A Network Pharmacology Study and Experimental Validation to Identify the Potential Mechanism of Heparan Sulfate on Alzheimer's Disease-Related Neuroinflammation.

Background/objectives: Heparan sulfate (HS) is a polysaccharide that is found on the surface of cells and has various biological functions in the body.

Methods: The purpose of this study was to predict the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of HS on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and neuroinflammation (NI) through a network pharmacology analysis and to experimentally verify them.

Results: We performed functional enrichment analysis of common genes between HS target genes and AD-NI gene sets and obtained items such as the "Cytokine-Mediated Signaling Pathway", "Positive Regulation Of MAPK Cascade", and "MAPK signaling pathway".

Novel Predictive Strategy Using CA19-9 and Fecal Elastase Levels to Make Treatment Decisions for Resectable Pancreatic Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

: Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) is used as a marker to predict recurrence and survival of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Recently, fecal elastase-1 (FE-1) has been shown to correlate with prognosis in patients with PDAC. : A total of 536 patients who underwent curative intent surgery between 2010 and 2019 were included in the study.

Relationship Between Frequency Domain Indicators of Heart Rate Variability and Both Age and Duration of Illness in Patients with Headache: A Cross-Sectional Study.

: One of the most prevalent neurological conditions in the world, headaches impact a large number of people. Patients who experience headaches often have autonomic nervous system dysfunction, which can influence the onset and duration of headaches. Heart rate variability (HRV) serves as an indicator of the autonomic nervous system's activity and balance.

Intermittent Fasting Protects Against the Progression from Acute Kidney Injury to Chronic Kidney Disease.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major but often underestimated risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Exploring innovative approaches to prevent this progression is critical. Intermittent fasting (IF), recognized for its metabolic and anti-inflammatory benefits, may offer protective effects in this context.

Peroxiredoxin 5 Acts as a Negative Regulator of the Sodium-Chloride Cotransporter Involved in Alleviating Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hypertension are interconnected, worsening each other. Recent studies have shown that the reduction of peroxiredoxin 5 (Prdx5) accelerates kidney fibrosis, a hallmark of CKD. This study aims to observe whether the deficiency of Prdx5 also contributes to the worsening of CKD-related hypertension.

. Honey Exerts Antiviral Effect Against Influenza A Virus Infection Through Mitochondrial Stress-Mediated Enhancement of Innate Immunity.

To combat influenza A virus (IAV) infection, it is vital to develop effective therapeutic strategies, including immunomodulators. In this study, we examined the antiviral effects of Hovenia dulcis Thunb. honey (HDH) against IAV using RAW 264.

Antioxidant and Laxative Effects of Methanol Extracts of Green Pine Cones () in Sprague-Dawley Rats with Loperamide-Induced Constipation.

Oxidative stress is the key cause of the etiopathogenesis of several diseases associated with constipation. This study examined whether the green pine cone can improve the symptoms of constipation based on the antioxidant activities. The changes in the key parameters for the antioxidant activity and laxative effects were examined in the loperamide (Lop)-induced constipation of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats after being treated with the methanol extracts of green pine cone (MPC, unripe fruits of ).

Pinitol Improves Diabetic Foot Ulcers in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes Rats Through Upregulation of Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling.

Diabetic foot ulcers represent a severe complication of diabetes, often resulting in amputation and high mortality rates. Currently, there are no treatments for diabetic foot ulcers other than antibiotics and dressings. In this study, we evaluated the wound-healing effects of an antidiabetic agent pinitol in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-damaged human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat models with a foot wound.

Protective Effects of Tormentic Acid on Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction-Induced Renal Injury, Inflammation, and Fibrosis: A Comprehensive Approach to Reducing Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis, and Ferroptosis.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) progresses through mechanisms involving inflammation, fibrosis, and oxidative stress, leading to the gradual structural and functional deterioration of the kidneys. Tormentic acid (TA), a triterpenoid compound with known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, shows significant potential in counteracting these pathological processes. This study explored the protective role of TA in a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced CKD model.

Narrative Review of Free Radicals and Reactive Oxygen Species in Otitis Media.

Many studies have evaluated the roles of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in various diseases. To date, however, no systematic review has specifically investigated the involvement of free radicals and ROS in acute otitis media (OM), OM with effusion, and chronic OM. The present study therefore assessed the roles of free radicals and ROS in OM.

Proline Promotes Drought Tolerance in Maize.

Drought stress significantly affects maize ( L.) growth by disrupting vital physiological and biochemical processes. This study investigates the potential of proline supplementation to alleviate drought-induced stress in maize plants.

Gait Training with Virtual Reality-Based Real-Time Feedback for Chronic Post-Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study.

Background: Virtual reality-based training has been widely used for post-stroke patients due to its positive effects on functional aspects by promoting brain plasticity.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of gait training with virtual reality-based real-time feedback on motor function, balance, and spatiotemporal gait parameters in post-stroke patients.

Methods: Fifteen patients ( = 15) with chronic stroke were randomly assigned to either the virtual reality-based real-time feedback with treadmill gait training (experimental group = 8) or the treadmill gait training (control group = 7).

The Impact of Healthcare Reforms on the Epidemiology Workforce in Kazakhstan: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis with Predictive Modeling of Nationwide Data Sources from 1998 to 2022.

Background: Following its independence, Kazakhstan implemented several reforms, including the adoption of the Entrepreneurial Code in 2008. This study aims to evaluate the impact of these reforms on the number and per capita rates of epidemiologists, nurse epidemiologists, epidemiological surveillance centers, and infectious morbidity from 1998 to 2022. Such an evaluation is critical for informing policy decisions regarding the future of epidemiological services in Kazakhstan.

Effects of Acute Lateral Ankle Sprain on Spinal Reflex Excitability and Time-to-Boundary Postural Control in Single-Leg Stance.

: Acute lateral ankle sprain (ALAS) affects balance, often assessed by changes in traditional center of pressure (COP) parameters. Spatiotemporal measures of COP and time-to-boundary (TTB) analysis may offer improved sensitivity in detecting postural deviations associated with ALAS. However, the neurophysiological mechanism underlying these changes remains unknown.

Evaluating the Safety of Thread-Embedding Acupuncture: Protocol for a Multi-Center, Prospective, Observational Study in Clinical Practice.

Medical therapies that apply biodegradable materials, such as polydioxanone, are widely used to treat various disorders. Thread-embedding acupuncture (TEA) is a unique form of acupuncture that exerts long-lasting therapeutic effects by inserting absorbable threads at specific acupuncture points, and is widely used to treat various diseases. However, there is currently a lack of research regarding the safety of TEA.

Influence of Coping, Esteem, and Resilience on Caregiver Distress in Pancreatic Cancer Patient-Caregiver Dyads.

Through survey and analysis of pancreas cancer patient-caregiver dyads, we aimed to identify patient and caregiver characteristics that influence and determine the impact of caregiver coping strategies, self-esteem, and resilience on caregiver distress. This was a cross-sectional, observational study including pancreatic cancer patients and their caregivers. Demographics of patients and caregivers were collected.

Current Practices and Perceived Effectiveness of Clinicians Regarding Polynucleotide Injection for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Survey-Based Evaluation.

Intra-articular (IA) injection therapy, particularly IA hyaluronic acid (HA), is a common treatment for knee osteoarthritis, but it does have limitations. The injection of IA polynucleotide (PN) has emerged as an alternative, potentially offering superior clinical outcomes. This study investigates current practice patterns and the perceived effectiveness of PN among clinicians for treating knee osteoarthritis in the Republic of Korea.

Maternal Uterine Artery Doppler and Serum Marker in the First Trimester as Predictive Markers for Small for Gestational Age Neonates and Preeclampsia: A Pilot Study.

: Although preeclampsia (PE) and small for gestational age (SGA) are known to come from impaired placentation during the first trimester, prior studies have focused mostly on Doppler findings in the second trimester. : In this retrospective pilot study, we enrolled 628 singleton pregnant women who underwent ultrasound in both the first and second trimesters and blood test. For SGA correlation, we further excluded 12 subjects with PE because PE may be the cause of SGA.

Machine-Learning Parsimonious Prediction Model for Diagnostic Screening of Severe Hematological Adverse Events in Cancer Patients Treated with PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors: Retrospective Observational Study by Using the Common Data Model.

: Earlier detection of severe immune-related hematological adverse events (irHAEs) in cancer patients treated with a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor is critical to improving treatment outcomes. The study aimed to develop a simple machine learning (ML) model for predicting irHAEs associated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. : We utilized the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership-Common Data Model based on electronic medical records from a tertiary (KHMC) and a secondary (KHNMC) hospital in South Korea.

Comparative Analysis of Automated and Handheld Breast Ultrasound Findings for Small (≤1 cm) Breast Cancers Based on BI-RADS Category.

: This study aimed to compare ultrasound (US) findings between automated and handheld breast ultrasound (ABUS and HHUS, respectively) in small breast cancers, based on the breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) category. : We included 51 women (mean age: 52 years; range: 39-66 years) with breast cancer (invasive or DCIS), all of whom underwent both ABUS and HHUS. Patients with tumors measuring ≤1 cm on either modality were enrolled.

The Role of Small Bowel Capsule Endoscopy in Determining the Treatment Strategy for Duodenal Follicular Lymphoma: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

: In this single-center retrospective study, we aimed to verify the extent of duodenal follicular lymphoma (DFL) and investigate the role and clinical significance of video capsule endoscopy (VCE) in the treatment process. : We analyzed the clinical and imaging data of 40 patients diagnosed with DFL. : Imaging workup and bone marrow biopsies revealed DFL only in the gastrointestinal tract (stage I) in 22 patients and in local lymph nodes (stage II), distant lymph nodes (stage II), pancreas (stage IIE), and extranodal regions (stage IV) in 1, 3, 1, and 13 patients, respectively.

TransRAUNet: A Deep Neural Network with Reverse Attention Module Using HU Windowing Augmentation for Robust Liver Vessel Segmentation in Full Resolution of CT Images.

Liver cancer has a high mortality rate worldwide, and clinicians segment liver vessels in CT images before surgical procedures. However, liver vessels have a complex structure, and the segmentation process is conducted manually, so it is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Consequently, it would be extremely useful to develop a deep learning-based automatic liver vessel segmentation method.

Development and Optimization of a Real-Time Monitoring System of Small-Scale Multi-Purpose Juice Extractor.

According to the concept of smart postharvest management, an information and communication technology sensor-based monitoring system is required in the juicing process to reduce losses and improve process efficiency. Such technologies are considered economically burdensome and technically challenging for small-scale enterprises to adopt. From this perspective, this study aimed to develop a smart monitoring system for the juicing processes in small-scale enterprises and to identify the optimal operating conditions based on the monitoring data.

Characterization of Anthocyanins Including Acetylated Glycosides from Highbush Blueberry ( L.) Cultivated in Korea Based on UPLC-DAD-QToF/MS and UPLC-Qtrap-MS/MS.

In this study, anthocyanin glycosides from nine cultivars of highbush blueberries grown in Korea were characterized using UPLC-DAD-QToF/MS and UPLC-Qtrap-MS/MS. A total of twenty-two derivatives were identified, consisting of mono-glycosides and acetyl-glycosides attached to aglycones, such as cyanidin, peonidin, delphinidin, petunidin, and malvidin. Among them, seven acetylated glycosides were tentatively determined by comparing the related authentic standards and previous reports and presented mass fragmentation, in which the acetyl group remained as the form attached to the sugar without de-esterification in positive ionization mode.

Effect of Stir-Frying, Boiling, and Baking on Hexaconazole Residue Levels in Welsh Onion ( L.).

Hexaconazole, a triazole insecticide, is widely used to control rust disease in Welsh onions. Residue levels of pesticides vary based on the cooking methods. Although studies on hexaconazole residue have involved vegetables such as cabbage, research on Welsh onion is limited.