Generation of hypoimmunogenic universal iPS cells through HLA-type gene knockout.

Hypoimmunogenic universal induced pluripotent stemn (iPS) cells were generated through the targeted disruption of key genes, including human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A, HLA-B and HLA-DR alpha (DRA), using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. This approach aimed to minimize immune recognition and enhance the potential of iPS cells for allogeneic therapy. Heterozygous iPS cells were used for guide RNA design and validation to facilitate the knockout (KO) of the HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-DRA genes.

6-Shogaol, a neuro-nutraceutical derived from ginger, alleviates motor symptoms and depression-like behaviors and modulates the release of monoamine neurotransmitters in Parkinson's disease mice.

Purpose: Parkinson's disease (PD) disrupts the regulation of neurotransmitters in the brain, causing patients to experience not only motor symptoms but also non-motor symptoms such as depression. 6-shogaol (6S) is a potential neuro-nutraceutical derived from ginger, and is known to ameliorate motor symptoms by suppressing inflammation in PD mice. In this study, we investigated whether 6S can attenuate motor symptoms and depression-like behaviors through neurotransmitter regulation and to elucidate which neurotransmitters are intimately correlated with these effects.

Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Substance Use in Adolescents in Three Independent Worldwide Cohorts: Algorithm Development and Validation Study.

Background: To address gaps in global understanding of cultural and social variations, this study used a high-performance machine learning (ML) model to predict adolescent substance use across three national datasets.

Objective: This study aims to develop a generalizable predictive model for adolescent substance use using multinational datasets and ML.

Methods: The study used the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (KYRBS) from South Korea (n=1,098,641) to train ML models.

Mitotic transcription ensures ecDNA inheritance through chromosomal tethering.

Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) are circular DNA bodies that play critical roles in tumor progression and treatment resistance by amplifying oncogenes across a wide range of cancer types. ecDNA lack centromeres and are thus not constrained by typical Mendelian segregation, enabling their unequal accumulation within daughter cells and associated increases in copy number. Despite intrinsic links to their oncogenic potential, the fidelity and mechanisms of ecDNA inheritance are poorly understood.

Association of baseline inflammatory biomarkers and clinical outcomes in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become the mainstay treatment of metastatic kidney cancer, demonstrating enhanced outcomes and durable responses in select patient subgroups. However, identifying reliable prognostic biomarkers for treatment outcomes remains challenging.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the correlation between baseline inflammatory markers and overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and clinical benefit (CB) in metastatic kidney cancer patients receiving ICIs.

Changes in Gut Microbiota According to Disease Severity in a Lupus Mouse Model.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifaceted autoimmune disease driven by immune dysregulation. This study investigated the relationship between gut microbiota and lupus severity using the MRL/lpr lupus mouse model. Mice were grouped based on total immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgG2a levels, and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), allowing for the comparison of gut microbiota profiles across different disease severities.

Functional Nanosheet Immunoswitches Reprogramming Innate Macrophages for Immunotherapy of Colorectal Cancer and Sepsis.

Macrophages are involved in the immunopathogenesis of cancer and inflammatory diseases and are a primary target for immunotherapy to reprogram the M1 and M2 phenotypes in tumor and inflammatory microenvironments. Herein, functional nanosheet immunoswitches that can bidirectionally polarize macrophages in tumor and inflammatory microenvironments are designed for effective immunotherapy of colorectal cancer and sepsis. WSe nanosheets are functionalized with palmitic acid to obtain an M1 immunoswitch (PA-WSe) that promotes the polarization of macrophages toward the M1 phenotype in the tumor microenvironment by activating the STAT1 signaling pathway.

Analysis of the Genomes and Adaptive Traits of sp. nov., a Human Skin Isolate, and the Type Strains and .

The genus comprises important soil bacteria that are often associated with the crop rhizospheres, but its physiological traits remain poorly understood. This study characterizes sp. TT6, isolated from human skin, with a focus on its metabolic and environmental adaptations.

Effect of Herbal Medicine (Hwanglyeonhaedok-tang) on Insomnia Patients with Bedtime Procrastination: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Insomnia, characterized by difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, affects a significant portion of the global population. Bedtime procrastination, which is a voluntary delay in going to bed, is a major contributing factor to the prevalence of sleep deprivation in modern societies. Hwanglyeonhaedok-tang (HJD decoction) has shown promise in improving the symptoms of insomnia.

Exploring the gut microbiome: A potential biomarker for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy.

The gut microbiome, a complex community of trillions of microorganisms in the intestines, is crucial in maintaining human health. Recent advancements in microbiome research have unveiled a compelling link between the gut microbiome and cancer development and progression. Alterations in the composition and function of the gut microbiome, known as dysbiosis, have been implicated in various types of cancer, including, esophageal, liver, colon, pancreatic, and gastrointestinal.

Tribuli Fructus alleviates 1-methyl-4-phenyl 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease by suppressing neuroinflammation via JNK signaling.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons. In particular, neuroinflammation associated with phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is likely to cause the death of dopaminergic neurons. Therefore, protecting dopaminergic neurons through anti-neuroinflammation is a promising therapeutic strategy for PD.

Probiotics as Potential Treatments for Neurodegenerative Diseases: a Review of the Evidence from to Clinical Trial.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), characterized by the progressive deterioration of the structure and function of the nervous system, represent a significant global health challenge. Emerging research suggests that the gut microbiota plays a critical role in regulating neurodegeneration via modulation of the gut-brain axis. Probiotics, defined as live microorganisms that confer health benefits to the host, have garnered significant attention owing to their therapeutic potential in NDDs.

Blood-based tumor mutational burden impacts clinical outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitor treated breast and prostate cancers.

Background: Breast and prostate tumors are known to be less responsive to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Tissue-based tumor mutation burden (tTMB) has emerged as a predictive biomarker of response to ICIs, including in these "cold tumors". In clinical practice, when tTMB is not available, blood-based TMB score (bTMB) can be used to consider treatment with ICIs.

Dimethysiloxane polymer for the effective transdermal delivery of donepezil in Alzheimer's disease treatment.

Donepezil (DNZ) has been used to treat dementia associated with mild, moderate, or severe Alzheimer's disease (AD). DNZ uptake can alleviate cognitive symptoms in AD patients acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition. However, oral administration of DNZ has limitations, including first-pass metabolism, difficulties with swallowing, and low patient compliance.

Comparison of national trends in physical activity among adolescents before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A nationally representative serial study in South Korea.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered daily routines and lifestyle behaviors worldwide, potentially significantly impacting physical activity levels, especially among adolescents. Understanding these changes is crucial for developing targeted interventions to promote health and well-being in this vulnerable population. This paper will explore longitudinal trends of physical activities (PA) in Korean adolescents, focusing on changes between the pre and late-COVID-19 pandemic periods.

Effectiveness of Korean medicine treatments in improving cognitive function and prefrontal cortex activity in older individuals with mild cognitive impairment: retrospective observational study.

Background: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a growing concern among older adults, with limited effective pharmacological treatments available. Despite the potential of herbal medicine and acupuncture in managing MCI, there is a lack of research on their long-term effects on cognitive function and brain activity in clinical practice settings. This study aimed to address this gap by exploring the effects of a community-based program integrating herbal medicine and acupuncture on cognitive function and neural responses in older individuals with MCI.

National trends in thyroid disease and COVID-19 pandemic-related factors, 1998-2021: A nationwide representative study in South Korea.

Objective: Although thyroid disease is a common condition, there is limited research examining the prevalence of thyroid disease over a long period of time, including both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, we aimed to investigate sociodemographic aspects that might be associated with thyroid disease and how its prevalence has varied during the pandemic.

Methods: We assessed the prevalence of thyroid disease among Korean adults by using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1998 to 2021.

Adverse events associated with herbal medicine products reported in the Korea Adverse Event Reporting System from 2012 to 2021.

Introduction: Systematic collection of diverse adverse events during herbal medicine administration is crucial. The Korea Adverse Event Reporting System (KAERS) compiles spontaneously reported adverse event data for medicinal products including herbal medicines. This study focused on extracting and analyzing adverse event data specifically related to herbal medicine products from the KAERS database.