Comparative Efficacy of Glucosamine-Based Combination Therapies in Alleviating Knee Osteoarthritis Pain: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

The lack of definitive scientific evidence sustains uncertainty about the efficacy of glucosamine and its combination therapies for knee osteoarthritis (KOA), contributing to an ongoing debate among clinical practice guidelines and healthcare practitioners. This systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to identify the most effective glucosamine combination therapy for KOA patients. Frequentist random-effects models were employed for this NMA, with standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) calculated for primary outcomes.

Predictors of Post-Hepatectomy Liver Failure in Klatskin Tumors: The Role of Preoperative Glucose, Future Liver Remnant to Spleen Ratio, and Early Bilirubin Monitoring.

: Post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) is a serious complication following hepatic resection for Klatskin tumors, significantly affecting patient prognosis. Identifying reliable preoperative and early postoperative predictors of PHLF can help optimize patient outcomes and guide surgical planning. : We conducted a retrospective review of 34 patients who underwent hemi-hepatectomy for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma at Kosin University Gospel Hospital between April 2019 and April 2024, and at Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital between September 2017 and April 2024.

Clinical evaluation of advanced MALDI-TOF MS for carbapenemase subtyping in Gram-negative isolates.

Unlabelled: The spread of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) is emerging as a significant clinical concern in tertiary hospitals and, in particular, long-term care facilities with deficiencies in infection control. This study aims to evaluate an advanced matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (A-MALDI) mass spectrometry method for the identification of carbapenemases and further discrimination of their subtypes in clinical isolates. The A-MALDI method was employed to detect CPE target proteins.

Appropriate Allergic Rhinitis Medications Can Reduce Systemic Steroid Requirement and Prevent Rhinosinusitis.

: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is quite common and sometimes it requires systemic steroids and can be accompanied by coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), rhinosinusitis, or asthma. We aimed to determine the comparative effect of different types of AR medications on clinical prognosis in real-world settings. : We used national claims data provided by the National Health Insurance Service in the Republic of Korea.

Digital therapeutics in Korea: current status, challenges, and future directions - a narrative review.

Digital therapeutics (DTx) are emerging as a transformative innovation in healthcare offering evidence-based digital interventions for the treatment, management, and prevention of various diseases and disorders. In Korea, DTx have gained significant attention as potential solutions to the increasing burden of chronic diseases and mental health conditions. However, the Korean DTx market faces several challenges that hinder its widespread adoption and integration into the national healthcare system.

Exploring the association between alcohol consumption and androgenic alopecia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is widely recognized as the most common form of hair loss and can significantly affect individuals' quality of life. The association between alcohol consumption and AGA remains uncertain and controversial. Our primary objective is to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and AGA.

Improving waste-incineration energy recovery efficiency using a reverse calculation algorithm to estimate waste composition and heating value.

The heating value and composition of waste are crucial operational variables for understanding waste incinerators behavior and optimizing their operation. However, because the heating value and composition of waste are highly variable, their prediction in waste incineration plants is difficult. To overcome this issue, this study developed a novel method to derive heating value and composition waste via a reverse calculation algorithm using operating data and physics-based model.

Prolonged loss of intercostal muscle mass and its predictors in COVID-19 patients: A retrospective study from tertiary hospital.

Sarcopenia is a contributing factor in the development of long-COVID syndrome. We aimed to investigate how intercostal muscle mass changes over 3 months compared to other chest wall muscles following COVID-19 infection, along with identifying factors contributing to intercostal muscle loss during follow-up. We retrospectively studied 110 COVID-19 patients, analyzing muscle masses in the intercostal, pectoralis, and thoracic 12th vertebra level (T12) on initial and follow-up CT scans.

Photoassisted Water Purification through an Electrochemically Artificially Adjusted p-CuO Light Absorption Layer.

The implementation of photoelectrochemical water purification technology can address prevailing environmental challenges that impede the advancement and prosperity of human society. In this study, Cu, which is abundant on Earth, was fabricated using an electrochemical deposition process, in which the preferential orientation direction and carrier concentration of the Cu-based oxide semiconductor were artificially adjusted by carefully controlling the OH and applied voltage. In particular, CuO grown with a sufficient supply of OH ions exhibited the (111) preferred orientation, and the (200) surface facet was exposed, independently achieving 90% decomposition efficiency in a methyl orange (MO) solution for 100 min.

Impact of family history of prostate cancer on disease progression for prostatic cancer patients undergoing active surveillance: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate how a family history of prostate cancer influences the progression of the disease in individuals with prostate cancer undergoing active surveillance.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a thorough literature search in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library up to June 2023. This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023441853).

Use of Fludrocortisone for Hyperkalemia in Chronic Kidney Disease Not Yet on Dialysis.

Background: Hyperkalemia is a frequent and potentially lethal complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We retrospectively examined the potassium-lowering effect of oral fludrocortisone and its adverse effects in hyperkalemic CKD patients not yet on dialysis.

Methods: Thirty-three patients (23 men and 10 women, ages 69±14 years) were included.

Effects of Botulinum Toxin-A for Spasticity and Nociceptive Pain in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the protective effects of botulinum toxin-A (Botox-A) on spasticity and nociceptive pain in individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception to July 2023. The primary outcome of interest was spasticity and nociceptive pain.

Energy Transfer Between i-Motif DNA Encapsulated Silver Nanoclusters and Fluorescein Amidite Efficiently Visualizes the Redox State of Live Cells.

The redox regulation, maintaining a balance between oxidation and reduction in living cells, is vital for cellular homeostasis, intricate signaling networks, and appropriate responses to physiological and environmental cues. Here, a novel redox sensor, based on DNA-encapsulated silver nanoclusters (DNA/AgNCs) and well-defined chemical fluorophores, effectively illustrating cellular redox states in live cells is introduced. Among various i-motif DNAs, the photophysical property of poly-cytosines (C)-encapsulated AgNCs that sense reactive oxygen species (ROS) is adopted.

O-GlcNAcylation of RBM14 contributes to elevated cellular O-GlcNAc through regulation of OGA protein stability.

Dysregulation of O-GlcNAcylation has emerged as a potential biomarker for several diseases, particularly cancer. The role of OGT (O-GlcNAc transferase) in maintaining O-GlcNAc homeostasis has been extensively studied; nevertheless, the regulation of OGA (O-GlcNAcase) in cancer remains elusive. Here, we demonstrated that the multifunctional protein RBM14 is a regulator of cellular O-GlcNAcylation.

A phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, amlexanox, reduces neuroinflammation and neuronal death after pilocarpine-induced seizure.

Epilepsy, a complex neurological disorder, is characterized by recurrent seizures caused by aberrant electrical activity in the brain. Central to this study is the role of lysosomal dysfunction in epilepsy, which can lead to the accumulation of toxic substrates and impaired autophagy in neurons. Our focus is on phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4), an enzyme that plays a crucial role in regulating intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels by converting it into adenosine monophosphate (AMP).

Adjuvant Chemotherapy after Radical Nephroureterectomy for Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma with Variant Histology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Survival Outcomes.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to determine effects of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) on survival outcomes compared to surgery alone without AC for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) patients with variant histology (VH).

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies investigating AC for UTUC in Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library up to January 2023. Population, intervention, comparator, and outcome were UTUC patients with VH, radical nephroureterectomy with AC, radical nephroureterectomy only, and oncological survival, respectively.

The MYB-CC Transcription Factor PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE-LIKE 7 (PHL7) Functions in Phosphate Homeostasis and Affects Salt Stress Tolerance in Rice.

Inorganic phosphate (Pi) homeostasis plays an important role in plant growth and abiotic stress tolerance. Several MYB-CC transcription factors involved in Pi homeostasis have been identified in rice (). PHOSPHATE STARVATION RESPONSE-LIKE 7 (PHL7) is a class II MYC-CC protein, in which the MYC-CC domain is located at the N terminus.

OsMYB58 Negatively Regulates Plant Growth and Development by Regulating Phosphate Homeostasis.

Phosphate (Pi) starvation is a critical factor limiting crop growth, development, and productivity. Rice () R2R3-MYB transcription factors function in the transcriptional regulation of plant responses to various abiotic stresses and micronutrient deprivation, but little is known about their roles in Pi starvation signaling and Pi homeostasis. Here, we identified the R2R3-MYB transcription factor gene , which shares high sequence similarity with .

Assessment of the viability of integrating virtual reality programs in practical tests for the Korean Radiological Technologists Licensing Examination: a survey study.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of incorporating virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) programs into practical tests administered as part of the Korean Radiological Technologists Licensing Examination (KRTLE). This evaluation is grounded in a comprehensive survey that targeted enrolled students in departments of radiology across the nation.

Methods: In total, 682 students from radiology departments across the nation were participants in the survey.

Tailed-Hoogsteen Triplex DNA Silver Nanoclusters Emit Red Fluorescence upon Target miRNA Sensing.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules, typically 21‒22 nucleotides in size, which play a crucial role in regulating gene expression in most eukaryotes. Their significance in various biological processes and disease pathogenesis has led to considerable interest in their potential as biomarkers for diagnosis and therapeutic applications. In this study, a novel method for sensing target miRNAs using Tailed-Hoogsteen triplex DNA-encapsulated Silver Nanoclusters (DNA/AgNCs) is introduced.

Innate mechanism of mucosal barrier erosion in the pathogenesis of acquired colitis.

The colonic mucosal barrier protects against infection, inflammation, and tissue ulceration. Composed primarily of Mucin-2, proteolytic erosion of this barrier is an invariant feature of colitis; however, the molecular mechanisms are not well understood. We have applied a recurrent food poisoning model of acquired inflammatory bowel disease using Typhimurium to investigate mucosal barrier erosion.

Improving mass accuracy in matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of pathogenic proteins using 6xHIS-tagged internal calibration.

Rationale: Linear mode of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) has been routinely used for bacterial identification in the clinic, depending on the pattern analysis of spectral libraries rather than accurate mass measurement of ribosomal proteins (10-15 kDa). However, a demand for more accurate mass analysis of pathogens (e.g.

Efficacy and Safety of Yukmijihwang-Tang in the Treatment of Cough-Variant Asthma: Study Protocol for a Phase 2, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Trial.

Background: Cough-variant asthma (CVA), a precursor of typical asthma, is the main cause of chronic cough. We hypothesize that yukmijihwang-tang (YJT), which has been used for chronic cough in traditional medicine and has been reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect, could be an adjuvant to asthma treatment.

Methods: We plan a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, phase 2 trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of YJT in CVA patients.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Prior to Radical Cystectomy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer With Variant Histology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Survival Outcomes and Pathological Features.

Purpose: To conduct systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on survival and histopathological outcomes of variant histology (VH) of urothelial carcinoma (UC) of bladder.

Methods: This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023389115). Literature search was conducted in PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library for studies published up to January 2023.

A Graphene-Coated Silicon Wafer Plate Improves the Sensitivity and Reproducibility of MALDI-TOF MS Analysis of Proteins.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is widely used to analyze small and large molecules. However, proteins are difficult to analyze with MALDI-TOF MS in clinical applications because of their low ionization efficiency and heterogeneous crystallization with the matrix on the sample spots. Here, we investigate the potential of a customized graphene-coated silicon wafer (G/SiO) plate for MALDI-TOF MS analysis of a clinically important protein, KPC-2, in comparison with a conventional stainless steel (SUS) plate.