Adhesion Reduction Agent Guardix-SG Versus MegaShield for Postoperative Swallowing Function Analysis in Thyroidectomy Patients.

Background: Antiadhesion products are essential for postoperative care in patients after thyroidectomy by providing a physical barrier to cover the exposed tissue and thus preventing abnormal adhesion of adjacent tissues. Since thyroidectomy may result in swallowing difficulties arising from damage or inflammation of the surrounding tissues, the use of antiadhesion agents such as MegaShield or Guardix-SG will help reduce scar formation. This may thus improve postoperative swallowing function in patients.

Polydeoxyribonucleotide ameliorates IL-1β-induced impairment of chondrogenic differentiation in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease of the joints, prevalent worldwide. Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) is used for treating knee OA. However, the role of PDRN in IL-1β-induced inflammatory responses in human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) remains unknown.

Association of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes Ratio with Body Mass Index in Korean Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients.

Background: The gut microbiome, which is the collection of microorganisms living in the gastrointestinal tract, has been shown to play a significant role in the development of metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Studies have found that the ratio of to (F/B) is higher in obese individuals compared to lean individuals and tends to decrease with weight loss. However, the relationship between the F/B ratio and T2DM in Korean individuals, with or without obesity, is not fully understood.

Comparison between prefabricated ankle-foot orthoses, Dyna Ankle and UD Flex, in patients with hemiplegia.

Objective: To compare the kinematic effects of two widely-used prefabricated ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs), the Dyna Ankle (DA) and UD Flex (UD), on the gait cycle of patients with hemiplegia due to cerebral palsy or acquired brain injury.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study involving 29 patients. Gait analysis results were assessed under three conditions: barefoot, with the DA, and with the UD.

Case report: Intrathecal baclofen therapy improved gait pattern in a stroke patient with spastic dystonia.

Background: Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy, a viable alternative for unsuitable candidates of conventional spasticity medications, is a preferred method of administration over the oral route. Owing to its enhanced bioavailability, ITB ensures a more effective delivery at the target site.

Objective: There is a lack of conclusive evidence regarding the use of ITB treatment in managing ambulatory patients with spastic dystonia.

In Vivo Reprogramming Using Yamanaka Factors in the CNS: A Scoping Review.

Central nervous system diseases, particularly neurodegenerative disorders, pose significant challenges in medicine. These conditions, characterized by progressive neuronal loss, have remained largely incurable, exacting a heavy toll on individuals and society. In recent years, in vivo reprogramming using Yamanaka factors has emerged as a promising approach for central nervous system regeneration.

3'-Sialyllactose alleviates bone loss by regulating bone homeostasis.

Osteoporosis is a common skeletal disease that results in an increased risk of fractures. However, there is no definitive cure, warranting the development of potential therapeutic agents. 3'-Sialyllactose (3'-SL) in human milk regulates many biological functions.

Coronary Artery Calcium Score as a Sensitive Indicator of Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Long-Term Cohort Study.

Backgruound: Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) has become an important tool for evaluating cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study evaluated the significance of CACS for future CVD through more than 10 years of follow-up in asymptomatic Korean populations with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) known to have a relatively low CACS burden.

Methods: We enrolled 981 asymptomatic T2DM patients without CVD at baseline who underwent CACS evaluation using multidetector computed tomography between January 2008 and December 2014.

Resting energy expenditure in Korean type 2 diabetes patients: comparison between measured and predicted values.

Background/objectives: Estimation of energy demand using resting energy expenditure (REE) is a reasonable approach for optimizing glycemic control and weight management in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed to compare REE predictions and objective measurements in patients with T2DM in Korea.

Subjects/methods: This study enrolled 36 participants with T2DM (age range, 20-60 years).

Massively parallel evaluation and computational prediction of the activities and specificities of 17 small Cas9s.

Recently, various small Cas9 orthologs and variants have been reported for use in in vivo delivery applications. Although small Cas9s are particularly suited for this purpose, selecting the most optimal small Cas9 for use at a specific target sequence continues to be challenging. Here, to this end, we have systematically compared the activities of 17 small Cas9s for thousands of target sequences.

Deep learning models to predict the editing efficiencies and outcomes of diverse base editors.

Applications of base editing are frequently restricted by the requirement for a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM), and selecting the optimal base editor (BE) and single-guide RNA pair (sgRNA) for a given target can be difficult. To select for BEs and sgRNAs without extensive experimental work, we systematically compared the editing windows, outcomes and preferred motifs for seven BEs, including two cytosine BEs, two adenine BEs and three C•G to G•C BEs at thousands of target sequences. We also evaluated nine Cas9 variants that recognize different PAM sequences and developed a deep learning model, DeepCas9variants, for predicting which variants function most efficiently at sites with a given target sequence.

DNA double-strand break-free CRISPR interference delays Huntington's disease progression in mice.

Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. CRISPR-Cas9 nuclease causes double-strand breaks (DSBs) in the targeted DNA that induces toxicity, whereas CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) using dead Cas9 (dCas9) suppresses the target gene expression without DSBs. Delivery of dCas9-sgRNA targeting CAG repeat region does not damage the targeted DNA in HEK293T cells containing CAG repeats.

Tetrodotoxin and the Geographic Distribution of the Blue-Lined Octopus on the Korean Coast.

The genus including the blue-lined octopus is highly toxic. Venomous, blue-lined octopuses were recently found in Korea, but their toxicity, toxin composition, and distribution remain largely unknown. Here we estimated the geographic distribution of the organisms along the Korean coast and clarified their toxicity.

Differential Expression of in Trophoblast Stem-Like Cells and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Normal Pregnancy and Preeclampsia.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is known to arise from insufficient trophoblast invasion as uterine spiral arteries lack remodeling. A significant reduction in placental perfusion induces an ischemic placental microenvironment due to reduced oxygen delivery to the placenta and fetus, leading to oxidative stress. Mitochondria are involved in the regulation of cellular metabolism and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Therapeutic effects of polydeoxyribonucleotide in an in vitro neuronal model of ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) is an agonist that selectively stimulates adenosine A receptor (ADORA2A), which suppresses inflammatory responses. Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury plays a major role in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke by inducing neuroinflammation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of PDRN in an in vitro I/R injury model.

Efficacy and safety of monotherapy with enavogliflozin in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Results of a 12-week, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial.

Aims: The study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of enavogliflozin, a newly developed sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, with placebo in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Materials And Methods: Patients with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) of 7.0-10.

duplication syndrome initially misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy: a case report.

Mutations in the X-linked methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 () gene were first described as a cause of Rett syndrome. duplication can cause intellectual disability, developmental delay, severe feeding difficulties, and recurrent infections. Here, we report a Korean family with duplication syndrome, which was previously misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy.

Mobile Apps to Improve Brace-Wearing Compliance in Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Quality Analysis, Functionality Review and Future Directions.

This study was performed to review which mHealth apps that improve brace-wearing compliance are currently available, and to carry out their quality assessments by listing their functionalities. We found ten mHealth apps in the literature review and commercial mHealth apps market (Google Play and App store). Then, the quality of these apps was evaluated by their transparency, health content, excellent technical content, security/privacy, issues of usability, and subjective ratings (THESIS) scale, and the functionalities of the included apps were reviewed.

Inactivation of Human Norovirus GII.4 and in the Sea Squirt () by Floating Electrode-Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma.

Human norovirus (HNoV) GII.4 and may be found in sea squirts. Antimicrobial effects of floating electrode-dielectric barrier discharge (FE-DBD) plasma (5-75 min, N 1.

Movement-specific keyboard playing for hand function in adolescents and young adults with acquired brain injury.

Background: Patients with acquired brain injury (ABI) suffer from deficits in fine motor function in hands which affect independent self-care function in daily life. This study aimed to examine the effects of movement-specific keyboard playing for improved hand function in adolescents and young adults with ABI.

Method: A total of 23 patients with ABI participated in this study.