Aspergillus nidulans cell wall integrity kinase, MpkA, impacts cellular phenotypes that alter mycelial-material mechanical properties.

Mycelial materials are an emerging, natural material made from filamentous fungi that have the potential to replace unsustainable materials used in numerous commercial applications (e.g., packaging, textiles, construction).

Protein kinases MpkA and SepH transduce crosstalk between CWI and SIN pathways to activate protective hyphal septation under echinocandin cell wall stress.

Unlabelled: This study investigates a previously unreported stress signal transduced as crosstalk between the cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway and the septation initiation network (SIN). Echinocandins, which target cell wall synthesis, are widely used to treat mycoses. Their efficacy, however, is species specific.

Moderate hypothermia circulatory arrest as a brain-protective strategy for type A aortic dissection.

Objectives: Brain-protective strategies for acute type A aortic dissection (TAAD) remain controversial. Moderate hypothermia circulatory arrest (MHCA) without cerebral perfusion is not commonly used. However, we aimed to assess its safety and efficacy in 358 patients who underwent hemiarch replacement with MHCA for acute type A aortic dissection at our institution from August 2012 to August 2022.

Mechanisms of Plasma Ozone and UV-C Sterilization of SARS-CoV-2 Explored through Atomic Force Microscopy.

Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) radiation and ozone gas are potential mechanisms employed to inactivate the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), each exhibiting distinct molecular-level modalities of action. To elucidate these disparities and deepen our understanding, we delve into the intricacies of SARS-CoV-2 inactivation via UV-C and ozone gas treatments, exploring their distinct molecular-level impacts utilizing a suite of advanced techniques, including biological atomic force microscopy (Bio-AFM) and single virus force spectroscopy (SVFS). Whereas UV-C exhibited no perceivable alterations in virus size or surface topography, ozone gas treatment elucidated pronounced changes in both parameters, intensifying with prolonged exposure.

Substantiation and Effectiveness of Remote Monitoring System Based on IoMT Using Portable ECG Device.

Cardiovascular disease is a major global health concern, with early detection being critical. This study assesses the effectiveness of a portable ECG device, based on Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) technology, for remote cardiovascular monitoring during daily activities. We conducted a clinical trial involving 2000 participants who wore the HiCardi device while engaging in hiking activities.

Analysis of Active Components and Transcriptome of Callus Extract and Its Effects against Oxidative Stress and Wrinkles in Skin.

(FR), a perennial flower of the Iris family (Iridaceae), is widely used in cosmetics despite limited scientific evidence of its skin benefits and chemical composition, particularly of FR callus extract (FCE). This study identified biologically active compounds in FCE and assessed their skin benefits, focusing on anti-aging. FR calli were cultured, extracted with water at 40 °C, and analyzed using Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and HCA, revealing key compounds, namely nicotinamide and pyroglutamic acid.

Surgical repair for primary tricuspid regurgitation related to trauma.

Unlabelled: We report a case of a 45-year-old man presenting with tachycardia and palpitation. Echocardiography indicated severe tricuspid regurgitation. We suspected traumatic tricuspid damage due to high energy trauma in a motor vehicle accident 17 years earlier.

Offshore MTDC Transmission Expansion for Renewable Energy Scale-up in Korean Power System: DC Highway.

In this study, we analyzed the impact of multi-terminal direct current (MTDC) system on the integration of renewable energy resources into the Korean power system. Due to the large-scale renewable energy plants planned to be integrated into the power system, line congestion is expected in the southern part of power system. Given the difficulty in constructing AC transmission lines due to social conflicts, we proposed an alternative solution using an offshore multi-terminal DC offshore transmission system.

Effectiveness and Safety of Acupotomy Treatment on Shoulder Pain: 25 Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Objective: Shoulder pain is a common complaint in outpatient clinics and can result in an inability to work or perform household activities, leading to significant socioeconomic burden. Acupotomy, as one kind acupuncture that has flat knife-shaped tip, has been widely used for treating shoulder pain. However, despite the widespread use of acupotomy in primary medical institutions, large sample size clinical trials have not sufficiently been performed.

Review of North Korean Reports on Cardiovascular Disease Research and Management.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the quality of medical care in North Korea using data from North Korean medical research.

Materials And Methods: This study included publications containing the keyword "medical" among North Korea's consecutive publications and selected 415 papers related to heart disease, brain disease, and emergency medical care published at The North Korean Data Center of the Ministry of Unification (https://unibook.unikorea.

Carbamate JNK3 Inhibitors Show Promise as Effective Treatments for Alzheimer's Disease: In Vivo Studies on Mouse Models.

We have been developing new inhibitors for c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 (JNK3) as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We identified potential JNK3 inhibitors through pharmacodynamic optimization studies, including benzimidazole compounds and , but their unreliable pharmacokinetic properties led us to develop carbamate inhibitors and . In vitro studies validated carbamate inhibitors and as potent and highly selective JNK3 inhibitors with favorable pharmacokinetic profiles.

Novel rAAV vector mediated intrathecal HGF delivery has an impact on neuroimmune modulation in the ALS motor cortex with TDP-43 pathology.

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-based gene therapies offer an immense opportunity for rare diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is defined by the loss of the upper and the lower motor neurons. Here, we describe generation, characterization, and utilization of a novel vector system, which enables expression of the active form of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) under EF-1α promoter with bovine growth hormone (bGH) poly(A) sequence and is effective with intrathecal injections. HGF's role in promoting motor neuron survival had been vastly reported.

Reversible flowering of CuO nanoclusters via conversion reaction for dual-ion Li metal batteries.

Dual-ion Li metal batteries based on non-flammable SO-in-salt inorganic electrolytes ( Li-SO batteries) offer high safety and energy density. The use of cupric oxide (CuO) as a self-activating cathode material achieves a high specific capacity with cost-effective manufacturing in Li-SO batteries, but its cycle retention performance deteriorates owing to the significant morphological changes of the cathode active materials. Herein, we report the catalytic effect of carbonaceous materials used in the cathode material of Li-SO batteries, which act as templates to help recrystallize the active materials in the activation and conversion reactions.

Protective effect of 7-hydroxyl-1-methylindole-3-acetonitrile on the intestinal mucosal damage response to inflammation in mice with DSS-induced colitis.

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a pathological condition of inflammatory bowel disease, is a chronic inflammatory disorder that involves an abnormal immune response and epithelial barrier dysfunction. Although we have previously reported the anti-inflammatory effects of 7-hydroxyl-1-methylindole-3-acetonitrile (7-HMIA), a synthesized analog of arvelexin on macrophages and paw edema, its anti-colitis effect and its mechanism are not known. In this study, colitis was induced in mice model by 4% (w/v) dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) solution in drinking water for 9 days.

Impairment of peripheral nerve regeneration by insufficient activation of the HGF/c-Met/c-Jun pathway in aged mice.

Aging in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) leads to its dysfunction and lowers regenerative capacity after injury. Based on the pro-regenerative effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in injured peripheral nerves, we investigated whether this growth factor is involved in the age-related degeneration of the PNS. We observed that the capacity for nerve regeneration was significantly reduced under aging conditions as indicated by the decreased level of SCG10-positive axons.

Discovery of novel imidazole chemotypes as isoform-selective JNK3 inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Despite innumerable efforts to develop effective therapeutics, it is difficult to achieve breakthrough treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the main reason is probably the absence of a clear target. Here, we reveal c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 (JNK3), a protein kinase explicitly expressed in the brain and involved in neuronal apoptosis, with a view toward providing effective treatment for AD. For many years, we have worked on JNK3 inhibitors and have discovered 2-aryl-1-pyrimidinyl-1H-imidazole-5-yl acetonitrile-based JNK3 inhibitors with superb potency (IC < 1.

Deep Learning for Automatic Detection of Periodic Limb Movement Disorder Based on Electrocardiogram Signals.

In this study, a deep learning model (deepPLM) is shown to automatically detect periodic limb movement syndrome (PLMS) based on electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. The designed deepPLM model consists of four 1D convolutional layers, two long short-term memory units, and a fully connected layer. The Osteoporotic Fractures in Men sleep (MrOS) study dataset was used to construct the model, including training, validating, and testing the model.

Gabapentin inhibits the analgesic effects and nerve regeneration process induced by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in a peripheral nerve injury model: Implication for the use of VM202 and gabapentinoids for peripheral neuropathy.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a multifunctional protein that plays a critical role in the angiogenic, neurotrophic, antifibrotic, and antiapoptotic activities of various cell types. It has been previously reported that intramuscular injection of pCK-HGF-X7 (or VM202), a plasmid DNA designed to express both native isoforms of human HGF (Pyun et al., 2010), significantly reduced the level of neuropathic pain in clinical studies as well as in a variety of animal models.

Effective Prevention and Management Tools for Metabolic Syndrome Based on Digital Health-Based Lifestyle Interventions Using Healthcare Devices.

Digital health-based lifestyle interventions (e.g., mobile applications, short messaging service, wearable devices, social media, and interactive websites) are widely used to manage metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Construction of Plasmid DNA Expressing Two Isoforms of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 and Its Effects on Skeletal Muscle Injury Models.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) plays a significant role in the development of various organs, and several studies have suggested that IGF-1 isoforms, IGF-1 Ea and IGF-1 Ec, are expressed in skeletal muscle to control its growth. In this study, we designed a novel nucleotide sequence, IGF-1-X10, consisting of IGF-1 exons and introns to simultaneously express both IGF-1 Ea and IGF-1 Ec. When transfected into human cells, the expression of both isoforms was observed at the transcript and protein levels.

An Agonistic Monoclonal Antibody Targeting cMet Attenuates Inflammation and Up-Regulates Collagen Synthesis and Angiogenesis in Type 2 Diabetic Mice Wounds.

Background: Diabetic wounds account for 25 to 50 percent of total diabetic health care costs annually, and present overall healing rates of less than 50 percent. Because delayed diabetic wound healing is associated with impaired fibroblast function, the authors hypothesize that tyrosine kinase Met (cMet) agonistic monoclonal antibody will promote diabetic wound healing by means of stable activation of hepatocyte growth factor/cMet signaling.

Methods: Two 6-mm dorsal wounds were created in each mouse (6-week-old, male BKS.

Intramuscular injection of a plasmid DNA vector expressing hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) ameliorated pain symptoms by controlling the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the dorsal root ganglion.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a secretory protein that is involved in various biological activities such as angiogenesis, neuroprotection, and anti-inflammatory effects. Intramuscular injection of an HGF-encoding plasmid DNA (pCK-HGF-X7) has been shown to produce pain-relieving effects in a rodent model and patients with neuropathic pain.To further investigate the underlying mechanism, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of HGF in the context of neuropathic pain.

A Virtual-Reality Imaging Analysis of the Dynamic Aortic Root Anatomy.

Purpose: To measure and explore complex cardiac anatomy in research and preoperative simulation, a virtual imaging technology-the Vesalius 3D suite (PS Medtech, Amsterdam, Netherlands)-combines Vesalius three-dimensional (3D) image-processing software with an optic-tracking navigation system running PST-Client software. We present a novel method of evaluating dynamic aortic root geometry in vivo using this visualization system.

Description: Based on electrocardiography-gated cardiac computed tomography data in systole and diastole, images of the aortic root in a healthy adult were reconstructed for 3D visualization.

Mutation-Based Antibiotic Resistance Mechanism in Methicillin-Resistant Clinical Isolates.

β-Lactam antibiotics target penicillin-binding proteins and inhibit the synthesis of peptidoglycan, a crucial step in cell wall biosynthesis. acquires resistance against β-lactam antibiotics by producing a penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), encoded by the gene. PBP2a participates in peptidoglycan biosynthesis and exhibits a poor affinity towards β-lactam antibiotics.