Thermodynamic role of receptor phosphorylation barcode in cannabinoid receptor desensitization.

The endocannabinoid signaling system is comprised of CB1 and CB2 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). CB2 receptor subtype is predominantly expressed in the immune cells and signals through its transducer proteins (Gi protein and β-arrestin-2). Arrestins are signaling proteins that bind to many GPCRs after receptor phosphorylation to terminate G protein signaling (desensitization) and to initiate specific G protein-independent arrestin-mediated signaling pathways via a "phosphorylation barcode", that captures sequence patterns of phosphorylated Ser/Thr residues in the receptor's intracellular domains and can lead to different signaling effects.

Diagnosis and evaluation of small airway disease and COPD using impulse oscillometry.

Impulse oscillometry (IOS) is a sensitive tool for assessing small airway function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to differentiate between COPD, small airway disease (SAD), and normal groups using IOS, and to evaluate the clinical applicability of IOS. This retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 2020 to February 2022.

Acidic polysaccharide from the edible insect Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis activates antiviral immunity to suppress norovirus infection.

Edible insects are gaining attention as potential nutraceutical sources with immunomodulatory properties. This study reports purification and structural characterization of polysaccharides from Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae (PBSL) with antiviral activity against murine norovirus. Four polysaccharide fractions purified from PBSL water extracts exhibited varying molecular weights (458.

Propolis suppresses atopic dermatitis through targeting the MKK4 pathway.

Propolis is a natural resinous substance made by bees through mixing various plant sources. Propolis has been widely recognized as a functional food due to its diverse range of beneficial bioactivities. However, the therapeutic effects of consuming propolis against atopic dermatitis (AD) remain largely unknown.

Freeze-Vulnerable Plastic Crystal to Cryogenic Liquid Electrolyte for Lithium Batteries by Deep Freezing-Point Depression.

Low-T solvents (T = freezing point) are considered and employed for low-temperature lithium-ion battery (LIB) electrolytes to keep electrolytes in the liquid phase at low temperatures. Unfortunately, T is synchronized with T (boiling point) so low T brings T down and therefore discourages the thermal stability of electrolytes using low-T solvents. In this work, 1) the hot wing of LIB-working temperature by employing a high-T (inevitably high-T) solvent and 2) the cold wing by using a significant T depression is secured.

Longitudinal Changes in Maximal Forced Inspiratory Flow and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With COPD.

Background: COPD primarily impairs expiratory flow due to progressive airflow obstruction and reduced lung elasticity. Increasing evidence underlines the importance of inspiratory flow as a biomarker for selecting inhaler devices and providing ancillary aerodynamic information.

Research Question: Do the longitudinal changes in maximum forced inspiratory flow (FIFmax) influence acute exacerbations and lung function decline in patients with COPD?

Study Design And Methods: This longitudinal study evaluated FIFmax in patients with COPD over a 7-year period from 2004 to 2020.

Mucus Plugs as Precursors to Exacerbation and Lung Function Decline in COPD Patients.

Background: Mucus plugs identified through chest computed tomography (CT) scans have emerged as potential prognostic factors in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This 5-year longitudinal study investigated their impact on exacerbations and FEV decline.

Methods: COPD patients with baseline chest CT and spirometric assessments were categorized based on mucus plug presence.

Risk factors of acute exacerbation and disease progression in young patients with COPD.

Objective: We aimed to elucidate the clinical factors associated with acute exacerbation and disease progression in young patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: This retrospective longitudinal observational study included patients with COPD aged between 20 and 50 years with post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV)/forced vital capacity (FVC)<0.7.

Simple and sensitive galactose monitoring based on capillary SERS sensor.

Galactosemia, a severe genetic metabolic disorder, results from the absence of galactose-degrading enzymes, leading to harmful galactose accumulation. In this study, we introduce a novel capillary-based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensor for convenient and sensitive galactose detection. The developed sensor enhances SERS signals by introducing gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) onto the surface of silver nanoshells (Ag NSs) within a capillary, creating Ag NSs with Au NPs as satellites.

Novel microbiota sp. nov. has a protective effect against inflammatory bowel disease.

A novel Gram-negative, obligate anaerobe, non-motile, flagella-lacking, catalase- and oxidase-negative, coccobacilli-shaped bacterial strain designated AGMB02718 was isolated from swine feces. The 16S rRNA gene analysis indicated that strain AGMB02718 belonged to the genus with the highest similarity to 4NBBH2 (= DSM 106860) (sequence similarity of 96.2%), forming a distinct phylogenetic lineage.

Differential response to roflumilast in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: real-world evidence.

Background: Roflumilast is effective in reducing acute exacerbation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at high risk of severe exacerbation. Clinical traits related to the benefits of roflumilast need to be evaluated in patients with COPD.

Methods: A longitudinal observational study in patients newly diagnosed with COPD was conducted using claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in South Korea from 2012-2020 after a 2-year washout period.

Combined effect of changes in NO, O, PM, SO and CO concentrations on small airway dysfunction.

Background And Objective: When multiple complex air pollutants are combined in real-world settings, the reliability of estimating the effect of a single pollutant is questionable. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of changes in air pollutants on small airway dysfunction (SAD).

Methods: We analysed Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) V-VIII database from 2010 to 2018 to elucidate the associations between annual changes in air pollutants over a previous 5-year period and small airway function.

Diffusing capacity as an independent predictor of acute exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

A weak correlation between diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DL) and emphysema has been reported. This study investigated whether impaired DL in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with increased risk of acute exacerbation independent of the presence or extent of emphysema. This retrospective cohort study included patients with COPD between January 2004 and December 2019.

Clinical outcomes of long-term inhaled combination therapies in patients with bronchiectasis and airflow obstruction.

Background And Objectives: Few studies have reported which inhaled combination therapy, either bronchodilators and/or inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), is beneficial in patients with bronchiectasis and airflow obstruction. Our study compared the efficacy and safety among different inhaled combination therapies in patients with bronchiectasis and airflow obstruction.

Methods: Our retrospective study analyzed the patients with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV)/forced vital capacity < 0.

Association between timed up-and-go test and subsequent pneumonia: A cohort study.

Background: Sarcopenia is a risk factor for pneumonia in the elderly, and the timed up-and-go test (TUG) can be used as a screening tool for sarcopenia in this population. This study aimed to evaluate the association between TUG test results and future pneumonia or ventilator care.

Materials And Methods: From the National Health Insurance Service-Senior Cohort database, we identified 19,804 people without neurological diseases who underwent the TUG test in the National Screening Program for Transitional Ages at the age of 66 years during 2007-2008.

Anti-obesity activity of human gut microbiota Bacteroides stercoris KGMB02265.

Obesity is a global health threat that causes various complications such as type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Gut microbiota is closely related to obesity. In particular, a higher Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio has been reported as a biomarker of obesity, suggesting that the phylum Bacteroidetes may play a role in inhibiting obesity.

Feasibility of fast, four-dimensional computed tomography-based O-ring LINAC plans for lung stereotactic body radiotherapy in patients with poor performance status.

Purpose: We aimed to retrospectively analyzed the feasibility of fast four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT)-based O-ring LINAC treatment for patients with an average respiratory amplitude was< 0.5 cm and who cannot endure long treatment times due to poor performance status in lung 4D-stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).

Methods: This study included data of 38 patients who received lung 4D-SBRT and had average respiratory amplitude< 0.

Validation of the Rome proposal for severity of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: The Rome proposal provides an objective assessment tool for severity of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AE-COPD) but requires validation.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the predictive performance of the Rome proposal in patients with AE-COPD.

Design: This observational study assessed the patients who visited the emergency room (ER) or were hospitalized due to AE-COPD between January 2010 and December 2020.

The factors associated with mortality and progressive disease of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively evaluate the factors associated with mortality and progressive disease in NTM-LD patients. We conducted a literature search to identify the eligible studies, dated between January 1, 2007, and April 12, 2021. Forty-one studies with total 10,452 patients were included.

The Incidence of Brain-Dead Donors Based on Screening and Management Led by Intensivists.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to compare the incidence of brain-dead (BD) donors and potential brain-dead (PBD) donors before vs after the introduction of intensivists. MATERIAL AND METHODS This longitudinal retrospective study was performed between January 2012 and December 2020 at Seoul Metropolitan Government-Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center. Four dedicated intensivists were introduced in January 2016.

Effectiveness and Safety of Acupotomy on Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Pragmatic, Pilot, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: In Korea, complex treatments such as acupotomy, acupuncture, and physical therapy are performed for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Although there are reports of acupotomy as monotherapy or acupuncture treatment for LSS, pragmatic studies are lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effectiveness and safety of acupotomy for LSS to provide baseline evidence for a large-scale study.

New prognostic scoring system for mortality in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by modifying the gender, age, and physiology model with desaturation during the six-minute walk test.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (ILD) with variable and heterogeneous clinical course. The GAP (gender, age, and physiology) model had been used to predict mortality in patients with IPF, but does not contain exercise capacity. Therefore, our aim in this study was to develop new prognostic scoring system in the Korea IPF Cohort (KICO) registry.

Changes in abdominal fat depots after bariatric surgery are associated with improved metabolic profile.

Background And Aims: Obesity associated with a change in the quantity and quality of fat depots. Using computed tomography (CT), we analyzed abdominal fat depots in patients with obesity after bariatric surgery according to their metabolic health status.

Methods And Results: We recruited 79 individuals with metabolically unhealthy obesity before bariatric surgery and compared them with age-sex matched healthy controls.