Comparing Gut Microbial Composition and Functional Adaptations between SPF and Non-SPF Pigs.

The gut microbiota is a key factor significantly impacting host health by influencing metabolism and immune function. Its composition can be altered by genetic factors, as well as environmental factors such as the host's surroundings, diet, and antibiotic usage. This study aims to examine how the characteristics of the gut microbiota in pigs, used as source animals for xenotransplantation, vary depending on their rearing environment.

Global, regional and national epidemiology of alopecia areata: a systematic review and modelling study.

Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that leads to a high psychiatric, economic and systemic disease burden. A comprehensive understanding of AA epidemiology is essential for evaluating healthcare source utilization; however, a systematic approach to summarizing epidemiological data on AA is lacking.

Objectives: To investigate systematically the global, regional and national incidence and prevalence of AA.

A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Comprehensive Sexuality Education Programs on Children and Adolescents.

Childhood and adolescence are crucial periods for developing one's awareness of sexuality. Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) during these stages is essential for overall growth, fostering healthy self-concepts, and addressing diverse sexual issues among children and adolescents globally. A meta-analysis was conducted to analyze the effectiveness of CSE programs.

Autoimmune, Inflammatory, Atopic, Thyroid, and Psychiatric Outcomes of Offspring Born to Mothers With Alopecia Areata.

Importance: Alopecia areata (AA) is associated with diverse autoimmune and psychiatric disorders. However, an investigation on the long-term outcomes for offspring born to mothers diagnosed with AA is lacking.

Objective: To investigate the risks for autoimmune, inflammatory, atopic, thyroid, and psychiatric outcomes of offspring born to mothers with AA.

Risk of autoimmune skin and connective tissue disorders after mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination.

Background: Data on the association between the development of autoimmune diseases and COVID-19 vaccination are limited.

Objective: To investigate the incidence and risk of autoimmune connective tissue disorders following mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods: This nationwide population-based study was conducted in South Korea.

Deep Learning Algorithms for Estimation of Demographic and Anthropometric Features from Electrocardiograms.

The electrocardiogram (ECG) has been known to be affected by demographic and anthropometric factors. This study aimed to develop deep learning models to predict the subject's age, sex, ABO blood type, and body mass index (BMI) based on ECGs. This retrospective study included individuals aged 18 years or older who visited a tertiary referral center with ECGs acquired from October 2010 to February 2020.

All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality Risks among Patients with Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Korean Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Although previous studies have reported increased mortality in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), the cause-specific mortality and the clinical characteristics attributable to greater mortality remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate all-cause and cause-specific mortality risks associated with HS. A retrospective population-based cohort study using the data linkage of the Nationwide Health Insurance Service database and the National Death Registry of Korea was conducted.

Association of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality Risks With Pyoderma Gangrenosum.

Importance: Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare neutrophilic dermatosis. Few studies have evaluated the mortality outcomes of patients with PG.

Objective: To investigate all-cause and cause-specific mortality in patients with PG.

Post-Treatment of Tannic Acid for Thermally Stable PEDOT:PSS Film.

As a poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly (styrene sulfonate), PEDOT:PSS is well known for its conductive polymer in a field of organic electronics. PEDOT:PSS can be widely operated as electronics under low temperature conditions; however, the layer can be easily damaged by high temperature conditions, while in fabrication or in the operation of electronics. Therefore, enhancing the thermal stability of PEDOT:PSS can be a novel strategy for both fabrication and operating varieties.

Increased prevalence of transfusion-transmitted diseases among people with tattoos: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Whether having a tattoo increases the risk of transfusion-transmitted diseases (TTDs) is controversial. Although a few studies have suggested a strong association between having tattoos and TTDs, other studies have not shown the significance of the association. In addition, previous studies mainly focused only on hepatitis C viral infections.

Comparison of pharmacodynamics between low dose ticagrelor and clopidogrel after loading and maintenance doses in healthy Korean subjects.

The novel antiplatelet agent ticagrelor has been demonstrated to exert a faster and more powerful inhibition of platelet aggregation in comparison to clopidogrel in coronary artery disease patients. However, a ticagrelor dose of 90 mg twice daily might not be suitable for patients of East Asian ethnicity, and has not been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of low loading doses (LD, 90 mg) and maintenance doses (MD, 90 mg daily) of ticagrelor in comparison to clopidogrel (600 mg LD, 75 mg daily MD) in healthy Korean volunteers.

Prunus yedoensis bark inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory cytokine synthesis by IκBα degradation and MAPK activation in macrophages.

The bark of Prunus yedoensis is used in antitussive medicines and in oral herbal formulations for inflammatory skin disorders. In the present study, we explored whether P. yedoensis bark extract (PYE) and its solvent partitioned fractions could modulate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 in vivo and in vitro.