Publications by authors named "Hojun Kim"

Bladder cancer, when diagnosed at an advanced stage, often necessitates inevitable invasive intervention. Consequently, non-invasive biosensor-based cancer detection and AI-based precision screening are being actively employed. However, the misclassification of cancer patients as normal-referred to as false negatives-remains a significant concern, as it could lead to fatal outcomes in lifespan.

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The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex network of biomolecules with varying pore sizes, posing a challenge for the effective penetration of lipid nanoparticles. In contrast, cell-derived lipid nanoparticles, such as exosomes, have demonstrated the ability to travel to distant organs, indicating their capacity to penetrate the ECM. Here, we designed exosome-like vesicles (ELVs) inspired by exosomes' distinct transport phenomena.

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Flaviviruses, which include globally impactful pathogens, such as West Nile virus, yellow fever virus, Zika virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, and dengue virus, contribute significantly to human infections. Despite the ongoing emergence and resurgence of flavivirus-mediated pathogenesis, the absence of specific therapeutic options remains a challenge in the prevention and treatment of flaviviral infections. Through the intricate processes of fusion, transcription, replication, and maturation, the complex interplay of viral and host metabolic interactions affects pathophysiology.

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Diagnostic kits for the optical detection of bladder cancer in urine can facilitate effective screening and surveillance. However, the heterogeneity of urine samples, owing to patients with bladder cancer often presenting with haematuria, interfere with the transduction of the optical signal. Here we describe the development and point-of-care performance of a device for the detection of bladder cancer that obviates the need for sample processing.

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Article Synopsis
  • The Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) is commonly used for diagnosing prostate cancer, but it struggles with PI-RADS 3 lesions, showing only 30-40% accuracy and a high false-positive rate.
  • Researchers propose a new explainable AI (XAI) system that uses a sensitive biosensor to identify ambiguous prostate cancer lesions by analyzing urinary exosomal biomarkers, demonstrating significantly higher accuracy.
  • The XAI system not only improved diagnosis accuracy for PI-RADS 3 lesions but also explained the reasoning behind its predictions, particularly highlighting the TMEM256 biomarker as a key factor in screening, thereby supporting better clinical decision-making.
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The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of two wearable smartwatches (the Apple Watch 6 (AW) and the Galaxy Watch 4 (GW)) and smartphone applications (Apple Health for iPhone mobiles and Samsung Health for Android mobiles) for estimating step counts in daily life. A total of 104 healthy adults (36 AW, 25 GW, and 43 smartphone application users) were engaged in daily activities for 24 h while wearing an ActivPAL accelerometer on the thigh and a smartwatch on the wrist. The validities of the smartwatch and smartphone estimates of step counts were evaluated relative to criterion values obtained from an ActivPAL accelerometer.

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Scope: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide that can progress to liver fibrosis (LF). Probiotics have beneficial roles in reducing intestinal inflammation and gut-associated diseases, but their effects and mechanisms beyond the gut in attenuating the progression of LF are remained unclear.

Methods And Results: In a mouse model of NASH/LF induced by a methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet, immunobiotics are administered to investigate their therapeutic effects.

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has been implicated in various gastrointestinal disorders, including functional dyspepsia. This study aimed to compare the anti- activity and gastroprotective effects of three typical herbal formulas used for gastrointestinal disorders in Korea: Shihosogan-tang (ST), Yijung-tang (YT), and Pyeongwi-san (PS). Firstly, we assessed the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as the antioxidative capacity.

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The rapid development of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines formulated with lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) has contributed to control of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, mRNA vaccines have raised concerns about their potential toxicity and clinical safety, including side effects, such as myocarditis, anaphylaxis, and pericarditis. In this study, we investigated the potential of trehalose glycolipids-containing LNP (LNP S050L) to reduce the risks associated with ionizable lipids.

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Article Synopsis
  • Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is recognized for its potential health benefits, specifically in enhancing body temperature and gut health, though the exact mechanisms remain poorly understood.
  • This study shows that periodic supplementation with ginseng extracts positively influences body temperature and reduces inflammation in certain metabolic organs of rats experiencing induced hypothermia, likely affecting gut hormone levels and microbiota composition.
  • In laboratory tests, ginseng extracts were found to influence gene regulation related to the body’s internal clock and inflammation, potentially through direct cellular action or by interacting with gut microbiota, with involvement of PI3K-AKT signaling pathways noted as a key factor.
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  • Researchers created bottom-gate thin-film transistors (TFTs) using n-type a-IGZO for active channels and ITO for source/drain electrodes.
  • They used a pulsed ultraviolet laser to locally heat the active channel at different power levels, observing significant improvements in electrical characteristics like threshold voltages and on-currents.
  • The study found that laser annealing alters the energy band structures in the TFTs, enhancing electron injection from ITO to a-IGZO while avoiding thermal damage to the substrate.
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Metabolic disorders present a significant public health challenge globally. The intricate relationship between the gut microbiome, particularly spp. (BAC), and obesity, including their specific metabolic functions, remains partly unresolved.

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Background/aims: : Functional dyspepsia (FD) has long been regarded as a syndrome because its pathophysiology is multifactorial. However, recent reports have provided evidence that changes in the duodenal ecosystem may be the key. This study aimed to identify several gastrointestinal factors and biomarkers associated with FD, specifically changes in the duodenal ecosystem that may be key to understanding its pathophysiology.

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Study Design: Retrospective radiographic study.

Purpose: This study aims to demonstrate the proper resection trajectory of a partial posterior uncinate process resection combined with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and evaluate whether foraminal stenosis or uncinate process degeneration increases the risk of vertebral artery (VA) injury.

Overview Of Literature: Appropriate resection trajectory that could result in sufficient decompression and avoid vertebral artery injury is yet unknown.

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The adoption of dynamic mechanomodulation to regulate cellular behavior is an alternative to the use of chemical drugs, allowing spatiotemporal control. However, cell-selective targeting of mechanical stimuli is challenging due to the lack of strategies with which to convert macroscopic mechanical movements to different cellular responses. Here, we designed a nanoscale vibrating surface that controls cell behavior via selective repetitive cell deformation based on a poroelastic cell model.

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Introduction: Obesity and related metabolic issues are a growing global health concern. Recently, the discovery of new probiotics with anti-obesity properties has gained interest.

Methods: In this study, four strains were isolated from healthy human feces and evaluated on a high-fat diet-induced mouse model for 12 weeks.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study explores the relationship between herbal medicine (specifically Yijung-tang, or YJT) and gut microbiota in regulating body temperature and inflammation in hypothyroid rats.* -
  • YJT demonstrated protective effects against hypothermia and systemic inflammation, unlike traditional drugs like L-thyroxine, by altering gut microbiota and impacting signaling pathways related to thermoregulation.* -
  • The findings suggest that YJT might promote the body's thermogenesis and modulate gut health, potentially leading to advancements in microbiota-focused treatments in medicine.*
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Metformin as an oral glucose-lowering drug is used to treat type 2 diabetic mellitus. Considering the relatively high incidence of cardiovascular complications and other metabolic diseases in diabetic mellitus patients, a combination of metformin plus herbal supplements is a preferrable way to improve the therapeutic outcomes of metformin. Ginseng berry, the fruit of Meyer, has investigated as a candidate in metformin combination mainly due to its anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-obesity, anti-hepatic steatosis and anti-inflammatory effects.

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  • The study investigates the effects of common anti-obesity drugs, Lorcaserin (LS) and Phentermine (PT), on gut microbiota in mice fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks.
  • Results show that both LS and PT not only help reduce body weight and fat accumulation but also alter the gut microbial composition, improving dysbiosis.
  • The changes in gut microbiota were linked to obesity-related markers and increased levels of the G protein-coupled receptor 120 (GPR120), suggesting that gut bacteria may play a role in the drugs' anti-obesity effects.
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Background: Herbal medicine based on pattern identification (PI) is used widely in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Proper herbal medicine based on PI has been suggested for effective weight reduction and decreasing the adverse events. This systematic review examined the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicine, focusing on PI in treating obesity.

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Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease caused by excessive body fat and has become a global public health problem. Evidence suggests that obesity and obesity-induced metabolic disorders are closely related to gut microbiota. Bupropion (BP), an antidepressant medicine, and Stapf [Ephedraceae; Ephedrae Herba], a herbal medicine, are sympathetic stimulants and have weight loss effects.

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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Paeoniae Radix Rubra (PRR), the root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall., is a traditional Chinese medicine which has the effects of regulating various inflammatory diseases, treating blood stasis, and enhancing blood circulation.

Aim Of The Study: This study examined whether Paeoniae Radix rubra extract (PRRE) and Paeoniflorin (PF) affect mucin production, gene expression including MUC5AC, and protein expression related to the ERK pathway induced by TNF-α from human airway epithelial cells.

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Lifestyle and physical characteristics affect body weight, and understanding these factors improves the precision of weight loss treatment. Many obese patients in Korea are receiving Korean medicine (KM) treatment, including herbal medicine and acupuncture, for weight loss. However, the real-world data (RWD) are insufficient in terms of being longitudinal and diverse.

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