Job loss and reemployment of newly diagnosed people with epilepsy: A nationwide cohort study.

Objective: Epilepsy has negative socioeconomic impacts on those affected, resulting not only from actual disability but also from social stigma. However, longitudinal studies examining occupational consequences following an epilepsy diagnosis are limited. We aimed to investigate the occupational outcomes of newly diagnosed epilepsy among Korean employees.

Exploring Future Pandemic Preparedness Through the Development of Preventive Vaccine Platforms and the Key Roles of International Organizations in a Global Health Crisis.

The emergence of more than 40 new infectious diseases since the 1980s has emerged as a serious global health concern, many of which are zoonotic. In response, many international organizations, including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), have developed strategies to combat these health threats. The need for rapid vaccine development has been highlighted by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and mRNA technology has shown promise as a platform.

Preference for On-Demand Fexuprazan Therapy in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Maintenance therapy is crucial in managing and preventing symptom relapse in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), with continuous and on-demand therapy being the common approaches. However, maintenance therapy using potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs), such as fexuprazan, remains incompletely evaluated. This single-center, single-arm, prospective cohort study enrolled individuals with weekly heartburn or acid regurgitation and confirmed erosive esophagitis.

Polysaccharide Hydrogel-Assisted Biosensing Platforms for Point-of-Care Use.

Point-of-care (POC) use is one of the essential goals of biosensing platforms. Because the increasing demand for testing cannot be met by a centralized laboratory-based strategy, rapid and frequent testing at the right time and place will be key to increasing health and safety. To date, however, there are still difficulties in developing a simple and affordable, as well as sensitive and effective, platform that enables POC use.

The Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes to Treat Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a fatal metabolic disease characterized by persistent hyperglycemia. In recent studies, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes, which are being investigated clinically as a cell-free therapy for various diseases, have gained attention due to their biomimetic properties that closely resemble natural cellular communication systems. These MSC-derived exosomes inherit the regenerative and protective effects from MSCs, inducing pancreatic β-cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis, as well as ameliorating insulin resistance by suppressing the release of various inflammatory cytokines.

Effects of an Avatar Control on VR Embodiment.

The motion control of the virtual avatar enhances a sense of embodiment in a virtual reality (VR). Yet, the detailed relationship between motion control, assigned tasks, and the sense of embodiment remains unclear. We aim to investigate the relationships between degrees of control on a full-body avatar and three elements of the sense of embodiment: the sense of self-location, agency, and ownership in standalone and interaction tasks.

Comprehensive Analysis of the Fourteen Complete Genome Sequences of Isolated from Species.

Endosymbionts are important for insect species as they provide essential substances to the host. Due to the technical advance of NGS technology and assemblers, many endosymbionts bacterial genomes are available now. Here, we analysed fourteen endosymbiont bacterial genomes of genius, one of notorious pest species.

Honoring donors: medical students' reflections on cadaveric dissection.

Background: Cadaveric dissection is an essential practice for medical students to understand human anatomy and internalize professional attitudes toward death, such as empathy and respect for the deceased. Previous studies have focused on emotional responses such as shock, anxiety, and fear at the start of dissection practice. However, limited research exists on students' reflective thinking and perceptions before practice.

Plant cross-fertilization for production of dual-specific antibodies targeting both Ebola virus-like particles and HER2 protein in F plants.

Background: This study explores the cross-fertilization of transgenic tobacco plants to produce dual-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting Ebola virus-like particles and HER2 proteins. We generated F plants by hybridizing individual transgenic lines expressing the anti-HER2 breast cancer VHH mAb (HV) and the H-13F6 human anti-Ebola large single chain mAb (EL).

Objective: Hybridizing transgenic plants to express dual-antibodies between different structures VHH and LSCK indicate the potential of transgenic plants as a cost-effective and scalable production system for dual targeting mAbs.

Peptide mapping analysis of synthetic semaglutide and liraglutide for generic development of drugs originating from recombinant DNA technology.

Semaglutide and liraglutide are long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists used to treat type-2 diabetes and obesity. Recent advances in peptide synthesis and analytical technologies have enabled the development of synthetic generic peptide for reference listed drugs (RLD) originating from recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology. Since the original semaglutide and liraglutide were produced through rDNA technology, there has been great interest in developing their synthetic peptides as generic versions of the original drugs.

High-Throughput Chemotherapeutic Drug Screening System for Gastric Cancer (Cure-GA).

Background: Three dimensional (3D) cell cultures can be effectively used for drug discovery and development but there are still challenges in their general application to high-throughput screening. In this study, we developed a novel high-throughput chemotherapeutic 3D drug screening system for gastric cancer, named 'Cure-GA', to discover clinically applicable anticancer drugs and predict therapeutic responses.

Methods: Primary cancer cells were isolated from 143 fresh surgical specimens by enzymatic treatment.

Bridging Experience and Practice: A Grounded Theory Study of Nurses' Hospitalisation Experiences as Patients or Family Members.

Aims: This study aimed to develop a grounded theory that explains how nurses' experiences as patients or family members influence their provision of patient-centred care.

Design: A grounded theory approach.

Methods: Twenty clinical nurses in South Korea participated; nine had experiences as patients and 11 as family members during hospitalisation.

Cell deconvolution-based integrated time-series network of whole blood transcriptome reveals systemic antiviral activities and cell-specific immunological changes against PRRSV infection.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) causes significant economic losses in the swine industry. However, the molecular mechanisms behind the common and cell type-specific systemic responses during PRRS virus (PRRSV) infection are not well understood. In this study, we collected viremia data, antibody levels, and whole-blood RNA-seq data obtained from eight PRRSV-infected piglets.

Cancer incidence and the influence of immunosuppressive agents in Korean patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: To investigate cancer incidence and the potential influence of immunosuppressive agents in Korean systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis utilizing data from the Korea Healthcare Bigdata Linked Platform, which integrated the National Central Cancer Registry and National Health Insurance Service databases covering the period 2008-2017. Incidence rates (IRs) per 10,000 person-years (PYs) for site-specific cancers of SLE patients were calculated using ICD-O-3 codes.

Compatibility of cellulose-PEDOT:PSS composites and anions in solid-state organic electrochemical transistors.

We investigate the effects of water-processable celluloses on the charge-transport properties in the conducting polymer composites and their solid-state organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs). Water-soluble methyl cellulose (MC) and water-dispersible cellulose nanofiber (CNF) are blended with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) in solution and used as a conductive channel. Both cellulose-PEDOT:PSS composites show fibrillar structures in thin films with respective dimensions of cellulose.

Sulfonic acid functionalized β-amyloid peptide aggregation inhibitors and antioxidant agents for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: Combining machine learning, computational, in vitro and in vivo approaches.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized as a neurodegenerative disorder that is caused by plaque formation by accumulating β-amyloid (Aβ), leading to neurocognitive function and impaired mental development. Thus, targeting Aβ represents a promising target for the development of therapeutics in AD management. Several functionalized sulfonic acid molecules have been reported, including tramiprosate prodrug, which is currently in clinical trial III and exhibits a good response in mild to moderate AD patients.

Design Rule of Tetradentate Ligand-Based Pt(II) Complex for Efficient Singlet Exciton Harvesting in Fluorescent Organic Light-Emitting Diodes.

Controlling intermolecular interactions, such as triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) and triplet-polaron annihilation (TPA), is crucial for achieving high quantum efficiency in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) by suppressing exciton loss. This study investigates the molecular design of tetradentate Pt(II) complexes used for singlet exciton harvesting in fluorescent OLEDs to elucidate the relationship between the chemical structure of the ligands and exciton quenching mechanisms. It was discovered that the bulkiness of substituents is pivotal for maximizing quantum efficiency in these devices.

An Investigation of the Status of Commercial Meat Analogs and Their Ingredients: Worldwide and South Korea.

Meat analogs are a burgeoning industry, with plant-based meat analogs, insect-based meat analogs, algae-based meat analogs, mycoprotein-based meat analogs, and cell-based meat analogs. However, despite the industry's growth potential, market expansion faces hurdles due to taste and quality disparities compared to traditional meats. The composition and characteristics of meat analogs currently available in the market are analyzed in this study to inform the development of future products in this sector.

Environmental Impact of Meat Protein Substitutes: A Mini-Review.

The expansion of alternative food industries, including cultured meat, is often promoted as a strategy to reduce environmental pollution, particularly greenhouse gas emissions. However, comprehensive data on the environmental impacts of these industries remains limited. This study examines the environmental impacts of traditional meat and meat substitute production, highlighting their respective advantages and disadvantages.

Cutting-Edge Technologies of Meat Analogs: A Review.

This study was conducted to investigate the recent research trends of alternative protein foods being developed to replace traditional livestock foods and thus determine the current state of the technology and the potential for industrialization. The results of this study showed that the technology related to cultured meat has not yet reached industrialization. However, serum-free media development, technologies to improve culture efficiency, and technologies to improve taste and flavor are being researched.

Cell-Based Meat Safety and Regulatory Approaches: A Comprehensive Review.

Cell-based meat (CBM) technology is a highly promising alternative to traditional animal agriculture, with considerable advantages in terms of sustainability, animal welfare, and food security. Nonetheless, CBM's successful commercialization is dependent on efficiently dealing with several critical concerns, including ensuring biological, chemical, and nutritional safety as well as navigating the global regulatory framework. To ensure CBM's biological safety, detecting and mitigating any potential hazards introduced during the manufacturing process is crucial.

Analysis of drug pricing drivers under South Korea's pharmaco-economic evaluation exemption policy (2015-2022).

Objective: This study analysed the characteristics of new drugs listed under the pharmaco-economic evaluation exemption (PEE) system from 2015 to 2022 in South Korea and examined the factors influencing the pricing decisions under this system.

Methods: A mixed-methods statistical approach was used to comprehensively evaluate the factors influencing drug pricing under PEE system. Descriptive statistics provide an overview of the dataset, while inferential statistics, including t-tests and Pearson's correlation analyses, are used to explore variable associations.

Using a mobile app comprising neurofeedback-based meditation and binaural beat music to treat PTSD symptoms: A qualitative analysis.

Background: There is a significant need for an effective and convenient symptom management and healing program for people experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms; however, research on this topic is lacking.

Objective: This study explored the experiences of individuals with PTSD who used a mobile traumatic stress management app with neurofeedback-based meditation and binaural beat music to promote their psychological recovery.

Methods: This study used a qualitative research method to explore the experiences of neurofeedback-based meditation and binaural beat music using a mobile traumatic stress management app to promote the psychological recovery of people experiencing chronic traumatic stress.

An optimal protective ventilation strategy in lung resection surgery: a prospective, single-center, three-arm randomized controlled trial.

Protective ventilation reduces ventilator-induced acute lung injury postoperatively; however, the optimal strategy for one-lung ventilation (OLV) remains unclear. This study compared three protective ventilation strategies with a postoperative partial pressure of oxygen (PaO)/fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO) ratio to reduce the incidence of immediate postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients undergoing lung resection surgery. Eighty-seven patients with ASA physical status I-III requiring OLV for lung resection surgery were randomized into three groups according to the applied ventilation strategies: low tidal volume (V) of 4 mL/kg of predicted body weight (PBW) (LV group), medium V of 6 mL/kg of PBW (MV group), and high V of 8 mL/kg of PBW (HV group).

Performance of the automated digital cell image analyzer UIMD PBIA in white blood cell classification: a comparative study with sysmex DI-60.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of PBIA (UIMD, Seoul, Republic of Korea), an automated digital morphology analyzer using deep learning, for white blood cell (WBC) classification in peripheral blood smears and compare it with the widely used DI-60 (Sysmex, Kobe, Japan).

Methods: A total of 461 slides were analyzed using PBIA and DI-60. For each instrument, pre-classification performance was evaluated on the basis of post-classification results verified by users.