Publications by authors named "Seung H Baek"

Capsular contracture (CC) is a concerning issue for individuals undergoing postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) with implant-based breast reconstruction. This study investigated whether the extent of CC and implant migration differs based on implant placement and the reconstruction stage. Insertion plane and stage of breast implants were investigated, and the presence and severe cases of CC and implant migration were analyzed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Immunochemotherapy with pembrolizumab has been integrated into clinical practice as part of the standard-of-care for non-metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) with high risk. We conducted a real-world study in TNBC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy to compare pathologic complete response (pCR) rates relative to stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTIL) across different regimens: non-carboplatin, carboplatin-, and pembrolizumab-chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed a cohort of 450 patients with TNBC who underwent surgery following neoadjuvant chemotherapy between March 2007 and February 2024.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a major blindness cause in developed countries, is intricately linked to diabetes management and its duration. Here, we demonstrate that HDAC6 mediates NLRP3 inflammasome activation under diabetic conditions, leading to retinal inflammation and degeneration.

Methods: This study demonstrated the therapeutic effects of HDAC6 genetic ablation, pharmacological inhibition, and HDAC6-deficient bone marrow transplantation in a diabetes model induced by streptozotocin and a high-fat diet.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The mutation is one of the most frequently identified mutations in human cancers and is typically associated with a poor prognosis. However, there are conflicting findings regarding its impact. We aimed to clarify the clinical relevance of mutations across all breast cancer subtypes and treatments utilizing long-term follow-up data.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The application of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as vehicles for anti-Parkinson's agents represents a significant advance, yet their clinical translation is hampered by challenges in efficient brain delivery and complex blood-brain barrier (BBB) targeting strategies. In this study, we engineered dopamine onto the surface of adipose-derived stem cell EVs (Dopa-EVs) utilizing a facile, two-step cross-linking approach. This engineering enhanced neuronal uptake of the EVs in primary neurons and neuroblastoma cells, a process shown to be competitively inhibited by dopamine pretreatment and dopamine receptor antibodies.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and probiotics therapies represent key clinical options, yet their complex effects on the host are not fully understood. We evaluated the comprehensive effects of FMT using diarrheal or normal feces, as well as probiotic therapies, on multiple anatomical sites in healthy cynomolgus macaques through colonoscopy and surgery. Our research revealed that FMT led to a partial microbiome transplantation without exhibiting the donor's fecal clinical characteristics.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: For patients who achieve pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with trastuzumab (T) and pertuzumab (P), the benefit of adding P to T remains uncertain. We compared survival outcomes according to the type of adjuvant anti-HER2 therapy in patients with pCR after chemotherapy with TP.

Method: Patients who achieved pCR in both the breast and axilla after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with TP were included.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Non-invasive imaging techniques employing biomarkers with high selectivity for inflammation are essential not only for the early diagnosis and prevention of chronic inflammatory diseases but also for guiding appropriate drug therapy and enabling real-time evaluation of anti-inflammatory drug efficacy. In this study, we conjugated radioactive zirconium to sorbitol, a compound that can selectively target inflammation, and evaluated its inflammation-specific uptake and potential for assessing anti-inflammatory treatment efficacy in a mouse inflammation model. Pharmacokinetic analysis demonstrated that radiolabeled sorbitol achieved maximal uptake in inflamed tissues within 1 h.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bile acids are liver-derived signaling molecules that can be found in the brain, but their role there remains largely unknown. We found increased brain chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) in mice with absent 12α-hydroxylase (Cyp8b1), a bile acid synthesis enzyme. In these Cyp8b1, and in Wt mice administered CDCA, stroke infarct area was reduced.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to identify risk factors for local recurrence after surgery in patients with metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC), as this had not been well researched before.
  • A retrospective analysis of 304 patients revealed that local recurrence occurred in 16.4% of cases, with higher rates linked to certain surgical methods, tumor types, and the presence of multiple metastases or pathologic fractures.
  • Key findings indicated that decompression alone had a significantly higher recurrence rate compared to other surgical techniques, and factors like renal cell carcinoma, extensive spinal metastasis, and smoking were also associated with higher local recurrence risk.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Although lymph node structures may be compromised in severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, the extent and parameters of recovery in convalescing patients remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the nuances of lymphoid structural recovery and their implications for immunologic memory in nonhuman primates infected with SARS-CoV-2. To do so, we utilized imaging-based spatial transcriptomics to delineate immune cell composition and tissue architecture formation in the lung-draining lymph nodes during primary infection, convalescence, and reinfection from COVID-19.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: HER2-positivity is an essential marker for therapeutic decisions, while HER2 expression is heterogenous. In recent years, there has been increasing recognition of a subgroup of breast cancer patients who have low levels of HER2 expression, also known as HER2-low because trastuzumab deruxtecan offers clinical benefit for patients with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer. Despite the growing interest in HER2-low breast cancer, there is limited research on how multigene assays can help differentiate between HER2-low and HER2-negative breast cancer.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Thromboembolism, a serious complication in patients with liver abscesses, can lead to organ deterioration if left untreated. However, factors associated with thromboembolism in these patients remain poorly understood. We aimed to identify the factors associated with liver abscess complications, with a focus on thromboembolism and metastatic infection.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to investigate the origins of prostatic arteries (PAs) in Korean men and compare findings with existing literature.
  • A total of 108 male patients with urinary issues underwent prostatic artery embolization (PAE), and their artery anatomy was categorized using established systems.
  • Results showed that the most common prostatic artery origin was from the internal pudendal artery, followed by the superior vesical and obturator arteries, with the most prevalent internal iliac artery pattern being type A.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • This study analyzed national data on discoid meniscus diagnoses and treatments in South Korea from 2011 to 2019, focusing on the increase in cases and demographic trends.
  • The total number of discoid meniscus diagnoses rose by 45.1%, with higher occurrences in females and a shift in peak age from under 19 in 2011 to the 50s in 2019.
  • Findings revealed an increase in surgical procedures, notably meniscus repairs growing by 58%, indicating a broader focus on treatment options for this condition over the years.*
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Micheliolide (MCL), a naturally occurring sesquiterpene lactone, has demonstrated significant anticancer properties through the induction of various programmed cell death mechanisms. This study aimed to explore MCL's effects on autophagy, paraptosis, and ferroptosis in pancreatic and colon cancer cells, along with its modulation of the MAPK signaling pathway. MCL was found to substantially suppress cell viability in these cancer cells, particularly in MIA PaCa-2 and HT-29 cell lines.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In marine environments, exposure to microplastics threaten various organisms. A large portion of MPs may be bioavailable to copepods, and ingesting MPs has been reported to induce various adverse effects, including increased mortality, developmental retardation, and decreased reproduction. Adverse effects of MPs on these important processes of copepods may be induced by the obstructive effects of the ingested MPs on energy acquisition.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Leaf senescence is a crucial process throughout evolution, vital for plant fitness as it facilitates the gradual shift of energy allocation between photosynthesis and catabolism overtime. This onset is influenced by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors, making senescence a key adaptation mechanism for plants in their natural habitats. Our study investigated the genetic mechanism underlying age-induced leaf senescence in Arabidopsis natural populations.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) progresses owing to damage and depletion of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. Cytoprotection mitigates oxidative stress, nutrient deprivation, and mechanical stress, which lead to cell damage and necrosis. We aimed to examine the protective effect of Linne (RSL), common radish, against oxidative stress by HO in human NP cells and whether the RSL extracts can inhibit triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), an inducer of apoptosis and degeneration in NP cells.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study explored the presence and distribution of the neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and its related compounds in phytoplankton and mussels along the South Sea Coast of Korea throughout 2021.
  • BMAA concentrations were found to peak in phytoplankton in November and in mussels in December, with a notable lag between the two, while DAB was present in phytoplankton but not in mussels.
  • The research identified specific diatom genera as potential sources of BMAA and indicated an inverse relationship between chlorophyll-a and BMAA levels in mussels, contributing to understanding biotoxins in marine environments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In this study, lipophilic marine algal toxins (LMATs)-producing microalgae were identified at 23 sites along the coasts of Korea, and distribution characteristics of LMATs in phytoplankton and mussels were investigated. The causative microalgae, including Gonyaulux spinifera, Dinophysis acuminata, D. caudata, and D.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Bovine mastitis (BM) is a significant issue in the dairy industry, primarily driven by coagulase-positive staphylococci, leading to serious economic losses globally.
  • A study analyzed antimicrobial resistance trends comparing conventional and organic dairy farms, revealing higher rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in conventional farms.
  • Findings indicate that conventional farm isolates showed greater resistance to antibiotics like ampicillin and tetracycline, highlighting the risk of multidrug resistance due to unregulated antibiotic use in dairy farming.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The process of apoptosis is one of the essential processes involved in maintenance of homeostasis in the human body. It can aid to remove misfolded proteins or cellular organelles. This sequence is especially necessary in cancer cells.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF