Pharmaceuticals in raw and treated water from drinking water treatment plants nationwide: Insights into their sources and exposure risk assessment.

Due to the large amounts of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) currently being consumed and released into the environment, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of pharmaceutical pollution in both raw and treated water from full-scale drinking water treatment plants nationwide. Our investigation revealed that 30 out of 37 PPCPs were present in raw water with mean concentrations ranging from 0.01-131 ng/L.

Comparative study on Perfluoro(2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic) acid removal by quaternary ammonium functionalized silica gel and granular activated carbon from batch and column experiments and molecular simulation-based interpretation.

Removing perfluoro(2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic) acid (HFPO-DA) in water treatment is hindered by its hydrophobicity and negative charge. Two adsorbents, quaternary-ammonium-functionalized silica gel (Qgel), specifically designed for anionic hydrophobic compounds, and conventional granular activated carbon (GAC) were investigated for HFPO-DA removal. ANOVA results (p ≪ 0.

Determination of the Combined Effects of Asian Herbal Medicine with Calcium and/or Vitamin D Supplements on Bone Mineral Density in Primary Osteoporosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Unlabelled: Our review of 52 RCTs from 5 databases suggests a tendency for notable improvement in BMD when combining herbal medicine with supplements (calcium and vitamin D variants) compared to supplement monotherapy in primary osteoporosis. However, caution is needed in interpreting results due to substantial heterogeneity among included studies.

Purpose: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether herbal medicine (HM) plus supplements such as calcium (Ca) or vitamin D (Vit.

Preclinical Study on Biodistribution of Mesenchymal Stem Cells after Local Transplantation into the Brain.

Therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is determined by biodistribution and engraftment . Compared to intravenous infusion, biodistribution of locally transplanted MSCs are partially understood. Here, we performed a pharmacokinetics (PK) study of MSCs after local transplantation.

Enhanced antitumor efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells expressing cytosine deaminase and 5-fluorocytosine combined with α-galactosylceramide in a colon cancer model.

Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach for treating various malignancies. In this study, we investigated the combined therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cells expressing cytosine deaminase (MSC/CD) and 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) with α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) in a colon cancer model. Our findings demonstrated that the combination of MSC/CD, 5-FC, and α-GalCer resulted in enhanced antitumor activity compared to the individual treatments.

THOC2 expression and its impact on 5-fluorouracil resistance in glioblastoma multiforme.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. While 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has not been widely employed in GBM therapy, emerging research indicates its potential for effectiveness when combined with advanced drug delivery systems to improve its transport to brain tumors. This study aims to investigate the role of THOC2 expression in 5-FU resistance in GBM cell lines.

Assessment of Risks and Benefits of Using Antibiotics Resistance Genes in Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Therapy.

Recently, gene therapy has emerged as a promising approach to enhance the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by introducing functional genes . Here, we explored the need of using selection markers to increase the gene delivery efficiency and evaluated the potential risks associated with their use in the manufacturing process. We used MSCs/CD that carry the cytosine deaminase gene (CD) as a therapeutic gene and a puromycin resistance gene () as a selection marker.

Analysis of prognostic factors through survival rate analysis of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients treated at the National Cancer Center: 20 years of experience.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the clinicopathological prognostic factors affecting the survival of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients with OSCC who received treatment at the Oral Oncology Clinic of the National Cancer Center (NCC) from June 2001 to December 2020. The patients' sex, age, primary site, T stage, node metastasis, TNM staging, perineural invasion (PNI), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), differentiation, surgical resection margin, smoking, and drinking habits were investigated to analyze risk factors.

No evidence of delay in colorectal cancer diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in Gwangju and Jeonnam, Korea.

Objectives: We evaluated whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused delays in the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Korea, where there have been no regional or hospital lockdowns during the pandemic period.

Methods: Data on CRC patients (n=1,445) diagnosed in Gwangju Metropolitan City and Jeonnam Province between January 2019 and December 2021 were assessed. The stage at the time of CRC diagnosis, route to diagnosis, time to initial cancer treatment, and length of hospital admission were compared before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Treatment outcomes and prognostic factors in oral tongue cancer: a 20-year retrospective study at the National Cancer Center, South Korea.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the treatment outcomes and to evaluate the clinicopathological prognostic factors of oral tongue cancer. Patients and.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed treatment results and prognostic factors in 205 patients with oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma who were admitted to the National Cancer Center, South Korea, between January 2001 and December 2020.

Therapeutic Potential of Phlorotannin-Rich Extract on Methylglyoxal-Induced Diabetic Nephropathy in In Vitro Model.

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) play a vital role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Methylglyoxal (MGO), one of the major precursors of AGEs, is a highly reactive dicarbonyl compound that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. This study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of phlorotannin-rich extract (ECE) on MGO-induced diabetic nephropathy in in vitro models using mouse glomerular mesangial cells.

Improving the Safety of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Therapy Using Herpes Simplex Virus Thymidine Kinase.

Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that have been intensively studied as therapeutic tools for a variety of disorders. To enhance the efficacy of MSCs, therapeutic genes are introduced using retroviral and lentiviral vectors. However, serious adverse events (SAEs) such as tumorigenesis can be induced by insertional mutagenesis.

Revisiting Thin-Layer Electrochemistry in a Chip-Type Cell for the Study of Electro-organic Reactions.

It is important but challenging to elucidate the electrochemical reaction mechanisms of organic compounds using electroanalytical methods. Particularly, a rapid and straightforward method that provides information on reaction intermediates or other key electrochemical parameters may be useful. In this work, we exploited the advantages of classic thin-layer electrochemistry to develop a thin-layer electroanalysis microchip (TEAM).

Exploring a Fuzzy Rule Inferred ConvLSTM for Discovering and Adjusting the Optimal Posture of Patients with a Smart Medical Bed.

Several countries nowadays are facing a tough social challenge caused by the aging population. This public health issue continues to impose strain on clinical healthcare, such as the need to prevent terminal patients' pressure ulcers. Provocative approaches to resolve this issue include health information technology (HIT).

Sirtuin inhibition leads to autophagy and apoptosis in porcine preimplantation blastocysts.

Sirtuins are nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dependent class III histone deacetylase proteins that play a crucial role in several cellular processes, including DNA repair, apoptosis, and lifespan. Previous studies have shown that sirtuin inhibition leads to embryonic developmental arrest and oxidative stress in porcine and murine. However, sirtuin-mediated mechanisms have not been examined in porcine preimplantation blastocysts.

Difference of stage at cancer diagnosis by socioeconomic status for four target cancers of the National Cancer Screening Program in Korea: Results from the Gwangju and Jeonnam cancer registries.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether stage at cancer diagnosis differed according to patient economic status.

Methods: A total of 10,528 patients with cancer of the stomach, colorectum, breast, or cervix, which are target organs of the Korean National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP; fully implemented in 2005) were extracted from population-based cancer registries. The patients were classified into four groups based on socioeconomic status (SES), as determined using their National Health Insurance (NHI) monthly premium at the time of cancer diagnosis.

The effect of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation inhibition on the porcine cumulus-oocyte complex during in vitro maturation.

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) plays important roles in DNA repair, apoptosis, transcriptional regulation, and cell death, and occurs via the activity of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs). Previous studies have shown that PARylation affects mouse and porcine pre-implantation development and participates in mechanisms of autophagy. However, there have not yet been reported the role of PARylation during in vitro maturation (IVM) of porcine oocytes.

Increased IL-17 and 22 mRNA expression in pediatric patients with otitis media with effusion.

Objectives: Middle ear effusion has been reported to be associated with immune responses in patients with otitis media with effusion (OME). Although various cytokines are involved in immunologic responses in patients with OME, no study to date has assessed the involvement of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-22. This study analyzed the levels of expression of IL-17 and IL-22 in the middle ear effusion of patients with OME.

The regulation of autophagy in porcine blastocysts: Regulation of PARylation-mediated autophagy via mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling.

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) acts as a modulator of selective autophagic degradation of ubiquitinated aggregates for cellular quality control, functioning in pro-survival role. It was reported previously that the inhibition of PARylation resulted in autophagy defects leading accumulation of ubiquitinated aggregates SQSTM1/p62 and apoptosis in porcine blastocysts. Thus, this study aims to investigate the mechanism between PARylation and autophagy in porcine blastocysts.