Autocatalytic Ceria Nanoparticle-Embedded Tilapia Collagen Hydrogels as Enhanced Antioxidative and Long-Lasting Dermal Fillers for Photoaged Skin.

Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation significantly contribute to photoaging by increasing the level of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), accelerating collagen degradation. Commercial dermal fillers offer temporary wrinkle reduction via volume enhancement. In this study, we propose tilapia-derived collagen hydrogels embedded with ceria nanoparticles (Ce@Col gels) as long-lasting dermal fillers for UVB-induced photoaging.

Late-Onset Slowly Progressing Cone/Macular Dystrophy in Patients With the Biallelic Hypomorphic Variant p.Arg1933Ter in RP1.

Purpose: Homozygous hypomorphic variants of the RP1 gene, including c.5797C>T, p.Arg1933Ter, have traditionally been considered non-pathogenic.

Orally Administrated Inflamed Colon-Targeted Nanotherapeutics for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment by Oxidative Stress Level Modulation in Colitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by an inappropriate and persistent inflammatory immune response and is often accompanied by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. For effective IBD treatment, there is a high demand for safe and targeted therapy that can be orally administered. In this study, we aimed to propose the use of inflamed colon-targeted antioxidant nanotherapeutics (ICANs) for oxidative stress level modulation in colitis.

FITC-Labeled RGD Peptides as Novel Contrast Agents for Functional Fluorescent Angiographic Detection of Retinal and Choroidal Neovascularization.

The development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a crucial factor in the pathophysiology and prognosis of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Therefore, the detection of CNV is essential for establishing an appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan. Current ophthalmic imaging techniques, such as fundus fluorescent angiography and optical coherence tomography, have limitations in accurately visualizing CNV lesions and expressing CNV activity, owing to issues such as excessive dye leakage with pooling and the inability to provide functional information.

Therapeutic Extracellular Vesicles from Tonsil-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Retinal Degenerative Disease.

Background: Retinal degenerative disease (RDD), one of the most common causes of blindness, is predominantly caused by the gradual death of retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPEs) and photoreceptors due to various causes. Cell-based therapies, such as stem cell implantation, have been developed for the treatment of RDD, but potential risks, including teratogenicity and immune reactions, have hampered their clinical application. Stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have recently emerged as a cell-free alternative therapeutic strategy; however, additional invasiveness and low yield of the stem cell extraction process is problematic.

Risk of uveitis in patients with psoriasis in Korea: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Background: Evidence for the association between psoriasis and uveitis according to the severity of psoriasis including psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and type of uveitis is lacking, and there are no data on the frequency or timing of recurrence of uveitis in patients with psoriasis.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the risk of first occurrence and recurrence of uveitis in patients with psoriasis in the Korean population. We further evaluated the risk of uveitis according to the severity of psoriasis, comorbidity of PsA and location of uveitis.

Immunosuppressive biomaterial-based therapeutic vaccine to treat multiple sclerosis via re-establishing immune tolerance.

Current therapies for autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), induce broad suppression of the immune system, potentially promoting opportunistic infections. Here, we report an immunosuppressive biomaterial-based therapeutic vaccine carrying self-antigen and tolerance-inducing inorganic nanoparticles to treat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model mimicking human MS. Immunization with self-antigen-loaded mesoporous nanoparticles generates Foxp3 regulatory T-cells in spleen and systemic immune tolerance in EAE mice, reducing central nervous system-infiltrating antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and autoreactive CD4 T-cells.

Correlations Between Coronary Artery Disease, Coronary Artery Calcium Score, and Lipoprotein(a) Level in Korea.

Background: Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and aortic valve calcification. This study aimed to determine the correlation between Lp(a) levels and coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores in patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Methods: This was a single-center observational study.

Acute Effect of Evolocumab on Lipoprotein(a) Level and Inflammation in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Several studies have shown that high plasma lipoprotein(a) concentrations are associated with an increased risk of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Thus, Lp(a) has emerged as a new therapeutic target. Circulating proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors are new lipid-lowering agents that reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as well as Lp(a).

Therapeutic Hydrogel Patch to Treat Atopic Dermatitis by Regulating Oxidative Stress.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with unbalanced immune responses in skin tissue. Although steroid drugs and antihistamines are generally used to treat AD, continuous administration causes multiple side effects. High oxidative stress derived from reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of AD.

Facile Room-Temperature Synthesis of Cerium Carbonate and Cerium Oxide Nano- and Microparticles Using 1,1'-Carbonyldiimidazole and Imidazole in a Nonaqueous Solvent.

Ceria nanoparticles (CeONPs) are versatile materials due to their unique catalytic properties, and cerium carbonate particles (CeCbPs) have been widely used as precursors for cerium oxide due to their ease of production. Urea is a widely used precipitant and a source of carbonate ions for the synthesis of CeONPs and CeCbPs, and the reaction temperature is important for controlling the rate of urea decomposition. However, the precise control of the temperature is often difficult, especially in large-scale reactions.

Vascular Protective Effects of New Oral Anticoagulants in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

This study was designed to determine the efficacy of a new oral anticoagulant (NOAC) therapy for the prevention of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis progression in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Sixty-five AF patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥2 without previous history of cardiovascular disease were registered and randomly assigned to either an NOAC group (dabigatran or rivaroxaban) or the warfarin group. Reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) measurements reflecting endothelial function were taken using Endo-PAT2000.

A comparison of the influencing factors of chronic pain and quality of life between older Koreans and Korean-Americans with chronic pain: a correlational study.

Background: Chronic pain is one of the most common health problems for older adults worldwide and is likely to result in lower quality of life. Living in a different culture may also influence chronic pain and quality of life in older adults. The purpose of this study was to explore how multifaceted elements affect chronic pain and quality of life in older Koreans living in Korea and in older Korean-Americans (KAs) living in the USA.

Alternative Activation of Macrophages through Interleukin-13-Loaded Extra-Large-Pore Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Suppresses Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment via cytokine-mediated immunomodulation has been hampered by the difficulty with which cytokines can be stably and noninvasively delivered to the central nervous system. Here, we show that interleukin (IL)-13 packaged in extra-large-pore mesoporous silica nanoparticles (XL-MSNs) is protected from degradation and directs the alternative activation of macrophages both and . Furthermore, the noninvasive intranasal delivery of IL-13-loaded XL-MSNs ameliorated the symptoms of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a murine model of MS, accompanied by the induction of chemokines orchestrating immune cell infiltration.

Development of a novel Korean reading chart.

Clinical Relevance: Measuring reading ability is a crucial part of assessing patients who complain of reduced vision. Foreign language versions of such charts need to be developed and validated.

Background: It is difficult to measure or predict Korean reading ability due to a lack of a representative reading charts in Korean, and previous charts have limited capacity to detect deficits in reading ability among Korean patients with eye diseases.

Contact Tracing during Coronavirus Disease Outbreak, South Korea, 2020.

We analyzed reports for 59,073 contacts of 5,706 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) index patients reported in South Korea during January 20-March 27, 2020. Of 10,592 household contacts, 11.8% had COVID-19.

Intra-Ethnic Differences in Chronic Pain and the Associated Factors: An Exploratory, Comparative Design.

Purpose: To describe and compare the levels of pain severity and pain interference, pain catastrophizing, and associated factors between elderly Koreans living in South Korea and Korean Americans living in the United States with chronic pain.

Methods: An exploratory, comparative design was used for this study. A total of 270 individuals (138 Koreans living in South Korea and 132 Korean Americans living in the United States), aged more than 65 years, with self-reported chronic pain, and defined as at least 3 months of persistent musculoskeletal pain, is included.

Therapeutic Contact Lens for Scavenging Excessive Reactive Oxygen Species on the Ocular Surface.

Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a significant role in the pathogenesis of many eye diseases. Controlling oxidative stress by reducing the amount of ROS is a potential therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of eye diseases, particularly ocular surface diseases. Ceria nanoparticles (CeNPs) have been investigated owing to their efficient ROS-scavenging properties.

Electrochemical Characteristics of All-Solid Lithium Ion Battery with Lithium Titanate/Lithium Lanthanum Zirconium Oxide Composite Electrode.

Composite anodes for all solid-state lithium secondary batteries based on lithium titanate (Li₄TiO) were fabricated by a wet process. The effect of the content of polyethylene oxide in the lithium titanate composite anode on the interfacial control for enhancing the ionic conductivity and binding between the constituent materials in the electrode was examined. The content of Super-P and garnet-type lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide in the composite lithium titanate electrode was fixed and the electrochemical characteristics of a half-cell were evaluated as a function of the lithium titanate and polyethylene oxide content in the electrode, where the polyethylene oxide content was varied from 35-70 wt%.

A 3D Macroporous Alginate Graphene Scaffold with an Extremely Slow Release of a Loaded Cargo for In Situ Long-Term Activation of Dendritic Cells.

Ex vivo manipulation of autologous antigen-presenting cells and their subsequent infusion back into the patient to dictate immune response is one of the promising strategies in cancer immunotherapy. Here, a 3D alginate scaffold embedded with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is proposed as a vaccine delivery platform for in situ long-term activation of antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DCs). High surface area and hydrophobic surface of the rGO component of the scaffold provide high loading and a very slow release of a loaded antigen, danger signal, and/or chemoattractant from the scaffold.

Clinical and Genetic Characteristics Analysis of Korean Patients with Stargardt Disease Using Targeted Exome Sequencing.

Purpose: To investigate genetic mutations in Korean patients with Stargardt disease (STGD) using exome sequencing, and to analyze the correlations between genetic mutations and clinical phenotypes.

Methods: Peripheral venous blood was obtained from 24 clinically diagnosed Korean STGD patients, followed by extraction of genomic DNAs. Using exome sequencing we investigated gene mutations for the adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette, subfamily A, member 4 (ABCA4) elongation of very-long-chain fatty acids 4 (ELOVL4), and prominin 1 (PROM1), and confirmed gene mutations by the direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction products.

Therapeutic Contact Lenses with Polymeric Vehicles for Ocular Drug Delivery: A Review.

The eye has many barriers with specific anatomies that make it difficult to deliver drugs to targeted ocular tissues, and topical administration using eye drops or ointments usually needs multiple instillations to maintain the drugs’ therapeutic concentration because of their low bioavailability. A drug-eluting contact lens is one of the more promising platforms for controllable ocular drug delivery, and, among various manufacturing methods for drug-eluting contact lenses, incorporation of novel polymeric vehicles with versatile features makes it possible to deliver the drugs in a sustained and extended manner. Using the diverse physicochemical properties of polymers for nanoparticles or implants that are selected according to the characteristics of drugs, enhancement of encapsulation efficiency and prolonged drug release are possible.

Blepharoplasty with a Buried Double Twisted Suture Technique to Correct Upper Eyelid Epiblepharon.

Background: The authors evaluated the clinical efficacy of blepharoplasty using a newly developed, buried double twisted suture (BDTS) technique to correct upper eyelid epiblepharon.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted from October 2013 to July 2015 at the Oculoplastic Clinic, Bundang CHA Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea. A total of 122 eyes from 61 patients with upper eyelid epiblepharon were enrolled.

The usefulness of MDCT-myelography for patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

Purpose: The detection and localization of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of multidetector CT (MDCT)-myelography in patients with SIH.

Methods: A radiologist retrospectively searched the electronic database to find the patients who had undergone MDCT-myelography for SIH between October 2010 and September 2014.