Mefloquine-induced conformational shift in Cx36 N-terminal helix leading to channel closure mediated by lipid bilayer.

Connexin 36 (Cx36) forms interneuronal gap junctions, establishing electrical synapses for rapid synaptic transmission. In disease conditions, inhibiting Cx36 gap junction channels (GJCs) is beneficial, as it prevents abnormal synchronous neuronal firing and apoptotic signal propagation, mitigating seizures and progressive cell death. Here, we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of human Cx36 GJC in complex with known channel inhibitors, such as mefloquine, arachidonic acid, and 1-hexanol.

Severe Pneumonia in PICU Admissions: The Pediatric Acute and Critical Care Medicine Asian Network (PACCMAN) Observational Cohort Study, 2020-2022.

Objectives: Mortality from pneumonia is three times higher in Asia compared with industrialized countries. We aimed to determine the epidemiology, microbiology, and outcome of severe pneumonia in PICUs across the Pediatric Acute and Critical Care Medicine Asian Network (PACCMAN).

Design: Prospective multicenter observational study from June 2020 to September 2022.

Newly Developed Sex-Specific Z Score Model for Coronary Artery Diameter in a Pediatric Population.

Background: This study aimed to generate a Z score calculation model for coronary artery diameter of normal children and adolescents to be adopted as the standard calculation method with consensus in clinical practice.

Methods: This study was a retrospective, multicenter study that collected data from multiple institutions across South Korea. Data were analyzed to determine the model that best fit the relationship between the diameter of coronary arteries and independent demographic parameters.

Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Korea: A Multicenter Retrospective Study on Utilization and Outcomes Spanning Over a Decade.

Background: Over the last decade, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use in critically ill children has increased and is associated with favorable outcomes. Our study aims to evaluate the current status of pediatric ECMO in Korea, with a specific focus on its volume and changes in survival rates based on diagnostic indications.

Methods: This multicenter study retrospectively analyzed the indications and outcomes of pediatric ECMO over 10 years in patients at 14 hospitals in Korea from January 2012 to December 2021.

Intradural Extramedullary Ependymoma with Hemorrhage: A Case Report.

In adults, spinal ependymomas are usually found in intramedullary locations. However, intradural extramedullary spinal ependymomas are rare. Additionally, spinal ependymomas usually show iso to hypointensity on T1-weighted images without hemorrhage.

A selective ER-phagy exerts neuroprotective effects via modulation of α-synuclein clearance in parkinsonian models.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is selectively degraded by ER-phagy to maintain cell homeostasis. α-synuclein accumulates in the ER, causing ER stress that contributes to neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD), but the role of ER-phagy in α-synuclein modulation is largely unknown. Here, we investigated the mechanisms by which ER-phagy selectively recognizes α-synuclein for degradation in the ER.

Rat Model of Normothermic Ex-Situ Perfused Heterotopic Heart Transplantation.

Heart transplantation is the most effective therapy for end-stage heart failure. Despite the improvements in therapeutic approaches and interventions, the number of heart failure patients waiting for transplantation is still increasing. The normothermic ex situ preservation technique has been established as a comparable method to the conventional static cold storage technique.

Hypoalbuminemia and Albumin Replacement during Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients with Cardiogenic Shock.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been widely used in patients with cardiorespiratory failure. The serum albumin level is an important prognostic marker in critically ill patients. We evaluated the efficacy of using pre-ECMO serum albumin levels to predict 30-day mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) who underwent venoarterial (VA) ECMO.

Extracorporeal circulation models in small animals: beyond the limits of preclinical research.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use has remarkably increased in recent years. Although ECMO has become essential for patients with refractory cardiac and respiratory failure, extracorporeal circulation (ECC) is associated with significant complications. Small-animal models of ECC have been developed and widely used to better understand ECC-induced pathophysiology.

Cryo-EM structures of human Cx36/GJD2 neuronal gap junction channel.

Connexin 36 (Cx36) is responsible for signal transmission in electrical synapses by forming interneuronal gap junctions. Despite the critical role of Cx36 in normal brain function, the molecular architecture of the Cx36 gap junction channel (GJC) is unknown. Here, we determine cryo-electron microscopy structures of Cx36 GJC at 2.

Paediatric COVID-19 mortality: a database analysis of the impact of health resource disparity.

Background: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric populations varied between high-income countries (HICs) versus low-income to middle-income countries (LMICs). We sought to investigate differences in paediatric clinical outcomes and identify factors contributing to disparity between countries.

Methods: The International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium (ISARIC) COVID-19 database was queried to include children under 19 years of age admitted to hospital from January 2020 to April 2021 with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.

Combined effects of sepsis and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation on left ventricular performance in a murine model.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be a viable salvage therapy in selected patients with septic shock. As ECMO use increases, we studied left ventricular (LV) performance during sepsis with and without ECMO using a pressure-volume (PV) loop in a murine model and aimed to understand LV hemodynamics in septic shock with ECMO. The rats were divided into Group 1 (ECMO applied to healthy rats), Group 2 (ECMO for septic rats), Group 3 (Controls, n = 20) and Group 4 (Sepsis induction only, n = 20).

Prognostic roles of leptin-signaling proteins, PD-L1, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in surgically-resected biliary tract cancers.

Background: Biliary tract cancers are rare, with a poor patient prognosis. Leptin and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) influence CD8 and forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) lymphocytes, and thus, cancer cell growth. We aimed to define the prognostic implications of these variables and the clinicopathological features of biliary tract cancers.

Digital Media Influence on Adolescents' Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Self-Intravenous Injection of Drinking Yogurt.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, widened physical distance and social deprivation are being replaced with digital media use. The media's social function has tremendously increased following the COVID-19 era and adolescents living in a media-saturated world are the most vulnerable subjects of all. Social media use can encourage risky behavior in adolescents.

One Autopsy Proved Neocortical Lewy Body Disease Without the Involvement of the Olfactory Bulb and Brainstem.

Lewy bodies (LBs) and Lewy neurites (LNs) are pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD) or dementia with LBs (DLB). Incidental Lewy body disease (iLBD) is defined when LBs and LNs are found in the brain of normal elderly individuals. A 65-year-old man presented with autopsy-proven Lewy body pathology (LBP).

A Case of Pathologically Confirmed Corticobasal Degeneration Initially Presenting as Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Syndrome.

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD) overlap clinically with parkinsonism or extrapyramidal signs and pathologically with tauopathy. Asymmetric parkinsonism and cortical dysfunctions are classical features of CBD. However, symmetric parkinsonism, frequent falls, and supranuclear gaze palsy are key features of PSP.

Chest Pain and Suspected Myocarditis Related to COVID-19 Vaccination in Adolescents-A Case Series.

As adolescents started to be vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), suspected myocarditis and pericarditis related to the vaccine were reported in adolescents. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), 2,796,270 persons aged 12−18 years were fully vaccinated by December 8. Among these, 9223 adverse events were reported (0.

The Outcome of Post-cardiotomy Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Neonates and Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Post-cardiotomy extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (PC-ECMO) is a known rescue therapy for neonates and pediatric patients who failed to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) or who deteriorate in intensive care unit (ICU) due to various reasons such as low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS), cardiac arrest and respiratory failure. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the survival in neonates and pediatric patients who require PC-ECMO and sought the difference in survivals by each indication for PC-ECMO.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.