Resolution of hypertension after kidney transplantation is associated with improved kidney transplant outcomes: a nationwide cohort study.

Objectives: Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease suffer from hypertension, and kidney transplantation (KT) has potential to induce hypertension resolution. We hypothesized that hypertension resolution after KT is associated with better KT outcomes.

Methods: We identified KT recipients (2006-2015) who had pretransplant hypertension.

Urinary RANTES and MCP-1 as noninvasive biomarkers for differential diagnosis and prediction of treatment response in acute interstitial nephritis.

Background: Although kidney biopsy is definitive for the diagnosis of acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) and acute tubular necrosis (ATN), its invasiveness limits its use. We aimed to identify urine biomarkers for differentiating AIN and ATN and to predict the response of patients with AIN to steroid treatment.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, biopsy-proven ATN ( = 34) and AIN ( = 55) were included.

Surveillance of Norovirus in Nationwide Groundwater Sources in South Korea: A Comprehensive Five-Year Study.

Groundwater is an essential drinking water source for humans. However, improper groundwater management leads to fecal contamination and waterborne diseases caused by viral pathogens. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate norovirus (NoV) contamination by conducting nationwide monitoring over five years (2019-2023).

Blocking the Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor 2 (S1P) Reduces the Severity of Collagen-Induced Arthritis in DBA-1J Mice.

The amount of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) found in the synovial tissue of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis is five times greater than that in those with osteoarthritis. Our study aims to determine whether inhibiting S1P can mitigate collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis (CIA) by using an S1P antagonist, JTE-013, alongside DBA-1J wild-type (WT) and knock-out (KO) mice. CIA causes increases in arthritis scores, foot swelling, synovial hyperplasia, pannus formation, proteoglycan depletion, cartilage damage, and bone erosion, but these effects are markedly reduced when JTE-013 is administered to WT mice.

Current methods for plastic waste recycling: Challenges and opportunities.

The practical use of plastics has rapidly increased owing to their superior physicochemical properties. Despite their excellent physicochemical properties, the short lifespan of plastics has inevitably led to a substantial generation of plastic waste. As such, strategic mitigation of the hazardous potential of plastic waste has been regarded as significant in waste management.

Macroencapsulation Device with Anti-inflammatory Membrane Modification Enhances Long-Term Viability and Function of Transplanted β Cells.

Treating type 1 diabetes (T1D) through β-cell macroencapsulation is a promising long-term solution, but it faces challenges such as immune-mediated fibrosis on the capsule surface, which impairs cell functionality and compromises longevity and effectiveness. This study presents an approach for including an anti-inflammatory molecule on the macroencapsulation device (MED) using initiated chemical vapor deposition for the surface modification of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) membranes. The surface-modified MEDs significantly reduced fibrosis, improved β-cell viability and functionality, and promoted M2 macrophage polarization, which is associated with anti-inflammatory effects.

The importance of kidney response over hematologic response in predicting kidney outcome in amyloid light-chain amyloidosis.

Background: Light chain amyloidosis, characterized by amyloid fibril deposition in multiple organs, often leads to progression to endstage kidney disease. This study aimed to identify predictors of kidney survival in patients with kidney amyloidosis, focusing on hematologic and kidney response.

Methods: This retrospective study included 138 patients diagnosed with kidney amyloidosis between 2011 and 2019.

Diabetes Education Program for Nursing Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to summarise the current state of the science on diabetes mellitus education programs for nursing students.

Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: Eligible studies were identified by searching PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases.

Cerebral organoid research for pediatric patients with neurological disorders.

Cerebral organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells offer a groundbreaking foundation for the analysis of pediatric neurological diseases. Unlike organoids from other somatic systems, cerebral organoids present unique challenges, such as the high sensitivity of neuronal cells to environmental conditions and the complexity of replicating brain-specific architectures. Cerebral organoids replicate the human brain development and pathology, enabling research on conditions such as microcephaly, Rett syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, and brain tumors.

Comparison of Population Attributable Fractions of Cancer Incidence and Mortality Linked to Excess Body Weight in Korea from 2015 to 2030.

Backgruound: The increasing rate of excess body weight (EBW) in the global population has led to growing health concerns, including cancer-related EBW. We aimed to estimate the population attributable fraction (PAF) of cancer incidence and deaths linked to EBW in Korean individuals from 2015 to 2030 and to compare its value with various body mass index cutoffs.

Methods: Levin's formula was used to calculate the PAF; the prevalence rates were computed using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, while the relative risks of specific cancers related to EBW were estimated based on the results of Korean cohort studies.

Estimation of Population Attributable Fraction by Hormone and Reproductive Factors on Female Cancer in the Republic of Korea, 2015 to 2030.

Purpose: Population attributable fractions (PAFs) for hormone and reproductive factors have been estimated in several countries. IARC designated as Group 1 and Group 2A carcinogen for hormone factors in breast, ovarian, endometrial and uterine cervix cancer. This study aimed to estimate the PAFs of hormone/reproductive factor attributed to cancer incidence and deaths in Korean women and projected trends from 2015 to 2030.

Body mass index and breast cancer risk in premenopausal and postmenopausal East Asian women: a pooled analysis of 13 cohort studies.

Background: It has been suggested that the association between body mass index and breast cancer risk differs between Asian women and Western women. We aimed to assess the associations between body mass index and breast cancer incidence in East Asian women.

Methods: Pooled analyses were performed using individual participant data of 319,189 women from 13 cohort studies in Japan, Korea, and China.

Fraction of Cancer Attributable to Carcinogenic Drugs in Korea from 2015 to 2030.

Purpose: This study aims to estimate and project the Population Attributable Fraction (PAF) of cancer incidence and death due to carcinogenic drug use in Korea from 2015 to 2030, to estimate the degree of cancer prevention from exposure to carcinogenic drugs in Korea. Selected carcinogenic drugs were immunosuppressive and antineoplastic drugs classified as group I by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Materials And Methods: Systematic review and meta-analyses were conducted to estimate the relative risk (RR) of cancer associated with carcinogenic drug use.

Kidney and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Older Population with Mildly to Moderately Decreased Kidney Function: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Introduction: Although the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing in the aging population, the clinical relevance of the CKD definition (glomerular filtration rate [GFR] <60 mL/min/1.73 m2) in older populations remains debatable. We investigated the clinical outcomes in older populations with mildly to moderately decreased GFR (45-59 mL/min/1.

Lifestyle Factors, Sociodemographic Characteristics and Incident Hypertension: A Prospective Analysis of the Korean National Health Insurance Service Sample Cohort.

Background: Hypertension is a significant chronic disease globally, and lifestyle modifications are crucial for the prevention of this disease. We conducted a longitudinal analysis of the associations between lifestyle factors and the incidence of hypertension, stratified by sociodemographic characteristics.

Methods: We analyzed 113,022 adults (65,315 men), aged 20 years or older from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort 2.

Endometrial E-cadherin and N-cadherin Expression during the Mid-Secretory Phase of Women with Ovarian Endometrioma or Uterine Fibroids.

Background: Endometriosis and uterine fibroids are benign conditions frequently linked to subfertility/infertility. Recent research has highlighted the importance of epithelial-mesenchymal transition between embryonic and endometrial cells in the context of embryo implantation. Additionally, the adverse endometrial environment during implantation has been proposed as a mechanism contributing to infertility in endometriosis.

Herbicide-resistant plants produced by precision adenine base editing in plastid DNA.

CRISPR-free, protein-only cytosine base editors (CBEs) or adenine base editors, composed of DNA-binding proteins such as zinc finger proteins or transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) and nucleobase cytosine or adenine deaminases, respectively, enable organellar DNA editing in cultured cells, animals and plants. TALE-linked double-stranded DNA deaminase toxin A (DddA)-derived CBEs (DdCBEs) and TALE-linked adenine deaminases (TALEDs) install C-to-T and A-to-G single-nucleotide conversions, respectively, in mitochondria and chloroplasts. Interestingly, whereas TALEDs exclusively induce A-to-G conversions without C-to-T conversions in mammalian mitochondrial DNA, they often install unwanted C-to-T edits in addition to intended A-to-G edits in plastid DNA.

Clinical impact of diastolic dysfunction and atrial fibrillation before and after initiating hemodialysis in patients with end-stage kidney disease.

Background: Diastolic dysfunction with left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis is an important characteristic of uremic cardiomyopathy in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Few studies explored the relationship between changes in diastolic dysfunction and the risk of mortality or cardiovascular outcome in patients with ESKD. We investigated the clinical impact of diastolic dysfunction and atrial fibrillation (AF) on patients starting hemodialysis (HD).

Safety and impact of the Mediterranean diet in patients with chronic kidney disease: a pilot randomized crossover trial.

Introduction: Emerging evidence highlights the potential advantages of the Mediterranean diet (MD) in preserving kidney function and slowing chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. However, interventional studies on the MD are scarce in East Asian populations.

Methods: This randomized crossover trial aimed to assess the safety and short-term impact of the Mediterranean Proper Optimal Balance (MEDi-POB) diet in Korean patients with stage 3-4 CKD.

Effect of Culture Temperature on 2-Methylisoborneol Production and Gene Expression in Two Strains of sp.

The presence of the odorant 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) in drinking water sources is undesirable. Although 2-MIB production is known to be influenced by temperature, its regulation at the gene level and its relationship with Chlorophyll- (Chl-) at different temperatures remain unclear. This study investigates the impact of temperature on 2-MIB production and related gene expression in strains PD34 and PD35 isolated from Lake Paldang, South Korea.

Symptoms and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Older Adults Living With HIV.

Background: As individuals living with HIV age, they often experience both physical and psychological symptoms-along with potential reductions in social support-which can significantly affect their health-related quality of life (HRQOL)-a crucial measure in HIV care. However, research exploring the potential predictive roles of social support and symptom experiences in HRQOL among older people living with HIV (PLWH) is limited.

Objectives: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate relationships between social support, symptom experiences, and HRQOL in older adults with HIV.