Embryonic development through fertilization using high-quality bovine sperm separated in a biomimetic cervix environment.

This study is the first to identify bovine blastocysts through fertilization (IVF) of matured oocytes with a large quantity of high-quality sperm separated from a biomimetic cervix environment. We obtained high-quality sperm in large quantities using an IVF sperm sorting chip (SSC), which could mimic the viscous environment of the bovine cervix during ovulation and facilitates isolation of progressively motile sperm from semen. The viscous environment-on-a-chip was realized by formulating and implementing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-based solutions for the SSC medium.

Ovotestis Isolation and Cryopreservation of (Oriental Snail) as a Snail Model for Conserving Other Endangered Snail Species.

This study aimed to develop a cryopreservation system for the reproductive organs of (oriental snail) to support the conservation of their species. The reproductive glands of are divided into numerous acini by acinar boundaries. Within each acinus, the presence of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, and sperm were observed, indicating various stages of sperm development.

Impact of COVID-19 on ophthalmic medical access during successive waves: Demographics, disease factors, and wave locations.

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic significantly impacted medical care, including ophthalmology. This study aimed to identify factors associated with reduced ophthalmic medical access during the pandemic.

Methods: This nationwide population-based cohort study analysed South Korean health insurance claims data from January 2019 to November 2021.

Control of the growth and development of murine preantral follicles in a biomimetic ovary using a decellularized porcine scaffold.

This study aimed to derive mature oocytes from murine preantral follicles cultured in a biomimetic ovary with a porcine scaffold using decellularization technology. We evaluated the DNA content and the presence of cell and extracellular matrix (ECM) components, including collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), in decellularized (decell) porcine ovaries. The DNA content inthe decell ovarian tissues was approximately 94 % less than that in native tissues (66 ± 9.

Risk of pancreatic cancer after acute pancreatitis: A population-based matched cohort study.

Background: We investigated the short- and long-term risks of pancreatic cancer after the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis.

Methods: This population-based matched-cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Patients with acute pancreatitis (n = 25,488) were matched with the control group (n = 127,440) based on age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, and diabetes.

Germ Cell Isolation and Cryopreservation from Reproductive Organs of Brown Mealworm.

This study aimed to isolate and freeze germ cells from the superior brown mealworm. Styrofoam diet changes were observed for 20 days to determine whether mealworms were useful insects for decomposing Styrofoam. The average weight of mealworms before the Styrofoam diet was 500 mg, which decreased to 336 mg at D20 after their diet.

A Small Molecule Promoting Neural Differentiation Suppresses Cancer Stem Cells in Colorectal Cancer.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a tumor cell subpopulation that drives tumor progression and metastasis, leading to a poor overall survival of patients. In colorectal cancer (CRC), the hyper-activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by a mutation of both adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and increases the size of the CSC population. We previously showed that CPD0857 inactivates Wnt/β-catenin signaling by promoting the ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation of β-catenin and Ras proteins, thereby decreasing proliferation and increasing the apoptosis of CRC lines.

Lifestyle, body mass index, diabetes, and the risk of pancreatic cancer in a nationwide population-based cohort study with 7.4 million Korean subjects.

Background: Large-scale epidemiological studies on pancreatic cancer in non-Western populations are insufficient. We investigated the risk factors for pancreatic cancer.

Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance database, subjects who participated in the health examination program between 2005 and 2006 were identified and followed up until 2017.

A simple and efficient cryopreservation method for mouse small intestinal and colon organoids for regenerative medicine.

Organoid cryopreservation method is one of key step in the organoid culture. We aimed to establish a simple and efficient cryopreservation method for mouse small intestinal organoids (MIOs) and colon organoids (MCOs) using various concentrations of cryoprotectant. Based on the theoretical simulation, we optimized the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) concentration by pretreating the organoids with 5, 7.

The Associations of Tonsillectomy with Adenoidectomy with Pneumonia and Appendicitis Based on National Sample Cohort Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service.

 The association between tonsillectomy with adenoidectomy (T&A) with appendicitis is controversial, and the association of T&A with pneumonia has not been investigated.  To investigate the associations of T&A with pneumonia and appendicitis using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort.  We selected patients between the ages of 3 and 10 years who had undergone T&A in 2005 and were monitored since the performance of the T&A until 2013.

Viscous Cervical Environment-on-a-Chip for Selecting High-Quality Sperm from Human Semen.

When ejaculated sperm travels through the vagina to the uterus, mucus secreted by the cervical canal generally filters out sperm having low motility and poor morphology. To investigate this selection principle in vivo, we developed a microfluidic sperm-sorting chip with a viscous medium (polyvinylpyrrolidone: PVP) to imitate the biophysical environment mimic system of the human cervical canal. The material property of the PVP solution was tuned to the range of viscosities of cervical mucus using micro-viscometry.

Improved conditions of a whole testis organ culture system in terms of spermatogonial proliferation levels in marine medaka (Oryzias dancena).

In vitro spermatogenesis can be performed for marine medaka (Oryzias dancena) via whole testis organ cultures, but spermatogenesis could only be maintained during the early phase of culturing, suggesting that the culture conditions can be further optimized. To improve the culture conditions, we examined the effects of culture temperature, basal media, and medium supplements on spermatogonial proliferation levels during whole testis organ culturing by BrdU incorporation assays. Our results show that a 30°C culture temperature negatively affected spermatogonial proliferation compared to 26°C and 28°C and that the use of Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium and Minimum Essential Medium α (α-MEM) was more effective for spermatogonial proliferation than the use of Leibovitz's L-15 Medium (L15).

Association between Moving to a High-Volume Hospital in the Capital Area and the Mortality among Patients with Cancer: A Large Population-Based Cohort Study.

This study aimed to identify the association between moving to a high-volume hospital and the mortality of patients with cancer living in the district. The study population comprised participants diagnosed with cancer within the past nine years (2004-2012). The final sample included 8197 patients with cancer, 3939 were males (48.

The effect of tonsillectomy with adenoidectomy on medical services used in association with otitis media based on Korean national sample cohort data.

Background: The effect of tonsillectomy with adenoidectomy (T&A) on otitis media has been investigated, but there have been no reports of the relationship between T&A and medical services used in association with otitis media. We investigated the effect of T&A on otitis media with regard to the number and cost of medical services used.

Methods: From the National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort data in Korea, we selected patients 7 years old or younger in 2002 who had T&A in 2005 while between the ages of three and ten.

Small Molecule Destabilizer of β-Catenin and Ras Proteins Antagonizes Growth of K-Ras Mutation-Driven Colorectal Cancers Resistant to EGFR Inhibitors.

Background: Oncogenic K-Ras mutations in colorectal cancer (CRC) combined with APC mutations worsen CRC prognosis and lower drug effectiveness. Thus, inhibition of both Wnt/β-catenin and Ras-MAPK signaling may be a rational strategy to improve the treatment of this cancer.

Objective: To identify a novel compound inhibiting both Wnt/β-catenin and Ras-MAPK signaling in CRC.

Smoking cessation is related to change in metabolic syndrome onset: A rural cohort study.

Introduction: Relatively few, mainly cross-sectional, studies have examined the relationship between smoking cessation and metabolic syndrome (MetS). In particular, information on smoking cessation after MetS is limited. This study aimed to investigate the probability of smoking cessation after the onset of MetS.

Application of an S-layer protein as a self-aggregating tag for cost-effective separation of recombinant human and yeast D-amino acid oxidases in the aqueous two-phase system.

Objective: To evaluate whether the surface layer (S-layer) protein of Lactobacillus brevis serves as a self-aggregating protein tag for cost-effective separation of human and yeast D-amino acid oxidases (hDAAO and yDAAO) expressed in E. coli.

Results: In aqueous two-phase (PEG-phosphate) system, the S-layer:DAAO fusion proteins (shDAAO and syDAAO) were separated at the interface with a recovery of 82 ± 10.

Differential characterization of hepatic tumors in MR imaging by burst-released Mn-ions from hollow manganese-silicate nanoparticles in the liver.

Gd-based contrast agents monopolize in the clinical MR imaging-based diagnosis of hepatic tumors, however, the inherent toxicity by the released Gd-ions triggered an urgent demand for safer alternatives. Here, we demonstrate hollow manganese silicate nanoparticles (HMS), which exert burst-release of Mn-ions by switching to physiological acidic condition, exhibiting high effectiveness in hepatic tumor characterization as liver-specific MR contrast agent through the in-depth in vivo MR imaging study and immunohistochemical investigations with three hepatic tumor models (e.g.

Differences between the effects of conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes and dual product use on urine cotinine levels.

Introduction: The goal of this study was to evaluate the differences in urine cotinine (UC) concentration based on the use of conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes (ECs), and dual product use, and determine the use of ECs in the real world.

Methods: In total, 15099 subjects were classified into non-smokers, cigarette smokers (c-smokers), e-cigarette smokers (e-smokers), and dual users, and their UC (a classical biomarker of smoking) values were compared. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed after adjusting for age, sex and job status to analyze the differences in UC concentration in relation to type of smoking.

Association between health status and tooth loss in Korean adults: longitudinal results from the National Health Insurance Service-Health Examinee Cohort, 2002-2015.

Purpose: This study investigated the association between health status and tooth loss based on data from the National Health Insurance Service-Health Examinee Cohort in 2002-2015.

Methods: Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were applied to a longitudinal retrospective database, which was updated and newly released in 2018, to assess the association between health status and tooth loss while adjusting for potential confounders among sociodemographic and economic factors (sex, age, household income, insurance, and presence of disability), general and oral health status (body mass index [BMI], smoking and drinking status, periodic dental visits and scaling, and brushing before sleep), and comorbid disease (hypertension, diabetes mellitus [DM], and Charlson comorbidity index [CCI]).

Results: Among 514,866 participants from a South Korean population, 234,247 (45.