A study of effective exercise methods and resistance intensity for selective strengthening of the infraspinatus muscle.

BackgroundTo selectively strengthen target muscles, resistance intensity as well as limb position should be considered.ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify the most effective exercise positions and the optimal resistance intensity to selectively strengthen the infraspinatus muscle.MethodsThis study included 18 healthy men who underwent four different external rotation (ER) exercises in prone external rotation (PER), side-lying wiper, sitting external rotation, and standing external rotation (STER) exercise by varying the shoulder positions under low, medium, and high resistance intensity conditions randomly.

Hybrid Electro-optical Stimulation Improves Ischemic Brain Damage by Augmenting the Glymphatic System.

Ischemic brain injury not only results in significant neurological, motor, and cognitive impairment but also contributes to the accumulation of toxic solutes and proinflammatory cytokines in the infarction region, exacerbating ischemic brain damage. The glymphatic system, which is crucial for brain waste clearance and homeostasis, is impaired by ischemic injury, highlighting the importance of developing therapeutic strategies for poststroke complications. Herein, a novel hybrid electro-optical stimulation device is proposed that integrates near-infrared micro-light-emitting diode with transparent microneedles, enabling efficient noninvasive stimulation of the cortical area for ischemic stroke treatment.

Elevated Fecal Lipocalin-2 Levels During Early Life Are Associated with Maternal Inflammatory Bowel Disease Diagnosis.

Background: Fecal lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is a biomarker of neutrophil activation, which is elevated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, its dynamic changes during pregnancy and early life are largely unknown. We characterized LCN2 levels by maternal IBD diagnosis, offspring feeding behavior, and gut microbiota composition.

Methods: In the prospective MECONIUM (Exploring Mechanisms of Disease Transmission In Utero through the Microbiome) study, we analyzed 559 fecal samples from 91 pregnant women with IBD, 78 healthy controls, and their 147 offspring for LCN2 levels at each trimester of pregnancy and multiple time points during early life using linear mixed-effects model and multiple logistic regression analyses.

Proximity-Ligation Metagenomic Sequence Analysis Reveals That the Antibiotic Resistome Makes Significant Transitions During Municipal Wastewater Treatment.

Shotgun and proximity-ligation metagenomic sequencing were used to generate thousands of metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) from the untreated wastewater, activated sludge bioreactors, and anaerobic digesters from two full-scale municipal wastewater treatment facilities. Analysis of the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the pool of contigs from the shotgun metagenomic sequences revealed significantly different relative abundances and types of ARGs in the untreated wastewaster compared to the activated sludge bioreactors or the anaerobic digesters (p < 0.05).

High p16 expression in glioblastoma is associated with senescence phenotype and better prognosis.

Glioblastoma, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wildtype (GBM), is the most malignant brain tumor in adults, with limited therapeutic intervention. Previous studies have identified a few prognostic markers for GBM, including the methylation status of O-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter, TERT promoter mutation, EGFR amplification, and CDKN2A/2B deletion. However, the classification of GBM remains incomplete, necessitating a comprehensive analysis.

Scapula position test reliability and comparisons of scapula position and shoulder function among individuals with and without adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Background: An evaluation of scapula position is important to predict spine curvature and shoulder function in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Therefore, a reliable scapula position is required to assess posture in patients with AIS.

Objective: This study investigated the reliabilities of scapula position tests and differences in scapula position and shoulder function between individuals with and without AIS.

Residual disinfectant effectively suppresses Legionella species in drinking water distribution systems supplied by surface water in Minnesota, USA.

Seven public water systems in Minnesota, USA were analyzed from one to five times over a two-year period to assess temporal changes in the concentrations of total bacteria, Legionella spp., and Legionella pneumophila from source (i.e.

On-site filtration of large sample volumes improves the detection of opportunistic pathogens in drinking water distribution systems.

In this study, we compared conventional vacuum filtration of small volumes through disc membranes (effective sample volumes for potable water: 0.3-1.0 L) with filtration of high volumes using ultrafiltration (UF) modules (effective sample volumes for potable water: 10.

Incidence of and Influencing Factors for Arm Lymphedema After Salvage Treatment for an Isolated Locoregional Recurrence of Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Data on subsequent arm lymphedema (SAL) after salvage treatment for locoregional recurrence (LRR) of breast cancer are limited. We conducted a study to evaluate the risk of SAL in patients with LRR.

Methods: We reviewed the data of patients with breast cancer who had LRR and were initially diagnosed between January 2003 and December 2017.

Senescent tumor cells in colorectal cancer are characterized by elevated enzymatic activity of complexes 1 and 2 in oxidative phosphorylation.

Background: Cellular senescence is defined as an irreversible cell cycle arrest caused by various internal and external insults. While the metabolic dysfunction of senescent cells in normal tissue is relatively well-established, there is a lack of information regarding the metabolic features of senescent tumor cells.

Methods: Publicly available single-cell RNA-sequencing data from the GSE166555 and GSE178341 datasets were utilized to investigate the metabolic features of senescent tumor cells.

Flushing Temporarily Improves Microbiological Water Quality for Buildings Supplied with Chloraminated Surface Water but Has Little Effect for Groundwater Supplies.

Microbial communities in premise plumbing systems were investigated after more than 2 months of long-term stagnation, during a subsequent flushing event, and during post-flush stagnation. Water samples were collected from showers in buildings supplied with chlorinated groundwater, untreated groundwater, and chloraminated surface water. The building supplied with chlorinated groundwater generally had the lowest bacterial concentrations across all sites (ranging from below quantification limit to 5.

Multi-scale Investigation of Ammonia-Oxidizing Microorganisms in Biofilters Used for Drinking Water Treatment.

Ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms (AOMs) include ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), archaea (AOA), and spp. sublineage II capable of complete ammonia oxidation (comammox). These organisms can affect water quality not only by oxidizing ammonia to nitrite (or nitrate) but also by cometabolically degrading trace organic contaminants.

Impact of COVID-19 infection on sports performance of elite university athletes.

Background: Cardiopulmonary functions of athletes can be affected by the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to investigate athletes' pattern of returning to sports after COVID-19, their experience of COVID-19-associated symptoms, and the disturbance in sports performance caused by the symptoms.

Methods: Elite university athletes who were infected with COVID-19 in 2022 were recruited for the survey and the data for 226 respondents were analyzed.

Selection of Safe Donors for Living Donor Liver Transplant Using Extended Right Lobe Graft.

Extended right lobectomy (ERL) for living donor liver transplant (LDLT) is selectively performed in many transplant centers and has shown excellent recipient outcomes as reported in previous studies. Yet, there is no universally accepted indication for ERL in respect to donor safety. Current study was designed to stratify risk factors of adverse donor outcome after ERL.

Usefulness of hand grip strength to estimate other physical fitness parameters in older adults.

This study aimed to reveal the status of physical fitness (PF) levels and determine whether hand grip strength (HGS) could be used to estimate other PF parameters in older adults from large population data. A total of 46,269 participants aged ≥ 65 years who participated in the 2019 National Fitness Award Project in South Korea were included in the analysis. Of the participants, 6.

The short-term effectiveness of scapular focused taping on scapular movement in tennis players with shoulder pain: A within-subject comparison.

This study aimed to investigate the short-term effectiveness of scapular focused taping (SFT) on scapular position and kinematics during the tennis serve among professional players with and without shoulder pain. The cohort included 7 players who had no history of non-shoulder pain (NSP) and 6 players with shoulder pain (SP). All participants performed tennis flat serves while the Qualisys motion capture system recorded three-dimensional scapular kinematic data according to the International Society of Biomechanics recommendations.

Photo-Regeneration of Zeolite-Based Volatile Organic Compound Filters Enabled by TiO Photocatalyst.

Indoor air filtration received significant attention owing to the growing threat to the environment and human health caused by air pollutants such as volatile organic compound (VOC) gases. However, owing to the limited adsorption capacity of VOC adsorbents, such as activated carbon, a rapid breakthrough can occur, reducing the service life of the filter. Therefore, TiO2-coated zeolite (TiO2/zeolite) was utilized as a photo-regenerative VOC adsorbent to increase the service life of VOC filters.

Lactoferrin-derived chimeric peptide (LFch) strongly boosts TGFβ1-mediated inducible Treg differentiation possibly through downregulating TCR/CD28 signalling.

We recently reported that lactoferrin (LF) induces Foxp3 Treg differentiation through binding to TGFβ receptor III (TβRIII), and this activity was further enhanced by TGFβ1. Generally, a low T-cell receptor (TCR) signal strength is favourable for Foxp3 Treg differentiation. In the present study, we explored the effect of lactoferrin chimera (LFch, containing lactoferricin [aa 17-30] and lactoferrampin [aa 265-284]), along with TGFβ1 on Foxp3 Treg differentiation.

Incidence, mortality, and survival of liver cancer using Korea central cancer registry database: 1999-2019.

Backgrounds/aims: Historically, incidence and survival analysis and annual traits for primary liver cancer (LC) has not been investigated in a population-based study in Korea. The purpose of the current study is to determine incidence, survival rate of patients with primary LC in Korea.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using Korea Central Cancer Registry based on the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database.

Systemic Immune-Inflammatory Marker of High Meld Patients Is Associated With Early Mortality After Liver Transplantation.

The scarcity of deceased donor livers has led to allocation of grafts to only the most seriously ill patients with a high Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, which has resulted in a high mortality rate after deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT). The aim of this study is to identify risk factors for posttransplant mortality and thereby reduce futile outcomes in DDLT. Between 2013 and 2019, 57 recipients with MELD scores ≥30 underwent DDLT in our center.

Optimal relative workload for managing low-injury risk in lower extremities of female field hockey players: A retrospective observational study.

Our study aimed to investigate the relative workload that is related to the injury in lower extremities of female field hockey players and to identify the optimal ratio of acute to chronic workloads (ACWR) depending on the playing position to manage low risk of sports-related injuries.Data were collected using a global positioning systems unit on a full-time basis and during competition among 52 players who were enrolled in Korea National Team. The ACWR was calculated by dividing the most recent 1 week workload by the prior 4 weeks workload.

Microbial Community Composition in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Bioreactors Follows a Distance Decay Pattern Primarily Controlled by Environmental Heterogeneity.

Understanding spatiotemporal patterns in microbial community composition is a central goal of microbial ecology. The objective of this study was to better understand the biogeography of activated sludge microbial communities, which are important for the protection of surface water quality. Monthly samples were collected from 20 facilities (25 bioreactors) within 442 km of each other for 1 year.

Lactoferrin Potentiates Inducible Regulatory T Cell Differentiation through TGF-β Receptor III Binding and Activation of Membrane-Bound TGF-β.

Lactoferrin (LF) is known to possess anti-inflammatory activity, although its mechanisms of action are not well-understood. The present study asked whether LF affects the commitment of inducible regulatory T cells (Tregs). LF substantially promoted Foxp3 expression by mouse activated CD4T cells, and this activity was further enhanced by TGF-β1.

Quantifying and predicting antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance genes in waterbodies through a holistic approach: a study in Minnesota, United States.

The environment plays a key role in the spread and persistence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) are released into the environment from sources such as wastewater treatment plants, and animal farms. This study describes an approach guided by spatial mapping to quantify and predict antimicrobials and ARG in Minnesota's waterbodies in water and sediment at two spatial scales: macro, throughout the state, and micro, in specific waterbodies.