Anti-Obesity Effect of LB818 Is Associated with Regulation of Gut Microbiota in High-Fat Diet-Fed Obese Mice.

Worldwide, obesity has become a major risk factor associated with health risks such as diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and certain forms of cancer. In this study, we estimated the anti-obesity effect of the bacterial strain LB818 (designated as LB818) using male C57BL/6J mice, which were treated with high-fat diet (HFD) to induce obesity. Next, LB818 (10 colony-forming units [CFU]/mL) was orally administered for 8 weeks.

Tumor-Targeting Glycol Chitosan Nanoparticles for Image-Guided Surgery of Rabbit Orthotopic VX2 Lung Cancer.

Theranostic nanoparticles can deliver therapeutic agents as well as diverse imaging agents to tumors. The enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect is regarded as a crucial mechanism for the tumor-targeted delivery of nanoparticles. Although a large number of studies of the EPR effect of theranostic nanoparticles have been performed, the effect of the change in the body size of the host on the EPR effect is not fully understood.

Residual functional SYNTAX score by quantitative flow ratio and improvement of exercise capacity after revascularization.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the association between improvement in exercise capacity and functional completeness of revascularization, determined by residual functional SYNTAX score (rFSS), which is the sum of residual SYNTAX score of the vessels with post- percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) quantitative flow ratio (QFR) ≤0.80.

Background: In patients with stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD), the efficacy of PCI in improving exercise capacity has been under debate and the differential effect of PCI for exercise capacity, according to functional completeness of revascularization, has not been evaluated.

Hyperthermia Disturbs and Delays Spontaneous Differentiation of Human Embryoid Bodies.

Various types of stress stimuli have been shown to threaten the normal development of embryos during embryogenesis. Prolonged heat exposure is the most common stressor that poses a threat to embryo development. Despite the extensive investigation of heat stress control mechanisms in the cytosol, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) heat stress response remains unclear.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome caused by posterior facet talocalcaneal coalition: A case report.

Rationale: Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is a compressive neuropathy of the posterior tibial nerve and its branches. Tarsal coalition is defined as a fibrous, cartilaginous, or osseous bridging of 2 or more tarsal bones. TTS with tarsal coalition is uncommon.

Evaluation of Intraoperative Near-Infrared Fluorescence Visualization of the Lung Tumor Margin With Indocyanine Green Inhalation.

Importance: Identification of the tumor margin during surgery is important for precise minimal resection of lung tumors. Intravenous injection of indocyanine green (ICG) has several limitations when used for intraoperative visualization of lung cancer.

Objectives: To describe a technique for intraoperative visualization of lung tumor margin using ICG inhalation and evaluate the clinical applicability of the technique in mouse and rabbit lung tumor models as well as lung specimens of patients with lung tumors.

Validation of the Korean Version of the Bronchiectasis Health Questionnaire.

Background: The Bronchiectasis Health Questionnaire (BHQ) is a simple and repeatable, self-reporting health status questionnaire for bronchiectasis. We have translated the original version of the BHQ into Korean using a standardized methodology. The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of the Korean version of the BHQ (K-BHQ) with Korean patients.

Levels of Extracellular Vesicles in Pulmonary and Peripheral Blood Correlate with Stages of Lung Cancer Patients.

Background: The extracellular vesicle (EV) concentration is known to be higher in cancer patients than in healthy individuals. Herein, we report that EV levels differ in the tumor-draining pulmonary vein blood and the peripheral blood of animal models and human subjects at different pathological stages of lung cancer.

Methods: Ten rabbits and 40 humans formed the study cohorts.

Coronary Circulatory Indexes in Non-Infarct-Related Vascular Territories in a Porcine Acute Myocardial Infarction Model.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate temporal changes in coronary hemodynamic and physiological indexes in the non-infarct-related artery (IRA), which might be affected by adjacent infarcted myocardium, using an experimental animal model of acute myocardial infarction.

Background: There has been debate on the reliability of fractional flow reserve and resting pressure-derived indexes, including instantaneous wave-free ratio, in the non-IRA in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Methods: In Yorkshire swine, acute myocardial infarction was simulated with selective balloon occlusion at the left circumflex coronary artery as the IRA for 30 min.

Development and assessment of an instrument measuring environmental health perception and behavior toward reproductive health of female adolescents.

Aim: This study is aimed to develop and test the measurement of environmental health perceptions and behavior concerning female adolescents' reproductive health.

Methods: The scales constructed through literature review, in -depth interview, and factor analysis based on the protection motivation theory. The sample comprised 384 female adolescents for exploratory factor analysis, aged 18-22 years, and recruited in September-November 2019 in South Korea.

Energy Efficiency and Patient Satisfaction of Gait With Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthosis and Robot (ReWalk)-Assisted Gait in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury.

Objective: To compare the energy efficiency of gait with knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) and robot-assisted gait and to develop a usability questionnaire to evaluate the satisfaction of walking devices in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injuries.

Methods: Thirteen patients with complete paraplegia participated and 10 completed the evaluation. They were trained to walk with KAFO (KAFO-gait) or a ReWalk robot (ReWalk-gait) for 4 weeks (20 sessions).

Effect of sugammadex on chest radiographic abnormality in the early postoperative period after video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy.

Background/aim: Sugammadex, which offsets the effects of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBs), has advantages over traditional reversal agents like pyridostigmine, as it enables fast and reliable recovery from neuromuscular blockade. This study compared the incidence of early postoperative chest radiographic abnormalities (CRA) between sugammadex (group S) and pyridostigmine (group P) following video-assisted thoracoscopic (VAT) lobectomy for lung cancer.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis by reviewing the medical records of patients who underwent VAT lobectomy at a single university medical center.

Characterization of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Revealed Increased Susceptibility to Cell Death upon ER Stress.

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), such as embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), have a well-orchestrated program for differentiation and self-renewal. However, the structural features of unique proteostatic-maintaining mechanisms in hPSCs and their features, distinct from those of differentiated cells, in response to cellular stress remain unclear. We evaluated and compared the morphological features and stress response of hPSCs and fibroblasts.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Tibolone and Transdermal Estrogen in Treating Menopausal Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of tibolone and transdermal estrogen in treating menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women with an intact uterus.

Methods: Overall, 26 women consumed tibolone orally and 31 women received transdermal estrogen gel mixed with progestogen. The menopause rating scale (MRS) was used to assess their menopausal symptoms at their first outpatient visit and 6 months later.

Early-Stage Lung Cancer Diagnosis by Deep Learning-Based Spectroscopic Analysis of Circulating Exosomes.

Lung cancer has a high mortality rate, but an early diagnosis can contribute to a favorable prognosis. A liquid biopsy that captures and detects tumor-related biomarkers in body fluids has great potential for early-stage diagnosis. Exosomes, nanosized extracellular vesicles found in blood, have been proposed as promising biomarkers for liquid biopsy.

The change in prevalence of suspected non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Korean adolescents from 2001 to 2017.

Aim: Data on trends in the prevalence of suspected non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adolescents are scarce, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the prevalence of suspected NAFLD changed between 2001-2005 and 2015-2017.

Methods: Data were extracted from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001-2005 to 2015-2017, = 4448).

Simultaneous visualization of pulmonary nodules and intersegmental planes on fluorescent images in pulmonary segmentectomy.

Objectives: The technique of simultaneously visualizing pulmonary nodules and the intersegmental plane using fluorescent images was developed to measure the distance between them intraoperatively.

Methods: Patients who underwent pulmonary segmentectomy were consecutively included in this study between March 2016 and July 2019. Computed tomography or electromagnetic bronchoscopy-guided localization with indocyanine green-lipiodol emulsion was performed on the day of surgery.

Synergistic Effect of and Against Clinical Isolates and Gastritis.

is one of the most widespread infections involved in the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop medications against . This study aimed to evaluate synergistic effect of (RF) and Hance (UL) against .

Pro-environmental health behaviour and educational needs among pregnant women: A cross-sectional survey.

Aim: To investigate pro-environmental health perceptions, behaviour and educational needs among pregnant women in Korea.

Background: Based on concerns about the effects of environmental hazards and pollution on their babies and themselves, pregnant women behave in ways that protect their health. The framework of this study was based on Rogers' protection motivation theory.

Subxiphoid approach for robotic single-site-assisted thymectomy.

Objectives: We previously reported a transthoracic approach using the da Vinci Single-Site™ platform. This study describes the outcomes of robotic single-site thymectomy via a subxiphoid approach based on our previous experiences.

Methods: This study included patients, who underwent single-site robotic thymectomy via the subxiphoid approach between September 2018 and October 2019.

Electrical storm induced by hypokalemia associated with herbal medicines containing licorice.

A 60-year-old woman presented with polymorphic ventricular tachycardia secondary to hypokalemia, which necessitated dozens of DC cardioversions. She was not taking any other medication and denied any vomiting or diarrhea. Further investigation for hypokalemia suggested a hypermineralocorticoid state.

Factors Affecting Happiness Among Rural Residents: A Cross Sectional Survey.

This cross-sectional and descriptive study aimed to investigate factors that affected the happiness of rural residents. The study used a convenience sample consisting of 1029 Korean rural residents from the Gyeong-gi Province collected between November and December 2014. The results found that people aged 60 and over were happier than those between 15 and 19 years old.

Adverse Skin Reactions with Antiepileptic Drugs Using Korea Adverse Event Reporting System Database, 2008-2017.

Background: Severe and life-threatening drug eruptions include drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). One class of medications that has been highly associated with such drug eruptions is antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). We attempt to investigate drug eruptions associated with AEDs as a class, as well as with individual AEDs, in Korea.