The role of bilirubin to albumin ratio as a predictor for mortality in critically ill patients without existing liver or biliary tract disease.

Background: Hyperbilirubinemia and hypoalbuminemia are frequently appeared and associated with poor prognosis in critically ill patients. We aim to evaluate the association between the bilirubin to albumin ratio and prognosis in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of 731 patients who were admitted to the medical intensive care unit (MICU) at a tertiary-care center from July 2015 to September 2017.

Identification of serum biomarkers for active pulmonary tuberculosis using a targeted metabolomics approach.

Although tuberculosis (TB) is a severe health problem worldwide, the current diagnostic methods are far from optimal. Metabolomics is increasingly being used in the study of infectious diseases. We performed metabolome profiling to identify potential biomarkers in patients with active TB.

4-1BBL Regulates the Polarization of Macrophages, and Inhibition of 4-1BBL Signaling Alleviates Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis.

4-1BBL, a member of the TNF superfamily, regulates the sustained production of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages triggered by TLR signaling. In this study, we have investigated the role of 4-1BBL in macrophage metabolism and polarization and in skin inflammation using a model of imiquimod-induced psoriasis in mice. Genetic ablation or blocking of 4-1BBL signaling by Ab or 4-1BB-Fc alleviated the pathology of psoriasis by regulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines associated with macrophage activation and regulated the polarization of macrophages in vitro.

Controllable one-pot synthesis for scaffold diversity via visible-light photoredox-catalyzed Giese reaction and further transformation.

This study presents a controllable one-pot synthesis for constructing valuable scaffolds (alcohols, 2,3-dihydrofurans, α-cyano-γ-butyrolactones, and γ-butyrolactones) via a visible-light photoredox-catalyzed Giese reaction and further transformation. This one-pot reaction can selectively synthesize the desired scaffold in excellent yields with good functional group tolerance. To further highlight the broad applicability of this controllable one-pot reaction, we have established flow reaction conditions with short reaction times for the scale-up of each scaffold and demonstrated the further transformation of 2,3-dihydrofurans and α-cyano-γ-butyrolactones to achieve scaffold diversity for applications in drug discovery.

Upfront radiosurgery plus targeted agents followed by active brain control using radiosurgery delays neurological death in non-small cell lung cancer with brain metastasis.

The role of radiosurgery has become further accentuated in the era of targeted agents (TA). Thus, the neurologic outcome of radiosurgery in brain metastasis (BM) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was reviewed. We analyzed 135 patients with BM of NSCLC who were administered Cyberknife radiosurgery (CKRS) as either initial or salvage therapy.

L-Type Calcium Channel Blocker Enhances Cellular Delivery and Gene Silencing Potency of Cell-Penetrating Asymmetric siRNAs.

The efficient delivery of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to the target cells is critical for the pharmaceutical success of RNA interference (RNAi) drugs. One of the possible strategies to improve siRNA delivery is to identify auxiliary molecules that augment their cellular uptake. Herein, we performed a chemical library screening in an effort to discover small molecules that enhance the potency of cholesterol-conjugated, cell-penetrating asymmetric siRNAs (cp-asiRNAs).

PMFF: Development of a Physics-Based Molecular Force Field for Protein Simulation and Ligand Docking.

The physics-based molecular force field (PMFF) was developed by integrating a set of potential energy functions in which each term in an intermolecular potential energy function is derived based on experimental values, such as the dipole moments, lattice energy, proton transfer energy, and X-ray crystal structures. The term "physics-based" is used to emphasize the idea that the experimental observables that are considered to be the most relevant to each term are used for the parameterization rather than parameterizing all observables together against the target value. PMFF uses MM3 intramolecular potential energy terms to describe intramolecular interactions and includes an implicit solvation model specifically developed for the PMFF.

Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with macrolide-resistant Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Macrolide is a key drug in the treatment of Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD). Macrolide-resistant MAC is gaining importance, but there are little data in clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of macrolide-resistant MAC-PD (MR-MAC-PD).

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies reporting clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with MR-MAC-PD.

The protein tyrosine kinase SYK regulates the alternative p38 activation in liver during acute liver inflammation.

Two distinct p38 signaling pathways, classical and alternative, have been identified to regulate inflammatory responses in host defense and disease development. The role of alternative p38 activation in liver inflammation is elusive, while classical p38 signaling in hepatocytes plays a role in regulating the induction of cell death in autoimmune-mediated acute liver injury. In this study, we found that a mutation of alternative p38 in mice augmented the severity of acute liver inflammation.

Effect of Socioeconomic Factors on the Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Pain and Ill-Health Retirement in Korea: Results From the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between musculoskeletal pain (MSP) and ill-health retirement (IHR) and modifying role of socioeconomic factors.

Methods: The data used were samples from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging from 2006 to 2014. IHR was defined as retirement due to health problems before regular retirement age.

The Effects of a Tripod Approach for Cancer Patients on Illness Stress, Health-Promoting Lifestyle, Hope, and Resilience.

Background: Health-related exercise and education program for cancer patients are necessary to provide physical and emotional support to enable efficient and appropriate self-management at home.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a tripod approach including physical exercise, education, and emotional support program on illness stress, health promotion lifestyle, hope, and resilience in cancer patients.

Interventions/methods: This was a quasi-experimental repeated-measures study using a pre-post design with a nonhomogeneous control group.

Progressive hypoxia-on-a-chip: An in vitro oxygen gradient model for capturing the effects of hypoxia on primary hepatocytes in health and disease.

Oxygen is vital to the function of all tissues including the liver and lack of oxygen, that is, hypoxia can result in both acute and chronic injuries to the liver in vivo and ex vivo. Furthermore, a permanent oxygen gradient is naturally present along the liver sinusoid, which plays a role in the metabolic zonation and the pathophysiology of liver diseases. Accordingly, here, we introduce an in vitro microfluidic platform capable of actively creating a series of oxygen concentrations on a single continuous microtissue, ranging from normoxia to severe hypoxia.

Mortality of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a nationwide populationbased cohort study.

Background/aims: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of mortality in the world. There are no population-based studies on longterm mortality in COPD patients in Korea.

Methods: Using the large, population-based, National Health Insurance Service- National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC), we identified COPD patients using the International Classification of Disease-Tenth Revision (ICD-10) and prescription details in the NHIS-NSC during 2003 to 2013.

Lyophilizable and Multifaceted Toll-like Receptor 7/8 Agonist-Loaded Nanoemulsion for the Reprogramming of Tumor Microenvironments and Enhanced Cancer Immunotherapy.

The low therapeutic efficacy of current cancer immunotherapy is related to nonimmunogenic and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments (TMEs). To overcome these limitations, both the immune priming of antitumoral lymphocytes and the reprogramming of immunosuppressive factors in TMEs are essential. Here, we suggest a nanoemulsion (NE)-based immunotherapeutic platform that can not only modulate tumor-induced suppression but also induce an effective cell-mediated immune response for T cell proliferation.

Evaluation and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers in Korea: A multicentre cohort analysis.

Objective: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are one of the target groups for systematic testing and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in a setting of low TB incidence. We performed this study to describe the testing of HCWs for LTBI and analyse the acceptance and completion of treatment of LTBI.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in four university-affiliated hospitals between January 1 and December 31, 2018.

A microfluidic patterned model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: applications to disease progression and zonation.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its progressive form non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) affect 25% of the world population. NAFLD is predicted to soon become the main cause of liver morbidity and transplantation. The disease is characterized by a progressive increase of lipid accumulation in hepatocytes, which eventually induce fibrosis and inflammation, and can ultimately cause cirrhosis and hepatic carcinoma.

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Addition of Aldehyde to Nitroolefin by H-d-Pro-Pro-Glu-NH: A Mechanistic Study.

The mechanism of the asymmetric addition of aldehyde (butanal) to nitroolefin (β-nitrostyrene) catalyzed by H-d-Pro-Pro-Glu-NH (dPPE-NH; ) was explored using density functional theory methods in chloroform. By conformational search, it was confirmed that catalyst and its enamine intermediate adopted a dominant conformation with a βI structure stabilized by a C H-bond between the C=O of d-Pro1 and C-terminal NH proton and by an additional H-bond between the side chain and the backbone of Glu3. This βI turn structure was conserved all along the catalytic cycle.

Enhanced Efficiency of Functional Smart Window with Solar Wavelength Conversion Phosphor-Photochromic Hybrid Film.

Here, the high sensitivity and enhanced photochromic efficiency of the hybrid film of solar wavelength conversion phosphor and photochromic film for functional smart window have been achieved by fabricating a double-layered hybrid structure of wavelength conversion phosphor and photochromic film. YSiO:Pr phosphor nanoparticles, which upconvert visible light to UV light, were synthesized by simple hydrothermal method. The synthesized YSiO:Pr nanoparticle was coated as layered structured film on photochromic HPWO film.

Association of Sinonasal Factors With Chronic Laryngitis in Korean Adults.

Importance: Allergic laryngitis is underdiagnosed owing to overlapping clinical manifestations that arise from other causes of laryngitis. Sinonasal conditions associated with chronic laryngitis, including allergic laryngitis, have not been reported using population-based epidemiologic data.

Objective: To estimate the association of the prevalence of chronic laryngitis with various sinonasal symptoms and endoscopic findings, and to identify which of the sinonasal factors are particularly associated with allergic cause of chronic laryngitis.

Prevalence, incidence, and mortality of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection in Korea: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: Epidemiologic characteristics of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease remain largely unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate incidence, prevalence, and mortality of NTM infection in a large nationwide population-based cohort in Korea.

Methods: Data of the National Health Insurance Service database, an extensive health-related database including most Korean residents, were used.

Tripodal RNA with 3' Overhangs Prevents RIG-I-Mediated Innate Immune Response.

RNA interference (RNAi) offers great promise in life science research and therapeutic development, as it easily achieves a potent target gene knockdown with high specificity. Since the conventional small interfering RNA (siRNA) structure, known as 19 bp double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) with 2-nucleotide (nt) 3' overhang, has been introduced to successfully elicit the RNAi in mammalian cells, a variety of structural variants of RNAi trigger have been developed. Our group previously reported branched, tripodal interfering RNA (tiRNA) structures as a multigene targeting RNA structure inducing RNAi.

Prognosis of Small Cell Lung Cancer with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Assessment according to GAP Stage.

Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an independent risk factor for lung cancer development, and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) comprises 15-20% of lung cancers with IPF. The objective of this study was to investigate survival outcomes and treatment-related complications according to GAP (gender, age, and physiology) stage in patients having SCLC with IPF (SCLC-IPF).

Materials And Methods: Retrospectively collected data of SCLC-IPF patients from two tertiary care university hospitals in South Korea were reviewed.