Chronic Kidney Disease and Infection Risk: A Lower Incidence of Peritonsillar Abscesses in Specific CKD Subgroups in a 16-Year Korean Nationwide Cohort Study.

Peritonsillar abscesses and deep neck infection are potentially serious infections among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), posing risks for severe complications and drawing significant public health concern. This nationwide, population-based longitudinal study (2002-2019) assessed the extended relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the likelihood of peritonsillar abscess and deep neck infection in a Korean cohort. Using a 1:4 propensity score overlap-weighted matching, we included 16,879 individuals with CKD and 67,516 comparable controls, accounting for demographic variables and comorbidities to ensure balanced group comparisons.

Co-occurrence patterns between Chlorophyta and nucleocytoplasmic large DNA virus in coastal ecosystem, South Korea.

Nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs) are known to infect phytoplankton and play a significant role in regulating their population dynamics. In this study, we aimed to investigate the co-occurrence patterns between phytoplankton and NCLDVs in the southern coastal ecosystem of South Korea. We collected seawater every month from March 2018 to December 2020 and analyzed the samples using Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I metabarcoding and metagenomic analyses.

Effects of genetic mutations on left ventricular myocardial mechanics and fibrosis patterns in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Myocyte disarray and fibrosis are underlying pathologies of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) caused by genetic mutations. However, the extent of their contributions has not been extensively evaluated. In this study, we investigated the effects of genetic mutations on myofiber function and fibrosis patterns in HCM.

12-year cumulative incidence rate of rare retinal diseases: a nationwide study in Korea.

Purpose: Understanding the incidence of rare diseases is important in establishing a proper public health care system and setting target diseases in medical research. Herein, we report the 12-year cumulative incidence of seven rare ocular diseases of the retina in South Korea.

Methods: We analysed clinical records of 1,126,250 South Korean population during 2006~2019.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Extract in -Stimulated RAW 264.7 Cells.

has been used both as a food and in traditional medicine. However, its anti-inflammatory effects in periodontal diseases have not been studied. We examined the anti-inflammatory properties of extract in RAW 264.

Effects of national health benefits expansion policy on out-of-pocket payments and utilization of patients with four major catastrophic diseases.

Background: As South Korea achieved universal health care (UHC) in 1989, patients' access to low-cost health services has highly increased. However, as liability for high-cost procedures is still high, patients' accessibility to high-cost services is has been limited. For this reason, the Korean government has implemented an initiative of the "Mid-term Health Benefits Security Plan" to expand the health benefits coverage since 2005.

Percutaneous Embolization of Anastomotic Leakage Following Total Gastrectomy with Esophagojejunostomy using N-Butyl-2-Cyanoacrylate Glue: A Case Report.

Total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy is a common surgical treatment for early gastric cancer; however, postoperative complications such as anastomotic leaks remain a serious risk. This report details a 59-year-old female who underwent total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy for early gastric cancer, followed by percutaneous embolization for esophagojejunal (EJ) anastomotic leakage. Despite initial percutaneous drainage for fluid accumulation at the EJ site, subsequent CT revealed significant anastomotic dehiscence.

Isosteric 3D Bicyclo[1.1.1]Pentane (BCP) Core-Based Lipids for mRNA Delivery and CRISPR/Cas Gene Editing.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are an essential component of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines and genome editing therapeutics. Ionizable amino lipids, which play the most crucial role in enabling mRNA to overcome delivery barriers, have, to date, been restricted to two-dimensional (2D) architectures. Inspired by improved physicochemical properties resulting from the incorporation of three-dimensionality (3D) into small-molecule drugs, we report the creation of 3D ionizable lipid designs through the introduction of bicyclo[1.

Control of Cucumber Powdery Mildew Using Resistant Cultivars and Organic Agricultural Materials.

This study evaluated the efficacy of various inorganic materials, biological control agents, organic agricultural materials (OAMs), and essential oils for controlling cucumber powdery mildew (CPM) under greenhouse conditions. Treatments included silicate, bicarbonate, copper sulfate, sulfurbased compounds, Bacillus subtilis KB-401, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens M27, Bordeaux mixtures, chitosan combined with oxidated copper salt, chitooligosaccharides, and essential oils such as castor and rapeseed oil with lecithin. Results demonstrated that Bordeaux mixtures, particularly Bordeaux Mixture I, and sulfur-based compounds provided the most reliable CPM control among inorganic materials.

Diet-induced obesity and aging-induced upregulation of Trib3 interfere with energy homeostasis by downregulating the thermogenic capacity of BAT.

Characterized by UCP1 expression and abundant mitochondria, brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a crucial role in energy balance by converting chemical energy into heat through the cost of ATP production. In this study, it was demonstrated that Trib3 is a critical determinant of BAT-mediated energy expenditure and whole-body energy homeostasis. Under 60% high-fat diet conditions, Trib3 expression in BAT was elevated.

Identification of essential genes for Acanthamoeba castellanii excystation during encystation and excystation.

Acanthamoeba is an opportunistic pathogen that causes Acanthamoeba keratitis, granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, and other cutaneous diseases. The life cycle of Acanthamoeba consists of 2 stages of trophozoites and cysts. Under adverse environmental conditions, Acanthamoeba encysts, while the conditions become favorable for growth, it reverts to the trophozoite form.

Anti-necroptotic effects of human Wharton's jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells in skeletal muscle cell death model via secretion of GRO-α.

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have therapeutic applications and potential for use in regenerative medicine. However, the use of hMSCs in research and clinical medicine is limited by a lack of information pertaining to their donor-specific functional attributes. In this study, we compared the characteristics of same-donor derived placenta (PL) and Wharton's jelly (WJ)-derived hMSCs, we also compared their mechanism of action in a skeletal muscle disease in vitro model.

The Potential Utility of (2S,4R)-4-[F]fluoroglutamine as a Novel Metabolic Imaging Marker for Inflammation Explored by Rat Models of Arthritis and Paw Edema.

Purpose: (2S,4R)-4-[F]fluoroglutamine ([F]FGln) is a promising metabolic imaging marker in cancer. Based on the fact that major inflammatory cells are heavily dependent on glutamine metabolism like cancer cells, we explored the potential utility of [F]FGln as a metabolic imaging marker for inflammation in two rat models: carrageenan-induced paw edema (CIPE) and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

Procedures: The CIPE model (n = 4) was generated by injecting 200 µL of 3% carrageenan solution into the left hind paw three hours before the PET.

Lactobacillus paragasseri SBT2055 attenuates obesity via the adipose tissue-muscle-gut axis in obese mice.

The anti-obesity effects of Lactobacillus paragasseri (L. paragasseri) have been reported, but the exact mechanisms have not been elucidated. There are also no reports on the impact of L.

[C]PS13 Demonstrates Pharmacologically Selective and Substantial Binding to Cyclooxygenase-1 in the Human Brain.

Our laboratory recently developed [C]PS13 as a PET radioligand to selectively measure cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1). The cyclooxygenase enzyme family converts arachidonic acid into prostaglandins and thromboxanes, which mediate inflammation. The total brain uptake of [C]PS13, which is composed of both specific binding and background uptake, can be accurately quantified with gold standard methods of compartmental modeling.

Herbal medicine for the treatment of non-erosive reflux disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) is the most prevalent gastroesophageal reflux disease. Currently, proton pump inhibitors are the most commonly used treatment for NERD. Recently, the demand for herbal medicines with relatively few side effects is increasing and trials confirming the effectiveness and safety of herbal medicines for the treatment of NERD have been conducted.

Relationship between HECTD4 gene variants, obesity, and coffee consumption.

Background: In genome-wide association studies, the HECT domain E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase 4 (HECTD4) gene was suggested to be associated with obesity-related traits and coffee consumption. However, the association of genetic variants between coffee consumption and obesity has not been tested in Koreans. Therefore, we investigated whether HECTD4 gene variants act as effect modifiers on the relationship between obesity and coffee.

Evaluation of Reusable Thermal Protection System Materials Using a High-Velocity Oxygen Fuel Torch.

We studied a candidate TPS (thermal protection system) material for reusable re-entry space vehicle applications. The material was based on a high-temperature-resistant material called Cerakwool. A total of six specimens were fabricated with substrate densities of 0.

Concordant and discordant breast density patterns by different approaches for assessing breast density and breast cancer risk.

Purpose: To examine the discrepancy in breast density assessments by radiologists, LIBRA software, and AI algorithm and their association with breast cancer risk.

Methods: Among 74,610 Korean women aged ≥ 34 years, who underwent screening mammography, density estimates obtained from both LIBRA and the AI algorithm were compared to radiologists using BI-RADS density categories (A-D, designating C and D as dense breasts). The breast cancer risks were compared according to concordant or discordant dense breasts identified by radiologists, LIBRA, and AI.

Accelerated bone loss in late reproductive-aged and perimenopausal women with vitamin D insufficiency.

Introduction: The association between serum vitamin D levels and bone mineral density (BMD) varies by race and gender. This study aimed to evaluate this relationship between serum vitamin D levels and BMD, and changes of BMD over time in Korean women.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed data from 586 generally healthy Korean women aged 29-79 who underwent health check-ups at Seoul National University Gangnam Center between 2010 and 2011 (baseline measurement) and 2015-2016 (follow-up).