Leveraging High-Resolution Satellite-Derived NO Estimates to Evaluate NO Exposure Representativeness and Socioeconomic Disparities.

Research has typically estimated NO concentrations over several kilometers; thus, NO data at finer spatial resolution remain limited. This study used tropospheric NO data from the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) and traffic-related land use parameters to estimate long-term average NO concentrations at a spatial resolution of 500 m in South Korea from 2018 to 2022. Our satellite-land use hybrid regression model showed reasonably high predictability with a cross-validation of 0.

Capabilities of satellite Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS) NO data for hourly ambient NO exposure modeling.

The Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS) is the world's first geostationary instrument that monitors hourly gaseous air pollutant levels, including nitrogen dioxide (NO). Using the first-of-its-kind capabilities of GEMS NO data, we examined how well GEMS NO levels can explain the spatiotemporal variabilities in hourly NO concentrations in the Republic of Korea for the year 2022. A correlation analysis between hourly GEMS NO levels and ground NO concentrations showed a higher spatial correlation [Pearson r = 0.

Ambient PM exposure and rapid population aging: A double threat to public health in the Republic of Korea.

Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤2.5 μm (PM) can infiltrate deep into the respiratory system, posing significant health risks. Notably, the health burden of PM is more pronounced among the older adult population.

Ecological predictors of cultural competence among nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit: A cross-sectional descriptive study.

Active migration and globalization have led to increased opportunities for critical care nurses to care for patients from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds. This study thus aimed to identify the individual, interpersonal, and organizational factors affecting cultural competence levels among neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses based on an ecological model. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that included 135 NICU nurses in South Korea.

Microstructure of the corneal endothelial transition zone in different laboratory animals.

Purpose: To compare the microstructure of the corneal endothelial transition zone in different laboratory animals.

Methods: Flat-mount corneas of rabbits, rats, and mice were stained with Alizarin Red S (ARS) and observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The progenitor cell markers p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), SRY-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9), leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5), telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), and proliferation marker K-67 were examined in the flat-mounted corneas of three laboratory animals using immunofluorescence microscopy.

Higher HbA1c Is Associated With Greater 2-Year Progression of White Matter Hyperintensities.

White matter hyperintensity (WMH) lesions on brain MRI images are surrogate markers of cerebral small vessel disease. Longitudinal studies examining the association between diabetes and WMH progression have yielded mixed results. Thus, in this study, we investigated the association between HbA1c, a biomarker for the presence and severity of hyperglycemia, and longitudinal WMH change after adjusting for known risk factors for WMH progression.

Non-papillary thyroid carcinoma diagnoses in The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology categories V and VI: An institutional experience.

Background: The non-papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) subgroups of The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) categories V (Suspicious for malignancy) and VI (Malignant) are rare, and specific tumor typing is difficult. We aimed to analyze histologic outcomes and to investigate the points of caution.

Methods: We reviewed the electronic database and identified 12,215 cases of thyroid fine-needle aspiration cytology between 2013 and 2022.

Precise base editing without unintended indels in human cells and mouse primary myoblasts.

Base editors are powerful tools for making precise single-nucleotide changes in the genome. However, they can lead to unintended insertions and deletions at the target sites, which is a significant limitation for clinical applications. In this study, we aimed to eliminate unwanted indels at the target sites caused by various evolved base editors.

and Galactooligosaccharide Improve Skin Barrier Dysfunction and Atopic Dermatitis-like Skin.

Purpose: The beneficial effects of a combination therapy using and galactooligosaccharide (GOS) for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) have not been elucidated.

Methods: Gene expressions of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and fecal abundance of . from 12-month-old infants were evaluated.

Brain parenchymal angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma and spinal myxoid mesenchymal tumor with FET: CREB fusion, a spectrum of the same tumor type.

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytomas (AFH) is a rare soft tissue tumor of intermediate malignant potential, and its histology is diverse. It can occur in several organs including intracranial and soft tissues. Here, we report two cases of brain parenchymal classic AFH and spinal extramedullary myxoid mesenchymal tumor with clinicopathological and molecular investigations by next-generation sequencing and a comprehensive review.

CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Protects from the A53T-SNCA Overexpression-Induced Pathology of Parkinson's Disease .

Mutations in specific genes, including synuclein alpha () that encodes the α-synuclein protein, are known to be risk factors for sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD), as well as critical factors for familial PD. In particular, A53T-mutated (A53T-SNCA) is a well-studied familial pathologic mutation in PD. However, techniques for deletion of the mutated gene have not been developed.

Eyebrow Transplantation Using Long Hair Follicular Unit Excision Technique.

Unlabelled: Long hair follicular unit excision (LHF) allows surgeons to fully visualize hair curliness, which is crucial in eyebrow transplantation where matching curliness is a matter of utmost importance. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical importance of LHF in eyebrow transplantation.

Methods: A total of 36 patients who had undergone eyebrow transplantation surgery with LHF were enrolled.

Cortical thickness is differently associated with ALDH2 rs671 polymorphism according to level of amyloid deposition.

Accumulating evidence indicates that amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition and biogenic aldehyde accumulation contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Human aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) metabolizes biogenic aldehydes produced in the brain to prevent damage. However, r671G>A, a single nucleotide polymorphism of ALDH2, causes aldehyde accumulation and decreased ALDH2 activity.

Automatic Quantification of Anterior Lamina Cribrosa Structures in Optical Coherence Tomography Using a Two-Stage CNN Framework.

In this study, we propose a new intelligent system to automatically quantify the morphological parameters of the lamina cribrosa (LC) of the optical coherence tomography (OCT), including depth, curve depth, and curve index from OCT images. The proposed system consisted of a two-stage deep learning (DL) model, which was composed of the detection and the segmentation models as well as a quantification process with a post-processing scheme. The models were used to solve the class imbalance problem and obtain Bruch's membrane opening (BMO) as well as anterior LC information.

Ergonomics in follicular unit excision surgery.

Background: Concentration and physical strength are essential for the long duration of hair transplant surgery. Because both the patient and the doctor must maintain certain postures for long periods, the importance of ergonomics cannot be understated.

Aims: To review the devices, instruments, and techniques developed for ergonomic follicular unit excision surgery, to present our experience with various ergonomic modifications, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the related devices, novel concepts, and methods.

Long hair follicular unit excision: personal experience.

Background: Long hair follicular unit excision (FUE) is the most state-of-the-art surgical technique in the field of hair transplantation surgery. Long hair FUE reduces the signs of surgery by camouflaging the recipient area with long hair, and allows hair curl identification when placing grafts. In addition, donor area shaving can be omitted.

Factors associated with ocular surface epithelial damage in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of systemic parameters, laboratory findings, oral parameters, and other ocular surface parameters on ocular surface epithelial damage in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).

Methods: A total of 82 dry eye disease (DED) patients with pSS were enrolled in this study. Ocular surface epithelial damage was measured by ocular staining score (OSS).

Chocolate consumption and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the Korean adult population: an analysis based on the 2014-2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background/objectives: Recent studies have reported chocolate consumption has beneficial effects on blood pressure, obesity, and dyslipidemia, which are components of metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, evidence regarding these relationships in Asia is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate relations between chocolate consumption and MetS in Korea.

Particulate matter causes skin barrier dysfunction.

The molecular mechanisms that underlie the detrimental effects of particulate matter (PM) on skin barrier function are poorly understood. In this study, the effects of PM2.5 on filaggrin (FLG) and skin barrier function were investigated in vitro and in vivo.