EPRS1-mediated fibroblast activation and mitochondrial dysfunction promote kidney fibrosis.

Kidney fibrosis causes irreversible structural damage in chronic kidney disease and is characterized by aberrant extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation. Although glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA synthetase 1 (EPRS1) is a crucial enzyme involved in proline-rich protein synthesis, its role in kidney fibrosis remains unclear. The present study revealed that EPRS1 expression levels were increased in the fibrotic kidneys of patients and mice, especially in fibroblasts and proximal tubular epithelial cells, on the basis of single-cell analysis and immunostaining of fibrotic kidneys.

Novel Deep Learning-Based Vocal Biomarkers for Stress Detection in Koreans.

Objective: The rapid societal changes have underscored the importance of effective stress detection and management. Chronic mental stress significantly contributes to both physical and psychological illnesses. However, many individuals often remain unaware of their stress levels until they face physical health issues, highlighting the necessity for regular stress monitoring.

Development of a Fluorescence Probe for High-Throughput Screening of Allosteric Inhibitors Targeting TRAP1.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1) is a molecular chaperone implicated in pro-tumorigenic pathways by regulating the folding of substrate proteins (clients) within cancer cells. Recent research has pinpointed a potentially druggable allosteric site within the client binding site (CBS) of TRAP1, suggesting this site might offer a more effective strategy for developing potent and selective TRAP1 inhibitors. However, the absence of reliable assay systems has hindered quantitative evaluation of inhibitors.

SBP1 contributes to mesangial proliferation and inflammation through mitochondrial respiration in glomerulus during IgA nephropathy.

Mesangial expansion and proliferation have been implicated in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Mesangial cells in glomerulus are important contributors to commencement of IgAN. From minimal mesangial expansion to diffuse proliferation, the mesangial alteration is linked to clinical and pathological features of IgAN.

Effect of dietary β-mannanase supplementation on growth performance, intestinal morphology, digesta viscosity, and nutrient utilization in broiler chickens: Meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of dietary β-mannanase supplementation on growth performance, intestinal morphology, digesta viscosity, and dietary nutrient utilization in broiler chickens through a meta-analysis. The effects were further examined by a meta-regression analysis with activity levels of β-mannanase in broiler diets.

Methods: A total of 23 studies, which were conducted in 11 countries and completed between December 2003 and August 2023, were selected for this meta-analysis.

RIPK3 causes mitochondrial dysfunction and albuminuria in diabetic podocytopathy through PGAM5-Drp1 signaling.

Background: Receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIPK)3 is an essential molecule for necroptosis and its role in kidney fibrosis has been investigated using various kidney injury models. However, the relevance and the underlying mechanisms of RIPK3 to podocyte injury in albuminuric diabetic kidney disease (DKD) remain unclear. Here, we investigated the role of RIPK3 in glomerular injury of DKD.

Consecutive Dual-Session Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Chronic Subjective Severe to Catastrophic Tinnitus with Normal Hearing.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is emerging as a promising non-invasive intervention for tinnitus by aiming to modulate abnormal brain activity. This study investigated the efficacy of dual-session tDCS for the relief of perception, distress, and loudness in patients with severe chronic subjective tinnitus and assessed the duration of tinnitus suppression effects compared to single-session and control groups over a 2-month follow-up. In a prospective, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 30 participants with severe chronic subjective tinnitus underwent bifrontal tDCS.

Field-Free Spin-Orbit Torque Magnetization Switching in a Single-Phase Ferromagnetic and Spin Hall Oxide.

Current-induced spin-orbit torque (SOT) offers substantial promise for the development of low-power, nonvolatile magnetic memory. Recently, a single-phase material concurrently exhibiting magnetism and the spin Hall effect has emerged as a scientifically and technologically interesting platform for realizing efficient and compact SOT systems. Here, we demonstrate external-magnetic-field-free switching of perpendicular magnetization in a single-phase ferromagnetic and spin Hall oxide SrRuO.

Analysis of retinal and choroidal microvascular changes using optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography in patients with acute leukemia.

Purpose: Although leukemic retinopathy accounts for 80% of ocular complications in acute leukemia, its pathogenesis remains unclear. To evaluate changes in retinal and choroicapillaris and structural parameters in patients with acute leukemia, we analyzed the correlation between vascular perfusion metrics and laboratory parameters and assessed the changes after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Methods: Herein, 104 eyes of 52 patients aged 18 and above with acute leukemia were enrolled.

Patterns of comorbid PTSD, depression, alcohol use disorder, and insomnia symptoms in firefighters: A latent profile analysis.

Background: Firefighters are an at-risk population for multiple psychiatric conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, alcohol use disorders (AUDs), and insomnia. These disorders are likely to co-occur; however, patterns of comorbidity have scarcely been investigated in firefighters. We aimed to identify subgroups of comorbidity of PTSD, depression, AUDs, and insomnia in a nationwide population of firefighters in South Korea.

ER stress and unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling modulate GLP-1 receptor signaling in the pancreatic islets.

Insulin is essential for maintaining normoglycemia and is predominantly secreted in response to glucose stimulation by β-cells. Incretin hormones, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, also stimulate insulin secretion. However, as obesity and type 2 diabetes worsen, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide loses its insulinotropic efficacy, whereas GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists continue to be effective owing to its signaling switch from Gs to Gq.

c-MET-positive circulating tumor cells and cell-free DNA as independent prognostic factors in hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer.

Background: Endocrine therapy resistance in hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer (BC) is a significant clinical challenge that poses several unmet needs in the management of the disease. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of c-MET-positive circulating tumor cells (cMET+ CTCs), ESR1/PIK3CA mutations, and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) concentrations in patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) metastatic breast cancer (mBC).

Methods: Ninety-seven patients with HR+ mBC were prospectively enrolled during standard treatment at Samsung Medical Center.

Lithium and exercise ameliorate insulin-deficient hyperglycemia by independently attenuating pancreatic α-cell mass and hepatic gluconeogenesis.

As in type 1 diabetes, the loss of pancreatic β-cells leads to insulin deficiency and the subsequent development of hyperglycemia. Exercise has been proposed as a viable remedy for hyperglycemia. Lithium, which has been used as a treatment for bipolar disorder, has also been shown to improve glucose homeostasis under the conditions of obesity and type 2 diabetes by enhancing the effects of exercise on the skeletal muscles.

Functional and morphological maturation of the full-sized and mini-pig corpus luteum by programmed cell death mechanism.

Introduction: The formation and function of the corpus luteum (CL) increase the likelihood of pregnancy and efficiently manage implantation. Apoptosis must occur at an appropriate time in the formation of the CL. This also affects its function.

The Correlations between the Intensity of Histopathological Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 11 Staining and Progression of Prostate Cancer.

Background: Ubiquitin-specific protease 11 (USP11), one of the principal phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) deubiquitinases, can reserve PTEN polyubiquitination to maintain PTEN protein integrity and inhibit PI3K/AKT pathway activation. The aim of the current study was to investigate the associations between immunohistochemical USP11 staining intensities and prognostic indicators in individuals with prostate cancer.

Methods: Tissue microarrays (TMAs) were performed for human prostate cancer and normal tissue (control) samples.

Geographical origin discriminatory analysis of onions: Chemometrics methods applied to ICP-OES and ICP-MS analysis.

Geographical origin is an important determinant of agricultural product quality and safety. Herein, inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis was applied to determine the inorganic elemental content of onions and identify their geographical origin (Korean or Chinese). Chemometric, including principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were applied to the ICP results.

Chondroprotective effects of larvae as an edible insect on osteoarthritis in mice.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic joint inflammatory disease characterized by progressive destruction of the articular cartilage, bone remodeling, and excessive chronic pain. Most therapeutic approaches do not rescue the progression of OA effectively or provide relief of symptoms. larva (PBSL), which is attracting attention, is an edible insect with very high nutritional value and herbal medicine for the treatment of blood stasis, hepatic disease, and various inflammatory diseases.