Single nucleotide polymorphisms are associated with strain-specific virulence differences among clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans.

Studies across various pathogens highlight the importance of pathogen genetic differences in disease manifestation. In the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, sequence type (ST) associates with patient outcome. We performed a meta-analysis of four genomic studies and identified overlapping gene regions associated with virulence, suggesting the importance of these gene regions in cryptococcal disease in diverse clinical isolates.

Modeling tumor-immune interactions using hybrid spheroids and microfluidic platforms for studying tumor-associated macrophage polarization in melanoma.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), as key components of tumor microenvironment (TME), exhibit phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental cues, causing polarization into either pro-inflammatory M1 phenotypes or immunosuppressive M2 phenotypes. Although TAM has been widely studied for its crucial involvement in the initiation, progression, metastasis, and immune regulation of cancer cells, there have been limited attempts to understand how the metastatic potentials of cancer cells influence TAM polarization within TME. Here, we developed a miniaturized TME model using a 3D hybrid system composed of murine melanoma cells and macrophages, aiming to investigate interactions between cancer cells exhibiting various metastatic potentials and macrophages within TME.

Effect of Fluorescence Lymph Node Mapping on Improving Diagnostic Values of CT D3 Lymph Node Staging for Right-Sided Colon Cancer.

Background/objectives: This study evaluated the impact of fluorescence lymph node mapping (FLNM) using indocyanine green (ICG) on the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative computed tomography (CT) in right-sided colon cancer.

Methods: A total of 218 patients who underwent laparoscopic right hemicolectomy with D3 lymph node dissection (LND) were analyzed: 86 patients in the FLNM group and 132 in the conventional surgery group. The FLNM technique allowed for enhanced intraoperative visualization of lymph node (LN) and more precise dissection, improving the identification of metastatic LNs.

Hair Growth Promoting Effects of Solubilized Sturgeon Oil and Its Correlation with the Gut Microbiome.

Androgenetic alopecia is a common disease that occurs in both men and women. Several approved medications have been used to treat this condition, but they are associated with certain side effects. Therefore, use of extracts derived from natural products, such as Siberian sturgeon (), and the regulation of the gut microbiota have become important topics of research.

Immune-enhancing effect of fermented soybean food, on cyclophosphamide-treated immunosuppressed rat.

Cheonggukjang () is a traditional food, made by the fermentation of beans, and it has different recipes for different regions in Korea. However, it has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-obesity effects, and is known to affect changes in the intestinal microbiota. In this study, we investigated the immune-enhancing effects of four type s (one commercial and three transitional s).