Prediction of TKI response in EGFR-mutant lung cancer patients-derived organoids using malignant pleural effusion.

Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) are valuable in predicting response to cancer therapy. PDOs are ideal models for precision oncologists. However, their practical application in guiding timely clinical decisions remains challenging.

Current literature review on the tumor immune micro-environment, its heterogeneity and future perspectives in treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background And Objective: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) were a major clinical advancement that provided an opportunity to improve the prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, programmed death-ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression does not sufficiently predict ICI efficacy in NSCLC patients. In recent studies, the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) was shown to have a central role in lung cancer progression and to affect clinical outcome of patients diagnosed with lung cancer.

Deep Learning-Based ADHD and ADHD-RISK Classification Technology through the Recognition of Children's Abnormal Behaviors during the Robot-Led ADHD Screening Game.

Although attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children is rising worldwide, fewer studies have focused on screening than on the treatment of ADHD. Most previous similar ADHD classification studies classified only ADHD and normal classes. However, medical professionals believe that better distinguishing the ADHD-RISK class will assist them socially and medically.

A Novel Robot-Assisted Kinematic Measure for Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Preliminary Study.

Objective: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In contrast to neurocognitive measurements of inattention and impulsivity, there has been limited research regarding the objective measurement of hyperactivity in youths with ADHD. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the clinical effectiveness of a newly developed Robot-assisted Kinematic Measure for ADHD (RAKMA) in children with ADHD.

Development of Combination Vaccine Conferring Optimal Protection against Six Pore-Forming Toxins of Staphylococcus aureus.

In the Gram-positive pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, pore-forming toxins (PFTs), such as leukocidins and hemolysins, play prominent roles in staphylococcal pathogenesis by killing host immune cells and red blood cells (RBCs). However, it remains unknown which combination of toxin antigens would induce the broadest protective immune response against those toxins. In this study, by targeting six major staphylococcal PFTs (i.

The N2N3 domains of ClfA, FnbpA and FnbpB in Staphylococcus aureus bind to human complement factor H, and their antibodies enhance the bactericidal capability of human blood.

In the complement system, the opsonin C3b binds to the bacterial cell surface and mediates the opsonophagocytosis. However, the cell-wall protein SdrE of Staphylococcus aureus inhibits the C3b activity by recruiting the complement regulatory protein factor H (fH). SdrE binds to fH via its N-terminal N2N3 domain, which are also found in six other staphylococcal cell-wall proteins.

TGF-β induced EMT and stemness characteristics are associated with epigenetic regulation in lung cancer.

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) promotes tumor invasion and metastasis by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT is often related with acquisition of stemness characteristics. The objective of this study was to determine whether EMT and stemness characteristics induced by TGF-β might be associated with epigenetic regulation in lung cancer.

Peripapillary Intravitreal Injection Improves AAV-Mediated Retinal Transduction.

The intravitreal (IVT) injection method is a choice when targeting the inner retina for gene therapy. However, the transduction efficiency of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors administered by the IVT route is usually low and may be affected by several factors. To improve the transduction efficiency, we developed a novel illuminated long-needle attached injection system and injected AAV2-CMV (cytomegalovirus)-EGFP in front of the retina in rabbit eyes.

Cognitive Outcomes of Children with Very Low Birth Weight at 3 to 5 Years of Age.

Background: The cognitive consequences and risk factors based long-term outcome of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW; < 1,500 g) infants in Korea has not been studied. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of perinatal and neonatal risk factors on the cognitive performance of VLBW children at 3 to 5 years of age.

Methods: We enrolled 88 VLBW infants without cystic periventricular leukomalacia for the assessment of their demographic data, cognitive performance, and development of cerebral palsy (CP) at 3 to 5 years of age.

Probing Multi-Target Action of Phlorotannins as New Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors and Dopaminergic Receptor Modulators with the Potential for Treatment of Neuronal Disorders.

Modulation of multiple protein targets with a single compound is essential for the effective treatment of central nervous system disorders. In our previous G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) cell-based study, a selective human monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A inhibitor, eckol, stimulated activity of dopamine D and D receptors. This result led to our interest in marine phlorotannin-mediated modulation of MAO enzymes and related GPCRs in neuronal disorders.

mTORC1 and mTORC2 are differentially engaged in the development of laser-induced CNV.

Background: The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is a potential target to inhibit pathologic processes in choroidal neovascularization. However, the exact role of mTOR signaling in the development of CNV remains obscure. In this study, we assessed the role of mTORC1 and mTORC2 as well as the effect of rapamycin (sirolimus) on choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in a laser-induced mouse model.

Visual Hyper-vigilance But Insufficient Mental Representation in Children with Overweight/Obesity: Event-related Potential Study with Visual Go/NoGo Test.

Purpose: The neural processing of children with overweight/obesity (CWO), may affect their eating behavior. We investigated the visual information processing of CWO under response control condition, by event-related potential (ERP) study, an electrophysiologic study for cognitive mechanism.

Methods: Seventeen CWO (mean age: 10.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting anti-pertussis toxin antibody in mouse.

Purpose: Although the DTaP and Tdap vaccines used to prevent pertussis have been used for a long time, there is no standard method for measuring pertussis antigens. Therefore, this preliminary study was conducted to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method using an animal model for measuring antibodies against pertussis toxin, the most important pertussis pathogenic antigen, in the sera of vaccinated mice.

Materials And Methods: Tohama phase I was cultured for 24-30 hours, and then pertussis toxin was purified from the culture medium by chromatography.

Quantified Activity Measurement for Medical Use in Movement Disorders through IR-UWB Radar Sensor.

Movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, dystonia, tic disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are clinical syndromes with either an excess of movement or a paucity of voluntary and involuntary movements. As the assessment of most movement disorders depends on subjective rating scales and clinical observations, the objective quantification of activity remains a challenging area. The purpose of our study was to verify whether an impulse radio ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) radar sensor technique is useful for an objective measurement of activity.

Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a newly developed tri-component diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine in a murine model.

Background/purpose: Although assessing the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of acellular pertussis (aP) vaccines via murine model studies faces limitations, preliminary assessments have been achieved by evaluating respiratory challenge and humoral and cellular immunity.

Methods: We performed a long-term intranasal respiratory challenge with reference and clinically isolated strains of Bordetella pertussis. Simultaneously, we assessed humoral and cellular immunity for evaluating the immunogenicity of a newly developed tri-component diphtheria-tetanus-aP (DTaP) vaccine.

Assessment of safety and efficacy against Bordetella pertussis of a new tetanus-reduced dose diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine in a murine model.

Background: Tetanus-reduced dose diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination during adolescence was introduced in response to the resurgence of pertussis in various countries. A new Tdap vaccine was manufactured in Korea as a countermeasure against a predicted Tdap vaccine shortage. This study was performed to evaluate the immunogenicity, safety, and protection efficacy against Bordetella pertussis of the new Tdap vaccine in a murine model.

Predicting Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Blood-based Gene Expression Signatures and Machine Learning.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify a transcriptomic signature that could be used to classify subjects with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to controls on the basis of blood gene expression profiles. The gene expression profiles could ultimately be used as diagnostic biomarkers for ASD.

Methods: We used the published microarray data (GSE26415) from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, which included 21 young adults with ASD and 21 age- and sex-matched unaffected controls.

Posterior Deltoid-to-Triceps Tendon Transfer for Elbow Extension in a Tetraplegia Patient: A Case Report.

In tetraplegia patients, activities of daily living are highly dependent on the remaining upper limb functions. In other countries, upper limb reconstruction surgery to improve function has been applied to diverse cases, but few cases have been reported in Korea. The current authors experienced a case of posterior deltoid-to-triceps tendon transfer and rehabilitation in a complete spinal cord injury with a C6 neurologic level, and we introduce the case-a 36-year-old man-with a literature review.

Magnobovatol inhibits smooth muscle cell migration by suppressing PDGF-Rβ phosphorylation and inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression.

The migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and post-angioplasty restenosis. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB is a potent mitogen for VSMCs and plays an important role in the intimal accumulation of VSMCs. Magnobovatol, a new neolignan from the fruits of Magnolia obovata, has been shown to have anticancer properties.

Immunogenicity and safety of the new reduced-dose tetanus-diphtheria vaccine in healthy Korean adolescents: A comparative active control, double-blind, randomized, multicenter phase III study.

Background/purpose: A new reduced-dose tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine was developed in Korea, and phase I and II clinical trials were successfully undertaken. We conducted this double-blind, randomized, multicenter phase III clinical trial to assess the immunogenicity and safety of the new Td vaccine.

Methods: Healthy adolescents 11-12 years of age were enrolled and randomized to receive the new Td vaccine (study group) or a commercially available Td vaccine (control group).

Comparison of immunogenicity of cell-and egg-passaged viruses for manufacturing MDCK cell culture-based influenza vaccines.

While cell culture-based technology has been recently used for manufacturing influenza vaccines, currently available seed viruses are mostly egg-derived reassortants that are egg-adapted to achieve high virus growth in eggs. For use as viruses for cell culture-based influenza vaccine manufacturing, egg-adapted viral seeds may undergo several passages in manufacturing cell lines. However, the suitability of such cell-passaged viruses for vaccine production remains largely unelucidated.

Short-term change of handgrip strength after trigger point injection in women with muscular pain in the upper extremities.

Objective: To determine overall handgrip strength (HGS), we assessed the short-term change of HGS after trigger point injection (TPI) in women with muscular pain in the upper extremities by comparison with established pain scales.

Methods: The study enrolled 50 female patients (FMS with MPS group: 29 patients with combined fibromyalgia [FMS] and myofascial pain syndrome [MPS]; MPS group: 21 patients with MPS) who presented with muscular pain in the upper extremities at Konyang University Hospital. In addition, a total of 9 healthy women (control group) were prospectively enrolled in the study.