A Novel Dual-Catheter Drainage Technique for Prevention of Orbital Hematoma in Blowout Fracture Surgery.

Background: Retrobulbar hematoma after blowout fracture surgery is a devastating complication that can lead to permanent vision loss. When such complications occur, emergency interventions like lateral canthotomy are often required, resulting in additional tissue trauma. This study presents a novel dual-catheter drainage technique designed to prevent postoperative orbital hematoma formation.

Endovascular Aneurysmal Repair With the INCRAFT Stent Graft System for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Combined Korean Multi-Center and Single-Center Registry Analysis.

Introduction: The INCRAFT™ Stent Graft System is a trimodular, bifurcated, ultra-low-profile endovascular device designed for endovascular aneurysm repair in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Materials And Methods: The study population comprised a prospective multi-center cohort (n = 85) and a single-center retrospective cohort (n = 61) of Korean AAA patients treated with INCRAFT. Postprocedural follow-up involved computed tomography (CT) imaging at 1 and 12 months post-procedure to monitor aneurysm dimensions and detect any endoleak.

Persistent Beta-Blocker Therapy Reduces Long-Term Mortality in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke With Elevated Heart Rates.

Background: Elevated heart rate in patients with acute ischemic stroke is associated with increased risk of mortality. Beta-blocker therapy is well known to reduce heart rate.

Methods And Results: This study was a post hoc analysis of patients with acute ischemic stroke with maximum heart rates ≥100 bpm.

Spermidine alleviates copper-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and cuproptosis in the liver.

Copper exposure poses potential detrimental effects on both public and ecosystem health. Spermidine, an antioxidant, has shown promise in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation within the liver. However, its specific role in mitigating copper-induced hepatic cuproptosis and disturbances in copper metabolism remains unexplored.

A nationwide survey on the curriculum and educational resources related to the Clinical Skills Test of the Korean Medical Licensing Examination: a cross-sectional descriptive study.

Purpose: The revised Clinical Skills Test (CST) of the Korean Medical Licensing Exam aims to provide a better assessment of physicians' clinical competence and ability to interact with patients. This study examined the impact of the revised CST on medical education curricula and resources nationwide, while also identifying areas for improvement within the revised CST.

Methods: This study surveyed faculty responsible for clinical clerkships at 40 medical schools throughout Korea to evaluate the status and changes in clinical skills education, assessment, and resources related to the CST.

Trichostatin A-Induced Epigenetic Modifications and Their Influence on the Development of Porcine Cloned Embryos Derived from Bone Marrow-Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Abnormal epigenetic reprogramming of nuclear-transferred (NT) embryos leads to the limited efficiency of producing cloned animals. Trichostatin A (TSA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, improves NT embryo development, but its role in histone acetylation in porcine embryos cloned with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is not fully understood. This study aimed to compare the effects of TSA on embryo development, histone acetylation patterns, and key epigenetic-related genes between in vitro fertilization (IVF), NT-MSC, and 40 nM TSA-treated NT-MSC (T-NT-MSC).

Development of Anti-Inflammatory Agents Utilizing DC-SIGN Mediated IL-10 Secretion in Autoimmune and Immune-Mediated Disorders: Bridging Veterinary and Human Health.

DC-SIGN (dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin) is a C-type lectin receptor expressed on dendritic cells and M2 macrophages, playing a key role in immune regulation and pathogen recognition. Its ability to mediate anti-inflammatory effects by interacting with specific ligands triggers pathways that suppress pro-inflammatory responses and promote tissue repair, making it a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. DC-SIGN homologs in various animal species share structural similarities and perform comparable immune functions, offering valuable insights into its broader application across species.

Efficacy of Light-Emitting Diode-Mediated Photobiomodulation in Tendon Healing in a Murine Model.

The application of light-emitting diode (LED)-dependent photobiomodulation (PBM) in promoting post-tendon injury healing has been recently reported. Despite establishing a theoretical basis for ligament restoration through PBM, identifying effective LED wavelength combinations and ensuring safety in animal models remain unresolved challenges. In our previous study, we demonstrated that combined irradiation at 630 nm and 880 nm promotes cell proliferation and migration, which are critical processes during the early stage of tendon healing in human-derived tendon fibroblasts.

Discovery of Herbal Remedies and Key Components for Major Depressive Disorder Through Biased Random Walk Analysis on a Multiscale Network.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a widespread psychiatric condition with substantial socioeconomic impacts, yet single-target pharmacotherapies often yield responses. To address its multifactorial nature, this study employed a multiscale network analysis of herbs, their active components, and MDD-associated protein targets. Using a biased random walk with restart, we calculated interactions between disease-related and herb-derived targets, identifying herbs highly correlated with MDD.

Phosphatidylcholine Cytidine Transferase α (CCTα) Affects LD Formation Through Fusion and Lipophagy in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells.

Phosphatidylcholine cytidine transferase α (CCTα) is a key rate-limiting enzyme in the CDP-choline pathway, the primary pathway for phosphatidylcholine (PC) synthesis in mammals. This study investigated the role of CCTα in lipid droplet (LD) formation, phospholipid synthesis, LD fusion, and lipophagy in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) through CCTα gene knockout (CCT-KO) and overexpression (CCT-OE). CCTα mRNA expression was significantly increased in bovine mammary gland tissue after lactation.

The Role of Beta-Defensin 2 in Preventing Preterm Birth with Chorioamnionitis: Insights into Inflammatory Responses and Epithelial Barrier Protection.

Antimicrobial peptides, such as beta-defensin 2 (BD2), are vital in controlling infections and immune responses. In this study, we investigated the expression and role of BD2 in the amniotic membrane and human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) from patients with preterm birth and chorioamnionitis, focusing on its regulation of inflammatory cytokines and its protective effect on the epithelial barrier. Our results show increased BD2 expression in chorioamnionitis, and Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation increased BD2 release from hAECs in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

Whole-Exome Sequencing Identifies Novel GATA5/6 Variants in Right-Sided Congenital Heart Defects.

One out of every hundred live births present with congenital heart abnormalities caused by the aberrant development of the embryonic cardiovascular system. The conserved zinc finger transcription factor proteins, which include GATA binding protein 5 (GATA5) and GATA binding protein (GATA6) play important roles in embryonic development and their inactivation may result in congenital heart defects (CHDs). In this study, we performed genotypic-phenotypic analyses in two families affected by right-sided CHD diagnosed by echocardiography imaging.

Overexpression of a × AP2/ERF Transcription Factor Gene () Increases Cold and Salt Tolerance in .

The AP2/ERF family of transcription factors is one of the most conserved and important transcription factor families, and it is ubiquitous in plants. It plays an essential role in plant morphogenesis, molecular mechanisms of stress responses, hormone signaling pathways, and synthesis of secondary metabolites. was cloned from the octaploid strawberry × for this investigation.

Age-Related Differences in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Delirium-like Behavior Implicate the Distinct Microglial Composition in the Hippocampus.

As the global population ages, the mechanisms underlying age-related susceptibility to delirium have attracted attention. Given the central role of microglia in the pathogenesis of inflammation-related delirium, we investigated the temporal dynamics of neurobehavioral changes and microglial responses, following lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 200 μg/kg) administration in young and old male C57BL/6 mice. Although a similar illness trajectory across 48 h post-treatment (HPT) was observed in both age groups, old-LPS mice exhibited worsened delirium-like behavior.

CYP4X1 Expression Is Associated with Metastasis and Poor Prognosis in Patients with Colorectal Cancer.

Globally, the mortality rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) remains high. Despite the development of various treatments, such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy, colorectal cancer continues to be a serious health issue worldwide. Identifying new biomarkers is essential for improving prognosis and tailoring targeted therapies for CRC.

Cell Migration in Endometriosis Responds to Omentum-Derived Molecular Cues Similar to Ovarian Cancer.

Endometriosis is common and poses significant morbidity of lasting impact to young, pre-menopausal women, while ovarian cancer is a lethal gynecologic condition. Both conditions need better treatment. The human omentum is an apron of adipose tissue in the abdominopelvic cavity, the same space in which endometriosis and ovarian cancer manifest.

Effects of Pancreatitis and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on the Development of Pancreatic Cancer: A Nationwide Nested Case-Control Study.

Backgruound: Despite diabetes mellitus (DM) and pancreatitis being known risk factors for pancreatic cancer, patients with these conditions are not included in pancreatic cancer screening due to the low incidence of pancreatic cancer in these populations. This study aimed to determine the high-risk subgroup of patients with diabetes and pancreatitis that would benefit from pancreatic cancer screening.

Methods: A nested case-control study was conducted using data from the National Health Information Database of the Korean National Health Insurance Service.

Psychological resilience to trauma and longitudinal sleep outcomes among current and former nurses.

Objective: A life-disrupting stressor (e.g. pandemic) may cause or exacerbate poor sleep health; resilience may offset impacts.

Quantifying the distribution and origins of aerosol zinc across the Northern Hemisphere using stable zinc isotopes: A review.

Quantitatively assessing the origins of aerosol zinc (Zn) is crucial for understanding of the global atmospheric Zn cycle and for formulating targeted policies to mitigate anthropogenic Zn emissions. Zn isotope ratios (denoted as δ⁶⁶Zn) serve as powerful tools for constraining the origins of aerosol Zn. This review comprehensively compiles an δ⁶⁶Zn (relative to Lyon JMC Zn standard) dataset (n = 207) for multi-sized aerosols observed exclusively in the Northern Hemisphere, encompassing diverse atmospheric environments, including urban areas and remote deserts, glacier, and ocean.

Influenza 5xM2e mRNA lipid nanoparticle vaccine confers broad immunity and significantly enhances the efficacy of inactivated split vaccination when coadministered.

Current influenza vaccines are not effective in conferring protection against antigenic variants and pandemics. To improve cross-protection of influenza vaccination, we developed a 5xM2e messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine encoding the tandem repeat conserved ectodomain (M2e) of ion channel protein M2 derived from human, swine, and avian influenza A viruses. The lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated 5xM2e mRNA vaccine was immunogenic, eliciting high levels of M2e-specific IgG antibodies, IFN-γ+ T cells, T follicular helper cells, germinal center phenotypic B cells, and plasma cells.

Sarcopenia in Terminally Ill Patients with Cancer: Clinical Implications, Diagnostic Challenges, and Management Strategies.

Sarcopenia, characterized by progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, is a prevalent but often overlooked condition in patients with cancer who are terminally ill. It contributes to functional decline, increased symptom burden, and reduced quality of life, yet remains underrecognized in palliative care. Diagnosing sarcopenia in this population is challenging because conventional imaging techniques are often impractical.

Effect of medical mask on voice in patients with dysphonia.

Objective: Medical masks have been shown to significantly influence speech communication in healthy people. The effect of mask-wearing on phonatory capability and daily communication exchanges in patients with voice disorders remains unclear. To evaluate the effect of the medical mask on acoustic parameters in patients with a voice disorder, we measured the voice frequency, quality, and intensity.

Reduced-Ports Robotic Pylorus-Preserving Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer.

Background: Laparoscopic gastrectomy has proven to be safe and effective as a first-line treatment for early gastric cancer in terms of oncologic results. The da Vinci robotic system offers stable 3D vision, near-infrared fluorescence imaging, and articulating wrist movements, making it suitable for performing reduced-ports robotic pylorus-preserving gastrectomy (RP-RPPG). This study examines the feasibility and safety of RP-RPPG for gastric cancer.

The mitigation mechanism of morin on PM-induced apoptosis by inhibiting mitochondrial damage via the ROS/ERK signaling pathway in human HaCaT keratinocytes.

Particulate matter 2.5 (PM) can penetrate the human skin, causing inflammatory disease, senescence, and carcinogenesis. This study assessed the effects of morin on PM-induced apoptosis of HaCaT human keratinocytes.