CoV-2 neurotrophic pathology using brain organoids have restricted recapitulation of those phenotypes due to insufficiency of immune cells and absence of vasculature. Cerebral pericytes and endothelial cells, the major components of blood-brain barrier, express viral entry receptors for SARS-CoV-2 and response to systemic inflammation including direct cell death.

HHuMin-U Activates Innate Immune Defense against Norovirus Infection through TBK1-IRF3 and NF-κB Signaling Pathways.

The composition of commensal bacteria plays a critical role in controlling immune responses in the intestine. Studies have shown that specific bacterial strains may have the capacity to enhance host immune defense against gastrointestinal viral infections. While norovirus is known to be the most common cause of gastroenteritis, leading to an estimated 200,000 deaths every year, identification of bacterial strains with protective effects against norovirus infection remains elusive.

The rise and fall of industrial clusters: experience from the resilient transformation in South Korea.

Clusters facing a crisis could have devastating effects on the economic conditions of the regions. Therefore, it is important to study how resilience works in the lives of clusters. The purpose of the current study is to more quantitatively understand the life path of the growth and decline of industrial clusters by verifying actual patterns.

Functional ligands for improving anticancer drug therapy: current status and applications to drug delivery systems.

Conventional chemotherapy lacking target selectivity often leads to severe side effects, limiting the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Therefore, drug delivery systems ensuring both selective drug release and efficient intracellular uptake at the target sites are highly demanded in chemotherapy to improve the quality of life of patients with low toxicity. One of the effective approaches for tumor-selective drug delivery is the adoption of functional ligands that can interact with specific receptors overexpressed in malignant cancer cells.

Reduced miR-371b-5p expression drives tumor progression via CSDE1/RAC1 regulation in triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer; however, specific prognostic biomarkers have not yet been developed. In this study, we identified dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) in TNBC by profiling miRNA and mRNA expression. In patients with TNBC, miR-371b-5p expression was reduced, and miR-371b-5p overexpression significantly mitigated TNBC cell growth, migration, and invasion.