Development of a wastewater based infectious disease surveillance research system in South Korea.

Wastewater-based epidemiology has been used in pathogen surveillance for microorganisms at the community level. This study was conducted to determine the occurrence and trends of infectious pathogens in sewage from Yongin city and the relationships between these pathogens and the incidence of infectious diseases in the community. From December 2022 to November 2023, we collected inflow water from six wastewater treatment plants in Yongin city twice a month.

Interference micro/nanolenses of salts for local modulation of Raman scattering.

Micro/nanolenses play a crucial role in optics and spectroscopy, but the effect of interference patterns within each lens has been largely unexplored. Herein, we investigate modulation of Raman scattering by the interference within a single micro/nanolens of a hygroscopic salt. Lenses having two different diameter () ranges, > 2 μm and ∼1 μm, are placed on a silicon substrate, followed by collection of a Raman intensity map of the silicon peak.

Etiology and clinical characteristics of acute viral hepatitis in South Korea during 2020-2021: a prospective multicenter study.

This prospective, 12-center study investigated the etiology and clinical characteristics of acute viral hepatitis (AVH) during 2020-2021 in South Korea, and the performance of different diagnostic methods for hepatitis E virus (HEV). We enrolled 428 patients with acute hepatitis, of whom 160 (37.4%) were diagnosed with AVH according to predefined serologic criteria.

Prevalence, incidence, and outcomes of hepatitis E virus coinfection in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

This study aimed to elucidate the anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) prevalence and incidence of seroconversion and seroreversion as well as its risk factors and to analyze the clinical outcomes of HEV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfected patients compared to those of HCV-monoinfected patients. We prospectively enrolled 502 viremic HCV patients with paired plasma samples (at intervals of ≥ 12 months) from 5 tertiary hospitals. Anti-HEV IgG positivity was tested using the Wantai ELISA kit in all paired samples.

Soluble Programmed Cell Death Ligand-1 (sPD-L1) Levels in Various Cancer Types and Normal Populations.

Background: To date, PD-L1 expression in tumor tissue, assessed by immunohistochemical stain, is clinically applicable as a predictive companion biomarker for PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor which has been highlighted over the past several years. Before blood-based sPD-L1 enters clinical use, it is critical to establish the reference range. This study was designed to investigate soluble sPD-L1 levels in various cancer patients and normal population.

Cost-effectiveness of rhythm control strategy: Ablation versus antiarrhythmic drugs for treating atrial fibrillation in Korea based on real-world data.

Background: Ablation-based treatment has emerged as an alternative rhythm control strategy for symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). Recent studies have demonstrated the cost-effectiveness of ablation compared with medical therapy in various circumstances. We assessed the economic comparison between ablation and medical therapy based on a nationwide real-world population.

Actuating compact wearable augmented reality devices by multifunctional artificial muscle.

An artificial muscle actuator resolves practical engineering problems in compact wearable devices, which are limited to conventional actuators such as electromagnetic actuators. Abstracting the fundamental advantages of an artificial muscle actuator provides a small-scale, high-power actuating system with a sensing capability for developing varifocal augmented reality glasses and naturally fit haptic gloves. Here, we design a shape memory alloy-based lightweight and high-power artificial muscle actuator, the so-called compliant amplified shape memory alloy actuator.

Changes in intrinsic functional brain connectivity related to occupational stress of firefighters.

Firefighters are exposed to physical and mental threats in the working environment that put them at risk for occupational stress and burnout. Stress responses can impact the functional interactions between brain regions involved in emotional and cognitive regulation. The objective of this study was to investigate brain functional connectivity (FC) related to occupational stress in firefighters.

Cost-effectiveness of Direct Oral Anticoagulant vs. Warfarin Among Atrial Fibrillation Patients With Intermediate Stroke Risk.

Background: Several studies have shown the cost-effectiveness of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), compared with warfarin, to prevent atrial fibrillation (AF) related complications. However, few have reported cost-effectiveness of DOACs in AF patients with intermediate stroke risk. Thus, we investigated the cost-effectiveness of DOACs vs.

Trend Analysis of the Profiles of 12 Sexually Transmitted Disease Pathogens in the Republic of Korea in 2019.

Background: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are common infectious diseases in humans transmitted through unprotected sexual activities. In South Korea, despite the high annual incidence of STDs, detailed examinations of pathogen-specific factors and causes for delays in diagnosis and treatment are still lacking. Furthermore, STD prevalence patterns and important pathogen-specific factors remain unclear.

Altered thalamic gray matter volume in firefighters with heavy alcohol use.

Background: Alcohol, a known addictive substance, affects the structural properties of the brain. In this study, we explored associations between alcohol use and gray matter properties among firefighters, who are often exposed to significant occupational stress.

Methods: Gray matter volume (GMV) was evaluated using voxel-based morphometry in 287 male firefighters (mean age: 48.

The effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on changes in the brain structure of firefighters: An analysis using data from the Firefighters Research on Enhancement of Safety & Health study.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are formed during incomplete combustion of organic matter, and firefighters are highly exposed to these toxic compounds at fire sites. Exposure to PAHs can cause cognitive decline and neurodegeneration; however, to date, few studies have examined the potential effects of PAH exposure on structural changes in the brain. We aimed to investigate the association between the four types of PAH metabolites and the corresponding changes in neuroimaging markers based on smoking status and hypertension in male firefighters.

The effect of body fatness on regional brain imaging markers and cognitive function in healthy elderly mediated by impaired glucose metabolism.

Brain atrophy is related to vascular risk factors and can increase cognitive dysfunction risk. This community-based, cross-sectional study investigated whether glucose metabolic disorders due to body fatness are linked to regional changes in brain structure and a decline in neuropsychological function in cognitively healthy older adults. From 2016 to 2019, 429 participants underwent measurements for cortical thickness and subcortical volume using 3 T magnetic resonance imaging and for cognitive function using the neuropsychological screening battery.

Colonoscopy Versus Fecal Immunochemical Test for Reducing Colorectal Cancer Risk: A Population-Based Case-Control Study.

Introduction: Use of colonoscopy or the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) for colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention is supported by previous studies. However, there is little specific evidence regarding comparative effectiveness of colonoscopy or FIT for reducing CRC risk. In this study, we compared the association of CRC risk with colonoscopy and FIT using a nationwide database.

Comparative analysis of mutational hotspots in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 isolates from different geographic origins.

The spike (S) protein mutations of SARS-CoV-2 are of major concern in terms of viral transmission and pathogenesis. Hence, we developed a PCR-based method to rapidly detect the 6 mutational hotspots (H49Y, G476S, V483A, H519Q, A520S, and D614G) in the S protein and applied this method to analyze the hotspots in the viral isolates from different geographical origins. Here, we identified that there was only the D614G mutation in the viral isolates.

Novel indel mutation in the N gene of SARS-CoV-2 clinical samples that were diagnosed positive in a commercial RT-PCR assay.

Commercially available reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) kits are being used as an important tool to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infection in clinical laboratories worldwide. However, some kits lack sufficient clinical evaluation due to the need for emergency use caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic. Here we found that a novel insertion/deletion mutation in the nucleocapsid (N) gene of SARS-CoV-2 samples is a cause of negative results for the N gene in a widely used assay that received emergency use authorization (EUA) from US FDA and Conformite Europeenne-in vitro diagnostics (CE-IVD) from EU.

Experimental test of Babinet's principle in matter-wave diffraction.

We report on an experimental test of Babinet's principle in quantum reflection of an atom beam from diffraction gratings. The He beam is reflected and diffracted from a square-wave grating at near grazing-incidence conditions. According to Babinet's principle the diffraction peak intensities (except for the specular-reflected beam) are expected to be identical for any pair of gratings of complementary geometry.

Alkalide-Assisted Direct Electron Injection for the Noninvasive n-Type Doping of Graphene.

Although the doping of graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition is crucial in graphene-based electronics, noninvasive methods of n-type doping have not been widely investigated in comparison with p-type doping methods. We developed a convenient and robust method for the noninvasive n-type doping of graphene, wherein electrons are directly injected from sodium anions into the graphene. This method involves immersing the graphene in solutions of [K(15-crown-5)]Na prepared by dissolving a sodium-potassium (NaK) alloy in a 15-crown-5 solution.

Relationship between calf muscle cross-sectional area and ankle fracture.

Background: Whether calf muscles and peroneal muscles have a role in the occurrence of an ankle fractures remains unclear. This study aimed to quantify the calf muscle mass and peroneal muscle mass in patients with an ankle fracture and in controls, then to analyze them together with demographic factors to identify the effects of the regional muscles on the risk of developing ankle fracture.

Methods: A total of 101 ankles with computed tomography (CT) images were retrospectively reviewed.

Application of deep neural network to capture groundwater potential zone in mountainous terrain, Nepal Himalaya.

This study aims to capture groundwater potential zones integrating deep neural network and groundwater influencing factors. The present work was carried out for Gopi khola watershed, mountainous terrain in Nepal Himalaya as the watershed mainly relies upon the groundwater assets; it is a need to explore groundwater potential for better management of the aquifer framework. Ten groundwater influencing factors were collected such as elevation, slope, curvature, topographic positioning index, topographic roughness index, drainage density, topographic wetness index, geology, lineament density, and land use thematic layers.

Inhibitory effect of modified silkworm pupae oil in PDGF-BB-induced proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Silkworm pupae oil (SPO) has been reported to have various biological activities in improving blood circulation. However, the protective action of SPO against vascular disorders remains unknown. A new formulation of SPO was prepared through an esterification and saponification process.

Cohort Profile: Firefighter Research on the Enhancement of Safety and Health (FRESH), a Prospective Cohort Study on Korean Firefighters.

Firefighters have a high risk of developing cardiovascular and mental disorders due to their physical and chemical environments. However, in Korea, few studies have been conducted on environmental risk of firefighters. The Firefighter Research on the Enhancement of Safety and Health (FRESH) study aimed to discover the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and mental disorders among firefighters.