Cells regulate gene expression through various RNA regulatory mechanisms, and this regulation often becomes less efficient with age, contributing to accelerated aging and various age-related diseases. Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), a well-characterized RNA surveillance mechanism, degrades aberrant mRNAs with premature termination codons (PTCs) to prevent the synthesis of truncated proteins. While the role of NMD in cancer and developmental and genetic diseases is well documented, its implications in human aging remain largely unexplored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTWIK-1 belongs to the two-pore domain K (K2P) channel family, which plays an essential role in the background K conductance of cells. Despite the development of exon 2-deleted knockout (KO) mice, the physiological role of TWIK-1 has remained largely unknown. Here, we observed that the exon 2-deleted KO mice expressed an internally deleted TWIK-1 (TWIK-1 ΔEx2) protein, which unexpectedly acts as a functional K channel.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effect of solution pH on the formation and surface structure of 2-pyrazinethiolate (2-PyzS) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) formed by the adsorption of 2-mercaptopyrazine (2-PyzSH) on Au(111) was investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS). Molecular-scale STM observations clearly revealed that 2-PyzS SAMs at pH 2 had a short-range ordered phase of (2√3 × √21)R30° structure with a standing-up adsorption structure. However, 2-PyzS SAMs at pH 8 had a very unique long-range ordered phase, showing a "ladder-like molecular arrangement" with bright repeating rows.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe rapid rise in temperature due to climate change has raised concerns about its impact on the keystone species Crangon hakodatei in the East Sea of Korea. However, no studies have examined the population characteristics of C. hakodatei or its response to temperature change along the coast.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRing expansion metathesis polymerization (REMP) has emerged as a potent strategy for obtaining cyclic polymers over the past two decades. The scope of monomers, however, remains limited due to the poor functional group tolerance and stability of the catalyst, necessitating a rational catalyst design to address this constraint. Here, we present ruthenium complexes featuring tethered cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene ligands for REMP, aiming to deepen our understanding of the structure-property relationship in newly designed catalysts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Korean Society of Infectious Diseases has been regularly publishing guidelines for adult immunization since 2007. Following the release of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination recommendations in 2023, significant changes have occurred due to the emergence of new variant strains and the waning immunity from previous vaccinations. This article provides a comprehensive update as of November 2024, incorporating the latest evidence and guidelines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGermanium (Ge) colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) were synthesized by thermal decomposition of GeI using capping ligand mixtures of oleylamine (OAm), octadecene (ODE), and trioctylphosphine (TOP). Average diameters could be tuned across a wide range, from 3 to 18 nm, by adjusting reactant concentrations, heating rates, and reaction temperatures. OAm promotes decomposition of GeI to Ge and serves as a weakly bound capping ligand.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe development of efficient color conversion layers for μ-LED technology faces significant challenges owing to the limitations of materials that require binders. Binders are typically used to ensure uniform film formation in color-conversion layers, but they often cause optical losses, increase layer thickness, and introduce long-term stability issues. To address the limitations of materials requiring binders, cyclopropyltriphenylphosphonium manganese tetrabromide (CPTPMnBr) is synthesized, a novel lead-free metal halide.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe immune system continuously interacts with tumors, possibly leading to systemic alterations in circulating immune cells. However, the potential of these cancer-associated changes for diagnostic purposes remains poorly explored. To investigate this, we conducted a comprehensive flow cytometric analysis of 452 peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples from 206 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, 100 small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients, 94 healthy individuals, and 52 benign lung disease (BLD) patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdCLD-CoV19-1, a chimeric adenovirus-based severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine, was previously reported to elicit robust antibody responses in mice and non-human primates after a single dose. In this study, we conducted a systems serology analysis to investigate changes in humoral immune responses induced by varying doses of the AdCLD-CoV19-1 vaccine in a phase I clinical trial. Serum samples from participants receiving either a low or a high dose of the vaccine were analyzed for antibody features against prototype SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) domains (full-length S, S1, S2, and receptor binding domain), as well as Fc receptor binding and effector functions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExtracellular vesicles (EVs) are involved in cell-to-cell communication. Following uptake, EV cargo molecules, including DNA, RNA, lipids, and proteins, influence gene expression and molecular signaling in recipient cells. Although various studies have identified disease-specific EV molecules, further research into their biogenesis and secretion mechanisms is needed for clinical application.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aims: Self-expanding metal stents (SEMSs) are effective for symptom palliation in patients with esophageal obstruction. However, their placement can lead to adverse events such as stent migration and restenosis. A novel fully covered SEMS (FCSEMS) with antimigration properties has been developed to address these issues.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground/objectives: Recently, herbal medicines have gained attention for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a common disease in elderly men. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of ethanol extract of (EAR), which is traditionally used to treat various diseases, on BPH development using a testosterone-induced BPH model.
Materials/methods: Testosterone propionate (TP)-treated Sprague-Dawley rats were used to establish a BPH model .
Background/aims: Determining antibiotic use history accurately is challenging due to its reliance on patient recall. By determining macrolide exposure using the Korean drug utilization review (DUR) system, we analyzed the impact of previous macrolide use on antibiotic resistance profiles and compared the eradication rate between tailored therapy based on macrolide exposure history and empirical therapy.
Methods: Patients with confirmed Helicobacter pylori (H.
Objective: This study aimed to elicit expert consensus on the necessary components of a seclusion room module required to accommodate and manage psychiatric emergency patients requiring both medical and surgical interventions in infectious disease situations.
Methods: A two-round Delphi survey was conducted among 38 medical professionals, architects, and spatial design experts. The survey assessed the effectiveness, feasibility, and urgency of spatial scales, spatial organization, and movement system domains related to the necessary elements of a seclusion room.
Early mortality after hemodialysis (HD) initiation significantly impacts the longevity of HD patients. This study aimed to quantify the effect sizes of risk factors on mortality using various machine learning approaches. A cohort of 3284 HD patients from the CRC-ESRD (2008-2014) was analyzed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTherapeutic angiogenesis by intentional formation of blood vessels is essential for treating various ischemic diseases, including limb ischemia. Because Wnt/β-catenin and angiopoietin-1/Tie2 signaling play important roles in endothelial survival and vascular stability, coactivation of these signaling pathways can potentially achieve therapeutic angiogenesis. In this study, we developed a bifunctional antibody fusion, consisting of a Tie2-agonistic antibody and the Furin domains of R-spondin 3 (RSPO3), to simultaneously activate Tie2 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination rates in pregnant women remain low owing to safety concerns. When evaluating vaccine safety, comparisons with unvaccinated individuals may lead to healthy vaccinee bias. This study aimed to investigate the association between mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination and pregnancy-related adverse outcomes compared with influenza vaccination.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPresent-day liquid-state lasers are based on organic dyes. Here we demonstrate an alternative class of liquid lasers that use solutions of colloidal quantum dots (QDs). Previous efforts to realize such devices have been hampered by the fast non-radiative Auger recombination of multicarrier states required for optical gain.
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