Establishment of Optimal Drug Delivery System and Evaluation of Utilization of Hydrogel Contact Lens According to the Addition Method of Tretinoin and Bovine Serum Albumin.

This study aims to build an optimal drug delivery system by manufacturing and evaluating a hydrogel contact lens using Tretinoin (ATRA) and protein nanoparticles to improve the drug delivery system as an ophthalmic medical contact lens. To evaluate the optical and physical properties of the manufactured lens, the spectral transmittance, refractive index, water content, contact angle, AFM, tensile strength, drug delivery, and antibacterial properties were analyzed. The contact lens was manufactured to contain ATRA and bovine serum albumin (BSA) in different ways, and the results confirmed that A, B, and C each had different physical properties.

Integrative assessment of mixture toxicity of household chemicals using the toxic unit approach and mode of action.

Household chemicals used daily are often combined, leading to inhalation exposure to mixtures. However, methods for assessing their toxic effects are limited. This study proposes an in vitro assay strategy for evaluating household chemical mixtures using benzalkonium chloride (BKC) and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), a common disinfectant.

Impact of universal contact precautions and chlorhexidine bathing on the acquisition of carbapenem-resistant enterobacterales in the intensive care unit: a cohort study.

Background: For the prevention of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) acquisition in the intensive care unit (ICU), the effectiveness of universal contact precautions (UCP) and chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing is controversial.

Methods: With the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of UCP and CHG on CRE acquisition, this study was conducted in an ICU at a university-affiliated hospital in Seoul. Beginning in April 2017, all patients admitted to the ICU underwent weekly CRE screening and surveillance tests, and beginning in January 2018, UCP and CHG bathing were implemented for all patients.

Investigating Electrode-Ionomer Interface Phenomena for Electrochemical Energy Applications.

The endeavor to develop high-performance electrochemical energy applications has underscored the growing importance of comprehending the intricate dynamics within an electrode's structure and their influence on overall performance. This review investigates the complexities of electrode-ionomer interactions, which play a critical role in optimizing electrochemical reactions. Our examination encompasses both microscopic and meso/macro scale functions of ionomers at the electrode-ionomer interface, providing a thorough analysis of how these interactions can either enhance or impede surface reactions.

Correlation Analysis of Surface and Physical Properties of Ophthalmic Lenses Containing Nanoparticles.

Since contact lenses directly contact the cornea, the surface roughness of the lens may cause various side effects. In addition, gold nanoparticles can realize a variety of colors and characteristics depending on their shape and size. In this study, the surface roughness of tinted lenses containing gold nanoparticles of various sizes was analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) at aspect ratio(surface to volume ratio) ranging from 1:1 to 1:10.

Steady amelioration of institutional hand hygiene behavior among health care personnel after 12-year consistent intervention.

Background: Institutional hand hygiene (HH) behavior is difficult to monitor and improve consistently, especially over long periods. This study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of HH promotion activities.

Method: We launched the HH promotion team in 2010 and conducted interventions including goal setting, observation and feedback, education, reward incentives, and accountability.

Development of Functional Ophthalmic Materials Using Natural Materials and Gold Nanoparticles.

Ginsenoside, known as a natural substance, is a saponin component in ginseng and has various effects, such as antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, gold nanoparticles can realize various optical and physical properties according to particle size and shape. For polymer polymerization, ginsenoside and gold nanoparticles were used as additives and copolymerized with a basic silicone hydrogel material.

A SARS-CoV-2 outbreak associated with vaccine breakthrough in an acute care hospital.

Background: We aimed to analyze an outbreak caused by a vaccine breakthrough infection in a hospital with an active infection control program where 91.9% of health care workers were vaccinated.

Methods: We investigated a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak between September 9 and October 2, 2021, in a referral teaching hospital in Korea.

Stress Experience of COVID-19 Patients as Reported by Psychological Supporters in South Korea: A Qualitative Study.

Background: COVID-19 patients experience various stressors during the quarantine period and after release from quarantine. However, stressors experienced during each period remain unclear.

Methods: A total of 15 mental health experts from the integrated psychological support group for COVID-19participated in this study.

Effect of organic acids on the morphology and particle size of titanium dioxide (E171) in processed food.

TiO (E171) is widely used in processed food as a coloring agent. However, growing concerns about the potential health effects of TiO nanoparticles (< 100 nm) have necessitated the need for monitoring the size distribution and cytotoxic properties of food additive TiO present in commercial food. In this study, we employed magnetic separation method to extract food additive TiO from 100 commercial foods.

Effects of Extract on Neuronal Damage and Apoptosis in PC-12 Cells against Oxidative Stress.

Marine algae (seaweed) encompass numerous groups of multicellular organisms with various shapes, sizes, and colors, and serve as important sources of natural bioactive substances. The brown alga Kjellman, an edible seaweed, contains many bioactives such as phlorotannins and fucoidans. Here, we evaluated the antioxidative, neuroprotective, and anti-apoptotic effects of extract (ECE), phlorotannin-rich extract (ECPE), and the phlorotannin dieckol on neuronal PC-12 cells.

Ginsenoside 20(S)-protopanaxadiol induces cell death in human endometrial cancer cells via apoptosis.

Background: 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (20(S)-PPD), one of the aglycone derivatives of major ginsenosides, has been shown to have an anticancer activity toward a variety of cancers. This study was initiated with an attempt to evaluate its anti-cancer activity toward human endometrial cancer by cell and xenograft mouse models.

Methods: Human endometrial cancer (HEC)-1A cells were incubated with different 20(S)-PPD concentrations.

Comparative Analysis of the Nutritional Components and Antioxidant Activities of Different Cultivars.

The purpose of this study was to compare the nutritional components and antioxidant activities of two different cultivars of (Dolsan, Yeosu, Korea (BJD) and (Jeongseon, Gangwon, Korea (BJJ)). We investigated the proximate composition (moisture, crude ash, crude protein and crude lipid), antioxidant activities (2,2-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)), total phenol content, total flavonoid content and sinigrin content by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Our results show that the proximate compositions of BJD and BJJ were not significantly different.

Charge-switchable magnetic separation and characterization of food additive titanium dioxide nanoparticles from commercial food.

Growing concerns about the potential health effects of nanoscale titanium dioxide (TiO) have necessitated the need for monitoring the size distribution and physicochemical properties of food additive TiO that are present in commercial food. Acid digestion is by far the most widely used method to remove interfering food matrices, but the highly corrosive nature of the reaction could alter the physicochemical properties of the TiO, which may give a skewed information about the materials. Here, we report an effective approach to extract intact form of food additive TiO nanoparticles from processed food through charge-charge interaction between TiO particles and charge-switchable starch magnetic beads (PL@SMBs), of which the captured TiO is readily harvested by switching the surface charge of PL@SMBs to neutral.

Loss of the dermis zinc transporter ZIP13 promotes the mildness of fibrosarcoma by inhibiting autophagy.

Fibrosarcoma is a skin tumor that is frequently observed in humans, dogs, and cats. Despite unsightly appearance, studies on fibrosarcoma have not significantly progressed, due to a relatively mild tumor severity and a lower incidence than that of other epithelial tumors. Here, we focused on the role of a recently-found dermis zinc transporter, ZIP13, in fibrosarcoma progression.

Assessment of the Clinical Heterogeneity of Kawasaki Disease Using Genetic Variants of and .

Background And Objectives: Patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) are clinically heterogeneous because its diagnosis is based solely on clinical observation and there are no definitive biomarkers. We dissected the clinical heterogeneity of KD patients using the KD-associated genetic variants.

Methods: We performed a genetic association analysis in several KD subgroups categorized by clinical characteristics using the KD-associated variants of the B lymphoid tyrosine kinase (; rs6993775) and Fc gamma receptor II a (; rs1801274) in a large number of case (n=1,011) and control (n=4,533) samples.

Rhizosphere microbiome structure alters to enable wilt resistance in tomato.

Tomato variety Hawaii 7996 is resistant to the soil-borne pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum, whereas the Moneymaker variety is susceptible to the pathogen. To evaluate whether plant-associated microorganisms have a role in disease resistance, we analyzed the rhizosphere microbiomes of both varieties in a mesocosm experiment. Microbiome structures differed between the two cultivars.

Smart Fluorescent Hydrogel Glucose Biosensing Microdroplets with Dual-Mode Fluorescence Quenching and Size Reduction.

Fluorescent hydrogel glucose biosensor (FHGB) microdroplets were fabricated using a microfluidic method with glass capillaries having a coaxial flow-focusing geometry with cross-linked poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) immobilized with carbon dots (CDs), glucose oxidase (GOx), and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) after the conversion of poly(acrylamide) to PAAc. The prepared FHGB droplets showed a dual response to glucose of CD fluorescence quenching and droplet size reduction upon bienzymatic reaction with glucose; the reaction of GOx and HRP with glucose produced gluconic acid and -OH radicals, which caused CD fluorescence quenching and size reduction, respectively. These small FHGB droplets showed good sensitivity (linear range of ∼30 mM with the limit of detection of 0.

Clinical Implications of Quantitative JAK2 V617F Analysis using Droplet Digital PCR in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.

Background: JAK2 V617F is the most common mutation in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and is a major diagnostic criterion. Mutation quantification is useful for classifying patients with MPN into subgroups and for prognostic prediction. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) can provide accurate and reproducible quantitative analysis of DNA.

A comparison of obstetrical outcomes and costs between misoprostol and dinoprostone for induction of labor.

Objective: The objective of this study is to compare resource utilization (efficiency) and obstetrical/cost outcomes of single dose misoprostol versus dinoprostone for induction of labor (IOL) at term.

Methods: Retrospective cohort of induced deliveries 37-41 weeks gestation presenting with a Bishop score ≤4 using single-dose-50 mcg vaginal misoprostol or 10 mg-dinoprostone vaginal-inserts. Dinoprostone patients were compared (5:1) with misoprostol patients.

Lipase-mediated lipid removal from propolis extract and its antiradical and antimicrobial activity.

Background: Propolis contains many antioxidants such as polyphenols and flavonoids. However, propolis-derived lipid components interrupt an efficient isolation of antioxidants from propolis extract. We examined the effectiveness of various lipase treatments for the removal of lipids from propolis extract and evaluated the biological features of the extract.

Estradiol regulates expression of polysialated neural cell adhesion molecule by human vascular endothelial cells.

Rationale: The mechanism of atherogenesis includes leukocyte adhesion to endothelial cells followed by migration into the subendothelial space. The polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecules (PSA-nCAMs) are a group of hydrophilic neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) isoforms that inhibit NCAM: NCAM association, thereby blocking cell: cell adhesion. During previous studies, we demonstrated that sialylation of specific NCAMs are upregulated at proestrus in the rat and that PSA-nCAM is expressed by the rat vascular endothelium.