Design of bifunctional nitrogen-doped biochar with adsorption and catalytic oxidation capabilities for enhanced toluene emission control.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as toluene, are hazardous air pollutants that pose significant health and environmental risks. This study addresses remediation of toluene by developing a bifunctional nitrogen-doped biochar (NDB) activated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), aimed at reducing toluene emissions through both adsorption and catalytic oxidation. A series of NDB samples were prepared via NaOH activation and pyrolysis at varying temperatures to optimize their adsorption capacity and catalytic performance.

Evaluating the effectiveness of dengue surveillance in the tropical and sub-tropical Asian nations through dengue case data from travelers returning to the five Western Pacific countries and territories.

Introduction: Dengue, affecting over 3.9 billion people, is a significant health threat globally. Despite a tenfold increase in reported cases from 2000 to 2020, underreporting remains an issue.

The neural activity of auditory conscious perception.

Although recent work has made headway in understanding the neural temporospatial dynamics of conscious perception, much of that work has focused on visual paradigms. To determine whether there are shared mechanisms for perceptual consciousness across sensory modalities, here we test within the auditory domain. Participants completed an auditory threshold task while undergoing intracranial electroencephalography.

Investigating the changes in volumes of the limbic system and hypothalamic-subnuclei in patients with depression.

Background: Depression is consistently linked to changes in the hypothalamus, HPA axis, and limbic system, though the specific substructures involved remain unclear. This study aims to explore the relationship between depression and the volumes of specific nuclei within these brain regions. Understanding these connections could provide deeper insights into the biological mechanisms underlying depression.

Scalable electrochemical system for rapid on-site detection of food allergens.

Food allergies affect millions of individuals worldwide, significantly impacting personal health and the economy. While avoiding allergenic foods remains the primary management strategy, consumers lack reliable means for immediate allergen detection in everyday dining settings. Here, we present iEAT2 (integrated Exogenous Allergen Test 2), an advanced electrochemical sensing system for rapid, on-site food allergen detection.

Microneedle-mediated intradermal delivery of Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccines for single-dose tuberculosis vaccination.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a highly lethal infectious disease. The primary preventive measure is Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), a live attenuated vaccine. However, the current intradermal vaccination method with 10-dose vials faces challenges such as inadequate infant injection, inaccurate dispensing, and unstable storage.

Carbon tetrachloride does not promote hepatic fibrosis in ob/ob mice via downregulation of lipocalin-2 protein.

Although leptin-deficient ob/ob mice have been investigated to determine whether hepatic steatosis promotes susceptibility to hepatotoxic insults, carbon tetrachloride (CCl)-induced hepatic fibrosis in ob/ob mice remains largely unknown. In this study, we evaluate the pathogenic mechanisms of hepatic fibrosis in CCl-treated wild-type (WT) and ob/ob mice and analyze some parameters related to lipogenesis, inflammation, fibrosis, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy. CCl treatment attenuated liver weight and lipogenesis in ob/ob mice.

Geographical and Socioeconomic Disparities in Substance and Opioid Use Disorders Among Inflammatory Bowel Disease Hospitalizations in the United States From the National Inpatient Sample.

We compared substance use disorder (SUD) prevalence among adult inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) hospitalizations with non-IBD controls from the 2016-2018 National Inpatient Sample, assessing correlations with demographics, socioeconomic status, geographic regions, depression, and anxiety. The primary aim focused on SUD, defined as substance abuse or dependence (: F10-F19) excluding unspecified use or remission, among hospitalizations documenting IBD (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis; : K50-51) as one admitting diagnosis (IBD-D). The prevalence of SUD among hospitalizations with and without IBD was compared.

Enhancing panoramic dental imaging with AI-driven arch surface fitting: Achieving improved clarity and accuracy through an optimal reconstruction zone.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop an automated method for generating clearer, well-aligned panoramic views by creating an optimized three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction zone centered on the teeth. The approach focused on achieving high contrast and clarity in key dental features, including tooth roots, morphology, and periapical lesions, by applying a 3D U-Net deep learning model to generate an arch surface and align the panoramic view.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed anonymized cone-beam CT (CBCT) scans from 312 patients (mean age 40 years; range 10-78; 41.

An Educational Intervention to Promote Central Nervous System-Active Deprescribing in Dementia: A Pilot Study.

Background: Central nervous system (CNS)-active polypharmacy (defined as concurrent exposure to three or more antidepressant, antipsychotic, antiseizure, benzodiazepine, opioid, or nonbenzodiazepine benzodiazepine receptor agonists) is associated with significant potential harms in persons living with dementia (PLWD).We conducted a pilot trial to assess a patient nudge intervention's implementation feasibility and preliminary effectiveness to prompt deprescribing conversations between PLWD experiencing CNS-active polypharmacy and their primary care clinicians ("clinicians").

Methods: We used the electronic health record to identify PLWD prescribed CNS-active polypharmacy in primary care clinics from two health systems.

Exosomes and Exosome-Mimetics for Atopic Dermatitis Therapy.

Background: Exosomes and exosome mimetics are used as alternatives to cell therapy. They have shown potential in treating skin disorders by fortifying the skin barrier, mediating angiogenesis, and regulating the immune response while minimizing side effects. Currently, numerous studies have applied exosome therapy to treat atopic dermatitis (AD) caused by a weakened skin barrier and chronic inflammation.

Evolving Strategies in the Management of Microsatellite Instability-High/Mismatch Repair Deficient Esophagogastric Adenocarcinoma.

Purpose Of Review: This review addresses the current treatment paradigm and new advancements in the management of microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair deficient (MSI-H/dMMR) esophagogastric cancer (EGC).

Recent Findings: While chemotherapy and surgery remain the cornerstone of EGC treatment, MSI-H/dMMR tumors harbor high tumor mutational burden and represent a subset of patients who benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). ICI has been incorporated in the front line setting with and without chemotherapy for advanced disease.

Therapeutic potential of 4-hexylresorcinol in reducing sarcopenia in diabetic masseter muscle.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 4-hexylresorcinol (4HR), a synthetic compound with antioxidant and stress-modulating properties, on diabetic sarcopenia in the masseter muscle.

Methods: A controlled, parallel-arm study was conducted using 38 Sprague-Dawley rats divided into diabetic and non-diabetic groups. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin (STZ), and the groups were further subdivided to receive weekly subcutaneous injections of either 4HR or saline.

Recent trends and outcomes in immediate and delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgeries: a nationwide cohort study in South Korea.

Purpose: To analyze the latest annual trends in immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) and delayed sequential bilateral cataract surgery (DSBCS) among patients with bilateral cataracts in Korea, and to identify the factors influencing the choice of surgery and the outcomes associated with ISBCS and DSBCS.

Methods: This retrospective, nationwide cohort study included all patients aged 65 and older who were covered by the Korean National Health Insurance and underwent ISBCS or DSBCS from 2016 to 2021. The study recorded yearly numbers of ISBCS and DSBCS procedures, the interval between surgeries in DSBCS cases, patient demographics, types of implanted intraocular lenses (IOLs), and the incidence of cystoid macular edema and endophthalmitis following ISBCS or DSBCS.

Distinct Effect of Benzophenone-3 Additive Leaching from Polyethylene Microplastics on Daphnia magna Population Dynamics.

The adverse effect of chemical additives leaching from microplastics (MPs) on Daphnia magna populations is not fully understood. In this study, D. magna populations were exposed to polyethylene (PE) MP fragments (5.

Targeting the insular cortex for neuropathic pain modulation: Insights into synaptic and neuronal mechanisms.

Neuropathic pain, caused by nerve damage, greatly affects quality of life. Recent research proposes modulating brain activity, particularly through electrical stimulation of the insular cortex (IC), as a treatment option. This study aimed to understand how IC stimulation (ICS) affects pain modulation.

Loneliness During Adolescence and Subsequent Health and Well-Being in Adulthood: An Outcome-Wide Longitudinal Approach.

Purpose: Intergovernmental organizations, such as the World Health Organization, policymakers, scientists, and the public alike are recognizing the importance of loneliness for health/well-being outcomes. However, it remains unclear if loneliness in adolescence shapes health/well-being in adulthood. We examined if increase in loneliness during adolescence was associated with worse health/well-being in adulthood, across 41 outcomes.

Glucocorticoids Alter Bone Microvascular Barrier via MAPK/Connexin43 Mechanisms.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are standard-of-care treatments for inflammatory and immune disorders, and their long-term use increases the risk of osteoporosis. Although GCs decrease bone functionality, their role in bone microvasculature is incompletely understood. Herein, the study investigates the mechanisms of bone microvascular barrier function via osteoblast-endothelial interactions in response to GCs.

Extracellular vesicle-mediated VEGF-A mRNA delivery rescues ischaemic injury with low immunogenicity.

Background And Aims: Lackluster results from recently completed gene therapy clinical trials of VEGF-A delivered by viral vectors have heightened the need to develop alternative delivery strategies. This study aims to demonstrate the pre-clinical efficacy and safety of extracellular vesicles (EVs) loaded with VEGF-A mRNA for the treatment of ischaemic vascular disease.

Methods: After encapsulation of full-length VEGF-A mRNA into fibroblast-derived EVs via cellular nanoporation (CNP), collected VEGF-A EVs were delivered into mouse models of ischaemic injury.

Stable H-O and radiogenic Sr isotopic ratios in bottled water in South Korea.

Stable H-O and radiogenic Sr isotopic compositions of bottled water in South Korea were investigated to trace water origins and to elucidate hydrogeochemical water-rock interactions within aquifers. Eighty-one bottled water samples were collected across the country. The δD and δO values, and Sr/Sr ratios and Sr contents of groundwater-sourced bottled water samples were in the ranges of -68 to -40 ‰, -10 to -7 ‰, 0.

Multi-Institutional Analysis of Pancreatoduodenectomy for Nonfamilial Periampullary Adenoma: A Novel Risk Score to Guide Shared Decision-Making.

Introduction: Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) may occasionally be indicated for complete removal of periampullary (duodenal and ampullary) adenomas (PAs). As compared with malignant indications, PD for benign or pre-malignant disease is often associated with increased morbidity. While the Spigelman classification assesses malignancy risk for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)-related duodenal adenomas, no malignancy risk score (MRS) exists for non-FAP related PAs.

Endoscopic removal of an esophageal bezoar in a patient with jackhammer esophagus.

Esophageal bezoars are known to be significantly rarer compared to gastric bezoars. A 68-year-old woman presented with acute chest pain and worsening dysphagia to both solids and liquids, culminating in inability to consume water without vomiting.

Immunogenicity and vaccine efficacy of -derived extracellular vesicles as a novel vaccine candidate.

(APP) is a significant pathogen in the swine industry, leading to substantial economic losses and highlighting the need for effective vaccines. This study evaluates the potential of APP-derived extracellular vesicles (APP-EVs) as a vaccine candidate compared to the commercial Coglapix vaccine. APP-EVs, isolated using tangential flow filtration (TFF) and cushioned ultracentrifugation, exhibited an average size of 105 nm and a zeta potential of -17.

Current status of pulmonary rehabilitation and impact on prognosis of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in South Korea.

Background: The benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have been limited to improving dyspnea, exercise capacity, and quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to assess the current status of PR and its effect on prognosis.

Methods: The Nationwide Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) database was used in this study.