Handgrip strength and diabetes in postmenopausal women: insights from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014-2019.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between handgrip strength (HGS) and diabetes mellitus (DM) in postmenopausal women in Korea relative to the menopausal duration.

Methods: Data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2014 and 2019 were analyzed. A total of 4,098 postmenopausal women aged 45 to 65 years were included in the study.

Effects of TMEM232 Variant on Infant Atopic Dermatitis According to Maternal Factors.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is caused by interactions between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. Transmembrane protein 232 () is one of the genes strongly implicated in AD. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the association between AD with variants within based on maternal factors, including a history of allergic diseases, and sensitization to Der f.

A comparative in vitro study of distinct and novel stent geometries on mechanical performances of poly-L-lactic acid cardiovascular stents.

Background: Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is one of the representative polymeric materials serving as bioresorbable stents (BRS) for cardiovascular disease due to its proper biodegradation, high biocompatibility, and adequate mechanical properties among polymer candidates for BRS. However, PLLA BRS as cardiovascular stents also have limitations because their mechanical properties including low radial strength and high elastic recoil are inferior to those of metallic-based BRS stents.

Methods: In the study, we developed and manufactured distinct and novel types of stent geometries for investigating mechanical properties of thin-walled PLLA BRS (110 μm) for cardiovascular applications.

Viscerosensory signalling to the nucleus accumbens via the solitary tract nucleus.

The nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) receives direct viscerosensory vagal afferent input that drives autonomic reflexes, neuroendocrine function and modulates behaviour. A subpopulation of NTS neurons project to the nucleus accumbens (NAc); however, the function of this NTS-NAc pathway remains unknown. A combination of neuroanatomical tracing, slice electrophysiology and fibre photometry was used in mice and/or rats to determine how NTS-NAc neurons fit within the viscerosensory network.

Hormone replacement therapy and myocardial infarction and stroke in postmenopausal Korean women.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use, type, duration and age of commencement with myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke in postmenopausal Korean women.

Methods: This nested case-control study used data from the National Health Insurance Service database to analyze 2017 data from women aged ≥50 years and diagnosed with natural menopause between 2004 and 2007. Among 356,160 eligible women, 36,446 used HRT for ≥1 year and 319,714 did not (controls).

Chemogenetic activation of arcuate nucleus NPY and NPY/AgRP neurons increases feeding behaviour in mice.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) plays a crucial role in controlling energy homeostasis and feeding behaviour. The role of NPY neurons located in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (Arc) in responding to homeostatic signals has been the focus of much investigation, but most studies have used AgRP promoter-driven models, which do not fully encompass Arc NPY neurons. To directly investigate NPY-expressing versus AgRP-expressing Arc neurons function, we utilised chemogenetic techniques in NPY-Cre and AgRP-Cre animals to activate Arc NPY or AgRP neurons in the presence of food and food-related stimuli.

Synergistic Tailoring of Electronic and Thermal Transports in Thermoelectric Se-Free n-Type (Bi,Sb)Te.

Se-free n-type (Bi,Sb)Te thermoelectric materials, outperforming traditional n-type Bi(Te,Se), emerge as a compelling candidate for practical applications of recovering low-grade waste heat. A 100% improvement in the maximum of n-type BiSbTe is demonstrated by using melt-spinning and excess Te-assisted transient liquid phase sintering (LPS). Te-rich sintering promotes the formation of intrinsic defects (Te), elevating the carrier concentration and enhancing the electrical conductivity.

Successful ABO-Incompatible Living Donor Liver Transplantation in a Patient with an Anaphylactic Reaction to Fresh Frozen Plasma During Therapeutic Plasma Exchange: A Case Report.

Background: ABO-incompatible living donor liver transplantation (ABOi LDLT) is a complex procedure involving the reduction of anti-A and anti-B antibodies by therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) to prevent acute antibody-mediated rejection. Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is often used as replacement fluid during TPE.

Case Description: We report an ABOi LDLT case in which the patient experienced an anaphylactic reaction to FFP during TPE.

Social and Linguistic Correlates of Vocabulary Size in Autism: Overlapping Vocalization and Phonological Memory.

This study sought to understand the wide variability in vocabulary development among autistic children by testing potential social and linguistic correlates of vocabulary size. The correlation between overlapping vocalization (i.e.

Noninvasive wearable sensor for the continuous monitoring of human sound and movement signals in real-time.

Recently, with the development of non-invasive human health monitoring technology including wearable devices, a flexible sensor that monitors 'human sound and movement signals' such as human voice and muscle movement is attracting attention. In this experiment, electrospun nanofibers were mixed with highly conductive nanoparticles and coated with polyaniline to detect the patient's electrical signals. Due to the high piezoelectric effect, nanofiber-based sensors do not require charging through a separate battery, so they can be used as self-powered devices.

A Case Study on Community Treatment Center for Response to COVID-19 in Korea: Focusing on Surge Capacity 4S Component Analysis and Social Well-Being Perspective.

In March, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea, the first Community Treatment Center (CTC), which is a motel-type Alternate Care Site (ACS) for mild and asymptomatic patients, was opened. This is a case study of the first Community treatment center prepared to respond to COVID-19. One of the researchers worked as a medical doctor in one of the CTCs operated by the Korean government.

IL-4/IL-4 Ab complex enhances the accumulation of both antigen-specific and bystander CD8 T cells in mouse lungs infected with influenza A virus.

Background: Unlike conventional T cells, innate and virtual-memory CD8 T cells in naïve mice acquire their memory phenotypes and functions in the absence of antigenic encounters in a cytokine-dependent manner. The relevant cytokines include interleukin-4 (IL-4), type I interferon, and interleukin-15 (IL-15). Moreover, exogenous IL-4 can also induce de novo generation and/or expansion of the virtual-memory CD8 T cell population.

Relationship between menopausal hormone therapy and incidence of fractures in postmenopausal women.

Objective: Long-term protective effects of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) at fractures with different doses and components are controversial. We analyzed the effect of MHT on the incidence of spine and femur fractures according to MHT type, age at commencement, duration and dose of hormones in Korean women.

Method: This retrospective study evaluated propensity score-matched patients with MHT from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database.

Prevention of severe lung immunopathology associated with influenza infection through adeno-associated virus vector administration.

Background: Influenza A viruses (IAVs) have long posed a threat to humans, occasionally causing significant morbidity and mortality. The initial immune response is triggered by infected epithelial cells, alveolar macrophages and dendritic cells. However, an exaggerated innate immune response can result in severe lung injury and even host mortality.

CD1b glycoprotein, a crucial marker of thymocyte development during T cell maturation in cynomolgus monkeys.

Phenotypic markers that denote different developmental stages of thymocytes are important for understanding T cell development in the thymus. Here, we show that CD1b is a critical discriminator of thymocyte maturation stage in cynomolgus monkeys. CD1b was expressed by immature thymocytes prior to β-selection, and its expression decreased as cells became fully mature in the thymus.

Comparison of propofol vs. remimazolam on emergence profiles after general anesthesia: A randomized clinical trial.

Study Objective: The emergence profiles in patients undergoing total intravenous anesthesia with either propofol or remimazolam with flumazenil reversal were compared.

Design: A prospective, double-blind, randomized trial.

Setting: An operating room and a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU).

Blood eosinophil related to maternal allergic rhinitis is associated with the incidence of allergic rhinitis in offspring: COCOA study.

Objective: The identification of allergic rhinitis (AR) in early life is important for the target of intervention. AR is caused by various environmental factors, including house dust mites. We investigated the relationship between the Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f)-IgE and eosinophil in mothers with AR at delivery and the eosinophil levels and AR incidence in children.

Forced-air prewarming prevents hypothermia during living donor liver transplantation: a randomized controlled trial.

Despite various intraoperative thermal strategies, core heat loss is considerable during liver transplantation and hypothermia is common. We tested whether forced-air prewarming prevents hypothermia during liver transplantation. Adult patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation were randomly assigned to non-prewarming group (n = 20) or prewarming group (n = 20).

Evaluation of pre-induction dynamic arterial elastance as an adjustable predictor of post-induction hypotension: A prospective observational study.

Study Objective: Dynamic arterial elastance (Eadyn) has been suggested as a functional measure of arterial load. We aimed to evaluate whether pre-induction Eadyn can predict post-induction hypotension.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Intraoperative Factors Modifying the Risk of Postoperative Pulmonary Complications After Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

Background: The relationship between intraoperative anesthetic management and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after liver transplantation is not fully understood. We aimed to determine the intraoperative contributors to PPC.

Methods: The retrospectively collected cohort included 605 patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation.

Identification of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms as Biomarkers for Recurrent Pregnancy Loss in Korean Women.

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are reportedly associated with repeated abortion. Thus, genetic analysis based on race is the key to developing accurate diagnostic tests. This study analyzed the genetic polymorphisms of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) patients among Korean women compared to the controls.

The impact of driving pressure on postoperative pulmonary complication in patients with different respiratory spirometry.

Risk factors for postoperative pulmonary complication (PPC) have not been determined according to preoperative respiratory spirometry. Thus, we aimed to find contributors for PPC in patients with restrictive or normal spirometric pattern. We analyzed 654 patients (379 with normal and 275 with restrictive spirometric pattern).

Heterogeneity of circulating CD4CD8 double-positive T cells characterized by scRNA-seq analysis and trajectory inference.

The frequency of CD4CD8 double-positive (DP) T cells is highly associated with a variety of diseases. Recently, we used high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing to show that circulating DP T cells in cynomolgus monkeys comprise nine heterogeneous populations. To better understand the characteristics of DP T cells, we analyzed 7601 cells from a rhesus monkey and detected 14,459 genes.

Antibody-mediated blockade for galectin-3 binding protein in tumor secretome abrogates PDAC metastasis.

The major challenges in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) management are local or distant metastasis and limited targeted therapeutics to prevent it. To identify a druggable target in tumor secretome and to explore its therapeutic intervention, we performed a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based proteomic analysis of tumors obtained from a patient-derived xenograft model of PDAC. Galectin-3 binding protein (Gal-3BP) is identified as a highly secreted protein, and its overexpression is further validated in multiple PDAC tumors and primary cells.