Climate change perceptions and behaviors among Korean nurses: The role of organizational initiatives.

Background: Climate change poses significant risks to global health, requiring engagement from healthcare professionals, including nurses.

Purpose: To assess Korean nurses' climate change-related perceptions and behaviors, and examine their associations with organizational climate change initiatives.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from March to April 2024, involving 1,022 Korean nurses.

Protein disulfide isomerase integrates toll-like receptor 4 and P2X7 receptor signaling pathways during lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation.

P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) augments lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated neuroinflammation. These roles of P2X7R in neuroinflammation are relevant to nitrosative stress through nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) pathway, while the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated whether protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is involved in the integration of TLR4-P2X7R functions in response to LPS in vivo.

P2X7 receptor augments kainic acid-induced nitrosative stress by abrogating GS-HSP25-mediated iNOS inhibition and GSH synthesis in the mouse hippocampus.

Glutathione (GSH) and heat shock protein 25 (HSP25) reciprocally regulate each other, which maintain redox homeostasis. Since P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) regulates GSH biosynthesis and HSP25 induction, the present study was conducted to explore the role of P2X7R in the reciprocal regulation between HSP25 and GSH in response to kainic acid (KA)-induced nitrosative stress and the related signal pathways, which are largely unknown. The present data demonstrate that P2X7R deletion attenuated KA-induced reductions in total GSH level and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) intensity/nuclear translocation in astrocytes.

Delayed progression of prion disease in mice by polyarginine-facilitated prevention of PrP propagation in the spleen.

Prions are infective agents composed of abnormally folded prion proteins (PrP), which are pathogenic isoforms of normal cellular prion proteins (PrP) that cause incurable, transmissible, neurodegenerative conditions in mammals called prion diseases. The spread of PrP within a host is facilitated by the lymphoreticular system, which uptakes and propagates PrP in the periphery and transmits them to the central nervous system. Our previous study showed that poly-l-arginine (PLR), a cationic amino acid polymer, inhibits PrP accumulation in neuroblastoma cells with persistent prion infection (ScN2a).

Breaking barriers: Nitric oxide-releasing nanocomplexes for collagen degradation and enhanced αPD-L1 immunotherapy in deep tumor.

Overcoming the physical barrier of the extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding tumors is a critical challenge in achieving effective immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). The dense ECM impedes the infiltration of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) into tumor tissues. To address this, we design a nanocomplex incorporating a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive nitric oxide (NO) prodrug around TANNylated αPD-L1.

A Comparative Effect of 12-Week Dietary Intervention of Policosanol (Raydel) and Red Yeast Rice (RYR, Kobayashi) in Managing Dyslipidemia and Organ Damage in Hyperlipidemic Zebrafish.

Background: A comparative 12-week dietary intervention of red yeast rice (RYR, , Kobayashi, Japan) and Cuban policosanol (PCO, Raydel, Thornleigh, Australia) was assessed for dyslipidemia, antioxidant status, and vital organ functionality in hyperlipidemic zebrafish.

Methods: Hyperlipidemic zebrafish were supplemented with a high-cholesterol diet (HC, final 4%, /) infused with either a powdered RYR tablet (final 1.0%, /), a PCO tablet (final 1.

25-Hydroxycholesterol modulates microglial function and exacerbates Alzheimer's disease pathology: mechanistic insights and therapeutic potential of cholesterol esterification inhibition.

This study investigates the role of 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC), a metabolite produced by cholesterol hydroxylase encoded by the Ch25h gene, in modulating microglial function and its potential implications in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. We demonstrated that 25HC impairs microglial surveillance, reduces phagocytic capacity, and increases the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In vivo two-photon microscopy revealed that 25HC administration diminishes microglial response to brain lesions, while flow cytometry confirmed reduced phagocytosis in both in vivo and in vitro models.

Comparative Evaluation of the PowerChek Respiratory Virus Panel RT-PCR Assay Detecting 16 Respiratory Viruses Including SARS-CoV-2.

The endemic transition of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has made diagnosis of acute respiratory infections complex. There is a demand for tests that can detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with other respiratory viruses. The PowerChek Respiratory Virus Panel (PowerChek, Kogenebiotech) is a newly developed real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay that simultaneously detects SARS-CoV-2 and 15 other respiratory viruses; however, its performance requires assessment.

Primed Mesenchymal Stem Cells by IFN-γ and IL-1β Ameliorate Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome through Enhancing Homing Effect and Immunomodulation.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a severe condition characterized by extensive lung inflammation and increased alveolar-capillary permeability, often triggered by infections or systemic inflammatory responses. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-based therapy holds promise for treating ARDS, as MSCs manifest immunomodulatory and regenerative properties that mitigate inflammation and enhance tissue repair. Primed MSCs, modified to augment specific functionalities, demonstrate superior therapeutic efficacy in targeted therapies compared to naive MSCs.

Prevalence of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome in Korea: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2021.

Objectives: The American Heart Association (AHA) recently defined cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome to better characterize the associations among cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic diseases. Although about 9 in 10 U.S.

Forward-looking flood defense based on high-resolution risk assessment: Lessons from the Nakdong River Basin.

Climate change is anticipated to amplify the intensity and frequency of riverine floods, posing significant challenges to existing flood defense systems. This study assesses future flood risks in the Nakdong River Basin, South Korea's largest and most flood-prone basin, by integrating long-term climate, demographic, and economic projections with high spatial resolution. Using GIS-based damage assessment approaches with extensive spatial datasets, we quantify flood risks at the granular level of individual buildings and farmlands across different SSP-RCP scenarios.

Treatment with Lactobacillus paracasei L30 extract induces osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in vitro.

Bone-related diseases such as osteoporosis pose a significant health economic burden to countries around the world and, because current treatments are insufficient, more effective therapies are desperately needed. This study explored the potential of Lactobacillus paracasei L30 extract to influence the osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs). Our results showed that L30 extract significantly enhanced the expression of osteogenic markers in hBM-MSCs, including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), and collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1).

Metastatic Tumor Growth in Steatotic Liver is Promoted by HAS2-Mediated Fibrotic Tumor Microenvironment.

Steatotic liver enhances liver metastasis of colorectal cancer, but this process is not fully understood. Steatotic liver induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) increases cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) infiltration and collagen and hyaluronic acid (HA) production. We investigated the role of HA synthase 2 (HAS2) in the fibrotic tumor microenvironment in steatotic liver using Has2ΔHSC mice, in which Has2 is deleted from hepatic stellate cells.

Size-driven phase evolution in ultrathin relaxor films.

Relaxor ferroelectrics (relaxors) are a special class of ferroelectrics with polar nanodomains (PNDs), which present characteristics such as slim hysteresis loops and strong dielectric relaxation. Applications such as nanoelectromechanical systems, capacitive-energy storage and pyroelectric-energy harvesters require thin-film relaxors. Hence, understanding relaxor behaviour in the ultrathin limit is of both fundamental and technological importance.

Antioxidant Peptide-Based Nanocarriers for Delivering Wound Healing Agents.

Background: Curcumin, a well-known wound healing agent, faces clinical limitations due to its poor water solubility, rapid degradation, and short plasma half-life. To address these challenges, we developed a self-assembling peptide incorporating an antioxidant sequence (YGDEY), which is capable of not only delivering curcumin but also exhibiting additional bioactivity to enhance wound healing.

Methods: An antioxidant nanocarrier was developed via peptide self-assembly.

Prevalence, Disparities, and Mortality of Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome in US Adults, 2011-2018.

Background: Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome reflects the complex interplay between metabolic risk factors, cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease. Differences in disease burden by demographics, social determinants of health, and mortality are not well characterized.

Methods: Data from adults who completed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2011 and 2018 were used to estimate age-adjusted prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome stages.

Attributable Costs of Infections in Korea.

Background: infection (CDI) is one of the most common hospital-acquired infections, with its incidence and disease burden increasing markedly worldwide over the past decade.

Methods: To assess the attributable costs of CDI in Korea, the expenses related to hospital management of CDI cases were computed. This analysis used data from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort spanning a decade (2010-2019).

Beeswax Alcohol (BWA, Raydel) Improved Blood Oxidative Variables and Ameliorated Severe Damage of Zebrafish Kidneys, Testes, and Ovaries Impaired by 24-Week Consumption of a High-Cholesterol and High-Galactose Diet: A Comparative Analysis with Coenzyme Q.

Objectives: The present study describes the comparative effect of 24-week supplementation of beeswax alcohol (BWA, Raydel, 0.5% and 1.0%, wt/wt) and coenzyme Q (CoQ, 0.

Effectiveness of Antiviral Treatment with Intravenous Peramivir and Oral Oseltamivir for Seasonal Influenza in Children.

Background/objectives: Influenza poses significant risks in children, causing complications like febrile seizures and hospitalizations. Antiviral treatments include oseltamivir and peramivir, both FDA-approved neuraminidase inhibitors. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of intravenous peramivir and oral oseltamivir in pediatric patients presenting to an emergency department, with a primary focus on the revisit rate within 72 h post-treatment.

Antioxidant and Laxative Effects of Methanol Extracts of Green Pine Cones () in Sprague-Dawley Rats with Loperamide-Induced Constipation.

Oxidative stress is the key cause of the etiopathogenesis of several diseases associated with constipation. This study examined whether the green pine cone can improve the symptoms of constipation based on the antioxidant activities. The changes in the key parameters for the antioxidant activity and laxative effects were examined in the loperamide (Lop)-induced constipation of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats after being treated with the methanol extracts of green pine cone (MPC, unripe fruits of ).

Comparative Analysis of Automated and Handheld Breast Ultrasound Findings for Small (≤1 cm) Breast Cancers Based on BI-RADS Category.

: This study aimed to compare ultrasound (US) findings between automated and handheld breast ultrasound (ABUS and HHUS, respectively) in small breast cancers, based on the breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) category. : We included 51 women (mean age: 52 years; range: 39-66 years) with breast cancer (invasive or DCIS), all of whom underwent both ABUS and HHUS. Patients with tumors measuring ≤1 cm on either modality were enrolled.

Molecular-level exploration of spatiotemporal dynamics of fluvial particulate organic carbon sources during storm events: Using a high-temporal resolution multi-biomarker approach.

Identifying the origins of storm fluvial particulate organic carbon (POC) provides information about the hydrological connectivity within the river corridor and the roles of the land-stream interface in the carbon cycle. However, current understanding of storm-induced POC source dynamics is constrained by observations limited in space and time. This study presents a unique approach integrating higher spatial and temporal resolution sampling with a multi-biomarker analysis to better understand POC source dynamics across scales.

The role of lean body mass in predicting mortality in hemodialysis patients across different age groups.

Lean body mass (LBM) serves as an indicator of muscle mass in body composition. Recently, studies have revealed increased mortality rates in dialysis patients with low LBM. However, studies analyzing the impact of age on LBM and mortality in dialysis patients remain limited.

Changes in salivary biomarkers of burning mouth syndrome patients after clonazepam treatment.

There is a lack of objective indicators to evaluate the treatment effect of burning mouth syndrome, a neuropathic pain of unknown causes. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate potential salivary biomarkers by analyzing saliva before and after clonazepam treatment in patients with burning mouth syndrome. Saliva was collected from 23 patients with burning mouth syndrome before and 4 weeks after the topical administration of clonazepam.

Impact of Uric Acid Levels on Mortality and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Relation to Kidney Function.

: Uric acid levels are linked to cardiovascular outcomes and mortality, especially in chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, their impact across varying kidney function remains unclear. : We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model (OMOP-CDM) database from a single center.