The Possible Impact of Zinc-Enriched Multivitamins on Treatment-Naïve Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis Patients.

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis is a common oral mucosal disorder characterized by painful ulcerations and frequent recurrences, which can significantly impair quality of life. This study explores the efficacy of zinc-enriched multivitamin supplementation (ZnVita, containing 22.5 mg of elemental zinc) for the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis in treatment-naïve patients, aiming to diminish the reliance on immunomodulatory drugs.

Isolation of New Strains of Lactic Acid Bacteria from the Vaginal Microbiome of Postmenopausal Women and their Probiotic Characteristics.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), traditionally consumed as fermented foods, are now being applied to the medical field beyond health-functional food as probiotics. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously discover and evaluate new strains with suitable probiotic characteristics, mainly focusing on safety. In this study, we isolated eight new strains from postmenopausal vaginal fluid using culturomics approaches, an emerging area of interest.

Challenges in extracting and characterizing electrolytes from automotive lithium-ion cells.

Background: The demand for lithium-ion cells in the automotive industry is rapidly growing due to the increasing electrification of the transportation sector. The electrolyte composition plays a critical role in determining the lifetime and performance of these large-format cells. Additionally, advancements in this field are leading to frequent changes in both electrode materials and electrolyte formulations.

Protection against tuberculosis by vaccination of secreted chorismate mutase (Rv1885c) combined with a hepatitis B virus (HBV)-derived peptide, Poly6, and alum adjuvants.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health issue due to the limited efficacy of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, highlighting the need for the development of an improved TB vaccine. In this study, we created a novel TB subunit vaccine consisting of TB-secreted chorismate mutase (TBCM) (Rv1885c) and a hepatitis B virus (HBV)-derived peptide (Poly6), which elicits Type I interferon responses, both with and without an alum adjuvant. We evaluated the immunogenicity, protective efficacy, and therapeutic efficacy of this vaccine candidate in an in vivo mouse model.

Evaluating major element hydrogeochemistry and fluoride occurrence in groundwater of crystalline bedrock aquifers and associated controlling factors of Eumseong basin area, South Korea.

Long-term intake of high-fluoride water can cause fluorosis in bones and teeth or damage to organs. Fluoride in groundwater is primarily derived from reactions with rocks containing fluorine-related minerals, and fluoride concentrations are elevated in groundwater that has been reacting with these rocks for a long time. The purpose of this study is to investigate the origin and distribution of fluoride in groundwater and to assess the influence of various factors, including geology, on fluoride concentrations in groundwater.