Methods to optimize the collection, pretreatment, extraction, separation, and examination of microplastics in soil, groundwater, and human samples.

Microplastics (MPs) in soil, groundwater, and human (SGH) present a significant global challenge due to their ecological and human health impacts. However, current protocols for detecting MPs in these environments and humans are limited, inconsistently applied, and vary significantly, particularly during the pretreatment stages of MP analysis. Moreover, no study has investigated the impact of methodological flaws on MP detection.

Microplastic and human health with focus on pediatric well-being: a comprehensive review and call for future studies.

Although humans are highly dependent on plastics from infancy to adolescence, these materials can degrade into ubiquitous microplastics (MPs) that affect individuals at every stage of life. However, information on the sources, mechanisms, detection techniques, and detrimental effects of MPs on children's health from infancy to adolescence is limited. Hence, here we identified and reviewed original research papers published in 2017-2023 across 11 database categories in PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science to improve our understanding of MPs with a focus on pediatric well-being.

Upfront Stereotactic Radiosurgery or Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy in Elderly Patients with Brain Metastases from Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis of a 10-Year Bi-institutional Experience.

Purpose: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) are increasingly used as initial therapies for brain metastases (BM). We aimed to assess the outcomes of SRS/FSRT in patients aged ≥ 65 years who had 1-10 BM from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 91 elderly NSCLC patients with 222 BM who were treated with SRS/FSRT at two institutions between 2010 and 2020.

A comprehensive review of urban microplastic pollution sources, environment and human health impacts, and regulatory efforts.

Microplastic (MP) pollution in urban environments is a pervasive and complex problem with significant environmental and human health implications. Although studies have been conducted on MP pollution in urban environments, there are still research gaps in understanding the exact sources, regulation, and impact of urban MP on the environment and public health. Therefore, the goal of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the complex pathways, harmful effects, and regulatory efforts of urban MP pollution.

Transcriptome profiles of organ tissues from pigs experimentally infected with African swine fever virus in early phase of infection.

African swine fever, caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), is a highly contagious and fatal disease that poses a significant threat to the global pig industry. The limited information on ASFV pathogenesis and ASFV-host interactions has recently prompted numerous transcriptomic studies. However, most of these studies have focused on elucidating the transcriptome profiles of ASFV-infected porcine alveolar macrophages .

Effects of groundwater sample volume on identified microplastics in groundwater of an agricultural area in Korea.

Groundwater serves various purposes worldwide, including agricultural, drinking, domestic, and industrial uses. In the Republic of Korea, groundwater is used primarily for agricultural purpose. Understanding the quality of groundwater is crucial because microplastics (MPs) can enter groundwater through agricultural activities and potentially pose harm to humans.

A genome-wide association study for the fatty acid composition of breast meat in an F2 crossbred chicken population.

The composition of fatty acids determines the flavor and quality of meat. Flavor compounds are generated during the cooking process by the decomposition of volatile fatty acids via lipid oxidation. A number of research on candidate genes related to fatty acid content in livestock species have been published.

Early Colonization of the Intestinal Microbiome of Neonatal Piglets Is Influenced by the Maternal Microbiome.

The intestinal microbiome plays a crucial role in animal health and growth by interacting with the host, inhibiting pathogenic microbial colonization, and regulating immunity. This study investigated dynamic changes in the fecal microbial composition of piglets from birth through weaning and the relationship between the piglet fecal microbiome and sows. Feces, skin, neonatal oral cavity, and vaginal samples were collected from eight sows and sixty-three piglets, and 16S genome sequencing was performed.

Optimizing contrast protocol for bone-subtraction CT angiography of intracranial arteries in normal dogs using 160-slice CT.

Background: Bone-subtraction computed tomography angiography (CTA) (BSCTA) is a new technique designed to overcome the limitation of three-dimensional CTA, where the vessels surrounded by bone and calcification can be obscured. An optimal contrast CT protocol for intracranial artery visualization with BSCTA has yet to be established in dogs.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal contrast protocol of CTA for visualizing intracranial artery using an automatic bone-subtraction technique in dogs.

Genome-wide association study revealed the genomic regions associated with skin pigmentation in an Ogye x White Leghorn F2 chicken population.

Skin color in chickens is an economically important trait that determines the first impression of a consumer toward a broiler and can ultimately affect consumer choice in the market. Therefore, identification of genomic regions associated with skin color is crucial for increasing the sales value of chickens. Although previous studies have attempted to reveal the genetic markers associated with the skin coloration in chickens, most were limited to investigations of candidate genes, such as melanin-related genes, and focused on case/control studies based on a single or small population.

Genome-wide association study for the free amino acid and nucleotide components of breast meat in an F crossbred chicken population.

Flavor is an important sensory trait of chicken meat. The free amino acid (FAA) and nucleotide (NT) components of meat are major factors affecting meat flavor during the cooking process. As a genetic approach to improve meat flavor, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify the potential candidate genes related to the FAA and NT components of chicken breast meat.

A genome-wide association study for eumelanin pigmentation in chicken plumage using a computer vision approach.

Chicken plumage colouration is an important trait related to productivity in poultry industry. Therefore, the genetic basis for pigmentation in chicken plumage is an area of great interest. However, the colour trait is generally regarded as a qualitative trait and representing colour variations is difficult.

Blood transcriptome comparison between sexes and their function in 4-week Rhode Island red chickens.

Sex is a major biological factor in the development and physiology of a sexual reproductive organism, and its role in the growing process is needed to be investigated in various species. We compare blood transcriptome between 5 males and 5 females in 4-week-old Rhode Island Red chickens and perform functional annotation of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The results are as follows.

Microplastics contamination and characteristics of agricultural groundwater in Haean Basin of Korea.

The quality of groundwater is critical to human health. MPs have access to groundwater from the soil, polluted by various agricultural activities. However, to date, there have been no studies on the occurrence of MP in groundwater from an agriculture field without any adjacent sources of contamination, such as nearby landfills.

Single nucleotide polymorphism marker combinations for classifying Yeonsan Ogye chicken using a machine learning approach.

Genetic analysis has great potential as a tool to differentiate between different species and breeds of livestock. In this study, the optimal combinations of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for discriminating the Yeonsan Ogye chicken () breed were identified using high-density 600K SNP array data. In 3,904 individuals from 198 chicken breeds, SNP markers specific to the target population were discovered through a case-control genome-wide association study (GWAS) and filtered out based on the linkage disequilibrium blocks.

Insight into the Fecal Microbiota Signature Associated with Growth Specificity in Korean Jindo Dogs Using 16S rRNA Sequencing.

Gut microbiomes are well recognized to serve a variety of roles in health and disease, even though their functions are not yet completely understood. Previous studies have demonstrated that the microbiomes of juvenile and adult dogs have significantly different compositions and characteristics. However, there is still a scarcity of basic microbiome research in dogs.

Microplastics in soil and freshwater: Understanding sources, distribution, potential impacts, and regulations for management.

Plastic debris is a complex and persistent environmental contaminant that has received a high amount of attention in the last few years. Understanding the sources, transport, fate, occurrence, and health risks of microplastics (MPs) in the environment is essential as millions of tons of plastic are manufactured and released into the environment. There is a high possibility that MPs will accumulate and retain within continental environments and have effects on the environment and human health.

Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing data for the taxonomic characterization of the vaginal and the fecal microbial communities in Hanwoo.

Objective: The study of Hanwoo (Korean native cattle) has mainly been focused on meat quality and productivity. Recently the field of microbiome research has increased dramatically. However, the information on the microbiome in Hanwoo is still insufficient, especially relationship between vagina and feces.

Comment on the paper 'Soil microplastic pollution under different land uses in tropics, southwestern China'.

Research on soil microplastics is currently at an early stage, and there is no widely approved sampling protocol. Even so, any basic research should minimize errors to ensure that they are not amplified in future research. This paper examines some weaknesses of the original research paper 'Soil microplastic pollution under different land uses in tropics, southwestern China' recently published in this journal.

Comment on the paper "Microplastic contamination of an unconfined groundwater aquifer in Victoria, Australia".

This paper was written to comment on a few important problems of an original paper published in this journal. In the original paper, polyamide (PA) ropes, a kind of plastic, were used for groundwater sampling. Also, polycarbonate, another plastic, was also used as a filter paper although their potential contamination was later evaluated.

The Pattern of Care for Brain Metastasis from Breast Cancer over the Past 10 Years in Korea: A Multicenter Retrospective Study (KROG 16-12).

Purpose: We aimed to investigate manifestations and patterns of care for patients with brain metastasis (BM) from breast cancer (BC) and compared their overall survival (OS) from 2005 through 2014 in Korea.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 600 BC patients with BM diagnosed between 2005 and 2014. The median follow-up duration was 12.

Optimal population size to detect quantitative trait loci in Korean native chicken: a simulation study.

Objective: A genomic region associated with a particular phenotype is called quantitative trait loci (QTL). To detect the optimal F2 population size associated with QTLs in native chicken, we performed a simulation study on F2 population derived from crosses between two different breeds.

Methods: A total of 15 males and 150 females were randomly selected from the last generation of each F1 population which was composed of different breed to create two different F2 populations.

Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy for Node-Negative Breast Cancer of 5 cm or Larger Tumors: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis (KROG 20-03).

Purpose: To evaluate the role of postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) in patients with node-negative breast cancer of 5cm or larger tumors undergoing mastectomy.

Materials And Methods: Medical records of 274 patients from 18 institutions treated with mastectomy between January 2000 and December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Among these, 202 patients underwent PMRT, while 72 did not.