The complete mitochondrial genome of Miquel, a plant of the Ericaceae family.

1866 is a deciduous shrub native to Northeast Asia, including Korea, China, and Japan Its polyphenol-rich edible berries may aid in managing chronic diseases. Despite its importance, the mitogenome of this species remains understudied. This study assembled the complete mitogenome, consisting of 626,941 bp with 45.

Protective effect of regular physical activity against diabetes-related lower extremity amputation.

Background: Foot ulcers are a major complication of diabetes mellitus that increase morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes, affect their quality of life, and increase the overall social burden. A considerable number of patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) require amputations every year.

Methods: This nation population-based study included 1 923 483 patients with diabetes who underwent regular health screening through the National Health Insurance Service during January 2009 and December 2012.

Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid Alters the Plant's Phosphate Transport Gene Network and Exhibits Antagonistic Effects on the Phosphate Uptake.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), with significant health risks to humans and wildlife, bioaccumulate in plants. However, the mechanisms underlying plant uptake remain poorly understood. This study deployed transcriptomic analysis coupled with genetic and physiological studies using to investigate how plants respond to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), a long-chain PFAS.

Methods for Improving the Germination of (Thunb.) Makino Seeds through Endocarp Removal.

(Thunb.) Makino is known to have a seed dispersal that is thick and stony (endocarp + seeds) and has potential as a landscaping tree seed. In several Rosaceae species, seeds are covered with a hard endocarp, making the internal seeds water-impermeable and germination difficult.

The Role of Adipokines in Tumor Progression and Its Association with Obesity.

Obesity is a well-established risk factor for various malignancies and emerging evidence suggests that adipokines play a pivotal role in linking excess adiposity to tumorigenesis. Adipokines are bioactive molecules secreted by adipose tissue and their altered expression in obesity contributes to a pro-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic, and growth-promoting microenvironment conducive to tumorigenesis. Leptin, a key adipokine, activates survival and proliferative signaling pathways whereas adiponectin exhibits tumor-suppressive effects by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.

Effects of a 2-Week Kinect-Based Mixed-Reality Exercise Program on Prediabetes: A Pilot Trial during COVID-19.

Background: Pre-diabetes can develop into type 2 diabetes mellitus, but can prevented by regular exercise. However, the outcomes when combining unsupervised Kinect-based mixed-reality (KMR) exercise with continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) remain unclear. Therefore, this single-arm pilot trial examined changes in blood glucose (BG) concentrations over 672 hours (4 weeks), including a 2-week period of KMR exercise and CGM in individuals with pre-diabetes.

Anterolateral Thigh Chimeric Flap: An Alternative Reconstructive Option to Free Flaps for Large Soft Tissue Defects.

The anterolateral thigh (ALT) skin flap provides abundant, thin, pliable skin coverage with adequate pedicle length and calibre, and tolerable donor site morbidity. However, coverage of relatively large defects using the ALT flap alone is limited. We present our experience of using the ALT flap coupled with the vastus lateralis (VL) flap supplied by the same pedicle for large defect reconstruction.

Dormancy-release and germination improvement of Korean bellflower (Campanula takesimana Nakai), a rare and endemic plant native to the Korean peninsula.

Korean bellflower (Campanula takesimana Nakai) is a rare and perennial herb with medicinal and ornamental values, is endemic to the Ulleung Island of Korea. In this study, we investigated the dormancy-release and germination characteristics of C. takesimana (Campanulaceae) seeds by subjecting them to varying temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25°C and diurnal/nocturnal temperatures of 15/6, 20/10, and 25/15°C), cold stratification periods (0, 4, 8, or 12 weeks at 5°C), and gibberellic acid (GA3) concentrations (0, 10, 100, or 1,000 mg·L-1 at 15/6°C and 25/15°C) to identify the ideal seed propagation conditions.

Classification of Alzheimer's Progression Using fMRI Data.

In the last three decades, the development of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has significantly contributed to the understanding of the brain, functional brain mapping, and resting-state brain networks. Given the recent successes of deep learning in various fields, we propose a 3D-CNN-LSTM classification model to diagnose health conditions with the following classes: condition normal (CN), early mild cognitive impairment (EMCI), late mild cognitive impairment (LMCI), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The proposed method employs spatial and temporal feature extractors, wherein the former utilizes a U-Net architecture to extract spatial features, and the latter utilizes long short-term memory (LSTM) to extract temporal features.

Safe and effective thrombolysis in free flap salvage: Intra-arterial urokinase infusion.

Despite the high success rate in reconstruction using free tissue transfer, flap failure is often caused by microvascular thrombosis. In a small percentage of cases with complete flap loss, a salvage procedure is performed. In the present study, the effectiveness of intra-arterial urokinase infusion through the free flap tissue was investigated to develop a protocol to prevent thrombotic failure.

Association among Current Smoking, Alcohol Consumption, Regular Exercise, and Lower Extremity Amputation in Patients with Diabetic Foot: Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Backgruound: The present study investigates whether modifiable behavioral factors of current cigarette smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, and regular exercise are associated with risk of lower extremity amputation (LEA) in diabetic patients.

Methods: A total of 2,644,440 diabetic patients (aged ≥20 years) was analyzed using the database of the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to assess adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the behavioral factors with risk of LEA under adjustment for potential confounders.

Assessment tools for differential diagnosis of neglect: Focusing on egocentric neglect and allocentric neglect.

Background: There are very few studies on the differential diagnosis between egocentric neglect (EN) and allocentric neglect (AN).

Aim: To investigate the overall trend of the previously developed assessment tools by conducting a descriptive review of the studies on assessment tools that can perform a differential diagnosis of EN and AN.

Methods: The data were collected by using databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect.

Correction of pixie ear: infraauricular skin redraping method.

Patients with pixie ear have an attached, tapering, and low-set earlobe. Traditional methods usually describe excision of the caudal portion of the lobule and reattachment in a more superior position. The present report suggests a simplified skin redraping method for correction of pixie ear.

Two-team-approached free flap reconstruction for plantar malignant melanoma: An observational (STROBE-compliant) trial.

Reconstructive treatments of heel defects usually involve regional flap techniques such as medial plantar flap procedures due to the limited availability of adjacent soft tissues. Although free flaps have advantages in terms of function and aesthetics, they remain challenging due to the longer operation time required than for regional flaps. Thus, we introduce an appropriate 2-team surgical protocol to reconstruct plantar defects after wide excision of malignant melanoma using free flap coverage.

Acute Ectopic Pancreatitis Mimicking Peptic Ulcer Disease: A Case Report.

Background: The ectopic pancreas is an anatomically separate pancreatic tissue from normal glands with its own vascular and ductal system; it is most commonly found in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The ectopic pancreas is usually asymptomatic, but it can present with symptoms associated with complications, including bleeding, inflammation, and neoplasm without abnormalities in the normal pancreas.

Case Presentation: We report a 31-year-old female with acute ectopic pancreatitis involving gastric antrum and proximal duodenum mimicking peptic ulcer disease, without pancreatitis in the normal pancreas.

Necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis simulating pulmonary malignancy: A case report.

Rationale: Necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis (NSG) has recently been termed "sarcoidosis with NSG pattern" for the disease entity representing nodular sarcoidosis with granulomatous pulmonary angiitis. It is characterized by sarcoid-like granulomas, vasculitis, and a variable degree of necrosis. Its rarity and nonspecific clinical symptoms can easily lead to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.

Non-Deep Simple Morphophysiological Dormancy and Germination Characteristics of var. (Kusn.) H. Hara (Gentianaceae), a Rare Perennial Herb in Korea.

This study investigated the kind of seed dormancy and seed germination of var. (Kusn.) H.

Noncanonical mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation of zinc finger SZF proteins counteracts ubiquitination for protein homeostasis in plant immunity.

Protein ADP-ribosylation is a reversible post-translational modification that transfers ADP-ribose from NAD onto acceptor proteins. Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation), catalyzed by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) and poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolases (PARGs), which remove the modification, regulates diverse cellular processes. However, the chemistry and physiological functions of mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation (MARylation) remain elusive.

Improving Restoration Efficiency by Modeling Optimal Sowing Periods: A Case Study of Two Native Plants and Restoration of a Site.

Efficient ecological restoration techniques are urgently required to minimize seed consumption and labor requirements. Here, we determined the optimal sowing period for two native species, (Korean mint) and (False goat's beard), toward their use for ecological restoration of Mt. Gariwang, a site damaged by the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics' activities.

Comparison of the Incidence of Capsular Formation in Two-Stage, Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction Using an Insertion Funnel and Sizer.

Purpose: Capsular formation around breast implants can produce various complications, including erythema, tenderness, discomfort, and breast deformation. Moreover, the capsule is thought to be correlated with breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma. The proposed technique of capsule reduction can prevent some of these complications.

Image Registration of F-FDG PET/CT Using the MotionFree Algorithm and CT Protocols through Phantom Study and Clinical Evaluation.

We evaluated the benefits of the MotionFree algorithm through phantom and patient studies. The various sizes of phantom and vacuum vials were linked to RPM moving with or without MotionFree application. A total of 600 patients were divided into six groups by breathing protocols and CT scanning time.

More than an on-and-off switch: Post-translational modifications of plant pattern recognition receptor complexes.

Sensing microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) by cell surface-resident pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) constitutes a core process in launching a successful immune response. Over the last decade, remarkable progress has been made in delineating the mechanisms of PRR-mediated plant immunity. As the frontline of defense, the homeostasis, activities, and subcellular dynamics of PRR and associated regulators are subjected to tight regulations.

A Multilayer Functionalized Drug-Eluting Balloon for Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease.

Drug-eluting balloons (DEBs) have been mostly exploited as an interventional remedy for treating atherosclerosis instead of cardiovascular stents. However, the therapeutic efficacy of DEB is limited due to their low drug delivery capability to the disease site. The aim of our study was to load drugs onto a balloon catheter with preventing drug loss during transition time and maximizing drug transfer from the surface of DEBs to the cardiovascular wall.

Accurate Modeling Methodology of Laterally Diffused Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Leakage Current for Electro-Static Discharge Protection Circuit Design.

A modeling method using juncap2 physical compact model with SRH (Shockley-Read-Hall), TAT (Trap-Assisted-Tunneling), BBT (Band-to-Band Tunneling) effects is presented for the leakage current in a laterally diffused metal-oxide semiconductor (LDMOS). The juncap2 model is successfully combined with BSIM4 model and it is validated with measurement data. The model accurately predicts the leakage current characteristics for the entire bias region and temperature.

Arabidopsis sirtuins and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases regulate gene expression in the day but do not affect circadian rhythms.

Nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is involved in redox homeostasis and acts as a substrate for NADases, including poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) that add poly(ADP-ribose) polymers to proteins and DNA, and sirtuins that deacetylate proteins. Nicotinamide, a by-product of NADases increases circadian period in both plants and animals. In mammals, the effect of nicotinamide on circadian period might be mediated by the PARPs and sirtuins because they directly bind to core circadian oscillator genes.