mtSTAT3 suppresses rheumatoid arthritis by regulating Th17 and synovial fibroblast inflammatory cell death with IL-17-mediated autophagy dysfunction.

Th17 cells are activated by STAT3 factors in the nucleus, and these factors are correlated with the pathologic progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent studies have demonstrated the presence of STAT3 in mitochondria, but its function is unclear. We investigated the novel role of mitochondrial STAT3 (mitoSTAT3) in Th17 cells and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) and analyzed the correlation of mitoSTAT3 with RA.

Clinical characteristics affecting weight loss in an East Asian population receiving semaglutide: A STEP 6 subgroup analysis.

Objective: To explore the effects of semaglutide versus placebo on body weight (BW) by subgroups of baseline characteristics.

Methods: In STEP 6, Japanese and Korean adults with overweight or obesity were randomized to subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg, semaglutide 1.

Optimal extent of lymph node dissection in clinical early-stage right colon cancer: a retrospective analysis.

Purpose: Determining the extent of radical lymphadenectomy at clinical early stage is challenging. We aimed to investigate the appropriate extent of lymphadenectomy in clinical early-stage right colon cancer.

Methods: Patients with clinical stage 0 or I right colon cancer who underwent curative surgery from January 2007 to December 2021 were included in this retrospective study.

Colorectal metastasis from gastric cancer: insights from a 14-year case series at a tertiary hospital.

Background: Colorectal metastasis from gastric cancer is very rare, with existing literature limited to only a few case reports. This study was designed to investigate the clinicopathological features and prognosis of colorectal metastasis arising from gastric cancer.

Methods: Patients with colorectal metastasis from gastric cancer who underwent surgical intervention at a single tertiary hospital between January 2010 and June 2023 were included, and their clinicopathological characteristics and oncologic outcomes were analyzed.

The role of mTOR activation in steroid-resistant asthma: insights from particulate matter-induced mouse model and patient studies.

Particulate matter (PM) exposure has been proposed as one of the causes of steroid resistance. However, studies investigating this using patient samples or animals are still lacking. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the changes in cytokines and mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) activation in patients with steroid resistant asthma and the role of mTOR in a mouse model of steroid resistant asthma induced by PM.

Mesoporous Boron-Doped Carbon with Curved BC Active Sites for Highly Efficient HO Electrosynthesis in Neutral Media and Air-Supplied Environments.

Hydrogen peroxide (HO) electrosynthesis via the 2e oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is considered as a cost-effective and safe alternative to the energy-intensive anthraquinone process. However, in more practical environments, namely, the use of neutral media and air-fed cathode environments, slow ORR kinetics and insufficient oxygen supply pose significant challenges to efficient HO production at high current densities. In this work, mesoporous B-doped carbons with novel curved BC active sites, synthesized via a carbon dioxide (CO) reduction using a pore-former agent, to simultaneously achieve excellent 2e ORR activity and improved mass transfer properties are introduced.

Pivotal Trial Toward Effectiveness of Self-administered OCT in Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration. Report 2-Artificial Intelligence Analytics.

Purpose: To validate the performance of the Notal OCT Analyzer (NOA) in processing self-administered OCT images from an OCT system designed for home use (home OCT [HOCT]) as part of a pivotal study aimed at achieving de novo United States Food and Drug Admininstration marketing authorization.

Design: A prospective quantitative cross-sectional artificial intelligence study.

Participants: The study enrolled adults aged ≥55 years diagnosed with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in ≥1 eligible eye with a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/320 or better.

Increased apoptosis in late-developing in vitro fertilized bovine blastocysts decreases successful pregnancy.

Objective: Pregnancy in cattle after embryo transfer (ET) is influenced by several factors, including embryo quality. Therefore, preparing high-quality embryos with the greatest developmental potential is essential for achieving a successful pregnancy after ET. Meanwhile, blastocysts produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure have different developmental speed during in vitro culture (IVC) and they exhibited different competence in the establishment of pregnancy.

Molecular basis of neurosteroid and anticonvulsant regulation of TRPM3.

Transient receptor potential channel subfamily M member 3 (TRPM3) is a Ca-permeable cation channel activated by the neurosteroid pregnenolone sulfate (PregS) or heat, serving as a nociceptor in the peripheral sensory system. Recent discoveries of autosomal dominant neurodevelopmental disorders caused by gain-of-function mutations in TRPM3 highlight its role in the central nervous system. Notably, the TRPM3 inhibitor primidone, an anticonvulsant, has proven effective in treating patients with TRPM3-linked neurological disorders and in mouse models of thermal nociception.

Clinical spectrum of adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia in individuals of Korean ancestry.

Adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (ALSP) is a rare white matter disease characterized by axonal and glial injury. Although its clinical characteristics have been described in case reports, the prevalence of CSF1R mutations in clinically suspected ALSP cases remains unclear. Herein, we analysed the frequency of CSF1R mutations in patients with probable or possible ALSP and describe the genetic, clinical, radiological, and pathological findings of ALSP cases in individuals of Korean ancestry.

Longitudinal corneal hysteresis changes predict structural progression in medically controlled, early-to-moderate, open-angle glaucoma with a history of refractive surgery.

Background: The present study aims to identify the relationship between longitudinal changes in corneal hysteresis (CH) and progressive retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thinning in a cohort of medically controlled, early-to-moderate open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients with a history of laser refractive surgery (LRS).

Methods: A total of 123 consecutive eyes with a diagnosis of medically controlled (peak intraocular pressure (IOP)<18 mm Hg), early-to-moderate OAG with a history of LRS underwent measurements of CH, corneal-compensated intraocular pressure (IOPcc) and RNFL thicknesses every 6 months. Linear models were used to investigate the relationship between CH change and RNFL thickness change over time.

The complete plastid genome of DC. 1813 (Rutaceae) and its phylogenetic analysis.

The complete plastome size of DC. 1813 was 159,893 bp in length and has a typical quadripartite structure. The 87,148-bp-long large single-copy and the 18,763-bp-long small single-copy regions were separated by a pair of inverted repeats (each 26,991 bp).

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine Promotes Th9 Cell Differentiation Through Regulation of Smad3, STAT5, and β-Catenin Pathways.

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) is one of sphingomyelin-derived sphingolipids. SPC levels are increased in ascitic fluids of ovarian cancer patients and stratum corneum of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients. SPC has antitumor activity against several cancer cells by reducing proliferation and migration and increasing apoptosis .

Carbohydrate-based co-encapsulation of spice oleoresin blends: Impact on flavor release profiles, storage stability, and sensory acceptance.

The study highlights the impact of different carbohydrate-based wall materials on the encapsulation and release of flavors and physicochemical characteristics of spray-dried oleoresin blends. The inlet temperature and the wall material type significantly affected the spray drying yield, and Hi-Cap 100, at 150 °C, produced the highest yield. All the wall materials had high water solubility, and Hi-Cap 100 reported the best wettability.

Neuromuscular Strategies in Dominant and Non-Dominant Legs in Dancers During Dynamic Balance Tasks.

Ballet-based dance training emphasizes the equal development of both legs. However, dancers often perceive differences between their legs during balance or landing. There still needs to be more consensus on the functional difference between dominant (D) and non-dominant legs (ND).

Effects of Doping on Elastic Strain in Crystalline Ge-Sb-Te.

Phase-change random access memory (PcRAM) faces significant challenges due to the inherent instability of amorphous GeSbTe (GST). While doping has emerged as an effective method for amorphous stabilization, understanding the precise mechanisms of structural modification and their impact on material stability remains a critical challenge. This study provides a comprehensive investigation of elastic strain and stress in crystalline lattices induced by various dopants (C, N, and Al) through systematic measurements of film thickness changes during crystallization.

Utilizing Crushed Recycled Marble Stone Powder as a Sustainable Filler in SBS-Modified Asphalt Containing Recycled Tire Rubber.

The increasing demand for sustainable construction materials has driven the exploration of alternative fillers in asphalt production. Traditional asphalt mixtures rely heavily on natural aggregates and petroleum-based binders, contributing to environmental degradation. This study proposes an innovative solution by utilizing Crushed Recycled Marble Stone Powder (CRMSP) as a sustainable filler in SBS polymer-modified asphalt containing high volumes of recycled tire rubber, addressing both resource depletion and waste management concerns.

Deterioration Behavior of Concrete Beam Reinforced with Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastic Rebar Exposed to Carbonation and Chloride Conditions.

The absence of carbon fiber-reinforced rebar performance standards in Korea has limited its reliability. This study investigates the durability performance of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer rebar as an alternative to traditional steel reinforcement in concrete structures. Concrete beams reinforced with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer rebar were exposed to chloride environments for durations of 35 and 70 days and then subjected to bending tests to evaluate their durability.

Heteronemin suppresses EGF‑induced proliferation through the PI3K/PD‑L1 signaling pathways in cholangiocarcinoma.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) binds with its surface receptor to stimulate gene expression and cancer cell proliferation. EGF stimulates cancer cell growth via phosphoinositide 3‑kinase (PI3K) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD‑L1) pathways. As an integrin αvβ3 antagonist, heteronemin exhibits potent cytotoxic effects against cancer cells.

The Relationship Between Psychological Distress and Sleep Quality Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: The Moderating Effect of Gender.

Background: Symptoms of psychological distress such as depression and anxiety as well as gender are known to be associated with sleep quality in middle-aged and older adults. However, little is known about the effect on sleep quality of interactions among these factors.

Purpose: This study was developed to investigate the moderating effect of gender on the relationship between psychological distress and sleep quality in middle-aged and older adults.

An exploratory study on the perception of the over-the-top (OTT) industry among film and media production major university students: Utilizing the Q methodology.

This study investigates the perceptions of university students majoring in film and media production (FMP) regarding the over-the-top (OTT) industry. We used the Q methodology to achieve this study's purpose, with 33 Q sets and 22 university students majoring in FMP. The study revealed three perception structures of FMP major university students regarding the OTT industry.

Neo-aorta reconstruction with retained stented patch in Norwood procedure after hybrid palliation of high-risk hypoplastic left heart syndrome: a case report.

Hybrid procedure of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, comprising ductus arteriosus stenting and bilateral pulmonary artery banding, is a good surgical option for initial palliative procedure for high-risk patients for Norwood procedure. However, ductal stenting may cause retrograde aortic blood flow obstruction. Furthermore, complete removal of stent while performing the Norwood procedure make the operation more difficult.

Use of acupuncture among chronic disease patients attending primary healthcare facilities: a cross-sectional study in Korea.

Background: Given the crucial role of integrating acupuncture treatment into primary care for managing chronic diseases, this study endeavors to identify the utilization of acupuncture among chronic disease patients seeking primary care services in Korea. Additionally, it aims to evaluate their knowledge level and perceptions related to acupuncture use.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among chronic disease patients attending a primary care clinic in Korea.

Chondroprotective Effect of Extract in Primary Chondrocytes and Rat OA Model.

() was extracted using fermented ethanol. The effect of fermented ethanol extract of (FeCH) on chondrocyte viability was analyzed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-iphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, which showed no cytotoxicity at 2 mg/mL. FeCH pretreatment in IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes significantly inhibited the accumulation of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E, which was analyzed using the ELISA assay.