Publications by authors named "W R Bang"

Peritonsillar abscesses and deep neck infection are potentially serious infections among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), posing risks for severe complications and drawing significant public health concern. This nationwide, population-based longitudinal study (2002-2019) assessed the extended relationship between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the likelihood of peritonsillar abscess and deep neck infection in a Korean cohort. Using a 1:4 propensity score overlap-weighted matching, we included 16,879 individuals with CKD and 67,516 comparable controls, accounting for demographic variables and comorbidities to ensure balanced group comparisons.

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Background: Ulleungdo and Dokdo, located in the East Sea, are volcanic islands with high ecological value due to their unique biodiversity. Although research on the insect fauna on these two Islands has been conducted from the early 19 century to recent times, limitations exist due to several issues, including misidentifications and historical errors. This study addresses these issues by conducting a comprehensive insect survey from 2020 to 2023, re-identifying misidentified specimens and compiling references to create an updated and accurate checklist of insect species for Ulleungdo and Dokdo.

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Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and periodontitis are common conditions in older adults that can lead to serious complications, gaining public health attention. Although GERD and periodontitis share common risk factors, such as age, lifestyle habits, and socioeconomic status, large-scale studies examining their specific relationship are limited.

Methods: This study aimed to assess the association between GERD and the likelihood of developing periodontitis using a national validated cohort data from Korea.

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The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a significant challenge to the treatment of bacterial infections, necessitating the development of novel antibiotics or strategies to preserve the efficacy of existing ones. This study investigates the role of oxidative stress modulation in the pathogenicity of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial strains, aiming to identify potential avenues for new drug design. Specifically, the anti-biofilm effects of crude extracts and fractions from seven halophyte species native to Jeju Island, South Korea, were evaluated against ATCC 17978.

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Article Synopsis
  • ISG15 modification (ISGylation) is important for immune defense against viral infections like SARS-CoV-2 and helps boost innate immunity by modifying signaling proteins.
  • This study examines whether SARS-CoV-2 proteins can be ISGylated, identifying the nucleocapsid (N) protein as a target with crucial modification sites affecting its function.
  • It was found that ISGylation inhibits N protein dimerization and enhances susceptibility to immune responses, while the virus's PLpro protein can remove the ISG15 modification, countering the antiviral effects.
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